#soukoku theory

[radvelvetcakez]

Dazai, talking about Chuuya: WHAT THE FUCK I WAS ARGUING WITH HIM AND I SAID “OOH YOU WANNA KISS ME SO BAD” AND GUESS WHAT? HE DID. HE KISSED ME. WHAT THE FUCK WHAT DO I DO.

[minimafioso]

Ramblings about ending themes and theories why Chuuya doesn't appear in them;

With the exception of S3's ending which shows the whole cast connected to the Dead Apple movie, Chuuya has not appeared in an ending song.

S1 & S2 are connected, focus on SSKK and Dazai.

S4 focuses on Atsushi and daily life at the Armed Detective Agency, though we get SSKK and Dazai at the end.

S5 focuses on everyone with a major role but has a lot of focus with Dazai and Akutagawa's relationship

Again, this one is particularly interesting as Chuuya has quite a significant role in Season 5 with his involvement in Fyodor and Dazai's plans. Almost the entire ADA is there, the Hunting Dogs, and several confirmed members of the Decay of Angels.

One could argue it's because his involvement was meant to be a surprise however, unlike in S4, Taniyama Kishou (Chuuya's Seiyuu) is listed in the cast of characters so his appearance was not surprising.

S3 was omitted as it included everyone who appeared in Dead Apple and is essentially a clip show to market it. The endings I included have art or edited scenes connecting characters significant to the season or tell a story.

It's interesting considering Chuuya drives the plot each season in some way.

Image heavy under the cut

Season 1 was his introduction season and while he didn't move that plot significantly as Dazai knew already where to locate the files, we got some insights into Mafia hierarchy and a brief glimpse of the duo known as Double Black.

Season 2 was him at his most impactful. Not only did we get the infamous Double Black episode but Chuuya also revealed himself and information on the Guild to members of the ADA who didn't know him and was a crucial person for Atsushi to see that lead to their truce with Port Mafia.

Season 3 is interesting because we had the 15 arc prequel episodes but they do not impact the main plot.

Instead we get Chuuya forced into the role of Port Mafia boss that ends with him being outsmarted and taken off the playing field due to him being a threat the ADA would not likely be able to handle. They took him out as quickly as possible and we don't see him again until next season

Season 4 gave us crumbs of Chuuya but his involvement saved the Armed Detective Agency and kept the plot moving forward

We also got the infamous OLD WORLD shot in the intro and I haven't forgiven Bones for that little bit of bait

Season 5 is infamous at this point, once again reminding us that Double Black is not a duo to be taken lightly. Chuuya's role was both as an antagonist but revealed as a secret ally. Once again he saved a member of the ADA and helped with dealing with the major threat, Fyodor.

Considering he is the second half of Soukoku, the duo that is the driving force in the partnership between Atsushi and Akutagawa, and a key piece that moves the plot forward, why doesn't he appear in the endings?

I have two theories, we'll go with that more likely one first.

My theory is that Chuuya will play a more significant role in the future. A running theme in the endings is a focus on Dazai and SSKK or members of the ADA. The only consistent member currently in Port Mafia that appears is Akutagawa.

Even by Season 5 Atsushi has not been at the ADA as long as it feels due to how long the series has been running. He's only begun to understand the landscape of Yokohama and the history ability users. Dazai introduced him to this new world so he's experiencing it in the light of the agency.

I wont go into my theory about Atsushi being the perfect pick to go to Port Mafia for narrative reasons, but that drives my next point. Port Mafia will probably have the spotlight again in the future. They've been fairly absent not counting the obvious 3 in s5 (Aku, Chu, Tachi)

Against all odds and near misses Chuuya and Atsushi have yet to meet. There's a lot of speculation about that but I think if Chuuya does interact with Atsushi it'll be because it's his turn to mentor the new generation of Double Black thus taking Dazai's place in the end credits. What does that mean for Dazai? Who knows, it's all just me theorizing!

