Manga Reviews (2010-2019): Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World – vol. 6 by Shiomiya Iruka (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Manga Review) (2019)

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 and her motorbike Hermes explore the world around them and encountering challenges along the way. Definitely a manga worth checking out!

Purchase this manga volume here

MANGA TITLE: Kino’s Journey -The Beautiful World- vol. 6

YEAR OF RELEASE IN JAPAN: 2019

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+

Available on October 6, 2020

Kino’s Journey – the Beautiful World manga volume 6 features story and art by Keiichi Sigsawa and Iruka Shiomiya.

“We’ll be careful, don’t worry.”
The man in his forties nodded.
His two companions headed for the truck, but he paused.
“Kino,” the man said, his expression deadly serious.
“What is it?”
“Ye didn’t ask about what’s in the back of the truck. Why is that?”
“Why, what’s in there?” Kino replied immediately.
The man went silent for a moment, then smiled abruptly.
“Our sin.”

In a desolate, snow-covered land, Kino and Hermes find three men in the wilderness starving to death. Despite not knowing the men—nor their intentions—Kino decides to hunt rabbits and cook to nurse them back to health. Though the men are truly thankful for these kind deeds, what Kino doesn’t know just might come back to bite them…

In this sixth volume of “Kino’s Journey”, we are presented with two more adventures involving Kino and Hermes but also an origin story of how Shizu and his dog Riku first met with each other!

What is “Kino’s Journey – The Beautiful World” about?

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 the manga series is being released in North America courtesy of Vertical Comics.

“Kino’s Journey” is the story of an adventurer and sharpshooter named Kino and her motorrad Hermes, which she can talk to. The two go on adventures through the country who are experiencing either positive (and mostly negative) situations.

For volume 6, the first adventure featured is “Story of the Man-Eaters” as Kino and Hermes arrive to a country experiencing a lot of snow and finds a truck that is stuck and three men who are starving.

Using her skills as a hunter, Kino is able to capture rabbits for them to eat. As the three men are grateful, it’s more than meets the eye with these three men, who may not be as they seem to be.

In the next story, “The Story of the Automata”, Kino arrives to a home in the middle of the forest. But the elderly woman says she is a robot, while her family that she is a servant of, look like robots. What is going on?

The third story “The Story of the Shipment” is how Shizu and his dog Riku met with each other for the very first time.

Also, included is a prologue and epilogue involving a man, which is a bit vague and not yet known what these pages are related to.

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 volume 6, the manga continues the story of Kino and Hermes, with the first of a story of three guys stuck in the snow and who look like they are in dire need of help but in reality, they are much worse than what is expected.

The second storyline involves a fascinating story of a mechanical genius who, for some reason, thinks she is a robot, while her robot family are acting as they are human. But the storyline is rather interesting.

The other storyline is quite interesting to see how Shizu and his dog Riku met and how these two came to be. Rather interesting.

Needless to say, it’s another fascinating volume of “Kino’s Journey” and the chapters are always interesting to read. I often wondered if all the villages are messed up and will there be one that is at least stable? Well, this fifth volume finally answers that.

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 takes on various many challenges along the way.

Definitely a manga worth checking out!

Purchase this manga volume here

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