AngelCharms9

I learned so much from this manga. I started reading it on crunchyroll last week until chapter 344 and there's only one thing I could say about this manga; A MASTERPIECE.
The characters were so funny, the art was so great and the story was so touching and so relatable I often shed tears while reading it.

Imma share what I learned from this manga;
Sometimes it's hard to keep going when everyone makes fun of you and your dreams, like you just want to give up and you think it's better to just follow what's common in society these days .
But in this manga I learned that it's okay and it's never too late to follow your dreams, no matter what people say as long as there's one person who encourages you to follow your dreams then it's better to try than nothing. NEVER GIVE UP AND ALWAYS PUSH YOURSELF!


Highly recommended!!!

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (abbreviated to YKK outside Japan) is an example of the proverbial “diamond in the coal mine”. Written and drawn by Ashinano Hitoshi, the manga was serialized in Kodansha's [b]Afternoon[/b] magazine for almost 12 years, and has gathered a number of devoted fans around the world despite the lack of licensed English translations. This comes as no surprise since it is one of the few series which deserves to be treated as a works of literature rather than of pop culture. YKK is a testament to the true potential of manga and the series is recognized as such, having been deemed worthy of Afternoon magazine's Four Seasons Award for debut works as well as the 2007 Seiun Award for Best Science Fiction Manga.

[b]Story (9.7) & Characters (10)[/b]

YKK is a science fiction story as it is set in a future after an unspecified large-scale disaster and the main character, Alpha Hatsuseno, is a robot who looks human. However, this is where any similarity to "regular" sci-fi ends. There are no spaceships, lasers, or mecha of any sort. Instead, older technology such as scooters, radios, propeller-driven aircrafts and the like, are very much still in use. This is reflective of the rural lifestyle that humanity has adopted in the story and adds to the easygoing pace of the manga. This tranquil, almost bittersweet feeling is reflected in the art style, the characters, and even the manner in which the story is delivered.

The story is told mainly from the perspective of Alpha Hatsuseno as she meets old friends, makes new ones, and casually explores the world around her. The most unusual fact about Alpha is that she isn't human, but a type A7M2 robot who looks human and is capable of feeling emotions. The story begins with Alpha taking a trip to Yokohama to buy coffee beans. She has been alone for some time as she waits for her "owner" to return from wherever he has disappeared to and, being immortal, she has decided that she can wait as long as it takes. In the meantime, she runs Café Alpha, a small coffee shop in the middle of nowhere which her owner left in her care.

Besides Alpha, several other characters also appear throughout the series. Some are shown regularly like Oji-san and his grandson Takahiro who run the gas station near the café. Others turn up less frequently such as the anonymous café customer and the mysterious Misago, an ageless wild woman who only appears before children. Next to Alpha, the other most prominently featured character is Kokone Takatsu, a type A7M3 robot. Kokone is effectively Alpha’s younger sister (production-wise that is), and as their friendship grows, she begins to develop romantic feelings for Alpha which later stir her curiosity about the history and nature of the A7 series.

Although the other characters do not enjoy as much exposure as Alpha does, several are given sufficient development to be memorable in their own right and their experiences serve as important reference points that highlight the passage of time. Through them, the reader is shown the great expanse of the story spanning the landscape and the era.

One of the most notable achievements of YKK is the manner in which the characters enhance each other throughout the series, and how Alpha gains a new perspective on life through her encounters with them. The interactions between the characters are often laconic and unhurried. Because of this, each encounter gains a languid, almost dreamlike quality that is far more memorable than what can be found in many other slice of life manga.

[b]Art (9.7)[/b]

The art in YKK contributes greatly to the relaxed atmosphere of the manga. Ashinano’s style is evocative of the simple yet fantastic nature of the world. In several parts of the manga, commonplace scenes are given an ethereal quality. This, together with the character designs and Ashinano’s unusual use of blank space, gives the art style a surreal characteristic that at times appears almost paradoxical. As with any long running series, the art style has evolved and improved over time.

