#yomi hirasaka

[hatsumishinogu]

Henjin no Salad Bowl Vol.6 (light novel)

[graphicpolicy]

Yomi Hirasaka is coming to Otakon 2024

Yomi Hirasaka is coming to Otakon 2024 #otakon #otakon2024 #otakon24

Yomi Hirasaka will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He is a novelist from Gifu Prefecture in Japan. Hirasaka debuted in 2004 by winning the Excellence Award at the 0th MF Bunko J Light Novel Newcomer Award. His main works since then include “Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends” published in 2009, “A Sister’s All You Need” in 2015, and “A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics” (“Henjin no Salad Bowl”) in…

[sappho-knight]

hi okay yeah vent blog time

read this from an interview with fushimi and hirasaka about the state of the light novel industry (https://originalnews.nico/388202)

yomi hirasaka may be leaving the industry. and i kinda don't want them to go but like i have no stake in his life except just being sort of a parasocial reader which he probably doesn't like (wow! expectations are scary) but also. i kind of. want him to continue writing. we don't get a lot of light novel writing like his any more in the industry... or maybe i'm not familiar with anything like his work.

i like the topics he brings up and the way he tackles them... his characters are very human... i'm infinitely jealous...

the way the industry sounds structured makes me realize like damn. i kind of want to be around people like that, too. and the way they think... uuuuuuuuu..........

he's really just writing something he wants to read! he really is doing that. i'm so jealous. i wish i knew what i wanted to read (lol) but also imagine the amount of freedom you're experiencing to be able to achieve that. haganai was an absolute banger in japan, so i think he's able to comfortably(?) retire on that money, and honestly thinking about bunny girl senpai being of the same genre/vein, to me it makes sense why these light novel authors, seasoned, are able to survive. same for fushimi and oreimo. they're really living out their best lives, i think...

some part of me feels upset because. goddamn. out of all the people i have a parasocial relationship with, it has to be a middle-aged author on the other side of the world, language barriers, who has a difficult time understanding people/characters like me (me!). and not like some vtuber that's trending right now that we can speak normally of. it feels like an incredibly isolating experience to want to get to understand the author -- maybe not even know him! but maybe, just a little? -- and figure out how his brain ticks so you can continue on that trend on 'his behalf'. if not for him, then for yourself, who wants to see his type of work grow.

i think it would be nice to write, release and consider short stories, like light novels, actually. maybe they're just regular novels/fiction in english. it's not like i've tried to understand a lot of the works under the fiction section. but at the same time, i can't wrap my head around what's the trending industrial model, either. ya books? parents in the us will have my head off the moment i start talking about sexual content. japan's content curation is infinitely more lax than main areas in the west, which is kind of a bust for itself (aka problematic af) but it's kind of also beneficial (aka we get to talk about and showcase really problematic ideas and origins of those ideas).

i don't want to see mainstream ideas that flood the western universe, goddamn. that's like, no got/startrek/wars/lord of the rings/twilight/stephen king novels. i want my momentary/cyclic and maybe intriguing facets of the industry. like whatever jay zhao is doing (iron widow) [but no, i'm not interested in her content either, i do respect it though] but like. all the time.

(or is it that like romcom in the light novel industry is vastly different from how we judge romcom in western society? but that can't be it. there's something very special about yomi's writing that we're losing from him leaving the industry, and i don't have the capability of knowing why. so losing him not only feels sore, it makes me feel helpless.)

i think, for sure, i don't really care about what yomi does after he leaves the industry. i think at best i care about his wellbeing, and that whatever prospects he seeks out next be well to him. i'm just struggling and trying to process my grief for what we lose from him leaving the industry, but from like a parasocial point of view. he's going to be a pillar of my writing journey, always, but that's not his fault and i don't think he should feel guilty for going where he wants to go.

i just really, really like yomi's work a whole lot.

