Let's Write Some Interesting Female Characters!

I'm tired of the Strong Female Character. She is emotionless. Badass. Can toe the line with the hero but not too much you see. She never does anything wrong. She knows exactly what to say. She knows how to respond to moral questions.

In our effort to create stories drifting from the male lead narrative, to have stronger female representation, we've created a constrictive list of "acceptable female leads" and it is so boring. It's like haircut restrictions in North Korea.

Okay, this female character can kick ass but she cried in this one scene, we can't have that

I know people mean well but instead it creates a bigger problem. You're creating another set of restrictions. I had a friend once who said, "Let's stop making strong female characters and focus on making interesting female characters." And I couldn't agree with her more.

George R.R. Martin was once asked how he got to write a varied and interesting set of female characters. And he said that he saw women as people. I think that is something more people should consider when writing interesting female characters. Sansa Stark can be just as interesting in her struggle to survive in King's Landing even though she likes needlepoint and boys as Arya Stark is as she learns sword fighting with her sword Needle and journeys on her way home. I find both their character arcs interesting even though Arya checks off more items on the "Strong Female Checklist" than Sansa. They are people first and foremost and they grow.

I'm rooting for you, Sansa, bb

I want female characters that grow and change. I want to see a character like Korra in Legend of Korra who starts her journey as an immature hothead and ends as a thoughtful leader. I want to see someone like Carol from the Walking Dead who starts off as a victim who is a bit soft but at this point in her journey is a survivor, a little harder, but still possessing gentleness she had in the beginning.

The Grove -- the best episode of the Walking Dead -- I'm rooting for you Carol bb

I bring this up because this is a constant struggle for me as a writer and also as a roleplayer. I've been programmed to follow the list and it is so tough to break through the wall. I'm afraid what people will say if I miss an item on the checklist. And I know how much of a problem it is and how I need to correct myself.

It is part of how I created my Dungeon World Campaign Character Shara, the Elven Bard. Originally, when I had Shara in my head, I thought of playing a guy. This as mainly because I wanted to play a roguish, trickster character. I wanted to play a somewhat narcissistic, lucky, so sure of themselves, swashbuckler. All those characteristics are generally attributed to male characters. In fact, I drew inspiration from a group of male characters: Ferris Bueller (always lucky, always taking risks but for a good cause although a bit naive), Ling Yao from Fullmetal Alchemist (very sure of himself), Varrick from Legend of Korra (a swindler, crazy hairbrained schemes), Miguel and Tulio from Road to El Dorado but mostly Miguel (charming, extremely charming, not above lies and deceptions but a good heart).

Pictured -- Male Shara

However, I got thinking, I know these are typically "male" characteristics but what would stop me from making Shara female? Generally, females with those characteristics are the Mean Girls or villains. But with guy characters it can be charming or villainous. Still, what is stopping me from making Shara female with those qualities as charming as opposed to villainous? So I made Shara female. And I must say, she is one of my most successful characters. She has all the characteristics mentioned above.

I don't know why I am so surprised, I know I shouldn't be. It must be all that programming. But Shara is interesting as a character. She is so full of herself it has made her naive, when it comes to herself anyway, although she is aware of the world around her. She thinks her good name will save her in any situation. She is full of herself but she loves her underdog friends (they always make the best stories) and will defend them to her last breath -- if necessary.

Even though Shara is fluffy with many personal flaws, I still would not want to mess with her. She is generally forgiving but you don't want to be on the wrong side of her Lute... except in a performance. Then you will be having the Hayashi'kami experience witnessing the Golden Voice of Twin Herald.

What my experience with Shara taught me and should teach anyone who is trying to write female characters is to stop thinking of characters -- especially female and minorities -- of what are acceptable characteristics. Obviously, one should avoid making stereotypes but that is entirely different from making full realized characters. I would even say the Strong Female Character descends into stereotype territory now.

Sorry, I didn't mean to toot my own horn here, but Shara wanted to strum her own lute as it were ~_^.

Bonus: Shara Playlist

Mary's Top Ten Favorite Japanese Dramas

Since I've gotten more into jdramas again, I decided to list my Top Ten Favorite Dramas (in 1 being the best). I haven't seen all dramas out there (man, who has the time!?) but I have seen many -- enough to make an arbitrary list. Yeah, I have my own quantifiers. Some includes how well the story flows, how much I enjoyed it, and how much of an impression it made on me (yes, the last two, can be mutually exclusive. You'll see below). Since I wrote a long tribute to Hana Kimi, consider that drama to be above ratings in its awesomeness.

So here we go.

10. Papa Wa Idol (パパドル!) "My Daddy is an Idol!"

I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for silly, self-referential comedies. I am sad to say I have seen most Seth Rogan Movies because of it. Papa Wa Idol falls into that category. It is a very silly premise but the writing and the acting just work.

The story follows Nishikado Ryo (played by Nishikado Ryo), an idol in the Osaka-based boy band Kanjani8 , who is feeling like he is missing out on the small things in life. One day, he meets and falls in love with a single mother. Despite the fact that his contract forbids marriage or out in the open romances, he secretly marries her and tries to balance his busy career as an idol and his duties as a husband and step-father. Hilarity ensues.

