Golden Kamuy

I don't like to write reviews for something that isn't finished, but since lots of people will wonder if they should read this because of the anime, the answer must be HELL YES!

Golden Kamui is a weird and unique manga in all aspects. It starts off like a classic treasure hunt, and remains a historical military adventure story at its core, but from one certain point onwards, the insanity and madness just skyrocket off of every possible chart. From a story about war veterans and ex-convincts struggling to survive and adjust into the new reality the war has left behind, all while exploring the culture of a certain tribe, and the way they live through nature (mainly through the cooking of the food they are producing as hunters), at some point Golden Kamui managed to be versatile and incorporate a ton of other genres into its story. Not only did it not fail at achieving something this complex, it doubled its appeal.

You have been warned: Golden Kamuy is not a series from the faint of the heart. The art is realistic and some REALLY messed up things just keep on happening. The more you get into it and you think that you've seen everything, something even more bizarre, creepy, disgusting or incredulous thing will pop up in no time. The comedy becomes stronger, the characters generally more likeable, and the plot twists come one after the other. Aside from the protagonistic duo, Sugimoto and Asirpa, there are no certain allies or enemies. Everybody jumps from one side to the other according to his/her own goals, good persons and bad persons alike.

To make you understand, there is a homage to Hitchcock's movie Psycho, Jojo references and a panel where the main characters sit like in Da Vinci's painting "The Last Supper". And these are just THE EXTREMELY LIGHT STUFF of the insanity that is Golden Kamuy! If you are someone who enjoys their manga with a great tone of violence, an intriguing plot and outrageous comedic situations alternating with serious stuff, this is the manga for you!

Now, I have never reviewed a manga here except for Tokyo Ghoul:re. Mostly because I've never had the feeling to do either because it wasn't really worth it or because most of the community share the same opinion.

At this time, Golden Kamuy is probably underrated or just not having much attention as other manga but I hope the anime gives it more attention.

First of all, Golden Kamuy is basically treasure-hunting. This might sound absurd but it actually is interesting. The synopsis of this manga is written above, so I won't bother describing what the story is but instead, I'll just type in my impressions about it.

STORY:
So, to begin this, I have to say I loved the story all throughout. Every single detail and every explanation about the Ainu and the old Japanese-Russo war and the beginning of the 20th century in Japan that Noda has definitely done HEAVY research about with his assistant who's fluent in Ainu language.

I really appreciate their efforts to make a true story to the end. The balance of action, suspense, comedy and sticking to the Seinen part of it is what made me love it most.

The revelations all throughout are just great as well. Like, the author always keeps throwing at us something new every chapter. Be it, interesting historic facts or Ainu traditions that are really interesting or some amazing fights. The turn of events in this manga is really so sensible and I've been able to read this manga easily and laugh my ass off every time.

This is a truly unique manga, if I have to say. The plot twists in this manga are not the types you have in some other manga where you go like 'wtf? this makes no sense!' but these ones are so shocking and sensible at the same time. This manga sometimes really had me on my toes.

Now, the reason I gave it a 9/10 is because it hasn't yet finished or at least completed more and more chapters.....I'm willing to read more of it and later on decide on the 10/10!

CHARACTER:
Oh, come on! What can I say about this? The characters of this manga are just so perfect in their own way! I don't particularly hate any of them except for (SPOILER) the guy who kept fucking animals- I know.....

More importantly, the MC Sugimoto is really a a cool MC. He's quite experienced as a soldier and good in fighting. He's funny in his own way and the way that he cares for Asirpa is really just amazing and I like it!

Shiraishi, on the other hand, manages to make me roll on the floor laughing every single moment he appears. Like, stop dude! Even when you're serious, you're funny......Hahahahaha

Asirpa is really funny in her own way too but I really like her determination and knowledge. Tanigaki though is my favorite character. I love his past and his character as well.

Noda really knows how to make his characters interesting and appealing for everyone. He manages to give them suitable backstories and character development. Like, even all the antagonists are cool and magnificent! Every character that we meet on the way seems to make an impression or impact on me. This category really deserves a 10/10

ART:
Coming to this point, like for real, Noda's art is really unique and easily identifiable and recognizable. The way he draws big spreads and certain backgrounds is really astounding to be honest. Obviously, not the best art I've ever seen, but it's one that I really like! I'd give it an 8/10.

