Ai No Kusabi

[tarotgal]

Just got around to watching 'Ai No Kusabi'
I don't know exactly what I was expecting (Okay, yeah, so I was sort of expecting that part of it *BEG*) but ach! I'm crying now! I kept going back and forth between loving characters... and at the end... oh I could have died *sob*
What a sweet story. Yeah, sweet, you heard me. *sigh* And the sex was great :-) But man... *sniffle* so sad...
I was all ready to sit down and enjoy some good yaoi, which of course I did, but ohhhh... what characters... *sigh* I wish I knew Japanese and could read the book :-) *sniffle* Wow. I don't think I've ever watched anything where I bounced around on my opinions of the characters more though. Lovely. Sad and screwed up and squicked me at one point... but I actually really enjoyed it. Apart from crying at the end.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Would you be tempted to learn Japanese? I know a fair few people online who liked anime so much that they learnt Japanese so they could read/watch more of it! *l* And one friend from RL, who liked it so much that he now lives there (well... temporarily, anyway :o) I think knowing a second language would be so awesome! I'm going to learn Chinese next year, and it's pretty cool to think that all the squiggles on my textbooks will eventually mean something to me! OH... and in a Chinese bookstore, I saw the Chinese versions of Harry Potter and LotR! *l* I was SO tempted to buy them, even though I don't read a word of Chinese, and even though I have the english versions. There's just something special about being able to read them in a different language!

girlwithtulips

[tarotgal]

Which dialect of Chinese? My father took a semester of Mandarin back when he was in uni. One of my best friend's Korean and the other's half Chinese(Mandarin) and half Vietnamese so if I learned Japanese we'd all be able to talk and none of us would understand a word of the other but we'd have great coverage. LOL I'm actually developing a huge appreciation for the beauty of the Japanese language, though.

Sadly, horribly, tragically, I am no good with languages. I took 4 years of French in elementary school and 4 years in high school(in which I earned the worst grades I have ever received in my life no matter how much I worked at it) and all I remember is a handful of things I learned from my lessons in 1st and 2nd grade.

I would LOVE to learn another language... I think they're beautiful. And I think Americans are stupid as all heck for thinking the rest of the world should learn English to suit us when we trade, etc. when we don't learn a word of theirs. I simply can't imagine travelling abroad and NOT knowing the language there... I would love nothing more in life than to learn every language I could.
Unfortunately, I have absolutely no talent when it comes to languages. I just can't make my brain go from idea/object to word without going through English first. If I manage to say anything, it's because I've translated it from English to the other language in my brain. I'm decent in English because I recognize when something sounds wrong gramatically or looks wrong in spelling... but I have no ability to do that in other languages.

*sigh* I watch the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and Highlander and just WISH I could be so awesome as to know dozens of languages. But I've tried COUNTLESS times to learn some and failed each time... French, Spanish, Italian, Scotch Gaelic(ug, I own 3 books and a set of tapes for this failure), Irish Gaelic, Klingon(I own two tapes for this as well), Romanian, and I guess we could throw Sindarin in there, too, though I haven't really made an effort to learn it. I just... can't seem to get my brian to work right with them. I'm REALLY saddened by it.

BUT here's the kicker! My thesis is about translating an online interface into various languages... so I know everything there is to know about multi-lingual efforts and concepts and how to develop and rate accurate translations... I just can't do the translation myself! LOL

Actually... the first guy I ever had a crush on *BLUSH* was a huge Japanese anime fan. He won school awards for excelling in Japanese classes (they even had to make a special year 6 advanced class because he was so good) and he decided to learn it because of all the anime. It would be SO much easier if I could understand it... it's hard to watch and write at the same time because I have to listen, watch, and read the video at the same time as trying to write my own thing. I know maybe 5 Japanese words now, though. I'm thinking of taking up swearing in Japanese for the fun of it LOL

And as if this post isn't long enough... on the HP subject... oh I WISH I'd bought a copy of HP when I was in the UK just to have another edition... even though I already own 4 different versions of book 1...
I can COMPLETELY relate... nothing at all weird in my mind about wanting different versions! Especially when cover art is different and it looks different inside. I think accent marks are so pretty... wish English used some...

