Takeichi's Prophecies

Follows the two prophecies made by Takeichi in high school—that Yozo would be a great painter and that women would fall for him—and how they shaped Yozo's fate.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Prophecies Uttered

The Moment of Fate The Ghost Picture Takeichi showed Yozo a reproduction of van Gogh's self-portrait, calling it a ghost. Yozo was thrilled; he realized that painting could express his inner monsters. The Two Predictions Takeichi said, "You'll be a great painter some day," and earlier, "111 bet lots of women will fall for you." Yozo felt both excited and terrified. The Burden of Prophecy These words would haunt Yozo for the rest of his life, as he struggled to fulfill them and failed.

The Painting Career

The Ghost Style Secret Self-Portraits Yozo began painting in a style he called "ghost pictures," depicting his true self as a monster. He hid these from everyone except Takeichi. The Conventional Mask In school, he continued to paint in a conventional pretty style, never revealing his true talent. He was afraid of being exposed. The Lost Masterpieces His self-portraits were lost during a move, and he never again achieved that level of authenticity. The prophecy of becoming a great painter remained unfulfilled.

The Failed Artist

The Cartoonist's Life The Second-Rate Reality Yozo became a cartoonist for cheap magazines, far from the great painter of Takeichi's prophecy. He drew comics and dirty pictures to earn money for drink and drugs. The Undrunk Glass of Absinthe He often recalled his lost self-portraits, which he called "the undrunk glass of absinthe." They represented his potential, forever out of reach. The Ghost of the Dream Yozo told Shizuko that he was a better artist than Horiki, but he no longer believed in his own talent. The prophecy had become a mockery.

Women Falling for Him

The Lady-Killer The First Inklings Takeichi's prophecy about women began to manifest. Yozo found that women were drawn to him, even when he did nothing to attract them. He felt a strange power and a corresponding shame. The Prostitutes' Halo He frequented prostitutes, who treated him with unexpected kindness. He saw them as imbeciles or lunatics, but also as Marys, with a halo of purity. The Burden of Attraction Yozo's ability to attract women became a curse. He was used by many women, and he used them in turn, but never found lasting love. The prophecy was fulfilled, but not happily.

The Prophecy's End

The Final Reckoning The Broken Man Yozo, now a grey-haired recluse, reflected on Takeichi's words. The painting prophecy had failed, and the woman prophecy had brought only ruin. He was a reject. The Angel's Testimony In the epilogue, the madam said Yozo was "an angel." Perhaps Takeichi had been right in a different way: Yozo was too good for this world, and his fall was inevitable. The Ghosts of the Past Yozo's self-portraits, the ghost pictures, were the only true art he ever made. They were lost, but their memory still haunted him, a symbol of his wasted potential.

high school

high school to college

adulthood, as a cartoonist

college years onward

after the mental hospital