Back to vall3000's Profile vall3000's Profile

If you’re an anime-only, it’s advised you skip this prologue and just go straight to the first episode.

It’s perplexing why they chose this as Dededede’s opener considering this is definitely not what the actual meat of the story taste like, but I do understand the intention.

Most likely, the producers thought that adding moments before the ending would be a good way to build intrigue. For example, when I get spoiled on a story by a friend, it makes me highly critical of everything I see in the story from that point on, guessing if this would lead to the spoiled ending or that my friend ... had just mislead me. It keeps me intrigued. But for the case of Dededede, I don’t think it works well.

I think this prologue is just filled with exposition that just confuses and ultimately misleads the viewer’s expectations, turning them off from the show. It could work since as you follow the girls life, you get attached to them, so the mystery of the prologue will keep the viewers at the edge of their seat. But prologues are all about giving the general idea of what your story is going to be like, and this simply doesn’t do it’s job as a prologue.

The first episode already does a great job introducing the characters and the world they inhabit. It also gives the perfect general idea — a silly story that doesn’t shy away from tackling serious problems, or in other words, being ‘deep’.

In conclusion, the prologue is unecessary and it’s better to skip it, but if you did accidentally watch it or want to watch it, it’s also fine. It doesn’t spoil the entire ending, just moments before it.

((At the time of writing this review, I've only read 92 chapters since those are the only chapters I could get my hands on. So this review won't be about the entirety of the manga, just the chapters I've read.))

The story of Yawara! is pretty simple. It's about a Yawara who's basically a master at judo, but just wants to be a regular, fashionable, and feminine girl. Unfortunately for her, she has the stubbornest grandpa who wants her to be the worlds best judo player. She's also constantly being fought over by a reporter who's thirsty for a viral scoop and her "rivals" playboy judo ... coach.

Although judo plays a big part on the plot, it's not really a sports manga. It's more of a drama romance comedy. The manga does explain a little bit about judo every now and again, so you'll probably learn something about judo from it. It's comedy is okay, it's usually about the absurb situations that keeps intervering with her trying to have a "normal girl" life. It wont make you burst laughing and grow a six pack or anything. I think the romance is pretty nice, but incredibly slow.

Most of the characters are pretty likable, though some can get really really reaaaally annoying. Since I haven't read the whole thing, I don't know if they get any character development.

The art isn't a masterpiece or whatever, but it's still well done and pleasing to the eye. It's pretty simple which is perfect for it's story. I think the backgrounds are really nice too.

Overall, I give it a 9/10!

I don't really know how to sell you on this manga. The review above me is probably better. But from the 92 chapters I've read, this is a really interesting, fun, and enjoyable manga. I'm positive the other chapters I've not read are, if not better, still enjoyable. It might not be a masterpiece like Naoki Urasawa's other works, but it's not bad at all.

I recommend you this manga if you're bored and have nothing else to read.