Raise wa Tanin is a bubble series for sure. It’s part of the Patron Pick ballot in fact, though I’d be undecided on it either way. There’s about as much of that really intrigues me as there is I find off-putting, which is one sure-fire pathway to the bubble. I can’t help but feel there’s a fair amount of potential here. But I’m torn about whether the series has the right sort of sensibility to tease it out, and a relatively indifferent adaptation isn’t doing anything to move the needle.
There are a couple of different story tracks being laid here. There’s Kirishima-kun of course – he’s something of a wild card still but the overall vibe is still dangerous nutcase. Yes, I find it disturbing that he’s breaking into Yoshino’s place and doing things to her while she sleeps. But maybe even more disturbing that she’s getting so used to his sociopathic behavior that this doesn’t even bother her that much. Yoshino is, as I noted, tough as a two-dollar steak. But she’s still in dangerous waters here, and seemingly very close to being in over her head..
Then we have the larger yakuza picture, which is developing into quite an interesting tangle. There are a lot of complicated relationships here involving numerous yakuza, most notably Yoshino’s grandfather and Kirishima’s grand-uncle. Yoshino’s friend from the Osaka gang, Shouma (clearly about to be a very important character), implies that there may be warfare soon, despite all the big dogs making noises about peace and cooperation. There are a lot of regional resentments simmering, and I got the vibe that the three-way friendship teased in the photo album is now a lot more strained than anyone is admitting.
I was thinking for a bit there that Kirishima was going to kill Shouma (or at least try to) as a potential rival. But while I wouldn’t put it past him, it would be hard to see Yoshino getting past that if he did. Of course Shouma flat-out volunteered to kill Kirishima and take Yoshino back home (she declined). It’s pretty obvious there’s more to Yoshino’s exile to Tokyo than Renji is letting on. I’m curious to see where all this is headed, and I do like Yoshino (and Ueda Hitomi’s performance) – she’s forceful and smart. But the sale is nowhere near closed, so the three-episode rule is (as usual) out the window in this case.
Nicc
October 24, 2024 at 7:30 amYep, it’s a difficult series to nail down so far and I can’t tell where it’s going. We’ve got a few new additions to the cast with the major one being Shouma from the Osaka gang and a friend of Yoshino. Also from the gang is Taketo Hotei, who spent more time raising her than her grandfather did. Kirishima is as unpredictable as ever as he’s shown dining out with some other girl (I get the impression he’s got more than one girl on the side) and then goes on to watch or braid Yoshino’s hair as she’s sleeping as that’s the only time she isn’t angry looking at him. We also learn that Yoshino’s biological dad wasn’t part of the family business and clashed with grandpa regarding that.
Speaking of him, there’s a conference with the other big families in the Kanto region. It does indeed seem like there’s some warfare brewing and when the families are talking about peace and expansion. Yoshino’s presence in Tokyo looks like it has something to do with it. Then there’s Shouma, who seems to be a combination of bodyguard, go-fer and friend to Yoshino. He’s quiet and reserved unlike the unpredictable Kirishima. He also doesn’t care much of his appearance as Yoshino had to get new clothes for him or how he doesn’t try that hard to hide is tattoos. Yep, he offered to kill Kirishima and go home with Yoshino. Kirishima already took notice of him in the last episode and here comes a chance (or not) meeting with Shouma on the street. We saw him do some research on him earlier. I wonder how this meeting is going to end up. Kirishima is unpredictable as the spring weather and so he might either try to kill him or befriend him.
Guardian Enzo
October 24, 2024 at 9:10 amThere’s no way in Hell that was a chance meeting. Kirishima knew exactly what he was doing. The question now is what he does next.
Ronbb
October 25, 2024 at 3:59 amAmong the three episodes, this is the least attractive to me. I really like Yoshino, but the story could make her a less interesting character. The new development with the the larger yakuza picture is intriguing, but I don’t know where the story will go.
Yes, I am impressed by Ueda Hitomi–she brings so much energy and life to Yoshino.