Mahouka - Episode 23 Discussion / Poll

[Nvis]

Kyoko looks good in that dress!

Inspector guy(Erika's brother?) = funny!

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by n120cky

BTW whose rank is higher Tatsuya or Kyouko?

Depending on which subs you watch from, Tatsuya is either just Lieutenant or Special Lieutenant. Kyouko is stated as 2nd Lieutenant from the current episode. Hence, Tatsuya is probably higher ranked, depending on what they mean by "Special".

[Ickarium]

Go ask the question in the questions thread and I'll answer. It's a little more complicated than whom outranks whom.

[Netto Azure]

Wow. It took 23 episodes for the grand spanking of the "ebul Great Asian Alliance" by the glorious nation of Nippon-ji to begin.

Anyways jokes aside it feels that some crucial decisions from the Japanese side this episode will help in the security front.

[risingstar3110]

Why Japan keep imaging about "a great Asian alliance" btw. There is more chance for Korea to willingly be colonised by Japan than the whole of East Asian joins force

[Ickarium]

Likely for the same reason in American fiction in the 80s, Russia often took over silly places. Because it's a useful method of having a strong enemy? Plus, it'd be difficult to judge how the world looks after a third horrible world war. Those often redefine political lines a great deal.

[Verisimilitude]

Originally Posted by Ickarium

Likely for the same reason in American fiction in the 80s, Russia often took over silly places. Because it's a useful method of having a strong enemy? Plus, it'd be difficult to judge how the world looks after a third horrible world war. Those often redefine political lines a great deal.

Well, it's a real life neighbour that I'm sure most Japanese readers can imagine as being an antagonist. It's not very different from Americans depicting Chinese/Russians/North Koreans as villians in novels or movies.

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

Why Japan keep imaging about "a great Asian alliance" btw. There is more chance for Korea to willingly be colonised by Japan than the whole of East Asian joins force

Well, let me start off by saying that this is fiction and an imagined future.

Secondly, when you mention the Great Asian Alliance, do you mean just the Great Union of Asia (which is China and Korea from episode 1 map), or both that and the League of South-East Asian Nations? So far, from what I can tell, it seems to be only the Great Union of Asia, unless it was mentioned somewhere where I missed.

If that is the case, then it is understandable why Japan keeps thinking that. The country of China has imperialistic tendencies for thousands of years, and even in the current day nations around it feel as if it is encroaching on its neighbors. Taiwan still has that fear everyday. The countries of south-east Asia has been mobilizing their military (sources from people I know in south-east Asia) in anticipation of self-defense from China. The current crisis in the islands from south-east Asia has the potential to escalate into a major international incident. So yeah, it is not hard to imagine this becoming a huge issue for Japan in the future.

As for the idea of Korea being willingly okay with Japan colonizing them, that is very unlikely to happen. From what I understand, there is still a lot of resentment in Korea about what Japan did in World War II.

As for the South-East Asian countries forming an alliance to become the League of South-East Asian Nations, it is still a possible idea. If China pushes them enough, those countries might band together. People tend to work together when there is a common threat.

Back to Mahouka world, if the League of South-East Asian Nations and the Great Union of Asia (sounds like a reference to the Soviet Union) ever join forces, I can't imagine Japan remaining by itself. Actually, what is confounding to me is that Japan is the only country in the Mahouka world to still remain unchanged.

[renuac]

Originally Posted by risingstar3110

Why Japan keep imaging about "a great Asian alliance" btw. There is more chance for Korea to willingly be colonised by Japan than the whole of East Asian joins force

Before the Korean war, no one expected that Korea would split in two. No one expected that, for all practical purposes, Russia would take over Eastern Europe after WW2. Entire countries (Belgium, Yugoslavia) have been established after wars.

Major conflicts do funny things to borders.

[n120cky]

Originally Posted by Ickarium

Go ask the question in the questions thread and I'll answer. It's a little more complicated than whom outranks whom.

Well I'll pass for now, I didn't expect it to be complicated...

[Kakurin]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

The country of China has imperialistic tendencies for thousands of years, and even in the current day nations around it feel as if it is encroaching on its neighbors. Taiwan still has that fear everyday. The countries of south-east Asia has been mobilizing their military (sources from people I know in south-east Asia) in anticipation of self-defense from China. The current crisis in the islands from south-east Asia has the potential to escalate into a major international incident. So yeah, it is not hard to imagine this becoming a huge issue for Japan in the future.