[(Anonymous)]

I'm going to learn Mandarin next year, because apparently more people speak it. It sounds *hard*, though! When I first decided to learn Chinese, I went and bought a book-and-tape set... and I've learnt the first chapter (out of like 30), and I can ask how someone is, ask them to sit down, ask if they'd like coffee or tea, say thank you, I don't like coffee and could I please have tea *l* All with an atrocious Australian accent! *g* But hopefully I'll get further than this with the proper classes. I find it *really* hard to get my mouth around the sounds - to me, that's harder than trying to remember the grammar. An hour of practice, and my tongue starts cramping! *l*

I think it sounds beautiful, though - and so does Japanese, and so do most languages. I did Japanese for a year when I was 13 - I remember more from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series than I do from class!

All the Europeans I know online speak multiple languages - at least their own language, plus english, plus usually a few others. I'm in awe of that - I'd love to be multilingual one day (but first I'd have to get past bilingual...), and I agree... UK and the US and Australia and other English-speaking countries should make more of an effort to learn other languages.

Having an interest in anime would make Japanese a lot easier to learn, though, because you'd be learning out of passion and interest, rather than out of necessity. It surprises me how much of Middle Earth's history I can remember, and how little of China's! And Japanese also seems to be a good language to learn for English speakers, because the sounds aren't radically different. I remember being grateful for that when I was learning! So if you had the time (that's the biggest problem, I think!), you'd probably be able to do well at it - and you'd have the best excuse ever for watching endless anime! *l*

girlwithtulips

[tarotgal]

LOL I wish I could... I've pretty much given up on languages though. I have SUCH a passion for them, but my brain just can't understand them without going through English first.

Oh, and add American sign language to the list of languages I tried to learn. I know the alphabet and a few basic signs (like toilet) so I could communicate if there's an emergency by spelling everything out. But I go SO slowly and have to translate in my head still. But if there's any need for the beginning of 'A Whole New World' from Aladdin in sign language, I can remember most of it from when I tried translating it my second year of high school but didn't get even halfway through. LOL I'm sure it will be helpful in an emergency.

Sound-wise, oh I completely agree with you about Chinese and such. That's a very hard thing for me as well. One of the reasons I tried to learn Gaelic was because I could pronounce the words so well! My favorite will always by Bonnie Prince Charlie's actual name- Tearlach(sounds like Charlie, but the little changes and inflections make it sound SO pretty to my ears... like the way Dougray Scott from Ever After talks... I could listen to him talk forever)
But, in the end, I just couldn't cram it all into my head and I'll have to settle for knowing just a few words. That which I did learn certainly helped loads when I went to write Gaelic dialogue in my novels, though.

I'm always so impressed at multi-lingual people... I wish you ALL the best of luck in your studies! Are you learning to speak it only or also read/write it? I'm not sure I could ever train my brain to recognize the details in so many different characters.

[(Anonymous)]

Languages - I'm listening to Viggo Mortensen read his poetry (LOL - *that* one just made me laugh out loud... I doubt it was meant to be funny, though!) and he has a few in Spanish - and I could just listen to those forever. I think Spanish has to be my favourite sounding language. I'd already decided to study Chinese when I went along to the information night at Uni (there's a semi-push here for people to learn Asian languages, seeing as how we're so close to Asia), but then the Spanish teacher started speaking in Spanish, and I nearly abandonned all my plans for Chinese, just because Spanish sounded so beautiful!

Just on the Viggo-readings... I think I have a problem with people reading things out to me. His poetry is nice, but his prose to music just makes me laugh. I don't know why! It sounds so ridiculous (to me) when prose is read out. It has... strange inflections. I feel bad at laughing at his work, too *l* But it's just too weird! And the songs? *lol* I think I should stop listening now! I like the poetry... just not the other stuff...

I tried learning sign language, too! *l* I got as far as a song from the movie "Babe" - "If I could sing a day for you, I'd make it a morning golden and blue..." But I don't remember any of it, now. I think sign language is a beautiful language, too, with all the movement.

