On today’s Gintaladies segment, we’d like to talk a bit about weapons. Or more accurately, we’d like to talk about these ladies via their tools of trade.
Kagura’s primary theme is duality. The little girl and the monster. Peace-loving kid from the universe’s most feared mercenary race. The umbrella is pretty and graceful but also lethal, and its duality aptly represents her character. So when she’s in a mood to play princess, or wrapping up a perilous adventure alongside Gin and Shinpachi, she whips it open and there she is, the very portrait of a young lady. But the umbrella’s not as dainty as it looks. It spits machine-gun fire and withstands devastating blows. It breaks steel and bones. That is also Kagura.
Tsukuyo - Kunai is a flexible, utilitarian weapon - dramatic when used theatrically, and silently effective if needs be. What’s notable, though, is its relative invisibility. Unlike a sword, or an umbrella, or a gun, even, you can keep as many of those concealed inside your sleeve. Which is a pretty interesting match for someone who keeps her heart and worries under wraps. She has to, because she’s a leader and projecting calming and control to her people is a natural burden.
Kyuubei speaks about transcending the confines of gender and her choice of weapon fits the idea. The existence of swordswomen are rare for the time, and ladyfighters of the samurai class - Tomoe Gozen a notable example, and Otae in Gintama!verse - commonly preferred naginata. The katana aligns with her early desire to identify as a man and subsequent struggle to tread gender lines. It also speaks of class, to be able to legally own a sword and the skill that justifies it. Incidentally, class - the privileges and burden that come with it - plays an important role in Kyuubei’s story.
Mutsu is Sakamoto’s second-in-command, and Sakamoto always looks to the future - space, ships, machines - so it makes sense that she, as his chief officer, goes for the most technologically advanced weapon. There’s a certain anonymity about a gun, a cultural indifference that sets it apart from Kagura’s umbrella and Kyuubei’s katana and Tsukuyo’s kunai. It’s Amanto’s technology, practically. But it makes sense because Mutsu’s a businesswoman and a negotiator, and much like Sakamoto she doesn’t ally herself with countries or cultures but with the greater good.We welcome discussion~
