The editorial season is still very rich at Kana. Alongside dark fantasy-oriented titles like Oneira or philosophical anticipation stories like Darwin's Incident, there are tender little comedies like This Yakuza's guide to babysitting. Built on an incongruous concept, the story gives pride of place to the richness of the heart.
Your mission if you accept it
In the streets of Tokyo, the mention of his name makes you tremble. Kirishima is a young yakuza who has quickly risen through the ranks of his clan. His method: an immoderate use of violence to get what he wants. Gangsters, debtors, all know that crossing him means beatings, blood and a good dose of humiliation. The "demon" as Kirishima calls himself loves what he does and never hesitates to leave "an extra" to his customers. The day his boss summons him, Kirishima fears that he has gone too far and will have to part with one of his knuckles to be forgiven. However, if his boss is tired of fixing his nonsense, it is for another reason that he wants to see him. He has a very special mission to entrust to him. Caring for her 7-year-old daughter, Yaeka whose mother is very ill. Impossible to refuse for Kirishima who will have to reconcile his life as a thug with that of nanny. 
The Yakuza's guide to babysitting : the brute with a tender heart
This manga works like a real "buddy movie". On the one hand a relentless henchman, keen on violence and who makes it a point of honor to cultivate his image. On the other a little girl, not very talkative at first, sad and surrounded by spleen. Between the two opposing worlds, a trait will unite them. The obligation for Kirishima to make his protégé happy under penalty of suffering the wrath of his father. For this seasoned yakuza begins a new mission: to become a surrogate father. Because the life of the young Yaeka is complex. How to assume the profession of his parents; how to explain their absence from parent-teacher meetings; How to live under constant surveillance? These tasks are our young yakuza who will have to accomplish them by opening his heart to this young child. While trying to imagine what it's like to be a normal father. Quite a challenge for those who navigate in an underworld. 
Taking a child by the hand
This eminently comic tale makes the most of its crazy concept. Several moments confront the father's universe with that of normality. First at school where Kirishima has to explain that he is not the father, nor the stepfather. In the street when he crosses small strikes determined to exploit his new weakness. At the funfair, when he meets a dishonest trader. Each time, our yakuza must use his criminal talents without being unmasked by the girl. Very quickly the comedy is coupled with tenderness, a complicity between our two heroes. Kirishima discovers the soul if not of a father, at least of a referent adult who protects, listens, consoles. He becomes the model of Yaeka who finds in him all the affection she seeks in her father. The girl also becomes the redemption of our Yakuza by bringing out everything he seeks to hide. Small words, daily attentions embellish the life of our kingpin and even modify his way of acting: the devil sits down. 
The Yakuza's guide to babysitting: the best job in the world
Like the cult G.T.O, this manga turns anti-heroes into beautiful people. Kirishima is a bully who nevertheless understands, learns to understand what this child lacks. He, totally focused on his person, becomes a super nanny concerned about Yaeka's happiness. This imposed mission becomes a real passion. He then discovers the importance of parenting, the difficulties and consequences for the child of a deficient parent. This is what makes this first volume successful. It is that alongside the omnipresent humor served by an effective drawing, the author draws a portrait not always flattering of parenthood. Obsessed with his clan, Yaeka's father neglects his daughter to the point of entrusting her to one of his henchmen. A metaphor for irresponsibility, a modern scourge that G.T.O. Luckily would have it, he came across an angel disguised as a demon. This volume 1 of The Yakuza's guide to babysitting turns out to be a very nice surprise. Beyond its funny concept, it is a tender story around the notion of parenthood.
