Hyouka – The AfterStory
Project Collaboration by Commander Cody & Maria
INFLUENTIAL SOURCES
Hyouka (Anime Series) – Obviously! This work is based on the anime!
Hyouka (Translated Novel from BakaTsuki) – A little; mostly for the English translation's literary style; have not read entirely.
Japanese for Busy People – A language book for people who want to learn common Japanese words and phrases without having to constantly decode characters in Hirigana, Katakana, and Kanji.
A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Anime, Tea Ceremony, and Zen – Your layman's overview of Japanese culture
Any anime that I had watched…in English subtitles and Japanese audio (not the English Dub!) – Very influential in giving some kind of overview with the culture, and how people interact
Some Japanese films I had watched, in whole, or in part – to have an idea of how Japanese people interact in real life
Densha Otoko (Train Man) Okuribito (Departures)
Any Internet source that had anything to do with Japanese culture in general, pertaining to:
Common Japanese words and phrases found in anime Common traditions Basic cuisine Overview of High Context and Low Context cultures Articles on Japanese workplace culture Romance (in particular!) – Differentiating between Ai, Koi, and Suki Japanese wedding ceremonies, esp. Shinto ceremonies (and Western) The challenges young married people face with their firstborn child (whether in Japan or not)
Forums on the Hyouka series (esp. Reddit)
And of course, my younger sister, Maria, who helped me so much on the Japanese language…and the overall culture, and also on matters of the heart when I could only write on matters of the head.
EPISODE NOTES
Episode 01
Why I have set set Houtarou attending Kobe University:
Kobe University is situated in the Hyogo prefecture. Hyogo prefecture borders Kyoto; Kyoto borders with Gifu, where Kamiyama City is located.
For Oreki Houtarou:
Kobe had some program in the humanities, which is where Houtarou would have studied. At the undergraduate level, Kobe University has a Faculty of Letters (which also includes history).
For Chitanda Eru:
.jp/~rendai/eng/
Why Houtarou pursues the path toward humanities:
He mentioned before (in the last episode) that he planned to major in the humanities. Also, the novel version of Hyouka, by Yonezawa Honobu, mentions that Houtarou had a preference of Japanese history.
?title=Hyouka:Volume_4_The_Doll_that_Took_a_Detour
On Kamiyama Library, and the "teacher's fascination for helicopters:
See Hyouka, Episode 18 – "Are the Mountains Sunny?". One of the Kamiyama High School teachers, Ogi-sensei, became overjoyed at seeing helicopters. Ogi-sensei had hiked in the Kamiyama mountains, where severe storms could occur. A helicopter flying over the mountains was an indication that the Kamiyama mountains was safe to hike.
Eru advises Houtarou to put a photograph in his resume. In Japan, this practice is standard for job applicants.
Why Eru pursues the path of the sciences: She mentioned before (in the last episode) that planned to specialize in the sciences so that she could assist in the growing of crops
If you have difficulty believing me, watch the subtitled version of Majou no Takkyuubin, a.k.a. Kiki's Delivery Service. Kiki calls her father and mother Otousan and Okaasan, even if the relationship between parents and child are warm and close.
In this fanfic, Eru's relationship with her mother and father is a little close, but not entirely distant. Though she still loves them, she still maintains some kind of formal respect for them.
On the role of Eru's father and mother:
Eru's father is named Tetsugo, as one will find in the Hyouka series (Episode 2_, Sappy New Year). I gave the name Hiromi to Eru's mother. (Hiromi means "Generous Beauty", and the name suits her disposition, as Eru's mother is more kind and sweet, almost like Eru is.)
In the series, we do not see Eru's mother or father. But in the Hyouka Afterstory, Eru's mother and father play a great role.
Episode 02
NOTE: Japanese people use military time.
