Column Anime Spotlight Stratagems for Uplifting the Downtrodden With Ya Boy Kongming! A reincarnated military genius turns his talents to peace, music, and helping struggling artists… By Leah Thomas | Published on February 26, 2026 Credit: P.A. Works Comment 0 Share New Share Credit: P.A. Works Let’s start with the obvious: sometimes, life is really hard. People disappoint you. Jobs fire you. Even the mere thought of pursuing a dream can feel impossible. You may, on your darker evenings, consider a world that does not contain yourself, and how little difference that would make. Sonder—the realization that every soul you pass on the street values their own life just as much as you do yours—can sometimes be a profoundly upsetting sorrow. Maybe, if you’re a high school girl visiting Shibuya on a school trip, you stand a little too close to the yellow blocks on the platform. And maybe, you take another step forward as the train approaches— And a stranger takes your hand, and takes you to his seedy nightclub, where your stupor is shattered by the voice of a foreigner belting a dance track into the crowd.  EDM has not saved my life, and aside from those evenings with my sister when I screech Kate Bush and 4 Non Blondes into mics in karaoke rooms, I harbor zero delusions about having a singing career. All the same, what saves Eiko Tsukimi is the same thing that has saved endless other souls, and me, across the history of mankind. It’s not explicitly music, but a raison d’etre of the most relatable kind: Eiko wants to make art.  Unfortunately, we all know that the epiphany that reveals a purpose is only one part of the battle. A successful singing, writing, acting, sculpting, whatever-ing career is far from an easy path to commit to. There are a billion ways to fail, and no surefire way to succeed.  According to Ya Boy Kongming!, succeeding in art may require the assistance of a selfless genius. Isn’t Eiko a lucky duck, then, that one of the greatest military strategists in recorded history decides to be her wingman? Are you ready, Party People, to praise our boy, Kongming? A Fresh Take on Time Travel Credit: P.A. Works Time travel stories can begin in a number of ways. Famously, they are often used to analogize the futility of defying fate. Lovers cannot be brought back to life, Hitler cannot be killed, and if you aren’t careful, your mom might try to kiss you. Maybe you creep on your future wife while she’s still a child, giving all the unsuspecting readers an unwanted ick. Right now, I’m reading a popular novel that suggests that the universe would reject a time traveler in a more literal sense, erasing them first from MRI machines and then existence. While this is an interesting concept, less interesting is the obvious conclusion that a woman of the future would undoubtedly fall for a man from the past by default.  I have always preferred more playful takes on time travel: Dave Beeth-Oven (aka Beethoven) jamming out in a mall music store and Napoleon on a waterslide are far more compelling to me, never mind the fact that these scenarios are downright silly. I’d argue that silliness is one aspect of life that is fundamentally human, something so intrinsic that AI cannot hope to replicate it. Bill and Ted understood that the easiest way to show that Joan of Arc was a tormented teen isn’t to torment her further, but to allow two teen dorks to pull her away from prayer to participate in their high school history report. Idiocracy, initially panned by critics, has earned uneasy cult status as its unsubtle depictions of a “stupid” future have begun to feel somewhat like premonitions.  Ya Boy Kongming! is not opposed to silliness. When Kongming, a renowned statesman and tactician from second-century China, arrives in Shibuya on Halloween, he assumes he is in hell. After all, moments prior, he was on his deathbed on a battlefield, grieving the truth that, despite all his strategems and brilliance, he was unable to gift his beloved emperor, Liu Bei, an end to the war. “I hope to be reborn in peaceful times,” he thinks. Credit: P.A. Works …and then he’s in Shibuya, surrounded by horned devils who compliment his traditional costume and pour liquor down his throat. Kongming, never one to fear a battle, asks his new companions to lead him deeper into hell. Two partygoers take him to the BB Lounge. From the bar, he watches a girl named Eiko step on stage, take a deep breath, and sing her soul out. However silly the premise of this anime may seem, at its heart, it believes in human beings. Kongming, having entered a modern world full of its own foibles, hampered by technology and depression and isolation and indulgence and loneliness, sees in Eiko the same thing he sees in the surrounding, deafening, smoke-ridden nightclub: the potential that exists only during times of peace.  This hell, Kongming thinks, cannot be so bad. The Tactician, Displaced Credit: P.A. Works For some context: Zhuge Liang, aka Kongming, was a strategist who lived in China during the Warring States period. He served Liu Bei, the founding emperor of Shu Han, one of the three kingdoms that fought to control the continent after the Han dynasty collapsed in 220 AD. Like Joan of Arc, Kongming really existed; much of his remarkable life was documented in Chen Shou’s third-century historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms. Kongming’s renown as a shrewd tactician and ethical statesman was cemented in the public psyche after his inclusion in the historical fiction epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Written in the 14th century, Romance is a cornerstone of canon literature in East Asia, much as Homer or Shakespeare is in the West. Romance portrays the state of Shu Han as protagonists, exaggerating the exploits of Liu Bei and his devoted advisor.  