Let's stop here and not make some shaky to inaccurate claims in a fiction thread.

[LKK]

I agree, SigUp. Let's stop here. Also, let me quote a post made in LN/Manga section by relentlessflame regarding this subject.

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

*snip*

As you may know, some of the geo-political implications of Mahouka's fictional future have been the subject of some controversy to certain cultures due to historical tensions and on-going disputes. I do not in any way want to play down or diminish the importance of these conversations and the issues that may still be considered unresolved. However, AnimeSuki Forums cannot provide a suitable environment to have these important and delicate conversations, and they are likely to only result in prolonged flame wars for reasons that are very poorly understood by the vast majority of the user base here. I think that everyone should educate themselves about East Asian history and geo-politics to better understand and appreciate some of the viewpoints that continue to cause hurt to this day. However, the staff are not able to provide a context where these conversations can happen in a fair, balanced, and neutral way. Therefore, we are asking everyone to please remain focused on the story itself as a work of fiction, and to refrain from bringing "3D issues" into this "2D world", even if you may perceive that the author is doing the opposite. I know that is a lot to ask given the context, but in that case I would simply ask these conversations happen elsewhere on the Internet where they can hopefully be better controlled, managed, and moderated. I may consider posting links to off-site resources that provide a relatively fair and neutral covering of these issues in order to promote education, but please contact me if you have such a resource, and understand that the staff will continue to use our discretion to avoid starting these sorts of flame wars on this site.

Thank you for your understanding.

[thundrakkon]

Ok, LKK, I will refrain from commenting further on the subject as long as no one else downplays its significance. As relentlessflame did eloquently put it, it is a sensitive topic that the AnimeSuki base might not have sufficient understanding of. It is encouraged that people do try to find and understand the history and geo-politics of the area, as it could potentially have an effect on global consequences, especially concerning economics and businesses that people may run into.

[rladls2121]

Lu Gonghu, he is rather at most, more formidable than Blanche and Nohead Dragon.
He still does not give up, and escape for the next fight even after his loss on his second fight.
Comparing to Blanche and Nohead Dragon, this organization look more dangerous.
But, Tatsuya still has not become serious yet.

So to Tatsuya, Leonhart always being with Erika while schooltime is natural to him.
While Erika brushes off as just a mere training, she is really supporting Mikihiko and Mizuki to be close together.
To think Erika is not even considering pursuing forward her own love because she does not have one yet, but pushing others into loving.

But really, what did Kirihara or Hattori was it, who mentioned that there are too many foreigners in the building.
Isn't that just too much to be suspicous about, after all Thesis Competition is about, I forgot, but I think many foreigners would be interested in it because it involves magic combined with science.
It is more than alright to be suspicous, but this bad feeling I'm having, the meaning of what he said when there are too many foreigners.
I can't help but think of the word isolation.
I"m just overthinking though.

[Ultragunner]

^ it's true that many foreigner can be interested in the thesis, and although it's not really anything to be suspicious about, an unusual number always caught one'a attention. Not to mention the "malice" that Kirihara's gut is feeling

[Chosen_Hero]

Originally Posted by rladls2121

Lu Gonghu, he is rather at most, more formidable than Blanche and Nohead Dragon.
He still does not give up, and escape for the next fight even after his loss on his second fight.
Comparing to Blanche and Nohead Dragon, this organization look more dangerous.
But, Tatsuya still has not become serious yet.

So to Tatsuya, Leonhart always being with Erika while schooltime is natural to him.
While Erika brushes off as just a mere training, she is really supporting Mikihiko and Mizuki to be close together.
To think Erika is not even considering pursuing forward her own love because she does not have one yet, but pushing others into loving.

But really, what did Kirihara or Hattori was it, who mentioned that there are too many foreigners in the building.
Isn't that just too much to be suspicous about, after all Thesis Competition is about, I forgot, but I think many foreigners would be interested in it because it involves magic combined with science.
It is more than alright to be suspicous, but this bad feeling I'm having, the meaning of what he said when there are too many foreigners.
I can't help but think of the word isolation.
I"m just overthinking though.

Still doesn't change the fact he got beaten twice, by students, better yet by Mari, it says a lot when a character that barely has been seen doing anything can beat you in place of someone from Tatsuyas inner circle.

Well, she has reasons (won't mention or hint anything for obvious reasons) and besides who doesn't like to see Mikihiko and Mizuki together.