Like you, I have to translate from English to the second language, and then from the second language back to English when I get a reply. It's slow work, but I'm hoping that with familiarity, I'll be able to skip the internal translating process. I'm learning to read and write as well as speak... I don't know how I'm going to begin to understand that. The thing that worries me most is that it's not a phonetic language - I can't just guess at how I think the words would sound! And believe me, I'm not sure I can remember all those characters, either. Thank you for the well-wishes! *l*

girlwithtulips

[tarotgal]

Spanish is growing on me, certainly. But my favorites to listen to are still Italian and Gaelic. Which are very different in sound, LOL, but both very interesting and beautiful in their own way to me. Oohh I could listen to the Godfather forever for the Italian...
But I can certainly see how learning an Asian language would be very beneficial since you're so close to them. Spanish is huge here for that reason. (My little sister's learning it in school, and my advisor's from Peurto Rico so I hear it a lot in my every-day life)

A lot of lyrics for japanese anime are written out phonetically. I've learned to sing a few of the songs from that, actually. I can now pick up on the common sounds that are unique to the language and things when I just listen to other songs. I think once you start in on Chinese it will be similar and you won't have as much problem talking. But you're right... reading wise with the characters it will be harder. But I'm sure there are tricks to memorizing and understanding.

[iff]

Oh, yum. Ai no Kusabi is quite possibly my favorite yaoi vid ever. The character designs are so gorgeous, several of the voices that they cast would make my panties go up in flames if they were to read the phone book to me, the world building was very well done, and every time I watch it I see something different that enhances the characters or the world.

I'm told that the novel actually goes in to a lot more detail on several things. Especially Riki's training. And some of the things I was told about that were rather squicky.

And I am one of those who got hooked on anime and started learning Japanese so that I could understand it without subtitles. I suck at languages (to put it nicely). I'm forcing myself to continue even though I have a horrid time remembering enough to be able speak (I can understand a lot more than I can speak), but I want to do this to prove to myself that I can since every other language I've gone anywhere near was something that a school said I had to try to learn. I've been going at it for just over a year now and, while I know a lot more than I did when I started, I don't know if I could manage even a children's book at the point where I am. Manga is my friend because at least I have the visual cues to help me out.

--iff

[tarotgal]

Well, there isn't exactly an overflowing of hard yaoi vids out there... but I'll certainly agree with you there- the concept is wonderful(I love all the details- which I suppose is only necessary since it came from a much more detailed book) and the actors are fantastic. I had read a few summaries so was already clear on the details and characters ahead of time, so I was really taken in by the rest of it(as it should be!). The visuals (even with the crappy copy I was watching) were gorgeous... I love the character designs and the light/dark plays throughout. I completely agree with you on their voices. Can we start a 'sexy seiyuu read the phone book' movement? *G*

I'm so impressed about the languages. It'd make things so much easier for me if I could understand them without having to read the subtitles all the time. I'm always amazed at the way fan's passions can push them into learning and understanding so much more about the world. I know there are about 30 subjects of culture and history I would never have spent days and weeks researching if they hadn't popped up in my favorite fandoms.

Thanks for the book info. I'd love to read the book for the details and background and such... and oohhh more of the training sounds lovely! But I do get squicked a lot easier than I'll admit when I really care about the characters. And I certainly care about these boys. Awwwww *sniffles* That ending still chokes me up just thinking about it.

[iff]

Well, there isn't exactly an overflowing
of hard yaoi vids out there...
True. Unfortunately. The studios over here are
starting to get a clue though. Level C came out
commercially earlier this year (although
they didn't do a very good job with it...no menu
and subtitles hard coded in to the DVD). Boku no
Sexual Harrassment is supposed to be coming out
soon (and I hope they do a better job with it).
If you can get your hands on ZetsuAi and Bronze
(which is overflowing with h/c...beautiful,
beautiful dysfunctional relationship and lots of
hurt and just enough comfort to make up for it
and...mmmmm), I highly recommend them (both still
only fansubbed). Nothing near the quantities of
hentai that are put out, but it's better than
nothing.

