How dim can they be: Mutsumi and Seta-san

[Yui_Reborn]

What does everybody think of those characters that half the time act like total space cases, and half the time know what's going on better than any other character on the show? Mutsumi and Seta-san can sometimes act like they have an IQ of about 20, but they both understand Keitaro and Naru's relationship better than Keitaro and Naru, or the rest of the cast do. They often orchestrate ways of getting the two of them closer together, especially Mutsumi. Mutsumi seems to be a bit conflicted over whether or not she should help Naru win Keitaro or save him for herself, a problem which Seta doesn't seem to have, but other than that the two are actually pretty similar.

Do you think that the two of them are actually really smart but just kind of play dumb (I mean we know that Seta is a professor and Mutsumi gets great test scores when she remembers to sign her name). Or maybe they're a lot like Keitaro, with no common sense but they understand human nature.

I'm not suggesting that the two of them get together or anything though, Seta and Kitsune definitely belong together:).

[Ronin Aquila]

Seta and Mitsumi are among the blessed few known as the "idiot savant", or "wise fool."

By no means stupid, the idiot svant's lack of knowledge is confined to that of the evil and cynicism that perpetuates in the world around them. In cynicism, one constantly looks for signs of pretension and hidden meaning in other's words and actions.

Not so for the idiot savant. For in his or her innocence, he or she is able to see the world for what it truly is for he or she is not even aware of the concept of pretence or deception.

Hence in their ignorance and kindness, the idiot savant blissfully lives in a world free of suspicion and fear. A state that few of us are capable of ever achieving being "wise and knowing of the world."

[cloakactive]

Whats the phrase.... "Better to play the part of the fool"? Its just part of their personalities. Usually we know other people then we know ourselves and the situation we are in b/c, when we are not part of the situation we can better analize what is going on. So naturally anyone else, besides Naru and Keitaro, know more about what is going on between those two. Its kinda like being caught up in the middle of a fight. Your so involved in the fight that you take no time at all to see whos in it. Whereas someone else who is not involved would prolly be able to tell that the fight was over nothing.

Ok I'm just babbling now so I'll stop before i get to far off the topic. I'm just so happy that the boards are back! :D :D :D


Good Afternoon.

[Yui_Reborn]

Heh Ronin, I was going to say that they were 'idiot savant', but for whatever reason I didn't say it. Great minds thinking alike and all.

And of course the entire cast understands Naru and Keitaro's relationship better than Naru and Keitaro, but Mutsumi and Seta are especially perceptive. Also, if you go with the manga continuity that I've read about here, Mutsumi is in effect responsible for most of the enduring mysteries of the storyline.

[cloakactive]

Originally posted by Yui_Reborn
Heh Ronin, I was going to say that they were 'idiot savant', but for whatever reason I didn't say it. Great minds thinking alike and all.

And of course the entire cast understands Naru and Keitaro's relationship better than Naru and Keitaro, but Mutsumi and Seta are especially perceptive. Also, if you go with the manga continuity that I've read about here, Mutsumi is in effect responsible for most of the enduring mysteries of the storyline.

Yes.... thats very true. Shes prolly the only one with a clear memory of what exactly happened. Whether or not she will reveal the real path of events of what happened back then we may never know. Thats if she honestly reveals all. :confused2 Ummm has anyone read manga 11? I'll be getting mine soon and i'm itchign to get a discussion going on it. :D

[Darklightz]

I think it seems more that way because Seta and Mutsumi seem worriless.

[kakerjak]

Seta-san seems very much like an absent minded professor. and Mutsumi just seems to have been born with a gene that makes her act dim-witted.. even though she catchs on to more than she appears to.

[Ronin Aquila]

Originally posted by cloakactive


Yes.... thats very true. Shes prolly the only one with a clear memory of what exactly happened

Hmm, must be because her the part of her brain that is supposed to be used for common sense is so empty that it leaves surplus space for memories (smirk).

[cloakactive]

Originally posted by Ronin Aquila


Hmm, must be because her the part of her brain that is supposed to be used for common sense is so empty that it leaves surplus space for memories (smirk).

:lol: Yea but shes still really nice and sweet an all.... :heh:

[Ronin Aquila]

Originally posted by cloakactive


:lol: Yea but shes still really nice and sweet an all.... :heh:

True. Her complete lack of anger or sadness really makes her easy to love.

