Onii-chan Is Done For! - Ch. 97 - Mahiro and Crossing the Line

[hentako]

Third I'd be very very surprised if Nekotofu isn't keenly aware of trans people. Like, Onimai basically is now eight years old as of this chapter. I'm sure he's been inundated with fan mail from trans people deeply affected by the story. The anime has subtle nods to the community, even. (trans flag colors prominent in promotional material, the opening theme literally having the chant "trans trans trans!" in it etc.)

Gotta say, whether he's aware of it or not, I doubt these are nods to the trans community. Light blue and pink are basically the universal stereotypical boy and girl colors (and generally a cute color combo) and TS (transsexual) is to my knowledge the common term in Japanese for genderbender stuff.

 

[RedEco]

Asahi is brutal.

 

[galaxia9]

Someone needs to tell Momiji that lesbianism is a thing. Nice that she openly stated her interest in Mahiro regardless.

 

[tarrasqueSorcerer]

--- off-topic ---

Also, @ all the nega-trans talk from you misinformed souls, grow-up and I hope the adult world finds you a suitable atonement. Always irks me to see so many talk about something they think is unnatural while consuming the most unnatural thing of God's creation; The fucking Internet.

I'm calling all of you out for not knowing yourself as well as you should think, stop being so angry at people that you haven't fucking met and have only heard rhetoric of from your loved ones. You will be Trans one day, when we all go from being alive to being dead, Death'll take one look at you and laugh.

You want something to be angry at? Get enslaved, get discriminated against, get told you're lesser because someone else is slightly more [qualia] than you.
We are born human, and grow into our bodies; not the other way around.
Burn in the hole you've dug yourself, I'll be by with the medical staff and ladder waiting to tell you "Welcome to the real world you talk so much about." Hopefully; the world doesn't burn faster than you do~

Now listen here. I won't speak for everyone, but I can say for myself that it's not about "abnormality".
It's about being exceedingly rare while acting like you're everywhere, you're important, you deserve to be catered to, and you have some moral high ground over people who disagree with that.
And you're only proving that point.

 

[dy4y]

acting like you're everywhere, you're important, you deserve to be catered to, and you have some moral high ground over people who disagree with that.

All of these things are correct statements.

Trans people are becoming less rare as the world is becoming more accepting of us. Where there are people there also are trans people and when we're given environments where we're allowed to exist as ourselves we do that instead of hiding in the closet.
Trans people are also important in the same way as black people, gay people, indigenous people, etc, etc, etc are all important.
And when you say "catered to" what you're actually talking about is trans people demanding that they be viewed as equals rather than an underclass. So yeah, we do deserve to be catered to.

And yeah, I do indeed have a moral high ground over transphobes (which you are if you disagree with even just one of these points). There really isn't much nuance there: bigotry is bad and opposing bigotry is good.

 

[Trazel_Apeally]

Now listen here. I won't speak for everyone, but I can say for myself that it's not about "abnormality".
It's about being exceedingly rare while acting like you're everywhere, you're important, you deserve to be catered to, and you have some moral high ground over people who disagree with that.
And you're only proving that point.

I will appreciate the sentiment but;

All of these things are correct statements.

Trans people are becoming less rare as the world is becoming more accepting of us. Where there are people there also are trans people and when we're given environments where we're allowed to exist as ourselves we do that instead of hiding in the closet.
Trans people are also important in the same way as black people, gay people, indigenous people, etc, etc, etc are all important.
And when you say "catered to" what you're actually talking about is trans people demanding that they be viewed as equals rather than an underclass. So yeah, we do deserve to be catered to.

And yeah, I do indeed have a moral high ground over transphobes (which you are if you disagree with even just one of these points). There really isn't much nuance there: bigotry is bad and opposing bigotry is good.

Has my intent.
We as humans should strive to be as good to others as we can, I am an Atheist and also consider myself Agnostic should the coward show themself, but all I ever hear spouted from most self-claimed do-gooders (myself hypocritically included, human after all) is pessimism that it's always been this way and to suck it up.

I'll stop being high and mighty when they stop taking the lower path.

 

[MidnighTea]

Gotta say, whether he's aware of it or not, I doubt these are nods to the trans community. Light blue and pink are basically the universal stereotypical boy and girl colors (and generally a cute color combo) and TS (transsexual) is to my knowledge the common term in Japanese for genderbender stuff.

