During the experience I have had from Ga-Rei Zero, I never realized that a character named Isayama Yomi could bring this great amount of potential. There are many times I can look at so many characters and realize they are so easy to forget. This was certainly not the case when it comes to someone like Isayama Yomi.
Yomi clearly fits the highlighted image of being a prideful person yet also took a great fall from the burdens she had to deal with. When it comes to this amount of pride she has, Yomi always seems to bring you the important support that you feel like you need to have. As in the case with someone like Kagura, Yomi provides the additional shoulder to get you to think the positives and to not let the depressions hit you hard.
When it came to episodes 3 and 4 of Ga-Rei Zero, I was often hinted by the fact that Kagura seems to remember what it was like losing her mother. As we all know, Kagura's mother is an exorcist so we instantly recognize how short an exorcist's life turns out to be. Kagura always looks down and realizes that the life of an exorcist is short so why should she bother in caring about life (especially since she will just be another victim from the line of duty).
From those situations, Yomi is willing to try to take this important step in bringing support no matter how selfish Kagura's demands seems to be. We see Yomi hugging Kagura one time in episode 3 because she doesn't want to make her think that she will go away just like her mother once had. We even recall the pocky stick scene in episode 4 when Yomi wanted to distract Kagura from remembering what happen to her mother three years ago.
From those moments alone, Yomi brings out this potential that she is willing to support you no matter how gloomy life may be. Yomi seems to clearly know what life is like as an exorcist, especially with it being a short-life job. No matter how dangerous or short-lived the job may be, she is like the suitable friend/sister that you feel like brings the level of support you need to have. She was at one point in Ga-Rei Zero the worthwhile role model that hopes to see you have a smile. :)
Unfortunely from the times of being a prideful person, it is hard to imagine how great of a fall Yomi has suffered through the story of Ga-Rei Zero. Through the enjoying times Yomi has had, she was one that dealt with so many burdens that sadly ended up bringing this tragic transformation to the antagonist we come to recognize. So many burdens led to so much pain and suffering for someone such as Yomi.
Yomi certainly provides quite a backstory from the flashback scenario and one area on being recognized as an adopted family member. She was greatly gifted as an exorcist from the Isayama family yet was never born from the same bloodline. Eventually Mei who was under the same family name became a great burden to Yomi.
Ever since that dramatic episode 8, I realize how much Mei hate Yomi greatly from her anger desires of the Death Stone. Why was she part of her family? Why should Yomi be a part of the head for the household when she was never born from the same bloodline? We eventually realize what happen when Mei killed Yomi's father and was the one responsible in taking away her right of being head of the household. From the will of Yomi's father, we recognize that Yomi was suppose to be head of the household yet Mei somehow stole the right from her along with killing the person that Yomi cries so heavily on losing.
It was in that instant, that Yomi brought this heavy emotional rage to Mei on bringing these terrible miseries to her. The heavy emotional rage that somehow brings this intimidation to the viewer that Yomi was clearly angry because she truly felt the pain from the burdens Mei seemed to give her.
Her anger became so greatly recognized as she yelled at Mei to shut up and say no more. Then Mei ended up screaming Yomi's name and was struck down by the spear. From the very instant that I saw such anger from Yomi, it was like the very room we are viewing from completely evaporates. For one reason or another, Yomi brought this tugging of emotions that are mixed with fear and angst which tells the audience to never forget what happen from that scene.
It was from that very situation involving Mei that the burdens suddenly continue going against Yomi. Ever since witnessing the hospital bed in episode 9, I can certainly see how much she struggles that puts me on the edge of my seat. One point is Yomi was injured to a great extent. Another point is when Yomi was suspected on being a murderer to Mei only on personal feelings alone (losing the rights as head of your household) and never for a mission (she somehow truly was a category).
Both of these burdens bring such a heavy angst that Yomi is truly feeling the pain of not being trusted along with being helpless on a hospital bed. It was certainly greatly felt when I saw Yomi shedding so many tears because of Noriyuki's father telling her that the marriage proposal has to be stop. Yomi's feelings felt so heavy and angst because she realize it was the truth especially with Noriyuki not even visiting her.
