Review of Ya Boy Kongming!
"This is a business." -- the following is a brief paragraph on my introductory thoughts, followed by spoilers with character and plot exploration. reader discretion advised. -- I think I've come to the realization that I love music anime. K-On started this fascination with it's obvious focus on jamming, Sing a Bit of Harmony continued it and a further appreciation for OPs, EDs, and inserts just led me to be in the perfect mindset for Ya Boy Kongming. An incredibly enjoyable show that is, without a doubt, my favorite of the season. Paripi Koumei is about a famous Chinese strategist being transported to present day Tokyo with an understandingof Japanese and a younger frame. From the get-go, it sounds like an isekai, a story dealing with the MC's new environment and dealing with the changes around them, but this show is actually about Eiko, it's her journey. Eiko is an aspiring singer/songwriter who finds herself working at a club and occasionally performing. Kongming sees her as a new master who could help fulfill his dream of peace, this time through music rather than war.
The trials and tribulations of the music industry, as well as one's place in the world, is explored over the brisk 12 episode length. Eiko is finally given a more substantial platform to share her music with the world, but then is met with the hurdle of "why?". What's the point? Why are you doing this? Why THIS in particular? After the opportunity of sharing her talent with the world, she's given another one to better herself and become more in-tune with not only her passion, but herself. It showcases how hard it is for newcomers to enter this industry (as it is for any landscape that finds itself oversaturated) and grow as well as how someone can find themselves with devotion to the future. Kongming helps her musically and mentally and she does the same for him - cutaways to him back in the Three Kingdoms age and reflecting on his past are fantastic.
The other two music side-plots are fun and emotional too.
Kabe Taijin is a rapper who has faded from the spotlight, experiencing a case of stage fright and letting the criticisms of others get to him. Kongming discovers him as a potential musical partner and encourages him to try rapping once more. His growth is similar to that of Eiko's, finding out why he does so, but his story is more concerned with where he started and why it was fun in the beginning whereas Eiko's journey is finding why it's relevant NOW and how to improve. Kabe is coming back into the fray, Eiko is trying to find the footing to jump in the frying pan for the first time. The differences between their storylines and character make both plots a joy to watch.
Nanami is another artist, one that touches Eiko with their shared career-path. The two bond over street performances, a true friendship is formed, but ends abruptly as Nanami reveals she's apart of a girl-group shooting for the same opportunity as Eiko, a chance that only has vacancy for only one artist. Nanami doesn't have the same unique circumstances though as she and her high school friends have had to deal with prolonged lack of exposure leading to another hole in the world of music - labels. A controlling manager, sacrificing what made them them in turn for promised fame, the lack of money and success leads to the want for both, but the cost is the loss of identity. Eiko, an individual who isn't under the same restraints, reaches out to Nanami and reminds her of why music is something so many people want to indulge in - that personal element.
Kongming's right - she has the ability to bring people together and realize what's truly right. Eiko's growth in Kongming being the one to give her a chance and being the one who encourages Kabe leads to her being able to reach someone completely on her own with minimal strategist meddling. Passion over power, love over agony, do now not later - this show has all the intentions of filling the viewer with happiness.
And Kongming succeeds in spades. A hilarious and surprisingly touching show for how outlandish it's plot seems, the ingenious method of taking historical tactics and modernizing them for a different field and time (and some further modifications that show Kongming's growth as well), it all just clicks into place with ease. Fantastic inserts. A show I won't shut up about for months to come and a new all-time favorite.