Neko no Otera no Chion-san

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I am not the one to usually write reviews but since it's a slice of life manga and such manga's usually passes under people's radar, I thought, I had to write this.

It's a really beautiful stroy without the unnecessary over the top drama. This story will make you fe el warm inside while delivering a bitter sweet taste.

If you are tired of the typical, action, drama, supernatural stuff then, look no further. This is the manga that you need.

Even if you are not tired of above mentioned generes, you should still check this out as it won't disappoint you.

This is a very good romance/SoL that doesn't follow the common trends present in the genre the past few years.

The characters are well written and believable. This includes the male MC, who has a distinct personality and appearance that separates him from the pack of self-inserts and quite-studious types that often appear in these manga. Both main characters have lives and goals that involve more than just their relationship to one another, but the romantic aspect is still the driving force. It's a delicate balance that I think Ojiro mostly gets right.

The story is minimal. It's a true slice of life, in that there ... are very few standout events or dramatic turns. It unfolds at a calm, steady pace, makes for a lovely read before bed.

Ojiro is a rising star in the genre for a reason. She's writing Seinen romance manga that seem to exist in their own, private realm, full of landscape shots and silent interactions. Her art is unique and expressive. Her women are more interesting and attractive than those written by male contemporaries, and her men are too. She hasn't written her masterpiece yet (jury's still out on "Insomnia"), but I'm sure she'll write one.

Point is this:
Read Ojiro Makoto! Read Ojiro Makoto! Read Ojiro Makoto!

While slice of life (SOL) works may seem easy to produce with the simplicity of the narrative, it is the nuances that separate a great work from a mediocre one. Neko no Otera no Chion-san is a shining example of an SOL work that is great. It manages to transcend the simplicity of its story without going into cumbersome exposition on its themes of coming of age and young romance.

The craft here is impeccable. The beautifully clear and simple panelling, exquisite art that manages to reveal not only the vast scope of life but its cherishable, intimate and mundane moments, as well as lovable ... characters who will certainly endear readers with their characterisation that consists of both adorably humorous and sensitively poignant moments done via visual means such as facial expressions and 'staging' with the environment. The narrative is simple - perhaps almost to a fault, but through the sheer craftsmanship of Ojiro Makoto-sensei, Chion-san shines as an outstanding work of art that is not only meaningful in its beauty and subtle portrayal of life and young love, but also for just being a pleasurable read, with plenty of wholesome, likeable moments.

Perhaps my only and greatest criticism of Chion-san is that it is almost too comfortable with where it is. While the narrative, themes and character development are done with masterful nuance, it never rises beyond what it seemingly sets out to do in the beginning to explore ideas about life and all that jazz beyond its characters' limited point of view and perspectives - be it by subtly changing the narrative to tell about life after these characters have reached adulthood or by any other means. Unlike another masterful SOL work, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, where the story eventually twists to follow its logical, but melancholically brutal conclusion, Chion-san is content in being thematically stagnant, unwilling to go beyond what it has intended to do since the beginning.

Still, that does not at all diminish my enjoyment of Chion-san. This was so good that I once fell so hard for its hypnotic spell of simple and mundane pleasures and put it as one of my favourites. I am almost sure that Chion-san would become well regarded as a classic of the SOL genre in the future. (that is if Ojiro-sensei's other work, Insomniacs After School doesn't outdo this - as it appears to be doing)