It is especially difficult when the youngest child is a fan of  Arashi's Sakurai Sho and compares Ryo often

For those not familiar with the idol scene in Japan, Nishikado Ryo is a real person and so is his group, Kanjani8. Everyone played themselves, or at least exaggerated versions of themselves. Maybe the Seth Rogan reference wasn't too far off from the truth because in many ways, Papa Wa Idol feels like This Is The End. Kanjani8, Nishikado, and even the cameos from the boy band Arashi feels like a parody of themselves.

But even if this vehicle was an excuse to make fun of the idol world, it didn't lack heart. Between the fish out of water shenanigans and the hilarious Dad!Fail moments, the drama has some serious scenes. It feels like something John Hughes would have written -- zany but not afraid to talk about something sad. It is comedy but the serious moments keep it grounded. It discusses the stress idols are often under, what it means to be a part of a unit (Ryo is forced to choose between his band -- who he sees as his brothers, and his new family for instance), and even the troubles of single, working moms. A premise as off the wall as Papa Wa Idol, the drama needed these moments or it would have fallen apart.

I have only watched this drama once, but I intend to watch it again in the future. Besides, I don't care if the paparazzi reported Ryo bit a hostess while drunk or something, he is just so charismatic and endearing, especially here.

That smile, I just can't.

 I would recommend the drama for those who follow Japanese pop culture. Otherwise, much of the references would be lost.

 9. Kisarazu Cat's Eye (木更津キャッツアイ)

This drama I have only watched once but it made such an impression on me, it has earned a spot on this list. There is so much about the choices made in this drama that I found intriguing. And once again, it is a comedy with a heavy, heavy message. I felt raw when I finished watching it because ... well, let me back up. 

This drama is based on a manga (I don't know if it was turned into an anime or not) that follows 21-year old Kohei, nicknamed Bussan. Bussan lives in this small, sleepy sea-side town of Kisarazu in which most people just kind of do what their parents did and so forth. Bussan's dad is the barber and that is what Bussan is training to be for instance.  Anyways, Bussan gets diagnosed with lymphoma and is told he only had six months to live. Concerned about his legacy, he concocts this idea with his friends who he played baseball with in high school (and they still play at times) in which they steal from the corrupt in town and give what they stole to the less fortunate. 

The show is downright bizarre. And the funny part was it didn't necessarily start off like that. It starts off normal enough. Bussan is our narrator and he introduces us to the colorful characters of Kisarazu. And then as the drama continues, it gets more and more surreal. And it took me a few days after I finished watching to realize -- it was because Bussan was dying. 

I am not even sure if the last episode wasn't just the final firings of Bussan's synapses. The very last scene in the show in which there is no Bussan narration I think really did happen (and oh man, I was crying).

Despite how bizarre the drama could be, I couldn't help but relate to the setting. I, too, grew up in a lazy, sea-side town in which most people were obsessed with baseball. Bussan's posse kind of reminded me of my brothers' friends. The characters are extremely relatable, well-rounded, and fun. Even Bussan's character exists past "That guy with cancer." 

For instance, one of them is married with kids -- there is one caper in which he had to bring the kid along

 The setting really makes the story, I think. It just wouldn't have felt the same if it took place in Tokyo, for instance (or even in the closest city of Chiba). There is a scene in which Bussan is getting sicker and sicker, and it is showing. He just kind of collapses on the beach and looks up at the sky, "Kisarazu is the best place in the world!" He says that even with all its problems they were trying to rectify, even if in the scheme of things, Kisarazu is but a drop of water in the vast ocean. The drama has many of those simple moments that hit you like that.
Oh, this drama is classified as a comedy. It is funny, but it hit me in the gut like a drama. I also still sometimes think about it. I think it is rather strong as far as cancer stories go.

I would recommend it for people who like the somewhat surreal. Or buddy stories. It is more than just a cancer story but it will break your heart like one. One day, perhaps I will rewatch it and ponder my choice but I have to mentally prepare myself for it first.

8. My Boss My Hero (マイ★ボス マイ★ヒーロー)

Now, we're going back to the more silly comedies. This one I have watched way too many times and I am still trying to pinpoint what it is about this show that I like so much. Sure, Nagase Tomoya certainly helps. 

Unf

 Also, the comedy is pretty funny. The Pudding Chase Scene never fails to crack me up so much (seriously, I didn't know you could use a jacket like a weapon like that!). And yes, there is a sense of nostalgia because it reminds me of Billy Madison. Yeah, I made many confessions on this blog entry but I like Billy Madison for nostalgia reasons, okay? It was the 1990s. I was a teenager. SHUT UP! I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN MYSELF TO YOU!

My Boss, My Hero is about 27 year old Sakaki Makio, son of the boss of a Yakuza gang. Makio is not very bright, although he is a tough fighter. This is the opposite of his little brother, Mikio, who is sickly but college educated. Things change when Mikio expresses he wants to take over the gang when their father passes on citing his older brother's lack of intelligence as a reason to gain the birthright. The father proposes Makio finish high school (which he never did) and then he would think about it. Makio goes back to high school and much laughing is had. 

