As an anime-only watcher—who has recently started following manga lately—I have been capable of utilizing my time searching for something to read. However, whenever we stumble upon a manga that approaches a controversial topic, our interest is piqued. I decided to check if there were other indistinguishable series. There are no results. That would mean autism as a theme, in general, is uncovered by manga of any demographic. This occurrence causes me to beg the question, “Why isn’t there more series that tackle autism?”
Awareness is significant—it implements change to influence ourselves and others around us.
Autism has been beginning to be more prevalent since the aughts, but now, we are
...
furnished with present-day information. Which offers more comfort as families face current challenges. Set in the 80s, everywhere to witness, parents of children are flooded with judgment—all of which is appalling. Schools have trouble providing appropriate services to a diverse and increasingly numerous student population diagnosed with ASD. This is where I present you to undoubtedly one of the better-underrated manga, With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child – a glamorous character-driven series that explores the spectrum with organic interactions.
With the Light by force is a rare breed in the manga industry. It solemnly involves a controversial topic and centers not just on the person with autism, but rather depicts the personal difficulties of parenting along with them. With the Light provides an imaginative exploration of how the Japanese perceive and take care of those who are on the autistic spectrum. In America, they have acquired a shrewder insight into ASD and provided aid to them, despite the issues that need to be addressed. The situation in Japan is dire, especially since the Japanese draw from a further traditional background, comprising a collective society and being conservative regarding delicate topics. Japan’s treatment of those with autism is appalling compared to North America, primarily since the general awareness of mental health is low from firm traditional values. To elaborate, start by recognizing the relative performance of such measures in diverse cultures. While the issue seems universal, there are subtle differences in their expressions and personal traits. We possess little knowledge involving families of children with autism from cultural perspectives. It allows the audience to identify the elements influencing parenting stress among parents of autistic children in Japan. That is what rightly makes With the Light remarkable compared to other series.
Love can be different for each person—the way everyone perceives affection depends on how they desire it to be. However, that is only in the process of attaining love if you truly yearn for it.
Denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. With the Light follows the story of Sachiko, a diligent mother who gave birth to her son, Hikaru. She expresses a deep ambition to tend to her beloved child and fantasizes about an ideal family to fulfill her expectations, as there was research regarding raising a baby. However, those expectations did not come to light. Learning what autism is, Sachiko begins to be in disbelief about Hikaru’s disability. Denial. She got detached from most of her dearest ones, such as her fiancé, Misato. A workaholic husband who doesn’t retain a firm grasp of fatherhood. The blame and their vexation proceeds to Hikaru. Anger. Venting in her cognitive dissonance—the sheer complication any mother could have with their child—not expressing their affection. Depression. Fortunately, as Sachiko was sobbing, it seemed Hikaru could finally reciprocate her love and enlighten her with inflorescences. It encapsulated her ambitions, now willing to accept the responsibility to teach herself valuable skills so that someday she may experience the life of an excellent mother. Acceptance.
A few readers will encounter problems with how the emotional buildup paces too fast with the evocative narrative in the beginning. Considering the subject matter, this series walks on a path by focusing on a family that happens to give birth to an autistic son. The notable aspect of the writing in With the Light comes from its concept of ASD and how it is integrated into the narrative. Timing and concentration are taken into consideration to allow these small yet significant and alluring moments to sustain an appropriate buildup to genuinely possess a resonating effect. The reason I mentioned this issue is because there are stories that handle drama as a way to toy with the audience’s emotions. While there are hints of melodrama, it still establishes significant scenes that showcase the development of Hikaru and his family. A crucial issue would furthermore, be that the ending does not include a "proper" conclusion, which makes it vague for the audience to grasp. What do I mean by "proper" conclusion? Unfortunately, the mangaka passed away before she could complete the series.
As time continues, their relationship grows potent; these characters are deeply flawed but made realistic because of that. They were self-centered and condescending. Yet also stressed, broken, and simply yearning for an “ordinary” family. Initially, you may find a dislike for Sachiko and Misato since they were absent-minded with themselves. Ultimately, you will witness them blossom as parents. The side and supporting characters are enthusiastic, maintaining their morale high despite the hardships they face. To illustrate, they also devote time to explore issues within ASD that affect friends and acquaintances known to Hikaru and his family. Which includes abuse, child discipline, etc.
When looking at the supporting cast, it is not merely Hikaru’s family finding themselves in handling these issues. The characters display a broad variety of emotions such as anger, fear, embarrassment, and indifference. All of which are conveyed well to the reader. Everything is directly passed on to the audience candidly and naturally. However, the issue is we merely receive a narrow portion of their lives, which was ordinarily never intended for such a miniature audience. This is vital if we consider the importance of education in its narrative. With the Light already mentions that autism is different for everybody however, they need to emphasize it a bit more. School is imagined as an integral part of the community's culture and one's development. It enhances a pivotal environment in Hikaru’s growth as an adolescent boy. A fostering place of learning, it is there where our mind flourishes intellectually—then later perceives introspection.
The artwork is your retro-shoujo manga, but the drawing still captures the characters’ expressive gestures and movements. Nothing feels underused, but at the same time, nothing happens to be too brash. The visuals match the wholesome vibe, but simultaneously, it is nostalgic. Furthermore, there will not be any extraordinary characteristic details that seize your earnest attention, which is unfortunate considering the personal setting. It is crucial to pay attention to minor details when you try to evince signs of autism to the intended audience.
