workshop-at-mahoutokoro

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

The Four Symbols

A continuation of a discussion from the main blog regarding the Four Symbols and their inclusion in the Japanese and Chinese wixen worlds.

The Four Symbols are “four mythological creatures appearing among the Chinese constellations...viewed as the guardians of the four cardinal directions” (Wikipedia).

As the name implies, the Four Symbols are only symbols and not actual magical creatures in my opinion. The Four Symbols were used to classify the night sky, encompassing all the star clusters in a particular direction (Black Tortoise = North, Azure Dragon = East, Vermillion Bird = South, White Tiger = West). When these divisions were outlined and created, the areas were named after real animals or magical creatures.

Divination can be based on the stars (astrology) and/or directions and arrangement of objects in the environment (geomancy). The Four Symbols were used in these methods of divination from the early days. In astrology, they were used as groupings for the stars that could then be used to divine the future. In geomancy, they were used to define the directions and through this became associated with different elements, seasons, yin/yang, etc. Geomancy is also how the Four Symbols became viewed as “guardians” of the directions. 

For example, it is said that the Four Symbols guard Kyoto’s Imperial Palace. In the wixen world, it is probably the case that protection spells were placed and the addition of arranging them in the four cardinal directions probably strengthens those spells or adds up to a much larger array/complex magic. The fact they popularized the Four Symbols as the guardians of the palace is probably a form of propaganda in the wixen world as well, since it sounds good to say that the four beasts, and by extension the heavens, are guarding an important place in the country that also happens to be the center of the government.

In reality, magic and the wixes who designed and maintain it, are the ones doing the heavy lifting. It is “magical” in a sense, but not divine.

(The island of Nagumo, where Mahoutokoro is located in my headcanons, also has a similar set up with shrines at each of the four directions and protective spells originating from these four points. It caught on to refer the four corners of the island based on the Four Symbols.)

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 1 Liveblog (3-9)

So, I technically watched episode 3 already, I just forgot to liveblog it. These are more or less my thoughts from what I remember of my first watch. Also, I forgot how short anime episodes actually are and just sped through to episode 8 without liveblogging, so I’ll recap my thoughts here as well.

The pacing of this anime is great. It didn’t lag too much during the training segments, and moved right along without skipping too much, though the 1.5 year training time is a bit easier to miss if you weren’t paying attention.

Episode 3-5

Tanjiro has found himself a mentor to train him to be a demon-slayer. I suppose this organization must be good at their job if it isn’t common knowledge that man-eating actually demons exist and are a real threat in this world.

Ok, I skipped the episode title screen the first time, but let’s go back and actually figure out what Sabito and Makomo mean. Sabito is 錆兎 meaning... ‘rust rabbit’. Ok, 兎 is a jinmeiyō kanji (kanji that can officially be used in names) and I’m not exactly sure how those work - it could just be a kanji chosen to fit the sound ‘to’. 錆 does mean rust, though, likely in reference to his hair color. Makomo is 真菰 meaning ‘truth’ and 菰, a reed used for woven straw mats.

The more you know?

Ah, confirmation that this guy does booby trap his mountain specifically to train people. Got it.

Cue the training montages! Can’t have a good shounen without a training montage.

And Nezuko is just...sleeping all the time, apparently?

So, normally I am really awful at predicting plot twists or anything of the like, so I didn’t catch onto the fact that Sabito and Makomo are actually dead until the moment Tanjiro manages to land a hit on Sabito - then it struck me that the reason this happened in six months was likely because although Tanjiro was improving, Sabito is unable to improve, being dead and all. Then the two and their odd, random appearance, and how they’re only ever shown in a misty, dream-like space, made it clear that they were never really there, physically at least.

It was haunting and I hate it and love it all at once lol. The fact that they returned to the mountain and to Urokodaki even in death, because they loved him so much. I wonder, at the end of it all, whether they and the other children who died can rest in peace since Tanjiro killed the demon that ate them, or whether they’re still ghosties on the mountain.

I also really love Urokodaki’s small signs of caring - making the hotpot for Tanjiro, crying and embracing Tanjiro and Nezuko when Tanjiro returns alive, and even stopping to button his new uniform before he sets off. he is such a dad figure.

The wisteria forest was very pretty! I’m glad they didn’t linger too long on the test portion of the show, and left a lot of questions (talking crows? one guy got a sparrow instead?? the fact that this organization is expansive and apparently does a decent job eliminating demons but the authority is nowhere to be seen, only conveying orders through the crow express...)

Episode 6-9

And the big bad appears! If he was the first demon...how did he turn into a demon? ...A question that likely will not be answered for a very long time.

The first case Tanjiro was assigned in episode 6 was creepy and a great start. It reminds me of several anime and manga that take place in the capital during the Heian era...there is something about those alleys from towns and cities back then, the enclosed spaces...

Tanjiro has always been mature, which I really appreciate. There are times he acts a bit silly, but when it comes down to it, like when that young guy whose fiancee was eaten, he handles it with maturity and compassion.

Also, Nezuko finally has a chance to shine! Currently, she has no combat training, so she’s just going off instinct here, but she did kick some ass.

Then we come to episode 8, and we get to see the big bad – several interesting points here, one of which is of course the fact that he seems to lead the normal life of a fairly wealthy human man, yet he creates demons that eat people uncontrollably. Makes one wonder what his real goals are.

He’s also got a hair-trigger temper lol. someone is a bit sensitive.

It’s interesting that Tanjiro’s earrings seemed to have belonged to another in the past, either that or someone with earrings like his used to be a demon slayer. That person had the red blade that the swordsmith thought Tanjiro was going to have!! Just something to keep an eye on...

Next we get a demon doctor and her assistant! It’s also pretty interesting how a select few demons regain their rationality and ability to refrain from eating people. For now, we’ve seen both her and Nezuko - and by extension, Yushiro who she turned into a demon. Now that is also interesting - so it really isn’t just Kibutsuji who is capable of it, just that it seems to be an innate ability of his vs. being way more difficult for other demons.

And we have set some long term goals to reaching the ultimate goal of returning Nezuko to a human.

