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Oct 28, 2022
ReLIFE is an absolute special one in so many different ways. Yes, it’s not exactly a “manga,” but it’s not a “manhwa” either since that’s a Korean term to describe webcomics. Thus, it still qualifies as a Japanese manga since the webcomic format still falls into the broader umbrella term, and last I checked, Yayoi Sou is Japanese. Comico has printed over one million copies easily during its serialization, and I think that itself can speak about how amazing this story really is.
I don’t think I’ll be able to go through every single ounce of detail in this review, but I’ll do my best to
...
highlight the key areas and dig into our usual review structure of story, art, and characters, while giving an overall score out of 10.
Story - 9
The premise was intriguing, and the plot itself was consistent and emotional. Not only did the story kick off with a mysterious yet informative beginning, but I also noticed just how well written everything was from the get-go. Ryou was explaining the details of the ReLIFE program to Arata like a gossiping maniac with a calm demeanor, while all the other beloved characters (the characters are what I loved most about this manga) were introduced early but with good intentions. This allowed me as a reader to instantly understand the circumstances Arata was going through, and comprehend why folks such as him gave in to that ReLIFE program. I also grasped the details of the program and its limitations/boundaries, or set of rules if you will, thanks to the way it was all laid out early in the story. At first, due to an eerie tickle I felt from this mysterious program, I thought the organization was evil - but boy did I get a pleasant surprise as the story fleshed out like an expanding blue sky.
Once things were established, Sou immersed readers into the full drama and rollercoaster arcs of Arata, Chizuru, and the high school cast. There are over 230 chapters in this manga, yet every individual one offered a consistent thrill which never felt dragged on or “milked.” Lest we forget the fact that this is a high school setting - a very typical and saturated genre guilty of too many overused tropes and ideas. This wasn’t the case with ReLIFE; every arc felt different and unique, and the bond between Arata, Chizuru, Rena, Kazuomi, Akira, Honoka, Kokoro and Nobunaga just felt strangely existent (and grew!). Heck, I’ll even throw the school nurse and the gym teacher in there.
What I was most impressed with was Sou’s ability to “challenge” this bond between Arata and all the other characters in the most emotional way, but still facilitate the much-needed romantic development between him and Chizuru. The plot progressed in a manner with a clear end goal of rehabilitating the state of Arata’s life, but by the actual end of the story, it felt like it accomplished ten other things. Despite the lack of a true consistent “antagonist,” there was always a major plot point pulling strings and moving our characters along.
And finally, the ending - a critical piece of the story that really, REALLY needed to deliver to wrap things up properly. Spoiler alert: it did. At first, I didn’t know what to expect; the ReLIFE program was ending once they graduated high school, but once Arata and Chizuru returned to their adult lives, I didn’t know what else would happen (besides their romantic development). I thought Sou tied everything together perfectly, even keeping the rest of the high school cast relevant until the very end.
Art - 9
Sou’s webcomic art was fantastic to say the least - but my ability to analyze webcomic art is a quarter of that of traditional manga art (and the latter skill isn’t up my alley either). Perhaps I’m loosening the critique here, but nothing felt out-of-place regarding ReLIFE’s webcomic format. I grew incredibly accustomed to reading it early on, and while the panels weren’t covered in details head-to-toe, I doubt you’ll find anyone out there critiquing Sou’s art that much. Plus, it was all colored from start-to-finish! Bravo!
Characters - 10
Finally, the good stuff. While others may disagree, I thought the cast was what truly accelerated the story into the stratosphere.
Kaizaki Arata is a well-loved protagonist who’s outgoing, kind, and supportive, but holds clear flaws which are covered by his counterpart, Hishiro Chizuru. Immediately, the dynamics between our two MCs stick out, but more like a flashing lily among the grass rather than like a sore thumb. This dynamic is what enables readers to ship these two right away, and the mysteries between both unravel themselves in parallel like they were destined to be with each other.
Chizuru herself is another amazingly-written character: what started out as a cold, unemotional and reserved person soon developed into a more thoughtful and open individual by graduation - thanks to her own self-growth and Arata’s help.
Let’s not take for-granted the rest of our cast; the other beloved duo who undergo development are Rena and Kazuomi. I think it’s worth recognizing that despite these two actually reflecting the minds of high school students, they grew emotionally just as equally as the two MCs.
And who could forget our ReLIFE program facilitators! Ryou and An are quite the interesting pair, both among themselves and their interactions with everyone else. Introducing characters that know all about the program, the secrets of Arata and Chizuru, and what to expect once high school graduation arrives - this was fantastic. They’re prime examples of characters who know information that readers don’t (until later on), but that didn’t hinder the plot’s growth, either; it complemented it perfectly.
