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ivaliya.bsky.social

@ivaliya.bsky.social
19 followers 16 following 208 posts

"...Out with lanterns, looking for myself". Translating, manga (primarily shoujo/josei and dramatic BL), occasional old anime, slice of life movies, pot plants and flowers, minerals, Japanese and Italian cultures

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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Weird how I watched two Japanese movies in a row that both evoked the same reaction from me: good idea but not very convincing execution thereof. I wonder who's to blame here: scriptwriter or director? Felt like slightly lost potential to me, which is a pity. Especially La Maison de Himiko
Movie poster for La Maison de HimikoMovie poster for Haru
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Sometimes I just miss Italy. And since I have zero chances of going there in the foreseeable future, that's the only available sweet option
A box from an Italian bakery with cannoli and babà al limoncello
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Ahaha, I'd say the latter. But apparently, that's how some people read these days
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Severe mischaracterization is something that always makes me giggle. I remember one review saying Seishirou and Subaru were "friends often teaming up to destroy ghosts" 🫠 and I laughed harder than I should've. Always a joy
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
The trailer looks good... Shame the story in manga didn't excite me the way I thought it might. One of those "loved by everyone but me" type of things
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Autumnal colors of today. I wish this type of palette kept on going, but it's too fleeting... Boy do I love autumn, and it even has nothing to do with my birthday 🍂
Autumnal trees against clear blue skyVines of burgundy color entwining white columns along the path with autumn leaves
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Yeah, Damiano has very cinematic looks, those cheekbones alone belong to an art museum. I always got Gothic vampire-themed aesthetics from him and the drummer, but dark fantasy certainly works 😆
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Last read: Nagiko no Hanashi by Gotou. I thought it was going to be a garden-variety love triangle story, but it surprised me. It had sadness written all over it, and 3 POVs was actually a very good touch to show how much frank and open conversations could've changed everything
Manga cover for Nagiko no Hanashi by Gotou: two boys standing with their faces to the audience while the girl is standing in between them with her back turned to us
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Ousama no Mimi: Himitsu no Bar e Youkoso by est em has the premise that I love in mystery mangas: an unusual inn, bar, hotel, shop, etc. where people come to reveal their stories. It doesn't dive too deep so far, but the ending of vol. 2 was something I didn't expect. At all. Wonder what's next
Manga cover of King's Ear: Welcome to the Secret Bar by est em: a man in a suit is offering a cocktail at the bar
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I'd love to be part of this movie screenshot today. It's just that kind of mood...
Movie screenshot from Petal Dance (ペタル ダンス): three young women sitting at a Japanese restaurant looking out of the window with the view over a winter sea and a tree
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Does Famiresu Iko. have an actual viable storyline? The best thing about it is obviously relationship between Kyouji and Satomi, but that's a logical development from Karaoke. What was the rest of the characters for? 🤔
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
It's on my watchlist, so I'll get to it eventually. With Kore-eda I'm moving slowly through his works (brilliant, for sure) and still plucking up the courage to watch Nobody Knows. I know it's gonna be devastating...
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Yes, I've never even heard of the movie before. I'm catching up with various Japanese dramas and slice of life movies now, so many quality ones... I'm impressed. You've got an excellent taste 👍
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Last watch: Departures (2008) Dealing with the topic of death is never easy, but I loved how much focus was given to the elegance of the ritual part. When emotions are in turmoil and grief is overwhelming, such calming presence is a blessing. It might be an autumnal influence on my movie choices
Poster for the Japanese movie Departures showing a main character playing the cello and a scene from the movie where an encoffinment ritual is performed
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I don't get it when people treat rotary phones, floppy disks, compact cassettes, mp3 players or any similar tech as some sort of ancient and obscure phenomena. I'm in my 30s and I used all of those. I mean, they are old but not THAT old
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Deux mangas merveilleux sur une seule photo 🤩
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Waa! Thank you for the link 😍 This is one hell of a beautiful version of this song
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Yes, he really did! It's a very balanced movie, every single moment feels right. It left me with a bit of a sad feeling, but that's totally fine. I think I watched about 2 Ozu's movies, but he's a very good source for inspiration
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Oh, Maki... thanks for reminding me about him. He totally fits the category 😆
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Ishikawa Sayuri singing the version of The House of the Rising Sun in Perfect Days is so... perfect. I wish there existed a full version of it
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Such a wonderful chapter. Sweet, domestic, but with that additional "next year" element that made me really wonder what's going to happen to these boys
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Re-reading Tokyo Babylon. Paid more attention to the translation choices this time. Seishirou's "I'm only a mistress" made me wonder what the original was. 日陰の身 (one living in the shadows). "Mistress" certainly was a choice and an interesting one at that. No complaints 😎
Manga panel with Hokuto and Seishirou with his speech bubble ending in 日陰の身
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
So bright and lovely 😍 Hard to choose since there are no flowers that I don't like. But personal favourites are saphire blue for hydrangea and deep purple for any flower
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
You raise your eyes to the ceiling, and the ceiling is looking right back at you
Decorative elements of the ceiling and the bureau at the restored mansion, including lions and demonic faces
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
