Undercurrent

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Undercurrent is an excellent, mature, adult, drama. The art isn’t fancy, but the story is a good exploration of abandonment, understanding those closest to you, and living in the aftermath of losing a family member.

It’s also an insight into the way Japanese public baths work, as the story’s main setting is in one. Main character Kanae runs a public bath with her husband, when one day he suddenly disappears from her life without any explanation, leaving no clues whatsoever.

Did he die? Did he run away? There could be a million reasons for why he disappeared, and that is the true horror ... of such a scenario. The constant questioning, the lack of answers, the unproved possibilities always plaguing you night and day without end.

What do you do when your husband leaves the house one day and never returns? Kanae goes out of her mind with worry, she phones the authorities, hospitals; she wonders about motivations, did he cheat on her? Did he get bored of her? Did he commit suicide? She doubts even truly knowing him in the first place.

The dread of not knowing why someone disappeared one day is the ultimate nightmare, it is a never-ending hell with no resolution, and it’s explored very well with Undercurrent. There is a sad melancholy way about Kanae and her predicament that never veers into melodrama or histrionics; it’s perfectly subtle in that typically Japanese way.

Undercurrent poses this question: ‘what does it mean to understand someone?’ And it poses it in such an effective way, with multiple examples, scenarios and lots of poignant moments that are steeped in the kind of darkness human beings are capable of, and capable of surviving. There are really great revelations brought to the surface in the story, and they are executed in satisfying ways, with no shocking double-page panels or anything of that nature, they’re simply brought to the reader in a matter of fact way, which in a way is more effective.

The more Kanae tries to discover the truth of her husband's disappearence, the more a hidden truth in her subconscious rises to the surface of her mind, and its this duality and subtext that makes the manga an excellent read.

Undercurrent may disappoint the majority of manga readers, because it’s not concerned with typical manga conventions; it’s more concerned with story and drama, so you won’t see attractive character designs or wardrobes, you won’t see speed lines, action scenes, excessive nudity or fan service, and this is to be commended: Knowing what belongs in your chosen genre, and what doesn’t.

Author Tetsuya Toyoda's preoccupation with telling the story at a slow measured pace and reserved style ensures maximum emotional impact because the story and character conflicts and relationships are always at the forefront.

Undercurrent is a tense mystery, a melancholy drama, a subtle romance; it’s a quality manga.

The disappearance of someone close to you can be a frightening and dreadful experience, which may influence your daily life immensely, full of uncertainty: where is he? Did he hate me? Did he die? These are questions you won't stop asking yourself, and in the case of Undercurrent, it explores this theme in a satisfying manner.

The premise of the story is straightforward, Kanae coping with life after the disappearance of her husband, without any clue or hope as the reason to why. Undercurrent's main strength relies on its presentation and exploration of abandonment: uncertainty, stress, longing are many themes that are tackled. However, it is ... a difficult task to convey these to the reader, and in this case it was executed well, yet it had its shortcomings.

The pacing of the manga was not that satisfactory in comparison. The slice of life moments were well done, yet conveying these afore-mentioned themes were done at some bad moments, besides of not fully exploring it. The buildup of the story is another aspect that should be mentioned. The author gave the impression he was trying to have a gradual progression, yet as the story nears its conclusion, events take place at a surprisingly fast pace in comparison.

There is an interesting aspect the manga tackles: what it means to understand a person. The concept on its own makes any reader ponder whether he or she really understands her peers, and in the manga it was well shown. Another aspect is the fact that Kanae works in a "onsen" or public bath house alongside with an old lady that helps her out: the labour of maintaining an onsen is well displayed, which was a pleasant detail that enhanced to the overall setting of the manga.

The characters are rather dull and uninteresting in comparison with the premise. Readers observe Kanae's everyday life and hardships, yet little character development is to be found in her, as well as the supporting cast. This doesn't mean that human relationships are lackluster as well; these are displayed in a satisfying manner, with a supporting cast of normal citizens. However, motivations behind some actions are rather disappointing and unrealistic, yet I can understand to a certain extent some of these motives.

The art style of Undercurrent is nothing outstanding, yet fulfills its purpose well for what it is trying to convey. Characters expressions might seem off at times, in addition of characters designs rather dull at times. There certainly is a big abundance of well drawn backgrounds, which enhances the overall atmosphere it is trying to convey.

To sum up, Undercurrent was an interesting read that presented a subject anyone may ponder about: understanding your fellow peers, which can be really difficult to do at times. The themes that were presented were of intriguing nature, yet the author didn't fully managed to convey it properly. The conclusion was rather unsatisfying, as the motives were lackluster. It is certainly worth a read, as it is only 11 chapters long, in addition to presenting interesting themes a reader may have experienced or want to know an interpretation of it.

Thank you for reading.

This is my first review and English is not my native language

I read this because a beginning manga youtuber recommended it in a video saying that it was super deep and super mature. I even bought the manga and read it while I was in the train on the way to my faculty, and once read, I returned the manga and cancelled my subscription to that channel.

Story: 5
The story doesn't exists, or in other words: there is no present story. When I watch an anime/read a manga I want to see things happening, not things that had happened: the only plot motors comes from the ... past, nothing relevant happens in this manga: the main character hires a guy and... that's all, they try to find the disaperared husband and the final explanation is like "ok, i don't give a shit". I know this is planned so but IT'S BORING.

