So after finishing this manga ngl I got a little misty eyed. Yes its cheesy and fluffy and shojo, but I think especially during these times, shojo is whats needed. Hell, I think the overall message of Kanata Kara is very important and relevant to 2020; how everyone is connected and even small acts of kindness has a ripple effect. The way the villain is defeated could be considered disappointing for some, but I think it suited the series perfectly. It’s exactly how Noriko and Izark would act. It’s a perfect example of how an ending should suit the world you’ve crafted and you shouldn’t be pressured to take the standard path with storytelling if it doesnt suit your characters. Idk I thought it was neat.

Noriko:
It featured a really cute protag. I enjoyed her, even if I somewhat wanted her to learn how to fight she still contributed and was pivotal during the final fight. Noriko adapted to her situation and that’s something to commend, considering she’s thrust into another world like your usual isekai fantasy. It was refreshing that she didn’t know the language and I LOVED the fashion in the different world.

Izark:
Izark starts out as your typical cold male lead but DAYME this boy has so many emotions. It’s so friggin rewarding seeing him slowly learn how to trust and open up to Noriko but you can see his kindness shining through even in the first chapter. I love that he smiles and laughs more later on due to spending time with her. Like have you ever seen a warrior sink to his knees under the weight of how much he loves a girl? Peak romance, we stan.

This isn’t even getting into the side characters and like there are so many memorable ones! They all contribute to the story. Like even the mayor from the first volume has a little backstory to let you understand where he’s coming from and how he acts. Each character is given just enough to flesh them out despite the simple adventure story structure. It makes the world feel very lived in.

Just overall dayme I wish this had an anime, but even with 25 episodes I’m not sure they could cram in everything. It’s a really sweet old manga that I hope more people check out, its been such a cute read for me during lockdown.