Author Archives: dakazu

Satoko and Nada

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Satoko and Nada

A wonderful story about a Japanese girl attending an American University who learns about Muslim and Saudia Arabia culture through her roommate.

This is a fantastic series that is originally a web manga. It’s presented in a yonkoma or 4-panel style so each page has it’s own episode and punchline. Because the target audience is Japanese, this book is a pretty simple beginner’s course in Muslim religion and culture.

I thought is was heartfelt and wonderful. It’s available from Sevens Seas Entertainment!

~dakazu

198 – One Shot 13 – My Solo Exchange Diary with Jocelyne Allen

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198 – One Shot 13 – My Solo Exchange Diary with Jocelyne Allen

Special episode this week as returning guest translator Jocelyne Allen joins us! She back to answer more questions about translating, help us discuss LGBTQ+ representation in manga, and review the recently released My Solo Exchange Diary which she translated!

Check out Jocelyne’s blog & her professional website!

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Fuichin Tsaichen!

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Fuichin Tsaichen!

Biographical manga about the life of Toshiko Ueda, one of first major female manga artists during the golden age of manga.

This is a really touching story. Ueda went through lots of heartache and loss during World War 2 while her family was based in Harbin, China. The series follows her entire life up to her death.

~dakazu

Genshijin Kareshi

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Genshijin Kareshi

A high school girl is sent back in time to the prehistoric era where she is saved by an australopithecus garhi or primitive man.

I’m usually not big on shoujo manga but the premise of a prehistoric boyfriend x high school girl was interesting enough that I enjoyed it. I think shoujo with comedy elements are usually easier for me to read.

~dakazu

Back Street Girls

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Back Street Girls

Three yakuza goons are forced by their boss to undergo surgery and become cute girls to break into the Idol market.

The premise is absurd and hilarious. Lots of dirty jokes. Sometimes the manga would get excessive with the amount of torture it put the 3 main characters in. Otherwise I enjoy this series a lot. Looking forward to the anime this summer!

~dakazu

“Kodomo wo Koroshite kudasai” to iu Oyatachi

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“Kodomo wo Koroshite kudasai” to iu Oyatachi

Tales about two social workers who work with parents dealing with children who have grown to become emotionally disturbed adults.

As someone with experience with social work, I really appreciate how the creative team of artist Masakazu Suzuki and author Takeshi Oshikawa take time to address the issue of these troubled adult from all sides. Many stories include the problems with parenting that help foster these violent behaviors. They even cover how mental care workers and doctors can be neglectful and release patients from care before they are ready.

Many tales end in tragedy but they all address the importance of mental care and healthy family relationships. I think this manga is very informative.

~dakazu

Golosseum

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Golosseum

This manga is INSANE. Russia vs USA via martial arts involving fake versions of Hilary Clinton, Putin, Hulk Hogan, and Rasputin. Throw in a decendent of Hijikata Toshizo and a Godzilla sized Andre the Giant because WHY NOT?!

Baba Yasushi is known for martial arts manga but the concept of technology that renders humans impervious to firearms and explosions so that we can have World War of the Fists is so crazy you kinda get sucked in to reading more.

~dakazu 

197 – Darfox Dabbles 3 – JUMP START

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197 – Darfox Dabbles 3 – JUMP START

On this Seamus-less episode we check out some new manga that have begun their serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump this year! Will darfox be able to guess which ones are popular, struggling, or outright canceled? Tune in to find out!

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Tensai Yanagisawa Kyouju no Seikatsu

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Tensai Yanagisawa Kyouju no Seikatsu

A manga chronicling the eccentric, introverted, and genius professor Yanagisawa. Story arcs cover various stages of his life from childhood to present a look into his sometimes humorous interactions with people around him.

I love this manga because it supersedes slice of life manga with the entire life of it’s protagonist. There is something very special about how manga artist Kazumi Yamashita is able to endlessly add to this character with a variety of stories. 

Some of them focus on professor Yanagisawa and his family though out his life. Others focus on his various students. Sometimes he is just the bystander to strangers going through a mid-life crisis. Every tale is different but related through Yanagisawa in someway and makes wonderful use of a long-running manga format.

I also love that the professor is based on Yamashita’s actual father who was just as essentric as Yanagisawa.

This is a special manga. Highly recommended.

~dakazu