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ばらかもん [Barakamon] #12
ばらかもん 12 [Barakamon 12]
そして、父(とと)になる。
立派な2年生になるために「ぼく」「わたし」の練習を始めた1年生のなるたち。島にはクリスマスが訪れ、定番のサンタはいるのか、いないのか?論争に! そしてやってきたのはサンタ…ではなく…? 季節は巡り、みんな少しずつ大人になっていく。小さな成長が胸を打つ第12巻!
立派な2年生になるために「ぼく」「わたし」の練習を始めた1年生のなるたち。島にはクリスマスが訪れ、定番のサンタはいるのか、いないのか?論争に! そしてやってきたのはサンタ…ではなく…? 季節は巡り、みんな少しずつ大人になっていく。小さな成長が胸を打つ第12巻!
170 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2015
4 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Satsuki Yoshino
80 books93 followersYOSHINO Satsuki
Name (in native language): ヨシノサツキ
Zodiac: Gemini
Name (in native language): ヨシノサツキ
Zodiac: Gemini
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 26, 2024
Although this Manga is generally a very warm comedy..kind of fish out of water deal..it does have its heart touching moments.
Like this Volume..
Pre Christmas New Year celebrations Nary gets a visit from an Adult from her past.
Plus Naru tries to stop speaking in first person..that lasts one chapter.
Like this Volume..
Pre Christmas New Year celebrations Nary gets a visit from an Adult from her past.
Plus Naru tries to stop speaking in first person..that lasts one chapter.
March 5, 2019
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
December 26, 2019
The best way to end the year wow
February 27, 2022
Chronique à venir
July 24, 2017
Finally. After a dozen collected volumes and 90+ individual chapters, readers get a little taste of what it means to be a Kotoishi.
If Satsuki Yoshino, the creator of this delightful manga, could be harshly criticized for anything, then surely it must be of her enduring reluctance to traverse (with resolve) the problematic interior life of characters too carefree or too overachieving to ponder the consequences of their actions.
In Volume Twelve, readers finally get a taste of this. Handa does a capital job as a stand-in for the audience's moral discretions, pushing and prodding all the others to come up with a better reason for brushing off individual responsibility other than insider preference (i.e., "Jus' like afore. . . ," one man requests. "Please play with 'er when yer up fer it. But whether or not ah meet with Naru . . . ain't something y'need worry over. Yer an outsider sensei.")
And as is often the theme of this comic, insider preference always submits to outsider benevolence. It happened when Handa wasn't sure how to ask Village Chief for assistance. It happened when the school kids needed help with calligraphy instruction or when Miwa's father needed help with work at the store. It happened with Hiro when he went looking for a job after graduation. It happened when Naru's grandfather needed someone to look after his energetic urchin while he's out tending the fields or out octopus-catching.
And so one finds the pushing back against the grain not merely a recurring theme of Barakamon, but its sociocultural mandate: In order to grow, one must address conflict . . . and change or adapt in response.
This paradigm is as emotional as it is ominous. Handa is the pivot for the island's heightened 360-degree awareness. Does this mean concurrent shifts among residents' awareness wouldn't have happened if the young man weren't present? It's hard to say. The ripples formed after Handa's arrival continue to expand. The high school is shutting down. Visitors are rare. And, surely, one day, the young calligrapher will leave.
If Satsuki Yoshino, the creator of this delightful manga, could be harshly criticized for anything, then surely it must be of her enduring reluctance to traverse (with resolve) the problematic interior life of characters too carefree or too overachieving to ponder the consequences of their actions.
In Volume Twelve, readers finally get a taste of this. Handa does a capital job as a stand-in for the audience's moral discretions, pushing and prodding all the others to come up with a better reason for brushing off individual responsibility other than insider preference (i.e., "Jus' like afore. . . ," one man requests. "Please play with 'er when yer up fer it. But whether or not ah meet with Naru . . . ain't something y'need worry over. Yer an outsider sensei.")
