Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni
In This Corner of the World

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I read the manga about 5 years ago and found it delightful in the beginning and deeply moving later. I was glad to see the many details of the traditional life of ordinary Japanese people in the period leading up to and encompassing WWII, and I loved little Suzu and her artistic development and sensibility.

The art is memorably sweet and evocative of the fragility of young girlhood, and the main character is one of the most lovable I've experienced in manga simply because she is so honest, simple, and unaffected. The manga's depiction of the way of life of ordinary Japanese people in the period ... prior to WWII is fascinating. Ditto is the growing sense that the manga conveys, as it develops, that Japan, at the stage of industrial development it had reached then, had "bitten off more than it could chew" in entering a war with the USA. All this is depicted simply by the contrast between the people's simple manner of living pre-war, and the deep privation they had to endure to support their faltering war machine in the end.

Be prepared for heartbreak in the last third of the story.

It goes without saying that the Second World War had an immense impact on Japanese culture and society. Depictions of the conflict in anime and manga have typically shown the nation’s part in the global event in a sympathetic light, which is in contrast to Western media. The pacifistic attitudes of the new generation of Japanese people comes is justifiable, given the country’s status as the only country to have been attacked with nuclear weapons. Regardless of one’s opinions towards the controversial nature of Japanese involvement in the Second World War, it is hard to deny the horrific nature of these weapons.

Following in the the ... same vein as “Grave of the Fireflies,” “In This Corner of the World” is a manga written and illustrated by Fumiyo Kouno that primarily focuses on the everyday life of civilian and Hiroshima resident Suzu Hojo during the final years of the war. Throughout these years,, a myriad of issues occur, ranging from maintaining relationships with her new family to surviving American bombing raids. It’s a tale that’s rife with conflicts small and large. Suzu is a captivating heroine because of how relatable she is. In spite of the global scale of the war, the manga’s focus on her life creates a sense of intimacy that is oftentimes lost when it comes to depictions of the Second World War. War is never glorified in this story, and aside from inherent pacificistic undertones, there is no political message. This is not a story meant to serve as propaganda or attempt to victimize the Japanese; rather, it is a story about just surviving and living.

There is a sense of ongoing tension in the story. Hiroshima’s status as one of the two cities that the nuclear bombs were used on is a fact that is almost universally known. As such, readers are constantly aware that the story will involve this major event in some shape or form. As the story progresses, it is hard to not feel anxious for the diverse cast of characters present. Kouno effectively uses history as a way of driving reader engagement, rather than using it as just an excuse to artificially draw sympathy and empathy from its readers.

The story isn’t all doom and gloom, however, as there are light-hearted moments spread throughout. Even amidst the tragedies and obstacles that frequent her life as a result of the war, Suzu and the other characters find moments to smile as well. There are ups and downs in life, and “In This Corner of the World” shows us the human side of a war that is so often glamorized in media.

I will mention that there isn’t a particularly strong narrative thread connecting the events in the story. The story is arguably disjointed at points, but it is my opinion that this was intentional on the mangaka’s part. While this style of storytelling is effective at points, there is a lack of closure for some plot elements that are to the manga’s detriment. However, as a whole, Suzu’s tale is cohesive and wraps up well for the most part, although there will be some points that will require reader speculation.

Kouno’s art is a strong point in this manga. The art is aesthetically pleasing, although not overly complicated. There is an underappreciated simplicity in her drawing. There are occasional coloured inserts which look like watercolour, which carries on her minimalistic theme. Backgrounds are drawn in a very unique manner, with a mixture of styles that varies depending on context. Even if one did not find the story particularly engaging, it is hard to deny the appeal of Kouno’s illustrations.

To conclude, “In This Corner of the World” is a look into the lives of ordinary people who just happen to be caught up in a war. I highly recommend everyone to at least give this manga a shot.

I would also like to take the time to say that the anime adaptation of the source material is also absolutely fantastic as well. It is a highly faithful rendition of the story that is on par with the manga.

It tells the story of a young woman named Suzu Urano, who lives in Hiroshima during World War II. The manga follows her life as she experiences the hardships of war, including air raids, food shortages, and the loss of loved ones. While the story of In This Corner of the World is certainly emotional and poignant, there are several aspects of the manga that make it a disappointing read.

Firstly, the artwork in this manga is subpar. While some readers may argue that the simplistic and minimalist style of the art adds to the emotional weight of the story, I found it to be a ... major detractor. The character designs are unremarkable, and the backgrounds lack detail and depth. It often feels as if the artist simply rushed through the artwork to get the story out.

Additionally, the pacing of In This Corner of the World is painfully slow. The manga spans several years, and while this allows for a more nuanced portrayal of the effects of war on daily life, it also means that the story can feel meandering and unfocused at times. The author spends too much time on unimportant details, such as Suzu's cooking and cleaning routines, instead of delving deeper into the characters' emotions and experiences.

Moreover, the characters in In This Corner of the World are shallow and one-dimensional. While Suzu is meant to be the protagonist, she is often overshadowed by other characters who are given more depth and development. The supporting cast, including Suzu's husband, Tetsu, and her sister-in-law, Keiko, are much more interesting than Suzu herself, which makes it difficult to care about her fate.

Furthermore, the dialogue in this manga is stilted and unrealistic. The characters often speak in cliches and platitudes, which makes it hard to believe in their emotional struggles. The author also relies too heavily on narration to convey the characters' thoughts and feelings, rather than allowing their actions and dialogue to speak for themselves.

Overall, In This Corner of the World is a disappointing manga that fails to live up to its potential. The lackluster artwork, slow pacing, shallow characters, and unrealistic dialogue all combine to create a lackluster reading experience. While the story of Suzu and her struggles during World War II is certainly important and poignant, this manga fails to do it justice. I would not recommend this manga to anyone looking for a compelling and emotionally resonant read.