Considering how barren the world usally looks (seriously check past episodes, not a soul to be seen in the streets unless they are talking to Tatsuya or one of his friends) I also would be surprised and suspicious if people suddenly appeared.

[rladls2121]

But then it was only Lu Gonghu alone who was fighting, not along with groups of people.
Erika and Leonhart might not stand chance against him since these two merely surpassed that USNA agent, Jiro was it?
This time they knew more of who Shiba Tatsuya is.

The jealous males from the sports club I guess, they were disturbed to see these two together while the females are feeling so sweet about how these two are close.
Erika, I think she just wants to relieve her stress just like when she worked as a maid in a 9SC banquet, how she went hard on Mikihiko because she wants to forget about the pressure from her family.
In Thesis Competition, she ignored her big brother, Toshikazu?
Her problem is more serious than I thought.

Yes, the world settings is truly dark, no ordinary people in sight, are the minorities forbidden to walk around those grounds?
The "world" really has changed.
I don't think the characters in this series looked truly happy to me.

[Chosen_Hero]

Originally Posted by rladls2121

But then it was only Lu Gonghu alone who was fighting, not along with groups of people.
Erika and Leonhart might not stand chance against him since these two merely surpassed that USNA agent, Jiro was it?
This time they knew more of who Shiba Tatsuya is.

The jealous males from the sports club I guess, they were disturbed to see these two together while the females are feeling so sweet about how these two are close.
Erika, I think she just wants to relieve her stress just like when she worked as a maid in a 9SC banquet, how she went hard on Mikihiko because she wants to forget about the pressure from her family.
In Thesis Competition, she ignored her big brother, Toshikazu?
Her problem is more serious than I thought.

Yes, the world settings is truly dark, no ordinary people in sight, are the minorities forbidden to walk around those grounds?
The "world" really has changed.
I don't think the characters in this series looked truly happy to me.

Spoiler for not spoilers, just my reply:

Still Lu Gonhu is so famous they even have a name for him he is supposed to be one of the most dangerous assasins in the world takimg on a group (of students I might add) should be easy for someone like him but well, here we are. About that I'll leave it for after we see how things develop in the arc. No one ever knows about who Tatsuya Shiba is and those who get close to the truth is only by guess work.

Actually it wasn't well represent but they were just annoued that he wouldn't make a move (admittedly also because Miki is lucky) EVERYONE in that gym was trying to set them up.

She treats Mikihiko like that because he is like one of her brothers since they grew up together (you can see this durong 9SC), while she does do things to blow off steam there are reasons she does what she does, she is more complex than what we are led to believe (not a spoiler you can see this in her actions), she treats Toshikazu like that because he is kind of a slacker and doesn't take things seriously (although when something catches his eye his get serious) especially when it comes to the family (Erika is very prideful about her family and what they do, also supposed to have been mentioned by her in this season), one of the reasons omitted by the anime is that she trained Leo because he wants to be in law enforcement and Erikas family trains all of them, so when she saw he had potential she snatched him up as her student (as any smart sensei would) and to her he is both her student and friend so anything romantic between them doesn't exist (as she herself said) and trust me she is a serious sensei. Her family circumstances are... interesting (let's leave it at that).

All throughout the season you can catch small details that you would normally dismiss as something trivial, like how she treats people, in fact if you she treats Mikihiko like a little brother and Leo like she treats Toshikazu (she treats them like that but acknowledges their skills). Sadly many things have been downplayed (for many of the characters) so the anime leaves a few things out (if you want I can send some of them in a message to you, if you want of course). Pretty sure no ones noticed the rivalry between Erika and Miyuki.

Everything I mentioned is there throughout the season, all you have to do is connect the dots, there are less than the original source but they are there.

Nope that's just lazy animation, like in 9SC the crowd wasn't supposed to be full of students but the general public since that competition is supposed to be like the Olympics, people from all over coming to see them compete and the only students there would basically be those with familoes who are well connected, famous or have something to do with the 9SC itself (basically the clans). I expected the animation team to at least add some cars to the freeway or have people walking in the sudewalks, instead all we ever see are students or loke a handful of adults and no one else (which is creepy if you ask me).

[zerozeronine]

@ Chosen_Hero

Lu was defeated because he was facing Mayumi,whos has 10MC blood and Mari who is said to be as strong as her (they are,with Jumonji the top 3 strongest 3rd years in first High (maybe in the entire 9SC) shown in the 9SC arc,include Godsuya and he didn't really had a chance