hontou ni
4Aug/057

Character focus ~Shirakawa Kotori~

When I first got my DOAXBV (Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach volleyball) years ago, my favorite character HAD to be Hitomi. She had this perpetual sunshine personality and was always pleasant (mostly anyway). Plus she had the loveliest voice of the DOA cast (yes, it's Horie Yui sama.) But soon, Hitomi's nice-ness started to take its toll on me. Her personality became bland over time and her actions (in nice-mode), predictable. In fact, her occasional outburst of frustration over badly-played volleyball suddenly became refreshing. Gradually, I began to prefer Ayane over Hitomi. She's certainly not the nicest of people but because of her imperfections, her character managed to engage more of me and somehow had more holding power (possibly because there was the potential for growth).

Fast forward to today and it's happening to yet another of Horie Yui's avatar. As I watched DCSS, I repeatedly asked myself, in spite of the immaculate perfection of Shirakawa Kotori, how can Asakura Nemu still appeal so strongly? Just look at Kotori. Blessed with unrivaled beauty in heart, body and mind, she embodies the purified essence of womanhood. Wouldn't any right thinking person choose her over the jealous and occasionally "Dark" Nemu? (Unless of course Nemu's your sister then it's perfectly valid to pick her as your lover.) But the truth is (and Kotori-fans, pls hold your rotten projectiles aka friendly-fire since I'm also your brother-in-adoration of Kotori chan :P ) with each passing ep of DCSS, Kotori loses some connection with me because the emphasis on her perfection without corresponding development on personality can engage only the mind but not the heart. The head knows Kotori is the epitome of anime beauty. But the heart remains yielded to Nemu because of the emotions that had been invested in her imprefections in Season 1.

Of course at ep 5 of DCSS, it's unfair to pit Kotori against Nemu who has had most of Season 1 devoted to her (which actually is not the intent of this rant). I'm just hoping that FEEL would inject more soul in Kotori even if it could mean making her a-little-less-than-divine.

After all, the immense charm of Shirakawa Kotori is not meant to merely ensnare minds but to enslave hearts.

Taken from MEGAMI Vol. 49 June 2004

Related posts:

  1. MEGAMI Treats: Shirakawa Kotori
  2. Da Capo II 04 – Kotori ~ My eternal Shirakawa
  3. MEGAMI Treats ~ Shirakawa Kotori goodness

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Filed under: Da Capo Second Season, Random Rants Leave a comment
Comments (7) Trackbacks (0)
  1. moyism
    August 5th, 2005 - 13:26

    should us Kotori fans start our own KKK club ala SHUFFLE? No need to disfigure our faces or look like we’re 40+ yrs olds though ;)

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  2. Stripey
    August 5th, 2005 - 21:22

    ohh yeah! Kirei Kirei Kotori (KKK)! Although it does sound more like a detergent advert. :P No disfiguration required. As long as applicant can chew on hanky and grimace, membership is his :)

    Can I nominate you for the head of KKK since your resourcefulness in obtaining risque anime pics will be invaluable for the club’s subsequent recruitment/growth Chairman Moy has a nice ring to it? :P

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  3. Conrath
    August 6th, 2005 - 09:22

    lol sounds like this might start a bunch of other clubs like MMM (Moe Moe Mako) or AAA (ai ai Aisia) ‘twould be amusing

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  4. moyism
    August 6th, 2005 - 13:33

    LMAO Stripey! Too kind man too kind… I’m more of a behind-the-scene / helper kind of guy though, even if “Chairman Moy” does have a decent ring to it. My resourcefulness has nothing to do with it but just that I’m more willing to put my neck on the line to show my cache of “the good stuff” (TM) to the masses.

    I think President Stripey works better than Chairman Moy anyways… ;)

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  5. Omni
    August 7th, 2005 - 22:23

    ….
    I don’t know you people…
    ….

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  6. Zyl
    August 8th, 2005 - 21:00

    Eh, be careful of what you wish for, Stripey. Ep 6 with the cold shoulder and walking down the stairs after staring at the sunset scene suggests despair on Kotori’s part. Doesn’t bode well for her.

    And about fan clubs, the Hawke sisters. Enuf said.

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  7. Stripey
    August 9th, 2005 - 09:48

    Conrath: Actually I thinking off starting an NKF (Nemu-Kotori Fellowship) for Nemu AND Kotori fans like myself :P Assuming I survive the extermination orders from KKK and NNN.

    Moyism: As an NKF (Nemu-Kotori fellow) I wouldn’t even quality for as a member for KKK much less ascend to presidency. :) At the moment, I can’t think of a better candidate than you. As Obi-wan Kotori had said to Yoshino in the classic movie, Sakura Wars Episode 6: Return of the Nemu, “That Moy’s our only hope….” :P Thanks for the pics and keep them coming! :)

    Omni: oh but you know you well.. General Omnious or is that Darth Ominous? :P Dark side or not, thanks for bringing us DCSS ep 6 so quickly :)

    Zyl: haha thanks for reminder. :) The good thing is unlike Hawke sister fan clubs, KKK and NNN would likely to be still worshipping living characters instead of possibly venerating dead ones at the end of the series. :) Thankfully FEEL instead of SUNRISE is doing DCSS else I would be fearing for Kotori’s life too :)

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