ヨコハマ買い出し紀行 13 [Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou 13]

ヨコハマ買い出し紀行 [Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou] #13

by Hitoshi Ashinano, 芦奈野 ひとし

「おそかれ早かれよ、ここいらもっと静かになんべ」――静かに、ゆっくりと、でも確実に変化してゆく自然、土地、街、人……のちに夕凪（ゆうなぎ）の時代と呼ばれる、てろてろの時間。悠久の時を生きるアルファたち“ロボットの人”は、のんびりと訪れてくる時代の黄昏（たそがれ）を彼岸で見つめる。

Genres: Manga, Comics, Slice Of Life, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Japanese Literature

164 pages, paperback

First published July 22, 2005

About the author

Hitoshi Ashinano (芦奈野 ひとし, Ashitano Hitoshi) is a Japanese manga artist.
Prior to his professional debut as a solo cartoonist, Ashinano worked as an assistant to manga artist Kousuke Fujishima, while also releasing some doujinshi (amateur manga) under the pen name 'suke'.
Ashinano's comics are known for their contemplative, laid-back, nostalgic feel. His first and best-known series is Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, a slice-of-life manga set in a post-apocalyptic world. The manga was serialised in Kodansha's comics magazine 'Monthly Afternoon' from 1994 to 2006, won the 2007 'Seiun Award for Best Science Fiction Manga' and was adapted into an anime.

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

That chapter with Oji and Alpha was great. The series doesn't outright say that he's going to die, but he's and old man and it's clear that he's taking the time to comfort Alpha and they both know his passing is coming soon. Alpha is always this mix of mature adult and naive child and it really comes out in these chapters how she still needs reassurance and comfort, like she's smart enough to know what's happening but because she's a robot all of this is still different to her. I love how this series can say so much without explicitly stating it.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A post-apocalypse story... that’s actually extremely wholesome, relaxing and uplifting. There’s no darkness, violence, despair or evil to be found within these pages. Nothing but ambient, atmospheric, nature-fueled positivity between the last remnants of humanity and humanoid androids coming together to live peacefully in harmony and give each other the love and support they need to find purpose in their daily lives.

Alpha is a sweet robot girl that runs a cafe at the end of the world. She invites the few guests she receives into her shop to sit down and talk with her over a steaming cup of coffee. She bonds with locals and travelers by sharing heartwarming stories of the past and dreams for the future. They share happy memories in the present rather than dwelling on the past. Communities come together to raise children with hope for a brighter future. The population has decreased immensely, but loneliness has become a thing of the past.

The story plays out in a seaside country with boundless blooming nature with no pollution or industrialization in sight. Nature has reclaimed the earth, sea levels are rising and rich vegetation covers nearly every inch of land. The last survivors of the world respect nature and treat it like a friend rather than as a resource to be abused for profit.

It’s a mature apocalypse story that balances whimsical childlike wonder with coming of age self-discovery and finding contentment in a world that’s been robbed of most living things.

An underrated classic gem.

My rating: 4.5/5

[Seung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't wait for volume 5 of the deluxe edition in August so i read the rest of the series which was only about 29 chapters. As I skimmed through there were parts so subtle that I didn't realize the gravity of the situation until the very end (like life). I have to say this is now one of my favorite manga series ever. I'm a hard sci fi kind of guy but even though this is not that and there are no conflcits, it's beautiful. The conflict is with the inevitability of time that has an end. There is a scene where Alpha look at Makki and cries, being reminded of Taka. Or the Grandpa talking with Alpha about loneliness. Characters fade out slowly becoming the environment. This is a rare post apocalytic story and at the essense is the strong sense of Mono No Aware. The deluxe official english translation is 5 volumes and you can breeze though each volume in 30 minutes if you want. But I truly believe this book to capture the flow of time. I haven't felt like this since finishing the Monster or Higurashi manga. I would put this book up there with Goodnight PunPun. Actually debating on putting this as my top 5 books I've read and there are some heavy hitters.

TLDR: I've read thousands of manga and this is one of the greatest and impactful I've read. This is manga as an art form. The art isn't hyper realistic but it's perfect for the narrative. The narrative isn't complicated but it's simple. There is a saying from jack kerouac along the lines of one day i'll find the right words and they will be simple. They will be beautiful. Children won't appreciate this but as you grow older, this will tug at your heart. This work published for 12 years from 1994 onwards (beofre I was born) will be passed down to my children and their grandchildren. This series reminds me why i still read manga. This is like Daytripper by Ba and Moon. Ok, I'm done now before my punctuation and grammar devolves even further. READ THIS SERIES!

[Mhurffy]

Este es uno de mis mangas favoritos. Es la segunda vez que lo leo y me gusta tanto que no quiero que acabe. Voy disfrutándolo poquito a poco.
Es una historia de que no es para todo el mundo, es muy muy pausada y "no sucede nada". Ahora bien, es terriblemente extrañable y muy nostálgica. Si os gustan los slice of life darle una oportunidad

[Bryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good landing -- the shape of Alpha's future seems more and more clear, but done so slowly and naturally.

[Helena Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok so what if grown up takahiro made me emotional. that's my boy dawg i love him

[Emir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las charlas de Oji san con Alpha son tremendas. Te destroza el alma como van viendo a futuro...

Hatsuseno sabe, sabía o hizo algo que afecta a todo.

[Siobhán]

It’s getting so sad like the end of the manga is coming and so the world’s also preparing to say goodbye. And that’s natural but I want it to last forever too. This manga is so beautiful like that.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

this series is literally boygenius EP but in visual format. it’s just the vibes

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Say hello to my very broken heart, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. It is all your fault! As I said for the last volume, there's a pervasive sense of change in the air, and these chapters address how time is ever going forward. The most emotional thing is that these are our final chapters with oji-san. While the narrative never explicitly addresses his death, he speaks about it with Alpha in this volume, suggesting that she move into his house when he dies and before her house is swallowed by the sea. He also has a last coffee with her and they discuss just how much Alpha has grown. I will admit, I cried. He's been a quiet figure in the books, but such a good parent when we see that side of him. Matsuki also moves away, and Alpha struggles with being alone. Sensei also acknowledges her mortality, seeking to fill her final days with something more than quiet tea. The other Alpha also checks in once again, noting that more and more cities seem to be going dark, but there are still signs of life. Only one more volume left and readers really will be saying goodbye. It was a good choice to start the process early. Spread out the tears.

[MySF Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've written a short review over here.

[S46354595 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last volume, here I come.

http://aminoapps.com/p/vos9fm7