When Things Go South

It's been 3 days since I've finished my latest rewatch of Yuri!!! On Ice and I'm still reeling with all the small, gentle touches during Yuuri and Viktor exchange during the gala and how smoothly they are integrated into the choreography as a testimony of their love.

These touches don't happen in the spur of the moment, they are well-practised details of the routine. Every little movement causes a change in momentum and movement and thus affects one's balance. Add a slippery surface and interactions with a partner to the equation and a fleeting touch turns into a feature that demands to be planned and excuted timely.

The touches being part of the routine takes away nothing from their significance - on the contrary. They show the love and care Yuuri and Viktor have poured into this routine and thus symbolise the love and care they poured into their relationship. They are a part of the story Yuuri and Viktor tell through this programme - the story of their love.

Note how at first, Yuuri skates alone. He's fighting alone, expressed through the jumps, copying Viktor and trying to catch up with him. There's a reason why the part until Viktor arrives is exactly the same as Viktor's FS. Then, Viktor takes over and pulls Yuuri along. He woos Yuuri and supports him [the lift]. Eventually, Yuuri reciprocates his feelings [the caress of Viktor's cheek and the soft, loving smile right afterwards].

From there, they skate side-by-side as partners and skaters of equal skill, which gives us a glimpse into their future.

Eros portrays the physical and sensual aspects of Yuuri's feelings, Yuri On Ice showcases his love in a wider and more general sense and narrates the story of him and Viktor from his own viewpoint. In the gala version of Stammi Vicino, he and Viktor tell their story together in the grand conclusion of Yuuri's season theme.

Princess Kaguya's Glowing Garden in Sakuramachi Kumamoto (かぐや姫の光る庭)

After a long day of work in Kumamoto, we finished after sunset, and the city was already draped in darkness. Though I was tired, I didn’t want to spend the evening holed up in my hotel room. While searching for things to do nearby, I discovered an illumination art display called Princess Kaguya’s Glowing Garden, located atop a shopping mall in Sakuramachi. The idea of a glowing garden inspired by Japanese folklore immediately captivated me, so I decided to make the 20-minute walk from my hotel to see it for myself.

The admission fee was 2,000 yen, which I initially thought was a little pricey. But as I stood at the entrance and caught the first glimpse of the glowing lights reflecting off the bamboo, I knew it was going to be worth it. This wasn’t just an illumination display—it was an artistic masterpiece.

The bamboo poles were intricately carved with holes, each one meticulously placed to allow the soft, warm light to shine through. The effect was magical. The garden shimmered in the night, transforming the rooftop into a glowing wonderland. Patterns of light danced across the space, creating an enchanting interplay of shadows and illumination.

Walking through the display felt like stepping into a fairytale, a fitting homage to Princess Kaguya, the ethereal moon princess of Japanese folklore. The artistry behind the installation was awe-inspiring, as if the bamboo itself was telling the story of Kaguya’s celestial beauty.

I’ll admit, I have a slight phobia of tightly packed circles—a peculiar thing that usually makes me uneasy. But that night, surrounded by the glowing light and immersed in the intricate designs, I forgot all about it. The beauty of the scene had me completely mesmerised, and any sense of discomfort melted away as I wandered through the illuminated garden.

Adding to the surreal experience was the fact that this magical display was located on top of a bustling shopping mall. Beneath the serene glow of the bamboo, the hum of city life continued, but up here, it felt like an entirely different world—a tranquil escape above the everyday chaos.

Although the 2,000 yen fee initially made me hesitate, by the end of the evening, I was certain it was worth every single yen. The combination of the serene atmosphere, breathtaking artistry, and the timeless allure of Princess Kaguya’s story made it unforgettable.

Overall, it was a magical experience...

—Emmy

Can we have a Yuri on Ice resurgence please it would be so fun you guys

Kind of hilarious to me how poorly the title "Mob Psycho 100" localized to English-speaking areas. To someone whose first language is English, it scans as:

Mob (Yakuza, Mafia)

Psycho (violent person with "crazy" behaviors)

Thus: a particularly violent member of organized crime.

But in Japanese it scans as:

Mob (background characters in crowd scenes in manga or anime)

Psycho (short for psychic)

Thus: a psychic who looks/acts like someone you'd never pick out of a crowd scene in a comic.

They Say Never Meet Your Heroes

Chapter 4

Kill Your Darlings, Yuuri

They say you can’t fix what you won’t admit is broken—which is a tough pill to swallow when you’re lying in a psych ward and an unexpected, sharp-tongued stranger is dropping truth bombs at you. But Yuuri isn’t just facing reality; he’s renegotiating it. Goodbye, illusions of perfection and glittery hero worship—hello, brutal honesty and the chance to rebuild himself from the ground up. Because apparently, sometimes you have to kill your darlings, especially when they’re the things holding you back.

Happy May! Koi lanterns are 20% OFF on my Etsy right now :D Bring home your koi today!

“I feel so much but yet so little..”

I love mob ‼️‼️

They Say Never Meet Your Heroes

They say never meet your heroes—because they might ruin the carefully curated pedestal you’ve put them on. Maybe they’ll shatter your illusions with a single offhand comment. Or, maybe—just maybe—they’ll offer you something so bafflingly tone-deaf that you’ll find yourself questioning every life choice that brought you to this moment. And maybe they’ll turn out to be alarmingly human, with quirks and flaws that make them real in ways you weren’t ready for. But then again, heroes have a funny way of surprising you, even when you think you’ve got them figured out. Whether that’s a good thing… well, that’s another story entirely.

Skating in Iizuka—A Yuri on Ice Pilgrimage

Over the weekend, I took a trip to Iizuka—not just for a bit of sightseeing, but for something much more exciting. As a huge fan of Yuri on Ice, I couldn’t pass up the chance to skate at the very rink featured in the anime! It was surreal stepping onto the ice, knowing this was the real-world inspiration for one of my favourite series. Naturally, I had to do a side-by-side comparison.

I took a screenshot from the anime and matched it with a photo I took myself—and the resemblance is uncanny! Seeing the similarities between the animated version and the real thing was amazing. It’s one thing to watch a show and appreciate the settings, but actually standing in the same spot where those scenes were based? It made me feel like I was stepping into the anime itself.

Interestingly, while the rink is in Iizuka, the castle shown in Yuri on Ice is actually Karatsu Castle in Saga. I visited Karatsu previously, so it was fascinating to realise that the anime had merged these two locations into one. It’s a reminder of how creatively anime blends reality with fiction, crafting a world that feels real while still taking artistic liberties.

Overall, it was such a fun experience—skating in a place with so much meaning to me, uncovering the real-world inspirations behind the anime, and geeking out over every little detail.

—Emmy