At 125 pages this is a very short but sweet manga. It is a beautifully told story seen through the eyes of a loyal dog, Happie. Don't be misled by the happy looking cover, the book packs an emotional punch and is extremely moving, one of the few books to get me teary eyed.
The book is actually in two parts, the longer piece being Stargazing Dog and Sunflowers, the short story which follows, acts as a sort of epilogue. I can't really go into much detail as it would spoil the story but it ties it up nicely making it a perfectly combined pair of
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 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: Star Protector Dog Japanese: 星守る犬 More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 4
Status: Finished
Published: Jul 22, 2008 to Jan 20, 2009
Genre:
Slice of Life
Theme:
Pets
Demographic:
Seinen
Serialization:
Manga Action Authors:
Murakami, Takashi (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #5182 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #965
Members: 20,517
Favorites: 471 Resources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 8 / 8
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Jul 1, 2019
This story is truly one of the best works I have ever read. It manages to bring forth a sweet bitter feeling that reminds you life never goes the way you want it too, but that doesn't mean you can't change the world for the better along the way.
The story is a simple tale of a man going south with his dog. He's given up on life so he just gets in his car and starts driving. He has a faint idea of where he's going, but he just wants his problems to be over. His brings his last companion, his dog, with him on ... 
Sep 4, 2022
It's an incredibly touching, bitter-sweet and heartbreaking experience in such a short work. It's a manga that you can easily read in 1h and totally worth your time.. but prepare your tissues.
An anthology about dogs and their broken owners. You can clearly see the strong and loyal bond that the dad and his dog develop since the first day they met to the end of their journey.. There are no many characters and they don´t have much developed but there´s not really a thing to point out when it cames to a very short manga. The dad, it was a very well written character, but he's not a ... 
Sep 16, 2017
English is NOT my native language
Hoshi mamoru inu is a Japanese term used to describe a person who wants something impossible to have. This meaning comes from the dog that gazes up at the sky, as if it wishes the stars. In the end, we are all dogs, desiring something we can't have, unsatisfied with what we have. With 125 pages long, Hoshi Mamoru Inu is a manga about an old man that lives a very simple life. After certain events, the man found himself with a car, a dog and a few bucks. It's a very simple story, with high emotional values. The second ... 
Nov 3, 2024
Stargazing Dog – Spoiler Free – Recommended
TLDR Story – 6,5/10 – 6,5 x 0.275 = 1,7875 Art – 7,5/10 – 7,5 x 0.2 = 1,5 Characters – 6/10 – 6 x 0.225 = 1,35 Enjoyment – 8/10 – 8 x 0.3 = 2,4 Total: 7,0375 -> 7 Story – 6,5/10 Stargazing Dog is a story by Takashi Murakami. We follow the life and death of the main character – Happy, a dog. But don’t let his name deceive you: the story is anything but happy. It is divided into two segments: 1) the first, called Stargazing Dog, follows Happy’s life and subsequent death; 2) the second one, called Sunflowers, serves as an ... 
Apr 21, 2021
This book is actually devided into two parts with 170+ pages each. Title and the poster clearly says, it's the story about a dog, but the actual thing is it's the story in perspective of dog.
Based around a family and dog, which shows the responsibility of what we call a family. Apart from the dog, Father was the best character. The art of the mangaka is magnificent with great touch of emotion through the characters and the scenery of beautiful Japan. After all dogs are loyal and sometimes can prove, they are more reliable than own family members. Moral of the story is nature and it's ... 
May 16, 2022
(This review covers both the original manga and the sequel)
Stories about man's best friend have been around forever, and they always manage to resonate with mainstream audiences, especially pet owners. I mean, how can you not fall in love with stories about dogs? But there are just as many stories about people and man's best friend going through hardships, especially ones where the dog in question winds up dying in some capacity. Not many people like those stories for that reason, which is fine, but unlike most people who want to avoid stories like that, I deliberately seek them out. Because I'm a sap like ... 
Mar 1, 2025
I have never had a quiet companion in my life but I always wanted one. (I was one of the child rejected by their family :D) This story made me sad but maybe the real reason was that I missed the opportunity to have such a friend during the years I spent on the path of innocence and maybe it would never come true..
Every life and journey told throughout the manga was deep, meaningful and valuable in itself. While brief information was given about the lives of the characters, they actually had a great loneliness and an equally great desire for companion. No human could ... |
