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Crying Freeman
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Yō Hinomura
クライング フリーマン
(Kuraingu Furīman)
Manga
Written byKazuo Koike
Illustrated byRyoichi Ikegami
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
MagazineBig Comic Spirits
Original run1986 – 1988
Volumes9[1]
Original video animation
Directed by
Produced by
  • Akira Sasaki
  • Naoko Takahashi
  • Tomiro Kuriyama
Written by
  • Higashi Shimizu (1–3)
  • Ryunosuke Ono (4–6)
Music byHiroaki Yoshino
StudioToei Animation
Licensed by
Released September 1988 – January 1994
Runtime50 minutes (each)
Episodes6
icon Anime and manga portal

Crying Freeman (クライング フリーマン, Kuraingu Furīman) is a Japanese manga series written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami. Crying Freeman follows a Japanese assassin hypnotized and trained by the Chinese mafia (called the "108 Dragons") to serve as its agent and covered in a vast and complex dragon tattoo. A quiet but complicated killer, Freeman reflexively sheds tears after every killing as a sign of regret.

The manga was originally serialized by Shogakukan in its magazine Big Comic Spirits from 1986 to 1988. It was first published in North America by Viz Media in comic book form. Viz later republished the series in graphic novel form in two versions: an initial set and longer volumes that combined the initial volumes together, dubbed "Perfect Collections." From 2006 to 2007, the manga was republished by Dark Horse Comics in five volumes.

The story was adapted into an anime OVA by Toei Animation, released from 1988 to 1994. Crying Freeman has also been adapted into three live-action films: two 1990 Hong Kong films in Cantonese (Killer's Romance and The Dragon from Russia) and a 1995 French-Canadian production in English.

Plot

[edit]

Yō Hinomura, a Japanese potter, comes into the possession of some film showing an assassination by an agent of the 108 Dragons, a powerful Chinese mafia. Seeking its return, they kidnap him. Subjected to forced hypnosis, Yo is effectively brainwashed into acting as the 108 Dragons' principal assassin, but he can remember his past at the moment he kills, shedding a tear unconsciously each time. Because of this, he is given the codename "Crying Freeman".

One of his killings is witnessed by Emu Hino, a lonely and beautiful Japanese artist. Knowing he must kill her; she paints his portrait and waits for him to come. When he does so, she tells him that she is tired of being alone and wishes to end her life. She asks for a favor before he kills her—for him to have sex with her, so that she will not die as a virgin. He grants her wish but finds he cannot kill her and they fall in love. The killing she witnessed was of a yakuza boss, however, so the yakuza want to find her so that they can find the killer. One of the yakuza attempts to enter Emu's home and force her to disclose the name of the killer, critically injuring her. Freeman takes her to the hospital and tells her to meet him at Hinomura Kiln, where he intends to part with her. Instead, she accompanies him back to the 108 Dragons, where he tattoos her with tigers, and they marry.

The heads of the 108 Dragons decide to name Freeman as their heir. He is given the Chinese name Lóng Tài-Yáng, and Emu is renamed Hǔ Qīng-Lán, as both pass the tests given to them. It proves not as easy as that, however, as they must contend with challenges to the leadership from Bái-Yá Shàn, the granddaughter of the leaders of the 108 Dragons, and attempts to destroy the Dragons from other underground organizations.

Characters

[edit]

108 Dragons

[edit]

The 108 Dragons (百八竜（ハンドレッド・エイト・ドラゴン）, Handoreddo Eito Doragon) is a Chinese Mafia that rose to prominence in the 1970s. It holds numerous assets around the world, including its own nuclear submarine. As a rule in the organization, succession by blood inheritance is prohibited.

Yō Hinomura (火野村 窯, Hinomura Yō) / Crying Freeman (クライング フリーマン, Kuraingu Furīman) / Lóng Tàiyáng (龍太陽 (ロン・タイイァン), Ron Taiian; lit. "Dragon Sun")
Voiced by: Toshio Furukawa (Japanese); Stephen Tremblay (Manga); Steve Bulen (Streamline/ADV) (English)
Portrayed by: Mark Dacascos
The son of a famous potter and a rising pottery star himself. During a visit to America to showcase his works, a photographer hid secret pictures of the 108 Dragons in one of his pots. Yo found the photos and was asked by the Dragons to surrender them but refused. As retribution, Father Dragon had him kidnapped and put under hypnosis, as he was considered the perfect candidate to lead the 108 Dragons.
Yo was then trained by Mother Tiger in assassination techniques and martial arts. After his training was complete, he received a giant dragon tattoo covering his body. Because he cries in remorse for his victims after he snaps out of his trance (it seems later to just become habit due to the fact that he willingly takes on missions), he earned the name Crying Freeman. As Freeman, Yo possesses incredible agility and strength, and is considered the strongest man in the world. Each of his senses have been honed and sharpened and he is able to adapt to any situation. Initially shown to use guns, he comes to prefer daggers, which he can proficiently wield with both his hands and feet.
In addition to being the strongest man in the world, Lóng Tài-Yáng is also one of the most handsome, and no woman has been able to resist his charms, which he takes full sexual advantage of even after Emu Hino becomes his wife.
Emu Hino (日野 絵霧, Hino Emu) / Hǔ Qīnglán (虎清蘭 (フー・チンラン), Fū Chinran; lit. "Tiger Pure-Orchid")
Voiced by: Chiharu Kataishi (Japanese); Edita Brychta (Manga); Edie Mirman (Streamline/ADV) (English)
Portrayed by: Julie Condra
A young artist whose father had died; Emu Hino was once a rich girl whose wealth disappeared with his death. All that was left to her was the old family mansion. One day, she witnesses Freeman chasing and killing a Japanese crime boss in Hong Kong, after which she asks his name, to which he only replied "Yo". When she sees his tears after the murder, she is intrigued and immediately falls in love with him.
Soon, she becomes witness to Freeman's murder of Shudo Shimazaki, the head of the Hakushin Society, which causes both the police and the yakuza to tail her. She returns home only to find that Freeman is waiting for her. Emu then requests that Yo take her virginity before killing her, to which he complies. Later, Yo cannot bring himself to kill her as he has fallen in love with her, and the two eventually escape to Hong Kong. At first, Mother Tiger disapproves of her, thinking that Emu was weak, but Emu's strong will and resolve earns her the respect of the 108 Dragons. She is given the name Hǔ Qīng-Lán by Grandfather Dragon and is married to Freeman, who is renamed Lóng Tài-Yáng. Emu has a giant tiger tattooed on her back and two cubs on her torso for the children that she and Yo cannot have.
In the middle of the series, Emu gains possession of the legendary cursed katana Muramasa from an assassin who targets Freeman. She travels to the Kowloon Walled City to learn swordsmanship skills from an unlicensed dentist named Gouken Ishida. Despite being crafted during a time women were not allowed to wield swords, the Muramasa recognizes her as its true owner. As one of the leaders of the 108 Dragons, Emu is more resourceful and cleverer than even her husband, and as fearless as he is in the face of opposition. The first true owner of the Muramasa, she is quite dangerous as a sword master.
Hǔ Fēnglíng (虎風鈴 (フウ・フンリン), Fū Funrin; lit. "Tiger Wind Chime")
Voiced by: Nobuyo Tsuda (Japanese); Rosemary Miller (Manga); Catherine Battistone (Streamline) (English)
Portrayed by: Ivy Ng
Also known as Mother Tiger, she is the former female head of the 108 Dragons. She took on the task of training Freeman, honing him into the best assassin in the world and the strongest man alive. Like Emu Hino, she has a Tiger tattooed on her body, which signifies her position in the 108 Dragons. She has adopted Freeman as a son and Emu as a daughter-in-law. While skeptical of Emu at first, she came to recognize her strength. Grandmother Tiger had a son in violation of the 108 Dragons' rule that the leaders are sterilized to prevent them from having children, as the organization survives on individual talent and not on heritage or legacies. Mother Tiger came to regret her decision as her son became a cold-blooded killer even in his early youth and was exiled to a remote island.
Bái-Yá Shàn (白牙扇 (ペーヤーサン), Bēyāsan; lit. "White Ivory Fan")
Voiced by: Dump Matsumoto (Japanese); Debora Weston (Manga); Barbara Goodson (Streamline) (English)
The granddaughter of Father Dragon and Mother Tiger who challenges Freeman for the leadership of the 108 Dragons shortly after his succession. She attempts a coup d'état immediately after Freeman and Emu's wedding, with the aid of Camorra and Elder Mercury, one of the Ten Planets who was loyal to her father. Bái-Yá Shàn is defeated by Freeman and subsequently forgiven and accepted back into the 108 Dragons, from then on becoming his faithful and devoted "little sister", acting as a personal maid and bodyguard for her older brother and his wife. A giant woman in both aspects of height and weight, Bái-Yá Shàn is practically invulnerable to most attacks, as she has survived multiple gunshot wounds. She often goes into missions naked, which is quite nauseating for her opponents. Her weapons of choice are two butterfly swords, but she also likes to keep an automatic rifle handy. Bái-Yá Shàn is very emotional, openly crying in moments of fear, doubt, and sorrow; at times, she still seems rather like a little girl despite her age.
Huáng Dé-Yuán (黄徳源 (ホァン・デユァン), Hoan Deyuan) / Koh Tokugen (in Streamline dub)
Voiced by: Ryusei Nakao (Japanese); Vincent Marzello (Manga); Jeff Winkless (Streamline) (English)
Portrayed by: Byron Mann
A member of 108 Dragons and assistant to Freeman on his missions, who first worked with him after his kidnapping and hypnosis. After Freeman forces him to assist in helping save a critically wounded Emu Hino, he realizes that the two are meant for each other and defends Freeman's actions to Mother Tiger. After Freeman takes over leadership of the 108 Dragons, Huáng Dé-Yuán becomes his right-hand man. He dies from wounds sustained while fighting the Camorra assassin Kitche and is buried at sea after Freeman defeats her.

