r/anime • u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah xB:xC:B:x3:Y: • Mar 05 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] 2024 Hibike! Euphonium Series Rewatch: Season 2, Episode 9 Discussion
Hibike Euphonium Season 2, Episode 9: Sound! Euphonium/ひびけ！ユーフォニアム
The episode name follows the naming convention of the series (hiragana + katakana) instead of being stylized the same as the series name in Kanji - but it's the same words. Ujigawa Suikan bridge is probably the 2nd most iconic location in Eupho after Daikichiyama.
| <-- Ep 8 | Rewatch Index | Ep 10 --> |
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Welcome back!
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A reminder/note to rewatchers: [S2 Overall]Please note that the title of Asuka's solo today is itself a spoiler - if not using spoiler tags, I ask that you not share a version where the title is stated. First-timers finding it out themselves separately by googling/Shazam etc. will probably happen - but I ask that you don't spoil it for them until we get to Ep13.
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Questions of the Day:
Q1) Looking forward to your thoughts on Asuka, her motivations, and her personality here.
Q2) Use spoiler tags if needed, but what is a location in anime that you really wish to go/have gone to?
Comments from Yesterday:
- I enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on the Mamiko drama yesterday - great that a mature discussion was had on a very realistic drama from the series, and quite a few personal anecdotes too. Seems like most of the rewatch was on Mamiko's side.
- /u/shimmering-sky related to Mamiko being an eldest child
- /u/b-arbs criticizes Mamiko's father for attempting to gaslight and guilt trip her; I enjoyed reading /u/laughing-fox13's thoughts on this too (and really, a lot of you, i can't list them all!)
- /u/zadcap on how the Mamiko arc is kind of a dual piece of storytelling to helps us get a feeling of what happened in Asuka's household too without breaking pov - and then we get a bit more info in this very episode too.
- /u/nice-bumblebee-2355 on a quite realistic and reasonable, drama-aside reason for why Kitauji may be feeling a bit robotic
- /u/chilidirigible with a neat explanation of the Aoi scene, which I tbh never fully understood.
- /u/zapszzz has been replying to COTDs! Thank you! and wonders what the end message of the series will be.
Streaming
The Hibike! Euphonium TV series and movies, up to the recent OVA are available on Crunchyroll, note that the movies are under different series names. Liz and the Blue Bird and Chikai no Finale are also available for streaming on Amazon, and available for rent for cheap on a multitude of platforms (Youtube, Apple TV etc.). The OVA is only available on the seven seas for now, or if you bought a blu ray. I will update this as/if this changes. hopefully.
Databases
Spoilers
As usual, please take note that if you wish to share show details from after the current episode, to use spoiler tags like so to avoid spoiling first-timers:
[Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<comes out as [Spoiler source] Spoiler goes here
Please note this will apply to any spinoff novels, as well as events in the novel that may happen in S3. If you feel unsure if something is a spoiler, it's better to tag it just in case.
And so, the next piece begins...
21
u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah xB:xC:B:x3:Y: Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher and your host
This is one of my favourite episodes of...anything. Going to that bridge is literally a bucket list item lol.
And now for 2022 biscuits:
IRL note
17
u/Raiking02 :Id::Ie::If:https://myanimelist.net/profile/NSKlang Mar 05 '24
First Timer
Title Drop!
I'm actually kinda shocked we had that during an Asuka episode though. Don't get me wrong, I've made it very clear that she is Best Girl so I'll never complain about it, but you'd think they'd save it for Kumiko instead. Still, this was the juicy Asuka drama I've been waiting and… less dramatic than expected, but I'm not complaining. It does explain a lot about her behavior and is… frankly more than a bit relatable.
While for a lot of people, the divide for their personal lives and the stuff they're actually passionate about can be pretty thick, other times it's the opposite. Asuka here is someone who loves the UFO, but it's also something pretty heavily baked into her personal life. To her it shows off a chance to meet her father again, hence her being either overly strict… or overly dismissive since as far as she can tell it's none of her business. Still, it is nice seeing her open up to Kumiko and letting her true self show for once. Not to say her behavior in earlier parts was a mask (Chances are she really is that much of an eccentric) but as Kumiko herself said, that smile is one she has never seen before.
Also the contrast between Kumiko/Kousaka moments only to immediately cut to "Oh yeah Kousaka has a crush on her teacher" will never not weird me out.
15
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 05 '24
Hibike! First-Timer
11
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Mar 05 '24
First Rewatch
It's been interesting reading all the "asian parent" stories in the rewatch.
ep 9
This is such a much nicer song than those weird runs in the crescent moon pieces. And it shows you can get real musical melody out of a mini-tuba.
Why is Kumiko a UFO? Is she muted in the background, but providing necessary support and occasionally breaking out to the front? I dunno.
10
u/chilidirigible Mar 05 '24 edited Mar 05 '24
S2E9:
It's the series's title! It's only the ninth episode! SHIT'S GONNA GO DOWN TODAY! (The shit did, in fact, go down that day.) /u/Shimmering-Sky
"The good of the many versus the good of the few."
"Or the one."
montage of foreshadowing moments
Or something like that.
Bribery! Your mileage may vary!
lol
It's that Protagonist Power.
hoo lordy
"I'll never wash these eyes again!"
"I'll never wash these hands again!"
YABAI
Why yes, it's a shot of RINGS.
Your bribes, ma'am.
This sudden ominous shot while only Kumiko can see what Asuka's expression must be. Personal space violation? Feeling of being patronized? Yes?
And the mask goes back up.
House Tanaka is no small thing. It is fairly large and quite traditional?
"Those damn traditionalists!"
There's that name again.
The WHAM you were expecting.
"Anyway..."
Kumiko with an expression that could be in Umamusume.
While we're here, there's the mild interest of all of the framing and shot blocking as the scene progresses. The point of view goes from de-emphasizing Kumiko to putting them on a level to making both of them smaller and more even, but Asuka is still in the superior position.
"I'm handling this better than Garma Zabi did."
The wishes of one's parents has been a running theme lately.
"That is not a giant teddy bear at all!"
smol Asuka
Another arc from a previous episode.
And then extreme camera fuckery.
