Banana Fish Part 1 (with Marion Bea)

Covers volumes 1 through 11 of Banana Fish by Akimi Yoshida It’s a perfect day to discuss Banana Fish, the revived classic about how everyone — except some select gang members and an innocent Japanese boy named Eiji Okumura — wants to kill the brilliant and beautiful and deadly Ash Lynx. Shojo & Tell host Ashley found the biggest Banana Fish fan in Marion, and together they discuss the literary and political history Akimi Yoshida’s work draws from, the representations of race and queerness in the story, answer some of your questions about how the modernized anime compares to this very ’80s manga, and list favorite Ash and Eiji moments. Plus, Ashley and Marion take plenty of time to discuss Ash’s transformation from River Phoenix to Nurse Barbara. LINKS Banana Fish is available from Viz Media The title comes from a J.D. Salinger story called “A Perfect Day for Bananafish” The story references the Ernest Hemingway short story “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” frequently Rambo and The Terminator influenced Ash The history of gun control in Japan Actor River Phoenix was an inspiration for Ash’s looks Classic shojo manga people will tell you to read in addition to Banana Fish: Please Save My Earth, MARS, Basara, and Glass Mask The divisive dish, natto Outro song: “Found & Lost” by Survive Said the Prophet (the Banana Fish anime opening). Buy it on iTunes. SOCIAL Follow Shojo & Tell on Twitter @shojoandtell Follow Shojo & Tell on Instagram @shojoandtell Read Marion’s writing about anime and manga on her blog, Otaku, She Wrote Read Marion’s writing on Anime Feminist Follow Marion on Twitter @eccentricmarion Follow Ashley on Twitter @AshMcD00 Comments, questions, constructive criticism, concerns? Want to tell us your favorite Ash Lynx Look or Ash and Eiji moment? Email shojoandtell [at] gmail.com or simply leave a comment on the episode page.