Symbolism With Akemi And Theories On How She Could Become A Ruler In Japan

Symbolism with Akemi and theories on how she could become a ruler in Japan

Throughout Blue Eye Samurai, we see that Akemi constantly struggles with her freedom, life, and what she wants in life. While Akemi may be a princess, she is also a woman in the Edo Period. She barely has any say on her life. The only times she has any say on her life is when she convinces another man to change things for her. (Her father, Taigen, and her husband.)

There's this one moment when she is first introduced that showcases what little say she has over her life. When trying to convince her father that she should marry Taigen, Tomoe (her little half brother) throws food at her. In fact, Akemi's father even praises Tomoe for doing as he pleases. He even remarks that Tomoe would grow up to be a great lord. This is insulting to Akemi. Her little brother, a child; most likely not older than 5 or 6 because he doesn't talk, has more say over Akemi's own life, than she does. She's an adult, a princess yet this little boy could kill her at a second's notice, and she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

What hurts even more is that the only 2 times her father speaks softer to her is when Akemi brings up marriage candidates and when he shows her the 12 and 20 sex positions. He doesn't see her as a person, he didn't even see his late wife as a person. The only thing he mentions about his late wife is that she was unladylike, but she knew how to please a lord. That's the kind of man that Akemi's father is. He only views people based on their importance to him. Tomoe is valuable because he is an heir. Akemi is valuable because she is his key to becoming the Shogun of Japan. His late wife's only use was her ability to please.

Akemi's father doesn't even show an ounce of sympathy when Akemi is down on her knees, begging to not get married.

Another symbol of Akemi's lack of say is the pet bird she receives as a wedding gift. Akemi releases the bird because she relates to its lack of freedom. She follows it, yet when it is close to gaining freedom, it is shot by her husband.

Do you know what else this parallels? Akemi when she was trying to escape her marriage. She was close to getting away, but she was caught by her family's guards.

Akemi's lack of freedom is constantly mocked. To her father to Lady Ito. Lady ito does not care about Akemi because it is what is expected. Even going as far as to mock her mourning of the bird as she feeds her 2 other birds.

Akemi is a bird in a cage, pretty but trapped. But Akemi has the potential to control Japan through her husband. Like what Madam Kaji said, "nurture his weakness and become his strength." Akemi could become a shadow ruler of Japan and have her husband be the puppet ruler. It isn't unheard of women being the actual power the thrones while a puppet ruler was the face of it. Many queens regents often acted as the absolute monarch in place of their husbands or sons. Sometimes Queen mothers would intimidate their sons so they could have power. Catherine de' Medici, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and many more are great examples.

Two other possibilities is that she could become more of a popular ruler of Japan and therefore people would be in support of placing her on the throne. Catherine the Great of Russia did this with her husband. Peter the III was incompetent so Catherine the Great overthrew her husband and became the ruler of Russia. Akemi could make the first son of the Shogun seem unfit to rule Japan and have her husband become the Shogun. Then she could slowly become more popular and have the nobles and the common people treat her more as the absolute monarch in Japan. Remember Takayoshi seems insecure and could possibly let Akemi rule instead. Effectively becoming more of the face of the throne with Akemi becoming the power of it.

The second possibility is that Akemi completely overthrows one of the 2 sons of the Shogun (either her brother in law or Takayoshi) and just become the sole ruler in Japan. While unlikely, we do have real life examples of women being the sole rulers to the throne. Queen Seondeok of Silla in Korea, and Wu Zetian, the only Female Emperor of China. Both rulers ruled before Edo Japan. Queen Seondeok of Silla was the daughter of the King, and she protested to be an heir to the throne. She was described as a kind and wise ruler. Technically, Akemi could be in line for the throne if everyone dies except her.

Wu Zetian was described to be more ruthless, but she was extremely innovated and a competent emperor. Empress Wu allowed women and commoners to be her advisors and have a place in the royal court. This is awfully similar to how Akemi allowed Madam Kaji and her girls to be her Lady-in-waitings and her companions at the palace. This also reflects on how Akemi wishes for women in Japan to be equal to men. Wu Zetian also fixed the famine problems of the common people, had a part in inventing printing for the Chinese people, and advocated for women's rights. During her reign, many women had more political power, and some even donned men's attire.

