OOC BLARG

We've got Haruka, who is the 'perfect wife'. Shy, kind, beautiful and motherly. Musically talented, but as a composer in an extremely passive way compared to the boys who actually go out and sing. Her klutziness make her innocent and vulnerable only in a way that a harem can make a mary sue (let's be honest here). Her parents are nowhere to be found (no father figure to try to take her from, and no mother, because princesses have no mothers). Grew up with her grandmother, who is somewhere far away, and presumably not in the best health condition, Haruka is one of those characters who others- at least the boys- think she needs to be protected and cared for.

Unfortunately, she turns into a prize to be won very early on. The anime presents her as quiet, vulnerable, unable to express strong emotions with ease- geez the girl collapses when she comes to a personal realization. This is just thew kind of female perfect for playing the damsel in distress, aka the trophy.The boys are from then on locked in a musical duel to see who will be the victor, but since this is a dating sim game, and really the audience gets to choose, she chooses no one in the end. 

This is when her character, psychoanalytically speaking, subtly transforms from the Madonna into the Mary Magdalene. She has enchanted these 7 men with her music, and now holds them in an eternal stasis, with no guaranteed future resolution. (You wanna get Freudian with it? Where are these boys' mothers? Can we talk about Natsuki, and how he got his heart broken by an older woman who ran away with his song, thus creating Satsuki?). Haruka is the only woman in their lives right now. Very much like a nymph or a forest fae, she is beautiful as long as you can have her- when she assumes control, she becomes evil or a harlot. Haruka's character is interesting int he sense that while to most eyes she seems the picture of vulnerable, attainable innocence, a second look reveals that she holds these boys' hearts in the palm of her hand, and can break them if she so chooses.

Granted she's not that kind of character, her role as a princess, as a trophy impairs her, but she has the choice. And as soon as she chooses, bam! Though, I suppose it will seem as if the boy who gets her is the wrong one/the victor, which quickly turns our attention back to her purity and the man as a hero/treasure hunter- for she is just a prize, and as long as she picks one of the 7 competing for her, she will stay a prize.

I guess that's why I love Tomochika so much. Despite her waay fun to say name, she is single and still very successful. She's that one character that shows you that you don't have to be in a relationship, or have men pining over you to make it in life. While not very developed, she sends the better message out, at least in my opinion. She is mature, self-assured, and independent, which is great- but this is an analysis. Do these qualities inadvertently hinder her? 

Tomo is there to be Haruka's best friend, to be her support- in turn, she is not shown having other friends or needing support of her own. Seemingly she has no problems with anything at all- could it be that her problems are not important enough because she is not wife material? Or that she can just handle them by herself because she's badass like that. (Granted this show is about Haruka, and Tomo's development has no place in there, but as the second...biologically female character...it's not enough.) Is she being punished because she does not depend on men, or is not looking for her prince charming by not being granted a boyfriend/admirers? It's a bit of a stretch, but given the small amounts of info we have on her..I mean, didn't she get with a performer in the first season? What happened to him? Why didn't the anime jump to the conclusion that they are dating? Did the boy not pass the test? Was she too hard, too much of an independent woman? She's never really shown much romantic interest in the boys (the boys who everyone wants) so she is not a simple fangirl- she is intelligent and unaffected by such plastic affections. Of course, one could come to the conclusion that her sexual attractions lay somewhere else/are nonexistent. She may very well be gay and/or asexual, but at this point the the conversation, that just sounds like an excuse to me. She is such a strong character because she doesn't need excuses- you don't know about why she is the way she is, and that's fine, you don't need to. She's going, and going strong, and that's really all that should matter. Note also that her hair is a deep pink/red- a rather strong, aggressive color as opposed to Haruka's very soft, very pale tones.

Also, was it me or did she look/act way older this season? Like, a couple of years older than Haruka, despite their same age? Tomo seem to have matured further from last season, so much so that she ended up identifying more with Ringo than she did with Haruka. (And Ringo's, like, in his mid 20s?) ((Although, hey, if you decide the sexuality thing is true, that makes for an interesting topic about gender roles and relationships within them that can be further analyzed))

Speaking of Ringo, I don't know really how to approach that one, because really, from the anime there isn't much we know. If he identified as female, it's one thing, but if he's just a dude who likes to feel pretty, then it really isn't appropriate to include him in this rant. (Though word of god, his actual hair color is pink, soo, maybe it just marks femininity? it's a bubble-gum-y pink too, kind of synthetic- an absentminded nod to his perceived gender?) 