Hakushin Society

[edit]
Shudo Shimazaki (島崎秋堂, Shimazaki Shūdō)
Voiced by: Nobuo Yana (Japanese); Burt Kwouk (Manga); Michael Forest (Streamline) (English)
Portrayed by: Mako
Leader of the Hakushin Society (白真会, Hakushin-kai), a yakuza that has a workforce of 26,000 men across Japan. His organization controls all aspects of organized crime except drug trafficking. Knowing that the 108 Dragons have sent Freeman to assassinate him in order to fully infiltrate Japan's criminal underground, Shimazaki goes to a police precinct for protection and to give vital information on the Chinese Mafia but is eventually shot in the head by a masked Freeman. Emu Hino is immediately marked as a witness when she immediately notices the tears flowing through Freeman's mask as he runs away.
Ryuji Hanada (花田竜二, Hanada Ryūji)
Voiced by: Takaya Hashi (Japanese); Bob Sessions (Manga); Kerrigan Mahan (Streamline) (English)
Portrayed by: Masaya Kato
The second most powerful member of the Hakushin Society, he takes over the group after Shimazaki is assassinated by Freeman. Nicknamed "The Blade" (カミソリ, Kamisori), Ryuji attempts to kidnap Emu with the tacit support of the police. He is wounded by Freeman but survives and manages to see his face. Ryuji is later on assassinated by Freeman and Huang.
Kimie Hanada (花田君江, Hanada Kimie)
Voiced by: Masako Katsuki (Japanese); Liza Ross (Manga); Catherine Battistone (Streamline) (English)
Portrayed by: Yoko Shimada
The wife of Ryuji Hanada and the most powerful woman in the Hakushin Society hierarchy. Following Ryuji's death, she ensnares Detective Nitta by managing to get compromising photos of them together taken, securing his cooperation in her scheme to locate Emu and avenge Ryuji's death, although she and Nitta quickly become lovers. Kimie and Nitta are stabbed in the chest by Freeman, but their lives are spared when Freeman forces them to accept his alibi that Yo Hinomura and Emu Hino committed suicide after killing Shimazaki over a past dispute. Later on, Kimie becomes a follower of Kumagaism and assists its leader Naiji Kumaga in his plot to seize control of the 108 Dragons by creating a clone of Freeman. Tasked by Kumaga to sleep with Freeman in order to learn his sexual habits and patterns to then pass them on to the clone, she subsequently falls in love with him and betrays Kumaga.
Nitta (新田)
Voiced by: Yusaku Yara (Japanese); Bob Sherman (Manga); Michael McConnohie (Streamline) (English)
Portrayed by: Tchéky Karyo
A police detective assigned to interrogate Emu after identifying Freeman as "Yo" during his assassination of Shudo Shimazaki. He becomes romantically involved with Kimie Hanada after she blackmails him for his cooperation to locate Freeman and Emu. He and Kimie are forced by Freeman to tell the press of Yo Hinomura and Emu Hino's suicide in exchange for their lives. Later in the series, Nitta joins Kimie in becoming a follower of Kumagaism. When he learns that Kimie betrayed Kumaga by falling in love with Freeman, Nitta holds her hostage and demands for the 108 Dragons to send them back to Japan. His demands fall on deaf ears, as members of the 108 Dragons quickly subdue and kill him.

Camorra

[edit]
Don Carleone (ドン・カルレオーネ, Don Karureōne)
Voiced by: Banjō Ginga (Japanese); Peter Marinker (Manga); Michael Forest (Streamline) (English)
Leader of the Camorra (カモラ, Kamora), one of the oldest and most powerful Italian Mafias in the world. With the aid of Bái-Yá Shàn and Elder Mercury, Don Carleone instigates a coup d'état to overthrow the 108 Dragons. When Don Carlone has his subordinates kill Elder Mercury and attempt to wipe out the entire hierarchy of the 108 Dragons, Freeman swiftly kills him, effectively crippling the Camorra.
Kitche (キッチェ)
Voiced by: Toshiko Fujita (Japanese); Shelley Thompson (Manga); Diane Michelle (Streamline) (English)
A female assassin of the Camorra and Don Carleone's lover who has excellent marksmanship with a .223 Calico. Of African descent, she disguises herself as a blond-haired white woman and stabs a 108 Dragons subordinate to force him to leave a trail for her to follow all the way to Freeman. Wearing a special titanium body suit that blocks knife attacks and emits a 50,000-volt current that shocks anyone who attempts to stab her, Kitche severely wounds Huáng Dé-Yuán so he can lead her to Freeman. After killing Huáng, Kitche engages Freeman in a knife fight on the 108 Dragons' submarine, but when she lures him into the water and electrocutes him with her body suit, she realizes that Freeman has slit her wrist and the seawater is accelerating her blood loss. Freeman kisses Kitche before she dies and sinks to the bottom of the ocean.