I know it is mature, for example: in Mushishi there are bugs doing thing to people, but Ginko doesn't explode in rage to kill all the Mushis, he accepts the reality, something that a mature adult would do. Shingeki no kyojin, in the other hand, tells the story of titans doing bad things to people, and Eren is all the time screaming "i'm gonna kill all titans, i'm gonna kill all titans", yes, they kill his mother before him but anyway it's a very childish behaviour. So once explained what is for me mature and what not I can say that Undercurret has a mature plot because the main character tries to face the fact that she has been left by her husband and also because there is no ecchi, otaku-comedy within, there are no plot holes and there is not Freud shit without fundament to look smarter than it is, but also there is something important that every story has to have in mind and that is "be entertaining", and it can not be addictive but the first thing I want when i read/watch something is that I get amused. There is no hook and in the end I had to thank for at last only be eleven chapters.

Art: 6
I don't remember very well but it hasn't a bad background work, it's light years behind Inio Asano's but it's decent.

The characters anatomy is... good, but the design is very idle, I guess that it's due to it's a slice of life but please: THE (female) MAIN CHARACTER LOOKS LIKE A MAN, I can't with that

Characters: 6
The characters are the best part of the manga, but "better than" still doesn't mean directly "good". All the character have all the time a poker face except for a pair of cases. There is no charm or charisma, I don't give a shit that the character change if before anything they are not interesting. I say that they are the best part because at last they transmit the atmosphera they try to give.

Enjoyment: 3
I DIDN'T LIKE THIS MANGA. Be mature doesn't always mean be fucking good, I have enjoyed a lot of animes that have a minor level of maturity but they are one hundred times entertaining than this. At the beginning i was like ._. then I was like ._. and in the end I was ._.

Sometimes I was lazy to take the one-shot and read and that is not good. I swear I have no problems with the "slice of life", my favourite anime manga is Oyasumi Punpun and if you go to my Anime and Manga List I enjoyed and enjoy a lot of slices of life like Yotsuba, NHK, Genshiken, etc.

Overall: 5
I DON?T RECOMMEND THIS, it's not bad but is it's far away to be something I could consider amusing.

Thanks for reading

More than the waves we see...

I talk a lot. A whole lot of nonsense piled upon a fragment of truth, I tend to confuse people whenever I talk. Or that's what I think I see in their eyes but how would I know? You feel so insecure about your little truth so you deceive yourself with words and actions, and hear people say you are this and that. Before you notice, you depend on those words, you depend on those responses, their thoughts, and you get consumed by your fake personality so much that one day you look back on your little truth and regret ... was it ever worth all the lies you've built.

"Undercurrent" talks about the little truths we tend to hide from people, how that effects us and everything around us. Kanae takes care of her bathhouse, the community treats her as a strong woman who's living by while having her lovely husband disappear. Why and for what reason he was gone, she never imagined why someone like him disappear on her, but as her lonely time goes on, she questions about whether she really know anything about her husband.

Understanding someone
What does it truly mean to understand someone? In a time where everyone has more than a mask to wear, how do even understand someone? Or what does 'understanding someone' would mean in this context? "Undercurrent" warns you that the ocean is more than the waves you see, people are more than the faces they use. You can declare you know someone for your entire life, yet your 'close friend', your 'girlfriend/boyfriend', your 'family', could one day just leave you for reasons beyond your control and comprehension.
Kanae is a strong married woman who takes care of her bath house, while dealing with the unexplainable disappearance of her husband. She suffers and anguishes over why this has befallen on her, while simultaneously acknowledging the fact that she herself is running from her little truth. A rather disturbing truth she keeps on carrying for her whole life which she never talks about even with her husband she loved so must. Pain and guilt are worth expressing out because you give them a chance to be forgiven. Hiding it will only sink you into its depths until you suffocate and die.
Much like Kanae, kanae's husband and the new guy in bathhouse also suffer with their buried little truths. Though one lies along with it, while the other simply turns their eyes away from it.

At this small shore...
The entire mood of this manga is simple. It doesn't intend to be some grand message I might have explained so far, but it does so in a way that feels personal and oddly normal. The simple art and character designs works in its favor as well.

Conclusion
It's dramatic, tragic, a bit goofy at times and wants one to be a bit open with others. You never know when someone might disappear in your life so why not see more of them, and say your true feelings?

Recommended with flying stars!

I'm not gonna get into the details, character or ideas as other reviewers did, instead I'll tell you about the technical parts.

Undercurrent is a 1 volume - 11 chapters manga that's best read in one sitting. Toyoda sensei, as expected of him realistically portrays the daily life itself while slowly building up for the ending... And actually keeps you satisfied with the flawless execution of it. I was astonished with how he wrote the overall story. His panels resemble movie shots, something Fujimoto is praised for... While Toyoda sensei stays as a hidden gem... You could see how it would work as ... a hang-out movie like Sonatine.
Edit: This manga has been adopted into cinema as Undercurrent (2023)!

Unfortunately Toyoda sensei only wrote 2 full manga, which leaves us a bittersweet feeling for watching one of the greatest manga writers of our time quit without leaving much of a trace. He's around 60 now, I wish him a happy and healthy life going forward...

Being left all alone, abandoned and not even knowing if the person is still alive can be frightening for anyone especially if that someone is one you love wholeheartedly.

Undercurrent is about an espoused couple who owns a bathhouse together and lives jubilantly. But one day the husband vanishes without any trace, without any last message. He's gone... but where is he? This manga does an a good job with describing the emotions one can feel or in this situation the wife and the phrenic conception process one can posses when faces in this situation. Is he fed up with me? Am I not ... good enough? Did I do something to insult him? Is he meeting with another woman? Is he even alive? Did he get in an accident? You clearly tell just how devastated the wife genuinely is. But, deep down in her heart she wants to know the truth which basically is the story. She hires a detective who searches for clues and information while she waits and continues taking care of the bathhouse she owns.