Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit Explained

Ja Kanji:イキガミ
Ja Romaji:Ikigami
Type:manga
Author:Motoro Mase
Publisher:Shogakukan
First:January 27, 2005
Last:February 6, 2012
Volumes:10
Volume List:List of Ikigami chapters
Type:manga
Ikigami: Sairin
Author:Motoro Mase
Publisher:Shogakukan
Magazine:Big Comic
First:September 10, 2021
Volumes:1
Volume List:List of Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit chapters#Ikigami: Sairin
Live-action film
Content:

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Motoro Mase. The manga was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Young Sunday (2005–2008) and Weekly Big Comic Spirits (2008–2012). A national prosperity law has been passed in a dystopian nation resulting in citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 being randomly selected to die for the good of the nation. These citizens are given 24-hour notification of their impending death. These notifications are known as "ikigami"—the ostensible reason for this system being to help demonstrate the value of life. The manga was adapted into a live-action film titled Ikigami in 2008 with Tomoyuki Takimoto as its director.

Plot summary

In first grade, all students receive an inoculation. A small percentage of these inoculations includes a nano capsule which via radio-control will kill the receiver somewhere between the ages of 18 and 24. The government believes that the threat of unexpected death will increase prosperity and productivity in its citizens. And indeed this increased prosperity is evident, but at a great cost: innocent lives. Citizens who do not agree with the National prosperity law and who publicly voice their opinions are accused of "thought crime."

Kengo Fujimoto has been recruited by the government as an Ikigami delivery man. Whilst undergoing training he witnesses the "arrest" of a man (also undergoing training to become a deliverer) who commits a thought-crime when he yells to the entire room that the law is wrong and that his older sister died from the ikigami. The film follows Kengo as he delivers Ikigami to three citizens: a rising musician debuting in the music industry but struggling with leaving his friend behind as a busker, a shut-in who is the son of a council woman who supports the law whole-heartedly and attempts to use her son's upcoming death to gain sympathy votes, and a working-class debt collector who is about to take his blind sister out of the orphanage she lives in now that he is finally financially secure. During the film we discover that thought-crime criminals are most likely brain-washed and then returned to society, strongly believing in the national prosperity law when they return. Throughout the film Kengo struggles not to commit thought-crimes publicly as he feels that the law is wrong. Towards the end of the film Kengo walks past a school where the year ones are entering; there are nurses encouraging children to have their inoculations. Kengo sees the man who was taken from his Ikigami deliverance training, standing in a lab coat encouraging the children to get their inoculations, supporting the brainwashing theory.

Media

Manga

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, written and illustrated by Motoro Mase, was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Young Sunday from January 27, 2005,[1] to July 31, 2008, when the magazine ceased its publication.[2] The manga continued in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits from September 6, 2008,[3] and finished on February 6, 2012.[4] Shogakukan collected its chapters in ten ' volumes, released between August 5, 2005, and March 30, 2012.[5] [6]

The manga was licensed in North America by Viz Media,[7] which released the first volume on May 12, 2009.[8] The manga is also licensed in France by Asuka,[9] in Spain and Italy by Panini Comics,[10] [11] in Taiwan by Sharp Point Press,[12] in Korea by Haksan Culture Company,[13] in Poland by Hanami,[14] and Indonesia by Level Comics[15]

A sequel manga series titled Ikigami: Sairin began serialization in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine on September 10, 2021.[16] The series is set to reach the climax of its fifth season on May 24, 2024.[17] Shogakukan published its first volume on June 30, 2022.[18]

Film

The manga was adapted into a live-action film titled Ikigami in 2008 with Tomoyuki Takimoto as its director.[19]

