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I've been wanting to work on this thread for a long time now and I am finally going to be able to do it. My apologies for the long thread ahead:
Why Makoto Niijima is my favorite P5 character: A thread
Why Makoto Niijima is my favorite P5 character: A thread
First of all, this thread would not have been possible by DismArchus. All story-related screencaps and Makoto's social link are from his videos. A big thank you!
Just a brief summary of what this thread is, which I will proceed later on to give an in-depth reflection of why Mako is my favorite.
Her background and struggles are things that I related hard to. How she managed to get through them is something I aspire to be someday.
Her background and struggles are things that I related hard to. How she managed to get through them is something I aspire to be someday.
Let's start off by saying I actually didn't like Makoto at the start and I am LOL-ing really hard because now she's one of my favorite characters of all time.
Perhaps it was because she wasn't on the side of the PT. But you as the story progressed, first impressions don't last.
Perhaps it was because she wasn't on the side of the PT. But you as the story progressed, first impressions don't last.
Makoto was blackmailed by Kobayakawa to investigate the PT for him in return for writing a recommendation letter. Makoto, out of her inferiority complex and putting adults on a pedestal, obliged to do so. She was hellbent on not wanting to be a burden to her sister.
But as story went on so did Makoto's perception of the PT changed. She starts to wonder, is merely doing what the adults expected of her aligned to her value of justice?
You can see her dissonance/frustration with Kobayakawa in not wanting to assist with the Kaneshiro issue.
You can see her dissonance/frustration with Kobayakawa in not wanting to assist with the Kaneshiro issue.
To add fuel to the fire, Akechi's good-girl type of pushover comment feeds more into her insecurity and she starts to question herself even more. Was following Kobayakawa/adults around her life and being a 'good' girl aligned to her justice?
The dissonance becomes larger.
The dissonance becomes larger.
To top it off, what completely shatters Makoto is Sae's 'you're useless' comment. Makoto highly looks up to Sae and for her sister to say those words breaks her heart. This further adds to her need to please Sae and the adults around her.
So when Ann says the 'useless' word (of course Ann didn't know at that time), it heavily triggered Makoto because all she wanted to prove at that time was she wasn't useless, she wasn't a burden, hence the impulsive and reckless action of finding Kaneshiro.
When the deed has been done, you can see Makoto breaking down - revealing all her insecurities. She blames herself.
Makoto wanted to follow her justice but couldn't do so out of her need to please adults and follow the 'rules' of society despite these not being just.
Makoto wanted to follow her justice but couldn't do so out of her need to please adults and follow the 'rules' of society despite these not being just.
THEN THIS HAPPENS, which is probably my favorite scene of Makoto Niijima ever. I explain her awakening throughly in a previous tweet.
I find her awakening a catalyst for the wonderful development she goes through as the story progresses: https://twitter.com/EwiKnight/status/1209099852769984513
I find her awakening a catalyst for the wonderful development she goes through as the story progresses: https://twitter.com/EwiKnight/status/1209099852769984513
Let's fast forward post-Kaneshiro.
After being the rigid student council president, putting adults on a pedestal by listening to the path they forged for her, not only does Makoto start to question the purpose of studying but strives to be more honest with her inner self.
After being the rigid student council president, putting adults on a pedestal by listening to the path they forged for her, not only does Makoto start to question the purpose of studying but strives to be more honest with her inner self.
Although, this hasn't been smooth sailing as seen in her SL:
She understands rigidly studying for the sake of being 'successful' won't be aligned to the person she wants to become.
Hence, she asks Ren to help her broaden her horizons - to learn about the world to help others.
She understands rigidly studying for the sake of being 'successful' won't be aligned to the person she wants to become.
Hence, she asks Ren to help her broaden her horizons - to learn about the world to help others.
On the earlier links, you can see it affects Makoto deeply when Eiko calls her a robot. Makoto, with her insecurity, is very cautious of what others think of her.
Despite such, she see this as a way to further motivate herself to find her resolve in being a better person.
Despite such, she see this as a way to further motivate herself to find her resolve in being a better person.
A lot of her SL also dwells into Makoto's inner turmoil regarding her studying. She's losing motivation because she doesn't know how studying will lead her to her true self. After following the adults around her for so long, she's confused on what she really wants to be.
This moment is pivotal for Makoto for 2 reasons:
1. She realizes her rigid mindset has hindered her from seeing she isn't always right and there is so much to learn
2. Like what happened to Shiho, will she do nothing to help Eiko? Who is Makoto Niijima and what is her justice?
1. She realizes her rigid mindset has hindered her from seeing she isn't always right and there is so much to learn
2. Like what happened to Shiho, will she do nothing to help Eiko? Who is Makoto Niijima and what is her justice?
Then comes the climax of Makoto's SL.
