The Yakuza's Bias Volume 1: Stan Culture X Criminal Underworld
Teki Yatsuda, the author of The Yakuza's Bias, has now had both of their works licensed in English within a single year. Considering there's only two however, there's almost more than a world of difference between the tragic and heart wrenching one shot A Home Far Away, and the incredibly humorous and over the top The Yakuza's Bias. Does that difference stop either from being outstanding reads? Absolutely not.
A Yakuza boss stanning a K-Pop idol isn't exactly the kind of thing you'd think of when "gag" or "comedy" manga comes to mind, but it's here, and I had no idea I needed it this bad. Yatsuda's character designs continue to be incredible, and their art remains impressively detailed and expressive in all the right ways. In this case, more than the subtle emotions and conflictions that plagued Yatsuda's last suite of characters, this time around it's all about conveying the crazy, and they nailed it.
Yatsuda's able to reconcile their very detailed and sharp character designs with smoother and more simple ones to sell the comedy, and I think it's something that should really be commended. Finding a way to preserve style through a lack of detail isn't easy, and they make it seem like it's effortless with the amount of variations they have throughout the first volume.
Similarly effortless is Yatsuda's merging of Yakuza and idol culture. Two extremes within the social sphere that, rather than clash, mesh hilariously well, and produce scenes like this one
And in truth, I think that effortless meshing of idol and Yakuza comes down to Yatsuda's approach. There's a clear lacking of a straight man through effectively all of its humor, so it's almost similar to something like D-Frag! in how it approaches comedy. Just so off the rails that you have nothing to compare it to, so it feels perfectly at home so long as it's funny.
And funny it is. The lead male character, Ken (the second in command of the clan he's a part of), has such a ridiculously fun personality. He's the kind of person that once he starts talking he can't shut up, and it produces some of the funniest skits and ideas you'll come across, like getting into a deep conversation about the idol group MNW with a hostess at a club that gets so emotional you end up buying a couple of bottles.
Past that, there's not really much else to say. It's incredibly hilarious, and continually finds ways to reinvent the wheel with its humor a la The Way of The HouseHusband, and it comfortably wades into the details and world of idol and stan culture. It provides all sorts of info and discussions surrounding this like merch swaps and social media cliques, and even stages several idol arguments in different capacities.
Comedy manga is definitely one of the hardest things to sell people on because of varying senses of humor, but I can't stress enough that people should be trying The Yakuza's Bias. K-Pop fans and Yakuza (parody) fans will certainly fall in love with this first volume, but even outside of those specifics, I think there's plenty for everyone to laugh at with this outlandish concept from Yatsuda. So, if you can, go out and buy this first volume, and if you can't, at least give it a shot online.
This week’s initial tentative super rough/literal translations under the cut.
1
体が動かない…‼︎
からだがうごかない…‼︎
karada ga ugokanai...!!
My body won't move...!!
tagline 1
「凝血」でAFO拘束‼︎
「ぎょうけつ」でオール・フォー・ワンこうそく‼︎
「gyouketsu」 de OORU FOO WAN kousoku!!
AFO restrained with Bloodcurdle!!
tagline 2
No.401 THE LUNATIC 堀越耕平
ナンバー401 ザルナティック ほりこしこうへい
NANBAA 401 ZA RUNATIKKU Horikoshi Kouhei
No. 401 THE LUNATIC Kouhei Horikoshi
2
火傷の男とインゲニウムの会話から状況を推察
やけどのおとことインゲニウムのかいわからじょうきょうをすいさつ
yakedo no otoko to INGENIUMU no kaiwa kara joukyou wo suisatsu
I inferred the situation from the conversation of the burnt guy and Ingenium.
3
戦場跡を辿り
せんじょうあとをたどり
senjou ato wo tadori
I followed the traces of the battlefield.
4
雨風を免れた血痕を採取
あめかぜをまぬがれたけっこんをさいしゅ
ame kaze wo manugareta kekkon wo saishu
I collected the blood stains that escape the rain and wind.
