SweetOcha’s Reviews: Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei

 Plot

Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei starts off  Fifteen years  later after the war between the Genji and Heike ended.   After the War with the Minamoto Brothers being the last surviving members of the Genji lineage become Orphans. The story focus on the Youngest brother who lives hidden deep within the Mountains of Kurama but in secrecy the Youngest era to the Genji Clan is actually a Young Woman name Shanao.  Shanao was raise to keep her Gender a secret for strong reasons.   Alongside Shanao is her Best and Childhood Friend Shungen (voice by Saito Soma).   

After dealing with the usual bandits that always try to capture Shanao, a Young Man that Shanao notice as she threw a pebble at him to get him to reveals themself.   Turns out to be a young Man name Noritsune Taira (voice by Kengo Kawanishi) who is part of the Heike Clan, Noritsune strong desire in wanting to challenge Shanao to a duel.   But after Shanao refuse the Challenge and a brief heated tension,  Noritsune set a bet to Shanao to see who ever can defeat Benkei Musashibo first will be the winner.

What ever choice Shanao makes she would have to deal with a lot of things piling on her while trying to solve conflicts related to the Genji and Heike Clan, along side with meeting other Colorful cast of Characters threw out her Journey, who will ether be joining Shanao’s side, Be a sworn Enemy or something much deeper….

My take

Playing Birushana was an enjoyable read, especially knowing about the history between Heiki and Genji clan.  While the setting of the over all story is serious, but within the serious moments are sweet and romantic ones.     I really enjoy the LIs and Side Characters, as much as I enjoy the Seiyuu’s performances voicing the Characters that they were given to Voice.  Out of all the LIs I feel an emotional connection to Yoritomo the most which I’ll do a discussion more on when I do a Commentary playing his route.  

Going into playing Birushana without surfing on the Game’s Website to get more knowledge can be a bit confusing in which LI you’re trying to win over,  because they have as I would call it the Lotus heart system.  This is where if you never bought the Physical copy of the game but you bough the Digital copy your gonna to enjoy yourself while embracing the confusion in what ever choice you pick despite you don’t know which LI you will win over let alone if you will get a Good or Bad ending.  

 So to break from the Confusion 

Noritsune- Red Lotus

Benki- Green Lotus

Shungen- Yellow Lotus

Yoritomo- Purple Lotus

Tomomori- Blue Lotus

 I strongly recommended that your follow the Route Order which is Noritsune >Benki>Shungen>Yoritomo>Tomomori.  

Because if you went to play Shugen’s route first, then you won’t enjoy Norisune or Benkei’s route with a Naive mindset.  With out any spoilers, let’s just  say after I play Shugen’s route the Idiom of “Ignorance is Bliss” is strong in this Otome.  Especially for Shanao…

Route Tier (Spoiler warning)

S 

I rank Yoritomo higher than Noritsune in the S tier bracket, not only because I love the whole tone in his route, but because at the time my Past self felt an emotional connect to Yoritomo in the issues that him and Shanao dealt with in his route.  

My Past self wrote why she can relate to Yoritomo’s case since she felt nobody understand the pain she is going threw.    While with Shanano is figuring out what to do next when Yoritomo is sent off to be Wedded after finally reuniting with him and having some-sort of a bond with him.

Noritsune

I really enjoyed Noritsune’s route, out of all the LIs I enjoyed his Chemistry with Shanao. Even though Norisune’s route did made me dislike the other LIs in his route.  But I rather that then to be turn off by his Route.

A

  

Tomomori’s route was really good but when I play it the first time I couldn’t picture myself replaying his route over and over again like I would with Yoritomo and Norisune’s route.  I really love Jun Fukuyama’s performance playing Tomomori. 

Shugen

I almost put Shugen’s route in B tier, but the CG save him to get a ranked up.

B  

Playing Benkei’s route was cozy in a really good way. While there was tension with the other LIs route, Benki’s route had more of a Slice of Life vibe to it.

Shanao’s Spotlight Coner

(HUGE SPOILER!!!)

I really enjoy Shanao as a MC,  but going threw the routes to know more about Shanao’s background I felt so bad for her when she found out about the Bomb shell Reveal that was dump in Shugen’s, Yoritomo’s, and much more in Tomomori’s route.    That the true plot to Birushana is that Shanao is not the Youngest heir to the Genji name, Shanano is not even a Genji in general.  She belong to the Hekei Clan and she is a Cousin to Tomomori, Shigehira, Tokuko, and Noritsune.  And the reason why Shanao was put into all of this was because Kiyomori’s Step-Mother  wanted Shanao to help shovel the resolutions between the two Clans.  And in order to make that happen Shanao need to be brought up as a Boy and have her believe in the false narrative that she is the Youngest heir to the Genji Clan.

