Natsu no Zenjitsu

Add to My List

Add to Favorites

Alternative Titles

Synonyms: The Day Before Summer

Japanese: 夏の前日

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 5

Chapters: 38

Status: Finished

Published: Nov 7, 2008 to Jun 7, 2014

Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life

Demographic: Seinen

Serialization: good! Afternoon

Authors: Yoshida, Motoi (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.58¹ (scored by 4,263 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #2452²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #1546

Members: 12,960

Favorites: 205

Resources

Wikipedia

7.58

Ranked #2452Popularity #1546Members 12,960

Mangagood! AfternoonYoshida, Motoi (Story & Art)

Add to My List

Volumes: /5

Chapters: /38

Edit
Synopsis

The only thing in Tetsuo's mind is art. The beauty, the nature, and the quality of art. One woman watches him handle his art. Her name is Akira. She watches as he constantly tries to draw day after day, and she oversees the completion of his work at a local art exhibition. Akira apparently has become interested in Tetsuo's love for art and his work. One rainy night, Tetsuo notices that Akira left her umbrella and he decides to deliver it to her. He finds her and gives her the umbrella and doesn't use it as he claims that the umbrella isn't his. As Tetsuo leaves, Akira tells him to wait. He turns around and finds Akira bringing her lips towards his... Love has bloomed in the middle of a rainy night.

(Source: MangaHelpers)

Edit
Background

No background information has been added to this title. Help improve our database by adding background information here.

Edit
Related Manga

Sequel:

Mizu to Gin

More characters
Characters

Aizawa, Akira

Main

Aoki, Tetsuo

Main

Inoue, Eriko

Supporting

Aoki, Takeo

Supporting

Aoki, Father

Supporting

Aoki, Mother

Supporting

Ricchan

Supporting

Mori

Supporting

Kobayakawa, Hanami

Supporting

Hirou, Emi

Supporting

Reviews

Apr 29, 2017

84DaysWithout

Recommended

Natsu no Zenjitsu shows the difficulties of maintaining a relationship that is founded upon raw passion. Sex is usually not enough to keep two people together long term. Chemistry and common interests are. This is what people miss when they criticize the ending for being terrible because so and so event happens that contradicts the reader's desire, not realism.

Tetsuo is a character that many may find difficult to tolerate. He is an insecure curmudgeon that shows little apparent care for anything aside of his fickle career ambitions. but this is true of many isolated young men who are too prideful to share their concerns with others ... and lack the social skills to express themselves fluently. Tetsuo is in the midst of a bizarre period of adult life, not yet mature enough to know what he wants for himself and not yet wise enough to understand what opportunities lie in front of him. He needs a muse and a support system in order to break through his self imposed barriers. He finds that and more in the older vixen Akira.

Akira stops at nothing to support Tetsuo's endeavors as an artist, even at the sacrifice of her own selfhood. She molds her own ambitions around that of a younger man full of the potential that she no longer carries as an older woman. Together they make for a very sexy couple, but perhaps not one that is destined to last forever when their chemistry is only truly evident within the confines of a bedroom. In social spaces, they are very awkward together and struggle to hold a conversation.

Hanami does not fawn over Tetsuo. She does not sacrifice for the sake of Tetsuo. She doesn't have a stable career nor is she even obviously attracted to him. Why is Tetsuo so enamored with her? Why is this a love triangle when one partner is so clearly more invested than another? These are questions that the reader will probably ask themselves to the point of frustration. Being of similar age, not being easily accessible to him (allows him to keep her in the realm of fantasy, which can help with his art), and someone that he genuinely falls for on his own volition are some valid reasons for his attraction.

There is a lot controversy over the ending of this manga. It is basically the only reason the score is a 7.7 rather than in the mid 8 range. I will not reveal what that controversy is for the sake of spoilers, but do know that the conclusion is heavily foreshadowed and does make sense based on the characters personalities and struggles up to that point. Sometimes we as readers are quick to criticize an outcome that is not desired, even if it suits the narrative perfectly.

