One Piece Being “Accidentally” Political: An Analysis

The concept of the political atmosphere of the manga/anime of One Piece is not mine; the content, however, I will try to make it as original as possible. There will also be spoilers to the Manga and Anime.

I gave up on making a full-blown analysis on the minute details of the Japanese manga/anime of One Piece. Mostly because it was too much content to sift through and examine while also reading back on material for the research. This essay, on the other hand, is more compact and has a central theme to it, a concise recompilation and analysis of the “accidental” political agendas a reader with too much time in his hands sees while reading this odyssey of a story, this epic of modern literature. You may be asking yourself what I am trying to prove here in this essay. And the answer is not an easy one to explain in long form; short form would merely answer half of the continuing question. Such topics as politics, ruling dynamics, racism, revolution, anarchism, and many more all in the span of a youthful story about a boy that wants to become the king of the pirates and the freest man in the world.

Now, summarizing the entire story would take longer than the essay itself; it will be somewhat explained throughout it because almost every arc has a political situation involved, if not in a minor way. Taking that into consideration, be warned that from here on out it will be heavy on spoilers for those that have not read or seen this series. I will try to explain political theory as clearly as possible without being overly pedantic (nor expect readers to be pedantic) or academic because I do not have a background in political science; rather I want it to read as easy as possible for all ages while still keeping the conversation centered on the topic at hand. Discussing the story will only further elongate the essay so minimal knowledge should be applied when reading onwards.

 

East Blue:

 

The easiest way to start is with the first instance of corruption and political disturbance found in the very first volume, starting on chapter three. Captain Axe-hand Morgan of the Marines is visibly shown to be an authoritarian autocrat ruling a small island with an iron fist (literally). It first shows that we, as the readers, should not side with the marines because they can easily be persuaded and drunk with power. Autocracy is defined as a governing system enforced and mandated by one force with absolute control. Authoritarianism is basically the same but having himself as the authoritative figure that represses any opposition either by law enforcement or by his own hand. What better way to start than to have Luffy, a lawless young man, dethrone this narcissist that works for the government and yet tortures and enslaves the people he swore to protect.

The next instance is a difficult one to dissect since this one ties in with a future mention that centers more on racism in the backstory. Starting on volume eight we have Arlong park, a rename to Cocoyashi village that is now ruled by fish-men unlawfully, taking land and the moral high-ground with them. In this series, fish-men are superior in strength to humans, yet were enslaved and treated beneath humans for a great part of their history. Now Arlong takes this part of history and flips it upside-down making the people of the village his own slaves. The act itself is racial retribution, taking back what they are owed and the “respect” that comes with it, creating rather a dictatorship in the process. In Luffy’s eyes, he sees this as a harmful action, a naïve view for sure, but one with every individual in mind, not the history behind it and the injustices suffered. Of course, this plays more into a future arc that pertains to the subject and broadens the scope into more of a misguided retaliation from the minorities giving back the dose that they were dealt to innocent civilians.

Let’s revise what Luffy's actions are after each section. In this first section we see that he does not like it when his crew (or those he deems his crew) are threatened, regardless of power or standing.  We also see that he doesn’t view people as inherently evil or good, but rather he judges them on their potential and goals. Anyone that goes against his path must get out of the way. His problem is not necessarily with authority (yet) because his dismantlement is out of spite against those that wronged his people and him.

 

Grand line:

 

Starting on volume fifteen we have Drum Island, where some of the best doctors reside, and where Wapol has become the ruler. To most Americans this is an easy find because it focuses on the healthcare system and how the ruling class will take it from the proletariat out of spite and disdain. Wapol knowingly takes all of the doctors from this island, letting the people suffer (it must be noted that this island is under snow for most of the year). However, Luffy has no particular interest in what the people want, but what he wants, which is a new crew member. He unknowingly saves the people from this tyrannical governor because it was interfering with his need for a doctor on his ship. Story wise, it is goofy, but if you suspend disbelief for one moment you can see that the author understands the struggles of unaffordable health care in a society that greatly needs it and yet the ruling class minimize the need because they can afford it without a problem. This addresses the American problem of monetizing sickness and death for the pockets of the already wealthy; demonizing socialized healthcare (of course, not directly, but found as a comparative analysis from a reader).