Trying to picture yourself in Shanao’s shoes, imagine all your life you where known as the Youngest Heir of the Genji Clan, your Father die in Honor, Your Older Brother that you never met is on House arrest in a different region in Japan but he had witness everything that happen in the Heiji rebellion, while your Mom handed you over to these Monks in Kurama because she doesn’t want you to go threw the same faith that was force upon her by being a Concubine.   So you have to Hide your Gender to not live that faith that your Mom unfortunately or not have to go through.  Then years later you end up finding out everything you knew since you where old enough to comprehend things was all nothing but a flat out Lie.   

On top of that your Best and Childhood friend is actually the Youngest Heir of the Genji Clan and not you. 

 That’s a lot to take in,  sure Benkei, Tadanobu, and Tsugunobu weren’t outrage by this sudden news and still would support Shanao and still call him(her) Lord.     But my gosh, that’s a bomb-shell that I had to take a Minute to get my head together finding this out and going with this narrative. 

Unless you went to School in Japan or you didn’t have a Social Studies/History Teacher like I had growing up where they talk about Historical things outside of America and just only give us a sample of it while giving us that tease of 

“If want to know more about this Topic,  find out more about it in your own time”. 

Then you probity know the History of the Heiji rebellion and you bought this Otome to see how the writers put thier twist/spin on this in a romantic setting with out it being a Copy paste of what went down in that time.  Because of the Characters and the setting in the game are base off of real events that happen around that time. 

I didn’t want to discuss the Cousin piece in the My Take section of this review because of how Spoilery it is.  I heard of Cousin Marriages from Fire Emblem Fates and from going down the Wiki rabbit hole when I learn about Arrange Marriages.  Which both of those things is not as Common in North America, if you do wanna watch uncommon marriages thier is a Reality TV show call Sister Wives but just like all Reality TV shows you need to catch up to get up to date.

So is understandable for some people who had play Birushana to have mix feelings about it and might not be because of the whole Cousin piece.   But you also have to keep in mind that this is a Historical-Romance Genre and with it set in the timeline that Birushana is set in is not something to bat your eyes on.    Just like a lot of mess up things that happen in American history before the 60s that if they do that in current times people will be batting their eyes on it. Thankfully threw the Bomb shell Shanano got her Happy ending with all the LIs.

Overall

I Recommend getting Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei if you love 

*Historical settings

*Romantic moments

*Plot-Twists

*Action pack scenes. 

 I don’t recommenced getting Birushana Rising Flower of Genpei if you don’t like 

*Historical settings

*Plot-Twists

*Action pack scenes 

*Incest Relationship

**No word for word Translations

** When I done my 2nd play-thru(which I really enjoy my re-read) I notice something that got me to do a double take on.  Like Noritsune’s introduction for best example, how he introduce himself he said 

    のとのかみ   のりつね

  能登守教経

In direct translation Noritsune said “Governor of Noto, Noritsune”. Which this information alone is where you will get benefits from know the history of the Genji war. 

In the localization version Noritsune said

“Call me Noritsune…”

And if that was the case then Noritsune would of said

 教経だよ or  教経です

The real life Noritsune wouldn’t address himself this way in a casual matter.

Especially since he was a General he wouldn’t address to Shanao and Shugen that casually, unless he build a relationship with them threw out the years.   But I can understand the Localizers choosing to go this route out of fear of the reader being lost in translation or the Team having no access to put translations notes like you normally would get in the end of reading a Manga.

(I feel sharing my thoughts on Localizations and Translations deserves its own blog post. Because I don't want you to get lost in focus on why you need to check out Birushana or give it Birushana a huge pass.)

So if your trying to learn Japanese this way by buying the Localization for this Otome,  I highly don’t recommend you do that because they’re not translating it word for word.

Is excellent for listening and training your ears in getting use to how Japanese speaker would say words and names.  But nothing else more, is just worth getting if you enjoy the Localization’s craftsmanship in how they translate the game and portray the Characters. 

That’s why I put ** on it because is not that big of a deal breaker unless you do care about translation accuracy.   But if you don’t give a care and you just want a good read. Then don’t feel afraid to buy the Localization because you will get a good read in. 

