Better late than never is the usual mantra with true OVAs these days (and by that I mean disc releases as opposed to “special episodes” which premiere vis streaming).  When they get subbed they get subbed, and – as was the case with this one – it’s usually far enough after the fact that the imperative to cover them quickly is gone.  This OVA has been out for a few weeks now but tonight was the first chance I’ve had to sit down and watch it.

The subject of this OVA was Golden Kamuy’s “Barato” arc – a tale set in a frontier town beset by a was between two proto-Yakuza gangs.  It features two of the many badasses in the GK cast (when it comes to side stories like this, you could randomly pick any two and be fine), Hijikata and Ogata.  One of the Nopperabo skins has made its way into the hands of the Hidoro Gang, causing an escalating war with the rival Umakichi gang because both sides believe the skin (lost at the poker table by a traveler passing through) is all that’s needed to find the Ainu gold.

I have no idea how long “Barato” was in the original manga, or where fans rank it in the overall pantheon, but it made a solid subject for a one-episode OVA.  It didn’t feel especially rushed (though there was obviously room for a second episode’s worth of material) and the feel of the piece was solidly Golden Kamuy in its most mainstream (read: action-driven and very violent) mode.  The townsfolk (including the gangs) are largely pawns in the eyes of both big fish with eyes on the real prize, with only the mild-mannered son of the Hidoro gang getting any real development.

Indeed, the most interesting part of the ep for me was seeing Nagakura really unleash his savage beast for the first time in the anime.  He’s resided mostly in Hijokata’s shadow as a seemingly mild-mannered old gentleman, but he was a Shinsengumi too – and I’m not sure I wouldn’t take him in a fair fight vs. Hijikata based on what we saw here.  This episode also gives us the beginning of Ogata’s partnership (of convenience) with Hijikata, and a sort of omake (whether it’s manga material I have no idea) featuring Sugimoto, Asirpa and Shiraishi meeting a legendary giant bird (which is apparently a real Hokkaido legend).

All in all it’s solid and entertaining Golden Kamuy – nothing exceptional or essential, but still head and shoulders above what most lesser series put out.  The second OVA is due in the spring, and given the pretty solid disc sales and the fact that there won’t be enough material for a third season anytime soon, I suspect we may see another OVA or two before two long.  Some of the arcs the anime skipped could be rolled into another season in order to make that happen sooner, but it sounds as if the bulk if it would now work better as stand-alone material.

On a side note: it’s a happy coincidence that I’m posting this on the same day that the ruling LDP introduced a bill to the Diet that will finally, after over a century of discrimination and dehumanization, recognize the Aine as an indigenous people and offer them some legal protection.  Too little too late to be sure, but it does represent a historical milestone to be sure.  If there’s one thing Japanese governments (especially this one) aren’t especially good at, it’s admitting wrongdoing.