         We now hop onto volume seventeen where we find Alabasta, a desert country in need of much help. Here we have kleptocratic autocracy as a country is sucked dry (literally) out of their wealth and resources by a conman with a casino as a front, and the explicit intent to overthrow the current monarchy by discrediting the royals. Kleptocracy is defined as a governing system where the ruler takes from the people with the desire to attain wealth at the expense of the people. Crocodile being an outsider sets up his business and begins to siphon from the natural resources of the country and depleting the people of their rightful need of water. This is happening in the background, as he discredits the current king, inching closer to becoming the new ruler.

         And this is without mentioning the public revolt against kleptocracy. Generously speaking, they were not going to solve anything with a coup d’état when Crocodile could wipe an entire town in one hand motion. But still, we see that the people are willing to fight for their right to a just system. This arc reminds me of my home island overthrowing the governor after admitting to poor management (objectively speaking) running a kleptocracy at the behest of the populace, right under our noses.

         Next, we have Skypiea starting on volume 26 where the ruler is a theocratic absolutist that wants everyone to venerate him as a god. Eneru forces the people of the sky islands to obey his every whim while threatening them with death by a smiting lightning strike from the heavens above. However, the political concept that is to be focused on is displacement of indigenous people because through a pillar of water a small island is sent up to the sky and Eneru took over it and kicked out the inhabitants of it like a colonizer. The Shandorians will continuously fight for their lands, even if it means going to war against a literal god. It is this search and want for autonomy and emancipation from a megalomaniac that views everyone as beneath him, and yet Luffy somehow comes to save the day by mere happenstance.

         Before moving forwards, we must address one thing about our main character and it’s that he is a terrorist in some sense of the word. In the eyes of the government, Luffy is a dangerous man with controversial ideas that will harm the people, he instils fear into the hearts of the navy by his own existence itself. Some might say an altruistic terrorist but that would require intent and knowledge that his is causing distress upon others for the greater good he believes in, which we know Luffy does not possess.  However, what solidifies him as a terrorist concerns the next arc.

         Water 7, starting on volume 34, enters a long arc filled with so many details and lore to the story of One piece but what’s important to notice is the actions Luffy took from here on out. In the pursuit of rescuing a crewmate, Luffy must go face to face with government elites and as a threat he burns down a flag as a symbol of defiance while also waging a war. This young man declared war on the entire being of the world government just to save his friend, regardless of if it made him a terrorist in the process. This is the only time the enemy is evident to him because he actively sought to fight them with the intent of dismantling. The first instance of revolution from the pirate’s side to be seen, yet not the only or last we shall find in this story.

         In between the prior arc we get a backstory to Nico Robin, and we find the truly heinous acts the world government would succumb to in order to maintain their standing as justice in the eyes of the people. This comes because the island of Ohara, known as the island of knowledge, had begun research on what happened 800 years in the forgotten Void Century that the government actively burns and kills for. The navy sent hundreds of men to bombard the entire island including the people for the purpose of eliminating everyone that possesses damning information of the forbidden time. Nico Robin, being the only survivor of this incident. The government plays it off as a civilization searching for ways to destroy the world. A mass genocide over information, knowledge, history. The further solidification of the totalitarian regime the people of this world are subjected to and why the pirates act in opposition to rules. The purposeful desire to withhold history and scientific advancements from the general public in order to save face from the atrocities that were committed in the past. There’s also the obvious need to restrict any further attempt to rise above the status quo the government has already set in motion.

         At this stage we know that the world government is not a good system, more so when we continue with the previous arc because any person that is judged at the gates of justice: Enies Lobby. There is a 100% chance of conviction regardless of their actions without a fair trial because any act of insubordination towards them is considered treason and deserves punishment to the full extent of the law. All from petty crime to unspeakable acts erased from the annals of history. They are then sent to Impel Down, a literal inferno modeled after Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy where each level downwards gets worse as it progresses. The justice they spout exposed as a farce to the readers in full display.

         Within all of the ensuing chaos we finally get a war between pirates and the navy, a battle of wits and determination where honor is held by the strangest of combatants: the pirates. It is in Marine Ford arc (Volume 57) that we see the disparity the author wants us to know about the pirates and the navy is heavily prominent, because we are shown Akainu, an admiral, murdering pirates left and right, while also punishing marines that were fleeting because they should die in battle, honor meaning nothing in war. It is an interesting contrast where honor is for those that view the counterpart as a human, an individual, rather than nothing, a scourge that needs to be rid of. We see how a man fights for his family as the military force fights for pride and the approval of the people. We also get this chilling quote from a dog of the government, Donquixote Doflamingo: “Are pirates the bad guys? Are the navy good guys? Things like those change with the seasons. Kids who never knew peace and kids who never knew war have completely different ideas of right and wrong. It’s the job of those at the top to decide what’s good and evil. Right now, it could go either way. Justice will prevail? Of course it will!! Because the side of justice will be whichever side wins!”.

