Future Diary 1 by Esuno Sakae (2009, Paperback)

I read it at the bookstore. I heard about this fantasy/horror manga from Wikipedia. The plot sounded neat with it Battle Royale-like story with cell phones. I decided to read it for fun.

Future Diary is a story about Yukerita, a lonely elementary or junior high student (not really sure) who constanly writes a diary on his cell phone. One day he finds out that his cell phone can predict the future. He is happy at first since he can use it to gain fortune in his life but then it reveals his death by a serial killer. He is saved by creepy/crazy classmate, Yuno, who knows of the phone's secret.

After that, he is summoned to a meeting by Deus, a friend who Yukerita thought was part of his imagnition but is really a god. Deus selected 12 people to participate in a fight to the death contest. The survivor of the contest would be Deus's successor as a new God. However they don't know who the opponents are. To find their opponents,kill and survive, the people must use their cell phone that can give info. about the future as clues and stragety. However the diary haves limitations of info based on personality of the phone owner (such as Yuno, who haves a crush on Yukerita, haves only info on him) and if the phone is destroyed, the person loses his wife also. Yukerita nervously allies with Yuno to survive the game.

Sakae pulls no punches when it comes to the series violence. soome diarists are willing to have innocent bystanders killed or people unwittingly help in this twisted game of survival and making it more horrifying. The reader is left wondering what new horrors await the characters and those around him.

Sakae is also very believable with the character of Yukerita, who is scared/sweating nervously, wondering how he is able to survive/deal with the madness around him and if he can trust his fanatic worshipper, Yuno.

The problem with the story is that it gets confusing/weird of how the characters are able to survive/figure through the chaos within minutes of cell meesages. I shouldn't judge the distance of feet without a ruler or outrun explosions like those kids. Most likely you or me would screw up on the first day and end up dead. But this is fiction so I guess you can get away with it...can you LOL

FD is a great new manga out on the market. I hope Sakae continues to make the work interesting and dangerous with each new volume out.