[sentiniel]

okay i'm being so so so so so serious right now. is anyone going to otakon able to take meet & greet requests or something. i'm asking very nicely

[adachimoe]

Magatsu derp-a-derp and the PS2 version

I'm even using a screenshot from the PS2 version gasp

When going through Yomotsu Hirasaka, Izanami speaks of her 3 chosen ones and says one of them gave himself up to something other than the truth, and magatsu corrupted his awakened power. Of course, we know this is referring to Adachi since well his dungeon is called "Magatsu" Inaba and his Persona is called "Magatsu" Izanagi. Magatsu is like saying disaster - it's referring to the icky stuff Izanagi picks up while he's in Yomi and later washes off and turns into gods named Ohomagatsuhi and Yasomagatsuhi. (My personal favorite is calling it Bad Vibes; this is why I'm not allowed to do anything.)

I think it gives the image that Adachi, like the protagonist, started with an Izanagi Persona, and, much like how your party members Personas evolve, Adachi's Izanagi became Dark and Edgy because of his own bullshit. Go figure.

But, hold on - in the PS2 version, you didn't actually know that Adachi's Persona was called Magatsu Izanagi lol. I think you'd still associate this line with Adachi because his dungeon is called "Magatsu" Inaba, but what about his Persona? When you fight Adachi, it only has his name on the analyze screen. He never calls Magatsu Izanagi by name when he uses skills, etc. It wasn't a Persona you could fuse, and there was no compendium entry.

Afaik, the only way you'd know Magatsu Izanagi's name was by going through the disc data where it had placeholder data as a Persona under the Fool Arcana with Soejima's un-rendered art, but I can't imagine a ton of people were capable of doing this:

There is also an unused voice line of Adachi saying Magatsu Izanagi, though it's unknown why it isn't used in the PS2 game.

Later, when the Design Works was released some 6mo after the game first came out, it also included Magatsu Izanagi's name, and I imagine that's where most Japanese fans picked up the name from:

Kinda strange to think about now that people do know its name and its included in Golden and all. φ(゜▽゜*)♪

When it comes to the English version, magatsu was seemingly translated as "evil". To be honest, I wonder if the localizers knew the >implications, or even knew what Adachi's Persona's name was supposed to be at the time? Based on an old interview, they had less time to work on P4 than P3 (even tho P4 had 1.5x the amt of text), so it does feel like a detail that would easily slip by.

[ace-reviews]

SPRING 2024 ANIME RECOMMENDATIONS

The anime industry needs to chill the fuck out. Literally stop. This isn't your heart.

If you somehow have time left over after the 86,000 returning series this season, watch these new cartoons also.

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ZACK’S RECOMMENDATION #1: Kaiju No. 8

For the sake of full disclosure, I ended up dropping this manga after about a year when due to a number of reasons I had to play catch-up on a bunch of Jump and Jump+ titles. I ultimately decided cuts needed to be made and this was one of them, but I made that cut with the full knowledge that it would eventually get a kick-ass anime and I was right because I’m always right.

The anime looks better than I’d hoped and sounds better than I imagined. The background music sounds like something from a blockbuster movie, and I mean that as a compliment, considering that's basically what it is. Even if you’re not really into kaiju, this is still worth checking out. Unless you’re allergic to beautiful animation and/or poop jokes.

ZACK’S RECOMMENDATION #2: A SALAD BOWL FULL OF ECCENTRICS

This series became a lock for my recommendation this season (even over the train anime, which is very good and you should also watch) the moment I discovered it’s based on a light novel by the same guy who wrote Haganai and A Sister’s All You Need. I’ve never read any of the novels in question because I’m illiterate but I enjoy both of those anime very much (though I will admit that the latter is not for everyone). Haganai transed my gender and for that reason alone I will support Yomi Hirasaka (by watching and recommending anime adaptations of his books. Alas! if I could only read) ‘til my dying day.

