"Don't forget the Ainu"
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"Don't forget the Ainu"

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Golden Kamuy - Kikuta deserved better - 273-276
As I catch up on things, Iām gonna hit the highlights that really stuck with me.Ā Ogata is able to escape from Vasily using the tactics he observed from the showdown in Barato with Hijikata cutting through random row houses.Ā Heās seriously gotten into Vasilyās head as he hesitated to snipe aggressively after killing the wrong guy with Ogataās cloak.
The only worthwhile thing from this continued and seriously a no longer interesting plot point, is getting to see Ogata wiggle under a fence like a cat.
So, I approve of this at least.Ā My own cat scores this as an 8/10 in cat wiggling.Ā Minus 2 points for not enough emotion from Ogataās face.
Thankfully, Asirpa was able to escape with Sofia after Tsukishima gunned down Ariko.Ā It seemed to me that Koito froze/hesitated during that situation.Ā Tsukishima had no problem brutally shooting Ariko at point blank while Koito literally just hung back and watched.Ā
Asirpa is in a state of extreme shock. She just interrogated by Tsurumi to give up the code, watched Ariko be shot and now sees Boutarouās corpse in the bottle-mobile.Ā Our girl needs years of therapy - sheās reaching the same level as our male cast members at this rate.
At least she breaks down in tears as Sugimoto tries to console her.Ā The artwork for this part of the page is excellent, it really does capture the melting of her mind and how sheās realizing how deadly the gold is.
It ties directly back to her argument with Kikuta before all this shit went down.Ā Iām always giving Sugimoto crap for being a moron, but it seems that he did make the right action by reaching out to allow her to hug his arm.Ā There is that soft look as he gazes down at her and just lets her be emotional.Ā It is clear that his presence is a comfort to her as she takes her time before returning to a more lucid mental state.Ā This is shown by how she opens her eyes and looks up before declaring that they need to meet up with Hijikata since sheās figured out how to crack the code.
Meanwhile, Kikuta rushed Ariko to a clinic to save his life.Ā Being the father figure/older brother he is, he tells him that it isnāt his time to die; he never made that makiri yet! And to my relief, Ariko wakes up!Ā Noda didnāt go for the lazy writing of killing of the minor Ainu character, something I was afraid of.
If his father saved him, it means his makiri was where he was shot in the chest under his uniform.Ā There is a lovely transition about a makiri in a fictional museum that was made by him, implying that he returned home and did make the makiri and likely resolved some of his identity issues, though it was still likely a tough life for him.Ā Ariko apologies for not being able to work as a spy for Central and really it isnāt like heād be able to do so anyways.Ā But he did verbally point out heās now politically on the side of someone like Asirpa to fight for their culture and right to exist in spite of colonial powers. The middle panel of Kikuta bidding him farewell just gives me the feels.Ā It is so clear that Kikuta knows heās toast.Ā He saw Tsukishima shoot Ariko and Tsukishima likely watched him as he tried to save the man.
The fact that he said a casual line about going to an onsen.Ā Ugh, death flag for sure right there.Ā It seems Ariko knows that as he looks forlorn.Ā Kikuta is that sort of suave man who is going to look cool even though heās doomed; heās that awesome.
The action returns to Tsurumi at the church having solved the code.Ā With Tsukishima gone off to try to kill Ariko, Koito has remained behind.Ā All of a sudden Koito reverts to his extreme Satsuma accent when addressing Tsurumi in the absence of Tsukishima.Ā I think he didnāt even realize it at first, just like how after they escaped the fight with Boutarou, Koito spoke normally to Tsurumi without realizing it.
It is clear it took him a moment to realize he was speaking āKoitoā as Tsurumi is unable to respond to him and he then panics.Ā Koito is more than willing to chase after Tsukishima and support him, but Tsurumi instead recalls him.
At first he consoles himself that everything is okay.Ā
He is trying very hard to convince himself that everything that they witnessed through the keyhole was all an act to get the key!Ā Yes, it isnāt that Tsurumi doesnāt have some sort of awesome goal and this isnāt about how the death of his wife and daughter left him unhinged!
But the other random members of the 27th then comment on how strongly Nikaido reeks of beer . . . and Koito then thinks about how he and Tsukishima were hiding in the room at the church when Tsurumi ācheckedā that he was alone.Ā And then it hits him - they were also played as a part of the āTsurumi theatreā.Ā Unlike Tsukishima who has whole-heartily given himself over to Tsurumi, it is clear that Koito canāt.
That monologue sounded too good to be true.Ā He weakly says Tsukishimaās name into the rain as he then thinks āNo . . .āĀ The rain is really fitting in this scene, I think it really is a stand in for Koitoās own disappointment and tears in this entire crazy quest for the gold.Ā Is he worried about his āolderā brother figure?Ā Himself?Ā Both of them?