5
その血がAFOのものかオールマイトのものであるかは
そのちがオール・フォー・ワンのものかオールマイトのものであるかは
sono chi ga OORU FOO WAN no mono ga OORU MAITO no mono de aru ka wa
Whether that blood belongs to All For One or All Might...
1
削いで尚
そいでなお
soide nao
Then slice it off.
2
血風嗅ぎ穿つこの鼻が
けっぷうかぎうがつこのはなが
keppuu kagi ugatsu kono hana ga
This nose that sniffs the scent of blood
3
うーん違う
うーんちがう
uun chigau
"Hmm, wrong one."
4
報せてくれる‼︎
しらせてくれる‼︎
shirasete kureru!!
will let me know!!
5
オールマイトああ
OORU MAITO aa
All Might, ah.
6
オールマイトおまえなら判るだろう⁉︎
オールマイトおまえならわかるだろう⁉︎
OORU MAITO omae nara wakaru darou!?
All Might, you [of all people] understand, right!?
7-8
俺が敢えてこの躯を曝け出した意味!
おれがあえてこのからだをさらけだしたいみ!
ore ga aete kono karada (kanji: mukuro) wo sarakedashita imi!
The meaning behind why I dared to expose this body*!
(*Note: This kanji for "body" can also mean "corpse.")
9
英雄の心は他が為にのみ存在を許される…
えいゆうのこころはたがためにのみそんざいをゆるされる…
eiyuu no kokoro wa ta ga tame ni nomi sonzai wo yurusareru...
(Literal translation) A hero's heart is only allowed to exist for the sake of others...
(Official translation) A hero can only claim that title as long as his soul burns fiercely in service of others...
10
…だが神が地に伏せ人のか弱き心をも得たのなら
…だがかみがちにふせひとのかよわきこころをもえたのなら
...da ga kami ga chi ni fuse hito no ka yowaki kokoro wo mo eta no nara
(Literal translation ) ...but if a god is a person fallen face down on the ground and has his even his heart turn weak...
(Official translation) ...however, say a god has fallen prostrate upon the earth and his divine soul has turned feeble and mortal...
11
自らの生を踠くことすら許されよう!
みずからのせいをもがくことすらゆるされよう!
mizukara no sei wo mogaku koto sura yurusareyou!
They should also be allowed to struggle for their own lives!
1
判ってるさ
わかってるさ
wakatteru sa
"I understand,"
2
ステイン‼︎
SUTEIN!!
"Stain!!"
3-4
この"ヒーロー40名殺傷犯"を終わらせに来い
この"ステイン"をおわらせにこい
kono "SUTEIN (kanji: HIIROO 40-mei sasshou-han)" wo owarase ni koi
(Literal translation) Then come and end Stain, this criminal who murdered 40 heroes.
(Official translation) Then come for the life of Stain--the man who murdered 40 heroes.
5
「俺が
「おまえは
「omae wa (kanji: ore ga)
You (read as: I)
6
来た」‼︎
生きねば」‼︎
ikineba (kanji: kita)」‼︎
have to live (read as: am here)!!
5
君が何かして来る事は予想できてた!
きみがなにかしてくることはよそうできてた!
kimi ga nani ka shite kuru koto wa yosou dekiteta!
"I was able to predict that you would come and do something!"
6
だから事前に仕込んでいたさ
だからじぜんにしこんでいたさ
dakara jizen ni shikonde ita sa
"So I prepared in advance."
1
タルタロスから唯一人
タルタロスからただひとり
TARUTAROSU kara tada hitori
"Because you were the only one from Tartarus"
2
僕を拒絶し逃げ果せたあの日から!
ぼくをきょぜつしにげおおせたあのひから!
boku wo kyozetsu shi nige ooseta ano hi kara!
"who rejected me and managed to escape that day!"