If you are dissecting this series as an academic resource or gaining a comprehensive grasp of autism, restrict your expectations from being excessively high. Despite the lavish praise I gave, With the Light does not perfectly provide a deep exploration of ASD or portray all of its issues along with it. We will not see different therapy methods, such as Hikaru's thought process, trauma, or coping mechanisms. Proper terminology can be outdated. The audience will gain a more thorough understanding. If you want to inform yourself even further, I suggest researching to obtain extensive knowledge and talking to them about their lives for anecdotes. Why? Attentively, experts in the manga encourage our characters to refer to an autistic child in the same way you would to a foreigner, using simple words and bold gestures. For instance, when foreign characters were introduced, they spoke in broken Japanese, similar to autistic people.
All things considered, you should appreciate this manga as a profound story. It is one of the most underrated manga I wholeheartedly adore for everything the series attempts to bring. From the tact it brought to the topic for the audience, to the relatability for people living with ASD. In conclusion, if you are autistic, chances are you will resonate with this series. The same applies to those who happen to recognize someone on the spectrum as well.
75/100
Rest in Peace, Keiko Tobe. (1957-2010)
Thank you kindly for reading my first review.
 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: Thank You Sensei!, Haru no Manazashi Japanese: 光とともに… ～自閉症児を抱えて～ More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 15
Chapters: 92
Status: Finished
Published: Sep 28, 2000 to Apr 3, 2009
Demographic:
Josei
Serialization:
For Mrs. Authors:
Tobe, Keiko (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #3752 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #3724
Members: 6,071
Favorites: 143 Resources | Reviews
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Jan 23, 2021
As an anime-only watcher—who has recently started following manga lately—I have been capable of utilizing my time searching for something to read. However, whenever we stumble upon a manga that approaches a controversial topic, our interest is piqued. I decided to check if there were other indistinguishable series. There are no results. That would mean autism as a theme, in general, is uncovered by manga of any demographic. This occurrence causes me to beg the question, “Why isn’t there more series that tackle autism?”
Awareness is significant—it implements change to influence ourselves and others around us. Autism has been beginning to be more prevalent since the aughts, but now, we are ... 
Mar 6, 2008
This is a very good manga, even if you don't know anybody with autism. If you do, the manga has little blurbs of advice interspersed with the story, which I thought was a nice touch.
I noticed that there is never any trouble with insurance, or tuition, because it takes place in Japan. One area where the story was sometimes not very realistic: Sachiko is often looking to choose a daycare/kindergarten/school for Hikaru. When this happens, there is usually a daycare center that treats the disabled kids really negligently, and then there is one that treats them awesome. She rarely sees any schools that have both good ... 
Jan 7, 2011
This is my first time rating a manga so I apologize if there are any mistakes.
I give this manga...a perfect, pure, concentrated 100/100! Yep! You read that rating right! I feel this is the single greatest and best manga of all time!...yet it's so underrated and underappreciated! But the appreciators who DO love it are truly devoted to this beautiful and majestic manga! I honestly feel that this is one of the most ground-breaking and wonderful and incomparable manga ever created! This is my number one all time favorite manga. And I can give A TON of reasons for it being sooooo wonderful! The premise of this ... 
Jan 16, 2008
This story tells what life is like for those who take care of a autistic child. It shows the hardships, and joys that come with raising an autistic child. This manga helps those who do not know much on the subject of autism to better understand it. I highly recommend this manga to those who wish to learn more about autism, or are very interested in this subject.
Jul 26, 2020
This is a fantastic slice-of-life manga following two parents as they raise an autistic child. As the couple learn more about autism and about their child, they grow as parents and learn how to nurture their son and develop an environment he can thrive in.
Story: 9/10 The premise is a simple one, and it’s right in the title: this manga is about raising an autistic child. We follow Sachiko and Masato as they learn how to become better parents to their son, Hikaru. They struggle to reconcile their fantasies of parenthood with the realities. They realize that their primary goal as parents shouldn’t necessarily ... 
Dec 27, 2023
I don't consider this just a manga. No piece of fiction has caused me to think about life as much as this story.
Life's hard as it is. A collective series of choices that inevitably lead to one's death. Friends, family, children, a husband, a mother, the grandma, the grandpa. It's all a random set of circumstances in which we do what we can to be happy, but there's always a wrench thrown at most people. Some don't have the economic standing necessary to sustain a normal life, others have parental problems. Everybody's got their thing, something they've got to deal with in their own ... 
Jul 30, 2017
As many readers of my reviews may note, I typically don’t tackle manga titles since anime is more my main priority of covering. But upon learning the premise of With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child almost three years ago, it caught my interest for both personal reasons and seeing how mangaka Keiko Tobe would approach exploring autism as to my knowledge, the disability has not had a serious exploration within any Japanese anime or manga series. The manga focuses on the challenges faced by the Azuma family as they try raising their autistic son, Hikaru, as With the Light explores his life from birth
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Jul 14, 2022
My favorite Manga series of all time. It is a very realistic and respectful take on what growing up with autism is like, specifically in Japan in the 2000's. Very heartwarming and gorgeously drawn story. This manga helped me develop a deeper understanding of my friends who most of them are on the spectrum (including me, who was not diagnosed until February 2011) and I was crestfallen when I found out about Keiko Tobe's passing. I am still not over her passing. I never will be.
However, my biggest criticism would have to be that it is super DATED. Like statistics and science on kids diagnosed ... |