Askari

[edit]
Jigon (ジゴン)
Voiced by: Daisuke Gōri (Japanese); Seán Barrett (Manga); Mike Reynolds (Streamline) (English)
Leader of the Askari Group (アスカリ, Asukari) (also known as the "Horn of Africa" or "African Tusk" (アフリカの牙, Afurika no Kiba)), a nomadic terrorist group that instigates riots and political uprisings in the African continent. Naming himself after an African god, Jigon is a master of an onzil called the "Bird's Head". After killing Jigon's right-hand-man Shikebaro, Freeman follows Shikebaro's mistress Miranda towards Jigon's hideout before he plants a foot knife on Jigon's head. Jigon pulls out the knife and kills Miranda with it before succumbing to his wound.
Shikebaro (シケバロ)
Voiced by: Norio Wakamoto (Japanese); Gregory Snegoff (Streamline) (English)
Jigon's second-in-command in the Askari Group. Highly skilled in using the chakram, Shikebaro has personally assassinated 30 European and African VIPs. Freeman proposes for the 108 Dragons to eliminate the Askari Group after thwarting an airliner hijacking by one of Shikebaro's henchmen, but the elders vote against him. After the Askari Group sends an assassin to wipe out the elders, Freeman follows the trail of the scent of Shikebaro's ambergris musk cologne and kills him outside his hotel.
Bugnug (Anteater) (バグナグ, Bagunagu) / Dark Eyes (ダークアイ, Dāku Ai)
Voiced by: Yoshiko Sakakibara (Japanese); Nicolette McKenzie (Manga); Melanie MacQueen (Streamline) (English)
The secret leader of the Askari group, Bugnug is an exotic and muscular African beauty specializing in the mambele. She controls the organization through her lieutenants Jigon and Shikebaro. After Freeman kills Jigon and Shikebaro, Bugnug launches a surprise attack on him. Despite losing a lot of blood, Freeman wins her over in the middle of the fight, resulting in a truce and halt to the fighting between the 108 Dragons and Askari. Bugnug saves Freeman's life through a blood transfusion, as they both share the same blood type. Bugnug falls in love with Freeman, who gives her the name "Dark Eyes", although she knows that he is already married. Since then, the Askari have been a valuable ally to the 108 Dragons, and Bugnug occasionally assists Freeman on assassination missions.

Kumagaism

[edit]
Naiji Kumaga (熊我内耐, Kumaga Naiji)
Voiced by: Ichirō Nagai (Japanese); Douglas Blackwell (Manga); Mike Reynolds (Streamline) (English)
Leader of the Kumagaism (熊我教, Kumaga-kyō) cult. He has professional wrestler Oshu Tohgoku abduct Freeman to clone him to make the 108 Dragons part of his cult and arm them with 1,000 Type 100 submachine guns to take over Japan. Kumaga also has Kimie seduce Freeman for his clone to learn more about him. Little does Kumaga know that Kimie allows Freeman to switch places with his clone, letting Freeman play along with Kumaga's scheme until he traps Kumaga in the 108 Dragons' headquarters. Kumaga recites the "curse of the bear" chant to immobilize Freeman, but he is decapitated by Emu and the Muramasa.
Oshu Tohgoku (雄首冬獄, Oshu Tōgoku)
Voiced by: Ryūzaburō Ōtomo (Japanese); Bill Bailey (Manga); Tony Clay (Streamline) (English)
A championship pro wrestler, Oshu is a massive, powerful man, standing over two meters tall. It is implied that Oshu secretly assists the Hakushin Society with its killings, and fights with a large dagger designed in the sword breaker style. Oshu is also a member of Kumagaism, and is instrumental in Kumaga's plot to kidnap Freeman to clone him, nearly killing Bugnug after capturing and raping her. During Freeman's captivity, he comes to develop respect for him, and does not reveal that Freeman had successfully converted Kimie to his side and was posing as the Freeman clone. In a death match with Freeman, his superior size and strength are defeated by Freeman's agility. After Bugnug hits him with a thrown knife as the coup de grâce, Oshu asks that the 108 Dragons adopt his family before committing suicide.

Kidnappers Organization (K.O.)

[edit]
Nina Heaven (ニーナ・ヘブン, Nīna Hebun)
Voiced by: Gara Takashima (Japanese); Pamela West (Manga); Wendee Lee (Streamline) (English)
A blond-haired woman who leads the Kidnappers Organization (キッドナッパーズ, Kiddonappāzu). She first learned about Freeman a few years ago during one of his earlier assassinations at a hotel, where she worked as a receptionist and took photos of him during the hit. Ever since that day, she has been sexually obsessed with Freeman. Ten years later, Nina uses the K.O. to lure him in by kidnapping a prominent family in Los Angeles' Chinatown. She succeeds in capturing Freeman, but she is unable to have sex with him due to his lack of interest in her. Meanwhile, Emu leads a mission to rescue her husband and the hostages, as well as to wipe out K.O. for its audacity to attack the 108 Dragons. Nina is killed in the aftermath of this incident. (Note: In the manga, Nina is decapitated by a grenade during the assault. In the anime, Nina attempts to shoot Freeman, but he stabs her in the heart before throwing her off a cliff.)
Larry Buck (ラリー・バック, Rarī Bakku)
Voiced by: Seizō Katō (Japanese); Graydon Gould (Manga); Wally Burr (Streamline) (English)
A large, muscular, American ex-soldier with a tattoo of the Japanese deity, Kishimojin, on his back who serves as the leader of the ex-Green Berets in the Kidnappers Organization. During his tour of duty in the Vietnam War, he was somehow rendered impotent. Within K.O., Larry has found a purpose in life to create a place where people like himself can belong to - a country for soldiers. Larry is pitted against Freeman in a duel to the death by Nina and is eventually slain by the assassin.
Lucky Boyd
Voiced by: Kōji Totani (Japanese); Allan Wenger (Manga); Gregory Snegoff (Streamline) (English)
A member of the Kidnappers Organization. He is killed by Bái-Yá Shàn during the 108 Dragons' assault on K.O.'s island.

