Food for thought [Legend of a Strongest Man Nakane]

Nobuyuki Fukumoto, creator of Kaiji and other series, has a spin-off manga about a man who craves for Instagram likes. It’s called Legend of a Strongest Man Nakane, a spin-off of Saikyou Densetsu Kurosawa. At first, I found it hard to believe that there is a series about this topic. Instagram?? What??

Nakane’s colleague explains that he buys cakes and other cute-looking sweets just for Instagram. After the post is up, he trashes the dessert because he doesn’t like sweet foods.

This page made me think. I think this is a really good point. With so many people in the world, I understand the desire to stand out from the rest.

The counter argument. Seeking approval. Craving the spotlight. “Celebrity” wannabes. Running around like idiots. WILL YOUR WORTHLESS SELF GET SOME PEACE OF MIND?

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I don’t think that posting on Instagram is that serious. Nakane and his colleague go to great lengths for likes and there are surely many users who do the same. I would believe that most users are not like this.

I frequently post on Instagram. I don’t think my intention is to “stand out” because I don’t think this is realistic for me. Maybe this is pessimistic thinking on my part, but there are so many users.

I don’t think I am looking for approval on Instagram and I don’t think I am a celebrity wannabe. Am I running around like an idiot? Maybe to some people. Will I get some peace of mind from getting likes? I wonder…

I hate this. It’s fun to take pictures and post. It’s nice to have a backlog of the good times and shared memories. Sometimes you feel more connected to others by using Instagram. At the same time, I hate it. Society feels superficial. & you know what? I will not stop using Instagram…

In Defence of Kaiji

I read a blog post about Kaiji and the person wrote that Kaiji is an evil series that promotes sin and a bunch of other things. Yes, the characters lie and betray one another for personal gain and greed. Yes, some characters have died or are subject to inhumane human labour. Yes, some characters have lost limbs as a result of losing a gamble. Does the manga promote crime and murder though? I fail to see it.

It’s a work of fiction. Am I as a reader going to go and start deceiving people for my personal gain because I’ve read this series? Of course not. What I got from the manga is an intense and exciting reading experience. Most of the time, you read manga for entertainment. Am I a bad person for reading this series because some characters have died and other characters are in terrible life situations? What series doesn’t have something like this.

Kaiji Itou is a man thrown into unfortunate circumstances. He’s not particularly smart like Akagi, for example, and sometimes loses his gambles. What strikes me about him is his perseverance and desire to overcome his obstacles. This is why many people became interested in the series. I am caught up on the manga and do not think that this has changed. Kaiji still has obstacles he needs to overcome but he has been vigilant and cautious in Part 6 of the manga.

At least in my experience, I feel motivated after reading Kaiji. Seeing Kaiji so determined makes me want to do something. This “something” can be as simple as getting out of bed. Sometimes I look at my life and think, what would Kaiji do? He wouldn’t give up like this. There are many inspirational quotes in Kaiji.

As for the Tonegawa series and comedy spin offs, I think they are fine as long as they are separate from the Kaiji manga (and they are). I’ve read the spin-off manga and watched the spin-off anime. I know that spin-off Tonegawa is not the same person as Tonegawa in the Kaiji series. That being said, spin-off Tonegawa does not change how I view Tonegawa in the Kaiji series. Tonegawa is a separate series and should be seen as such.

Death Note: Special One-Shot 2020 Review

Death Note is one of my favourite anime and has been one of my favourites since I was in elementary school. A new one-shot was recently released. It takes place after the events of the series. Spoilers ahead, read at your own risk!

Thoughts: I thought that the idea of selling a Death Note was interesting, especially to governments across the globe. Not everyone is as righteous as Light Yagami. Some people are more concerned with money, this is reality. It was cool to see Donald Trump, Xi Jinping and Shinzo Abe in manga. This made the reading experience feel more relevant to real life.

It was interesting that Trump was the one who ended up purchasing the Death Note. The payment method was also interesting. With so many people in that region, it would be nearly impossible to track down the seller. The seller had calculated that he would forget his memories of the Death Note so that he could spend his money worry-free. This would also make it difficult for the investigation team to track the seller. 

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Another interesting thing is that Kira is taught in schools and is mentioned in books. He left a legacy, but it seems like everyone is taught that he was evil. 