Reception

The manga was nominated for the Angoulême International Comics Festival.[20] As of May 2009, it has sold over 1 million copies in Japan.[21]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:ヤングサンデー ２／１０. http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_magcode?sha=1&sho=2703202105&type=s&keitai=0. Shogakukan. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20050309233515/http://www.s-book.com/plsql/com2_magcode?sha=1&sho=2703202105&type=s&keitai=0. March 9, 2005. ja.
  2. Web site: Shogakukan Confirms End of Young Sunday, Judy Mags. May 30, 2008. Anime News Network. December 18, 2009. October 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231019005317/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-05-30/shogakukan-confirms-end-of-young-sunday-judy-mags. live.
  3. Web site: More Revealed on Aftermath of Young Sunday Mag's End. July 30, 2008. Anime News Network. December 18, 2009. June 24, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624120342/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-30/more-revealed-on-aftermath-of-young-sunday-mag-end. live.
  4. Web site: ja:「イキガミ」完結、最終10巻はフィギュア付きで3月発売. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/63963. Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. July 23, 2021. ja. February 6, 2012. July 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210723121255/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/63963. live.
  5. Web site: http://skygarden.shogakukan.co.jp/skygarden/owa/solc_dtl?isbn=4091532810. ja:イキガミ / 1. Shogakukan. ja. December 18, 2009.
  6. Book: Ikigami 10 (Young Sunday Comics). .
  7. Web site: Viz Media Picks Up Miwa's Dogs, Mase's Ikigami Manga. July 25, 2008. Anime News Network. December 18, 2009. August 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080805141932/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-25/viz-media-picks-up-miwa-dogs-mase-ikigami-manga. live.
  8. Web site: Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Vol. 1. Viz Media. December 18, 2009. November 29, 2009. https://archive.today/20091129003833/http://www.viz.com/products/products.php?product_id=8068. live.
  9. Web site: Ikigami, Préavis de mort. Asuka. fr. December 18, 2009. December 12, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091212073059/http://asuka.fr/catalogue_serie.php?serie=119. dead.
  10. Web site: Ikigami. Panini Comics. es. December 18, 2009. May 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240510212633/https://www.panini.es/shp_esp_es/comics.html. live.
  11. Web site: Ikigami. Panini Comics. it. December 18, 2009. January 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100108084823/http://www.paninicomics.it/web/guest/collane_dettaglio?id=1206. live.
  12. Web site: http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21012511&vch=comic. zh:死亡預告(01). Sharp Point Press. zh. December 18, 2009. December 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201826/http://www.spp.com.tw/spp2006/all/asp/search/bookfile.asp?bc=21012511&vch=comic. live.
  13. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070313112249/http://www.haksanpub.co.kr/comics/c_detail.asp?comics_id=C2000340&comics_sub_id=1. March 13, 2007. 이키가미(The Ultimate Limit) 1권. Haksan Culture Company. ko. December 18, 2009.
  14. Web site: Ikigami. Hanami. pl. October 9, 2010. June 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230601091701/https://wydawnictwo.hanami.pl/ikigami1.php. dead.
  15. Web site: Death's Notice. May 13, 2013.
  16. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Motoro Mase's Ikigami Manga Gets New Ikigami Sairin Series in September. Anime News Network. September 6, 2023. August 24, 2021. May 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240510212904/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-08-24/motoro-mase-ikigami-manga-gets-new-ikigami-sairin-series-in-september/.176532. live.
  17. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Ikigami: Sairin Manga Reaches 5th Season Climax. Anime News Network. May 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240510211858/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-05-10/ikigami-sairin-manga-reaches-5th-season-climax/.210711. May 10, 2024. May 10, 2024. live.
  18. Web site: ja:死を予告する「イキガミ」新シリーズ1巻発売、うぇぶりでは前作を無料解放. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/483604. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. May 10, 2024. ja. June 30, 2022. April 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230416105325/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/483604. live.
  19. Web site: Japanese Box Office, September 27–28: 20th Drops to #5 (Updated). September 30, 2008. Anime News Network. April 25, 2014. September 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916041918/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-09-30/japanese-box-office-september-27-28-20th-drops-to-no.5. live.
  20. Web site: Manga Nominated for Awards at Angouleme Comic Fest. December 8, 2009. Anime News Network. December 18, 2009. November 4, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151104164852/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-08/manga-nominated-for-awards-at-angouleme-comic-fest. live.
  21. Web site: Viz Media's Release of New Manga – Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit Will Bring about Questions of Justice, Society and the Best Way to Really Appreciate Life. May 14, 2009. Anime News Network. April 25, 2014. August 25, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140825185631/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2009-05-14/viz-media-release-of-new-manga-ikigami/the-ultimate-limit-will-bring-about-questions-of-justice-society-and-the-best-way-to-really-appreciate-life. live.

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