Shimeji Simulation is not a manga.
It's not a piece of media to be looked at through the lens of what we deem "good" or "bad," "simple" or "complex." It's not another thing to read and review as an eight out of ten for being "pretty good." Shimeji Simulation is an experience. Not in the way a modern Disney amusement park ride is an "experience," but in a way where the true beauty of the series lies not in the fun ideas and surface dialogue presented, but rather in the raw feelings one experiences while reading it.
Because yes, there are layers and layers of subtext, metaphors,
...
and more phenomenally used rhetoric by Tsukumizu. It bends the medium of manga to tell a story that would be difficult in any other style of storytelling. I could spend hours droning on about the immense philosophical core behind every single line of dialogue, every panel, and every weird twist. But I won't. Because Shimeji Simulation captures more than the mind and heart- it captures the soul.
When I say the series is "not a manga," I don't mean that in a sense of what it does for the medium- although it does quite a bit- I mean that it shouldn't be digested in a "this is a series i will get through and think about a bit, then move on." It's not some consumeristic slop that gets the job done. But it also shouldn't be viewed as some high and mighty pretentious work of art. It's just Shimeji Simulation. It's just a story about two girls getting to know each other. ...Right?
Well, no, it's so much more than that. It's a journey, one filled with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. The predictable unpredictability of the world of Shimeji Simulation can't be found anywhere else. The calm, yet unsettling tone of the series dives further and further into insanity until it reaches a breaking point and everything changes. Yet, at the core of this aberrational mindfuck of a story are two seemingly normal people who can't seem to find themselves, whether it be their position in their relationship or their own humanities and identities.
Who would I recommend this series to? Anyone who feels unsure of their place in this world, anyone who feels either underwhelmed or overwhelmed by their life, whether it be a monotonous, boring slog, or a frightening, fast-moving mess. I think anyone can get something out of this series, with that differing depending on the reader's headspace and place in life at the moment. And by "getting something out of it," I don't necessarily mean plain enjoyment. Let the series fill you with emotion, let its palpability linger in your soul as you attempt to make sense of it all. Dig that hole a bit deeper, really ask yourself what you feel when reading, and allow Shimeji Simulation to make its voice heard. It has a lot to say, but you have to be willing to listen.
"Emotional." This is an adjective thrown around, rightfully so, to many series that draw tears. But there are so many more emotions than sadness. There's confusion, curiosity, enlightenment, playfulness, and so much more. Shimeji Simulation plays with ALL of these emotions, rather than just pulling on the heartstrings. It's "emotional" in every sense of the word. It evokes so many powerful feelings and says so much about them in the brief moments that this manga has.
When I read other reviews and look at discussion for this series, I see almost no any commonality between anyone's takeaways from it. Does that mean the series was incapable of portraying a concrete theme? No. Because unlike a series that has vague, interpretive themes, where its subject matter can often be vague and go over audience members' heads, Shimeji Simulation has been able to convey its themes to people in a way that has left everyone with genuine, concrete thoughts about it. I've yet to see someone who finishes the series and goes "What just happened? I'm so lost!" It's not indistinct or shallow, it's unique for each person who reads it. Its voice may be different for everyone, but it still always has something to say. The different, complex emotions it evokes in every reader is precisely what it was going for. It's not about Majime and Shijima. It's about you. It's about everyone. What did you get from the series, if anything? Why is that your takeaway? These are the questioned posed by this work, among others.
This review is not about what I got from the series. This isn't a conclusion I arrived at when reading, or when thinking about its themes. My takeaway from Shimeji Simulation is very personal, about establishing a unique identity for yourself and becoming capable of individual fulfilment, but not without the support of others. There's more, but those are the real, raw emotional themes I got from it. So then why wasn't my review about those feelings? Simply put, those feelings are my own unique identity. It's my Shimeji Simulation. With this review, I wanted to ask: What's yours?
Alternative TitlesJapanese: シメジ シミュレーション InformationType: Manga
Volumes: 5
Chapters: 49
Status: Finished
Published: Jan 26, 2019 to Nov 27, 2023
Genre:
Slice of Life
Theme:
School
Serialization:
Comic Cune Authors:
Tsukumizu (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #1892 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #911
Members: 21,154
Favorites: 1,149 Resources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 11 / 13
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Your Feelings Categories Jan 2, 2024
Shimeji Simulation is not a manga.
It's not a piece of media to be looked at through the lens of what we deem "good" or "bad," "simple" or "complex." It's not another thing to read and review as an eight out of ten for being "pretty good." Shimeji Simulation is an experience. Not in the way a modern Disney amusement park ride is an "experience," but in a way where the true beauty of the series lies not in the fun ideas and surface dialogue presented, but rather in the raw feelings one experiences while reading it. Because yes, there are layers and layers of subtext, metaphors, ... Apr 29, 2020
I want to write a review for this that doesn't mention Girls' Last Tour, but I really can't figure out how, so bear with me.
