Battle Royale

‘Battle Royale’ is a 1999 Japanese novel by Koushun Takami. It was later adapted into a live action film. Takami later published a 3,000 page illustrated manga version of the story.

The premise of ‘Battle Royale’ revolves around “The Program,” a government sponsored event which forces randomly selected junior high school classes to murder each other until there is only one survivor. Each student is given a duffle bag containing a randomly selected weapon. Their weapons may be guns, knives, clubs, or toys. Many of the characters’ weapons differ in the three versions.

Ingram MAC-10 9mm

An Ingram MAC-10 9mm is the primary weapon used by villain Kazuo Kiriyama.

In the novel it is suggested that Kazuo’s weapon was in fact a blade as his first three victims were stabbed. It is from either Hiroshi Kuronaga, Ryuhei Sasagawa, or Izumi Kanai that the MAC-10 was obtained.

In the manga these three victims were killed with the MAC-10. The MAC-10 is used by Shuya in final escape on the government boat.

In the film Kazuo’s weapon is a paper fan. He quickly obtains an Uzi submachine gun which is his primary weapon. The MAC-10 is not featured.

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Walther 9mm

In the novel Mitsuru Numai’s weapon is a Walther PPK 9mm. This becomes Kazuo’s backup weapon he keeps tucked in his belt.

In the manga the gun is changed to a Walther P99 9mm. Both guns were known for being used by James Bond.

Remington M31 Pump Shotgun

In both the novel and manga hero Shogo Kawada’s weapon is a Remington M31 12 gauge pump shotgun.

Franchi SPAS Shotgun

In the film Shogo's shotgun is a SPAS 12.

Uzi

In the novel and manga girl #17 Satomi Noda’s weapon is an Uzi 9mm. After her death at the lighthouse it is recovered by Shuya and is later used by Shogo Kawada during the climatic car chase until it runs out of ammunition.

In the film Boy #10 Ryuhei Sasagawa’s weapon is an Uzi. It has been substituted for the MAC-10 featured in the novel and manga.

In the film Satomi’s weapon is a Micro Uzi with a barrel extension.

Luger 9mm

A Luger 9mm is featured in the manga only as Girl #16 Yuka Nakagawa’s weapon at the Lighthouse. It is also used by Shuya during the climatic car chase with Kazuo.

In the novel Yuka’s weapon is a Czech CZ75 9mm. After it is recovered by Shuya it is not used. Its 9mm shell are used for the Uzi

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Browning Hi-Power 9mm

One of the few consistent weapons is Girl #2 Yukie Utsumi’s Browning Hi-Power 9mm is the novel, manga, and film.

In the manga the Hi-Power is later used by Shuya.

In the film the Hi-Power is used by Girl #12 Haruka Tanizawa.

Originally with Girl #12 in the novel and movie; originally with Girl #2 Yukie Utsumi in the manga at the Lighthouse

Beretta 92FS 9mm

In the novel and manga Boy #19 Shinji Mimura’s weapon is a Beretta 92FS 9mm. After Mimura’s death the Beretta is not mentioned again.

The Beretta is later used by Shuya in the manga after the car chase to kill Kazuo. It is unclear why it was not recovered by Kazuo and not used by Shuya earlier.

In the film Mimura’s Beretta appears to be either a nickel plated 92FS or an Inox.

Sig P230 9mm

In the novel girl #20 Kaori Minami’s weapon is a Sig Sauer P230 9mm. After she is shot by Hirono Shimizu it is recovered by Shogo and used by Shuya to fend off Kazuo in the crop fields. It is left in the fields until it recovered by Shuya in the climax.

Sig P226 9mm

In the manga girl #20 Karoi Minami’s weapon is a Sig Sauer P226 9mm. The chronology of the Sig is the same as that of the novel except that Kaori is killed by Shogo and not Hirono.

The gun used by Sakamochi against Shogo in the final boat scene also appears to be a Sig P226.

Colt Government 1911 .45

One of the few weapons to appear in all three genres is Girl #21 Yoshimi Yahagi’s Colt Government M1911 .45.

This gun ends up changing hands more than any other. Yoshimi ends up giving it to her boyfriend Boy #8 Yoji Kuramoto. After they are both killed by Girl #11 Mitsuko Souma she looses it to the heroic martial arts expert Boy #11 Hiroki Sugimura. Like most of the weapons it inevitably falls into the hands of Boy #6 Kiriyama Kazuo who only uses it briefly during the climactic car chase.

