Uchouten Kazoku 2 – 05

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 01I think the Nise-Eizan Densha specialty of Yajirou is a fitting metaphor for Uchouten Kazoku, because more than almost any anime I can think of there’s a train-like sensibility to the narrative.  But not a full-speed, straight line powerhouse like the Shinkansen – no, this is the ambling, winding line that cuts through back yards and the backside of little shrines and temples.  But meandering though it is, it’s one continuous stream of thought – the breaks between the episodes may be stops, but there’s never a disconnect where one ends and the other begins.  Episodes of The Eccentric Family are no more self-contained than the distance between two stops on the Eizan Densha – what matters is the entire route.

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 02I guess it shouldn’t have been surprising that the wormhole in Souichirou’s shogi board led straight to Akadama-sensei’s apartment – though I confess I wasn’t expecting to find Yashirou making curry for him.  The old tengu and the great tanuki were close – it’s no coincidence that in his final stop on this plane (which remains as mysterious as it was the day it aired) Souichirou asked Akadama to look after his family.  Superficially it seems as if it’s more the other way around, and more than superficially that’s true I suppose.  But there are always hints here and there that it’s a reciprocal relationship, and this episode is no exception.

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 03The Gozan Farewell Bonfire is once again a signature moment in Uchouten Kazoku – it seems to be the premier event on the tanuki social calendar.  Here’s Akadama’s first opportunity to help out the Shimogamo brothers, as Yasaburou has invited Gyokuran along for a viewing party – not knowing that the “luxury liner” Yaichirou was to borrow from the Nara tanuki has been co-opted by Ginkaju and Kinkaju.  But the old tengu is in possession of the ashtray tea-kettle engine (surely you remember).  And that, in concert with Yajirou’s signature move, can make for a sort of homemade alternative.

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 04Akadama-sensei is utterly tsundere towards the brothers – “I’ll only let you borrow it on the condition you don’t invite me” indeed – but really, this is all a dance where both partners know the steps.  Indeed, the entire tengu-tanuki relationship seems to be that way – both parties follow the routine, the tanuki are resolutely deferential and the tengu haughty and dismissive.  But in their heart of hearts I don’t think the furballs feel inferior to anybody – they just know how to play the game.  Isn’t that all part of being a tanuki?

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 05The surest sign Akadama is looking after the brothers comes during the Gozan Farewell flight (with Yashirou acting as engineer).  Tousen doesn’t dispute the old man’s tale of how he locked she and Souichirou up until they pretty much decided to get married, and he more or less demands the same thing from Yaichirou and Gyokuran.  Things are looking up – even Yajirou is feeling upbeat with his belly warmed by the events inside it (“A fun thing is a good thing” indeed).  But you just know Kinkaju and Ginkaju are going to crash the party, and indeed they do.  It’s easy to blame them for continually provoking Yaichirou, but Yaichirou is the one who continually allows himself to be provoked.  Tanuki really can’t help being fools, it seems.

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 06There are other party-crashers here too, though – starting with Benten, who lands atop Yajirou in the Nidaime’s beloved chaise lounge.  Where that lounge goes, Nidaime is soon to follow – and Nidaime and Akadama in the same place is going to lead to a very different sort of fireworks than when tanuki do “battle”.  I don’t know what happened in London, but that there’s a history between these two is beyond obvious.  Tanuki mixed up in tengu disputes and vice-versa – that can’t be doing anybody any good…

Uchouten Kazoku 2- 05 - 07To me, one of the most interesting elements of this season is the Nidaime’s role.  It’s tempting to class him as the villain, but I don’t necessarily see him that way.  Frankly I think Benten skates by a lot of pretty reprehensible behavior based on her charms, and the fact that she and the Nidaime are in opposition doesn’t incline me to consider him a bad guy.  That he’s formidable there can be no doubt – he vanquishes Benten wish shocking ease when she attacks him.  It’s understandable that Yasaburou is so shaken at seeing Benten brought low like that – he’s in love with her, after all.  But I think it’s telling he refused her entreaties to tell her he liked her better than the Nidaime.  This Benten-Nidaime-Akadama triangle is a complicated one, involving infatuation and inheritance, and it seems certain to be one of the biggest stories of this season.

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8 comments

  1. M

    Yasaburou was not surprised that she lost, I think. Since he said he knew that she would lose from the look on her face. I think it was that look that shook him. Namely that she is in love with the Nidaime.

  2. I never said he was surprised – I said he was shaken. Two totally different things.

  3. J

    I’m confused about the lyrics in the OP. On one hand, it says to “go with the flow.” But on the other hand, it says to stir up a lot of trouble. Aren’t those two contradictory ideas?

  4. Not if you are a tanuki!

  5. Exactly what I was thinking.

  6. R

    I couldn’t help but giggle when the three brothers were frogs chatting under the well, and I liked how they worked together to make sure that their family could participate in the Gozan Farewell Bonfire. To top it off, it’s Yasaborou, who initially refused to help but now offered to take it on…

  7. J

    I know I’m very late to the party, it turns out I needed a turbulent year to come back to this chill show.

    One thing I’m noticing a lot now is the sheer class element between the Tanuki and Tengu. Is there some inherent Japanese classism they’re showing off here, between the lowly peasants and the royalty? One always subservient and able to live life fully, the other in their role being served by while said to be serving the humble ones. The love story between a peasant and a princess inherently is one that can never happen.

    When you look at it this way, Benten the fake-inheritor of the royal family, Yasaburou the son of the man she murdered in her politicking not being as big a deal, she’s in a complete other class, he’s a peasant and should be glad she has a fondness for him. Peasants have to have humility, but get to enjoy the privilege of being able to live a full life of family, love and laughter.

    Anyways, just thought it was interesting, in some ways it feels like a much better commentary on this aged classisim, than most historical dramas seem to dig into. Also just much more approachable to the average viewer I think, and presented in such a beautifully subtle way.

  8. No arguments, classy and subtle. And yes, I do believe there’s class commentary inherent in this premise. Morimi is not averse to exploring such themes.

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