Ashinano Hitoshi's character designs are perplexingly both spare and meticulous. Each character’s face is basic yet highly expressive; a stark contrast to their elegantly elaborate clothing and accoutrements. This unusual style is further enhanced by the picturesque backdrops and settings which the characters find themselves in. In addition to this, Ashinano has made wonderful use of blank space to emphasize the amount of detail in the characters and settings, something which is more prominently highlighted in the beautiful colored illustrations and panels that appear in the manga. This style of artwork focuses not only on the locations, but on the characters themselves and serves to enhance the reader's empathy towards each character.

From the most beautiful parts of nature to fantastic creations of Ashinano’s imagination (giant sunflowers, underwater streetlights, water gods, kamas, and many other wonders that Alpha discovers), each object and location in YKK helps to transport the reader more deeply into Alpha’s world. Not only is it easy to understand what she is feeling about her surroundings from the art alone, but the simple beauty serves as a way of deeply understanding not only the intricacies of her world, but of ours as well.

[b]Enjoyment (10)[/b]

Many readers have hailed YKK as the epitome of the slice of life genre and, given the premise, this may be no exaggeration. The series makes exceptional use of “mono no aware” (a Japanese term used to express the awareness of the transient nature of things, and the bittersweet sadness at their passing), and the time period in which the story is set makes the use of this especially poignant. In Alpha's words "It looks like the twilight of this age has quietly arrived. I think I'll be around 'til these twilight years end."

Reading YKK is without doubt one of the most unique and wonderful experiences in manga. Each chapter is filled with a calm, inviting feeling that pulls the reader into the story like a lucid dream. Alpha is without doubt one of the most engaging characters ever created, combining childlike innocence with reflective maturity. The story is remarkable in both its simplicity and its complexity as the reader is taken on a journey of discovery about themselves, the world around them, and the transient nature of things, whilst the art perfectly resonates with both of these elements to produce an atmosphere like no other.

Melancholy yet hopeful, exciting yet wistful, joyful yet sad, YKK is a singular achievement in manga that is deserving of the title "Masterpiece", and should be afforded a place amongst the great works of modern literature.



[b]OVERALL - 10[/b]



This review is the final result of a review team composed of members from the [b]"Critics and Connoisseurs"[/b] club. The team members were:

[b]Anomalous[/b] - writer and editor
[b]Archaeon[/b] - writer and editor
[b]Yuunagi[/b] - writer and editor

Here are their individual scorings for the Manga:
Category - Anomalous, Archaeon, Yuunagi

Story - 9, 10, 10
Art - 10, 10, 9
Character - 10, 10, 10
Enjoyment - 10, 10, 10
Overall - 10, 10, 10

[b]In the club wide poll held for Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou it received an average overall rating of 8.83[/b]

I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this, being that it's only a one-shot, and there's only so much you can put into them. Somehow though, Katarushi managed to meet my expectations, and then some.

What much can I say about the story? It's unique and interesting. Again, I get it's a one-shot, and there's only so much story you can fit. But it was still an interesting combination of a unique setting paired heartwarming scenes and stories with some wackiness sprinkled into the mix.

The art really surprised me. There were parts that felt a bit cartoon-y, others were extremely well drawn out and beautiful, and others were a bit of a mix in between. Despite the jump in art styles, it's still really well done. Everything's visually pleasing to the eyes, and even the smaller details caught my attention.

I found myself enjoying what little characters there were in the one-shot (maybe about 5 or 6 total with one or two popping in for one panel). Their designs are well done and some of them, particularly in one instance, are quite clever.

I honestly really enjoyed this one-shot, despite it being somewhat short. The story itself kept me going until the end, and had me wanting more. Sadly though it IS a one-shot, I doubt we'll be getting any more than this, which is quite a shame. Especially since it leaves off with so many doors wide open for what more there could've been in store.