         Let’s derail the conversation for a second and talk about propaganda in One Piece. The world government doesn’t need to work much to persuade the people that pirates are terrible people and that the navy will arrive to save them at any moment. And the pirates don’t make it any harder for the navy to build a good propaganda campaign against them considering that they plunder, steal, destroy, and make life harder for the rest of the people that just want to live a happy life in towns rather than in the ocean. That being said, the world government focuses more on their benevolence rather than the malevolence of the pirates because they need to maintain appearances, as opposed to pirates that do whatever they want without expectations of society. There’s a blurry line in which it’s not actually propaganda and where it is because we know Luffy is not exactly a bad person and yet the government makes him out to be one, while, on the other hand, most of the information provided about pirates is accurate as to how horrible they can be.

 

Post Time skip:

 

         After two years of training Luffy gets back into the saddle and sails off. Next we have Fishman Island arc (Volume 61) where we deal with a different topic: racism, segregation, revolt, and anarchy. Hody Jones comes from a time where fishmen were threatened to stay as far from humans as possible, while also witnessing the Queen trying to make amends with them to live together on the surface. Hody knows that humans are terrible creatures and sabotages the Queen’s attempt, continuing the cycle of hatred amongst races. It is an interesting view of how there are two ways to wage war against monarchy. Hody believes that he could do a better job than Arlong by amassing power and directly attacking humans rather than staying stagnant as a ruler with slaves. Of course there’s discourse to be had about racial inequality and the need to revolt in order to make the oppressors listen to their demands. However, it was not properly presented throughout the arc and I do not possess the qualifications to talk about these societal issues.

The Dressrosa arc (Volume 70) is the same as the prior arc of Alabasta. We have Donquixote Doflamingo incriminating King Riku Doldo III and taking his place as the king, all to use the island for an underground arms-dealing port while at the surface making the people happy with entertainment. Luffy indirectly saves and clears the name of their hero and king. There’s not much to discuss here since we’ve already seen it before but with a different face, and someone that actually achieved his goal—until Luffy arrives that is.

         The most recent arc (Volume 90) is Kaido and Orochi Kurozumi receiving the weapons Doflamingo dealt in a manner of protection. The only difference here is that Wano is an isolated country, and the world government could do nothing to help them, and even so the fact they were not affiliated with the world government made them prime targets to settle and conquer. In part, this arc is an allegory to American colonialism upon Japanese lands. We have a resident menace taking revenge on his family name by ruling the country alongside outside forces after murdering the previous Shogun (military ruler or general from the Heian period of Japan). And in Luffy-fashion, he saves the country after witnessing how the people were treated, the famine, the horrors of scientific experiments, the economic disparity and how they exploit it. It is a sped up version of 100 years of Japanese history with the colonization, the scientific experimentation, seclusion from outside influences and yet joining forces in the long run.

 

Parties at Play:

 

         The organizations that play a role in this story can be named with one hand. We have the Navy that serves as the World Government, the Pirates, the Revolutionaries, The Celestial Dragons, and the Five elders. Each serving their own motives, be them altruistic, egomaniacal, or selfish.

         Let’s begin with the Revolutionaries. Guided by the head, Monkey D. Dragon, father to Monkey D. Luffy and son of Marine Vice admiral Monkey D. Garp. Oda was not very subtle on who he based him on since his ship is directly associated with Che Guevara’s Yacht, Granma (Wind Granma is the name of the revolutionaries’ ship). Dragon’s goal is to free the people from the clutches of the world government and their torment by fighting back. In the canon of the story, Dragon is the most dangerous man in the world due to his ideals and his ways of liberating the people. He is a threat to the status quo the government has stapled for so long.

         The Navy comprises several ranks of the marine but also function as the controlling figure of the world, like the police that protects the wealthy. They are the authoritarian force in the foreground fighting against freedom and ideals. The important ranks that mean something are the fleet admiral, the three admirals, commander-in-chief, the five elders, but they serve a different purpose than the marines. There are times where corruption consumes the marines when in power, such as Morgan, and other times when their will is to serve the people and protect them as they’ve sworn, like Coby.

