Ikigami (Death's Notice)

[Poetic Justice]

I stumbled onto this manga recently. Here's the summary shamelessly ripped from OM:

The japanese government has launched a brand new law: because of the lazyness and apathy of Japan's people it was decided that someone, daily and randomly, will be chosen and killed with a poisoned capsule in order to "bring to life again" and wake up the others.
The person elected will be warned with an ikigami (or death's notice) and after this he/she will have only 24 hours left to live.
What will those condemned think and do during this short time?

While it mostly seems to focus on different characters throughout its progression, It hasn't gotten predictable yet. The method and impacts of such a move by the Japanese government are well thought out and illustrated.

Its dark, unsettling and tugs at you emotionally sometimes, Here's hoping it doesn't degenerate into the kind of predictability and boredom that plagued Hell Girl.

[SageGaiGar]

Was hesitating to make a thread on this but thanks for also bringing it up. Each 'arc' is pretty different in flavor and message.

It's one of those series that really hit me in the gut.

[Kafriel]

Although I did stumble across it in pretty much the same way, it somehow didn't feel...important enough. Maybe I'll move on to ch.2 once I'm bored, the general concept sounds a bit like death note (but instead of not commiting crimes, people don't get bored of life, and the criminal is not a delusional youngster but the government).

[Poetic Justice]

Essentially its Kira's world realized as the utopia where everyone fears being the target and so they live their lives to the fullest. (Some of them)

[Poetic Justice]

It's one of those series that really hit me in the gut.

Most of the manga is like that for me but what really hit me in the gut was when after raping the girl who had harassed him, He didn't have anyone to send her naked pictures to.

Also when the psychologist reveals she drugged Takebe to calm him down, That really made my blood boil.

[Kafriel]

Just read up to ch.12 (always waiting for arcs to end in these kinds of manga), the part above was a real downer :(
I liked the other arcs a lot more than the first one, looks like I'll be keeping this on my list.

[Poetic Justice]

New chapter out:

Wow, What an awful mother to do that to her only dying son. Now what i think is gonna happen next chapter is not that he's gonna go on a murderous chapter, But instead kill himself in front of everyone after telling everyone the truth.

[Poetic Justice]

Heh the new chapter didnt end up quite the way i thought it would but more straightforwardly than expected.

[Kafriel]

I just finished the riot of life...and they skipped the most ironic part, that his father would die too for questioning the NPPA. A real shame, if only he had defended his son, he would have given him a peaceful death.

[Poetic Justice]

^^^We haven't reallly been told how far the government is willing to silence anyone who speaks up against the rules, If he takes a stage in the media they might be less inclined to do so.

Also, new chapter is out

I think he's gonna tell him to take the drug that allows them to live another hour used in one of the previous arcs.

[Poetic Justice]

That was a great idea by Fujimoto, It looks like he's gonna be taking more of a role in the upcoming arcs and interaction with the victims.

The ending to this arc was nicely done i might add.

[oneyed]

I personally didn't like the initiative that Fujimoto took. Up until this point in the series, he has been delivering the ikigami in a stand off-ish manner. From here the victims that receive the ikigami are then allowed to use the remainder of their life in whatever manner they choose.

A huge reason I fell in love with this manga was the enormous potential it had to explore both the grotesque, more dark aspects of the human nature, as well as the more bright, inspirational aspects. With Fujimoto involving himself directly in the last day of the victim, the dark arcs will be unnecessarily magnified, and thus made more predictable.

[Poetic Justice]

I don't think you have anything to worry about considering the latest arc, Fujimoto has always been concerned with how the ikigami has affected him personally and the only the last arc was an exception.

The latest arc was another great one exemplifying what is so good about this manga.

[oneyed]

i was relieved once i read the latest arc (wasn't caught up during my previous post). I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Ikigami will effect Fujimoto. I'm really hoping it will turn him into some sort of radical!

[kache]

Beautiful.
Really really beautiful.

[Flyvedelta]

Rather than beautiful, I find this manga a bit..depressing. I must say though, that the time when people are nearer to his death is really the most meaningful time that they had in life. Especially if they know that they are going to die tomorrow...

This manga is licenced in my country, and yet I only read until vol 3. I think it ends with a story of a brother and a sister. The sister is blind, and the brother who had ikigami is going to...'transfer' his eyes to his sister so that she could see again. It's actually quite sad and touching.