Another interesting thing is what Ryuk said about the changing times. He said that if Light did all the stuff he did, there is a higher chance that he would be caught now because of advancements in technology. Even posting things on the Internet is a lot more challenging. If Light picked up a Death Note in 2020, I wonder how he would utilize it and make his presence known to the world. 

I expected more engagement from the investigation team. They were nowhere to be seen when Ryuk met up with Trump. If I recall correctly, the investigation team worked for the government. They were powerless in this one-shot, which was disappointing. 

Another disappointing thing was the addition of new rules. It deviated too far from the original.

In the end, Ryuk kills off Minoru Tanaka. This was expected. I think Minoru was quite optimistic to think that he could sell the Death Note and carry on with his life like nothing happened. I don’t think his death was surprising at all. 

It is important to remember that this is a one-shot. Of the Death Note one-shots I have read, I definitely enjoyed this one of the most. There are page limits in one-shots; only so much can happen in 80-something pages. Despite a couple of disappointing things about this one, it gave me more things to think about. Honestly, I’m just happy that the original creators posted something Death Note related again. This is a series that people will never lose interest in. People will always come back to Death Note because it has that kind of impact on you. These are my personal feelings about this series. 

You can read the Death Note One-Shot for free here.

Tsundoku 積ん読

I was reading Kaiji Part 6, 賭博堕天録カイジ 24億脱出編 and these pages stood out to me.

Basically, Kurosaki owns a campervan that he hasn’t used. He tells Endo his dream of travelling all over Japan in his campervan. He has a pile of books he hasn’t read and plans to read them. Endo thinks that if Kurosaki hasn’t read a short 200-page book yet, then it won’t happen. Endo also thinks that this is all a fantasy; that Kurosaki will be bored of this kind of life in less than a month.

This made me think. I also have a pile of books I haven’t read yet. I keep buying books with the intention of reading them but I buy books faster than I can read them. There is a Japanese word for it and it’s “tsundoku.” Endo’s line, “Maybe you’re not even suited to reading books in the first place?” felt like it was calling me out on a personal level. I’ve probably read over 10,000 chapters of manga but when it comes to novels, maybe I’m too optimistic.

Sometimes I think about throwing my phone in a river and living in a cottage. I think about it again then realize that I would be bored in less than a day. I long for a simple life, but I think I secretly crave for something much more chaotic.

This is the kind of person I am.

Buraiden Gai – Suffering Originates from Desire?

Buraiden Gai is a short manga by Nobuyuki Fukumoto. Fukomoto is well-known for creating Kaiji and Akagi. It’s a really interesting and intense manga. I recommend checking it out! One page in particular stuck out to me and it was about desire (Remember to read right to left).

This page reminded me of the following quote by Edgar Allan Poe:

“All suffering originates from craving, from attachment, from desire.” — Edgar Allan Poe

What do you guys think?? Do you agree with this notion or the quote? It makes sense to me, but I would love to hear what other people think. This makes me feel negative because of the bottom panel that says, “There’s only a few people who do achieve their dreams … the world has more people who failed.” Is this even true? At the same time, I feel relief from having a greater understanding about suffering.

I’ll leave you with this final quote from Buraiden Gai (Chapter 31)…

“Isn’t dream the same thing as desire?” — Nobuyuki Fukumoto

Manga Review: Koushiki Ekkyouden – Fukumoto All Stars

Fukumoto All Stars is an adorable and funny manga featuring different characters from Fukumoto’s works. The authors had Nobuyuki Fukumoto’s cooperation and the characters are drawn in chibi style. This short manga is similar to Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals and Attack on Titan: Junior High.

It’s ideal if you have read or watched Kaiji, Akagi and other FKMT series because this manga relies on references to Fukumoto’s earlier works.

Thoughts: The art is adorable! It is quite funny, but the tropes get repetitive after a while. For example, Kaiji betting a limb to gamble because he doesn’t have money to gamble with.

If you have seen and liked the Kaiji spin-off anime, Middle Manager Tonegawa, then you’ll like this manga. (You can read my review on Middle Manager Tonegawa here.) You can finish reading Fukumoto All Stars in one sitting. The tropes become increasingly repetitive so I think the short length is appropriate. Overall, I think it’s worth checking out because you get to see the characters from different FKMT series interact with each other!

Manga Review: Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji: Kazuya-hen

Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji: Kazuya-hen is Part 4 of the Kaiji manga series by Nobuyuki Fukumoto. For my review on Part 3, click here.