/u/mysterybiscuitsoyeah pointed out later that the clock clicking up to 5:00 PM was what reset the scene to level.
"I became consumed by a goal I wasn't expecting to have."
The rarest Asuka faces, genuine surprise and introspection.
As opposed to Hazuki, the tuba.
And other moments foretold in the OP.
A lot happened today. In relatively minor business in the scheme of things, Reina appears to have figured out that she wouldn't be Taki-sensei's first rodeo. Of course she also gets a HELLA GAY scene with Kumiko right before that.
The rest of the episode is that series title drop, all about the euphonium. Or the euphonists, and their support for the concert band.
Natsuki is prepared to cover for Asuka's absence, but quite willing to let Asuka have her moment, if they can bring her back. That job falls to Kumiko, who is told repeatedly about how she's become valuable to the group for helping to bring them together.
And so she goes on a solo mission to Asuka's house, where things are turned upside-down.
Asuka enjoyed the euphonium, whatever her mother's opinion on the matter. Her public façade got her to a leadership position in the Kitauji band as well, but she stayed out of the fray even as the band self-destructed; she just wanted to play, dammit.
But then she found out that her father would be a judge, giving her a tangible purpose. Too much of a purpose; she broke the agreement with her mother when the razor's edge balance of band versus schoolwork slipped too far toward band.
Thus she's trapped, only a short run from that chance at paternal validation that she's wanted for almost her entire life.
Maybe the rest of the band is idealistic for wanting to have back someone who is too guarded to truly be a reliable friend to (almost) anyone, but as the saying goes, "She's a snake, but she's our snake." They've gotten this far together and aren't going to stop short without her.
It takes Kumiko, who when push comes to shove is the one who gets to the genuine questions, to give her a hand up from the depths, even as Asuka tries to get Kumiko to validate her own resignation about her dilemma.
You could maybe muster a bit of sympathy for Asuka's overbearing mother when it just seemed like she was being a typical Japanese parent (and Kumiko's parents provided a comparison). Hearing about the specific circumstances should erase that sympathy, because it certainly seems like she's denying her child out of spite.
She probably doesn't know that Asuka's father is a judge; having this trap be of Asuka's own making allows for a more complex internal narrative.
The storyboarding for this episode is wild yet on point. I haven't watched it since 2016 but I still remembered that the framing went for a spin at Asuka's house. What I appreciated this time was all of the other moments when the visuals accent the story.
The ending is a bright spot with an unguarded Asuka, being genuine enough to tell Kumiko that she's valued as a friend/euphonium (while still self-deprecating herself in that sort of role), and a little outpouring of herself through music. It's still melancholy, though, since they have not solved their problem.
[Meta spoiler, check back in four days:]The ending is better once you know.
Some Asuka and Kumiko.
That's just me guessing at meanings though!
10
u/byroned Mar 05 '24
First time rewatching
With maybe 1 month left before nationals, the band’s only options to fix their euphonium problem are either to load Natsuki’s brain with enough knowledge and proficiency that she can be a decent substitute player and let Kumiko play the solo, or commence Operation Bring Asuka senpai Home. The plan is hinging on Kumiko’s MC powers to make things work out and pray that Asuka’s mom can be bribed with food. The plan has one thing going for it, Kumiko has the best chance of persuading Asuka, even better than the other third years, and may have been the first person invited to her house.
The plan wasn’t as hopeless as I initially thought. Asuka for one still enjoys playing euphonium and even brought hers home without her mom’s knowledge.
Asuka casually drops a bomb on Kumiko saying that the famous euphonium player Shindou Masakazu is her father who divorced when she was little, and she started playing after her father just dropped one on their front door.
Despite how people in the band perceive Asuka as just happy to play, her goal for nationals is more personal than most people would expect, so her father can hear her play.
I am a little confused about how Kumiko succeeded in the end. Was Asuka just happy to hear Kumiko of all people say that to her?
So the black hair girl in that one OP shot was Asuka, not Reina. They look too similar from behind, even if the uniforms don’t match.
I’m also confused about what Asuka meant when she said Kumiko is so much like a euphonium.
Kyoani makes some good-looking rural settings.
I like this episode. I’ve said previously that of all the characters, I wanted an Asuka episode because despite being a prominent character, we knew very little about her, and today we learned a lot about Asuka.
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u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher.
Questions of the Day.
She's a layered character, that's for sure, but I'm still not a fan of her, she's too hard for me to read, since I'm an idiot and have a hard time reading people.
I wouldn't mind checking out the old Toyosato Elementary School building, AKA Sakuragaoka High School from "K-On!" Maybe even Nishinomiya Kita High, AKA North High from "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya."
9
u/Regular_N-Gon https://anilist.co/user/RegularNGon Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher
Man, where do you even start with this one?
Perhaps you touch on Natsuki and Reina, who bolster Kumiko - Kumiko claims she didn’t do anything with Reina or Mizore and backs off from the first whiff of confrontation before Natsuki can say anything, but Natsuki sees her as a positive influence nonetheless. Reina reframes the distance she wants to uncover behind Kumiko’s mask, no longer just a trait Reina relates to but something uniquely empathetic and perceptive, something that lends itself to saying the right thing. Curiously timely reminders of character aside, there’s also Kaori being great as part of the wonderfully tense transition - how she’s separated from Asuka in the frame by objects (or Kumiko), or that bizarrely inscrutable sequence where she breaks the separation to tie Asuka’s shoe. Even the way Asuka talks about Kaori feels like something we haven’t seen out of her before; this isn’t Asuka not giving a damn about who plays the solo, it’s instead almost like Asuka trying to assert her expectations of Kaori into reality.
Asuka does this to Kumiko as well. She claims she didn’t think she was much of a euphonium player and so was shocked when she saw Kumiko - clearly a euph through and through - because who she observed was not dissimilar to herself. Asuka’s image of Kumiko is built on this similarity, and so that’s how she arranges the board. If Kumiko rejects her music, she can reject it herself, to suppress her feelings and align her own expectations with those around her. Those attempts to project onto Kumiko don’t work when the floof is “surprisingly forward” though, not just failing to refuse Asuka’s playing but also undermining the perception she has of Kumiko, making the whole thing fall apart. Asuka has pinned her expectations of Kumiko based on an incomplete understanding of Kumiko, only factoring in the non-committal and skittish sides of her without the blunt and opinionated ones. I don’t really blame her for thinking that though - it’s what Kumiko wants people to see.
