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Jan 23, 2025
"The big talent is persistence." (Octavia Butler)
The well written characters are definitely the best element in this manga. Despite being very talented, they are all standing alongside people who are just as talented in other skills. Hikaru Okabe, protagonist of the story who has a beautiful strong voice, feels very insecure competing against girls whom she sees as much more beautiful, taller, and are better dancers than her. Ran Nishikawa, her childhood friend and former idol, feels frustrated that while she is well rounded in the skills necessary to be an idol, she is never the best at any of them. So much is expected
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out of these young ladies whose careers will extinguish in a blink of an eye. Hikaru's insecurity even leads to depression and to imposter syndrome. Despite being such a great singer, she can't help but feel like she doesn't deserve to be there with all other girls.
Whenever you read a manga or watch a show that reminds you of someone in real life, the writing usually has more depth than the typical story. Fiction is filled with one note characters so more realistic ones feel like a breath of fresh air. While reading this manga, Hikaru reminded me of a Brazilian singer called Marisa Monte. When she was young her friends and family loved her voice so much that they kept asking her to sing to them in several occasions. There is another character in the manga called Kaho who reminds of an actress whom I can't remember her name. I recall her interview though because during it, you could see how she wasn't very comfortable. She explained to the talk show host that she is actually extremely shy. The host would then ask something along the lines of, "How can an actress be shy? How come you don't panic in front of an audience or in front of the camera?" She would then explain that she would always create a persona for her roles. Make up sessions were always her transformation ritual. Every stroke of the brush, every line of the pencil was her becoming little by little a different individual. I have watched a few idol shows, but this was the first time characters in show business actually reminded me of real people in the industry.
This manga is succinct and to the point. It is not about the career or the development of idols. It just depicts the selection phase to the creation of a new idol group by a famous producer. The cutthroat competition to become an idol shows how brutal the entertainment industry actually is. Great characters and gorgeous art style make this a remarkable manga.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 21, 2024
Makoto Kobayashi is an author known for creating the famous cat manga "What's Michael?". Nine years later he created "Heba! Hello-chan!" which in America was named "Club 9". He is known for his very unique character designs and these are definitely what will attract or push away people from this work. Kobayashi strongly accentuates individual aspects of faces in Club 9. This ends up giving this manga a world populated by people with caricatures for faces. Another attribute that will either appeal or turn people off is the heavy countryside accents used by the characters. The whole story revolves around a main character who was
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born in Akita, a rural prefecture in northern Japan, and that is one of her main charms. The famous Studio Proteus adapted it by replacing it with a heavy American southern accent and this might sound way too different to some folks.
This is the story of Haruo Hattori, an energetic and very honest girl from the countryside of Japan who finds herself working at a glamorous Ginza host bar. In Japanese host bars, clients pay for drinks and the company of the staff. Hosts will give their time and empathy for those willing to pay. Haruo stands out because of her authenticity. Being a young country girl who avoids using personas and is just her sincere self all the time just keeps winning the hearts of many of the clients she meets. The book starts very slow, but once Haruo starts working at Club 9, things get going.
This is not a manga for everyone. This is either for people who rarely read any manga at all or people who have read so much that they want something different. I'd say the majority of people who are reading manga are usually looking for specific tropes they are used to and many of those are definitely not in this story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Feb 23, 2023
This could have been a great story about gender and sexuality, but it abruptly stops on the fourth chapter. The author starts to flesh out the two main characters in the first two chapters. The third chapter is the story of a side character. Despite mentioning no names in the last chapter, I believe the one called ティンカー・ベルの犯罪 (Tinkerbell's Crime) is not a one-shot. It is a story of the main character, Maho Ryoutarou, before changing genders. Most likely this series was axed. Maybe due to overwork since the author was creating Papa Told Me in parallel. Maybe it didn't find an audience back in
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the 90s. We will never know. The four available chapters are great, but it is just the introduction to a bigger story that unfortunately got cancelled.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Feb 3, 2023
This manga was most likely inspired by The Devil Wears Prada movie. The first chapter was released a few months after the release of the movie. If the author was influenced, it was merely a spark because both works are completely different. Both stories feature a young woman who finds herself chosen by a highly esteemed dame in the fashion world to work close to her. As the story progresses, both young ladies must immerse themselves into the clothes industry. The similarities stop there. The author, Satoru Makimura, takes this idea and transforms it into something very distinctive and very Japanese. I really like how
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the author must have done heavy research regarding department stores and the fashion business to create this work.
Real Clothes has as setting Echizenya, a fictional Japanese department store. A long time ago, Japanese commerce centered around shotengais, name given to local market streets. Throughout the world, these commercial districts would see a decline as consumers flocked to acclimatized department stores which would be the equivalent to shopping malls. There is a necessity to explain this because future generations might not understand what these are/were. Online shopping has changed everything and it is currently an existential threat to physical stores.
