The peace and solitude of rural spaces is a persistent theme throughout the book, and there is something that feels a bit idealized about that, making it clear that the stories were written by someone who had lived more urban than rural for most of their life.
Dec 5, 2021 • Subscribe
More like this
Spider-Man: Fake Red GN
Fake Red uses its approach, a focus on masks and costumes, to dig into the concepts of putting up metaphorical masks or adopting a role or personality that…
Flowers of Grass
Takehiro Fukunaga’s 1954 novel Flowers of Grass is considered to be a classic of postwar Japanese fiction, and it’s the sort of book that I imagine many people…
Flowers of Evil
By Andrew Osmond. Anime is often compared to live-action cinema. If so, Flowers of Evil is the cultish indy film, whose moody images sing with the torments of…
Shaman King: Flowers
Oh well, it’s not really over yet. You thought the original series already ended but then it still somewhat continues. With the next generation! Ah yes, it is…
Chua Tek Ming~*Anime Power*~ !LiVe FoR AnImE, aNiMe FoR LiFe!
Coffin of Flowers
YAMAMURA Misa (山村美紗, 1934-1996) was very popular in her day, but has probably faded of late. The last time I looked, few if any of her books...
Kitaro GN
This volume of Kitaro is a second edition of the one Drawn & Quarterly originally released in 2013, and for fans of the franchise – and especially the…
SCRAMBLUES GN
Some of my favorite romance stories are ones that function as good character pieces that flesh out the individual issues of their characters before moving...
Stalemate GN
Yes, you read the synopsis right: the main, five-chapter story in Toomi Aoyama's single-volume book Stalemate is a romance between a guy and his older uncle.
Sensor GN
Sensor is easily one of the strangest Junji Ito yarns to date, combining Christian mythos, Lovecraftian beings, and a Heaven's Gate-style cult.
Anime’s Fiery Fighting Flowers!
As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, I honestly started to scramble for something to write about. I’ve already written about the many words of love and anime that best…
Skeleton Flowers (2021) review
A serene narrative that touchingly explores the possibility of reaching each other as subject despite the misrecognition that structures speech.
Somebody’s Flowers (2021) review
“A beautiful narrative that explores the mental and societal obstacles that litter the path of those subjects who suddenly need to grieve the loss of loved ones with…
Tista GN 1
Before there was SPY x FAMILY there was Tista. Tatsuya Endō's first serialized work shares some themes with his latest – heroine Tista Lone is an orphan who
Ayashimon GN 1
This volume is packed with everything from yakuza action to twisted backstories to humans against monsters. Does this manga from the creator of Hell’s Paradise manage to bring…
MAO GN 1
Takahashi's latest seems to borrow elements from her previous popular works, but does it add anything new to her tried and true recipe?
MonsTABOO GN 1
Take a bit of social commentary on twisted, corrupt adults, add in schoolgirls who use monsters as transformed weapons to fight them, and then throw in a game…
Barbarities GN 1
Barbarities' first volume is an interesting opening to a political BL tale. The politics and the side romance may be a little more intriguing than Joel and Adam…
SINoALICE GN 1
This manga adaptation of the popular mobile game gambles on a risky decision: to deliberately confuse its readers on what's real and what's just a dream.
Helck GN 1
A human makes a play for demon king, stating he hates humankind just as much as a demon should. He just has to convince Red Vamirio, and her…
Ayashimon GN 1
Most of us have probably tried it at some point. What “it” means varies, but the definition is always “something that works in my favorite story.” Whether
Asadora! GN 4
As metaphors for the 60s go, it's a pretty good one, and Urasawa is a good enough creator to really make it work. Things are building to the…
Offshore Lightning GN
Offshore Lightning is one of those books that you find yourself thinking about long after you've finished reading it.
Appare-Ranman! GN
While it doesn't serve as a replacement for the wonderful anime series, people who prefer a more-plot oriented than character-oriented route may prefer it.
