ATTENTION (SPOILERS AHEAD!): This post assumes the reader is familiar with the manga called Genshiken and Genshiken Nidaime by Shimoku Kio and published in the US by Kodansha. If you don't want to be spoiled for any part of the series, do not continue reading! For those interested in finding out more about this excellent seinen manga about college "otaku" life, go . All images are property of their original rights holders and are used here for editorial purposes only.
(My promised Hyouka essay is on hold until I get around to rewatching the series. I want it fresh in my mind before launching into a long diatribe.)
Introduction
After getting hooked on the anime version of Genshiken, I went out and got the Kodansha omnibus editions of the manga in order to delve deeper into the story and characters. The original manga is both richer and subtler than the television series, not unexpectedly. For the most part, the essential story is the same, but it's the subtle nuggets which stand out and raise more questions. What I really admire from the style of writing that this story exhibits is something I call " illusive transparency" though there may be much better words to describe this concept--such as neorealism. I'm not going to take the time to research a better term so I will just leave it as neorealism for the most part.
Essentially, the author presents the characters and events in a way that seems simple and obvious, but upon closer review hint at other interesting meanings if you are willing to pay attention to them. Shimoku Kio is no slouch in this department, weaving a story of characters over a long time period that allows them to grow in interesting ways that end up in some surprising places.
Kousaka and Kasukabe...awww!
The primary example of this is the relationship of the longest running couple in the series, that of Kasukabe and Kousaka. On the surface, they are like some kind of magazine couple, perfectly matched in appearance, tons of PDA and and numerous (sometimes verbally graphic) hints of a mature adult relationship behind the scenes. Imagine in your head, the music from a DeBeer's commercial as a happy pair of lovers frolick, hand in hand with petals falling through the air, tralala. Well, this is complete and utter bullshit, and I will tell you why in this posting.
Now, on other forums, quite a few people are quite satisfied with these two and think their relationship is hunky-dory except for a few "little bumps in the road." Ya...right. As I will explain below, if you believe there is nothing to see here but a few bumps, you should have been working with the original Iraqi Information Minister.
Tanaka and Ohno
(College sweethearts in bloom.)
Let me begin by briefly describing the other two major relationships in the manga, that of Ogiue+Sasahara and Ohno+Tanaka. Ohno and Tanaka, over the course of the manga, develop an organic relationship; due to their shared interests in cosplay they form a bond and quickly establish a long term relationship. They also have some bumps in the road, primarily with Ohno's insecurities which Tanaka eventually addresses. Importantly, we see into their inner thoughts and feelings as the events unfold. They argue at times and there appears to be some give and take. They are both shy otaku who develop a deep, human and relatable bond that feels real-- not superficial. I can relate as I've seen this happen in real life.
Ogiue and Sasahara begin with a very rocky start that required a lot of encouragement from their Genshiken friends. Both of them have serious self-worth issues that impede their growth at first, but together, they overcome their flaws and bloom into probably the most thoroughly examined couple of all in the original manga series. We see the back story of Ogiue that turned her into a nearly suicidal self-(and otaku)-hating bundle of anger and angst. Sasahara has extreme low self-esteem, especially when he goes out on job interviews sabotaging his own prospects with his constant self-deprecation (in fact, this is one case where the anime delves deeper into his futile job search as he tries to find his place in society).
Sasaharafor us Westerners, I guess that's the "pitcher" in a gay couple), but they negotiate through the problems with some sweet moments of mutual love and respect that continues all the way through the series and into the sequel manga, Genshiken Nidaime.
In contrast, the aforementioned "model" couple is almost the polar opposite (with some notable exceptions) if you look beyond the surface.
Now that doesn't mean it's not a real relationship and that doesn't mean there isn't love that can last for a long time. For whatever reason, they are still together after at least half a decade of being a package. However, the author shows us almost nothing about the inner workings of Kousaka who rarely, if ever, really seems to care about significant issues in their relationship. He doesn't seem to grow or change nor does he compromise, in fact their relationship is basically a running joke throughout the series that sets up a series of gags that usually involves his girlfriend getting upset, angry, humiliated, disappointed or frustrated in one form or another.
The Road To Delusion
Let's break it down one step at a time at how absurd their so-called relationship
You got a long haul in front of ya, babe.
is...
When Kasukabe Saki is first introduced, we see her as the Genshiken crew see her, a bitchy and unapproachable "normal" who represents the society that despises otaku. Yet, she's going out with an otaku, the one thing she hates the most. Right off the bat, this is not a good start for a healthy relationship.
