Kaze no Sylphid

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In compiling my long reading list, I've often alternated between modern and vintage titles. I've had some very good surprises and some big disappointments in both areas. In the case of Kaze no Sylphid, I was hoping for a pleasant surprise. It's a little-known title, even for people with a substantial background in manga. Through this little review, I'd like you to understand that giving this title a chance means making the right choice to discover something I find satisfying.

Kaze no Sylphid is a manga written in the early 90s. As you can see from the cover, it's a manga about horse racing. This ... discipline is extremely popular in Japan, and unfortunately for us Westerners, these titles are not very accessible, mainly because they are rarely translated by publishers or scantrad teams. In my opinion, the first reason to discover this title would be to discover this world. Whether it's the sporting aspect or the external stakes, I found that the manga dealt well with all aspects of the sport. The care of the animals, the iron discipline of the jockeys and even the strategic aspect of the races: the author has done her best to describe all the preparatory processes that are so important in the world of top-level sport. From this viewpoint, Kaze no Sylphid is a remarkable manga.

Another reason why I think it's worth discovering this manga is because it's a wonderful human adventure. I'm not going to lie to you: some volumes tore my heart out, particularly the first. Manga from the 80s wasn't usually gentle in its treatment of characters. As a reader, we are quickly confronted with the reality of events for the protagonists. Kaze no Sylphid is no exception to this rule. We experience things fully and uncompromisingly. The author doesn't hesitate to shake us to our core, whether it's in the difficult sequences or the characters' moment of glory. Personally, I hate being taken for a fool when I read something. With this manga, I really feel like I'm reading something serious and full of strong convictions.

Finally, if I had one last thing to say about this work, it's that I found the spirit of the sports manga I enjoy. Better still, I can say that this manga is truly epic. As I said earlier, it's hard for Westerners to appreciate just how popular horse racing is in Japan. So it's hard to realise just how much it can be brought to life by passionate mangaka. There's only one thing I can say for Kaze no Sylphid: you won't be disappointed. The races and strategies are really good for a manga from the 90s. The suspense is at its height, and the outcome of these races is always undecided, even though this is a sports shonen and it's easy to predict. The characterisation of the characters makes it easy to get caught up in the game. They always give it their all, as if their lives depended on it. This is quite typical of 90s manga, and in Kaze no Sylphid it's done quite well.

I think I've covered everything that makes me want to talk about this title. Of course I've been full of praise, but it's not all perfect. The storytelling pace isn't for everyone, and some passages could have done with a bit more development in my opinion. The dated drawing style of the period and the subject of the manga will close the door on many readers. If you want to read a modern, more accessible manga about horse racing, Uma Musume Cinderella Gray is the best way in. However, if you give this old-school title a chance, I can assure you that you won't regret it. You're sure to have a great time.