• Anime/Manga

    My Happy Marriage Reflections: What is Family?

    My Happy Marriage Season 1 has recently ended, but I still have my backlog of posts to publish, so hopefully this will be a welcome read to reminisce and appreciate the show more ^^ What is family? For someone like Miyo who never experienced how it’s like to have a normal loving family, not even friends you can call family, it’s not surprising how she has a hard time grasping what family means. Her mother who loved her dearly passed away when she was so young to even remember how she was like. Her father did not even treat her…

  • Anime/Manga

    “My Happy Marriage” Episode 9 Reflections: On Miyo’s Broken Mirror and the Power of Vulnerability

    Prelude Our thoughts have the power to shape us; from how we think, to how we act, and ultimately to who/what we become. How we think of ourselves–in other words, our sense of identity–the lens through which we view ourselves, shape how we feel and act. The environment we grew up in plays a huge role in shaping our sense of identity, especially our core identity from childhood to adolescence. And depending on our upbringing (and also our parents’ upbringing), we can either be raised in a home filled with love and acceptance, or that of broken one that reminds…

  • Anime/Manga

    Beautiful Eyes upon My Happy Marriage

    It is often said that the eyes are the window to the soul, that you can understand a person’s emotions and sometimes thoughts by looking into his or her eyes. And on the subject of eyes, one thing I can’t help but notice while watching My Happy Marriage is this particular focus on the characters eyes–and I mean literal zoom-in focus. Probably the first anime I’ve seen with this level of focus. Boy are they beautiful expressive eyes! Such a visual treat and a mesmerizing experience I must say. I mean, from the very start of this anime, we are…

  • Anime/Manga

    Perfect Love Casts out Fear: An Ode to My Happy Marriage

    After the cliffhanger episode 5, finally we get to see Kiyoka save his beloved Miyo from the hands of the cruel Saimoris in episode 6. Oh what a lovely episode! For the first time in Miyo’s life, she finds that which is worth fighting for with her life, and fights for it with her heart and soul. From the lifeless, close-to-despair-looking Miyo in the first episode, seeing that fierce look in her eyes despite getting slapped by her cruel stepmother is already a clear sign that something in her has changed. Miyo’s resilience is truly admirable. And the way she…

  • Anime/Manga - Faith Walk

    The Sword in our Heart: Reflections on the Boy and the Beast

    The Boy and the Beast (バケモノの子) apparently left such a big impression on me that I am remembering it during this time of Prayer and Fasting, as I read about the “Scalpel of the Spirit,” putting on the mighty armor of God, the “Sword of the Spirit” which is His Word. With the mention of the Spiritual Warfare, I am reminded of scenes in the movie, when both the protagonist and antagonist were in moments of despair, and in different moments and circumstances, allows it to take root in their hearts. It was, for me, a clear example of how giving in…