I wasn't kidding when I said this is basically the Japanese Billy Madison. What is Makio's favorite food? Pudding. Yep. He even yells for pudding much like Billy yells for snack packs. It is different, though. Makio is your stereotypical yakuza thug and he has to hold his temper and *GASP* let himself be pushed around by bullies. Sure, Makio is not very bright and lot of the humor is focused around on how much Makio just doesn't get basic academic subjects but Makio does take his life as a thug pretty seriously. And there is a bit of "honor among thieves" part of his personality as well.

As I said, I am not sure why I like this drama as much as I do. It is a typical fish out of water storyline that you can totally see being proposed in a board room. "Hey guys, I have an idea. See, he is in the YAKUZA. And he has to go back to high school!" But it really is Nagase who carries the whole drama. Yes, his supporting cast play up to the rather large personality that is Nagase Tomoya, but I could not see anyone else play that role that HAD to be over the top in order for it to work. And it is almost cartoonish in some parts with its ridiculousness.

But I like it. It is consistently entertaining every time I watch it. I can watch Nagase Tomoya's rubbery face until the end of time. 

My response if you say you'll skip this drama tbh

   

7. Samurai High School 

This is another drama I've seen an embarrassing number of times but unlike My Boss My Hero, I can really word why I like it so much. Simply, it is the characters and the chemistry the main trio has with each other, the witty script, and *sigh* I hate to keep on bringing up this topic but it is a comedy with a message and a lot of heart. And parallels, man, I love parallels. 

Samurai High School is an original script and not based after anything. There is a manga called Samurai High School but it shares no similarities with the drama. The drama focuses around Mochizuki Kotaro (played by the dynamic Miura Haruma), a high school student who is... somewhat of a slacker with a deep fear of confrontation. When his teacher encourages him to further study Feudal Japanese History, he finds himself at a mysterious library and while there, he gets possessed by the ghost of a samurai who has his exact name. 

The show continues with Kotaro wrestling control of his body with the gung-ho, principled samurai who usually takes control whenever Kotaro hits his head or witnesses some grave injustice (one in which Kotaro seemed willing to look the other way or run away from). Then Kotaro wrestles control whenever the samurai hits his head or whenever the samurai tries to mack on Kotaro's childhood friend and love interest, Nagasawa Ai (played by Ken Watanabe's daughter Anne, who brings different layers to the childhood friend/love interest archetype).  

As the drama continues, Kotaro is forced to face some harsh realities that he can no longer run away from. 

There is so much I like about this drama. As I mentioned above, the characters together with a witty script really makes this show just plain enjoyable to watch. Kotaro's friend, Nakamura Tsuyoshi (played by Shirota Yu, who is going against type) is just plain endearing as the stammering gentle giant type. Kotaro's spacy father is one of my favorite characters because of his awkward attempts to dad but his heart is in the right place. And man, as soon as he enters Kotaro's room with popsicles, I know it is going to be both a funny and warm father son moment. Then there is the cocky police officer who keeps on running into Kotaro at the most inconvenient times. 

The police officer has a picture of himself in front of a motorcycle on his desk

The theme of Samurai High School is that of growing up and facing the fact that life is not fair. But even if life is not fair, that doesn't mean you should stop fighting.  Kotaro the Samurai fought for what he thought was right, even if the reality of the situation meant he would lose. The unjust way of life whether it was through the favoritism at his school or how his father's boss treated him doesn't necessarily mean you should go along with it -- float like lumps of crap through life. The samurai believes it is better to die with a sword in your hand then run away.  That is the lesson Kotaro is to learn.

That is what I mean by brilliant parallels and just a lot of thoughtfulness. Yes, the drama is about Kotaro's coming of age, but it also continues further telling him life is tough, life is unfair, but that doesn't mean you should accept it for what it is. 

Samurai High School does have a silly and been done before premise. Also, the special effects are kind of silly. But it is just a good time to watch with a solid script with interesting characters. And Miura Haruma does a fantastic job. I mean, just look at how his face transforms from derpy high school student to badass samurai. 

Derpy

Badass

6. Galileo (ガリレオ)

I have another less embarrassing confession to make -- I love detective shows. I've always been big into mysteries and some of my favorite TV shows tend to focus around detectives. You really can't go wrong with it. Well, you can. You can have crappy writing, poorly written characters, and just boring mysteries for them to solve. But every season has a detective show and that includes both Japan and the United States. 

Normally, I get excited when I see a new detective drama but very few stick with me or that I couldn't wait until next week like I did with Galileo. I haven't revisited this drama in a few years but I have watched it more than once (I feel I need to rewatch soon). The characters are engaging and the mysteries are pretty interesting and leave you guessing. I also like the science bent the mysteries tended to take. 

