Title: The First President of Japan Volume(s): 4 Creator(s): Tsugihara Ryuji/Hidaka Yoshiki Format: Unflipped; Right-to-Left Publisher: Gutsoon MSRP: $9.95 Genre(s): Drama Rated: Teen (13+)

CONSUMER ADVICE

Parents probably won't have to worry about kids reading "The First President of Japan, for the simple fact that this series is just FAR too mature for most kids to handle! Will kids under the age of 15 even have the slightest interest in a series explains how a foreign political system would work/does work? I don't think so. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there is some bad language and images of war and terror, though for what it's worth the main character is a shinning role model for kids and everyone else.

Ever wonder how a Japanese government would work is Japan elected their very own president? Well whether you've ever wondered that or not, “The First President of Japan” makes an attempt to answer that question. The story goes that Japan wants to be dependant on its own again, without needing the aid of the USA and other countries. The economy is up, Japan's technology is on par with the rest of the world, and all they need now is a president to run the country. Someone who is smart, knowledgeable, brave, and honorable. Who they get is Sakuragi Kenichirio, who is smart, knowledgeable, brave, honorable, and good looking (I guess that's never a bad thing right). However Sakuragi's timing couldn't have been worse, as just around the corner a sleeping giant is about to wake up, and every possible thing that can go wrong will. Can Sakuragi fend off an upcoming war, the possible collapse of the economy, give courage to those who have none, and bring the whole world peace without screwing up once? The answer to that question should be obvious.

For those of you who ARE curious as to what a Japanese government would be like I'll tell you right now: A Japanese government would work about the same way the American government does! In other words there's lots of pressure to make the right choices and not screw up, the media always reports the wrong things to everyone (Or at worst makes situations seem worse then they really are), and Sakuragi makes some REALLY stupid choices that turn out to be VERY good choices at the most convenient times! Okay folks, sarcasm out of the way “The First President of Japan” really isn't a bad story, it's actually pretty good, it's just there are these little nitpicks that just add up to create big headaches that will nitpick people. I mean, I'm all up for having a strong president in Japan, but why does this guy have to be so dang perfect all the time, and say exactly the right thing all the time? Sakuragi's a really nice guy, but he just feels so...artificial.

Sakuragi may have many different emotions and what not, but there's just something so unrealistic about the way he handles things. He takes care of the entire world like he was playing a video game he beat one too many times. And when I say that I mean he knows where to shoot, where to duck, and he basically knows how to get a perfect score in this game...and he ends up doubling the perfect score. Situations where Sakuragi fires the entire government board (Including the good members) to replace them with presidents who are owners of computer companies and whatnot not only seem unrealistic, but things like this practically scream stupid. Yet somehow these new people know exactly what to do, they do their job perfectly, and Sakuragi is proven great once again...did I mention this whole situation is happening WHILE the economy is going down the crapper, while America has cut off all ties with Japan, AND while Japan is making their first nuclear weapons!?!

Yeah, seems too good to be true huh? Now there are some GOOD things about this book! The artwork is very good and realistic, and even though I have a problem with the way the story is actually told, it does offer many moments of interesting and intense moments! We have the political members who is pushing for a war if it will make them look good and make Sakuragi look bad, and the authors used their knowledge of history to make a story that does feel very real and true at times. And the story has so much going on, has so many new twists, that no summery I write can make you understand what this is REALLY about, or what really happens in this book (Which is why I didn't try)! It's a shame that the whole thing is brought down by such an artificial character. In the end I'm going to give “The First President of Japan” a B- since there really isn't anything else like this out there, and if your into the military or politics chances are you'll love this as they really do speak your language.

This series attempts to tell a very unlikely story, and the whole thing would have been great had the main character not have been so fake...but I've heard some people say they liked Sakuragi, so your opinion of him may differ from my opinion of him. I think “The First President of Japan” is an interesting story, just not a great one, but it is worth checking out because at the end of the day there's no comic like this, and that in itself makes this title worth trying out, however midly so.

- -Review By Kevin T. Rodriguez- -