Overall Enjoyment - 10
This has by far been one of my longest reviews, but for good measure - ReLIFE deserves the praise it receives. It’s one of those manga (or webcomics) that instantly pops into mind when one asks, “what’s a solid romance drama with a good ending you’d recommend?” It’s a story that sheds light on numerous literary themes like corporate politics and unethical cultures. It obviously explores the miserable states of working adults who want the opportunity to reset in life, but don’t have the environment nor energy to do so. And finally, the idea of a “growth mindset” was prevalent as well - the willpower to always challenge or improve yourself and your life, no matter the circumstances (with the help from others, of course!).
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Oct 23, 2022
I’ve both seen the anime (Up to Yuukaku-hen as of the time I’m writing this) and read the manga in its entirety. Before I ram my Truck-kun head into the details, let me establish a few opinions up front:
- The anime production and quality absolutely tops the manga, but it’s not as much as some folks make it out to be. The manga is still magnificent.
- The quickened storyline is definitely visible, but it may not be as heavy of a flaw as you might think. There are many nuances involved.
With that being said, let me do my best to explain.
Story - 7/10
Let me break
...
this down to what I liked and what I disliked. Let’s start with the former.
The sad backstories and their connection to a character’s actions and motivations were brilliant. Be it a pillar or a demon, it seemed like everyone was getting a backstory, and everyone had some light shed upon them. Yet at the same time, readers were ensured that the four heroes of their beloved shonen manga - Tanjiro, Nezuko, Inosuke and Zenitsu - still got most of the spotlight.
The first half of the plot was also as epic as it was necessary - Tanjiro’s developmental stage and the introduction to the pillars were all what planted the seeds and made the story feel “authentic.”
Now for the poor feedback. A disappointing “sigh” to the storytelling that many pointed out is Gotouge’s “repetition” of backstories and the similarities involving thereof among each one. Backstories for both demons and slayers involving their loved ones being murdered before their very eyes felt common, or the act of torture/slavery. While I’m sure the effort was there to differentiate among every single one, my mind just couldn’t help but make this pattern.
Secondly, everyone’s favorite piece to complain about: the rushed latter half. What looked like a struggling Tanjiro soon became pillar level within a quarter of the manga, and the final arc (while epic, long, and crazy) slammed into our faces before fans even had a chance to sit back down after the last few arcs. For a few pillars, some got their own arc (like Uzui with the Entertainment District arc), while some had their “official” introductions shoved into the final fortress arc. It was like Gotouge was trying to kill two birds with one stone by introducing Gyomei, Obanai and Sanemi all in one arc (that being the final one and the longest arc for God sakes) while using them to help speed run the latter half of the whole manga. Also, Tamayo’s actions which essentially saved everyone was what even kept the plot alive. She was the essence of plot armor alone.
Now, the 7 is still an okay rating - the storytelling for each individual character is what had me emotionally attached to the manga. The plot as a whole obviously has its weak spots as I’ve captured, but just being able to fully finish and conclude this manga with a fulfilling ending is an amazing achievement on its own, shadowed by the various flaws people point out. The final arc was still great - I just wished the “build up” to that said arc was more fleshed out. Also, that last time skip chapter? A plain piece of satire to say the least.
Art - 8/10
Gotouge’s art is one of the most distinct styles I’ve seen in action manga. It feels quirky and whimsy, but still “cool” and detailed. One aspect I feel may fly under the radar is Gotouge’s ability to paint the details of countless fights and breathing styles (think Muzen’s final fight and how much work was put into that…). Some scenes were slightly more confusing than others, but their general ability to express humorous/comedic faces or effects on one page and then jump straight into “life or death” shounen-esque fights on the next is under-appreciated.
Characters - 10/10
Ah, my favorite part of the manga, and I’m sure for many others as well. The antagonists were just as fleshed out as the protagonists, and some of their backstories truly did capture my heart. If there was a deadly demon who Gotouge truly did want me to hate, the demon’s personality and fighting style would do just that. Equally as true is if Gotouge wanted to pull a full 180 on me and make me like the demon that I just hated, they could and I would fall for it.
Yes, Tanjiro was great, Zenitsu was funny, Inosuke was compelling, and Nezuko screamed kawaii. But let’s not forget the vast cast laid upon us and the plethora of personalities, backstories, and fighting abilities introduced. Did Rengoku make us cry? Did Uzui’s harsh but caring nature make us forget that he had three wives? Did Gyomei’s blindness make him cooler? Heck, none of them were even my favorite pillar - it was Muichirou, because of his resolve and the love he had for his brother.
We don’t just stop there; raise your hand if you felt bad for Akaza or Gyuutarou. The antagonists were what made the manga truly shine and hide some of its plot-related flaws. Demons didn’t just act like your typical shounen “bad guy.” They weren’t painted in just black or white - they were filled with colors of reverie which made me almost shed a tear upon reading more about some of them. I’ll be honest - I cried as much for Akaza as I did for Rengoku.
Overall Enjoyment - 8/10
Let’s top this all off by saying that I understand why some rated this manga poorly, and how its “underserved” flawless anime adaptations were the reasons why it even became a world beater in the industry.
