Shinjuku Swan Chapter 33 Discussion

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Jun 15, 2016 9:11 PM

Stark700

Offline

Nov 2011

131172

THIS IS A MANGA ONLY DISCUSSION POST. DO NOT DISCUSS ANYTHING BEYOND THIS CHAPTER.
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What a dirty world, damn.

I don't think this fight will last too long at this rate especially with those bare knuckle knockouts.

Apr 22, 2019 2:08 AM

gfsdfgsdgsdfgs

Offline

Jun 2016

3391

I reread last chapter and I had some legitimate sympathy for Hideyoshi. I noticed that the panel where Tatsuhiko asked him how much he has to make people suffer got to him and then he rationalized it by calling people weak. Then of course he seemed to call out to Tatsuhiko in a brief moment to let him see a look inside comparing the gap to the line he can't return from anymore, which led to Tatsuhiko immediately thinking about it and making the jump to spite that idea, to prove that EVEN if it's as bad as this gap there is a way back. It's endearing and amazing and stupid and great and it's a phenomenal moment in my opinion, especially with his scream before his cool landing. It made me connect it to something else. To when he saw his former coworker that they wanted off the streets, he punched him out, intimidated him, and threatened him. He told him as long as he's on these streets he will be hunted by him. Yet at the end of that scary confrontation he gave some wisdom which he clearly lives by, face the consequences of your actions, no matter what happens it can get better. And it made me think that if Hideyoshi faces the reality of what he's done that maybe Tatsuhiko would put up a smile after all that's happened and take a beating for Hideyoshi too. I could be super wrong about my reading on Hideyoshi but these chapters helped me see the soft side of him that Yousuke seems to know well...

This chapter even made me laugh incredibly hard. The moment that got me was how Hideyoshi could not believe how stupid Tatsuhiko had to be to make that jump, it was like he defied reality and logic to prove a point and reach him. "Did this idiot really not think about what would happen if he fell?!". And then how he told Tatsuhiko the, in his mind, far more reasonable plan to rise to the top and Tatsuhiko, the idiot who just jumped a building without a second's hesitation, responds "Are you an idiot?" while picking his ear. Now that must burn. Really, I see a lot of similarities to Luffy in Tatsuhiko and this was another big one, the ability to do something absolutely outrageous, something that goes against all logic because it's what they believe in, and the ability to call someone stupid in the next moment while picking their ear(or in Luffy's case nose). Tatsuhiko always reminds me of this but he has other restraints that dictates how he act, normally he cannot take on a group of people like when Yuka was beat, he cannot go against executive order, he cannot stop the impossible, but he still tries his hardest to do what he believes and this was one of those times where there was nothing in his way.

However, that sympathy I initially mentioned vanished in rage when Hideyoshi said what he did to Tatsuhiko. Partly due to the truth of it. No matter how hard Tatsuhiko has tried he hasn't saved a single woman, they've been beaten, taken away, or it's been too late for them. More than that he follows orders by those who run this industry and he helps fuel it. So Hideyoshi wanted to equate them as the same thing, it doesn't matter the means when you're in this world you're just as bad as everyone else. And I have wondered, is Tatsuhiko in the right here when he's forced to stand by and see people humiliated, tortured, and sent off to their death? When he puts girls into this system? When he sees minors taken to prostitution before his eyes? Well, I think it's never that simple and I think that's a major theme of this manga as Yuka put it with her comment about the yakuza she takes care of. Perhaps Tatsuhiko can do far more good from inside than he could outside, even without rising the ranks and changing order he really made a connection and a meaningful impact of Mayaya, he brightened the day and gave friendship to Yuka, he stopped that minor from being needlessly beaten, he proved to Ageha that the world isn't necessarily horrible and evil. He made meaningful impacts on these people whether or not the end result was 'saving them'. So, following the themes I've picked up on and the positive impact he's had in the world I do think he's doing more good than he would otherwise... Yet that is still a prominent question, can there be a good person in a flawed, awful system? Especially when like Hideyoshi said, he's also contributing to it and ultimately not saving them.

