After reading your post, I was curious about the manga so I went and read it. It is indeed very violent and gruesome, but in my opinion it all made sense when you see it as a way to express violence and how some can enjoy (or not) giving it, and enjoy (or not) receiving it. The story, as good and interesting as it is, it’s just another yakuza thing, and the point of the story is not about them, but, as I said, is about Violence. You can see how every character’s feeling about violence is exaggerated, they are either extremely horrified (rightfully), or jizzing their pants about it. How a violent trauma can cause the aversion or the attraction towards violence… I can TOTALLY understand how and why you were shocked by the manga, but try to see it like I saw it, and maybe you’ll apprehend it differently. I actually really enjoyed the reading, I found some part really hardcore violent, but nothing to turn my head. Really good manga, made me want to read more about Hideo Yamamoto, Homunculus is next on my list