(On a side comment, if you serious introduce yourself  to your Japanese’s Friend’s  love one by saying

 “No to no Kami, *your name*”  😃

They will be roaring with laughter at you.  Even though you would make their day a bit or much brighter if their having a ruff day at work or they got dump by their Ex or had a blown out argument with a Love one.  But in their mind they will be chuckling to your Japanese Friend behind your back saying

 “*smirk*! Your Foreigner Friend is Goofy. 😂”.)

Thank you so much for reading my in depth Review, I hope you enjoy the Birushana especially when you get it at really good sell. 🪷🗡️

I can’t wait to play the FD! 💗

SweetOcha’s Review: Tengoku Struggles 🔥

  

Synonym 

Tengoku Struggles starts off with a Young Woman name Rin Enma who is a novice Hell Guardian and the daughter of King Enma(Voice by Koyasu Takehito).  King Enma orders Rin to go after the Escapees who join Shinobikuni who created a pardoning app that will forgive people for their sins.   But Rin will not go at it alone, as King Enma set her up a Team of other Prisoners to join her from different levels of Hell that King Enma felt are trustworthy to work along side Rin to her disliking into to the Human Realm in order to stop Shinobikuni and the Escapees.  While Rin and the Four Trustworthy Prisoners devote to complete that mission they start to learn from each other over the course of the Routes despite their mutual hatred toward each other.

My Take

After playing Tengoku Struggles this makes me want to replay Olympia Soirèe.  Which is funny because the same Writer who wrote Olympia Soirèe also wrote Tengoku Struggles.   I didn't have a lot of expectations from playing it, but at the same time it took me by surprised that it came off more on the Slice of Life genre, then something like Collar X Malice or Night Shade.    Especially when they talk about Food, Hobbies, the LIs and the MC's interest along side their background.   With Olympia Soirèe and reading the Synopsis, is under the category of 

“What you see is what you get”.  

But with Tengoku Struggles which I can playfully say this, is under the category of

“Don’t judge an Otome by its cover” 

But in a surprisingly good way.  

Or it might be surprisingly bad for you, if after you play it was not what you expected. 😅

To get the bad parts out of the way, the additional LI in the roster is JacK who is voice by Furukawa Makoto.   Which I always enjoy Furukawa’s performances when he voice Characters.  As much as JacK’s route wasn’t a bad route, but you get the feeling it was an after thought with the Team working on Tengoku Struggles.  It just didn’t mesh well with all the rest of the LIs and it just felt random.  Despite that I love Random curve ball moments, but this one felt kinda force.   I know Tengoku Struggles is not my Baby that I work hard to make it be love by the massive.  But writing wise, JacK could have been blended in more better to make him seem like he truly belong into the roster.

Now on to the good! ❤️‍🔥

There were a lot of moments in the game where I really want to eat and try cooking the food that is in the game. Like the Japanese Style sandwiches (サンド) as well as Dango. 🍡

When ever I get the Money to travel to Japan, I can’t wait to try Mitarashi Dango, it just look so good.  I can only just  image how good biting into while also tasting that Sweet Soy Sauce.

While playing Yona’s route I want to try Hassaku Oranges, where I’m from in America we have different type of Oranges like Sumo Oranges, Navel Oranges, and Mandarin Oranges but haven’t seen  Hassaku Oranges.  Maybe  I might find it in a different Asian Market or H-Mart but is probity best I fly to Japan to try it.  Just like if you want to try Blue Moon or Superman Ice cream your probity better off buying a Plane Ticket to go to any of the Mid-West States like Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin to try it then you would else where.  Maybe not, but if you dream about want to try Blue Moon or Superman Ice cream I hope you get the chance Reader.

Threw out all the routes, they have a lot of really good life lessons that my Teenager and Adult self needed or need to be reminded of if I already knew it.  And relatable moments and situations you can resonate with the MC, LIs and Side characters.  I don’t talk about the Side Characters that much but I have a soft spot for Sansaburo and Okuni, they’re such a power couple. 

🩷

Route Tier

My reactions are going to be up to date.  Since I played it two years ago.

S   

It surprised me that Yona’s Route bump Sharaku’s Route down from number 1 for me. Because I thought I would still love Sharaku’s Route after playing it, but I love Yona more.  And I love him as an LI, I have to admit that I feel bad that I compare him to Kyo from Fruits Basket during half of my play thru tread.   Which he’s not identical to Kyo, and thinking back from how Yona was from the beginning or his Route to the end adds up.  

My Teenager self would feel connected from the advise Yona and Sansaburo deal with and that is to live for yourself and to not hide the pain your going through.

 I always have to remind myself that, since in my Teen years I didn’t know who I can go to rant about my problems or Hardships, so I kept a lot of things to myself.  Especially when you explain to the person about your struggles they ether could care less or won’t understand what your going through. 