We also get two new demons, on Kibutsuji’s team! I really hate villain characters with the childish maniacal laughter like the temari demon, urgh. Though the guy with the eyes on his hands is cool, reminds me of the creepy as hell monster from Pan’s Labyrinth.

Ok so these demons do have some good teamwork! That’s nice. I also just realized that Tanjiro really is a fast learner...10 forms in 1.5 years is pretty good.

Huh these different abilities are sure getting interesting quickly. Not only how the temari and arrow demons can actually combine their abilities in a way, but also how Yushiro can lend his sight to another.

this lady has really got to stop cackling.

so where does she pull these temari out of....do they just regenerate like her arms.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Kimetsu no Yaiba Season 1 Liveblog (1-2)

@essayofthoughts Here you go, friend​! Because you raved about it so much. :)

First of all, I will give anything set in the Taisho period a chance. Not quite sure how the period will be relevant to this show, but 1) I love the aesthetics and clothing from that period and 2) the themes centered around that period are intriguing and I’m wondering to what extent, if any, they are depicted here. The Taisho isn’t the most popular time period to set stories in, so it will be interesting to see if there is a rationale behind it.

Oh yeah and this is ufotable, so gorgeous animation is a given. Loving the blood and snow contrast right from the opening.

Actually...this style opening reminds me of my most favorite anime ever, despite it being more of a guilty pleasure of mine than anything, Hakkenden: Touhou Hakken Ibun (Hakkenden: the Strange Tale of the Eight Dogs of the East). It’s the raw emotion, the desperation and being left wondering how could things have turned out this way. It’s both haunting and alluring, and a really great start for these types of stories that begin with everything in ruin for our main characters.

Also, I realized that Tanjiro’s VA was familiar and turns out he did Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul. And Alm from Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia! ...I will admit, I did tear up near the end of Shadows of Valentia, for various reasons and not just the voice acting, but Natsuki Hanae certainly contributed to that.

I really like the song in the background here...also the snowy forest. I’ve been really liking the snow settings in stories and shows lately.

A responsible protagonist is a good protagonist! Haha, it’s nice seeing a good big brother figure who is also responsible.

I’m already seeing my favorite Taisho style patterns...ahem. I’ll never not squee over the clothes, ok? Taisho era clothes have those brighter colors, more geometric designs than in the past and I really love them.

I love the snowy village and mountain scenes~

lol “I smell a cat” are you a cat, sir?? how do you smell that.

“I’ve got a great sense of smell!” does a good sense of smell keep you from slipping on the ice, snow, and rocks in the dead of night when you don’t even have a lantern?? let’s just say there are no demons in this world, it’s still pretty dangerous on a mountain at night with no source of light lol.

this dude looked like a normal guy right until they showed the shot of him saying “before the demons show up” lol. now you look like the scary one...

So, I do like how this kid doesn’t go galavanting off into the darkness and actually listens to an adult’s very reasonable warnings for once. yay! let us see how long it lasts.

They really did not hold back on the bloody tragedy of it all, huh. Snow is also the best poetic backdrop, here.

Huh. This demon slayer guy is interesting. I sense some projecting going on, lol. You want to talk about something, buddy? Air some grievances?

give the kid some slack, yikes. he’s not a trained demon slayer, alright? he sells coal for a living, lol.

oh wow! some monologuing that shows he sympathizes with the main character...that’s rare. ok, so monologuing isn’t always the best medium to show sympathy but it works here and it’s better than finding out ten episodes later that jerkass guy did actually sympathize with our MC’s situation.

oh so you aren’t that much of a jerk, lol. did he even wrap Nezuko up in that outer coat that got tossed aside earlier?

WOW those are some long credits.

Episode 2!

Lol this kid! 

also i feel like that was a lot for some straw, bamboo, and a broken basket in those times. just saying.

Imma skip these openings and endings for now...I feel like I’ve been getting far too many spoilers from the openings and endings of shows recently.

ooh he’s building a basket out of bamboo. reminds me of this girl from China who has made really amazing things out of bamboo using the same techniques.

ok so he’s really smart in some ways and in others...his abstract thinking is a little out there. how is carrying her in a basket going to work...I mean, it will because this is fiction but lol...

yay blood! can’t have a good show about man-eating demons without the gore.

But also, is this kid actually 100% human or do fit humans just have really good reflexes in this world or what. Also, he has the nose of a dog.

oooh! That perspective change was pretty neat.

haha we had to add some comedy to lighten the mood. but realistic reactions considering this kid didn’t even wholly believe demons existed until a day ago.

also considering this guy got his head kicked off, it’s slightly terrifying that his body just starts launching itself at you.

Gotta do that shounen-y smash my head against yours move, huh. I would’ve thought about bashing the head-and-arms combo against a tree or something instead of my head, but whatever works.

HAHA WHOOPS OFF THE CLIFF WE GO.

Can’t kill them by stabbing. Kill it with fire. That always works.

See? Kill it with fire.

...Does this guy just booby trap the mountain behind his house in his free time. Or does he often test people looking to join the demon slayers.

...Ah. The word used for “train”, in Giyu’s letter asking Sakonji to train Tanjiro, is 育てる, which also has the meaning of ‘to raise’ as you would a child, as in nurturing someone.

ew keigo it’s so formal lol. also some of these people speak like in the olde times, so some of this is not wording I’m familiar with.

I relate to Tanjiro on a spiritual level, though. I, too, cannot decide things for the life of me lol, not even what I want to eat half the time.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Other Schools of Magic in Japan

I intend on making dedicated posts to this on the main blog, but I haven’t had a chance yet to do the research necessary. But that’s what this sideblog is for!

Nagumo Academy of the Magical Arts (aka Mahoutokoro) is the only official school of magic recognized by the international wixen community and the magical government of Japan.

There are several smaller schools throughout the country, however, because there are always going to be people not willing to send their children to a school with such strong ties to the imperial court as Nagumo was.

One rather small school is located in the south in the former Ryukyu Kingdom in the Ryukyu Islands. It managed to survive the dissolution of the kingdom and maintains a very strong stance on preserving what is left of their culture, magical or otherwise. However, talk of its closing has been going around the last few decades as fewer parents elect to send their children here, preferring instead that they assimilate to the mainstream Japanese culture as much as possible.