In the beginning of the arc, Kaiji reads a novel written by Kazuya. The story is ridiculous, but it was also extremely captivating. I was completely drawn in and couldn’t stop reading.

Kaiji plays a significantly smaller role in this part. Unlike the other arcs in which he is the main player, this arc is focused on three best friends: Mitsuyama, Chang, and Mario. The three friends play the Salvation Game. Kaiji and Kazuya watch from the sidelines while the three friends put their friendship to the test. Either all three friends will win the game and split up the prize money (millions of dollars) or one friend will betray the others and take all the money for himself. If the latter happens, the two remaining friends will have their skulls crushed and will die as a consequence.

Kaiji believes that Mitsuyama, Chang, and Mario will work together until the end and win the game, while Kazuya believes that they’re all frauds. He believes that betrayal is inevitable and that it’s inherent to human nature. I found that my own morals were put to the test because I felt that I had to pick a side. To be completely truthful, I kept going back and forth between Kaiji’s and Kazuya’s arguments. In the end, the side I picked lost.

Kaiji stands his ground and doesn’t suck up to people he doesn’t like!

Kaiji compares the players to his “friends.” This was a painful page to read. Not only did I feel empathy towards Kaiji, I was also reminded of my own experiences of betrayal.

Kaiji still protests, despite being punched and kicked on.

Kaiji isn’t involved in the game, doesn’t know the players, but still feels empathy for the players.

Why do I read Kaiji?

1. It makes me feel better about my own life. I reflect upon my own life and think, my life isn’t bad at all. I’m actually so lucky to have a supportive family and a roof over my head. I don’t have to worry about going hungry. I have clothes that will keep me warm. I have a bed and access to a hot shower. 
2. Kaiji inspires me. Yes, he’s a fictional character but he’s a resilient character.

Manga Review: Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji

Tobaku Datenroku Kaiji is Part 3 of the Kaiji manga. The events that take place happen after the second season of the anime.

Synopsis: Kaiji is living in Mr. Sakazaki’s new house but he doesn’t work or do anything. Mikoko adores Kaiji, but the feelings are not mutual. (The scenes in the ending theme song of Kaiji season 2 were showing the future!) Maeda and Miyoshi, two of Kaiji’s friends that were freed from the underground labour camp, approach him to gamble. Kaiji accepts, and the rest is on mahjong.

Kaiji plays against the President of a casino in a game of 17 Steps. 17 Steps is a different version of mahjong in which you do not pick up new tiles. Instead, you can only discard tiles. The stakes are high – if Kaiji loses, he’ll have to pay the consequences.

Thoughts: I loved the beginning because you see Kaiji’s day-to-day life when he is not gambling. It will be difficult to understand the match if you do not know how to play mahjong. However, I don’t think you have to know how to play it because it’ll still be interesting to see the tensions building up and the emotional turmoil the characters experience. It’ll be beneficial to know how to play mahjong, but not required.

The art takes a while to get used to, but it depicts human emotions and suffering so well. Yes, it distorts features of the face and exaggerates expressions, but the art is so expressive.

Out of the three story parts so far, I liked this one the least. Don’t get me wrong – it’s great and it’s better than most manga I’ve read. Compared to the first two parts, however, it’s less exciting. Do I recommend this? Absolutely yes, but you have to start from the beginning.

Kaiji is my second favourite series. Kaiji Itou demonstrates so much resilience despite all the sh*t he’s been through. He’s been betrayed again and again, has nearly faced death many times, has been in the lowest situations imaginable, yet he still has faith in humanity. He still clings onto hope.

Freedom feels relaxing in the beginning, but when freedom is prolonged, life feels empty and meaningless. Thus, I have a blog. 🙂

A reminder to myself in all situations.

I was reading Kaiji on a day I was feeling sorry for myself, and this page sparked something within me. I think that perseverance is a strength in all of us.

Standout Panels – Death Note Manga Vol. 1

Most manga posts talk about the plot and characters. Panels, gutter, speech bubbles, sound effects, font, motion lines, and overall page layout are sometimes overlooked when in fact, the impact of these definitely make a contribution to the work.

Spoilers ahead.

1. Context

Light picked up the Death Note, which grants the user the ability to kill a person provided that they know the name and face of the person they wish to kill. He has just finished reading the rules of the Death Note.

