I’m sure this is a phenomenon that effects all non-jpn readers, but the reason why so much of the nuance in this series gets lost in translation is bc there are so many social/emotional concepts that are expressed linguistically in Japanese, that simply dont exist in English +
“Bakugou is straight-coded”
Bakugou? Bakugou Katsuki? Bakugou “high maintenance bratty tsundere with a hand permantly glued to his own hip” Katsuki? Bakugou “these girls need to be expelled” Katsuki? THAT Bakugou?
#mha427
#mhaspoilers
This page is breaking my heart. The way Izuku is letting Spinner take his grief out on him, how grown and stoic he looks, showcasing a sense of authority by telling the facility workers to back off and let him handle it….this war aged him 20 years.
Holy shit…evryone’s been saying bkdk have reversed roles emotionally…And I’m currently re-reading entrance exam arc & realizing they’ve reversed roles in more ways than one.
The final war ended w Katsuki rescuing, & Izuku killing the villain… I’m not okay…
The best example I can think of is bkgs apology, where he uses a childlike version of the word “sorry,” which carries a lot of weight when u consider how he’s been holding these feelings in since childhood, wanting to make up for the past they had as kids (s/o to these users)
#MHA428
To everyone saying it seems like a weird time for Izuku to confess, you’re right! It would be. It would make for a terribly written romance story. BUT HORIKOSHI KNOWS HOW TO WRITE ROMANCE. HE’S NOT KISHIMOTO Y’ALL. HE’S A SHOUJO LOVER. HE WILL NOT DISSAPOINT
#MHA428
Y’all panicked just like this when 342 dropped and everyone thought we were getting an Izch confession 😭😭 He’s had every opportunity to develop their relationship and yet he keeps hammering in the fact that they don’t see e/o that way anymore.
One example of this is when bkg is kidnapped by the LOV, & Izuku uses very possessive wording that literally implies ownership over something. Essentially saying “Give my Kacchan back to me” (s/o to this user)
Japanese is very complex and uses honorifics, varying pronouns, and often different combinations of alphabets/letter systems to indicate tone & multiple/deeper meanings, as well as to denote relationships between people based on how they address/refer to each other
#MHA427
#MHAspoilers
He’s supposed to be staying calm because of his heart but the thought of women coming after him in droves was enough to send his fruity ass over the edge
The fact that Izuku feels such strong ownership over him in this context, despite their strained relationship ATP, is interesting, and would be more evident to English readers if they were aware of this specific language change and it’s indications in Japanese.
We also have the concept of “osananajimi.” While the word itself does just mean “childhood friends” it also denotes a type of bond that Japanese people consider to be unique.
So for Izuku to continue calling him a childish & intimate nickname implies that he still feels very close to him & wants to maintain the connection they established in childhood, & perhaps bc he still finds Katsuki endearing. And, well, do we think Izuku finds him endearing? 🤭
Like changing Katsuki’s “Todoroki” in one of the recent episodes to “Icy-hot” or him referring to Edgeshot and his other superiors/upperclassmen as “senpai” which is never used in dub. These language choices are specifically used to indicate a sort of closeness and/or respect
@hgtruby
Like Ochako is literally devestated, grieving for the girl she couldn’t save, the girl she thought was the cutest in the world and favored her smile the most, and all they care about is “HAHA BKDK IS DEAD” when it’s not
So the fact that Katsuki now addresses him as “Izuku” and not “Midoriya” implies that he and Izuku are VERY close now, correct me if I’m wrong but I believe they are the only students in class 1A who are on a first name basis.
(Let’s not even talk about all the ~unnecessary~ word changes and “localizations” that often occur bc that could be an entire 50 post long thread in itself, srsly eat my ass Caleb)
And because of it’s popular usage in romance stories, the concept of “osananajimi,” when used in media, transcends the literal definition and has evolved into a cultural trope that carries varying weight depending on the story. It’s one of Japan’s most beloved romance tropes
#MHA428
Y’all panicked just like this when 342 dropped and everyone thought we were getting an Izch confession 😭😭 He’s had every opportunity to develop their relationship and yet he keeps hammering in the fact that they don’t see e/o that way anymore.
And Izuku’s continued use of “Kacchan” thru out their entire lives is incredibly intimate considering their tumultuous & strained relationship, as well as the fact that he is the ONLY person to continue calling him that. All his other friends from Aldera/Mustafu call him Katsuki
And again, even tho “senpai” literally means “upperclassmen,” Americans don’t go around saying “Hey upperclassmen can u please help me with my homework?” We just use given names.
And while this is a concept I can understand and relate to as an American/Westerner who has childhood friends, I’m also aware that our culture doesn’t ascribe the same intrinsic value to this kind of relationship.
@izukvus
I really don’t understand this line of thinking. He’s proven time and again just how much detail, symbolism, and foreshadowing he’s poured into this story over the course of a decade. He’s extremely meticulous and an astoundingly clever writer
“Osananajimi” to Japanese speakers and “childhood friends” to English speakers mean slightly different things because both of those words/concepts exist within their own cultural context.