And as is often the theme of this comic, insider preference always submits to outsider benevolence. It happened when Handa wasn't sure how to ask Village Chief for assistance. It happened when the school kids needed help with calligraphy instruction or when Miwa's father needed help with work at the store. It happened with Hiro when he went looking for a job after graduation. It happened when Naru's grandfather needed someone to look after his energetic urchin while he's out tending the fields or out octopus-catching.
And so one finds the pushing back against the grain not merely a recurring theme of Barakamon, but its sociocultural mandate: In order to grow, one must address conflict . . . and change or adapt in response.
This paradigm is as emotional as it is ominous. Handa is the pivot for the island's heightened 360-degree awareness. Does this mean concurrent shifts among residents' awareness wouldn't have happened if the young man weren't present? It's hard to say. The ripples formed after Handa's arrival continue to expand. The high school is shutting down. Visitors are rare. And, surely, one day, the young calligrapher will leave.
July 6, 2017
~4/5
Oh man, I didn't expect this to be so emotional.
Most of this volume is rather lighthearted. Naru and Hina are learning new things in school, it snows in town and everyone gets excited, no matter how little there actually is. Christmas comes. The big surprise here, though, is that Naru's father shows up in town. But he won't talk to Naru, and instead stalks her, because she doesn't remember him.
This whole plot line is extremely sad to me. It's mostly used lightheartedly, of course, but there's one scene that just got me. Aw man. I just love Naru and her relationship with Handa. It makes some sense, as well, since we've never heard anything about her parents, and we still don't know anything about her mom. The volume ends with the new year, and Naru and Handa's coming trip to Tokyo. That should be really fun.
I love this series. We finally got some character depth here, and it just hurt it was so sad and adorable. I'm excited for the next one.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
Oh man, I didn't expect this to be so emotional.
Most of this volume is rather lighthearted. Naru and Hina are learning new things in school, it snows in town and everyone gets excited, no matter how little there actually is. Christmas comes. The big surprise here, though, is that Naru's father shows up in town. But he won't talk to Naru, and instead stalks her, because she doesn't remember him.
This whole plot line is extremely sad to me. It's mostly used lightheartedly, of course, but there's one scene that just got me. Aw man. I just love Naru and her relationship with Handa. It makes some sense, as well, since we've never heard anything about her parents, and we still don't know anything about her mom. The volume ends with the new year, and Naru and Handa's coming trip to Tokyo. That should be really fun.
I love this series. We finally got some character depth here, and it just hurt it was so sad and adorable. I'm excited for the next one.
[Read more at my blog, Geeky Reading!]
September 15, 2019
Nice little slice of life. And then wow, heart feels.
World: The art is great. It’s so emotional especially when we get to the Naru story. Wow. The world building is also wonderful with so many new pieces for character building. Nothing is wasted here, all the pieces build this world for the characters for a point.
Story: Wow that Naru story hit hard in the feels. It’s so beautiful and so well done. I teared up. It so well written and executed. Yes it’s melodramatic and yes it manipulated my emotions. But, I’ve spent to much time with Naru and Sensei that I just love them and the story of them and what they are going through just hits hard. So good.
Characters: Beautiful character moments. Beautiful writing that are earned because of the time we spent with them. I know it’s manga melodrama and I know it’s manipulative but I love it. It’s earned. We spent so much time with them. I love it.
So good.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is great. It’s so emotional especially when we get to the Naru story. Wow. The world building is also wonderful with so many new pieces for character building. Nothing is wasted here, all the pieces build this world for the characters for a point.
Story: Wow that Naru story hit hard in the feels. It’s so beautiful and so well done. I teared up. It so well written and executed. Yes it’s melodramatic and yes it manipulated my emotions. But, I’ve spent to much time with Naru and Sensei that I just love them and the story of them and what they are going through just hits hard. So good.
Characters: Beautiful character moments. Beautiful writing that are earned because of the time we spent with them. I know it’s manga melodrama and I know it’s manipulative but I love it. It’s earned. We spent so much time with them. I love it.
