Chainsaw Man's handling of Yakuza proves why Fujimoto is one of the greats

Modified Nov 26, 2024 14:00 GMT

Chainsaw Man is widely considered a gem in the world of shonen manga for its unflinching approach to darker and grittier themes. Its depiction of the Yakuza is a prime example of creator Tatsuki Fujimoto's boldness. Unlike many traditional shonen series that romanticize the Yakuza as honorable antiheroes or code-bound warriors, Fujimoto dives into the true unvarnished cruelty and exploitation at their core.

The mangaka has portrayed the Yakuza as cunning and ruthless villains through Denji's heartbreaking origin story, where his father’s debt chains him to a life of servitude. The Yakuza not only kick off Denji's development and lead to the birth of Chainsaw Man but are also a testament to systemic abuse and power dynamics. This raw and unflattering portrayal cements Fujimoto's expertise in storytelling.

He isn't afraid to challenge typical tropes, which makes Chainsaw Man much more exciting and a great story fraught with moral and societal complexities.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series and reflects the opinions of the author.

Chainsaw Man: Fujimoto's portrayal of the Yakuza establishes him among the elite

Through Chainsaw Man, Fujimoto has displayed to viewers the dark reality of an organization like the Yakuza. They aren't the romanticized, edgy, modern anti-heroes, bound by an honorable code. The series portrays them far from what traditional Shonen make them out to be; rogues hiding behind an air of self-justification.

Typical Shonen series depict the Yakuza as the "modern-day samurai," bound by a code of honor. They are shown well and sharply dressed and edgy in their attitude/behavior. Despite being criminals, they are given an anti-hero-esque status, commonly showcased as being morally grey or unequivocally good for the most part.

Granted they do have a criminal side, with the usual enterprises such as trafficking (drugs and humans), small and large-scale extortion operations, and ruling their turf with an iron fist, they can be compared to the Western media's portrayal of the Mafia. Furthermore, these very activities are despised by the honorable and "good" Yakuza protagonists, who want to remodel the ledger.

However, this is indeed romanticizing the Yakuza name. In reality, they are simply transnational organized crime syndicates originating in Japan. That, in itself, is self-explanatory. However, Chainsaw Man, while using that very same air of self-justification, dismantles the entire idea by showing them to be crude and arrogant.

Moreover, their air of complexity (Katana Man's origins) is only achieved by punching downward on the truly weak (Denji's origins). Fujimoto doesn't depict them as honorable samurai but rather as crooks who justify their terrible misdeeds as being part of the "greater good." In fact, the series as a whole conveys that the "lesser evil" rarely remains less.

A society made to choose between a horrible group like the Yakuza and literal Devils, who hold unimaginable power, births only one thing - broken individuals with close to no emotional quotient. Pushed to the brink, it isn't very surprising to see world nations contract with powerful Devils at the cost of the general populace.

Final thoughts

All in all, Fujimoto using Chainsaw Man to portray their reality is quite a bold move. It deconstructs and does away with typical Shonen tropes that represent the Yakuza and other such groups in a greater light. It serves as a stark reminder of the power of storytelling to challenge uncomfortable truths.

Fujimoto’s unfiltered depiction of the Yakuza goes against romanticized representations, instead opting to reveal their true nature - manipulative, cruel, and exploitative. Choosing such a bold narrative subverts traditional shonen tropes as well as compels fans to tussle with these groups' twisted intricacies.

The mangaka's work underscores the importance of authenticity in storytelling, proving that even in a fantastical setting, unflinching realism can leave a profound impact.