Thank you for letting me read this. This manga was very overwhelming and I had hard liking the main character even though he has been through alot. Now he able to change his life now since coming back home to his home country. But this story is hard to follow.

This is the story of a man who was trained from a young age to be a weapon—but now, all he wants is to live a normal life.

Despite his past and the target on his back, he can’t ignore people in need. Whenever someone requires help, he puts his skills to use, even if it means putting himself in danger. His struggle to balance a peaceful life with the weight of his past makes for a compelling and action-packed story.

The artwork perfectly complements the tone of the story, bringing its intensity and emotion to life. A must-read for fans of action and redemption stories!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc.

I don’t particularly like this genre of manga and usually never read books so graphic and dark, but something kept me reading and actually enjoying (at times) this manga. I really liked the scene with the main character naming his photographs/artwork. The characters are so complex and well developed. You even have an understanding of the background of a character that only shows up in one chapter/arc. Please do not read if you can’t handle darker themes like torture, etc.

I probably won’t continue this manga, but I’m glad I read it.

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace reminds me of SakaDays, but this story has a more serious outcome that is interesting.
Definitely a story to keep an eye on.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced reader's copy and the opportunity to this early. Review has been posted on Waterstones and Amazon.

I found the premise of this manga so intriguing. This was defiantly a slow burn, perhaps a little too slow. I finished the first volume not much has happened. I wanted so much more. Illustrations are wonderful
Did anyone else see a younger Mads Mikkelsen? If this turns into a live action then at least Shimazaki has a cast listing.

Want to read a manga about a socially awkward ex-hitman who just wants to be an artist and looks strangely like Mads Mikkelson? Shimazaki in the Land of Peace has you covered!
I was really intrigued by this one. Shimazaki in the Land of Peace is a slice-of-life manga that follows the tale of Shimazaki Shingo, a half-Japanese, ex-assassin, who, as a child, had been kidnapped by a terrorist organization and turned into a killer. Now as an adult, he struggles to adapt to normal life, with the organization still haunting his present.
I liked Shimazaki as a character. Rather than being the hard, cynical man you might expect by looking at the cover, he instead is a rather awkward fellow who loves art and has a unique way of looking at the world. I really want to see more of the slice-of-life side of him exploring art and photography, but I feel this is probably going to remain being an uneven mix of action, flashbacks, and calm moments.
While marketed as a comedy, I didn’t really find much of the story comedic. Whatever jokes were put in the story I either didn’t notice or felt they fell flat. I’ve seen it compared to Sakamoto Days but I feel that’s a bit of an unfair comparison. Shimazaki would definitely benefit leaning more into the serious notes of the story rather than trying to be a comedy. Then again, some of the humor might have been lost in translation.
Shimazaki's development as a character is one of the highlights. His struggle to live a peaceful life is portrayed with care, showing how deeply his past influences his present. The manga also hints at his PTSD and the long-lasting effects of his brainwashing and training. While some aspects of his escape from the organization remain unclear, this mystery leaves room for future exploration in upcoming volumes.
The art style suits the tone of the story, with detailed backgrounds and careful attention to the little things, but what sticks most in my mind is Shimazaki’s art and photography, and the designs of several of the characters. The style puts me in mind of Abi Umeda, creator of Children of the Whales, but with more realism, less soft angles, and a more harsh color palette.
Overall, Shimizaki in the Land of Peace presents an original and engaging concept, but the execution doesn't quite live up to the promise. It's a series with potential, and is perfect for fans of Fable and Under Ninja.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The premise of this manga was interesting, and the concept could have been amazing. The pacing was a little slow for a book about an escaped prisoner who is highly experienced in combat. I feel like everything should have been fast-paced and high-stress. I hoped for something like "The Way of the House Husband." I will still read the second addition to see if it gets better.

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace is way different than I expected. The premise reminds me of Sakamoto Days and The Fable but this one has a more serious tone and slightly heavier themes to be discussed in the upcoming volume.

The story is about Shimazaki, who's been captured as a child by a terrorist organization and then trained to be an 'elite' soldier/assassin. Somehow he manages to escape that life of violence with a group of others in the same circumstances and lives in Japan, trying to adjust to a normal life and making new friends even as his past haunts him. There's not much explained about how he escaped, nor is there that much information about the organization except they're slowly trying to kill those who have escaped, including Shimazaki.

I'm definitely looking forward to the next volume, as we're expecting more action and how Shimazaki will handle it.

I liked it. It had fighting to live a normal life. Especially after one with killing. And now there people trying to kill them. Can't wait for the next one.

This was different. I thought the world-building was a little out of the ordinary--in a good way. Raised to be a fighter and killer, Shimazaki wants a different life. Trying to fit in isn't easy, though. This book kept me turning pages to find out where it was going next. It was very original.

This is a great premise for a story and the art is incredible!
I love everything about this book; the backstory is intense and compelling, the characters look good and are all very real and disctinct, the actions is realistic and intense.
I want to learn more about the LEL and the training. I want to learn more about Shimazaki and see how he'll get on.
I can't wait for more, I'm so hooked.

This manga was fantastic. Part alternate history and part political thriller it had me hooked from the first page. I also enjoyed that our protagonist is a bit older which was a nice touch. The art style and panel spacing I felt was perfectly matched to the story and there was a nice balance between text and artwork. The story itself is intriguing, interesting and has a tiny touch of humour to lighten a somewhat dark plot. A solid 5 and I will definitely be following the series.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace Vol 1

When I read the description I thought it might be similar to The Ways of the House Husband; however, it was not. Not saying that it is a bad thing, the series just turned to take a somewhat different direction than I was predicting. It does go back and forth between the Shimazaki’s past and the present at moments and there are some chapters where we see the past of characters being introduced for a moment, which generally leads to a situation where Shimazaki gets involved. Shimazaki does his best at trying to keep a low profile, but it does seem that the terrorist organization is sniffing out the communities that were able to get away.

