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Mar 25, 2023
Note: I am reading this series in Japanese, and my review reflects my opinions after the latest volume, the eighth, which released earlier in January of this year.
The overwhelmingly positive response to this novel, both in Japan and in the West, is genuinely incomprehensible to me. As someone who isn't particularly into light novels, I had picked up this series in response to all the glowing praise claiming that this was the quintessential slice-of-life romance series that avoids all the drama bullshit plaguing its other ilk. Now, having agonizingly slogged through the whole thing, I have to say that the more people lavish acclaim on
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this series as a paragon of the romance novel, the more it seems to serve as an indictment of the genre as a whole.
The series is, at its core, the romance between a fairly unremarkable male protagonist and a heroine who seems to be an embodiment of all that is good in the world. I don't really have an issue with 'ideal girlfriend' fiction in and of itself, but Tenshi-sama suffers from a crippling problem in execution The author has endeavored to try to give Mahiru superhuman appeal in every single facet and does not hesitate to scream in the reader's face about her loveliness every other line. In what I would've considered parodic fashion if I didn't know better, every single action Mahiru takes is accompanied by a flurry of adjectives about how cute or beautiful or charming she is, like the author thinks we're amnesiacs who need reminding every five seconds that yes, Mahiru is a girl with attractive qualities. The absurd levels of grandstanding are so distracting it completely destroys the notion that Mahiru is anything but an artificial creation of the author's delusions. Rather than feeling like a real character, Mahiru feels like a shallow caricature of similar heroines in its genre.
The main character himself, Amane, is relatively nondescript, the gloomy and unsociable type that the reader might be able to see themselves in to some degree. His uninteresting personality becomes supplemented by less… pleasant traits once his relationship with Mahiru begins to deepen, however. He seems to be afflicted with a mixture of possessiveness towards being the only person who knows the 'real' side of Mahiru as well as sexist tropes that seem to have persisted in Japanese fiction for decades. For instance, being unable to grasp the fact that girls can, in fact, enter boys' rooms without the boy being consumed with a monstrous desire to sexually assault them. Or unironically telling Mahiru not to show too much skin or it'll ignite the lusts of the males in her vicinity. The worst part is that these warnings are justified, at least within the setting itself, by every single male character that doesn't isn't particularly relevant being uncontrollably horny zombies. The gaggle of boys in Mahiru's school (beyond the few male friends Amane has) are apparently unable to speak to or about her without either being possessed by reverence, lust, or explosive jealousy towards any sort of interaction between Mahiru and Amane. Of course, the presence of these boys only elevates Amane's own value, transforming him into a gentleman concerned about Mahiru's well-being when quite frankly he would come across as just creepy.
Another thing worth mentioning is how awful the writing can be; the author often seems to worry that the reader might have never had a human relationship in their entire lives, and takes great pains to elaborate on interactions that someone with half a brain could have instantly understood from context alone. For instance, it can go like this: (in response to a playful verbal rib, Amane punches his friend in the shoulder. But, his friend didn't feel any pain from the punch. That's because Amane didn't put any force into his punch in the first place, because he wasn't being serious, because he was just responding to a joke). Obviously, the reader would have been able to figure out from the very first line that Amane was not, in fact, trying to beat the everloving crap out of his friend. This sort of writing not only pointlessly pads the story, but also contributes to the sheer sense of artificiality that seemed to hang over me while reading.
I do want to reiterate again that I have no issue with the sort of ordinary-boy-meets-perfect-girl story that at least partially draws its appeal from the reader being attracted to the heroine herself. But, Tenshi-sama feels like a distillation of everything that can go wrong with this genre to the point of feeling like a parody. I can only hope that this series is not representative of what people out of their heroines and romance stories as a whole. But the more comments I see about how wonderful Mahiru is and how desperately they want to marry someone like her, the more my faith is shaken…
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Sep 16, 2022
It was fun… at first. "Psychological thriller" quickly turned oddball romantic comedy was a welcome change for most, and the series quickly found its place among modern rom-coms with a relatable protagonist and steady relationship growth. At some point, I figured they'd soon acknowledge their relationship and start dating, with the series establishing itself as one of the few well-paced romance manga out there.
That point was two years ago.
Now, the manga feels like Zeno's paradox in practice: every two weeks a new chapter comes out and their relationship makes half as much progress as last week's, getting so close to but never actually reaching
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any sort of cathartic release. We're constantly being reminded of how close the two are– and how little that means as every new batch of chapters finds a new excuse for the gridlock of 'will-they-won't they' that has become the norm for the series. Ichikawa's hesitation and lack of self-confidence goes from endearing to just plain annoying as he continues to find new reasons not to press forward with his relationship, and eventually my ability to empathize with him was thrown out the window..
