Genius 242

[pez]

Keigo Keigo Keigo Keigo Keigo Keigo Keigo Keigo Keigo

*melts*

[edit]
I think some people might be interested in knowing how the system works in the selection of teams to National tournament. Bad anime and bad translations have made people misunderstood the system.

There are 24 teams that can go to the Nationals. There are 10 regions in Japan, the places aren't allocated evenly but done according to the region's size. Small regions such as Kyushuu and Hokkaido gets to take 1 team each to the Nationals, whereas huge regions like Kantou has a couple of places. That would come to about 20 teams. The remaining 4 places are allocated to regions that had done well in the previous year, so Kantou may get 2 additional places. (in the manga, Tokyo-to, part of Kantou, was given 1 place and that place went to Hyoutei)

Which teams can take these places? That's also judged by previous performance of the teams, rather than just giving it to the 5th and 6th places. For example, what if Seigaku met Rikkai in the first round and beat them... Rikkai may still get a chance to go to the Nationals since they had good previous performance. But it's not something they can rely on. This somewhat ensures that the stronger teams will still go ahead, rather than the weaker teams who got to 5th or 6th by luck of draw. Kind of like seeding I suppose.

Is this a good system? Don't ask me, and I don't want to debate it. It is what it is. The fact is that Hyoutei going forward to the Nationals is not a technical problem and no rules are bent. Tezuka's arm? I think he did it more to teach Echizen, Fuji, and the team something, since obviously they have learned a lot from that match (Fuji in particular, re: Genius 220). The win was needed so that they could move forward, so that they could get to top four to secure their place in the Nationals.

Mangakas are artists, they're not animators, they don't compromise and change things just for profit - or that's what I learned from reading the afternotes in my mangas and reading magazines. Konomi has planned this all along, it would be a terrible waste to throw Hyoutei, one of the most well-characterised teams, away.

And really, if you ask me, I imagine Tezuka would be pleased that Hyoutei will be in the Nationals.

Comment if you want, but no debate about if Hyoutei going to the Nationals is wrong. No point in debating.

Comments

[ex-semishade366.livejournal.com]

Well that sort of makes sense. I was already confused when Sanada told Echizen he'd beat him at the Nationals (or words to that effect) because I couldn't figure out how Rikkai would qualify. Wondered if somehow it was like separate footy leagues...

[thirdshade.livejournal.com]

If this is about my post, I do understand how the ranking works - I read the original manga, not scanlations. And second, I'm not saying it is wrong. I'm saying it is a cheap plot device. What is the meaning of making Tezuka (and automatically the rest of team) go through all that if that match meant nothing in the end? Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, we don't have to agree on everything. :)

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

Well I think that match still means a lot - it shows what kind of a person Tezuka is, how the team copes without him, how they learn from that match and grow. Somehow I think, if Tezuka hasn't gone away like that, they wouldn't have been able to beat Rikkai, since they wouldn't have grown enough. Seigaku would've lost before it got to Tezuka's turn ^^"

[thirdshade.livejournal.com]

I agree whole-heartedly with all that. And it's exactly why it bugs me so much.

Alas, maybe keeping Hyotei on the story will result in a new edition of Kabaji's out-of-print plushie, so it will have served for something.

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

That's a good way to look at it *snickers*

[kidboomerang.livejournal.com]

<3 Explains it so much better than anything else I've read lately. Am linking to your post in my next post. ^^;;; (Hope you don't mind.)

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

Um, sure... ^^

[kidboomerang.livejournal.com]

Well, it DOES. ^^;;;;

[crysiana.livejournal.com]

(Here by way of risingtides.)

I think my problem with it was actually why most people are happy about it - Hyotei is one of the better-characterized teams, and I was hoping that, you know, either Fudoumine would get more characterization, or Rokkaku or Midoriyama would get...characterization at all. I don't have a problem with the rules because, as people have pointed out, there is no problem with the rules, but I regret that Hyotei's continued involvement might take away from opportunities to see the other teams a bit more in-depth.

And yes, I'm sure Tezuka is thrilled, in his own Tezuka sort of way.

Tezuka: *eyes brighten almost imperceptibly*

See?

[yuki-scorpio.livejournal.com]

But that is exactly why people are happy - they have come to love the team, so they will always welcome to see more of them. Not sure about other people, but my attitude towards this is "I love Hyoutei and I get to see more of them, cool! Maybe Rokkaku can be pretty cool too if given the chance, but I don't care about them now so that's no great loss."

It's kind of sad and very unfortunate for the other teams but... at least with me, that's the way it is.

Tezuka? He'll probably celebrate this by telling his club to run an additional 20 laps XD

[crysiana.livejournal.com]

Heh. No problem. I'll love to see more of Hyotei too; I'll just be disappointed at the loss to the other teams at the same time.

And yes, I can very much see Tezuka doing that.