(L) Sasami-san@Ganbaranai

[omimon]

I like the fact that they didn't beat around the bushes when they used incest as a plot device. I mean Sasami looks normal enough but she admits that everyone in her family has birth defects.

[erneiz_hyde]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

Myths are flexible enough that they really can't be considered canon or not. For example, the Tama was not part of the royal treasures until much later when it was added in.

Sorry for the late reply.

Yes, "canon" isn't exactly the word I'd use either. It's the "authenticity". As flexible as it may be, it's also one whole field of academic study. No single man is going to change how a myth goes, much less without a proper academic proof. This single man is the author of Sasami-san, and I was merely pointing out where he(she? I don't know) stops using existing established myths and add in his own touch of creativity.


Which is A-OK, by the way. I do this with my own long hiatus extremely chuuni fantasy novel which mixes Norse, Greek, and Egypt myth together and add in my own And I personally like a lot of excellent fantasy stories even if they're not following the myth to the letter.

Speaking of which that reminds me of my unfinished attempt at a VN/LN-ish story long ago where I put in a Ninigi masquerading as a bartender with the name Tsurugi Tomoaki (剣珠鏡).

[EroKing]

NSFW

Nyantype

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by erneiz_hyde

Sorry for the late reply.

Yes, "canon" isn't exactly the word I'd use either. It's the "authenticity". As flexible as it may be, it's also one whole field of academic study. No single man is going to change how a myth goes, much less without a proper academic proof. This single man is the author of Sasami-san, and I was merely pointing out where he(she? I don't know) stops using existing established myths and add in his own touch of creativity.

See, the fact is when we are dealing with myths that aren't centralised in some organisation, it is accepted that there are contradictions and confusions of what is or isn't authentic. This was never a problem as such, because these stories aren't gospel. They are not holy or intended to be unchanging. No one is going to start a war because they don't think Amateratsu is female, or don't know if the Moon God was born in a mirror or Izanagi's right eye.

If somehow, a dead sea scroll equivalent showed an alternate telling of the events, the Japanese would shrug and get on with their lives. There was never a "right" myth. They were stories passed down by people. It is not sacrilege in any way to claim that the deities aren't exactly the same as the common interpretation.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Well, THAT escalated quickly.

Spoiler for Ep 4:

They don't mess about. I guess the power of a Goddess is too important for a little girl to get in the way. The father is MEAN. And not in a James Bond Villain way. He is the kind who will stab someone without a thought if he thinks that's what is needed to be done. We also resolved the question; how much power does Tsurugi hold in reserve? The answer: ENOUGH.

[RRW]

Originally Posted by TheEroKing

NSFW

Nyantype

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

[erneiz_hyde]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

See, the fact is when we are dealing with myths that aren't centralised in some organisation, it is accepted that there are contradictions and confusions of what is or isn't authentic. This was never a problem as such, because these stories aren't gospel. They are not holy or intended to be unchanging. No one is going to start a war because they don't think Amateratsu is female, or don't know if the Moon God was born in a mirror or Izanagi's right eye.

If somehow, a dead sea scroll equivalent showed an alternate telling of the events, the Japanese would shrug and get on with their lives. There was never a "right" myth. They were stories passed down by people. It is not sacrilege in any way to claim that the deities aren't exactly the same as the common interpretation.

Nobody said anything about sacrilege though. Yes, I'm aware there are different versions according to different sources as my very first post suggests. One thing the different versions have in common though is that they have A source, even if different ones.

Even though you are generally right in a sense, I still get the feeling that you are taking myths too lightly or mistaken my perspective. My point is the study of myths and folklore (mythology and folkloristics respectively) is very much the study of history; specifically a part of ethnology; so one should learn it with academic approach. This piece of pop novel (Sasami-san) can NOT be used as an authentic source to reflect to a civilization's culture history. Myths and folklore aren't that shallow.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by erneiz_hyde

Nobody said anything about sacrilege though. Yes, I'm aware there are different versions according to different sources as my very first post suggests. One thing the different versions have in common though is that they have A source, even if different ones.

Even though you are generally right in a sense, I still get the feeling that you are taking myths too lightly or mistaken my perspective. My point is the study of myths and folklore (mythology and folkloristics respectively) is very much the study of history; specifically a part of ethnology; so one should learn it with academic approach. This piece of pop novel (Sasami-san) can NOT be used as an authentic source to reflect to a civilization's culture history. Myths and folklore aren't that shallow.

So you think there was some deep and complex significance that the Tama was added to the royal treasures? Or more likely, somebody liked the number 3 and decided to add it in sometime on a whim and it stuck?