Anyways, the specific thing that made me lose all sympathy for him in the moment was how much of a weasel he is. His backs against the wall so he asks Tatsuhiko to join him, when Tatsuhiko points out how ridiculous he's being, Hideyoshi mocks him for killing Ageha, insults her, and adds in he's not only the one who essentially drugged her but he's abused her sexually himself. It was petty and disgusting to say and do that. Underneath everything Hideyoshi may be asking for help, and it may be sad that he views the world as a dog eat dog place with no room for kindness or hope, but after being that disgusting that immaculate beating he got was so nice. It also showcased more of that scary side Tatsuhiko has. If the person faces the consequences of their actions, or if he thinks they deserve someone to fight for them he will, but if they cross that line of his, well according to him in the past, "he'll kill them".

I wrote a lot this time wow... I love this manga. :)

Wow, I can't believe I described the beating he got as being nice at this point. When I go back I find it purely sad and grotesque. Anyways, I thought thematically about this series and about this scene and chapter in particular and thought it'd be best to skip to this chapter to unload my thoughts, as I am currently reading through this again I am only actually on chapter 13 as of this time. Be warned this thematic breakdown spoils about everything but simply uses this chapter as a jumping off point.

Tatsuhiko calling Hideyoshi an idiot after jumping a building to tell him that things can get better is such a literal way to show the difference between them. Hideyoshi, characterized as being rash and forceful and insecure, feels there is no way to be the kind of person he wants to be in the brutal world he exists in. The only thing that makes sense to him is to make this “his way”, to decide the kind of strength of willpower to be trusting and caring and strong for his beliefs is impossible. It’s why I think he throws everything away and rushes into a shallow grave, it’s also why he idolizes Tatsuhiko in such a warped way. His moments of deep sadness we get brief glimpses and the way he tries to explain himself to Tatsuhiko truly come off to me as him not liking what he’s become at all. That this is the sad reality that he felt the need to turn to.

On the other hand, instead of morphing due to his environment, Tatsuhiko challenges the scouting system that deceives girls, with Ageha telling her that because he is a scout he sees her as a human or by refusing to lie like Inukai wants for some easy cash and challenging him. He challenges Hideyoshi’s and the earlier Burst scout’s belief that there is no turning back, taking punishment with the latter and jumping the building for the former to show them it’s possible. Even later, he takes Hideyoshi’s spirit with him and sees that kind of pain in other people, rather than hurting them he reaches out to them before it’s too late like Kaede, something he couldn’t do with Hideyoshi. Rather than letting a girl and a friend get killed or later with Mayumi akin to the minor taken by the yakuza, he goes and bleeds for them, putting his life on the line. His way is one that never says “the man I want to be doesn’t work in this world” instead he says “I was too weak” and he takes his misery with him to grow from it. Physically and precautiously.

We’ve already seen this with Yamashiro losing his way, later I think we see it with Inukai, Kaede and many more. Specifically in the Yamikin arc, I think Ushio is spiteful over seeing a young person seem to exist in the world without being corrupted by it, it’s something he wanted himself but wasn’t strong enough for. In that lens, despite me not liking him the first time around, I am eager to read the Yamikin arc again. Thematically he feels like a great villain now that I’ve given Shinjuku Swan this thought.

To go back to the beginning, to jump that building is in the most pure sense Tatuhiko’s way. To refuse accepting “how things are” or “have to be” and challenging them with his all. It’s never easy and the constant beatdowns make it hard, the Yamikin arc nearly crushed him if not for Yuka. But he can do it. And he can be the man who he wants to be, a man he can be proud of. A man that does not warp but stands resolute for what he believes in. The “are you an idiot?” line after Hideyoshi’s spiel shows how strong Tatsuhiko really is. It is nonsensical or idiotic to him as to not challenge the way things are, to become a person you don’t respect.

gfsdfgsdgsdfgsDec 30, 2019 2:45 AM

Jun 18, 2021 2:08 AM

Keyaru6

Offline

Nov 2019

162

bruh why did he even bother to fuck her 3 times if it's loose might as well jerk off it's better like wtf??? anyways the main character thinks he's a superhero or smth no one is that nice except in anime/manga/LNS/WHATEVER LMAO

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