Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit Vol 9
By Motoro Mase
Episode 18: Two Fallen in War
Act 1
Yoshiki Miike receives an Ikigami, delivered by Mr. Fujimoto, at the end of this installment. He had aspirations to play soccer professionally but he was injured when he was in high school. The injury was an accident that was caused by a Isokichi Futaba, a classmate of Yoshiki at the time.
Neither Yoshiki or Isokichi went on to university. They both work full time jobs. They both have grandfathers who served in World War II. Yoshiki’s grandfather has nightmares about a prisoner of war whom he was ordered to kill.
War is looming on the horizon in the background of this story. The Federation seems to be threatening to attack Japan. Yoshiki’s family talks about the potential for war. Fujimoto and Mr. Ishii, his boss also discuss it, but in hushed tones because they are in a public place. Mr. Ishii heard a rumor that the government is going to start drafting social miscreants into the army. Fujimoto doesn’t know what to think about that but it sounds wrong to him.
I believe the Federation is supposed to be understood to be China.
It is hard to see at this point where this story is going. My impression is that the story is as much about the grandfathers as it is about Yoshiki and Isokichi. The two young men aren’t currently in contact with one another but I expect that they will be before Yoshiki dies.
I’m not won over by this installment but that’s not unusual with this series. The first part of any given episode doesn't always grab me.
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