KY's Reads

Abu-san  Review (Rating: 5/5) Overview Abu-san is a Japanese baseball manga written and illustrated by Shinji Mizushima. It began serialization in 1973 and continued until 2014, making it a work that spans more than forty years. Set in the world of professional baseball, the series is notable for depicting real teams, real players, and actual seasons as they happened, blending fiction with historical reality in a way that is almost unprecedented. An English overview can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu-san Synopsis The story centers on Yasatake Kageura, a professional baseball player for the Nankai Hawks (later the Daiei Hawks and SoftBank Hawks), better known by his nickname, “Abu-san.” He is neither a superstar slugger nor a legendary ace pitcher. Instead, he spends most of his career as a pinch hitter, entrusted with only a few crucial at-bats each game. Rather than building toward a single dramatic climax, Abu-san quietly follows Kageura’s daily li...

Natsuko no Sake  Review ( Rating: 5/5) Overview Natsuko no Sake is a manga by Akira Oze that takes a direct and sincere look at the world of Japanese sake brewing. Set in a small rural sake brewery, the story follows a woman who steps into the brewing world and, through that experience, comes to understand both the tradition and the realities of sake as a cultural and economic practice in Japan. Reference (English): Wikipedia (English) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natsuko_no_Sake The existence of an English reference page also makes this work especially accessible for non-Japanese readers. Synopsis The protagonist, Natsuko , is a woman who had been living and working in Tokyo. After a turning point in her life, she returns to her hometown and becomes involved in her family’s sake brewery. Although she initially has little direct experience with sake brewing, Natsuko joins the brewers at the brewery and gradually learns what it means to make good sake, and what kin...

Doka-gui Daisuki! Mochizuki-san  Review (Rating: 4/5) Overview Doka-gui Daisuki! Mochizuki-san (ドカ食いダイスキ！もちづきさん, Dokagui Daisuki! Mochizuki-san ) is a Japanese gag and gourmet manga created by Kamome Maruyono. The series focuses on an extreme style of eating known as “doka-gui” —the act of consuming an excessively large, high-calorie meal in one sitting—depicted through the daily life of its protagonist. English Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dokagui_Daisuki%21_Mochizuki-san Rather than following a strong overarching plot, the manga observes a repetitive but carefully designed cycle of exhaustion, craving, and indulgence. Synopsis The protagonist, Mikoto Mochizuki , is a young office worker living an otherwise ordinary life. At first glance, she appears calm, polite, and unremarkable. However, when hunger and fatigue reach a certain point, she engages in doka-gui —devouring enormous quantities of rich, unhealthy food. The manga repeatedly depicts her pursuit...

Dr. STONE  Review (Rating: 4.5/5) Overview Dr. STONE is a Japanese manga series written by Riichiro Inagaki and illustrated by Boichi. Originally serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump , the story is set in a world where human civilization has completely collapsed, and follows the attempt to rebuild it using science as the primary tool. English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Stone Synopsis One day, a mysterious phenomenon instantly turns all of humanity into stone. Thousands of years later, a boy named Senku Ishigami awakens in a world where civilization has entirely vanished. Armed with an extraordinary knowledge of science, Senku decides to rebuild human civilization from nothing. Together with a small group of allies, he uses scientific principles to survive and gradually restore the technologies that once defined human society. The story goes beyond simple survival and explores a fundamental question: how did humanity build civilization in the first place?...

She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat  Review (Rating: 3.5/5) Overview “She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat” is a manga series by Sakaomi Yuzaki . It follows the everyday lives of two women: one who finds joy in cooking and another who genuinely loves to eat. Blending food, daily life, and relationship themes, the story offers warm scenes centered around shared meals and emotional connection. The series began in 2021 and is officially available in English. For more details, refer to the English Wikipedia page: 👉 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/She_Loves_to_Cook,_and_She_Loves_to_Eat Story Summary The story centers on Yuki Nomoto , a woman who loves cooking as a source of comfort and stress relief. However, she is a light eater and cannot finish the large portions she enjoys making. One day, after preparing too much food, she invites her neighbor Totoko Kasuga to share a meal. Totoko, who also lives alone, is someone who happily enjoys generous portions. This simple ...

GANTZ Review (Rating: 4/5) Overview GANTZ is a Japanese sci-fi seinen manga written and illustrated by Hiroya Oku, serialized from 2000 to 2013 and collected in 37 volumes. The story begins when two high school students, Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, die in a subway accident—only to find themselves summoned to a mysterious room by a black sphere called GANTZ , which forces the dead to participate in lethal missions against hidden “aliens” living on Earth. More information can be found on the English Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantz Synopsis After dying in a train accident while trying to help a homeless man, Kei and Kato suddenly wake up in a strange Tokyo apartment with several other people who also seem to have died. In the center of the room sits a black sphere—GANTZ—which issues a stark command: participate in missions to hunt down specific aliens within a time limit. Wearing special suits that enhance their physical abilities and carrying advanced wea...