He continues to try to rationalize the performance that Tsurumi gave them - even if Tsurumi lied to them, it wasnāt all a lie.Ā Oh Koito.Ā I want to give you a hug and pull you away as your little bon-bon-ness has won me over.Ā Most of that speech wasnāt for Koito, it was for Tsukishima.Ā Speaking about helping Japan is what Koito would like to hear but we can tell he doubts that as well.Ā Hence, his waffling.
But then he realizes that as Tsukishima has given so much - all of Tsurumiās words, even if they were āsweet liesā as he he referred to them on Karafuto, it was just perfect for Tsukishima.Ā However, Koito has broken the spell that Tsurumi held over him.Ā The final page of the chapter of Koito looking at the illuminated Tsurumi and shutting the door on him.Ā It is the exact opposite of when Tsurumi rescued Koito from the kidnappers when in his youth. I now find myself wondering how this relates to the tiger curse.Ā It is clear that the curse for Tsukishima will not end well.Ā After he shot Ariko, his eyes regained their sparkle!Ā Not good, not good at all!Ā However, have I misinterpreted it for Koito that by becoming disillusioned with Tsurumi he will be cursed to be miserable through him gaining independence from his hero worship of Tsurumi?Ā The idea that ignorance is bliss, and now Koito is well in the know.Ā The fact that when he and Tsukishima were sort of on the same page was when he could speak to Tsurumi but now that heās on a different path from Tsukishima heās tripped up again.
Chapter 274 finally allows Asirpa to determine the fake skins after what she witnessed with Boutarou in the brewery and thinking about Ainu garments that she figured out that Edogai likely went above and beyond with his fakes.Ā Thanks money counterfeiting guy from the fake Ainu village for the inspiration.Ā It is a lot of pages that tie together other plot points nicely but really doesnāt do anything for me as a reader personally.
The most important point is that as Sugimoto falls asleep while Asirpa and Hijikata work with the skins is that we get another flashback - one that links him to Kikuta!
and even more importantly - Hanazawa Yuusaku!Ā Chapter 275 starts out with an homage to the classic movie āSinging in the Rainā.Ā As soon as I saw Sugimoto spinning on a lamp post, it was obvious.Ā Yes, small town boy in the big city - causing trouble.Ā He gets in some sort of brawl with random guys from the army and is ārescuedā by Kikuta, who immediately realizes that heās hungry and decides to treat him to some lunch.
It shows that Sugimoto has a short fuse and is an impulsive youngster.Ā Really, he is lucky that he didnāt do more stupid shit to get him in trouble.Ā We can also clearly see that Kikuta is a member of the 1st Division, the Tokyo based one that Sugimoto eventually enlists with.
Kikuta decides that he wants Sugimoto to impersonate Hanazawa Yuusaku and to go on a marriage interview for him.Ā This is because Hanazawa Hiro, the now identified wife of Hanazawa, is pulling the strings in the background to prevent Yuusaku from becoming a flag bearer.
This then makes us wonder why these two parents have such contrasting expectations for their only son.Ā It makes me think back to my theory that Yuusaku was a pretty poor solider and lacked any skill or potential.Ā Long ago, Tsurumi told Nikaido that Ogata is the ātrue heirā of Hanazawa inheriting his military and [some] leadership skills as he stood on the watch tower in Barato ordering the random gangsters how to fight effectively.Ā Yuusaku is a disappointment for Hanazawa - he can only save face by having his son become such a symbolic part of the army.
I laughed at the next page where Kikuta confirms that Hiro is colluding with the young heiress to steal Yuusakuās virginity and thus preventing him from becoming a flag bearer.Ā I love the posture of the terrified Yuusaku!
However, Hiroās plan has been found out by Hanazawa and he consulted with the leader of the 1st Division to assist him with resolving this unpatriotic and embarrassing issue.Ā Recall that Ogata was born as a result of Hanazawa being posted to Tokyo - this implies that he likely became good friends with the leader of the 1st Division during this time.
To prevent anyone from identifying Sugimoto, heās the perfect substitute for Yuusaku and changes into Kikutaās uniform.Ā Heās one of those guys who just has that look.Ā Sugimoto immediately thinks that since heās been treated well by Kikuta, joining the military might be a good way to find security - in food.Ā However, we get a link of the cap to Kikuta and what appears to be his dying younger brother.
Kikuta looks so sad, like there is something unfortunate with Sugimotoās statement of food.Ā We donāt get to see his expression, indicating heās likely hiding his emotions from Sugimoto and instead tells Sugimoto heās going to have to train him in food etiquette.
