【BANANA FISH】This will be the manga that touches your heart forever!!

2021-12-25

Hana

Hi everyone! It's Hana from Manga Republic!

This is a bit sudden, but I have a hobby besides reading manga and watching anime!

It is......anime pilgrimage!!

Anime pilgrimage is to visit real life anime locations!

One famous location is Iwami in Shimane prefecture from the anime, Free! Another famous anime location is Chichibu in Saitama prefecture from Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day.

In seasons 2 and 3 of the anime, Free!, the story took place in Sydney, Australia. So Sydney is also an anime sanctuary. In the story of Fate/Zero, Big Ben and the British Museum Reading Room in London. So London is also an anime sanctuary for the Fate series!!

I have only been to the sanctuaries within Japan, so someday I want to visit them abroad!!

As there are various anime sanctuaries outside of Japan like London and Sydney, there is an anime sanctuary I really really want to visit in another country! It is NYC!! Many manga stories such as Blood Blockade Battlefront (Kekkai Sensen) or Banana Fish took place in NYC! It is a very popular anime sanctuary among otaku people!!

Banana Fish is especially famous! The teenage characters were described perfectly in New York City.

In 2018, the author, Yoshida Akimi-Sensei, celebrated her 40th anniversary as a manga artist. Her manga, Banana Fish, was made into anime in commemoration and gathered people's attention.

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I watched the anime without knowing the original manga, but I cried so hard when it came to the end. I was depressed that it's over and tried to buy the whole set of comics to make me feel better.

So, today, I want to introduce the original manga, Banana Fish. Once you read it, you will be moved!!

Banana Fish

The story started in Vietnam in 1973.

During the Vietnam War, an American soldier, Griffin Callenreese, suddenly lost his mind and started a shooting rampage and killed his squad in the same troop.

Max Lobo (Max Glenreed)happened to be there and quickly shot Griffin's leg to take him down. Griffin murmured the mysterious words, “Banana Fish” and lost consciousness.

Griffin Callenreese / Griffin Callenreese

Ash Linx was the boss of street kids in downtown NYC. One day, Ash was informed of 3 mysterious things, a rocket, California address, and Banana Fish by his foster parent who was the leader of Corsica mafia, Dino Francis Golzine.

Ash was familiar with the words “Banana Fish” because his brother, Griffin, who was a Vietnam veteran and now a drug addict had said it often. Ash started looking into what it meant.

Ash Linx (Aslan Jade Callenreese)

Dino Francis Golzine

Dino was a mafia leader and was trying to prevent Ash from finding the truth about “Banana Fish.” He had a plan to obtain “Banana Fish” to launch a coup d'état in Central America so that he can control the business of importing heroin there.

Okumura Eiji was showing an excellent performance as an athlete/college student before, but now he was falling into slump due to an injury. He is now helping acquainted professional cameraman, Ibe Shunichi, who is covering a story about street children in NYC.

Okumura Eiji

Ibe Shunichi

While talking to Ash for the story, Eiji became a good friend with him. Eiji was getting to know Ash and tried to understand him and his solitude. He was just a 17 years old but also the boss of street children who was always facing violence and danger on the street. Eiji tried to get close to Ash.

While communicating with Eiji, Ash experienced unconditional love from Eiji who is always cheerful and innocent. Ash felt that he was saved by Eiji.

As the feeling toward Eiji grew, Eiji became Ash's weak spot.

Because Ash was living in the violent world, Eiji was targeted to lure Ash. Ash decided to leave Eiji in order to protect him. However, Eiji wanted to help Ash to find out the truth about Banana Fish. Eiji was also getting involved in the case with Ash.

Ash and Eiji's fate...... The truth about Banana Fish...... will be revealed in the end.

The loneliness Ash always had felt as the leader of the street kids started melting due to Eiji's unconditional love. The relationship between these two is going to be......!!

We have box sets of reprinted editions released in 2018, comic books, illustration books, and more, at our Manga Republic! Please check out Banana Fish now!

https://manga-republic.com/product/tag_page.html?tags=1280

I'll see you in the next article!! Bye!!

Banana Fish, Yoshida Akimi

Banana Fish

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