Comment on [Episode] Journal with Witch • Ikoku Nikki - Episode 5 discussion
Rottcodd@ani.social 5 days agoFor a moment I thought grandma or some other person was embezzling money
Me too, though I gave grandma the benefit of the doubt and assumed it was some other relative. We’ve already seen that they’re a pretty selfish lot.
Speaking of which, it’s really funny to me that she decided joining a band club was so out-of-bounds that it wasn’t even worth asking but dropping 2 grand on a new laptop was okay. I wonder if that says anything about how her mother viewed spending money.
Both how she viewed spending money and how she viewed doing something “frivolous” like playing music (or writing novels).
And it’s notable too that Makio had already said that Asa could join whatever club she wanted, and Asa essentially just automatically assumed she didn’t really mean it.
Makio’s wounds from Minori are raw and plain to see, but I think Asa has veey similar wounds that she’s not even really aware of yet. Her memories of her mom are slowly shifting and clarifying.
Endmaker@ani.social 5 days ago
I guess I’m the only one who immediately thought of Asa regarding the unexpected withdrawal of money, huh. I thought this is a common enough occurence; I’ve seen my fair share of news articles in which kids used their parent’s cards, or withdraw money they are not supposed to, in order to spend them on video games and such.
The only time we have really seen them being “selfish” is at the funeral. Even then, IMO they aren’t being especially selfish. It was just a realistic depiction of what happens IRL in this kind of situation.
In fact, (extremely hot take incoming) one can argue that Makio is selfish but the relatives are not. The relatives are aware that it is irresponsible to take Asa in when they don’t have the capacity to truly care for her. The way Makio took Asa in was reactive and in the heat of the moment, out of her sense of justice for Asa (i.e. for her own needs) without thinking deep enough of the consequences, and now she’s paying for it in this episode.
(Personally I support Makio’s adoption of Asa; they are whom each of them need.)
Rottcodd@ani.social 4 days ago
I dunno - I never even considered the possibility that it was Asa. Granted that kids do stuff like that, it seems entirely out of character for her.
For the relatives, “selfish” probably wasn’t quite the right term - “self-centered” would be better.
I disagree entirely.
But I don’t think that’s what happened at all. They weren’t thinking about Asa - they were thinking about themselves. It wasn’t a matter of whether or not they could care for her - it was that caring for her would require making sacrifices, and none of them were willing to do that.
Makio, on the other hand, was thinking about Asa, and in fact was so focused on Asa that she didn’t stop to think about the sacrifices she was going to have to make at all. That all hit her later.
NineSwords@ani.social 5 days ago
I see where you are coming from. But having gone through raising two daughters myself, I would come to the exact same decision as Makio, even knowing perfectly well what hardships raising kids entails. Having family fall into foster care is unthinkable, even if it means that there is some personal sacrifice. I also don’t see Makio ever interpreting her current hardship as an error.
AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 3 days ago
professional opinion: please see a therapist.
Endmaker@ani.social 3 days ago
???
What. Why??
AntiBullyRanger@ani.social 3 days ago
Reviewing your “takes” while ignoring the signs of both Kyōko’s and Minori’s apparent dismissals of both Asa’s & Makio’s feelings and inputs may mean three things you haven’t personally been diagnosed for in both NPD symptoms and/or traumas.
The fact Asa couldn’t believe Makio because Minori always lied and flippantly ignored Asa’s decisions, shows me that either you were abused by an NPD, or you really really need one right now.
Either way, if it comes out you’re normal, no trauma, etc., that therapist can guide better see these signs of dismissals and neglect.
I sympathize with Makio greatly, because she doesn’t see that she distanced herself from both, because of NPD abuse. I 🙏 Kazunari Touno, the attorney, can recommended them all three therapists.