Conventional Time Military Time
1 am 0100 hours
2 am 0200 hours
3 am 0300 hours
4 am 0400 hours
5 am 0500 hours
6 am 0600 hours
7 am 0700 hours
8 am 0800 hours
9 am 0900 hours
10 am 1000 hours
11 am 1100 hours
12 pm 1200 hours
1 pm 1300 hours
2 pm 1400 hours
3 pm 1500 hours
4 pm 1600 hours
5 pm 1700 hours
6 pm 1800 hours
7 pm 1900 hours
8 pm 2000 hours
9 pm 2100 hours
10 pm 2200 hours
11 pm 2300 hours
12 am 2400 hours
Trivia: In anime and manga, girls and women who wear glasses are typically called meganekko (megane: glasses; ko: child). Their common stereotypes include being bookish and reserved, usually. Sunohara Kanae could be called a meganekko.
"I received a call from Chitanda Eru-san," said Houtarou's sister. "She called me to ask you if you could visit her house…and that you're welcome anytime."
The last part was usually said as a courtesy to guests and acquaintances. It is customary for Japanese people to say that a person is welcome any time in their houses, but this part is done mostly out of politeness.
Tanoshii koto . Search for fun, happy things.
The English translation conveys the idea, but it hardly does justice. Tanoshii refers to anything that makes life enjoyable and worth living.
The word "happiness" was derived from the old English word hap, meaning "luck", which seems to have a connotation with materialism. (Lucky about winning the lottery, or stumbling into a store having a discount sale, etc.) (Borrowed from the homily of a parish priest talking about the Beatitudes).
However, in the Japanese language, "Happiness" takes a different context, generally having a connotation with "fulfillment" in life, extending not just to the tangible things of this world, but also the intangible.
Tanoshii concerns the state of enjoyment, and could partially be about fulfillment; but the joy is momentary. For example, tanoshii is used in context with enjoying the company of family and friends. (In Clannad, Tomoya tells Nagisa to "find fun, happy things"; meaning "find the things that give meaningful enjoyment in your life, not just in the material sense of the word", and we can presume it extends to the company of people and places in her life.) Japanese society, after all, as a high-context society, places great emphasis on human relationships; particularly face-to-face contact; you'll find this overarching theme in many anime, manga, and visual novels.
Ureshii concerns the state of fulfillment; one that is not momentary, but lasts forever.
Episode 03
Keio University – A university in Tokyo.
Because Satoshi is working in a business-related environment, I decided that he would have attended that particular university.
. .
I did," said Mayaka. "I took up the matter with my new publisher. He says he will…consider it." A response like that usually amounted to a polite "no".
In Japanese society, it is customary to convey a decline of a request in an indirect way. Direct refusals would be regarded as rude.
Oohinata Tomoko: Character featured in It Walks By Past. Oohinate Tomoko joined the Classics Club, then eventually quit the club.
Oohinata Tomoko is a new character featured in the fifth volume of Hyouka titled The Approximation of the Distance of Two. In this volume, Oohinata Tomoko had initially joined the Classics Club, but later quit, due to a misunderstanding, possibly with Eru.
You can peruse these chapters to learn more: Chapters 4-3 and 4-4, and chapters after these chapters.
NOTE: I had only skimmed through the entire volume, doing a keyword search on "Ohinata". My summary of this volume may contain missing information I had not learned.
You can access this volume on this link:
?title=Hyouka:Volume_5
The link belongs to a completely translated collection of the Hyouka Volumes on Baka-Tsuki:
/project/?title=Hyouka
Episode 04
Episode 05
The Juumonjis are in charge of the Arekusu Shrine. Presumably, the Shrine is a business asset for the family.
The culture of chotto in play. Hayashi feels less inclined to accept the offer proposed by Houtarou; he was trying to decline it in a polite way. By the look on Hayashi's face, Houtarou could conclude (as any Japanese person would) that he was trying to say "No".
Episode 06
"Hajimemashite," the gentleman grunted in a casual way with a wave of his hand. He did not seem enthusiastic about greeting them, which made the four, particularly Eru and Mayaka, seem alarmed.