The other theory?

Well, this one is more a sad symbolic one; the idea what Chuuya doesn't appear in endings because he doesn't get one. Well, to clarify; Asagiri doesn't pull punches with Chuuya and has stated Chuuya will not be having the easiest of paths. With the looming threat of the Storm still brought up by Verlaine in the present day it could mean he doesn't get a nice happy ending image like we see the ADA get in the S4 ending

"Chuuya’s character is an inexhaustible spring."

"I can’t describe the joy I get out of writing such a deep, intricate character and then having everyone read about him. I would like Chuuya’s fate to remain in the palace of imaginations. His destination is still a secret, although there is one thing I can say with confidence:"

"His will not be a peaceful, easy path."

- Asagiri Kafka, Storm Bringer Afterword

Edit: For clarity the symbolic theory is not the Asagiri plans to kill him off, but that he does not get a good ending showing off the people he cares for at PM the way we see the ADA in a group shot in season four

Asagiri says things won't be easy for him. But he's also very resilient so we'll have to see what is in store for him in the future

[calmlb]

hc that Dazai made a point of calling Chuuya small when they met because Dazai was used to being the small one.

like, finally there was someone shorter than him. because let’s be real, Dazai was barely taller than Chuuya in Fifteen.

i think people forget how small Dazai was too— not just in height, but also in weight. He was underweight in Dark Era, but in Fifteen & even at present he's barely within the healthy weight range for his height. he was constantly described as a twig in Fifteen, and almost every time he's introduced in the light novels he's called lanky, slender, etc.

[iamthemess]

Wanna know what else I'm obsessed with?

It's Natsume. Lots of people forget about him or never even really noticed him. but I did and he is honestly the most unsettling character to me.

He is constantly around Dazai, watching throughout 15 and dark era and he spies on the agency/Dazai? in the present timeline too.

He appears around PM Dazai all the time unless he is with Mori or Chuuya but not Odasaku. He watched the lupin trio.

It's not just the watching, it's the interfering. He gave Oda that book, that book that made Oda who he is and in turn made Dazai who he is.

Was Mori really the only one who made the decisions about Oda dying? Why was there no other choice unless it was a part of a bigger plan?

He put Mori in a prime position where he would be called upon to treat the old mafia boss, where he could learn and understand that the city was falling apart. For a lot of that time the person giving him orders was Natsume.

Natsume was the one who hired Fukuzawa to be Mori's body guard.

Natsume was the one who made the detective agency a possibility.

He is the one who put Mori and Fukuzawa in charge of opposite organisations. What else did he do?

How did Mori find Yosano? Where did Dazai come from? How did the guild know about Atsushi?

Time and time again Natsume shows up to create a chain of events leading up to creating a perfect pair who could cause devastation and/or save the city.

He started with Mori and Fukuzawa, Mori who would continue this line of succession by creating soukoku, Dazai and Chuuya. Mori even quotes something Natsume told him. "only diamonds can polish diamonds."

Dazai, with Natsume possibly guiding him, goes on to find his own diamonds to be polished and creates Shin soukoku.

Everything that has happened can stem from Natsume, a character we rarely see and isn't outwardly stated as important. What is he hiding?

[bluemooniegif]

Soukoku's first meeting could not have been written more perfectly. Allow me to explain

A quick note on the manga panels: these are fan translations from BSD Bibliophile. At one stage they refer to Dazai as 'the youngest boss in Mafia history,' and the executive meeting as 'a meeting of five bosses.' This is just a stylistic choice! All of the panels shown here are from chapters 8 (volume 2), 10 & 11 (volume 3)

I love this scene more than life itself, because it is literally the PERFECT introduction to Chuuya, his character, and his relationship with Dazai. Let's talk about it!

