Battle Royale

Synopsis

As part of a ruthless program by the totalitarian government, ninth-grade students are taken to a small isolated island with a map, food, and various weapons. Forced to wear special collars that explode when they break a rule, they must fight each other for three days until only one "winner" remains. The elimination contest becomes the ultimate in must-see reality television. (Source: Viz Media)

Background

Battle Royale was published in English by Viz Media on February 26, 2003, and was reprinted under its Haikasoru imprint on November 17, 2009, and April 1, 2014. The novel received a live-action film the year after its release in 2000 and became one of the year's highest-grossing films despite being condemned by members of Japan's National Diet on grounds of being harmful to the youth. A second film was released in 2003 under the title Battle Royale II: Requiem.

Characters

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