The Twelve Kingdoms Forum

Hello everyone. I am new at this forum (in fact, this is the only forum I have ever posted, so be gentle with me LOL) and after watching this series (many times) I decided to share my views and opinions of the journey of the main character, Youko Nakajima.

I have a master in history and I think that was one of the things that drew me to buy this anime (the other was to get my gf's son approval, he is a big anime fan LOL) and after watching it, it reminded me of the hero's journey found in mythology and popular cultures (Star Wars and LOTR comes in mind). I hope all of you join me in this discussion and together we enjoy sitting back and have a great conversation about it.

Youko is a strange character, in the sense that she isn't likable at first, I go as far to say she is kinda annoying and forgetable in the beggining. But thats the brilliant of the book and anime, they threw at us a character which we don't feel like going on a journey with but we follow her nonetheless. I know next to nothing about anime, but I recognized in the beginning the common threads about it: High school student, pretty, another world. But still, there was something about this annoying, whinny, emo character that make me follow her along for a while and see where she was going. Even in the book, Keiki remarks to her that he rather will like her to abdicate the throne, so little even him thought of her. But as Keiki, we the audience felt obligated to cast our lot with her and see what will happen.

After some episode of complete annoyance for this crybaby, all of the sudden we start seen something different. This girl with issues was growing up in front of us. And doing so in a trial of fire. She was thrown into a situation not familiar to her, with no explanation (as we the audience did too, which I find awesome... we needed to think in order to get this series), she was been hunted again with no explanation and then, the miracle happens... just when she was on the brink, ready to loose her humanity and sanity, SHE BOUNCE BACK. All of the sudden this coward, whinny girl became strong and resourceful. This selfish girl became compassionate. This non entity became a heroe.

Now, my first question so we can start making an analysis of her journey is: in your opinion, what is the most pivotal point in the books and anime that helped on this transformation? For my 2 cents, my opinion is...Rakushun... I hope you all join me in this discussion...

To me I think the most pivotal point in the book is when she fights against her otherself (Blue Monkey) and finally overcomes him (in the scene you see a huge tidal wave the monkey is on while yoko is charging with her sword). I believe at this time when she concurs her fears is when yoko really shows the will-power and determination.

I agree, but in a way that came to be because of Rakushun. The monkey (as you point out ) is herself and she gather the strenght to fight that "dark side" (i love star wars too LOL) after been expose to unadultareted {sic} kindness in Rakushun. She realizes in that moment that the end do not justify the means... In fact, i believe there are 3 moments that are pivotal for her transformation: 1) what you mention, during the "kill the rat" episode; 2) again rakushun when she was doubting if she should ascend to the throne or not in En's palace and 3) when Asano died when refusing to bow down to Shouko's soldier. Those 3 moments are in my humble opinion the 3 catalyst that define Youko forever. What you think?

what is the most pivotal point in the books and anime that helped on this transformation? For my 2 cents, my opinion is...Rakushun... I hope you all join me in this discussion...

I agree that one of the pivotal point (not the most pivotal point thou) in the book that helped on the transformation will be Rakushun. However, Rakushun only show her the path towards the light. In the end, it is still up to her to believe in it, have faith and follow the path of light.

So, the most pivotal point will be her will to believe and not to escape.

That give her strength and allows her to fight her own inner demons.

I agree that one of the pivotal point (not the most pivotal point thou) in the book that helped on the transformation will be Rakushun. However, Rakushun only show her the path towards the light. In the end, it is still up to her to believe in it, have faith and follow the path of light.

Excellent view! Indeed it was up to her, as in any of us, to follow or not follow the path of light. In my opinion, Rakushun serve the purpose in the hero's journey of the wise man... that person that will guide the hero towards reaching his or her potential. In this case, without even trying, he achieved that with Youko and later on with Shoukey (who also was on a hero's journey in her own way). It is true that her will to believe will be the important point, but the spark of it was meeting Rakushun... without that meeting, she would have fall into madness... which she was very close to do when she even considered killing him...

Again, Youko is a picture perfect example of the hero's journey. She is a relunctant hero, even a flawed one and some moments in her life were the landmarks that define her change. For example, another scene in the anime (it is not in the book, but it was well done in the series) was when she conquered kimpa palace and she realize that she has given so much of her innocence and childhood to become what she was destined to be. Yuka said perfectly in her monologue: "she has given so much to become what she is now". Thats the mark of the human condition, that we sometime have to give so much in order to become what we can become...
Sorry, i am rambling... please let me know more opinions of this

Come to think of it, meeting Rakushun perhaps is already a stroke of luck. Imagine if she meet someone else just like Asano whom he meet the wrong person and got made used of. But we can augue on the fact that perhaps it is her destiny and fate to meet Rakushun as Rakushun scruptured a queen.

Or can we go on the assumption that meeting Rakushun and the possible outcome was a test by Tentei? Since she was alreay a queen before she meet Rakushun, so if she would have kill him; that would had meant that she had murdered some innocent. And that would have sin and make her kirin sick?

Yea in a war, somethings have to be sacrified. Lol, I think I am rambling also and i enjoyed discussing with you.

And there is also another point / analysis from the emperor of En and Enki. And En-ou and Enki, and a point of time also gave some advice and assitance. Humm, without them, Youko would have never succeeded in terms of military help.

I too believe that meeting Rakushun could have been pre-destined. In the final analysis, she has free will to choose the path, in this case she fortunally chose the right one, but it could easily go the other way. In the hero's journey, this concept is always presented, the hero must make a choice, and that choice will lead to one thing or another, is unavoidable.

King En and Enki is an interesting case...both are helping her, but one can argue that their motives are not completly selfless... Enki wanted to save Keiki and King En wanted the refuge from Kei problem resolve... but this said, although their motives may not have been selfless, their actions still are honorable and they DO indeed help her inmensibly. And not only military help, the sole concept of she having the backup of the King of En was enough too give her the confidence need it to achieve what she did.

I still do belive that the first point of her Journey was Rakushun, it was the point when our hero (Youko) must decide either to continue the journey or give up and become mad and (as she pointed out many times) erase her humanity and become a beast... i love this series, the layers upon layers of things to learn is amaizing... and i appreciate we discussing this, it is really fun!!! LOL