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Yami no Matsuei, Volume 4
This one's a change in pace - several short stories, instead of one long narrative.
...So the first one is full of furries. o.O Apparently Hokkaido is home to a kingdom of talking animal spirits, founded by some random wildlife rehabber, and this is taken in stride by everyone except me.The fox is cute, though! It was interesting to see more of the department's life outside of work, though, with yearly vacations and travel groups, and we get to meet more of the Bureau: Tatsumi, Watari, Konoe, Saya & Yuma all help flesh out the world Hisoka finds himself in.
I had a couple moments of d'awww when Hisoka moping because he wants to physically grow up so Tsuzuki will see him as adult, and then at Watari's gay awakening because Tsuzuki's just that pretty when he's naked. :D
The second story might be my favourite: I love the idea that there's an interdepartmental archery contest as a test of power! Terazuma shows up as a foil to Tsuzuki, and we learn that they don't get along, but Tsuzuki isn't sure why Terazuma hates him so much. And then! There's the first bits of Hisoka's pre-Muraki backstory! He comes from a distinguished samurai family with roots in the 13th century, and grew up training in traditional martial arts. He wasn't close to his father and doesn't remember him fondly.
I loved his gallows humour - "I'm the 17th generation, but I'm already dead so I guess they're back to the 16th now." :D
I'm curious how much the others know about his background, though, because I remember that in an earlier volume Hisoka says that he died of a mysterious wasting disease, but I guess it must have been a private conversation and the Bureau isn't big on gossip, because Watari jokes, "All that exercise [kendo, aikido, swordwork, and archery] and you're still scrawny?" Ouch; way to put your foot in it, Watari. *winces*
Hisoka teaching Tsuzuki archery: this seems like a good way to encourage that whole 'see you as an adult' thing! Go, Hisoka! I hope Tsuzuki appreciates your talent... and your "form." :D
I want to know more about Terazuma; he has pointed ears and better-than-human eyesight, and he turns into a beast when touched by a woman - what is this guy?? (His sense of style doesn't hurt, either. Author's note: "I like a man who looks good in a hakama!" Yeah, you and me both, Matsushita!)
Workplace sexual harassment is Matsushita's thing: with the Count's suggestion that Tsuzuki should repay him for his bet if he loses the archery contest, the number of people who have suggested gambling for Tsuzuki's body has now reached 2! And the first story had the girls harassing Hisoka, which is played for laughs despite several of the people present knowing Hisoka's powers mean he doesn't like to be touched.
In addition to the start of Hisoka's family issues, we get the first hint of Tsuzuki's issues: while rambling to Hisoka about why Terazuma might not like him, he suggests that Terazuma doesn't approve of Tsuzuki working an 'easy' assignment given how powerful he is, and dislikes Tsuzuki's attempts to avoid hurting people with his power.
The archery contest... almost isn't? This was disappointing; I wanted archery! Instead we mostly get shenanigans - including Terazuma almost kissing a suspiciously unprotesting Hisoka - and Hisoka getting hurt by a sabotaged bowstring so he doesn't get to show off his archery skills. D:< I hope this contest comes up again in a future volume so everyone can be duly impressed! On the upside, Tsuzuki focuses hard and pulls off a victory that nobody was expecting him to achieve! It's a rare sign of competence and power... and all the interesting in light of his earlier words about peple getting hurt through his power.
This one is much more in line with other YnM storylines like the 'Queen Camellia,' which is to say, your timely reminder body horror is also Matsushita's thing. A murder in a Catholic all-boys school leads Tsuzuki and Hisoka into a new case. Tsuzuki disguises himself as a priest, Hisoka as a student; another example of their age difference being helpful when it comes to splitting up to approach a case from two angles simultaneously.
Honestly I don't have a lot to say about this story, at least not that's flattering. A whole lot of angsting and throwing around random bits of Christianity without context or coherence, a whole lot of explaining the story in author's notes because it wasn't clear in the story itself.
Longhaired deranged murderous sexual assaulters are clearly Matsushita's favourite thing.
We get some interesting character notes: Tsuzuki defeating Sagatanas made him the demon's heir, so now a bunch of other demons want to take him down to claim the title; Tsuzuki has some kind of forbidden love in his background; Tsuzuki takes on the blame for the deaths, but Hisoka very clearly tells him it wasn't his fault.
My favourite bit is definitely Tsuzuki - dressed as a priest, no less - telling Hisoka he can climb in Tsuzuki's bed if he's scared, and Hisoka retorting angrily, "Why don't you go sleep with Jesus?" Burn.
The other main thing I got from this storyline is a clue as to why this manga's hard to read. Matsushita's skill at explaining things is... it's... well, I give you these two author's notes:
Now I'm going to explain something. {The Name of the Rose} This is the name of a book by Umberto Eco. It's a murder mystery set in a monastery (I think). I saw the film adaptation of TV a while back, so I don't really remember. I think Sean Connery was in it. I know there were these two fat gay monks that were kind of lame. Homosexuality is permitted in Buddhism. What a strange religion...
&
Let me explain the meaning of Kira's words 'Eli eli lama sabachthani.' That's actually a phrase from the French author Gustave Dore's Bible (...it may exist in other versions too.) It means 'Please help me, God.' I'm pretty sure it's Hebrew. Sorry if that's not right.