Shimeji Simulation is the second major manga from Tsukumizu, the first being the aforementioned Girls' Last Tour. If you've read GLT or follow Tsukumizu on Twitter, you're probably familiar with their signature "touch of darkness;" everything they do seems to have a hint of sadness tucked away inside. This was really easy to see in GLT. While much of the manga was comedic or relaxing, it was undeniably a post-apocalyptic manga filled with moments of sadness and melancholy. Because of that, what ... Nov 1, 2021
Shimeji Simulation has been mangaka, Tsukumizu's latest project since the completion of Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryoukou. Like SSR, it focuses on two ordinary (enough) girls in extraordinary circumstances, and like its predecessor, it is a Slice of Life+ story i.e. SoL framed by larger-than-life occurrences in the world.
Where SSR places our protagonists in a post-apocalyptic megacity, not unlike Blame! that has already seen its fair share of apocalypses, Shimeji Simulation introduces us to the normal, unremarkable town of West Yomogi. Of course things couldn't be farther from normal: the town's geography may change overnight, the laws of physics break every now and then, and of course ... Nov 29, 2023
Shimeji simulation is my favourite work of fiction of all time. It's the first manga i've ever really followed live, reading the new chapters the day it came out, and just recently, it ended.
I don't believe objective criticism of any film or anime is possible, and shimeji is the maximum example of this in my humble opinion, as it goes contrary to most of the typical structure and rules other works seem to follow, so I will only be talking about how shimeji made me feel. Shimeji is a philosophical slice of life by the creator of Girls last Tour. In many ways, it's very similar ... May 2, 2020
Melancholic moe comedy with surreal decaying brutalist feel.
In its core it's a standard laid-back 4-pannel gag series and a nice one at that. Most jokes aren't great, some are very miss, others fairly too absurd for some people's liking, but it's all about the atmosphere and that it has in spades. It acts like any other cute girls in high school manga, but adds contemplative tone and fittingly under-explained semi-surreal setting. The world is eerily empty and seemingly vast and complex. Strange anomalies get hand-waved and nobody seems to know or care about what's going on, the manga included. All the while it adds more comically ... Feb 9, 2024
humans have this strange idea that all movement in one's life can be spurred by a single epiphany. that one singular experience can change someone's entire outlook on life. it misconstrues, stretches, and distorts the value of true growth. growing as a person is earned through a variety of experiences, both good and bad. it's easy to twiddle your thumbs and wait for someone to come save you. it's hard to change your shape.
shimeji simulation pushes the very boundary of what's possible with a 4-koma structure. it's confusing, adorable, heartwrenching, and miserable and will leave you stunned by the end.. all while asking a simple ... Nov 29, 2023
I'm sure everyone reading this has already seen several reviews for Shimeji Simulation before, so I'm going to try and briefly approach it from the perspective of someone who feels like they're not the target demographic.
At its core, I believe this manga is about learning to be a normal person and integrating into society whilst also coming to terms with the parts of it that you don't understand nor respect. Right from the start it is clear that protagonist Shijima prefers the path of least resistance, she is like water. Underneath that exterior is someone who /wants/ to be invested in life the ... Jul 8, 2024
There isn’t another manga or experience out there quite like Shimeji Simulation. No matter who you are or what your interests are I think there is something here for you. Even if somehow upon finishing Shimeji find yourself dissatisfied or disappointed I don't think you will forget the experience that this manga is.
Shimeji Simulation is my favorite manga of all time and I didn't even realize how much it affected me until I took the time to think about it. I used to think when it came to media that unless it fit my extremely specific criteria or niche I wouldn't look into it. However ... Sep 5, 2020
A manga that I've been looking for ever since I finished reading Shoujo Shuumatsu. Simple, moe, kinda deep, and pretty funny for me.
When I saw the manga at first I thought it might be a backstory for Shoujo Shuumatsu but no, it seems like a sidestory or a new series. IDK Seeing weird things on their heads made it funny for me and it's a unique art design, I really like it. It's my first time reviewing an anime or manga, but this manga series by Tsukumizu is simple and comforting. I've been reading Shoujo Shuumatsu multiple times and I saw this new series last ... Nov 27, 2023
*Spoiler-free section.*
Are you real? Am I real? Does what we perceive as real actually exist? Does our observation of an object and/or event change its result? I think the answers to all the above are, probably. I don’t know I don’t have a degree in philosophy. Shimeji Simulation seems to have one, however, and the answers it gave me to all of the above were, probably. Great. Thanks. Okay in all seriousness, Shimeji Simulation does ask these questions while not directly about me or you, but about its cast of characters. Mostly the two main characters Shimiji and Majime. These two come up with their ... Jan 21, 2021
~Review~
For me, I love this series. It really has this feeling of surrealism that you won't see often in other forms of manga. It's a tad bit hard to describe. Sorrow, but optimism? Melancholy, but contentedness? Whatever the case, it's fairly similar to Tsukumizu's other famous work, Girl's Last Tour. The art is nothing to scoff at. In fact, the artstyle's suprisingly detailed, when it comes to different machines and buildings. When combined with cute character designs, and a black-and-white template, it really adds in the feeling of grief, or whatever you may call it. All characters are pretty weird, in a good way (more or less). ... |