Others

[edit]
Boss Wong
Voiced by: Osamu Saka (Japanese); John Blythe (Manga); Simon Prescott (Streamline) (English)
Leader of the Wong family, which has controlled Chinatown in Los Angeles for over 60 years. When the Kidnappers Organization abducts his first daughter and her family, Wong calls Freeman to rescue them.
Wonshaku
Voiced by: Mika Doi (Japanese); Shelley Thompson (Manga); Diane Michelle (Streamline) (English)
The second daughter of Boss Wong. Wonshaku works for The Pentagon in the computer strategy division. Because of this, she is called upon by Wong to assist Freeman in learning more about the Kidnappers Organization. Wonshaku is wounded in an ambush staged by the K.O.; this attack reveals the fact that the K.O.'s true target is Freeman. While Freeman is captured by the K.O., Wonshaku plants a virus in the K.O.'s mainframe before flying to their island to infiltrate their base and recover her sister's family, but her cover is blown when her niece Woh Pei recognizes her.
Tsunaike (綱池)
Voiced by: Bin Shimada (Japanese); Robert Glenister (Manga); John Swasey (ADV) (English)
A young wakagashira (underboss) of a yakuza group, Tsunaike harbors ambitions to eventually become the leader of all crime syndicates of Asia. His plan to do this involves igniting a gang war between the yakuza and the 108 Dragons, then taking over their operations with the help of his contacts in the Russian Connection, a Russian mafia. Tsunaike is assisted in his efforts by Tanya, a beautiful Russian assassin who is also his lover. Attacking both yakuza and members of the 108 Dragons, Tsunaike gradually becomes bolder and eventually sets a trap for Freeman. However, he and Tanya severely underestimate Freeman's abilities as an assassin, and both are killed.
Tanya
Voiced by: Megumi Terase (Japanese); Susan Sheridan (Manga); Sian Taylor (ADV) (English)
A beautiful Russian woman with short, bobbed hair and pale skin, Tanya is a highly skilled assassin affiliated with the Russian Connection. Originally sent to aid Tsunaike in his efforts to take over the yakuza operations in Japan, Tanya eventually becomes Tsunaike's lover and faithful follower. She takes part in several missions to eliminate high-level yakuza and 108 Dragons leaders on Tsunaike's behalf. When Tsunaike sets a trap to kill Freeman, Tanya challenges the assassin to a duel and is killed.
Choko Tateoka (舘岡眺湖, Tateoka Chōko)
Voiced by: Kaneto Shiozawa (Japanese); William Dufris (Manga); Vic Mignogna (ADV) (English)
A master assassin nicknamed the "Troubadour of Darkness" (闇の吟遊詩人, Yami no Gin'yūshijin). Tateoka ambushes Freeman with his bladed getas laced with poison. Despite being wounded and poisoned, Freeman kills Tateoka by shoving his head under a light post.

Media

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Manga

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The manga was published in nine volumes, from 29 March 1986 to 1988 (Weekly Big Comic Spirits 1986 #7 to 1988 #21).

Original video animation

[edit]

The manga was adapted into a six-part anime OVA series by Toei Animation that was released from September 1988 to January 1994.[2][3]

An English dub of the OVA was produced and distributed on VHS by Manga Entertainment in the United Kingdom. In the United States, Streamline Pictures produced an English dub of the first five episodes, which were released by Orion Home Video on individual VHS tapes from January 1994 to February 1995.[4] Streamline also planned an English dub of the sixth episode, but Orion declined to have it produced.[5] Between 2003 and 2004, A.D. Vision (ADV) released all six episodes to DVD across three separate sets and a combined set entitled Crying Freeman: The Complete Collection.[6] ADV used the Streamline dub for the first five episodes and produced an English dub for the sixth, with Streamline leads Steve Bulen and Edie Mirman reprising their roles as Freeman and Emu. Discotek Media reissued the Complete Collection boxed set on February 22, 2011.[7] In 2023, Discotek released the OVA to Blu-ray with the Manga and Streamline/ADV dubs.[8]

No. Title English title(s) Release date
1"Crying Freeman"
Transliteration: "Kuraingu Furīman" (Japanese: クライング フリーマン)		"Portrait of a Killer"[a]September 1988 (1988-09)
Emu Hino, a lonely and beautiful Japanese artist witnesses a Chinese man killing three men, then sees his eyes well up with tears. He introduces himself as Yō, then leaves, but she later sees the same man assassinate Shudo Shimazaki, leader of the Japanese Hakushin yakuza as he was concerned about the distribution of narcotics in Japan by the 108 Dragons, a powerful Chinese mafia. She gives Yō's name to the police, but when Yō arrives later at her house to kill her, he grants her wish to make love to her first. During the night, yakuza led by Ryuji "The Blade" Hanada, enters Emu's home to force her to disclose the name of the killer, critically injuring her. Freeman and Koh kill the yakuza and shoot Kimie Hanada, then take Emu to the hospital, telling her to meet him later at his family's Hinomura Pottery. There he tells her the story of how the 108 Dragons turned him into the assassin, Crying Freeman. He takes revenge on the yakuza and then is severely punished by the 108 Dragons for refusing to kill Emu. He implements an elaborate plan for them to appear to be killed in the destruction of the Hinomura Pottery. During the confrontation, he stabs both Hanada and Detective Nitta near their hearts but spares their lives on the condition that they spread a story of Yō and Emu's deaths.
2"Fusei Kakurei"
(Japanese: 風声鶴唳)		"The Enemy Within" (UK)
"Shades of Death Part I" (US)		August 1989 (1989-08)
In Hong Kong, Yō and Emu marry in a Chinese wedding ceremony and are given the new names Long Tai Yang and Hu Qing Lan. When they are nominated as the organization's successors, Freeman is attacked by a disguised assassin indicating a traitor within their ranks. They travel to Macau in search of evidence and track down Chen, a mask-maker, but Chen is killed before they can trace his employers. Later, in the rice fields, granddaughter Bai Ya Shan arrives, demanding leadership of the 108 Dragons. She kidnaps her grandparents and takes them to Wolon Island, daring Freeman to rescue them. Freeman and Koh suspects Don Carleone's Camorra Organization is behind Bai Ya Shan. Freeman lets himself be captured and beaten and finds that 108 Dragons elder member Planet Mercury is behind Bai Ya Shan, and is supported by Camorra's Organization. After they reveal themselves, Freeman attacks and kills them all. He then defeats Bai Ya Shan and establishes his control over the organization. Later Don Carleone's female companion Kiche seeks revenge for the Camorra Organization. She shoots Koh and follows him to Freeman then engages Freeman in a duel with knives on the deck of the 108 Dragons submarine. Freeman kills her, but Koh eventually dies from his bullet wound and is subsequently buried at sea.
3"Martial Vows"
Transliteration: "Hiyoku Renri" (Japanese: 比翼連理)		"Retribution" (UK)
"Shades of Death Part II" (US)		May 1990 (1990-05)
As a test of her fortitude, Emu is kidnapped by 108 Dragon operatives, tortured and threatened with rape, but she does not break, confirming her position beside Freeman. While flying to Japan with Bai Ya Shan, Freeman's plane is hijacked by Askari agents, however after landing, Freeman and Bai Ya Shan kill the revolutionary terrorist hijackers. They follow a survivor stabbed with a tracking device to Shikebaro's base and return to their headquarters and discuss their strategy. During the 108 Dragon meeting a gunman burst in and kills the leaders named after the Ten Planets as they sacrifice themselves to save Freeman. The 108 Dragons hold a funeral ceremony for the dead leaders, including an empty coffin for Freeman. Freeman then poses as a hair stylist and seduces Miranda, Shikebaro's lover and then kills him. Freeman then follows her to Jigon's mansion and kills him but not before Jigon kills Miranda. As he leaves, Freeman is attacked by Bugnug, the real leader of the Askari. He wounds, but does not kill her, and they form an alliance, and he calls her Dark Eyes. Meanwhile, Emu acquires the ancient Muramasa, the cursed Sword of Darkness. She and Bai Ya Shan take it to master swordsman Professor Gouken Ishida at Kowloon Castle, to teach her how to use it if it accepts her. A local gang, the Seiraitan threaten them, but she delays them until Freeman arrives, the dragon and tiger united and the Seiraitan accept them as leaders.
4"Oshu Tohgoku"
(Japanese: 雄首冬獄)		"The Impersonator" (UK)
"A Taste of Revenge" (US)		September 1991 (1991-09)
After a shoot-out, Dark Eyes is confronted by the massive and powerful Oshu Tohgoku who rapes her and dumps her in the sea. Freeman finds and rescues her and plots his revenge on Tohgoku and the Hakushin. He challenges Tohgoku at a public wrestling match but loses. The Hakushin take him to their headquarters where Master Naiji has a clone prepared to replace him at 108 Dragons. Kimie Hanada is ordered to sleep with Freeman to reveal his secrets, but he convinces her to support him instead. Freeman then switches places with his clone who is killed by Tohgoku on Naiji's orders. Thinking Freeman is the clone, Naiji sends him with Tohgoku and Kimie to take control of 108 Dragons. Naji then travels to 108 Dragons headquarters, but Freeman reveals that he's still alive and in control. Sensing defeat, Naiji invokes a spell, causing everyone except Emu to collapse, and she then uses the Muramasa to kill him. Tohgoku challenges Freeman to a match which Freeman wins, but he leaves it to Dark Eyes to take her revenge and deliver the killing stroke with her throwing blade.
5"Kishimojin of the Battlefield"
Transliteration: "Senjō no Kishimojin" (Japanese: 戦場の鬼子母神)		"The Hostages" (UK)
"Abduction in Chinatown" (US)		October 1992 (1992-10)
In Los Angeles Chinatown, Mr Wong asks Freeman for help to retrieve his kidnapped daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter after already paying the ransom to the Kidnapper Organization (K.O.). Mr Wong's second daughter, Wonshaku, helps by accessing Pentagon databases to gather information. When an attempt is made on their lives, Freeman suspects he is the real target and takes the place of a traitor in the Wong group who is picked up by a skyhook. He is taken to K.O. headquarters and greeted by Larry Buck, also known as Kishimoji. Freeman meets Nina Heaven who declares her desire for him and wants him as a partner, but he refuses. Meanwhile, Wonshaku introduces a virus into the K.O. network and Bai Ya Shan lands from the sea to rescue the hostages, but unfortunately, she is captured. Separately, Wonshaku tries to free the hostages by impersonating a US Colonel, but she is also captured. To entertain her troops, Nina arranges a fight between Freeman and Larry Buck, after first inciting her troops with an erotic dance. Emu and Dark Eyes infiltrate the camp to rescue everyone, and their plan is successful. As they leave Nina tries to shoot Freeman, but he kills her while giving her a parting kiss.
6"Final: The Light in the Darkness"
Transliteration: "Kanketsu-hen: Mumyō ryū sha" (Japanese: 完結篇 無明流射)		"The Russian Connection"January 1994 (1994-01)
Russian mafia boss Nicholaiev and Japanese yakuza Tsunaike plan to cut out the 108 Dragons trade and Nicholaiev makes an offer to Tanya to help him. Meanwhile, Freeman sees a woman pass in a car he remembers from his past. When Freeman learns that 108 Dragons business is being squeezed, he travels to Japan. Japanese Boss Watajima raises his concern about offending the 108 Dragons with Tsunaike. Meanwhile, an unknown group carries out strikes against the Japanese yakuza, and the leaders suspect 108 Dragons are responsible. They consider settling with them, but a Tsunaike accuses the old leaders of cowardice. They agree to hire assassin Choko Tateoka to kill Freeman, while Tsunaike privately hopes to take over following the bloodbath that would ensue. Tateoka ambushes Freeman but fails and is killed. Freeman confronts his contacts in Japan who deny dealing with the Russians. Tsunaike implements his plan with Tanya to wipe out the yakuza leaders and blame it on the 108 Dragons. Freeman agrees to meet Tsunaike on the docks, even though he suspects a trap. When the 108 Dragons submarine destroys a ship arriving in port with 3,000 Russian mafia men, Freeman goes after Tsunaike, killing Tanya first. He finds Tsunaike holding the woman from his past as a hostage, they fight and Tsunaike is killed, freeing the innocent woman who does not recognize Freeman.

