Salaryman Kintarou

Salaryman Kintarou: An Underrated Gem of 90s/00s Anime

"Salaryman Kintarou," despite its dated animation style and occasionally hurried plot development, remains a remarkable and, dare I say, a masterpiece in its own right. This anime offers a gripping narrative filled with adult themes, an inspiring protagonist, and a beautiful soundtrack that collectively set it apart from its contemporaries.

One of the most striking aspects of "Salaryman Kintarou" is its bold approach to adult themes. The series dives deep into the gritty realities of violence, rape, biker gangs (Bōsōzoku), organized crime, and high-level corruption within politics and corporations. These elements paint a vivid picture of late 20th-century ... Japan, providing a stark backdrop against which the story unfolds. Despite these heavy themes, the anime manages to maintain a light-hearted tone through clever use of tongue-in-cheek humor, comedic interludes during fight scenes, and a generous sprinkling of fan service and romance. This balance makes the series both engaging and accessible, never allowing the darker elements to overwhelm the viewer.

Kintarou, the protagonist, embodies a refreshing non-cynical approach to life's challenges. Emerging from a past as a gang leader, Kintarou's transition to a white-collar employee and single father is marked by determination and resilience. Rather than succumbing to depressive defeatism or cynical escapism, he remains steadfastly focused on his goals. His actions and mindset showcase the importance of true leadership qualities, which, as the series aptly demonstrates, cannot be taught through theory and seminars alone but must be earned through real-life experiences. This message, rooted in a distinctly Japanese code of honor, commitment, and sacrifice, resonates deeply. Even with its supernatural fight scenes, the anime maintains a down-to-earth messaging, offering a refreshing outlook on overcoming life's hardships.

Adding to the series' charm is its beautiful soundtrack. The ending theme, "Heaven～僕の中の天国～" ("We're in Heaven") by Norishige Takahashi, evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, even after more than a decade since my first viewing. The piano interludes scattered throughout the episodes enhance the 90s Japan movie and anime vibe, providing an auditory experience that is too exquisite to ignore.

In conclusion, "Salaryman Kintarou" stands out not only for its compelling narrative and themes but also for its unique ability to blend humor and seriousness seamlessly. While the old-school animation and sometimes rushed plot development might be off-putting to some, the anime's core strengths make it a timeless classic worth revisiting. Its mature themes, inspiring protagonist, and memorable soundtrack collectively contribute to its status as an underrated gem in the world of anime.

It was a very enjoyable show from beggining to end. The main character, Kintaro, can be taken as a role model to many as he is kind and charismatic, and also cosistent with himself and with others. Nonetheless, he has some flaws that make him human.

The show really teaches differents attitudes towards life and fellow individuals, how we can behave rightly or unethically under different conditions. How growing up expecting some things may be an error. How subyugating everything to stability or prosperity might be neccesary on some occasions and often a betrayal to oneself on the big picture. This might be one of the ... subtle but ever-present themes of the show.

Also, it's very interesting to see the internal guidelines and procedures of japanese corporations and its relations to politicians/bureaucrats, although these might be a part of the past now in Japan, it surely keeps replicating in other countries.

The animation feels a little weak these days, but the story and characters give it the quality necessary to consider it a great anime.

Btw, harem should be included in the genre.

Even though it takes a very serious tone towards political and corporate corruption, it throws an over the top, too-farfetched-to-believe character. A number of cringeworthy scenes 'trying' to show how desirable the main character is, problems and solutions that fall into place all too perfectly well, and 'coincidental' and 'fateful' encounters that magically work in favor for our righteous hero slash salaryman.

Yes, Kintaro is destined for greatness, loved by the heavens above, inevitably admired and cherished by everyone, even his enemies ... and the anime tries to ham it in every chance it gets.

Even with ... all that, it is still interesting to watch. I did watch it all within two days, I'm just saying, it has some big flaws, but we try to watch even the most ridiculous stuff with an open mind ... a very open mind.

EDIT: And to the people that say "if you like GTO, you'll like this", I'd say yes and no. Though they both have main characters that are notorious bike gang leaders but with straightforward and righteous attitudes, the charm in both is different. I also did mention this anime plays out a lot like a harem and a cheesy one at that.