This was a solid premier on its own merits, as well. The characters are fun and likeable, the jokes land pretty much every time (at the very least, I can’t immediately think of any that didn’t), and reverse isekai stories are still uncommon enough to be fun. There is the unfortunately ever-present concern that Our Hero will turn out to be a sex pest, but based on Hirasaka’s track record I’m not too worried about that. Really, more than Haganai or A Sister’s All You Need, the anime this premier kept making me think of the most was Hanamatsuri (side note: you should watch Hanamatsuri.)

Also, look at her. She’s reading Detective Conan. I’m reading Detective Conan. That’s so cool of both of us.

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CHARLIE’S RECOMMENDATION #1: Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Cheat Powers

Fairly standard fare for the cozy isekai sub-genre, but it’s a decent way to spend half an hour, if you don’t mind the harem aspects.

CHARLIE’S RECOMMENDATION #2: Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again

It was fine, I guess. Watched it because the premise seemed cute, and I wasn’t wrong. Felt like a short comic but animated, and the art was good. Really wish they didn’t have family members lusting after the grandparents, though.

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FEN’S RECOMMENDATION #1: Route of Odd Taxi

FEN’S RECOMMENDATIONS #2: Train to the End of the World & The Many Sides of Voice Actor Radio

[amemenojaku]

due to a change of plans I went to Yomotsu Hirasaka today instead of a few days ago! I got older places to post about in my backlog but I figured something like this would be more interesting to my touhou followers rn

before that though, I did a quick detour at Iya shrine as suggested by the person running the little tourism office/souvenir shop/town association (very nice place btw)

it enshrines Izanami mainly, but also Ookuninushi/Oonamuchi, Sukunabikona (!), Kotoshironushi, and I spotted a few smaller shrines for Susanoo etc. plus the usual Inari of course. the shrine office was exceptionally closed when I got there but they'd left goshuin outside for visitors, so I paid mine and got on my way to the main place I'd come here for

Yomotsu Hirasaka is on a little hill (obviously) almost completely cut from the rest of town, which made for a relaxing walk. I saw a bunch of abandoned barns and gardening sheds in the fields on the way there, and there's a pretty big pond right next to it with huge carps in it. anyway

that's where Izanagi supposedly sealed the path to Yomi to prevent Izanami and her girls from catching him. funnily enough, most of the informational material there and the leaflets I got at the tourism office call the pursuers some variant of "oni" or "evil spirit". for example:

but on a stone monument right next to the rocks themselves, the word "shikome" is what's used:

food for thought... 😏 there was also a board with some more local information and a QR code to a narrated video of this episode of the Kojiki and I thought it was honestly pretty well done so here it is: link (the sound can get a bit loud at times so beware). the shikome look hilarious in it tbh I'd suggest watching it at least for them

on the way back I used a shortcut through the forest and found a little place dedicated to Sai no kami/Dousojin. in retrospect I should've seen it coming, but it was still a surprise to find something that can be kinda linked to a certain other character right there in the middle of the woods

[animemakeblog]

“Henjin no Salad Bowl” The Spring 2024

A teaser promotional video for the television anime Henjin no Salad Bowl (Salad Bowl of Eccentrics) was unveiled via the official website. The comedy fantasy light book by Yomi Hirasaka will be adapted into an anime that will debut in April 2024 on TBS, CBC TV, and BS11.

[dropintomanga]

HIRAETH - The Middle and The End of It All

Continuing where I left off months ago, it’s time to explore the last two volumes of Yuhki Kamatani’s HIRAETH - The End of the Journey. The ending does end with a sense of loss, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t move forward despite of it.

Talk about suicide and suicidal ideation after the jump, so just a warning.