Notes

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References

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Crying Freeman

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Crying Freeman is a Japanese manga series written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami, originally serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits magazine from 1986 to 1988, spanning nine tankōbon volumes in Japanese and later collected into five English-language editions by Dark Horse Comics.[1] The story centers on Yō Hinomura, a talented Japanese ceramics artist who is kidnapped by the 108 Dragons, a powerful Chinese triad organization, brainwashed through hypnosis, and transformed into their elite assassin known as "Crying Freeman" due to the tears he involuntarily sheds after each killing, symbolizing his lingering remorse despite his compelled obedience.[1] Regarded as a classic of adult graphic fiction, the series explores themes of gangland warfare, redemption, and forbidden love, particularly through Freeman's relationship with Emu Hino, a witness to one of his assassinations who becomes his wife and ally, as he rises to leadership within the 108 Dragons while confronting rival gangs and internal betrayals.[1][2] The manga has been adapted into multiple formats, including a six-part original video animation (OVA) series produced by Toei Animation from 1988 to 1994, which faithfully captures the source material's intense action and dramatic storytelling across episodes that adapt key arcs like Portrait of a Killer and The Killing Ring.[[2] It has also been adapted into two Hong Kong live-action films in 1990 and 1991, as well as a 1995 live-action film directed by Christophe Gans, starring Mark Dacascos as the titular assassin, Julie Condra as his love interest, and Tchéky Karyo as a pursuing Interpol agent, blending high-octane action with romantic elements in a French-Canadian production that adapts the manga's initial storyline.[3] These adaptations, while varying in fidelity and reception, have contributed to Crying Freeman's enduring cult status among fans of mature seinen manga and anime, highlighting Koike's signature blend of yakuza and triad intrigue and Ikegami's detailed, sensual artwork.[4]

Creation and publication

Creators

Kazuo Koike (1936–2019), a prolific Japanese manga writer and educator, served as the primary writer for Crying Freeman. Born in Tokyo, Koike began his career in the 1960s and became renowned for his contributions to seinen manga, emphasizing themes of violence, honor, passion, and societal conflict drawn from historical samurai lore and crime narratives.[5] His notable prior works include Lone Wolf and Cub (1970–1976, illustrated by Goseki Kojima), a landmark samurai epic that explored revenge and feudal Japan, and Lady Snowblood (1972–1973, illustrated by Kazuo Kamimura), which blended historical revenge with yakuza elements.[6] In Crying Freeman, Koike focused on scripting the protagonist's internal turmoil, crafting the assassin's involuntary tears as a poignant symbol of lost humanity amid forced obedience, which deepened the emotional layers of the crime thriller genre.[7] Ryoichi Ikegami (born 1944), the illustrator for Crying Freeman, brought a hyper-realistic visual style to the series, marked by intricate detailing in action sequences and sensual portrayals of characters. Born in Fukui Prefecture, Ikegami debuted in the kashihon rental market at age 17 and gained prominence in the gekiga (dramatic graphic novel) scene by his early 20s.[8] His previous collaborations with Koike included Aiueo Boy (1973), a gritty coming-of-age story, as well as Otokogumi and Kizuoibito, which honed their synergy in blending tough masculinity with dramatic tension.[8] Ikegami's artwork in Crying Freeman amplified the narrative through dynamic paneling that captured fluid motion in assassinations and erotic undertones in character designs, such as elaborate yakuza-inspired tattoos, enhancing the visual storytelling of power and vulnerability.[7] The partnership between Koike and Ikegami originated in the early 1970s amid Japan's gekiga boom, with their first joint project Aiueo Boy establishing a creative dynamic where Koike supplied scenario outlines and Ikegami handled detailed illustrations.[6] By 1986, when Crying Freeman was conceived, Koike pitched the core idea to Ikegami over an enthusiastic phone call: an assassin compelled to cry after each kill, reflecting a brainwashed enforcer's tragic pathos.[7] Their process involved Koike delivering scripts—sometimes under tight deadlines—forcing Ikegami to storyboard rapidly while infusing realism drawn from observations of yakuza culture and literature, resulting in a seamless fusion of emotional depth and visceral action.[7] This collaboration built on Koike's earlier exploration of secret societies in his manga Duet, where the 108 Dragons triad first appeared as a shadowy group; for Crying Freeman, Koike reimagined them as a formidable Chinese criminal organization rooted in triad folklore and assassin archetypes, providing the foundational antagonist force without prior plot elaboration.[5]