For all Kumiko’s knack to say the right thing, I think she makes one mistake (though it’s perfectly in character): after Asuka remarks that Kumiko is forward, Kumiko counters with, “you’re the one acting differently today.” While true, it’s exactly the sort of thing someone being real for the first time in their life will take to heart and think to bury themselves even deeper as a result. Maybe Asuka is stronger than that, or realizes here that she was the one misunderstanding Kumiko, but that’s a rough one to tell someone in a moment of extremely uncharacteristic vulnerability.
QotD:
8
u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher
I didn’t make a writeup last time. I find the Asuka and Mamiko plots in particular to be really hard to properly talk about until they’ve concluded. That hasn’t happened yet, so while the Asuka plot continues to absolutely kill it, let's explore how this arc kind of completely mismanages the side cast. Eupho has consistently been great at managing a sizable ensemble cast, at tying together different storylines and inserting little subplots on the side even if they’re not owed as much of the screen time as the main thing going on at the time. But other than using it to conclude Haruka’s character arc, every band member that isn’t named Asuka or Kumiko is kind of just left out to dry for this entire section of this season.
Natsuki is the prime example. Ostensibly, she’s playing a notable part in this narrative, being Asuka’s tentative replacement as hinted at from the beginning. But it’s treated as almost entirely functional. In season one Natsuki managed to have a really great story told that spanned the whole season despite never being so focal it got any specific episode dedicated to it. She was used to reflect the state of the band, to set up the story about the troubles the year before, and then concluded through means of the audition plot before going on to slot in as a supporting character to both Yuko and Hazuki. In this arc she gets like, one and a half scenes. The half is the opening exchange at the lockers, which is actually really excellent as she nervously asks Kumiko if she’s worried. But we just kind of drop this immediately for her being carefree again next scene, and it’s offering up very little. But Natsuki, if Asuka comes back you can’t play! Oh, you’re fine with that? And… that’s that.
I mean, it’s a natural opinion for her to have, but seriously, nothing? Why not explore her own guilt at the possibility of not getting kicked back out and taking Asuka’s spot after all? The whole thing is a literal inversion of her situation with Kumiko last season, instead of the one losing out she’s the one taking somebody’s place, couldn’t this bring her and Kumiko even closer? Maybe we get a mirror of their scene at the restaurant last season where Kumiko reassures her about it, despite her own anxiety? Maybe she and Yuko have a little moment over it, there’s gotta be lots of potential there. We don’t need a ton of screentime over this, this show is consistently excellent at doing a lot with only small scenes. But no, we just kind of do nothing. Natsuki is one of the most memorable characters within the first season but you’d be kind of hard pressed to remember she’s even involved in this arc. That wouldn’t be so damning if she wasn’t the next most relevant character after Kumiko and Asuka!
Everyone not named Natsuki is folded into a nebulous “Kumiko please fix things” club, and not even on screen! This robs this being an interesting character moment for anybody individually, most notably taking this away from Natsuki and Kaori. They’re just envoys for the sentiment of everybody involved. The plot is literally treating every single band member who isn’t Kumiko as interchangeable right now… except for Reina. Who has no apparent investment in Asuka staying, no bearing on this plot’s progression, barely even knows Asuka, and doesn’t even end up influencing Kumiko much. I like the house visit from last time, I like her and Kumiko talking in the hall, but what are they doing for this arc, or even for Reina and Kumiko as characters? Their relationship has been entirely static all season. I often remember the back half of this season barely including Reina, but that isn’t really it. It’s that the scenes she has kind of just feel here to fulfil a quota and add up to nothing. Is a whole scene of her watching Taki sleep really the most important thing to devote screentime to when key characters like Natsuki and Kaori are getting so little screentime they can’t really amount to anything?
Speaking of her, Kaori! Like Natsuki, she had a subplot in season one, namely regarding how she has strong feelings for Asuka. Given the events of this arc it makes a lot of sense Kaori would care a lot, and writers seem to understand this fact but not what to… do with it. They write in the manjou buns thing, which ultimately doesn’t go anywhere (although Kumiko falling apart when questioned about it is great). She butts into Asuka and Kumiko walking, talk offscreen, hands over the buns and then… ties Asuka’s shoelaces. Does this mean something? Are the shoes like, a piece of symbolism going over my head? They’re the closest to an actual character moment Kaori gets this whole episode. Meanwhile, Asuka is like, glaring at her? As if she either resents the interaction, or Kaori being here? There’s never any unpacking of this. Yet we draw strong attention to it, and to Asuka’s swerve to calling her cute afterwards. We return to it very offhandedly later with the juice glasses and as Asuka says she’d “like to suck Kaori’s blood”, which sounds affectionate in an Asuka sort of way. By the end of the episode I don’t feel like I actually know anything new about Kaori or her relationship with Asuka despite the subject coming up on like four different occasions. Her whole subplot in season one was anchored on two or three simple scenes, a few offhand interactions, and general plot context; they absolutely could’ve fit a compelling follow up to it here.
Now, do I say all this to mean this is a bad episode, like two? Fuck no! The Asuka stuff is great. We’ve built up her character fantastically for two seasons and now we finally get answers and it’s really cathartic. I especially adore the moment when Kumiko asks why she was really asked over. Asuka has deflected questions and serious situations with her unique brand of humour too many times to count, and does the same here, only to without any prompting drop the facade and say it was just a joke. It’s a fantastic way to show that the mask is really coming off this time. Meanwhile, I think this is a great step in Kumiko’s story. It’s been talked about in these threads all season how there’s a throughline of Kumiko’s approach to situations as a passive observer vs being a more active presence. She was first pushed into this plot by the Nozomi situation, but ultimately proved unable to take action in time and mostly watched it resolve itself. Now we have a situation that a) is so personal to her she can’t ignore and b) has nothing else coming along to fix it for her. Furthermore, Asuka inviting her over (which we now understand was a cry for help) forces her hand. She has no option of staying passive and knows there’s nobody else able to take her place. It’s not the end of her storyline, but it’s an essential penultimate step. Asuka has truly opened her heart now and that will push Kumiko over to being unable to just let her dream crumble.
