Umibe no Onnanoko
A Girl on the Shore

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I'm not sure what I would have liked with Umibe no Onnanoko, but as of now I can say I'm disappointed. All I can say about the moral code in Umibe no Onnanoko is that I've seen it done, and better. I struggled through all 20 chapters waiting for something to pique my interest, but I was all but disappointed. Keisuke seems to find no value in the feelings of others, and no interest in living, and that's all the development of his character that I can comprehend. He's depressed, and probably depressed to cater to all those other misanthropic teens out there who might ... find enjoyment in this book. Koume seems to be an unfortunate girl with the fault of falling for assholes such as Keisuke, and that's really all I can gather.

The ending was less than disappointing and really didn't hold much weight to it, and neither Keisuke and Koume developed more depth to their character. Maybe I'm missing the whole idea that humans are shallow creatures and do not hold much value, but I look for narrative and am left disappointed when I can't find one. The art is fine, not average but not fantastic either, as I've also seen this style in other manga. There were a few disproportionate neck to head lengths, but I'm really just nitpicking with small details when looking at Asano Inio's drawing skills as a whole.

While this is my personal opinion, I still think that Umibe no Onnanoko is a lacklustre manga without story or character development, and that many people would find it to be rather shallow and boring throughout the 20 or so chapters. Maybe some readers might find enjoyment from the sexual scenes in Umibe no Onnanoko, but I really couldn't have cared less. I've seen the whole misanthropic theme done better in loads of other manga, and think that if a manga is a struggle to get through, it doesn't deserve more than 5 stars out of ten using a numerical rating. While it's not completely terrible, I really don't think it deserved my time.

Teenage romance is very unique and special. Its something that everyone or most people in their life has gone through. Its not perfect, more like it was never meant to be perfect.
Its bleak. It has an edge of its own. And somehow its a kind of romantic feeling we can never forget. Its always there hidden deep in an unconsciousness mind. Having a
personal experience with teenage love I can really relate to this manga. So much that it makes me want to cry my heart out.

Umibe no Onnanoko is about teenage love. And its really very realistic in that topic. Its heart wrenching from ... every aspects. Asano really delivers when it comes to writing heartbreaking stuffs with realism. The artwork is really beautiful. Some panels and even the portrayals of the sex scenes are very well drawn out. And there is always an underlying sadness in the sex scenes.

A lot of people might hate this manga. And I can clearly see why. But to me it was amazing. Short and cold and miserable at times. But still mesmerizing. Mangas like this really makes me sad.
Makes me think about going back to the past and rectify the mistakes I have done. Overall this was quite an enjoyable yet painful read.

Ok. I Loved this manga. It really made me think about myself and the situations that I live daily. I identify with this manga because of the relationships that the characters have to each other (the MC and Koume). I think it's a really realistic story and it made me think about how people treat me and how is it that a lot of people have this situation. I think that toxic relationships are one of the worst things that you can possibly have. I mean I've gone through some relationships that were very toxic and that really marked me.

I don't think this is a ... masterpiece, but it's one of the best manga I've read

To be completely honest I didn't hate this, I wasn't expecting some of the more uncomfortable sex scenes but I don't think that this story deserves some of the complaints that are brought up.

I understand the sex scenes are uncomfortable but I don't think they exists for no reason, this felt more like the author writing about the experience of getting lost within someone else's mental illness, its like an all devouring blackhole.

I do however think this manga is not as good as it otherwise could have been, I found myself waiting for that Inio Asano spark that makes all of his works ... so thought provoking but it just never came, I felt uncomfortable but I don't think for the right reasons overall.

It pains be to give this work a 7 because the art is fantastic, but I just don't think theres much story here, there's more than what some of the reviews give it credit for, but not enough for me to be satisfied.