Manga serialization and releases

Crying Freeman was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits seinen manga magazine from April 14, 1986 (issue 7), to May 2, 1988 (issue 20), spanning 103 chapters written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Ryoichi Ikegami.[9][10] The series was collected into nine tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan's Big Comics imprint, with the first volume released on January 1, 1987, and subsequent volumes appearing through 1988.[11] A compact bunkobon edition condensing the content into five volumes followed in 1989, offering a more portable format for readers.[12] Digital versions of the original tankōbon are available through platforms like BookWalker as of 2020.[13] In English, Viz Media published an initial adaptation starting in 1990, releasing portions in a flipped left-to-right format through the late 1990s, though it remained incomplete.[14] Dark Horse Comics issued the complete series in five deluxe collected volumes from March 2006 to 2007, preserving the original right-to-left reading order and including over 400 pages per volume for broader accessibility.[15] These editions are also available digitally via platforms like Amazon Kindle. Internationally, Glénat Éditions released a French translation in the early 1990s, followed by a five-volume Perfect Edition starting October 4, 2023, featuring enhanced formatting and new cover art.[16] The manga has seen limited print runs in other languages, such as German, but specific circulation figures remain unavailable; it is recognized as a seminal work in the seinen genre with enduring reprints in Japan due to its cultural impact.[17]

Story and characters

Plot summary

Yō Hinomura, a talented Japanese potter, is abducted by the 108 Dragons, a powerful Chinese crime syndicate, after refusing to surrender incriminating photographs of their activities. Through intense hypnosis and conditioning, he is transformed into their elite assassin, known as Crying Freeman, compelled to execute targets flawlessly while weeping in remorse for each life taken, reflecting his lingering humanity and internal torment.[18][19] In the early stages of the story, Crying Freeman undertakes his initial high-stakes missions, including assassinations that draw international attention and solidify his fearsome reputation within the criminal underworld. His encounters with rival organizations, such as the Italian Camorra and the Japanese Hakushin Society, escalate tensions, forcing him to navigate deadly betrayals and ambushes while grappling with his fractured identity.[20] The narrative progresses into its middle arcs with the introduction of a pivotal romance: during one assignment, Freeman meets Emu Hino, a witness to his killing who becomes infatuated and pursues him, leading to their marriage within the Dragons' strict hierarchy after she endures rigorous trials. As Freeman rises in the organization's ranks, the couple faces family-oriented challenges intertwined with syndicate duties, including investigations into internal threats and alliances with figures like the defeated rival Bái Yá Shàn, who swears fealty.[20][21] In the later arcs, power struggles intensify as Freeman confronts formidable adversaries, such as the wrestler Oshu Togoku in a brutal showdown and efforts to obtain an antidote for a poisoned ally's child, amid rising impersonations and existential threats to the 108 Dragons. The climax unfolds through a web of betrayals and high-level confrontations, culminating in a resolution where Freeman seeks ultimate liberation from his hypnotic bonds, achieving a thematic closure on themes of freedom and redemption.[20]

Characters

Yō Hinomura, known by his codename Crying Freeman or Lóng Tài-Yáng (Dragon Sun), is the protagonist of the series, originally a talented Japanese potter renowned for his artistic sensitivity. Kidnapped by the Chinese triad organization known as the 108 Dragons, he undergoes intense hypnosis and training that transforms him into their elite assassin, with his body covered in intricate dragon tattoos symbolizing his new identity.[22][23][24] The hypnosis compels him to execute missions without resistance, activating upon a flute melody that overrides his will, while his innate empathy forces him to weep uncontrollably after each kill, earning him his moniker.[23][25] Highly skilled in combat, Freeman excels with knives, firearms, and improvised weapons, employing heightened senses to detect threats and infiltrate enemy lines undetected.[26] Throughout the narrative, his relationship with Emu Hino awakens dormant resistance to the hypnosis, propelling an arc where he gradually reclaims his agency, ultimately challenging the organization's control and assuming leadership to pursue personal redemption.[27][26] Emu Hino serves as the female lead and Freeman's devoted partner, a wealthy, lonely 29-year-old Japanese artist who inadvertently witnesses one of his assassinations during a mob hit. Rather than fleeing or succumbing to fear, she captures his tear-streaked face in a portrait, compelling him to spare her life due to her artistic insight into his tormented soul.[22][28][29] Intrigued and drawn to his vulnerability, Emu chooses to accompany Freeman back to the 108 Dragons' stronghold, where she undergoes tattooing with tigers—marking her integration into the group—and marries him, adopting the name Hǔ Qīng-Lán.[22][18] In her role within the organization, she becomes a fierce protector and strategist, often intervening in threats against Freeman, symbolizing enduring love and humanity amidst the pervasive violence and moral ambiguity of their world.[30][27] The 108 Dragons, a hierarchical Chinese mafia syndicate, feature key members who enforce its operations and interact closely with Freeman as their premier enforcer. The organization is led by the Father Dragon and Mother Tiger (Hǔ Fēng-Líng), who oversee the group from seclusion and use hypnotic flute signals to command Freeman while maintaining ironclad loyalty among subordinates through fear and tradition.[18] Prominent subordinates include Huáng Dé-Yuán, who rises as Freeman's steadfast right-hand man after the latter assumes leadership, demonstrating unwavering loyalty by sacrificing himself in battles against rivals like the Camorra.[31] Mother Tiger, a former leader, trains Freeman and Emu, adopting them into the fold and playing a pivotal role in their integration. Their interactions with Freeman evolve from viewing him as a controlled weapon to respecting him as a potential successor, highlighting themes of hierarchy and reluctant allegiance.[18] Rival figures from opposing criminal syndicates pose constant threats to Freeman and the 108 Dragons, each defined by distinct traits and motivations. Shido Shimazaki leads the Hakushin Society, a massive Japanese yakuza with 26,000 members controlling legitimate businesses and prohibiting drug trade, positioning him as a traditionalist foe who targets the Dragons for encroaching on his territory.[18] The Camorra, an Italian assassin network and the Dragons' primary adversary, is headed by a sadistic boss who orchestrates brutal attempts on Freeman's life, employing deception like bribed tattoo artists to embed lethal traps, reflecting their ruthless and vengeful nature.[18][26] The Askari, a mercenary African syndicate, operates under the true command of Bugnug, a muscular and exotic warrior skilled with the mambele throwing knife, who manipulates figureheads Jigon and Shikebaro; her pragmatic, alliance-seeking approach leads to a tense partnership with Freeman after their initial confrontation.[18][32] Leaders of Kumagaism, a shadowy Japanese extremist group, embody fanatical nationalism, clashing with Freeman over ideological purity, while the Kidnappers Organization (K.O.), a mercenary group led by the obsessive Nina Heaven, serves as an opportunistic antagonist in territorial disputes.[18] Minor characters, including family members like Emu's affluent relatives who disapprove of her choices but provide occasional safe havens, victims such as betrayed yakuza underlings who reveal syndicate secrets before their demise, and allies like the tattooed operative who mentors Emu in combat, play pivotal roles in advancing key plot tensions through brief but impactful encounters that underscore Freeman's internal conflicts. Bái Yá Shàn, granddaughter of the 108 Dragons' leaders and initial challenger to Freeman's position, becomes a key ally after defeat.[18][33]

