Book of the Month Extra
Often the Japanese culture of manga is mixed up with that of otaku. Otaku is a generic term used to refer to people who are intent on something and do not have general intelligence. The verbiage is still used to talk about such kind of people, but particularly people who love characters that live in two dimensions.
However, I believe the use of this word has changed again. The word otaku is now used for people who know something that other people do not know. What kind of example may I give you? Well, you are talking with your friend, whom you believe is a non-otaku person, and if that person suddenly says, "Do you know about the manga xxx?" and if you, and all of your classmates, did not know that manga, you might recognize him as an otaku. Also you may think the manga he talked about is one of the otaku manga, and you would never try reading that. I think it is a very sad thing. At least you must try, mustn't you? You can't talk about anything before you try that.
Here, I have written four reviews of Japanese manga, and all of them are, I believe, some of the greatest pieces. I did not write about excessively famous manga such as Deathnote, but I think these are much more interesting than some manga that are very popular and everyone knows about. Some of them are perhaps infamous manga, and some of them are still serialised. Do not be angry if you find one of these very interesting and realised that there are no more sequels available yet.
However, I believe the use of this word has changed again. The word otaku is now used for people who know something that other people do not know. What kind of example may I give you? Well, you are talking with your friend, whom you believe is a non-otaku person, and if that person suddenly says, "Do you know about the manga xxx?" and if you, and all of your classmates, did not know that manga, you might recognize him as an otaku. Also you may think the manga he talked about is one of the otaku manga, and you would never try reading that. I think it is a very sad thing. At least you must try, mustn't you? You can't talk about anything before you try that.
Here, I have written four reviews of Japanese manga, and all of them are, I believe, some of the greatest pieces. I did not write about excessively famous manga such as Deathnote, but I think these are much more interesting than some manga that are very popular and everyone knows about. Some of them are perhaps infamous manga, and some of them are still serialised. Do not be angry if you find one of these very interesting and realised that there are no more sequels available yet.
Heaven's Door in the Battlefield on G-Line (original title: G-Senjou Heaven's Door)
(By Yowoko Nihonbashi)
Machizo Sakaida hates his father, who is a manga creator. One day, Machizo meets a boy called Tetsuo, who wants to be a manga creator and loves the manga produced by Machizo's father. First, Machizo has an ingrained dislike of Tetsuo and his manga, but after he sees what Tetsuo has created in the past, he starts to realize that Tetsuo is a real genius.
This story is not so long, but after you finish it you will surely know you don't need to add anything. It's a perfect piece and I believe this manga is one of the greatest in the past 20 years.
Planets
(By Makoto Yukimura)
A sapling Hachimaki (Hachirota Hoshino) is a debris-pickupper (Debris-ya in Japanese). A debris-pickupper is a person who picks up debris, rubbish of spaceships or artificial satellites that are left in outer space. He has a dream to have his own spaceship, and to make that dream come true, he applies for a crew for the first spaceship that goes to Jupiter. Through his challenge, Hachimaki loses humanity, and starts to think that to achieve his goal is the most important thing and he does not need anything.
Many manga use the universe as a background, but none of them had a main character like this. This is not a STARWARS-like story. It is based on Hachimaki and his crew, but other characters are also impressive and create a picture of a brilliant human drama.
Heugemono (Hyougemono)
(By Yamada Yoshihiro)
It takes place in the Azuchi-Momoyama era. There is a man who loves Tya-no-yu (Sado of today). His name is Sasuke Furuta, who is a military chieftain in Nobunaga's army. He has a big problem working as a commander. He loves Tya-no-yu's materials too much. He lets an enemy escape because the enemy gives him a brilliant tea bowl. He searches for a nice tea pot in the battlefield after the battle is over. He becomes a follower of Sen-no-Soueki (Sen-no-Rikyu), and gets into the world of Tya-no-yu deeper and deeper.
Had anyone imagined a manga like this? Sado seems to be an unsuitable theme for manga, but by the creator's talent you can enjoy the story without any extra knowledge of Sado. The main character, Sasuke Huruta, is quite greedy but very comical. Thanks to his character, the story does not become very serious and can be read without circumstance.
JOJO's Bizzare Adventure (JOJO-no-kimyo-na-bouken)
(By Araki Hirohiko)
There once was an ethnic group called the Aztecs. In the group, there was a tribe who used stone masks for cults. You wear the mask, you put a little blood on it, and you will be a vampire. The mask was lost for hundreds of years and in the 1880's, the mask was in England, in the house of Lord George Joestar. He had a son called Jonathan, whose nickname was JOJO. One day, a boy called Dio Brando comes to Joestar's and becomes Jonathan's brother in law. He is a son of Dario Brando, who helped George and Jonathan's lives years ago. Dio is an energetic but wily boy, and he plans to kill George to get his assets. When Jonathan finds out about his plan and accuses Dio, Dio puts on the stone mask hung on the wall. He knew that the mask could turn somebody into a vampire. He kills George, and with his blood, he becomes a vampire. This is the beginning of a war between Dio and banu Joester…
89 volumes have been published already, and the story hasn't finished yet. JOJO is divided into seven parts and each has a different main character. These characters are all related to Joester's family (who all have the nickname JOJO), and they fight against their own enemies. The interesting thing is that all the enemies have their reasons to fight, and some of them really believe that they are doing the right thing. However, JOJO defines them as evil, because they use people as footstools for their purposes.
