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dangermousieI am now on vol. 3 of Hot Gimmick and am mightily surprised to find myself not loathing Ryo any more. (Though I still think Shinogu is the only decent guy in the story. Yeah, he is her brother but he is adopted. They should hook up). I still think Ryo is a bad boyfriend material, and if a car ran him over I wouldn't be all miserable, but he amuses me. I guess he isn't too bad. Why?
1. He is still bossy but Hatsumi doesn't do what he says. I don't mind bossy guys as long as it's not 'bossy guy/meek woman' dynamic. If she tells him to go to hell, I have no problem.
2. He keeps telling Hatsumi to grow a spine. Since I find myself wanting to yell that myself, this mellows me out.
3. Pushy and bossy but no mind games. And he won't have sex with her unless she's into it, which sadly, already puts him above her boyfriend (the scene where Hatsumi tells Ryo he can have sex with her, because it's all one to her, as that's all guys want anyway, and he blows up at her because 'he isn't like that' and there is no sex is good).
4. He rescued her from a gang rape (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
catdecember was right. This manga got a LOT weirder). Which while still not making him prime bf material does make me think that the car running over him should be a small one.
That last point brings me to something else, which is my utter bafflement at the attitude toward rape in manga. I am beginning to wonder about social attitudes and th penal codes of Japan. This isn't the first time I've seen heroine's virtue threatened, but there is no mention of threat of legal charges or anything. In fact, the wannabe perp never seems to be worried about getting caught. Heck, so far Fushigi Yuugi has the most realistic approach to rape and rape trauma and that is set in a freaking fantasy version of ancient China.
Why do I mention this? Well, because part of the plot goes like this. Azusa, Hatsumi's 'sweet' bf has in reality just been trying to get close to her to wreak revenge on her father, who he believes is responsible for his mother's death. He puts a roofie in her drink, but that particular plan goes nowhere because her brother sees her and takes her home. Later, Azusa gets her to come to his place. Luckily for her, she comes with Ryo (he sees her and insists on going along because he wants to tell Azusa to keep away from her. Jealous much?) In that apartment, there is a bunch of Azusa's model friends (between this, HYD and Peach Girl, I am beginning to think all male models are psychos. Note to self: if meet a male model in Japan, ruuun). They tell her that Azusa told them to basically gang bang her, and isn't it going to be fun for her virgin self. And they grab her, and restrain Ryo (sweet boys, they tell him he can watch if he's quiet). Then Azusa shows up and confirms the whole thing, and tells her about revenge and how he is going to videotape the gangbang thing. Hatsumi is on the bed and the guys are sort of all over her, videotape running, when Ryo manages to break free and grabs one of the guys who was holding him, and (in a pretty cool scene) demands the guys let her go, or else he is going to stab the guy with a pen in the face and 'it can be quite painful, and you are all models, aren't you?' What is even cooler, when Azusa goes to the abashed gang 'come on, he wouldn't,' Ryo pretty matter-of-factly stabs the guy and says 'other cheek is next.' Heh. And then the manager shows up, takes this whole scene in, horrified. Ryo tells her to fuck off, takes Hatsumi and leaves. Interesting, no?
Maybe, but what is more interesting is WHY IS NOBODY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RAPE CHARGES??? OK, what the heck did Azusa think he was doing? The whole point of this excercise was to show the videotape to Hatsumi's dad. That is freaking evidence (and Dad can testify too). Nor were they going to off Hatsumi after this whole thing was over. Not to mention Ryo was there, and he would have been a witness too. Fine, Asuza might want revenge enough not care about going to jail, but he doesn't even seem to think it's a possibility. And his model friends also don't seem to be worried about going to jail, and there isn't even revenge in it for them. Nor does Hatsumi or Ryo yell out something to the effect of 'stop. You want to go to jail?' etc. or threaten them with it later. And when Hatsumi meets Asuza's real gf later (btw, sorry, knowing your bf organized a gang rape that only got prevented by the fact that the girl brought someone along? Relationship breaker to me, but not to her apparently), and yet again, there is no mention that THE GUY WAS ENGAGING IN SERIOUS CRIME THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY JAIL TIME AND THANK YOU FOR NOT GOING TO THE POLICE. What bugs me is that no one seems to think that is even a possibility? Is rape not a crime in Japan? The hell?
