Misoshiru de Kanpai!

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

“Good morning, Zen! It’s time for breakfast!!”

This words comes from a 13-year-old girl to her “boy-friend” – not boyfriend – who is the same age. They are also childhood friends who went to the same middle school. It’s too soon for her to say that. Pretty awkward, huh? It all started with a childhood promise. A cliché concept that’s often used both in the manga and anime to start a story. There’s no exception in this manga. How the story continues? Are there any love signals between them? This is a review for “Misoshiru de Kanpai” or “Let’s Have Some Soup” on official translation ... for this manga in my country. I’ve read 17 chapters in 3 volumes when this review was made. No spoiler indeed. I only explained the beginning to illustrated how the story took place – since the synopsis doesn’t tell you more – and small analyses about the characters.

Food and life can’t be separated from each other. A delighted family life begins with a pleasant breakfast. However, it’s different for Zenichirou. Every morning he had breakfast with instant foods, such as instant miso and onigiri, from convenience store because his father works abroad and his mother was passed away. He’s certainly being hit by loneliness every day until the morning Yae came to cook breakfast for him. She ensures that Zen eats healthy food, not the instant one. The story begins between them.

“I will always by your side”

Oh … How dramatic. That’s Yae’s promise to Zen when his mother was passed away. When we were little and innocent, we might have promised with our relatives or childhood friends about those days and the future waiting for us. Sometimes we forget the promises and don’t know the consequences after making promises. The childhood promises often cause misunderstandings because of blurred memories. Zen thought that Yae would become his girlfriend and his future wife later, but actually after Yae said that promise … She said that she would be his mom so she can protect him!!! Haha … Got you Zen! Reality isn’t as good as your thought. After Yae said that she would cook for Zen every day, she came every morning to wake Zen and make breakfast for him. The main course of their breakfast are mostly various kinds of miso and other dishes at a time.

The chapter title of this manga called ‘bowl’ – for example: first bowl, second bowl, etc. – which is identical with the appliance usually used to serve miso and then followed by the chapter name. This is a good point for the manga, since a good work starts from paying attention to details like chapter names and different nuances that characterize author’s style in storytelling. There are miso recipes and how to make it in every chapters. The cooking steps are clearly explained so the readers can try to make it at home if they want. Besides that, there are information sections all about miso and its complementary things. I think they help us to know Japanese cuisines, especially miso, better. Moreover, characters are drawn in ‘chibi’ mode on this part which enhances the cuteness of manga.

I don’t have a problem with the art. There’s no exaggeration in the character expressions like in shoujo manga – and also big character eyes and flowery backgrounds – because demographically this is a shounen manga. But, when I read this manga, I got the same atmosphere as “Sweetness and Lightning” (Amaama to Inazuma), which is a seinen manga, since they share the same theme and even the main male characters lost the loved one. Both are also comedic in their own ways and the stories go to nowhere since they’re slice-of-life manga. If you like “Amaama to Inazuma”, you should enjoy this. The art isn’t very detailed, especially on the outdoor scenery because that’s not the main focus of this manga. But, there are differences when we see character expressions and foods. The character expressions are well-drawn. The expressions for instance blushing, angry, and excited are depicted the character feelings.

There’s a one-shot included on the first volume called "Seishun Re:verse" or literally in English "Youth Re:verse". This is the creator’s past work before this manga and has a story that isn’t related to the manga. The art on this one-shot is pretty similar with the manga, but there’s an improvement on the creator’s latest work. What do you expect from one-shots? A good story telling? An impactful storyline? Of course no. It’s just a light-hearted story, just like “Misoshiru de Kanpai” but the theme is different. Seishun Re:verse tell us about the boy who’s cursed by gravity. The story is predictable. I can’t tell you more, since the chapter is short. Just read it and you’ll know what’s going on.

If you like light and refreshing slice of life story, you should read this manga. The comedy aspect is one of the good thing in this manga. Ordinary conversations at the dining table, the warmth of food served with love, and the endearing moments when they’re not aware of each other’s feelings. For hopeless romantic persons, you shouldn’t read this manga because you’ll feel very empty and show a bitter smile after realizing your life story is not as sweet as them. But if you keep trying to read, then you’re ready to die slowly, softly, killed by their love life story filled with sweetness. Don’t be sad … You can drown yourselves into the miso and then you’ll feel rejuvenated and better. Haha ... just kidding.

Overall, you’ll get some fanservices here. Not in a bad meaning, but you’ll see many heartwarming and funny things when you read this manga. I know it’s really subjective, but I give “Misoshiru de Kanpai” 10/10 for the enjoyment. I hope you’ll try to read this manga if you interested or just curious about the story. You’ll not regret once you enjoy the story. This is a hidden gem that should you read.

I’m open with opinions and suggestions. Don’t be shy to give a comment on my profile about this review.

This manga feels like it starts out with the premise of a love story, but then evolves into a manga about miso soup with romance to try and keep you reading. The intense amount of miso and overall culinary knowledge is excellent, to say the least. However, the drawn out character interactions end up feeling stale and unfulfilled by the end. It feels almost like the mangaka didn't know how to conclude a romance story after all this build up.

On the story, you have a lot of miso soup that works as a mechanic. It is a bonding device for all the story, being a ... super versatile thing that Japanese people identify with. Alongside the laborious journey to learn everything about this virtual food group, you have sprinkles of romance and whispers of progress among middle schoolers. And the main romance, as you may guess, centers around miso soup. In some ways, the use of soup to tell a story between people growing closer is a great idea. The problem becomes painfully obvious at the ending, however, when the story abruptly ends with no real resolution or satisfying development. It's so quick you might wonder if it got axed after teasing you along for all this time. In the end, the soup only works as progress, but it cannot fully bind people in a conclusive way. And the story dances around that issue for a long time, throwing pebbles of "growing closer" for you to follow. Yet, at the end, it's an underbaked gingerbread house.

Character-wise, this story has an expanding cast that have their own little stories and mini-arc of chapters. The main pair serves as the primary palette to aid the side ones, and it doesn't feel fully realized. The characters in and of themselves are fine. They have a good range of different personalities and facial expressions. You have quirky adults and awkward preteens getting way early into romance. The side characters do sometimes steal the show from the main ones, just because one can get boring reading the same pair for thirty chapters and seeing just blushing and soup.

Art is very good, with great anatomy and clean lines on clothes and wrinkles. Character designs are distinct and the chibi art is especially diabetes-inducing.

Overall, the 7 I give is a bit generous but I have to give props to all the culinary knowledge stuffed in this manga and the great art. I'm not even 100% sure it's all accurate, but I enjoyed the history and gastronomic lessons a lot, sometimes even more than the actual story that was going on.