Preface
The manga I'm introducing today is based on the novel "Trigger," written by Toshiyuki Itakura of the comedy duo "Impulse."
I started reading it because of an e-book app.
This manga, "Trigger," was on a list of manga I recommended to myself, and I think that's how it first caught my eye.
Speaking of novels written by comedians, I often hear about "Hibana" by Naoki Matayoshi of the comedy duo Peace.
However, I had no idea that Mr. Itakura wrote novels, and that's how I became interested in "Trigger."
The novel itself appears to have been published in 2009.
Impulse's Itakura is one of my favorite comedians, and since his hobbies include military-related things and video games, I somehow felt a sense of kinship with him.
I also liked the content of the comedy sketches because the development and phrasing were quite technical.
So, although I haven't read the original novel, I started reading the manga version with a light heart, since it's an easy-to-read medium.
To put it simply, it was very interesting.
Work summary
"Trigger" is a story set in near-future Japan.
The synopsis is as follows:
This work, "Trigger," focuses on the Triggers of each prefecture and is told in an anthology format.
For example, the character depicted in episodes 2 through 5 is Kazuya Mikami, the Trigger from Tokyo.
Episode 6 features Hideo Yoshioka, the Trigger from Chiba Prefecture, and episodes 7 through 9 feature Shige Yamazaki.
Thus, the story doesn't revolve around a single protagonist, but rather is told from the perspectives of various characters.
There are various people who acted as the trigger.
Everyone has different ways of thinking and various circumstances.
One of the highlights of this film is the human drama of those who have gained overwhelming power, the ability to freely shoot and kill others.
Now, the artist in charge of the illustrations is Yuji Takemura, a manga artist who draws in a dramatic, graphic novel style.
To give you an example, his characters are characterized by their bold, masculine lines, much like those of Tetsuo Hara, the creator of "Fist of the North Star."
Most villains have easily recognizable villainous faces.
Also, because there are inevitably many scenes of people being shot, there are many grotesque depictions, such as people being shot in the forehead.
That said, it doesn't contain excessively graphic violence; in a way, it's rather understated.
"Fist of the North Star," where people's bodies explode, is probably even more grotesque.
My thoughts (with some spoilers)
The film was set against the simple premise of "beings who have the right to freely kill evil people," and it successfully depicted a wide variety of characters.
In a way, it's a dark idea like something a child might come up with, but it's also an idea that everyone has probably thought of at some point, so I think many people will find it refreshing.(Like Death Note).
The first episode, "Kazuya Mikami," is a fairly standard explanation of what a Trigger is.
This episode presents what could probably be considered the average trigger scenario that readers might imagine.
However, you shouldn't be satisfied just by reading this episode.
The further you go, the more it gets exponentially interesting.
There are various types of triggers, such as Kazuya Mikami, those who hesitate to exercise their given rights, those who try to abuse them, and those who suffer from mental illness.
To keep the reader engaged, various triggers appear, raising a range of moral dilemmas.
This isn't simply a story of good triumphing over evil; it's a work that makes you think about many things.
Also, something I personally like is that the story is never preachy.
I liked how it presented various ways of thinking—this person thinks this way, that person thinks that way—in a way that wasn't pushy.
It doesn't seem like they're trying to incorporate any lofty themes; rather, it feels like their main focus is on entertainment.
Perhaps it's a talent unique to comedians, always thinking about how to entertain their audience.
Yusuke Yamada, who wrote works such as "Real Onigokko," also says that he doesn't generally try to convey a message through his works, and that it all comes down to whether they are interesting or not.
The setting also has similarities to Mr. Yamada's style, and I feel that these are common points.
As you read on, towards the end, stories that initially seemed like independent episodes actually turn out to be intertwined with other episodes, and triggers from previous stories reappear.
Some episodes incorporate technical tricks, while others employ narrative tricks and various other methods to surprise the reader.
I can't help but be surprised that this is truly the first time you've ever written a novel.
Review (contains spoilers)
各エピソードについて、読みながら思ったことなどを気ままに書いていきます。
It is assumed that you have read all the volumes.SpoilerPlease be aware of the following.
Volume 1
・Kazuya Mikami
This is an introductory episode explaining how to set up triggers.