One more reason to love Natsume Ono's manga: her fascination with Italy. Making those men Italian and moving the setting to whatever Italian city she wants? Yep, that's right up my alley. (Gad Sfortunato was an interesting read...)
Black and white manga cover for Gad Sfortunato by basso: a young man standing on the balcony with his back to the audience
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Korean movie My First Client (2019). It's devastating. And the most devastating part is that it's based on a true story. When a kid has to die for adults to start caring, you know something is deeply wrong with this world...
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
When I heard that Nino's anime voice was TsudaKen I was just "Damn, I already love him from manga, I can't love him even more, can I?"
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
The fact that I liked Undercurrent by Toyoda Tetsuya didn't help with Coffee Jikan by the same mangaka. If someone could explain to me what the point was of this entire collection of stories, I'd be grateful since I don't see it AT ALL
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Oui, je le dirais. Même si le thème est indéniablement difficile à aborder
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Et c'est aussi un moment merveilleux dans le manga...
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Le Pays des cerisiers m'a beaucoup impressionné, il est vraiment fort. Pour Sanpei... je n'ai pas lu, mais le synopsis semble intéressant 👀
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
C'est le conseil que je soutiens totalement
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
I read this manga a while ago now, but whenever panels from it pop up on my TL... I pause. Very impactful imagery.
Panel from A Cruel God Reigns manga by Moto Hagio: a vessel full of small people and an open tab through which they are flowing out drop by drop. Speech bubble saying: "I have to turn it off, so stuff doesn't come out"
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Just watched Korean movie Forgotten (2017), and I'm pretty sure its genre changed in my head for about 5 times while I watched it. I even suspected horror at some point... Very deceiving indeed.
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
I don't understand it when people go to posts with positive impressions of smth just to leave "I didn't like it" comment, especially when the OP didn't ask for anyone else's opinion. Why is it so hard for people to just go past something that doesn't really require their contribution??
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
They created too many classical tropes (taking care of each other's wounds, living together, getting close to a dear family member, mutual influence, etc.) for the audience to just ignore it. This one! And I seem to recall a sweet video of backstage shooting of it with..erm.. interesting angles
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
At first I thought I was just seeing things that weren't really there. But the further the story went, the more convinced I became that it wasn't just me. And then I saw THAT promo poster... I mean... they weren't even subtle 😅
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The artistic style reminds me a bit of Est Em with a touch of Natsume Ono, I guess
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Yuminari by Kuroda Sakaki had an unexpectedly melancholic feel to it. Loved the idea of not aiming for the final result but rather focusing on the process, thus shaping a new way of getting through life and accepting it. But I have to admit it's the largest age gap in BL I've come across thus far
Manga cover for Yuminari by Kuroda Sakaki: a young man and an older gentleman in archery gear with sakura blooming in the background
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
It's the second time already that I'm lured into reading Irie Aki's manga with the beautiful artwork, but then got disappointed with the storytelling
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
At first it made me smile. But then I remember how relatable (even though I don't like using this word when it comes to fiction) Arita feels to me, and it made me wonder...
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
You have a Star Trek wannabe manga with intriguing dynamic between the Captain and his First Officer (90s design is chef's kiss for both), but it's also wordy technical sci-fi that I can hardly stand with almost non-existent emotions. Damn it. It even has a gay marriage, so the potential was there 😅
Black and white manga panel: a young spacecraft captain in his uniform holding a necktie with his teethBlack and white manga panel: a young man with long blonde hair in an unbuttoned uniform of the first officer
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
You know clip thinking truly becomes a modern day curse when you read multiple comments about "dragging pace" and "too slow and stuffy" and it's just an absolutely normal procedural series with decent character development...
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Me after the latest released chapter: You know what? To hell with that... I want a sappy happy ending for Yashiro. Unreasonable? Yep. I wonder if Yoneda-sensei has a reputation for killing off main characters, but none of her other BL sprang to mind with the tragedy tag...
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Yeah, it feels like inability to articulate one's thoughts properly and turning to some clichéd descriptors that don't even fit. Microblogging certainly didn't help. Sadly
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
I was certain "bromance" is NOT applicable to f/m pairings. But I'm reading comments about Tim and Lucy (aka Chenford) from The Rookie and I've come across this descriptor multiple times already. Have people's vocabulary become that poor or is it me who doesn't know about usages of the word??
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
> Madoka respects his right to privacy so we get no explanation from him. And so we go round and round with vague hints of what anyone's true feelings are. Surprising because Kodama sensei is usually very precise with characters and I love her other works a lot. We'll see where this one is going
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Currently reading Tsukikage Baby and got slightly surprised with the weird level of communication in the story. Hotaruko is completely clammed up, so neither other characters nor us as readers know her motivations or intentions. Hikaru is trying but backs down at crucial points >
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
SO excited to see a glimpse of my fave old man! And also very curious to learn who they chose as his VA
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ivaliya.bsky.social @ivaliya.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
YES! Also reminded me of the chapter with the plum wine when Takeda suggested making one together with Arita next year and the traffic light turned green. I adore these little metaphors ingrained in her story
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