Can we start a 'sexy seiyuu read the phone
book' movement? *G*
Yes! Oh, hell yes! I've been gathering a seiyuu
harem for a few years now...I've lost count of
how many I've claimed as "mine". ^_^;;

I'm always amazed at the way fan's passions
can push them into learning and understanding so
much more about the world.
That's one of the many things I love about fandom
in general. We're always pushed in to learning
new things by our passion for what we're exposed
to, and it tends to make us so much more open
minded. After all, if we have no problems
learning about beings from Alpha Centauri, we
should have no problems learning about or dealing
with people from other parts of our own world, or
even people from just around the corner who are
different from us.

I'd love to read the book for the details and
background and such...
I'm told that it's actually out of print. One of
my friends tried to get her hands on it through
Sasuga and was told that it was so long out of
print that there was no chance of them getting a
copy. I've got a friend who is teaching in Japan
this year and I'm going to visit her around the
holidays and raid as many used bookstores as I
can in hopes of finding a copy. I doubt there
will be much that I can understand of it yet, but
I'll be working my way up to it.

That ending still chokes me up just thinking
about it.
Yes. I do have to get myself in to a very good
mood before watching it. Or in one of those
moods where I'm down and want to wallow in it...

[tarotgal]

About the lack of yaoi... True. Unfortunately. The studios over here are starting to get a clue though. *crosses fingers*

Level C- have not seen but it's on my list (I live in the boonies- it's so difficult for me to find anything LOL)

Boku no Sexual Harrassment- I'm looking forward to that... I've not been able to find a dubbed version but I haven't really looked hard. The bits I've seen/read have been good though *G*

If you can get your hands on ZetsuAi and Bronze (which is overflowing with h/c... beautiful, beautiful dysfunctional relationship and lots of hurt and just enough comfort to make up for it and...mmmmm), I highly recommend them (both still only fansubbed)
I've actually not heard of that... but I'll have to go on the lookout right away! You said the magic h/c words *G* heehee

Yes! Oh, hell yes! I've been gathering a seiyuu harem for a few years now...I've lost count of how many I've claimed as "mine". ^_^;;
heehee! Nothing at all wrong with that!!!

That's one of the many things I love about fandom in general. We're always pushed in to learning new things by our passion for what we're exposed to, and it tends to make us so much more open minded. After all, if we have no problems
learning about beings from Alpha Centauri, we
should have no problems learning about or dealing
with people from other parts of our own world, or
even people from just around the corner who are
different from us.
SO well said! And so very true :-) *claps in strong agreement*
It's also nice to see how many different sorts of people you can meet through fandoms, too. I've certainly gotten to know a lot of people in person and on the internet I wouldn't have known otherwise.

Yes. I do have to get myself in to a very good
mood before watching it. Or in one of those
moods where I'm down and want to wallow in it...
Yeah... I can definitely see that for my next viewing(s) Same sorts of moods I have to be in when watching Moulin Rouge.

[iff]

(Apologies on the formatting on the last comment...I really need to figure out how the editing tools work in lynx...)

I've seen "Level C" raw, but it wasn't the best copy. And about all I remember about it is the uke at one point asking the seme "What are you doing?" when they'd been going at it for a good long time already. *snicker* (My friends and I followed the line up with "Fucking an idiot.") I've only seen it in one of the video stores here, and they were asking $25 for the half hour OAV with no menu, no extras, and hardcoded subtitles...I don't think so...

I've also seen "Boku no..." raw, and can mostly figure out what's going on but can't understand much at all. I really can't wait to see it on DVD if only because my copy is an n-th generation tape and is pretty horrid looking.

"ZetsuAi" and "Bronze"...I got my copies from http://www.soyokazefans.com and they tend to have pretty good turnaround. (Go for the copies that are both OAVs on one tape instead of the ones with "The Song of the Wind in the Trees" and "ZetsuAi" on one tape and "Bronze" and "Cathexis" on the other. The one where it's split up is an older release of the sub and there were some changes in the script that made it much more accurate.)

It's also nice to see how many different sorts of people you can meet through fandoms, too. I've certainly gotten to know a lot of people in person and on the internet I wouldn't have known otherwise.
Oh, yes! I'd never thought that I'd go to a con halfway across the country just to meet people in person that I've known for years online. And I wouldn't be nearly as heavily involved in fandom as I am now if it hadn't been for the 'net.