Itsuwaribito
Encyclopedia
is a manga series created by Yuuki Iinuma.
of this story, has many talents including telling lies (good and bad), fishing, bomb making, weapon wielding, minor medical aid and quick disguises. Utsuho is a troublemaker and very crafty. He has skills that could be compared to a ninja
and believes in justice through lying. He is always thinking two steps ahead of his opponent and is rarely caught off guard. He enjoys delivering the phrase "I was lying about lying". His main goal is to help 1,000 people in place of the late village elder using his itsuwaribito skills. He will use these to free the oppressed and naïve
who cannot free themselves. He always seems to wear the same outfit and rarely opens his eyes more than a squint unless strong emotions are involved. He is mysteriously already a very strong and smart individual though he came from a seemingly ordinary village. His favorite way of fighting is setting up small traps and making his enemy's strength their weakness by making them fall into it of their own volition
. He uses mostly his mind, small bombs with large explosive power and concealed weapons to fight. His favorite attacks are those that break his enemies both physically and mentally.
Pochi: Ponpokoriichitchoriina III (or Pochi for short) is a young orphaned talking tanuki
(or in English a raccoon dog). Utsuho deduces that he is able to talk because foxes and tanuki
are more like spirits then animals. Pochi is trusting, naïve
and very cute which is a strange traveling companion to one who never trusts easily or tells the truth. He loves to paint, has a large appetite and an over-active imagination. He is very sentimental, even with people he's only known for a short time. When first seen in book 1, Pochi is found caught in a trap and is released and healed by Utsuho. He tried to save his mother from a greedy trapper on many occasions though the man kept lying to him and trapping him. Utsuho said as he saved Pochi the second time in book 1 (a revised quote of the trapper), "Someone who gets tricked is a fool, someone who trusts is an even bigger fool, but if you get tricked and tricked again and still trust, that's cool." He is offered a chance to travel with Utsuho after they bury his mother and he accepts saying, "Some lies may not be sad."
Koshiro Yakuma: Koshiro, usually referred to as Yakuma or Yakuma-sama (meaning Doctor Yakuma), is a highly skilled, level headed and creative doctor. He appears to be very young for someone so well trained (a bit like Utsuho). Yakuma can perform surgery though (being in Old World Japan) it is not a publicly embraced form of medical treatment. No wound or request can phase his iron will to serve. Yakuma claims he can "cure anything but foolishness." He, Utsuho and Pochi met because Yakuma was in a town to heal the local lord; Utsuho and Pochi were wandering through town and were driven into an inn (due to vandals and a wounded man) where Yakuma is staying. Yakuma thinks trust and honor are even more important than curing a sick person and refuses to put them to sleep and cure them without their permission. He can take people of any size or shape down using skilled delivery of pressured blows. His favorite battle strategy is rushing blindly forward instead of using stealth. Koshiro says he hates all itsuwaribito more than anything, but seems to accept Utsuho after hearing how he uses his lies; he, however, claims he will live righteously. Yakuma is a good person who will sacrifice anything for a patient in need. As an example, to save the village lord, he cut his own stomach open (in a way that would not kill him) because an itsuwaribito boss told him to or he would kill the lord. This ended up proving to the lord Koshiro was a trustworthy doctor.
Neya: Neya-sama (meaning Lady or Mistress Neya) is the first female main character in the series and appears in book 2. She lives on Nadeshiko Island, a place for exiled itsuwaribito, inside the large hollow rock in the center. She is a skilled lier and is a great marksman
with kunai
(she pretends her weapon is a bow and arrow), but she seems relatively kind for an itsuwaribito. She is the leader of her group (there are different groups of ituwaribito living on the island), though she is both female and very young (like Utsuho and Koishiro). Utsuho dislikes her at first because she almost tricked him, but in the end, they become companions (almost friends but not quite yet). He comes to call her Ne-chan which could mean "miss" or be a friendly abbreviation
of her name. (Both make her uncomfortable.) She does have the classic itsuwaribito traits, but usually only uses them when she feels it is necessary to help her family (the people of the village). She is beautiful, strong and independent; a worthy female main character.