3
捨てたところで血は同
すてたところでちはおな
suteta tokoro de chi wa ona--
"Even if you threw it away, your blood is the same--"
6
血を書き換えたんだよ!
ちをかきかえたんだよ!
chi wo kakikaetanda yo!
"I rewrote my blood!"
7
痕跡を残さないのが長く君臨する秘訣だ
こんせきをのこさないのがながくくんりんするひけつだ
konseki wo nokosanai no ga nagaku kunrin suru hiketsu da
"The secret to a long reign is to leave no trace."
1
血を抜いたおかげで目が覚めてきた
ちをぬいたおかげでめがさめてきた
chi wo nuita okage de me ga samete kita
"Thanks to the blood I drew out, I've woken up."
2
ステイン‼︎
SUTEIN!!
"Stain!!"
1
ゼェッ
ZE
"[wheeze]"
2
ゼェ
ZE
"[wheeze]"
3-4
ステイン‼︎
SUTEIN!!
"Stain!!"
1
「凝血」をいただこう
「ぎょうけつ」をいただこう
「gyouketsu」 wo ita da kou
"Let me have Bloodcurdle."
1
思えば君は連合…延いては弔の成長に大きく貢献してくれた
おもえばきみはれんごう…ひいてはとむらのせいちょうにおおきくこうけんしてくれた
omoeba kimi wa rengou...hiite wa Tomura no seichou ni ookiku kouken shite kureta
"If I think about it, the League...you contributed greatly to it and, by extension, to Tomura's growth."
2
あれで役目は終わってるんだよ殺人犯
あれでやくめはおわってるんだよさつじんはん
are de yakume wa owatterunda yo satsujin-han
"With that, your role is finished, murderer."
3
AFO‼︎
オール・フォー・ワン‼︎
OORU FOO WAN!!
"All For One!!"
4
終わらんさ
おわらんさ
owaran sa
"It won't end."
5
ハァ
HAA
"Haah"
6
全ては…過程だ魔王…
すべては…かていだまおう…
subete wa...katei da maou...
"All of this...is a process, Demon King..."
7
高等教育など受けずとも
こうとうきょういくなどうけずとも
koutou kyouiku nado ukezu tomo
Even though I never received anything like a high school education,
8
英雄が何たるかは全部おまえが教えてくれた
えいゆうがなんたるかはぜんぶおまえがおしえてくれた
eiyuu ga nantaru ka wa zenbu omae ga oshiete kureta
you taught me everything about what a hero is.
9
生きて勝て
いきてかて
ikite kate
Live and win.
1
俺の全てーーーーー……
マイ・オールーーーーー……
MAI OORU (kanji: ore no subete)-----......
My all-----......
1
エルクレス⁉︎もう壊れた筈じゃ
エルクレス⁉︎もうこわれたはずじゃ
ERUKURESU!? mou kowareta hazu ja
"Hercules!? You should have been broken already."
2
最後ノシールドデス
さいごノシールドデス
saigo NO SHIIRUDO DESU
"This is my last shield."
1
生キテ
イキテ
IKITE
"Live-"
2
俊典
としのり
Toshinori
Toshinori,
3
がんばれ
ganbare
keep at it.
1
俊典‼︎
としのり‼︎
Toshinori!!
Toshinori!!
2
まだ紡がれてるぞ!
まだつむがれてるぞ!
mada tsumugareteru zo!
[This tale] is still being spun!
3
がんばれ
ganbare
Do your best,
4
俊典
としの
Toshinori
Toshinori.
5
お師匠…
おししょう…
oshishou...
Master...
6
…これは幻覚だ
…これはげんかくだ
...kore wa genkaku da
...this is a hallucination.
7
私が私を励ましているんだ…
わたしがわたしをはげましているんだ…
watashi ga watashi wo hagemashite irunda...
It's because I'm encouraging myself.