Galileo is based on an absurdly popular novel series in Japan. I have not read the novels so I can't say if it on par with the novels or better or complete crap. I just know they are popular. I can see why. It is an interesting way to look at the detective storylines. If I had to think of an American equivalent, it is House MD meets Bones with a pinch of X-Files. But it really stands on its own. 

Galileo is about a university professor named Yukawa Manabu (played by Fukuyama Masaharu), nicknamed Galileo for his eccentricity. Galileo is a physicist primarily intrigued by things science cannot explain which draws him to focus on finding-and often debunking paranormal phenomena. This brings in rookie cop Utsumi Kaoru (played by Shibasaki Kou) who for some reason keeps on getting assigned all these crimes involving some sort of paranormal phenomena. She enlists the help of Galileo to figure out the science involved so she can solve the cases. The two balance each other out; Galileo the logical, coldly honest scientist and Utsumi, the hot-tempered, justice seeking cop. And of course there is tons and tons of UST, even early on in the series when they clearly Do Not Get Along. 

I don't want to give too much away but Shibasaki and Fukuyama play off each other with ease. I fell into the will they or won't they plotline but also the science, mystery, and paranormal themes of the crimes they are trying to solve. Also, I feel so bad for Galileo's interns. He ran them through the mill. 

I highly recommend this series for anyone -- jdrama aficionados or not. And you can bet if they ever translate the novels or I sit down and learn Japanese, I would read the hell out of them as much as I do Harry Potter.


5. Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ)

 I grew up in a musical family. My grandfather was a professor of music. My brothers both longed to be musicians -- one of them becoming a bassist in a popular local band. As for myself, I played trumpet/baritone in band but I really enjoyed taking voice class. My grandfather though, was this classy gentleman who was obsessed with perfection. He was known for throwing his baton at people who were flat while he was conducting. Don't get me wrong, people remembered good things he did. But I'm making a point here. 

What drew me to Nodame Cantabile was how the main character reminded me of stories about my grandfather when he was younger -- formal, took his craft really seriously, and clashed with people who didn't. That is probably part of the reason why Nodame is so high on the list. I watch it and it reminds me of my grandfather. Sure, there are other aspects I like too, but I will get to that later. 

Nodame Cantabile is based on a manga and was adapted both for jdrama and anime. It follows Chiaki Shinichi (played brutally by Tamaki Hiroshi) a musical genius who dreams of becoming a famous conductor one day. He goes to a Japanese University, Momogaoka College of Music even though he would rather go to a European university which would be "better" for launching his career. The only problem is he has a crippling fear of flying. So Chiaki is an uptight, bitter, perfectionist who is a big fish in a small pond. 

In walks Noda Megumi (played by the adorable Ueno Juri), nicknamed Nodame, who is everything that makes Chiaki cringe. She's childish, loud, messy but she is basically a piano prodigy. Chiaki is told to mentor Nodame and the drama is about their blossoming relationship from enemies (well on Chiaki's side), friends, then romantic partners. There is a lot of belligerent sexual tension. Chiaki gets Nodame to look at her talent more seriously and Nodame gets Chiaki to lighten up and really appreciate what music is all about. 

Their differences captured in one picture

Not only do I like to see how Nodame slowly begins to melt the ice prince's heart (as well as the audience's) but Nodame has a rich ensemble cast. This is due to a subplot in which Chiaki is given the opportunity to conduct but it is an orchestra made up of the worst students at the uni. You have the rock enthusiast violinist Miine Ryutaro (played by a fun Eita) who doesn't look much like a classical violinist which irritates Chiaki to no end. If only Miine knew about Lindsey Stirling...

I love Eita's hair in this drama

You also have the flamboyant timpani player Okuyama Masumi who has a mancrush on Chiaki. Then Saku Sakura who loves the contrabass despite it being bigger than her. I could go on and on about the charming supporting cast because it is very much that.

Another aspect I really like about the drama is the choice in music. They tap into all the classic composers and even assign variations of those themes on each of the characters. Nodame for instance is Mozart -- a child genius with a sense of bounce and "pinkness" as Nodame says. Miine is Gershwin -- someone who looks to meld the old with the new. Chiaki is Beethoven -- a genius who is limited by some sort of problem (Beetovan deafness and Chiaki his fear of flying)

Nodame Cantabile borrows heavily from its source material. It feels very mangaish in many ways even employing floating hearts above people nursing crushes and the like. Also, when Chiaki whacks Nodame with either scores or whatever he has his hands on, Nodame flies very far away, further than someone normally would. It is a shame because I think the story holds its own without the manga references.

Despite that, I really enjoy this romantic comedy and if you don't mind what I mentioned above, you may like it too.

Hurry! puppets await

4. Kimi Wa Petto (きみはペット) You Are My Pet

The following drama has an incredibly strange premise but it is really good. Trust me on this. 

Kimi Wa Petto, based on a josei manga, is about a journalist named Iwaya Sumire (played by the extremely talented Koyuki) who just got dumped by her fiance. He told her that she was taller than him, better educated (graduating from the extremely prestigious Tokyo University), and had a higher paying job than him. She made him feel inadequate as a man. Then, later that day, her boss sexually harasses her to which she responded by punching him in the face. As a result, she got demoted. Things can't possibly get any worse. 