  

And trying to live for others and not for yourself can be not only stressful but can even be depressing, because you live for that person that you end up losing yourself and never ask yourself what makes YOU happy or trying to find a balance.

A lot of things that Yona is into I love as well, love Spicy food and snacks, reading Books, and the Ocean.   

I want to try Hassaku Orange Sandwich someday as well as Hassaku Orange.  I know they have a Sour taste, but with Yona mentioning about it a lot makes me want to try it. 

The after story was really sweet too.   Especially when Rin made Yona,  Hassaku Orange Jelly.   If I find any Hassaku Orange flavor anything I’m going to buy it out of curiosity.

This CG gave me the Awws badly

Sharaku

 Out of all the LIs Sharaku is my favorite, I fan-girl a lot in his Route because his CGs are Spicy.   Sharaku’s CGs before I play Yona, JacK and Geomon’s route, Sharaku’s route were SS tier to me except for one CG in his Bad end. 

But playing 98 if not 99% of his Route, in the Common route he dislike Rin as the next LI(Well except for Geomon) but Sharaku was thirty for Rin.   I lost count of how many times he ask Rin if she can sleep with him.  Even stepping boundaries when they done the Photo Booth together.  But Sharaku really wanted to get into Rin’s pants(or for this case her Skirt, yes I know is still the same thing. 😅🤪).

Sharaku’s CG from his bad, if it wasn’t for the Apothecary Diaries I wouldn’t understand the significance of a person wanting to “🔪” a piece of their finger. 

Because culturally which I though it was just a part of Chinese culture but is an Asian culture thing from back in the day, that if you make a Pinky promise to a person and if they break that promise the person will “🔪” their Pinkie or finger of choice. And send it to the person that broke their promise. 

Since in the Bad CG Rin and Sharaku broke their Promise Sharaku wanted her Pinkie to remember her by as soon as Rin vanish. Which gave me the awws over it of just shows how much Rin means so much to him.

But if you don’t understand the significant of what Sharaku did in that CG then your probity thinking “What the duck?”

I’m happy both issues with Rin & Sharaku were solve in Sharaku’s Route. Sharaku found his purpose of what he wants to do in life while Rin got the Validation from Sharaku to make her forgot about the guy that told her he didn’t want to marry a person like her.

The After story is really cute and funny, since Sharaku was jealous of Rin putting her time and energy on the Plants and not him. 🤣

A  

After playing Goemon’s Route, if I have to be poetic about it. Then going threw Goemon’s Route was a sweet as Dango. 🍡 

(Okay, as of writing this review I haven’t ate Dango. But is a must try for me someday because I always wanted to try Dango. Expecally the type of Dango Goemon loves that Rin makes. So instead of Dango, Goemon’s Route was as sweet as your favorite warm dessert.) 

But in-between there where bitterness in his Route like how Rin got to where she was and Oshichi with Shonosuke.

I really love Goemon as an LI, his unconditional love for Rin is so beautiful. And it shock me that he wasn’t the one that told Rin that he wouldn’t want to marry a person like her but it was Rin herself.  Between Rin and Goemon’s dynamic with each other kinda reminds me of Ash & Serena, Ichika & Charolette, and Goku and Chichi from Dragon Ball. (Not DBZ or the other sequels because Chichi has change since her kid self in DB.)

Threw out Goemon’s Route there was too many truths that you question what IS the actual truth.  So did Rin “Yeet” herself after Goemon was “Ex”off or Did someone beat her up and choose to try and Yeet herself because she wasn’t worthy of a Woman for Goemon? And at the end it was all of the above and more.  

The life lesson learn in Goemon’s route that was more towards Oshichi who is Rin’s Best friend and that is if theres a place where ever is an Amusement Park, Travel Destination, Concert, Theme Cafe, or any fun related event and you dream anout or planned on going to this place when you bring or invite your Crush, or Long Distance Lover, or a group of friends, or family member.   Unless you guys keep in contact regularly, don’t wait for a free invite or when you bring that special someone.

  Go when you have the Time and Money to go, because your relationship with that person that you haven’t communicated a lot with would change over time.

(I went on a full blown rant of how I felt not even

being an After Though when my Cousins didn’t invite me to go to the Trampoline Park.   So I stop having any expectations of them inviting me to anything,  I’ll do a double take if out of the blue they invited me to go out to have something simple like going out for Coffee or Boba Tea.) 