Here's a list of other manga and anime I've seen dealing with the issue (this is by far the most extreme).
Other anime/manga:
Fushigi Yuugi: Yui and Miaka both believe they've been raped. This screws Yui up enough for her to attempt to slit her wrists and later join the bad side. Miaka ends up trying to basically scrub her skin off and it fucks up both her and Tamahome (her OTP) in a pretty bad way. The only really 'no problems with how this is handled' anime/manga I've come across so far.
Hana Yori Dango: In a romance novel cliche, Doumyouji loses control and starts popping off Tsukushi's buttons as she yells no. He stops with her clothes still on (all there has been is some kissing and a couple of buttons unbuttoned) and bolts. Sadly, pretty mild as far as this sort of story goes. Points for Tsukushi flipping about it and having flashbacks about it for ages, and this does put a crimp in his later attempts to be sweet to her. But. They meet at a party next day, and he is snotty to her, and she never retorts something to the effect of 'you are a wannabe rapist and be grateful I am not pressing charges, bub.'
Peach Girl: Momo is almost raped by Kairi's brother, who she knees and leaves. Why would Kairi's brother, who is a cold-blooded bastard but a smart guy, risk rape charges just to hurt his brother? Because he doesn't even seem to think there is any possibility of those. Also, Sae arranges for Momo to have sex with some guy (whom she tells Momo has been dying for him). Once again, no mention of fucking jail time for something like this, once Kairi and Touji burst in and rescue the girl.
Mars: Kira has been sexually abused when much younger by her stepfather. Points for having her be severely screwed up by it. Points for her bashing him over the head. Points for Rei (her bf) almost killing the guy when he got his hands on him. However, once stepfather decides to press charges against Rei, why doesn't anyone mention to stepfather that if he does that, the rape thing will come out. Once again, it's Kira and Rei against the world, as if there is no legal recourse at all in this world.
1. He is still bossy but Hatsumi doesn't do what he says. I don't mind bossy guys as long as it's not 'bossy guy/meek woman' dynamic. If she tells him to go to hell, I have no problem.
2. He keeps telling Hatsumi to grow a spine. Since I find myself wanting to yell that myself, this mellows me out.
3. Pushy and bossy but no mind games. And he won't have sex with her unless she's into it, which sadly, already puts him above her boyfriend (the scene where Hatsumi tells Ryo he can have sex with her, because it's all one to her, as that's all guys want anyway, and he blows up at her because 'he isn't like that' and there is no sex is good).
4. He rescued her from a gang rape (
catdecember was right. This manga got a LOT weirder). Which while still not making him prime bf material does make me think that the car running over him should be a small one. That last point brings me to something else, which is my utter bafflement at the attitude toward rape in manga. I am beginning to wonder about social attitudes and th penal codes of Japan. This isn't the first time I've seen heroine's virtue threatened, but there is no mention of threat of legal charges or anything. In fact, the wannabe perp never seems to be worried about getting caught. Heck, so far Fushigi Yuugi has the most realistic approach to rape and rape trauma and that is set in a freaking fantasy version of ancient China.
