At the crossroad in my life, I didn't know which way to go. I just mindlessly choose a random direction... then, after regretting my decision I tried to retrace my steps. However, without even realizing it the sun had already set.
December 10th, 2002. A middle-aged man is sitting all alone at a table in a family restaurant, sobbing... eating a meager dinner... on his birthday nonetheless! He's got none to celebrate it with; frankly it's been decades since he's even had a friend. Not even his coworkers wished him a happy birthday, despite his best efforts to make it blatantly obvious. Is it like this for everybody? Is he the only one living like this? All the other people his age managed to work their way up the corporate ladder and create a family for themselves, so why is he different? He doesn't know. He just doesn't know! His youth flew away so quickly, and now he's been left with nothing but regrets.
This is how Kurosawa's story begins. Life wasn't too kind to him: he's ugly, overweight, awkward and a bit stupid. His coworkers ignore him at best and he's, well, just a plain old sad geezer. However, being alone on his birthday once more makes him realize that he wants to become popular, to be appreciated for who he really is, to seek his own redemption!
...and he fails spectacularly at it. At first!
That's a samurai! I always wanted to become like him! [...] A samurai still wears his helmet and armor! He still tries to survive until the very last moment! Even he does not wish to die!
But he keeps on trying and trying. His struggle is a desperate one, because unlike his younger coworkers he's at the end of his rope. He's not young anymore, and no matter what he does he'll inevitably get older and older. Yet his desire for a better tomorrow sparks a fire in him that allows him to overcome his emotional scars in order to do what he's been wanting to do his entire life: cheer for his own achievements, or better yet, achieve anything at all! Making a friend or two in the process wouldn't be too bad... maybe he can at long last find love?!
It is up to you to find out what happens by reading this manga. If it wasn't clear enough, I'll admit this is my favorite manga. It's also my favorite work of fiction altogether. And to be perfectly honest, it's also not the best manga I've read from an "objective" point of view. The art is very... controversial. I personally love it and I believe it fits perfectly this kind of story, but it's also fair to call it ugly or even grotesque at times. The secondary characters also aren't that great and are mostly used to advance Kurosawa's psychological growth. Sometimes the story might be too silly or too depressing for its own good, but believe me: this manga is worth reading. I dare not call it a masterpiece, although it is one deep down in my heart.
Am I as admirable as that ant...?
Yes you are, Kurosawa. Yes you are.
136 out of 137 users liked this review
