the man from bokk
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Tagged: bokko
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A good defense is the best offense.
(I started re-reading Bokko today– I’m in serious need of some less fluffy anime after enduring Summer 2006’s record levels of fluff– please tell me there’s something Mushishi or Kino’s Travels-like for Fall– hell, I’d even accept Twelve Kingdoms-like at this point.)
Bokko is an epic eleven volume series from Hideki Mori and Kenichi Sakemi that takes place in ancient China. Really ancient China. The story follows a man from Bokk, Kakuri, in his journey around China– a very particular journey for a very particular man from a very particular school. Bokk is school where defense and only defense is taught. They are trained not to take sides in war but instead to help defend those who cannot defend themselves. Kakuri is one of the premier students from this school in both his knowledge, skill, and honor, yet no one sees this from him. When people hear of a “Man from Bokk,” they think great things… blonde, blue eyes, weak only to Kryptonite and such… and Kakuri is none of those. He’s a short, stubby, and bald man to put it bluntly. And he’s usually alone. One against thousands.
The first reaction almost everyone has when they find out that Kakuri is their savior is that “OMFG WE’RE SO SCREWED! WTF WERE THE BOKK THINKING IN SENDING US THIS?!?” But, without fail, outnumbered, outclassed, outgunned, Kakuri gets the job done. Most of the time, he does something crazy or eccentric and no one understands why he is doing it, but, in the end, his actions serve a purpose. Much like Miyagi-san’s “Wax on! Wax off!” only applied to imperial siege combat.
Beyond the excellent military strategy aspect of Bokko, there is also a deep political layer full of deceit, treachery, jealousy, and greed. More often than not, Kakuri’s defenses fail not because of him, but because of those who betray him, and the politics drive the plot as Kakuri tries to unravel the cause for the recent wars that have been ravaging China.
When I first read Bokko, I found it very engrossing and couldn’t stop reading until the satisfying end. I found myself cheering for Kakuri and his ragtag gang as they outsmart their opponents, yet life is never easy for poor Kakuri because he stubborn sticks to his honor and ideals. Very satisfying reading.
The manga isn’t for everyone though– the art is rough (no nekomimi, bunnygirl, or thigh meat) with some horrific images from time-to-time, but it’s still appealing it a rugged way (and then Nimae joins in the second half…). There’s a lot of sex and violence with some really gruesome themes like little children getting slaughtered like Episode 3 and decapitations– many decapitations. Bokko is most definitely not meant for little kiddies. Reading the manga also requires brain cells, which may or may not still be functioning after Zero no Tsukaima, but Bokko‘s as good of a serial to start jump starting those brain cells as any.
(There’s a live action movie starring Andy Lau for Bokko scheduled for 2007.)
18 Responses to “the man from bokk”
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omanga eh. Sounds like there’s a lot of thigh meat here, though. Just that it’s on the bald old man.
Thank you for your recommendation.
Yes, the brainzells maybezee not workin after 0 no Sukaima, but I guarantee you that Siesta is still love.
I actually read this through a few years back and it really is an amazing manga. The story is interesting, well written and multi-layered and at times you even feel angry at the savagery and barbarism of feudal China, but this is definitely worth a read.
Hmmm…sounds like the Bokko could pass for historical fiction about the Spring and Autumn period after the fall of the Chou (Zhou). The emphasis on defense and fortification is a bit like the Mohists of old minus the utilitarian aspect. Thanks for the recomendation, but do you have an ISBN number to work with I may have to do some hunting. If it does go into why the war is fought is it something along the lines of he was a licentious ruler who spent time with women and had parties where meat hung from trees and wine filled the lakes?
@Daniel
>>you even feel angry at the savagery and barbarism of feudal China
All war is cruelty and its heavy hand does not discriminate.
I would like to know where can I get this book too.
Nice recommendation, I’ve burned through five volumes. While the historical details are sketchy (the plot could conceivably have been set against any turbulent period in Chinese history), so far the manga does a great job of showcasing how terrible war can be.
Meanwhile, the Bokk clan strategy at the end of Vol.5 reminds me of the chemical weapons in the Great War.
Huu hu, actually sounds interesting. Something very different to the usual is very welcome too.
Here is a quick look at the historical background. The nice thing about this series is that there are more things based on historical facts compared to something that is made up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_Period
One thing, of grave political importance still, is that Rice did not came DIRECTLY from China. Rice went to Taiwan from Southern China, when it actually was considered as southern barbarians by ‘Chinese’, then it went to Okinawa, and finally to Japanese mainland. Rice came to Korea from Manchuria: These points are not disfuted due to linguistic evidences. The Political problem is that while Japanese still claim that there was direct contact between mainland China and Japan, and Japan was held as equals by Chinese government. The claims of China and Korea is that contact with Japan was either through Korea or the Okinawa, this is important for Okinawa maintained some state of independence until 1879, and majority of contact between normal Chinese peasants and Japanese were that of Japanese Pirates pillaging China Coastal area. Do take a note on following line from Wikipedia.