I even know about how the manga ratings on MAL fell and rose like a rollercoaster when the anime was first airing. I remember reading abystoma2’s review back in May 2020 when the manga finished but they haven’t seen the anime adaptation: the manga leaped from a 7.46/10 rating back in 2017 from before the anime’s airing to a whopping 8.50 by the middle of it. It’s amazing what a brilliant anime adaptation can do for a manga’s rating.
But, Gotouge still pulled it together for a fulfilling finish, even despite the flaws. Because of how flawless I thought the characters’ writing was, I’m giving this an 8. It’s certainly a manga filled with a beloved cast, in which some have become worldly iconic to say the least.
Favorite quote:
“What’s the use of trying to preserve my life force, this late into the game? Nobody with half-assed resolve like that becomes a pillar. What an unbelievable insult. You’ve got my blood boiling.” - Himejima Gyoumei, Chapter 170
I didn't even mention the head-scratching pillar rankings which seem to go on forever in r/KimetsuNoYaiba. Grab some popcorn; there's even a weekly power ranking thread :) Why can't every pillar just be appreciated equally? (anyways here's mine hehe):
Like I said
We should
Acknowledge
That every pillar
Has their strenghts
And weaknesses
So we can't just
Compare apples to oranges
Sanemi
Gyoumei
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Oct 5, 2022
A manga which I personally feel is one of the most underrated of all-time - not just in the shoujo genre, but in all of romance, period. Lest we forget it didn’t even earn an anime adaptation for crying out loud (still screaming to this day on why). Don’t get me wrong, the general recognition is there. However, seldom do I see this on the list of people’s favorite romance manga; even if it’s for the shoujo demographic, the story and premise could’ve easily pulled in general romance readers like a magnet. ’ll dig into the dirty areas on why.
Story - 9
While not “out-of-this-world” unique
...
in terms of premise and story development, what makes Last Game a special one are actually (in my opinion) the well executed details which seldom get noticed among readers. Here are some of those:
- Many subtle literary themes can be found in and out of the plot. We see Momoka’s struggles in the past with her body image after being bullied as a kid, and Yanagi’s persistence to achieve “self-earned” progress in various aspects of his life rather than being privileged thanks to his family’s richness.
- The premise establishes itself at a perfect pace to build up the actual story conflict regarding Naoto and Kujou. The few chapters near the beginning which were dedicated to their background and how they met - that pulled me in as a reader immediately.
- You won’t believe me when I say that the comedy was integrated into the story perfectly, followed by a lack of unnecessary melodramatic moments. You heard me - a shoujo that doesn't mess with needless drama, and involves a rather “mature” love triangle.
- A series of conflicts scattered consistently throughout the plot, rather than shoved into one grand finale like a ticking time bomb. I can say it was still somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster, but the waves were more calm than other stories I’ve read.
Art - 10
Amano-sensei’s art is top tier, and perfectly befitting that of the romance genre.
Even dating back to her previous works such as Katakoi Triangle, her art is consistent and absolutely emphasizes on the cuteness of her characters. She utilizes chibis occasionally, and if lack thereof, Amano-sensei makes sure whoever’s in the spotlight for any given panel shines in that said spotlight. The hair and the eyes in particular stand out to me, and she utilizes subtle decorations (such as flower stamps) to make the cuteness of Naoto or Kujou really pop out. I see this a lot in shoujo manga in general!
Now, one complaint I’d pull out is that her character designs seem to be too similar in appearance across her multitude of works. For example, Souma looks like Tomo from Wasureyuki, and Naoto looks like Haruka from Katakoi Triangle. Now granted, it seems to have gotten better with her new releases, so I’ll stop there.
Characters - 9
On the surface we see an obvious pair of MCs sharing the stage, bouncing comedy off of each other while both boasting contrasting personalities. We also have an excellent supporting cast that not only gets introduced early, but applies a small but perfect amount of influence on Naoto and Kujou’s decision-making throughout the story.
Now given that the plot didn’t cover massive territory (it was 60+ chapters in which the majority depicted the characters’ college life), I understand the limitation on the number of characters. What I hope to see next time around from Amano-sensei’s work are deeper dives into the pasts of not just the MCs, but supporting cast too. How did Shiori fall in love with her now boyfriend? How can we introduce different or unique personality traits to make the characters more different than one another?
[Spoilers]
And finally, oh boy did I feel bad for Naoto at times. Largely with prejudice given that I’m a guy reading the story, but we beat around the bush regarding his love for Kujou for so long, and the man genuinely tried hard to win her love. The dude is constantly called a stalker by Souma, and his hints of romance are ignored by Kujou due to her obliviousness and lack of social awareness. The final date we see in the series? A farm, where Naoto waits two hours for Kujou to enjoy herself.
Plus - guys, you’re in college. You can do more than just act cute around each other, you know. Don’t just beat around the bush and not hold hands until chapter 55, while giving readers very few kissing scenes on top of that.