Actually, no, I'm sorry, according to the game, his agency told him he looks cute as a girl, and made him cross-dress and act more feminine to get work, so I guess he's out. But watching the anime, you could never guess that- he doesn't seem to resent the femininity or reject it- in fact, if the characters didn't remind us, we'd be sure to forget, that is how well he pulls off the role. It isn't an excuse, however, forcing someone to act in a way they don't necessarily identify with is still pretty fucked up.

Let's theorize a bit though. In reality (despite yaoi and overly feminine boy band members) I don't really know the general Japanese attitude towards homosexuality. 

Wikipedia says LGBT-rights are rarely discussed or debated publicly and most political parties do not make any formal position, in favor of or in opposition, to LGBT-rights in their party's platform or manifesto.

Same-sex marriage in Japan is illegal, however Japanese officials allows for same-sex couples to get married overseas, and return to Japan, withholding that legal status. Still, from what I gather, homosexual individuals- at least in Japanese media- are mostly joked about and exaggerated; not taken as seriously as they should be.

So imagine a young Ringo trying to make it into the industry. Now imagine a young and decisively homosexual (sparkles and all) Ringo trying to make it into the industry. As a serious idol? No way. As a fashion providing comedic relief? Sure why not? Now because of the game, in this scenario I'm not assuming he's transgender, I'm assuming he's gay and it shows. I can also assume he's neither, and that scenario becomes way more painful, because hey kids, go ahead and give up who you are- you'll get to make it in show business! But assuming he's gay, right? Imagine him starting out, coming from a history of discrimination- from school or whatever- even worse if he grew up in a small town), and knowing he'll have trouble making it as a serious idol. Then imagine him finally getting into an agency only to be told that he'll get no work unless he full out started acting and dressing like a woman. If he's trans, the blow's not that bad, but for someone who identifies as male, I'd really doubt that would be how he'd want to spend the rest of his life. Now, he's a cutiepie, don't get me wrong, but seriously, I can't imagine what he went through as a kid- or even as trying to make it to the top. The ridicule, the harassment, the 'sleep-with-me-and-you'll-get-the-part' offers. 

Ah, well this is just an assumption of course. Because. In the game. Haruka. Can get. An ending with him. So. Just an assumption. fuck you game Thankfully in the anime, that's nowhere to be found, but in the game you get an ending, with, like, everyone, so. I'm allowed to have headcannons, okay? Anyway, he certainly is an interesting character. He's got that strong personality and he's the only one of the three that has really made it- but 1. He is older, and 2. He is still a male, which while the anime groups him with the girls, additional evidence leaves me confuddled with where to place him.  But those are my thoughts on him, and that's that.

P.S.We also have Tokiya trying to act in a female role in Masato's episode and oh dear lordy. Talk about a weak, vulnerable female character- granted, she may have been written that way, true, and it was in an older era in which those characteristics were valued in a woman, but still. She was captured my men and had to be saved by a man, and then masato goes ahead and imagines Haruka in that role. Just. Mmmmmmmmm >---> 

It might be because they're seen together most often, it might be their different personalities that attracts me to the pairing (because, as you will learn, I do that a lot), but there's something about Ranmaru's outward stubborness and mushy, hurt inside that I feel goes well with Reiji's happy-go-lucky-but-actually-pulling-all-the-shots personality.

Reiji is kind of the mother hen of the group. He goes around trying to make sure everyone's okay, pitching in new ideas, supporting the new babies.Despite appearances, I feel that he is mature enough to heal Ran-Ran's old wounds (particularly the ones stemming from a ruined friendship/musicship with his old band). Raiji won't give up on him or be affected by his coldness, and Ranmaru- in my opinion- can keep Raiji grounded when he gets too out-of-control. Ranmaru puts up a selfish front, but just like Reiji can encourage him to be a bit kinder, Ranmaru can show Reiji how to 'relax' and not worry so much about everyone- enjoy the simple things without thinking of the grand outcome or what he can do to reach his or others' goals. (at least that's how I read it)

(lloook at them cuties!!)