Pineapple ARMY パイナップルARMY

Pineapple ARMY Review (Rating: 5/5)

Overview

Pineapple ARMY is a Japanese manga series written by Kazuya Kudo and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa. It was serialized in Big Comic Original from 1986 to 1988.
For more information, see Wikipedia (English).

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Synopsis

The story is set in the 1980s, mainly in the United States and other parts of the world. The protagonist, Jed Goshi, is a Japanese American and a former instructor for a U.S. military special forces unit. He works as a "combat instructor," training civilians who find themselves in dangerous environments or who need the ability to defend themselves. Rather than fighting in their place, Jed’s unique approach is to train them thoroughly and make them strong enough to face their threats on their own.

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Main Character

• Jed Goshi
  The main character. A calm, stoic Japanese American who once served as an elite military instructor. He uses his extensive knowledge and experience to put his clients through rigorous training, pushing them to their physical and mental limits so they can survive on their own.

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Story Structure

Each episode is a self-contained story focusing on a different client. Jed evaluates each client’s physical abilities and mental resilience, trains them intensely, and then watches as they overcome their challenges on their own. These stories often explore not only combat skills but also how people confront fear and develop the will to fight.
The narrative also incorporates elements of Cold War–era politics, terrorism, and ethnic conflicts, giving the series a tense and realistic atmosphere.

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Notable Features

One of the most distinctive aspects of Pineapple ARMY is the realistic depiction of weapons and combat. Firearms, explosives, and other tools of warfare are portrayed with great technical accuracy—not just in appearance, but also in how they work and what effects they have.
Another unique point is Jed’s stance: he doesn’t fight for his clients but forces them to become strong enough to fight for themselves. This perspective is rarely seen in other action manga.
Each chapter introduces new characters and situations, creating an anthology-like structure that explores diverse human dramas beyond just action scenes. The series portrays human weakness, fear, and the strength that emerges when people rise above those fears.

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Personal Impressions

I was impressed by how realistic the weapon depictions are—not just in visuals, but also in how they are used and what effects they produce. This makes the combat scenes convincing and adds depth to the story. Some of the political background feels dated, and certain aspects may be hard to fully grasp from a modern perspective, but the stories themselves are highly engaging. I can’t help but wish to see a modern version of Pineapple ARMY someday.

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Conclusion

Pineapple ARMY stands out as a rare action manga that combines realistic combat with compelling human drama. While set in the 1980s, its core themes—fear, survival, and the will to fight—remain timeless. It’s a gripping and thought-provoking series, recommended not only to fans of action and military stories but also to anyone interested in character-driven narratives.