Rose Guns Days

released on Feb 07, 2014

Rose Guns Days is set in an alternate world history where Japan loses World War II because of a natural disaster. Facing occupation by the American and Chinese armies and assorted mafia groups, Japanese people are thus on the verge of becoming a minority in their own country. The nightclub Primavera, owned by Rose Haibara, attempts to improve quality-of-life and preserve Japanese culture and in the process becomes an organized crime syndicate.


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I wanted to write a review for Rose Guns Days, because it's a wonderful story and I think it's a shame it isn't nearly as well known as Wtc. While I personally find Umineko more moving, RGD is arguably Ryukishi's best work, at least from a technical writing standpoint(is that the word for it?). Things like the pacing giving every scene the right amount of time, and virtually every character having significant development help to just make it a joy to read. The setting of a post-ww2 Tokyo where China and the U.S. have occupied Japan, while not as purely original as Higurashi and Umineko's gameboards, or the A3W world in Ciconia, is richly detailed.
RGD explores many themes, such as post-war reconstruction, coming to terms with your nation's past, retaining local culture in an increasingly modernized world. A consistent motif is the concept of leadership, and how people struggle through life for the sake of those they love, family and countrymen. It's explored through so many different angles, chiefly through our main cast, the Japanese Rebels of Club Primavera. You really get an excellent understanding of how and why the people of Tokyo, including those of Chinatown and the U.S. military, act the way they do, without justifying their wrong acts. I think the story also does a good job of acknowledging that Japan before had flaws as well. Ultimately, RGD explores these themes to emphasize how we're all human.
I know I rambled throughout this review, but I just wanted to talk about why Rose Guns Days is amazing. It's not a perfect story, as aspects of the Last "Season" can be considered underdeveloped, and some of the messages regarding gender can be considered dated at best(though the story does do a good job deconstructing societal misogyny during the time period, in its defense). However, RGD is a beautiful tale, showing how we can all heal, and move forward as a people after times of hardship, all through the backdrop of an incredibly stylish crime drama(with a divine soundtrack). Please read this story, it's a hell of a ride.



This review contains spoilers

I just finished Season 3, and just want to say: GABRIEL FUCK YOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU (you're so cool tho)

Look I adore WTC, Higurashi is a classic, Umineko is peak fiction, where the fuck is Cioncia Phase 2, etc

But god the charm of this VN wins me over bad, all of the characters are fun or interesting in their own little ways, the alt history bent of the story is fascinating, with tons of twists and turns, and a weird clicking mini-game to emulate fighting to boot. I felt the ending should have been a little stronger? though it does wrap itself up nicely at least if not tragically. I might edit this review later as it's been literal years since I read it, but I remember it being a really good time.

Awesome cast, incredible emotional peaks, full of unexpected twists... 1948 is a middling blemish on this otherwise incredibly enjoyable story.