Shimazaki is the biggest man child ever in this, but in the absolute best way possible.

While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel—there are plenty of manga with similar premises—but it’s really well done. I love stories where the main character is older and just now trying to figure life out, although this is from a former terrorist trying to start over angle.

Since Shimazaki has been all over the world, they even included foreign dishes, coffee, and little cultural details, which I thought was such a nice touch. Like, sure, he learned how to murder people, but he also picked up a lot about other cultures along the way. I love when stories sneak in little things like that—it’s always fun learning something new in the most unexpected ways.

This one kind of has it all—it’s a slice of life with comedy, but it also dives into heavier issues and, of course, has action and fight scenes. For something that covers so much, it’s surprisingly well-balanced. The writing even caught me off guard a few times with how deep it got.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It wasn’t necessarily my usual cup of tea, but it had some really great touches that stood out. If you’re into action manga or the synopsis catches your interest, I’d 100% recommend giving it a read~

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace is very interesting! This is an alternate historical political thriller about Shingo Shimazaki, who was kidnapped by LEL as a kid and trained to be a killer of sorts. LEL is a terrorist organization brainwashing people to believe in their agenda. After thirty years Shingo Shimazaki managed to free himself and now he has returned to his native country, Japan. He just wants to live in peace. This isn't like Sakamoto Days, but darker and there's no humor as such. There's this depressing and suffocating feeling to the manga, which is super delicious. I also loved the whole setting and how LEL feels so familiar considering real history. I wish there were more stories like this, political ones I mean.

The art looks great and realistic. The flashbacks are awesome and overall the rhythm is nice, everything flows with easiness. I think I have to keep reading this, since it's hard to find series like this - they aren't made anymore. Their peak was in the 1980s. But! This surely is refreshing and somehow so different.

An equally heartwarming and gory narrative that follows Shingo Shimazaki, a man who, after spending thirty years fighting for a terrorist organisation that kidnapped him as a child, has finally made it back to Japan and is planning to lead a quiet life, but old habits die hard, and his past just won't stay in the past.

Shimazaki in the Land of Peace is a riveting and genre-bending manga with a healthy mix of slice-of-life humour and gore. I loved the art style and the realistic depiction of PTSD. I highly recommend it particularly to readers who enjoyed works such as The Way of the Househusband and Spy × Family.

"I mean, what can comics do in an age like this?"

Shimazaki was once kidnapped, held hostage, and conditioned to work for a terrorist group. He has escaped thirty years later and wishes to start a new life. Easier said than done. The LEL group has engaged in hostile activity in Japan. Despite Shimizaki's attempts to fit in, sleeper agents and gangsters alike sense something is off with him as he balances time between making coffee at the local cafe and helping a manga artist meet his deadlines.

I was expecting this story to be more Way of the Househusband than Death Note, but we get a captivating thriller of a traumatized man reclaiming his present after terrorists stole his childhood. Sure, Shimazaki may take time to brew the perfect cup of coffee or sub in mackerel sandwiches, but he will stop an old lady from making a mistake that could ruin her life or track down an old friend that also wanted to escape the terrorist cell. And he does it without losing his calm demeanor. On the inside, Shimazaki remembers, but on the outside? He keeps his head.

The quote above comes from a scene towards the end of this volume. Shimazaki's manga boss laments how it feels pointless to make art in the face of everyday violence. Over lunch, Shimazaki tells him that "It's art that can reach the human heart. Violence doesn't have that kind of power." (I'm beginning to wonder how many NetGalley requests are providing the reassurance needed for times like these.)

Thank you, Gouten Hamada. I think Volume 2 can't come soon enough.

Unique art style paired with a fantastic story-line. The action is well met with Shingo Shimazaki's slice-of-life adventure.

I am enjoying "Shimazaki in the Land of Peace, Vol 1." The writing and plotting by Gouten Hamada is intriguing in its premise. It gives enough info for the premise to get me involved, but doesn't give it all away. Characterization is a nice building block. Again, not all is given away so I'm sure we will learn more about Shimazaki in volumes to come. Holding back on all details is something I appreciate as my hope is that it reduces retconning of details as the plot evolves. The artwork reminds me a little of Naoki Urasawa's style and I'm all for that. The paneling is simple which makes it easy to follow. Another thing that I appreciate is that I don't feel overwhelmed by a large number of characters introduced. It is done at a leisurely paced so I am able to keep track. There is a little confusion in some transitions but otherwise, I'm digging this manga and hope to see more of it.

The story follows Shingo, an adult who was once a sole survivor of a hostage situation when he was younger. And coincidently then was trained in combat by an organisation called LEL to complete secret missions across the world after this significant event.

This novel is based around Shingo disappearing from his duty with the LEL, escaping back to his native country Japan. While in Japan he is being hunted by LEL assassins.

Sometimes I felt like there a was a little disconnect between the artwork and the narration. A little more detail would have been really helpful to fully grasps the back story, particularly at the beginning. Like why was he being hunted? Maybe this comes in future comics, but the first in the series needs to be powerful and engaging, but some of it felt confusing.

It wasn’t my favourite comic style read sadly, but I appreciate the work it takes to illustrate and narrate and story.

As a child, Shimazaki was abducted by the terrorist organization LEL. He spent the next three decades as a captive, forced to fight their battles and spy on numerous countries. Finally breaking free, he fled to Japan, seeking a quiet, ordinary life and hoping to leave the horrors of his past behind.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THE BOOK
The dialogue is captivating, drawing the reader into the protagonist's emotional turmoil. I couldn't help but empathize with his struggles to fit into his new community.