Thoughts

The bottom panel is all black. This foreshadows that Light will use the Death Note. Although in an earlier panel he says that it’s stupid, there is a contradiction between what he is saying and what the panel shows us.

2. Context

Light tested the Death Note in person. He wrote ‘traffic accident’ as cause of death, and a traffic accident happened right in front of him.

Thoughts

This death confirmed that the Death Note is real. The entire page is dedicated to this one panel. One, the death is shocking to Light and shocking to us as well. Two, we can bet that things will only get more interesting from here on in.

3. Context

At a G8 Summit, officials representing countries from around the world are arguing over Kira. Kira is the name given to the killer of the criminals. As we know, Light is Kira and he has been mass-killing criminals in order to create a “better world.”

Thoughts

I am focusing on the last panel of this page, but the entire page works as a whole because the rest of the panels emphasize the importance of the text in the last panel. This page is cluttered! There’s a lot of people and bickering, represented by the spiky speech bubbles. Then there’s the last panel, and the background is white. The text silences everyone. From this, we know that L is a very important person.

4. Context

The top half is a flashback, while the bottom half is present day. In the flashback, L talks about a direct confrontation with Kira. In the present day, the Japanese police are watching the public broadcast for the direct confrontation.

Thoughts

Instead of focusing on the panels this time, I am focusing on the gutter. The gutter is the space between the panels. Normally it is all white. However, because we have a flashback, the gutter is black. We can tell that it is a flashback because of the gutter. Then, the gutter gradually transitions from black to white. This signifies that we are brought back to the present.

5. Context

A man by the name of Lind L. Tailor claims to be L on TV, and says that Kira is evil. This riles up Light, and he writes down the man’s name in the Death Note.

Thoughts

Light usually writes the names on the lines but here, he writes Lind L. Tailor’s in huge letters. The first letter of the name takes up the space of over five lines! Light’s writing is not straight and you can tell that he wrote this quickly. Just by looking at his writing, you know how Light was feeling. He was pissed!

6. Context

So it turns out that Lind L. Tailor is not the real L. Now the real L is talking to Kira through the same public broadcast. L managed to dupe Light by proving that Kira exists, that Kira is able to kill without being present, and that Kira is located in the Kanto region of Japan.

Thoughts

Look at those motion lines! Motion lines are usually done when there’s an action, but we have a television screen in this panel. The scene is dramatic and it shows how amazing L is.

I hope that by writing this post, everyone will appreciate all the decisions made in manga and ALL comics!

Manga I’ve Dropped

It seemed many people enjoyed my post on anime I’ve dropped so I decided to make a post on manga I’ve dropped!

1. Dragon Ball

I know that the show was a lot of peoples’ childhoods but I never got into it. The first few chapters of Dragon Ball did not interest me because there was urine, butts – just gross things. I like characters in bishonen style better. That’s just my personal preference.

2. Mikan no Tsuki

The art style is not very good and the story was confusing. Overall, not a good impression.

3. Kirihito Sanka

This manga is by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of manga. I understand that he is massively influential to anime but I am not his fan. I’ve read a bit of Lost World, Astro Boy, and Ribbon no Kishi. I’ve also watched Metropolis.

I am not his fan because 1) he grossly exaggerated features of POC. For example, I don’t like the way he drew Chinese characters or African characters. It’s stereotypical and racist. Kirihito Sanka (Ode to Kirihito) was done in 1971. While I can see that it was made many, many years ago, I still don’t like it. I know that some American cartoonists did the same thing too and I don’t like that either.

2) There was rape in Kirihito Sanka, more than once. 3) Reading Kirihito Sanka made me groan at so many moments. The characters are ridiculous and I don’t agree with many of their actions.

4. Masamune-kun no Revenge

Masamune kept talking about taking revenge on Aki but he ran so many errands for her, like getting bread for her.

???

Okay… I thought this was about revenge, not about becoming her servant. Masamune needs to grow a backbone and I don’t see anything there is to like about Aki. I don’t care if she’s cute! I don’t like anyone in the series.

5. Chobits

I’m not big on robot manga or anime. Chi is adorable but that’s basically all there is to her. Picking her up from the trash reminds me of picking up a stray cat from the streets. Yet, she is seen as a love interest and it just doesn’t sit well with me.