Ah yes, the manga where everyone is a black ops special forces commando. The manga where action scenes are short but intense instead of dragging out for 3 chapters. The manga where drama lasts for 2 panels instead of a whole volume plus 30 chapters of unnecessary flashback. The manga where the puns and comedy parts are actually funny. The manga where characters are unique, believable, charismatic, and easy to like. Do I need to continue? The answer is yes. Because no amount of praise can honor the glory that is this manga.
Golden Kamui is a story about a war veteran, Sugimoto the Immortal, from
...
the Russo-Japanese war that ends up hearing about a hidden treasure somewhere, that was stolen from the Ainu people. He then sets out to pursue this treasure for the woman he loves. Soon he meets up with an Ainu child called Aspira that has rights to the gold, and the two join up to find this gold and split it.
If it wasn't clear already, I'm going to lay it right out. I love this manga. It is amazing, I love everything about it, it's art, it's historical background, it's puns, the story keeps me engrossed, believe you me folks, this is one of the best manga out there. One of the super rare hidden gems in the gigantic pile of garbage that is everywhere in the manga world. And on that note, lets keep it that way shall we?
Story: 10/10
Golden Kamui is one of those manga that don't try to be more than what it is. The story doesn't try to create some grandiose scheme that involves the fate of Japan much less the world. In fact, the story being set in Hokkaido, it stays that way. Furthermore, only a couple of people know about the gold.
The leader of those bandits that stole the Ainu gold is the only one who knows where it actually is, and being arrested, he devises a plan to tattoo the location of the treasure in his fellow prisoners. While being transported, all those prisoners escape and are now all throughout Hokkaido.
And that leads us to the factions involved. Basically there are three factions trying to get their dirty hands on the gold. Sugimoto and company, the 7th division of the japanese army that is considered to be the elite of the elite, and the heroes of the bakumatsu (basically old samurai dudes). And how are they going to gather all the map fragments together? Well, that is simple, they just need to hunt down the prisoners and skin them. Because apparently that is the most natural thing to do since everyone arrived at the same conclusion.
The story has a good mix of seriousness and goofy moments. Puns are original and fit the setting very well. Every aspect of the story, be it action, drama, comedy, flashbacks, etc aren't longer than they need to be. Furthermore, the story doesn't rely on cheap tricks to make it interesting.
I wouldn't be doing the manga honor if I didn't mention the amount of research the author must have put into this. Throughout the manga, there will be several parts explaining Hokkaido at the time, the Ainu culture, way of life, tools, and specially the Ainu cuisine. If you were wandering why actions and drama parts that usually take 15 chapters to complete in other manga were short here, well, that is because it is more interesting to know that the brain and eyes of pretty much every single animal in Hokkaido is a delicacy according to the Ainu.
Characters: 10/10
Here is where this manga shines like a herd of unicorns flying through a rainbow. Characters are unique, with relatable motives even if they are not the most righteous. Furthermore the contrast between the characters is superb. Lets take the first and most obvious example between Sugimoto and Aspira.
Sugimoto the immortal is a war veteran that got his title because well, he was such a badass that he would go kill russians while being shot, stabbed, you name it. He was pretty much a God in the battlefield. So you can imagine the contrast when someone like him teams up with a little girl from an Ainu village. Not that Aspira isn't badass in her own right.
Furthermore Sugimoto is the good sort of badass protagonist. Not the generic badass but boring protagonists that most authors try to create.
While we are at it kids, remember when I said at the beginning that everyone in this manga was a commando? Well that's right, everyone is badass. Even the lowest nameless grunt that would be just meat in any other manga is a badass. How badass you ask? Well guess you will have to read it to find out ;) Lets just say that halfway thorough I was questioning myself, as I am sure you will too, "why is everyone in this mange so badass"?.
Going back to the motives why everyone wants the gold, well all of the motives are actually quite selfish with Sugimoto's being possibly the most selfish of them all. So there isn't really an antagonist here in the proper sense of the word. Not even a villain actually. It really depends in the point of view.
Art: 10/10
I usually don't like to dwell much on art because it is a matter of taste. But I really find the art of Golden Kamui unique. And not just the drawing. The expression that every character makes is really one of the selling points here. No amount of explanation here can exemplify how amazing it is. Just read it for yourself.
Enjoyment: 10/10
Seriously, this is the best manga that has come out in the last couple of years, and one of the best overall. I started reading this from chapter 5 and you have no idea how happy I am whenever a new chapter comes out.
Overall: 11/10
Alright kids, this manga seriously deserves more recognition. But not much more mind you. I don't want the popularity to affect the quality. So, if you were lucky enough to come across it, go read it, it is amazing, but don't tell any of your friends.
