Thank you for your loyalty. You've no doubt noticed that the world is a troubled place. People are apathetic, lazy, unmotivated. You've probably asked yourself
WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE TO STOP THIS SYSTEMATIC DECLINE?
Rest assured that measures are being taken. Beginning immediately, we will randomly select a different citizen each day who will be killed within 24 hours of notification. We believe this will help remind all people how precious life is and how important it is to be a productive, active member of society.
Thank you for your continued attention and your cooperation and participation...
FEATURING: EPISODE 11: LIFE PAPERS EPISODE 12: THE TRUTH EXPOSED
I am writing this a few days after I finsihed this, and I’ve gone ahead in the next one so I’m a little confused. Story #1: This character is technically homeless and stays in these rent-a-night cubicle dorms. He follows a blogger, Akane, who is also living a similar lifestyle and provides tips for survival. He fell into this lifestyle after leaving his abusive aunt and uncle, who he was staying with after his mother died/his father’s company went under. His aunt and uncle are unemployed but not for lack of trying. When he gets served with the Ikigami he takes advantage of the discounts/free food. He ends up meeting Akane IRL, and she explains to him that the poverty they are dealing with and the aunt and uncle’s situation are due to systemic issues, not due to laziness or a lack of hard work. He forgives his aunt and uncle. They make copies of his Ikigami ID so that they can hand them out to other impoverished people so that they can use the copies to get the Ikigami discounts/free food/free transport. He tells Akane to buy some stuff w the Ikigami and sell it, just enough o get herself out of the pit she’s in. Then she can get her life together and make something of herself. We flash forward a bit after his death. He is obviously retroactively labeled a social miscreant, so his aunt and uncle don’t get the bereavement pension and get evicted. In a wholesome full circle moment, Akane is appointed as their lawyer to help them fight the charge.
While discussing the case, Kubo the psych implies that she’s not against the idea of struggling people using fake Ikigamis to survive. She’s implying that there are huge issues in society. Kubo basically openly expresses her revolutionary leanings, and Fujimoto rats her out.
Story #2: A boy who is involved in anti establishment organizing. His father hosts a late-night show that subtly pushes back on the social order. The show gets shut down. His mom dies. All this strengthens his hatred of the National Welfare Policy. He decides to do something drastic in his final 24 hours. He takes Fujimoto hostage and demands that he be broadcasted on national TV!! However many of the cameras are fakes. Kubo has disappeared ever since Fujimoto reported on her, but during the hostage situation she suddenly shows up to negotiate. Fujimoto realizes that the man who has him hostage is the same man that was riding in the car with Kubo earlier. The man he thought was Kubo’s bf! Kubo is there to try to stop him from killing Fujimoto. At first I thought she was a double agent, and so did Fujimoto, but really they just released her temporarily so she could do this negotiation. Kubo tells him that the cameras are not broadcasting and his message isn’t getting out anyway, so he should let Fujimoto go. Luckily, the dad, who had been losing his convictions, comes back in a baller move and hacks the country’s earthquake alarm system so that the hostage scene is shown to everyone. The SWAT team descends and frees Fujimoto and the man dies at his allotted time.
Fujimoto has to go on leave for a bit after that traumatic incident. He is touched that Kubo went to all that trouble to save him, but still internally struggles with the fact that she’s a true Social Miscreant. He has a cryptic convo with the father of the deceased man that fires him up to return to work.
This volume blended the Fujimoto/Kubo storyline with the short stories more than any of the previous volumes. I’m a little disappointed in Fujimoto’s commitment to National Welfare, but it would be unrealistic for him to give in so easily. The first storyline did a great job again of exposing how unequal their world is, which again calls into question the usefulness of the policiy.
Ikigami #6 to kolejna porcja nietuzinkowej, wciągającej, ekscytującej, głębokiej i emocjonalnej treści, która powinna zostać doceniona przez każdego miłośnika dobrych powieści graficznych/mang. Historia początkowo skupia się tutaj na młodym mężczyźnie Kazumie Yamazakim, którego dotychczasowe życie nie należało do najprzyjemniejszych. To właśnie on otrzymuje swoje tytułowe „Ikigami”, czyli zawiadomienie o śmierci. Staje się to dla niego bodźcem, aby coś zmienić i pomóc innym. Kolejny raz Motoro Mase wprowadza do swojej opowieści bohatera z dość tragiczną przeszłością, dla którego los na pewno nie jest łaskawy i skazuje go na śmierć. Każdy więc kolejny kadr wypełnia masa dramatycznej treści, obok której żaden czytelnik nie powinien przejść obojętnie. Nie jest to jednak tylko i wyłącznie oparcie się na „melancholii”. Twórca pod wierzchnią warstwą „emocji” stara się pokazać złożoność zarówno systemu, jak i pewnych ludzi.
Dalsza część tomiku poświęcona jest postaci Ichijo, który w momencie otrzymania Ikigami decyduje się na przyłączenie się do ruchu pragnącego odkryć prawdę o „systemie” i doprowadzić do zmian w kraju. Narastająca w nim wściekłość kończy się desperackim krokiem. W samej fabule autor nie zapomniał również o rozwinięciu problemów Fujimoto (dostarczyciela Ikigami), który sam nie jest pewien czy wierzy jeszcze w nieomylność systemu. Musi on więc podjąć decyzje czy będzie wspierać kraj, czy też zacznie się przeciwko niemu buntować. Punktem krytycznym jego rozważań jest odkrycie pewnej „anty-systemowej” organizacji, do której należy bliska mu osoba.
le principe de l'ikigami est toujours cool, mais au bout de 6 volumes les histoires commencent à devenir redondantes si on innove pas un peu sur les thèmes 🤐 le personnage principal a du mal à se positionner sur la loi et ses changements de camp entre "parfait petit soldat" et "rebelle infiltré" sont un poil fatiguants... va falloir faire un choix rapidement parce que sinon la lecture va pas tenir longtemps lol
this series continues to be quite good and it's interesting to see how the main character deals with his feelings about the justness of this law. It's a good break from the nonfiction i've been reading. This volume had some VERY interesting developments with the psychiatrist!
En este volumen vemos como la gente de más abajo debe lidiar con su propia mortalidad inmediata sinó con las consecuencias de los errores del estado que les oprime y con aquellas cosas a las que no pueden culpar a nadie. Este volumen en específico tiene unas viñetas con una fuerza particular.
Always happy to see Kubo since there are no other girls that get main storylines. Getting real tired of it but I’m so far I’ll prolly just finish the series…
I finished this while I was waiting for my sister to get ready....
seriously, when it comes to Ikigami I devote my whole inner self but this does not mean that my sister doesn't take a long time to get dressed . This is totally a volume of a different level among the IKIGAMI series to the national welfare to bear. It was tremendously powerful and effective in a way that delivers a rich understanding of their governmental laws and acts. However, unlike the previous chapters, the ikigami receivers are becoming more predictable. One reason that might explain this is that the plot and the story line are the ones that are being focused on, not minding the other minor unnecessary details. I can categorize this volume as a highly important part of this manga that has presented new information and such a rich content. Yet, those who can not hold their horses, can not simply skip the previous chapters. The main story of the victim of the first chapter in this volume was basically a version of the true reality where a hopeless family is trying to survive in this society and most of all the victim himself who struggles with his uncle after his parents' death. This story highlighted major issues and tried to enhance the consequences of the virtuous beliefs and to do good, not mentioning the importance of knowing how revenge is useless and help nothing as Ikigami story lines are mostly going on this circle. Most of the acts were repetitive and expected but they soon were changed and the character takes a different way due to the awareness of effective characters when they do exist. New method of breaking the law was issued in this chapter as well, "misuse of an ikigami" which played a huge role in justifying the receiver and the other people who he had interacted with him. It also presented how citizens are trying to be as loyal as possible to the government and their crucial system not just because they are afraid to speak, but most of them actually believe it is the right way for a prosperous country. This was deeply highlighted in the upcoming chapter !
Spies claim that they are against the national welfare but they are not just to extract information from the rebellions and report them as corruptionist or traitors or whatever the government say so. But what if he was a true rebellion? Trustworthy is getting harder and this is actually the brutal plan of the government to stop its people from talking freely. As the ikigami messenger lately felt unstable and in a condition that can not know white from black , the risk of speaking what is in mind is dangerous. whether you fight your beliefs and protect yourself or bear the consequences. This chapter was amazing. I got entirely devoted and attached deeply with the actions, scenario and characters themselves. This is the true reality that not everyone can see it carefully. The way the author created the story line and how he creatively represented the receiver gives you the feeling of a new bizarre experience never had it before. 85% of the highly important details is in the second chapter of this volume. A really sophisticated, wise and convincing scenario and conversations. However, it is fair to say that I thought that the consequences of the act of a rebellion can be harsh and brutal just to represent the government as a ruthless authority. Reality is just more cruel and pitiless and the one who stands against the unfair laws quickly set into death not even waiting for the Ikigami adjusted time and the capsule to take effect. I am really starting to not understand and get the Ikigami messenger who supposed to be the ''main character'' ,but there is not a one main character in this series, obviously ! His duty is to just appear in every single volume wit his innocent attitudes and beliefs. I do not actually understand his actions lately and this is maybe due to his uncertain condition and probably many doubts and questions are going in his head. Yet, this Manga is getting juicy and the fact that the revolutionary union is taking effect provides the storyline with more plot twists and unpredictable actions that just give goosebumps !
In der ersten der beiden Stories geht es um einen heruntergekommenen jungen Mann, der sich die Strafregeln des GFW zunutze machen möchte, um seinen Eltern, die in misshandelt haben, das Leben zu verderben. Doch in seinen letzten Lebensstunden lernt er eine junge Frau kennen, die in ihm den Wunsch weckt, seine letzte Energie lieber in etwas konstruktives zu stecken.
In der zweiten Geschichte verdichtet sich erstmal der übergeordnete Plot - der Bote steht vor der Entscheidung, ob er die Psychologin, die sich ihm als Verräterin geoutet hat, melden sollte oder lieber nicht. Kurz nachdem er eine Entscheidung getroffen hat, wird er von seinem nächsten "Kunden" als Geisel genommen...
Auch nach sechs Bänden hat noch jede einzelne Geschichte das Potential, dem Leser vor Mitleid mit den Protagonisten die Tränen in die Augen zu treiben - dennoch tut es der Reihe gut, dass nun langsam etwas Bewegung in die Rahmenhandlung kommt.
I liked this one less than the previous volume. Before, I felt like things were finally happening when it comes to the main character Fujimoto, but this volume kind of went back on his character evolution. Fujimoto is pretty wishy-washy and can't make up his mind concerning the National Wellfare Act. On one hand, it makes sense and brings nuance: on the other hand, it's become plenty annoying after six volumes of not-making-up-his-mind.
When it comes to the two short stories in this volume, they were a bit middle-of-the-road for me. Not bad, not great, but good. I like that we get to see characters from all walks of life and their journeys towards opposing National Wellfare, in different ways.
As the story continues, the undercurrent of dissent regarding national welfare grows, and Fujimoto has to face up to the choices he has made in his life.
While nothing is wrapped up in this volume, the truth about Dr. Kubo is shown, and it was not quite what I expected. As people show their true colours more and more, the story just becomes more interesting.
The "bigger picture" aspect of the series doesn't appear that big anymore, as most of the stuff that has been subtly cooking for the first four volumes and more intensely picket up in the fifth get resolved within one volume. That is not to say that the series would disappoint though. The plot works wonders and the character stuff and tone are perfect as always. Even some slightly contrived character motives don't bother too much as overall the different elements work together beautifully.
Dans ce volume, l'histoire tourne beaucoup autour de Mlle Kubo, autour de laquelle pas mal de doutes planent depuis un certain temps... Et surtout, on en apprend plus au sujet de l'existence d'un mouvement révolutionnaire.
Je n'ai pas été complètement convaincu cependant pas la deuxième histoire, mais je ne peux malheureusement pas vous expliquer pourquoi sans vous dévoiler une partie de l'histoire :-(
Motoro Mase sure is taking a long time to get to the point. With 5 volumes down (and #5 being a thrilling cliffhanger), I wish that #6 had focused solely on our main character Mr. Fujimoto and his story rather than including more vignettes, but one vignette was directly related and the other one seems like it may come up again, so I'll accept it.
Still going strong. Can you live in a corrupt society without being corrupted? Fujimoto makes some interesting choices, and we find out the truth (I think) about Dr. Kubo. I'm sorry this series concludes in the next volume!
Para ser el último volumen es un poco flojo. El final no me gusta. El comunicado de vida tiene algún momento bueno pero no se puede comparar con las historias anteriores. Con todo, Ikigami es una gran colección de historias y me gusta mucho como están narradas y dibujadas.
Again it was intresting too see reactions from people on the ikigami from different backgrounds. Another thing that I loved was that we got more into the ongoing story. I'm intrested how this going to end up. I have a theory but I have a feeling I'm wrong in one way or another.
First is a rather sweet story about the ripples from one final act of charity. In the second story, Fujimoto gets more involved than he expected with one of the recipients of his death notices.