In a storm, she comes home and finds a young man in a box (played but the adorable Matsumoto Jun) who was badly hurt. Since it was storming, she brings him inside and nurses him back to health. He desperately wants to stay with her to which Sumire jokingly responds that he could only stay with her as her pet. To her shock, he agrees and even takes on the name Momo. 

I'll take ten

Sumire grows fond of Momo, who she comes to find has a complicated past that would make anyone want to agree to this arrangement. Despite this, it is clear he loves her for her. While this is going on, Sumire's University Crush comes into town and the two begin to date -- however, he wants her to take on a more traditional role. She is torn because with Momo, she can truly be herself. 

 What I find most interesting about this drama is that you can really view it as a feminist narrative. Sumire is a very intelligent, driven woman but that scares most men away causing her to not only feel lonely at home but also at work. She is threatening to others because of her abilities and she's a woman no less. She is able to bag the man she thinks she wants, the one society tells her she should have but she is no more happy because she can't be herself. Then there is Momo who likes her Just The Way She Is but that is a relationship (which is non-sexual at first) that others would frown on. 

There is a growing conflict between Sumire and Momo's status with each other throughout the drama. And in the end, the theme really is about romance as equality -- a romance between equals. 

As I said above, it seems like it would be a very weird premise but in the end, I loved the story and I loved the message. 

3. Nobuta Wo Produce (野ブタ。をプロデュース) Producing Nobuta

Make-Over Storylines. Man, they've been done to death. It is rather shocking that I placed one at Number 3 on this list. But there is a reason. This drama took the storyline for the ages and added in a few variations. For one, this is not a story about romance -- although feelings from one almost destroys this perfect trio -- it is about friendship first and foremost. 

Nobuta Wo Produce is narrated by its main character Kiritani Shuji (played by Kamenashi Kazuya) who is without a doubt the most popular kid in school. Even though he has many friends, he still feels kind of lonely and distant and is probably a step away from an existential crisis. He is always looking out for everyone whether it is little brother, absent-minded father, or his classmates but at the same time is big on developing his reputation as the golden boy. He is nice to everyone, except for Kusano Akira (played by Yamashita Tomohisa who knocks the role out of the park) who is obnoxious and odd and doesn't shower regularly and "can't read the atmosphere". 

Enter Kotani Nobuko (played by an endearing Horikita Maki) who is a bigger mess than Akira is. She's shy and uncouth which immediately makes her a target of bullies. Shuji feels bad for her as does Akira. The two hatch a plan to "Produce Nobuko" to make her the most popular girl in school.

Boys know nothing about make-overs!

As I said, there is nothing too special about the premise. It is My Fair Lady but there is no bet, Shuji offers to fix up Nobuta (the nickname they give her) because he feels sorry for her. And in the end, despite Shuji having many people around him who want to interact with him, he finds two true friends in Akira and Nobuta. And he learns to be more honest with himself too and to not care so much about what others think. See, Nobuta doesn't change who she is to be popular, she changes her outlook and she begins to like herself. And qualities her classmates initially found disgusting, they begin to find endearing.

The drama is so good because each of the main three characters have their outside appearances and their inner turmoil. Much like how this type of storyline goes down the path of don't judge a book by its cover, that is a theme constantly explored. It makes for very intriguing, layered characters. Even the goof ball Akira has some secrets he keeps hidden and why he chooses to march to the beat of a different drummer makes a whole lot of sense. 

Akira instructing Nobuta on confidence

I have mentioned before about how much people just like to focus on romance and not friendship. Friendship means so much to me and yet I feel it is so underappreciated. Nobuta Wo Produce wants us to remember how precious real friendship is. It is about mutual respect and it is about support and yes, about platonic love. 

  

2. Kazoku Game (家族ゲーム) Family Game

I adore a well done trickster. I just love what they contribute to a story. They not only bring the chaos and often teach the protagonist (or villain) a lesson in an unconventional way but they often have delicious ambiguous morality and dubious end goals. It is partially my love of this archetype that Kazoku Game made it to the prestigious number 2 spot. 

Kazoku Game, which is a remake of a 1980s drama and movie which was based off a novel, focuses around the Numata family. On the surface they seem to be the perfect family in every way. The father (played by an incredible Itao Itsuji) maintains a high paying job which managed to help him secure a rather nice residence. The mother (played by the equally amazing Suzuki Honami) is a demure housewife who never complains and is sweet and apparently loving. The older son, Shinichi (played by Kamiki Ryuunosuke who has acting chops like I never seen) is the golden boy, straight-A's, heavily involved in activities. The Numatas seem perfect. 

Any family should want to like them except they have a problem with their youngest son, middle schooler, Shigeyuki (played by a woobie Uragami Seishuu) who threatens to shatter their reputation. Shigeyuki refuses to go to school, to leave his room even. The neighbors are starting to talk! The father hires a tutor named Yoshimoto Koya (played expertly by Sakurai Sho) whose ad guarantees to help anyone to the point they could get into Tokyo University. 