Again, this comic has been running for eight years. I find the idea that Nekotofu would entirely disregard the likely inundation of praise, fan letters and thanks he'd gotten from the community... unlikely. The language barrier is lowering every year thanks MTL, which actually mostly works better for English -> Japanese than vice versa. Also the very specific promotion I'm talking about was at a Japanese convention which showed a display of Mahiro sitting on what is basically a blanket with the trans flag on it. Like not just the colors but the parallel bars. I unfortunately don't have a photo of that because it'd require digging three years back into social media, but I remember being utterly gobsmacked at the time. If you don't believe me on this point, I'll accept that.

Also "TSF/TS" is the name for the gender bending genre. I know that. The chant in the anime's opening isn't that. It's "Trans! trans! trans!". Most subbers translated it as "trance" but trance makes a lot less sense in a gender bending context than "trans". I'm not positively saying this a nod to the trans community, that'd be very silly, but it's also silly to assume that there's a 0% chance that it was related. Supposedly a LOT of research into gender identity went into making the anime, even if just to make much of Mahiro's body language and visual gags work better. It's a very amazing production and I recommend it overall. It hits harder emotionally than the manga at a lot points, even if it's much more openly thirsty at times. It even topped the ratings chart at the time. (I'm guessing after Bocchi the Rock! audiences were still hungry for an introvert rehab story, since that ended just before the first episode)

By the way: Remember how I said Japan finally stopped chemically castrating trans people after many years of that abominable law? The law was changed mere the months after the first Onimai episode airing. That could still be coincidence (even if Onimai was a smash hit at the time) but it does at least show the possibility how important this story is beyond just snickering every time someone pees themselves.

 

[avefenixflames]

Again, this comic has been running for eight years. I find the idea that Nekotofu would entirely disregard the likely inundation of praise, fan letters and thanks he'd gotten from the community... unlikely. The language barrier is lowering every year thanks MTL, which actually mostly works better for English -> Japanese than vice versa. Also the very specific promotion I'm talking about was at a Japanese convention which showed a display of Mahiro sitting on what is basically a blanket with the trans flag on it. Like not just the colors but the parallel bars. I unfortunately don't have a photo of that because it'd require digging three years back into social media, but I remember being utterly gobsmacked at the time. If you don't believe me on this point, I'll accept that.

Also "TSF/TS" is the name for the gender bending genre. I know that. The chant in the anime's opening isn't that. It's "Trans! trans! trans!". Most subbers translated it as "trance" but trance makes a lot less sense in a gender bending context than "trans". I'm not positively saying this a nod to the trans community, that'd be very silly, but it's also silly to assume that there's a 0% chance that it was related. Supposedly a LOT of research into gender identity went into making the anime, even if just to make much of Mahiro's body language and visual gags work better. It's a very amazing production and I recommend it overall. It hits harder emotionally than the manga at a lot points, even if it's much more openly thirsty at times. It even topped the ratings chart at the time. (I'm guessing after Bocchi the Rock! audiences were still hungry for an introvert rehab story, since that ended just before the first episode)

By the way: Remember how I said Japan finally stopped chemically castrating trans people after many years of that abominable law? The law was changed mere the months after the first Onimai episode airing. That could still be coincidence (even if Onimai was a smash hit at the time) but it does at least show the possibility how important this story is beyond just snickering every time someone pees themselves.

I think you are looking way too deep into it, most of what you said the author had no real input in it's making, like the op music and a law (maybe even some of the promo material too) and the rest sound way too coincidental like very common color palettes or how a word sounds like another (When even the official video, say it's "Trance" not only in the lyrics but also in the video itself)

If the author really wanted to talk about the theme, they would have already done it or it would be way more prevalent than all your examples, one could argue that this chapter would even have been the perfect opportunity...

Just enjoy the series as it actually is, a piece of entertainment media...

 

[hentako]

Again, this comic has been running for eight years. I find the idea that Nekotofu would entirely disregard the likely inundation of praise, fan letters and thanks he'd gotten from the community... unlikely. The language barrier is lowering every year thanks MTL, which actually mostly works better for English -> Japanese than vice versa. Also the very specific promotion I'm talking about was at a Japanese convention which showed a display of Mahiro sitting on what is basically a blanket with the trans flag on it. Like not just the colors but the parallel bars. I unfortunately don't have a photo of that because it'd require digging three years back into social media, but I remember being utterly gobsmacked at the time. If you don't believe me on this point, I'll accept that.