First: some context. Dazai seems to be in a bit of a predicament- he's walked right into a trap set by the Port Mafia, an organisation that we don't know much about at this stage in the story. What we do know, and what we can observe, is this:

Dazai is a former executive, and appears to have walked into the trap on purpose

He is now being held in a room that Akutagawa describes very negatively- the fact of being here is dangerous

Dazai reveals that Akutagawa was once his subordinate, and that he thought very lowly of him at the time. He claims to still think of him this way. Akutagawa has a violent reaction to this.

This is a PERFECT example of 'showing, not telling' within a story. Rather than making a bunch of asides, describing what Dazai and Akutagawa are feeling and why, Asagiri & Harukawa have plopped us into the middle of a rather awkward reunion. I feel like I've walked into my friend's Christmas dinner and am now witnessing family politics unfold real time. It's like watching a car crash.

Now, we move between settings a bit, jumping around to watch Yosano DESTROY Kajii, Atsushi rescue Kyouka, and subsequently be injured and kidnapped by Akutagawa. We watch the Agency fall into disarray when Fukuzawa demands that everyone go looking for Atsushi- interesting, considering that Dazai is IN THE BASEMENT OF THE PORT MAFIA RIGHT NOW.

I've had lots of discussions and arguments about the meaning and significance of this. I won't delve too deep into it for now, but the way I see it is this: something the ADA is really REALLY good at is splitting up Mystery-Inc. style and working to solve cases etc., together, but apart. Dazai is also something of a stray dog (... cat), regularly wandering off and reappearing of his own accord. He's been with the ADA for several years at this point, and they would understand the way he operates well. Even if there's no indication whether he explicitly told anyone what he's doing or where he's going (which honestly, does that matter, when Ranpo would know immediately anyway?), we can safely assume that this is more or less a regular thing for them.

Anyway, back to the point. the Agency is not fazed by Dazai's disappearance... and neither, for some reason, is Dazai. He stands chained to the wall in the PM's basement- the same one, we discover later, where he's brutally tortured countless victims and traitors, and he's humming a little tune to himself, smiling, totally relaxed. We as the audience know he's pretty unflappable, and Akutagawa's expression when he sees him confirms this, too.

But. BUT. This doesn't last.

With the ADA descending into chaos, we switch perspectives back to Dazai again. He's bored at this stage, and thinking to himself that they must be searching for Atsushi soon (an indication that he was riling Akutagawa up earlier, btw) when he hears it: A voice that makes his resolve crack. A look of panic on his face that, at this stage, we haven't seen yet.

He turns, and we see Chuuya for the first time! He's got this strange smug look on his face, something deeply vindictive. Here's a current mafia executive, and he's so happy to see Dazai chained to the wall of their Torture Basement that you can't help but wonder... is there something that Dazai did to him, personally, that makes him feel this way? Or is this guy just so deeply involved with the PM that the fact Dazai left is like a personal slight against him?

Now, we don't really have long enough to truly panic over this predicament, because almost immediately these two fall into their old habits. Dazai isn't PLEASED, but he isn't afraid. He goes right into bantering with Chuuya, who surprisingly meets him right in the middle. Their regular dynamic shines right through: it's quick-witted quips, inside jokes, and knowing looks. It's this odd relaxation in their posture. In all of this, we have an acknowledgement of what they were, and evidence to suggest that they still are... whatever that thing is. Whatever you wanna call it: partners, boyfriends, best friends, buddies. That much is up to interpretation; the only undeniable fact is that they once knew each other better than themselves, and still do.

Then, the fight. This, to me, comes across as more of a way to display how powerful they both are individually: Chuuya punches concrete so hard it shatters in several places, Dazai snaps his fingers and breaks out of handcuffs.

We have front-row seats to what is in my opinion one of the best action sequences in early BSD, not just for what physically transpires, but what it tells us: they deeply understand each other on multiple levels. They're constantly predicting each other's moves, and they know where each other's weak spots are.