The kid with the monitor on his head has to be different.

Yoshimoto is a bit of an odd duck whose methods vary from strange to morally questionable. And Shigeyuki is not his only student and it is clear Yoshimoto wants to teach the entire Numata Family a thing or two. Apparently the perfect family mask is really just that. But will Yoshimoto help them or break them? 

Well, he already invited himself over for dinner -- that is never a good sign

When I finished watching Kazoku Game, I went right back to the first episode and watched the entire thing again. It is that good. There are so many layers to the story. You could watch the whole thing as a comedy or a drama or a psychological thriller and you'd get a different experience from watching it. There are parts of the drama in which you feel uncomfortable but you're supposed to be. The key theme of Kazoku Game is empathy and the way it moves, the writers/director wants you to empathize as if daring you to turn away just like everyone else is doing when things get real. 

Yoshimoto drags a sobbing Shigeyuki to school until the kid just kind of collapses in a heartbreaking scene

But probably most amazing about this drama alludes to what I wrote in my first paragraph. Yoshimoto is an excellent example of a trickster character. When he arrives in the Numata Family's life, he turns everything upside down. He teases, he mocks, he calls out the members of the family on various issues. In reality, he is holding up a mirror for them to see their ugliness and urges them to change it -- although admittedly in a not too nice way. When I noticed these similarities to the trickster, as I was reading more about it, I found that the author of the novel meant for Yoshimoto to have shades of Susanoo, the Shinto God of Storms -- a well-known trickster figure.

Sakurai Sho created a great character too. Yoshimoto has a specific walk, one with a purpose and almost robotic in someways. He also has a catch phrase, "Ii ne" which means "Good". He switches from manically cheerful to darkly sinister at a drop of a hat which causes the viewer to question his motives. 

This is Yoshimoto blackmailing Shinichi, who steals when he thinks no one is looking. Yoshimoto looks, he always looks.

I had originally written up a long analysis of Kazoku Game but just never published it. There is a lot going on and I seriously recommend it. There is a lot of thoughtfulness in it and by the end, you will be questioning your own levels of empathy. 

  

1. Nobunaga Concerto (信長協奏曲)

Come on you knew this one was coming. It may be because it is fresh in my mind that I place this at number one, and there may be some truth in that. But honestly, the more I thought about it and the more I read about the actual Nobunaga and the people in his life, I just like it that much more. It is a solid story (although iffy timeline) with outstanding performances. And really, a historical setting usually wins me over 9 times out of ten. 

I'm not going to spend a great deal of time on this one because I wrote an entire entry about it. So go read that one! Shoo Shoo! 

In Which Mary Has Feelings About Nobunaga Concerto And Japanese History

Hey guys. I just watched a jdrama that destroyed my life. Okay, that is a hyperbole but I did watch something that appealed to many of my interests that was really, really good and it broke me.

Contrary to the picture, this does not take place on a train. THERE ARE NO TRAINS! THE BANNER IS A LIE!

The jdrama is called Nobunaga Concerto. It is based on a manga which was made into an anime. And now they have a drama of it. I have only watched the jdrama and didn't hear about the other two. To be honest, the only reason why I decided to give the drama a go because two of my favorite actors, Shun Oguri and Kou Shibasaki, were in it. Otherwise, I would have been inclined to say it sounded too gimmicky and skipped it.

I kinda made this face tbh

That's the thing, this drama could have been a gimmick. But it wasn't. It was a well crafted story paying homage to Japanese History which excellent character development and so much heart.

So what was is this drama about? Well, it starts off simply enough with your Typical Japanese High School Student (tm!) named Saburo who is on a class trip to this historical place in which people dress in old timey clothes. He hits his head and wakes up in the Sengoku Period (1467-1603). A man who looks exactly like him rides up and asks him to switch places. Thinking it is some sort of event at the historical town, he agrees. Saburo soon realizes he had just switched places with Oda Nobunaga, one of Japan's unifiers. He now has to conduct stately affairs, dodge assassination attempts, go do battle, and find a way to stay alive in a place that could put Westeros to shame in terms of violence. Hilarity Ensues (and oh does it).

Yeah, that is the Moonwalk

The plot is not entirely original. It has been done before. The Fish Out of Water plot is one for the ages. Two look-a-likes switching places have been done in A Tale of Two Cities, the Prince and the Pauper, and the Parent Trap. Time Travelers going back into history and influencing events has also been done. Mark Twain wrote a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. And it is the premise of most Doctor Who episodes. It is not the plot which makes this story so good.

After all that storyline gave us this (although this movie was awesome when I was like 13)

It is the choices made by the writers, directors, and actors. For the most part, Sengoku Era Japan is played straight. Seriously, you take Saburo out of the picture and the show almost plays like A Game of Thrones episode. It is filled with people trying to one up each other in courtly power whether through political maneuvering, assassinations, or battles. And don't get too attached to any one character because the death count is pretty high. That is what I think is the show's strength in that it stays rooted in the source material. However, Nobunaga Concerto is a comedy but the comedy is firmly planted on Saburo's reaction to the events around him and everyone's reaction to him. It could have gone down a slapstick, outrageous humor route but it didn't.