, felt that the series was a generic shonen
adventure series but enjoyed the lead's moral ambiguity
, feeling it spiced up fight scenes. He criticised the poor pacing in the second volume. Katherine Dacey described the manga as a "tonal mess", contrasting the bloody fight scenes with the cute talking tanuki
and the "uncomplicated" protagonist
. Leroy Douresseaux felt the series had potential, enjoying the premise, and feeling that the series hit its stride more in the second volume. Danica Davidson felt that the lead became more sympathetic during the first volume. Holly von Winckel noted the extreme violence used by the author to distinguish the protagonist
from the 'real' bad guys, feeling that the tanuki
character was an "antidote
" to this strong violence. Patti Martinson felt that the premise
was gimmick
y, but that the second volume "explored" the issue more than she had hoped. Nick Smith describes the lead character as being an "even less likeable version of Naruto", summing up the first volume as being both enjoyable and frustrating. Deb Aoki noted the combination of gore and cute elements, making the first volume "difficult to recommend". Davey C. Jones enjoyed the fast pace of the second volume.
Plot
Utsuho Azako is an orphan who was taken in by the elder of a village called The Village of Orphans. He thinks being too truthful is a bad thing because he told a group of bandits too much about his home, they broke in and killed everyone. So, he reasons, I will always lie and become an Itsuwaribito, someone who steals, swindles and mugs for a living. However, at the end of the first chapter of book 1, he decides that he will be a liar for good and goes around assisting those who have been too trusting and now need help.Characters
Utsuho Azako: Utsuho, the protagonistProtagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of this story, has many talents including telling lies (good and bad), fishing, bomb making, weapon wielding, minor medical aid and quick disguises. Utsuho is a troublemaker and very crafty. He has skills that could be compared to a ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
and believes in justice through lying. He is always thinking two steps ahead of his opponent and is rarely caught off guard. He enjoys delivering the phrase "I was lying about lying". His main goal is to help 1,000 people in place of the late village elder using his itsuwaribito skills. He will use these to free the oppressed and naïve
Naïve
Naivety , is the state of being naive—having or showing a lack of experience, understanding or sophistication. One who is naive may be called a naif.- Etymology :...
who cannot free themselves. He always seems to wear the same outfit and rarely opens his eyes more than a squint unless strong emotions are involved. He is mysteriously already a very strong and smart individual though he came from a seemingly ordinary village. His favorite way of fighting is setting up small traps and making his enemy's strength their weakness by making them fall into it of their own volition
Volition (psychology)
Volition or will is the cognitive process by which an individual decides on and commits to a particular course of action. It is defined as purposive striving, and is one of the primary human psychological functions...
. He uses mostly his mind, small bombs with large explosive power and concealed weapons to fight. His favorite attacks are those that break his enemies both physically and mentally.
Pochi: Ponpokoriichitchoriina III (or Pochi for short) is a young orphaned talking tanuki
Tanuki
is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog . They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times...
(or in English a raccoon dog). Utsuho deduces that he is able to talk because foxes and tanuki
Tanuki
is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog . They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times...
are more like spirits then animals. Pochi is trusting, naïve
Naïve
Naivety , is the state of being naive—having or showing a lack of experience, understanding or sophistication. One who is naive may be called a naif.- Etymology :...
and very cute which is a strange traveling companion to one who never trusts easily or tells the truth. He loves to paint, has a large appetite and an over-active imagination. He is very sentimental, even with people he's only known for a short time. When first seen in book 1, Pochi is found caught in a trap and is released and healed by Utsuho. He tried to save his mother from a greedy trapper on many occasions though the man kept lying to him and trapping him. Utsuho said as he saved Pochi the second time in book 1 (a revised quote of the trapper), "Someone who gets tricked is a fool, someone who trusts is an even bigger fool, but if you get tricked and tricked again and still trust, that's cool." He is offered a chance to travel with Utsuho after they bury his mother and he accepts saying, "Some lies may not be sad."