A short-lived program of magical learning was established in the annex of a famous magical dojo towards the end of the Edo period (est. 1830-1865). It eventually combined with Nagumo, which was based in the old capital of Kyoto.

There is a school in northern Japan (Aomori or Akita) that is the second largest school of magic in the country. It primarily focuses on the rival of the onmyo arts taught at Nagumo: magic centered around Buddhism and Taoism instead of Shinto (note that these all overlap, so there is definitely crossover in terms of what is taught, the emphasis of coursework is different though).

At some point in time, there was also an all-girl’s school somewhere north of Tokyo. It was established in the early 1900s. Not sure if it’s still around.

There might be one more, depending on what additional research uncovers.

But overall, in history, magical education was mostly carried out on a smaller regional level. Temple schools were responsible for education of the lower classes/commoners, while small schools for the nobility were established in different regions depending on the balance/structure of power and politics at the time. Overwhelmingly, people with enough money hired private tutors.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Yokai: Classification & Variation, Part 2/2

A continuation of the post on the main blog explaining the basic classification of yōkai. This post is a discussion of what Japanese wixes have called yōkai across history and by region. Because language is a wonderful, inconsistent mess of a thing, this post got sort of complicated so I decided to stick it here.

Note: I mix and matched terms to fit the HP verse, and picked different interpretations according to personal preference (in particular, the ayakashi–mononoke interpretation is from an anime, Mononoke). They do not reflect the terms used in real life 100%. If you would like to learn more about the actual terms, please refer to the reference links at the bottom of the post.

Yōkai [妖怪]

A term that has been around since at least 797 CE, where it was first recorded in the Shoku Nihongi. However, this word was rarely used in Ancient Japan. Later magizoologists and magical folklorists involved in academic pursuits in the late 1800s and early 1900s more or less agreed upon this term when referring to Japan’s unique subset of magical creatures, in accordance with the common name for the magic used to distinguish them from other magical creatures across the world: yōki.

妖 means ‘bewitching, mysterious’ and 怪 ‘apparition’. Together, they mean ‘bewitching apparitions’ and originally referred to any magic-derived phenomena in the natural world.

Importantly, most Japanese wixes nowadays tend to call any magical creature, even those from abroad, yōkai, with the awareness that 日本の妖怪 ‘Japanese yōkai’ are inherently different from ones from ones from other countries. This is due to the distinction between native and foreign magical creatures not becoming clear and disseminated to the public until the 1950s.

Ayakashi [あやかし] & Mononoke [物の怪]

Two terms that have varied in meaning across history.

Nowadays, wixes who have lived up and down the coast all their lives tend to call yōkai almost exclusively ayakashi. The term ayakashi originated along these parts and referred to yōkai of the sea.

A second meaning to the word ayakashi arose from the wixes who, since the Heian era, travelled up and down the coast renewing wards to keep yōkai from encroaching upon human civilization. They carried this term with them inland, where it came to refer to yōkai magic that mingled with the environment, creating mysterious phenomena among others. Mainly, ayakashi referred to the forces of magic that did not need to interact with human beings to exist. Creatures such as the spirit foxes, tengu, etc., were also considered ayakashi. 

Once yōkai magic interacted with humanity, creating oni out of humans (even non-magical ones), vengeful ghosts, and even magical diseases, it became known as mononoke. Any yōkai that arose solely out of interaction between magic and humanity received this term.

(The idea of mutative yōkai magic, alluded to here, was developed between @themonsterblogofmonsters and I.)

(References: blogs, hyakumonogatari; Mononoke (2007) by Toei Animation)

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Sakae’s kanzashi are always so breathtaking… the “dipped flowers” technique (resin+wire) gives such an amazing effect!

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Pacific Rim Liveblog Thoughts

I watched Pacific Rim for the first time (yeah, I know) and told the mod of themonsterblogofmonsters that I’d liveblog/give my reactions so here they are.

-I’ll talk about the film in roughly 25 minute chunks.

0:00:00-0:25:00

This film is everything you could ever hope for in a mecha series. It’s quite fun to note all the mecha tropes and plot lines used because this movie executes them so damn well. I know I’ve heard of piloting systems like the one in PR, drifting, but the only one I can think of at the moment is Buddy Complex, which actually premiered in 2013, too. Well. PR’s drifting system is everything I wanted Buddy Complex’s to be. BC was a mess lol.

I’m not well-versed in music and soundtracks, but this one is awesome and memorable, even within the first 10 minutes or so. It’s definitely not one of those shows where you forget the entire soundtrack two minutes after you finish watching.

There were a lot of amusing little gems scattered here and there like: -The Jaeger pilots being like celebrities in the early years. Very realistic and reminds me that I have to watch Tiger & Bunny sometime (the non-Netflix version lol). -The kaiju, as living things, actually adapted to fight against the Jaegers and their pilots. I liked that. -The gallows humor: bad news is, we lost 3 guys; good news is, we have 3  job openings! -“I’m guessing that I wasn’t your first choice” -> you were his first choice! and his only choice! because all the rest are dead! well that was inspiring -Somehow, this woman is standing in front of a helicopter holding an umbrella and the umbrella manages to stay in perfect form. literally the most unrealistic part of the movie xD -Japanese!

0:25:00-0:50:00

Lots of stuff happened in this one. The pacing is excellent- we get through SO MUCH content but it doesn’t feel too rushed. It lingers on certain characters/scenes just long enough so to leave an impact and let it sink in, but it doesn’t belabor any particular conversation or interaction. That’s quite rare in a movie as fast paced as this one.

It was probably also really tricky to pull off the connection between Raleigh and Mako. They meet and bond within these 25 minutes, plus we have other characters who need a few scenes to progress the “kaiju brain” side plot. It really worked though? I think, by having them reach a sort of mutual understanding and not go at each other’s throats right from their first meeting, it makes it easier for them to get to the point where they’re compatible.

Glad they didn’t unnecessarily build tension between them for the drama.

