Media Blog
Picture by hbieser
The 7 Shapes — Reflected in the Stories We Love
Not only in the magical world of Esperia, but right here on our beautiful planet Earth, we can also find echoes of the 7 Shapes—hidden in plain sight.
While we may not possess the magical powers of the Espers, we carry within us a human equivalent of their StarDust:
our incredible brain.
What if we looked at the world around us with greater awareness?
What if the stories we read, the movies we watch, the anime, manga, and books we cherish…
were more than just entertainment?
Each post below explores the presence of wisdom, balance, willpower, empathy, and more—through the lens of popular culture.
Let’s rediscover what inspires us, one tale at a time.
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Finding Connection and Resilience in Toumei Ningen by Tokyo Jihen
Tokyo Jihen’s Toumei Ningen (Invisible Person), released on their 2006 album Adult, portrays the delicate, sometimes paradoxical journey of someone who feels invisible to the world around them. The Japanese band, led by vocalist and lyricist Sheena Ringo, is known for blending various musical styles and complex lyrics. Toumei Ningen is no exception, weaving difficult
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Life, Identity, and Euthanasia in Me Before You
Me Before You, directed by Thea Sharrock, delves into the transformative relationship between Louisa “Lou” Clark (played by Emilia Clarke) and Will Traynor, a once-successful banker and adventurer who, after a tragic accident, is left as a tetraplegic. Though the film falls into the typical tropes of a romantic drama, it raises relevant issues of
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Finding Enlightenment Through the Journey of Growth in Vagabond
Vagabond, a masterpiece by Takehiko Inoue, offers a fictionalized portrayal of the life of Japanese swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, based on Eiji Yoshikawa’s novel Musashi. The story begins with two 17-year-old warriors, Takezō Shinmen and Matahachi Hon’iden, wounded on the battlefield after the Battle of Sekigahara. Determined to achieve greatness, they pledge to become “Invincible Under
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Embracing Change and Growth in Final Fantasy VIII
The 8th installment of Final Fantasy by Square Enix has been both celebrated and criticized, primarily for its romantic storyline featuring Squall Leonhart, a “SeeD” from Balamb Garden, and Rinoa Heartilly, a member of a resistance group against Galbadian forces. This game marked a major shift in the series, from the character design featuring realistic
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“Departures” and Life’s Hidden Lessons: Reflections on Work, Death, and Family
Departures by Yōjirō Takita, originally titled Okuribito (“one who sends off”), follows a cellist who loses his job and returns to his hometown with his wife. He unexpectedly finds work “assisting departures,” which he assumes is in travel. Instead, he prepares bodies for cremation ceremonies. This thought-provoking film examines themes of prejudice, our relationship with
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Exploring Romance and Self-Growth Through City Hunter
City Hunter, a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsukasa Hojo, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 1991. The story follows Ryo Saeba, a “sweeper” and flirtatious gunman, who runs the “City Hunter” business in Shinjuku, Tokyo. At first accompanied by his partner, Hideyuki Makimura, Ryo’s world changes dramatically when Hideyuki
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Living with Purpose: Reflections on Steve Jobs’ Life Lessons
Steve Jobs, known for founding and reviving Apple, reshaped our world with innovations like the iPhone and iPad. His worldview and approach to life contributed to his success, and he famously shared his insights as a Stanford commencement speaker. In his speech, Jobs highlighted a powerful lesson: “Remembering that you are going to die is
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Rediscovering Life’s Purpose: Reflections on Living by Oliver Hermanus
In Living, directed by Oliver Hermanus and adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru, Bill Nighy portrays a bureaucrat in a public works office who, upon learning of his terminal illness, confronts the monotony that has defined his life. Once called a “Zombie” by a former colleague—a woman he admires for her lively spirit—he realizes he’s lost