Higehiro GN 1
Is there actually some insightful character stuff present that looks like it can take full advantage of this arrangement? The answer is surprisingly yes for a good chunk…
Black Paradox GN
Black Paradox can come off like a 'hybrid' or 'experimental' work, depending on how familiar you already are with Junji Ito's repertoire.
Goodbye, Eri GN
Imagine reading a story with love, tragedy, suspense, mystery, fantasy, and at least one mindfuck within 200 pages.
Centaurs GN 1
Dark historical fantasy doesn't get much better than this.
Wolverine: Snikt! GN
Wolverine: Snikt! is an interesting side dish that manages to wow visually while being mostly rote in every other respect.
Kowai Hanashi: Flowers Anthology 3
It’s certainly an odd feeling to step into the grocery store out of 35-degree heat and see the fall-flavoured snacks on the shelves. Like the shift from short…
Red Angel
by Jeremy Clarke. An army nurse is sent to China in director Yasuzo Masumura’s Red Angel (1966). Or as a slogan in one of the film’s trailers puts…
Turning Red
By Andrew Osmond. Over the years, I’ve cast an “anime eye” over new Pixar and Disney films, judging them against anime. Pixar’s latest film Turning Red dropped on…
Red Geist
Robot mode Dragon mode Red Breaster Robot mode Dragon mode Red Breaster General Information Unit type: robotHeight: 27.5 meters (Robot mode)Length: 35.8 meters (Dragon mode)Weight: 98.5 metric tonsMaximum…
Red Mudan
Tonight’s show and tell looks back to the hardships of a young woman who eventually went down in history as the first and only female emperor of China,…
It’s Red
Author: Ukari (translated with author’s permission, please visit their website to see the original Japanese works!) To say here is far, The post It’s Red first appeared on Kowabana.
Mars Red
I like this anime for a small handful of reasons. Otherwise it’s just confusing and therefore impossible to like or really even dislike overall.
Sakura's Dedication GN 1
Despite it's title, this manga is less an aggressive pursuit and more about a guy who is very concerned about making his new girlfriend comfortable around him.
Great Pretender GN 1
The story of the Great Pretender is one of a good person trying desperately to be a bad guy in a world where everyone is out for themselves.
Tokyo Aliens GN 2
I was lukewarm about the first volume of Tokyo Aliens, but I thought it had potential. Unfortunately, volume 2 does not do enough to capitalize on said potential.
Ragna Crimson GN 7
This is one of the hardest volume reviews I have had to write in my time with Ragna Crimson. It's not that the chapters themselves are challenging to…
Ragna Crimson GN 6
If the pacing of the last volume felt slower than you would have liked, then boy are you in or a ride.
Ragna Crimson GN 8
Ragna Crimson has been a manga defined by over-the-top battles between super-powered beings, and this fight is one of the best in the run.
SPY×FAMILY GN 9
Despite containing the wrap-up to Yor's first major solo storyline, this volume touches on plots for fan-favorite side characters, Franky, Nightfall, Becky, and more.
Rosen Blood GN 2
Do you read vampire manga for the sexy, sexy blood-sucking? Do you find forceful immortal men alluring? If you answered yes to either of these questions, this is…
Until We're Together GN
Until We're Together warm and welcoming, and a scene near the end reminds readers that everyone needs to feel – and deserves to feel – like they belong.
Kemono Jihen GN 1
Kimono Jihen is a combination of folklore, fantasy, and horror. It's got a beating heart underneath the grimness and this volume is a solid start to the series.
Usotoki Rhetoric GN 1
Set in 1926, this rural detective tale follows a teen sleuth who can tell when people are lying.
Yakuza Lover GN 2
Instead of just weeping prettily, Nozomi Mino shows she's willing to draw Yuri as messy, even ugly in her anger.
Dai Dark GN 1
From the creator of Dorohedoro comes a new series about a man, his supposedly magic bones, and the out-of-this-world characters who try to obtain them.
SPY×FAMILY GN 7
Everyone gets a turn to take center stage in this book, and that makes up for a slightly stalled main plot.
Kageki Shoujo!! GN 1
Like its heroine, Kageki Shojo!! is just getting started but shows enormous promise.