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bungoblog · 6 years

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On Q and Chuuya in the light of skk LN spoilers

I saw skk bonus LN spoilers. I have mixed feelings about them, but I’ll wait for the full story description, as weird spoilers can make much more sense in the context.

If you need to catch up with the spoilers, some of them are here, also there is a thread in progress here.

Since one particular fact about Chuuya seem to be confirmed, I’ll write a bit about it.

So Chuuya is a military experiment with an artificial ability?! That jumped out of nowhere. Well, almost...

Come to think, there is a certain ability user, who does resemble a secret experiment gone completely wrong. I am talking about this gentle boy.

Of all ability users Q is the strangest one. Even Lovecraft, The Eldritch Abomination, behaves more human-like (he is just a tired man, get him some rest!). Q’s brain is messed up. Deep inside he doesn’t want his ability, yet he can’t stop casting it on other people.

We know from Kyouka and Mizuki’s backstories, that their uncontrollable abilities were inherited from their parents. Chapter 43 implies, that it is possible to transfer an ability without side effects, but the process is rather hard. I guess it is safe to assume, that those who can control their abilities were most likely born with them. Then uncontrollable abilities were not acquired naturally, on the contrary.

If Chuuya’s ability is an artificial one, then it is easy to see, that he fits the figure: he can’t stop Corruption, when it is unleashed.

Now I can’t shake a thought that Q is also a result of some experiment. I had my suspicions earlier, but now the experiments with abilities are more or less confirmed, so the theory seems plausible. Q backstory please, Asagiri-san?..

There were also some interesting bits in skk novel spoilers, like Chuuya’s absent memories and abilities war timeline. However, as I said in the beginning, I’d like to wait for more detailed description of the novel.

#bsd spoilers #bsd ln spoilers #skk novel spoilers #nakahara chuuya #bsd chuuya #bsd q #bsd theory #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs

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bungoblog · 6 years

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BSD anthology: always delivering quality content for ultra-rare pairs.

I don’t read Japanese, but I suppose the story is about Akiko choosing a nice dress for Lucy to impress Atsushi. Some cute Akiko x Lucy moments there.

Source: 文豪ストレイドッグス公式アンソロジー ~凛~ (please, buy to support the authors!)

#bsd anthology #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #bsd yosano #bsd lucy #bsd manga #bsd spoilers #lucy maud montgomery #akiko yosano #I didn't ship that but now I think I should

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bungoblog · 6 years

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Theories on BSD manga current arc

I know, I know, Dead Apple spoilers are the hot topic now, but I've got some thoughts on Bungou Stray Dogs manga that I’d like to share.

Spoilers for anime-only fans, spoilers for manga chapters 46+ (and even bigger ones for chapters 54+).

It is quite a long post, sorry!

First of all I have to admit, that I am losing a track of the plot. Too many new characters (shown and hinted), organizations, too many mysteries. Still BSD is rather conventional in terms of storytelling, so one can be sure, that ‘good guys’ will win. I.e. even though ADA is in dire situation now, they will find a solution somehow.

The question is how many chapters/volumes they will need and where do they find a solution.

Take Cannibalism arc (chapters 46-53). It had very strict time limit, so it was evident, that the conflict will be resolved fast, rather than dragged for 4-5 volumes. The outcome was easy to guess: either one of the bosses dies or the ADA and Mafia capture virus ability user. As you know, the latter had happened.

Now the situation looks much more complicated. The ADA were framed, the reality was rewritten, so even everyone memories were altered. The government wants them dead. Besides we don’t know the extent of the Book reality bending abilities. Had it affected Dazai, for example? I.e. if somebody asks Dazai (or checks his memories), whether the ADA had a plan to capture hostages, they would find a confirmation ‘Yes, it was ADA’s plan and the ADA is the "Decay of Angels” group’. Do Ango and Natsume also believe now, that ADA members are criminals? Ranpo is sure, that Taneda will testify on the ADA’s behalf.

So, suppose the ADA escapes their pursuers, rescue Ranpo and Dazai and then?.. How would they restore their good name? The obvious answer is ‘Cancel the reality altered by the Book page’. BUT! The Book cannot be affected by abilities (see chapter 28, Fitzgerald explains that to Atsushi). If this is valid for a single Book’s page (why not?), then Dazai cannot nullify what was written there, so the ADA won’t be able to go the simplest way.

Here goes Crazy Theory 1: Ango’s ability ‘Discourse on Decadence’ can somehow counteract Book’s altered reality. Not the Book itself, but the consequences.

