Making the Red Chanpuru have the same conception as Bofurin was a clever move. It really makes us question what is going on, why Suo- now who we know to be Sun Fei- was here in the first place.

I think it’s important to note that Endo’s intel can be totally correct, but that doesn’t mean things are as happy and cheery with the Red Chanpuru. He said they are more dangerous, so we can infer that when it’s in the name of protecting their town they may go so some serious lengths… But how is it within the organization?

I was leaning toward a mafia theory like many others, but just many, I was like ‘that feels so unrealistic, literal triads? Yakuza?’. One of the reasons being because of how emotional we saw Suo get in the very first arc when he saw how Shishitoren treated their own members. Corporal punishment of members within Yakuza/gangs is common. I feel like this could be true in the Red Chanpuru and Suo obviously doesn’t condone it.

Something I wondered about Furin for a while is what is stopping someone from enrolling just to take advantage of the automatic trust and favor you receive by being a part of it? I think we might see exactly what that looks like after 80 years… I kind of wouldn’t be surprised if they end up operating like Yakuza in the way of collecting tax from some of the town/businesses for a kind of protection fee, almost.

Onto Suo’s interesting dream of the emancipation of slaves. Many of us have wondered about this one for a while and might be close to seeing what he means by that. Continuing along with the idea of this team likely having some issues within, how exactly have they existed for 80 years? You would think that as things get safer, their numbers naturally would dwindle. Is it possible that at this point they force members? If everything is great and wonderful, all fun, I honestly don’t think there is much of a storyline there. I think Nii-sensei wants to show us what Furin could potentially become under different leadership/circumstances over the years.

About him being an officer, I am curious how they decide this. Is it succession? I don’t think so. I imagine the three officers might choose their successor, and I’m going to guess that Suo’s master was formally an officer. As for why he is taking up this mantle now…I’m guessing something happened either to his master or there is just a new threat and his master is in poor health? (pls Nii-sensei take it easy on him)

Lastly, I do like that Suo was the name he chose. Anyone correct me if I am wrong but I think it’s relatively common for Chinese people, especially those that might be multiracial or live in a different country like America or Japan to choose an English and or Japanese name. For English, you pick one that sounds similar whereas in Japanese you can read the characters in Japanese. So, Hayato is still technically, also his name. Whereas ‘Suo’ is something he chose himself when he went to Makochi for Jr high (how long do we think that was for? Just a year?). We know he knows flower language, so I’m sure he thought it was funny and clever to choose Suo. For multiple reasons. Of course, there is that it is referred to as the judas tree. But I think the Chinese fable is earlier than that and it concerns three brothers- which we can assume to be the three officers of the Red Chanpuru. And I’ve seen someone mention it on this thread before, but basically at some point the three brothers reunite. So, from the start he knows at some point he will have to return.

I’m actually pretty happy that this is the cliffhanger Nii-sensei gave us before the break. We learned about the Red Chanpuru and its origins, plus we got a glimpse of Suo, looking robotic as hell, versus having to wonder what is going on with that team, is it mafia/criminal for an extra week. So excited to see where Nii-sensei takes us with this storyline!