If Akemi learns how to use her manipulation skills to manipulate the royal court, she could bring a revolt to place her as the sole ruler. Akemi could possibly appear as the benevolent and wise ruler like Queen Seondeok of Silla, but behind closed doors she could use the same tactics like Wu Zetian did. But of course, still have her competence and approval of the common people. Also side note that Wu Zetian was worth about 16 trillion dollars USD and the Shogun is the second richest man in the world, so Akemi has the chance at being the richest woman in the world.

While Akemi still has much to do before she can become the ruler of Japan, I do believe that through the recent development that we've seen she could become the sole ruler of Japan. An Empress that is kind, wise, and generous like Queen Seondeok, but also a ruthless, cunning, yet powerful and beloved empress like Emperor Wu Zetian. Akemi may be a bird in a cage at this moment, but she will find a way to break out of her prison and make all of Japan worship her as the Divine Empress of Japan.

Shen Jiu and Shen Yuan

I know the svsss fandom jokes about Shen Qingqiu/Yuan being like Helen of Troy because he has a tendency to wifebeam himself. But what about Shen Jiu as Clytemnestra? Helen of Troy was the more universally known/liked one out of the two. Clytemnestra is practically Helen of Troy's shadow of a sister. Clytemnestra wasn't the face that launched a thousand ships to Troy. Instead her story is filled with betrayals that lead to her death by her son. It's similar to how Shen Jiu was killed by Bingge. Shen Jiu essentailly plays a parental figure to Bingge, but Bingge seeing how violent Shen Jiu could be, swears revenge and kills him. Just like how Orestes saw that Clytemnestra killed his father and swore revenge. Killing her in the end. You could even go as far as saying that Agamemnon abandoning Clytemnestra is similar to how Yue Qingyuan failed to come back for Shen Jiu.

Another interesting to note is that in the end, Orestes, who killed Clytemnestra, was acquitted by the gods. An eerie parallel to how PIDW fans would go to lengths to forgive Luo Bingge's crimes.

Incorrect quotes

Mizu: What doesn't kill me should run, because now I'm fucking pissed.

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Taigen: I must restore my honour back.

Ringo: Would you like some soup to grow back your hair? I hear that these mushrooms make hair growth more effective :)

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Mizu: You seem familiar? Have I killed your father? How about your lover? I probably stabbed you at some point.

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Mizu: Ringo.

Ringo: :3

Mizu: I need you to be serious.

Ringo: >:3

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Taigen: I fear no man

Taigen: But that

*homoerotic feelings towards Mizu*

Taigen: That scares me

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Akemi: I actually don't mind when people underestimate me because I am a woman. It makes it much easier to plan the downfall of people when they're focused on me being a proper lady.

Seki: That's my girl :)

Truly the greatest thing to ever happen to the fandom

doing my part to make the blue eye samurai fandom worse

My Roman Empire is that Bingge's adoptive mother would be disappointed with him if she were still alive in PIDW because she raised him to be kind and thoughtful. Not a tyrant that would resort to sexual pleasure whenever he was bored. And if she were to find out the way he treated his wives, she would be furious. Bingge treated his wives indifferently and essentially abandoned some of them. How could he abandon them when both he and his mom were left to rot in dust. The only thing Bingge and his mom had were each other.

If Shen Jiu were to bring up this fact, it would hurt Bingge more than falling down to the abyss ever could.

Shen Qingqiu is literally the Danmei version of whatever the fuck Helen of Troy did

I don't think i'll ever be able to get over how coquetish Shen Qingqiu is, like, bro is supposed to be a repressed nerd inside a villain's body so why is he acting like the type of man wars are fought over? That head tilt with his voice drawing out the word "Shidi" would make ME fight a deranged half-demon over his corpse for 5 yrs straight, Liu Qingge was victim