The obligation of inheritance hangs over Goto-sensei
What They Say:
The topic of lineage takes many forms in this week’s Kakushigoto. From mother to daughter, a dog to her litter, or a mangaka to their assistant, the relationship between someone and their progeny is symbiotic. The master must take responsibility and raise their pupil properly, but the master has just as much to learn from the next-in-line. What will Goto-sensei learn from the time he has spent with Hime?
The Review
Content (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
Kakushigoto continues the trend of exploring a singular motif through the various aspects of Goto-sensei’s life. This week Goto-sensei learns the importance of passing the baton – not literally, but as a parent, a caretaker and a creative influencer. Firstly, Goto contemplates adopting a dog for him and Hime to raise. But owning a pet is no simple task – it’s a responsibility that one must see through to the end. He equates it to starting a new manga series; once a story has begun, it’s the duty of the owner to care-for and develop the series until it reaches its conclusion. But this process isn’t so black and white. Especially in the world of manga, completing a story is never so cut and dried. In Goto’s opinion, a manga can never be called a masterpiece unless it’s completed – but many would beg to differ. So many manga have been rushed to a conclusion because of waning popularity or an author losing interest in the story (In Goto’s case, he touts that he has five completed series under his belt, despite a few of them not being well-received). On the other hand, many would claim Hunter x Hunter and Berserk are masterpieces, despite their constant hiatuses and no clear ending in sight.
While a manga artist’s career and a dog’s lifespan may have equitable timetables, the story doesn’t simply end there. In Goto’s case, an ex-assistant of his has found success with a new Shonen Jump series. Goto and his staff then dive into the cycle of influence between a mangaka and their assistants. When working on a series for a substantial amount of time, it’s only natural for an assistant to take inspiration from their boss’s work. But even in that case, when an assistant finally debuts, their art is uniquely their own, despite the amount of influence they take on. If their manga becomes popular enough, it isn’t unlikely that the original mangaka will then take influence from their pupil. The progression of art simultaneously takes inspiration from the past while carving their own influence for the next generation. This realization spells out a dilemma for Goto-sensei – as he continues down his own path, he has the responsibility of supporting his assistants in blossoming into their own as artists.
All this talk about manga’s lineage in-turn mirrors Goto-sensei’s home life. Goto ends up obtaining a dog for Hime, but not just any dog – it’s a puppy from a long-line of dogs raised by his father-in-law; its ancestor was Goto’s wife’s dog when she was Hime’s age. Similarly to the pure-bred lineage of this dog, Goto’s father-in-law is making preparations for Hime to inherit the lifestyle of her mother. Goto’s wife was a talented musician, and so her father speculates that Hime has a similar talent welling inside of her. It’s difficult for Goto to accept this “destined lineage”, but it is only natural for caregivers to pass on the knowledge of their predecessors.
Goto dwells on the topic some more when Rokujou-sensei clues him in on a common misconception – It’s often said that dogs start to look like their owners, but it’s actually the opposite. The owner starts to look like their dog because of all the love they pour into raising them. Can the same be said for Goto and Hime? Surely Goto loves his daughter, but what kind of impact will he make on her future? Hime has not only inherited the dog and a grand piano, she’s also learning things from the boxes her mother left behind. In his current state, Goto continues to hide his life’s work from Hime, effectively denying any sort of impressions he may leave on her. Right now, her trajectory seems to be in line with that of her mother, but is that what’s best for her? Goto has said time and time again that his father-in-law is a terrible human being, but as things stand, Goto isn’t the one in control of where Hime’s influences originate. Whatever fate befell Goto’s wife will likely happen to Hime if Goto doesn’t take responsibility and guide her properly.
In Summary:
What a densely-packed episode of Kakushigoto, not to mention the time-skip scene at the end with Hime’s classmates and Rokujou-sensei. Each week builds a new layer to Goto and Hime’s relationship, with the dramatic conclusion inching ever-so closer.
Grade: A
Streamed By: Funimation
