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Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit

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"Ikigami" redirects here. For the live action film based on this manga, see Ikigami (2008 film).
Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit
Manga volume 1 cover
イキガミ
(Ikigami)
Genre
Manga
Written byMotoro Mase
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
Magazine
DemographicSeinen
Original runJanuary 27, 2005 – February 6, 2012
Volumes10 (List of volumes)
Manga
Ikigami: Sairin
Written byMotoro Mase
Published byShogakukan
MagazineBig Comic
DemographicSeinen
Original runSeptember 10, 2021 – present
Volumes1 (List of volumes)
Live-action film

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit (イキガミ, Ikigami) 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

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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

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Manga

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See also: List of Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit chapters

Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, written and illustrated by Motoro Mase, was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Young Sunday from January 27, 2005,[3] to July 31, 2008, when the magazine ceased its publication.[4] The manga continued in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits from September 6, 2008,[5] and finished on February 6, 2012.[6] Shogakukan collected its chapters in ten tankōbon' volumes, released between August 5, 2005, and March 30, 2012.[7][8]

The manga was licensed in North America by Viz Media,[9] which released the first tankōbon volume on May 12, 2009.[10] The manga is also licensed in France by Asuka,[11] in Spain and Italy by Panini Comics,[12][13] in Taiwan by Sharp Point Press,[14] in Korea by Haksan Culture Company,[15] in Poland by Hanami,[16] and Indonesia by Level Comics[17]

A sequel manga series titled Ikigami: Sairin began serialization in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine on September 10, 2021.[18] The series is set to reach the climax of its fifth season on May 24, 2024.[19] Shogakukan published its first volume on June 30, 2022.[20]

Film

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The manga was adapted into a live-action film titled Ikigami in 2008 with Tomoyuki Takimoto as its director.[21]

Reception

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The manga was nominated for the Angoulême International Comics Festival.[22] As of May 2009, it has sold over 1 million copies in Japan.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b Loo, Egan (January 1, 2014). "Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit Manga to Enter Final Arc". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  2. ^ "The Official Website for Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit". Viz Media. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  3. ^ ヤングサンデー ２／１０ (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on March 9, 2005. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Shogakukan Confirms End of Young Sunday, Judy Mags". Anime News Network. May 30, 2008. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  5. ^ "More Revealed on Aftermath of Young Sunday Mag's End". Anime News Network. July 30, 2008. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  6. ^ 「イキガミ」完結、最終10巻はフィギュア付きで3月発売. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 6, 2012. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  7. ^ イキガミ / 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved December 18, 2009.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ Ikigami 10 (Young Sunday Comics). ASIN 4091515363.
  9. ^ "Viz Media Picks Up Miwa's Dogs, Mase's Ikigami Manga". Anime News Network. July 25, 2008. Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  10. ^ "Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  11. ^ "Ikigami, Préavis de mort" (in French). Asuka. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  12. ^ "Ikigami" (in Spanish). Panini Comics. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  13. ^ "Ikigami" (in Italian). Panini Comics. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  14. ^ 死亡預告(01) (in Chinese). Sharp Point Press. Archived from the original on December 16, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  15. ^ "이키가미(The Ultimate Limit) 1권" (in Korean). Haksan Culture Company. Archived from the original on March 13, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  16. ^ "Ikigami" (in Polish). Hanami. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
  17. ^ "Death's Notice". Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  18. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 24, 2021). "Motoro Mase's Ikigami Manga Gets New Ikigami Sairin Series in September". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  19. ^ Mateo, Alex (May 10, 2024). "Ikigami: Sairin Manga Reaches 5th Season Climax". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  20. ^ 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. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 30, 2022. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Japanese Box Office, September 27–28: 20th Drops to #5 (Updated)". Anime News Network. September 30, 2008. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  22. ^ "Manga Nominated for Awards at Angouleme Comic Fest". Anime News Network. December 8, 2009. Archived from the original on November 4, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  23. ^ "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". Anime News Network. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
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