Love Hina Analyzed

[Gordon Freeman]

*Ruffle sthrough his papers*

Ahem.

I must admit that many people I know would find it most unusual that I would like something like Love Hina. From one narrow perspective, i can outline all its faults. From another simialr narrow perspective, I could argue that the faults can be ignored provided one switches off his/her mind when reading or watching the series.

However, in keeping with one of my particular favourite hobbies and styls I shall attempt to present another look at Love Hina, as I usually do.

The Background of Love Hina

The names of the protagonist and one of the lead characters,and the presence of tama, all signal to the Japanese legend of Taro Urashima

The story was parodied in Episode 4 of the manga (not certain of the anime), and, can be found here:

http://faerymists.tripod.com/fytales/urataro.htm

In summary, it was about a man named Taro Urashima, who saved a turtle attacked by a group of boys, and the turtle in gratitude, took him to the deepest part of the ocean, where, for a few days, he came ot live in the great palace of the sea. There, he fell in love with the great Princess of the Sea, Mutsumi Otohime (not sure of the first name, but definitely an Otohime) He had to leave after the few days, but, before he did, Otohime gave him a box, warning him not to open it.

Taro returned home, only to find out that he went 1000 years into the future, where no one could remember him.

With nowhere to live, and with nothing to do, he thought his only chances of returning were by opening the box. Ironically, in doing so; he regained the memoeries and experiences he had lost in those 1000 years.

There was one fable to this story that I encountered on the web: never disobey the commands of a magical or faerie like being (weird, I know). the point, apparently, was that Taro could have found a way to return to that magical palace under the sea. But there was another far better fable, which i shall explain in the appendix.

But, I also think that, either way, it would have been also better for Taro to have stuck with regaining thos elost years; because he may have never found that magical sea palace again.

Love Hina, I feel, is NOT a re-adaptation of the legend of Urashima. EVen if so, it would be a full re-adaptation

However, as with analysis, there has to be a point for the use of this legend and it's allusions.

Retelling a story

The method of modernising and adapting or changing a story to a more modern context is nothing new at all. The Fa Muan story, and tale of Tsai Yen, had been cunningly modernised to support feminist and anti-patriarchal views in Maxine Hing Kingston's "The Woman Warrior". Similarly, the famous Saiyuki has it's own (post)modern translation: "Gensomaden Saiyuki".

So Love Hina, by no means, is not doing something wrong; it's perfectly alright to take an old tale and change it, especially if it is to serve a point.

Love Hina..... as the anti-fairy tale

There has got to be a better name for the genre. But that's what it is.

Lov Hina as all the fantasy, quirkiness and silliness of a fairytale. But, with the crushing blows of reality, and many realistic parts of the story, one will come to realise that it is not a fairy tale.

To begin with, it's an anti-ronin story. Ths may seem unusual, but it seems to be against the agenda of dead man's cramming, common in the Japanese syllabus. As noted by Urashima; they intended to study and take it easy, and wait for the right moment. And that's the thing; such a philosophy towards studying (yup, philosophy can be applied to anything) is never taken, resulting in many students who just lack life in their sturdying.

Now... for the anti-fairytale.

The real fairytale of Love Hina would have not only been tha he ahd made a promise to that girl more than 15 years ago... but aso the fact that the girl should have been Mutsumi Otohime.

Etymologies

As with anything, a name must have a meaning to it, and a desired effect.

Keitaro is "The Little SOn of the Island". Kei, or "small" was added to the Taro. Princess Otohime remains the same... but there is an added presence.

In Naru's case, it means "the growing current of the river"

(what's with all the water imagery man ?!)

Naru represents the change of times, and it's affects on the individual, and his/her thoughts. I also feel her to be the changing of a tale to more modern times. All myths and legnds need to be updated to the present times, or they fossilise, and become redundant after a while, meaing that generatios past will pay less attention to these great stories.

Fate and the Persistence of Memory

(I must make a confession: I have read only up to Episode 11. But, from the preview of 12, and with an idea of what is to happen and the fact that the ending is known to everyone... I sense that I already know what is bound to happen)

But, as far as I have read, it is already certain. As much as we do know that Naru and Keitaro were MEANT to be together (quite obvious, noting the very begiining), the whole memory issue is where the anti-fairytale starts.

After all, let us not forget the beginning of Episode 3, where Naru claims that she was too young to make such a promise at such a young age. Of course, she later learns that the truth of this whole matter, but, that is the persistence of memory. In the travel of our lives through the canals of time, our memories will be affected by the changing course of our lives. This is, perhas, as portrayed by Naru's name, and her own life.

Keitaro would, also, ahve been far more suited to marry Otohime. I shall not deny this. But why Naru then ? Was it more than just some promise he made ? Was it more then just the relationship the had together ? The presence of Kanako makes me wonder. I have yet to finish the entire series, but, I have made one prediction:

The relationship between Keitaro and Naru has grown over the time they had known each other. If we put aside the time they knew each other as kids, then the time that they knew each other as grown up and adults is far more important; as the virtues of maturity and modesty return.

Reception of Memory

If we take an even deeper perspective of memory, we should then acquaint ourselves to philosophers and psychologists while pursuing Love Hina (I would include Jung and Freud, but Freud will attack everyone of Kei's fantasies as being sexual in nature, and Jung would talk about how SHinobu is really the Goddess of Mercy, and would need to know if Kei dreams of women in his sleep)

But yes. if we remember the original story; Taro regained all the memories and years he had lost upon opening the box. And, in Keitaro's case, his own memory was affected by the changing of time, so much so that he fogotten the full story. Thus reviving the whole "what is real?" and "what is true" debate.

Ah, bother.... or not ?

But of course, one need not really pay attention to the details of Love Hina. AFter all, it's meant to be a comedy with a small little bit of drama, and bits of reality to serve a purpose (ESPECIALLY the studying bit)

But, it is both fun and interesting, I feel, to observe Love Hina at a deeper level, and take numerous perspectives to view this particularly intriguing anime/manga.

Appendix:

http://aum-shinrikyo.members.easyspa...g/patience.htm

More a buddhist webiste, but, I like the idea of the tale of Tar Urashima being one about patience. The same goes for Love Hina. Most definitely.

http://www.comfsm.fm/~crgood/Mytholo...ma_Answers.htm

This is better; even though it's actually academic answers to some essay in some course somwhere.

It also has the greatest fable I have found by far:

The greatest importance is the experiencing of the human condition

Mortality rox.