#ask juniper

While the kappa symbolism and lore has been covered elsewhere, here’s a little bit on the otters in Sarazanmai. 

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, but in anime an animal is nearly always symbolic.

“Are these the same otters as in Penguindrum?”

No, Penguindrum referenced sea otters, rakko (ラッコ), but Sarazanmai references river otters, kawa uso (川獺).

“Why river otters? Ikuhara and team could have picked any other creature.”

1.) River Otters are linked to Kappa

Japanese folklorists believe that river otters are one of the main sources for the origins of the kappa myth. River otters have had different names in different regions, several of which overlap with the variant names for kappa. The mischievous behavior of otters is nearly identical to some stories of kappa.

2.) River Otters are considered extinct

Tokyo was once a city of canals, to the point where Western travelers had dubbed it the “Venice of the Orient.” In the twentieth century most of the rivers were diverted and the canals were paved over. Between this loss of habitat and hunting by humans the river otters have virtually disappeared from Japan. This gives the otters nearly mythical status of their own.

3.) River Otters are believed to cure illness

In the Edo period (1600-mid1800s) the liver of river otters was rumored to cure tuberculosis. As there was no cure at the time catching tuberculosis was a warrant for a slow painful death, anything that could cure it would be seen as miraculous. The wish for a miracle cure for terminal illness was a theme in both Utena and Penguindrum.

4.) The “otter” in “river otter” sounds like the Japanese word for “lie”

Officers Reo and Mabu target the desires of criminals, people who are lying to others about what they really want. An examination of truth and lies is at the heart of every Ikuhara project to date. 

Do you have a question about the symbolism, cultural nuances, or just plain Ikuni weirdness about Sarazanmai? Let me know and I’ll do my best to answer! Comments, concrit, and further discussion totally welcome! 

Hey, CB!

For you I pulled the Eight of Stones (Skill). Everything in this life takes practice, hard work, and dedication, and this includes love. In the beginning it’ll work without turmoil, but in order for your relationship to grow stronger and last forever, it takes work and dedication. Nothing lasts without being taken care of. I believe that you and this guy will be happy together as long as the two of you carve out time for each other, never take the other for granted, and always work hard to make sure you both feel happy, loved, and supported. Good luck!

Wishes & Friendship in Same-Sex Youth Athletic Culture

From BFF necklaces to wedding bands the use of jewelry as a symbol of friendship or love is universal and ancient. Kazuki and Enta’s matching miçanga friendship bracelets are already implied to hold great weight in Sarazanmai, but for the Japanese audience the significance goes even deeper.

Friendship bracelets have existed in many different forms in many cultures worldwide. The modern version of the miçanga came into pop culture in the 1970s from South and Central America. By the 1980s they had become a firm staple of North American culture, too, and went on to overseas popularity.

However, miçanga took hold in Japanese consciousness in 1993 when pro-soccer players Ruy Ramos and Tsuyoshi Kitazawa wore them as good-luck charms for victory. With the rise of J-League (Japan’s professional soccer organization) came soccer’s popularity so too came the rise of miçanga which came to be intertwined with youth athletic culture.

School sports teams and clubs are closely knit in Japan, more so than in North American culture. When no practice is scheduled team members participate in making crafts, going on trips together, or just plain socialize with each other as they become one’s default circle of friends. The intense bonds depicted in sports anime and manga are hardly exaggerations.

Part of miçanga’s charm is its simplicity. Friends make, buy, or exchange miçanga. The miçanga is to be tied and worn around one’s wrist or ankle then worn until it frays and falls off naturally. Tradition holds that one makes a wish when the miçanga is tied and that the wish comes true once it falls off. It’s considered unlucky, or at the very least ungracious, to untie a miçanga, especially when it was gifted to the recipient.

Thus when the audience sees Kazuki’s miçanga in the opening scene it’s instantly understood that he’s part of a sports (soccer) team and that he’s closely bonded with at least one member. When we learn Kazuki has thrown away his miçanga it doubles the impact. This is no mere trinket, it’s a promise and a wish between close friends that has been severed.

Enta begins to carry around a new miçanga in his box, relaying the intensity of how much he desires to reform his relationship with Kazuki. By the third episode we know how far Enta’s feelings go, it’s not just friendship he wants with Kazuki but a romantic relationship and friendship to last a lifetime.

Haruka gifts Enta with Kazuki’s discarded miçanga, which underscores the fact that we have yet to see when and why Kazuki gave up that bond. All we know is that it had to have happened during the timegap of the first episode and that it will surely come into play before the series’ end.

Sources and Links of Interest: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 

My earlier meta about the otters in Sarazanmai can be found HERE.

Do you have a question about the symbolism, cultural nuances, or just plain Ikuni weirdness about Sarazanmai? Let me know and I’ll do my best to answer! Comments, concrit, and further discussion totally welcome!

Thank you, TN!

For you I pulled The Forest Lovers. While on one hand this could represent actual lovers and a relationship, I feel as though this card is speaking to you about self-love. Before you can ever truly give all of yourself to someone, you must be completely whole and in love with who you are. You will shed light in darkness, excel in creative aspects of your life, and show others how to be happy. You must understand who you are above all else, and everything else will fall into place. Take time to discover the inner parts of you that not even you have seen before. The world is at your grasp if only you can find yourself.

Hey, LTC!

I’m laughing because I still can’t believe I pull cards like this. I mean, just the fact that the card is called the Seven of Bows (CLEARANCE) amazes me. Feeling like a coincidence but totally meant to be. This card is telling me that what is blocking your energies are things within yourself. You need clearance. There are old, dusty things you’re holding onto. Emotions, memories, thoughts — shadows that need to be brought into the light and let into the wind. There is no outside force that is stopping you, everything is within you. You change every single day, and though we should let them go, we often hold onto things that hurt us, even if we don’t mean to. You need to embrace the change in yourself, welcome your inner growth, and let go of EVERYTHING holding you back, otherwise you’ll never feel that freedom of your energies bursting with light inside of you. We must clear spaces for new things to grow, even if that means pulling out the old and broken roots.

Hello, A!

I pulled the Ten of Vessels (Happiness). Do you know the saying, “good things come to those who wait”? It’s true here. Not that you should side up against a wall and wait your life away. No, this card is telling you — have patience. Happiness is coming for you and your love life. Make sure to know and love yourself before making any serious commitments with another person. Your love is coming — they’ll be someone that see all the good in you. Someone that will build you up, that will be patient and kind and won’t speak a wrong word against you. They’ll feel like home. If you find yourself with someone who does not do these things, then you haven’t found the one I’m talking about here. They’re on their way. Work on yourself and your own happiness first, and you’ll find each other when you least expect it.

Thank you, CS!

I pulled a card for you and another fell out. The Five of Bows (Empowerment) needs you to know that fate is not chance. It’s choice. You decide where your life will take you. Face your greatest fears and step out into the wide world that’s just waiting for you. Take chances and run with them!! The card I pulled is The Wanderer (my favorite card). Find the courage to let go of everything holding you back and step forward into a new beginning. You have everything it takes to achieve the kind of life you want. The biggest step is believing you can and taking action. You can do this, CS! The universe believes in you, now all you have to do is break the binds of what is holding you back.

Hello, SR!

For you I have the Page of Bows (Stoat). The stoat is showing a big change is coming your way, but not to be hasty in your decisions. An opportunity is coming your way, and you’ll know it when you see it. Trust your intuition and your dreams. I believe that when the time comes you’ll just know — this is it! Good luck, I wish you the best on your endevours into your love life! 💕