Overall Enjoyment - 9
This was a “fun” rollercoaster story to ride! The plot points etched into my head as much as the cuteness of the art, and I could argue that Last Game is the pinnacle of a well-done wholesome shoujo manga. That. Deserves. An. Anime. Adaptation.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 1, 2022
For 7 straight years, this manga continued its magical run until it got its formidable climax and conclusion.
Also for 7 straight years (or 7 days, AKA the time it took for me to finish reading it), we got the ugliest hairstyle of any male MC I've ever seen in my entire life. I've read over 10k chapters worth of shounen, romance, comedy, drama and action manga, and I've never seen a man with hair so unbelievably distracting that I wanted to snip them off myself through the screen.
But anyways, let's get to the actual review.
Story - 8
Umi no Misaki was as creative as it was
...
powerful in its world-building and story progression. Seldom did I witness a chapter diverging away from the main plot, and even if it did, the next chapter ensured we were right back on track. This could've EASILY been a two-hundred-chapter manga if we slipped off the beautiful pace the story was written in. Additionally, the lore made things even more creative, especially compared to your typical harem rom-com. However, I felt that it definitely needed better foundations before being injected into the plot, as we didn't exactly get an answer on "WHY" Nagi was who he was (I'll avoid spoilers).
The story itself walked to a climax in linear fashion, making everything easy to follow. It was in this aforementioned climax where readers were thrown drama after drama, right in their faces; a satisfying experience for some, and a deteriorating read for others. I see both sides: a dramatic climax only enhances the already creative plot line, but it also runs the main happy atmosphere (established in the first half of the manga) completely off-course.
Finally, one thing I want to point out is that after the story’s climax, the conclusion is quite short-lived. A few more chapters to really linger out the resolution would’ve been a nice follow-up.
Art - 8
I’m not even going to jump back into the issue with Nagi’s hair. Like I said: grab a pair of scissors, and cut that sh*t off. I’ll focus on everything else now.
Fumizuki-sensei’s art is quite unique in the manga world. He draws his characters distinctively and with a unique style: larger eyes, detailed clothing, classic blush lines on the cheeks, and beautiful backdrops for scenery. The one component distracting me at times are the eyes - sometimes they may appear bigger than they need to be, but that’s a minor aspect (and obviously a preference-based comment).
Characters - 8
To sum this part up: there are both good and bad sides to describe, but the good outweighs the bad.
The good: I loved Nagi’s character development - it followed the pace of the story itself well. I could even argue that the story’s progression was dependent on Nagi’s growth (a regression coefficient of almost 1, if you will). While obviously his indecisiveness probably bothered readers as much as it did for me, his confidence visibly grew as the chapters went on, and - for someone traumatized by the typical indecisive “wimpy” male harem MC, Nagi was perfectly fine with me. Another thing I loved was the initial development of the three maidens (AKA Nagi’s harem). What started in hate, confusion or refusal quickly turned into love, and the maidens showed their growth exponentially near the beginning.
The bad: Depth of characters was alright, but breadth of characters went into the bin. Besides the introduction of Keiko (Mike) around the middle of the story, hardly anyone else got any spotlight. The supporting characters weren’t exactly there to add diversity, and Tama-chan didn’t get much screen time for an in-depth look into her past. Why is she so interested in island folklore? Where’s her conclusion in this story? Heck, what are the primary characters going to do in the long-term future as well?
Overall Enjoyment - 8
The most memorable moment for me was when I began reaching the climax. I couldn’t stop flipping through the chapters - the story dropped the ball on a wholesome and happy vibe, and completely flipped the script. It made me excited to see something different within the harem genre, on top of what was already a pretty interesting story.
Obviously the manga has its faults: a rushed conclusion without a look into a long-term road, lack of supporting characters, and some island lore that needed more foundations before jumping into action. Yet as a reader, the story was interesting none-the-less, and I genuinely think it deserves at least a 8/10.
Last but not least - sensei, please… don’t draw someone with Nagi’s hair ever again. Please.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 21, 2022
What a premise it was, and was a plot it was, for the most part.
Where do I even start?
Let's first set some background - Sasuga Kei was already a well known shounen romance/drama writer thanks to her hit manga "GE: Good Ending." As soon as I opened page 1 of DnK, I recognized her art style immediately. Many patterns can be drawn from classic Kei sensei storytelling - plot twists, emotional rollercoasters, and harsh moments for the protagonist. DnK, without a doubt, was the application of all the feedback Kei sensei got from her previous work, and it flourished.
The only thing was, it
...
also produced new mistakes. Kei sensei decided to subvert expectations and develop an ending that wasn't exactly friendly with her fans and readers alike, and for some good reasons which I'll dig into a bit more below.
Story - 6 (Overall)
In order to fully give a reasonable and just analysis on the story of DnK, we have to break down the plot into segments which will get their own scores first.