-These two scientists/researchers are hilarious. -YES, let’s just merge our brains with a monster one. NOTHING CAN GO WRONG. -AND it worked! Sort of. Also seemed to be causing a seizure but.

0:50:00-1:15:00

Some more good character development here. I really like how Raleigh and Mako are on the same page, before and after the drift. Again, the story pauses a bit to build tension or connections between characters without lingering too long on one or the other.

I also appreciate how mature the characters are- which would make sense, they’re adults, but that’s not always the case and something that annoys me in other shows/movies/etc. Raleigh certainly tries to convince his boss to hear him out, but after he gave it his all, he does back down for the time being.

Also, there’s no pointless blaming of other parties here for the drama. Raleigh and Mako obviously don’t blame the other for things going south. And at least you can understand why that hotheaded other pilot is angry at them. If they can’t even safely move the Jaeger around in the hangar and have everything under control in a non-combat situation, would you really trust them to have your back when it comes to the real thing? His role is basically to be a sitting duck carrying a nuclear weapon.

-WHY WOULD YOU NOT DISABLE THE PLASMA CANNON?? THIS IS A TEST RUN. -“would you like to try again?” how ‘bout no we nearly all blew up thanks helpful computer lady -“you goddamn moron” <- everyone’s thoughts except the mad scientists guy exactly -You would think they would have figured out a way to deal with the tails smacking or impaling them from behind by now but apparently not. Also a quicker way of killing them aside from beating their heads in with metal fists. -welp, that’s two down. -On a side note, I really like how the water resistance is shown? It’s just neat to see the weight of all their movements, and how the kaiju, like normal animals, are more suited to move quickly through it. -The reactor blowing up couldn’t even act as a suicide bomb though, that’s sad. -lol THE KAIJU HAVE JAMMERS never thought I’d see that on one of them.

1:15:00-1:40:00

Lots of action in this part, so not much to say aside from my reactions.

-So. Uh. If it doesn’t move and doesn’t smell human, you might not need to destroy it? Is that how they work? Kinda funny how it just stops and sniffs them when they run out of power. -At least they ended up on land? Being in the water really slows the damn machines down. -I STILL THINK YOU NEED SOMETHING A LITTLE BETTER THAN A FIST AND A FEW MISSILES. Ok. that’s better. -YES. SMART. Bring a weapon! Why did no one think of this before. Granted he brought a ship but you know. Better than nothing. -whoops flying mecha. -Excuse me. if you had a sword. why didn’t you try to use it earlier. before you got carried 50,000 ft in the sky. -I thought you had to be compatible with the person you’re piloting with? Can you just randomly replace someone?

1:40:00-end

I really like how they gave the side characters scenes to expand upon them and didn’t just shaft them in favor of the main characters. I guess it worked because Raleigh and Mako got along from the start, so they didn’t need to waste time developing unnecessary drama with them.

Also, I always appreciate a movie that doesn’t place an inconvenient sappy kiss moment at the most crucial part of the mission/action. They saved the happy hugging moment until after everything was done! And notably they didn’t kiss? What miracle is this? Instead we got a really heartfelt hug and that honestly had more emotional impact than if they would have kissed. I really wish this happened more often.

-Ah. That explains the drift compatibility thing. -Underwater is a terrible place to be moving those clunky things omg. They move even slower than on land. -OH GREAT IT HAS TENTACLES. -How is that damn thing still alive?? -lol of course it’s up to manual detonation. -Did we figure out how to get past decompression sickness in this movie? xD -lol damn that guy survived? No one even tried to get him out haha.

Overall: This movie just blew me away. It’s phenomenal, not a single thing truly frustrated me like when I usually watch these sorts of movies.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Styles & Types of Kanzashi

(return to post)

Styles

(source)

つまみかんざし: tsumami kanzashi

A technique and style of kanzashi made from small squares of dyed silk. It is named for a pinching technique using tweezers to fold the squares into triangles, which then are combined to create flowers. The entire thing is held together by a traditional paste made of rice. The dye on the silk fades with time, lasting about six months, though they can be brought into the Hirane’ya for repairs and to restore the piece for a small fee. Some may also choose to apply a spell to preserve it for a longer period of time.

This technique is often used in the flower kanzashi (hana kanzashi), depicted above, worn by maiko (apprentice geisha) and girls for their Shichigosan (7-5-3, a celebration for children of those ages). Distinctive seasonal kanzashi that maiko wear are adorned with flowers corresponding to the current season.

The tsumami technique came about during the Edo period, which saw a resurgence in the popularity of kanzashi as a whole.

Tsumami kanzashi are one of the Hirane family’s specialties. During the dying process, they mix potions in the dye and cast certain spells that create kanzashi possessing mild effects of the potion they were mixed with. Not all potions are compatible, as it depends on the nature of the materials used in the dye.

(source)

玉簪: tama kanzashi

A simple and popular style suitable for everyday wear, ball-style kanzashi are crafted with the maki-e technique, which was developed in the Heian period and produces the distinctive appearance of Japanese lacquerware. The spells used depend on the nature of the materials; ball-style kanzashi can be crafted from coral, agate, jade, tortoiseshell, ivory, or glass.

Like the design, spells woven into these kanzashi tend to be simple by design, but highly effective. In the past, they were commonly enchanted with exorcism-based spells meant to drive off negative yōkai magic.

(source)

飾りかんざし: kazari kanzashi

Kanzashi crafted from metals, including gold, silver, and aluminum. These kanzashi, among all others, were often crafted to double as weapons and thus are usually enchanted with defensive or offensive spells.

Types

(source)

びらびら簪: bira-bira kanzashi

The ‘fluttering’ kanzashi has streamers made of metal or strips of fabric that dangle, thus the name. A variant, the ōgi kanzashi (pictured above) are kanzashi designed to look like an open fan. The dangling strips of metal create a pleasant tinkling sound akin to the bells used in purification rituals. They may also be affixed with bells or ribbon in place of the metal strips. Fluttering kanzashi are often enchanted with simple protection charms that remain active so long as it continues to make sound.