But there's also been a lot of growth. Dazai surprises Chuuya a few times, and vice-versa. Despite their apparent closeness, it's still clear that they haven't been together like this for a long, long time.

Then, they reach checkmate. It appears as though Chuuya has won, and we're fed some more Dazai lore- he was the youngest executive the PM ever saw.

This is how Chuuya remembers Dazai. Again, I want to remind you that this is the first time so far we're seeing PM-zai, and he is worlds away from the Dazai we've grown to know so far.

Though Chuuya seems to have driven Dazai into a corner, the roles are quickly reversed when Dazai claims to know something about a meeting between all five of the Mafia's executives. Chuuya quickly realises this is one of his 'predictions,' further proving the depth of their mutual understanding.

With hindsight, we know just how big a deal a meeting of this scale is, and knowing a certain stormbro (who I won't reveal just in case of spoilers) will be there makes me lose my mind, personally. It clearly affects Chuuya, as well, which was undoubtedly Dazai's goal.

With the power balance disrupted again, they quickly fall back into that same bantering dynamic. The volatile nature of their relationship is so perfectly portrayed within this short scene that it actually makes me sick, I genuinely don't think it could have been more perfect

Anyway. Chuuya has realised, at this stage, that Dazai had multiple goals when he allowed himself to be kidnapped, and one of those was to piss Chuuya off (which is something I think he could've managed even if Chuuya wasn't physically there). This, in turn, pisses Chuuya off, especially when he realises the predicament Dazai has left him in- let him escape, or the Mafia suffers. A test of loyalty, Chuuya's greatest weakness. Do you understand why I am tearing my hair out and howling at the moon??? This is fucking insanity.

And then, the final moment! The part we all know and love! Not only does Chuuya choose to err on the side of caution, allowing Dazai to escape- he also leaves with the repetition of another inside joke. And Dazai laughs- he looks genuinely happy, too.

That is all. I'm gonna go cry now ಥ_ಥ

read this original thread on twitter

[lazyflower48]

So I just saw something really interesting. We know that the next episode is titled "Twilight Goodbye"

Well, in Nakahara Chuuya's "Poems of the Goat" there are two poems called "The Terrible Twilight" and "The Twilight of This Spring Day"

Another thing to note is that Dazai Osamu's very last work was called "Goodbye" which was left unfinished because of his death

One thing that's also on my mind is what Kisho Taniyama (Chuuya's VA) said in an interview regarding s5:

"If you watch this fifth season all the way to the end, i think you will be able to feel more of the depth of the relationship that Dazai and Chuuya have established."

Emphasis on "all the way to the end"

I'm not too sure as to what to make of this honestly cause my mind is a mess after this episode

[dandelion-roots]

[ID: a digital redraw of the scene where chuuya shoots dazai in the shoulder. on the top of the drawing is chuuya holding a guy to dazai's head in the red and grey hallways of the prison. on the bottom of the drawing is dazai's pained face. the gunshot is shown stylistically as hectic lines behind his bloody shoulder. over the image is half a quote from goncharov that reads 'if we really were in love you wouldn't have missed.' the signature says dandelion-roots. end ID]

This quote from Goncharov (1973) in relation to soukoku has been haunting me from before I even got to that scene in the anime (the full thing is: Katya- Of course we're in love, that's why I tried to shoot you/ Goncharov- If we really were in love you wouldn't have missed). Violence as a tool for communicating emotions, especially love and hatred, especially love and hatred makes me go feral- how could I not think of the iconic quote that says that katya's miss was a sign of a lack of love/a fake love when chuuya didn't miss? Just... losing it over here.

[daimadiamante]

Nothing gets the idea out of my head that DreamWorks Animation ships soukoku

Is it a mere coincidence that some couples created by the company have a dynamic very similar to that of Soukoku? Hmmm… I don't think so.