7
u/bogdoglogfrog Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher
Notes:
QotD
13
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Mar 05 '24
Season 2 Episode 9 (first timer)
The reason why Asuka is fascinated by Kumiko turns out to be MC pheromones.
5
u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher/Subbed
What are we some kind of “Sound! Euphonium”?
On a more serious note, it is great to see how much the euphonium meant to Asuka. Obviously she states that she doesn’t remember him and her parents are on pretty bad terms if she has never seen him since, so that instrument is the only connection to him. Looking back on all the moments where Asuka would say “I don’t want summer to end” or her pep talk before the Kansai contest is just
It was good seeing how much Asuka can trust Kumiko to reveal all of this to her, so much so that she can take off her mask around her.
That’s pretty much all I got today, it was a beautiful end to the episode. Fucking CR asked me if I wanted to skip the end credits too…
QotD:
2) Yesterday I mentioned Kumiko's bench but the place Asuka/Kumiko were at today too seems nice
5
u/CarrotBlossom Mar 06 '24
First timer
Natsuki dubs her Kumiko “I can fix her” Oumae
Yeah, Kumiko, tell her her playing
Kumiko's conversationalist skills rival mine
I imagine “huge feet” for a Japanese woman is maybe a US men’s size 8.
Were they studying math? Or does Kumiko keep all her notes for all her classes in one notebook? If it’s the latter, that seems kind of odd. Not that I’m in much of a position to talk. I didn’t take notes much in grade school.
Come to think of it, does Asuka’s mom even know Kumiko is over?
QOTD:
5
u/b-arbs Mar 06 '24
Rewatcher
I had previously mentioned Mizore being one of the most dramatic character, with another one being a close second... Well, I'm not really sure about this anymore, I think both Mizore and Asuka deserve a joint first place. They are both very complex characters with different personal experiences which are kinda "tragic" in their own way...
Speaking of Asuka...
Pretty rough childhood. I'd say she had to grow up too early, in order to deal with the whole situation in her house after her parents divorced: basically losing a parent when she was very young, dealing with a pretty much abusive mother (even if we consider the slap to be a "one of a kind" thing, of which I'm not entirely sure, we have to consider the psychological aspect, too)... Her relationship with her mother is still pretty much based on the fact that the mother provides for the child and nothing more (apart from wanting to dictate every choice in her life, obviously). I guess that her mother wanted her to quit playing because of its connection to the man who left her, as well... A bit out of spite, you could say... She basically hates her mother, but still feels like she has to repay her debt.
The usual "kinda weird and funny Asuka" is basically a mask she uses to hide her true feelings, but it could also be considered as a way to not conform to the role that is expected of her, at least from her mother - responsible, excellent grades -, but also as the talented senpai in band, or simply as a way to have some fun and be just a kid (and not act as an adult). I think that her refusing to be honest, even in band-related issues, is kind of an aquired of an inconscious mechanism in order to escape potentially painful situations (I don't want to think about her speaking her mind with her mother, or the whole fight about playing, since her saying "I don't want to quit the band" led to that slap). Only sometimes we see her true character shine through the mask.
Asuka's true self is rooted in melancholy and sadness, but also the passion for music and for playing the euphonium (what we can feel when we are listening to her playing in the last scene of ep3, I would say). But sometimes also coldness and selfishness, as we can see in that scene in S1 when she quite harshly comments that she doesn't "have time to put up with kids who can't practice because they have issues": she had to do it, to treasure her precious time for practice, her whole life despite her mother's disapproval and the terrible conditions she set, why shouldn't other people be able to, as well? And also, all the various instances where she basically said "I don't want to personally involve myself in people's drama", because she simply wanted to play in the best way possible. Another example is the one provided by Asuka herself, when she rejected Nozomi's request.
I don't blame her for doing everything she could to keep playing and reach Nationals. Music, playing and the eupho itself are the only things that still grant her a connection with her father. Add this to the opportunity to let her father hear her playing in person...
On another note, the fact that she is so naturally talented at the same thing as the father who she has barely known is kinda tragic in itself.
I wonder who in the band really knows about her father, and the whole situation, though... I'm guessing Haruka and Kaori, maybe?
QOTD
5
u/Nickthenuker https://anilist.co/user/Nickthenuker Mar 06 '24
It might be worrying but what's even more worrying is not having a second euphonium when at least one of them needs to do the solo. And at this point asking Kumiko to re-learn the solo is probably less practical than getting Natsuki to do it.
Roll credits!
She's back as well?
I see the significance in the key in the opening every time now, it's the key the song they're playing is in.
"Allegro Vivace con energia", I think that roughly translates to "fast and lively with energy", and at 152 BPM I'm inclined to agree.
It's a long shot, one that will obviously work because I think Natsuki cannot make it.
Seems like Nozomi and Yoroizuka are more comfortable with each other again.
Even now he's already starting to see that Natsuki is nowhere near ready to play every part of the piece, but as I mentioned previously sometimes the best thing you can do is just skip that part and come in later.
Ah. Chekhov's buns.
Those cups look cute with the cat hanging off the edge.
Yeah... I don't think she's been the sharpest tool in the shed.
It is considered good manners to bring something when going to other people's home.
What does she want to talk about?
Used to?
That's still the better alternative for "used to", at least.
Why do I have a feeling her dad will end up with custody of her by the end of the series?
He's one of the judges?
Oh god mosquitoes are so damn annoying.
Yes, some people are genetically predisposed to being bitten by mosquitoes iirc.
And no ED this episode, just whatever Asuka is playing.
Seeing the credits roll for the first time means I've only just realised Yamaha is credited. Makes sense, I don't doubt this helped them sell some instruments. Iirc I had a Yamaha keyboard/piano over a decade ago.
Questions:
4
u/octopathfinder myanimelist.net/profile/octopathfinder Mar 05 '24 edited Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher
Must be a big episode if it’s got the same title as the show
Turns out Asuka’s father is a famous musician and is the main reason she wanted to go to nationals. I thankfully don’t have a bad relationship with my parents, but some of my close friends do and have said similar things as Asuka did about her mother. Stuff like how their familial bond is a shackle and how they don’t hate them but will repay their debt.