High School Arc - 8
The high school setting was established well, which allowed for a strong introduction of both Hina and Rui as the potential lovers for Natsuo (In which they eventually became). The plot carried forward at a steady pace, and the supporting cast was introduced linearly, with each character offering value to the plot. Kiriya Sensei, Alex, Momo, and others; they provided unique flavors that enhanced the main story and even turned a few chapters into fun reads that never dulled. There were conflicts related to romance which brought these characters closer together and pushed the plot forward (eg. Alex's crush on Rui), and Natsuo's romantic relationships with Hina and Rui struck a great balance with the fun elements the other characters delivered.
College Arc Part One - 8
In my opinion, the first half of Natsuo's college life was actually one of the best arcs within the entire story. It depicted a perfect balance between college life and Natsuo's pursuit of writing, while still focusing on the romantic aspect and the plot. Kei sensei introduced new characters into Natsuo's life while also adding new love interests to spice up the plot - and this was executed well. Various parts of drama were still incorporated to upkeep that side of the story well.
College Arc Part Two - 7
The latter half of this arc, ranging from Tanabe's sub-arc to the end of Rui and Natsuo's LDR, was the real wild ride. The plot was still strong and progression was steady, but boy oh boy did the ice cold drama begin coming. This was the highlight of the arc, as the constant dramatic cliffhangers or emotional events had readers stuck to the chapters. This was all a positive. However, I will admit that while the drama was taking place, the plot also began taking a turn into an odd direction, or characters began performing actions which slightly confused me as a reader.
For example, it was hard to understand the character motivations when Hina decided to just fly to NYC to visit Rui and declare her love war against her, with Rui just accepting this declaration despite leaving Natsuo in the first place. Additionally, Kei sensei introduced the topic of illegal drugs - a topic that felt just slightly off with the main themes of the story. Overall, I feel that this arc wasn't bad by itself - so perhaps I'm not being just. But it was because this arc had a lot of potential to be great and to be used as the predecessor for a grand finale...but was used instead as the STEPPING STONE for a true "dumpster fire" final.
Final Arc - 5
Quite frankly, the storytelling went from growing fast to crashing into a wall. In short, Kei sensei threw in a major twist that significantly shifted the outcome of an otherwise nicely laid out story. I was still quite glued to this whole manga as others were. I think the frustration and the negative reviews stems from this: The plot; the storytelling; the characters - they were SO good up until this point, so Kei had a lot of expectations to finish with an absolute bang that could be heard from Pluto.
The intentions to subvert expectations and to throw in a major plot twist THIS LATE into the whole story - they were genuine and noticeable. The problem was this: when a writer throws in this type of twist which causes shock amongst the fanbase, ending it off not too shortly after without providing a cushion of chapters first is not great practice. And just to be clear, this is coming from a Hina fan.
In summary, good intentions, poor execution from a reader POV.
Art - 8
I won't go too deep in here - but it needs to be called out that Kei sensei's art has drastically improved since GE. The visuals that captured various cliffhangers or surprised character expressions were bang on. Don't even get me started on the "bed" scenes - all expressions and details were well depicted. However, in retrospect, I read DnK for the plot and the romance rather than the art, but it was certainly a joyful bonus!
Characters - 7
The main cast (while including a few supporting ones) was well-written for the most part. Even some who didn't appear all too often also get a nod thanks to the impact they made on the plot. However, some characters, introduced for the sole purpose of moving the plot along (both good and bad), had questionable motivations or personalities which may have been poorly portrayed. But every story has these types of characters, so this wasn't the main driving factor for the score.
The key thing that brings this score down to average was the dynamics between Natsuo, Hina, Rui, and the "drift-off," or lack of closure (for a few) of the supporting cast.
Natsuo's indecisiveness at times, coupled with his love for his sisters, was both a joy to read and occasionally a ball of frustration. Rui and Hina love and respect each other, but is what we read in canon how a real step-sibling complication would pan out? The love battle near the end of the story between Rui and Hina felt more forced rather than naturally falling into place. Why did Rui just "give up" after Hina fell into a coma and essentially just say "I'm no match for you?" I can't imagine how frustrated Rui fans were from hearing that. It's all about getting into that character's head and wanting to see what factors played into their decision-making.
Enjoyment/Overall - 7
If I close my eyes, throw my head into my arms against my desk and pretend the last 25 chapters had gone in a different and more blissful path, then the enjoyment I've had for DnK was nothing but fireworks.
And to that I say this: in retrospect, this manga was still a blast. I stayed glued until the very end, no matter the arc. I was as frustrated at the ending as others were, and perhaps way too many negative comments can still be reasonably made thereof. But the story sticked to its genres, brought a rollercoaster of emotions, and still laid huge foundational expectations of what's to come for shounen romance, as well as Kei sensei's next work.
If you're as frustrated as me, that simply just means you were still emotionally attached to this manga and all its aspects - a sign that you still loved it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 25, 2022
I gave everything a 9/10 except for "Enjoyment" because I'm just too sad and unfulfilled to give this manga any higher.
But ignoring that, everything about this short manga story is amazing.