 Alternative TitlesJapanese: ゴールデンカムイ More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 31
Chapters: 314
Status: Finished
Published: Aug 21, 2014 to Apr 28, 2022
Theme:
Historical
Demographic:
Seinen
Serialization:
Young Jump Authors:
Noda, Satoru (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #802 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #152
Members: 92,900
Favorites: 5,394 Available AtResources | Reviews
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Jun 2, 2016
Ah yes, the manga where everyone is a black ops special forces commando. The manga where action scenes are short but intense instead of dragging out for 3 chapters. The manga where drama lasts for 2 panels instead of a whole volume plus 30 chapters of unnecessary flashback. The manga where the puns and comedy parts are actually funny. The manga where characters are unique, believable, charismatic, and easy to like. Do I need to continue? The answer is yes. Because no amount of praise can honor the glory that is this manga.
Golden Kamui is a story about a war veteran, Sugimoto the Immortal, from ... 
Apr 27, 2022
It's always a bittersweet feeling when a great long-running series ends, it's a lot like parting with a dear friend who has kept you company for years and could always be relied on to cheer you up. And now that Golden Kamuy has ended its eight-year-long rollercoaster of emotions, and done so on a high note and under its own terms, I'm not treating it lightly when I say it is a gem that only occurs maybe two or three times a decade. You need to read it. If Satoru Noda keeps up the level he set for himself, he may well become the next
...
Jan 26, 2018
See, the problem with Golden Kamui is that it's so good that I'm worried about having to adjust to the slower pace of most mangas.
Golden Kamui is one of the best stories I've ever read - take note: not one of the best mangas I've ever read, but one of the BEST STORIES over all genres and media (not too sure why this manga has an average of 8, can't imagine anyone giving it lower than a 9). The story is amazing; if you're put off with the thought it might be too "heavy" since it's historical fiction, the manga explains all the historical context ... 
Mar 14, 2016
One third gritty treasure hunt, one third Ainu cooking adventures, one third Ainu history/hunting lessons.
Now i'll start off by saying i don't follow a lot of manga series that came out within the last couple years. Most are average at best, with boring stereotypical characters, a lack of momentum in the plot line, un-inventive action sequences and typically forgettable dialogue. However i think i've found a gem amongst the rough. Golden Kamuy is a historical Seinen series that depicts our main protagonist Sugimoto after the Russo-Japanese war in the Meji era. Nicknamed the 'Invinicible Sugimoto', he gained a reputation for being damn near invincible on the ... 
Apr 17, 2016
To start things off, I usually don't write reviews. The only time when I write reviews is when I feel like a manga deserves it. And Golden Kamuy definitely deserves to be in that category.
Story: The story of Golden Kamuy isn't exactly something unique; it's basically treasure hunting. But the thing is that Golden Kamuy is a manga that contains several genres that usually doesn't go well with each other. We've got historical, adventure, gore, comedy, action, cooking, psychological, etc. God knows how much this manga is going to cover. Golden Kamuy is basically a big fat cluster of ... 
May 1, 2022
With its recent conclusion, Golden Kamuy has stuck the landing and guaranteed its continued reputation as one of the finest adventure manga ever made. Author Noda Satoru's myriad fascinations, such as Japanese history, Ainu culture, judo, serial killers, western (meaning the genre) films, and cooking, are continuously present in the story and make it feel really special and personal to him. The plot starts out simplistically enough as a sort of reimagining of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, but with every story arc comes a set of surprises and new context that makes it so much more. Alliances exist in the world of
...
Apr 29, 2022
And there goes Golden Kamuy. Absolutely, one of my favorite manga and also a masterpiece I'll never forget. Golden Kamuy brings a lot of unique and interesting characters, what sometimes was hard for me to decide on which side I would stay by. Even though, Ogata kept being the best one to me (SPOILER: well, I gotta say it's not like a character always must have a good heart to be liked, GK shows the thing is more complicated than that and you'll understand it). Thus, Satoru Noda succeed in developing a story that, in a balanced manner, contains action, comedy, drama and even culinary.
...
May 7, 2023
If you're on the hunt for a great story, look no further! I've recently come across one of the best stories ever and I can't rave about it enough. The plot is incredibly interesting and well thought-out with a mystery that will keep you glued to the series from the very first chapter. The setting is unique and well-developed, and the characters are some of the most varied and charismatic I've ever encountered. Even the villain and secondary characters are excellent, making for a truly immersive and captivating reading, or viewing, experience. I highly recommend that everyone read, watch, or talk about this story with
...
May 1, 2022
I don't think I can express how much I have enjoyed reading Golden Kamuy. It was first recommended to me through Manga FB groups, like jojos, and Kengan Ashura, using the hotsprings panel of everyone naked, thought it looked kinda fun and decided to give it a try.
Golden Kamuy is legitimately one of the best written manga ive read, with so much love poured into it, the attention to detail to make it fit to history is amazing. I haven't been so attached to characters in manga since Full Metal Alchemist, and the way the story and the characters progress is flawless IMO. I learnt so ...
Jun 23, 2022
Golden Kamuy was probably the first manga I really fell in love with, a true masterpiece in storytelling.