[cloakactive]

Ya know.... speakin of Seta-san i was thinking.... do they ever fully explain why he is taking care of Sara? From what all of us talked about before from the previous threads we've speculated she abused/neglected.... but why is she in Seta-sans' care? How did she fall under his care? Any speculations?

[Ronin Aquila]

She must have either ran away and/or ended up in an orphanage until Seta, being the "Indiana Jones" kind of guy he is, heroically rescued her from the life of being an orphan.

[Yui_Reborn]

Yeah, I agree with Ronin's theory. Interestingly, notice her American parents were BAD and abused her, while she just LOVES her adopted Japanese parent?

Not to overanalyze again, but that often comes up in anime; characters being abused by people from other countries and getting rescued by Japanese people.

Who else thought Sarah's hat that said 'WASP' on it was hysterical???

[Ronin Aquila]

Originally posted by Yui_Reborn
Yeah, I agree with Ronin's theory. Interestingly, notice her American parents were BAD and abused her, while she just LOVES her adopted Japanese parent?

Not to overanalyze again, but that often comes up in anime; characters being abused by people from other countries and getting rescued by Japanese people.

Who else thought Sarah's hat that said 'WASP' on it was hysterical???

I think it is a post-colonialist sentiment: being a non European nation that did not participate in racial decimation and outright acts of megalomania (okay, Pearl Harbour was a sad exception), Japanese media attempts to reaffirm that national benevolence by contrasting the tyrannically fascist patriarchy to that of their own benevolent tolerance.

And on the matter of English use, Anime frequently puts english words on products for the sake of being English (because it looks cool and modern).

But incidentally, even more hysterically funny is the position of the word "Milk" on one of Naru's shirt in the Manga (and the absurdity of the situation is enhanced when Keitaro accidentally spills a bucket of water on her).

But that's another story :)

[cloakactive]

Originally posted by Ronin Aquila


I think it is a post-colonialist sentiment: being a non European nation that did not participate in racial decimation and outright acts of megalomania (okay, Pearl Harbour was a sad exception), Japanese media attempts to reaffirm that national benevolence by contrasting the tyrannically fascist patriarchy to that of their own benevolent tolerance.

And on the matter of English use, Anime frequently puts english words on products for the sake of being English (because it looks cool and modern).

But incidentally, even more hysterically funny is the position of the word "Milk" on one of Naru's shirt in the Manga (and the absurdity of the situation is enhanced when Keitaro accidentally spills a bucket of water on her).

But that's another story :)


:lol: I was wondering when someone was going to mention that.

So the question at hand... why do the japanese always display themselves in anime as the ones to come to the rescue? Yes it may be seen as hubris, but it can also be argued its a sense of nationalism. I mean, no country would ridicule or belittle themself (well americans would due to the fact that everyone here is so opinionated, or just moved in from another country, or is part of a differnt political party, or perhaps just some weird nut.... had to toss that in sorry guys. :heh: ) Yea.... thats my two cents on this.

[Ronin Aquila]

The majority of political representation of Japanese VS foreigners has to do with GUILT.

For example, you can tell that Japan never really forgot their sin of allying with Hitler and his Krauts during the Second World War just by watching DBZ movie number 12. The absurdity of satires and parodies opens avenues in which one's fears may be faced in a safe and comfortable manner, better allowing the said fear to be exorcised.

[iwakura]

I'm a bit confused about this:



I think it is a post-colonialist sentiment: being a non European nation that did not participate in racial decimation and outright acts of megalomania (okay, Pearl Harbour was a sad exception), Japanese media attempts to reaffirm that national benevolence by contrasting the tyrannically fascist patriarchy to that of their own benevolent tolerance.



When touring Malaysia, I visited an old house built the traditional way, on posts. I noticed some impressions in the posts and asked what they were. Turned out they were bullet holes from the initial Japanese invasion during WWII. The short-term strategy was to shoot up the local population to instill fear. When the colonialist British returned, the locals were quite happy. And this was very gentle compared to what happened to locations where mainland China was invaded...

I believe pretty much all people have an inate evil potential that flourishes when evil governments are in power. We are truely lucky to live in a world where only tin-pot dictators (Milosovich) can pull these of stunts now.

I am blessed to have friends from Japan, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, ... I've heard many interesting perspectives not readily available in the USA.

I have nothing against the Japanese. I think signifcant parts of their culture are vastly superior to that found in the West. My dream is to build a custom house that combines the best of Japanese and western styles...