Its hard capturing how sex and desire conflict with a blossoming maturity both physically and emotionally as a teenager.The two lead characters in A Girl on the Shore are entangled in a sexual relationship that neither can quite make sense of. It is portrayed as a source of comfort and exploration and confusion especially when confronted with each outside the bedroom.
While the sex scene are very -very- explicit, Asano really lets the story develop in a series of artfully crafted moments, gestures, and even facial expressions. Sato's struggle with her modesty, shame and her sexual awakening (instigated by her crush ... on an older boy who assaults her) and Isobe's depression and grief over his brother's suicide unfold in a really authentic way. That is to say one that is not always satisfying but heart-wrenchingly realistic.

tl;dr: A short manga that shows character growth in a broken relationship very well.

This manga is pretty short, being only two volumes, but it uses them incredibly well. The two main characters were really interesting and also felt like they had good chemistry, even though they really shouldn't be that way. Now by that I don't mean the standard story of two archetypes that shouldn't be getting along, though that's also somewhat the case, but rather their personalities just don't seem very compatible and their relationship was incredibly unhealthy. However, despite that, while it is certainly turbulent, there is somewhat of a calm peaceful feeling that ... is conveyed when they're together that just makes them being together feel incredibly right. Isobe undergoes a lot of development over the course of the manga, wherein he starts depressed without any real hopes for life and hatred for everything, but ultimately ends up overcoming all that, and ending on a heroic note. Koume was different, in that her problems seemed to be more related to her being self-centered and not honest with herself, which she does manage to overcome. However, despite all that, their relationship doesn't develop, or rather I suppose showing how and why it couldn't develop was how it developed. It felt fitting, incredibly emotionally impactful, and in context was a necessary end to their character arcs, so I can't say I was dissatisfied with it. However, it still made me really sad, and quite a bit more than I would expect for such a manga with only two volumes. This is mostly directed towards the second to last chapter however, as I felt the last chapter was entirely unnecessary, as it didn't really add anything, and furthermore softened the impact of the previous chapter. The art was pretty good to look at, but more importantly it along with the pacing definitely helped in terms of creating the right atmosphere and tone throughout, wherein I think this manga used what I call empty frames, where there's no dialogue or anything actually happening, really well.

I really thought this mangas art was literally out of this world and the way it portrayed teenage sex, made me feel pretty much uncomfortable if I'm being honest here. I wish the story expanded more by exploring the two main characters, that includes the side character's also. I know the boy is coping with the death of his brother and his folks aren't always at home. The girl in the other hand, she has a big family. Then we see the side characters trying to "out" their relationship and the boy was mostly bullied for it. That was basically it for the 20 ... chapters it seems....

Btw the song mentioned in this Kaze Wo Atsumete by Happy End is such a bop, it's so friggin good!

I only bought Umibe no Onnanoko because of the author, while i didn't expect it to be as good as Goodnight Punpun i did expect some level of similarity between the two.

A Girl on the Shore feels like its replacing deep, thought provoking mature themes with sex. I did come into it expecting at least one sex scene but it was a bit ridiculous at the amount of them. If it focused more on the character's psychological state more i think it would've been more enjoyable. Don't get me wrong, it does show the character's psychological state, just not as much as i would have ... liked. The ending was also weak in my opinion.

The art was amazing, as expected. Had a few full page panels which were really nice.

Overall an enjoyable read that i would recommend. If it had focused more on what the characters are feeling rather than what they are doing, it would've been better.

This manga is not the type of manga
you should read to enjoy.It's nothing
like a rollercoaster,not a rocket
nor a speedboat. It's a slow
and quick ride towards subtlety..
I wouldn't say it's boring either,
because it promises something in each
new chapter. It's like witnessing a story
or a happening
in real life, it's nothing too exciting
... but hey it's 'something'.