I. I just. Maybe you... shouldn't explain things... if you don't know anything about them. Like. Just a thought?
In summary: THIS MANGA, YOU GUYS!
...So the first one is full of furries. o.O Apparently Hokkaido is home to a kingdom of talking animal spirits, founded by some random wildlife rehabber, and this is taken in stride by everyone except me.
I had a couple moments of d'awww when Hisoka moping because he wants to physically grow up so Tsuzuki will see him as adult, and then at Watari's gay awakening because Tsuzuki's just that pretty when he's naked. :D
The second story might be my favourite: I love the idea that there's an interdepartmental archery contest as a test of power! Terazuma shows up as a foil to Tsuzuki, and we learn that they don't get along, but Tsuzuki isn't sure why Terazuma hates him so much. And then! There's the first bits of Hisoka's pre-Muraki backstory! He comes from a distinguished samurai family with roots in the 13th century, and grew up training in traditional martial arts. He wasn't close to his father and doesn't remember him fondly.
I loved his gallows humour - "I'm the 17th generation, but I'm already dead so I guess they're back to the 16th now." :D
I'm curious how much the others know about his background, though, because I remember that in an earlier volume Hisoka says that he died of a mysterious wasting disease, but I guess it must have been a private conversation and the Bureau isn't big on gossip, because Watari jokes, "All that exercise [kendo, aikido, swordwork, and archery] and you're still scrawny?" Ouch; way to put your foot in it, Watari. *winces*
Hisoka teaching Tsuzuki archery: this seems like a good way to encourage that whole 'see you as an adult' thing! Go, Hisoka! I hope Tsuzuki appreciates your talent... and your "form." :D
I want to know more about Terazuma; he has pointed ears and better-than-human eyesight, and he turns into a beast when touched by a woman - what is this guy?? (His sense of style doesn't hurt, either. Author's note: "I like a man who looks good in a hakama!" Yeah, you and me both, Matsushita!)
Workplace sexual harassment is Matsushita's thing: with the Count's suggestion that Tsuzuki should repay him for his bet if he loses the archery contest, the number of people who have suggested gambling for Tsuzuki's body has now reached 2! And the first story had the girls harassing Hisoka, which is played for laughs despite several of the people present knowing Hisoka's powers mean he doesn't like to be touched.
In addition to the start of Hisoka's family issues, we get the first hint of Tsuzuki's issues: while rambling to Hisoka about why Terazuma might not like him, he suggests that Terazuma doesn't approve of Tsuzuki working an 'easy' assignment given how powerful he is, and dislikes Tsuzuki's attempts to avoid hurting people with his power.
The archery contest... almost isn't? This was disappointing; I wanted archery! Instead we mostly get shenanigans - including Terazuma almost kissing a suspiciously unprotesting Hisoka - and Hisoka getting hurt by a sabotaged bowstring so he doesn't get to show off his archery skills. D:< I hope this contest comes up again in a future volume so everyone can be duly impressed! On the upside, Tsuzuki focuses hard and pulls off a victory that nobody was expecting him to achieve! It's a rare sign of competence and power... and all the interesting in light of his earlier words about peple getting hurt through his power.
This one is much more in line with other YnM storylines like the 'Queen Camellia,' which is to say, your timely reminder body horror is also Matsushita's thing. A murder in a Catholic all-boys school leads Tsuzuki and Hisoka into a new case. Tsuzuki disguises himself as a priest, Hisoka as a student; another example of their age difference being helpful when it comes to splitting up to approach a case from two angles simultaneously.
Honestly I don't have a lot to say about this story, at least not that's flattering. A whole lot of angsting and throwing around random bits of Christianity without context or coherence, a whole lot of explaining the story in author's notes because it wasn't clear in the story itself.
Longhaired deranged murderous sexual assaulters are clearly Matsushita's favourite thing.
We get some interesting character notes: Tsuzuki defeating Sagatanas made him the demon's heir, so now a bunch of other demons want to take him down to claim the title; Tsuzuki has some kind of forbidden love in his background; Tsuzuki takes on the blame for the deaths, but Hisoka very clearly tells him it wasn't his fault.
My favourite bit is definitely Tsuzuki - dressed as a priest, no less - telling Hisoka he can climb in Tsuzuki's bed if he's scared, and Hisoka retorting angrily, "Why don't you go sleep with Jesus?" Burn.
The other main thing I got from this storyline is a clue as to why this manga's hard to read. Matsushita's skill at explaining things is... it's... well, I give you these two author's notes:
Now I'm going to explain something. {The Name of the Rose} This is the name of a book by Umberto Eco. It's a murder mystery set in a monastery (I think). I saw the film adaptation of TV a while back, so I don't really remember. I think Sean Connery was in it. I know there were these two fat gay monks that were kind of lame. Homosexuality is permitted in Buddhism. What a strange religion...
&
Let me explain the meaning of Kira's words 'Eli eli lama sabachthani.' That's actually a phrase from the French author Gustave Dore's Bible (...it may exist in other versions too.) It means 'Please help me, God.' I'm pretty sure it's Hebrew. Sorry if that's not right.
I. I just. Maybe you... shouldn't explain things... if you don't know anything about them. Like. Just a thought?
In summary: THIS MANGA, YOU GUYS!