8
与えられてきた全ても脚も
サポートアイテムもあしも
SAPOOTO AITEMU (kanji: ataerarete kita subete) mo ashi mo
My support items (read as: everything that was given to me) and my legs,
9
もう使えない
もうつかえない
mou tsukaenai
I can no longer use them.
10
もう戦えないよ
もうたたかえないよ
mou tatakaenai yo
I can't fight anymore.
1
でも
demo
But...
2
まだ死んでない
まだしんでない
mada shindenai
I'm not dead yet.
3
来いや
こいや
koi ya
So come!
1
AFO‼︎死柄木弔に接近‼︎
オール・フォー・ワン‼︎しがらきとむらにせっきん‼︎
OORU FOO WAN!! Shigaraki Tomura ni sekkin!!
"All For One!! He's approaching Tomura Shigaraki!!"
2
泥ワープ圏内に入ってます‼︎
どろワープけんないにはいってます‼︎
doro WAAPU kennai ni haittemasu!!
"He's within range for a mud warp!!"
tagline
絶望がもう [cut off]
ぜつぼうがもう [cut off]
zetsubou ga mou [cut off]
Despair is already [cut off]
While we’ve shown lil-Sev some foods and stuffs, he bathed in *Tonkotsu* Ramen. BTW Ramen would be one of the most unconnected/ alien foods, absolutely far from Severus Snape anyway. What do you think?
なんかぬるっとだらっと過ごしていたら17時だったびっくり……いつもありがとうございます💕
I was not sure but we met around 1 pm and after a few of blinks, we suddenly found it was 5 pm. Time flies when we’re together, indeed.
チョコは好きかい
I believe lil-sev rather like chocolate, doesn’t he?
Ken Kanashiro is a hard boiled man. He is a yakuza enforcer and someone a lot of underlings look up to. How did this man happen to get into K Pop you wonder?
All thanks to his Boss' daughter Megumi who one day got two front row tickets to MNW's concert and decides to take him along. As it is the custom from established fan to a new comer, Megumi teaches him the way of fandom life and more about the group. Ken is deeply moved by the trials the MNW members faced and is especially drawn to the member Jun. Here on starts his journey into the fandom!
As someone who has roped an unsuspecting person into a fandom and was also roped into one by a friend, I could quite relate to both Megumi and Ken. It was funny, light hearted and at places very moving. Ken Kanashiro experiencing fandom firsts was a very adorable sight to behold. Man is so hardcore that he gets into fanfiction! It is comedy and it is so much fun to read this manga! I can't wait for more!
2
いかん「土流」が止められたら決壊する‼︎
いかん「どりゅう」がとめられたらけっかいする‼︎
ikan 「doryuu」 ga tomeraretara kekkai suru!!
“Oh no, if Earth Flow is stopped, it’ll collaspe!!”
3
柔っ…‼︎
ヤワラっ…‼︎
YAWARA...!!
“Soften...!!”
4
哀れな行進
サッドマンズデスパレード
SADDO MANZU DESU PAREEDO
Sad Man’s Death Parade
5
ぐぅう
guuu
“Guugh!”
6
トガは"トゥワイスに変身したトガ"を増やしている
トガは"トゥワイスにへんしんしたじぶん"をふやしている
TOGA wa “TUWAISU ni henshin shita jibun (kanji: TOGA)” wo fuyashite iru
Toga is increasing the number of Togas-transformed-into-Twice.