Soukoku and its DreamWorks(furry) version 1:

Soukoku and its DreamWorks(furry) version 2:

[mikayuumouse]

Dumb Bsd theory I came up with that's probably already been said but idk I wanted to discuss it;

So Fyodor was all like "I'll let you use the backside of the Page from the Book if you join my side"

Atsushi of course agreed to this, but then Amenogozen stabbed him and Fyodor said this;

So Fyodor really only wants Byakko. He doesn't give a crap about Atsushi

Then he commanded Amenogozen to decapitate Atsushi, and Atsushi almost was killed until someone cut Amenogozen's arm off

And who was that? Atsushi's knight in shining armor, Akutagawa

Anyways, blah blah blah, more stuff happened, as you all know, I don't wanna just recap all the latest chapters, I just want to talk about a specific aspect

Fyodor is most likely desperate for the Bookmark/Byakko. I don't think we really know anything about the Bookmark(?) except for the fact that Atsushi's ability slicing claws are valuable. But like, Fyodor's been doing all this plotting and scheming for years, just to get the Book and maybe the Bookmark

I have no idea how Fyodor was going to get Byakko out of Atsushi if Atsushi had actually been decapitated by Amenogozen, but I Atsushi's gone now. He's not dead, but he's in the fourth dimension with Ueda, where Fyodor (probably) can't reach him. If Fyodor can't reach Atsushi (whether dead or alive), he can't get the Bookmark

But who's someone Fyodor can get to? Akutagawa

Also this was Fyodor's face when Akutagawa cut Amenogozen's arm off,

and he looks genuinely shocked, because I think to his knowledge at the time, Atsushi's claws were the only thing that could hurt Amenogozen (as he said while guilt tripping Atsushi into thinking Kenji, Tanizaki and Kunikida's blood were on his hands). Fyodor most likely sees Akutagawa as a threat of some sort, especially since he's so unprecedented

But Akutagawa isn't stable right now

Akutagawa is injured, alone, enraged and just very recently got all of his memories and trauma returned to him. He's not in the best of shape, and also, he is desperate. Perhaps even more than Fyodor. Akutagawa wants and needs Atsushi back, because Atsushi is his reason to live and his heart

Now, Fyodor ripped up the "Page" but c'mon that was most likely a fake. Fyodor's got the real thing kept somewhere else (maybe just on his person). Or maybe he has more fake Pages (if the original Page he decimated was even fake)

So what would happen if Fyodor pulled out another Page, whether fake or real, and offered it to the feral, desperate knight known as Akutagawa? What if Fyodor told him the power of the Page, and how Akutagawa could bring his beloved weretiger back?

Akutagawa doesn't know people who die by Amenogozen's blade get transported to the fourth dimension. He thinks Atsushi is dead.

What if Fyodor manipulates that aspect of Akutagawa? Like, what if Fyodor's plan has altered, slightly, to where he uses Akutagawa's desperation to get Atsushi/Byakko

There could be a lot difference ways of executing the whole thing, but I assume Akutagawa would be tricked by Fyodor and then somehow imprisoned and then once Atsushi's back from the fourth dimension (does Fyodor know about the fourth dimension? I don't remember if it's even revealed if he does or not), he'll use Akutagawa against Atsushi. It's guaranteed that Atsushi would join Fyodor's side to save Akutagawa, as he agreed to it to save the Agency, although Atsushi probably wouldn't trust Fyodor's promises

Idk this is a very random theory and probably stupid 😔 but I do wonder how things would play out if the story took this direction

[forthetaintedmemes]

Atsushi: Why do you call Chuuya a

Slug?

Dazai: I feel like this is self explanatory, but I've got you. He sticks to walls.

Akutagawa: Why call Dazai mackerel ?

Chuuya: *has been waiting for someone to ask so he can reveal Dazai throws roll on the floor temper tantrums*

[cosmicquilt]

Let's ROLL! (Dazai and Chuuya in their WAN! magical girl costumes)

[thelesbododo]

I really like the idea of the book being in Dazai's possession or at least him having some sort of attachment because the idea of Chuuya being being the vessel for the god of destruction and Dazai having a book that's sole purpose is to create is just something that I find so appealing

[atsushis-missing-leg]

If I don't stop vibrating, you might become an sskk widow.