So good.
Onward to the next book!
December 10, 2016
Good god this manga will never stop filling me with all sorts of emotions. Reading this volume, I genuinely laughed and cried. It felt SO good knowing Naru doesn't have a very tragic background, though... now I wonder what's up with her mother.
The little preview of vol. 13 at the end of the book got me seriously excited! Can't wait to read it.
The little preview of vol. 13 at the end of the book got me seriously excited! Can't wait to read it.
February 21, 2018
I was so sad when Handa got lonely :(
February 26, 2019
Great Manga
If you watched the anime and wanted to see how it ends, this is great. It is translated well, and I enjoyed reading it.
If you watched the anime and wanted to see how it ends, this is great. It is translated well, and I enjoyed reading it.
April 6, 2019
Nice to finally learn a bit about Naru’s family, though her mother is still a mystery. I can’t wait for their visit to Tokyo next volume! Also I’ve got mixed feelings on Hiro heading to Tokyo though it will probably take a while to happen and at least that is somewhere there’s reason to visit regularly with Handa’s family and work there. Considering it was 12 volumes to get from summer to Christmas I fear we may not see Yuuichirou for a while, but I love the postcards.
Read
May 18, 2023my heart!!!
January 30, 2024
This was so heartfelt! Especially with it being centred around the holidays!!! I love seeing Handa's growth and accepting that he does want to have the kids and villagers around! It was so sweet! Also !! FINALLY we got some backstory on Naru's parents!! And then this beautiful New Years Celebration!! I can't wait for the next volume to show Naru's and Handa's trip to Tokyo ... because nothing could go wrong with them XD
December 14, 2018
Aww, it is sweet that Handa-sensei is so worried about Naru having a good Christmas. (With reason, as we finally find out a bit about her dead-beat dad.)
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And he's planning to take her to Tokyo?! That should be an adventure.
Also, it turns out that Tama and Miwa totally misinterpreted the "rivalry" between Handa and the tall guy from the race.
[image error]
And he's planning to take her to Tokyo?! That should be an adventure.
Also, it turns out that Tama and Miwa totally misinterpreted the "rivalry" between Handa and the tall guy from the race.
August 6, 2017
Tama and Miwa are such gangsters.
June 10, 2018
Christmas is here!! Handa tried to be a Santa Claus for Naru, but apparently, the position is already filled in by someone.
June 8, 2019
The story indeed deviated from a calligrapher world, but in this book it could be pardoned for the story was good enough and touching for a filler story.
September 19, 2019
Pretty great adorable slice of life manga, really love it!!😻😁📖🖋
July 12, 2020
4.5 stars
January 23, 2023
We finally meet Naru’s alien!!
January 2, 2025
ようやくなるのお父さんと出会った。思ったより普通の状況だね。
半田の書道の成長があまりなかった。
半田の書道の成長があまりなかった。
April 20, 2025
This volume made me cry again. Simple but powerful.
December 22, 2025
4.25/5 stars
March 30, 2023
Barakamon is just such a wonderful slice-of-life story. We get some more backstory on Naru, which is amazing. We also see A LOT of growth from Handa, which was definitely needed, but it never feels forced. I'm actually really excited about the next volume, because we'll see Naru outside of the island.
The art is great, and I love the language/use of dialect in this series as well.
The art is great, and I love the language/use of dialect in this series as well.
February 1, 2017
In Summary
Christmas comes to the island! With small children eagerly anticipating gifts, Handa takes on the role of Santa Claus only to get upstaged by Naru’s dad. If you’ve been wondering where Naru’s parents are or if they even exist, this is the volume to get.
The Review
Volume 12 opens with two filler chapters, both highlighting the immaturity of our cast, no matter what their actual age. Act 88 has the first graders’ lesson in personal pronouns turning into a three-way challenge between Hina, Naru, and Handa. Act 89 focuses on the middle school kids with Shin Yoshida correcting Miwa and Tama’s misconceptions about Higashino (I thought he was Dash, too, girls!) and farmer Higashino winding up with a worse replacement nickname.
