Inazuma Eleven Fandom Ask Game Character Opinion/Headcanon
Table of Contents: Fudou Akio / Sakuma Jirou / Kiyama Hiroto
Fudou Akio
Disclaimer: Opinions on post Season 1 characters and character arcs may not be accurately reflected in my answers.
Hi Gayuma, thanks for sending another ask!
Fudou Akio is one of my favorite assholes (affectionate) from OG! His introduction in Shin Teikoku still scares the fuck out of me no matter how many times I see it (when he pulls Genda's arm to his chest as a sharp string OST echoes) and his return in Season 3 got me real suspicious of him.
There's this meme on Reddit about the stark contrast between Fudou's antisocial behavior ("actions that lack consideration for the well-being of others" - Wikipedia) in Shin Teikoku and his lone wolf behavior Inazuma Japan. I bring it up because I think Fudou's negative first impression from his unstable emotional state due to the Aliea Fragment is key to his character journey.
I call him my favorite asshole because he's part of the IE bad boy group who does struggles connecting with others and constantly gets under people's skin. He's like a cornered animal who must put up a strong front because he cannot affort to show vulnerability. That kind of behavior and mindset are really hard to break away from imo. I remember liking the Teikoku trio he eventually formed with Kidou and Sakuma because yay character development! The Mister K arc with all three was really exciting to watch!
I listened to the Bad Boys Brother's Blues recently and I can't help but giggle at his section. Specially when Yuki Kaji (Fudou's VA) sings "feel so bad". It's peak early 2000s teen angst.
So for my headcanon—which isn't really original but I heavily agree with it—is that Fudou comes from a rough neighborhood. Although in the game version Kageyama was literally kidnapping kids and brainwashing them with the Aliea Fragments to form Shin Teikoku, I would rather believe that Fudou became involved with Kageyama for the above reason because I think it's more realistic. I enjoy reading and thinking about his parallels with Kidou the most. While they have similar strengths, because Fudou (coming from a single-parent household struggling to make ends meets) wasn't dealt the same hand at life as Kidou (an adopted orphan heir to a financial conglomerate), people tend to overlook him because of his social status. I devour fics that focus on this kind social commentary like candy.
TLDR; I think Fudou's character development throughout OG is fantastic. Bad boy through and through.
Comment and share this post via: Tumblr, Dreamwidth
Send me a ⚡️ and a character and I'll give you an opinion or hc back
Sakuma Jirou
Disclaimer: Opinions on post Season 1 characters and character arcs may not be accurately reflected in my answers.
Hi Kari, thanks for the ask!
Sakuma is a side character that I enjoy reading meta about. I think most of my opinions are colored by your essays and others I've read on Tumblr so I'll try to share something original.
Most of my thoughts about Sakuma are usually in relation to my blorbo Kidou. I believe Sakuma was Kidou's trusted aide in Teikoku and a close friends of his as shown in canon and a other media (I think you already saw the translations of Kidou's route in Everyday!!! showing their relationship). It's clear that Sakuma cares about Kidou a whole damn lot!
I enjoyed seeing him next to Kidou once again in Inazuma Japan and forming the Teikoku trio with Fudou eventually. Their dynamic is interesting!
I think it was the Shin Teikoku arc that put Sakuma in my radar. I think I used to think Sakuma was Kidou's bestie so he (and Genda) felt betrayed and thought Kidou had replaced him/them with Endou and Gouenji 😆. No matter how much I rewatch it, these two episodes hit hard. I love the idea of "side characters fighting back against their role in the story." It makes me emotional. I think it's because of this that I love seeing Sakuma ships even if I'm not interested in any of them in particular atm. Just Sakuma having outside of Kidou, being the protagonist of his own story. It makes me really happy for him!
Also, Level 5 has consistently given Sakuma some great outfits throughout the years. From his original one with the white jacket and yellow shirt to collabs (like this one) and beyond, Sakuma just looks good. I really like the color combo in his design. It's very pleasing to my eyes.
Now that I think about it, I have an OC that may have been inspired by Salina's flaws 🤔. He also has an inferiority complex.
I kind of also really like when people give him petnames. I've seen Skooma and I've called him Shakuma myself.
Not a headcanon but a thought. I wonder how he would fare in the pretty boy group made up of Kazemaru, Shirou, and Aphrodi. They would also make a eye-catching idol band 😂.
TLDR; I think of Sakuma as a friend's pet. He doesn't live in my house but I love it when see him in other people's homes and all I want for him is to live a healthy and happy life 🥰.
Comment and share this post via: Tumblr, Dreamwidth
Send me a ⚡️ and a character and I'll give you an opinion or hc back
Kiyama Hiroto
Disclaimer: Opinions on post Season 1 characters and character arcs may not be accurately reflected in my answers.
Hi Gayuma! Thanks for sending an ask!
I really enjoy what canon presented about Kiyama and haven't explored much of it yet. More specifically, in his character arc and life up to the end of Aliea Arc.
To me, Kiyama is a boy who was a victim of the system Kira established, Aliea Gakuen. If I remember correctly, Kiyama was made the heir of Kira Corp but he certainly didn't seem to enjoy the luxuries that came with the title. He was allowed to leave Mt. Fuji but he didn't seem to have forged many relationships outside that environment.
I think Kiyama and Reina are each other's foils. While both were laser focused on being useful to Kira, neither were appreciated for their sacrifice. Her role and Kira's swift dismissal of her existence in Genesis is what makes me think that Kira is a socially conservative man and Aliea Gakuen was established under patriarchical values. This of course harmed all the kids regardless of gender. Kiyama may have been at the top of that pyramid that Kira built. Putting it in another way, he enjoyed male privilege but only as far as he furthered Kira's goals.
I recently rewatched playthrough of the second game and it made me feel for him. I'm happy that Kiyama met Endou and made a friend who also liked soccer as Kiyama seemed to genuinely enjoy playing. I think their friendship may have helped him avoid a more tragic end by showing him a reality outside of Aliea.
About his character in AreOri, he seems to harbor the same desire to be useful to Kira but this time he has the support of everyone in Sun Garden, Hiroto, and Hitomiko. Good for him!
TLDR; I think he's a good smart boy at heart in both versions. I enjoyed his arc and seeing him find salvation in the Aliea Arc from the god of sakka himself. Fuck the patriarchy and welcome to Endou's cult Kiyama!
Comment and share this post via: Tumblr, Dreamwidth
Send me a ⚡️ and a character and I'll give you an opinion or hc back