I wondered if the man on the train and the taxi driver were really bad enough to warrant murder, but I also felt that perhaps someone with a strong sense of justice might do the same.
I initially thought Mikami was just some kind of outlaw, but when his profession was revealed in a later volume, I felt like I'd been tricked.
It is also explicitly stated that the character lost their mother at a young age, and I realized upon rereading it later that this was a foreshadowing of the final volume.
In the second half, there were moments where it seemed like he might be swayed by emotion, but Mikami still had his own firm beliefs, and the way he stuck to them in the end was really cool.
Hideo Yoshioka
This first episode offers a glimpse into the terrifying power of the Trigger, which can even be wielded against the police.
I thought it was surprisingly anticlimactic, but I didn't expect it to appear again later.
・Shige Yamazaki
This episode depicted the karma of the person who commits the killing and the anger of the victims' families.
Certainly, to some people, the person may be considered evil, but from the perspective of the victim's family, the trigger for the shooter is that of a murderer who shot and killed a family member.
悪人であっても、誰かを殺すのであれば、自分もまた同じように殺されるかもしれないことを再認識しました。
It seems dangerous if the country doesn't create a system to protect even those who have finished their term as Trigger.
However, since the trigger test is voluntary, perhaps this kind of resolve is necessary from the start.
Volume 2
・Nanako Kido
The sequence of variations, starting with young men, then men, then elderly people, and now finally women, is, in a sense, a natural progression.
I was glad to see that the trigger settings were being used effectively around the time I started shooting after entering Saitama Prefecture.
Even so, while her not shooting him might be an act of kindness, is it because she is a woman that she is able to shoot him in the groin, a vital spot for men?
・Yukio Nagai
What initially seemed like a coming-of-age story about a timid teacher who can't use his Trigger powers turned out to be a story about Trigger becoming ill.
It's a mystery how he passed the trigger test, but in a way, he might be a normal person with a sound mind, just like most people.
・Tomohiko Kase
This episode showed that even with the power of a trigger, there are some things you just can't do anything about.
Kase's final decision was a heavy one, and it's the only episode that made me cry.
Even so, late at night"God!!!"The teacher with the "God Hand" shouting this might be the most memorable character in this work.
Volume 3
Masato Ouchi
This might be my favorite episode.
I was expecting the protagonist to endure without using his trigger, but the twist that Mouri was actually the trigger was quite unexpected.
The story cleverly utilized its geographical setting, with Trigger being located in Aichi Prefecture, resulting in a highly technical narrative.
I realized once again that this is what I like best.
Ryota Fujii
The story unfolds with the protagonist hating Trigger, and the perspective from the bereaved family was a refreshing change of pace.
Trigger is portrayed as the antagonist, and it became very clear why he would be the target of hatred from the bereaved families.
・Yuki Sakurai
This story, presented as a kind of behind-the-scenes scenario for Ryota Fujii's story, gradually revealed the truth.
The story was sentimental, intertwined with a Romeo and Juliet-esque romance, as the real trigger turned out to be the protagonist's own lover.
I was relieved that it ended with a happy ending.
Volume 4
・Keiji Hojo
It was an episode about a hitman who kills bad guys on assignment.
The content itself, even from the wording, was reminiscent of Tsukasa Hojo's "City Hunter."
The fact that Hojo's character seemed like the main character, but then red herring about the true identity of Trigger, was quite unexpected.
Miyazawa Sayaka
I initially mistook Fujima for Trigger, thinking the punchline would be that he wasn't Trigger after all, but that wasn't the case.
I realized that another way to prevent anyone from being killed is to become the trigger yourself.
Perhaps he was chosen because he has a strong conviction against the law authorizing shooting to kill.
Shoichi Hiura
It was an unconventional story where, just when you thought it was going to be a trigger, it turned out not to be a trigger.
The actions themselves are the same as triggering something, but the paradox becomes clear: whether or not it's a crime depends solely on whether or not you possess the right to do so.
- Takanori Sawada (Volumes 4-5)
This episode showed that it's possible to directly steal Trigger's power and take its place.
I feel a little sorry for Yoshioka, who was only mentioned briefly in the first volume.
While he is a fairly obvious villain, he is acting in accordance with the law authorizing the shooting, so even the king cannot carelessly intervene.
