hontou ni
9Aug/1013

[Stripey] Finding Nemu ~ The magic of sakura

The magic of Da Capo

As Zyl celebrates his tragic heroine's birthday, I'm reminded of another (less) tragic sister-heroine who stood the test of time in the tanuki's hall of Siscon fame - Asakura Nemu and the series she made awesome, Da Capo.

If Kanon was "sad girls in snow", Da Capo must surely be "sad sister in sakura". While Nemu is possibly one of the finest tsundere-imoutos in all of siscon realm (only to be rival by her grand-daughter, Yume), the magic of sakura in Da Capo cannot be overstated. As a staunch Nemu-Da Capo fan, I had vowed to make the sakura pilgrimage to experience first hand, the beauty of these small pink-white flowers that is much adored in many anime series.

Well, the tanuki's cherry blossom dream came true April 2010 and here's sharing 10 pictures from that trip.

Sakura @ Ueno Park (Tokyo)

Ueno Park (Tokyo) is the default sakura-viewing spot for many Tokyoites. It is apparently true that bentos under mankai (full-bloomed) sakura trees taste better. :)

Sakura @ Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo)

Shinjuku Gyoen (Tokyo), while also thronged with Tokyoites, retained a certain serenity with many languishing on its sprawling grassy lawns, encircled by sakura trees in all of their full bloom glory.

Sakura @ Maruyama Park (Kyoto)

The most famous sakura tree in Maruyama Park (Kyoto).

Sakura enroute to Maruyama Park (Kyoto)

While the cherry blossoms in the parks of Tokyo gave a sense of manufactured grandeur, the every day scenes of Kyoto such as the above emanated a humble, natural charm that impressed deeper.

Sakura @ Kyomizudera Temple (Kyoto)

Kyomizudera Temple is the destination for many an anime school field trip (for example Azumanga Daioh). A legend goes that anyone who leaps off the viewing platform and survives the fall, will succeed in his/her love endeavours. No doubt, a lie crafted to eliminate annoying suitors.

Sakura @ night (Kyoto)

Apparently cherry blossom at night is no less spectacular.

Sakura @ Keagen incline (Kyoto)

Railway tracks + sakura trees = Instant win.

Sakura @ Philosopher's Path (Kyoto)

A closer look would reveal that the canal is filled with sakura petals.

Sakura @ Himeji Castle (Himeji)

Nope, this is not from a post card nor photoshopped (except to resize). Although I did deliberately leave out the hideous construction crane on its right (Himeji castle is to undergo renovation works for the next 4 years.)

Reason why Nemu passed away in D.C.I.F

The other reason I had enjoyed Kyoto's sakura a great deal more was that it was just a little after the mankai period - ie the petals were starting to fall. Walking through a gentle sakura shower has to be one of the most romantic things I've done with Wife-chan (even though the magical moments was punctuated by her hitting me every time I start to hum "Kyoudai nandakara" ~ DC OST Brilliante Track 2 ~).
While I didn't find 'Nemu' (imouto-esque Japanese schoolgirl) on this Japan trip, I did discover the intoxicating beauty of sakura and a key reason why Da Capo was so magical. I urge all Da Capo fan to make the sakura pilgrimage at least once in your lifetime.

Related posts:

  1. I, Sakura, command so…
  2. Will Kotori CUM Nemu fans please stand up?
  3. [Koma] Son of Stripey: His Reference Materials

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Filed under: D.C. Da Capo Leave a comment
Comments (13) Trackbacks (0)
  1. Xellos-_^
    August 9th, 2010 - 22:49

    so these are the areas we need to direct the mounties to, to start their investigation?

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  2. Stripey
    August 9th, 2010 - 23:17

    LOL! It’s ironical how I was the one reminding Wife-chan not to be trigger happy on sniping pictures of those cute little Japanese girls because of lolicon concerns in Japan. The tanuki is honourable! XD

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    • Xellos^_-
      August 11th, 2010 - 02:40

      of the curse the tanuki are honourable and a taxi is fine too.

      and since i haven’t mention it, nice photos. I always love the Sakura petal falling scenes in anime. One of the few things just as good in anime as in real life.

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      • Stripey
        August 11th, 2010 - 23:50

        Suzumiya Akane is an exception. At least tanuki-kind in strong enough to wait. till. in. cab… XD

        Thanks and agree wholeheartedly on your thoughts on falling sakura. I also thought I could better understand Nemu’s complex/taboo feelings for Junichi while under the sakura. :)

  3. relentlessflame
    August 9th, 2010 - 23:35

    Looks absolutely amazing; would definitely love to make the trip to see this at some point! Good photos too!

    It’s funny, though; when I think of these scenes, I think of one of the “happier” songs like Amoroso track 3. I guess even fans of the show have a different “image” that comes to mind when they think of the sakura in Da Capo. :p

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    • Stripey
      August 10th, 2010 - 23:28

      Thanks! The truth is I’m a terrible photographer but you just can’t go wrong with Japan in Sakura season – every photo WILL look gorgeous! :)

      Heh I couldn’t help it. XD 2 OST tracks define Da Capo for me – Kyoudai Nanadakara and Sukuwareru Kotori. On a side note, I hum “Sadame” (from X TV) whenever I look out at majestic mountain ranges :P

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  4. suguru
    August 10th, 2010 - 02:55

    Great pictures – my wife and I have been to Kyoto in the fall for momiji viewing but haven’t made a sakura trip yet. Kyoto’s probably my favorite city anywhere so jealous you got to go – since toddlers and international flights aren’t a great combo it’ll probably going to be a few more years before I’ll be back, although I’d probably be humming “sakura saku mirai koi yume…”

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  5. Stripey
    August 10th, 2010 - 23:33

    Thanks! Wife-chan and myself are contemplating an autumn trip to Japan too. :)

    Agreed with your toddler/flight assessment. When I was there in April, my neighbours were also there with their 1 yr old boy. It was a real challenge but they did bring back many fantastic photos. Apparently, toddlers + sakura full bloom = Win for life too! :)

    Hope you get to hum “sakura saku mirai koi yume…” in the land of the rising sun soon! :)

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  6. Zyl
    August 12th, 2010 - 11:24

    And I thought you were going to write a Kotori post but it’s nice to see that the siscon flame still burns strong. The choice of sakura to celebrate Nemu was also a tad ironic given how loli cousin jealousy caused your heroine to go Flowers for Algernon *coughsakurapetalcough*

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    • Stripey
      August 12th, 2010 - 22:51

      LOL! The flowers for Algernon reference couldn’t be more apt… XD

      Nemu just kept coming to mind wherever I see floorful of sakura petals. :)

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      • Xellos^_-
        August 13th, 2010 - 01:27

        x/1999 movie,

        first anime sakura petal scene was the sword bursting out of kamui’s mother in the op.

        since then Sakura Petal is synonymous with Clamp in my mind.

        and Zyl you forgot Kotori doesn’t go Oniichan, Nemu does. Stripey is not just a lolicon but also a Siscon.

      • Zyl
        August 13th, 2010 - 21:29

        Yes, that’s true but he did say he wanted to do a Kotori post. Though to be fair, he has fanboyed about her quite a lot in the past.

  7. Stripey
    August 13th, 2010 - 17:05

    For me, I’ve always associated the feather motif with CLAMP. Both X TV and Angelic layer used it to good effect. :)

    ( REPLY )

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