Noragami: Chapter 68

So, I've decided to do a section in which I discuss the latest chapter and such because I need to voice my opinion. This is late and I know I'm starting on the wrong chapter but here goes. After a long, long time (well it was long for me), the latest chapter was scanlated! Yay! I was dying for this. Anyway, I'll just applaud the art for this chapter. Recently the art has been really eye catching, urgh and for the most nerve wracking arc of all things. This chapter was funny, heart touching, chilling, awesome, but also really sad. Which trust me, is a really good thing, it keeps the readers hooked. Going on-

I absolutely adore it when the supposed bad guy just turns out to be an adorable idiot. Yeah, I didn't like Takemikazuchi at all at first. First of all I thought he was in cahoots with Fujisaki and on top of that he killed Ebisu. Yeah, I excused him for the Fujisaki thing early on because Nora seems to be using a lot of kamis. But the fact that he killed Ebisu. Holy cow, I wasn't going to forgive him for that, no siree. But this guy honestly thought it was justice. So, oh well, I can't do much. What I loved about this scene is Yato and Takemikazuchi fighting each other like idiots (it kind of reminded me of Naruto and Sasuke's last battle when they completely ran out of energy, way to be stupid you guys), they're really alike if you look at it. Why the heck are they fighting with bamboo? Oh right, cause they don't have shinki supporting their fight anymore. I also noticed, Bamboo has a lot of symbolism in Japan, so there might be an internal joke, but I cannot spot it, meh...The reason why I find this scene so important is the fact that no matter how hard the two of them fight, they can only exhaust each other, while Yukine and Kiun are seriously discussing serious matters at hand. It also symbolizes that kami are nothing and cannot function without their guidepost (reminding us of when Yato said he was 'butt-naked without a shinki' after Tomone quit). Of course they're plenty strong and whatnot, but their guidepost are essential, which is hauntingly echoed in the very last page, we'll get there.

Also can I just spazz, because we have new good looking males added to my list? Kiun smiled, like honestly smiled! Oh my kami! Also Takemikazuchi looks very, very good with his hair down. May I say cute? My new personal dose of long hair and ponytails. Although, Takemikazuchi can do without the ponytail, I don't know how he does it, but he looks atrocious with the ponytail. Another flag here. Takemikazuchi and Kiun  will have very important roles to play from here on. Anime and Manga rule states that once a character starts looking really good in the good kind of way, he's going to be around the protagonist for a very long time. It means he's coming to the good side (not that Noragami has a good side...erm...Yato's side??).

I'm extremely worried about these two. Kazuma has stung Bishamon and Bishamon obviously knows and feels that, and I think she even knows which one of her shinki stung her. I don't understand how and why Kazuma stung her when he's only thinking of her well being. I'll have to go back and check the scene in which Hiyori notices. Kazuma has never stung her and I think that's very important. The fact that he stung her may drive him to believe she is too good for him and he may back out from being not only Bishamon's guidepost but also her shinki. He's already very insecure about Bishamon using Nana instead of him, this might be what snaps Kazuma. I don't really like the direction in which this is going. As I said earlier, the guidepost is essential to the kami.

Alright, let us all just sit back and give Nana a slow clap. I am astounded at how amazing this girl is. She not only over came her name, but she even hurt Nora. This is just...wow. Nana is a really refreshing character with utter devotion to her former master (makes sense cause she was a Hafuri, you know). But in order to get back at the heavens for killing her former master, she submits herself to Bishamon. Meaning, she isn't really interested if Bishamon gets hurt or not. I think it's the fact that she's completely indifferent that she isn't stinging Bishamon while she's grinning about killing the heaven's armies. But this also leads us to the question: "Doesn't this mean Kazuma and Yukine can do this too?". Probably yes if the situation arose. Kazuma could probably do it and Yukine if it was guaranteed that it wouldn't hurt Yato (oh my gosh...that panel in the last chapter when Yukine was like "I won't let you take Yato from me" **sobs**). I think this page is important because it will determine what Fujisaki's attachments to Nora is. If she gets really hurt and he pulls back, he might really care for her which means he only despises kami. But if he doesn't he could probably care less about the entire world and only care about that freckled girl he's so obsessed with. Damn we need more of her. Without Nora, Fujisaki isn't powerless, but he's going to face a lot of problems fighting an enraged Bishamon. Um, may I also state that while I love Nana and she is friggin awesome, I think she's a very unhealthy shinki for Bishamon.

Now, we need to seriously talk about freaky shinkis. I thought Kiun was bad enough, seriously. I thought, oh hey, Shinkis are cool, they're pipes, jewelry, weapons, pens, commerce tools, pot lids (I have no idea how that works), and then Kiun showed up and I was like "You call that a shinki? That's insanity!" Now we got an entire horseman army. Yato, Yato, you've got a long way to go before you become Japan's number one kami. Because, seriously, one shinki, that's practically one person becomes a friggin army with fancy horses and armor? I used to think it was weird when Yukine was two blades, kay? Somebody please get rid of this shinki for me, please?