Story - 9
The length and depth of the story was a perfect balance given the limited chapters Seo decided to work with. There is great plot progression (as required), and each chapter featured a plethora of events and such that was obviously significant. There were a few well-orchestrated plot twists here and there that didn't make readers necessarily gasp in anxiety, but still created enough chaos to keep the story moving in the right direction.
Now,
...
for the ending, as befitting (and fine, satisfying given the tragedy and drama we had to endure...) as it was, my own heart just couldn't handle it. I live for satisfying/fulfilling endings when it comes to romance. Tragedies are just not for me, but from an objective point of view, it fit this story perfectly.
Art - 9
Not much to say here since I've already went into detail in the past about Seo's art. I think his strengths are his character expressions, detailed backdrops, depiction of characters postures and their beauty, and, God forbid, naked (or nearly naked) women for the sake of his shounen fanbase.
Characters - 9
Man oh man, the character development was smooth and well executed in just the short duration of time we had with this manga. I never thought that Seo's characters acted out of place for who they were, and the our main pair - Yuuki and Shinichi - exposed a brilliant dynamic with each other that blossomed at the end. The other characters were briefly written for their roles within the story, which is fine given the story was short.
Enjoyment - 6
And here is where I differentiate "enjoyment" with the overall rating I'm giving Half & Half. I just couldn't bear the ending and felt frustrated because of how much I fell in love with both characters despite the short number of chapters. I enjoyed the majority of this manga, and then the ending crashed into me like a swinging bat. For most who found it fulfilling, that's great - I can understand why.
Overall - 9
But despite what I said above, this manga still deserves a 9. It was beautifully written for the short territory it covered, and the characters were very likeable. Definitely recommend reading it - just be prepared to steal your heart <3
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 18, 2022
Fuuka was an incredibly different yet refreshing sequel to Seo's Suzuka, and it bore both positive and negative aspects worth diving into. It's an extremely polarizing manga - especially once you hit chapter 37 and digest its events. Whether you can accept the full plot or not, from beginning to end, will affect your outlook on this manga. That being said, do I recommend you give this a shot, especially if you've read Suzuka? Absolutely - get ready for another wild ride and a tear-inducing story.
Story - 8
Set as a direct sequel to Suzuka, Fuuka is refreshing in that the story revolves around the struggles
...
of making it big in Japan's music industry as a rock band. I thought this was a highly successful manga from a musical angle - many aspects were talked about, and music was always the main focal point of this manga. I though it was cool how Seo focused on sports within Suzuka, and now focused on music in Fuuka! There are multiple arcs (expected given the territory this manga covered), which means multiple new characters introduced every arc. There are various plot elements which are questionable, while some being fantastically incorporated. From a broad standpoint, the story flows well linearly and has its various dramatic moments or obstacles. I personally think the right amount of obstacles were added to make our characters grow and for the plot to progress further.
As mentioned above, after chapter 37, readers began dropping this manga left and right. However, I will say this: for those who continued reading (including myself), the plot got better and better - and I was finally able to accept everything that had happened and be satisfied with the ending.
Art - 10
With every Seo manga I read, the more impressed with his art I get. Fuuka incorporates the same artistic styles, facial expressions, character designs and elements from Seo's previous works like Suzuka and KNIM, but with higher quality, beautiful backdrops/panels, and an amazing adaptation towards what readers would expect from a music manga.
Characters - 8
Similar to past Seo Kouji works, characters tend to leave readers with lasting questions which are either unanswered or answered poorly. However, I thought this time around within Fuuka, this was done just fine. I felt like I got to look into most of our main characters' hearts a bit more to understand their motivations and their feelings, which got me even more attached to the plot. Granted, I still had my moments of confusion (such as wanting to learn more about why The Fallen Moon's members decided to get back together so quickly after Yuu reached out to them on a whim).
Enjoyment/Overall - 8
I was really close to giving this who manga a 9 alongside an enjoyment rating of 9, but there were a few things that pulled me back:
1. Some really weird misunderstandings. As a common pattern found in Seo's stories, very coincidental and odd misunderstandings are used to drive the story-telling and plot progression and to obviously cause/force drama. The ones in here were either too cliche, or just felt forced.
2. Hinashi Koyuki's character. The motivation and reasoning for her actions were there for most of the story, but then her importance to the plot became more inconsistent as the story went on. Near the latter half and the end, it felt like she had to be given an abrupt closure despite the role she played in the plot earlier in the story.
3. The ending. Don't get me wrong - it was satisfying, but many of us readers read Fuuka for the romantic aspects. I wanted a full closure (with details) on what our main couple within the story end up as, or even just one final embrace. The story really did focus mainly on the musical aspect, especially the band, up until the very, very end.
4. I just have to say it: after Seo threw the initial curve ball in chapter 37, I was shaken as much as the rest of the fanbase. Without diving into spoilers, I simply feel like there was so much more he could've done. There were definitely options to be creative. Read the manga to understand what I'm saying.
