Review: Ikigami – The Ultimate Limit Volume One
A New Manga Series by Motoro Mase
Oct 9, 2009 Brian Jungwiwattanaporn
As characters receive a death notice from the government, they are forced into soul searching as they try to make their last acts meaningful in this manga. This dystopia centers on a government ministry that randomly selects people to die between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four for the betterment of society. The first volume of Ikigami – The Ultimate Limit features two self-contained stories set against a larger story arc.
Beginning of the Ikigami Series
Fujimoto is a government employee tasked with delivering Ikigami, letters that signify the recipient has twenty-four hours left to live. As the story opens, school children are receiving immunizations as part of the National Welfare Act. However, one out of every thousand children is also randomly injected with a capsule that will cause their death at a pre-determined time. This is to ensure that citizens will live their lives to the fullest given the uncertainty of their fate, and that a person’s civic duty is to live as well as they can.
Although the government wants its citizens to value life more, and increase social productivity, doubts about their policy lurk throughout the story’s pages. Foreshadowing what may become a later theme is Fujimoto’s personal struggle with his work. Furthermore, as he delivers the Ikigami we begin to see the pain and societal rents caused by the government’s decrees. As Fujimoto delivers his Ikigami, we are introduced to different characters as they react to their death sentence.
One Day to Live
The first story of Ikigami centers around Yosuke Kamoi, who had suffered from vicious bullying as a teenager. The humiliations and torment leaves his life shattered. As he receives his Ikigami years later, the reader learns that some wounds have never healed. With nothing left to lose, and twenty-fours to live, Kamoi seeks revenge against his tormentors. As Kamoi violently confronts the bullies who have largely forgotten about him, his rage increases.
Ikigami’s first story is a meditation on revenge. Kamoi loses all sympathy as he commits rape, and later stabs one of his tormentors. The attempt of redemption at the story’s conclusion falls flat as well. Despite this, Motoro Mase does convey Kamoi’s pain well, and the visceral artwork complements the story.
Reflections on Dying
Although the second story borders on the melodramatic, it is much more enjoyable. The story focuses on two street musicians, Torio and Hidekazu, and the theme of last chances. Torio is given a chance by an agent to turn professional, however to do so he must leave his best friend Hidekazu behind. As their friendship rips apart, both are tinged with regret and are unable to overcome themselves to admit their love for each other.
Torio wanted to be famous, and Hidekazu wanted loyalty. When Torio receives his Ikigami, he is unsure how to spend his last day. Does he continue his path or can he finally apologize to his friend? Hidekazu is unaware of Torio’s imminent demise, and wrapped in his own confusing set of emotions. This story is much more emotional than the revenge of the first, and while predictable, it remains engaging.
Ikigami – A Manga Series
Motoro Mase is both the writer and artist for Ikigami, which was also made into a feature film in 2008. The concept is interesting, although gimmicky, and one wonders how long the series can maintain interest in this approach. The main character Fujimoto, is rather uncharismatic, an office drone, although his growing doubts about his work may prove interesting. The stories were able to draw out an emotional impact, but character attachment is minimal as the conclusion is foregone. Although volume one of Ikigami – The Ultimate Limit is interesting, it remains to be seen whether further issues will be worth the effort.
Ikigami – The Ultimate Limit Volume One (ISBN 978-1-4215-2678-2) by Motoro Mase was published by VIZ Media in 2009. It contains graphic material.
Ikigami - The Ultimate Limit
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