All of the comments on this new chapter so far, including many of them on the previous few since the father was introduced don’t seem to understand much about Japanese culture, especially the role of the “first son” and the “duty of the father.”
I see nothing in the comments to indicate posters weren't already aware of it. We just don't condone it.
Tradition isn't an excuse for abuse. Being abused isn't an excuse for being an abuser. We know full well what his purpose in the story is, and hate him for the kind of person he is, despite Mogumo's best efforts to communicate that the cycle of abuse has to end.
Yes, I understand that. However, I feel that in hating the father, there is a lot of the underlying critique on the breath and pervasiveness of Japanese family culture and how it is forced upon people like the father which is missed. You definitely are not supposed to condone what the father does and how he acts, but to hate his character simply because he was raised in a culture and environment where he knew nothing else I feel makes you disregard what his character truly represents, and what the manga is trying to say through him. As someone who studies Japanese culture, trust me the father is far from the only one over there like that. If you go to any department store in Japan there will a sign labeling "girl's toys" and "boy's toys," kitchen utensil isles are marked as "mom's dining room." This is a issue which permeates throughout the entirety of Japanese society, and many people like the dad are brought up into this culture knowing nothing else, and believing that following conformist gender and family roles are simply the natural state in which all people should be to thrive in society. I'm sorry you disagree, but I feel that casting it off as just "tradition isn't an excuse for abuse" causes you to miss the point that the father never made a truly conscious decision to be that way, he was raised in society in which he physically could not be any other way.
I'm not very good at expressing myself, but I agree with all of this, this isn't just a case of "dad is an awful person" but he's been brought up with this awful mindset like it's normal and so of course he's going to instantly reject anything that differs from that worldview, both out of ignorance and out of a wish to protect his "son". I don't condone the actions but I can understand the reason behind them.
This recent chapter was great though, such an emotional rollercoaster
last edited at Feb 5, 2021 2:47AM