Overall, however, I'm pleased with the direction the plot took, and I was quite glued to this manga (although not as much as I was to KNIM). I hope Seo can get back to writing romance dramas again soon!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 8, 2022
"There's no way I could like this manga, right? I mean c'mon...It's from the mid 2000s, and the reviews seem to be mixed!"
I said this to myself on an uneventful Wednesday evening. 4 days later, on a Saturday, I've finished the entire emotional journey Suzuka had to offer. I'm a big fan of Seo's works - I actually got introduced to Kimi no Iru Machi first before anything else, but I just love his art and the emotional plot twists/story-telling he incorporates, so I thought I'd give Suzuka a try after much debate. Needless to say, throughout its ups and downs, I don't regret reading
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this piece at all! I definitely recommend it, but read my full breakdown below first:
Story - 7:
For me, the story was alright. It was strong enough to pull me into binge reading multiple chapters at a time with cliffhangers waiting at the end of each one. At times, the plot felt like it stagnated, while at other times, certain unprecedented (and perhaps odd) shifts in the story dynamics and focus put me off. For example, for the majority of the beginning and middle, Yamato (our male MC) chases after Suzuka and bounces his focus between his crush and track and field. However, I didn't think enough progress was implemented for most of the plot at a timely manner, and instead of faster character development (I'll get to that soon), we introduced love rivals and other love boundaries to cause drama instead.
Additionally, the love rivalries felt slightly inconsistent, with not as much value to the plot (besides the obvious first one) as I initially thought. But then, other somewhat improper tropes were introduced as well, such as long distance, parents approval of relationships, etc...I'll stop there before spoilers are revealed.
For the ending - it was noticeably rushed, but not to the point where it was unenjoyable - the ending is satisfying as could be considering what our characters went through. I wished it wasn't as rushed and there were properly executed closures for some of the other characters, but at least we get the main ending we needed.
Overall, despite the inconsistencies or odd patterns of drama vs. slice of life vs. happy arcs, which caused the plot to progress non-linearly, I can't deny that at the chapter level, the details were spectacular and the cliffhangers were great, if not critical.
Art - 9:
If there's anything I loved from the top of my mind about Seo's works, it's his art style. He makes the characters look gorgeous and perfectly befitting that of certain emotions to fit whatever dramatic commotion is taking place. This speaks volumes for a 2004-2007 manga - I would've never guessed his art was invented this long ago already.
Characters - 7:
Man oh man, here it comes - Asahina Suzuka and Akitsuki Yamato are one polarizing pair of MCs, that's for sure. They both have clear flaws in their characters which frustrate the readers, but both go through visible development as well, which makes up for it. Still, I'd like to warn incoming readers on a few points.
Asahina Suzuka may take some time to grow on you - she's unfairly cold to Yamato for the majority of the manga. I'd give her some patience to really understand her character more, but I wish Seo went in to flesh out more of her character and why she acted the way she did toward Yamato for the first half of the story. I want to understand more on why she made the decisions she did or acted the way she did.
Meanwhile, Yamato, despite being likeable for some, was also frustrating at times. His head-scratching decisions and a faithful prioritization of love for Suzuka above all else in life may frustrate you. However, you'll grow to like and appreciate his growth near the end :)
As for the rest of the cast, it all depends on the character. The love rivals (as well as other supporting characters), each have their own unique stories and arcs, but the closure for some of them near the end of the manga felt rushed or executed in a way in which it was forced.
Enjoyment/Overall - 8:
This is a recommended read, but I do advise to brace yourself - you're in for a wild dynamic ride of frustration and satisfaction. I'd say the satisfaction tops out at the end! The drama isn't as heart-hitting as other shounen romance/dramas I've read, but definitely still there enough to pull you in.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 3, 2022
(Spoiler Free) This manga was simply a wild ride with a satisfying (yet somewhat rushed) ending.
A little bit less emotional (subjectively for me) than Kimi no Iru Machi or Domestic na Kanojo, but still full of expected drama, twists and turns, and sighs of relief.
Let's dive right in.
Story - 7/10
The story has its ups and downs, and I'd say that averages out to a 7/10. The reason is because certain arcs execute better than others, and certain plot elements make more sense than others. Near the beginning, it picks up well, as mysteries about Yuki are kept hidden and we see some bit of drama
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involving Shou, Seiji, and others. The chapters are well-written to the extent of what is expected, and there's pretty much a cliffhanger at the end of every single chapter, which had me glued as a reader.
Now, once we reach that mid-portion of the manga until its ending, there were certain times I thought made no logical sense or felt rushed. The breakups and heartbreaks were definitely hard to bare as a reader, but they also need to have some logical context - more than what was given. Certain times made me go, "Wow, I can't believe that happened..." in both good and bad ways.
As mentioned, the ending was satisfying as (mostly) everyone's favorite couple ended up together, but there were too many cliches (one's you'd find in a shounen romcom or romance + drama), and the last chapter was pretty much a time-skip speed run.
