This work is Matsumoto's sandbox and it's up to you whether you want to play in it or not. His style is completely devoid of mainstream boundaries; linear narration is substituted for juxtaposition of almost non-cohesive panels. The effect of such an approach is that instead of a passive observer, you feel as if you're inside of character's heads.
There are no moral of the story moments, it's more like sheer realism; you could even call it conveyance of youthful boredom. As such it obviously doesn't pertain to the excitement, but the mood is set in a masterful way to keep you interested. Positive points
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 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: Matsumoto Taiyo Tanpenshuu, Matsumoto Taiyo's Short Stories Japanese: 青い春 More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 1
Chapters: 7
Status: Finished
Published: 1993
Genre:
Drama
Demographic:
Seinen
Serialization:
None Authors:
Matsumoto, Taiyou (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #148752 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #4080
Members: 5,048
Favorites: 54 Resources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 5 / 5
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Sep 29, 2008
It's strange that no one has even bothered to write a review about this awesome manga. But then again I guess it's not much of a surprise given how it isn't very well promoted. However, this manga is one of the buried treasures of the manga world.
STORY: Alright, this story is actually a compilation of several stories all done by Taiyo Matsumoto, best known for his work Black and White, about a group of students during a Blue Spring, or a dull depressing spring in which nothing happens. These kids are on the fringes of society ranging mainly from punks ... 
Nov 27, 2016
Blue Spring is a collection of short stories centered around the theme of questioning one's future. The characters are all high school delinquents, and the answer to their question lies in crime, dissatisfaction, or death.
As one might expect from Taiyo Matsumoto, the presentation is unconventional both in visuals and style. Matsumoto's drawing style is aesthetically pleasing and captures the gritty reality he is examining. The stories are understandable enough, but I feel a lot of it is lost on me due to a lack of cultural knowledge. I think after some research and time, a reread would allow me to give a better analysis. 
Jan 9, 2019
This is my first Matsumoto manga, and it won't be my last. Taiyo Matsumoto really knows how to elicit a very specific feeling and tone.
These short stories aren't great stories in themselves; they don't have any plot or character development. They are tone pieces through and through. The art isn't all that great either, but it oozes with charm and really captures that punk rock vibe that's present throughout the book. I loved how there were tons of graffiti, to the point that the bottom of the page was chock-full of annotations from the translator. Loved all the music references too (Jimi Hendrix, The ... 
Dec 20, 2021
[ versión en español más abajo]
english: "Blue Spring" (Aoi Haru) is an anthology of seven rebellious, badass and crazy stories. These stories are a reflection of a turbulent, harsh, carefree and, above all, lost adolescence. Starring heroes who, as Matsumoto himself points out, respond to reason with fists and never question their raised passions. The particular drawing style of the mangaka carries the feelings of these characters: even without aiming for their lives, they are faithfully honest to themselves. His irregular and messy line and the angles with which he draws the characters, reflects this unstable reality that is their adolescence, which according to the author, ... |
