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 cannot think of a single character that was wasted or underdeveloped, especially from the main cast. Each character feels real and human. This is because the author invites you to understand their very human motivations.
Why go after the gold? Why fight, kill, and risk your life for a shiny rock?
Some characters simply want to be rich, others pursue the gold for their national ambitions, some characters are simply loyal to their friends, commanders, or lovers...
The story then, rather than a clash of ideology, is a simple human struggle. Each character has a dream, however absurd, impossible, or naïve that dream is, they each try to grasp it, if only for a fleeting moment. In doing so, they inevitably conflict with other's dreams and hopes. Yet they press on towards, in what seems like an inevitability in human existence, conflict and violence.
At its core, Golden Kamuy asks:
What motivates a person?
As for its answer, it imparted unto me a reminder of the individual struggle every single one of us goes through and the almost ubiquitous characteristic humans share. The capacity of love; love for home, for friends, for family. From this emotion, we draw the capacity to accomplish great and terrible things.
We are all searching for that thing, the gold that will bring us and those around us happiness. But perhaps what is most valuable, more valuable than a shiny rock, are those whom we cherish and are cherished by.
Great art, an engaging story, beautifully written characters, and life lessons to boot.
What more can I ask from a story?