Kinue Amano is a hard working sales clerk at the futon section of Echizenya. As she is chosen to be transferred to the clothes section of the department store, she is thrown into an unfamiliar environment that forces her to reinvent herself. As she gets into the frenetic pace of the workplace, she gradually discovers a love for fashion and her job. I love how this story isn't centered around romance. The romantic relationships are there, but aren't the focus. They prompt important issues like marriage, family, pregnancy, balance between work and private life, the future, etc. Just like a real relationship.
The weakness of this manga for me unfortunately are the illustrations, specially the close ups. Many times the drawings feel too simplistic. There is a lack of polishment, a finishing touch that could greatly improve the pages. It is weird how the serious, more dramatic drawings contrast so much with the more caricaturesque images. Whenever the author draws chibi versions of Amano, they are so full of life and expression. Good storyteller, unfortunately not the greatest artist.
This manga has definitely a wider appeal than just people interested in fashion or just women. Just like The Devil Wears Prada, it is a charming tale about a plucky woman who faces a lot of stress as she makes difficult choices on her path to finding her ideal self. Andy Sachs, the protagonist of the movie, and Kinue Amano go into completely different journeys. Both are entertaining in their own way. I particularly prefer Amano's odyssey.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jan 1, 2023
Following up Kuuden Noise no Himegimi, the same rhythm and style can be felt here. Realistic characters as they face the really tough route of becoming a band in the ruthless entertainment industry. The music scenes still lack impact.
The big question is: does this short manga wraps things up properly? Yes and no. Just as many small bands, Altago must trudge through obscurity as they try to make a name for themselves. The band has a meteoric rise and the members are simply not ready for success. The conclusion is bittersweet. This is very realistic because the majority of bands have poignant endings since they
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die in the shadows of anonymity. I was rooting for Altago. Therefore I couldn't help but feel a little joy and a big sadness for what happens in the end.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jul 27, 2022
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. That is a proverb that points out an important aspect of the society in Japan. Standing out means becoming an easy target. Envy, lust, fear, prejudice, hate, and any other pent-up emotion is directed at these scapegoats. This short manga is entirely built on this viewpoint. You have two teenagers who stand out for very different reasons and who suffer for that. The spirited Mizuno and the quiet Chayama find salvation in each other and develop an intense relationship. Interesting that the two girls are not targeted by their classmates and society because of their sexuality. Their
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connection is somewhat of a treasure they wish to keep undercover. Imagine how much more the two of them would stand out if others knew. I really like how both Mizuno and Chiyama are very well fleshed out and have actual personalities of teenagers trying to figure out who they are and the world of adulthood around them. Great artstyle. Compact and elegant storytelling.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 6, 2021
Amano Megumi wa Sukidarake is an ecchi romance/comedy manga. The concept of Amano's character is based on Amanojaku, a demon in Japanese folklore. From Wikipedia: "It is usually depicted as a kind of small oni and is thought to be able to provoke a person's darkest desires and thus instigates them into perpetrating wicked deeds". As the male protagonist is pursuing his goal of getting into Tokyo University, Amano keeps disrupting his studies whenever they meet. Each chapter is basically a setup for the same joke over and over of the female protagonist accidentally showing her underwear to the male protagonist. Despite that, the story
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is much more than just that.
Its extremely amicable cast of characters provide a low-drama setting. Megumi isn't just a voluptuous body. She is an energetic and hard working athlete who isn't very fond of studying. In the doujo she is admired by her colleagues of the kendo club. Outside the club, she relies on her childhood friend, Manabu Shindou, for whom she secretly has a crush on. Manabu isn't a generic male protagonist. Tall and bookish, he is obsessed with studying due to his dream. Traumatized by failing the test to enter a prestigious high school, he vows to enter the celebrated Tokyo University. Completely different from one another, they form a great pair that complements each other.
What brings me joy in this story is the relationship between the two main protagonists, Amano and Shindou. Despite not formally being a couple, their constant acts of kindness towards each other just show how much they care about each other. Love is not just in big acts of sacrifice. Love is in the details. It is in their casual tenderness for the sake of the other. They are in a relationship. They just don't notice that they are. When one needs help, the other one is always there for the other. A couple whose relation is based on their friendship is just lovely to watch. If you are looking for romantic drama, kisses, and/or sex; give up on this title. It is through and through a situational comedy focused on the friendship side of a relationship. When people complain about that, I can only point out that one of the reasons Amano loves Shindou is exactly because he doesn't keep thinking about getting as quick as possible to a physical relationship. To some people, sex is the whole point of a couple. If you think so, don't even bother with this manga.
