Trouble Is My Business

Trouble is my business, or Jikenya Kagyou in Japanese, is a manga by Jiro Taniguchi published in 1999. Contrary to what one might think, it is not a slice-of-life manga, Taniguchi's favorite genre, but a detective manga that features a private detective, Mr. Saburo, and his investigations. The manga is composed of short and episodic stories, each of them presenting a different case that often revolves around recurring themes in yakuza manga, such as kidnappings, murders, settling of scores, etc. What differentiates Trouble is my business from other yakuza manga is the personality of its protagonist, Mr. Saburo, who is a clumsy and often incompetent privatedetective, which gives a comical side to the investigations. What is also interesting in Trouble is my business is the atmosphere that emerges from the manga. Taniguchi's drawings are very contrasted, with black shades that create a dark and mysterious atmosphere. This gives a very different side to what we are used to see from Taniguchi in the West, which is a good surprise for the fans of the author. The manga is rather violent, with a lot of fighting scenes and blood, but the personality of Mr. Saburo gives a lightness to the whole and allows to counterbalance the violence. The manga is well balanced in its mix of action and humor, which makes it a good read for fans of crime manga, but also for fans of Taniguchi who are looking to discover another register of the author. In conclusion, Trouble is my business is an interesting manga for fans of crime manga and Taniguchi. Although different from what we could expect from the author, it offers a dark and mysterious atmosphere, with well conducted investigations and a good dose of humor thanks to the clumsy and incompetent main character. If you are looking for an entertaining and original reading, this is a manga you should try.