Ikigami - the messenger of death
| Ikigami - the messenger of death | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original title | イ キ ガ ミ | |||
| transcription | Ikigami | |||
| genre | Drama, thriller | |||
| Manga | ||||
| country |
 Japan
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| author | Motorō Mase | |||
| publishing company | Shogakukan | |||
| magazine | Weekly Young Sunday → Big Comic Spirits | |||
| First publication | August 2005 - March 2012 | |||
| expenditure | 10 | |||
| Movie | ||||
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Ikigami - The Messenger of Death ( Japanese イ キ ガ ミ , Ikigami ) is a manga by the Japanese illustrator Motorō Mase , which appeared in Japan for the first time from 2005 to 2012. The work comprises ten volumes and has been translated into several languages. It is about a person who brings the news of their government-appointed death to others and falls into the genres of thriller and drama.
content
In a future dystopian Japan, the government has adopted a "National Act of Welfare" ( 国家 繁 栄 維持 法 , Kokka han'ei iji hō , literally: "National Welfare Maintenance Act ") to combat apathy and laziness . After this, all children in the first grade will be vaccinated, and every thousandth will receive a nanocapsule that will kill them between the ages of 18 and 24. With death hovering over everyone, people are supposed to appreciate the value of life, which in turn promotes economic development and productivity. The elect are seen by society as heroes who die for their country, and the loved ones receive a pension.
Kengo Fujimoto ( 藤 本 賢 吾 ) is trained as an Ikigami ( 逝 紙 , "death paper"), one of those who announce the welfare act to the victims 24 hours before their death. Those affected should be able to say goodbye to their relatives and put unfinished business in order. He visits the most diverse people, who all react in their own way to the announcement of their death. Some submit, others get angry and bring their loved ones problems and ostracism by the rest of society. He also encounters those who speak out against the law and are brainwashed by the government for it.
publication
The manga appeared from August 2005 in individual chapters in the manga magazine Weekly Young Sunday by Shogakukan . After it was discontinued in July 2008, it appeared in Big Comic Spirits until March 2012 . The story also appeared in ten anthologies ( Tankōbon ).
The manga was published in German between August 2012 and January 2016 by Carlsen Verlag . A translation was published in the Netherlands by Kana, in Spain by Panini , in France by Asuka and in North America by Viz Media . Hanami brought out a Polish version.
reception
In Japan, the volumes sold around 30,000 times after they were first published. The Manga was nominated for the grand prize at the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée d'Angoulême 2010.
Andreas Platthaus finds the measure and effect of the "National Welfare Act" to be very strange and only understandable to the Japanese public. The behavior of the addressees of the death notice, the main topic of the manga, is an exciting question; even if the further action is roughly predictable. But that is precisely what arouses curiosity. The young target group can easily identify with the young protagonists and graphically the work offers a solid average quality. The series shows its very own style in particularly emotional scenes. Radosław Bolałek recommends the series in 1001 Comics You Should Read Before Life Is Over .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Japanese Comic Ranking, June 27-July 3rd. Anime News Network , July 6, 2011, accessed September 4, 2012 .
- ↑ Manga Nominated for Awards at Angouleme Comic Fest. Anime News Network , December 8, 2009, accessed September 4, 2012 .
- ^ Andreas Platthaus : Messenger in the state death program. (No longer available online.) Faz.net, October 1, 2012, archived from the original on October 4, 2012 ; Retrieved October 6, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Radosław Bolałek in 1001 Comics You Should Read Before Life Is Over . Zurich 2012, Edition Olms. P. 825.
Web links
- Information from Carlsen Verlag
- Entry at Anime News Network (English)