Koshiro Yakuma: Koshiro, usually referred to as Yakuma or Yakuma-sama (meaning Doctor Yakuma), is a highly skilled, level headed and creative doctor. He appears to be very young for someone so well trained (a bit like Utsuho). Yakuma can perform surgery though (being in Old World Japan) it is not a publicly embraced form of medical treatment. No wound or request can phase his iron will to serve. Yakuma claims he can "cure anything but foolishness." He, Utsuho and Pochi met because Yakuma was in a town to heal the local lord; Utsuho and Pochi were wandering through town and were driven into an inn (due to vandals and a wounded man) where Yakuma is staying. Yakuma thinks trust and honor are even more important than curing a sick person and refuses to put them to sleep and cure them without their permission. He can take people of any size or shape down using skilled delivery of pressured blows. His favorite battle strategy is rushing blindly forward instead of using stealth. Koshiro says he hates all itsuwaribito more than anything, but seems to accept Utsuho after hearing how he uses his lies; he, however, claims he will live righteously. Yakuma is a good person who will sacrifice anything for a patient in need. As an example, to save the village lord, he cut his own stomach open (in a way that would not kill him) because an itsuwaribito boss told him to or he would kill the lord. This ended up proving to the lord Koshiro was a trustworthy doctor.
Neya: Neya-sama (meaning Lady or Mistress Neya) is the first female main character in the series and appears in book 2. She lives on Nadeshiko Island, a place for exiled itsuwaribito, inside the large hollow rock in the center. She is a skilled lier and is a great marksman
Marksman
A marksman is a person who is skilled in precision, or a sharpshooter shooting, using projectile weapons, such as with a rifle but most commonly with a sniper rifle, to shoot at long range targets...
with kunai
Kunai
A is a Japanese tool possibly derived from the masonry trowel. Two variations are the and the . It is a good example of a very basic tool which, in the hands of a martial arts expert, could be used as a multi-functional weapon...
(she pretends her weapon is a bow and arrow), but she seems relatively kind for an itsuwaribito. She is the leader of her group (there are different groups of ituwaribito living on the island), though she is both female and very young (like Utsuho and Koishiro). Utsuho dislikes her at first because she almost tricked him, but in the end, they become companions (almost friends but not quite yet). He comes to call her Ne-chan which could mean "miss" or be a friendly abbreviation
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
of her name. (Both make her uncomfortable.) She does have the classic itsuwaribito traits, but usually only uses them when she feels it is necessary to help her family (the people of the village). She is beautiful, strong and independent; a worthy female main character.
Volumes
Reception
Carlo Santos, writing for Anime News NetworkAnime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
, felt that the series was a generic shonen
Shonen
The term refers to manga marketed to a male audience aged roughly 10 and up. The Kanji characters literally mean "few" and "year", respectively, where the characters generally mean "comic"...
adventure series but enjoyed the lead's moral ambiguity
Ambiguity
Ambiguity of words or phrases is the ability to express more than one interpretation. It is distinct from vagueness, which is a statement about the lack of precision contained or available in the information.Context may play a role in resolving ambiguity...
, feeling it spiced up fight scenes. He criticised the poor pacing in the second volume. Katherine Dacey described the manga as a "tonal mess", contrasting the bloody fight scenes with the cute talking tanuki
Tanuki
is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog . They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times...
and the "uncomplicated" protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. Leroy Douresseaux felt the series had potential, enjoying the premise, and feeling that the series hit its stride more in the second volume. Danica Davidson felt that the lead became more sympathetic during the first volume. Holly von Winckel noted the extreme violence used by the author to distinguish the protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
from the 'real' bad guys, feeling that the tanuki
Tanuki
is the common Japanese name for the Japanese raccoon dog . They have been part of Japanese folklore since ancient times...
character was an "antidote
Antidote
An antidote is a substance which can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek αντιδιδοναι antididonai, "given against"....
" to this strong violence. Patti Martinson felt that the premise
Premise
Premise can refer to:* Premise, a claim that is a reason for, or an objection against, some other claim as part of an argument...
was gimmick
Gimmick
In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries. However, the special feature is typically thought to be of little relevance or use. Thus, a gimmick is a special feature for the sake of having a special feature...
y, but that the second volume "explored" the issue more than she had hoped. Nick Smith describes the lead character as being an "even less likeable version of Naruto", summing up the first volume as being both enjoyable and frustrating. Deb Aoki noted the combination of gore and cute elements, making the first volume "difficult to recommend". Davey C. Jones enjoyed the fast pace of the second volume.