(source)

笄・櫛: kōgai & kushi

Most kanzashi are hairpins, but the word refers to any hair ornament nowadays. Combs, ‘kushi’, are made of tortoiseshell or lacquered wood. Those made from the tortoiseshell of magical breeds of tortoises and turtles possess the most potent magic. The negative yōkai magic inherent in the tortoiseshell often produced cursed items that many in the past took advantage of, gifting these combs to the target of their ire.

Kōgai refers to double-sided, two-piece kanzashi made from tortoiseshell, metal, or ceramic. They are designed to open and separate into two pieces, thus their name, which refers to a sword and its sheath. These were often used as concealed weapons, but were not always enchanted, as they were the first items to be checked if one was under suspicion.

There are actually a few more types, but these are the most relevant.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Spellwork Workshop Part 1/?

A rambling series of posts about the variety of spells in Japanese magic. They’re not discussed in order, for the most part, just as I happen to think of them. A proper, concise version will be posted to the main blog eventually.

Japanese magic can be classified into two major divisions: magic of the ancient or classical era and magic of the modern era.

Ancient & Classical Japanese Magic

Ancient & Classical Japanese magic is focused on rituals, rites, and ceremonies that invoke powerful spells and specialize in purification or wards and barriers. It’s slow, purposeful, and potent magic involving long incantations in archaic classical Japanese, various implements used to channel magic not unlike a wand does, and the power of the written word contained in amulets. Wards, barriers, and instruments also factor into different types of ancient magic.

Norito: Liturgies or incantations spoken in classical Japanese and nigh impossible to translate with accuracy. They can be used to purify large areas with high concentrations of negative yokai magic as well as granting these areas good luck similar to a minor version of the Felix Felicis potion. They are among of the oldest of Japanese magics and as such require time and considerable energy to cast. Their effects are quite potent, needing to be renewed once a year, but do not require any sacrifices. Wixes do use ‘wands’ called tamagushi (made of sakaki branches) or nusa/haraegushi to channel and direct their magic.

In non-magical Japan they are called 祝詞 lit. ‘prayer utterances’. Magical Japanese society does have more nuanced versions of this word. 祝詞 ‘prayer utterances’ is the general term for it, but used for ones specifically appealing to the kami for protection. 詔戸言 lit. ‘decree-door-say’ for barrier-specific incantations. 詔刀言 lit. ‘decree-sword-say’ for purification rites that cast out harmful yokai energy. 諄辞 lit. ‘assist words’ for those that strengthened existing barriers, wards, and other spells. These are all pronounced the same way, but written differently.

Modern Japanese Magic

Any forms of magic or spells developed after the country reopened its doors to the Western world is considered modern Japanese magic. The most prominent of the modern magics is the introduction of the wand and transfiguration, which remains a controversial field to this day.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Devilman Crybaby Episode 4 to the end

yes, I binge watched it. gah was that awesome

Episode 4

The subplot with the rapper and the other Miki/Miko is so contemporary it feels like it should belong in a live action xD. I wonder how this is going to turn into the near end of the world.

But it’s also interesting how they glossed over Akira’s true thoughts on what happened at the photo studio. Though he managed to argue that Miki wouldn’t remember anything, and Ryo is willing to overlook it as long as she continues to not remember. But Ryo, boy are you creepy. Listening in on everyone’s conversations, phone-stalking people...

I mean, I don’t think things are really alright between them, Akira is just choosing not to bring it up. But at the end, is that Ryo downloading the family photos on Akira’s mother’s phone for him...? Knowing that he does actually care for Akira takes a load off my back with the suspicion guessing game. xD So even though Ryo doesn’t understand familial love at all, he’s still doing this because he knows it’s important to Akira.

But also the club. People are still going back there?? Why is that place a hotspot for emerging demons, anyways...?

Episode 5

Well THAT was an interesting episode...

Our first real glimpse of the demons as more than instinctual killing machines. This could complicate things for Akira, who already experiences sorrow for the ones he killed so far who were more straight-up monsters.

Devotion seems to be an ongoing theme in this series. Destructive devotion, certainly. Even Akira’s selfless devotion ended up with him becoming a devil and all this stuff follows.

Aaahh, Miki, watch your back! Miko isn’t going to be very happy with you stealing her spotlight again...

Ryo’s idea of dealing with emotional issues (for other people): here go gamble, do drugs, or have sex

Ryo’s idea of dealing with emotional issues (for himself, apparently): ignore it, it doesn’t exist

Also, the DESIGNS. They certainly are following the ‘angels and demons are eldritch abominations’ aren’t they. Not designs you see that often in anime.

Episode 6

AH. Ryo’s VA, Ayumu Murase, is an American-born Japanese person, so that’s why his English is so good...There aren’t many VAs who can speak English well. Ooh, so in this episode, Ryo uses the softer masculine pronoun 僕 (boku), though that’s because he’s going for a different persona here as an announcer.

Anyways, the rift between Akira and Ryo is surely going to grow. After finding out that demons can, in fact, keep their human heart like himself, he won’t be able to go along with Ryo’s heartless schemes much longer.

And AH the representation is great, like you mentioned. I’m impressed. You so rarely see gay characters done so overtly and well in anime. I like how the show doesn’t make a huge deal out of the fact that Koda is gay, and he explicitly IS (though that opening scene xD, well, all the sex scenes are depicted the same way so). No offensive jokes, no making a caricature of him.

The main focus is whether he feels human grief and sadness from losing his boyfriend, which he does. Even though he’s a monster, really only Ryo and his broadcast see him as one. Neither Akira nor the show itself and thus us viewers see him as inhuman.

Episode 7

OK. That went south real fast.

Just. A lot happened in this episode. I suppose the giant ball of destructive light wasn’t in the demons’ plan? But why the heck is Ryo suffering a mental breakdown from seeing it? So many questions.

Like, how did Miki’s little brother become a demon? When? I noticed his eyes started looking differently but I can’t remember the first time.

But, Ryo! Why so crazy. why the heck do you want humanity to wipe themselves out. The odd part is how he sees Akira as the only one worth surviving this thing with him. He does a complete 180 when Akira says he’s going to gather the other Devilmen like him. Like, that’s real human concern right there, but it only extends to Akira.