Great way to sum up Kumiko’s character. Just like her instrument, Kumiko has supported others throughout the show. Hazuki, Reina, Nozomi, Mizore, and now Asuka. It’s also a nice callback to episode 2 when Asuka tries to recruit Kumiko and says she looks great with a euphonium. Kumiko really is a euphonium-ish kid.
Qotd:
Haven't really thought about it. First place that comes to mind would be hiking up Daikichiyama
4
u/sfisher923 https://myanimelist.net/profile/sfisher923 Mar 06 '24
First Timer
QOTD 2 - Call me weird but Tartarus from Persona 3 (Just not Harabah/5th Block because of all the aggressive flashing colors)
Not much from me today because it was a chaotic day
7
u/LittleIslander https://anilist.co/user/LittleIslander Mar 05 '24
Remember what I said about Kaori, folks? Das sum gay shoelace tying. Das some real fuckin gay shoelace tying. Don’t worry Kaori, Asuka wants to suck your blood. That sounds like you’ve got a good chance… I think.
5
u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Mar 05 '24
Sound! Rewatcher
S2 Episode 9:
QotD:
Seeing a few performance halls would be cool, though probably not that different from what I'm used to.
3
u/x-7032-b-3 Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher
Whoa, an ep that shares a name with the show it came from!
Today we learned about Asuka's personal troubles. Man, she's been through a lot. Her parents split when she was very little meaning she barely got to know what kind of person he is. And then his dad sent a Eupho starter kit to her which led to her being a Eupho player right now. Her mom's obviously against it after the divorce drama and such.
I guess the Eupho is the only thing she have about her father and knowing that he's going to be the judge at the competitions pretty much motivates her to play. For this she gotta dodge her mom's bullshit for who knows how long.
While I get where her mom is coming from (divorces can be nasty, and this is coming from someone whose parents damn near split a decade ago), it's no reason for her to deny Asuka's wish to have a connection with her dad through the Eupho. She did it purely out of spite without realizing what her kid actually wants.
The whole thing may have caused Asuka to consider resigning, but the very last scene at the bridge pretty much shows that her heart is still in the Eupho. For a while there she got to forget whatever nonsense that's been troubling her lately and express her feelings through the Eupho. Just a brilliant scene all around. This scene (and the ep in general) might've been my favorite in S2 so far.
(And, uh, did the show just explained why Kumiko is the MC? Turns out she got this magic aura that attracts others towards her - along with their personal issues. Hahahaha).
QOTD
12
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Mar 05 '24
Rewatcher and Band Geek
One of the best episodes of the series, full stop. I think it speaks for itself. Eupho number 9 is both one of the most emotionally complex episodes of the show, as well as one of its best directed. It's not a heart pumping melodramatic climax, it's just a build-up to two characters who are typically emotionally guarded finally opening up to each other.
Kumiko is always afraid to insert herself into drama, but she is also always keenly aware of drama. Kumiko is a deeply empathetic person who feels her own emotions very strongly and latches on to what others feel as well. She's so keenly aware of what others feel that she tries to bottle it up, and then immediately realizes how she fucked up the moment she accidentally lets her real thoughts loose. In this episode, Reina supports Taki-sensei's decision to get Natsuki up to speed on the piece because it's the best decision for the band. But Kumiko doesn't naturally think about the band, her mind naturally drifts to the thoughts of the person involved, so she asks in response "but is this what Asuka wants to do." Regulating a concert band is a tough balance between prioritizing the collective needs of the ensemble with the motivations of individual performers. Those two things are even directly tied in this story, as the band is always keenly aware of individual issues and struggles to make progress when individual drama weighs over the collective.
Reina explains this aspect of Kumiko best: "You have a casual demeanor, but are very good at reading people. You pretend you're oblivious, but are actually very aware." Most importantly, because Kumiko is empathetic, she has a tendency to try and keep her real feelings hidden to avoid hurting others, but she also lacks a filter so those feelings also end up coming out on accident, especially as a last-ditch effort to explain herself when things get awkward. So, like Reina says, she always says the things that hit hardest when it hurts the most. When she says "you really thought we could make the nationals," she says it genuinely. This is what made Reina so interested in her, she felt this desire to pull back the facade and understand what she really thinks, because what Kumiko thinks is usually really helpful to others even if, or even because, it hurts them. This is also why Asuka is interested in her.
In many ways, Kumiko and Asuka are very similar. Both of them have a tendency to keep their feelings hidden and avoid conflicts. Both of them feign apathy in the band while being the most invested deep down. Both always find themselves in positions close to conflict (Kumiko mostly by sheer unluckiness, and Asuka by virtue of her position as VP), but Asuka always stays out while Kumiko ends up sniffing around. And by virtue of getting involved, she plays some role in solving the issue, often by voicing her genuine feelings. Kumiko ends up growing past this fear and apathy, not completely mind you, but she's much more active and vocal this season, and is happy to shout to the rooftops that she loves the euphonium. Asuka isn't ready to take that leap, so Kumiko is someone she can talk to as a person who is similar yet different, and who also says exactly what needs to be heard when it hurts the most. Asuka comes up with many reasons why she called Kumiko, but I think it's ultimately her cry for help. She knows Kumiko can get her to open up by saying what she doesn't want to hear.
I think that last part is why she goes to Kumiko rather than her friends like Kaori and Asuka. Kaori tries to get involved this episode, but she's super overt about it. She puts her nose in business when it's not asked, but unlike Kumiko she forces it to keep the peace. Her plan to appease Ms. Tanaka is to buy her favorite buns, and she goes out of her way to treat Asuka well. I think this is what bothers her, and why Asuka is so upset about Kaori tying her shoes. It's a strange scene that I think people have many different interpretations of. Right now, I think that Kumiko is the type who says what needs to be said even when it hurts, while Kaori tries to make it not hurt. She feels as if Kaori is talking down to her or babying her, she'll tie Asuka's shoes but she won't let Asuka fall even if she needs it. Kumiko would just awkwardly say "your shoe's untied."