Pro: It seems that Ango has non-combat ability. He is more a paperwork guy and doesn’t go into the battle. Other than that it is hard to make any guesses.

Contra: Having an ability that allows to resist altered reality (or something like that) is not that useful skill -- not so many users we’ve seen can deceive others perception of reality (eg. Tanizaki’s illusions, Oguri’s cleaning). So this kind of resisting ability would be too convenient to have in this arc. Also it is strange, that such ability wasn’t used to clear charges against Kunikida, when Oguri had destroyed the evidence.

Note: I think, Ango’s ability will be revealed soon anyway. Either this arc or the next big one.

Crazy Theory 2: The ADA will rescue Oguri and ask him to remove the evidence. However Oguri cannot change people’s memories, so the government still will be sure, that the ADA are criminals. It may be harder to condemn them without hard evidence, but they still aren’t seen innocent.

Pro: A character, that had appeared at the beginning of the arc is not forgotten and will play an important role!

Contra: That doesn’t resolve the conflict completely. Something else has to happen after.

Crazy Theory 3: Poe’s ability will be relevant for the resolution of this arc.

Pro: A book against the Book? Why not. Also, how is Chuuya?

Contra: His ability was brought up during Cannibalism arc and at the beginning of this arc. That’s quite a lot for non-ADA and even non-Mafia character. As much as I am happy to see Poe, I want others to shine too.

Crazy Theory 4: There is a loophole, that allows Dazai to nullify the Book’s effect.

Pro: We know, that Dazai always knows, how get the upper hand.

Contra: Please, no. Just no. This is way too simple.

Crazy Theory 5: The ADA will escape, reunite with other members and then go underground, because they cannot proof the truth right now. [How about joining forces with Steinbeck?]

Pro: Not a Deus ex Machina move. It offers an interesting development. Also Kunikida is definitely leaning to the darker side.

Contra: Asagiri doesn’t like to change status quo in BSD world. There is a high possibility, that the ADA will return to normal operations despite everything.

Crazy Theory 6: Something happens, so either everyone forgets about the ADA or/and the ADA save the say and become heroes.

Pro: We don’t know, what exactly Fyodor and the Decay of Angels are trying to achieve right now. Was it just destroying the ADA or something bigger? Also could Agatha finally make a move?

Contra: That will make an already messy arc even a bigger mess. Honestly I would prefer a proper arc finale before the further development.

Crazy Theory 7: The fifth member of the Hunting Dogs (see recent chapter 60) finds out the truth, as he/she was researching the Rats of the real Decay of Angels.

Pro: Not quite Deus ex Machina move, since we have a foreshadowing here.

Contra: This could be any other organization: Port Mafia, Clock Tower etc.

Side Note: Why we don’t see Port Mafia around?

Better ask, why would they be involved? Mori isn’t an altruist, he won’t move a finger for the ADA, unless there is also a great danger for Yokohama.There isn’t one, yet. Port Mafia is also unaffected. So they doesn’t have any reason to help ADA.

I also have a feeling that Chuuya had escaped Poe’s book long time ago. It happened behind the scenes, as Asagiri thought, that it is evident enough and not so important.We’ll see...

Scans used: Dazai Scans.

#bsd manga #bsd spoilers #bsd theories #bsd theory #bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #bungo stray dogs manga

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bungoblog · 6 years

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So I was in Germany and noticed, that their edition of BSD vol. 1 comes with ‘Kunikida notebook’. It was too hard to resist.

The notebook is a thin one with blank pages and occasional manga frames. I think it was offered in Japan as a bonus to something (vol. 3? Young Ace? I cannot find that).

There is also a card with Atsushi profile on the back (the same one as in manga vol. 2).

Apparently my German level is ‘Hey, I know that word!’, so I can’t say anything on the translation. Looks like they couldn’t use the title, under which ‘No Longer Human’ was published in German (’Gezeichnet’ probably means ‘Marked’ here, but I am not completely sure), so they made their own translation, which is close to original title. There are also short on-page comments explaining writers and abilities references.

I am not completely happy with the use of fonts and some of the sound effects, but the printing itself is beautiful!

#bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #bsd #bsd manga #egmont manga

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bungoblog · 6 years

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Some thoughts on Dead Apple PV

youtube

At last the first real trailer of Bungo Stray Dogs: Dead Apple was posted online. You can read the translation of the trailer and synopsis here. Below I will go through the thoughts I’ve got after the trailer and few discussions.