And! The rapping guys are back! I didn’t know what they would do with them, but their appearances are all pretty great.

Episode 8

NOW you start questioning your actions, Ryo??

Oh.

“He was there just like an abandoned kitten.”

That explains a lot.

WHAT. THE. HELL. ARE. YOU. RYO. and what are you doing. why.

Also his plan will work great! We won’t have to worry about demons if we eradicate humanity.

but. the fact that Akira STILL was willing to believe in him, that he would say something that would improve the situation is just. his faith in Ryo is amazing and completely, utterly for nothing because the only one Ryo cares for is Akira.

That’s why I love the opening scenes of this anime. it explains so much. Why Akira hasn’t given up on Ryo even after all this shit (Though this episode might be the last straw?), why Akira is so important to Ryo, confirming that Ryo does actually care for him...

But also, what happened to Miki’s family, like damn...that was sad, with the father in the park...

Episode 9

HAHAHA WHAT. This was that ‘Let’s kill EVERYONE’ episode. Now we’ve only got our MCs left for the finale! This show spares literally no one. Not even Miki, who they built up to be the Good one who manages to keep her faith, or at least not turn to bitterness, until the end. I am fond of the shows that kill off 90% or more of their cast, but it’s brutal to watch.

And they actually came out and said Miki and Miko love each other?? And didn’t keep it to purely subtext? That was great.

I also see what you meant by lesbian spider demon now!

The animation was insane in this episode. It’s been good all along but.

And finally, Akira...how else could he have reacted at the end? But at the same time, he’s finally crossed that line, having lost all his reasons to believe in humanity.

It was definitely shocking that they paraded everyone’s heads and body parts around at the end, like geez.

Episode 10

Two more to add to the body count because no way are our two MCs surviving this!

HA. OH. OH. So Ryo is Satan. That was. Well, you don’t see that every day. That....explains why he really couldn’t understand humans at all. Even though he didn’t remember he was Satan for a long time, his upbringing was pretty much in a cult where people gave him human sacrifices and yeah.

The contrast of light and angelic and beautiful actually equals the biggest evil in the show vs Akira, all dark tones and looking more “demonic” is the only good left in the whole damn place anymore. It’s great.

But that explanation for why the dinosaurs went extinct! “because god wouldn’t let us be happy and blew us up”

Okay, I laughed out loud at that line you like. “I guess God hates me.”

you...you think...?

The funny thing is that it doesn’t seem to be mutual hatred. xD I now know why Ayumu Murase is perfect for this role.

This Ryo-Satan thing is really intriguing. Despite becoming the Actual Devil with no regard for humanity, Ryo (Satan?) still wants Akira. Akira is so important that he had to become a demon, so he could stay by Ryo’s side even after the world went to shit and the demons took over.

Somehow, that unconditional kindness Akira showed Ryo as a kid managed to carry this far. It’s become a twisted sort of “love”, but we’ve established that even demons can love so...

It’s interesting that, in the last episode, Ryo was certainly Satan at the time but was fondly flipping through the photos of him and Akira when they were young?

Ok, I just watched until the end. And...

WHAT.

that was f u c k i n g sad

everyone is dead like I predicted.

it was awesome, but that was sad. (the hell, akira was holding miki’s head. like. talk about traumatic)

congrats, devilman crybaby, you ended up being sadder than toward the terra. toward the terra is downright happy fun times in comparison (even the more tragic manga version of terra is more uplifting).

I just really love the relationship between Akira and Ryo. I think it’s safe to say there are definitely gay vibes throughout the show. But unlike the rest of the show, it’s not sexual in any way, even though I think they definitely love each other (and that’s interesting, that the most important relationships in this series were not sexual). What type of “love” it is, is up for interpretation, but Ryo (Satan counts too I guess) says it himself in different words. He truly loves Akira, but only realizes it once he’s lost him forever. do you know how much i love that sort of tragedy (this is like CLAMP’s X/1999 all over again)

Akira loved Ryo, when he was Ryo. He believed in Ryo for the entire series, forgave his glaring faults and logic, all the way until Ryo wasn’t actually Ryo anymore but Satan. The degree to which Akira didn’t give up on him just gets me. Because to him, Ryo was like that abandoned kitten he wouldn’t give up on even if the outcome was inevitable.

Akira is one of those characters who, if you gave him the choice to take Ryo’s hand when they were children, knowing that he would never change his ways, he probably would still have taken it.

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Devilman Crybaby Thoughts…episode 2-3

No liveblogging because then I would never finish the series, but here are my impressions.

Episode 2: 

How much Akira changed and how much he stayed the same after combining with that devil is interesting to analyze. At first, he seems drastically different, but at the core he’s still himself, just perhaps with more “I give no fucks” than before. Him crying at dinner, getting between Miki and the creep (though he’s not as polite as he was before), and how he interacts with Ryo confirms that he really still is Akira.

And, of course, how shallow people can be in that they only pay attention to him now that he’s physically changed. I like that he completely ignores the existence of those people, he only pays attention to the ones who are important to him.

Continuing analysis on the Akira-Ryo relationship: I will write off the hug this episode as a “you almost died and I’m glad you’re alive” hug, but if it continues I will have to agree on their relationship leaning more towards gay vibes than not. 

Already, Akira’s devotion to Ryo appears genuine and somewhat abnormally strong. Even after all that happened, he doesn’t blame him and even shakes off his formal apology for getting him involved- as if it’s not even a question. To Akira, even if he knew this was going to happen and had a choice to do it again, it’s a mute point because he still would have chosen to accompany Ryo.

Ryo, well, he’s more difficult to gauge. I’ll have to wait and see. Because of his crazy vibes, I can’t tell if anything he says is genuine or not. Some of his words are sinister and the narrowing of his eyes at points doesn’t help.

also lol at the equal opportunity porn. Creepy shit is going on with Miki’s friend though...

I really like Miki’s design for some reason? It’s her color palette, I think. I also love her kid brother lol using the others’ accounts to look at ero stuff (but that cat blocking the inappropriate images xD)

And lastly, it’s interesting that they chose to have the Makimuras be Christian? That’s not something you see often in anime. Goes along with the whole devils and Satan themes though.