ENJOYMENT:
Yo! Are you serious? I enjoy this manga to the max! It's so enjoyable for me! The first few 40 chapters weren't as appealing, if I have to criticise but later on, it just grows on me and becomes so entertaining! It's definitely worth it! 10/10, for sure

OVERALL:
To just end this, I really would like to recommend this awesome manga to you! Don't even think about it....just do it. This is a really balanced manga in every way which I don't find much flaws, if any, to be honest. ONLY bit I didn't like, if I have to be a critic again was when they had to fight naked......so uncomfortable, gotta be honest! Hahahahaha
Only because it still hasn't even reached 200 chapters yet, I'll give it a 9/10 overall, looking forward to what it gives more and I'll try to update this once it reaches chapter 200!

It all started quite promising and then gone terribly bad.

It started as a late 1800s early 1900s Japanese country-side story with a native girl and a war veteran. Both lost their loved ones and getting together what comes next.

Is perfectly realistic and good stakes at surviving.

But then the series turned out the be historical Japanese and less fantastic version of Garth Ennis's Preacher.

Gay man, that dresses an elephant costume that made out of the skin of dead men ? And swinging the trunk of the costume that covers his lower waist load (p-word) . WTF ?!

The anatomically impossible to live the type of character and face designs. too many characters to follow. And only true motivation is money? Not good enough man.

I dropped at 70+ chapters but I looked into 240 to 250th chapters and I felt like I still reading the 55th chapter of the series.

No development, no progression, no expanding. Same skin hunting, bounty thralling stuff. It's boring. After Golden Kamui, I wrote 109 chapters of Vinland Saga in 2 days only, and I finally aware of "what a good historical war seinen suppose to be " And it wasn't even close to what Golden Kamui had ever offer.

I don't why it's so beloved. I also really loved the first 30 to 50 chapters but then that's it. it was a mediocre sick stuff to go through with it.

Ah yes, the manga where everyone is a black ops special forces commando. The manga where action scenes are short but intense instead of dragging out for 3 chapters. The manga where drama lasts for 2 panels instead of a whole volume plus 30 chapters of unnecessary flashback. The manga where the puns and comedy parts are actually funny. The manga where characters are unique, believable, charismatic, and easy to like. Do I need to continue? The answer is yes. Because no amount of praise can honor the glory that is this manga.

Golden Kamui is a story about a war veteran, Sugimoto the Immortal, from the Russo-Japanese war that ends up hearing about a hidden treasure somewhere, that was stolen from the Ainu people. He then sets out to pursue this treasure for the woman he loves. Soon he meets up with an Ainu child called Aspira that has rights to the gold, and the two join up to find this gold and split it.

If it wasn't clear already, I'm going to lay it right out. I love this manga. It is amazing, I love everything about it, it's art, it's historical background, it's puns, the story keeps me engrossed, believe you me folks, this is one of the best manga out there. One of the super rare hidden gems in the gigantic pile of garbage that is everywhere in the manga world. And on that note, lets keep it that way shall we?

Story: 10/10

Golden Kamui is one of those manga that don't try to be more than what it is. The story doesn't try to create some grandiose scheme that involves the fate of Japan much less the world. In fact, the story being set in Hokkaido, it stays that way. Furthermore, only a couple of people know about the gold.

The leader of those bandits that stole the Ainu gold is the only one who knows where it actually is, and being arrested, he devises a plan to tattoo the location of the treasure in his fellow prisoners. While being transported, all those prisoners escape and are now all throughout Hokkaido.

And that leads us to the factions involved. Basically there are three factions trying to get their dirty hands on the gold. Sugimoto and company, the 7th division of the japanese army that is considered to be the elite of the elite, and the heroes of the bakumatsu (basically old samurai dudes). And how are they going to gather all the map fragments together? Well, that is simple, they just need to hunt down the prisoners and skin them. Because apparently that is the most natural thing to do since everyone arrived at the same conclusion.

The story has a good mix of seriousness and goofy moments. Puns are original and fit the setting very well. Every aspect of the story, be it action, drama, comedy, flashbacks, etc aren't longer than they need to be. Furthermore, the story doesn't rely on cheap tricks to make it interesting.