Presented without context

I kind of feel that Nobunaga Concerto has what I like to call John Hughes Humor. It is a comedy but it is not afraid to be serious and talk about deep issues. It is not afraid to have emotion. It is not afraid to have heart. And it is those serious moments of heart is where the show is truly at its best.

The writers of Nobunaga Concerto were not afraid to let their characters grow and develop, even those based on historical figures. It is always so tempting for people to see larger than life historical figures as these stagnant people who were always the greatness as history tells us they were. That is not the case with this drama. You see the real Nobunaga struggle with jealousy as Saburo really makes positive changes in Owari -- the Oda domain. You see Ieyasu Tokugawa as a cry-baby womanizer. It makes them human. Additionally, the female characters who history tells us so little about have their own character arcs where they are given agency as they even try to survive in such a tough world.

Each of the main characters are forced to make tough choices and struggle with themselves and I found myself watching because I wanted to know what they would choose. Of course Saburo battles between his 21st century ideals and survival. Nobunaga's wife, Kichou struggles between loneliness and pushing away everyone due to fear of rejection. Tsuneoki, Nobunaga's childhood friend, struggles constantly between samurai ideals and personal loyalty. Oichi, Nobunaga's sister, struggles between her love of her brother and her love of her husband. Her husband, Azai Nagamasa, struggles between a budding friendship with Saburo and his duties as a first born son. And what ends up happening to many of them is just heartbreaking.

There is also a struggle when it comes to fashion sense

I watched this drama and ate it all up. It ended on a "cliffhanger" (I put that in quotations because if you know your history, you know what happens next) as I guess there is a movie set to come out at the end of the year wrapping it all up. I eagerly wanted to see what happened next and I was constantly surprised. I came to realize, though, had I brushed up on my Japanese History, all the twists I thought were twists would not have been twists to begin with.

I'm a huge history geek. I love historical dramas. And I am a huge fan of alternate history. It is one of my things. My friends can attest I usually win Timeline. However, to be honest, I'm not THAT familiar with the Sengoku Period. I know a lot more about the rise of the Meiji Era and 20th Century Japanese History than the Warring States. I took a class in Japanese History in college and we did cover the Sengoku Period but as I remember, we didn't spend that much time on it. I remember reading about Toyotomi Hideyoshi and thought he seemed pretty interesting. A peasant that became a daimyo. I have a totally different perspective of Hideyoshi after watching this drama and reading more about him. I've come to the conclusion that if Hideyoshi were in Game of Thrones, this is who he'd be.

This will be my last Game of Thrones reference, I promise!

Seriously, though, how big of a dick do you have to be to ban the system of social mobility, one that you benefited from, once you made it to the top? I get it. It is pragmatic, but still.

Anyways, last night on night shift after my work was done, I decided to brush up on my Sengoku Period history. And this is where I realized just how clever the writer of Nobunaga Concerto was. So many aspects that I thought were artistic licenses turned out to be true. For instance, Nobunaga was known to be a bit of a fool. He was called the Fool of Owari. All around people thought him kind of odd. He wore strange clothes and often hung out with people of lower station than himself. He also was incredibly fascinated by the Europeans and wore western clothes at times. These were all things Saburo definitely did... not saying Oda Nobunaga was a time traveler from 2014 but it was kind of ingenious when you think about it.

Yep, totally a time traveler

So, as I mentioned before, Ieyasu Tokugawa is portrayed as a cry-baby womanizer. I thought this was purely for humor. And artistic license. I mean, it is hilarious and adorable to see Tokugawa talk to the women in Saburo's porno mag and get all giddy about it. But while the porno mag is definitely an exaggeration, the rest of it isn't.

Just look at the adorbs pervert

Tokugawa was regarded as soft-hearted and weak when he was young. Then, he suddenly changed, changed to the point that there was a conspiracy theory going around that Tokugawa had switched places with someone. Nobunaga Concerto deals with this when Saburo meets Tokugawa for the first time, he recognized his name. Saburo says that Tokugawa will be most famous one day. And from there Tokugawa begins to believe in himself and becomes stronger.

As for the womanizing, wikipedia lists almost a dozen named concubines and then just puts "others". They list almost 20 legitimate children and then "others". So yes, Tokugawa's womanizing and love of women is well known.

Another part, I was surprised to learn that was true was the circumstances regarding Azai Nagamasa's death. I really liked Nagamasa in Nobunaga Concerto. I was doing the shipping thing between him and Saburo but not for them to kiss but more like, "BE FRIENDS! I WANT YOU TO BE FRIENDS!"