Also "TSF/TS" is the name for the gender bending genre. I know that. The chant in the anime's opening isn't that. It's "Trans! trans! trans!". Most subbers translated it as "trance" but trance makes a lot less sense in a gender bending context than "trans". I'm not positively saying this a nod to the trans community, that'd be very silly, but it's also silly to assume that there's a 0% chance that it was related. Supposedly a LOT of research into gender identity went into making the anime, even if just to make much of Mahiro's body language and visual gags work better. It's a very amazing production and I recommend it overall. It hits harder emotionally than the manga at a lot points, even if it's much more openly thirsty at times. It even topped the ratings chart at the time. (I'm guessing after Bocchi the Rock! audiences were still hungry for an introvert rehab story, since that ended just before the first episode)

By the way: Remember how I said Japan finally stopped chemically castrating trans people after many years of that abominable law? The law was changed mere the months after the first Onimai episode airing. That could still be coincidence (even if Onimai was a smash hit at the time) but it does at least show the possibility how important this story is beyond just snickering every time someone pees themselves.

Not saying he isn't aware of it, he may well be, just saying that I don't think those things are hints to that. I don't know about the particular piece of merch, maybe. Also seen "trans" used in various genderbender manga titles and don't get the impression that it's anything other than a shortening of "transsexual", but who knows
Can't find anything about a particular law about chemical castration of trans people, though there was something about forced sterilization of people with, what were at least viewed as, heritable disabilities

 

[MidnighTea]

I think you are looking way too deep into it, most of what you said the author had no real input in it's making, like the op music and a law (maybe even some of the promo material too) and the rest sound way too coincidental like very common color palettes or how a word sounds like another (When even the official video, say it's "Trance" not only in the lyrics but also in the video itself)

Alright, I concede that one.

Just enjoy the series as it actually is, a piece of entertainment media...

You realize there is a contradiction in telling people to "just chill", but doing it aggressively?

You enjoy the series however you like, I'll enjoy it however I like. And we'll both discuss, on our terms, what it means to us. Without getting under each other's feet or telling the other how they should be interpreting or enjoying it. And if a trans person is being an ass to you about how you're enjoying it, believe me, I'll be glad to call them out.

 

[avefenixflames]

You enjoy the series however you like, I'll enjoy it however I like. And we'll both discuss, on our terms, what it means to us. Without getting under each other's feet or telling the other how they should be interpreting or enjoying it. And if a trans person is being an ass to you about how you're enjoying it, believe me, I'll be glad to call them out.

Fair enough.

 

[dy4y]

Just enjoy the series as it actually is, a piece of entertainment media...

I'll enjoy this series as what it actually is: a trans story that either doesn't know or doesn't want to admit that it's trans. Same as 90% of all genderbend and crossdressing stories

 

[avefenixflames]

I'll enjoy this series as what it actually is: a trans story that either doesn't know or doesn't want to admit that it's trans. Same as 90% of all genderbend and crossdressing stories

To each their own, I suppose.

Edit: And don't get me wrong I like the series too, but it's a stretch to say it is what you say it is when nothing really has pointed to that (Directly or indirectly). So far the genderswap theme seems like it is just a narrative tool to start the series and create comedic "fish out of water" situations (à la :Ranma 1/2, Ayakashi Triangle, Gacha Gacha, etc. ), not to mention the fact that he is actually an adult passing as a middle school girl, or that his state (and even others) has reverted in very precarious situation (again, for comedic purposes).

But I can even give you a good example of a manga that has similar themes but is actually what you say it is, because is very prevalent through all of it: "Boku Girl"

But again, to each their own, I suppose.

 

[MidnighTea]

I'll enjoy this series as what it actually is: a trans story that either doesn't know or doesn't want to admit that it's trans. Same as 90% of all genderbend and crossdressing stories

I'm going to repeat something I said earlier -- forcing a Japanese work to adhere to western gender paradigms and labels is a lowkey form of colonialism. It's also not cool to browbeat other fans for what level they want to enjoy the work. Sorry but I DID promise to call that out as readily.

(mind you I WOULD argue Nekotofu is not cis based on some of his tweets in the past. Whatever labels apply, we need to get people to an identity they feel comfortable in.)

I also think saying 90% of all crossdressing and gender bend manga/anime fit under that broad level is an overreach. I mean, really, have you seen ALL of them to be making that claim? Like going as far as Futaba-kun Change or Maze Mega Burst Space? Aoi and Mutsuki?

