The following contains spoilers for Episode 12 of Chainsaw Man,”KATANA VS. CHAINSAW”, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Tatsuki Fujimoto, the creator of Chainsaw Man, had something profound to say about the ballsy season finale of Chainsaw Man.
Borrowing Koharu Nagayama, his “little sister’s” Twitter account, Fujimoto has taken to live-tweeting his reactions for each episode of Chainsaw Man. In Episode 12, “KATANA VS. CHAINSAW,” he tweeted, “That’s good music,” “Gya~” and “Denji is being cool.” Near the end of the episode, Fujimoto wrote something rather peculiar; he tweeted, “Starts with the balls and ends with the soul.” This tweet is referencing the scene where Denji and Aki have a contest to see who can kick Katana Man’s family jewels the hardest and make him scream the loudest before the cops arrive.
Interpretations of Fujimoto’s Tweet
There could be a number of ways to interpret what Fujimoto said. In the most literal sense, the “soul” that Fujimoto is speaking to could also mean Himeno’s soul. As Aki kicked the daylights out of Katana Man’s balls, he asked, “Himeno-senpai, can you hear this up in heaven? We’re playing a requiem for you.” Katana Man’s screams of pain act as a repose for Himeno’s soul, so she can finally rest in peace.
Another interpretation is how Denji and Aki’s first meeting wasn’t exactly the most auspicious since Aki spat on Denji, and Denji decided to retaliate by rendering Aki incapable of reproduction. This moment where the two come together, in the manner of their first meeting, but this time to avenge a fallen colleague, is a beautiful scene to witness. It’s after this incident that Aki and Denji become closer, and their relationship is more akin to brothers.
Friendship From Balls to Soul
The overall arc of the first season can also represent starting with “balls” and ending with the “soul.” Viewers found the beginning of Season 1 balls-to-the-wall packed with action, with Denji having to fight strong foes like the Eternity Devil and Katana Man, but the overall sentiment of Episode 12, coupled with Eve’s ending song “Fight Song,” is much softer. The ending showcases an ordinary day for the Hayakawa family; a nickname fans have lovingly dubbed for Aki, Denji and Power. The three go grocery shopping, visit a shrine and head home for a late dinner — its beauty lies in its mundaneness.
All episodes of Chainsaw Man including this balls-filled finale are available on Crunchyroll.
Source: Twitter, via Anime Corner
Leave a Reply