This is one of my favorite mangas. Every so often, I remember it and come back to it. Every time I do, new feelings arise from it. This is the first time I write about it.
Takezou is the type of character I tend to dislike when I encounter them because they are so weak and spindly without any sort of pushback, without any resistance on their part. I remember how much it upset me that he immediately was afraid of Shinobu, and how pathetic the author portrayed him. Eventually, though, we find out he's not pathetic. He's strong, and brave until the end. Japanese authors tend to portray this type of character extremely well and Take is no exception. Able to understand the feelings for his brother very early on, he bravely decided to stick around a love he knew he couldn't possibly pursue, and then, when given the possibility to act upon it, he's courageous enough to take advantage of that. Later on, when his brother succumbs to his repressed desires, Take is still strong enough to keep half of his emotions concealed to comply with their carnal feelings. To me, it's brilliantly written in the sense that, through his "weakness", we see how much effort he's actually able to exert.
And then there's Shino. I like his design a lot because he's very flawed. Infinitely confused and stubborn, he couldn't fight back the draw towards that insufferable, frightened brother of his. But then we see that it's not Take being afraid of Shino, but the other way around. How do we see Shino being afraid of Take, as he claims in his letter? At first, it felt like a "he forced me into it", but it's not that. To me, he meant that he was afraid of the pull Take had on him. "What did you think of me? -Nothing much." Not only was he concerned that his father wanted Take, but that he himself would also want the child. Of course, at that age, he couldn't possibly have the feelings he ends up having, but it called my attention to the fact that once they're having dinner, he brings it up. It's like his secret moments with Take, the ones we don't get to see.
The son, to me, is nothing more than a tool to conduct the plot, but there's no real meaning to him in the story. He pushes Take's desires, yes, but we don't need to see the depravity with his father. Someone else commented that, in the end, that's why its called the inheritance of aroma, but it feels a bit unnecessary, though interesting to follow up on.
This is one of my favorite mangas. Every so often, I remember it and come back to it. Every time I do, new feelings arise from it. This is the first time I write about it.
Takezou is the type of character I tend to dislike when I encounter them because they are so weak and spindly without any sort of pushback, without any resistance on their part. I remember how much it upset me that he immediately was afraid of Shinobu, and how pathetic the author portrayed him. Eventually, though, we find out he's not pathetic. He's strong, and brave until the end. Japanese authors tend to portray this type of character extremely well and Take is no exception. Able to understand the feelings for his brother very early on, he bravely decided to stick around a love he knew he couldn't possibly pursue, and then, when given the possibility to act upon it, he's courageous enough to take advantage of that. Later on, when his brother succumbs to his repressed desires, Take is still strong enough to keep half of his emotions concealed to comply with their carnal feelings. To me, it's brilliantly written in the sense that, through his "weakness", we see how much effort he's actually able to exert.
And then there's Shino. I like his design a lot because he's very flawed. Infinitely confused and stubborn, he couldn't fight back the draw towards that insufferable, frightened brother of his. But then we see that it's not Take being afraid of Shino, but the other way around. How do we see Shino being afraid of Take, as he claims in his letter? At first, it felt like a "he forced me into it", but it's not that. To me, he meant that he was afraid of the pull Take had on him. "What did you think of me? -Nothing much." Not only was he concerned that his father wanted Take, but that he himself would also want the child. Of course, at that age, he couldn't possibly have the feelings he ends up having, but it called my attention to the fact that once they're having dinner, he brings it up. It's like his secret moments with Take, the ones we don't get to see.
The son, to me, is nothing more than a tool to conduct the plot, but there's no real meaning to him in the story. He pushes Take's desires, yes, but we don't need to see the depravity with his father. Someone else commented that, in the end, that's why its called the inheritance of aroma, but it feels a bit unnecessary, though interesting to follow up on.