People with different religious backgrounds get married all the time, but let's imagine a redneck Christian racist marrying an atheist liberal Jew. I'm sure it happens, but it's probably not advisable. There's the little problem that the person you are marrying despises the very essence that makes "you" you and constantly tries to make you convert into something else. Ya, that's what is going on here right off the bat. Rocky start, but for sake of the story, let's let it go. She does grow and change, eventually learning to accept the otaku way, to a certain extent. Her personal growth, from a selfish, controlling, and abusive otaku hater at the beginning into someone who is much more endearing, understanding and genuinely sweet toward the end of the story is one ofgreat character arcs in this and any story. The problem is the other half: Kousaka.
You got to give it to Kousaka though, he's the kind of guy most of us selfish bastards aspire to be: a guy who pretty much lives as he wants and the hot babes throw themselves at him and try to change him, but he is just do bad-ass and without give-a-fuck that she just has to tow the line. In an early first date we see them together, she's wonders if he's really clueless or what as they chat over a meal and drinks out in the city. In a mostly one-sided conversation she convinces herself he can't be totally clueless and that the date will lead to a hot night together...nope, in the first of a parade of such let downs, he had planned the date so he could go shopping for otaku goodies in the adjacent district of Akihabara afterwards, so she has to go home alone. Ouch!!
Ditched in the city. Alone.
Kind of like abandoning your GF in Century City
when both of you live and go to school in Pasadena or...(worse) the Inland Empire.
(Oh shit...I kind of did something like that once...not my finest hour. Ugh.)
Even the other otaku in Genshiken think he is weird. While he is playing games with them at his place, he invites her over, not giving a crap that this will make everyone uncomfortable.
Be careful what you ask for...
Is this guy even human? Is he an otaku robot sent from a far away galaxy? Look at how the "love" part of their relationship begins: as a gag. Kasukabe can't decide how to get him to kiss her for the first time, so Madarame just says for him to do it...and he does right in front of everyone.
By the way, this begins a series of exchanges between Madarame and Kasukabe that exemplify a comedic trope: opposites that end up becoming somewhat attracted (at least on one side, if not both). Madarame considers her to be an interloper that he harasses with examples of otaku perversion, even going so far as to buy and plant Sif she wasn't a virgin, she'd just blow off the disgusting otaku by smashing him on the head--he's reflexively awaiting her classic punch--instead she does neither, leaving us hanging once again!
So, the person who the whole time has been working hard on making sure she isn't a virgin, thus someone who shouldn't have any pretension of moe at all, meekishly turns to Kousaka and asks if he saw any such moe in her when he fell in love.
He slams the door shut:
Buuurn. You've been pollinated, flower-byatch.
I guess that's that.
So what does all this mean? Is she or isn't she? Kousaka isn't one to lie (whatever he is, he plays it straight all the way), so it suggests he is affirming that she isn't a virgin. But why did she play dumb then? She's been going on and on about how Kousaka and herself have been red hot lovers in the sack the whole time. What gives?
Of course, in real life, whether someone is moe has nothing to do with love, as Kousaka himself states in the very next panel. She still hangs her head in shame. Whether she is a virgin or not, in her heart of hearts like many women, she does want to be seen as the virginal maid on a pedestal. A pure flower.
But, we can nod our heads and solemnly go, yes, realistically, after all this time, she can't be a virgin. That's just a fantasy that may happen in comic books or video games. And that's that.
But guess what? These people ARE just characters in a frikkin' comic book...
P.S. My ultimate conclusion, at this moment, is that the author seems to want Kousake and Kasukabe to be together for whatever reason. It doesn't make rational sense. She is the child hood character trope, she is irrationally in love a person who treats her poorly all the way to the end. She is like those female characters who fall for the generic hero main character and dedicate their lives to them for no other reason than plot convenience. In fact, compared to the other two couples, theirs is the most absurd, most comic bookishly extreme and stereotypical.
Another interpretation that came to me is that Madarame didn't want to fall for Kasukabe. If this version ever comes about in the manga someday, it would blow my mind:He felt sorry for her plight, he fell for her damsel in distress vibes during her struggles with a rocky relationship. He fell for HER loneliness and despair. She doesn't realize that SHE'S the one who needed him all along, or someone like him. Maybe, in the end, it will be a RELIEF for Madarame because he won't have to worry about her anymore...
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