Tougen Anki - Vol. 22 Ch. 191 - Things Lost

[MangaDex]

 

[Dantheslowone]

Two pages are missing btw

Edit: well look like they hadn't fix it yet so Anyhow, Great chapter, My guy is maybe going to end up like Shiki when he want Berserk in his fight with Mikado but that's just my guess
Thank for the Chapter btw

 

[roxersoxer]

Why doesn't this manga get more love? The constant threat of battle, delving into each team member's past and abilities, consistent new enemies with new powers, a good storyline procession, great art; it really has it all.

 

[Levankua]

Why doesn't this manga get more love? The constant threat of battle, delving into each team member's past and abilities, consistent new enemies with new powers, a good storyline procession, great art; it really has it all.

Its decently popular. I think its getting an anime this season?

 

[roxersoxer]

Its decently popular. I think its getting an anime this season?

It has a good rating, but the comments are always low in number is what I mean. I could probably help out more myself, but it's surprising how little engagement there is.

 

[Hikineet]

Thanks for the chapter.

 

[FlenGOAT]

Two pages are missing btw

Edit: well look like they hadn't fix it yet so Anyhow, Great chapter, My guy is maybe going to end up like Shiki when he want Berserk in his fight with Mikado but that's just my guess
Thank for the Chapter btw

Should be fixed now. Something went wrong with those 2 files.

 

[FlenGOAT]

It has a good rating, but the comments are always low in number is what I mean. I could probably help out more myself, but it's surprising how little engagement there is.

Tougen Anki is very popular in Japan, but the west shows a lukewarm response. And I believe Mangadex comments aren't usually the beehive of activity.

 

[brainman]

Tougen Anki is very popular in Japan, but the west shows a lukewarm response.

It can see why it'd be popular in the east. It has the hallmarks of a popular shonen, with hot bad boys (without checking, I bet this series is very popular with the fujoshi crowd), wacky powers, and some kind of massive war plot that can serve as a backdrop for endless battles.

But it's also very schlocky and just not really well written. The reasons for the war are flimsy at best, and the series can't decide whether it wants its enemy faction to be irredeemable, genocidal monsters, or tragic figures who just happen to fight for the wrong side/were pulled into an ancient conflict that barely concerns them. So it kinda keeps doing both, which really doesn't work, because at no point does the writing make an effort to present the Momo's goals as maybe justified. Perhaps by showing that Oni really do go nuts a lot of the time unless they get lengthy and intense training to control themselves, or maybe not all Oni are just innocent victims who only want a quiet life. But the way it's presented, the Momo are just remorseless murderers going after a people who by all accounts are peaceful and innocent, so trying to portray them as sympathetic comes across as tone-deaf.

And then it keeps pulling this tragic backstory nonsense like in this very arc. Ukyo, the guy who callously manipulated someone using a ghoulish illusion of their dead sister, already got the moral whitewashing flashback where he's a super swell guy, and the hint of tragic backstory that's sure to come looks like he has his own dead female relative/friend to deal with, which I bet is going to be played for sympathy without addressing the fact that it makes his manipulation of Yusurube only that much worse.

 

[AquALynX]

Man, what a mental breakdown, at least we get to see how a berserk oni acts like (that isn't shiki)

 

[BalrogDeMorgoth]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[BalrogDeMorgoth]

Why doesn't this manga get more love? The constant threat of battle, delving into each team member's past and abilities, consistent new enemies with new powers, a good storyline procession, great art; it really has it all.

The west has shit taste, that's why.

 

[miyako19]

It can see why it'd be popular in the east. It has the hallmarks of a popular shonen, with hot bad boys (without checking, I bet this series is very popular with the fujoshi crowd), wacky powers, and some kind of massive war plot that can serve as a backdrop for endless battles.

But it's also very schlocky and just not really well written. The reasons for the war are flimsy at best, and the series can't decide whether it wants its enemy faction to be irredeemable, genocidal monsters, or tragic figures who just happen to fight for the wrong side/were pulled into an ancient conflict that barely concerns them. So it kinda keeps doing both, which really doesn't work, because at no point does the writing make an effort to present the Momo's goals as maybe justified. Perhaps by showing that Oni really do go nuts a lot of the time unless they get lengthy and intense training to control themselves, or maybe not all Oni are just innocent victims who only want a quiet life. But the way it's presented, the Momo are just remorseless murderers going after a people who by all accounts are peaceful and innocent, so trying to portray them as sympathetic comes across as tone-deaf.

And then it keeps pulling this tragic backstory nonsense like in this very arc. Ukyo, the guy who callously manipulated someone using a ghoulish illusion of their dead sister, already got the moral whitewashing flashback where he's a super swell guy, and the hint of tragic backstory that's sure to come looks like he has his own dead female relative/friend to deal with, which I bet is going to be played for sympathy without addressing the fact that it makes his manipulation of Yusurube only that much worse.

Your view is rather shallow and rather ignorant of Japanese culture. And you forgot that this is based on a famous tale in Japan. Oni in Japanese culture represents all the bad luck, ill omen, diseases, etc. To Japanese, Oni have always been horrible monsters who harm humans. Even the voice actor for Shiki before he auditioned for the role thought he would voice a bad guy since he had notnread the manga before and only knew he voiced an Oni. There is no reason to explain to the main Japanese readers why Oni whould be exterminated. And even the manga show that Oni are easily go berserk when experience intense emotions. Even Mudano was gonna killed Shiki if he couldn't control himself.

 

[miyako19]

It can see why it'd be popular in the east. It has the hallmarks of a popular shonen, with hot bad boys (without checking, I bet this series is very popular with the fujoshi crowd), wacky powers, and some kind of massive war plot that can serve as a backdrop for endless battles.