WHO IS IT FOR?
Fans of both heartwarming slice-of-life stories and action-packed thrillers will find something to love in this unique blend of genres.

Published by Kodansha and available November 26, 2024, Shimazaki In the Land of Peace combines action with slice-of-life storytelling, and it's a great combination. The titular Shimazaki was trained to be a terrorist and now just wants to live a normal life, working sedate jobs such as manga assistant and café waiter -- though he puts his old skills to use when necessary. The publisher's blurb calls it a "fish out of water comedy" and that sums it up well. The art is excellent and very detailed, especially in the action sequences, and it's some of the best seinen work I've seen this year. This series will appeal to fans of series like Sakamoto Days and in general those looking for a day-to-day look at a reluctant secret agent. I'll definitely look into selecting this series for our library's collection.

This was such an interesting first volume. The blend of slice of life and political drama was intriguing and the art is unique. I am very much looking forward to the next installment and curious to see how the MC's story continues.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The art is really dynamic, such a nice style that adds depth. There are a lot of little details that also add to the experience of reading the manga. I loved the attention given to backgrounds, food and drinks and other such items. The bonds between the characters is also quite nice and how they each see the world, especially the main character going out of his way to help people and how they interact. The style was really effective in both the previous life flashes and the current daily storyline.

The blurbs at the end of some of the chapters about the food items featured in that chapter was really interesting and it is a bit of a shame there weren't more of those. I am definitely looking forward to any forthcoming volumes!

This was a very interesting Manga. You follow Shimazaki, who has been through a lot of not so great things in his life. He has the hardest time being able to trust anyone he comes in contact with. To me he seems to have some kind of power??? I don't know it might just be me. As he is trying to find his way through life he is trying to make things normal as it seems like he has a secret that he is hiding that makes you think what is really going on? I did really enjoy this book. I could definitely see myself picking up the next volume. With the ending it makes you want to read more just by the way it ended.

This turned into a really interesting slice of life/action title. I had a lot of respect for our main character looking for the good in life, despite his up brining. This volume has plenty of social commentary and action. If you like something like say Sakamoto Days or Crazy Food Truck, this might be something looking into!

Shingo Shimazaki was inducted in to the LEL terrorist group as a young boy. After 30 years, he has managed to get back to his native Japan where he is trying to assimilate himself into society. He has found a job working at a cafe and helping at a manga studio which he is learning to enjoy and finding acquaintances who do not know his past. He tries to help those around him without revealing that past. But the past is catching up anyway as he finds out. So what will Shimazaki do to keep his current peaceful life? We will find that out in the next volume.

Thanks Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the chance to read this title!

This one is quite an interesting mix. I never thought I would read a slice of life cozy thriller/secret agent story yet here we are.

The art style is really good and also quite original. It has that manga feel but at the same time it kind of feels like an american comic?

While the autor does somehow make it work, mixing very cozy slice of life foodie moments with some very good action sequences, I end up feeling kind of let down wanting for more on both sides? The action is very well done, great coreographing when there's fights, and doesn't shy away from showing blood, gore and violence when needed to show the violent nature of the LEL. At the same time Shimazaki seems like such a nice guy, who just wants peace and to make those who he cares for happy. I simultaneously want more fights and more cozy Shimazaki learning to adult after years of being trapped by the LEL.

first, thank you netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this manga!

this book follows the everyday life of a man forced to be a terrorist for years after he had escaped. the juxtaposition between the slice-of-life cafe parts and the sudden assassination attempts can feel a bit awkward, and a lot of the scenes feel rushed. i think the writing style is just a bit cramped in such a short manga. if there were more panels to flush specific actions and scenes out, it likely wouldn't feel as strange.
regardless of writing style, I do like the plot, but all of the characters except for Shimazaki feel pretty flat. I bet the characters will evolve over the next volumes, but they all feel pretty much the same.
not sure if I'd check out the other volumes, but I'm sure this is to someone's tastes.

3/5

4/5⭐️ I love these types of storyline! Shimazaki had a hard life but the skills he walked away from is still there! He’s more of a vigilante in the cafe and a few people. I love when he took pictures and you get to see thru his eyes what he sees even though he’s a kind young man! Very intrigued to see what happens in this series

Interesting start to a new series. The blurb was great and didn't disappoint. The art work started out average but got better throughout. The story was gripping. I totally invested in the MC from the very beginning. I can't wait for more in this series.

Thank you to Kodansha and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this volume.

Interesting premise with this one - our main character, Shimazaki is the only survivor of a plane hijacking that occurs when he is a child. After this he is indoctrinated into a terrorist, freedom fighter organisation. The volume follows him as he tries to adjust to normal life in Japan. Unfortunately his past has a way of catching up with him.

It didn’t hook me as much as I’d thought and I didn’t find Shimazaki compelling an MC but I would consider checking out future volumes.

This first volume offers an intriguing blend of political drama and slice-of-life storytelling, centering around a protagonist grappling with a life shaped by violence. There’s a lot happening here—politics, crime, manga production, food culture, immigrant experiences, and a simmering undercurrent of anger. While it’s a unique mix, it can feel a bit overwhelming at times with so many elements vying for attention.

The art is well-executed and adds a nice touch, elevating the overall experience. It was an enjoyable read, but despite its strengths, I’m not sure I’ll be continuing with the series. It’s a solid start, but it didn’t quite hook me enough to come back for the next volume.