After the first time reading through this volume, I was not sure if it would be one to continue or maybe just let it go a couple volumes and do a reread of it. It is definitely different from a good chunk of manga I read, but I guess in a way you could see it similar to the shounen ones where you have an organization taking over and a group trying to stay alive/defeat them- just no random powers or a fantasy set up. I did like how they had the detail that although Shimazaki has some skills there are aspects he is very weak in others (like reading) due to the fact he was brainwashed, by the organization after they hijacked a flight, at a young age and forced into “combat” in order to survive. It also depicts that just because he was able to run away from the organization, he will not be able to truly live a normal life and has to overcome different obstacles. Something I am curious about is the agents following him and his comrades. Are they there to make sure they are not up to something? Seeing if they can get intel on the organization? Or more to sorta help protect them? But if these agents have eyes on them then there is no reason why the organization can’t easily find them either. My other question is if Shimazaki disappeared during a mission, how was he able to pull it off without help? I hope at some point there is a flashback to how he was able to get away.

This series is a type of slice of life. In the description it said “fish-out-of water comedy”, but I didn’t think there was much of any comedy. Maybe it went over my head or I just didn’t think too much about it.

I did do another read of this and did get a different opinion from the first time through. I noticed the art’s background is pretty detailed in majority of the panels and some comments characters make. The title is mentioned at the end, which shows how Shimazaki views the world through a lens but also thriugh his drawings- both contrast each other. I do think there is more to why Shimazaki was sent to visit his friend at another colony, to find them “discarded”. There is violence, so if you are looking for a warm-hearted, sweet slice of life don't be surprised.

I enjoyed this manga! It reminded me a bit of Sakamoto Days, but more serious and less overtly comical and it feels like it’ll tug at heartstrings.

This centers around Shimazaki Shingo, a man who, after getting captured by a terrorist organization (I think, not totally sure) as a boy was raised to become a super soldier/ruthless assassin. Somehow he’s escaped that life of violence with a group of others in the same circumstances and is back in his native Japan, trying to adjust to a normal life and making new friends even as his past haunts of him.

Some details are still unanswered, like how he and his group escaped the organization and what exactly he did during his time there. But I think those will come in subsequent volumes, and for now we see how Shimazaki is doing his best to live a life free of violence and his past, and how despite that, deep down, he actually seems to care about others who’ve been kind to him. It feels like he has traces of PTSD, and he’s not totally able to get rid of habits from his past, so it’ll be interesting to see how that will affect his new life. The art style very much suits the sometimes violent scenes depicted, and include little details about food/drinks Shimazaki learned about during his time overseas. Really enjoyed this and looking forward to future volumes!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace 1, was a bit different than what I had extended it to be. The manga follows Shimazaki who returns to Japan after a long time. He tries to adjust to a normal and quiet life, which turns out to be harder than expected although he continues to try. It’s quite gory and gets pretty heavy and dark. But it often then followed by scenes that are depicting everyday life, but where trauma and the past still shows up here and there. Before reading it, I had expected it to be more lighthearted than it was. I would have read the manga at another time had I been aware it was not, and would probably have enjoyed it a bit more.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha/Vertical for the review copy.

Kidnapped as child and raised in a terrorist association called the LEL, Shimazaki finds himself at odds with his homeland of Japan when he returns as an adult. Seemingly AWOL, Shimazaki can't quite grasp the language, culture, and mores, which, at times, garners some unwanted attention. He initially finds himself working at a manga studio, and when some artwork is stolen, the reader begins to see his past military skills come into play.

I have seen others complain about the pacing of <i>Shimazaki in the Land of Peace</i>, but I found it to be well-paced. Weaving through past and present perfectly, the book never loses sight on character development, plot, and the merging of two worlds. An engaging story full of beautiful artwork, fun and honest supporting characters, and a story that both feels fantastical and oddly poignant at once, this is a manga I will highly recommend and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

Rating: 4.33 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 4/5
-Story: 4/5
-Writing: 5/5
Type: Manga
Worth?: Yes

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

This was such a sweet and sad manga. The undertone is sad but the MC have me cheering for him. If you like war and mad fighting skills while a man is trying to live a happy life this one is for you. I am not big on the war thing but the rest I liked. Another dock off the rating had to be the art style. It is def not one of my favs.

Sorry, not my cup of tea.
I imagine others will like it.
Worn plot of geeky guy, outsider, who is a a trained killer underneath it all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a proof in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of Shimizaki in the Land of Peace immediately caught my attention. The story of a child who was kidnapped by a group of terrorists and is now trying to adjust to normal life as an adult is both unique and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t fully meet my expectations.

The manga seemed to struggle with its tone, trying to balance comedy, violence, trauma, and seriousness without fully committing to any of them. It didn’t lean far enough into the comedic aspects to be truly funny, nor did it explore the darker themes deeply enough to be truly impactful.

That said, the idea behind the story is intriguing, and I do think it has potential. I’m hopeful that future volumes will delve deeper into the characters and themes, offering a more focused and engaging narrative.

While it fell a bit flat for me, I’d still rate it 3 stars for its originality and the groundwork it lays for a potentially compelling series.

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book.

This manga was definitely better than the one I've read before. Mainly started it because Shimazaki reminded me of Mads Mikkelsen. (Still does, not from every angle, but most of them). The main character designs I liked, but from some angles they didn't work at all.
The manga tried to be a bit of everything: It had some wholesome content, gastro, crime, action and I think it suits it well, a good mix. Overall my only problem with it was that it was confusing on some bits... But I1m pretty sure I'm going to continue the series.