In Volume 2, the trio of Mika, Hibino, and Hani continue their trip towards the underworld, Yomotsu Hirasaka (also known as Yomi), to die. Along the way, they run into a researcher named Chihiro Awashima, who knows about Hibino’s immortality. While she wants to hopefully use the knowledge of immortality to improve the medical world, Chihiro’s also desperate to find a way to save a friend who’s dying of a terminal illness. Chihiro challenges Mika’s way of thinking (her desire to die after losing her best friend) by saying death is absolutely scary. Hibino tries to ignore Chihiro with vague answers about his immortality and once the trio makes an attempt to escape her grasp, Chihiro appears and collapses in front of them. She the admits that she lied about her friend and that she’s the one who is dying - from cancer. Chihiro then cries out in desperation how much she wants to accomplish something meaningful before dying. 

Hibino and Hani do convince Chihiro to accept her impending death and that her life still has meaning even if she doesn’t feel like it. There’s something Hani to Chihiro says that made me think.

“You believe the meaning of human life is to accomplish something before you die. How fascinating. While I thought of nothing but I was letting go...”

I listened to a podcast about this whole chase to find meaning in life. Sure, meaning means more than happiness. But I now wonder if we’re all being gamified to find meaning/purpose or else we’ll never be successful. It feels no different than trying to be a “personal brand” and sacrificing your mental health for it. It’s okay to accept that things can be meaningless; it doesn’t change the fact that there’s still things worth living for in life. Chihiro’s search for immortality felt like she wanted to feel pragmatically useful to someone who may need her because society told her to.

Near the end of Volume 2, Hani mysterious vanishes in front of Mika and Hibino. The think about how their life turned out as a god. They wondered why they decided to hang around Mika and humor her wish to die. Hani then realizes that there’s a cherished memory they long forgot. A flashback of when Hani and Hibino first met happens. It turns out that Hani was the soulmate Hibino was searching for. Hani returns and while the reunion is a happy one, everyone will go their separate ways the closer they get to Yomi.

At the start of Volume 3, Hibino encounters an old man he met a long time ago, which causes him to unlock traumatic memories of the people who died before him. Hibino keeps a notebook of said people’s words for his memory’s sake and now wants to get rid of it as he feels trapped by them. Mika refuses to let Hibino throw everything away. Hani jumps into the conversation via violent fashion as they felt insulted by Hibino’s actions because they strongly feel memories should be treasured.

The focus on memory becomes important as Hibino reveals that he knew about Hani for a long time and the two already met a long time ago in ancient Japan. After being around each other for a few years, Hani ends up having to disappear. Hibino and Hani would make a promise that they would meet again if somehow Hibino ends up losing his immortality. Yet that memory was long forgotten until Hani displayed insecurity over how they will be remembered, which triggered Hibino’s remembrance.

The subject of holding onto painful memories can be a tricky one to navigate. In modern society, there’s often a bunch of victim blaming towards people who can’t seem to move on from losing loved ones. We’re always told to move forward and ignore the grief that comes with such memories. But as HIRAETH shows, if an immortal and a god struggle with grief and despair, why would anyone think humans can do better?

The ending is a bittersweet one. Hani eventually disappears, but is glad Hibino treasured him. Hibino dies right after Hani disappears. Mika is about to join the afterlife with no hesitation to see her best friend who died, but decides to go back to the world of the living after hearing a bird sing. She credits the new memories she made with Hani and Hibino that made her re-think her desire to die. 

The most touching part of the end is when Chihiro re-appears in the final chapter. She tells Mika that Hibino reached out to her to take care of his personal affairs (which were trivial) before his eventual passing. Both Mika and Chihiro laugh over Hibino’s actions. And Mika says one of the most powerful lines regarding loss with a huge smile on her face.

“I'm so weird. I can’t shake how sad I feel, but here I am, laughing.” 

