Not long ago, an infamous yazuka roamed the streets, striking fear into friend and foe alike. Nicknamed the “Immortal Dragon,” he gained fame by breaking up ten rival factions in a single night. And then, without warning, he disappeared. For the thugs and high-end criminals on the city streets, Tatsu’s disappearance is a mystery. But… Read More Review: The Way of the House Husband (Vol. 1)
The backstory of Uotani Arisa, friend of Fruits Basket protagonist Honda Tohru, is a genderswapped retelling of Jesus’ parable of the “prodigal” son found in Luke 15. Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it was fun to say, and it got your attention, didn’t it? And there really is some great thematic resonance… Read More The Prodigal Uo-chan
When Soma Kisa is introduced in Fruits Basket, she has been facing bullying and, traumatized by the situation, stopped speaking. She also quit going to school, and so eventually she receives a letter from her teacher asking her to come back. Fortunately for the audience, we have Soma Hatsuharu and Soma Yuki around to read… Read More Finding Love in the Face of Self-Loathing
Today’s guest post is written by Amy Covel, a Baptist PK and a published author who writes about old fashioned ideals with a modern style. Her inspirational pieces can be read in Area of Effect: Wisdom from Geek Culture, and her poetry, published in The Penmen Review and The Titan Promethean, remind readers to embrace… Read More 5 Reasons Why Manga is the Perfect Medium for Presenting Classic Literature
Even before this season’s remake, Fruits Basket was firmly set as a special series in anime / manga history, but the 2019 series has been so good that an entirely new generation of fans are now finding the show, including Team FtK. In episode 59 of the TangleCast, David, Peter, and Holly discuss episodes one… Read More TangleCast 59: Fruits Basket and a Place to Belong
What makes Fruits Basket such a special series? There are a lot of reasons, actually, but one is how it so clearly gets to the very center of love—what it is, what it is not, and what it should be. Episode eight presents a very good picture of that as it defines love this way:… Read More Fruits Basket Episode 8 and a Simple Definition of Love
It was unexpected that seven episodes in, the first background story we get for a Soma isn’t Yuki’s or Kyo’s or even Shigure’s—it’s that for Hatori, the family doctor. Even more unexpected is that it focuses on a love for the ages, one so sweet and lovely and strong that it’s no wonder the Fruits… Read More Fruits Basket Episode 7: An Impossible Love
What is it exactly about Tohru Honda that makes her so special? Why is it that just by being herself, Tohru is able to change others for the better? I took a stab at this question when discussing episode five, but perhaps I should have just waited for episode six, which gives us the answer… Read More Fruits Basket Episode 6: Appreciating Others, Depreciating Self
Between school, work, and housekeeping, Tohru Honda is extremely busy. She’s also surrounded by friends and acquaintances that adore her, but even with so much filling her daily life, Tohru lacks intimate connections, those that are close enough to feel a part of her. The only person who knew her in and out, and the… Read More Fruits Basket Episode 5: Lonely and Unworthy
It’s that time of year everyone dreads — final exams. Everyone? Yes, including teachers. Not just because we have to write and grade exams, which would seem to be a just punishment for giving exams in the first place. But also because we don’t know what’s going to happen. Every class is different, every semester is different,… Read More Ask Sensei: End Of Term Edition