Ikigami: The Ultimate Limit, Vol. 9 (9) Paperback – August 20, 2013

Like all previous volumes of “IKIGAMI – THE ULTIMATE LIMIT”, each storyline has been wonderful, intriguing, shocking, emotional and sad.Volume 9 continues the trend of the previous volumes but this time around, instead of how a person values their final day of life or how they lived their final day of life, this volume shows us how two people respond to the ikigami but show their defiance towards the National Welfare Immunization act and want it stopped!In the first storyline, we see a woman who receives an ikigami, wanting to get through the mothers and parents of the children, begging that they do not let their children receive the immunization, while the doctor who has been responsible for injecting many children, sees a piece of himself die as children turned teenagers or young adults die many years later from the immunization shot that he gave.He knows its his job but yet it’s hard for him to know that these young children that he had taken care of as their physician, one or some of them will die due to the immunization act.The ninth volume also introduces us to more of Fujimoto’s psyche as his job has him being followed for some reason but the emotional toll its taking on Fujimoto. But also a possible war that people are concerned about. While I hope the war is not a major part of the storyline (as it was just introduced in this volume), I am wondering how Motoro Mase will eventually end “IKIGAMI – THE ULTIMATE LIMIT” with one more volume left.As in previous volumes, I really enjoyed the artwork of Motoro Mase. He has a unique style when it comes to chracter design but also enjoy his experimentation on certain panels for his artwork. But he is able to convey various emotions, especially sadness, anger and despair when people receive their ikigami.Overall, “IKIGAMI – THE ULTIMATE LIMIT” is recommended for manga fans who want a darker storyline. A storyline that doesn’t deal with any special powers or anything adventurous. It’s a manga series that shows us how people in an alternate Japan are living with a policy in which people randomly die in order to keep the peace in a country and forcing an individual to take life more seriously and become socially productive.Volume 9 features two heartbreaking stories of an alternate Japan in which the government randomly has young people dying for the sake of preserving the peace. But this time around, we see one’s defiance towards the National Welfare Immunization Act. Also, seeing Fujimoto’s life changing as the emotional toll is getting the best of him but why does the government agency he works for, is having him followed? Find out in the ninth volume of “IKIGAMI – THE ULTIMATE LIMIT”! Recommended!