But it's also very schlocky and just not really well written. The reasons for the war are flimsy at best, and the series can't decide whether it wants its enemy faction to be irredeemable, genocidal monsters, or tragic figures who just happen to fight for the wrong side/were pulled into an ancient conflict that barely concerns them. So it kinda keeps doing both, which really doesn't work, because at no point does the writing make an effort to present the Momo's goals as maybe justified. Perhaps by showing that Oni really do go nuts a lot of the time unless they get lengthy and intense training to control themselves, or maybe not all Oni are just innocent victims who only want a quiet life. But the way it's presented, the Momo are just remorseless murderers going after a people who by all accounts are peaceful and innocent, so trying to portray them as sympathetic comes across as tone-deaf.

And then it keeps pulling this tragic backstory nonsense like in this very arc. Ukyo, the guy who callously manipulated someone using a ghoulish illusion of their dead sister, already got the moral whitewashing flashback where he's a super swell guy, and the hint of tragic backstory that's sure to come looks like he has his own dead female relative/friend to deal with, which I bet is going to be played for sympathy without addressing the fact that it makes his manipulation of Yusurube only that much worse.

Do you need to reread? Ukyo's daughter is sick and he is needing a lot of money for her treatment. He is aiming for the bounties for killing specific Oni that were given by the Momo Agency. He decided to save his daughter with any cost, no matter how dirty his hands got. He knows full well that what he did were wrong but he decided to become a villain for his daughter's life

 

[FlenGOAT]

It can see why it'd be popular in the east. It has the hallmarks of a popular shonen, with hot bad boys (without checking, I bet this series is very popular with the fujoshi crowd), wacky powers, and some kind of massive war plot that can serve as a backdrop for endless battles.

But it's also very schlocky and just not really well written. The reasons for the war are flimsy at best, and the series can't decide whether it wants its enemy faction to be irredeemable, genocidal monsters, or tragic figures who just happen to fight for the wrong side/were pulled into an ancient conflict that barely concerns them. So it kinda keeps doing both, which really doesn't work, because at no point does the writing make an effort to present the Momo's goals as maybe justified. Perhaps by showing that Oni really do go nuts a lot of the time unless they get lengthy and intense training to control themselves, or maybe not all Oni are just innocent victims who only want a quiet life. But the way it's presented, the Momo are just remorseless murderers going after a people who by all accounts are peaceful and innocent, so trying to portray them as sympathetic comes across as tone-deaf.

And then it keeps pulling this tragic backstory nonsense like in this very arc. Ukyo, the guy who callously manipulated someone using a ghoulish illusion of their dead sister, already got the moral whitewashing flashback where he's a super swell guy, and the hint of tragic backstory that's sure to come looks like he has his own dead female relative/friend to deal with, which I bet is going to be played for sympathy without addressing the fact that it makes his manipulation of Yusurube only that much worse.

I agree with your criticism to a certain extent. However, with any faction within a war, you will have people who are irredeemably evil, those who fight for another reason and those who don't want to fight at all. Kegon Falls had some irredeemable people, and the manga doesn't bother trying to redeem them. We have people who fight for another reason like Ukyo, who fights to raise money for his daughter. And those who don't want to fight, like Mikado. He wants to unite the races but is still a part of the Momo Agency.
Yes, Ukyo's actions are unforgivable. but they do display a very human element - ensuring you and your familiy's survival. Just like Yusurube presumed he was doing, he was trying to save his family. It's kind of up to the person to decide whether or not Ukyo's ends justify the means. Me personally, I don't think so. But if you do think it's a parent's job to sacrifice anything for their children then go ahead.
And don't worry, Ukyo's motives will be expanded upon a bit further in the story.

 

[Ulthair]

It can see why it'd be popular in the east. It has the hallmarks of a popular shonen, with hot bad boys (without checking, I bet this series is very popular with the fujoshi crowd), wacky powers, and some kind of massive war plot that can serve as a backdrop for endless battles.

But it's also very schlocky and just not really well written. The reasons for the war are flimsy at best, and the series can't decide whether it wants its enemy faction to be irredeemable, genocidal monsters, or tragic figures who just happen to fight for the wrong side/were pulled into an ancient conflict that barely concerns them. So it kinda keeps doing both, which really doesn't work, because at no point does the writing make an effort to present the Momo's goals as maybe justified. Perhaps by showing that Oni really do go nuts a lot of the time unless they get lengthy and intense training to control themselves, or maybe not all Oni are just innocent victims who only want a quiet life. But the way it's presented, the Momo are just remorseless murderers going after a people who by all accounts are peaceful and innocent, so trying to portray them as sympathetic comes across as tone-deaf.

And then it keeps pulling this tragic backstory nonsense like in this very arc. Ukyo, the guy who callously manipulated someone using a ghoulish illusion of their dead sister, already got the moral whitewashing flashback where he's a super swell guy, and the hint of tragic backstory that's sure to come looks like he has his own dead female relative/friend to deal with, which I bet is going to be played for sympathy without addressing the fact that it makes his manipulation of Yusurube only that much worse.

I think a lot of your concerns are because the author is electing to play off things in shades of grey instead of simply black and white like a lot of shounen. Yes, the Momo organization as a whole is clearly the villain and full of bad people who are objectively evil, but it's also got a lot of people who are wrapped up in their for their own circumstances, some of whom are outright good folk. That's also part of why even some characters who are clearly evil - such as Ukyo - get backstories that are intended to be sympathetic, because evil doesn't exist in a vacuum. People aren't just cartoonishly evil for the sake of it. He's evil because of the actions he's doing to reach his goal, which is ostensibly a good goal (saving his sister).

Personally, the shades of grey make this manga a lot more interesting to me than most shounen because they DO keep things very black and white.