Posted by  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
「カムイモシㇼ」 (Kamuimoshia)
“Kamuy Moshir”
A very Ainu episode this week. As far as I’m concerned, that’s only a good thing. I may have mentioned that I was first drawn to Golden Kamuy out of interest in Ainu culture, which tends to be a less explored topic in anime, so I welcome what could have a been a straight action-adventure sure take out time to portray the Ainu people in any sort of depth. Sure, this episode still has plenty of the gory thriller (including the return of the infamous taxidermy bear) but it seemed to me that was more a bribe for the audience so that we will stick around for the anthropology lesson. Obviously the mangaka did a deal of research on the Ainu before writing Golden Kamuy and wants to show off his reading. I don’t really mind that, as it is at least a sign that he cares about the subject matter. And the care and attention is important, because the Ainu are such an integral part of Asirpa’s character. If her characterisation is to be more than just, ‘look, she’s Ainu!’ Golden Kamuy must explore how the customs and beliefs of her people have shaped who she is. Short answer: a lot. So all in all this visit to the Ainu kotan was not only educational, but also a very fruitful piece of character development for Asirpa.
I do worry about her village, though. Nothing good ever happens to nice hometowns like that in stories like this. We do know that our erstwhile protagonists are being tracked, because of course they are. Golden Kamuy wouldn’t be much of a thriller without danger always nipping at our heels. At least now we have an idea of what our antagonists are like. One’s a crazy person, and the other is… an old Hijikata? The Shinsengumi show up so often in anime that I have trouble keeping track of all the different incarnations. I can’t say I can really tell what this one’s all about. Maybe he’s organising the escaped prisoners to fight the military purely as a matter of survival, but enigmatic old men always have more of an agenda than that. At the moment he’s not even necessarily antagonistic, but he’s probably going to be anyway because Sugimoto has to fight everybody before we’re through. Like this guy, who demonstrates the downsides of mercy this episode. You leave someone alive, they become a loose end, they get their own subplot, and now you and your doggy are being hunted by yet another ex-black ops supersoldier for completely extrinsic reasons.
Going forward
Well, that’s episode 03, which should make for a pretty comprehensive overview of what Golden Kamuy is like and what it can offer. At this point, I’m not sure about whether I should keep covering the show in the long term here on RandomC. Make no mistake, it’s a good show and I’m enjoying it, but there’s always the time constraints. We’re in the last stages of sorting out our site’s coverage schedule so let me know in the comments if you have any strong feelings or compelling cases on behalf of Golden Kamuy. Then I’ll at least know how much self-flagellation I’ll have to do before we make any final decisions.
Full-length images: 30.
Yes please keep Golden Kamuy!!
well this anime is actually fun… asirpa is a darkhorse when it comes to KAWAII chara for this season. definitely a must cover but of course, RC decision.
My wager is old Hijikata wants the gold to fund a rebellion to chase out the Meiji from Hokkaido and reform the Ezo Republic as a haven for samurai traditionalists.
Some background – following the Shogunate’s defeat in 1868, remaining Tokugawa retainers (including Hijikata and the Shinsengumi) led by Admiral Enomoto Takeaki fled to Ezo (Hokkaido’s old name).
Enomoto petitioned the Meiji to leave Ezo’s development to them and maintain samurai traditions unmolested by modernization, but was denied on the grounds of “…Enomoto represent(ing)a link with the (feudal, samurai) past which had to be severed if Japan was to become a truly modern nation able to stand up to the West.” Enomoto consolidated their group as the Ezo Republic.
In 1869, the Meiji sent its troops against the newly-formed Republic, culminating in the Battle of Hakodate. Despite their gold reserve stolen from Osaka Castle and French military support, the Ezo were no match against the Meiji’s stronger naval forces. Hijikata was killed in battle.
Enomoto surrendered and served prison time before joining the Meiji as a government minister.
https://thedailybeagle.net/2013/03/04/the-republic-of-ezo-japanese-separatism-or-expansionism/
Given the history, it would not be surprising that old Hijikata here sees the gold as a second chance – to reestablish this traditionalist samurai-way enclave where disaffected ex-samurai, retainers or similar could come to escape the pro-Western, anti-feudal policies of the main islands.
So when does Asirpa get a shokugeki with one of the Elite Ten? I have to admit, though, that I can’t quite feel the same about her as I used to now I know what her childhood name was.
If my memory do not play tricks on me, then “Princess Mononoke” has Ainu peoples in it, the Boy and his Deer are from this tribe
No, they were Emishi. The relationship between the Emishi and Ainu isn’t clear, but the Ainu are possibly descended indirectly from the Emishi with other ethnic groups in the lineage as well. One of the soldiers in this week’s Kamuy episode was from a group in Touhoku that claimed descent from the Emishi, though.
Ah, okay thanks
I wouldn’t say this is the best show I’ve ever seen or anything, but it’s interesting and fun. Plus you have to admire Sugimoto’s testicular fortitude, to jump into a bear den on the strength of an Ainu legend and a belief in your own immortality.
@Guile.
He didnt have a lot of options. 😛
Thanks for the feedback, folks. Duly noted.
The part about tickling the wolf were weird. And I didnt get the part about the bear. Who or what was hanging from the tree at the end?
The body? That was one of the Imperial ski infantry, tossed up there by the bear.
Ah,okbut. Thanks.
Has there been any other anime where they speak the Ainu language?