Freaked out, utterly freaked out. I was chilled by this utter sense of foreboding. Do you guys know what anime death flags are? If not, please check this out (http://goboiano.com/list/5091-12-death-flags-that-will-definitely-get-you-killed-in-anime). This scene was literally screaming death flag, of course, I could be wrong...but seriously. Little Kazuma doll torn at the neck (anyone remember where Kzuma's blight eye is?), tender flashback of Kazuma and Bishamon's inseparable relationship (she can't survive without him, you know). Kazuma's going to die. No! No! No! I just said that out loud! No kamisama no! Adachi Toka, please tell me I'm wrong! Please! Not Kazuma!

And then our last page. There are so many curse words I want to spout...no no, must keep this decent. Remember my first part was about how essential your guidepost is for you. Educated guideposts also feel the same way, so for Kazuma, this is the utter form of rejection even though he knows why Bishamon is rejecting him. But seriously, did you have to push him out of the sky? Who's gonna save him now? Don't say Yato because he has saved Kazuma one too many times. I think this will lead to a serious rift between Bishamon and Kazuma, and I don't think Nana's even bothered ("My heaven army is waiting for me to devour it, let us be on our way, Bishamon sama") Kuraha's face is like "What did you even do?" I really hope this isn't how Kazuma dies, that would really suck...But I want to know what was going on in Bishamon's head when she did that. Another death flag, the last line is 'You can never go home again'. Yato kamisama, save us all.

"Your wish has been heard loud and clear!"

Noragami: Yato and Bishamon's Relationship

These two started out as clearly misunderstood and idiotic. No other explanation is required. In the anime, it really annoyed me that Bishamon was portrayed in such a negative light when we saw her differently in the manga, but now we know that the next season explains Bishamon's and Yato's relationship, so we're all good. But...I've across people who still really dislike Bishamon. Why would you do that? Here are the reasons why, you shall see them in my review on their relationship.

We were introduced to their relationship in pretty much the most confusing way possible. Her first interaction with him that we see and woah, why is she trying to kill him? Although, we get it quick enough. So fine, it has been justified, she has every right to want to try and kill him because he killed her Shinki, duh. But...that still doesn't explain anything.

And then Kazuma so kindly explains to us when Yato and Yukine have gone to kill Bishamon because they think that she's kidnapped Hiyori. In the end, it was all one big misunderstanding and they should just back off and yell at Kazuma instead. Wait, why would you even do that to the poor kid. OK, so maybe Bishamon had no right to try and kill Yato? But then Yato had no right to try and kill her because Hiyori was captured by someone else in the first place!

Needless, to say, even after everything is cleared and the shinki and everyone else are getting along, it is not getting any better for these two. I mean, not much changes, aside from the facts that this time, the shinki aren't getting involved. I mean, you don't go from being enemies for a couple of centuries to besties the next, definitely not in their case.

I think we all agree that Yato went over board just to shut her up and he definitely didn't make matters any better, if anything, I think he made matters worse by making even Kazuma sort of pissed off. Ridiculous, but how else do you expect drunk people to act? But in a way, after she beats him up for this, I think she's vented out quite enough. I think it also smooths things out and well, it calms things down in it's own way.

But I really think in it's own warped way, our Yato has finally gotten even Bishamon to warm up to him. I mean, who goes down into the underworld just to save some acquaintance you tried to kill a couple of months ago? I know I wouldn't. She fights full on even though she knows that it's most likely a losing battle and she does everything she can to take Yato back with her from the underworld. Let me just say, she has guts to fight Izanami like that.

Oh! And she let's Yato stay in her house after she rescues him. But no matter how chummy everyone around them gets, they forever will be idiots who really can't stand each other's presences because their personalities clash too much!

Noragami: Manga vs. Anime (Spoilers)

vs.

When I first started with 'Noragami', I started with the anime first. I found reading the manga of any anime tiresome. But it was through 'Noragami' I realized how important the manga was for any anime because there is so much that you miss out in the anime that is there in the manga and then viewers feel betrayed, because all honestly, it hurts when there is more romance in the manga when in the anime there is less. But there were somethings about the characters in the manga and the characters in the anime that I found really different and it really started to annoy me. So I'll start off with comparing the characters.

1) Yato

VS.

Luckily the main character can't be switched around or changed that much. In the manga, Yato is more serious, more powerful, better looking, even funnier and even bummier. Needless to say that, while the Anime Yato is colorful and amazing, the manga Yato has a better sense of romance. Hehehehe...