That's when Mikami appears, and the story takes an exciting turn with a Trigger vs. Trigger scenario.
However, if they don't defeat Sawada quickly, he will move from Tokyo into Chiba, and Mikami will be unable to shoot him.
Considering that the high jump competition will be held at Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture, the setting that Yoshioka was the trigger for Chiba becomes relevant.
Upon entering Chiba, Mikami's gun, which is Tokyo's trigger, becomes unusable, and Sawada's gun, which is Chiba's trigger, becomes available.
Just as I was wondering how they would defeat him, Mikami pulled out another gun and fired, taking down Sawada.
Mikami, as the trigger, wasn't able to fire, but as a "detective," his cleverness in extracting a confession from the suspect and creating a situation where he could shoot legitimately is truly impressive.
When Mikami first appeared, his occupation wasn't mentioned, but it was effectively revealed here, making me appreciate the brilliance of this work all over again.
I like this episode just as much as the one about Masato Ouchi.
Volume 5
Tetsuo Murakawa
This work depicts Murakawa, a contradictory figure who resists the "shoot-to-kill law," which is the core of the story.
It's not exactly karma, but the fact that Saeki himself gets shot by the trigger he created, even though he was prepared for it, feels like a vicious cycle.
Saeki says, "What's wrong with bad guys dying...?" but I think his overly pure ideology is a potent poison for society.
When an individual takes on the role of killing evil people, that hatred becomes concentrated on that individual, creating new hatred.
In the real world of Japan, the death penalty for criminals is not something that individuals carry out, but rather something that is handled by the legal system.
I believe it is human ingenuity that the system has made it possible to carry out the act of execution, which is essentially murder, in a stoic manner.
・Kazuma Mikami
Finally, Murakawa pretends to have come to kill Kazuya Mikami, but instead shoots and kills Saeki (Kazuma Mikami).
The story reveals that Mikami, who was the main character, and King Saeki were brothers, and also explains their backgrounds up to this point.
The book argues that even if someone is a bad person, killing another person can ultimately lead to killing oneself or one's loved ones, suggesting that the law authorizing shooting to kill is indeed wrong.
Then, my favorite character, Genjuro Mori, reappears and argues that the law authorizing shooting was a mistake.
However, the announcement made there was an even more advanced version of the law permitting shooting, which would place the trigger not only on each prefecture but also on the municipal level.
This likely explains why countless incidents like the episodes we've discussed so far exist.
If that happens, Mori will probably follow the same path as previous kings.
Meanwhile, Mikami, as Trigger, continues to shoot down villains as before, armed with a new weapon.
The machine gun is probably an H&K MP5K.
変にマニアックな銃でなく、定番で信頼性が高い銃であるところに、板倉氏のこだわりが感じられます。
Mikami remains a consistent character from beginning to end, which I found to be a well-developed and appealing character.
In conclusion
My impression is that this film, "Trigger," isn't saying that the law authorizing shooting is wrong, or that you shouldn't easily take someone's life based on your own judgment.
However, if you're going to kill someone according to your own rules, you need to be prepared for the fact that you and those around you will be exposed to the same danger.
Those who passed the test to become triggers must have a certain level of conviction and resolve (or the potential to do so).
Considering that, it makes sense that Sawada, who didn't even take the exam, would end up looking like just a petty villain.
I think Fujima, who is the trigger and never shoots anyone, has a firm belief that he would never shoot, even if his own life were in danger.
By the way, my favorite TRIGGER writers are Kazuya Mikami, Yohei Kishimoto, and Genjuro Mouri.
I like Kishimoto's unexpectedly sharp demeanor when he's shooting.
This work depicts individual episodes, but the story progresses in a spiral-like fashion, with various plot points intertwining.
I like this type of work, which is probably why I've become so hooked on it.
It deals with a straightforward theme, yet it offers plenty to think about, and is also a very enjoyable piece of entertainment.
It seems like it would make a good live-action adaptation, but so far (as of June 2020) I haven't heard anything about that.
If it were to be made into a live-action series, I hope it would be done in a format where the protagonist changes in each one-hour drama, like this one, rather than having Mikami as the main character throughout the entire series.
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