"He does not even take the time to greet all of us individually," a nervous Eru confided to Mayaka in a low tone of voice. "It's…bad manners."
"That man is probably rude, as I can tell," Mayaka huffed.
In Japanese society, it is considered customary to greet people in a group individually.
Episode 07
The flashback was taken from Episode 24 of the Hyouka series, near the conclusion of the episode.
Post from Reddit (SQ_Minion):
Firstly, and most obviously, the whole thing is literally rose-colored; Oreki, for the first time, wants a rose-colored life instead of the gray existence of energy conservation he's chosen up until this point. The cherry blossoms, apart from independently being a traditional symbol of a new beginning or a rebirth, also hearken back to the first scene of the first episode, the first day of high school, where Oreki first explains his philosophy. Obviously the repeated symbolism of the cherry blossoms highlights the enormous difference in Oreki's personality, his desires, his beliefs. KyoAni also chose to have this scene take place in the evening, just before sundown. At first I thought this was an odd decision; surely a sunrise would be more symbolic of Oreki's renaissance? But I think a sunset fits the situation more closely: the gray-colored period of Oreki's life is indeed over, but (unlike Chitanda) he isn't sure yet what his future will be, and so I think it would be misleading to suggest that the next period of his life has already begun. More importantly, the future doesn't actually seem all that promising, despite it being rose-colored, which I'll explain in detail in my next point.
Secondly, I found Chitanda's monologue fascinating. She admits that she doesn't think the land she's tied to and the life she has to accept are either beautiful or full of potential. She says the people are old and tired and that's left are water and soil. Given the population crisis Japan is facing, this is a very real and very heartbreaking reality, and the melancholy expressed in Chitanda's humble acceptance of a life she doesn't really want is a microcosm of the entire nation of Japan. Science and business are the only options, and neither of them offers any real promise, as captured by Chitanda's lack of enthusiasm. It's somber and it's inevitable, and yet Chitanda says she wanted Oreki to see it because it's all she has. Oreki comments, "A powerful old family," but Chitanda replies, "I wonder about that." She realizes that, while she is bound to Japanese tradition and doesn't seem to have any intention of resisting it, the old way of doing things and the long-standing traditionalism is powerless, because of its inflexibility, to address a radically changing world. Even the long-resolved conflict between the north village and the south village still creates problems even though the reasons for the tension are long dead. Because of this rather hopeless and bleak situation, the sunset that Oreki and Chitanda are walking into definitely seems much more fitting than a sunrise, and much more poignant.
Finally, I noticed that Oreki, for the first time that I'm aware of, is pushing a bicycle while Chitanda is not. This is a complete reversal from the first episode and from the rest of the series; until now, it was always Chitanda pushing a bicycle while Oreki walked alongside her. I think this demonstrates clearly both of my previous points: Oreki is now the one who is mobile, youthful, free, full of all the possibilities a bicycle represents. Chitanda, on the other hand, is more resigned and knows she cannot get away from Kamiyama City and from the vicelike grip of the aristocratic tradition she was born into.
In summary, then, this is not a show about mysteries. It is not a show about highschool hijinx or about a group of wacky characters. Hyouka is a lamentation about Japan's downward spiral as a nation, a resigned acceptance of the inevitable fact that everything has a beginning and an end, and the show offers no suggestion for finding salvation, no exhortations to rage against the dying of the light. Despite that, the final line of the series inserts an odd bit of optimism, some expression of hope that, despite how grim everything seems, somehow something will emerge from the frozen ground and quietly begin to flourish again. Even in the longest winter, "little birds can remember" the promise of a returning spring. Even facing the inevitable, there remains hope for a better future.
Given the population crisis Japan is facing, this is a very real and very heartbreaking reality, and the melancholy expressed in Chitanda's humble acceptance of a life she doesn't really want is a microcosm of the entire nation of Japan. Science and business are the only options, and neither of them offers any real promise, as captured by Chitanda's lack of enthusiasm. It's somber and it's inevitable, and yet Chitanda says she wanted Oreki to see it because it's all she has. … Japanese tradition and doesn't seem to have any intention of resisting it, the old way of doing things and the long-standing traditionalism is powerless, because of its inflexibility, to address a radically changing world.
