Kanata kara

Feb 10, 2009

Suzuhana

Recommended

I can't believe that no review has been written for this beautiful manga yet. I wouldn't even hold this is competition with Fushigi Yuugi, because Fushigi would never have a chance. Don't read FY. Read From Far Away. It's so much more realistic, more beautiful and Noriko could kick Miaka's ass any day. And Izark would kick Tamahome's ass.

I had been holding off on reading this one for a while. I had assumed (never something you should do) that it would be like FY. And not that I hated FY, but Miaka pissed me off. I did not like her. And there were ... too many guys in potential for Miaka and that was like what the whole story was about. Miaka and these sexy guys trying to win something but there too sexy so how does that even make sense?

Anyway, I finally decided to read it. First off Noriko is 18, which hit off better with me. Because she's not some hysterical, emotional 16 year old little girl (like whine-y Miaka!). Noriko is so down to earth, and more mature.

So I started reading and at it first it was like all the other "girl who gets transported to some other world to save it" deal, but then Noriko is actually a very calm, very responsible girl. She doesn't freak out like some child and she doesn't take for granted Izark who is helping her. She actually has to learn the language, which Miaka does not, and she spends a lot of time here. You find out that she is the key to Izark and his demonic powers, and that this prophecy is all about the apocalypse. Or well you know. Of course the heroes have to save the world from the evil doers!

I think what kept me was the emotional bond that I could see developing between Izark (tragic hero) and Noriko (optimistic heroine) immediately. There wasn't this "insta love connection" and "oh he's so hot". Noriko sees Izark for who he really is, inside his heart. Despite the demons that follow him. Izark also sees the good in Noriko, her kindness, her worth despite her fragility. The bond between these two is incredibly real, much more tangible than other "transported girl" plots, and you can't help but smile. Because it's both sad and wonderful. Who they are and what they are is something that is resolved.

And it was their romance that I was so intent on reading for more for. When I was reading FY, I was always so angry with Miaka and how selfish and pathetic and whine-y she really seemed to be. The only thing Miaka did in my opinion was find the warriors. Then they did all the work. But in From Far Away, Noriko and Izark take on the world saving task all by themselves. They support each other and it was a much more mature relationship. Izark needed Noriko in ways that only she could seem to be there for (if I remember correctly Miaka did a lot of needing, not Tamahome). And Izark was their to support her as well. Noriko sees her struggles, works them out rationally, and then pursues what she can do to help her in her and Izark's quest. She tries to take on as many problems as Izark does, she just has a better handle on things and is fluid in the way she handles things thrown at her. Granted she cried out for Izark every time someone man-handled her, but could be explained by her inability to fight.

The art is something I take pleasure in. It's so beautiful and clean. Although, I could have gone without all of the bams, thuds, screeches and any other big bolded black letters that were thrown in just about every damn fight scene! That blocked out some of the picture and kept my attention diverted which I did not like. But it was gorgeous. The flow between each panel was good. And the emotions were caught perfectly.

The characters are wonderful. The development between Noriko and Izark is beautiful and lonely and difficult. Izark is full of despair and Noriko is like a bubble of courage. The supporting characters are funny and fit well in complementing Izark and Noriko. Just remember that the story is about our two heroes, so the secondary characters do take a back seat often.

The story does not focus on love, nor does it solely focus on fighting. Rather it's more the struggle between good and evil, the light and the dark that each and every single person must go through. The romance was slow, sweet and perfect. The fights were bloody. But it was the battle that people had to take up for themselves to defeat the evil that was inside them and around them.

Of course if you have read Fushigi Yuugi, I would more than just recommend From Far Away. But if you are like any other shoujo/romance person than I say read this. It's not exactly short, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Take the time to read this.

Btw, did I mention that this is SO MUCH BETTER than Fushigi Yuugi?

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Feb 5, 2010

klaudiviris

Recommended

What makes From Far Away different? I never heard of this series before, just stumbled upon it on a random search for reading material and it blew me away. I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to art, but in terms of storyline, progression and characterization, I was really pleased.

The first thing I thought was really interesting about this series was that the 'spirited away' girl had to learn the language spoken in the new world and it takes her a lot of times and several misunderstandings. The fact that you see her language progress and become less clumsy through the story is something I ... think more writers should take into consideration. Given, the same language seems to be used over many different countries, but I'll just give my thumbs up for the original idea of language barrier.

The flow of the story is really good. It keeps you on edge: "will he become the monster that brings the end of the world"? and, for the wide range of supporting characters, you never have the feeling you have to stop and think hard about who is what.

