Noragami: Things That The Rabo Arc Spoiled

We all know that the Rabo Arc in season one was not one of Noragami's best moments. Not only did the Arc not exist at all, but it also killed the pace the anime had been going at. A lot of viewers even said that this arc was downright boring. But more than that, I feel it spoiled a lot of things that showed up in the manga and seaspn two and there were even several nonsensical things in it too. Now this is something I have always been aware of, but this time when I was doing my usual binge rewatch Noragami with Koka Noodles, I realized that this issue has to be seriously addressed. So here goes nothing.

1) Hiyori's Memory Loss

Hiyori's memory loss was a very important part in the story that originally takes place during the Underworld arc. Nothing wrong with making the girl lose her memory twice, right? Actually, there is something very wrong about that. In the original story line, Hiyori lost her memory even though she firmly believed she wouldn't and that she was different. The only one's to know that she lost her menory were herself and Tenjin and group. What was important about this was Hiyori feeling the utter agony and regret for having forgotten people so precious to her, understanding what her life would be like without them and realizing their importance. Yato not finding out was also very important because it created the need in him to go back, the desperation to make Hiyori not forget him. That was the impact of her original memory loss. However because of the Rabo Arc, for only anime watching fans, the second time she lost her memory was not that much of a big deal and the impact lost it's effect. She just lost her memory again, right?

2) How Stupidly Unbelievable The Arc Was

Alright, I know it's a problem that a lot of people think anything is possible in anime. Yeah, anything is possible in Fairy Tail, we get that (I mean Gajeel was ressurected). But like Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and other good anime and manga, Noragami follows a set of rules. Delving deep into mythological Shinto, although it is supernatural immersed, Noragami is a strict no-nonsense story. Therefore stealing Hiyori's memories, bringing back a dead kami with a spell, him absorbing a friggin ayakashi cloud and Hiyori getting her memories back with Yato's smell is borderline riduculous. I can't stand for it!

3) The Use of The Mask Ruined

We all know the masks were used by Fujisaki, Nora and our darling Ebisu. However, because Rabo did miracles with his mask, such as absorbing ayakashi without touching them, not getting blighted by the storm of ayakashi and whatnot, Ebisu was expected to do similar miracles. However, the mask has to be stuck on an ayakashi to be controlled. The mask was used in a way that shouldn't have been possible. This also made certain people view Ebisu as inferior to Rabo. Non manga readers, that is.

4) Nora and Rabo Teaming Up

Nora and Yato have a very complicated relationship and as much as I know you guys have the propensity to despise her, she would never do anything to put Yato's lfe in danger because Yato's life is still very important to Fujisaki. Therefore her teaming up with Rabo is unthinkable.

5) Nora's Water Ability

We all know what it means when a drop of water falls. Nora is here. However, until the Underworld arc no one was supposed to know what that signified. Also, for every person she is a shinki of, Nora is known to only have a water form under Yato's name, Hiiro. The fact that Rabo weilded the same power made Yato lose the special spot light.

6) Brainwashing Yato into Remembering

We all know Rabo went "Remember, remember, remember. Let me friggin hypnotize you." However, this had a negative effect on Yato's assumed strength by the fans. It gave the impression Yato doesn't wish to recall his past and he is only strong as a Magatsukami. It wasn't a really smart idea. 

7) Rabo's Unoriginal Back Story

I personally felt Rabo's back story was an imiation of Tenjin's. Michizane is known as one the great three vengeful spirits and that's why he became a kami. A human banished and left alone to die, but his death caused disasters so people worshipped him to curb his anger and thus the kami of education came into being. Rabo's was a little too similar to Tenjin's. A messanger killed and then worshipped to curb his anger. However, I think this was really cutting it close. Manga readers who have been avidly following the story will find this back story incredulous. This kind of back story and every shinki might as well wind up becoming kamis.

8) Rabo Death Telepathy

When Rabo died he disentegrated into nothing. OK. Now, the important part is that all the Kami stop their work, look up into the sky and say, "One of us is no more." OK, and how did you know? Did you get a phone call? Is this how it is whenever a Kami dies? Wow, do you guys stand in awe whenever one of you get's reincarnated. The computer program kami down the street paid her respects to Ebisu when he died because she stopped in awe to look up at the heavens.

9) Yato as a Partner

It is hard to believe Yato would've had a partner once upon a time othe than Nora. Yato was Fujisaki's pawn and therefore only stayed with Nora, doing whatever Fujisaki asked of him. With a connection that troublesome it's not right that Yato had a partner Fujisaki did not know of or Rabo did not know of Fujisaki's existence. Given Fujisaki's hate for Kami, the mere idea of even coming close to Rabo must be sickening. So, find a partner approved by daddy first.

10) Nora as a Shinki

When Nora shows Yato the name Furuhime, Yato's eyes widened meaning that he recignized the name, meaning even way back then, Rabo had naned her.Who wouldn't? How many people can find a murderous shinki that won't sting them? However, at that time, Rabo couldn't have possibly naned her and used her because she was being used by Yato as his shinki. Yup dead end there. He don't have no shinki, not one strong enough to kill Kami that is.

Well that's all for now. I had much more on my mind but I couldn't recall while writing this post. If I remember anything, I'll edit and repost!

"May your wish be heard loud and clear!"

Noragami: Manga vs. Anime (Spoilers)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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!"