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This is my first review, and I'm writing it because this manga had a more profound impact on me than almost anything I have read.

Never before have I related to a character as hard as in this manga. The experiences that Yatora has are ones that resonate with me. The idea of struggling through challenges in order to reach a point where you yourself think that you're good enough is a really important concept, not only for artists, but pretty much anyone who is working towards a goal.

This manga actually pushed me towards something that I never thought about: truly doing what you love. Just ... doing things for others really isn't what's most important. Doing what you want for yourself is invaluable (even if it goes against the wishes of others).

The unease of transitioning into new experiences is highlighted often in the manga, and it's portrayed in such a realistic way I thought I was looking in a mirror. Doing things that you never thought you would do, or liking things that you once considered a joke... People change, but people also have things that they hide from others just to keep a public image. As someone who does art, and for the longest time scoffed at the 'weird' and 'modern', Blue Period taught me to take a second look. It taught me to try and grasp what an artist was feeling while making a piece, or try to understand the process behind something that may mean something to someone, and nothing to another.

This manga actually taught me about myself and the art that I thought I knew, and I feel like that is something rather hard to do.

Not to mention the gorgeous art that Yamaguchi utilizes. It often reflects the mood of the current scene well, and the shading is done in usual screentone, but occasionally in a watercolor-esque style that reflects the subject matter at hand.

The characters throughout Blue Period grow and change realistically as well, even minor characters that are seen less than others have goals in life and are constantly striving towards them. The characters grow and react equally as well as Yatora himself, sometimes having deep rooted problems that they too grow out of.

I firmly believe that if you are a person who has a goal in mind, artist or not, this manga is worth a read. It's a hidden gem of realistic and detailed experiences involving characters who are uniquely relatable. This manga is one of my favorites of all time.