Ogawa Yayoi - Tramps Like Us, vol. 11-12 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

Ok, it really does feel like Ogawa is winding things up for the grand finale.

I'm really glad that Hasumi and Sumire ended up breaking up; I hate hate hate watching relationships drag on forever, even if it's not between two obviously wrong for each other people. Uh. That is to say, I do not think Hasumi and Sumire are awful together, but I suspect Sumire will be happier finding a more unconventional relationship and Hasumi will be happier finding a more conventional one. This makes me a little sad, as the series keeps almost pushing the gender boundaries that I want it to, but doesn't ever quite make it there.

I very much liked how Ogawa handled the breakup; just two people sitting down on a bench and figuring out that they weren't necessarily right for each other. I liked that Sumire didn't have hysterics over Fukushima. I can't remember if she told Hasumi about Momo as well, but for some reason, I feel she did.

And Momo! Momo cut his hair! Woe! Momo moved out! I am traumatized along with Sumire.

I love that Momo's finally decided on his own life path, but on the other hand... I'm really sad that it's come with the assumption of a more traditional gender role (taking charge, being the "man" of the relationship), as symbolized by his giving Sumire a more erotic kiss and actually being a sexual threat of sorts. And that Momo's (should I call him Takeshi now?) coming of age is also symbolized by him telling Sumire that he wants to marry her and have kids. One of the reasons why I loved this series so much is the odd, not-quite-romantic, not-quite-not relationship between Sumire and Momo. And even though I was pretty sure the mangaka wouldn't leave it that way, I'm still sad that it's coming to an end. I just hope the power dynamics between the two won't shift that much, although I suspect it will.

Comments

[shewhohashope.livejournal.com]

That's weird, I just read the first three volumes of 'Tramps Like Us'. I didn't bother avoiding the spoilers as I've seen the live action series, starring the woman from 'The Last Samurai' as Sumire (you know, the only woman who had a speaking part), but it seems like the series and the manga part ways somewhere along the line. The series is much more ambiguous which I liked, you could just imagine them however you wanted to.

[oyceter]

Huh, I think I definitely need to watch the drama now. I'm really curious to see how the drama does it!

[shewhohashope.livejournal.com]

You should watch it! I'm in love the woman who plays Sumire and the guy who plays Momo is in every JDrama ever with a different ridiculous hairstyle.

I may write a post about Asian Drama's I'm watching right now featuring girls disguised as boys, because there are that many.

[oyceter]

I may write a post about Asian Drama's I'm watching right now featuring girls disguised as boys, because there are that many.

Oooooo doooo ittttt!

Hey, I forget -- have you read (or seen, I think it's been adapted too) Hana Kimi?

[shewhohashope.livejournal.com]

I'm talking about Hana Kimi! I'm watching the Japanese and Taiwanese (I'm struggling to stop listening to the cheesy Mandopop soundtrack) adaptations. That and a Korean drama called Coffee Prince which I have open in another tab right now. This episode is threatening to make me cry.

I would kill for the girl playing Mizuki in the JDrama to play Haruhi in a live action version of Ouran.