 

[dy4y]

I'm going to repeat something I said earlier -- forcing a Japanese work to adhere to western gender paradigms and labels is a lowkey form of colonialism.

I'm gonna be real with you, Orientalism is way more "collonialist" than pointing out transmisogyny within Japanese culture

It's also not cool to browbeat other fans for what level they want to enjoy the work.

That's not what I'm doing though. I'm saying these stories exist and were made within a cisnormative world and because of that most genderbend and cross dressing stories (not just Japanese btw) depict material trans existence without acknowledging trans people. Or, to phrase it in a comedically exaggerated fashion, they are trans stories that either don't know or don't want to acknowledge that they're trans.

mind you I WOULD argue Nekotofu is not cis based on some of his tweets in the past

And this is irrelevant to what I was talking about but good for him I suppose. I guess I'm gonna add that to my trans conspiracy list alongside Kawahara Reki /j.

 

[MidnighTea]

I'm gonna be real with you, Orientalism is way more "collonialist" than pointing out transmisogyny within Japanese culture

How many Japanese people do you talk to? I interact with them semi-regularly on Twitter, usually to try and find good TS works that scanlators haven't picked up yet.
There is a genuine annoyance among the ones I know that western readers hyper-boil every single subgenre of their gender subversion down into "trans". Often ignoring the full spectrum of gender-nonconformity ranging from classic kabuki performances to modern day otokonoko (crossdressing/"femboi") mangas and so on. And what do you call it when you're pushing your narrative on their culture and art, against their comforts because you're the bigger more globally influential culture? That's colonialism, I'm sorry. I don't have a softer word for that mindset.

You can absolutely enjoy their works from a trans lens. And I do think it's a good thing for you to do so and even evaluate it from that perspective! Critique and commentary is awesome! In fact, I'm sure it's incredibly helpful and enlightening to Japanese creators. Some have even said as much to me that many perspectives is important. But the point you cross the line is when you abandon the mindset of "I'm OK you're OK" for "I'm OK but you're objectively not OK".

Frankly, IMO it's doubly important we come together instead of pushing each other apart. Japanese trans people -- like people considering or already on HRT -- absolutely do not feel safe right now. As you say, transmisogyny is no joke over there. And I said it before, but it's kind of amazing the standing law that mandated sterilization of people seeking HRT got repealed months after the Onimai anime busted all the charts. So whether or not Onimai passes your muster for sufficiently doing enough for trans people, I say that it's very possible it is. You're absolutely right that anime and manga could be doing more. But I'd personally prefer not to let perfect be the enemy of the good. Even works not directly targetting an openly LGBT audience can and have done amazing good for the community. (rest in peace, Mr. Rogers)

 

[dy4y]

How many Japanese people do you talk to? I interact with them semi-regularly on Twitter, usually to try and find good TS works that scanlators haven't picked up yet.
There is a genuine annoyance among the ones I know that western readers hyper-boil every single subgenre of their gender subversion down into "trans". Often ignoring the full spectrum of gender-nonconformity ranging from classic kabuki performances to modern day otokonoko (crossdressing/"femboy") mangas and so on. And what do you call it when you're pushing your narrative on their culture and art, against their comforts because you're the bigger more globally influential culture? That's colonialism, I'm sorry. I don't have a softer word for that mindset.

You can absolutely enjoy their works from a trans lens. And I do think it's a good thing for you to do so and even evaluate it from that perspective! Critique and commentary is awesome! In fact, I'm sure it's incredibly helpful and enlightening to Japanese creators. Some have even said as much to me that many perspectives is important. But the point you cross the line is when you abandon the mindset of "I'm OK you're OK" for "I'm OK but you're objectively not OK".

I don't have the energy to argue with you so I'm just gonna drop this here. Read it.

And, just, read my comment again. I'm not saying these GNC characters are trans, I'm pointing out that these stories exist within a sort of trans paradigm—they're depicting transfeminine experiences whilst always insisting that these characters are just men. Also, this problem isn't just Japanese. The exact same problem applies to Western fiction.

 

[prankishmanx21]

I

It has been pointed out many times in the past but this time it was more specific... I really hope in the future it turns like that, either Momiji turning male and marrying Mahiro, or just going for it while they're both still girls.

I really love shipping them together.

Prefer the yuri route personally.