Koushun Takami

Koushun Takami's notorious high-octane thriller envisions a nightmare scenario: a class of junior high school students is taken to a deserted island where, as part of a ruthless authoritarian program, they are provided arms and forced to kill until only one survivor is left standing. Criticized as violent exploitation when first published in Japan—where it became a runaway best seller—Battle Royale is a Lord of the Flies for the 21st century, a potent allegory of what it means to be young and (barely) alive in a dog-eat-dog world. A new translation by Nathan Collins.

Battle Royale: Remastered

"Battle Royale" is a gripping and intense novel that predates The Hunger Games yet explores a similar concept: a class of high school students is forcibly taken to an isolated island, where they must fight to the death until only one survivor remains. Amid the chaos and violence, the story follows three central characters—Shuya, Noriko, and Shogo—who struggle to survive and find a way off the island.

The relationships between the characters in Battle Royale struck a deep chord with me, especially the dynamic between Shuya and Noriko. Initially, Shuya wasn’t interested in Noriko, but the pressures of the game pushed them together, forming a bond that felt authentic and relatable. This idea of how relationships can be forged under extreme stress made me reflect on my own experiences—how sometimes, bonds are not built on ideal circumstances, but on shared struggles. It made me think of how there are billions of people in the world and how we end up connecting with specific ones. In the book, much like in life, the experiences people endure often lead them to seek connections with those who truly understand their pain. In another instance, the bond between Nya and Jay from 

 in Skybound echoed a similar sentiment. Their connection was unique in that only they shared the memory of their experiences, and that bond made their relationship irreplaceable. This made me reflect on the idea of how shared experiences, no matter how painful, can deepen a connection between two people, making them feel indispensable to each other. 

A powerful moment in the book that resonated with me was the love story between Hiroki and Kayako. Their tragic ending, where love was unspoken and misunderstood, hit close to home, especially given my personal experiences with a love that’s left unfulfilled. It was heart-wrenching to witness how pure and innocent young love could be, but also how it can end in tragedy, reminding me of how delicate connections can be. 

Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale is a dark, thought-provoking novel that goes beyond the bloodshed and chaos. The detailed political undertones and the inclusion of historical references like World War I chemical weapons add layers of depth, making it not just a survival story, but also a commentary on power, control, and human relationships under pressure. Takami brilliantly explores the human desire to connect in the most extreme circumstances, showing both the potential for bonds to form and the ways pressure can tear people apart. The characters' dynamics felt complex and well-developed, and I found myself emotionally invested in their struggles. 

Despite the violence and brutality, Battle Royale is ultimately a deeply human story. I felt a profound connection to the book, which makes me wish I had discovered it sooner. It’s one of those rare books that offers more than just a thrilling plot—it’s a meditation on human nature, survival, and the lengths we go to in order to look and care for someone we love. Overall, I would consider this one of my all-time favorite books.

Ash Hoe

Summary:
"Battle Royale" is a gripping and intense novel that predates The Hunger Games yet explores a similar concept: a class of high school students is forcibly taken to an isolated island, where they must fight to the death until only one survivor remains. Amid the chaos and violence, the story follows three central characters—Shuya, Noriko, and Shogo—who struggle to survive and find a way off the island.

Reflections:
The relationships between the characters in Battle Royale struck a deep chord with me, especially the dynamic between Shuya and Noriko. Initially, Shuya wasn’t interested in Noriko, but the pressures of the game pushed them together, forming a bond that felt authentic and relatable. This idea of how relationships can be forged under extreme stress made me reflect on my own experiences—how sometimes, bonds are not built on ideal circumstances, but on shared struggles. It made me think of how there are billions of people in the world and how we end up connecting with specific ones. In the book, much like in life, the experiences people endure often lead them to seek connections with those who truly understand their pain. In another instance, the bond between Nya and Jay from Ninjago in Skybound echoed a similar sentiment. Their connection was unique in that only they shared the memory of their experiences, and that bond made their relationship irreplaceable. This made me reflect on the idea of how shared experiences, no matter how painful, can deepen a connection between two people, making them feel indispensable to each other. 