         The Five Elders are a special group of rulers that function as figureheads to the world government that go above the fleet admiral and the commander-in-chief. There is not much information on them other than they rule above all and will do anything in their power to maintain their power, as well as keep the Void century a secret from the populace. They, however, work under one individual that is barely known: Imu. This person is the secret ruler of the world, and the Five elders merely help in achieving this goal. Their roles are: Warrior God of Science and Defense, Warrior God of Environment, Warrior God of Justice, Warrior God of Finance, and Warrior God of Agriculture.

         Pirates are subdivided into three factions: the four emperors of the sea, the seven warlords, and the adventuring pirates without association. The four emperors are the strongest pirates; no one dares to oppose them, even the navy must get clearance to send several hundred men to wage an entire war against them, wasting resources in the process. The seven warlords are pirates that side with the navy to “fight piracy” in a way (most do as they wish regardless of what the navy tells them to do), pirates till the end; they are the dogs of the marines. And then we have the carefree, pillaging destroyers, the pirates unaffiliated with anyone unless they are under the flag of an emperor.

         Finally we have the Celestial Dragons. These are the wealthiest individuals, the ones that hold the most power over the entire world of One Piece. No one can touch them, and the Navy are sworn to protect them at all costs; if they so wish they can call in an admiral on a whim to destroy a town. The celestial dragons are the oldest families that go back to the void century. Everything is theirs because pseudo royalty comes with arrogance and entitlement.

 

Conclusion:

 

         The main thesis of this essay and overall story is to showcase Luffy in opposition to authority and governing systems that oppress the people, the community, the self, the dreams. Luffy is fundamentally against order, anti-state, a political disruptor, and counter-governance, hence why his dream is to become the freest man in the world, unchained by the social or political ideologies, as long as they do not get in between him and his plans. Not entirely an anarchist but is not opposed to encouraging anarchy when it serves his ideals. It could be some sort of hypocritical anarchism idealism or it’s Oda identifying the duality of anarchism. He is not entirely a terrorist either since there’s no goal to instill fear into others but indirectly creates fear onto the marines. The terrorism Luffy inflicts does not create a vacuum of power because his attacks are mostly on countries that already had prior rulers that were dethroned. Luffy is the embodiment of freedom and liberation, hence why countries have no ill-will against him once he leaves.

         There is a complexity to the ruling class in One Piece because there is no one governing system, rather a subsect of one that is under another culminating in a ruler of the world in secret, almost like a pyramidal system. The way the world is separated by islands makes governing a difficult issue in the first place since it takes so much effort to gather the kings, queens, and governors of each one (an estimate of 20 million islands).

         Eiichirō Oda introduces left-leaning ideas into his writing in happenstances, for the most part I personally see it as an accident of the writer self-inserting their belief. Of course, some authors have agendas, and push through with the story they create, sending a particular message for the attentive readers and those that wish to learn more about a given topic. You still get the sense that some of them are not accidents, like the obvious allegories against fascism, authoritarian dictatorships, and colonialism. There is definitely, however, a prominent issue with authority and abusive ruling class from the author that is exposed through the writing.

         Luffy, as a character and protagonist, reacts to situations rather than actively engaging in conversations. He pulls through with sheer luck which makes him unintentionally (intentionally by the author) the perfect blank slate to explain and showcase ideologies he would be against or in favor of. He changes the world as the world changes around him in a duality of characterization.

         I’d like to also point out the small dichotomy of the ideologies present in the story: pirates overall are not the great heroes perceived in the manga; they plundered and raped to their hearts content with the justification that they were completely free individuals. However, the way Oda shows us this is by creating an opposing force that is antithetical in ideology: The authoritarianism of the Marines. Sure, we could say marines are bad and the pirates are good in the story but viewing it as only black and white is meaningless when we have certain characters that embody the true “goodness” and honor the marines espouse, or pirates that truly do not care for what happens to others when they attack and destroy. It is just the role reversal from real life that is seen throughout the story that makes me want to point out this small section.