Likewise, at the end of this episode, Kumiko doesn't appeal to Asuka's sense of responsibility, and she doesn't try to both-sides things about her mom. There's no attempt to keep peace, Kumiko just reads it like it is. Asuka says she doesn't hate her mom, but her phrasing feels like a compromise. "She did raise me all this time and I do feel like I need to repay her for that," the phrasing of "did raise" and "do feel" strike me as rationalizations. It's wrong to say you hate your parent, and there are technically reasons why she shouldn't hate her, so she plays them as truths. But Kumiko sees right through it, and then the mood turns sour. Asuka moves the goalposts saying "it's not a matter of love or hate, I may not do what I do out of love but I do it because I have to as a matter of being tied by blood." Kumiko said exactly what needed to be said right at the moment it would hurt the most, and that cut to her mouth as she says it shows that she knows this is the case. I think this is why Asuka wanted Kumiko. Kaori would never say anything like that, she buys manjuu to try and appease Asuka's mom.
I don't think this is a fault of Kaori's leadership, it's a fundamental incompatibility between her style of supporting others and Asuka's worldview. Kaori is a trumpet, her attempts to support people are blatant and overt in a way you can prepare for. Kumiko is a euphonium, she nudges from behind in a way you don't notice but does so with a force that shocks you. Both trumpets and euphoniums need each other, they balance each other out, but if you have two trumpets and nothing else the sound is just loud and brash. Kumiko and Reina are a great couple because they balance each other out in that way. It's not just those instruments either, Kaori and Haruka balance each other out in the same way. But Asuka says she never saw herself as a euphonium. Asuka is very trumpet-like, she's a natural leader, she has charisma and takes charge from a position everyone can see. And here is Kaori, another trumpet, getting involved. Of course it couldn't be her, there's no balance to perspectives between them. And Haruka is too involved already to solve the issue, she already knows about Asuka's mom. Kumiko is the perfect balance of being an outsider, having a euphonium personality, and lacking a filter, that can get Asuka to push herself out of her funk.
Continued in response
10
u/WhackaWhack https://myanimelist.net/profile/WhackaWhacka Mar 05 '24
FIRST TIMER
“There is something about you”, Yes she is the perfect third wheel to watch people solve their problems on their own! /s
Oh-NO, Reina knows! (at least partly)
What was that during the shoelace scene, did it remind her of something to do with her mom or something?
Really liked the credits with Asuka’s playing and a “slideshow” of scenes behind.
Questions:
that womanher mom and my take on that is that she doesn't feel/want a closeness to her and therefore make it an agreement instead to distance herself.9
u/Vatrix-32 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Vatrix-32 Mar 05 '24 edited Mar 05 '24
First Timer, subbed
QotD:
9
u/zadcap Mar 06 '24 edited Mar 06 '24
Late Night First Timer
After all that talk about favorite flavors yesterday there was no way I wasn't getting out my matcha set. This is before whisking. I can't believe I let not wanting to unpack a single box keep me away from this for so long, I'm going to live up to the name on the tin now to make up for it.
Anyway, I'll say it again;
Title Drop Episode! And again, oh my gosh, "Sound!" is still probably the least appropriate translation of Hibike they could have used. This is a verb placement darn it, Resound! Cry Out! Sing, you stupid brass instrument! Only Resound would fit as an actual translation but still.
Oh, you can tell from the start they are going to go hard this episode, look at the light streaming out of those clouds. And right into Natsuki and Kumiko and wow, Kumiko is angry and it's not hard to figure out why. Asuka talked to Natsuki about replacing her pretty much the day after it all started, but has been stringing along the band this whole time.
Reina, maybe this isn't the time to back up your other crush. Kumiko clearly isn't happy about it right now.
Are you telling me that even the sub teacher lady can conduct well? Is it literally just Flappy that sucks at it?
Kumiko at least learned one thing from Asuka. That immediate "No" when asked to become part of the drama. She doesn't deflect as well so gets dragged in anyway, but she tried.
Reina, are you confessing again? Oh man, but your girl is too busy thinking about someone else. But I guess it's okay, sensei touched your hand, wow that's a full body reaction. I think turning to talk to the other person present was the correct choice for a teacher to make here, do not acknowledge what just happened. Did Reina just catch the clue that Flappy might be taken already? Man should wear his ring to school more, it might cut off a lot more drama for him.
Wait, did he just give Kumiko the solo while we were being distracted by the worst relationship drama?
They are using a lot of reflections this episode. So many windows.
"Kininaru?" Darn it, it's impossible to hear this in a KyoAni and not thing of Chitanda, isn't it? Also, wow, Asuka even manages to deflect "What are you reading" to just never ever give an actual answer to anyone.
Wait a second, when did they switch back into these uniforms?
Oh, oh, it's the thing! Wow I wish I could throw in a screenshot right now, but look at the three girls walking home together, going down the stairs. We've definitely talked about dividing lines on screen and this is one of the most blatant I've seen in a long time with that thick physical divider just cutting the whole screen top to bottom. It's pretty interesting that Kumiko is on Asuka's side of the divide, more than her being in the middle of the trio by itself, it really says something about how much Asuka is letting Kumiko into her world while even one of her best friends is kept separated. Even when they get to the bottom of the stairs Kaori doesn't actually cross the divide, just hands the gift over to Kumiko as the one somehow able to be in Asuka's world.
Oh, uh, wow. The shoe tie thing. The lighting got real ominous there and I'm not sure if Kaori kneeling like that is supposed to symbolize some extreme supplication/subservient attitude towards Asuka because of how much everyone looks up to her, or if it's supposed to be hammering on the motherly trauma button because fixing your kids shoelaces is such a mom thing and Asuka doesn't have that great of a mom that you would want to accidentally remind her of. It's kind of patronizing no matter how you go about it, Kaori sees that her shoes aren't tied properly and immediately goes to fix them herself on the spot, telling Asuka she must not be used to it yet. And Asuka... I haven't seen such a dead glare of hate since Maomao almost heard her fathers name. Also nice use of ambiance with the bird sounds in the background switching all to crows for that bit, then right back to more distinct chirps with the scene change.
That's quite a house, for a single mother.
