Tokyo These Days

*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

Shiozawa is reaching out to other creators still trying to make his dream of the ultimate manga come to life; this time to Iwata who has refused to draw again and to Nekoyama who is in a nursing home.

While Shiozawa’s goal of gathering all these veteran artists to create a great work is admirable, the tone overall still feels maudlin and a bit of hopelessness. This is an uphill battle so, even when characters say they’re excited or thrilled to be doing this, it still feels heavy. This takes the romanticism out of creating art and shows how the act of creating is work, it can feel like ripping your soul out; especially when you’ve hit a block. I hope all of this turns out to end in something beautiful. 4 out of 5.

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

After 30 years as a manga editor, Kazuo Shiozawa quits and hopes to relax in retirement. As he goes about his days still in contact with his colleagues, he goes from wanting to distance himself from his former profession to having the desire to create something new.

There’s something earnest yet sad about this manga. It’s clear Shiozawa has a love for creating manga and reading it but is feeling burnt out. It’s a strange mix of exhaustion and passion for their art that fills the characters. It’s a chill sort of read, not a lot of huge drama but it’s somber and pleasant to read. 4 out of 5.

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