In essence, titling this an accidentally political story is just misleading. Who am I kidding, this is entirely political in nature. Through allegories and tales, this is a story of revolution, freedom, and sacrifice for what you truly desire. Breaking the chains of authority and actually living a life. Sure, I will concede that it’s not a story for everyone, it is filled to the brim with politics, an intricate storyline that spans nearly three decades, nearly 1200 chapters, A diverse cast of characters with their own ideals and lives. It is an information overload to those that see it at first glance. And that’s okay. Enjoy at your own pace. Just as you enjoyed reading all of this.

Pinocchio and Frankenstein's Creature

Pinocchio and Frankenstein’s Creature:

            Nature vs Nurture, the age-old debate on whether we are born inherently biased towards what is the concept of societal good or evil versus learning them through experience. As much as I would enjoy writing another essay on it this one focuses on two literary classics and how they are fatefully bound and intertwined as philosophical equals when analyzed by their respective points of view. Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly and The Adventure of Pinocchio by Carlo “Collodi” Lorenzo Filippo Giovanni Lorenzini.

            A brief summary on both should be an order. Frankenstein tells the story of mad scientist Victor Frankenstein attempting to create life from dead corpses. Once he finds himself successful he comes to regret his blasphemous actions as he sees the consequences of his actions. From then on the story is told from the point of view of the creature, learning and understanding his circumstance as “monster”, an “abomination” from others that fear its existence. He swears revenge upon its creator, longing to find Victor accountable for his actions against nature itself.

            A summary of Pinocchio: Master builder Geppetto wishes he had a son, and a fairy grants him that wish, with the caveat that it will be a wooden puppet. Alive and conscious, the wooden puppet was called Pinocchio, and loved by his new father. Pinocchio seeing the limitations of his appearance wishes to be a human boy and tries his best to become one by going to school. Soon after his is coerced into joining a circus for children, abusing natural sins such as greed, gluttony, and pride. Geppetto grows weary and sets out to get back his boy and reuniting with him once again, fulfilling the ultimate act of love and turning Pinocchio into a proper human.

            They are both the same philosophical concept told from a different frame of reference in which one of them tells the story of abandonment from the creator, disdain from everyone around, and the other from a loving perspective by the creator. The similarities comes from them being created out of a sense of desperation. The humanistic obsession with possessing enough power to be a god, domain over life and creation. They both deal with the consequences of creating life and the ultimate price we are willing (and unwilling) to pay for it.

            Of course, this is not a one-to-one tale. The desperation from Geppetto stems from his desire to have a son to teach and love. Victor, on the other hand, had an expressed desire to rebel against nature, taunt her with his intellect and wound up regretting his choice. In terms of their frame of reference they are polar opposites, one deals with disdain and the other with familial affection, revenge against the pursuit of happiness. Sin versus virtue, greed versus kindness.

            In conclusion, they could both be allegories for man’s incessant and obsessive drive towards control and creation, the need to become godlike and failing because consciousness begets responsibility. Or maybe it’s to understand the consequences of poor and good nurturing of an individual and the aftermath of it. Am I trying to say that love is the answer to nature vs nurture, being the only caveat that it just reinforces nurture in the sense that through affection humans are therefore more likely to conform to the societal depiction of goodness? Perhaps. But that is neither here nor there, because Frankenstein’s creations yearns for the ultimate human desire of being cared for while Pinocchio possesses all and more.

The Magic of Sports in Anime/Manga

The Magic of Sports in Anime/Manga:

This idea came into fruition when I came to realize that I read too much manga and a great portion of them are sports related. It is also born from the feelings I felt as I continued reading them, the flaws becoming their triumph, their enemies becoming their best allies. There are some with intricate and detailed explorations of the given sports, others utilize them as the starting point to translate meaning and values.    

I won’t write much about this topic since it’s mostly out of experience, but the relevance is still there. The first sport manga, the father of all, is “Igaguri-kun”, illustrated by Fukui Eiichi in 1952. I don’t know anything about this manga, all I know is that it’s about judo and that it has 33 chapters with the intent of reviving the artistic craze post World War II. Sports themselves have a rather interesting history, but that is not the focus. The focus is how the medium of manga and anime imprints this sense of energy and power. It is both inspiring and exhilarating. It’s not easy describing these feelings so I will use manga and anime I’ve seen to interpret what I mean as well as give my perspective. This essay is mostly to showcase the variety of sports manga that is out there to discover and explore. I only name a few when in reality there’s hundreds more.