“Upperclassmen” doesn’t carry the same social obligation as “Senpai,” nor does it indicate the same kind of inferior/superior relationship, they have different connotations bc they reflect different cultural values.
The use of given names and honorifics is very meticulous; Japanese people primarily use surnames to refer to eachother, and using someone’s given name is considered very informal and is reserved for people you are very familiar/close with
Everyone, even Iida and Ochako, calls Izuku “Midoriya” or “Deku.” And Kiri calls Katsuki “Bakugo” even tho they are arguably the closest amongst Katsuki’s little posse.
Another thing that gets lost, especially for anime-only dub watchers who don’t even see these linguistic nuances incorporated AT ALL, is the use of/significance of different honorifics and pronouns to refer to people.
Mina and Eijirou even went to middle school together and yet they still refer to eachother as “Kirishima” and “Ashido,” so we can assume that given names are only used for your very closest friends
@enbytozier
@fightaffluenza
@WishIWereHether
Also to even make the claim that only lesbians specifically are allowed to reclaim that slur is offensive and biphobic as fuck because sexuality is fluid. But according to OP it’s fine when her fav says it. Didn’t know Tyler was a lesbian
He's so cute wtf 😭😭 brightening up as soon as he gets the chance to talk ab Kacchan. Horikoshi taking yet another moment to show us just how fond Izuku is of him. He's my childhood friend AWHWHWHWHWHWWW
Call me crazy but…I think Horikoshi perhaps knows what he’s doing as a 10 yr serialized mangaka and maybe, just MAYBE, his writing choices are intentional? Maybe let’s not insult his authorship by making conclusive criticisms ab the ending…until we actually see the ending??
#MHA428
Guys pls stop panicking already, when has Hori disappointed us when it comes to bkdk?? How would this be a set-up for an Izch love confession? She already confessed her feelings for Izuku to Toga, now it’s time for her to confess her feelings for Toga to Izuku
“Why can’t two men just be friends.” I don't understand this BS argument & never will. Like HUH? As if heterosexuality isn't already the norm? As if scathing miscommunication, mutual obsession, & extreme pining over each other is an accurate rep of healthy male friendship? Bsffr
The last video fucking kills me lol the way Katsuki is like “Fuck off! Outta my way! I’m gonna beat you!” And Izuku’s just like “Kacchan sugoi 😄😁☺️🙂🥰” he adores him so much
@enbytozier
@fightaffluenza
@WishIWereHether
Okay but that’s just not true. I don’t care if the dictionary definition of dyke says it only refers to lesbians. I’m bisexual and have been targeted and called a dyke multiple times. Bigots don’t care if you’re also attracted to men. Biphobia to the max
@luvzuras
The way Horikoshi puts so much detail into even his side characters little quirks and small personality traits is amazing. Like the way Izuku grabs his lips when he’s thinking rly hard or how Dabi taps his foot since childhood. It’s clear he loves his characters so much
Manga Katsuki and Anime Katsuki are like different characters to me lowkey idk. They draw him so different like, they always draw him to be stocky w thick muscles & soften his face, even tho Horikoshi always draws him sharp and slender.
The way they drew him here is perfect tho
@dekuc3re
This is the biggest cope I’ve ever seen I’m actually crying. “The writer is bad at writing straight characters they all seem gay” Babe I’m gonna hold ur hand when I tell you this…
@artificial3nemy
This is so true. Like for example Jirou and Momo are some of the only ppl he’s used certain kanji to refer to, implying closeness and mutual respect
I can’t be the only one who thinks Kacchan was a cute baby 😭🥹LIKE LOOK AT HIS WITTLE DISGRUNTLED FACE. LOOK HOW MUCH HIS MOMMY AND DADDY LOVE HIM IM GOING TO KILL MYSELF
Just thinking about this parallel…
When Toga explains how she loved Izuku bc he reminded her of Saito…he’s shown looking back at a spiky haired blonde…
A few pages later when Ochaco talks ab “declaring what u love w ur whole face” It’s not shown who Izu’s looking at but…
ShigAFO targeted Katsuki and told him he’ll always be the one chasing after Izuku…
and after crying, and muttering to himself for over a full chapter, he thinks… “Ya know what….that doesn’t sound too bad…chasing after Izuku…forever….Gotta win…right, Izuku?”
Can’t stop thinking about this cover. Can’t stop thinking about Katsuki realizing how much happiness & peace he missed out on by not taking Izuku’s hand that day. Can’t stop thinking ab him desperately trying to make up for it bc he’s realized how much better he & Izuku make e/o
@Dekacchann
Someone posted it under a tweet about why they think Ochaco is potentially a transmasc egg 🤭 big fan of this headcanon with the textual evidence I’ve seen
@EriCheri3
Romantically it’s so hard for me to ship anything other than bkdk but, concept wise smth ab Iidabaku is so cute to me 🥰 I wish we saw more of their friendship/them in battle tgth
I literally fell in love with the world of MHA and with Izuku in episode 1 like I was so captivated by him immediately. Look at this cutie patootie and tell me u don’t wanna see him follow his dreams
Horikoshi knows monoshin just look soo good together. I bet the first time he drew them together in the manga he was like “hold on….they’re boyfriends”