Appropriate for a manga concerning art, the artwork is some of the best I've ever laid eyes on. Every single detail of a character's mannerisms and expressions are well drawn to the point where words aren't required to understand this story. The visuals trend towards realism more so than cartoonish fantasy, helping to accentuate the intense passion between Akira and Tetsuo during sex scenes. Do make note of the seinen tag - this is an explicit adult romance in every sense of the word. There's lots of banging, appropriately so in order to properly convey the extent of a mature adult romance. Proceed with caution.

This is from the author of Koi Kaze, a slightly problematic story of a twenty seven man who is sexually attracted to his fifteen year old sister. They have sex at one point. There is no controversy in Natsu No Zenjitsu of that magnitude, but there is a lot of tension that permeates between the lead characters as an age gap that causes some internal conflict.

Natsu No Zenjitsu is somewhat of a hidden gem in the manga community that deserves a far bigger audience than it actually has. I'd encourage more people to give this a try and follow the journey of an artist coming to grips with who he is and what he really wants out of life through his romantic relationships.

Open

Gift

Jan 4, 2018

nazxz

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (12/38 eps)

Spoilers for begunning of story present!!!!

I did like it at first because the story was progressing, the characters were likable and the romance was there. I still like Akira's character because she puts up with all of Tetsuo's shit, but she should abandon ship like I did. My reason for dropping it is that it didn't go anywhere from the first chaptets. I can't seem to find the driving force behind this story besides that the main character is whiny and has problems. He seems to be good at drawing, as mentioned by several characters in the story, but he has zero confidence and seemingly ...

Open

Gift

Mar 22, 2018

Stranger_Hanyo

Not Recommended

Spoiler

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

You might be wondering why I gave Natsu no Zenjitsu a 2. It is because I loved it, binged the whole thing in an hour only to read the last chapter and flipping off my laptop in anger. Yes, the ending totally kills it.

I don't know if you guys like tragic stuff and what not, but I hate them. Our brilliant stupid MC Tetsuo is a genius artist. He is shy of girls, until he meets Akira. Akira is the beautiful, slightly older and caring woman, and they fall in love. But do they really?

Akira loves her, but Tetsuo is kind of ...

Open

Gift

More stacks

Interest Stacks

Adulthood

by boredzura

7 Entries · 3 Restacks

The Berton Short Manga Challenge - Set 7

by gambitmay

48 Entries · 17 Restacks

Established Couples

by ixaa

42 Entries · 192 Restacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

View All

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

Poll: Natsu no Zenjitsu Chapter 35 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - May 4, 2015	53 replies	by _cat_fanny_ »» Jan 20, 8:04 PM
Natsu no Zenjitsu Chapter 35.1 / 35.2 Discussion Moecalypse - Sep 22, 2017	1 replies	by SabreDrago »» Dec 16, 2022 3:35 PM
Poll: Natsu no Zenjitsu Chapter 25 Discussion SabreDrago - Dec 16, 2022	0 replies	by SabreDrago »» Dec 16, 2022 2:09 PM
Poll: Natsu no Zenjitsu Chapter 26 Discussion Faust721 - Apr 30, 2014	13 replies	by Confucius »» Apr 22, 2019 1:35 AM
which one should I read first? Andrez-ssi - Jul 15, 2016	0 replies	by Andrez-ssi »» Jul 15, 2016 1:43 AM

Natsu no Zenjitsu
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Edit
Related Manga

More characters
Characters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Natsu no Zenjitsu Edit What would you like to edit? SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links

Alternative Titles

Information

Statistics

Resources

EditSynopsis

EditBackground

Visit MALxJapan MALxJapan -More than just anime-

EditRelated Manga

More charactersCharacters

Reviews

Interest Stacks

More recommendations Recommendations

More newsRecent News

More discussionsRecent Forum Discussion

MoreTop Anime

MoreTop Airing Anime

MoreMost Popular Characters

Natsu no Zenjitsu
Edit

What would you like to edit?

Edit
Synopsis

Edit
Background

Visit MALxJapan
MALxJapan -More than just anime-

Edit
Related Manga

More characters
Characters

More recommendations
Recommendations

More news
Recent News

More discussions
Recent Forum Discussion