The Twelve Kingdoms Forum

Hello folks;

A newbie here, though a recent convert to the wonderful series that is 12 Kingdoms. Since I was not patient enough to wait for the DVDs to finish the series, I downloaded all the unreleased episodes and though I absolutely ADORED #39, (Youko for President! :p) there was one point that kinda left me unsatisfied.

*SPOILERS BELOW, ALL YE WHO HAVE NO DESIRE FOR SPOILERS, TURN BACK AND SIN NO MORE!*




























And that's concerning the unfortunate end of Asano. True, I wasn't exactly enamored with the guy, but the way he got offed seemed kinda... undignified. I mean, he was just caught through this by pure coincidence, trapped for over a year, dealing with paranoia on a large scale, and being played like a drum by Shokou. And when he does try to do something that would give him some worth, he's deterred and ends up discovering that there was no point to him even going in the first place. Then, one can't help but wonder what's to happen if his family back in Hourai ever found out. I mean, it's like how Watase Yuu thinned out the cast for the end of Fushigi Yuugi, what's the point of the character just to have them offed in the first place!? Jeez!

*sigh* Maybe I'm just making a mountain out of a mole hill...

Mmm. It was probably meant to be a symbolic gesture.

I most definitely could be wrong here since my familiarity with the novels is scanty.

I had thought I had read somewhere that Asano and Sugimoto represented certain parts of Yohko -- particularly her insecurities or doubts. Sugimoto obviously got to go back and help us tie in the Taiki arc, and I guess served her purpose in helping Yohko solidify her feelings regarding her being 'chosen.'


And I guess Asano wasn't going to be spared quite so easily. :-/

Plus Asano is an "anime" only character. He was never created in the novels. When I picked up vol 6 of the american release, the extra documentary said that he was put there to attract male viewers because so much of the main cast was female.

Yep, I'd say you're both right on. Also, I believe Sugimoto actually existed in the novels, but existing was about the extent of her role there.

quite true.. Asano never existed in the novels and neither did all those Sugimoto parts.. Sugimoto never when to the other world with Yoko.. It seems though that she does have a part later in the novels.. let me read them first and tell u.. XD

but u can't blame the author for he never did gave them a part.. The novel's interesting after watching the anime and reading the novel.. imagine all the parts without Asano and Sugimoto. No Sugimoto to instigate her to steal and rob.. Inclusion of them though could be due to the fact that no one would want to watch a single character walking around talking to herself..