2) Hiyori

VS.

Personally, I couldn't help that I believe Hiyori is prettier in the manga. That's just my personal opinion. Once again, one can't change the main character that much. I think Hiyori was fine actually. I didn't mind it that much.

3) Yukine

VS.

Once again, Main character syndrome. But let me just say that when Yukine was stinging Yato in the manga, he was the most annoying little prick on the planet, I felt like strangling him. And in the manga, he doesn't have much of a thing for Hiyori. 

4) Nora

   VS.  

I think I was the most frustrated when it came to Nora's character. In the anime we see her as the plainly evil and horrifying little girl who has a thing for Yato. Are you kidding me? Yato and Nora were raised as siblings and Yato was the one that turned her into a stray, but that's another thing. Nora isn't evil, she just does what she's told to do without question, I don't think she's fathomed that she's doing something wrong yet. She is a confusing character but I honestly don't think she's evil and she actually cares for Yato like some sort of messed up wacky sister.

5) Kofuku

VS.

Kofuku was absolutely adorable and wonderful in the manga and we all loved her to itty-bitty little pieces. But in the anime we see her as a dumb and carefree character. In the manga you actually see glimpses of Kofuku's past before she meets Daikoku and it was so sad that I actually started crying to see the little bright ball of sunshine that she is, crying and blighted.

6) Daikoku

VS.

Daikoku is all that jazz, isn't he? He's serious, he strong, he's fierce and he can see right through Yato's and Kofuku's idiocy. But personally I think I like his manga character more, he looks younger and better looking, plus you get to see the other sweet side of him and how much he truly loves Kofuku and how he really can't say no when she asks for a date, despite her disaster creating tendency.

7)Bishamon

VS.

I think I was frustrated quite a lot with the way the anime depicted Bishamon. We see her a lot as an evil character than a good character. She's beautiful, strong, majestic and all that, but she's also weak, loving and like a mother. We all thought in the manga that it really can't be that bad that she's been chasing Yato around for centuries because of the death f one regalia. But in the end, when we realize Bishamon treats all her regalias like her children and she wears armor because she's weak, we learn to love her and care for her. She even rescues Yato from the under world.

8) Kazuma

VS.

In the anime we saw more of Kazuma's serious and loyal side, but in the manga we see just how caring and sweet he actually is. We see his weak side and his **wiggle eyebrows** love for Bishamon. We also see that he's extremely devoted and sacrificial when it comes to Bishamon's well being. Like the time he threw himself in front of Bishamon to save Yato because she had no idea that Yato actually saved her.

9) Tenjin

 VS.

There was not much of a change when it came to Tenjin-sama. We all know he's that powerful, respected, smart, amazing absolutely ridiculous God. But in the manga for some reason, in the manga I felt like he was really noble and deserving of the name of the 'God of Education' and in the manga he didn't go around at any chance to degrade Yato, no! He's very nice to Yato...although they do tend to fight over who Mayu/Tomone was better suited with.

10) Mayu or Tomone

VS.

Well, Mayu wasn't regarded with that great of a light in the Anime. A lot of people were either like, why did you leave such a great God like Yato. Or they were like, good riddance, you weren't that much of a respectful Shinki either. Or they were like, get lost, Yato is Hiyori's. Plus, she was a lot more gorgeous in the manga, let's not forget the fact that she never stung Yato and she went to go and help him. She is such a strong and beautiful character in the manga, I absolutely love her!

11) Tsuyu

VS.

Well, our beloved Tsuyu didn't get that much screen time in the Anime now did she? Oh keep quiet! She's not a Regalia or Shinki like everyone thinks she is. She's a plum tree spirit that left her tree because she and Tenjin-sama fell in love with each other. There story is so utterly surreal and pink and filled with cherry blossoms it makes me giggle like a little kid!

11) Rabo

VS.

OK, this guy didn't even exist in the Manga. Unless they tried to do something really freaky with Bishamon's rouge Shinki and they turned him into a non-existent God. There is no way Nora would agree to harm Yato by Rabo's hand. Rabo excuse me, you don't even know how to use that mask properly, get out of the way!

12) Ebisu

VS.

Where was my darling Ebisu? He is such an important character! My gosh! He's the one who's name Kofuku exploits. Poor guy, it's ridiculous. He is probably the kindest and sweetest God out there and he only thinks about the good of humans. I mean, tell me that you already don't love this guy. He is also the first God that we get to see reincarnate.

13) Fujisaki or Yato's and Nora's Father

VS.

And if we forget such an important character like him, then we're all going to die because he'll friggin take over the world! This is Yato and Nora's legendary father. He lives by taking over other people's body and he has a thing for Hiyori. He killed Ebisu, killed one of Bishamon's Shinki's and he destroyed Hiyori's family hospital and nearly killed her too! He loves watching Yato get crushed under his feet and Yato has no choice but to obey him because his father is the only one that wished for him. In the OVA 2, he was supposed to be the one that carried Hiyori/Yato on his back.

In the End, in my opinion, Manga Wins!

Noragami Review: Character Analysis

So I recently started and finished Noragami. I got into anime after I started Sailor Moon because everyone was talking about it. When Sailor Moon got boring I started Fairy Tail and then my brother asked me to wait for him at Episode 48 so then I started Noragami. I loaded all the episodes at school and then came back home and watched everything in one night. I cried, I actually cried at how beautiful it was. So then, here I am writing a sort of review, sort of promotion for it. Let's start off with Characters.

1) Yato:

Say hello to the bummiest, laziest, useless, cutest, kindest and strongest God out there. (At least in my opinion). This is Yato who has a dark and confusing past but is always bright and happy no matter what.

2) Hiyori

This is Hhiyori Iki, the daughter of a doctor who was turned into a half phantom because she rescued Yato. She is loyal, cute, silly and smart as well. Hiyori is the kind of girl who is scared at first but over comes everything for the sake of those she loves.

3) Yukine

This is Yukine, Yato's Shinki who is bratty and cute, He can turn into a sword and s really powerful. The only problem is that he is young and doesn't understand how to handle things as a Shinki and faces tough times because of Yato's past.

4)Nora

Nora is a mysterious character with no actual emotions shown or personality traits revealed. She is a shinki in the most euphemistic way possible. She shares some of Yato's ugly and distant past and plays mostly an antagonist character.

5) Kofuku

Our most cheerful and carefree character, Kofuku, the Goddess of Poverty. Disaster follows every single one of her footsteps. With her ability to charm every single person out there and her happy-go-lucky attitude, Kofuku captures the heart of the viewers.

6) Daikoku

Kofuku's serious and aggressive Shinki who is extremely fond of children, Daikoku. If there is anyone who keeps the world sane and safe from disasters, it's this one man. He keeps Kofuku in check and everyone else, especially those who try to win her heart.

7) Bishamon

The fierce and attractive goddess of war, Bishamon. She has a soft spot for all her shinki and treats them like they're her children. She has a grudge against Yato and jumps at any chance possible to kill him. But she's actually quite soft despite her hard exterior.

8) Kazuma

He is Bishamon's loyal shinki who acts as her guide and most trusted adviser. He means the world to Bishamon, and he cares for her a lot too. He's serious, smart and honest. He is mixed up some way in Yato's messed up past as well, with a messed up past of his own.

9) Tenjin

He is the God of education who is very proud of all his Shinki and likes to degrade Yato in the most amusing manner possible whenever he can. He is wise, kind and solemn, although rather strange at times. He has housed Yato for quite a while.

10) Mayu

She is Tenjin's latest Shinki addition and also happens to be Yato's old Shinki who went under the name Tomone. She is short tempered, practical and intelligent. She's the kind of person who is also very strong.

11) Rabo

He's a mysterious character who only shows up in the last few episodes. He is a God of Calamity who is harsh, evil and merciless. He disappeared for a long tine but then reappeared with the one goal to get rid of Yato.

Noragami starts off with our self-styled God Yato losing his shinki and meeting Hiyori who he accidentally turns into a half phantom. Then he gets a new Shinki named Yukine who gives him a lot of trouble. Along the way we meet Kofuku and Daikoku who Yato can always turn to and we meet Tenjin and Mayu who are always playing the amusing side characters. Then we meet Bishamon and Kazuma, Bishamon has a vendetta against Yato because he killed her Shinki. Kazuma on the other hand owes a debt to Yato. Yato gets blighted by Yukine and in a heart-stopping test of loyalty and love, Yukine and Yato are saved by Hiyori. Nora and Rabo make their entry and hold Hiyori's memories as ransom. When Yato and Yukine go to fight Rabo and Nora, a clueless Hiyori tags along as well. In the process, Rabo turns Hiyori into a mindless and voiceless container by getting rid of all her memories. Yato goes berserk and nearly kills Rabo but then Yukine yells for him to save Hiyori from the falling rocks. Yato managed to shield Hiyori with his own body in the nick of time. Meanwhile inside Hiyori's head, she remembers Yato's scent and embraces him. It's a tearful and happy reunion. Yato finally gets rid of Rabo and then tells Hiyori it would be better to cut their ties, but then she tells Yato that she wants to be with him forever. Yato grants her wish for five yen.

There truly are no words to describe how utterly precious this anime is. It really made me cry and I felt my heart tearing apart and getting pushed to heights of unknown joy during this anime. I love Noragami!

"Your wish has been heard loud and clear, Iki Hiyori. May our fates intertwine!"