Kino’s Journey

Kino's Journey
Kino’s Journey

English Title: Kino’s Journey
Japanese Title: ã‚­ãƒŽã®æ—… – The Beautiful World â€“ Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World
Author: Keiichi Sigsawa
Illustrator: Kouhaku Kuroboshi
Translator: Andrew Cunningham
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Sci-fi
Original Run: 2000 – ongoing
English Run: 2007
Volumes: 17
English Publisher: Tokyopop
Volumes Published in English: 1 (Discontinued)

Synopsis: Destination is a state of mind. A tale of one girl and her bike and the road ahead. Kino wanders around the world on the back of Hermes, her unusual, anthropomorphic motorcycle, only staying in each country for three days. During their adventures, they find happiness, sadness, pain, decadence, violence, beauty, and wisdom. But through it all, they never lose their sense of freedom. They discover that because of the world’s imperfections, is is actually a thing of beauty. “The world is not beautiful, therefore it is.”

Vol 1 - Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World
Vol 1 – Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World

Volume 1 – Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World
AmazonBarnes and Noble — Book Depository

Reviews of Kino’s Journey
Vol 1 – BasuGasuBakuhatsu
Vol 1 — BookLoons
Vol 1 – English Light Novels
Vol 1 – Fantastic Reviews
Vol 1 – TeenReads
Vol 1 – The Daily Fig

Anime Adaptation

MAL Entry (2003 TV Series) 13 episodes. Aired April 8, 2003 – July 8, 2003.

MAL Entry (2007 Film) Released April 2007.

MAL Entry (2017 TV Series) 12 episodes. Aired October 6, 2017 – December 22, 2017. AmazonRightStuf

Manga Adaptation

MAL Entry (Japan) Began publication March 2017. (English release by Vertical) Began publication February 2019. AmazonRightStufBook Depository

Suggestions for Further Reading

Similar Setup and Tone (short stories, some of which are somber): Ballad of a Shinigami, Calling You, Faust

Any broken links or incorrect information? Any thoughts on this light novel?
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8 thoughts on “Kino’s Journey

  1. […] Suggestions for Further Reading Same Author (Otsuichi): Faust (“F-Sensei’s Pocket,” “Where the Wind Blows”), Goth: A Novel of Horror Similar Setup and Tone (short stories, some of which are somber): Ballad of a Shinigami, Faust, Kino's Journey […]

  2. Easily one of my favorite books of all time! Extremely well written (translated) and I wish someone would publish more in English.

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