Google sheet: NANA―ナナ― Vocabulary Sheet Please read the guidelines on the first page before adding any words.
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Finished reading this week’s section - a lot of character development this week, with Nana seeming a bit more mature! I liked to see that, because she was becoming a bit annoying…
I can’t wait for next week and the 大崎ナナ chapter!
Posting my thoughts as a “first time reader”, I don’t want to spoil anything going blind with what I remember, and anyway it turns out that I don’t remember that well
So, happy to see that nothing happened with 浅野さん! Even judged him way too fast, with the fake name and the fake transfer to Tokyo, turns out both seemed to be true. (but him being married still holds, so yeah, still not great morally!)
Not a big 章司 fan but eh, if 奈々 is happy, I’m happy
Now can’t wait for next week to meet ナナ!! (hoping it’s not a spoiler as it’s the name of the chapter)
I think what happened here is that she just gave the big speech to 浅野さん and is reflecting on everything and then her phone rings and ruins the moment and that’s what was 台無し.
Something like “life is far from over yet”? Even if it didn’t work out with one romance, there might be まだまだ another one waiting.. kind of idea
Based on 淳ちゃん♡, these are probably Nana’s happy thoughts, rather than 淳ちゃん thinking this to herself, but it’s not super clear.
Ah nice found on Jisho, I hadn’t checked! I guess I don’t really see the direct connection with what they are talking about. I mean I kind of see it (he says I’m not really good boyfriend material, I’m not employed, and I wouldn’t be able to save you if you were dying by the roadside), but just feels like a weird thing to say
p.83
I think that makes sense, thanks!
p.99
Yeah the 淳ちゃん♡ definitely makes me think it’s Nana’s thoughts too. Thanks for the link and the answer, makes sense!
Yeah, he’s not working, he’s a 浪人生… the 野たれ死に is definitely him being kinda humorous. I think because it comes right after him saying those things about his bad social position it’s that he has nothing to give her and no prospects right now so he can’t, like, provide anything even if she’s dying in the street or facing a similarly awful (less literal) fate. Alternatively, he did just return from failing to find and help her when she was literally alone out on the streets of Tokyo. Works either way I suppose.
I wasn’t gonna send that one til I finished reading and added on but I’m tired and doing this at like 2am heh.
Nana bumping into that guy turned out way more like nice closure than I expected, glad she had a good thing happen. I kinda like 章司, I get the impression he’s overall a good guy and he’s kinda goofy like she is. Still hard to feel confident about the long distance relationship. Do people ever portray them working out? I was in one for years with my now-wife so I think I beat the odds. Anyway. looking forward to seeing other Nana next time finally.
Oh and there were a lot of very good images of 淳ちゃん’s hair sticking out everywhere in this section.
That’s how I interpreted it, too! Like “my stupid ringtone is spoiling this perfect moment”
I am still not quite finished with this chapter, but just figured I’d pop in!
Thoughts!
I had forgotten about the fact that 菜々 runs into 浅野. It feels important that she is able to get that moment of closure, since it’s clear how that relationship has remained unresolved for her, even subconsciously. Her character really shines in moments like this when she reflects and makes a promise to herself to move forward.
Iiiii don’t like 章司 as much as I remembered…In my memory he was kind of a sweet and innocent dude, but he’s much more immature than I recalled. Which is totally fair considering his age, etc. and if anything makes him a more realistic and well-developed character. Just an interesting observation now that I’ve revisited the story at so many different points in my life!
Thoughts about 淳子 & 京助
Speaking of reading this at different phases in my life – I remember the first time I read this as a kid, I assumed that 淳子 and 京助 were both Black. Just today, I did some poking around on Reddit and it seems this is a longstanding point of discussion, with many different theories/claims about what is and isn’t confirmed. While it seems most likely that Yazawa was influenced by (aka appropriated lol) Black culture when designing the characters – as opposed to them being canonically Black – I am going to keep my headcanon in tact!
Also just separate side note but I love them so much as a couple!
I like them too, sometimes it feels like they are the only adults in the room
Interesting how your perception changes with time! I’m also wondering if I’ll still like the same characters that I used too. Favorite is still 奈々 so far
10000% Despite whatever other chaos is happening in this story, they are always so stable and steady – it’s refreshing and comforting! I recall a scene at some point where 章司 goes to 京助 for advice about his issues with 菜々and is acting all cavalier, and 京助 gets incredibly serious and is like “wtf are you talking about I would never do that to 淳子” – major ドキドキ moment.
None of my favorite characters have appeared yet which is why I am SO excited for the next section! 大崎 ナナ will forever just be the coolest character of all time in my mind, but I also adore ヤス (figures I also became a lawyer lmao).
Mmm, feeling the odd one out here - I’ve always had mixed feelings about 淳ちゃんand 京助, sort of found them a little self-complacent & 中年っぽい and more than a little condescending to 奈々. I also feel like 京助 is like 淳ちゃん’s cipher - have I missed something, but what is he going to do in Tokyo?
I think they’re a bit callous but it’s a nice counterpart to Nana’s character I think. I do also think that Nana does deserve some condescension from time to time…
I’m not sure I understand the meaning of “cipher” here.
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