The romance element was just perfect -in my opinion- because I felt there was no rush. It's not love at first sight, and it's also not a "bickering couple" a la Pride and Prejudice style which seems to be a trend when it comes to romances. The characters just slowly grow to love each other. There's also no love triangles, which I find refreshing (ok, so there's a guy who starts liking Noriko, but she flat out rejects him short after). The way Noriko and Izark tease each other was endearingly sweet without it being too mushy.

As someone who doesn't believe in absolute good and evil, it was somewhat bothering the fact that there's "good people" and "bad people"... but by the end of the story this matter is resolved in a way I felt was satisfying.

The interaction between main characters and supporting characters was really good. You can see how their personalities influence each other and allow the main characters to grow.

Now, when it comes to the characterization of the main couple, I'm very pleased with Noriko's characterization, but not as pleased with Izark.

Noriko is different from most female characters in these "spirited away" series in that she is very mature and she doesn't throw childish tantrums or fight with the people who help her. Very early on she decides to trust Izark (who just saved her life) and you never see her questioning her trust on him. She's usually very coolheaded, and doesn't usually run into trouble out of stupidity. In her growth as a character she becomes a lot more self-confident and brave, but she's still no warrior. Overall, a great character.

Izark was a lot more of a standard character for this sort of genre. Beautiful, powerful with a dark past and a darker destiny. Considering all the times this guy must have been bashed and beaten up, you'd at least expect him to have a broken nose at some point, but apparently he's so good looking he can pass as an actor (is this something to do with his regeneration abilities?). There's a lot of development on this character from an aloof lone warrior to a person who can even make jokes every now and then and even ridicule himself for the sake of his friends. I think his interaction with Alef is exquisitely rich. Still, I wouldn't call him the most original of characters. As Noriko first notices, he's a good guy.

All in all, even if this series is not perfect, I think it's a must-read for people into fantasy shojo. It's really a good story and unless you're really not into shojo or fantasy, I can't think of one reason why you wouldn't like it.

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Aug 24, 2009

Pinkbismuth

Recommended

I must say I am a huge fan of this wonderful manga and amazed at how under rated it is. At first I had feared that the main character, Noriko would be another one of those stupid, weak, useless female characters, however I gladly admit I was mistaken. She was very strong willed and central to the story. The story it's self is a very good one, with an exciting journey and a wonderful plot. It has romance without being all gushy about it and a nice dose of action. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this manga and plan to reread it in the near future.

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Jun 17, 2011

TheBishList

Recommended

This is a Hidden Gem!!

I stumbled on this manga when I was trying to find a similar story line to Red River.
I didn't have any expectations...but WOW did it become addicting.

The best thing about this manga are the characters, characters and well...CHARACTERS!! XD
I fell in love with the Hero and Heroine. I totally expected Noriko to become totally dependent and emotional about being stuck in a different world like some heroines become! NOT Noriko!! And thats why I Love her! She sucks it up, learns the language, and does her own thing!! Izark is the guy any girl would want to have if ...

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Jun 17, 2014

Lolzipop997

Recommended

This is undeniably one of the most inspirational mangas I have ever read. No matter how many times I reread it, I feel like I'm reading it for the first time. The romance between Noriko and Izark is so adorable and really develops over the course of the story. I can feel my heart getting all warm and fuzzy whenever their together, as if I was the one falling in love XD

Not only are the characters enjoyable and wonderful people, but you also get the sense that they behave realistically, with a basic understanding of their own limitations and common sense, which is surprisingly ... rare in most other manga and anime.
Noriko is a wonderful take on the dependent female character type. She gets kidnapped a few times, but in general she gets kidnapped for legitimate reasons. While other dependent females get kidnapped because they're pretty and the enemy wants to bone them, Noriko gets kidnapped or almost murdered because her mental faculties and pure, loving heart make her an asset and a threat to evil. Not to mention, she has such a wonderfully positive outlook on life, that it is simply contagious. I also love, that she is the one dependent female character I can think of whose personality or characteristics cannot be changed. If you change Noriko in any way, the story just doesn't work the same or as well. Noriko literally just being who she is is what gives her and her friends strength. It's very inspiring and empowering, especially in the real work were magic and superpowers don't exist.