Art - 7/10
Sasuga Sensei's art took some getting used to at first, as the character designs were not what I was typically used to. What's definite, however, is that most of us readers seemingly got used to the art style rather quickly, as perhaps we were too absorbed in the drama and the story to really care. I personally prefer the style of Seo Sensei's Kimi no Iru Machi, but that's just a minor opinion - every mangaka has their own unique style, after all!
Characters - 8/10
The characters in my opinion were the best component of this manga. Yes - we don't exactly get the full rationale or picture behind some actions/decisions, but we get enough context to develop good emotional attachment or opinions towards certain characters. The main MCs - Seiji and Yuki - display conspicuous development in both decision-making and maturity, with the former (Seiji) showing immense growth - enough for me to have my full support no matter what decision he makes.
The characters all go through elements of reality, which aligns with the theme of realistic romance in GE.
One thing I disliked was the lack of conclusive material or rationale behind the endings for some of our other main characters, including Shou, Tsukasa and Risa. You'll have to read it yourself to see if you agree :)
Overall/Enjoyment - 7/10
The plot elements and rollercoaster we got reminded me a lot of Kimi no Iru Machi, and if you've read both GE and KNIM, I think you'll get what I mean. However, at the end of the day, I was still heavily glued to this manga and its characters, and I think the drama and plot twists introduced were enough to make this manga unique and enjoyable.
I definitely recommend folks, especially those on the romance/drama train, to give this a try!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 27, 2022
Stop scrolling, I promise you won't regret reading my review. I'll do my best to keep it spoilers free :)
So! Where do I even start...
Before we dig into more of the details, I'm going to step back and say this: no matter the ups and downs throughout this manga; including both the emotional rollercoasters I've felt and the flat lines of plainness that was the plot over periods of time - I don't regret a single second of my valuable weeknights and weekends reading this. Fear not - I'm sure most other reviewers will definitely have negative things to say, but nonetheless feel similar to
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me in that this was still a manga to remember in our hearts.
Which means...I recommend you definitely give it a shot - at least the first half.
Why? Well, let's dive right into the details.
Story - 7
The story starts off strong and continues to be strong, implementing cliffhanger after cliffhanger no matter the chapter. Romance, drama, and other related genres work like a dancing group of butterflies if executed well, and the first half of the manga depicted an amazing emotional plot, especially near the beginning. Yes, it's your old fashioned high school setting, but the various circumstances, dialogue, love polygon, and other plot elements derive our focus away from school, almost making it seem like it's not even set within one.
Then, Seo Sensei began his ever-so-infamous Tokyo Arc - the one all other reviewers are talking about. This is where the true emotional rollercoaster springs into a daredevil meteor. For myself, I was hurt as much as I was stunned - things in the plot and its characters were moving fast and hitting heavy. Love it or hate it, none of us stopped reading during this arc; it had me glued to this manga, frustrated or not over what was going on alongside the head-scratching actions from our cast. It made me experience every feeling one would find on the spectrum: happiness, anger, sadness, confusion...you name it. I have a lot of questions left unanswered from this arc and beyond...
Finally, the last half of the story was where the plot dulled and raised a few more question marks. It arguably turned into a slice of life + romcom manga with bits and pieces of drama, with one final dramatic twist near the end (which in my opinion, was completely unnecessary and non-sensibly executed). The latter half had me more often-than-not rolling my eyes thanks to either the random ecchi panels that show up or the spontaneous "filler" stories which lacked plot progression.
Art - 9
I can say with confidence that the art was above average and painted our main characters beautifully. Not only were the designs tailored to the personalities of our characters, but the overall panels added a heightened experience to the overall read. No matter my emotion or frustration, I loved seeing the genuine faces of the characters drawn to full detail and with maximum intensity.
Characters - 7
And here is my subjective issue with this manga - as much as I loved the characters and the full cast, they had me face-palming or banging my head against the desk on a nightly basis. Their actions and motivations, especially Yuzuki's and several other supporting characters, almost kept me up at night thinking: "Just why did they do that?! What's their motive? What's the reason?" Never have I ever clenched my fist because I couldn't get into a character's head enough to quench my desire to understand their motivations.
This doesn't deny that there was significant character growth, but for the territory this manga covered (261 chapters and multiple arcs), there was no consistency in this character growth, not-to-mention the unanswered sequences I still long to know. However, don't take my opinions to heart, and read this manga yourself to form your own opinions. Who knows - maybe you'll come to love the characters a lot!
Overall Enjoyment - 8
I know I've criticized multiple areas of this manga, but I'd be lying to myself if I said I didn't enjoy it on the whole. It gave off that power to pull readers in no matter the frustration they felt with what was going on thanks to the plot twists and cliffhangers, and there is immense realism incorporated throughout the plot elements written. It gave me the thought: "Wow, these characters are going through the reality that is life, crashing head-on."
Are there areas I'd suggest to improve? Of course...I could spend all night talking about this manga - it's a love/hate relationship. But that just goes to show how attached I've been to it and its characters as well.
Hope you enjoyed my review!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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