I wouldn't be doing the manga honor if I didn't mention the amount of research the author must have put into this. Throughout the manga, there will be several parts explaining Hokkaido at the time, the Ainu culture, way of life, tools, and specially the Ainu cuisine. If you were wandering why actions and drama parts that usually take 15 chapters to complete in other manga were short here, well, that is because it is more interesting to know that the brain and eyes of pretty much every single animal in Hokkaido is a delicacy according to the Ainu.

Characters: 10/10

Here is where this manga shines like a herd of unicorns flying through a rainbow. Characters are unique, with relatable motives even if they are not the most righteous. Furthermore the contrast between the characters is superb. Lets take the first and most obvious example between Sugimoto and Aspira.

Sugimoto the immortal is a war veteran that got his title because well, he was such a badass that he would go kill russians while being shot, stabbed, you name it. He was pretty much a God in the battlefield. So you can imagine the contrast when someone like him teams up with a little girl from an Ainu village. Not that Aspira isn't badass in her own right.

Furthermore Sugimoto is the good sort of badass protagonist. Not the generic badass but boring protagonists that most authors try to create.

While we are at it kids, remember when I said at the beginning that everyone in this manga was a commando? Well that's right, everyone is badass. Even the lowest nameless grunt that would be just meat in any other manga is a badass. How badass you ask? Well guess you will have to read it to find out ;) Lets just say that halfway thorough I was questioning myself, as I am sure you will too, "why is everyone in this mange so badass"?.

Going back to the motives why everyone wants the gold, well all of the motives are actually quite selfish with Sugimoto's being possibly the most selfish of them all. So there isn't really an antagonist here in the proper sense of the word. Not even a villain actually. It really depends in the point of view.

Art: 10/10

I usually don't like to dwell much on art because it is a matter of taste. But I really find the art of Golden Kamui unique. And not just the drawing. The expression that every character makes is really one of the selling points here. No amount of explanation here can exemplify how amazing it is. Just read it for yourself.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Seriously, this is the best manga that has come out in the last couple of years, and one of the best overall. I started reading this from chapter 5 and you have no idea how happy I am whenever a new chapter comes out.

Overall: 11/10

Alright kids, this manga seriously deserves more recognition. But not much more mind you. I don't want the popularity to affect the quality. So, if you were lucky enough to come across it, go read it, it is amazing, but don't tell any of your friends.

One third gritty treasure hunt, one third Ainu cooking adventures, one third Ainu history/hunting lessons.

Now i'll start off by saying i don't follow a lot of manga series that came out within the last couple years. Most are average at best, with boring stereotypical characters, a lack of momentum in the plot line, un-inventive action sequences and typically forgettable dialogue.

However i think i've found a gem amongst the rough. Golden Kamuy is a historical Seinen series that depicts our main protagonist Sugimoto after the Russo-Japanese war in the Meji era. Nicknamed the 'Invinicible Sugimoto', he gained a reputation for being damn near invincible on the battlefield, doing anything and everything to get the better of his opponents. We follow Sugimoto after this period, as he soon receives critical information about a secret Ainu Tribe treasure haul that has been kept hidden for years upon years.


Story:

I've already given a little description so i won't talk much about the story. What i will say is that the mangaka has really dedicated himself to spending as much time as possible, fleshing out the time period and the varying cultures present within it. Attention to detail is impressive, as little things like the 'Ice walls' of Hokkaido are given proper acknowledgement. The Ainu Tribe especially has been fleshed out to the point i feel like i know quite a bit about their culture, traditions, hunting tactics, equipment, myths etc.

10/10

Art:

Beautiful, visceral and realistic are the words i'd use to describe the art of this series. The Hokkaido landscapes are breathtaking gorgeous, offering scenic views of the snowy mountain sides and grounded views of the bustling town. Action sequences are great enhanced by the sweeping movements, good in-between panels, attentive detail on gory faces and fantastic choreography. Furthermore the characters themselves are drawn in a mostly realistic manner. Anime-esque features are apparent, but subdued for the most part. You do get the occasional chibi face or dis-proportioned face for comedic effect though.