He had such a deep admiration for Saburo and absolutely loved Oichi. And he was a pretty understanding sort of fellow. At the climax of the show, Saburo is forced to go to war with the Azai clan. He didn't want it. Nagamasa didn't want it but he felt he had to honor his father and tradition. As the castle is burning down, Nagamasa tells Oichi to take their daughters and go back to her brother. I'm watching this thinking this must be watered down. A political marriage, if I was Oichi, I would run back home too and I bet there was pressure for her to go down with the castle. But no, that's not true. Nagamasa handed Oichi and his daughters off to the Oda clan before he committed seppuku. And he did have a lot of respect for Nobunaga. The part of Saburo (Nobunaga) being there for it, probably artistic license. But the fact that Nagamasa ensured that his wife and children went back home to her family -- his family's enemy in the siege -- is kind of amazing. Also, that scene, destroyed me. So many tears. Why can't we be friends playing in the background.

I'm not saying Nobunaga Concerto is historically accurate all around but it was historically accurate in areas that surprised me. Obviously they did take artistic licenses. It is about a time traveler for god's sake. But there were many events depicted that actually happened.

Anyways, after a very rambly entry, I really like this drama. I would even recommend it for people who are not into Japanese Dramas. It is fun, heart-wrenching, and historical all at once. It is also just beautifully done. I could go on and on about the good choices made by the crew on how it was presented, framed, filmed, and acted but I think you need to see for yourself.

It's Been A While!

So the holidays caused me to fall off the planet. I had to prepare my apartment for visiting relatives, buy gifts, go to social gatherings, and oh yes, work. During this down time I realized *gasp* people actually reads my entries but it took me a while to actually settle to write up something.

First off, I feel awful that I fell off the bandwagon when it came up to writing up the sessions of my game. It actually concluded in three sessions and I just fell so far behind I couldn't get motivated to catch up. And it is a real shame because I wished I kept a record of my past games so I could remember them better. So here I go.

As a quick summary, the thumb drive that Shirin gave Ash turned out to reveal the identity of Experiment 0001 -- her missing mother. She used to work as a scientist but found out the plan and afflicted herself with the admittedly buggy serum. Just as that happened, Alan turned them all in by revealing their position.

Everyone was caught and sent to prison, except Alan who became buddy-buddy with Tatiana Selnik and Devlin McGowan after his father's promotion to Dr. Zanjani's position. While he was enjoying new found popularity, everyone else sat in prison trying to figure their way out. Eventually, Brock figured it out using his illusion abilities and Mateo's quickness and Joss's technoempathy. They escaped with a small army of would be experiments.

They retreated into the desert and regrouped within a cave. Finally, they decided to head back to find Ash's mother. They managed to convince some of those who escaped with them to go back with them so they had their own private militia.

Brock, Joss, and Ash and gang didn't get very far when they ran into androids created by Keiko Miyazawa, the matriarch of one of the six families. The androids scanned mutants and mimicked their abilities. Eventually, the team took them down and continued on their way. They hijacked a bus using Brock's illusions so they didn't look like a bunch of teenagers and were soon on their way.

Meanwhile, Alan's new friends and new family standing got him to see things he couldn't see before. They shocked him and he grew a conscience. He also found a couple of the other Galileo kids who felt the same way and they sought to go to the CEOs house to get some real dirt. Alan's new group ran into his old group. They came to a shaky understanding and Alan knew where Ash's mother was.

After a battle at the CEO house which ended with shrinking the CEO (using one of their army's abilities), they headed to the Miyazawa's place. First, they ran into Keiko's son Ren who tried to use his empathy ability to scare them away. Brock did some quick thinking and conjured an illusion of his mother and the group continued on.

Keiko, using a remote control, controlled Ash's mother -- who was half-human and half-machine. The group did battle, using their strengths in their abilities that they spent the entire game learning through trial and error. They managed to free Ash's mother who in turn crushed Keiko's brain with her mind.

As the group left the Miyazawa residence, Ash clinging to her mother, the town burning as mutant teens rebelled against the company's forces. Ash looked up at her mother and asks her innocently, "Mom, can you make me fishsticks?"

Admittedly, I felt iffy at first when I ended the last session but the more I thought about it, the more I realized just how solid it was. Everyone had their own character arc and it was clear by the end they were not the same people they were at the beginning. Joss learned responsibility, Ash learned reality, Alan learned authority is not always right, and Brock learned to take things seriously for once.

I feel I did my job as a GM because of that. I provided the scenarios and the world and the NPCs and they reacted accordingly and it was their actions that allowed them to grow as characters. Overall, I felt it was a solid origin story.

Now, I'm taking a break from GMing. I am playing in a Dungeon World game which sometimes alternates with a Torchbearer. I am also planning to join a One Ring campaign.

I do want to go back to GMing eventually. A friend gave me Big Eyes, Small Mouth Third Edition for Christmas and I love that system so much. Cortex is interesting but BESM is my system. It is the one I am most comfortable with.

This is why I plan to run it as soon as one of these other campaigns run their course. And I want to run a game set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. And it will be a Cold War/Atom Punk style set after the events in Legend of Korra -- an alternate ending of course to the actual series. Basically, imagine if Kuvira won but couldn't get to the United Republic of Nations. And now, the Earth Empire is behind an Iron Curtain so to speak.

I will probably write more about this in future entries. My source document is already over 20 pages.

Hopefully, I will get back to writing in this for 2015.