One thing I especially love about the story is the world building and the continuity. You can really tell that the manga-ka spent a lot of time building this world and the many different cultures and governments within it, with prophesies, misinterpreted prophesies, and other worlds galore.
Also, unlike other, more episodic mangas, characters and events which happen and appear towards the beginning of the series actually come back and influence the later half of the manga in a very big way. And by that I mean that if Noriko and Izark didn't go to all those places, meet all those people, and gain all those experiences, the ending of this manga would have been DRASTICALLY different.
On the subject of world building, I just want to note how much I appreciate that the manga-ka actually addressed the whole issue of a language barrier when traveling to another dimension or time (as opposed to being completely brushed aside by a magical deus ex machina such as in Daughter of the Nile and Red River). Just wanted to mention that.

The art in this manga wasn't mind-blowing, but I didn't really care. It's obviously a 90s art style and some of the character designs, especially for non-main characters are somewhat cartoony, but that didn't stop me from going humina humina whenever Izark was on the page, and especially whenever he was dressed sexily.

My ONLY regret with this manga is that there isn't more of it. I want more Izark and Noriko!! DX

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Mar 12, 2019

Magdalen

Recommended

Considering the fact historical shoujo with a strong female lead is my addiction, I am unbelievably surprised I haven't stumbled across this sooner. And I am so very glad I eventually did.

Kanata kara, or 'From Far Away' is one I couldn't put down. The story follows Izark, the tragic lead with a stormy past and even stormier future, and how him colliding with Noriko, our enthusiastic and overly cheery heroine, changes the course of his world. It's also a fantastic love letter to the idea of fate and destiny, and how they are affected by the smallest of decisions.

There is a lot that struck ... me about From Far Away, not least that the love that develops between Izark and Noriko is pure, and without (for the most part) any tropes you would perhaps expect to see in a shoujo. There isn't any tragic love triangles, and the few love interests that do crop up (mainly for Noriko) Noriko deals with quickly and maturely in a way that allows the story to progress without causing unnecessary 'misunderstood' drama. For being a fantastical and supernatural story that involves dragons and horses that look like insects (my one complaint with the art!), it is very real. The supporting characters are fleshed out and driven by their own character motivations that aren't spared for the two main characters stories. And the supporting characters don't come to violent ends or tragic blows for the sake of advancing the main plot. It is wildly refreshing.

I struggle often with the idea or plot device that a woman is a man's redemption (or vice versa). The Byronic hero - a man moody, mysterious and often ruthless - being redeemed from terrible things due to the love of a woman, is a plot I honestly detest for the most part. I would gladly talk at length as to my reasons for why, but that's not what this review is about. At first, I worried that this would perhaps be one of those stories. But what is great is that whilst Noriko's love for Izark plays a part in putting him on to a path towards the light, it is Izark's own growth and self awareness that allows him to step that way. His growth is not ignored, rushed or fabricated in order to further the heroine's plotline, and I loved From Far Away for that.

Speaking of the heroine's plotline, what really struck me was that Noriko was 'strong' in not the classic sense of the word (a la Crazy Shin Bia) by being fiery or overly powerful, but that she was incredibly self sufficient and self motivated. She did not allow herself to wallow, or become a constant damsel in distress incapable of doing anything without Izark. She was simply an 'ordinary' girl, but From Far Away tells us that even the most ordinary can violently change the world around them. And that 'ordinary' person can also receive love, both from friends and lovers, that is capable of incredible things. It's a very powerful message that From Far Away drills into you, and I love it.

And I hope, if nothing else, that young readers take away the fact you don't have to be some incredibly powerful or strong person to not only make a difference, but also be worthy of love.

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Nov 25, 2016

FloralFlames

Recommended

Story:
Kanata Kara is one of my favorite isekai stories before the genre itself lost its spark. There is a constant feeling of dread and after every two pages of happiness and two cracked eggs and milk, the readers are in for two arcs of trouble. The Murphy Law is fully in effect here, and nothing stays perfect for long. What's a story without (constant) mishaps? Well, it isn't Kanata Kara without it that's for sure.

The ending was really lackluster, but I enjoyed the journey and finished the series in two days, so I think it was decent fun, not delirious but decent. Halfway Spoiler: There ...

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Jan 11, 2010

xMiki-chan

Recommended

This is my first review so bear with me...
This manga is one of my favorites for so many reasons:

Story - 9
This is one of those stories where at the end, you feel immensely satisfied, but sad that it didn't go on forever.
Unlike some stories of the time-travelling genre, this is pretty realistic as far as fantasy goes. When Noriko first arrives in a strange world, she doesn't understand the language there, which is pretty rare in other stories of this type. She has to put forth some effort to get along in her new world. And she has a realistic yet optimistic ...