When Eiko labels Mako doing this in order to maintain her reputation as the honor student. Makoto refutes this.
This is Makoto breaking away from the stereotype placed on her. This is Makoto being her real self - the one I really admire.
When Eiko labels Mako doing this in order to maintain her reputation as the honor student. Makoto refutes this.
This is Makoto breaking away from the stereotype placed on her. This is Makoto being her real self - the one I really admire.
Another wonderful growth I've seen in Makoto throughout her SL is her learning to be humble and relying on others:
At the start, you can see Makoto being defensive and distrustful - very slow to warm up. However, with Ren and the PT's help, she breaks away from those.
At the start, you can see Makoto being defensive and distrustful - very slow to warm up. However, with Ren and the PT's help, she breaks away from those.
At the end of her SL, you can see in various ways in how Makoto finds her resolve:
1. She's going to do things not because somebody told her to do so. Not because she has a reputation to maintain but to fulfill her OWN dreams. Makoto is finally doing things for herself.
1. She's going to do things not because somebody told her to do so. Not because she has a reputation to maintain but to fulfill her OWN dreams. Makoto is finally doing things for herself.
2. She's finally found the path she wants in her life - her own sense of justice, which was deeply influenced by her father. Her true self.
Knowing that she can no longer sit back and watch like what happened to Shiho, she wants to be in a field that allows her to be proactive.
Knowing that she can no longer sit back and watch like what happened to Shiho, she wants to be in a field that allows her to be proactive.
3. She learned the purpose of her studying ironically outside of it. She now sees studying not as something to be done for the sake of it but as a stepping stone to be the person she strives to become.
Mako's right. We find our purpose in unexpected situations and places. :)
Mako's right. We find our purpose in unexpected situations and places. :)
Going back to the major story plot points, you can see Makoto's beautiful character development in the Niijima Palace Arc, which I wrote here. My favorite is her conversation with Shadow Sae. That was THE moment for me where you can see of her growth. https://twitter.com/EwiKnight/status/1193885099407769600
Another one is when Ren saving the team from the prisons. Of course, Makoto's resolve gets shaken. This scene shows Makoto still has her insecurities but she has definitely grown and changed. Makoto learns to humble herself by relying on others. https://twitter.com/EwiKnight/status/1200464271273906176
Ending this long thread more personally. If you ask me, why is Makoto my favorite character?
The reason why I didn't like her at the start was because she reminded me so much of my flaws. We were alike in a lot of ways but how she got through them and how she grew inspires me.
The reason why I didn't like her at the start was because she reminded me so much of my flaws. We were alike in a lot of ways but how she got through them and how she grew inspires me.
My reasons why I love her
1. Constantly broadening her horizons.
I love how much of a nerd she is when it comes to learning about the world. She used to be rigid - sticking to her own mindset but she learns to be humble.
I also love how much of a dork she is when learning!
1. Constantly broadening her horizons.
I love how much of a nerd she is when it comes to learning about the world. She used to be rigid - sticking to her own mindset but she learns to be humble.
I also love how much of a dork she is when learning!
2. Full of integrity
Once she awakens her true self, you can see how dignified and principled Makoto is. She sticks true to her principles despite temptations not to do so. In the process, she learns to do things for her and not what other wants for her.
Once she awakens her true self, you can see how dignified and principled Makoto is. She sticks true to her principles despite temptations not to do so. In the process, she learns to do things for her and not what other wants for her.
3. Maternal and fiercely protective of her loved ones
I just love Makoto and her Team Mom moments. She may be strict but she cares very deeply about her loved ones. She'll swim oceans and go at lengths just to protect the people she cares about. It's an admirable trait to have.
I just love Makoto and her Team Mom moments. She may be strict but she cares very deeply about her loved ones. She'll swim oceans and go at lengths just to protect the people she cares about. It's an admirable trait to have.
AND THAT ENDS MY LONG THREAD! :D
I wanted to write this thread because Makoto is a character I feel emotionally attached to. She taught and inspired me in a lot of ways to grow and be better. Because of her, I met wonderful people as well and for that I am forever grateful :)
I wanted to write this thread because Makoto is a character I feel emotionally attached to. She taught and inspired me in a lot of ways to grow and be better. Because of her, I met wonderful people as well and for that I am forever grateful :)