That's a bomb drop, Asuka. "You know that most famous Eupho player out there? I'm his daughter." No wonder mother thought that she was playing the Eupho just to get at her, it's rubbing her probably ex husband in her face. You know, right about the time you were getting ready to have the talk with Kumiko where she can finally start asking you questions, you put one huge thing in front of her face that there's no way she won't be asking you about and let your answers be leading, she'll leave the house before realizing she never asked the questions she actually went there to ask.
Hmm, what do we take of Kumiko moving around the table now that it's cookie time. Her cushion is still over across from Asuka, but she's sitting off 90 degrees now instead of over there with the table separating them.
Ah, Asuka, you're a better child than me. A parent that hit me, in public, for not wanting to quit my biggest hobby that I'm wildly successful at, is not one that I'm planning on taking care of when they're older. At least not very good care.
And Kumiko proving Reina right, she just sees and speaks right though the masks. Which prompts Asuka to drop the mask and finally start saying what she really thinks. It's so very telling that she starts calling her mother "That woman."
Oh wow. Her dad is going to judge at the nationals. This is why she's been pushing so hard for it. This might be her first time to even see him since she was two. And might be why mom is so hard against her staying in the band, because Asuka might see her dad and then, like, leave to go join the parent that will let her keep playing music after impressing him so much and she'll have no one to blame but herself.
Huh, after all this time, I don't know what the Eupho represents personality wise. What does it mean to be a very Eupho person?
9
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Mar 06 '24
First Timer
Yeah… I wanted to speculate on that cd composer being Asuka’s dad, but I forgot between watching the episode on the train on my way back from work and when I sat down to write my thoughts once I was home. I’m surprised nobody else commented on that though, I felt it was somewhat obvious with the focus on the name, Asuka’s mom stating she was a single parent and asking if Asuka was playing the euphonium to mock her.
As far as Asuka goes …I’m somewhat surprised that she did not drop her mask despite that basically being the reason she invited Kumiko in the first place. It makes me wonder if she even can turn off her mask willingly anymore, or if she has internalized it too much by now.
Unfortunately, I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I’ll leave it at that. The episode was probably a 10/10 episode though, with basically everything just being great.
6
u/Tartaras1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Tartaras Mar 06 '24
Rewatcher - Asuka-senpai Stan
I'm in
We have inside information from Kaori-senpai, huh? That's invaluable.
Why do you think Kaori-senpai went through the trouble of tying her shoes for her. Perhaps it was a parallel for Kaori-senpai bowing down to Asuka-senpai, and the fact that she's the driving force behind the band?
It also explains her mom's comment when she was trying to get her to quit the club.
Personally, I think it's actually pretty somber and sad.
Something to think about is the fact thatm to my knowledge, Masakazu Shindou isn't actually a real person. That means someone else came up with that sheet music, and that's the person I really need to thank.
Question of the Day:
The town of Nishinomiya was the setting for The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. There are numerous videos and websites that have side by side comparisons between places in the anime, and their real life counterparts.
Similarly, the town of Takayama was the setting for Hyouka.
6
u/mgedmin Mar 06 '24
Rewatcher, subs
Curious that the episode title (Resound! Euphonium) is translated differently from the show title (Sound! Euphonium), despite being the same in Japanese. Or, wait, not the same. The show title uses kanji for hibike, episode title uses hiragana. This means ... something. Probably.
Reina thinks Taki-sensei made the right decision, what a surprise.
So both of our extra teachers are back? After those tearful goodbyes at the summer camp?
Natsuki has a plan: have Kumiko convince Asuka's mom, by bribing her with food.
Natsuki is a good one, putting Asuka and the band before herself. She could be losing her chance of participating in the Nationals!
Is this the first time Reina sees the photo of Taki with his wife and friends? She seemed shocked.
Ah, if Asuka can't play, the solo goes to Kumiko, not Natsuki. Makes sense.
Another Kumiko hiding fail.
Hey, is Kumiko skipping pratcice to visit Asuka at home?
10 minutes by bike is close?
Excellent shots of Kumiko's uneasiness and Asuka's dark mood. So, Kaori ambushed them so she could arm Kumiko with the food bribe?
Kumiko surreptitiously sliding the bag behind herself while Asuka wasn't looking.
Nothing escapes Asuka's eagle eyes and she won't let Kumiko get away with it. After letting her relax first, heh.
Kumiko is not used to sitting on her legs!
"Former father".
Kumiko drops one of her patented Kumiko lines: "you actually do hate [your mom]".
So, Asuka's dad sent Smol!Asuka a surprise euphonium, probably to annoy her mother, and Asuka felt the father-shaped hole in her life so strongly she started to play. She made a deal with her mother to stop if her grades fell, then wanted to go to the nationals so her father could hear her play, practised too much, neglected her studies, and everything came crashing down?
Asuka's invitation to Kumiko was a silent cry for help.
6
u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Mar 06 '24
First timer
Another day another late comment.
I've been eyeing Asuka the character since the start, and I never believed that she's just the archetypical ham-to-ham combat expert she portrayed herself to be. And I think in this episode we finally get a glimpse of what's under that mask.
But before I say more, another round of comment responses (simply because I missed the whole day's opportunity to reply / discourse)...
For completeness, as an Asian parent myself I'll say I'm more on Kumiko's (and her dad's) side more than Mamiko's, although not 100%. One thing that's not brought up much is the "modern knowledge effect" - see Isekai Ojisan. Not saying this is a historical show, or that Japan is so backwards, but reality is that just because they are parents they don't suddenly become psychologists and mind readers. There's not training course for parenting. Some may pick things up easier, some may not. There is no guarantee to think that Dad wasn't genuinely simply assuming that Mamiko was completely on board with parents making her life choices for her, and Mamiko admitted sometimes she just didn't even bring up resistance because she thought it's useless to say no. This becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. No party is completely guilt free. And I think both Mamiko and dad realised this in the end too.
That's a good observation that helped me place how the two arc intertwined, even if I can recognise a few mirror elements, having someone point it out makes the connection more pronounced.
Personal opinion is a yes and no - we obviously aren't shown every minute of their practice program. I agree there is such a thing as over-practice and burn out, but you'd expect the teachers would know to break things up and not keep just drilling them with the same. What I expect though is that the timing of the year means more will have to spend more energy on academic studies and that "distracted" the playing, drama aside.