Anyways this is a check in. Are you good after that chapter?

Hello no I am not!! Nrhrhehhdkeje okay I JUST read it so I don't completely grasp it yet.

Tsukinogozen!!! New sword that sounds so cool but apparently it's fucking gone????

Okay I'm gonna use this ask as an excuse to cook up some dumb theories.

When tsukinogozen broke, amenogozen (being its "twin" lost some of its power. Obviously if Ueda were to DIE, amenogozen would die or wtv. Btw Ueda referred to the divine being as "the majesty of God" and my brain is too muddled from just waking up to get into that.

OH MY GODDDD AND UEDA APOLOGIZING REMINDJNG ATSUSHI OF HIS YOUNGER SELF IM BREAKING.

Atsushi what are you doing that's the WRONG HAND

Seriously though, I can't tell if the arm he's using is transformed because of the smears or wtv and I think that's kind of the point?

Anyways, back to Akutagawa...

He's not doing so hot. The vampire's regenerative stuff wore off and now he's at total risk of dying. Wow. Arm cut off. How does it feel to be Atsushi huh?????

Also Akutagawa's face in the bottom left is so precious to me idk why. I love seeing characters that aren't usually shocked or distressed in shock or distress...

Okay so shut the fuck up

Dazai when the fuck did you learn to play the piano and also someone figure out what he's playing /j

Okay. So...he just wanted to see Dazai again? Idfk I'm tired and hungry

Either that or he misinterpreted that as Dazai-which is also half true except SOMEONE impersonated DAZAI (the Headmaster)

And oh my GODDDDDDD THE TEARS. 5HE TEARS IN HSI EYEYS. OH YKMT GODD.

HESBTUNWJDIEJDKWKDIR

We need to stop targeting akutagawa's head btw what the hell

WAIT OG MY GOD. OH MY GOD. GO FIEISNDKIS WAIT. AKUTAGAWA WASNT "KILLED" WITH THE SWORD HE WAS KILLED BY THE DIVINE BEING SHANDS OH MY GOD OH MY GOD DOES THE TJING WITH PEOPLE NOT BEING ACTIALLY INJURED CARRY OVER TO OTHER PARTS OF THE DIVINE BEING FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCKKGUIFJEJFKJEJDJDB AKUTAGAWA DON'T BW DEAD PLEASE OG KY GOD

[mackerel22]

Ranpo, first time meeting Dazai about Chuuya: My special abillity says there's a man in your life you're having problems with.

Dazai, angrily: That's an easy guess.

Dazai: I'm clearly an annoying person and have problems with both genders.

Ranpo: Yes, you clearly are.

[kaurwreck]

mori is going to forget to tell the boys that verlaine is coming to pick them up from meursault and verlaine is going to leave port mafia hq for the first time in six years only to arrive just in time to see his baby brother getting his back blown out by verlaine's least favorite anthropomorphized weasel. like. this is why he didn't want to leave the fucking basement, mori.

[minimafioso]

Dazai's Star Gazing Card in Mayoi

🧵I love astrology stuff so seeing Dazai's Star Gazing card is interesting! He's the only one talking about stars as directional guides, stories & anecdotes

Btw he's a Gemini!

"It's said that's a constellation of twin brothers" Now I'm imaging Teen Twin Dark Star Gazing

I fell down the rabbit hole and learned quite a bit about the Greek Lore of the Star, Castor and Pollux, the twins (of dif fathers… blame Zeus)

A major theme of this star is the power of brotherly love, duality of life, of mortality and immortality forever intertwined.

Anyway, TL;DR I made Dazai's Star Gazing Card about SKK because I will literally wither and die if I dont make everything about them