Even though Yomi took such a mental blow, we still recognize how much she still wants to cling to Kagura. Even though Kagura was one time crying on the bed realizing how life has somehow changed for the both of them, Yomi's own hand tries to reach her just so she can tell that she is still here. Even from all the recent burdens, Yomi still recognizes the fact that Kagura is here to support her. I even recognize how relieved Yomi was as she gave a small kiss to Kagura's head as she was napping next to Yomi.
It eventually ended up with a drastic broken straw on the camel's back scenario. When Kagura brought up the situation that the agency believe Yomi killed Mei for personal reasons, Kagura mentioned that she doesn't believe it because she views Yomi as flawless and can do no such wrong. As Kagura was heading out of the hospital room, Yomi was typing several messages on her cellphone stating "I'm Sorry, Kagura" while she struggles on her hospital bed shedding tears out on her own guilt along with knowing that she is going to lose an important piece of her life. As she once said earlier, "Kagura, you are my last treasure". When the last treasure was going to be lost, the entire world collapses for Yomi and it was unbearable to escape the anger desires that came from a certain death stone.
As the desires of the death stone are calling, it is so simple to say that the desire for revenge can become so great. All these things that make you want to desire in removing once and for all:
-Eliminating the agency that believed Yomi was a murderer of Mei for her own personal gain.
-Eliminating her ex-fiance whose father said that the marriage should stop.
-Eliminating the remains of the Isayama clan that pretty much betray Yomi along with stealing her rights.
-Eliminating the person named Kagura who has cling to Yomi's hints of jealously to her. From episode 2, she expresses how talented Kagura is and yet she still shows naiveness. From the anger desires of the death stone, she yells at Kagura on how much she hates her.
From the times Yomi showed her dark half that certainly strikes fear and intimidation towards another, she struggles to keep intact any good conscience that she has left. There were several attempts that she tries to do while clinging to her good conscience:
-In the sewer scene, she tells Noriyuki to please kill her before she kills Kazuka. She asks him again and again as she stabs at Kazuki. She even screams and cries her eyes out to please kill her but she ends up killing Kazuki in the end.
-In the alley scene, she tries to kill herself hoping that her destruction comes to an end. From her good conscience, she knew how her desires are seducing her into doing these terrible acts and it is unbearable how she is never able to put an end to her life.
-There was even the scene from the forest on how Yomi wanted to wish from the death stone that Kagura has to be protected even from someone like herself. She was clinging to the hope that her sister can put an end to the destruction that Yomi is bringing.
From the final battle, Yomi remains a dangerous foe to Kagura yet brings her hints of encouragement that she can eliminate the plague that is her. From harsh sayings of Kagura's father to telling Kagura that she now owns the power of Ga-Rei and to understand the means of using it against Yomi. Finally it all came to an end for Yomi as Kagura was successful in killing her.
As Yomi was nearing death, she knew how inevitable it was for her to escape death. She and Kagura obviously knew that there was nothing else they can do. Despite the situation, Yomi gave her final sayings to Kagura. She told Kagura on how strong she has become. With Yomi being killed, she hopes that Kagura will use it as a stepping stone in being an exorcist and to never doubt or be afraid in becoming one. She told Kagura on how sorry she was. The apology on telling Kagura that she did all these terrible things yet the desires swallow her conscience into doing these terrible things. She finally told Kagura on how she loved her as well. Despite all the terrible things Yomi did, she still describe 'love' to Kagura as the times they spent together being meaningful and important for the both of them. The memories they once had together cannot be replaced.
In the end, Yomi clearly stands out as a great character that brings out this performance which makes it difficult for other characters to accomplish or copy from. The layers of her backstory, her effort in being a role model, and her feelings that held to a great truth in several situations.
As it stands out, Yomi clearly fits the image of a ideal friend but also clings to being a dangerous foe. Isayama Yomi is certainly a character that cannot be forgotten from the areas being discussed. |