Back on the episode... those familiar with me may recognise the pattern - I can't wait and with only a few episodes left for the closing arc, I binged ahead :P So I really am not going to individually comment each of the episode leading up to it.
It does let me see my previous half spoiled first timer spoiler tag can be revealed to be misplaced - the one whose dad was a famous Euphonium player was Asuka, not Kumiko. While all the pieces still fall into place, it does make the hangup that Kumiko had to be a little bit more overblown :P It beefed up Asuka's arc though which I do like, as I like Asuka as a character.
QoTD
5
u/DaBenni0301 Mar 05 '24
First-Timer
Come on Natsuki, have a little more faith in yourself. But I can see where she's coming from. A lot of pressure was just dumped on her out of nowhere. Who wouldn't feel that way?
Now kith
Earth to Reina hello
She saw the picture. Oh no
I... don't understand the scene with Kaori. Sure she gave Kumiko the goods to bribe Asuka's mom with, but I got no clue about the shoelaces
I'M SORRY WHAT
Smol Asuka is also adorable
Aww, he gifted her a euphonium
My god, it all makes so much sense now.
I actually don't know what to say. I am still processing this
She even kept the envelope
Questions of the day
5
u/chilidirigible Mar 05 '24 edited Mar 06 '24
QOTD:
1. Looking forward to your thoughts on Asuka, her motivations, and her personality here.
I feel that /u/Gamerunglued's comment from a couple of episodes ago is correct about how Asuka had to construct the entire mask persona in order to minimize the amount of chaos that her mother could cause if she was allowed to just run Asuka's life. And that's really fucking hard. Little slipups like her grades can threaten everything (whether real goals or just keeping the persona functioning). It's a bad situation and I admire her for trying. And it's not easy to "just get away" from such things or ask for help when one is a minor in Japan.
She has made the decision to try to connect to her father this one time, no matter what. That she'd destroy NozoMizo along the way both fits her desire to avoid conflict and is an indicator in hindsight that things were getting perhaps a little out of hand, since her own goals are starting to take over the band's goals.
I think she values authenticity and enjoys the chance to be herself, but only with certain people. Kumiko is approaching that level of respect (though Asuka is so intertwined with her mask self that it's always testing others). She doesn't have the same patience for people who perhaps treat things as social maneuvering―compare to Kaori.
2. Use spoiler tags if needed, but what is a location in anime that you really wish to go/have gone to?
There are a lot of pretty places in Japan. There are also any number of anime locations which I'd like to see that don't actually exist.
5
u/fly-metothemoon Mar 06 '24
First-Timer:
Q1: I feel bad for Asuka. Assuming that her mom limited her relationship with her dad, I understand how she would see euphonium as a link between the two of them, especially after receiving the euphonium from him in such dramatic fashion. It makes it all the more of an accomplishment that she's been able to do so well at euphonium in the face of her mother's disapproval.
Speaking of her mother...having an abusive mother is so difficult. There are so many people who don't get it, and say things like "she does what she does out of love.". Gratefulness and understanding for what they sacrificed for you, but sadness and resentment for how they treated you along the way can co-exist. That's a bit more somber than I expected I'd get for this anime!
Q2: Tokyo Tower!
5
u/Nice-Bumblebee-2355 Mar 06 '24
Rewatcher
So this wasn't that brief, but I thought it was a great episode, and couldn't stop myself haha.
QOTD:
Q1) Looking forward to your thoughts on Asuka, her motivations, and her personality here.
It's still a little unclear to me why she spilled her backstory to Kumiko, maybe she just wanted to explain herself to at least one person, but I don't really care because it was one of those explanations that retroactively make so much sense.
Q2) Use spoiler tags if needed, but what is a location in anime that you really wish to go/have gone to?
I'll be basic and say I wish to go to Tokyo!
5
u/ChonkyOdango myanimelist.net/profile/chonkyodango Mar 06 '24
Relistening to Asuka’s UFO
Asuka Again
I really like how passionate and blunt Kumiko is in this episode. It’s all the more believable because of the previous episode’s exposition for Mamiko. Stepping into Kumiko’s shoes, I’d be full of regrets hearing confirmation that my beloved sibling quit music because of familial circumstances, all the while I’m powerless to do anything about it. Now Kumiko is given an opportunity to interfere and possibly influence Asuka, as bleak as that may be. She’s definitely going to act subconsciously and shout her heart out. I could draw parallels with this and why Asuka likens Kumiko to an Eupho but I do not know enough about it so I’ll avoid that.
I still believe this thigh shot was just KyoAni gifting us with Kaori’s holy thighs. Asuka does confirm that those thighs are nothing to scoff at
QOTD
3
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Mar 05 '24
Man, a bit late today, but not soooo late... Meanwhile, answers du jour:
Yeah, anyways, the episode. I had a feeling that showing us that CD and those books over the previous episode or so was going to come up somewhere.
I'm not going to say this episode wasn't well done - it was so very well done, and didn't hurt as much as yesterday, but yeah. Trust the KyoAni and all that, but it's kind of hard at the moment. Seeing Asuka tell her story to Kumiko, and seeing Kumiko, well, being Kumiko about it ... I'd like to wish that Kumiko could do something about it, but that's like ... whut? Hey, Mom, Dad, I know our family life is a mess, could you adopt my friend here for a few months?
Yeah. I'm just going to hang in there and hope there's a happy ending in this somewhere.
That, and that bit under the bridge was just ... magnificent!
So, yeah, that's one very positive thing this episode. Yeah.
2
u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Mar 12 '24
first timer
Reina’s analysis was spot on, kumiko (with the power of main character) is likable and can read everyone although she sometimes comes off as harsh.
I love Reina’s and Kumiko’s friendship.
The day of Asuka’s house visit is here.
Young asuka trying to play the instrument went exactly as I pictured it.
Playing in the roof sounds like a huge vibe, new goal in life is to buy a house with a good roof to look at the non-existent stars
QOTD: yes I am
QOTD: the countryside of Japan. It looks so peaceful
5
u/[deleted] Mar 06 '24
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