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May 4, 2014

jadagirly

Recommended

It's an honor to have this excellent manga be my first review. I absolutely loved this manga it is my favorite and I have read alot. I've never felt that a manga or anime was so incredible to the point where I wanted to review it (and I can't stand writing)!

Kinata Kara is about a girl who is taken to another world and meets the companion she will stay with for the rest of her life. They don't hit it off at first but they gradually get closer as the story progresses. You follow them on their amazing, action filled adventure to find out who ...

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May 8, 2010

aish_y

Recommended

One of the best manga's that I have ever read. No irritating characters. All the characters even excluding the main ones are very charming in their own ways.
And, Izark and Noriko, just WOW!!! Definitely a must read for all action and romance fans:)

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May 6, 2019

Bubuful

Recommended

This is one of the best manga i have ever read. Why you ask? It's simple:
First of all, i really love how the heroine acts. She is not the type that just stands in the way like an obstacle, she always wants to help, tries to be brave even when she is scared, she tries to do her best all the time. But the most important think is that she is not clingy.
Secondly, i like how every character has it's role. The story isn't rushed, their feelings evolve not too fast but not slow either. Their relationship is too cute and pure, it is beautiful ...

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Dec 1, 2020

mythicamagic

Recommended

So after finishing this manga ngl I got a little misty eyed. Yes its cheesy and fluffy and shojo, but I think especially during these times, shojo is whats needed. Hell, I think the overall message of Kanata Kara is very important and relevant to 2020; how everyone is connected and even small acts of kindness has a ripple effect. The way the villain is defeated could be considered disappointing for some, but I think it suited the series perfectly. It’s exactly how Noriko and Izark would act. It’s a perfect example of how an ending should suit the world you’ve crafted and you shouldn’t ...

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Oct 29, 2022

pumpkinnmayo

Mixed Feelings

Noriko, a typical Japanese high schooler, is suddenly caught in a terrorist bombing and transported to a sea full of trees with giant insects and dragons. A mysterious man Izark with seemingly superhero strength saves her from giant worms, and she's now the center of a giant hunt as The Awakening, with the power to awaken the power of a mythical sky demon. From Far Away helped define many of the tropes central to modern isekai before the deluge of a lifeless, never-ending cycle of low quality isekai. So, although many of these tropes have been seen before and will be seen again, the story ... stands on its own because of how it manages to execute these tropes long before they were ubiquitous in Japanese media.

Despite the excellent plot twists in the first 2/3rds of the story, From Far Away suffers from a weak plot and poor characters at the end. Although not a short series, it introduces too many characters for us to get close to, and the entire story revolves around Noriko and Izark. This dynamic starts on an excellent foot, understand that a character transported to a new world cannot speak the local language, and how they slowly bridge that gap is engaging and fresh. That our lead may awaken a nearly omnipotent demon that will destroy the world is an interesting twist, a story suggesting moral ambiguity of a character who we relate to potentially being central to causing great evil. Despite this promise, it ends in lazy storytelling of extreme good versus evil, rather than the idea of good and evil being two sides of the same coin hinted at earlier. Rather than end with shades of gray, with characters with different moral compasses leading to thorny issues and an epic ending, or blue/orange morality on how a foreign land's ethics might be diifferent to our own, the villains are uninspired and comically bad. It's light against darkness, and it doesn't get less uninspired than that.

We also get little to no insight into Noriko's life back home, despite the pain Noriko must feel from leaving everyone she knew behind. This is haphardly reintroduced for moments when needed as a plot device, but never sufficiently explored.

That said, it's easy to judge From Far Away by the standards of today, at a time where these tropes weren't as commonplace. The execution in most of the series is good, and coupled with the plot twists still stands even today. The ending, however, and the deluge of poorly developed characters, drag this story down to barely above average.

As far as the art, it's above average for shoujo art of the genre, and Izark's design is quite well done. Despite the similarity between Izark and a few others, there's also a large number of supporting characters with good character designs superior to the norms of the time period. All in all, it's hard to recommend this series today. Not all classics withstand the test of time and this seems to hardly excel even at the time it was written.

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Mar 18, 2017

SenyoriitaReads

Mixed Feelings

Kanata Kara disappointed me greatly. This is because it's been receiving quite a promoter scores but when I actually read it, it is not the case. This had been playing just around my average line.

The art was pretty good, it is just that the story was a bit lacking of adventure and essential richness. There seems to be so many thing going on but really not. New characters have been coming on all sides but no proper introduction about them before they come in was done. Or even when the story progresses, they seems to hold such a very important role in the ...

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