I'm sorry, it took me so long to get this up, I had invited everyone else to come back and share their analysis, so I should have been the first. Here I leave my analysis of Bucchigiri, maybe the fandom here seems dead, but I'm glad to see that from time to time something new appears, so I want to leave this as a way to welcome those who want to delve deeper into the themes and details of this story, so again, don't be discouraged, I like to think that despite everything things are getting better, we're not dead.

COOKING, LOVE AND HOME

MORE THAN A STONE

IS THERE ANY ADULT?

I think it would be interesting to see a little more of Matakara and his brother, so I'll leave here an idea that has been on my mind for a while

Short story

It's been some time since Mitsukuni managed to recover, now he and his brother have rented a small apartment so they can be on their own. However, now that it seems like everything is finally settling down, Matakara still can't stop thinking about a subject that still haunts him, so he wants to talk to his brother about it, although he's not entirely sure how he'll take it…

Matakara: Brother…

Mitsukuni: Is something wrong?

Matakara: What would you do if they ever come back?

Mitsukuni: You mean…?

Matakara nodded.

Mitsukuni: Why do you ask so suddenly? It's been a while since the last time.

Matakara: It's just that… I almost don't remember their faces anymore.

Mitsukuni: I guess it's natural, you were very young, even I'm having a hard time doing it.

Matakara: And what do you feel about it?.

Mitsukuni took a moment, the truth was that the subject still affected him more than he was willing to admit, even more so in front of his younger brother.

Mitsukuni: I don't know, honestly, the only thing I care about is that you and I get ahead.

Matakara: I understand, it's just that when I see Ara-chan with his mom or Zabu and Komao with their parents, sometimes I can't help but wonder what it would be like if they were here.

Mitsukuni: Yeah… it's complicated, right? But… try not to get too wrapped up in those thoughts.

Matakara: You're right, it's not worth it, I'm sorry I bothered you with that.

Mitsukuni shook his head.

Mitsukuni: You don't have to apologize, I appreciate your sincerity, maybe… it's healthier than continuing to bury it under the rug. So I ask you to talk to me if you feel that way again.

Matakara: Thank you, brother.

At that moment there was a short silence between the two in which neither of them knew exactly what to say, which made Matakara somewhat uncomfortable. Even if his brother had reacted better than expected, it seemed as if he was keeping something that at this point he was not sure what it would be, until eventually his countenance became more affable, it was there that he realized that he had exaggerated everything, his brother was just undecided.

Mitsukuni: Matakara, do you want to have dinner out? It may sound silly, but I want us to continue making good memories.

Matakara: Are you sure? I have no problem if we just have dinner here.

Mitsukuni: Don't worry, I got some extra pay at work, besides, sometimes I feel like I don't spend enough time with you, we should celebrate that we have each other whenever we can, don't you think?

Matakara: Yes, it's something to be thankful for.

I've already said this on Twitter, but I think it's worth mentioning here as well.

For those unaware, there was a Bucchigiri event at the end of August, there were no big announcements, but I think it's important to point out a few things. It seems that the event went well, they even ask fans to KEEP SUPPORTING BUCCHIGIRI FROM NOW ON, and add to that the fact that merchandise is still being released, I know it may not seem like much, but considering how discouraging everything looked a few months ago, I think things have turned out better than expected, even more so when I occasionally come across a comment from someone who did enjoy the story, so let's not get discouraged.

I'd like to encourage everyone in the fandom who has done analysis about Bucchigiri to repost them (both here and elsewhere), many of them were done when the anime was still airing, so it would be interesting to see your perspectives now that we have more information, nany offered very interesting ideas and it's sad to think that others will miss out, plus I think it would be a great way to liven up the community a bit and welcome new people, now that the fog of hate has disappeared (or at least greatly diminished) it seems like a good opportunity for other fans to see that there's a space, the Japanese fandom hasn't stopped, so I don't see any reason for us to do so.

I had this idea about Arajin and Matakara floating around in my head recently, so I couldn't help but go into it a little more and wanted to share it here too, it's kind of short

When they were kids Matakara sleeps over at Arajin's house and asks him "How does it feel to have a mom?" but his friend had fallen asleep…

Some time after they had reconciled, Matakara sleeps over at Arajin's house and can't help but ask him that same question again. Arajin, knowing what that means to him, answers him…

Arajin: She can be annoying at times, it seems like she's always watching every step you take, she asks you questions out of place and even behaves in an embarrassing way. But… she's also the one who welcomes you home with a smile and a plate of freshly made food, she's always happy to see you, she teaches you many things saying that it's for your own good, or she'll tell you that you look handsome even if you don't think so.

Matakara: Yes… I think that's it, actually... I'd forgotten. I should thank your mother for reminding me, it was nice.

Arajin: So that's what it was about… well, she's always been like that (She became very insistent about that after telling her about Matakara's parents).

Matakara: She's been very kind to me, I really appreciate it.

Arajin: It's not so strange if you think about it.… you're my best friend after all… in some way that makes you part of the family, doesn't it? Besides... since she raised me well, I don't need so much attention anymore.

I think it should be obvious, but Bucchigiri is an anime about bonds and relationships, with three different ways of approaching it, sex, fights and cooking.

Saying that Arajin only wants sex and losing his virginity is to stay with the most superficial aspect of his character. Because yes, that's what he says he wants, but there are signs that it's not what he really seeks, a meaningful bond/relationship with someone, surely in an attempt to fill the void of that friendship he lost when leaving Matakara behind, because if we look closely, despite what he says, every time Arajin fantasizes about Mahoro it's never in a sexual way, what we see are bonding moments.

And his rejection of fights doesn't seem like a simple coincidence, not only because it's a characteristic of his condition as an antihero (in the classic sense of the word). But it's important to remember that just like sex and cooking (for someone) they are ways of relating, I mean… it is a very common trope… "men understand each other in a fight" which is particularly important here because it's the main way in which the boys relate to each other. Seen this way, by rejecting fights Arajin not only rejects confrontation, but the possibility of relating to the other boys, because doing so means constantly facing his guilt of what happened with Matakara (which also left him with after-effects), because if you pay attention, you can see that Arajin does care about him, more than he is willing to admit.

Let's also add to that how important cooking is (which I already have an analysis on this), cooking is independence, maturity, the warmth of a home and above all affection. I never get tired of saying it, the food in Bucchigiri "speaks", the single scene where Arajin and Matakara cook together in episode 8 is simply beautiful and tells us several things about both characters, their backgrounds, the state of their relationship, how they have coped with their lives after separating. And not only that, but cooking is presented as a kind of "third way" with respect to the previous two, not for nothing the last scene that both friends share is precisely cooking together.

By the way, have you noticed that there is in fact a common idea between sex, fighting and cooking (especially between the first two)? They all involve in one way or another "give it your all" and in particular "being exposed" and therefore "being vulnerable" which ends up being part of the resolution of the conflict, because it is at the moment when Matakara admits his pain that Arajin is also able to accept not only his guilt but the damage he caused him, it is there that he is finally able to gain the determination necessary to become a honki person and save his friend.

Bucchigiri is a story about bonds, relationships, trauma, loneliness, but it doesn't throw all its cards on the table in one sitting, it's also a story told through the small details it wants you to notice, because there's a lot to see if you are willing to give it a chance, it's a unique experience, even touching, that despite its flaws (because it has them) gives off a lot of personality, charisma and especially soul.

When you know what the seal on the Arajin and Matakara stones symbolizes, could it be considered an equivalent to the "true love kiss"? Bucchigiri is based on Aladdin(a fairy tale) after all