Kongming was orphaned at a young age and raised by his father’s cousin. He was known to be unusually laid-back despite keeping company with of generals, politicians, and scholars. He lived the life of a peasant until his reputation for cleverness and his understanding of common people led the warlord Liu Bei to his doorstep, seeking advice. Eventually, Kongming, inspired by Liu Bei’s aspirations for peace, agreed to serve him, and the rest is history. But look. You don’t need to know the details or all that happens in the 800,000-word epic novel to appreciate Ya Boy Kongming! Just know that Kongming was an exceptional military strategist and a man of the people, too, and what he longed for most of all was a drama-free life. In the unlikely anime continuation of Kongming’s quest, he finds it in Shibuya two thousand years later. For Kongming, there is no adjustment period. He takes his rebirth in stride and becomes determined to make the most of an unusually peaceful world.  After Eiko discovers him passed out on the street on November 1st, she takes Kongming back to her apartment to sleep off his hangover. He asks her about phones and social media, EDM, and every other thing under the sun, and within hours has figured out how to do his own research. He learns of the death of his beloved Liu Bei and the unfulfilled dreams of Shu Han. All his dreams have become the fodder of fiction, and he is momentarily devastated… but Eiko sings again, this time about loneliness. A tear slides down Kongming’s cheek. If this anime were purely silly, would my eyes dampen just as Liu Bei’s did after the death of his friend Pang Tong?  Like Eiko, Kongming is an artist—but his medium is human potential. He has only ever lacked the opportunity to use his talent for a brighter, more hopeful purpose than deadly conflict. It must have taken a uniquely optimistic, creative mind to devise this series to begin with. Mangaka Yuto Yotsuba had the audacious idea to transplant a legendary man of war to modern-day Tokyo and ask, “What happens when a genius dedicates his wiles not to warfare, but instead to a young woman’s bid for peaceful, global EDM domination?” I’ll tell you exactly what happens: a fantastic story. Eiko, Blossoming Scholar Credit: P.A. Works Eiko, though undeniably talented, is hampered by her own self-doubt. She performs nightly at the club owned by Kobayashi, the gangster who saved her life. Rough as he seems around the edges, with his piercings and yakuza specs, Kobayashi is a loving nerd at heart. He hires Kongming immediately, not because he’s convinced that he really is a time-traveler, but because he’s a huge Three Kingdoms otaku and he wants to fanboy with a kindred soul. Before Eiko meets Kongming, she is considering quitting her pursuit of music. Despite her skills as a songwriter and performer, she has struggled to gain a foothold in the club scene, and she can’t imagine that her voice really makes a difference: “What kind of singer has no fans?” Kongming asks, “Is there not a fan standing right here before you?” The oddball’s support, however unexpected, is enough to push Eiko forward. Soon, he’s using battle stratagems to ensure her stages are crowded at festivals, and the fans of her rivals are funneled to her shows without realizing it. But if this were a show about tricking people into loving a singer, it would not work. Kongming puts people in front of Eiko, but it’s up to her to keep them there. And it turns out that the slightest tweak in circumstances is enough to alter a career trajectory. Kongming doesn’t do the work for Eiko: instead, he creates scenarios that allow people to appreciate the work she’s been doing all along.  This is not about what Kongming can do for you, or what you can do for him. Instead, his true talent is revealing what people can do for themselves. A Peaceful, Beautiful Battle Credit: P.A. Works Later in the series, Kongming recites what must be a proverb: “A scholar you have not seen for three days must be observed closely.” When passionate people are surrounded by supportive friends and true opportunities, change happens very quickly. With Eiko on her way to achieving her dreams, Kongming expands his net of influence by pursuing the talents of a discouraged young rapper, Kabetaijin. Kabe was unpopular in school, an awkward, tongue-tied teen who could never find the words to express himself. When a bullied peer introduced him to the world of battle rap, Kabe finally found his voice. He’s not just a good rapper, but a relentless one, capable of stirring up strong emotions: he cuts right to the heart of his opponents and his audience. His rise is meteoric, and so is his fall: after becoming a triple-titled rap battle champion, Kabe crumples. He’s developed an ulcer due to anxiety, which stems in no small part from imposter syndrome. When he defeats his idol onstage, Kabe does not feel victorious. Rap was an escape that brought him closer to others and allowed him to communicate freely, but it has become what isolates him. The pressure leaves him bordering on hikkikimori-hood, prone to panic attacks and burdened by his own decision to quit music. But then he meets Kongming in a laundromat. “How long will you slumber?” Kongming asks, goading the former champion. Kabe is lured to BB Lounge, where Kongming awaits, armed with a golden microphone, ready for battle. Credit: P.A. Works Again, what could be played as straight comedy—and it is great entertainment—instead sets the stage for a much more evocative exchange. Kabetaijin has not lost his love for rap, nor his talent for it. But what joy can be found in creating art when its intent is to defeat others? Succeeding at his art has also sapped the joy from it.  Boy oh boy, can creatives relate… I could go on about my writing career, long crippling my ability to enjoy a book, but instead, I’ll mention my Auntie Janet, who loved nothing more than painting until art school made her hate it instead.  