The Brainstorm Plus: Brainstorm 273: Japanese Manga

As promised this week I’m continuing the theme of books by authors of Japanese descent that give readers a window into Japanese life of the past or present, and this week I’m featuring manga series. I’m sticking with strictly no fantasy elements, or I’d have included one of Kanata Konami’s cat manga series (Chi’s Sweet Home, FukuFuku Kitten Tales, or the new Sue & Tai-chan) which do give insights into everyday modern life in Japan, but the cats talk so they get an honorable mention but no full highlight. Click on the series title to see my full review of the first volume in each series and any content notes/trigger warnings.

Cat + Gamer by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson

Riko is an office worker by day who is superhumanly efficient at work and always clocks out at 5pm on the dot and declines invites to hang out afterwards with co-workers. She's a bit of a mystery to the people at the office. Readers soon discover that Riko really comes alive at home. She's a gamer. A serious gamer who is pretty good. She works so she can afford the latest game tech, and celebrates game accomplishments with splurges on expensive food. One day at work the security guard finds a stray kitten and asks if anyone at the office would like to adopt it. Riko surprises everyone at the office and herself by saying yes. She knows nothing about being a cat owner, or how this could potentially affect her gaming life. But how could she say no to such a cute face? Riko's world is about to be turned upside down by four little paws.

This is a believable and cute concept of an introvert gamer who suddenly becomes a cat ~~owner~~ slave. I’ve only read the first in this series (only volumes 1 & 2 out of 8 currently are available in English), but so far it is fun with some quite funny moments.

Target Readers:
Cat Lovers, Animal Lovers, Slice of Life Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Gamers, Graphic Novel Fans, Manga Fans, Adult Readers (though approachable to Young Adult readers)

Haikyu!! by Haruichi Furudate, translated by Adrienne Beck

When two volleyball players who were rivals in middle school end up at the same high school, they are both thrown for a loop. Their new captain locks them out of the gym until they can learn to work together, but that may take a while. Kageyama just wishes he could play all by himself because he doesn't trust anyone else to play well enough to win. Hinata just wants to play. He cobbled together enough friends to play one official game in middle school but hasn't really had anyone to practice with. He has crazy natural skill, but needs some practice. Also, in the one game he got to play, Kageyama brutally killed his team and Hinata was looking forward to getting better and trouncing him in high school. To prove they can work together, the boys must win a game of 3 on 3 versus 2 other first years with a 3rd year on each of their teams.

This series is insanely popular with middle and high school students! It is now finished with 45 volumes.

Target Readers:
Sports Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, High School Story Fans, Volleyball Lovers, Graphic Novel Fans, Manga Fans, Young Adult Readers (though approachable to Middle Grade)

Laid-Back Camp by Afro, translated by Amber Tamosaitis

The story of two teen girls, Rin who is an avid winter solitary camper. She enjoys the peace and quiet, even if it gets a bit cold. Nadeshiko has just moved to the area, gets lost, stumbles across the Rin's camp site, gets some much-needed heat, and is able to contact her sister thanks to Rin's help. Nadeshiko is then inspired to join the Outdoor Explorer Club at her school. The club (which consists of just two other girls) spends much of the book planning for their first camping trip. Meanwhile Rin goes camping by herself a few more times but contemplates the concept of camping with others, though she is too reluctant to act on it.

This series is ongoing at 11 out of 13 volumes in English currently (and more Japanese volumes are on the way).

Target Readers:
Nature Lovers, Camping Fans, High School Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Manga Fans, Young Adult Readers (though approachable to Middle Grade)

Silver Spoon by Hiromu Arakawa, translated by Amanda Haley

Yuugo Hachiken has chosen to go to high school at Hokkaido Ooezo Agricultural High School, a boarding school that has multiple hectares of land, and gives students hands-on experience in many of the agricultural fields. All of Hackiken's classmates seem to know exactly what they want to do in the future. The only goal he's sure about is that he wants to be top of the class (he's a little obsessed about it). Most of his classmates come from farming families, and he feels like an oddball for more than one reason. Can he survive at a school for agriculture when he doesn't know the first thing about crops or domestic animals? Or is he going to be trampled to death while he mucks out stalls at some ungodly hour of the morning?

This series is now complete at 15 volumes and sees Hachiken and his classmates through graduation. It is fun to watch them grow as individuals, in their agricultural knowledge, and in their friendships.

Target Readers:
Boarding School Story Fans, High School Story Fans, Those Curious about Modern Japanese Farm Life, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Manga Fans, Young Adult Readers

Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma, translated by Amy Forsyth

Yotsuba is a precocious little girl who has just moved into a new neighborhood. She has adventures meeting the new neighbor girls who are all older than her, but welcome her like a little sister. She has adventures with her dad in the process of moving and going to the store to get things for their house, and then she catches cicadas with her dad's friend and one of the neighbor girls.

Yotsuba’s antics are so believable for an outgoing little girl, and at least once a book she will make readers laugh out loud with the things she says and does. This series is still ongoing with 15 volumes currently out.

Target Readers:
Community Life Story Fans, Contemporary Story Fans, Family Life Story Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Humor Fans, Graphic Novel Fans, Manga Fans, Middle Grade/Young Adult Readers

Yuzu the Pet Vet by Mingo Ito in collaboration with Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd., translated by Julie Goniwich

Yuzu is staying with her uncle, a vet, while her mom is in the hospital with pneumonia. Yuzu isn't so sure about this. She's kind of afraid of animals and her uncle wants her to help out at the practice. Is this just going to be a disaster?

This series balances Yuzu’s family life and friendship stories with realistic vet cases and stories of pets and pet owners often inspired by real stories. Yuzu's stories are still coming out with 7 volumes currently available.