It has an episodic nature in the sense that it is a series of short stories that most of the time begin and end in one chapter. Despite that, the characters aren't stuck in an eternal status quo. They are all slowly changing as time goes by. The manga covers the three years of high school and delegates about 100 chapters for each year. It is really cool to see Amano's growth from being a promising rookie picked on by the teacher to becoming the revered captain of the kendo club. It is also nice when a teacher points out to Manabu how well he is progressing on his studies by having Amano on his side. Focusing only on studies is stressful and ends up being detrimental to one's well being. Amano's interference balances Shindou's life into a healthier state of mind. Not only that, it is thanks to all this disturbance that Shindou finds out what career he wants to pursue later in life.
This manga may seem like an excuse to show scantily clad women. While it is, it isn't just that. Beyond the provocative pages, there is a heartwarming tale.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Dec 2, 2021
At first look, this seemed like a promising short (just 5 volumes) tale, unfortunately everything lacks depth. The characters, the world around them, and the plot they find themselves in; everything is as shallow as a puddle from a light drizzle. One might think it might be because of the short length, but it is definitely not because of that. It is the feeble storytelling just trying to agglomerate some ideas from current fantasy manga trends. The initial chapters give an impression that it might be a slow-life kind of story with magic, but everything goes downhill once the drama and the adventure are set
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in.
The most interesting point of this manga is the item crafting. Despite being a great idea to center a fable, it just isn't able to carry the story by itself. The idea of gathering, trading, and stocking materials in a fantasy setting to create magical items is very appealing. Unfortunately it is put aside after the initial chapters, only appearing here and there later. What we get instead is a dull romance of a couple and their unimaginative quest to help each other. The relationship between the two main characters is incredibly dry and lacks any sense of weightiness. Since they barely have personalities, it is no wonder their relationship has any profundity. The author could have explored the age gap or the race difference, but since the society around them is almost non-existent, it is a non-issue. There is barely any world building since the whole manga centers around Magritte's (main female protagonist) surroundings and the dungeon. They might go to some other places, but there is no attempt to flesh out either the world or the characters inhabiting it.
After the author gives up the attempt to center the story around item crafting and focuses on the adventure of trying to save Yura (main male protagonist), the manga displays shockingly bland action scenes that lack any vibrancy. Action is clearly not the author's forte, therefore it baffles me that so much of the manga is used to expose this weak point.
If you are a fan of the fantasy or romance genre, there isn't much here. You can definitely find much better literature and comics that deal with the same ideas offered here, but with much more depth. This should have been just an iyashikei in a fantasy setting set to the theme of item crafting. Sometimes less is more.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Aug 26, 2021
Seven delightful short stories that are tied by a few idiosyncratic characters. The title of this manga is truth in advertising because the people depicted in these anecdotes are incredibly captivating. Despite knowing so little about them, I couldn't help but just be amused by how distinctive they are. It is odd to think that the most typical setting in manga, middle/high school, is the stage for such refreshing writing. There is a certain Salinger-esque charm to how the stories are told and how intriguing the characters are. To make things better, the more realistic style of the drawings together with the black and white
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watercolor tones result in something that is beautiful and quite unique.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jul 27, 2021
This is a light comedy/drama about the Yamadas who live in the countryside. They live in the small Yamada village located in a mountain region in the outskirts of Tokyo. Nozomi is a young carefree woman who has lived all her life in Tokyo. She has recently married the kindhearted Shin. Due to urgent family circumstances, Shin is summoned to his tiny hometown. Yutaka, his older brother and successor of the family, has been disinherited. Unable to adapt to the life together with the Yamada family, he and his family fled to a neighboring town where he works. This puts Nozomi and Shin in a
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tight spot since he becomes the natural successor of the family. To Nozomi's calamity, Shin accepts, convinces Nozomi of his decision, and quits his job in Tokyo to move back to the Yamada village.
Since the whole world has been experiencing the migration from rural areas to the big cities for about a century, the adventures of a young city girl in the countryside sounds curious. This isn't a bad story, but most of the time it is just forgettable. It is average in the beginning, but after a while it declines. The most interesting moments are when the conservative views of the country folk clash with Nozomi's modern perspective. Unfortunately this ideology clash quickly becomes mere detail in the overall. It is also great when the stories involve the bad aspects of living in the countryside like the gossip. When you live in a small village, everybody knows everything about everybody. There is little concern about privacy. Since this is a light comedy/drama, it never delves too deep into these subjects. It is more of a "I know how that feels like" for the readers who have lived in the sticks. It is regrettable that most of the time we are stuck with undistinguished tales of the various members of the family that always have predictable happy endings. After some chapters, this formulaic method of telling a story becomes dull and tiresome.
The most interesting character is Kin Yamada, the 88 year old head of the family. Despite her age, she is sharp as a knife and is known as MacArthur (based on General Douglas MacArthur) due to her voice of authority. She is always paying attention to everything that is occurring under her roof and she has the wisdom to guide those troubled. Unfortunately after a while this becomes too recursive. It feels like if the manga was much shorter, this wouldn't be a problem.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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