The series seems to be part of a larger trend of romcom manga where the characters, aware (or at least semi-aware) of each other's feelings, behave like they're dating without ever actually crossing that line. This style, admittedly, seems to have worked out in BokuYaba's favor given its sheer popularity (both the manga itself, and the horny art of Yamada that keeps being posted to the author's Twitter). Personally, I don't enjoy this type of romcom– I like the satisfaction of more conventional romance milestones much more. Unfortunately, BokuYaba takes an even uglier middle ground, where the unchanging nature of the series is combined with the emotional urgency of wanting to take that next step. I quickly went from rooting for them, to getting frustrated at the lack of progression, to finding it all meaningless in the end.
I'm aware I'm in the minority opinion here and if you want to see for yourself how the series is, don't let me stop you– just be aware that the brisk pace set by the series' early chapters will soon become much, much slower.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jun 23, 2022
Came in hoping for a breath of fresh air and the dark horse of the season; left disappointed that the novelty of the premise couldn't save it from being a trite, paint-by-numbers story of musical success.
The core failing of Paripi Koumei lies in Kongming and Eiko's relationship. What should have been an interesting dynamic as the two work closely together to achieve a common dream instead feels unengaging and incohesive as, from the very beginning of the show, Kongming tells Eiko to leave all of the strategizing to him. As a result, Eiko's personal involvement in Kongming's plans drops to near zero as virtually
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her entire role is just to sing and follow Kongming's instructions to the letter– this abject imbalance in their relationship made it impossible for me to develop any sort of attachment to their shared struggle. The blind faith that Eiko (and other characters) have in Kongming is not only extremely boring, it obstructs any meaningful development in their relationship over the course of the series as they continue to accept Kongming's decisions without question.
Kongming's unilateral decision-making even goes as far as Eiko's singing, as he makes changes to the composition of her music that Eiko, rather than expressing reservations about (like you would normally expect), simply accepts with little complaint or input. That Kongming would be able to shamelessly meddle in something that constitutes the core of Eiko's identity should make it abundantly clear that her subservience to Kongming is ultimately set in stone.
Eiko having minimal influence in her own success reduces her character to the upbeat and determined singer whose entire role is to sing at the very end and mysteriously win over the hearts of the crowd. And while I was never a particular fan of her music, hearing her perform the same three songs (and have the audience react in the exact same way) over and over again only exacerbated how clichè and dull the entire experience was.
The clichès don't stop at just EIko, however, as the show (particularly the second half) is plagued with a plethora of tropes executed in the most insipid way possible: The genius musician who tells Eiko that her singing lacks her own character; the cynical and seemingly evil producer; the singer whose passion for music is no match for the greed of the industry. These all culminate in the finale of the series, which– without spoiling– is a nonstop series of developments so generic that I was genuinely left aghast at what the show had become.
I'll admit that I initially found some enjoyment in seeing Kongming try to make it in modern Tokyo– but once that wore off, I was left with nothing more than a hackneyed narrative, whose themes of "passion in the face of corporatism" is directly contradicted by how entirely safe and bland the entire thing felt.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jun 20, 2022
Here's how I imagine the first meeting for the series went down. Takahiro-sensei sat down with his editor and said, "I'm not sure what I want to write yet but I can tell you two things I want: battles and boobs," to which his editor snapped his fingers and replied, "I'll get you the best damn artist I can find." And so was Mato Seihei no Slave born– a battle harem manga featuring both fights and fanservice in beautiful excess, and absolutely nothing else.
The premise summarizes the 10-ish volumes of the manga so far succinctly: a high school boy must fight as the "slave"
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of a superpowered squad of women against an otherworldly threat, and his battle performance is rewarded, accordingly, with rewards befitting the libido of a pubescent teenager. Naturally, you would expect flashy battle scenes, and those are abundant; like a rainbow after the rainstorm, the "reward" scenes inevitably follow. Thus, the narrative cycle is established: the women fight for humanity (losing their clothes in the process), and then amply compensate our hero for his valiant efforts– repeating ad infinitum.
Featuring a potent distillation of sex and violence, and a diverse gaggle of girls all fawning over our protagonist, Mato Seihei no Slave is the embodiment of an adolescent boy's power fantasy. Takemura-sensei's art accomplishes the impressive task of making this fantasy real, demonstrating remarkable talent with appealing, sexy character designs as well as eye-poppingly stunning fight sequences that never leave a dull moment in the manga.
A series that so clearly touts its fanservice would typically cause discerning readers to raise an eyebrow at more fundamental shortcomings, such as its utter predictability or shallow characterization– thankfully, author and artist have ensured that constant stimulation will prevent such irrelevant and intrusive thoughts from ever entering the brain. By penetrating several layers of critical reasoning skills to tap at subconscious desires below, Mato Seihei no Slave proves that battle harems are an artform with yet more to offer.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 5, 2015
Almost everyone has felt at one point during their lifespan that their lives have hit rock bottom, that the world is conspiring against them, that nobody out there has a worse life than they do. For the most part, of course, this is untrue, save for the one unlucky fellow on the bottom rung of the ladder, and their lives do begin to slowly climb upward again.