Episode 3:

Oh, no. I am weak for dynamics like these. The whole “I will go to any lengths to protect the Only person important to me and the rest of the world can BURN” versus the “what the HELL, NO I don’t want you to do that for me”. What can I say, it’s devotion taken to the extreme on both sides. First Akira, who didn’t for one second blame Ryo that he got turned into a devil and was willing to trust anything Ryo said. Then Ryo, who is willing to kill anyone to protect both himself and Akira.

I’d like to say what the HELL, Ryo but now that his character archetype is established can’t say it’s surprising. Still can’t tell if he genuinely cares about Akira, or is merely using him. That’s where the opening scenes in the first episode are really, really important because without them I’d immediately pin Ryo as just using Akira.

Also, the overtly sexual themes are a little...odd. I don’t know exactly what’s up with that, like, what’s the meaning behind them.

Animation is spot on, I’m impressed!

Anyway, the last line was great. In Akira’s eyes, choosing Ryo’s side would essentially turn him into a “heartless devil” and equal death anyways. Because Akira asked Ryo to kill him if he ever became a heartless devil.

So, no, Ryo. Your ultimatum does not work. I wonder what Akira is going to do...?

And what Ryo is thinking in doing this...What is he going to gain out of threatening his friend with a devil’s body using only a gun? It’s established that Akira as Amon is stronger than other devils, so...

Well, time to watch the next episode!

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Devilman Crybaby Liveblog Thoughts...episode 1

for @essayofthoughts​! 

This got...long. Overall, I’ll keep watching! It was a wild, wild ride and got pretty damn epic by the end.

The opening theme was interesting, plus I always love a good lyric-less opening. There seems to be quite a bit to unpack with the imagery, so for now I’ll just say it’s catchy and the visuals definitely suit the music.

I appreciated the mysterious~ opening scene for managing to catch my attention. It’s so annoying when really good series have really, really boring opening scenes. I particularly like the sequence of those lights or whatever falling upon the earth and turning it into a molten fireball, not sure what that’s about.

Huh. This contrast is quite interesting. I mean, I guess Akira somehow demonstrates to Ryo that “love does not exist and therefore sadness does not either” somewhere along the way. The interesting part is that you’d immediately peg child!Ryo as the cold, utilitarian type, but his more grown up voiceover sounds nothing like his child self. He is vaguely emotional here, “At the time...I didn’t know what you meant.”

His older self uses the formal pronoun 私 watashi, too, even though he sounds so harsh as a kid...No clue what he’s going to be like later, but Ayumu Murase is an interesting choice for VA...I heard him in the Shoukoku no Altair anime, where I didn’t think he fit the main character very well. He has a soft voice and seems great at pulling off a slight feeling of vulnerability in his tone. Let’s see how he is in this role. 

Ok, that was a pretty standard high school sports practice scene, AND THEN THE SUPERVISING TEACHER’S TONGUE JUST DARTS OUT AND EATS THE BUTTERFLY WTF.

Creepy guy looking at love hotels, ok, star athlete, ok. Stabbing coach/father/whoever that guys is, ok... I can see where the social commentary comes in, with this murder case and the drugs. Very interesting. Various anime, manga, movies, and TV shows have been touching on similar themes in the past few years. I’ll hold my thoughts for now.

I am eager to see how the rappers become plot relevant lol. 

SO RANDOM. hey, just chilling by the pier, then some guys come along rapping, then one of MCs pops up on a boat, then car comes zooming down the road and childhood friend just suddenly says “hey let’s go”. and now he has a GUN. overreaction much, Ryo-chan?

LOL BEAR HUG. So is this normal behavior? Swinging guns around in the middle of town?

Ok but I love friendships like these, like they’re just genuinely so happy to see each other gah. I hope it all doesn’t go south due to some stupid thing like a misunderstanding/just not talking to each other to clear things up.

I’m thinking this gun thing is just normal in this world, or something. You’d think everyone would be a bit more shocked. 

Ryo and Akira are lowkey adorable though. Doesn’t even mind that his friend (who���s miraculously a professor in the USA) shows up out of nowhere with a machine gun and shoots up the dock and just takes off with him. All he has on his face is a huge grin.

This is Miki, right? She’s only sane one here. xD “what in the world are you doing going with that guy?? AKIRA!”

AKIRA. Your priorities. No, no you don’t care about the machine gun. You care about him driving without a license...? He’s a good friend though. Even though I don’t believe he agrees with Ryo’s stance on running (and life in general), he doesn’t break off on an unrelated tangent and listens and waits for him to talk.

Hey. ENGLISH. Real English. That is understandable!! Hey, this anime earns serious brownie points for that.  

interestingly, Ryo says “Fikira” with a proper “r” sound in Japanese, but when his VA has to switch to “English” with “Professor Fikira”, the “r” gains more of an “l” sound. well, it’s difficult for them to discern the difference between the two. I’m still surprised at how the English is actually English though haha.

Oh, so that’s how the demon/devil stuff connects to the murders.

Well, for all his crazy, at least Ryo explains the whole situation BEFORE they walk through the doors to their possible demise. And for the seemingly calm, cool, and logical one to admit “I’m scared”, and he brought Akira along because he didn’t want to do it alone.

BUT THIS IS ALL STILL REALLY CRAZY. Akira, w h y are you agreeing so quickly? He doesn’t even hesitate.

HUG. Aw, these two are adorable.

And it’s a club. xD Like, if I didn’t already know this was a show filled with chaos and nudity, I would have been kinda shocked. It’s certainly interesting, and different for anime. Also, I can see how being aired on Netflix really helped. I’m not sure of how that all works entirely, but that they can add in, like you said, queercoding and other themes along those lines. mainstream Japanese is, like, ok with adding genderqueer stuff (though not always a great representation to downright offensive, it’s still there), but anything other than heteronormative stuff is still much more iffy.

I can definitely see how the overt sexualization would make you uncomfortable, I’m definitely not enjoying it much over here. xD Especially because this anime seems to have good animation haha.