Episode 08
The last part I derived from the last episode of the Hornblower series, Loyalty. Horatio Hornblower was slow in seeing that Maria began to have feelings for him when Hornblower regarded her as a good friend. Just like Hornblower, but to a greater extent, Houtarou was completely oblivious to Eru developing feelings for him, too.
Episode 09
As a longtime Japanese tradition, the families of engaged couples gave these gifts to the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be:
Katsuobushi (勝男武士/かつおぶし) is dried bonito. It represents virility.
Naganoshi (長熨斗/ながのし) is a type of dried clam. It represents avoiding ill-fortune.
Surume (寿留女/するめ) is a type of dried squid representing a lasting marriage since it "lasts" for a long time.
Konbu (子生婦/こんぶ) [is a type of kelp representing] fertility and having healthy children. It's also quite tasty.
Yanagidaru (家内喜多留/やなぎだる) is a lacquered sake barrel. Don't be fooled by the word "barrel." It's handheld. It's a charm to avoid a wasteful wife.
Suehiro (末広/すえひろ) is a pair of fans representing prosperity. It can differ, but one is usually white and the other gold.
Tomoshiraga (友白髪/ともしらが) or takasago (高砂/たかさご.) Tomoshiraga is a white hemp thread representing the white hair of an old couple. Takasago is pair of dolls also representing growing old together that's given in the Kansai region.
There is also kinpoudzutsumi (金包包/きんぽうづつみ) or kosoderyou (小袖料/こそでりょう) Bridal money. The amount depends on the financial situation of the man, but it's supposed to be about three or four times his monthly pay check. It's similar to dowry, except it's paid to the woman's side. The man's family also used to get onhakamaryou (御袴料/おんはかまりょう) if the woman's family had no brothers, meaning no one to carry on the family name. Since in the past families with many daughters and no sons could go broke paying it, today the custom is usually ignored even in traditional ceremonies.
Because Eru is the only child, Eru's family gets onhakamaryou. Traditionally the custom was dispensed, due to the likelihood of families with many daughters and no sons going financially broke if they maintained the custom. What Houtarou's family give to Eru's family is a gift, though.
All his information is taken from an online article titled: The Art of Proposing to a Japanese Girl.
( japan/proposing-to-a-japanese-girl/)
Benares – An old city in India. Oreki Tomoe had stayed in that city during her travels. Benares was where Tomoe had written the monumental letter to Houtarou telling him to join the Classics Literature Club at Kamiyama High.
?title=Hyouka:Volume_1_Chapter_1
2000 hours – the equivalent of 8:00pm
1600 hours – the equivalent of 6:00pm
1300 hours – the equivalent of 1:00pm
1400 hours – the equivalent of 2:00pm
"The Sasaki family are important parishioners to the Shrine, and major contributors," said Kaho's father. "Asking them to reschedule their daughter's wedding would bring about…bad customer relations with them."
The use of the word "parishioners" is featured in the novel version of Hyouka. For example, you can find its use in the chapter titled "Sappy New Year", during Houtarou and Eru's visit to Arekusu Shrine.
Episode 10
Episode 11
Eru mentions the mystery of the hanging shadow. That part is featured in Episode 07 of the Hyouka series; the episode featuring the Classics Club members' visit to the Seizansou, the Zenna family inn. The hanging shadow turned out to be the hanging yukata belonging to Zenna Rie, and Zenna Kayo was borrowing her sister's yukata.
Rie is the older sister. She is now in college, freshman year.
Kayo is the younger sister. She is finishing her last year of high school.
I made up these circumstances for Rie and Kayo, based on the information from Hyouka:
Hyouka is set in 2001 (publishing year).