9/10

Character:

All the characters so far are distinctive and don't really fall too much into any tropes. Sugimoto is badass,unrelenting, cunning and truly representative of his nickname. Asirpa is the little Ainu girl who is Sugimoto first companion. Though unlike most little girl characters, she actually proves to be more essential to finding the treasure, hunting, survining and strategising than Sugimoto himself. It's even noted at one point that Sugimoto literally relies on Asirpa. Shiraishi is another character who has joined the trio now of treasure hunters. Slick and renowned for his escape abilities, Shiraishi is partly a source of comedic relief but also a competent tactition that with every passing chapter, seems to be integral to their success. I'll note their food outings are some of my favourite character interactions in the series. The extremely odd dishes they consume, coupled with the often disgusted facial reactions make these moments a joy to watch.....and there's a lot of them, so get used to it.

However the different factions other than Sugimoto's crew are the highlight for me. Hijikata of the newly formed Shinsengumi, the 7th Division commander and 'boner guy' Taizo are all unique, cunning and legitimately terrifying antagonists. The 7th division commander especially reminds me of the villain of the film 'No Country for Old Men'. Hijikata is my favourite overall, as every single time he appears something badass and grand occurs. His pistol and sword set also notch him a few extra points. I won't go into their characters too much (due to spoiler territory), but i'll just say i love every single character in this series.

10/10

Enjoyment:

I'm sure this is obvious if you're reading this.......but of course i love it! I think the above states everything that needs to be said. Bottom line though, is that this is the only series i look foward to reading weekly (alongside Gintama).

10/10

Overall:

9.7/10=10/10

Sugimoto survived the Russo-Japanese war of the Meiji era. To save his deceased comrade windowed wife, Sugimoto trying to find the hidden stash of gold to help complete his friend dying request. During This adventure Sugimoto partners up with Ainu girl who saved his life and both have different motivation yet the same conclusion so they team up.

From this description, you think they nothing that special about this series in hindsight you're correct however what this manga does to distinguish from what could a simplistic manga is amazing. The attention to detail for this time era 1903-1904 is kinda outstanding this feels a history lesson but a lived in one so, however, an interesting one telling us little things like how Ainu makes clothes like shirt are fish scales, understanding the culture the indigenous people of Japan and Russia. From the back of the first volume, you see how many references that the authors use to make sure that is accurate during the time period, even having Hiroshi Nakagawa, an Ainu language linguist from Chiba University to supervise the story to make sure it's accurate. This attention to detail makes the world so lived that most manga never imagines doing, i feel like i understand some of the cultures because of this manga.


This aspect i stated above i would say its more icing on the cake, because of the actual foundation the characters, plot, detail and feels like a hybrid of toriko and a historical manga. That does sound weird but it works, the comedy is well timed, the author always has a small narration of him stating interesting facts that i don't think can be replicated in an animated format it only works because of its a manga. The characters are relatable having a great way of mixing tones from serious story oriented to just a slice of life episodic moment.


The Art is amazing feeling like a monthly manga art but weirdly its done a weekly rate, this attention to detail. I mangaka faces are quite distinct, a lot of times they not so detail but simplistic so like pokemon sun and moon because the character design is flexible you can express various emotions without taking you out this is apparent for Asirpa.


Overall atm its 9/10 just because i've only read 48 chapters, i still need to see where it goes but if it keeps up this momentum this could be a special gem hopefully I'm accurate. I highly recommend the first 2-3 volumes just to get a decent understanding of what to expect.

This is one of the most unique manga I've read, and it's one hell of a wild ride. It's an exhilarating mix of weird comedy, gripping action, badass characters and Man vs Wild-style documentary. That doesn't mean it's without its flaws though, and I'll try to explain my opinion as thoroughly as possible in this review.

NARRATIVE STYLE: one of Golden Kamuy's most distinctive characteristics is that it has a bit of a documentary vibe, as it aims to describe Hokkaido at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as introduce the fascinating traditions of the Ainu people (including cooking). On the whole it's very interesting stuff *but* it can get a bit dense sometimes, as it feels like the author is trying to cram as much historical information as possible in each chapter. I had a lot of trouble with that at the beginning but it got much better later on, I guess I simply got used to it.

COMEDY 9/10: another of this manga's characteristics is that it features a lot of comedy, mostly in the weird/dark category à la Dorohedoro, but also a lot of sexual innuendos as well as various running gags. Not everything made me laugh, but the best moments are absolutely hilarious and had me in tears.