Heās presented with some Western cuisine, something that may blow his cover and something that Kikuta didnāt expect as he watches from a tree outside.Ā But again, due to his extreme luck, heās able to use nervousness as an excuse and it gives him time to state his family his super traditional so they wouldnāt have eaten food like this.Ā When heās removed the cap, Kaneko Kaeko is smitten with his handsome face. He can use his excuse as a way to have an out for not knowing how to eat that tasty ebi fry (why to I hear āebi fryā in Nyanko-senseiās voice?).
As she explains the fancy places sheās dined at, Sugimoto thinks about how he was living off of cat food.Ā Cue another reason why he just hates on Ogata, since he was stealing food from Ogataās people!Ā
The rest of the dinner goes well, and Kikuta checks in with him.Ā Meanwhile, our wealthy heiress is completely smitten with him!
As Sugimoto mulls over the idea of a somewhat arranged marriage as a negative he spills the beans about Toraji and Umeko.Ā And Kikuta isnāt having any of his bullshit.Ā I love how Kikuta points out how selfish and downright stupid Sugimoto is being in all of this.Ā Kikuta gives Sugimoto good advice - which heās clearly still never followed.
He makes it clear that heās got to give up on that hometown and move on.Ā Which will be completely ignored as Toraji will end up in the 1st Division with Sugimoto in the trenches.Ā Iām now wondering how Toraji and Sugimoto reconnected.Ā Hrrrmmmmm?Ā Is this something that Sugimoto encouraged and thatās why he has all of these unresolved emotions about Torajiās death in the war?
The chapter reveals to us that Tsukishimaās love ended up marrying the cousin of Kaeko, making Tsukishimaās acceptance of her ādeathā even more heartbreaking as he thought that Tsurumi had lied to him about her fate.Ā [weeps bitterly].Ā
As Kikuta and Sugimoto discuss what appears to be Yuusakuās lack of a free will, heās told not to meddle in others concerns.Ā What does Sugimoto do? The man just canāt keep to himself and he goes and finds Yuusaku to confront him.Ā He wants to know if Yuusaku wants to be a flag bearer even though it is a death sentence.Ā How does that conversation go? Just how weād expect with all of the information we know about Yuusaku.
I love how heās like it isnāt to meet my fatherās expectations!Ā It is because understand my fatherās convictions and fight for my country.Ā Okay, you keep telling yourself that Yuusaku, but it still sounds like you are doing this for your father, you know tomay-to, tomah-to.Ā Sugimoto mulls over what Yuusaku would choose if given the choice.Ā I just sigh as we know enough about Yuusakuās backstory that the man only does what his father says - with great conviction. All of our Ogata flashbacks have made this so clear, Yuusaku is a doomed man from the moment he entered the army.Ā Maybe even a doomed man from his birth even.Ā Perhaps, heās acutely aware of this, but based on how freakkinā awkward heās with Ogata and his older brother actions, I continue to think heās not the brightest bulb in the pack and can only be used as a patriotic pawn.
Yuusaku then becomes suspicious of Sugimotoās line of inquiry and realizes that heās got Kikutaās cap.
Not sure how to respond, he runs away and we learn that Kikutaās younger brother died of illness during the first Sino-Japanese war.Ā Ā That same war that killed Koitoās older brother and that Tsurumi and Tsukishima fought in as well. With the statement of illness, I know what most likely killed Kikutaās younger brother - malnutrition - specifically beri beri.Ā As the Japanese military rapidly modernized using European models, they ran into an issue with many soldiers and sailors dying of some sort of mysterious illness and it wasnāt something that impacted the Westerners at all.Ā Most of this has to do with the ability to eat white rice which was much more processed.Ā It made it more expensive, but was nutritionally bad for men who came from lower incomes or poverty.Ā Remember how stoked Asirpa was when she ate white rice all the way back at the herring fishery?Ā If anyone has read āHouse of Five Leavesā by Natsume Ono, youād know the protagonist is a poor ronin and he falls ill due to beri beri.Ā The solution was to return to the countryside/hometown to eat a more diverse diet.Ā For a more detailed explanation of how bad this was for the Japanese military check out the video by Linfamy on youtube here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzIBpFDRr5g
The video even highlights the fierce (and counterproductive) competition between the Army and Navy which has already been well defined through Koitoās backstory. The chapter ends with Sugimoto dropping the cap and the polite man who picks it up for him is Tsurumi with Ogata, Usami and Tsukishima in Tokyo. The plot thickens . . . somehow Sugimoto got mixed up in the business of the 27th and apparently Tokyo isnāt a vast city that you can get lost in and everyone knows everyone.Ā Like how I was on flight to Saskatoon and the man next to me started up a conversation how he was from Burlington and went to Guelph and my friend who I was going to visit was also from Burlington and went to Guelph it is a small world kinda moment and in agriculture.Ā I digress though.Ā Things are starting to pull back together but Iām still not 100% on with this plot direction/story arc.