Adaptations

Original video animations

The Original Video Animations (OVAs) for Crying Freeman were produced by Toei Animation, spanning six episodes released in Japan from September 1988 to January 1994, with each installment running approximately 50 minutes.[34] The project involved multiple directors across volumes, including Daisuke Nishio for the first episode and Jōhei Matsuura for the third, alongside animation directors such as Kōichi Arai for volumes 1-2 and Satoshi Urushihara for volumes 3-4.[34] The release timeline began with the first OVA in September 1988, followed by the second in August 1989, the third in May 1990, the fourth in September 1991, the fifth in October 1992, and the sixth in January 1994; these were initially distributed on VHS and LaserDisc formats in Japan.[35] The OVAs adapt the early arcs of the source manga by Kazuo Koike and Ryoichi Ikegami, focusing on protagonist Yo Hinomura's transformation into the assassin Crying Freeman and his conflicts with the 108 Dragons syndicate, while incorporating amplified action sequences for visual impact and character designs closely mirroring Ikegami's detailed, realistic style.[34] Later manga volumes and their extended plot developments are omitted, limiting the adaptation to the initial story phases.[36] Internationally, the series received English dubs in the 1990s, with Streamline Pictures handling episodes 1-5 and ADV Films producing a dub for episode 6; VHS distributions occurred via Manga Entertainment in the UK and US, though UK releases underwent BBFC-mandated cuts for violence and nudity.[37][38] ADV Films issued DVD collections in 2003 and 2004, combining the dubs.[39] In 2023, Discotek Media released an uncut Blu-ray edition in North America, featuring both English dubs, Japanese audio, and subtitles.[40] Key Japanese voice actors included Toshio Furukawa as Yo Hinomura/Crying Freeman and Chiharu Kataishi as Emu Hino/Hǔ Qīng-Lán.[34] In the Streamline/ADV English dubs, Steve Bulen voiced Freeman, while Edie Mirman portrayed Emu.[41]

Live-action films

The earliest live-action adaptation of Crying Freeman was the 1990 Hong Kong film Killer's Romance (also known as A Killer's Romance), directed by Phillip Ko and produced by Movie Impact. The movie stars Simon Yam as the assassin protagonist (a loose analog to Freeman), who falls in love with a woman he is supposed to kill, with elements of triad intrigue and action. With a runtime of 90 minutes, it condenses the manga's themes into a fast-paced Hong Kong action-romance, emphasizing gunfights and romance over the hypnotic brainwashing aspect.[42] Another 1990 Hong Kong adaptation, The Dragon from Russia, directed by Clarence Fok and produced by Cinema City Entertainment, stars Sam Hui as Yao Lung (the Freeman character), a man kidnapped by the 108 Dragons triad and brainwashed into an assassin who cries after each kill, with Maggie Cheung as his childhood friend May and Nina Li Chi as a key ally. Filmed primarily in Hong Kong with some scenes in Russia-inspired settings, the production emphasized high-octane martial arts sequences choreographed by Yuen Tak, blending explosive gunfights and wire-fu action typical of Category III Hong Kong cinema. The plot focuses on Freeman's early missions, including his training and initial hits against rival gangs, while incorporating triad loyalty themes central to the manga's underworld dynamics, though in a runtime of just 94 minutes.[43] It premiered in Hong Kong on August 3, 1990, and received a limited international release on VHS through distributors like Mei Ah Entertainment, achieving moderate success in the Asian market but limited visibility elsewhere due to its loose adaptation status. The 1995 live-action film, titled Crying Freeman, was an international co-production between France, Canada, and Japan, directed by Christophe Gans in his feature debut. Shot on location in Vancouver, British Columbia, starting in October 1994, the $6 million production starred Mark Dacascos as Yo Hinomura/Freeman, Julie Condra as Emu O'Hara (the witness who becomes his love interest), and supporting actors including Byron Mann as Koh and Tchéky Karyo as Detective Netah. Gans drew on Hong Kong action influences, particularly from John Woo, for its choreography, featuring stylish slow-motion shootouts and acrobatic fights that highlight Freeman's reluctant lethality. With a runtime of 102 minutes, the film condenses the manga's introductory arc into a self-contained thriller, adding Western elements like North American settings and a more psychological focus on Freeman's internal conflict.[44] It had a limited theatrical rollout in the US and Canada via Filmways Pictures starting September 13, 1995, followed by wider European releases, grossing approximately 627,579 tickets in France alone but underperforming globally with scant box office data for North America, estimated under $1 million. Home video distribution was handled by companies like Imperial Entertainment in the US for VHS, later transitioning to DVD and Blu-ray editions from labels such as Unearthed Films; as of November 2025, it remains available on physical media like Blu-ray but lacks major streaming options on platforms such as Netflix or Prime Video.[45] Both Killer's Romance and The Dragon from Russia deviate from the source material to suit their cinematic formats and cultural contexts, staying truer to triad intrigue but truncating narratives for faster paces and incorporating local genre elements like humor and martial arts spectacle. The 1995 version streamlines the plot by omitting much of the manga's eroticism and episodic structure, shifting toward a streamlined thriller tone with heightened romantic tension and Westernized character motivations, such as Emu's American background, while retaining the core premise of a hypnotized assassin's tears. These changes reflect the films' efforts to appeal to local audiences, resulting in varied blends of action, romance, and violence.[44][43]

Themes and reception

Themes and analysis

The manga Crying Freeman explores the central theme of freedom versus control through the protagonist Yo Hinomura's hypnotic conditioning by the 108 Dragons, a Chinese criminal syndicate that transforms him from a peaceful potter into their unwilling assassin, Lóng Tài-Yáng, stripping him of personal autonomy while implanting unbreakable obedience.[20] This metaphor underscores the tension between individual agency and external domination, as Hinomura's internal resistance manifests in his ritual of crying after each kill, symbolizing profound remorse and a lingering humanity amid enforced violence.[20] The narrative further blends Japanese yakuza traditions with Chinese triad elements, portraying cross-cultural criminal alliances that highlight shared motifs of honor, betrayal, and hierarchical loyalty in organized crime.[20] Ikegami Ryoichi's realistic art style integrates graphic violence with eroticism, using intricate, detailed illustrations inspired by Golden Age American comics to juxtapose brutal action sequences against sensual depictions of bodies, often emphasizing the tattooed form of the protagonist as both a mark of control and aesthetic allure.[20] Female characters, such as Emu Hino, embody a duality in this framework: positioned as objects of desire within the male-centric narrative, they also exert agency through romantic bonds that challenge the protagonist's isolation, potentially representing empowerment amid objectification in a story driven by male wish-fulfillment.[20] This interplay serves as an escapist element, blending sensuality with the moral complexities of Hinomura's assassin role to appeal to adult readers.[20] The 108 Dragons organization symbolizes a fate-bound brotherhood, drawing from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin and its depiction of 108 outlaws rebelling against corruption, reimagined here as a powerful triad enforcing rigid codes of loyalty through tattoos that signify status and unbreakable bonds.[46] Rival groups represent broader global crime networks, underscoring themes of interconnected underworld power struggles.[20] Koike Kazuo's narrative critiques organized crime by portraying syndicates like the 108 Dragons as complex entities that both empower and dehumanize individuals, challenging simplistic stereotypes through Hinomura's moral conflicts between violent obligation and personal ethics.[20] Serialized during Japan's 1980s economic bubble, the story reflects anxieties of identity loss in a rapidly modernizing society, where prosperity coexists with the erosion of traditional selfhood under corporate and criminal pressures.[47] This cultural commentary aligns with Koike's broader oeuvre, using the protagonist's transformation to probe the psychological toll of societal conformity and globalized crime in late-20th-century Japan.[20]