1. Movie in manga/anime timeline

We will definitely get a flashback 6 years ago. As stated in the movie synopsis, some huge conflict that lasted 88 days had happened back then. Seems that is the conflict, that made Oda to stop assassinations and adopt orphaned kids.

Motorcycle Chuuya and soukoku scene are related to this flashback (Chuuya is riding to Dazai, his motorcycle can be seen further in the PV, as noticed here).

Oda is most likely to appear in the same 6-years-ago flashback — the color scheme of his scene is similar to Dazai and Chuuya’s. It’s not like Oda is being resurrected in the movie.

If the movie doesn’t disturb manga timeline, then it takes place after Guild Arc, but before Cannibalism Arc. I.e. anywhere before chapter 46. I would bet on movie taking place after chapter 43 (where Kyouka learned the truth about Demon Snow and her parents) because of the scene with Kyouka and her mother. Either Kyouka already knows the truth or she is being told it there (then this scene replaces chapter 43 for anime-only people).

2. The White coats trio

The question remains, if Dazai, Fyodor and Shibusawa had met in the present timeline or earlier. If it is present, that contradicts with Dazai’s statement, that he fought “that demon” (Fyodor) earlier. This was carried into anime too, so the authors can’t ignore it. That leaves options:

Dazai had met with Shibusawa and Fyodor before joining the Port Mafia. Most likely he didn’t. He doesn’t look that young in the scene.

Dazai had met with Shibusawa and Fyodor during the conflict 6 years ago. A messenger from Mafia? Might not be the case, since Dazai doesn’t wear an eye bandage. An infiltrator? Hard to tell now.

Dazai had met with Shibusawa and Fyodor after leaving the Port Mafia. We don’t know, what he was doing two years after leaving, so this scene would fit nicely. Doesn’t look like he was fighting Fyodor, though. But the PV hadn’t shown us too much, so we might get an explanation, how Dazai ended with these two. So a flashback from 2-4 years ago.

Dazai had met with Shibusawa and Fyodor in the present time. Might be “Dazai gone missing” from the synopsis, but that kind of contradicts the previous storyline, as Dazai knows that Fyodor is dangerous. Brainwashing? I doubt that, since it Dazai.

Overall I am leaning towards (3): Dazai, Fyodor and Shibusawa had met some time after Dazai had left Port Mafia, but hadn’t join ADA yet.

3. Abilities gone rogue

The synopsis and PV have hints that ability users will have to fight their own abilities.

First, Special Abilities Department investigates the case of ability users suicides. The mist is always found on the site. This alone is enough to suspect, that the suicide might not be exactly what it seems. Then in PV we see Akutagawa running away from his red double — seems that Akutagawa cannot use his ability, so he is just escaping. There is also a tiger and Demon Snow, that are not colored in their usual colors. This means, that Akutagawa, Atsushi and Kyouka will most likely have to fight their own abilities. It is hard to say, whether rogue ability targets only their own user or other people too. There is also a question, if non-combat ability is dangerous for the user, or characters like Yosano, Fukuzawa are safe from whatever turns abilities against their users.

It is yet unclear, what Shibusawa has to do with that. Does he separate an ability from its user? Does he absorb the ability and use it against others? I hope for some more interesting explanation of this.

4. Soukoku

We are getting at least one scene with soukoku during Mafia days, yay! I secretly hope it will show us, how Chuuya used Corruption for the first time, but that scene might be too important to not show it in manga one day. So this may be a regular fight. Still the movie poster implies, that Chuuya will use Corruption, most likely at the present timeline, since he is wearing his current clothes.

5. Ango and Fyodor abilities?

We have seen Fyodor’s ability in manga, but we don’t know how exactly it works. Still this is enough to show it in the movie. Though I suppose, that Fyodor won’t play as significant role as Shibusawa and will remain a mastermind behind the scenes. It is unlikely we see him in action.

Ango is a trickier one. We don’t have any idea, what his ability might do. The only guess is that is most likely non-combat to match Dazai and Oda’s non-combat abilities. To show Ango’s ability would mean to spoil the manga. Unless his ability is going to be shown in one of the next few chapters. Alternatively Asagiri can throw in some hints, like it was done with introducing Sensei in Dark Era anime (there was no cat in light novel).

#bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #dead apple #soukoku #bsd #bsd dazai #bsd chuuya #bsd kyouka #bsd akutagawa #bsd atsushi #bsd fyodor

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bungoblog · 7 years

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Who wore it better?

