© 小西明日翔・講談社／来世は他人がいい製作委員会
Why do I keep having “Meet Rebecca,” the final theme song to the criminally underrated musical drama Crazy Ex-Girlfriend stuck in my head throughout “Princess Tsubaki” ? Meet Tsubaki! She is the most amazing girl in the world!
Except that's not really the case. Tsubaki is Yoshino's cousin, the daughter of one of Renji's unidentified illegitimate children. She is someone born and raised in Kyoto, and Yoshino is shocked to learn about her plans to move to Yokohama. She and Kirishima went to see her on a day trip to the famous Chinatown in the suburbs and surprisingly, he and Tsubaki were so close that they were famous.
However, it's not surprising, because just like Kirishima, Tsubaki… a lot. More than Yoshino realized. Yoshino knows Tsubaki is incest-obsessed with their grandfather and Yoshino herself, because she resembles him. Tsubaki is also promiscuous with three current boyfriends. It is unclear whether they know each other or not. The three of them act so well together in these scenes, Yoshino groans miserably as her two companions bond over what they have in common. Do you like sleeping around? Me too! Wouldn't it be fun to sleep together?
The mood changes when Yoshino has to run off to find a convenient excuse… er, turn in the math homework she forgot. Tsubaki and Kirishima riding the Ferris wheel doesn't seem romantic at all. This isn't about sightseeing – it's about talking about matters they probably don't want to be overheard. For example, Tsubaki was the connection that made it possible for Yoshino to get her kidney. And that they didn't take Yoshino's kidney, but they did take a significant amount of her blood, which is now in Tsubaki's possession. If Kirishima does anything wrong to her, Tsubaki will make sure he never finds her, including forcing Yoshino to change her name and face.
Like Shoma before her, Tsubaki acts as a reminder that the yakuza operate according to a different ethical model. While a normal person might have a love language like physical touch or gifts, the yakuza's love language is more akin to “offering to kill someone” or “stealing your blood.” Or maybe those things are considered acts of service? Although Tsubaki, as a woman, may not be able to become an official yakuza member, she moves freely in their world and does not pretend to feel otherwise, and is also a role model for Kyoto's graceful and feminine elegance.
In a way, she is the Kyoto of Tsubaki's Osaka. The two cities are geographically close, only about an hour by train apart, and have similar dialects but cultural differences. Kyoto is considered elegant and cultured, but also passive-aggressive to the point that people from other parts of Japan find it intimidating, even in a high-context culture. Tsubaki looks and acts very feminine but is indirectly dangerous. Meanwhile, Osakans are considered urban and plain-speaking, and Yoshino will almost certainly say what's on her mind. She may have been raised in the yakuza, but she's just as outspoken as them.
One thing is certain: Yoshino is loved. And unlike most cases, when those who love her say they would do anything for Yoshino, they mean anything.
Not much happens in this episode, other than introducing a new character and the dynamic they bring with them. There seems to be more preparation for all the tensions simmering under the surface. We got some interesting dialogue but not much of a thrill.
Rating:
Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