7
トガの"個性"「変身」には血液摂取量による時間制限があるが
トガの"こせい"「へんしん」にはけつえきぜっしゅりょうによるじかんせいげんがあるが
TOGA no “kosei” 「henshin」 ni wa ketsueki zesshuryou ni yoru jikan seigen ga aru ga
Toga’s quirk Transform has a time limit based on blood intake, but
8
ヒーロー側に血液保有量を推測する判断材料は無いそして知ろうが知るまいが
ヒーローがわにけつえきほゆうりょうをすいそくするはんだんざいりょうはないそしてしろうがしるまいが
HIIROO gawa ni kestueki hoyuuryou wo suisoku suru handan zairyou wa nai soshite shirou ga shiru mai ga
the hero side has no basis to judge her blood intake. Then, whether or not they know that,
1
一度決壊してしまえば
いちどけっかいしてしまえば
ichido kekkai shite shimaeba
if they break down just once,
2-3
圧倒的物量に周辺一帯の侵蝕にさして時間は掛からない
あっとうてきぶつりょうにしゅうへんいったいのしんしょくにさしてじかんはかからない
attouteki butsuryou ni shouhen ittai no shinshoku ni sashite jikan wa kakaranai
it doesn’t take much time for the surrounding area to be eroded by [Toga’s] overwhelming numbers.
2
燈矢くん…どうなったの
とうやくん…どうなったの
Touya-kun...dou natta no
Touya-kun...what happened?
3
死んでしまったの?
しんでしまったの?
shinde shimatta no?
Did you go and die?
4-5
またいなくなってしまうの
mata inakunatte shimau no
Are you gone again?
1
待って…!
まって…!
matte...!
“Wait...!”
2
ゼロ・グラビティスペースウォーク!
ZERO GURABITI SUPEESU WOOKU!
Zero Gravity Space Walk!
1
去年の夏からの短い付き合いだけど
きょねんのなつからのみじかいつきあいだけど
kyonen no natsu kara no mijikai tsukiai dakedo
“Our acquaintance from summer last year was short, but”
2
私けっこう考え変わったよ!
わたしけっこうかんがえかわったよ!
watashi kekkou kangae kawatta yo!
“I’ve changed my mind considerably!”
3
遅いって言ったでしょ
おそいっていったでしょ
osoi tte itta desho
“Didn’t I tell you it’s [too] late?”
4
遅くてごめん!
おそくてごめん!
osokute gomen!
“Sorry for being late!”
5
でも…見つけられた!
でも…みつけられた!
demo...mitsukerareta!
“But...I was able to find you!”
6
…うるさい
...urusai
“...shut up.”
7
あなたは泣いてたきっとーーー
あなたはないてたきっとーーー
anata wa naiteta kitto---
“The reason you were crying was surely because---”
8
トゥワイスに出来る事が出来なくて
トゥワイスにできることができなくて
TUWAISU ni dekiru koto ga dekinakute
“you can’t do what the things Twice can, and”
9
なり 切れなくて…‼︎
なり きれなくて…‼︎
nari kirenakute...!!
“you can’t become him completely...!!”
1
ヒミコちゃんの"好き"が死柄木たちには当てはまらなくて使えないのかも
ヒミコちゃんの"すき"がしがらきたちにはあてはまらなくてつかえないのかも
HIMIKO-chan no “suki” ga Shigaraki-tachi ni wa atehamaranakute tsukaenai no kamo
Maybe Himiko-chan’s ‘love’ cannot be applied to Shigaraki and the others, and so she can’t use [their quirks].
2
梅雨ちゃんはああ推測してたけど
つゆちゃんはああすいそくしてたけど
Tsuyu-chan wa aa suisoku shiteta kedo
Tsuyu-chan guessed that, but
3
ヒーローは
HIIROO ha
Annihilate...
4
トガの涙を見て
トガのなみだをみて
TOGA no namida wo mite
When I saw Toga’s tears,
5
わかった気がする
わかったきがする
wakatta ki ga suru
I got the feeling that I understood.
6
殲滅する
せんめつする
senmetsu suru
...the heroes
7
殺意が混ざって
さついがまざって
satsui ga mazatte
“You mixed in your murderous intent,”
8
今は純粋な"好き"だけじゃない
いまはじゅんすいな"すき"だけじゃない
ima wa junsui na “suki” dake ja nai
“so now it’s not just your pure ‘love’.”
(Note: This “love’ is still just the vague suki word that means an object of affection, like or love.)