Oyasumi Punpun (eng. translation Goodnight Punpun) is a psychological drama/coming-of-age story by realist mangaka Inio Asano (author of another one of my favorite works, Solanin) about that one unlucky fellow who can never seem to catch a break
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in life. Bleak and depressing, Oyasumi Punpun is proof that the literary significance of manga can rival that of classic novels and serves as a testament against all that believe manga to be deficient in literary value. While certainly not an accessible, easy-to-read manga, and definitely not a recommendation for someone in an unsavory mood, There are a multitude of reasons why I consider Oyasumi Punpun to not only be one of the best manga, but one of the best coming-of-age stories I have ever read.
Story: 10/10
Oyasumi Punpun tells the tale of eponymous character Punpun, who, after witnessing the divorce of his parents at an early age, begins to struggle on the path towards adulthood, as challenge after challenge threatens his daily life and sanity. There is no dream to achieve, no quest for redemption- you simply follow Punpun in his interactions with the human world as he grows from a child into a young adult. However, the execution of the story is superbly unique and flawless. Inio Asano’s realism reaches a shocking new level as each interaction not only manages to surprise you at what the world is capable of but also serves as a reminder of just WHAT the world is capable of. Layer on some masterfully dark humor and a touch of symbolism here and there, and you get a wonderful coming-of-age story, compelling and chock-full of very powerful yet realistic emotions.
Art: 10/10
Inio Asano's realistic artstyle is powerful in that it is conveys his the realism in his story and characters perfectly and passionately. The quality and detail put into his backgrounds is astounding and a feast for the eyes. From bustling city landscapes to the night sky, Inio Asano is able to create a realistic and immersive backdrop. Coming across a background spread during a chapter is always a delight. One small gripe I do have with the backgrounds, however, is that sometimes they are TOO immersive. In a panel where many, many characters are drawn, I often find it quite difficult to find the locations of the main characters, leading to slight confusion.
The character designs are also sufficient for a story of this caliber- realistic, with highly readable expressions (yet not too exaggerated) in order to accurately portray the psychology of the characters. Punpun’s character design is interesting in this respect. At the beginning, he is shown to be a crudely-drawn ambiguous bird-like figure. However, as the story goes on, the mangaka modifies his overall character design in a number of ways that demonstrate his current psyche, making him one of the most expressive and open characters.
In conclusion, realistically drawn, expressive characters and an impressive attention to detail in backgrounds provide a storytelling medium fitting for a story like Oyasumi Punpun.
Characters: 10/10
The characters in Oyasumi Punpun are the best part of the manga and drive the story well. Inio Asano creates his characters by putting normal, mundane people and putting them at the brink of despair and hopelessness. This idea is nothing new- it’s commonplace in science fiction dystopias such as Neon Genesis Evangelion and Bokurano and in survival games like Battle Royale. However, what makes Oyasumi Punpun so unique is that this kind of character development rarely happens in a normal, lifelike setting such as this one. Amidst perfectly realistic situations and encounters, these highly complex characters reveal their ugliest, nastiest parts, their insecurities, their misgivings, and their fears.
The titular character, Punpun, undergoes some of the most remarkable character growth I have ever seen in manga. We are introduced to him as an elementary schooler, a bland character with an innocent mind and lacking highly distinctive traits. However, this personality is well-suited for him, as the series of events that will come to change him as he grows into adulthood will cause some extremely realistic development without letting any predetermined personalities get in the way. The way he changes and the decisions he makes, while frequently ugly and unpleasant, are highly identifiable and you cannot help but wish the best for him.
The deuteragonist and Punpun’s love interest, Aiko, is remarkably similar to Punpun in character. Selfish yet kind-hearted, Aiko has her own set of circumstances that over the course of the manga slowly change her perception of her own life and humanity itself. What is most interesting is their relationship to one another. While most love interests act as a source of inspiration and strength for the protagonists, Aiko will become one of the major sources of angst in Punpun’s life, and the decisions she makes will have the greatest effect on Punpun’s development out of all the characters in the cast. Their relationship, strained and twisted by their personalities as well as their lives, retains a single, unbreakable bond of purity and hope that compels you to encourage them to fight on.
A large and diverse set of side characters, all uniquely complex and haunted by their own inner demons, completes a cast perfect for the story of Punpun. These characters, free of any conventional traits or personalities, are driven to fully develop throughout the run of the series into some of the most refined, human characters I have ever seen.
Enjoyment: 10/10
To say that I traditionally “enjoyed” Oyasumi Punpun might be a stretch- from the beginning, this manga had intended to make you think and reflect, not read quickly and finish with a satisfied feeling in your chest. In fact, reading Oyasumi Punpun made me feel absolutely depressed. Is it a manga I’d re-read? Probably not, unless I was feeling brave enough to give it another go. But do I regret reading it? Absolutely not. Oyasumi Punpun is a manga I’m glad I read, with a story that captivated me from the beginning and characters that intrigued me from the beginning until the end. If that’s not enjoyment, I don’t know what is.
Overall: 10/10
Conventional manga tropes not cut it for you anymore? Looking for a genuinely compelling and insightful psychological drama? Feel up for the challenge of taking on a rich and profound story? Then give Oyasumi Punpun a try. It might not be the manga for you, but it’ll be a manga you’ll surely never forget.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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