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: 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: Yato and Ebisu's Relationship

One of the relationships that I am particularly fond of in the manga is the relationship between Yato and Ebisu. We don't have much of these two yet, but it's really so nice to see them, I feel like they could become best friends. Both of them have taught each other so many lessons that it's beautiful. The part that breaks my heart is that the two of them are envious of each other in the nicest way possible.

I can't say that their first meeting was that great, I mean, would you be happy with someone who tries to buy Yukine from Yato? I was super pissed off at Ebisu and moreover there were suspicions running around that he was the sorcerer. I wanted to kill Ebisu because in my head he was an evil God who attacked Yato and Bishamon. Ooh...I was angry. Yato had mixed feelings. Ebisu asked to borrow Yukine and in return he gave money to Yato to build a shrine and we all know that that has been Yato's dream for centuries.

The second time Yato meets Ebisu is in the underworld when he is forced to go down by his father to save the sorcerer of the masks. He didn't expect it to be Ebisu at all. He actually expected it to be his father. Yato is more than confused, but Hiiro/Nora is calm and explains everything to Yato. Yato was obviously shocked and for a while he wondered if he should even be taking care of Ebisu or not.

And then Ebisu explains to Yato everything. He explains that he wants to save the human world, not destroy it and that makes Yato realize that Ebisu never attacked Bishamon or kidnapped Hiyori in the first place. Ebisu wasn't bad at all. This makes Yato ridiculously  jealous and it makes Yato respect Evisu at the same time because Ebisu is the kind of God Yato has always wanted to be and the funny part is Yato is the God that Ebisu had always wanted to be. So then, Yato sacrifices himself for Ebisu and tells him to get out.

But then Ebisu finds out that the entrances and exits are blocked so he has no choice but to return to Izanami the Goddess of the Underworld hoping that he can at the least save Yato's life. Yato is horrified that Ebisu would even think of coming back to rescue him. He asks if that is all to Ebisu's will and when Ebisu replies negative and gives his reasons, Yato grabs him and they both ttry to escape Izanami. Yato finds himself saving Ebisu not because his father wants him to but because he wants to save Ebisu and it gives him a certain pride. The trip to the underworld, teaches both Ebisu and Yato important lessons. Lessons that they learn from each other.

Happiness does not last forever and friendships do not last forever. When Yato wakes up after being saved from the underworld the first things he does is hug Hiyori and Yukin, cry his eyes out and ask about Ebisu who he rescued successfully from the underworld at the price of his own freedom. He finds out that because of his father, the heavens made a mistake and killed Ebisu and now he has been reincarnated. The horror and guilt that Yato wakes up to is too much to bear and he can't even look Ebisu in the eye or listen to Ebisu thank him. So he goes full out and yells at Ebisu's reincarnation who simply can't remember him.

Yato takes Ebisu to the place his last incarnation wanted to go to and then there they talk and Ebisu says that his last incarnation must have been bad because the heavens killed him. Yato is so filled with guilt that he yells at Ebisu telling him that he was a very kind God. Yato then apologizes to Ebisu, saying that it was all his fault. Yukine and Hiyori who are peaking through the window suddenly feel like Yato has changed after visiting the underworld and Ebisu was the reason for that change.

When Bishamon finds out about Yato's father she asks him how he can even face Ebisu and so Yato tries to ignore Ebisu, but who can ignore that adorable kid, especially after he was almost run over by a truck. I suppose Yato has accepted by now that he can't escape from Ebisu because he feels a responsibility and guilt towards Ebisu.

Yato then explains to Ebisu, he tells everything Ebisu, about his father and everything else and as Ebisu talks and explains the ways of the world to Yato, Yato realizes that Ebisu never really will change, he will always be that kind hearted God ready to lay down his life for others that Yato met in the underworld. This scene was definitely my favourite ever Yato and Ebisu scene. It made me cry. Then Ebisu turns to Yato and tells him that if he's not mad at him, neither was his previous incarnation and then he tells Yato that "It's Okay", Yato sees the older Ebisu and I was bawling my eyes out because maybe, Ebisu is what Yato needs.

This photo was an extra the author added but it speaks volumes and I've decided that Yato and Ebisu need to become best friends because they need each other, they teach other lessons they never could have learned from anyone else. They both make each other happy and feel better and I hope that we will see more of them in the later chapters of the anime.

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!