Personally, this was a really nice little read. A quick little one-shot manga with a heartwarming story to tell. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants something quick to read, as well as wanting a way of putting a smile on their face.

This is Masamune Shirow's first work, and as you might expect, it's far from his best. It's a series of semi-connected short stories that are supposed to take place within the same universe, with a set of shared characters that pop up from time to time. The setting is a weird mix of semi-hard and really soft science fiction, with some very badly defined magic/ESP thrown in to confuse things.

The overall plot is basically incomprehensible. There is a prelude and and epilogue that try to bookend the series, but they have no obvious connection to the rest of the story. And the epilogue really doesn't make sense even on it's own terms.

The best story by far is the one where special forces soldiers take on some androids. Boiled down and with the magic element stripped out, it would go on to become the fun little anime OVA of the same name.

The only reason I'd recommend reading this is as manga history. You can see the elements that would be put to better use in Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell, and get an idea of how Shirow's concepts evolved over time.

While I did enjoy the art and the story up to the "final chapter" it just ended so abruptly, and the epilogue completely jumps over the final battle, as far as I can tell we never see it. I've searched hoping that "maybe it's just hidden or something?" But no, it jumps from "Oh no, our friend is captured and we must save them, roll the squad up in front of the enemies base!" to cliffhanger, and an absolutely weak epilogue that is just "We beat the bad guy team! Woo hoo us, but I'm injured from the fierce battle that literally no one can see because it was never written". That serious drags the score down, if it had been actually written I could say I enjoyed it as a grimdark anti-hero zombie guy. It was relatively novel, nothing groundbreaking, but decent. The ending however just completely destroys the tension and buildup of every chapter before it.

Garouden is a straight forward story about a man who lives to be the strongest one there is and nothing more than that.
300 page volume is filled to the brim with muscles and violence with rare downtime forming the mandatory minimum of the story to make sense of what happens and give it context.
This is an easy recommendation to any action fans as fights are drawn amazingly well, the flow is coherent and choreography makes every fights feel distinct. It's also surprisingly brutal despite not really going over the top with violence. Instead, you can feel and understand that combatants are just humans to even a bloodless elbow smash to the back of the head looks painful and dangerous.
The art overall is a good match for all this too, not lacking in detail and depicting everything in a reasonably realistic art style. Everything is clean and sharp but there's still a good sense of momentum and impact.
With how well paced it is you could get through it in about half an hour so even if story is not exactly too satisfying, the action is great and worth taking a look at.

This manga is changed my whole life and inspired me to become a mangaka. From the very first time, the main character was introduced I could notice the way the character represents freedom. The main characters character arc is brilliant and he is written masterfully. From the perfect decapitation of the green dragon to the way he partied at the bar was so interesting and story-driven. In my opinion, this is the purest form of art anyone can ever produce. These high-quality fight scenes are perfected so well into the story and the art is immaculate. The character designs are also flawless and perfect. I with every fiber of my being love this manga and recommend it to anyone who is willing to experience this great work of art. Also, there are thicc waifus.

Becchin to Mandara is a story about two girls living in an abandoned battle tank at a dry Riverbed that spend their days exterminating zombies along-side a pantless man that lives in a small house nearby.
There isn't much to it other than that, though Becchin to Mandara does the whole zombie thing quite differently from what people are used to seeing, zombies actually talk and think, almost as normally, to the story's standards, as any other character there, so much so that it often feels like they are just slaughtering humans rather than zombies. Other than killing zombies, the story focuses on the main characters state of mind, their relationship, and how they met.

