Monday, January 1, 2018

Azumanga Analysis -- Kasuga "Osaka" Ayumu

Ah, everyone's favorite character, including mine.  The shining star of Azumanga, the one and only Osaka.  I read this analysis online where someone claimed if Osaka hadn't been in the show, the fanbase would not exist, at least not as large as it was at Azumanga's peak.  This is certainly true, given how strong a flavor character Osaka is.  It's also been stated by many that there was no character like Osaka in manga before, and that there were many imitators afterward. 

Granted, I don't know enough manga history to know if that last claim is true.  I don't really doubt it, it just surprises me because Osaka is pretty normal.  No, I don't mean "normal" as in a common example of a person in society.  Osaka is a normal example of a very small portion of the population.  She's the perfect example of a Myers-Briggs INTP, and in the world females of this type make up less than 2%, approximately, of the world's population.  While Azuma might not have been familiar with the Myers-Briggs system, it's entirely possible he knew someone like Osaka in real life, as INTPs are characterized as extremely withdrawn, imaginative system designers with love for innovation and near inability to follow through with even a small percentage of their ideas. 

As you can tell, I've put a lot of thought into Osaka's character.  Who wouldn't?  We all love her, so of course out of all the characters we think about her the most, yes?  And because we love her so much, we all try our hardest to deny the truth.  That truth?

Kasuga Ayumu is destined to be a failure.

Don't get angry.  Search your heart; you know it to be true.  If you require evidence, well, here we go.