The story then dives into a three-chapter Christmastime arc that addresses one of the long-standing mysteries of the series: what happened to Naru’s parents. As it turns out, the truth isn’t tragic or dramatic at all. It’s so disappointingly mundane that it’s a wonder the islanders, with their supposed penchant for local gossip, haven’t mentioned Naru’s dad Yuuichiro. Despite his infrequent visits home, he’s still considered part of the community, so much so that he can’t take ten steps through the village without someone stopping him to chat.
But even though the reasons that keep him away from Naru are hardly titillating, Yuuichiro does make an exciting entrance when he first appears. His return is preceded by an intense Christmas Eve debate among the children regarding the existence of Santa Claus. Of course, Handa gets dragged into it, and as midnight approaches, readers get to see how Christmas in Japan is like and unlike western celebrations.
With the villagers treating Yuuichiro’s return as no big deal, Handa’s finally able to broach subjects he’d previously assumed were taboo. In fact, Yuuichiro is the one to invite Handa to chat with him. The conversation that follows is an interesting one. Although Yuuichiro does not communicate with his daughter and is mostly absent from the village, he calls Handa, who has been watching over Naru, “an outsider.” This gets Handa thinking about who the insiders and outsiders are in his life, once more causing him to reflect upon the connections he’s made in the village.
Extras include two bonus manga, translation notes, and another installment of “Barakamon News.”
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Christmas comes to the island! With small children eagerly anticipating gifts, Handa takes on the role of Santa Claus only to get upstaged by Naru’s dad. If you’ve been wondering where Naru’s parents are or if they even exist, this is the volume to get.
The Review
Volume 12 opens with two filler chapters, both highlighting the immaturity of our cast, no matter what their actual age. Act 88 has the first graders’ lesson in personal pronouns turning into a three-way challenge between Hina, Naru, and Handa. Act 89 focuses on the middle school kids with Shin Yoshida correcting Miwa and Tama’s misconceptions about Higashino (I thought he was Dash, too, girls!) and farmer Higashino winding up with a worse replacement nickname.
The story then dives into a three-chapter Christmastime arc that addresses one of the long-standing mysteries of the series: what happened to Naru’s parents. As it turns out, the truth isn’t tragic or dramatic at all. It’s so disappointingly mundane that it’s a wonder the islanders, with their supposed penchant for local gossip, haven’t mentioned Naru’s dad Yuuichiro. Despite his infrequent visits home, he’s still considered part of the community, so much so that he can’t take ten steps through the village without someone stopping him to chat.
But even though the reasons that keep him away from Naru are hardly titillating, Yuuichiro does make an exciting entrance when he first appears. His return is preceded by an intense Christmas Eve debate among the children regarding the existence of Santa Claus. Of course, Handa gets dragged into it, and as midnight approaches, readers get to see how Christmas in Japan is like and unlike western celebrations.
With the villagers treating Yuuichiro’s return as no big deal, Handa’s finally able to broach subjects he’d previously assumed were taboo. In fact, Yuuichiro is the one to invite Handa to chat with him. The conversation that follows is an interesting one. Although Yuuichiro does not communicate with his daughter and is mostly absent from the village, he calls Handa, who has been watching over Naru, “an outsider.” This gets Handa thinking about who the insiders and outsiders are in his life, once more causing him to reflect upon the connections he’s made in the village.
Extras include two bonus manga, translation notes, and another installment of “Barakamon News.”
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2018
Reread.
November 8, 2016
Aw, ada ayahnya Naru. Penasaran sama petualangan Naru di Tokyo pada nomor selanjutnya XD
December 2, 2016
A bizarre but moving Christmas story focusing on Handa and Naru highlights all the strengths of this excellent series.
December 5, 2016
Good volume. Series has been pretty good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews