KUBI WA DOKO DA?! D:

This is bad..

2007-03-30T04:00:46Z

I should keep my sleeping schedule in check.

Anyway, check http://www.gyao.jp/anime/ for the banner for 25,

Tried figuring out the kanji from the official website. (also, it's stupid how I know to use the IME and such, but can barely read anything tsk tsk)

Episode 26 海の向こうへ
Umi no Mukou he

which translates into "To the other side of the sea" if I'm not mistaken. It reminds me of Kouya Ruten..

...

oh yay, I figured it out right! Check here for the preview..

*awaits the outcome of 25* >_>

OP screenshots again

2007-03-26T10:46:24Z

Doesn't this look a bit like the place where Kanna and Akizuki have their final battle now? Or at least be a representation of it...

Or perhaps it's just a representation of episode 15 throughout 18 and further

Ryouma Sakamoto and Soutetsu walk on the same red waters. Could their relation with the Head (and to how it is used) have been the same? It's like he's passing the torch over to Soutetsu!

There is a better quality picture of this around. I always thought this form was of an earth with growing and blooming flowers. At second thought, could Akizuki be falling into Mordor, I mean, the evil Goryoukaku fortress? (I noticed it had an opening on top of it -- speaking of which, is he gonna take it that way? O_o)

Then why is it green? and it isn't the same shape.

Safe to say that "volcano" is a figurative Goryoukaku that is seen in the north. Still no clue about the strange cloud, but we'll see soon enough what it stands for.

Edit: Kanna and Akizuki cosplay at http://blog.livedoor.jp/irohablog/

Don't complain if it ain't resolved yet.

2007-03-18T20:16:05Z

As of a while Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto has entered a deep valley concerning 'the good guys'. Revolving around Soutetsu, pulling the strings of Enomoto/Head, Kakunojou and as of recently Kanna. I know people are hating it yadda yadda, so I will give my full and honest opinion for which people will hate me and that is:

OMG I LOVE THIS KIND OF STUFF. 8D

That's what you get for enjoying the hell out of speculating and creating possible theories for your favorite series...[/obnoxious]

Don't mind it.

However, the following is an analysis of Soutetsu and the pattern of writing his script. Getting out of the picture and everything. Pardon me if it doesn't make sense.

So far Soutetsu has been able to use Enomoto, Kakunojou, Kanna and so forth, due to their 'own problems'.

There is one person whom Soutetsu failed to 'convert' and that is Hijikata, as shown at the end of episode 23. Do I need to mention he'd kill any person who'd leave his side? How he reacted to Akizuki's assassination attempt of Enomoto and the aftermath? I thought it was incredibly cold and merciless. And a lot of other things... To me, he always felt detached and different from the rest of the cast.

Sure, Ezo Republic! Sure, everyone is ready for battle. At the winning side! Good!

BUT

Obviously Toshi-san isn't served of the events surrounding Enomoto AND Soutetsu, feeling particularly threatened, and secretly ~~has a date~~ goes to Akizuki with "lol can u explain this shit? :/" in 24. That's very admirable to go against the flow and actually having a critical mindset as opposed to 99,999% of people in Hakodate.

To be honest I didn't like his personality that much at first (and I wondered why he's been playing a big role for a while) but sheesh... it actually saved him in the end. He deserves way more credit than he has gotten so far. I'm not sure if Soutetsu knows, seemingly Hijikata doesn't fight back against him, probably thinking he was amazed by the events of episode 23.

What Soutetsu might also not know is Hijikata knowing of Akizuki in person.

On being Kakunojou = Akizuki's 'guide': Our three young people have the 'big main roles' in his play, and Soutetsu obviously wants to make Akizuki his puppet as much as Kakunojou and Kanna are now. He got Kaku, because of her love for Akizuki and her destiny with him. Easy enough, as shown in episode 18/19.

Next step was using Kaku to lure in Kanna, whose emotional attachment is his mother and any woman who looks like her. (Not to mention he's gone mad now) Kakunojou's role to guide Akizuki was to make him join "her" side. It looks like it will happen in the next episode, or perhaps even in the last episode, and it will probably end in a failure. Akizuki appears determined enough to seal the Head, no matter what. He seems very similar to Hijikata in that sense, lacking any emotion attachment.

However, at the moment Soutetsu can't use Akizuki's 'weak point', but I'm sure of it he knows there is one, though unrevealed. When Akizuki does get hit in his weak point, .. and I already know what it is. (I'm sure you know as well, if you link it to something else. *coughs*)

...and he still have at least one ally left to make an end to Soutetsu and whatever he is planning... dun dun dun Hijikata!

Of course there is still the troupe and Kotoha.... but I'm too braindead to speculate about them.

Surprisingly Kanna still doesn't feel like a doomed character, maybe he's dying, yeah, but not doomed. Speaking of Kanna, did everyone else like how Kanna was dramatically emoing? Over the top? Yes! :") Note the precise timing of Soutetsu & co literally rising onto "a kabuki stage". That was brilliant.

I might make another speculation post on what actually is going to happen in the last episodes.

loooong post.

Episode 23

2007-03-16T21:35:37Z

Despite reading the spoilers over at iwanihana's blog, the episode still managed to keep me on the edge of my seat (or bed in this case). I enjoyed it a lot, because of the l33t camera moves and the fast pace. It didn't disappoint me.

Queen: *no more twincest :'( emo lets get drunk! yar*

Kanna: *k rets use my emo bishounen look to bait her in =D~* *succeeds*

Me: ...and on the deck of all places!!

Akizuki: "LOL I'm on a WANTED poster"

Enomoto/Head: *evil~! it's good, because I'm normally a very boring person~ >:D*

Knight: he dies by the sword of Hijikata (nothing special...)

Soutetsu: "S&M 8D" *has waaay many tricks up his sleeve*

Bishop: can I say 'painful and cruel death'?! (see above)

Hijikata: I think right now he would like to say "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!?" Poor guy, he has no idea what Soutetsu is scheming... okay, not that we know either.

Basically, Kanna and Queen are completely freaking out at the end... it was great to see them panicking and at a complete loss at what to do.. of course the Head takes advantage of this! Kanna becomes completely disillusioned after Queen's death and the possession.

Kakunojou seems to have become completely immersed in her role as goddes/saint/whatever. I don't care what other people say of this, but this is very interesting to me. (...I'm probably the only one haha) Very cool how she stopped him from blasting his head off.

The preview:

Hijikata: Enomoto-san! It's me, Hijikata!

Enomoto: Hehehehe.

Hijikata: What's going on!!??!1one

Enomoto: HAHAHAHAHAHA.

Hijikata: adsjkdlk;;lkaf

Enomoto: HAHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHAHA.

Hijikata: D: D: D: stupid head!

Enomoto: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Hijikata: SHUT UP!!

Head: HAHAHAHA. >D

Hijikata: *whimpers*

Me: ROFLMAO!!! XDDDD

The preview totally killed me. Poor Toshi-san...!

DVD's

2007-03-15T14:58:41Z

Today I worked a bit on the IrohaWiki.. it's not much. Still no logo, but I don't know what to put there. Maybe I should make an entirely new layout to make things pretty?! (I don't know how to code it <-- too lazy to figure out)

Lets guess the covers for DVD 4 to 9!

DVD covers:
Youjirou
Kakunojou
Soutetsu

4 Kanna Sakyounosuke
5 The troupe without Kaku
6 Hijikata Toshizou
7 Kotoha (with Katsu?) xD
8 I don't know... Kakunojou in her girl clothing?
9 Youjirou (and Kakunojou with swords + Soutetsu?)

I'll post the DVD 3 cover over at the community.. they're so pretty.

EDIT: Here I am wasting my time looking at the Yahoo auction site.

One: young Kanna and Akizuki, cuuuuute. And Akizuki and Kakunojou (dressed in boy's uniform!) as students.
Two: my god the last panel XDD sorry I can't take Okita seriously anymore ever since writing that fic.
Three: Jut putting it here, because it happens to be one of my favorite scenes..

The GREAT Akizuki's past post. [Spoilers for episode 21 and beyond]

2007-03-08T16:54:53Z

Here's a slightly more coherent version of the temariuta speculation post with additions. I almost forgot I had this in draft.

The speculation that follows is purely speculation by your truly that should be taken with a grand grain of salt and be forgotten after eventually commenting to it. That said, I don't want to ruin your expectations should it become true or false.

Basically, I'm VERY certain about at least some part of this being true, but not everything. I'm also very certain about being completely wrong.

TWO CHILDREN
An important thing I've noticed is the running 'two young children' pattern throughout the plot.

1. Kobako and Benimaru: I've wondered the point of having these two, and I do not mean in a negative way. I meant like... Why two? Why not just one? Or three. Why couldn't they have been teenagers? Also keep in mind they are orphans adopted by the troupe.

2. The two siblings in episode 15: orphans, no home, no food, etc... Notice how Akizuki's looks and acts. No one else seems to care apparantly, not even Kaku.

3. Recently the girl who is caring for her baby sibling in episode 21: Okay, this was probably this biggest hint ever for now. Akizuki sees them. Temariuta is sung. Voila!

Over a month ago I proposed this theory about this all having to with our dear main character. Now it's very obvious and even Kakunojou herself supports the theory. Although..... Akizuki stamps the song as ordinary. What does this mean? Is he hiding his zomg past or is he himself unaware of it? I'm leaning towards both.

First, Youjirou's name suggests that Akizuki must have been a second son, and thus a younger brother to Youichirou. The creators are very aware of this of course and Akizuki acted as if elder bro Youichirou died by the hands of Hijikata Toshizou.

This does show Akizuki's awareness of being a sibling to someone.

What if the sibling is alive? ...then I don't think there is a point to him and the whole temariuta deal. One argument against this is the fact that Akizuki came to the village of Koma all by himself at the age of three. Speaking of that arrival, Shouten-sama commented in episode 11 how he had pleasant eyes (...perhaps he had those glowy blue eyes and Shouten-sama was like LOL glow in the dark!!1), knowing his destiny. Knowing your destiny when 3 years old, now that's quick.

Where were we? Well, just have a look at the pairs of children I summed up earlier, and their circumstances. I applied the temariuta literally to the Akizuki brothers:

"Mother leaves her two children, Youichirou and Youjirou, behind at a temple after praying there at dusk. Youichirou finds an evening primrose and it withers as the magnificent sky dawns. He bounces a temari ball while carrying the younger child as it cried during the night. Youichirou wonders how many times he has to bounce the ball before his mother returns, but after noticing she has abandoned him he throws bitter words at her in his mind. He leaves Youjirou at the temple and crosses the mountain before the mountain hag comes. In the end he's no one's child (or a child of the demons)."

The above was a copy/paste from the wiki. Sounds probable, don't you think? However, that is not all, because... the above doesn't make any sense unless....!! and the following text, which is incredibly farfetched, could be very VERY spoilery if I hit the jackpot. You can skip this if you've read the previous temariuta post.

Youichirou was forced to survive with his younger brother. Imagine not only being abandoned, but also having an incredible burden of taking care of a younger sibling, while hardly being able to support yourself. In the end Youichirou must have known that in order to survive he was forced to give up Youjirou, who may have been a baby at that time. Think back to their mother who gave up both of them to presumably live through a famine or whatever. Youichirou undoubtedly lived in a very rough period... and in a selfish motivation left Youjirou to die. This devastated him so much causing a trauma, then perhaps even taking on Youjirou's name to act as if Youjirou is in fact alive. Then from pretending he even starts believing in being Youjirou, and simply trying to forget about it, while Youichirou is believed to be the one who sacrificed. Then he was called to Koma.

So the same as above, except.... Akizuki Youichirou assumed the role of Akizuki Youjirou. Keep in mind he was very young when that happened.

His life is one big play...

(I have more fangirling imaginations, but I'll save for later. It would be incredible if these fantasies do get fullfilled. *shifts a look to Soutetsu*)

Could this somehow have been the experience that triggered Akizuki to assume the duty of Eternal Assassin? But then, how what why?!

There might be a small hint or foreshadowing in the show about our Akizuki-kun being the older brother. Benimaru calls him Onii-chan. Yeah, that's very small.

ON MOTHERS
Akizuki probably hates his mother very much for putting him through this, while the temari was supposed to be a mother's gift. That nicely contrasts with Kanna who still loves his mother despite being left behind.

How come Akizuki AND Kakunojou know the song?
I am inclined to think that Akizuki himself invented the song on spot while at the temple. Perhaps the original temariuta was taken from his mother, but then he gradually twisted it into his own version to spite her. Something like that? Or it doesn't speak of Akizuki at all, thus reducing my theory to pieces.

But if that is so, HOW and WHY in the world does Kakunojou know?
I'll leave that up to the last episodes XD; It sure doesn't seem like she heard it 'from somewhere'.

Back to the mother thing. the only other mother who showed up in Iroha is Mitsu, the mother of Riku (note that she play temari), in episode 20.

Speaking of Akizuki's flashback of Kakunojou singing temariuta and suddenly turning evil. It could coincide with his own mother 'stabbing him in the back'. Somehow.

Note how Kakunojou could only sing two lines in episode 7, and stops for some reason.
Then Akizuki continues until the 3rd lines in episode 16.
Then Kakunojou sings 3 lines in 19 until people attack the hospital.
In episode 21, after Kakunojou sings the last lines with no interruptions we get some flashbacks of the aftermath of having stabbed Akizuki and Soutetsu words. Then right after there's Akizuki looking somewhat strangely. I can't help but think that Akizuki started knowing about the last lines as well.

IF I think how the creators will unfold all of this, I assure you it's going to be a memorable one..

Well, I'm probably looking too much into it, but I have enjoyed doing this anyway. =)

Magazine spoilers

2007-03-07T17:37:13Z

from ttp://blog.goo.ne.jp/kouryakukan

Picture of Akizuki! Drawn by Naoyuki Onda. The titles for for 25 and 26 are undecided.

This is translation machine-fu filtered plus unreliable guesses and research by me. I'll keep it up until there is a proper one.

STAFF
23:
Script: Yasuyuki Suzuki (16-18)
Direction: Masato Miyoshi (3)
Animation: Tatsuya Suzuki (4)
Storyboard: Iwao Teraoka

24:
Script: Junichi Miyashita
Direction: Masaki Kitamura (ep 4, 10, 18)
Animation: Yuka Takemori (ep 9, 18)
Storyboard: Satoshi Kuwabara (ep 15, 18)

25:
Script: Junichi Miyashita
Direction: Hirotaka Endo (ep 8, 15)
Animation: Jun Okuda
Storyboard: Iwao Teraoka

26:
Script: Junichi Miyashita
Direction: Yoshimitsu Ohashi (1,2)
Animation Director: Naoyuki Onda
Storyboard: Yoshimitsu Ohashi

edit: check bk_iroha for summaries =)

Observations for episode 21

2007-03-02T21:23:32Z

Interesting episode! Though I could hardly something out of the historical parts X_x; AND there were a lot of historical parts.

- Saigo and Katsu meet up with up with Shouten-sama and his sidekick.

- I still stand by my proposed theory that the temariuta concerns Akizuki's origin. Why? [spoiler?]Right before the temariuta begins Akizuki notices a kid who carries a baby, and so I refer back to my theory about his past. I have an incredible feeling this could be very true. [/spoiler?] I might make one more post about this.

- As Kakunojou sings the full temariuta she and the children who listen realize something strange is up with the song. Most likely that it is actually a very very creepy song that should NOT be sung to little children!! *COUGH*

- Niiice swordfight between Toshi-san and other historical dude. Gatling gun kills Toshi-san's men. D: Akizuki saves Toshi-san! AWESOME JUMPING! Toshi-san goes O_O @ sight of Akizuki.

- Historical dude can't shoot Akizuki ~~for some reason, even though he was betrayed.~~

- Toshi-san prevents some dude from doing seppukku after seeing his comrades die.

There was something about this episode brought back the nostalgic feeling of the first half without being to overly awesome either, so that good. Maybe because of Katsu? XD

Now to watch Tokyo Majin 7... ><;

Whatever happens, I am NOT responsible.

2007-02-25T22:56:14Z

Totally forgot to put this up ages ago (Semagic is awesome for drafts try it), and then this reminded me of my current situation.

This blood....

...A-Akizuki-sama?

Ugh.. *drip drip*

Akizuki-sama!!!!!!!! D: D:

....

!!

...

Why...?

....!

.............!!!!!!!!!!

AKIZUKI-SAMAA---!!!!

YOU,

YOU'RE---

MENSTRUATING BLOOD?!?!?!?!!?!?!

I have a perverted mind, images scarred, etc etc

2007-02-23T18:56:38Z

- this seems to be mandatory for every episode review I do: zomg the music. OST 2!!! REJHFEUOV32urdjijk!!!1

- I loved the snow storm scenes. It felt real and cool. Maybe it finally feels like we're getting to last part of the Iroha OP.

- On a different note, I watch Ghost Hunt and I had a similar reaction to that anime's episode 20. Naru in pj's. With a coat over his shoulders. Serving tea... *dies* I normally don't use that word, but that was so moe. It's really the same with Akizuki, except worse. You never see Naru wearing something else other than the same old black clothes during the series. And suddenly. He's in his pj's. *nosebleeeds* Oh man I fail.

- I have nothing else to tell, because my brain is temporarily fried from staying up so late to watch GH and Akizuki fanservice overload. DX

- Um. Apart from the screencaps of last week, I forgot another thing. I will post it... uh.. tomorrow.

...

2007-02-23T03:11:52Z

JDSHFANFJRA NJN EAKJ39IRK;LD,.;.!!!!!!111111111111 D:

......................OMG

2007-02-16T18:08:12Z

Kanna didn't appear.

Akizuki hardly appeared.

WHO CARES.

Let's just say Episode 19 completely floored me.

- animation: u know it's awesome.
- musically: new insert song! more new tracks from the OST!
- Shouten-sama gets a message, and knows it's about Youjirou. Well duh!

- Kakunojou gets a nightmare about Akizuki-sama. She completely freaks out when seeing the katana. Very well done. God I love her screaming!!



- It snows! *cue historical babble here that I don't get* Hijikata goes to the star shaped fort thing I forgot the name of. A young boy character gets introduced, Ichimura Tetsunosuke. He's like... an older Sounosuke with more guts.


- *insert cute little wolf puppy here*

- they enter a building with messy interior.


- At the point where they cut ice on the water I started to understand...

- Kakunojou angsts in her room and beautiful piano piece is playing.

- zhe doctor and ~~boy... (I didn't catch his name sorry)~~ Tetsunosuke


- Tetsunosuke is talking Hijikata in the neighbourhood and they have a talk about being samurai and such.

- Tetsunosuke brings food to Kakunojou, he sees her katana and says "women...>>;" and gazes to the her side as he puts down the food on the table.


She looks back at him. Then I LAUGHED, because Tetsunosuke starts BLUSHING, like 'zomg she's so pretty!' As he starts leaving he says "err that katana.."

Then she starts crying. Dude, it's not good to make girls cry on your first meeting!! He's completely clueless and tries to find doctor for her. However, he's busy with the other patients, who leave for some reason. He begs them to stay.



- We find Shiranui looking for Kotoha with a print, asking passerby's if they recognize her XDDD


- Tetsunosuke brings food again, but Kaku is nowhere to be found. Sorry, she doesn't like you :(

- Ohnoes, she's standing on a cliff! And she's about to throw the katana away, until DUN DUN DUN... sensei appears!! He's like 'hi look at me prettily standing on this cliff. o why hello there!'


- Soutetsu talks to her about the katana, and Kakunojou thinks she was wrong about her destiny with Akizuki and she angsts. He tells that he's still alive though! Soutetsu leaves. *insert obligatory seagulls and pretty insert song here!*

- Tetsunosuke sees her on a cliff and thinking she's suicidal, he's like "NOO!!1 Stop, don't die!!" He bumps into her and grabs her kimono. Kakunojou: What?! O_O; He kind of looks away and says something. She laughs and says she's sorry, leaving happily.

- Kakashi, Zagashira and the kids arrive.

- While Shiranui is sleeping/eavesdropping, the men next to him have a suspicious chat about I don't know what. Shiranui "wakes up" and sees..... TAYUUU~! *lols at his face*



- Zagashira, Kakashi and the kids are freezing. Benimaru leaves and runs around in the halls.



GET READY FOR THE MOST ADORABLE SCENES. EVER.

He sees a big samurai man and he gets scared, so he runs away, which is SO CUTE. XD

Then he bumps into none other than.... Sensei!!! Soutetsu smiles very kindly to him and Benimaru cries BIG tears, while calling out "SENSEIIIII!!!!!!!! T_T"

Then he runs into his arms. ;_; I LOVED IT. That was SO cute!!




- The troupe and Soutetsu talk! They want to know where Kakunojou is, but someone already knows. Guess who.





- I like the doctor, he's so kind! XD Outside the hospital Kakunojou sings temariuta to some children, with a temari ball!

- The men I mentioned before intimidate the hospital.


- Tetsunosuke arrives to the hospital, but he's attacked! Someone gets onto him and he's about to get killed.


- Hijikata has a meeting with Enomoto, Soutetsu and Brunet about Ezo.

- Back to the hospital: Kakunojou saves the Tetsunosuke's life! And kicks ass. Without being possessed. *hears loud applause*

Shiranui and the rest arrive to the scene!




*insert kabuki scene here* Yuyama Kakunojou ichizanin gozaimasuru~! Kaku hugs Zagashira T_T

- Doctor knows Soutetsu o_o

- Pretty scene of Soutetsu!


- a dog is at the sea and finds something curious, a kid comes to look at the scene and finds.... A DED AKIZUKI. ZOMG. He's alive!!!!!!!!!!1

Episode 18: the review?

2007-02-10T18:58:16Z

Here's the review for....the rest of the episode, somewhat. The whole thing went by in a flash, because I watched it laaate at night. It took me a long time to actually post this, because of all the interruptions (torrent posts lol, TM, etc). In the end, it is quite short.

First, one death prediction came to be true.

Chess pieces:
The Queen has the highest chance of living. The other three only have 25%. The Rook must die in order to 'break' the Queen, and that would be very interesting...! *sadistic*

So YES, I was right HAH. Seems like Masashi Yabe's characters don't last long, this time's different because Rook had some foreshadowing to it, which wasn't the case for Ebisu. I usually don't like foreshadowing in the episode itself, but in this case with Rook it's fine to me... I guess it wasn't really 'o pity me for the last time' either, all well. Still it's still really sad. DX I felt bad for his poor sister looking on helplessly.

Now we have to deal with two sad girls....

Strangely the prediction made me very happy. It does mean the mission gets personal for... Team Kanna, which is a nice development.

It was interesting to see the Head's effects on Rook and the other people...

Well, there isn't really anything else to highlight on. I think I've wasted all my energy on the previous entry!

wait. Can't forget the Engrish, it's back! :D

The end of episode 18.

2007-02-10T09:27:46Z

....Kakunojou "killed" Akizuki.

OK LOL LIKE WE DIDN'T SEE IT COMING.

What I really liked was that horrifying moment of truth for our two main characters in particular.

I forgot about what happened before that, sue me. I'll get back on that later.

lolzwhatzupdawg

ME NOT LIKE YOU.

:O

Fear my moustache!

NO!!1 *ATTAKU*

oops. colors get inversed!

heeh :D

great whose back is that?

oshit mine!

He'd make a fine statue.

Rather than being possessed by the sword, she gets possessed by the Head.

Glow in the dark? But wait, now we get to the juicy angsty parts!

Not yet. Too late Shouten-sama! (I honestly thought this could be left out.)

blood D:

.... o_o

...>>

D: D:!!!!!!!!

this is seriously a great scene, it's possibly my favorite one up till now. Because of the movements and the drama drama.

Turning his foot.

ANGST. I loved every wonderful chilling grainy moment.

D:

D:

D: the horror.

wry?

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

o Soutetsu

Soutetsu: o poor you :"]
Akizuki: i h8 u :(

S: why thank you >)
A: *aaaaaaaaangst*

Say hi to Ebisu for me kthnxbye.

D:

.....*looks drugged*

off to angstland

*thunder*

*falls*

*splonge*

lolz... I hope he took swimming lessons. *randomly looking hawt*

....."I just killed the only guy I liked." - emo.

D:

GUILT + ANGST + TEARS triples by the second.

....

;_;

*freaking out k* T______T

Of course we know Akizuki survives, but the emo has doubled despite that. Who's gonna fish him out of the water?!
We've gotten to the last stage of the OP!!

Speaking of "things that we already know", I've been wondering why they'd spoil the us in the OP. Wouldn't that take off the suspense? From this point on we've seen everything, except the snow, the weird volcano + cloud and Kaku getting her old clothes back, which should be in the next episode.

This ends the "Akizuki + Kaku bonding"-arc that spanned a few episodes. Although I'm not very demanding, I only wished they at least had shown Kotoha + Troupe in that and speeded things up a little..

With Akizuki 'dead', we're going to get more interactions of the others, which should make up for it too... it should get back that feeling a bit that we had in the first half of Iroha. :)

Episode 17

2007-02-02T14:54:03Z

- apparently Soutetsu is now BFF with Jules Brunet. I had to laugh when that short kabuki came up, and Brunet was blinking after ward.
- we meet Shouten-sama's luver.

.........................

- anyway lots of Soutetsu: he smiles a lot!
- Toshi-san and Soutetsu meet for the first time.
- Enomoto is in his cabin the whole episode, staring out the window.
- Akizuki is very grumpy.
- more 'new' music ajhdojfnwjf.
- Kakunojou sings the temariuta and Akizuki is like STOP!! D<
- Team Kanna reappears. LOL. They invade another ship.
- Shouten-sama's luver sees the other sword, is shocked and falls over XD.
- We get Toshi-san vs Soutetsu, but Soutetsu pwns him. (this is really all fanservice)
- Akizuki vs Kakunojou: but Kaku nearly falls off a cliff and he saved her.
- Head!Enomoto smiles to Toshi-san from far away. :D
- more epic music omg ;o;

I AM.... The KING OF THE WORLD!!!1

Preview:
Aki: Hasha no kubi! Seal!
Oooaah!

Ue, ugh. z-zachou..?

Kaku: Oa, Akizuki-sama!

Aki: Why? < *totally drooling a pool at the way he says this*

Soutetsu: I see! soyu koto ka... blablabla Eien no shikaku blabla kiraretari.

Great updates to the site

2007-01-29T20:58:57Z

I got enough of my host's antics and decided to move away! You may have noticed the downtime and the errors, but that is in the past.

Iroha Oekaki BBS is fine now, feel to draw whenever and whatever you like.

Then my main project, which has successfully moved (I'd die if it didn't), and that I haven't forgotten about.

IrohaWiki.

I made some much needed updates to it:
- adding templates and summaries that go with them (again thank you wao for the tls) of the recent episodes.
- some changes to the story, because it didn't make sense to me, plus added the Irohanihoheto part of the title.
- Kakunojou no Temariuta has its own article!
- the rest is more like changing templates around or minor additions/corrections.

.....yet to create most character profiles and work on the others. Still stuck in the second episode summary.

Any help is welcome, 'cause.. it's a wiki you know? At the rate I'm going on my own it will never be finished anyway.

ps. I want ur theories 2.

Temariuta

2007-01-27T22:44:03Z

When hearing the preview for ep 17 I suddenly noticed the musical piece in the background had the temariuta as well. So I thought: "o they changed it." Then I went back to episode 1 and turns out it had been there the whole time.

Once again.

Please hit me with a stick if everyone else already knew and I noticed only after 98t493t8 x listens.

Perhaps you didn't know, but the temariuta is a creepy song about a mother leaving her kids behind. More is explained here.

Now here is my far fetched theory in how this could relate to Akizuki. Maybe I'm just over imagining, but from the way Iroha has been hinting at, this could be very well true. They've been holding out on Akizuki's origin and past, soooo don't read this possible spoiler or if you don't want to ruin it by having wrong expectations from this: read (and maybe comment) and forget. Just in case.

Really really far fetched, when keeping in mind this song is essentially about Akizuki himself. You must read the explanation that I just linked to. I have a feeling this might have happened.

OKEI. Youjirou's name basically tells us that he's the second male sibling, thus he has an older brother. It was hinted when in episode 16 Akizuki Youjirou acted as if Akizuki Youichirou died by the hands of Hijikata. *insert revenge play here* So I guess he must have (had) a brother.

Is that brother alive? Or dead? Well, in my theory he is presumed to be dead. Now closely linking it to the temariuta: The two Akizuki brothers and their mother are brought to a temple or whatever place, and after a while, she leaves them behind. Only to never return again.

This is where the food scene of episode 15 comes in, of the two young siblings without parents who stole Akizuki's food.... I contemplated about him having a similar past just a while ago: after his mother abandoned them at the temple, Youichirou had to survive alone with his younger brother. Well, assuming that older children have a better chance of survival I'm going to guess that the younger brother indeed died.

Thus my grand theory is that:
- Youjirou is in fact dead.
- Youichirou is alive.
- Youichirou was so devastated by Youjirou's death (be it by hunger, accident, sickness, even worse: letting him die in order to survive) and it resulted into:
- him being so ashamed of himself that it was his _younger_ sibling, because he is supposed protect and take care of him, that
- this trauma caused him pretending to be, acting as if (and perhaps even believing) he is "Youjirou". That it was really "Youichirou" who died, sacrificing himself.
- "Akizuki Youjirou" wanders out on his own, until the Getsuruitou calls him to the town of Koma. yadda yadda

Soooo he still believes he is Youjirou; at young age from being abandoned at the temple by his mother, to losing his brother and hiding his faults, lying to himself... without realizing he had been acting........

edit:
Episode 16
Akizuki: "Monzen no kozo..." *in a sexay voice*

I went to find out where that line originated, just because he sounded unusually hawt, and omg.

も Monzen no kozo narawanu kyo yomu. (A boy living near a Buddhist temple recites an untaught sutra.) The saint's maid quotes Latin.

more info: http://www.246.ne.jp/~kotowaza/abstracts.html#meiji

..........I just learned something without realizing it.

Iroha Karuta.

COINCIDENCE? y/n?

Also, I'm gonna cry big tears if this really happened. D: This could also explain his soft spot for children.

It turned out longer than I thought. okay, but for now forget about it. D:

kubiwadokoda @ 2007-01-26T12:49:00

2007-01-26T11:49:18Z

I'll make it a short review, more or less Kakunojou centric, because I'm too dead to actually properly describe at least half of the episode. I'm sure there will be better ones out there soon.

- I think I've said enough about Toshi-san's appearance... and he's cool!

- Kakunojou faints after her eye glow and her Getsuruitou is reacting to something.

- Later she wakes up to hearing Akizuki sing (!!!!!!!!!) the temariuta and then she starts to sing along o_o He doesn't sound too bad actually (let's just say I've heard worse) Kakunojou is a better singer though XD

- Her first swordfaito: she has a very interesting style going on, very elegant and twirly. I like! Her reaction afterward was cute XD I assume her 'possession' is similar to Akizuki, except he's had it for a long time... so she still has to get used to it, eh?

- LOL @ Kakunojou with the watery eyes XD She kind of looked ridiculous.

- I WANT THE SECOND OST.

Rating: OK. Plus, it's not every episode you have Akizuki contributing to the cultural part of the show. XD Twice even.

ps. as nice as it sounds, I hope they won't do a temariuta overkill. >>;

I hope to see Kanna in the next episode... and of course, more Engrish!! And Soutetsu, and everyone else. :( I even want the Head back!

TOSHI-SAN.

2007-01-26T03:08:35Z

O
M
G

WRRRRRRYYYY HE HAAAWWWT

(why am I awake?!)

oC antics

2007-01-25T15:00:30Z

I haven't posted these yet, did these sometime ago,

Still roughly sketched as ever. Uh Kaku looks a bit weird here.

I 'finished' the Akizuki with umbrella thingy. He looks like a doll.

Predictions

2007-01-25T11:00:31Z

As it seems like midnightreverie is returning back quickly from her 3/4-day-hiatus of no post/commenting... She might as well post here ~~weak~~.

Why am I speaking in third person? Well, let's just say:

"I can appear whenever and wherever I want to."

...so who are doomed to die according to kubiwadokoda? And who are not?

One thing I can say for sure is the historical characters already have their dates of death. Example: Katsu probably won't get killed off, because he died on 1899 in reality.

I won't discuss them, unless Soutetsu decides to rewrite history. *cough* I wouldn't count on it. Lets start with the main characters and troupe.

Akizuki and Kakunojou:
- Either both live
- or both die
- If one of them survives it would be Kakunojou. Why not the other way around? I just have this hunch.
Conclusion: It's very very likely that one or both of them will die. Like 75% chance.

Soutetsu:
50/50 - actually I have no idea, so difficult to tell. D:

Shiranui:
He has 25% chance of living. He'd probably die for Kotoha or something?

Zagashira:
75% chance of dying.

Kakashi:
50/50

Kids:
They'll live, because I say so. ;o; If they die it will be the saddest thing EVER.

Kanna:
75% chance of living. I know most think of him as 'DOOMED', but I think he has a pretty good chance of living through it... I HOPE. (SUNRISE, THE OTHER BLONDE WITH ORIGIN ISSUES IN ONE OF YOUR SERIES DIDN'T MAKE IT ;O; PLZ LET KANNA LIVE!!) ps. how old is he? is it mentioned already??

Kotoha:
50/50 - same as Soutetsu.

Shouten-sama:
......he'll die. There's 90% chance. Either by 'the great mentor dies' death or of old age. Or both.

Shinza:
50/50

Chess pieces:
The Queen has the highest chance of living. The other three only have 25%. The Rook must die in order to 'break' the Queen, and that would be very interesting...! *sadistic*

Yuuyake no Kaze and Temariuta

2007-01-20T19:49:14Z

AJSDHNJGFSNG GKEA:eld,Fs

SO I was just listening Yuuyake no Kaze and realized how much it sounds like the Temariuta's melody (except for the part in the middle). I just thought it was neat.

Please hit me with a stick if everyone else already knew and I noticed only after 235742u5 x listens.

(I need more icons)

Brilliant.

2007-01-20T15:29:06Z

I read through wao's summary of episode 14 and this ttly has me laughing in stitches.

Another highlight of this section: the fabulous fantastic English. "So easy!" That's going to be the next catchphrase if it isn't already among the whacko Japanese fancircles, I suspect...
The other piece of Engrish this section was courtesy of Kanna. "Just five minutes".
Now.
Does anyone realise how easy it is to make this into an ad for instant noodles?
That's all I have to say.