I’m gonna get into something I haven’t really talked about here. 4 years ago, a pet bird of mine died after having him for 12 years. The morning he died, I saw him looking very ill. I left for work and came home to find him dead. I was in a state of disbelief and sadness. I did tell some of my friends about my pet bird’s death and one of them told me to celebrate their life. Although I’m not going to pretend that my pet bird thought like a human, he looked like he had fun while he was alive because he sung quite a lot in loud and happy fashion. I laugh now when I think about the times my bird made me smile with his behaviors.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been reading up on grief and ways to talk about it without dismissing the subject entirely. One thing that stood out to me was when someone talks about a loved one who passed away, the first thing asked is “What happened to them?” I think people do this because they want to be certain that whatever befell the person who died won’t happen to them. A better thing to say is “Tell me more about them. Tell me how they lived. Tell me what were they liked. Tell me your favorite memories of them.”

There’s a huge collective silence that subtly makes its mark when talking about emotional memories. There’s cases where people might be deemed “too emotional” and put on a “someone to avoid” list. However, if you really want to feel connected to someone, being a bit more emotional than usual is what makes relationships stronger, not weaker.

People going through grief often don’t get a proper chance to talk about the ones they lost with love. There needs to be a better collective response in giving opportunities to them to speak out. Accepting death and all it brings is what really moves us to treasure and move forward in life. At least, that’s what Kamatani is trying to say with HIRAETH and their approach in talking about death.

HIREATH is an amazing manga that talks about a subject rarely talked about in Western culture. It’s uncomfortable to read at times due to so much focus on facing one’s mortality, but the characters make you feel alive and ensure that it’s okay to face it when you have the people you love at your side. And more importantly, accepting the pain of the past can lead to a present and future that you want to fight for and cherish.

To quote a BBC article on the subject of hiraeth (which is a concept in the country of Wales and the source of inspiration for the manga),

"It (Hiraeth) can be quite revealing, in a way. It can give you an idea of how you want to live, so you can try to embody that happiness and bring it with you into everyday life."

[hatsumishinogu]

Henjin no Salad Bowl @comic Vol.2

[thegenderfluidgokenin]

YOMI.

The Underworld has been whispered about in your city for generations. Tales of woe about children, farmers, gods, goddesses, and even Samurai and their daughters being lost after attempting to go to the area of "Yomotsu Hirasaka" for their own reasons permeate the local culture.

Rumors say the creatures of the night, the Yokai, once rallied to defeat humanity itself after a cosmic injustice led to the death of their patron goddess. The God of Life, leading the best warriors of your land, drove them into Yomi and sealed Yomotsu Hirasaka for good. The Yokai still remain, and it is said that thry are the reason for the high number of dissapearences in that area.

You, a pre-teen named Furisuku, are one of those dissapearances, and you are in on a long journey to discover the secrets of Yomi, the souls behind the Yokai, and one day return to your city to breathe the Japanese air once again.

It's like Japantale, yes, but not related to it. I've studied Japan for 3 years and want to do my own thing with the concept of "Undertale but Japan". This is not a copy of Japantale.

[lapis-maid]

i finished watching A Sister's All You Need and good lord i enjoyed this so much. it's a shame that it's only 12 eps, it ends with a lot of future events being set up for later in the series but it never got adapted into future seasons. which sucks because what's here is really good!

just a really good series that isn't afraid to be super weird and raunchy, and i feel like that self-demonstrates one of its big themes, that art is at its best when made by Freaks who create what they love without compromise, and resonate with others who love the same.

i really need to read the light novels, the cast here is full of unhinged weirdos who are just so much fun and have such good chemistry. apparently the writing for the anime was handled by the LN author (Yomi Hirasaka) so i'm pretty sure i'll be in for a good time when i get to that.

[hybridreviews]

TIME of the SEASON Spring 2024 Edition: A Salad BOWL of ECCENTRICS

You Weird Motherfuckers was the working title. It didn't stick.

I guess the original title didn’t fit. It was called You Weird Motherfuckers. Well, I was kinda right of what I saw. This is A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics. Director: Masafumi Sato Series Composition: Kenichi Yamashita Yomi Hirasaka Script: Kenichi Yamashita Yomi Hirasaka Music: Hanae Nakamura Misaki Umase Tsugumi Tanaka Original creator: Yomi Hirasaka Original Character…