From dressing like he wants to master his own pride, “Immortal Dragon” Tatsu challenges the masculinity of other Netflix anime characters.
Kodoani.com – Netflix’s slice of life comedy anime, The Way of the Househusband non-traditional in many respects. The story follows a former yakuza, or ex-gangster, named Tatsu, who gave up his yakuza life to become a housewife husband. The anime’s cutting edge has been criticized at times, such as the anime’s ‘no motion’ animation style. However, the anime continues to be popular on Netflix, even getting a second season.
One of the favorite points of this anime is the design of the main character. While “Immortal Dragon” Tatsu has retired from his combat days, he continues to battle stereotypes about gender roles. In just the first season, he redefines masculinity in a natural and humorous way — and what it means to be a husband.
One of the strictest chapters in the old masculinity rule book concerns dress code. Men should wear long pants. Men should not wear makeup. And men should definitely never wear aprons. However, Tatsu’s most recognizable outfit is his apron. It dominates other notable features of the guy’s character design, including his traditionally masculine yakuza tattoo, as it is worn over all his other outfits.
Whether Tatsu has to dress or dance in an unusual manner, he is never bogged down by his sense of shame. Pride is a component of traditional masculinity that is often confused with confidence, but the two concepts are very different. Pride may prevent Tatsu from dancing with older women, but confidence is the reason why he is able to overcome his pride and complete his mission.
The daily duty, which Tatsu took very seriously, was to cook. Unlike characters like the pirate chef in One Piece, Sanji, he is not a professional chef. His bento meals and baked goods don’t earn the guy any money or prizes. Even so, he persisted in his efforts. He often cooks and cleans, because his purpose is not to do favors for his wife or to let her rest. The guy isn’t a guest in his kitchen; he mastered it to support his partner’s career.
Tatsu is supported in many different ways and because his actions are out of compassion, Tatsu has won the hearts of many viewers. Whether taking care of cats, flaunting Shiba Inu’s pride in his apron, or running after his wife when she forgets her lunch, Tatsu’s attitude towards others is ferocious. He acts on his more empathetic and caring nature and the result is not vulnerability, but empowered strength.
Ultimately, the most groundbreaking aspect of Tatsu’s personality is his respect for others, especially his wife. Miku is the financially successful half of their partnership. She supports their family by working full time as a professional designer. The decision to leave the housework to Tatsu and continue working after marriage was never questioned. Instead, Tatsu responded by feeling even more motivated to support his wife by doing her best to take care of their nest. Due to their mutual respect, they are portrayed as an enviable couple.
Tatsu’s traditional feminine traits, from showing compassion to cooking, are often depicted with on-screen humor, accompanied by fun soundtracks and surreal visuals. It could be argued that the anime implicitly propagates gender conformity with its story and message. However, by turning the seriousness of its content into humorous and engaging scenes, the series actually disproves the underlying rationale for old-fashioned masculinity. By making its jokes obvious and self-reflective, the anime overcame its pride just as Tatsu himself did. Ultimately, The Way of the Househusband redefines tradition and masculinity as it modestly, playfully, and confidently portrays the man in the apron – and the story will soon be revealed in live- action.
Via: Kodoani.com
