Author Archives: dakazu

10 Dance

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10 Dance

A manga about the uptight Japanese national Standard dance champion Sugiki and the wild Japanese national Latin dance champion Suzuki teach each other their specialties so they can both compete in the 10-Dance category. While spending time dancing together the two men become more and more attracted to each other.

Yes, it’s a BL story. Compared to other BL I’ve read it’s very tame and not hardcore at all. Also as a manga about professional ballroom dancing it’s vastly superior to Welcome to the Ballroom.

Available in English from Kodansha.

I recommend it.

~dakazu

195 – One Shot 12 – Ultra-Gash Inferno with Chris Hepburn

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195 – One Shot 12 – Ultra-Gash Inferno with Chris Hepburn

On this episode we’re joined by listener Chris from Canada and we’re reviewing Suehiro Maruo’s Ultra-Gash Inferno! Will the hosts be able to stomach the world of ero-guro?!

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Hannin no Hanzawa-san

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Hannin no Hanzawa-san

A spin-off comedy of Case Closed that stars the black shadowy figure that represents the culprit. The comedy comes from Hanzawa going about daily life despite looking like a criminal because of his appearance.

It was alright and good for a quick laugh. Definitely for fans of Conan. I won’t be reading anymore myself.

~dakazu

Ressentiment

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Ressentiment

Earlier work by I am a Hero artist Kengo Hanazawa. Main character Takuro is a typical Hanazawa protagonist. He’s middle-aged, overweight, and balding low self esteem guy in a shitty job. Takuro ends up escaping into the virtual world with a virtual girlfriend named Tsukiko.

I think Hanazawa really relishes in protagonists who are borderline terrible people. Hideo from I am a Hero shares Takuro’s traits of being wishy-washy. This book reminds me a lot of Erichin’s Mitamura-kun series.

~dakazu

Shinya Shokudō

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Shinya Shokudō

Manga about the customers who attend a late-night diner where the owner cooks anything requested. Each chapter revolves around a dish and different patrons.

I’ve been reading this series for a while and it continues to be great. I love the simple art style and the variety of stories told. They be humorous, sweet, tragic, or joyous. This manga was adapted to a live-action series which is available on Netflix as Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories. 

~dakazu

Tsuma ni Koisuru 66 no Houhou

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Tsuma ni Koisuru 66 no Houhou

A collection of short stories about artist Shigeyuki Fukumitsu’s actually wife and family. Fukumitsu specializes in non-fiction and has done several series based on his wife. This manga is his current iteration.

When I read stories about how he admits to using meager tactics to appease his wife’s fiery temper it made me wonder if she reads the manga later and gets back at him. Of course, the next chapter was a story about this exact thing and it became it’s own little story.

Lots of self deprecating humor and the wife’s wild personality makes anything about Fukumitsu’s wife entertaining to read.

~dakazu

194 – Triple Dip 27 – Machida-kun no Sekai, Sensei no Shiroi Uso, Yotsuba&!

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194 – Triple Dip 27 – Machida-kun no Sekai, Sensei no Shiroi Uso, Yotsuba&!

dakazu is back and ready to dive into more manga with a new Triple Dip! This week we dive into Machida-kun no Sekai, Sensei no Shiroi Uso, Yotsuba&!

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Kii Hantou Umimachi Gohan

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Kii Hantou Umimachi Gohan

Manga artist Natsuo Motomachi recalls her time living on the Kii Peninsula with each chapter focusing on local cuisine she ate. Food manga is common but I liked that Motomachi focuses on the nice country lifestyle and local foods she enjoyed making/eating that made her happy! It was also nice that she included recipes for the reader.

~dakazu