Manga Reviews (2010-2019): Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World -vol. 1 by Shiomiya Iruka (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Manga Review)

“Kino’s Journey” will no doubt appeal to fans of the light novel and anime series, but also for manga fans who want a manga series that is entertaining as Kino explores the world around her and sees many challenges along the way. Definitely a manga worth checking out!

Image courtesy of © 2017 Iruka Shiomiya/Keiichi Sigsawa. All Rights Reserved.

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MANGA TITLE: Kino’s Journey -The Beautiful World- vol. 1

STORY AND ART BY: Shiomiya Iruka

Based on the original story by Sigawa Keiichi and original character designs by Kuroboshi Kouhaku

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: Kodansha Ltd.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: Vertical Comics

RATED: 14+

Originally released in Japan back in May 2018

Available on February 5, 2019

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“So, who’s the kid?”

“My name is…”

××××× hesitated for a moment, turning slightly to look back along the road they were traveling. Beyond the red horizon, her homeland’s gates sank into the distance, never to be seen again.

Facing forward once more, ××××× looked past Kino’s side to focus intently on the path ahead before answering.

“My name is—”

Kino travels with the trusty talking motorrad, Hermes. The duo are always together, with Hermes providing speed, and Kino providing balance. They stay in each country for no more than three days, as a rule—enough time to learn about each destination’s unique customs and people. And so Kino and Hermes journey ever onward…

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Back in 2000, “Kino no Tabi – the Beautiful World-” (Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World-) was a light novel series written by Sigsawa Keiichi and illustrations by Kuroboshi Kouhaku would captivate readers of “Dengeki hp”.

With 21 volumes published, over 8 million copies were sold in Japan and it would lead to a 13-episode anime series adaptation, a spin-off light novel series in 2006 (Gakuen Kino), two visual novels for the PlayStation 2, two 30-minuted animated films, art books, picture books, a drama CD and more!

But one thing that Sigsawa had hoped for was a manga adaptation but each time it was discussed, it fell through.  While the spin-off would receive a manga adaptation in 2010.

Fastforward to 2017 and finally a manga adaptation of “Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World” was created by Shiomiya Iruka and serialized in Kodansha’s “Shonen Mangazine Edge” with a total of four volumes printed and is still ongoing in Japan.

And now vol. 1 was released in North America courtesy of Vertical Comics.

“Kino’s Journey” introduces us to a young man who has reached a place with his motorrad Hermes, who he can communicate with and befriends the young daughter of innkeepers.

While talking with the young lady, she tells him that she will be getting an operation (which they open up her head and “take the child out”) to make her an adult.

When he hears her sing, Kino suggests that she should become a singer but she explains to Kino that because her parents aren’t singers, she can’t be a singer and adults have children to carry on their work.

But when the girl tells her parents about being a singer, they go ballistic and start chastising her in front of everyone in town.  When the people in town find out, they all scream at her and her parents blame the traveler who put the thought of being a singer in her head.  When Kino arrives, he is told that he is in the Land of Adults and he sees her father carrying a large knife.

When he asks why he’s carrying it, he is told by the leader in town that the parent must dispose of their daughter for defying her parents and rejecting the operation.

As her father is about to kill her, Kino runs and is stabbed instead and dies.

The girl meanwhile is told by Hermes to get on the bike and leave town.

When Hermes asks the girl what’s her name, she says “Kino”

That was when she was 11-years-old and since then Kino has been traveling different lands.  What kind of lands will they see on their journey?  And what will happen when they arrive in a city with no people in sight?

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There is no doubt that many people are familiar with the story of “Kino’s Journey” courtesy of the 2003 animated series and the second adaptation in 2017.

For me, I was aware of the Japanese visual novels on the PlayStation 2 and watched the anime series as I was a fan of actress Maeda Ai (who was the seiyuu for Kino).  But it’s been a long time since I watched the original anime series.  In fact, it’s been over 15-years now.

And as I review the manga series, what I’m hoping to get from the series is to read a storyline that goes into Kino’s journey to unique areas, no matter how creepy or freaky the people are.  Kino’s journey that have not been featured in an anime series and also the benefit of manga is the to not have time restrictions and feature the adventure fluidly and incorporating what was featured in the light novels in the manga, which the anime series may have missed.

So, I’m hoping Vertical Comics continues this series with releases that don’t take too long to get from one volume after the other.

It’s important to note that along with this manga release, both the 2003 and 2017 anime series have come out on Blu-ray!

As for the manga series, I do enjoy Shiomiya Iruka’s artwork.  Known in Japan for her work in “Genshi Otome to Kami no Tou”, “Hijitsuzai Suiri Shojo A-ya”, “Marusan no Snack” and “Zerozaki Soshiki no Ningen Shiken”, I’m a big fan of Shiomiya’s work and character designs and paintings.  He does an amazing work when showing emotion, especially closeup of a character’s eyes.  His artwork really compliments Sigsawa Keiichi’s written work!

So, I was quite thrilled to see Shiomiya as the main artist for the “Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World” and bringing a fresh, new artistic style for the manga release.

For the most part, I’m quite content with the first volume release, which features how Kino became Kino and her journey, one which includes a city that looks uninhabited. But what happens when she sees a man in the city and why is the city empty?   The other features Kino following railroad tracks and the people she comes across.

Overall, “Kino’s Journey” will no doubt appeal to fans of the light novel and anime series, but also for manga fans who want a manga series that is entertaining as Kino explores the world around her and sees many challenges along the way.

Definitely a manga worth checking out!