Kino’s Journey is a light novel series with a legacy all its own. It begin with its initial release by series writer, Keiichi Sigsawa, and has continued for the last 17 years. The series has recently been rebooted as an anime for the second time by animation studio Lerche, where it simulcasted on Crunchyroll in 2017. As of this writing, the first season has wrapped and there is no word yet on a second season. However, the announcement is more of a matter of time, and until then I would like to go over the series episode by episode. Starting with the first in order to discuss the various components of the show, along with some topics and theories.
Kino’s Journey tells the story of the titular character Kino, who travels from country to country in a mystical universe to discover different cultures and people. The catch is, she only stays in each country for three days. We’ll get into a theory as to why in just a few minutes! First we need to introduce her famous companion. His name is Hermes, a motorcycle (“Motorad”) that has the ability to speak and feel. What makes him so fundamental to the show’s success is that he spurs Kino’s desire to travel and faithfully gives her a means to do so, as other “Motorads” in the series do.
Now to get this out of the way first, Kino’s Journey is not your typically structured series. It is a show about self-encompassed episodes about individual journeys with little connection to previous episodes outside of momentarily important character development. Now while this may off-put some viewers, it seems to have gathered a rather large following since its release just a few short months ago. Heck, it has stayed on Crunchyroll’s Popular page since it premiered! This goes to show the sort of attention and chord it has struck with anime fans.
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An Ongoing Analysis of Kino’s Journey
PART 1
The first episode throws you right into the thick of Kino’s weird and unique world. Kino has a conversation with Hermes, which struck me as so odd that I couldn’t help but smile. Things unfortunately turn quite a bit sinister as Kino runs into a gunslinger that is travelling to the same country as her. However, we soon are told that serial murderers are allowed to live and act as they please there. This sets an almost uncomfortable feeling in the pit of the viewer’s stomach as they prepare for Kino’s inevitable visit.
Upon arriving in the country, everyone seems kind and no such violence comes to pass. When that gunslinger wanders into town, he pulls a gun the first chance he gets and wishes to murder anyone he wishes. What we discover is that the town itself murders incoming visitors who disrupt their way of life. “Killing is only allowed if someone else plans to commit violence” (much like some US states allow an individual to shoot an intruder on one’s property).
What makes this journey so interesting is not just the real life comparisons, but the fact that the society itself actually protects those who fear violence. What drives this message home is what someone often hears about a society or place is often stranger than fiction. Much like a stereotype of a certain region that will never represent its people, it can actually prove the exact opposite. The relevancy of a light novel series that has been running for 17 years tells a more accurate portrayal of society than most news outlets now! (Ignore my generalization and take it with a grain of salt.) Now let’s delve into some theories and observations here, because I have some of my own.
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First let’s start with a quote from the show, “The world is not beautiful, therefore it is.” This is an obvious comparison to a famous quote by the French philosopher Rene Decartes, “I think, therefore I am.” The show itself seems to argue for this paradoxical way of thinking. I think Hermes would agree with this way of thinking, considering he’s a self-aware motorcycle! Joking aside, this statement is symbolic of the show’s theme as a whole and presents an interesting worldview. No matter where you go, there will be place that will have ugly imperfections: be it the people or the laws or the architecture. However, in spite of these imperfections, there will always be something beautiful or wonderful to experience that will counteract such an opinion.
A fan theory that I share about Kino’s Journey that other viewers share with me is Kino being an almost unreliable narrator. My argument stems from taking her at face value! She’s a tourist! No other way of putting it.
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What is the most common perception of a tourist? They are someone who is visiting a culture different from their own and in just a few short days, there is no way one can fully grasp that culture in that allotted time. So it makes you wonder why she believes that three days is enough? We aren’t truly seeing these cultures for what they are, but rather what Kino perceives them to be. In that manner of thinking, we are experiencing this journey through her spoon-fed funnel, allowing us to grasp at the straws she gives us as the spectator. After all, it is her journey and not ours!
Another topic I want to tackle is Hermes himself and his existence as an almost sentient being. While many will debate as to Hermes’ ability to talk as simply a mystical element that does not need to be explained, I’m going to be the guy that argues HOGWASH! There is something beneath the surface here at needs an answer and I’m going to attempt at finding it!
Hermes’ own name is a blatant reference to the Greek god Hermes. He is known not just as the “trickster,” but also referred to as the God of travel! Now that opens a whole Pandora’s box of theories. A motorcycle that encourages a viewer through mischievous guidance to travel seems a bit fishy to me. Let me make his influence on Kino even more uncomfortable for you. Perhaps Kino never talks to Hermes at all. Nobody is actually talking to Hermes. Maybe all the people in this universe are at the mercy of the real Greek god Hermes, who playing tricks on their minds and pushes them to make these decisions from complete delusion. Considering the type of universe we see her in, it could be more than likely that these characters have more than a few screws loose. I mean there’s an entire country completely okay with committing cult like murder in the center of town!
Now I know what you’re thinking, you are putting way WAY too much thought into this. And maybe I am! BUT now I have planted that seed of doubt in your mind, that seed will grow as we continue from the first episode onwards. As the journey continues to unfold, so too will the disturbingly brilliant theories that lie beneath the surface. So until the next episode, I say:
This country is perfect for you.
By Robert Benoit Updated: December 28, 2017