"Cultural History" is simply what is popular a long time ago. The only thing that makes them important is that they are OLD, not that they are somehow more serious.

Pop novels are as much part of culture as anything else. And anything that became the Past become History. To say that a novel can't become cultural history would be ignoring the likes of Dante's Inferno. THAT was pop fiction of its time. Yet, part of cultural history anyway.

Dante's Inferno: A completely made up description of hell, with artificial mythology and references to people Dante hate. Now taken half seriously because of how old it is.

[erneiz_hyde]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

So you think there was some deep and complex significance that the Tama was added to the royal treasures? Or more likely, somebody liked the number 3 and decided to add it in sometime on a whim and it stuck?

Are you implying that was added on a whim? oh wait you are saying it

From what I gather, the item magatama only became a significant religious item later on. Before this, it was only regarded as a decoration. The adding of tama inside the royal treasure could indicate that cultural shift. I can't know for certain without asking an expert, but I can guarantee that it was never for shit and giggles.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

On a different matter, I noticed that this franchise does not pull punches. There is no "magical field" to isolate the property damage, no clear signs that people who fought the Yagami sisters actually survived the encounter.

People who want to challenge gods to obtain power, risk their lives. And as such when they lose, they die like the mortals they are.

Property damage equivalent to the London City bombing occurred in ep 4. No doubt hundreds if not thousands of innocent people died. But in the end that's what happens when you fight a war against forces who are out of your league.

Not that the show focused on the deaths. The show just doesn't pretend there wasn't any casualties. That people die all the time, and that the Yagami sisters are used to it.

[DorkingtonPugsly]

Very good episode. I felt drawn in and attentive to what was going on. I think I got used to the over the top story. I also liked the anti piracy ad camera guy reference.

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep4:

*sigh*
Just when I thought it was interesting for once, when the otaku event turned out to be a trap, they just had to end everything in a second by the same story development that happened an episode ago. The first time the sisters used their incre~~~dible powers to obliterate~~~~~ everything, it wasn't interesting either, but it was surprising. The second time.............................................. .................................................. .............................................

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

You expect a bunch of mortal men to stand up to three deities?

This is not a battle manga. There is no "fair fight" concerning gods. You either win spectacularly or lose horribly.

[RRW]

despite the craziness. somehow i understand everything

[Sol Falling]

Pfft. Now that's what I'm talking about. Moreso than plot or animation, SHAFT's quirky rhythm was out in full force this episode, making it the best one so far. I'd be able to really enjoy this series if it keeps up that absurd/lighthearted sensibility.

[Kanon]

I enjoyed this episode a lot. It was full of the quirkiness I love. I was also quite pleased with Kagami's screentime. Funya~

[Xion Valkyrie]

This definitely was the best episode yet. Really good pacing, a lot of pretty funny gags (the UFO one was especially well done, especially how it came together with the plot at the end).

I hope this isn't the last we see of Sarcoma though, there could really be some potential there for her to just turn into 'Meat'.

[00Coyote]

Can you imagine the awkward introductions if Sarcoma would have kept her Sasami form?

Hi ladies, are you two tired? Because you've been ru... oh wow, are you twins?
Hey Hey Hey, don't turn away! I'm just trying to have a nice conversation with you.

So? What do you want?

Are you girls twins? Like IDENTICAL twins? That's so hot.

We're not twins.

Eh? But you look identical!

Such a pain, I'm the only daughter of a long line of incestuous fanatical shinto sect that hide in the mountains, and she is a false spirit my family implanted inside me after they drugged me, in order to control the power of a divine god. She was freed from my body after my cross-dressing idol head priest father thrust a sword through my 3rd arm and into my heart. She took my form during a battle between my crazed family's shrine warriors, government special forces, some aliens and 3 goddesses. We can't be apart, so we live together.

I... see. I'm very sorry for asking such a question.

It was such a bother to say all that, you better appreciate it.

Please forgive me.

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

One might think being turned into a bunny is a downgrade.

But if you think about it, animal pets of gods tend to become eternal companions of said deities. The show didn't go into details, but I believe when Tsurugi said she would do miracles once in a while, she meant ascending the bunny into a weak god. I can't help but see that Niku-chan has become Kagami's animal mascot.

(Especially since in the OP images, when they showed the characters being invisible except for their iconic item, Kagami is actually represented by Niku-chan.)

[Dark Faith]

Was loving the episode until it got to the UFO scene... at that point I had the distinct impression I was watching a completely different show. Needless to say, I was pretty oblivious to whatever meaning that scene's supposed to have!
Yet, and all things considered, this was a pretty good episode. Looking forward to more.