Brightest Stars Minitalks
Ibuki's entrance into AKATSUKI has insensitive parallels to the history between Japan and the Ryukyu Islands, specifically the annexation of Ryukyu into Okinawa from 1872-1879 onward. Click for more information
AKATSUKI is a unit embodied by 和 (wa, lit. harmony, but also a self-designator for Japan). The word 和風 (wafu, Japanese style) comes from 和. During the Meiji Restoration, 和 was central to Japan’s efforts to unify and assimilate new territories under a shared cultural identity. On top of his membership, Ibuki's active pursuit of 本当の和風 (true Japanese-style) being the reason he pursues AKATSUKI is inappropriate, bearing this in mind.
Additionally, the Ryukyu Disposition was driven by military interests, particularly securing Japan's southern borders from other nations. In Okinawan schools, national pride was linked to serving Japan’s military goals. This had devastating consequences, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. This in mind, having Ibuki join the self-proclaimed "war unit" is also inappropriate.
Read the full-length analysis here: Unpacking Shinsei (新生) AKATSUKI; An Extended Translation Note and Analysis.
It's quite noisy before the live, hm? Looks like there are some people running around for no reason too...
Now, now. It's the first time we're holdin' a live in a place like this, I'm sure everyone's in high spirits is all.
I never thought that we'd stand on a stage this huge~ Right~?
Now that you mention it, apparently this so-called "me-ga-su-fii-a"1 airship was made in a foreign country.
It crossed the ocean to come here to Japan just like me~ Kinda gives me a sense of kinship~♪
Crossed? More like flew... I did learn that when it's this stupid-huge of a machine, I don't get motion-sickness.
Huh? Me...? No, that's not it at all. I was just thinking that it was a stage with a strong, "di-ji-ta-ru" feel to it.
It does seem like this stage can use the latest digital screening and hologram technology after all.
Apparently, they can produce wonderous stage effects that would seem right out of the world of manga. Right, Anzu?
Translation Notes
- ↑ In Japanese, words from other languages (such as English) are typically rendered in katakana. However, when Souma uses katakana words, they are all written in hiragana instead, likely to emphasize how he struggles with foreign words. These words are kept as written in hiragana, and put in "quotes".