Tsukikage baby is a manga about a small provincial town and its traditional dance, Kaze-no bon.

THe STORY is about Romance and dancing, beginnings and ends, letting go and finding a new home. The dance itself is depicted and discussed in such a way that it appeares to be more than plot, almost as a charcter. Its the binding element in this story and gives it cohesion and also rounds off the story and ties in every character.
The manga is rather short, the romance is quite simple or lets say conventional, but the main focus is the small towns community and the tradition of dance. This is intentional by the author as it takes away the focus of the other characters, who just happen to take part in the annual festival. I think the manga is beautifully done with an almost documentary aspect about the tradition of Kaze-no-bon.

for everyone interested in traditions, dancing or culture im sure this is a short and entertaining (sprinkled with romance) read.

The ART is clean and beautiful, not too much of effects, not overbearing, perfect for the topic. characters are well drawn and porportionate, easily distingushable.

The CHARACTERS are likeable, even though not as finely protrayed as in the authors other work, Sakamichi no apollon (Kids on the slope). This is because the story is altogether shorter, and the author tends to convey feelings much more between the lines rather than oviously in your face. The main character is Hotaruko , a city girl who recently lost her mother and returns to her grandparents on the contryside. The story follows her progress of letting go and finding a new place to call home as well as find closure with her mothers passing.

I ENJOYed it a lot! the dance focus is what drew me in first, as i learned traditional dance (nihon buyo) at a point. Kaze no bon is a quite famous festival in northern japan and the dance is unique to the area. The characters are well done and i found teh portrayed dynamics interesting and well executed.

Overall this is a simple romance without much shenanigans, or clicheed tropes like a hateful girl rival, harassment in school or some such. its a story about growth and tradition, about dancing and different forms of love.
Its a gem among shoujo romance because so so so many other fall into the same old tropes and cliches, this one here is refreshing and realistic and sweet.
I recommend it for people who are fed up with the same stuff that always happens.