            First off, the first anime/manga I watched that featured sports was “Kuroko no Basket”. Published in 2008 by Tadatoshi Fujimaki and it’s about a dynamic basketball duo confronting the five greatest basketball players in Japanese high schools. Kuroko, the shadow, will do his best to help Kagami, the light, become the best player. I love basketball, born and raised in it, and having this over-the-top action-packed sport almost revived that feeling to getting back to playing. That sensation of practicing and going head to head against strong foes, fulfilling that protagonist mindset. The fire of an athlete lights up with the will to become a new person and prove wrong those that did not believe in you.

            In the same sport vein, Slam Dunk. I already did a review on this one, but I will always talk about it whenever I can. Published in 1993 by Takehiko Inoue and it’s about a delinquent, Hanamichi Sakuragi, and his goal to get a girlfriend through any means necessary. Basketball falls in when the sister of the captain of the basketball team catches his eye; later on forgetting his goal yet still going for the seriousness the sport needs. This one mostly lights the spirit of worth as an athlete and wanting to do your best for someone. It hits the best points and has the lowest of lows while showing the reality of losing with small victories in-between. The thrill of becoming a member of a team and going against strong opponents.

            Now for a change of sport we have volleyball with “Haikyu!!” published in 2012 by Haruichi Furudate. Hinata, being short, was constantly made fun of as he always wanted to be a wing spiker and soar above everyone else. The prevailing theme of dreams continues as Hinata is the embodiment of a child wishing to be the best and actually making it. The one no one expects to jump and see everyone from above with a team that works well with him as he does for them. Here, the main theme is teams and how cooperation and learning from each other makes the sport so much more enjoyable.

            Withing the top ten longest manga and in the top five best sports manga is the boxing legend “Hajime no Ippo”, published in 1989 by George Morikawa. Makunouchi Ippo was always a weak kid and often bullied but one day he meets a boxer that defends him and makes him wonder what true strength is. Ippo is the epitome of hard work and perseverance. There aren’t many matches you see Ippo lose but you still feel for him as he takes hit after hit from strong opponents with their own styles and quirks. It is through the connections of the fists that one understands the power a man has, the weight is carried by those that support you until the bitter end, until the last bell rings. He also shows that strength is something anyone can obtain, not through fighting but inner strength as a person through growth.

            This next sport is American Football, one that is not strictly Japanese, yet still reaches a broad audience, “Eyeshield 21” published in 2002 by Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata. After being bullied (I know, a recurring topic), Sena Kobayakawa eventually learned to run from them with great speeds; the captain of the has-been football team notices and coerces Sena to become their quarter back, even if he knew nothing about the sport. It is a heartwarming underdog story with wacky situations and powers, like most shōnen are. But it is more than that, it is a coming of age view of overcoming adversity with any means, using your talents to surpass those that oppose you and prove them wrong.

            Now for some real football we have “Ao Ashi” published in 2015 by Yūgo Kobayashi. Ashito Aoi has always loved playing football and after losing his final tournament before graduating from middle school his desire grew more. He is then strangely scouted by an ex-professional player and have him join the youth football school and hone his skills, presenting him with the vast and beautiful world of football around the world. There is more focus on tactics and team building rather than other manga that choose to view the teamwork aspect, the bonds we make along the journey. It’s still a good read that shows intricate and concise understanding of football as well as a deep love for the sport.

Another football-centered manga is “Blue Lock” published in 2018 by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura. This is about Yoichi Isagi and his pursuit of becoming the best striker in the world after losing his only chance to enter the finals in middle school. An eccentric researcher invites every player to demonstrate if they’re willing to become the best and prove it by becoming the most egocentric player in the world at the same time. It is very over the top with its depictions of football, much like “Kuroko’s basketball” with the showcasing of “powers” and unnatural actions in the field. A new perspective and visualization of how to play the sport as well as a new philosophy of understanding the sport.

            As a final but not last is an uncommon sport to find anywhere, more so in Japanese schools “Yowamushi Pedal” published in 2008 by Wataru Watanabe. Entering a new high school, Sakamichi Onoda was not aware of the steep hill he must climb every morning, yet he surprisingly commutes. The school’s team takes notice and wants to test him, to see if he is deemed worthy to stand on the stage with them. Hard work and effort pushed him to make new friends and try hard for them. Even in obscure sports there’s the dream to thrive and strive, to become better than your former self, to savor the challenging competition against a strong opponent that launches you forwards.

