Barakamon - A Heartwarming Manga about Life in Japanese Countryside Island
If you are looking for a slice of life manga to read during this troubled time, you definitely need to give Barakamon (ばらかもん) a chance. This manga, written and illustrated by Satsuki Yoshino (ヨシノサツキ), is about the life of a Japanese calligrapher, Seishuu Handa (半田 清舟), and his quirky neighbors on the quiet rural Japanese island.
You might think that it doesn't sound very appealing because the countryside is boring. However, Barakamon is actually far from dull. Surprisingly, this manga has a lot of exciting developments and heartwarming interactions. Even though the chapters are episodic, you will still notice how the characters are growing up.
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Innocent Story about Growing Up
Right from the first chapter, I can guarantee that Barakamon will hook you on. You will be welcomed with the lighthearted antics of Handa Sensei. And shortly after, you will meet the cute little Naru (琴石 なる). She is one of the younger residents of the island.
Handa, who has just moved from the city, does not know much about living in the countryside. It is funny to see how he tries to adjust his life to the new place.
The dynamic between Handa and Naru will melt your heart away. You will see how Handa reacts to Naru's mischievous adventures. It is also amusing and inspiring to see how Handa as a young adult, is trying to find his own place among the islanders.
My Opinion On Barakamon
I read this manga in English. It is officially published by Yen Press. The company did a good job of translating this manga. The translation is still able to convey the humor and the accent. They used the old Southern American English to portray the Japanese islanders' rustic rural dialect. They've also included translation notes at the end of each volume to explain the original context.
Barakamon is an innocent and lighthearted manga. It will provide you with a warm feeling, a lot of laughter, and a yearning to visit the countryside. I give Barakamon a solid 4 out of 5!
Additional Information About Barakamon
- Title: Barakamon, Vol.1
- Total Volume: 18
- Author: Satsuki Yoshino
- Format: Digital Download
- ISBN-13: 9780316384414
- Imprint: Yen Press World
- Price: $6.99 US / $8.99 CAN
- On Sale Date: 02/24/2015
- Original run: February 21, 2009 – December 12, 2018
- Original Publisher: Square Enix
Barakamon has an anime adaptation. The anime covers the events between the first and the sixth volume. The animation is well done. The voice acting is also top-notch. You can watch the anime and then continue reading from the seventh volume for more Handa-Naru actions.
Barakamon also has a spin-off manga titled Handa-Kun. It tells the story of Handa during his high school days. It was not that interesting, in my opinion. It felt like your run-off-the-mill school-life manga. Art-wise, it was not that great, either. But if you like Handa as a standalone character, it's worth checking out.
The picture within this post belongs to Satsuki Yoshino. No copyright infringement is intended against Yen Press and Square Enix.
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