Co-operation, Domination and some History

By Nicole

Personally, I don’t know how Round 4 will turn out. It seems like anyone’s game now (but I believe that’s the magic of the manga artist)! However, it seems that there are some metaphors and thoughts we can draw from all the rounds so far.

In Round 4, it looks like it is a completely new game, but really, I believe that this round is a culmination of events that has occurred so far.

In this manga, we notice a pattern emerging. The idea of “voting” or a so-called democracy is invoked several times in the Liar Game manga.

Basically, the ideas of “Co-operation” and “Domination”.

Roots of A 2

Unofficial Title: Return of Happy Akiyama.

A very short summary:

It’s July 5 years before the Liar Game. Akiyama is 22 years old and a senior at Teito University. Akiyama happens to be in Professor Okabe’s office when another professor comes in with a problem. Someone has broken into his locked desk drawer, and wants Okabe to help determine who did it. However, the prime suspect happens to be a classmate of Akiyama’s from high-school, Aratani.

I haven’t done the dictionary work yet, but it appears to be the story of how Akiyama learned that doubting others is not bad.

You can download the RAW (originally uploaded by Raw Paradise) here.

Happy Cover Art

Yes, I know you really can’t guarantee anything from cover/color art normally from this manga. Up to and including what Akiyama’s ‘real’ hair color is and what Nao’s ‘real’ eyecolor is (seriously, color art shows it as either being blue or brown).

That said, Kaitani is definitely using his cover art to pander to the keen-eyed supporters of the Akiyama x Nao pairing. Especially since it would be difficult to do so within the story itself without derailing the plot.

Why I Love Akiyama x Nao

A Very Happy Valentines Day to Everyone! If you believe in that sort of thing, that is.  At any rate, it’s a great excuse for moah AkiyamaxNao lurve!! ^__^ <3

Disclaimer:  Very informal and almost rant-ish

Just something I noticed in the past chapters.

I must say, for all the criticisms of Kaitani’s art (and I do have a couple), one thing that he tends to get down stat are facial expressions, particularly in the later chapters. Not the overly exaggerated panicked ones the characters get when they’ve just been had, but some of the more subtle ones. Particularly in 97 and 98.

Akiyama working for the LGT?

More random pet peeving, than analysis.

It seems like there’s a few people (on MangaFox) who think that a good plot twist for Liar Game would be if Akiyama was discovered to be working with the LGT folks, or if he ended up being the mastermind behind the LGT.

Certainly there would be some drama to it. It would be interesting. But personally, that sort of plot twist wouldn’t work either on a story level or on a character level.

Character Development: Akiyama

Akiyama is changing, and it’s really kind of awesome.

Awesome because Akiyama’s the type of character who is smart enough and cool enough that Kaitani could probably run through countless rounds of Akiyama just being brilliant and the manga would stay entertaining. Not particularly deep or moving (not that most people read it because of its emotional nuances), but entertaining.

In other words, he could stay the same person he was in Round 1, when he scammed Fujisawa with the fake invitation (spoiler alert?) and no one would care.

Some people might even legitimately prefer him to stay cool and aloof. Milage varies, and all that. If you’re one of these people, what I’m going to write next will probably irritate you to no end. Fair warning. ^^

Warnings for assumptions made with little support shown and subjectivity.

But I love what’s happening with him.

Akiyama’s Plan

And the great analysis of the Best Chapter Ever continues.

With Akiyama’s plan.

It’s a stupid plan thought up by a very smart man.

That’s it.

Wait? Analysis?

Oh right.

Roots of A translation.

Yeah. That’s right. It’s a translation, although it hasn’t been checked or proofread or anything.

The only things I ask is a) that you ask me before reposting or using it in a scanlation, b) you give me a link, and c) you give credit.

Italian Unification

You might be wondering what Italian Unification has to do with Liar Game, but just put up with me a little while and you’ll see where I’m going with this.  So, for a quick European History 101–