            In conclusion…what is there to even conclude? I haven’t scratched the surface of the amount of anime and manga that represent sports, everything from the common sports like football, basketball, and volleyball to ballroom dancing, badminton, the obscurity of sumo wrestling, cycling, the Japanese equivalent of chess: shogi, and even illegal street racing. Why stop there? There’s archery, swimming, fencing, kendo, several martial arts, golf hockey, rugby, horse racing, gymnastics, track and field, fishing, rock climbing, ice skating, rowing, curling, boxing, baseball, tennis. I could go on and mention every possible sport known to man and there would be a manga about it. There is no shortage of sports related manga out there, they just need a willing reader to attend them. I cannot conclude this essay in good conscious when there are so many more to read and present. What I can do, however, is say that you should give it a try, even if you don’t like sports.

Amor Mortis

 

            I once was a great musician, with pois, grandeur, and aesthetic precision. My colleges esteemed me with great honor, and I’m sure the crowd here loves it. For every sharp note follows a cheer and clamor, and for every flat a somber woe. You, my people, listen to me in this auditorium as my music resonates and reverberates, as my words bounce to find ears to fall on. Of course, if not for you, my loves, who would I be but a bustling busker at the brink of suicide, playing for commoner and the uncultured ears. Unbeknownst to everyone, you have given me a life worth living. And for that, I would love to tell you about my life’s journey to standing in this stage, in front of this willing audience.

            I could say that life begins at conception, but mine began the moment I heard a soft and delicate chime coming from the lips of my mother. She aspired to be a world-renowned opera singer; their criteria did not accommodate for tall, lanky, wire-hair maidens in a contemporary setting. I begged to differ in my child mind; every night she put me to sleep with that one song. It was repetitive and it tires me at this age, but then it was the song of angels coming down and letting me rest on a bed of feathers, laying my head on a pillow of petals. She told me that it was a song she wrote and gave it a concerning title: Amor mortis. Love death.

            My childhood consisted of hours of music theory, hours of practice, and hours of rest. Mother taught me everything I know to this day in the same home I slept in. Being raised with an absentee father and a home that could accommodate an entire class of children made the study sessions feel empty, devoid of joy. But I admire that she stuck through and gave me the education she thought was worth learning: how inspirational music can be, the self-discipline that entails, the importance of listening to others. Hear me when I say that I could not have been here if it were not for her sacrifice. The sacrifice only a mother would make for her child to follow the dream she could not achieve.

            My teenage years felt like a breeze, a flute sonata that swiftly transitions into Latin jazz; a turn none of us expected. She died in her early forties, two weeks after my eighteenth birthday. I was devastated to say the least, as the autumn leaves fall, leaving the branches bare. She always had a frail complexion to her and yet she never spoke of any illnesses she had. The doctors told me it was cancer; I did not want to know the specifics other than the cause. I did get to meet my father at the funeral for a second or two, before he vanished again without a goodbye.

            I decided to take up college since my knowledge solely focused on music and having one near that centered around it gave me hope that I could achieve her dream still. Of course, it was challenging since being homeschooled did not prepare me enough for adult life. Mother taught me to play the most commercial instruments such as the flute, piano, violin, saxophone, trumpet, and the guitar, and I used that knowledge to play at bars for some living expenses; most of the instruments were rented or borrowed which did not leave much for myself. It could not pay for the classes, but it did pay for my day-to-day meals; the classes were paid anonymously; I had not spoken to any sponsors or know of a secret rich uncle. Later on I was told that my estranged father paid for my university.

            After graduating, searching for an orchestra that would accept another violin out of the select few was a hurdle. Mother never told me I was a savant, she made it seem natural that I could play all those instruments with ease. I was only applying for violin yet did not consider the possibility of playing another and that’s when a director saw me play at a bar session. Of course that one session was not enough, but he considered me for the next open space, later working my way up to the soloist I am today.

            I love mentioning the time I made my first blunder in front of several dozen people just like you. Luckily I recovered quickly. The instruments were tuned, the floor hard and resonant, the air clean and cool, and my hand dry and ashy. My heart could almost align itself with the beats of the piece, a quick cadence humming like a bee in ecstasy. This did not help at all because every time I held my breath it would take me out of rhythm and midway through the piece I play a note a half step up—a noticeable one—and subsequently getting my bearings in check.

            After telling the blunder story it always reminds me on my crushing love struck that could never happen. We usually invite a guest soloist at the orchestra, or we are the ones that are asked to play for them; this was the former. The moment she walked to the front I knew that I loved her. She wore a baby blue dress, long and flowing, bedazzling the eyes that planted themselves on her, a minimalistic earpiece, and simple, glossy lips. Her eyes unfortunately clashed with the dress as they were a bright hazel, almost hinting at green, but I could not care less for it heightened my experience of her existence. The skin was fair, like a golden dream of a Cuba libre in a gloomy tavern. I never got to see her again after that one performance.

            Never married or took up on a partner, only short nights of leisure and a long period of loneliness. I wish I could have remembered their faces, but it would not have been the same, completely unfulfilling to try and remember those that give me that tiny bit of serotonin to make it through another day. To be honest, I was mostly married to music, the love of my life was the sound of the orchestra and the cheers the audience made to our posthumous finales. Sure, it was not a physical thing that I married, and finding someone at this age would be useless, but I live a life…

            …Full of regrets. My dear listeners, I have lied. I am but a buffoon in black and white, mimicking a sense of self-importance. This is merely my suicide speech to you. But I’m well-aware that no one is in the crowd, not a seat has been taken. It is only me, my instruments, empty chairs, and this rope. Am I craving one last moment of attention as a postmortem jest? Am I playing a final piece only I can appreciate? Would I be callous enough to leave evidence of my failure to prove I was worthy of something and deserving of recognition? The answer would probably be yes to all of them.

            I never really achieved my mother’s dream of being a world-renowned musician, just moderately known as a one-trick pony. At the age of forty-one I consider myself a fraud, a letdown, a nuisance. I made no spectacle to inspire, nor did I try appealing to an audience, I merely played what I was told to. All I saw were aimless notes cascading in the pentagram. The bars were mostly empty the nights I played, like roaches running from the light. The beautiful soloist probably did not like my playing—or so my mind tells me.

            And now a last hurrah to this world. I’ll tire myself by playing Amor Mortis with every instrument I know. Break my fingers if I have to playing so many times that annoying song, repeat after repeat, note after note, chord after chord, beat after beat. Of course, starting with the least I appreciate is the norm, so the flute begins with a wistful delight, a cadence of wishless desire. The waltz my mother sung me to birth played by a wind instrument means nothing to me, reminds me of the times I could not sleep in insomniac depression. The guitar is less grating than the prior, the plucking and stepping distracted me from its meaning: boredom. The trumpet has no worth, only the fact that it remains as an ambivalent instrument, loud and obnoxious yet smooth and assertive. The violin, much like the guitar, stepping and sliding, a slight difference yet a noticeable one; the strings give a change in meaning, like hope. The piano, oh the piano, more stepping to give callouses to my fingertips, but the meaning I find is love; the love I wished could reside in my heart.

Manga Review #15

Title: Bibliomania

Author: Macchiro Orval

Literary level: Intermediate

Rating: 4/5

            Published in 2016 by Macchiro Orval, this is a psychological horror fantasy manga, short and sweet. The starts with Alice dropping into a white room, a large door with intricate designs, and a serpent-like being that instructs her the rules of the place. You have to stay in your room until the rooms are filled to 666 guests; if you leave your room your body will begin to rot; anything you wish will come true in your room. Alice, with her blissful ignorance chooses to not stay in her room and actually get out of the staying area holding the rooms. The Serpent creature gives advice that there is a chance if she manages to reach room 000, yet he knows it is impossible make it without rotting. From here on out is something to be read because there is no way to accurately explain what happens.

            This manga has me in turmoil. I can’t explain how I feel after reading it. At the start you get a biblical quote that you question what it actually means, then when you finish the manga it starts to make sense. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” Joh 10:16. Most biblical verse I encounter in manga or other readings aren’t as prophetic or as related as other. Most of them usually are used as umbrella quotes like Dante’s inferno or Revelations 13:1-4 which merely function as an introduction to the themes rather than to foreshadow the story. The story itself transitions oddly and the twist may be predictable to some, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it is a novel concept that doesn’t need further exploration from its short read. The designs are also a beautiful yet grim addition. And this is all without mentioning themes like the depiction of hell in accordance to every individual and how they perceive heaven to be. The psychological trauma passed down after death, your soul being tortured by your own will to avenge misgivings, the terrors of life.