Story: 5/10
Unfortunately, the manga is a bit confusing, you'll often wonder what the characters are talking about since there are various sudden changes of subject, and most of the main points of the story are badly covered, with little to no backstory to help understand how stuff turned out how it is, stuff such as the origin of the zombies, the strange skull kids, the pantless man, and other supposedly important aspects, they are all left almost unspoken of, almost assuming the reader already knows what and how everything is. It doesn't help that the dialog is often confusing or sometimes completely unnecessary, which makes it quite tedious to read through.
You'll also find some somewhat disturbing scenes in later chapters, such as characters "taking a dumb" outdoors, the pantless mans penis, and a zombie raping scene, each of these quite explicitly illustrated, so be careful if you dislike that kind of thing, and to be honest, they don't really add anything to the manga, they seem added just for the sake of shock.

Characters: 3/10
There aren't much characters in Becchin to Mandara, you could say there are only three of them in total, and each character has a far-from-believable personality, Becchin may seem inhuman at times and Mandara is just plain stupid at times. Another aspect in their personalities are that none are very well established, Becchin is as often nice as she is incredibly mean, and Mandara is also as often stupid as she is not-as stupid.

Art: 4/10
The artwork has a very sketchy look to it, at first you may enjoy it if you're into sketchy looks, but it'll quickly wear-off on you and you'll realize it's just actually poorly drawn. The artwork is very inconsistent though, at times the backgrounds don't look too bad, and in others they look extremely cluttered and poorly drawn. The characters faces look very awkward more times than not, though they're not extremely bad.

Enjoyment: 3/10
Becchin to Mandara ends up being a quite tedious read and you might have to force yourself to read through the whole thing. That added with the subpar artwork, really leaves little to get out of reading it.

Overall: 4/10

Story:
I'm going to be frank. There really isn't a story. We get a set up: a young man voluntaries for a sensory deprivation experiment and that's basically it. We see his experience during the experiment and right after. For some this might be a problem, but for others who can appreciate thematic one shots this should not pose a problem. I personally believe that this is the best way to approach a one shot since plot and character development cannot really be fleshed out in a one shot, while exploring a single theme is perfect for a short work.

Art:
The art is retro, which is not surprising given the date this was publish: 1985. I personally really like the retro shoujo art, so I really liked the art in this one shot.

Characters:
The main point of this one shot is exploring the human psyche. While we know very little about the main character outside the unusual circumstances he is placed in, that is ok because this is not about the character himself, but rather the character as a representation of the human mind. He is the human psyche and this story is dealing with our human reactions to the world and to ourselves. It uses this character placed in such an unusual setting to explore one of the most problematic issues in epistemology (the study of human knowledge, especially its limits). That is, the problem of knowledge of reality. And just as the problem still remains unsolved (and probably will forever), so too does the story end without solving the character's problem. When the character is understood in this way, the characterization is well done.

Conclusion:
I would say this one shot isn't for everyone. If someone is looking for something entertaining to read, Slow Down is not it. Those looking for something strange and maybe even thought provoking (depending on one's exposure to philosophy), Slow Down is for you. The enjoyment of this one shot is directly tied to the willingness of exploring one's mind along with the main character. Since everything this manga brought to the table wasn't new to me and I quite enjoy a more artistic representative of traditional problems in philosophy, I really liked this one shot. But I will stress again that whether you like this or not highly depends on what you want out of it.

First off, I would like to say that this is the best manga I have read in awhile. I straight up have not even finished this, but I would like to give it the good ol' MAL 10/10.

Okay, to begin I straight up have laughed my flipping ass off every other chapter. Like what the flip, my guy Nakamura-sen has made me laugh, so flipping hard over the dumbest of things. It's great. I love this manga a lot. Even if I have not finished it.

The characters are also very loveable. First off, we have Saga, I love that dude. Then we have Geralt, I love that dude. Then we have Baba, I love that dude. Then we have Chris, who overall is just such a great middle-man(?), honest to God, Chris is just such an enjoyable character, seeing him makes me smile. I love that dude.

The story itself is very moving, I feel like our young spunky boys are always getting stuff done. They are very hardworking. God bless them and Nakamura sensei.

I legit made a MAL account just to write about young spunky fellas. Thank you and have a good night.