Ushijima the Loan Shark ( Yamikin Ushijima-kun ) Review ( Rating: 4/5) Overview Ushijima the Loan Shark ( Yamikin Ushijima-kun ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Shohei Manabe. It began serialization in Weekly Big Comic Spirits in 2004 and concluded in 2019, spanning 46 volumes. The series offers an unfiltered look into Japan’s underworld—illegal money lending, poverty, addiction, and the darker corners of modern society. English Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ushijima_the_Loan_Shark Plot Summary The story centers on Cowcow Finance, a black-market loan company that lends money at extremely high interest rates—such as “50% interest in 10 days,” a practice known as togo . When borrowers fail to repay, ruthless collection methods follow. One day, Takada, a former nightclub host, is hired by Cowcow Finance and begins working under the cold and calculating company president, Kaoru Ushijima. Through his work, Takada witnesses the harsh reality ...

Midori no Mamorigami  Review (Rating: 4.5 / 5) Overview Midori no Mamorigami (“The Guardian of Green”) is an SF short story by Fujiko F. Fujio , first published in Manga Shonen in 1976. Though technically a short story, its 48 pages give it the density and depth of a compact “medium-length” work. It is widely regarded as one of the standout pieces among the author’s many SF shorts. (English reference example: https://middle-edge.jp/articles/PVwMd ) It is also included in the recent Fujiko F. Fujio SF Short Story Complete Works (Volume 7). ( https://www.shogakukan.co.jp/pr/f_sf/ ) Story Summary The story opens with Midori Fukami , a young girl traveling with her family, surviving a sudden plane crash. When she regains consciousness, she finds herself not in the snowy mountain where the plane went down, but in a massive, unfamiliar forest—thick, silent, and eerily devoid of ordinary life. Her parents are nowhere to be found. Instead, she encounters Gorō Sakaguchi , a yo...

The Promised Neverland — Review (Rating: 4.5/5) Overview The Promised Neverland is a dark fantasy manga written by Kaiu Shirai and illustrated by Posuka Demizu, serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 2016 to 2020. English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Promised_Neverland The story follows a group of children living peacefully in an orphanage, who one day discover the truth about their world and decide to fight for their freedom. With its tightly constructed setting and carefully plotted narrative, the series has gained a strong international following. Synopsis The story begins in Grace Field House, an isolated orphanage where children live under the care of their loving guardian, “Mom” Isabella. Emma, Norman, and Ray—three exceptionally talented children—spend their days studying, taking regular tests, and supporting each other like siblings. One night, however, they witness a shocking event outside the orphanage. From that moment on, their once-peaceful wo...

Koisuru One Piece (“One Piece in Love”) – Review Rating: 5 / 5 Overview Koisuru One Piece (“One Piece in Love”) is an official parody and comedy manga created by Daiki Ihara. It began serialization on Shōnen Jump+ in June 2018. The series went on hiatus in 2021 but officially resumed on April 10, 2025. English Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koisuru_One_Piece The series also released short vertical-format animated clips on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram in April 2025, expanding its reach to new readers. Synopsis Koisuru One Piece follows a group of high school students who happen to share the same names as the iconic characters from One Piece . They form a fan club called the “Pirate Club,” reenacting or parodying famous scenes from the original manga while navigating their humorous high school lives. The story blends typical school-life comedy with carefully crafted parodies inspired by the world of One Piece . It’s light-hearted, accessible, and particula...

Kaiōki (海皇紀; “Tale of the Sea Emperor”) – Rating: 5/5 Kaiōki , created by Masatoshi Kawahara, is a sweeping naval fantasy epic that blends realistic sailing warfare, political drama, and the rise and fall of civilizations. This article is written for new readers—especially those outside Japan—who are interested in discovering the unique appeal of this long-running series. Overview Kaiōki is a fantasy manga set in a world dominated by the sea, where highly realistic sailing battles shape history. English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai%C5%8Dki Synopsis Much of the world has been swallowed by the ocean, and civilization has partially collapsed. The protagonist, Fan Gamma Bizen , possesses extraordinary skill in reading the sea and maneuvering sailing ships. With his tactical brilliance and strong personal ideals, he begins to influence the course of nations and peoples. As various factions compete for power—at sea and on land—Fan travels across the world, gathe...