#ryofu

I have so many thoughts about RYOFU but first I wanna add my two cents to the Pursuit of Jade discourse, lol. So how pretty is too pretty for a martial figure? I think people on both sides focus too much on the face. I think that's the wrong place to look, but understandable since we all like to look at a pretty face.

Anyways, let the pretty face be. We all love a pretty face, male or female. It is, in fact, shoulders that maketh man! I know in the past, I've said military braids maketh man but I would like to amend that now that I have once again learned something new from Takarazuka. So I submit for your consideration, their latest show~

Top star Hozuki An was tasked with the role of Lu Bu, who is considered to be a very butch and hypermasculine man in the Chinese & Japanese imagination. As in, he has been historically & presently depicted as a huge dude who's idea of a fair fight is 3 vs 1...where he is the one. And while Takarazuka is filled with actresses who are experts at depicting men, once can argue they are generally more suited to the gentleman or dandy or basically track-and-field kind of guy by virtue of being overworked women. But seeing Hozuki An live I can say I was convinced at her portrayal of a giant military general beast of a man and killing machine. (and believe you me I've watched a ton of Takarazuka) This is also thanks to the costume department, they've upgraded the Chinese armors and I think the bixue or tiger head pauldrons are really doing the heavy lifting in bulking out the ladies. Not only did they give Chinatsu a nice general's silhouette but other generals in the cast as well. The martial side of this show was hella masculine. All the generals like Kazuma Asano as Cao Cao looked great. And you could even contrast them to young Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who looked too skinny as they were in plainer clothes and little armor. There was even a scene where all the generals were lined up and you could compare and see how a much a difference a full suit of armor made. (And before people complain about what they did to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, remember their lord was still broke at this time in history and could not afford nice armors so their depiction is within the realm of possibility) So in summary, if desired look of a general is hypermasculine but actor has pretty face then bulk him up and give him a nice suit of armor.

And don't forget the beastie detailing for that nice military manly man fashion. Cuz yes men like to be fashionable too, its just that their definition of fashionable is different and less "gay" as some people like to put it. Just look at historical pageantry armor, modern suits and watches, etc. It's out there. Men wanna be pretty too.

Gushing about fancy armors aside, I fail to see the problem in casting Zhang Linghe as a military man. Costume department did an admiral job bulking him up and giving him the proper silhouette when he's in armor. Yes he slims down in civilian clothes but even then his shoulders are still broad.

Akeno, would you sleep with Ryofu?

Not Enough Alcohol in the World || No || Maybe if I were wasted || Maybe || Eh…Sure || Yes || TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF NOW!

"She's arleady quite experienced, so it would take the fun out of it." akeno scoffed. "But she would be interesting to mess around with and compete for dominance."