I was drawn by the premise of an adventure set in Hokkaido at the end of the Meiji Period. A race for gold by several different parties each made of up individuals with differing goals. Hokkaido really was sort of the "Wild West" of Japan and the manga goes through great lengths (in often ridiculous and funny ways) to show that. Putting that aside though, I stayed for the characters and story, so intricately woven together and written beautifully. They are really the highlight of Golden Kamuy. I ... 
Apr 23, 2018
I don't like to write reviews for something that isn't finished, but since lots of people will wonder if they should read this because of the anime, the answer must be HELL YES!
Golden Kamui is a weird and unique manga in all aspects. It starts off like a classic treasure hunt, and remains a historical military adventure story at its core, but from one certain point onwards, the insanity and madness just skyrocket off of every possible chart. From a story about war veterans and ex-convincts struggling to survive and adjust into the new reality the war has left behind, all while exploring the culture ... 
Apr 19, 2022
What does it mean to give something a 10? I believe that a 10 represents perfection, the peak of the medium. Something you can return to after many years and still find enjoyment or new aspects to appreciate, or details that you never noticed on your first or second time reading it.
I truly believe that Golden Kamuy is flawless. You rarely see a series like this set up so many things over 8 years of publication and ultimately pay them off in an ending that is thematically and narratively satisfying. Most importantly, Golden Kamuy challenges the reader and trusts you to draw your own conclusions ... 
Jan 19, 2019
Right. So you're wondering whether this manga is worth your time or not, huh.
Well, my answer is an absolute YES. But you won't be satisfied with only that, will you... really, you'll only find yourself reaching the same conclusion as I did. If you must insist however, here goes: The manga introduces the plot and one of the main characters right off the bat. It's a historical fiction that tackles topics like war, gold hunting, crime and ethnic issues in rather realistic and gruesome ways. But while it does start off depicting events of the Siege of Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese war from the perspective ...
Dec 21, 2017
This is one of the most unique manga I've read, and it's one hell of a wild ride. It's an exhilarating mix of weird comedy, gripping action, badass characters and Man vs Wild-style documentary. That doesn't mean it's without its flaws though, and I'll try to explain my opinion as thoroughly as possible in this review.
NARRATIVE STYLE: one of Golden Kamuy's most distinctive characteristics is that it has a bit of a documentary vibe, as it aims to describe Hokkaido at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as introduce the fascinating traditions of the Ainu people (including cooking). On the whole it's very ... 
Aug 31, 2021
This is my first review (and probably only review) for a series. It bothers how underrated this series is in the West because it deserves so much praise. All I can hope for with this review is more people hear of Golden Kamuy my beloved.
I first stepped into Golden Kamuy on a whim, choosing it almost entirely at random from my list of anime I had heard of but knew nothing of. Having watched the entire 3 seasons in the space of a couple weeks, I absolutely could not wait for more and I almost immediately ordered the first manga volume. My God, I'm so ... 
Mar 9, 2024
It is almost impossible to find something to properly dislike about Golden Kamuy. Between brutal physical engagements, engaging and tantalizingly mysterious characters, and an air of lighthearted realism above it all, reader's can expect a fun but still dignified experience. Noda Satoru was clearly confident in his ideas here, and executes them with such smooth strokes that the ride never feels like it's about to fall off the rails. The premise, the pacing, the writing, the art... all of it is tight-knit together and marvelously implemented.
There's nothing else I feel like praising here, as I think this is a series best went into without ... 
Aug 3, 2021
Man, what a journey! I remember the day i wanted to started this manga thinking "yeah, it has a nice score on MAL, it should be a good manga for sure" ... and holy cow i'd have never expected it to be so good, more like SO UNIQUE, its sense of humour, the typical "serious attitude" of other good historical works but with that original style that makes you think "this story is one of kind", honestly, this is really a good manga. You start reading it and after 2 min you are like "oh so it gives you notions about cooking as well, nice"
...
Feb 19, 2021
I first discovered this series in 2015, when I downloaded some manga apps on my phone. Initially I thought that a Japanese Western sounded meh. Then, in 2018 the anime was announced, and I was hooked by the first PV. I had a month before the anime release, so I went and binged the whole manga. I have followed both anime, manga and OVAs since. An exquisite journet nonetheless. So let's start with the in depth review.
1. Story: 10/10 The story is addictive at least. When you start reading, you can't stop. This is a problem now that I am caught up with it and reading ... 
May 4, 2019
One Piece, but samurai and soldiers instead of pirates.
Story: The plot is about finding gold by collecting the skins of escaped convicts as they create a map of sorts. It's centered around a wonderful cast of characters exploring, questioning and exploiting one another yet still managing to get along for some comedies sake, like eating, and this doesn't take too much away from the underlying plot itself. Character & Enjoyment: Oh my god, the cast of characters are just oozing out coolness. I was burning and still am to see Sugimoto and Hijikata go at it. The collide of opposing forces chasing the gold is super thrilling, I ... |