Why do I mention this? Well, because part of the plot goes like this. Azusa, Hatsumi's 'sweet' bf has in reality just been trying to get close to her to wreak revenge on her father, who he believes is responsible for his mother's death. He puts a roofie in her drink, but that particular plan goes nowhere because her brother sees her and takes her home. Later, Azusa gets her to come to his place. Luckily for her, she comes with Ryo (he sees her and insists on going along because he wants to tell Azusa to keep away from her. Jealous much?) In that apartment, there is a bunch of Azusa's model friends (between this, HYD and Peach Girl, I am beginning to think all male models are psychos. Note to self: if meet a male model in Japan, ruuun). They tell her that Azusa told them to basically gang bang her, and isn't it going to be fun for her virgin self. And they grab her, and restrain Ryo (sweet boys, they tell him he can watch if he's quiet). Then Azusa shows up and confirms the whole thing, and tells her about revenge and how he is going to videotape the gangbang thing. Hatsumi is on the bed and the guys are sort of all over her, videotape running, when Ryo manages to break free and grabs one of the guys who was holding him, and (in a pretty cool scene) demands the guys let her go, or else he is going to stab the guy with a pen in the face and 'it can be quite painful, and you are all models, aren't you?' What is even cooler, when Azusa goes to the abashed gang 'come on, he wouldn't,' Ryo pretty matter-of-factly stabs the guy and says 'other cheek is next.' Heh. And then the manager shows up, takes this whole scene in, horrified. Ryo tells her to fuck off, takes Hatsumi and leaves. Interesting, no?
Maybe, but what is more interesting is WHY IS NOBODY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RAPE CHARGES??? OK, what the heck did Azusa think he was doing? The whole point of this excercise was to show the videotape to Hatsumi's dad. That is freaking evidence (and Dad can testify too). Nor were they going to off Hatsumi after this whole thing was over. Not to mention Ryo was there, and he would have been a witness too. Fine, Asuza might want revenge enough not care about going to jail, but he doesn't even seem to think it's a possibility. And his model friends also don't seem to be worried about going to jail, and there isn't even revenge in it for them. Nor does Hatsumi or Ryo yell out something to the effect of 'stop. You want to go to jail?' etc. or threaten them with it later. And when Hatsumi meets Asuza's real gf later (btw, sorry, knowing your bf organized a gang rape that only got prevented by the fact that the girl brought someone along? Relationship breaker to me, but not to her apparently), and yet again, there is no mention that THE GUY WAS ENGAGING IN SERIOUS CRIME THAT IS PUNISHABLE BY JAIL TIME AND THANK YOU FOR NOT GOING TO THE POLICE. What bugs me is that no one seems to think that is even a possibility? Is rape not a crime in Japan? The hell?
Here's a list of other manga and anime I've seen dealing with the issue (this is by far the most extreme).
Other anime/manga:
Fushigi Yuugi: Yui and Miaka both believe they've been raped. This screws Yui up enough for her to attempt to slit her wrists and later join the bad side. Miaka ends up trying to basically scrub her skin off and it fucks up both her and Tamahome (her OTP) in a pretty bad way. The only really 'no problems with how this is handled' anime/manga I've come across so far.
Hana Yori Dango: In a romance novel cliche, Doumyouji loses control and starts popping off Tsukushi's buttons as she yells no. He stops with her clothes still on (all there has been is some kissing and a couple of buttons unbuttoned) and bolts. Sadly, pretty mild as far as this sort of story goes. Points for Tsukushi flipping about it and having flashbacks about it for ages, and this does put a crimp in his later attempts to be sweet to her. But. They meet at a party next day, and he is snotty to her, and she never retorts something to the effect of 'you are a wannabe rapist and be grateful I am not pressing charges, bub.'
Peach Girl: Momo is almost raped by Kairi's brother, who she knees and leaves. Why would Kairi's brother, who is a cold-blooded bastard but a smart guy, risk rape charges just to hurt his brother? Because he doesn't even seem to think there is any possibility of those. Also, Sae arranges for Momo to have sex with some guy (whom she tells Momo has been dying for him). Once again, no mention of fucking jail time for something like this, once Kairi and Touji burst in and rescue the girl.
Mars: Kira has been sexually abused when much younger by her stepfather. Points for having her be severely screwed up by it. Points for her bashing him over the head. Points for Rei (her bf) almost killing the guy when he got his hands on him. However, once stepfather decides to press charges against Rei, why doesn't anyone mention to stepfather that if he does that, the rape thing will come out. Once again, it's Kira and Rei against the world, as if there is no legal recourse at all in this world.