I know going to an Event or Fun outing by yourself may sound daunting or boring.   But is ether that or your going to miss out on an opportunity that you might not get again. Just save up Money and the person you hope to get an invite from ends up not inviting you because they weren’t planning to invite you or were just an after though to them,  just go alone.  Is not worth missing out the fun and the experience. 

Kinnosuke

Kiku was the first route I play so I didn’t know what I was going into his route.  But his Route if I could best describe it was a mix of Cute moments and Slice of life scenario.  You won’t get to the steamy-ness of his route until mid-way to the end of his Happy end Route. 

He is a very devoted Brother who deeply cares about Asami, Despite how much Kiku disappointed Azami, he still never gave up wanting to win back their relationship as Siblings, especially since all they have is each other and Rin. 

And that gave me the Awws, because Kiku could of thrown in the towel and just accept he can’t do anymore to win Azami’s trust back and move on.   But Kiku didn’t gave up, he kept fighting and I have to applaud to that.  

The Bad Ending to Kiku’s Route to me was so funny then ethier Sad or kinda Romantic. Oh my Gosh, Azami’s facial expression! LOL! I can’t blame her!

On my thoughts with Azami’s end deserves it’s own blog post.

B JacK

From playing JacK’s Route was very interesting and finding out his real name is Imai. But knowing more about him in his route he’s kinda a mixture of an Edgy Character but also Adorkable one at the same time. And base on how he acted in the beginning makes sense and threw out the Route the LIs except for JacK were acting like protective Brothers towards Rin then being hostile yet distant towards her.

Though Goemon fall more into a mixture of  being a Protective Brother but really falling more of the Jealous LI trying not to expose/holding back his jealousy.   Even towards the happy end Route he didn’t care what happens to JacK during his battle with Ichise and especially JacK’s battle with Sensei Nono.

Rin Enma Spotlight corner(Spoilery)

Knowing about Rin threw out playing Tengoku Struggles depending on the LI's Route she could come off ether being Quirky but Serious at the same time like having Fetishes over things that not a lot of people should be romantically turn on or being Serious, Mature and Well-manner.  But in Goemon’s route she was pretty Love dense, which seeing that from a FMC is refreshing since normally you get Love dense characters from Male protagonist. 

 How Rin got to where she is was pretty sad, but to make a side note I play the Localization version of Tengoku Struggles and found out there was some mistranslation.   So I’m going to go from my feelings from the mistranslation but base on the things Ren went through makes all the sense why she a Misandrist. 

Maybe not a full blown Misandrist, she just have a huge disliking to the LIs because their Prisoners.  And learning with most people who have a Hatred of a certain Race or Sex or Individual who came from different income inequality or A Set of Individuals you have to question where did it came from.   

And yes, I know for most cases people won’t have a reason and is “Just because”. (Just like this one episode on Recess when T.J was trying to figure out why this one kid on the Playground hates him and the kid flat out told him he just doesn’t.  No rhyme or reason he just don’t like him.) 

But that’s not always the case, at most times is always link to something why a person negatively feels a sort of way towards an individual.

I grew up in a Melting Pot Community of different set of people from different Races, Sexuality Orientations, and Neurodiverse Individuals. And I feel grateful being around different type of people, even as crazy as this really sound that even my Teenager self would think I’m crazy but for admiring to this, but that even includes the ones who treated me badly in my adolescent years. 

 I was like Ren internally of how the set of people in my Tween and Teenager years  I didn’t want nothing to do with those Type of people base off how they badly treated and Excluded me.    But as I grew older an understand why they act how they acted, my strong despite of them grew to more Understanding that you could say is a form of forgiveness. 

I think if I never had that experience I wouldn’t be the person that I love to this day.   But I and especially my immediate Family have to help remind me that I can’t get caught up in the Could have, Would have, Should ofs. 

Which is one of my Character flaws that I need to work on. 

(And many others, but if I share more then this part of the corner I will be going way off topic.  But no I’m not Miss perfect by any means but I’m also not a Flawful person ether.)

Over the entire Otome, Rin hatred towards the LIs grew from having a hatred toward them to having a deep care for them. 

Overall

I recommend playing Tengoku Struggles if you like:

*Slice of life genre

*Life lessons

I don’t recommend playing Tengoku Struggles if you don’t like:

*Slice of Life genre

*Life lessons

*Life and Death

*Mistranslation

As for Trigger warning, is not too heavy. There some gore scenes, but there not too Graphic. 

Thank you so much for reading my in depth Review, I hope you enjoy Tengoku Struggles if this Otome is up your alley.  Especially when you get it at really good sell.  🔥🍡