"Golden Kamuy" is Japanese manga created by Satoru Noda. The manga is quite unique because it is set in the early 20th century Hokkaido which is rarely chosen as story backdrops and it consists of many enjoyable elements like folklore, history, action, gag, thriller, love story, etc. in good balance.
Recent days I have read the English version of Golden Kamuy after reading the Japanese version, so I would like to review it briefly.
* Spoiler alert: this review contains impressions on specific scenes in the Golden Kamuy Vol. 1.
Honestly, I felt the anime is terrible due to its motionless action scenes and too much cutting of stories. I do NEVER want anime fans to think the anime was the all for Golden Kamuy. I strongly recommend all of the anime watchers to read the original manga.
Of course, the anime has some positive points: it increases the popularity of Golden Kamuy and all the voice actors are excellently fitted to each character. I think the anime producers did a great job about these points.
The anime production says that they will broadcast the 2nd season in October 2018. I hope they will improve the movement and story.
Taking Asirpa as the main contributor, the manga describes the great knowledge and customs of Ainu throughout the manga story - how Ainu get along with the nature, how they respect their ancestors and gods, and what their families and the other relationships are like. For example, in Vol. 1, we can learn their method to fight against brown bears, the way to hunting&eating squirrels&rabbits, and the word Hinna thanking the god for giving foods.
They were all fresh, interesting, and exciting to me because I knew little about Ainu. As you might know, though Ainu and we Japanese (Sisam) share the same nationality, many Japanese include me do not recognize Ainu well. The situation is caused by the Japanese long-term discrimination against Ainu in the past: Japanese had deprived Ainu of their rights to live in their own culture and had neglected their identity. Even now, Japanese learn little about Ainu in schools and daily lives. All we think vaguely is that Ainu is once discriminated and kind of miserable people.
It is very sad fact, but it is one of the reason why Golden Kamuy is striking for many Japanese manga fans. Although Golden Kamuy is mere a fiction and may be showing only good side of Ainu history, it weaves Ainu culture into the story line vividly and positively as to make the readers with no Ainu knowledge enjoy.
In this corner, I would like to pick up some funniest scenes in vol. 1. Note that the page numbers are based on the ComiXology.
Vol. 1 is a introduction section for the characters and the story, so there are less gag scenes than the other volumes.
Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoy Golden Kamuy!!
Buy:
>>Golden Kamuy Vol. 1 (English)
>>Golden Kamuy Vol. 1 (Japanese)
Related Articles:
>>Japanese vol. 1 review
>>Japanese reviews
Recent days I have read the English version of Golden Kamuy after reading the Japanese version, so I would like to review it briefly.
* Spoiler alert: this review contains impressions on specific scenes in the Golden Kamuy Vol. 1.
Impression on the Animation of Golden Kamuy
Sorry for those who want to read the manga review only, but firstly I will talk about the animation a little as a manga fan.Honestly, I felt the anime is terrible due to its motionless action scenes and too much cutting of stories. I do NEVER want anime fans to think the anime was the all for Golden Kamuy. I strongly recommend all of the anime watchers to read the original manga.
Of course, the anime has some positive points: it increases the popularity of Golden Kamuy and all the voice actors are excellently fitted to each character. I think the anime producers did a great job about these points.
The anime production says that they will broadcast the 2nd season in October 2018. I hope they will improve the movement and story.
Review of Golden Kamuy Vol. 1
Now I would like to write brief reviews and expressions of Vol. 1 (or the entire story).Biggest Feature of Golden Kamuy - Ainu Culture
As I wrote initially, this manga is quite unique for mixing several elements of entertainments. Especially, the best-described is the folkloric element. Through Vol. 1 to Vol. 14 (up to Vol. 14 is already available in Japanese language), the central pillar of the manga is Ainu culture.Taking Asirpa as the main contributor, the manga describes the great knowledge and customs of Ainu throughout the manga story - how Ainu get along with the nature, how they respect their ancestors and gods, and what their families and the other relationships are like. For example, in Vol. 1, we can learn their method to fight against brown bears, the way to hunting&eating squirrels&rabbits, and the word Hinna thanking the god for giving foods.
They were all fresh, interesting, and exciting to me because I knew little about Ainu. As you might know, though Ainu and we Japanese (Sisam) share the same nationality, many Japanese include me do not recognize Ainu well. The situation is caused by the Japanese long-term discrimination against Ainu in the past: Japanese had deprived Ainu of their rights to live in their own culture and had neglected their identity. Even now, Japanese learn little about Ainu in schools and daily lives. All we think vaguely is that Ainu is once discriminated and kind of miserable people.
It is very sad fact, but it is one of the reason why Golden Kamuy is striking for many Japanese manga fans. Although Golden Kamuy is mere a fiction and may be showing only good side of Ainu history, it weaves Ainu culture into the story line vividly and positively as to make the readers with no Ainu knowledge enjoy.
Funniest Scenes Selection
Another outstanding aspect of Golden Kamuy is its gag quantity and quality. You see a fund of comical things take place in the episodes.In this corner, I would like to pick up some funniest scenes in vol. 1. Note that the page numbers are based on the ComiXology.
Vol. 1 is a introduction section for the characters and the story, so there are less gag scenes than the other volumes.
- Page 146: Faces of Asirpa and Sugimoto Eating Squirrels
I bursted out laughing when I read the scene for the first time. I can see Sugimoto really hesitated to eat squirrel's brain and Asirpa really sticked to have Sugimoto eat the brain, haha! XD
Sugimoto's face after eating the brain is also very funny.
Sugimoto and Asirpa are both handsome in ordinary situation, but when it comes to gag scenes, their faces become quite funny. The gap makes me more laughing.
- Page 173: Asirpa really wanted to eat the rabbit
Without being anxious about Sugimoto, what she thought is just eating. Cool!
- Page 176: Sugimoto
F-FINE!! DEAL!
Again, Sugimoto's funny face.
Mistranslation
I found some mistakes in translation when I compared original Japanese and translated English. I am thinking of reporting to the publisher about that, but for the time being, I would like to leave the details here.- Page 16: Sugimoto
IF I HADN'T KILLED AN OFFICER WHO PISSED ME OFF...
In Japanese version, Sugimoto says気に入らない上官を半殺しにしなきゃ
. He did NOT kill the officer but beat him almost to death.
- Page 143: Sugimoto
THE STRONG FEAST ON THE WEAK.
In Japanese version, Sugimoto says弱い奴は食われる
. This line is the repetition of Asirpa's line in episode 1:弱い奴は食われる
.
She talked about the harsh rule of the nature, so Sugimoto wants to tell her that the same rule can also be applied in human society.
Thus, for Sugimoto's line, using the same line as Asirpa on Page 52:THE WEAK ONLY GET EATEN.
is more desirable.
- Page 187: Soldier
OBATA HAS REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS.
Maybe just a mistyping. "尾形" is read "Ogata".
Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoy Golden Kamuy!!
Buy:
>>Golden Kamuy Vol. 1 (English)
>>Golden Kamuy Vol. 1 (Japanese)
Related Articles:
>>Japanese vol. 1 review
>>Japanese reviews