The way Akutagawa’s Demonic Armor was animated in Ep 23-24 gave me vibes of Ryuko Senketsu outfit. Now I can’t unimagine more revelaing Demonic Armor for Akutagawa...

#bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #bsd #bsd anime #Akutagawa #ryuko matoi #kill la kill

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bungoblog · 7 years

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Most relatable BSD character right now: Lovecraft

#lovecraft #bsd anime #bsd #bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #john steinbeck #the guild

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bungoblog · 7 years

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Bungo Scarlet Dogs - 1

There are a lot of red frames in Bungo Stray Dogs anime that are used for higher impact or to depict a very bloody battle. Here is season 1.

#BSD #bsd anime #lucy maud montgomery #atsushi nakajima #yosano akiko #osamu dazai #nakahara chuuya #akutagawa #kenji miyazawa #kyouka izumi #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs

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bungoblog · 7 years

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Bloody Stray Dogs

I noticed that there is a number of frames when character is injured in a head. I wonder if I remembered all the occurences.

Episode 8 (both)

Episode 13 | Episode 19

Episode 21 (both)

#BSD #bsd anime #nakahara chuuya #osamu dazai #yosano akiko #atsushi nakajima #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs

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bungoblog · 7 years

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Time for some updates. There are less literary references now, but I still intend to update this list from time to time. I also moved it to BSD side blog.

43. ヘルリス! / Cherrirs!

It is Palauan word that Atsushi Nakajima had used in short story ‘A married couple’ set in Palau. You can read about it in this paper, starting from page 81.

This wasn’t found by me, but by a person who writes in private blog, so I can’t link the source. If you ever stumble upon this post, thank you!

44. フィッツジェラルドライジング / Fitzgerald Rising

Self-explanatory

45. Fix it, Master Craft

Self-explanatory

46. 仮面ノ暗殺者 / The Masked Assassin

Self-explanatory

47-48. 共食い / Cannibalism

Self-explanatory. It is also a title of a novel by Shinya Tanaka. The movie based on this novel was translated in English as ‘The Backwater’.

Note that it’s not quite cannibalism as ‘people eating people’. 共食い (tomogui) also means ‘mutual destruction’.

Bungou Stray Dogs chapter titles and references

I decided to make a list of Bungou Stray Dogs chapter titles and their meanings. Most of them refer to works of authors featured in manga or just describe a chapter, but there are several curious exceptions.

Note that my Japanese skills are zero, this list is compiled with a help of Google-fu and dictionaries.

I rarely post on Tumblr, but you are free to ask or add anything!

Japanese title / EGScans (or dazaiscans) translation / Crunchyroll translation (if exists and is different)

1. 人生万事塞翁が虎 / Losing a Tiger Might Be a Blessing in Disguise / Fortune is Unpredictable and Mutable

This title rephrases old Chinese saying about old man Sai and his horse (read the story here). The “horse” is replaced by the “tiger”, which makes hard to translate saving both the change and the meaning, so Crunchyroll went with using an equivalent to original.

2. 或る爆弾 / A Certain Bomb

As Kafka Asagiri revealed, this title is a shout-out to 或る女 (“A Certain Woman”) by Yukio Aoshima and 或る忠告 (“A Certain Advice”) by Osamu Dazai.

3-4. ヨコハマ　ギヤング　スタア　パラダヰス / Yokohama, Gangsta, Paradise / Yokohama Gangster Paradise

I have no idea what this might refer to if it does.

5. 運命論者の悲み / The Sorrow of the Fatalist / The Tragedy of the Fatalist

Combines titles of two Doppo Kunikida’s stories: 運命論者 (“The Fatalist”) and 画の悲み (“Sorrow in Pastel”).

6. Murder on D Street

Refers to movie with the same name based on Rampo Edogawa’s story “The Case of the Murder on D Hill”, where detective Akechi Kogoro makes his first appearance.

7-8. 人を殺して死ねよとて / To Kill and Then to Die / Teaching Them to Kill; Then to Die

Quote from Akiko Yosano poem “Thou Shalt Not Die”, which her ability is named after.

9. うつくしき人は寂として石像の如く / Beautiful People are Quiet Like a Stone Statues / The Beauty is Quiet Like a Stone Statue

Slightly shortened quote (original is うつくしき人は寂せきとして石像の如く) from Kyouka Izumi’s 竜潭譚 (”Of a Dragon in the Deep”).

