Banana Fish is an anime series adapted from the 1985 manga by Akimi Yoshida. The series has been praised as a successful crossover between shojo and shonen manga, and for its influence on boys' love anime for its depiction of the relationship between Ash and Eiji.
Ash comes from a world of crime and violence, whereas Eiji has mostly lived a sheltered life. Although they're polar opposites, the two connect and vow to stick together to see the Banana Fish investigation through. As Eiji dives deeper into Ash's world, he learns about the tragic reality in which Ash exists. The series tackles some pretty heavy topics with gut-wrenching moments, making it one of the saddest animes to watch.
10 Because Ash's Brother Is Incapacitated By Banana Fish
Ash's older brother Griffin is a soldier who fought in Iraq. During his time there he is given the drug Banana Fish and goes berserk, killing his squad. The effect of the drug leaves Griffin completely incapacitated.
After Griffin returns from his duty, Ash is left to take care of him. Unable to care for himself, Griffin just sits and mutters the words "Banana Fish." He does not even recognize his own brother, and it's because of his condition that Ash searches for the mysterious Banana Fish.
9 Because Ash Suffers Childhood Trauma
When Ash is 7 years old, he is raped by his Little League coach, a man named Carter Wilson, who happens to be a distinguished veteran and well-respected man of Cape Cod. When Ash's father reports the incident to the police, they don't believe him.
The assaults continue until Ash is 8 years old, at which point, he kills his abuser. Ash is found not guilty for the crime when an investigation into the matter uncovers the bones of children at Wilson's house. As rumors spread, Ash's father intends to send him away to his aunt's, but Ash decides to run away from home and becomes a vagrant.
8 Because Ash Is Raised By A Pedophile
When Ash runs away from home, he is picked up by men who sex traffic children. He is sent to work at the restaurant Cape Cod, which is actually a front for sex trafficking. While working at Cape Cod, Ash catches the eye of a man named Dino Golzine.
Golzine is a mafia boss who takes Ash in as his pet. Although Golzine becomes Ash's guardian and raises and teaches him, their relationship is far more sinister than that of a father and son. Golzine sexually abuses Ash and his obsession only grows darker over time.
7 Because Ash Struggles For His Freedom
Although Ash is the boss of his own gang, he essentially belongs to Golzine. Golzine has been grooming Ash to take over his criminal empire, and he never hesitates to remind Ash that he is his possession and pet.
Ash is often compared to a lynx, like his nickname, a wild untamable animal. When Golzine subdues him, he often says "the Lynx has been caged," further cementing that Ash has no real freedom. It's a sad reality that Ash struggles against constantly.
6 Because Ash Has To Put Up A Tough Front
As the boss of a gang, Ash has to put up a tough front to lead and keep his other members in line. In truth, Ash actually is a very resilient person, having survived sexual abuse for years and years.
Living his life as a sex slave for Golzine and having to commit unspeakable crimes as the boss of a gang has toughened his skin. However, part of his hardened exterior is just an act. He is after all just an 18-year-old boy, who's tormented and scared, and even cries in his sleep at night.
5 Because Ash Realizes He's A Danger To Eiji
When Ash meets Eiji, he finally finds someone who truly sees him for who he is at his core. Past the façade of the boss of a gang, past the tough act. With Eiji, Ash can be a normal teenage boy, have fun, and laugh.
Because of this, Ash wants to keep Eiji close to him. Eiji is a comfort to Ash and not someone he is willing to easily part with. However, the sad reality is, as long as Eiji is with Ash, his life is in danger and Ash may not always be able to protect him.
4 Because Ash Is Forced To Kill His Best Friend
In an experiment to prove how Banana Fish works, Shorter Wong, Ash's best friend, is given the Banana Fish drug. By exposure treatment, he is trained to target Eiji as his source of fear and anxiety, and instructed to kill him.
Because of the effects of the drug on his mind, Shorter is unable to control himself. He begs Ash to help him and release him from his pain. Ash is put in an impossible situation and has to choose between killing his best friend or watching Eiji be killed.
3 Because Ash Is Willing To Sacrifice Himself For Eiji
Ash makes many enemies as he gets closer and closer to discovering the truth about Banana Fish. Two of his biggest foes Yut-Ling and Golzine team up to bring Ash to his knees.
Yut-Ling hands Ash a gun and tells him if he kills himself he won't hurt Eiji. Ash pulls the trigger without hesitation only to find there are no bullets. The deal ends with Ash giving up his Banana Fish information and going back to Golzine, where he will live out the rest of his life as a lowly prostitute under Golzine's control. Ash is willing to do all of this just to keep Eiji safe.
2 Because Ash Almost Loses The Only Person He Cares About
Rather than target Ash directly, Yut-Lung continually goes after the one thing Ash cherishes the most, Eiji. He sends two men to kill Eiji, and although they don't kill him, they severely injure him.
Seeing Eiji lying unconscious, Ash goes into a blind rage. His anger is fueled by the fear of losing the only person in his life who has never asked him for anything. As Eiji's life hangs in the balance, so too does Ash's happiness.
1 Because Ash Doesn't Get The Chance To Enjoy His Freedom
Against all odds, Ash puts an end to the nightmare he's been living. Golzine is dead and Banana Fish is destroyed. Ash finally has his freedom and can join Eiji on his trip back to Japan.
Ash is excited and happy as he runs to the airport to meet up with Eiji. However, in a sad and cruel twist of fate, Ash is stabbed in the street by a rival gang member. Clutching the letter Eiji wrote him, Ash dies before he can ever experience true freedom.