Rakuban

Synopsis

A one-shot compilation with themes of suffering, crime, and betrayal, incorporating elements from gekiga. - Cave In: A young man gets to the bottom of a mining incident from 20 years ago that isn't what it seems. - The Flowers and the Ruffians: Ken is sent to a cabin that houses other vicious men in the barren north. His goal? Plant seeds, and have them flower on the land, no matter what. - Decisive Battle at Cannibal's Cape: A ragtag team of soldiers is weary from long battle on an island. Some are willing to go to great extremes - even if it means some may be expendable... - The Ghost of the Jet Base: Detective Hazama is called to investigate paranormal activity at an air base, but finds himself wrapped up in more than he bargained for. - Fire Valley: In the Wild West, a young boy searches for the man who killed his father. Rumors of a cursed yet powerful pistol are about - one said to literally be possessed by a demon - and they interest the men of the local saloon. What connection could there be? - Tatsumaki Voyage Log: Shichiro is a boy who lives by the sea, and was found as a baby in an abandoned ship. One day, he learns that he is not his parents' blood son, which causes him great distress. Not long after, the red algae that are a key source of revenue in his town are dying off. What begins as an investigation of the cause turns out to be a long journey linked to Shichiro's heritage. - Wings and Stardust: An emonogatari. A pair of wings made of a mysterious substance are found in the stratosphere by an astronaut. Through a tumultuous string of events, they end up in the possession of the young Kazuo. But there are other parties interested in Kazuo's wings as well - yet Kazuo only wishes to have the wings better the lives of his community. And so Kazuo goes on his own journey, his fate bound with the wings... (Source: MU)