Kino's Journey - The Beautiful World 2: The Beautiful World

Kino's Journey - the Beautiful World (Gou) #2

by Keiichi Sigsawa, Kohaku Kuroboshi (Designer), Iruka Shiomiya (Illustrator)

Kino and Hermes travel to a country where the government took the concept of "majority rule" to such an extreme that hardly anyone was able to live there. The next country has figured out how to live peacefully with their neighbors: by taking out their aggression on a third party. While the residents of each land tend to be welcoming, Kino's rule to stay in one place for only three days allows them to avoid becoming dangerously mired in local conflicts, but sometimes leaving comes at a price...

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Comics, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Adventure

180 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2017

About the author

Pen name of Keiichi Shigusawa (時雨沢恵一).

Reviews

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books in this series are not for everyone but if you like light science fiction slice of life shows or stories you might enjoy this.
Each chapter is a new story set in a new town or country which Kino visits. What makes this series so enjoyable to me if the thoughtful and weighty subjects that are brought up.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 This series is much darker than I was expecting

[Vibeke Hiatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as fascinating as the first, plus a bit horrifying. It's interesting how graphic/gory black-and-white drawings can be. But the story is still so compelling. I've been pulled into Kino's world and the lessons it teaches us.

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review for Volume 1 and Volume 2 of this series.

"The world is not beautiful, therefore it is."

After being very disappointed in the new anime (a reboot), I decided to check the Kino no Tabi manga, or well, one of them that is. :P And I am also planning to re-re-re, well I lost count, watch the old Kino no Tabi anime.

I am not too sure about the art. Kino just doesn't look like Kino to me. They look more like they just dropped out of a shounen manga/anime. Which is a shame, but at least they still acted like Kino (unlike the Kino from the newest anime).

These volumes were pretty great, though nothing new for me who watched the first anime years and years ago. But it was still fun to read the stories again. To see the (weird/cruel) countries again. Plus to see the backstory for Kino again. Which brought fresh tears to my eyes.

The stories were still very sad/interesting/great to read, even if I already knew them. It seems that no country is a truly good one or happy one, sometimes at first glance they look nice, but then you learn the backstory... and darn it. We have a country in which everyone can feel and hear anything people think. Then we have a country who is at peace with another country at the cost of someone else. And then there are a ton of other countries that will make you ponder about the beautiful world, about humanity.

I loved Kino's 3-day in a country rule. It is perfect. That way you can do a lot of things, get to know the population, and much more. Of course at times you may want to stay longer (though so far the countries weren't that OK).

I am not too sure about Hermes. I never quite liked him. I may be one of the few, but I am getting tired of his comments, the fact he can magically talk or whatever. Plus I find it weird that Kino just brings him everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Hotel? Hermes is there. Some palace? Hermes is there. A cel? Hermes is there. You get the idea. It was just too silly.

The art is OK. I did like the gorgeous scenery/landscapes, and there are tons of details everywhere. But again, I am not a fan of this Kino and how they look.

All in all, I would recommend this 2 volumes. But be prepared to cry, have your heartbroken, and ponder about life and the world.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks like it maybe only hit two volumes? That's a bit of a shame. I love the Ozian "plot" of the main character visiting various strange lands and meeting the strange people there. Unfortunately, it seems like this is adapting chapters of an existing series of books more or less randomly, which gives the sense that you're missing something. I can see that turning off a lot of readers, and it is really really episodic without much character development for the main character. This is kind of a sub-sub-sub genre of fantasy and it can be an acquired taste.

[H · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far, two volumes in, that each of these books has a message about the human condition. This one had two: what happens when "majority rules" is the rule and cannot be changed one iota as well as where to turn those "fighting" feelings after a peace is reached in a bloody long war. Can either situation come to a satisfactory conclusion for all?

[Shin Donghae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perkembangan petualangan yg semakin menarik. Celetukan sarkas ala Hermes memberikan nuansa berwarna dalam perjalanan Kino.
Kino sendiri dalam menghadapi beragam negeri dengan kebudayaan yg berbeda (kadang aneh dan tidak berpperikemanusiaan) terkesan netral dan datar dalam menanggapi yang menunjukkan posisi Kino yg "menghargai" perbedaan tsb.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This one was dark and depressing. So, Kino goes to 2 new countries, and in both places, the laws are absolutely barbaric. They're laws take everything to the extreme to try to solve problems. It just kind of makes you think humanity is doomed. I'm hoping Kino meets some better people in the next country they visit.

[David Doel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dropped this a star because the first story was the French Revolution. The second story was original and interesting. After reading volume 1, I bought volumes 2 through 4. I'm not certain that they will send me off to buy volumes 5 through 8.

[Salmon Pilot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story. I like it so much. The characters are strong, chill, and cool. They keep social distance with and respect each other -- which is perfect for an introvert person to read for example me.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kino 2

A manga reboot of the Anime "Kino's Journey" which started out as a light novel series, so a Second Reboot actually! Do not recall the anime series being so nihilistic but it is honest about human nature & behavior. Enjoying the new reboot!

[Jillian -always aspiring- · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. The countries Kino visits end up being really despicable and inhumane. It’s hard to stomach, so I don’t know if I’ll read more in this series.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

both of the stories in this were fucked up, especially the second one. the fact that it was even a question that what they were doing was wrong disgusted me a bit tbh.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love reading through these short stories!

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute slice of life stories involving a traveler and their talking Motorrad and the wacky towns they visit.

[Nav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty philosophical, this goes pretty hard. Asks "What if X?" and tales that to an extreme.

[Maria A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is amazing book the art style is beautiful and I can’t wait to read the third one