10. Detective Boys

Reference to “The Boy Detective Club” by Rampo Edogawa

11. 在りし日の・・・/ …of Days Gone by

Part of the title of second poem collection by Chuuya Nakahara 在りし日の歌 (“Songs of Bygone Days”).

12. 羅生門と虎 / Rashoumon and the Tiger

Self-explanatory

13. 有頂天探偵社 / Ecstatic Detective Agency

I have no idea what this might refer to if it does. Maybe the source is somewhere in Kenji Miyazawa’s works.

14. 彼女には向かない職業 / An Occupation That Doesn’t Suit Her

Title is similar to Kazuki Sakuraba’s novel 少女には向かない職業 (“Careers not Suitable for Girls”). Also P. D. James novel “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman” was published as 女には向かない職業 in Japan.

15-16. たえまなく過去へ押し戻されながら / Borne Back Ceaselessly into the Past

Last line from “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

17. 剏めての御使い / The First Mission

I have no idea what this might refer to if it does.

18. 花と紅茶、雪と金色 / Flowers and Red Leaves, Snow and Gold

Not quite a quote but a combination of Kyouka Izumi and Kouyou Ozaki traits. Kyoka is “flowers” (kanji 花 is in his pen name Kyouka 鏡花) and “snow” (”Snow Demon”, Shirayuki). Kouyou is “red leaves” (kanji 紅 is in pen name Kouyou 紅葉, he also liked to drink red tea — note 紅茶) and “gold” (”Golden Demon”).

19. 三社鼎立 / Three-Way Conflict

Self-explanatory

20. 檸檬一顆 / A Lemon

Obvious reference to Kajii Motojirou’s 檸檬 (“Lemon”).

21. 助修士と黒悪魔 / Irmão and Diablo

Self-explanatory

22. The strategy of conflict

Title of Thomas Schelling’s book. Mori Ogai remembers him in chapter 30 while talking about strategy.

23-24. 眸ニ実レリ怒リノ葡萄 / Grapes of Wrath Ripened in the Eye

Certainly refers to John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath”, but I couldn’t find if the first half of the title appears in Japanese translations of his novels.

25. Q

Self-explanatory

26. ウィル・オフ・タイクーン / Will of Tycoon

“Tycoon” refers to F. Scott Fitzgerald because of his unfinished novel “The Last Tycoon”.

27. 砕け散りし海辺に / On the Jagged Shore

I have no idea what this might refer to if it does.

28. 緊急プラン / Emergency Plan

Self-explanatory

29. 頭は間違うことがあっても / The Head May Err

Part of the quote from Atsushi Nakajima’s “Light, Wind and Dreams”. [*]

30. 沈黙の塔, 鴉の宴

Shortened quote from Mori Ogai story“Tower of Silence”. Full quote is: マラバア・ヒルの沈黙の塔の上で、鴉のうたげが酣たけなわである (“And so at the top of the tower of silence the crows are feasting upon a banquet”), it concludes the story. [*]

31. 双つの黒 / Double Black

Self-explanatory

32. ポオと乱歩 / Poe and Rampo

Self-explanatory

33. 天の海をゆく白鯨のありて / The White Whale Swimming Towards the Ocean in the Sky

Line from a poem by Dairiki Konno 天の海 (“The Ocean in the Sky”, see Japanese text here).

34. 最後の大君 / The Last Tycoon

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s last book, unfinished.

35. 羅生門と虎と最後の大君 / Rashoumon & Tiger & The Last Tycoon

Self-explanatory

36. 若し今日この荷物を降ろして善いのなら / If My Burden Could Be Shed Away Today

I have no idea what this might refer to if it does.

37. 宴の始末 / Clearing up the Feast

Half of the title of the novel by Natsuhiko Kyougoku 塗仏の宴宴の始末 .

38. Slap the Stick

No idea what it means. Did the authors decide to admit that BSD has a lot of slapstick comedy?

39. 父の的肖像 / Portrait of a Father

There is Seiji Tsutsumi’s novel with the same title.

40. 独り歩む

Probably shortened quote from Doppo Kunikida’s “Musashino”. Full quote is この路を独り静かに歩むことのどんなに楽しかろう.

41. Addict

Probably no reference.

42. 咎与うるは神の業 / Bestowing Sins is God’s Work

I have no idea what this might refer to if it does. Could be religious text or anything by Dostoevsky, but I couldn’t Google an exact quote.

[*] — this comment was already written by EGScans, thanks!

#BSD #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #bsd manga

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