Any other fans of this in here? It seems to have a passionate following of the people that have heard of it before. I went into it blind due to good ratings on MAL and lived it right away.
It follows an ex soldier and an indigenous girl in Hokkaido. They're after a lost fortune in gold, and they only clues are contained in the mysterious tattoos of a group of escaped killers.
Also after the treasure is a rogue group of soldiers and a band of martial artists, along with some of the other killers, mob bosses, and others.
You get to learn a lot of week researched facts about the native people and their customs, history of Hokkaido and Sakhalin. And to lighten the mood, there are a ton of if gags, slapstick, sex and toilet humor, whacky versions of historical figures, and some occasional random sexy/funny male fan service. It has it all!
And fear not! The manga is complete and the last season of anime which has been simul-dubbed is in production of the final season, so it's ready for anyone to dive in.
As someone who absolutely loves Hokkaido, and most of Japanese history, I absolutely fucking loved the manga. The anime rather bored me once I dove into the manga, but I suppose that's to be expected. Would thoroughly recommend the manga several times over, though!
It's really encouraged me to learn more. Being from the US, it can make far off places seem too small to be diverse in people/climate/geography. By focusing on specific real life locations in Hokkaido, I was able to get a good idea of the layout of the island, see what the climate was like in different parts, and what groups of people lived where. It feels much bigger and richer to me now.
I read the manga from the start after season 2 of the anime. I didn't feel they skipped too much. I watched the dub and just stuck with it since I wasn't in a rush to see it since I already knew what happened.
I could make a few minor gripes about the end of the story, but I really loved it overall and look forward to seeing what the author does next.
I'd absolutely recommend travelling there if you can. It's fantastic, and honestly...I'd live there if I could.
There is so much I'd love to see in Japan I know I could never do it in one trip. The shrines, castles, islands full of animals, the theme cafes, food stalls, so many landmarks I know from anime/manga/video games, and a billion other things.
Plus it sends like a very introvert compatible place. My impression of actual life there is a little less positive, hearing about work culture, slow economy, racism, how homelessness is handled, etc. I try to keep it from making me think negatively since I have no first hand experience, but I suppose it keeps me from getting the idea it's some type of utopia when they have their issues like anyone else.
Getting too off topic now though, so I'm going to shut up! 🤐
Hina! Hina!
Yeah, the xenophobia can be a bit strong in places, especially for those of a certain descent. The economy...is a mixed bag. It's not perfect, but if one makes it work, it's not bad.