The M1911 style pistol is also seen in the manga being used by Shogo Kawada during his flashbacks to his first Program.

In the novel the guards’ pistols are described only as “automatics.” In the manga they too are the M1911 style .45s.

In the film the .45 originally belongs to Hirono Shimizu. Mitsuko obtains it by killing her.

AK-47

In the novel the gaurds’ rifles are described only as “assult rifles.”

In the manga these assult rifles are depicted as AK-47s.

In the film they are Colt M4 Carbines and M16A2s.

Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357

In the novel boy #18 Tadakatsu Hatagami’s weapon is a Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357. Since there are many variants of this popular model ranging greatly in barrel length and color it is unclear what exactly the revolver looked like. After his death the gun is used by the villainous Mitsuko Souma until she is killed by Kazuo.

Smith and Wesson .44 Preformance Center

In the manga Tadakastu’s weapon is a wooden baseball bat. He trades weapons with a his best friend boy #13 Yuichiro Takiguchi. However the revolver has changed to a Smith & Wesson .44 Preformance Center. After it is recovered by Kazuo he uses it very briefly during the climactic car chase.

.44 AutoMag

The .44 AutoMag is the weapon of Girl #1 Mizuho Inada in the manga only. Mizuho is completely deranged and fires it at Shuya. In her delusional state she is easy prey for Kazuo whom spends only one 9mm bullet from his Walther P99 on her. Kazuo later uses the AutoMag to kill Mitsuko. This scene is slightly unrealistic as the AutoMag would certainly have caused more damage to Mitsuko’s limbs. The AutoMag is seen again briefly during the climatic car chase.

In the novel Mizuho’s weapon is a six inch knife.

The AutoMag is also not featured in the film.

Derringer .22

In both the novel and manga Boy #14 Sho Tsukioka’s weapon is a double shot Derringer .22. Sho is killed in a forbidden zone and so the Derringer is never used or recovered.

A misprint in the English translation of the manga refers to the gun as a “22mm” not a .22. This is one of the many pitfalls of lettering comics on computer rather than by hand.

The Derringer does not appear in the film.

Smith & Wesson Revolver

In the novel Boy #20 Kyochi Motobuchi’s weapon is a Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special .38. This is a relatively small revolver and holds only five rounds.

In the manga the revolver is a much larger .357 six shot Smith & Wesson, possibly a 629.

In the film the revolver appears to be an older style Smith & Wesson six shot .38.

Kyochi is killed early in the saga and the revolver is used mainly by Shuya and Shogo.

Colt .357

Boy #21 Kazuhiko Yamamoto’s is described only as a, “Colt .357 magnum.” In the manga the specific model appears to be a Colt Python. This is true in the film as well.

The Colt only appears briefly as Kazuhiko throws it over a sea cliff vowing never to play the Program.

Smith & Wesson Police and Military Model .38

Girl #10 Hirono Shimizu’s weapon is a Smith & Wesson Police and Military Model .38 in the novel. After she is strangled by “Frogboy” Toshinori Oda, he uses the gun to graze Hiroki Sugimura in the leg. Oda in turn is killed by Kazuo whom never uses it.

Since this handgun has been in production for over one hundred years there are many variants and it may never be know exactly what the revolver looked like.

In the manga Hirono’s gun is a Ruger Redhawk .44.

Ruger Redhawk .44

In the manga Hirono Shimizu’s revolver is a black Ruger Redhawk .44. This makes “Frogboy” Oda’s survival via a Kevlar vest unrealistic as being shot by a .44 point blank would certainly penetrate the vest.

Like most weapons it comes into the possession Kazuo who never uses it. It is last seen falling out of Kazuo’s bag as he is shot at by Mitsuko.

The revolver used by Sakamochi is also a Redhawk.

In the novel and film Sakamochi does not shoot anyone. Yoshi and Noriko are both shot in the classroom by the guards.

Smith & Wesson M59

Girl #9 Kayoko Kotohiki’s weapon is a Smith & Wesson M59 in the novel.

In the manga her weapon is a revolver.

In the film her weapon is a two toned Glock.

In the novel and film Kayoko uses her gun to shoot her friend Hiroki Sugimura mistakenly believing he will kill her. In the manga her revolver is not used at all.