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I have heard a lot about the NHK and decided to read it as such. I understand why it is popular. The emotion I felt the most reading this piece of work was disgust. Disgust at the characters, disgust at the story, and disgust at myself. I guess people really do hate things that remind them of themselves.

I honestly have to say kudos to the author. He did such an excellent job creating a manga that makes you feel so repulsed by the characters in it. A manga that shows you a very real but dark part of our modern society. The depressive, self-deprecating, and ... immature behavior that a lot of today's youth experience; especially otakus and anime-lovers.

In fact, the story was so well written and the characters were so broken that it caused me to evaluate where I am currently in my life and what I want to do with my future. It made me hate myself. It made me not want to end up like those useless, fucked up, hopeless garbage in the manga. The most frustrating thing about the characters in the manga is that their misfortunes are caused by none other than themselves. Whether it is becoming a social recluse, quitting school, being unemployed, being addicted to drugs/sex/porn/masturbation, being depressed, etc. It is all their fault. In fact, multiple times throughout the story, some event happens that clears some of the fog and show them that they can escape their current reality; instead of following that light, they just run deeper into their darkness. They just regress instead of progressing. Just when you think they have hit rock bottom, they go lower.

I was hopeful. So many times throughout the story, I would think that they finally realized their faults and they have finally woken up, only to find them purposefully degrading themselves even further. So many opportunities come their way to help them out of the shit they are drowning in; instead of grabbing that rope and pulling themselves out, they just dive deeper. It really captures the emotions, thoughts, and perspective of broken, depressed, societal filth; I know that because I have went through some of what the characters went through.

So why am I giving such a low score to something I am praising? That is because of the ending. Throughout the story, it is emphasized how hopeless the main character is. People try to help him a lot; By a lot, I mean a lot. He has a loving family and caring - but messed up - friends. His family and friends tried to help him many times. They took care of his needs, provided him food and shelter, didn't rush him, and provided him with love. But he was an ingrate.

That's not the issue. In fact, it's a perfect trait to convey how hopeless the protagonist is. The issue is why he decided to be better. The author could have used all those failed attempts to help him as a way to drive the message that no body can help him except himself. The story had the potential to drive the protagonist into such a low place that he finally realizes that his life will not change unless he takes action. That no matter how many people help him, nothing will change as long as he is resisting change. That even though a rope from heaven has been thrown to him, he will not be pulled up unless he takes the action to grab it and hold on.

Instead, the protagonist decides to become better on a whim. No realization, no painful truth, no hard work, no change, nothing. He just decides that "oh, I think I have to change". It really leaves a bad taste in your mouth. All the realism the author built up, all the despair, all the moments of weakness, and all the moments of sadness are wasted on a whim. This is an insult to all the people who went through tough times; to all of those who were in an bad place in life and got better; to all who worked hard to get out of the shitty circumstances they were in.

Another thing that I didn't like was that we didn't get to see how the protagonist improved his life. How he got rid of his bad habits, how cleaned his act up, how he finally became a respectable, responsible, mature man. How he pulled himself up. All we see is a fast forward to a better version of him. We don't even get to see how the other characters are doing. The characters who were fleshed out very well and developed excellently. The characters who had a huge impact on the story and the protagonist are just discarded and forgotten. It just leaves a horrible taste.

Overall, the story and characters and art were so well done only to be ruined by a rushed ending; just like an expensive meal ruined due to an extra spoon of salt.