Dry-land rice was introduced to Japan and Korea circa 1000 BC. Later wet-paddy intensive rice agriculture was introduced into Korea during the Middle Mumun pottery period (c. 850-550 BC) and reached Japan by the Yayoi circa 300 BC.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice
The problem is, although the above paragraph is acknowledged as true by Japanese scholars, they take time and effort to either hide or the distort the fact in order to keep their claims on Korean and Chinese Territories. I’m sorry to mention politics often here, but Japanese manga and Anime has long served as secret propaganda machine for Japanese Rights and, as a Korean, I am somewhat duty bound to point out obvious errors and implications behind those errors.
What really is curious is that the Mangaka has long established anti-war message, closer to Liberals in Japan, yet would make easily refutable claims concerning Rice after getting so many facts right. My suspicion is that there was a political discussion that came up while making this manga and in the end, the right wing won.
Finally, the country with most diverse Rice dishes is Korea: Korean make all sorts of amazing, and some even strange, food with rice. I am also very eager to see this new movie based on this manga as well.
I cringe whenever I hear of Chinese people in some form of Japanese media. I’ve never seen one presented in a decent light.
OMG hurry up and blog Higurashi 25!! I can’t wait to see your take on it… I’ll also have to check out Bokko… But get Higu25 out!
>>> I cringe whenever I hear of Chinese people in some form of Japanese media. I’ve never seen one presented in a decent light.
I think Bokko did a good job presenting a neutral picture of what it might have been like in 3 ~ 4 th century B.C. in China. There are many thing to be liked in this manga and it got the most important detail right: In end, it is all about Rice
Read all of Bokko already. Nice indictment in the last chapter.
I disagree that the place with the most diverse rice dishes is Korea. It’s obviously USA. They’ve done so bloody ridiculous things with rice that it hardly looks like rice anymore. Just go to any Chinese takeout place that’s not run by Asians (sad but true)
Have you guys tried Durian Rice? ;)
>>> Have you guys tried Durian Rice? ;)
I have not, but I would like to try it. There are some food that most people finds disagreeable, but I find it to be likeable.
>>> I disagree that the place with the most diverse rice dishes is Korea. It’s obviously USA.
This is difficult to agree or disagree. In USA, the rice is basically steamed version ( risotto’s end product resembles steamed version as well ) and major difference is what is put on top or mixed in with the rice. In Korea, rice undergoes many chemical or physical alterations before being used in something edible ( Rice Paper Sweets anyone? The Rice Glue can be very tasty as well ) The problem is, with so many people from different ethical background living in USA, almost any food in the world can be found within USA somewhere, especially if you remember what is the ethnic makeup of Hawaii. As I said earlier, rice is the most important thing in the world, if you exclude water and air.
>> I cringe whenever I hear of Chinese people in some form of Japanese media. I’ve never seen one presented in a decent light.
Melody Honey… it’s not like their portrayal of Americans is any better.
>> Finally, the country with most diverse Rice dishes is Korea: Korean make all sorts of amazing, and some even strange, food with rice.
No way. Even though America has no native rice dishes, I can walk through Westfield Shoppingtown’s food court and purchase a minimum of twenty types of rice dishes– from chicken and rice soup to sushi to satay fried rice to paella to bemieh to rice crispy treats at Mrs Field’s.
>> OMG hurry up and blog Higurashi 25!!
Tomorrow at the earliest. I’m sleepy.
I finished reading bokko, and gotta say, it’s just an amazing manga. Lot’s of details and info to absorb and resolve to get the whole story.
I remember skipping a whole volume and asking myself “wth???” :P (in most magas you can skipp a volume and not notice ^__________^)
Bye!
>>> Even though America has no native rice dishes, I can walk through Westfield Shoppingtown’s food court and purchase a minimum of twenty types of rice dishes– from chicken and rice soup to sushi to satay fried rice to paella to bemieh to rice crispy treats at Mrs Field’s.
The keyword here is native. In terms of availability, there isn’t many thing USA is #1 at, and I agree that USA is the place you can get most diverse choice of rice dishes. If you consider native dishes AND how rice is processed, USA can’t be considered for, as you have said, there isn’t any native rice dish here, and most of rice variety is that which you mix steamed rice with ingredients of your choice. In Korea, rice is made into all forms of size and shape, and many different rice drinks and liquors exists as well. For example, there is rice wine, rice liquor ( distilled ), alcoholic rice paste drinks, fermented alcoholic rice cakes ( very soft and comes in all sort of varieties of smell ), and of course, various seasonings made from fermented rice or rice extracts. All these can be bought in a local store in USA, but many are imported from Korea or China.
Since what counts in the end is availability, I guess I have to concede to USA.
Here is another interesting point: why are the Koreans only people who prefers to eat plain steamed rice in big metallic bowls with large metallic spoons? I believe one of the few exception is Japanese ROYAL family and almost every other rice eaters in the world uses containers and utensils that will hold smaller amount of rice; No way you can hold as much rice as spoon with wooden chopsticks, the rice eating utensil of preference for most north and south East Asian people. Maybe many of the Koreans are gluttons, which actually was uncommon until very recently judging by rate of obesity, but there has to exist certain conditions to allow such potentially gluttonous behavior and that condition should make it possible for people to waste rice on various food experiments.