STORY 8/10: Golden Kamui follows a fairly classic treasure hunt plot, but one of its best assets is how it handles the air of mystery. The protagonists have to work with shady characters to get what they want, so there's quite a bit of suspicion between them, and the threat of betrayal is never too far. That gives the story a nice atmosphere of suspense.

Other than that, the manga strikes a nice balance of thrilling action scenes and “slice of life”/cooking/documentary-style moments as mentioned above, so that it never gets boring. I did note a few inconsistencies and narrative asspulls, but these never really detracted from my enjoyment.

CHARACTERS 7/10: probably an unpopular opinion, but this is the manga's weak point for me. Many of the main characters are well-written, with distinctive personalities and compelling backstories, and character interaction is handled very nicely on the whole. It's pretty easy to get attached to most of them. But, at this point in the story (Chapter 129), the crew around Sugimoto has simply become way too large, there are too many superfluous characters, some of them are complete non-entities, while others had some potential at first but were then relegated to mere comic relief. I feel that the current cast is in severe need of trimming, a few of them should've died earlier but didn't and thus have completely overstayed their welcome.

Asirpa (the second protagonist) is an example of character-writing that I'm not too happy about. For the first 50 chapters or so, it seemed that her main role was to act as Sugimoto's guide and make him discover the Ainu world, which is alright but made her seem like a plot device at times. That went on until a certain plot twist, which aptly turned the whole situation upside down, even though we haven't really felt much repercussion of that until now. I'm hoping that she will get some much-needed development in the next few chapters.

ART 7,5/10: I don't have much to say about it, it gets the job done and the backgrounds in some panels look absolutely beautiful. The characters' expressions are nicely conveyed, and their faces are sometimes distorted for comedic effect.

All in all, despite the couple of flaws I mentioned, Golden Kamuy has been getting better and better with each chapter, and is easily one of the most entertaining manga currently running. I can't wait to see where it goes next, as I'm sure it has the potential to become even more amazing in the future.

To start things off, I usually don't write reviews. The only time when I write reviews is when I feel like a manga deserves it. And Golden Kamuy definitely deserves to be in that category.


Story: The story of Golden Kamuy isn't exactly something unique; it's basically treasure hunting. But the thing is that Golden Kamuy is a manga that contains several genres that usually doesn't go well with each other. We've got historical, adventure, gore, comedy, action, cooking, psychological, etc. God knows how much this manga is going to cover. Golden Kamuy is basically a big fat cluster of genres, and the amazing part is that it goes well. The way that the author describes the scenes is simply great.


Art: The art of Golden kamuy is easy to distinguish. The design is fairly good, and the way that the author writes the scenes are easy to understand. Also the gore in this manga is pretty explicit, which may not appeal to younger people, but after all, this is a seinen.


Characters: The characters of Golden Kamuy are all crazy in their own way. Even the MC and the heroine isn't an exception, which is something that we don't see very often. The characters in the manga stand out in both good and bad ways, sometimes to a degree that it's too much to keep a straight face. Personally I thought this was great because the dialogues between the characters are so interesting thanks to the craziness.


Enjoyment: As I said before, this manga covers many genres, and for that reason, it's very chaotic and hilarious. I myself wasn't sure what to expect when I first decided to read it, but I realized after reading a few chapters that I was missing out on an astounding manga.


Overall: Overall Golden Kamuy is an amazing manga, and not once did I regret reading it. The only reason why I didn't rate 10 is because it's ongoing. It's a wonder why it hasn't become popular, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to read something really funny and interesting.

I first discovered this series in 2015, when I downloaded some manga apps on my phone. Initially I thought that a Japanese Western sounded meh. Then, in 2018 the anime was announced, and I was hooked by the first PV. I had a month before the anime release, so I went and binged the whole manga. I have followed both anime, manga and OVAs since. An exquisite journet nonetheless. So let's start with the in depth review.

1. Story: 10/10

The story is addictive at least. When you start reading, you can't stop. This is a problem now that I am caught up with it and reading weekly, since I literally devour the chapter. It begins from a basic premise and then branches out and expands to this literal adventure, with the scenic Hokkaido as the setting. The best of the series' qualities is the combat. I was amazed how incredibly skilled the author is to convey action scenes. There is always the feeling of tension and speed, while the strikes, the slashes, the explosions, everything echoes inside your mind. And we still haven't touched the combat as it is. Fast paced, realistic and violent, these characters are no teenagers trying to play heroes, they are not adults fighting for justice, but for their own survival, and they will fight like beasts for it. When a character bleeds, it has meaning, but when the combat becomes unrealistic, when the author saves characters from severe wounds, get ready because the next plot element is incoming, and impact is guaranteed.
The absurdity and the comedy. This manga is absurd, in a way that it is captivating. World history references, world art references, movie references, pop culture masked and transfigured to fit the setting of early 20s century, manga tropes performed in such ridiculous fashion that they become incredible comedic moments and at last, the suggestive humour. This series has a lot of Suggestive humour, which at times may trigger some sensitive readers, but in general it is incredibly absurd, out of place and you never thought that it could fit there and make you go loooooooooooool. Moments that are played seriously for our characters are totally comedic for us, and watching some characters are lowly degenerates adds a refreshing touch to the whole story.

2. Art 10/10
I already referred to some of the art qualities while explaining the action packed story telling, and accidentally described the scene compositions :P, and thus, I will be quick here. The art is good, the character designs are rememberable, cool and blend beatifully with the next part which is the scenery. The sceneries are magical. This is the only comment I need to do, just read the manga and then you will understand. No words can convey my feelings. So to the next part.

3. Character 10/10
What to say, there are so many things about the characterization that we could write till tomorrow, but I will keep it short. The characters are humans. You will say, "you don't say" but yeah, they are humans, they worry, the love, they hate, they feel depressed, they feel unmotivated, they need to feel freedom, and this last one is very very important. I am writing this review in 2021, and if you are reading from the future you may not understand, but in 2020 and 2021, people needed this feeling of freedom, and this characters gave it to us. Personally, watching the characters duke it out, fighting savagely gave me motivation, it energized me to not give up. Their darkest sides, their griefs resonated within me, because they were human emotions, and I know that I would feel the same being in their place. All the characters are likeable, and enjoyable, that deaths hit you, because you know that they are gone.

4. Enjoyment 10/10
I mean, of course it would be a perfect score, since until now I have not stopped praising the series. From the previous takes on each section, you understand. Binged the series in a month, rewatched the first season of anime twice, gladly watched the whole anime and reread some arcs from the manga for fun. Golden Kamuy is the Western you did not think you needed, but actually when you have it, you don't leave it.

5. Overall
To summarize, I fell in love with this series. I placed it in my top 10 almost immediatelly, and it continues to amaze me even until now. With my current taste, I doubt that there will be another series to kick Golden Kamuy out of my Top 10, and this is terminal. I recommended it to friends, tried to promote the manga even before the anime, and really planning to buy all the volumes one day (at least when my pay days begin again T-T).

Good morning ladies. Today we are making Golden Kamuy.

Ingredients

- Seinen
- Realism
- History
- Action
- Humor
- Unique Characters

Directions

Fry your Seinen in medium heat. I like my Seinen with some Shounen juice so you might add some as well.
Add realism on top and cook it until you are on the edge of realism. Not everyone can pull this off.
Now you have realism in place, add some history with cultural information. You must add history accurately or it will give a bad taste.
Pick some bizarre action and mix it in.
Lastly, add the humor. If you have some running gags in the home, add it in.
Serve with unique characters, but make sure they are very unique. I grow my characters myself to make sure they are unique.
You need to have good cooking skills and cultural information to pull this off. Good luck.


Now on a serious note, you might notice I rated this 10 in every category. It is because this manga really does that well in every category. Some of the points I like most about this manga:

- Some of the most bizarre and clever and funny action sequences of manga, reminding of Western and Jackie Chan movies.
- Gray area characters. To the point where you even question the morality of the protagonist.
- Well written characters. Every character is so good in their own way. You may pick a random character, say that it is your favorite character, and nobody would question you. And somehow every character is very human. Every one of them has strong and weak points and the manga does not betray this.
- Wide list of topics it presents. Several artisanries like cooking, hunting, fishing, camping, mining, weaponsmithing, equestrianism... It is best when a manga also teaches you things.

Overall, I think Golden Kamuy is one of the best manga to date and it is under-appreciated, hence why I wrote this review.