Gamertell

Important Importables’ focus is usually on video game related, Japanese imports. Every once in a while, it takes a brief break to look at something that’s an import and has no gaming ties what-so-ever. (Though gamers may enjoy it.) This is one of those times.

Ever heard of Battle Royale? There’s a good chance you have, since it’s an incredibly popular property from Japan. It’s a story that’s so renowned, controversial and thought provoking that the original story has been adapted and presented in several different forms of media. It all started back in 1999, with Koushun Takami’s novel, Battle Royale. It’s a title you probably won’t be reading at your next book club meeting, but it would be awesome if you did.

Battle Royale the book

In an alternate universe, Japan has become the Republic of Greater East Asia. The society is heavily controlled and monitored, and the government rules all. Every year, The Program takes place. 50 junior high school students from 50 random schools in the country are abducted. Each group is taken to a remote island, explosive metal tracking collars are fitted around their necks and they are sent out to fight until only one student survives. If 24 hours pass with no student dying, all of the students are killed.

The novel follows 50 students, all between 14-15 years old, from Shiroiwa Junior High School as they take part in The Program. So instead of strictly following one or two characters, you instead are seeing the reactions of 50 different characters. (The book comes equipped with a chart in the beginning, so you can keep track of who’s who, and who’s still alive.) There novel does focus on some characters more than others.

The main heroes are Shuya, Noriko and Shogo, Noriko is a girl who is shot in the beginning of the novel for trying to help another classmate. Shuya is the main hero, a boy who decides to protect Noriko because his best friend loves her. Shugo is an unfortunate survivor of a previous run of The Program who ended up getting trapped and forced to play again.

The novel is filled with twists, leading to a fairly unexpected, but very welcome, ending. Another interesting insight is that, as you read, some of the students become villains in your mind, rather than victims.

Viz Media translated Battle Royale into English in 2003. It’s still in print, so if you’re interested you should have no trouble finding and picking it up. Be prepared to invest a few evenings reading it - it’s over 600 pages long. It is also very graphic, so younger readers should go find something more appropriate.

Battle Royale the manga

Battle Royale was also adapted into a manga in 2000, by the original author Koushun Takami and Masayuki Taguchi. It’s a 15 volume series that spends more time looking at each of the 50 students. This means that each of the characters’ stories and personalities are given more attention than in the original novel. It is also much more graphic, since images are used to help portray every situation.

Like the Battle Royale novel, the manga has also been translated into English. Only this time, Tokyopop did the localization. The company has received some criticism for the adaptation, because instead of just translating the manga and releasing it, the script was altered and rewritten by Keith Giffen. For example, The Program is turned into a reality TV show.

In 2007, the first Battle Royale Ultimate Edition volume was released. Each ultimate edition contains three volumes of the manga, along with additional content and discussions of the source material. These are hardcover collections, and all five are available from Tokyopop.

In 2003, a sequel called Battle Royale II: Blitz Royale was created by Koushun Takami and Hitoshi Tomizawa. Once again, the series follows a group of junior high students who have been abducted and forced to take part in The Program.

Battle Royale the movie

In 2000, the movie adaptation of Battle Royale was released in Japan. Kinji Fukasaku, director of the movie Battles Without Honor and Humanity and the game Clock Tower 3,  signed on to direct, and Kenta Fukasaku, his son, wrote the screenplay.

The story is basically the same, though the movie adaptation mainly focuses on Shuya, Noriko and Shugo, with occasional glimpses at Kazuo and Mitsuko. A few of the minor characters, like Shinji, Hiroki and Yukie, also receive some screen time. A few elements of the original novel are changed. Some aspects of The Program are slightly tweaked, some characters aren’t shown much, or at all and some students die differently or react differently than they did in the original. Overall, the general story and message is the same.

The Battle Royale movie has not received an “official” North American release. However, region-free versions of the UK and Hong Kong versions with English subtitles are available and can be found online and occasionally in stores.

In 2003 a sequel, called Battle Royale II: Requiem, was written by Koushun Takami and Kenta Fukasaku. Kinji Fukasaku began directing the movie, but after his death his son, Kenta, took over as director. The sequel follows new victims of The Program who are tasked with flushing out and eliminating Wild Seven, a terrorist group led by Shuya and filled with former survivors of The Program.

COMING NEXT WEEK: You know how sites like Play-Asia always have Japanese and Asian versions of games for some systems? Next week Important Importables is going to clear up the differences between the two, and tell you which one you should be buying.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables discussed PSP and DS straps.

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