Itadakimasu

Such a light, ridiculously funny manga.
Perfect for the summer. There's really nothing much to say. The story is simple and light. Not too dramatic, yet not all just fun and games.
A sweet romance between a young school boy and an older woman. The manga, most of the time, is in the older woman's perspective which is perfectly fine. This manga is hilarious, sweet, and oh so wonderful.

The art in this manga is truly wonderful. There are so many times when the art switches from the type of horrid style that is meant for humorous mangas, to an absolutely beautiful style that really makes the characters look very attractive. I find that because of its range of varying art styles, it makes the manga better.

The characters are all very enjoyable to read about. The main character (older woman) is so funny, flamboyant, outgoing, and to be quite honest, really horny. The school boy doesn't act like his age at all but he is so sweet and irresistibly cute. All the other character contribute really well to the humorous parts of the manga. There aren't many serious characters but when you do meet them, it is a very nice change for this manga.

Overall, I really really really enjoyed this manga. It was so funny and a perfect read for somebody who's just looking for a light romantic comedy. It had quite a deep meaning yet stayed in a relatively light mood throughout the manga. It showed the struggle the two main characters had to go through considering their age difference, as well as all the rewards they gained from being together. I really enjoyed this manga and defiantly recommend it to everybody- even if you don't enjoy romantic comedy- this manga is truly a great read.

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The Story

I will admit that at first I was hesitant to be drawn in by Itadakimasu’s story as it felt too unnatural and offbeat for me. The circumstances appeared too far-fetched and I had trouble getting immersed into the romantic drama. Over time however, the series won me over; its quirks and originality kept me interested to see what scenario the characters would be thrown into next. I’m giving the story a 7.0 out of 10. It was a fun-loving story that kept me curious, something that is rarely achieved for a romantic-comedy manga. I feel like it successively swayed my aversion to older-woman romances, and made me reconsider the taboo in a new light.

The Characters

There aren’t a whole lot of characters in this series, Naeko and Ouji steal the show as they are always in the spotlight. There are small parts like Naeko’s ex-husband, her co-workers and Ouji’s classmates but they are all generally negligible. Despite the lack of variety Naeko and Ouji have fully fleshed out personalities that are entertaining as well as relatable. Naeko is a hard-working young women who is probably a bit too perverted for her own good, and Ouji is a mature young man who takes responsibility for his actions and has some opposing tendencies to Naeko. The pair is interesting, and their interaction is an enjoyable centerpiece to the series. The characters deserve a 7.5 out of 10. Their unique personalities make them entertaining, as well as making them more relatable. Their characteristics make this love story more dynamic, and it’s refreshing to see the outside-the-box thinking that went into their creation.

The Presentation

Lastly, the presentation is always an important aspect to any manga. Thankfully Yoshihara didn’t skimp on effort in this department as Itadakimasu looks great. All the art is top-notch and every panel is lively and interesting to look at. The character designs are also very nice, save for the fact that some minor characters had similar designs making them hard to distinguish between. The art style isn’t terribly unique, but Yoshihara did a good job of incorporating entertaining chibi characters for comedic effect, and her style has great comedic impact overall. Really the art speaks for itself if you look through the scans I chose to present on this page. The presentation gets a 9.0 out of 10. It was pleasant and stimulating, making for an enjoyable read for the eyes as well as the mind.

Final Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised by Itadakimasu, as it engaged me more than I expected, and wrapped up nicely in a small 4 volume package. It challenged my perceptions on A-typical relationships and showed me how many relationship taboos should be thrown away because you can’t help loving someone, no matter what the age, race, sex etc. It wasn’t a mind-blowing story mind you, it didn’t offer huge story arcs or anything grandiose, but it was an enjoyable read with my morning coffee. The overall score for Itadakimasu is 7.8 out of 10. If you’re looking for a light fun read then check it out!