JOJO7s Bizarre Adventure is also known for its originality. The way of drawing, for example, is very original. Words are original (ex. "URRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYY," as a cry of a vampire, "ORAORAORAORAORAORA…," a shout of a third and sixth JOJO), and onomatopoeia is also original (ex. "Zukyuuunn", the sound of kissing). The world of JOJO is too strong and at first you hesitate to try, but after you read it, you'll come to love this piece very much.
These are all my reviews. Are you interested in reading these manga? Then, please go to your friends and ask them if they have one of these. If someone has one, borrow it. If they don't, go and buy it immediately. What are you waiting for? Run, now!
And enjoy.
11x-x Shallowfield
(By Yowoko Nihonbashi)
Machizo Sakaida hates his father, who is a manga creator. One day, Machizo meets a boy called Tetsuo, who wants to be a manga creator and loves the manga produced by Machizo's father. First, Machizo has an ingrained dislike of Tetsuo and his manga, but after he sees what Tetsuo has created in the past, he starts to realize that Tetsuo is a real genius.
This story is not so long, but after you finish it you will surely know you don't need to add anything. It's a perfect piece and I believe this manga is one of the greatest in the past 20 years.
Planets
(By Makoto Yukimura)
A sapling Hachimaki (Hachirota Hoshino) is a debris-pickupper (Debris-ya in Japanese). A debris-pickupper is a person who picks up debris, rubbish of spaceships or artificial satellites that are left in outer space. He has a dream to have his own spaceship, and to make that dream come true, he applies for a crew for the first spaceship that goes to Jupiter. Through his challenge, Hachimaki loses humanity, and starts to think that to achieve his goal is the most important thing and he does not need anything.
Many manga use the universe as a background, but none of them had a main character like this. This is not a STARWARS-like story. It is based on Hachimaki and his crew, but other characters are also impressive and create a picture of a brilliant human drama.
Heugemono (Hyougemono)
(By Yamada Yoshihiro)
It takes place in the Azuchi-Momoyama era. There is a man who loves Tya-no-yu (Sado of today). His name is Sasuke Furuta, who is a military chieftain in Nobunaga's army. He has a big problem working as a commander. He loves Tya-no-yu's materials too much. He lets an enemy escape because the enemy gives him a brilliant tea bowl. He searches for a nice tea pot in the battlefield after the battle is over. He becomes a follower of Sen-no-Soueki (Sen-no-Rikyu), and gets into the world of Tya-no-yu deeper and deeper.
Had anyone imagined a manga like this? Sado seems to be an unsuitable theme for manga, but by the creator's talent you can enjoy the story without any extra knowledge of Sado. The main character, Sasuke Huruta, is quite greedy but very comical. Thanks to his character, the story does not become very serious and can be read without circumstance.
JOJO's Bizzare Adventure (JOJO-no-kimyo-na-bouken)
(By Araki Hirohiko)
There once was an ethnic group called the Aztecs. In the group, there was a tribe who used stone masks for cults. You wear the mask, you put a little blood on it, and you will be a vampire. The mask was lost for hundreds of years and in the 1880's, the mask was in England, in the house of Lord George Joestar. He had a son called Jonathan, whose nickname was JOJO. One day, a boy called Dio Brando comes to Joestar's and becomes Jonathan's brother in law. He is a son of Dario Brando, who helped George and Jonathan's lives years ago. Dio is an energetic but wily boy, and he plans to kill George to get his assets. When Jonathan finds out about his plan and accuses Dio, Dio puts on the stone mask hung on the wall. He knew that the mask could turn somebody into a vampire. He kills George, and with his blood, he becomes a vampire. This is the beginning of a war between Dio and banu Joester…
89 volumes have been published already, and the story hasn't finished yet. JOJO is divided into seven parts and each has a different main character. These characters are all related to Joester's family (who all have the nickname JOJO), and they fight against their own enemies. The interesting thing is that all the enemies have their reasons to fight, and some of them really believe that they are doing the right thing. However, JOJO defines them as evil, because they use people as footstools for their purposes.
JOJO7s Bizarre Adventure is also known for its originality. The way of drawing, for example, is very original. Words are original (ex. "URRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYY," as a cry of a vampire, "ORAORAORAORAORAORA…," a shout of a third and sixth JOJO), and onomatopoeia is also original (ex. "Zukyuuunn", the sound of kissing). The world of JOJO is too strong and at first you hesitate to try, but after you read it, you'll come to love this piece very much.
These are all my reviews. Are you interested in reading these manga? Then, please go to your friends and ask them if they have one of these. If someone has one, borrow it. If they don't, go and buy it immediately. What are you waiting for? Run, now!
And enjoy.
11x-x Shallowfield
posted by SHABUKUST at
5:15 AM
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