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Otoyomegatari is a beautifully drawn "Historical Iyashikei manga" focused around a Central Asian theme of Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan/modern-day Iran back in the 1800s. The synopsis is a bit misleading as while Amir/Karluk are the main characters, the majority of the series so far focuses around the adventurers of English explorer Henry Smith. It's a cultural manga depicting the everyday lives and tribulations of the people of the region with an emphasis on the social norms of marriage and the encroaching Russian empire of the time period.

Being an Iyashikei with an element of realism, the series does an excellent job blending the realities of life and its ... hardships at that time with a positive healing elements of community and people coming together. The social and cultural elements are historically accurate to the regions and explain the significance of a culture far separated from both Japanese and European sensibilities both through its beautifully drawn aesthetic, third person explanations of events, and the tones and words of the people of the region. For those with strict sensibilities this can seem jarring as the characters rarely jump out of character to "act Japanese" or "act European" and our "secret" protagonist Henry Smith becomes enamored and enraged with the way things are at various points, but this adds to the charm. Otoyomegatari tries to show a lens into the past that is less brutal than reality at times, but that still accurately mirrors those realities through the lens of comfy nomadic living and familial elements. I highly recommend it for anyone who has a curiosity for other cultures who can maintain an open mind about those cultures.