Critical reception and legacy

Upon its serialization in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine from 1986 to 1988, Crying Freeman was well-received in Japan for the collaboration between writer Kazuo Koike and artist Ryoichi Ikegami, building on their reputation in the seinen demographic with its blend of mature themes, violence, and eroticism.[17][19] The series' nine-volume format contributed to its commercial viability, appealing to adult readers through Dark Horse Comics' English release in the 2000s, though specific sales data remains unavailable.[15] Modern retrospectives have offered mixed assessments, praising Ikegami's detailed artwork and Koike's pulpy storytelling while critiquing the narrative's self-indulgent focus on the author's fantasies over character depth. Jason Thompson, in a 2011 review, described it as a "nutty, ultraviolent sex-packed assassin odyssey" that ultimately fails Koike's own standards for strong manga due to its lack of relatable protagonists.[17] Despite this, it endures as a benchmark for 1980s seinen works exploring psychological compulsion and crime syndicates. The original video animations (OVAs), released from 1988 to 1994, received praise for their fluid action sequences and Ikegami-inspired visuals, such as the intricate dragon tattoo animations, but were criticized for uneven pacing and reliance on gratuitous gore and sex that overshadowed plot coherence.[48] Anime News Network's 2003 review noted the animation's choppiness and blocky designs as dated, grading the animation C+ but overall D- for subtitles and deeming it a "guilty pleasure" rather than a standout in the post-Akira era.[48] The 1995 live-action film directed by Christophe Gans garnered mixed reviews for its stylistic flair, with critics lauding the explosive action choreography and John Woo-esque gunfights, but faulting the convoluted scripting and Westernized deviations from the manga's ritualistic tone.[44] Moria Reviews highlighted its "dazzling" pyrotechnics and kinesis as a highlight of early 1990s Asian-influenced cinema, though it functions more as a series of set pieces than a cohesive narrative.[44] The 1990 Hong Kong adaptation, Killer's Romance, was noted in local cinema circles as a loose, tenuous take on the source material, competing with international versions amid the era's manga adaptation boom but lacking fidelity to the original's assassin archetype.[49] While Crying Freeman itself earned no major awards, Koike received the Eisner Award Hall of Fame induction in 2004, recognizing his broader impact including this series, and Ikegami's later work Heat won the 2001 Shogakukan Manga Award.[50] No records of bans or censorship appear in major markets, though its explicit content limited mainstream appeal. The series' legacy lies in popularizing the reluctant, hypnotized assassin trope in manga and anime, influencing crime narratives with moral ambiguity.[17] It shaped international views of Japanese pulp stories as blending eroticism with high-stakes action, contributing to the 1980s OVA boom and home video revolution.[47] By 2025, Crying Freeman maintains cult status, with ongoing discussions in podcasts like the November 2024 OSMcast episode and availability via Discotek Media's Blu-ray re-release, affirming its niche endurance among fans of mature seinen titles.[51][52] Actor Tchéky Karyo, who portrayed the pursuing Interpol agent in the 1995 film, passed away on November 2, 2025.[53]

References

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  2. Crying Freeman (TV Mini Series 1988–1994) - IMDb
  3. Crying Freeman (1995) - IMDb
  4. Crying Freeman - Rotten Tomatoes
  5. Kazuo Koike: A Retrospective On The Architect of Modern Manga
  6. Kazuo Koike - The Dark Horse Interview 3/3/06
  7. The Life and Works of Ryôichi Ikegami: Discussion with a gekiga ...
  8. Ryoichi Ikegami - Lambiek Comiclopedia
  9. Crying フリーマン – 池上遼一.database by Otoshibumi Craft Lab.
  10. クライングフリーマン - ナムウィキ
  11. クライング フリーマン（漫画） - マンガペディア
  12. Crying Freeman - MangaUpdates
  13. https://bookwalker.jp/de4b319e99-f447-40e5-904e-eea380c563d8/
  14. Crying Freeman, VIZ vs Dark Horse : r/MangaCollectors - Reddit
  15. Crying Freeman, Vol. 1: Kazuo Koike, Ryoichi Ikegami - Amazon.com
  16. Crying Freeman Perfect Edition - Tome 01 (French ... - Amazon.com
  17. Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Crying Freeman
  18. Crying Freeman | Research Starters - EBSCO
  19. Crying Freeman (manga) - Anime News Network
  20. Crying Freeman Volume 2 TPB - Dark Horse Comics
  21. Crying Freeman (Character) - Comic Vine
  22. Hinomura, Yo - Characters - MyAnimeList
  23. Crying Freeman | Comic Book Series | Fandom
  24. Crying Freeman - Absolute Anime
  25. Crying Freeman/Character - NamuWiki
  26. Crying Freeman (Manga) - TV Tropes
  27. Emu Hino - MyAnimeList.net
  28. Crying Freeman 1: Portrait of a Killer (1988) - Letterboxd
  29. Crying Freeman - Manga Wiki - Fandom
  30. Crying Freeman OVA (English Dubbed) - Season 1 - Prime Video
  31. Crying Freeman vol. 1 by Kazuo Koike on Apple Books
  32. Crying Freeman - Wikiwand
  33. Bugnug - Haruhi - Flamindemigod
  34. https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/crying-freeman-vol-3-crying-freeman-dark-horse_kazuo-koike_ryichi-ikegami/867124/
  35. Crying Freeman (OAV) - Anime News Network
  36. Crying Freeman (OAV) [Release dates] - Anime News Network
  37. Anime: Crying Freeman - AniDB
  38. Crying Freeman | Dubbing Wikia - Fandom
  39. Crying Freeman 4: The Hostages (Comparison: BBFC 18 - US VHS)
  40. Releases - Crying Freeman (OVA) - CrystalAcids.com
  41. Crying Freeman The Animated OVA Series Blu-ray - Discotek Media
  42. Crying Freeman (1994 TV Show) - Behind The Voice Actors
  43. Dragon From Russia (1990) - LoveHKFilm.com
  44. Crying Freeman (1995) - Moria Reviews
  45. Crying Freeman (1995) ( Crying Free man ) [ Blu-Ray ... - Amazon.com
  46. Tearful Assassin - Pop Cult Master
  47. Crying Freeman and the 1980s Home Video Revolution in Japan
  48. Crying Freeman DVD 1 - Review - Anime News Network
  49. KILLER'S ROMANCE (1990) review - Asian Film Strike
  50. Crying Freeman's Ryoichi Ikegami Launches New Manga Mini-Series
  51. OSMcast! Show #194: Crying Freeman
  52. Crying Freeman (Blu-ray) - Anime News Network
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