See, Ayumu Murase sounds good here, playing at a rougher tone as Ryo. This role is fine for him, it was just the character he played in Shoukoku no Altair that didn’t fit at all.

RYO. This is what you were talking about, huh. xD He’s so extreme, like you just get up and start stabbing people?? To draw out the devil??

finally, a reasonable response. Ryo, your crazy is showing just a little.

Well, that took a turn for the worst real fast.

You are a great friend, Ryo. Great friend. I feel like you glossed over something in your explanation before you two went into that place. “Hey, demon thing, go possess my friend now.”

Great pairing of music with the scene though. The animation is really something else, the fluidity is great and the monster designs really are out there.

I would also like to talk about how Akira is framed at the one who brings light to Ryo, who is wrapped in darkness. It happened in the beginning with Akira reaching his hand out to Ryo as kids, and again at the end with the light of the fire making Ryo’s whole face glow golden as he’s trapped underneath the black wings of the demon thing on top of him.

but, uh, supposing Akira doesn’t go and eat you next (which he won’t because plot but) and he keeps his human mind, how the heck is he going to feel about his friend turning him into a freaking devil?

Ryo, you definitely have issues. Even though he’s sort of...terrible xD I rather like his character so far. Poor Akira though.

Last note: That is Ryo talking in the opening, right...? Because as his teenage self, he also speaks roughly and uses the heavily masculine pronoun 俺 ore, so when in life does he get to the point that he uses 私? Interesting...

[workshop-at-mahoutokoro]

Mahoutokoro: Coursework [Discussion]

Transfiguration: Division of Coursework

I divided the coursework into the sections First Year, Second to Fourth Year, and Fifth to Seventh Year because those years correspond to elementary, middle, and high school in real life Japan. I based Mahoutokoro’s coursework off the real curriculum, which is standard across all schools in Japan for each grade level.

irl, elementary school students have 11 classes, middle school students 12. There seems to be about 10 in high school, due to condensing some of the classes in previous years.

About the Coursework

Arithmetic: Yes, I kept math as a subject. The Mahoutokoro curriculum is based on a mix of curricula across Japan’s history. Arithmetic probably entered Mahoutokoro’s curriculum during the early modern (Tokugawa) period, coinciding with the education of the samurai class and importance of reading, writing, and arithmetic in society at large (so you didn’t get scammed when paying your taxes). All of Mahoutokoro’s students during this period were from the upper class, so it would have been unacceptable for them not to have the skills their non-magical family members did.

Social Studies & Ethics (Values/Moral Education): Subjects in real Japanese schools today. They have a particular emphasis on social life, duty and role as a citizen in society, and “encourag[ing] students to understand and care about the nation’s land and history”. Social studies stands in for History of Magic; I went with the modern term because of its emphasis on aspects other than just history lessons.

Art & Music: Art and music classes are taught throughout the years, though they are separate subjects in elementary and middle school. I condensed them  because I needed room for the magic-related subjects.

Calligraphy & Japanese Language: Calligraphy was part of the curriculum since as far back as the Heian era in the Ancient period, after the Chinese writing system was introduced. In my verse, both calligraphy and a deep understanding of the Japanese language are needed to cast higher level Japanese magic. Calligraphy lessons do go away in the fifth year, at which point students can choose to continue taking lessons “outside” of school (as extracurriculars).

Transfiguration: Based more off Western transfiguration. They don’t actually start using their wands in this class until the end of the first year (because of the “learning by watching” method used at Mahoutokoro). It has a lot more theory than the Hogwarts equivalent class.

Spellcasting: Replaces Charms. Because I have native Japanese magic as being quite different and varied from Western wand-based magic, I needed a class that primarily taught that style. As you can see, over the years the amount of Western magic they cover decreases because, well, this is Japan. The Western spells are modified to suit the Japanese language, of course, so they aren’t speaking Latin or anything like that.

Potions: Potions is called 魔法薬学 in Japanese (lit. ‘magic pharmaceutics’). Since traditional Japanese/Chinese medicine (and HP Potions, at points) is heavily plant-based, I combined these two to make room for other subjects.

Defensive Arts: This is Defense Against the Dark Arts. 闇の魔術の防御術 in Japanese. I dropped the “Dark Arts” part because this class teaches not only defense against dark curses and such, but also has a heavy emphasis on wards and rituals to combat misfortune, curses, yōkai magic, etc. It’s a bit broader, since I shoved yōkai/magical creatures studies into its own class.

Yōkai Studies: Pretty much the magical creatures part of DADA from Hogwarts. Mostly theory with a few demonstrations like in Care for Magical Creatures. Japan is said to be the land of 8 million kami after all (as for the distinction between kami and yōkai...I’ll get back to you on that. either way, there are a ton of named yōkai as well).

Astronomy & Divination: These are perhaps the biggest and most important subjects taught at Mahoutokoro. In the first year, they are taught together because their divination has A LOT to do with astrology, but in subsequent years it’s divided. It also focuses a lot on onmyōdō, because Mahoutokoro was an (unofficial) imperial court-affiliated school.

Special Activities: This isn’t an official class in Japanese schools. They use it for “homeroom activities” such as preparing for festivals and such. Afterwards, they go off to their clubs.

Electives: These are optional, but you pretty much are forced to pick at least one and no more than two.

Ancient & Classical Magic: This supplements what you learn in the main classes. And if you want more practical experience and individual instruction, it would be wise to take this.

Exorcisms & Sealing: This is closely related to the one above, and the two sometimes do collaborations.

Classical Literature: Yes, this has to do with magic! Understanding the Japanese language is essential to doing Japanese magic. Classical literature is a good way to study the old, classical Japanese language that gives birth to a huge amount of spells you are able to harness. That being said, it involves a huge amount of recitation so it’s not all that exciting.

Flower Arrangement: Less magic, more club activity. Still has some magic, though it’s quite weak and would take a skillful practitioner to make a difference.

Kendō & Kyūdō: Again, more of a club activity. However, in the old days, many combined magic with the art of the sword, as swords were also able to contain and channel magic energy. I forgot to put kyūdō the first time, but I went back and included it. Kyūdō is actually quite important to certain career paths so...