Kongming is not a better rapper than Kabetaijin, but as he says, he cannot be bested when it comes to a war of words. His goal is not to defeat Kabe, because Kabe is not an enemy. His goal is to uplift him, just as he uplifted Eiko. (And then, of course, to pair the two together and bring the whole enterprise closer to peaceful world party people domination!) After receiving Kongming’s support, Kabe sees a middle schooler being bullied and makes a halfhearted attempt to scare off the aggressors. It works, if only because they find him off-putting. Kabe calls himself pathetic. Days later, he encounters the boy and the bullies again. This time, the boy stands up for himself. He thanks Kabe, telling him how his actions demonstrated how even average-seeming people can prove themselves.  Inspiration vs. Influence Credit: P.A. Works Kongming is the embodiment of YOLO, except for the fact that he is living twice. Because he is a genius, he stops caring about the reasons behind his strange circumstances, focusing instead on how to make the most of his new life, not just for his own sake, but for the sake of the artists around him. There could be no better patron, no cooler wingman. The premise only works because the people Kongming supports grow to be worthy of that support. Ordinary people become extraordinary, granted the chance. As the anime progresses, it’s bittersweet but so necessary that Kongming becomes less and less of a central character. He is someone who inspires agency in others and finds gratification in making positive change.  The best foil to Kongming’s philosophy is introduced in the latter half of the series, when Eiko turns to busking in an attempt to develop her “true” voice. She meets a talented street performer named Nanami, and the pair become fast friends. However, Nanami is actually a member of Azalea, a rising band that has fallen under the command of Karasawa, owner of a predatory record label. Karasawa promises Nanami and her bandmates success, but at the expense of their art. They are forced into skimpy outfits and asked to don masks, to lip-synch their live shows, and adopt pop personas. They are forced to stop playing their own songs.  The trouble is, the abusive tactics are effective, on the surface: Azalea finds success quickly, but the girls are miserable. When the anime culminates in a musical showdown between Eiko, a relative unknown, and the popstars Azalea have been forged into, the real heart of the show shines through every beat. Kongming himself must have advised the show’s writers, given how many pitfalls Ya Boy Kongming! manages to avoid. In a situation when any other series would be happy to defeat a rival and call it good, Eiko has learned to be better. She does not want to destroy anyone on her journey to stardom, least of all a fellow musician and friend. Spoilers? Not here. But in the universe of Ya Boy Kongming!, self-worth is at least as infectious as the earworms Eiko sings. Create Something From Nothing Credit: P.A. Works It is a recurring joke that Kongming never changes his outfit. He is forever clad in the soft green robes depicted in old sketches of him, inevitably holding a feathered fan behind which he can grin or scheme. When an exasperated Eiko asks why he’s always carrying the thing, he responds, “I consider it an extension of my own body.” This is perhaps an unusual point to end on, but I admire the way clothing complements the storytelling throughout Kongming!. Kongming mistakes Eiko as a songstress of hell, thanks to the horns she wears on the night they meet. Later, her windbreaker and baseball cap, mundane clothing items that she wears daily, somehow become her rockstar wardrobe. Eiko hasn’t changed—she is always Eiko, sincere and determined. It’s just that her jacket seems to collect stage presence right alongside her. For Kabetaijin, the grey hoodie that once helped him be invisible becomes a killer reveal waiting to happen. When he whips off that hood, his opponents are in for a real rap whooping. And Azalea, held hostage by their revealing stage costumes, seem luminous when they at last toss their masks to the ground and sing as themselves. At Shibuya Crossing, people do get away with wearing just about anything. There are few places in the world so colorful, so full of tourists and influencers and buskers and street fashionistas. This is, after all, the self-fulfilling prophecy of the busiest intersection in the world: it is busy because of all the visitors who want to witness how busy it is. But more than that, there’s an assumption in Tokyo that if you’re wearing something unconventional, there’s probably some reason for it: a convention, a job at a hostess bar, a night out. Kongming does not need to change to suit his surroundings any more than Eiko does. The world shifts to accommodate him and welcome his eccentricities. What might once have been alienating transforms into the familiar, a person who inspires a sort of unifying fondness throughout the neighborhood. Kongming has long since weaseled his charming way into the lives of all the locals. “That’s our guy, Kongming.” Ya Boy Kongming! makes a compelling case: what if peace is not achieved through success or even great art, but the sense of community art provides? After all, if art is not for the people, or, as Kongming would say, “the populace,” then who the hell is it for?  When Kongming considers his past life, ridden with bloodshed, the first regret he speaks of is the night he refused an invitation to drink with Liu Bei’s soldiers. The next day, those men all died in battle. When Kongming describes a better world, he imagines a time when people, strangers and otherwise, can enjoy endless evenings in each other’s company.  It turns out that sonder, given room to breathe, can become something more like wonder.[end-mark] The post Stratagems for Uplifting the Downtrodden With <i>Ya Boy Kongming!</i> appeared first on Reactor.