Other things I need to mention:

- Kakunojou's special supa power is SPEED. See how fast she's catched up to Akizuki every time?
- I think the HARO~ wasn't meant to be English, but the French "Allô~". They're on a French ship after all. How do we call this? Franglais? Frengrish?

Food and weapons

2007-01-20T15:14:33Z

I'm not going to make a summary, because there are wonderful ones around. XD

As for the food stealing scene, I 'hope' I wasn't the only one who expected Akizuki to hit the boy's hand with his Getsuruitou. It almost came as a surprise for me, but not unexpected. Then I went back to the introduction of the kids, those thoughtful looks he had, and it immediately struck me that he had suffered a similar life in his early childhood (before coming to Shouten-sama).

A glimpse into Akizuki's past: I estimate it won't be long before we get to see flashbacks of Akizuki's past before Ryouma. We've seen Kakunojou's early in the series and Kanna's not so long ago. We've only had Shouten-sama's mentions and the flashbacks of Okita Souji. I must say it adds to his mysterious air around him. He's somewhat like a puzzle.

I could fangirl much more over Akizuki, but I have no more words.

ps. optional themes for Oekaki board this week are food & weapons. Go make me hungry.

Kubi wa doko de arinsu ka?

2007-01-18T17:51:44Z

And again.. I couldn't resist inserting the Head in here.

The Rules
First, write down the names of 12 characters. Then read and answer the questions. You can't look at the questions (or click on the cut) until you write down the 12 characters you're going to use. Here are mine:

1. The Head
2. Kakunojou
3. Enomoto
4. Soutetsu
5. Katsu
6. Parkes
7. Kanna
8. Kotoha
9. Rook (chess piece twin)
10. Shouten-sama
11. Queen (chess piece twin)
12. Akizuki

Have you ever read a Six/Eleven fic? Do you want to?
Parkes/Queen. No and no XD

Do you think Four is hot? How hot?
YES, at first I didn't think so, but he's getting hotter with each new episode XD Burning like the sun!

What would happen if Twelve got Eight pregnant?
OMG. What. I'd die of laughter and shock. Ryouma would hunt him down if he was alive.

Can you rec any fic(s) about Nine?
There isn't any.

Would Two and Six make a good couple?
....I know Parkes is a fan of her, but uh.

Five/Nine or Five/Ten? Why?
I'd take Katsu/Rook any time, just because the other is more disturbing.

What would happen if Seven walked in on Two and Twelve having sex?
The thought of. DX
I mean.
at this point of the story.........................Kanna would possibly scream murder and RAGE, personally torture him and shoot a thousand holes through Akizuki until he has no more bullets left.
Geez, Akizuki. Stop sleeping around and make people angry in this meme!

Make up a summary for a Three/Ten fic.
DO NOT WANT DX

Is there any such thing as One/Eight fluff?
No. XD
Now I imagine Kotoha wanting the Head and ask Soutetsu: "Kubi wa doko de arinsu ka~?"

Suggest a title for a Seven/Twelve hurt/comfort fic.
I'm out of titles.

What kind of plot device would you use if you wanted Four to deflower One?
.....dsufjhgrejgar;ngfmjrengeskn

D:

IMPOSSIBLE!!!1

Does anyone on your friends list read Seven slash?
Yes, of course if there was any.

Does anyone on your friends list read Three het?
No.

Does anyone on your friends list write or draw Eleven?
Not yet.

Would anyone on your friends list write Two/Four/Five?
I dunno >>;

What might Ten scream at a moment of great passion?
FORGET ABOUT GETTING AN ANSWER OUT OF ME.

If you wrote a song-fic about Eight, which song would you choose?
....dunno.

If you wrote a One/Six/Twelve fic, what would the warnings be?
Slash + unhealthy love for a magical skull.

What might be a good pick-up line for Two to use on Ten?
..............D:
"Sir, would you like to have a kabuki show for free?"

When was the last time you read a fic about Five?
None yet!

What is Six's super-sekrit kink?
....no idea.

Would Eleven shag Nine? Drunk or sober?
TWINCEST. O_O Uh. Drunk.

If Three and Seven get together, who tops?
....that, I do not know.

One and Nine are in a happy relationship until Nine suddenly runs off with Four. One, broken-hearted, has a hot one-night stand with Eleven and a brief unhappy affair with Twelve, then follows the wise advice of Five and finds true love with Three. What title would you give this fic? Name three people on your friends list who might read it. Name one person who should write it.

[The Head] and [Rook] are in a happy relationship until [Rook] suddenly runs off with [Soutetsu]. [The Head], broken-hearted, has a hot one-night stand with [Queen] and a brief unhappy affair with [Akizuki], then follows the wise advice of [Katsu] and finds true love with [Enomoto]. What title would you give this fic? Name three people on your friends list who might read it. Name one person who should write it.

Title: Head over heels.

As for people who'd read it and the one who should write it, no idea. XD