Eru is listed as 16 years old. She's in her first year of High School, indicated by the "1". Going in tradition, Eru would have two more years, which would put her at 18 (16+2). Japanese High School lasts three years, as opposed to the West's conventional four years. If Eru goes to a four-year university, and graduates after four years, that would put her at 22 (16+2+4). Eru would be in her early twenties by then.
From 2001, the story takes place 6 years after the events of the story, putting the year at 2007.
Rie and Kayo would have nearly completed high school and start transitioning to college.
It is mentioned that Zenna Rie is in 6th Grade, and Zenna Kayo is in 4th Grade. Seven years would have passed after the Classics Club visited the Zenna inn.
Using the K-11 system: (Japanese High School lasts three years, instead of four)
Zenna Rie:
K-8 High School
10 11 College
6: Rie
College: Rie
If we put Kayo at a year younger:
Zenna Kayo:
K-8 High School
10 11 College
4: Kayo
10: Kayo
We will also assume that Zenna Rie would have been about 16 years old (same as Eru) if she entered High School in her first year. In the present Zenna Rie would be around 19 years old.
Zenna Kayo would be a year younger than her onee-chan; around 17 years old.
So how is it that Rie is present? Rie heard about Mayaka visiting, as well as Houtarou and Eru. She made arrangements to join. Rie made arrangements to visit her family at this time.
In fact…I seem to recall that he admonished me greatly for not using the onsen more often. That was back in my high school days…
In Episode 07 of the Hyouka series, Satoshi scolded Houtarou for not using the onsen on a regular basis.
"Houtarou pulled some yen bills out of his wallet." – It's usually traditional to pay in cash, even for large expenses.
"Houtarou raised a brow. Mayaka could be passionate about something. For him to hear about Mayaka being gloomy and depressed, well, unusual. Not that she manifested such behavior at the time when Satoshi broke the Valentine's Day chocolate back in high school, and Houtarou had to intervene in that sorry affair. That event was such a long time ago."
In Episode 22 of the Hyouka series, Satoshi broke the chocolate heart that Mayaka gave to him. Houtarou scolds him for what he had done, to which Satoshi elaborates in turn that he was afraid he would become obsessed over Mayaka, hence his hesitancy to accept her Valentine's Day gift.
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 14
You can find out about Satoshi's obsession against obsession in Hyouka: Episode 23. During one Valentine's day, Satoshi broke the chocolate heart that Mayaka had sent to him. Satoshi reveals his reason: when he was a young boy he became obsessed over winning, which sent him into a rage if he lost. Satoshi tried to avoid this obsession again, and in doing so, lived a relatively happy life. But when Mayaka entered his life, Satoshi was not sure he could reign in his obsession over Mayaka.
Note, however, that the scene plays out differently from Yonezawa Honobu's novel version, which has some extra mentions. The anime script, though is similar to Yonezawa Honobu's version. You can find this chapter on the Baka-Tsuki website. I simply decided to use the anime version, since this version is the one many viewers would be familiar with.
?title=Hyouka:Volume_4_The_Case_of_the_Hand-made_Chocolate
Ordinarily I would use the terms "man" or "woman" instead of "person", but many English subtitles of Japanese audio use the word "person".
"I would like to…but…"
The Japanese typically don't make direct refusals...
Episode 15
Houtarou is analytical; he is not used to being "touchy-feely" the way Eru is. Also, Houtarou seems to be prone to regarding his baby daughter as a pet to keep around.
EPILOGUE
In past episodes, Eru addressed her mother and father using the "o" prefix: Okaasan, Otousan. Oreki Aiko now addresses her mother and father with the slightly casual form: kaasan, tousan. This change may indicate that Eru and Houtarou are beginning to relax the formalities of traditional upbringing a little. While Eru's relationship with her mother and father was a little formal, the relationship between Aiko and her mother and father are becoming more informal; an indication of the next generation relaxing on the rigid formalities of some traditions while still maintaining those traditions themselves.