A powerful moment in the book that resonated with me was the love story between Hiroki and Kayako. Their tragic ending, where love was unspoken and misunderstood, hit close to home, especially given my personal experiences with a love that’s left unfulfilled. It was heart-wrenching to witness how pure and innocent young love could be, but also how it can end in tragedy, reminding me of how delicate connections can be. 


Thoughts on the Book: 

Koushun Takami’s Battle Royale is a dark, thought-provoking novel that goes beyond the bloodshed and chaos. The detailed political undertones and the inclusion of historical references like World War I chemical weapons add layers of depth, making it not just a survival story, but also a commentary on power, control, and human relationships under pressure. Takami brilliantly explores the human desire to connect in the most extreme circumstances, showing both the potential for bonds to form and the ways pressure can tear people apart. The characters' dynamics felt complex and well-developed, and I found myself emotionally invested in their struggles. 

Despite the violence and brutality, Battle Royale is ultimately a deeply human story. I felt a profound connection to the book, which makes me wish I had discovered it sooner. It’s one of those rare books that offers more than just a thrilling plot—it’s a meditation on human nature, survival, and the lengths we go to in order to look and care for someone we love. Overall, I would consider this one of my all-time favorite books.

Syahla Aurel

This isn't over. Not even close. All right, I'll play your game now. And I won't stop until I win.

This book was a whole journey and I felt sad and relieved at the same time after reading the ending, and for SHOGO KAWADA, ILY.

I read this mainly to see if the rumors of The Hunger Games ripping off this book is true or not. Personally? I don't see the direct similarities to explicitly accuse Suzanne Collins of plagiarism. Those two books have clear differences. 

Middle school me would have been terrified of this book and opted for the romaticized idealistic escapist feel of The Hunger Games. But traumatised Young Adult me? This is more like my cup of tea.

Despite its length, this high octane thriller resembles shock inducing Squid Game, Alice in Borderland, and The Purge in a sense that no matter how fictional the story is, you cannot help but picture it as something eerily capable of being true. 

I also liked that no matter how many distractions of love and sentimentality that our characters found themselves in, the author never deterred us away from the gruesome reality of their situation. 

My only issue is that some of these middle schoolers are too skilled and "geniuses" to the point of being impossibly unrealistic. Also in our present time, the "American Dream" idolisation makes me roll my eyes a bit (they're not fairing quite well at the moment...).

Jawahir M

I read this mainly to see if the rumors of The Hunger Games ripping off this book is true or not. Personally? I don't see the direct similarities to explicitly accuse Suzanne Collins of plagiarism. Those two books have clear differences. 

Middle school me would have been terrified of this book and opted for the romaticized idealistic escapist feel of The Hunger Games. But traumatised Young Adult me? This is more like my cup of tea.

Despite its length, this high octane thriller resembles shock inducing Squid Game, Alice in Borderland, and The Purge in a sense that no matter how fictional the story is, you cannot help but picture it as something eerily capable of being true. 

I also liked that no matter how many distractions of love and sentimentality that our characters found themselves in, the author never deterred us away from the gruesome reality of their situation. 

My only issue is that some of these middle schoolers are too skilled and "geniuses" to the point of being impossibly unrealistic. Also in our present time, the "American Dream" idolisation makes me roll my eyes a bit (they're not fairing quite well at the moment...).

Asrin Juinio

The book was enjoyable and the detail for the action and gore allowed the story to be gripping. The writing as a whole was good in all aspects but the characters.

To summarise my gripes:
1. Too many characters; a realistic number, but it is difficult to keep up with most of them and one can say Takami thought the same while writing. 

2. Poor Characterisation; there is a reliance on stereotypes,*tragic* backgrounds and romance in desperate attempts to piece together a meaningful cast. A part of reader attachment to the cast is already severed given the battle royale setting and Takami failed to apply the proper characterisation that would have made them more appealing.

3. Facepalm moments. Stupidity is rampant and not everyone plays the game right (if, at all).

Regardless, Battle Royale is an alright read, 3.3/5 stars.

Rose Stanley

Bookopolothon, Book the Second
Prompt: Monsters

If I could have stayed up all night last night reading this, I would have. 
Did the next best thing and spent all of today devouring it instead. 
Extraordinary.

Battle Royale: Remastered

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