The first thing I'd like to point out is
how the characters are built. They're
built upon pessimism,nothing new
and nothing good either. They have their
own
emotions and personalities that don't
shine at all but that's just how the author wants his characters to be. 'Realistic' enough that they become dull,common and predictable.
Next is the
desperation of the author to give the MC a little bit of
substance and sparkle in his role by giving him a depressing background. It feels forced,just like Oyasumi Punpun. It's so transparent it's almost hilarious. Should the sex scenes be mentioned? Should that be pointed out? Is it worth it? Hmm let's see.. The sex scene doesn't add much. It takes a large chunk of space but it's nothing special or intimate at all. It is shown that the girl wanted him badly, she offers herself to him because she 'loves' him,but in the end, she's just another girl who wants self validation. I don't see anything romantic in this manga. For me,it's just
a story. Nothing special,nothing beautiful
but definitely something I would never pick
up again.

If it's an Inio Asano work, I will recommend it.

Umibe no Onnanoko (a girl by the shore), is a story about two misguided children with impending pains from the past, or maybe even the present, that find solace in a non committed "casual-sex" relationship. However, as the two generally grow closer, they also grow distant from one another in unison. They both want something that the other can't give. However, despite this, they continue meeting, finding comfort in their meaningless relationship.

While the story may be a little more grotesque than what you're used to, this story successfully highlights a very prominent issue in ... society, one that we're even seeing a lot more of today: children, adults, people in society in general, are misguided. Finding solace in the most miniscule of things: whether that be sex, social media, drugs, etc. You name it. It's very sad to see, and Inio Asano does a very good job at capturing this feeling.

Whether or not you have a direct interest in this kind of issue, I still highly suggest that you all read this manga. Inio Asano does a very good job at making the reader think, contemplate. You may even spot an issue that you resonate with that gives this series a completely different meaning than what I interpreted.

I totally loved the art in this one!
The story gets confusing at the end, especially because I think it had a far greater potential than what it finished as. However, I guess there doesn't have to be a deep, crystal clear, shocking or satisfying ending for it to be considered good. That is a topic for a debate, definitely.
It is an interesting story about teenage emotions, such as angst, recklessness and loneliness. I have to admit that the content is too graphic and explicit for my taste and it definitely makes it a bit weird.
Also, the conversations didn't seem to flow naturally. ... Nevertheless, I was very invested in the story, even though I feel like any big topic that was touched on in here wasn't fully finished, well rounded. That throws me off a bit.

There's not much to expect from here, which, unfortunately, I did, I expected it to go down in explosion hahah, but it didn't. I guess I just love dramatic endings and the story itself was full of drama thus it had potential for a dramatic ending.

Well I usually don’t write reviews her. But seeing what others have said about this manga, is kinda frustrating. This manga will be a hit or miss for readers. Some say the story is unrealistic, perverted, has bad unlikeable characters. But for some people that maybe knew people, when in middle school, that had very broken lives and/or mindsets, or maybe even had it themselves, will probably relate to this story. For me personally, this hits kinda hard, reminding me of things I have both experienced and witnessed.

SPOILERS
A teenager who’s lost does really questionable and destructive things, just as the characters in this story. ... I mean damn... the main guy had a brother that killed himself because of bullying, while he himself not having any friends, and people are surprised that he has problems connecting with people and expressing love. Obviously, many of the people writing reviews on here have had warm and healthy childhood experiences. Some of us didn’t.

Regarding the really graphic and long sex scenes, I think they are actually quite realistic and appropriate for this kind of a story. Sometimes a bit too long and detailed maybe. But they are clearly not made as something to arouse the reader lol.

The art in the manga is really good too, like everything this artist draws. Beautiful scenery especially.

Overall a good story that definitely isn’t for everyone. But to the ones that have had similar experiences, this will hit home.

The art was great and definitely what drew me in at first, but numerous times during multiple chapters I found myself going 'What the fuck?'

The story... what was the story? Genuinely. Two teens having sex and they're both kinda assholes? I wasn't very surprised by the sex scenes... plural there was a lot and they were just— there. I just wish we got to see and learn more about the characters because I don't think they stuck with me— especially the side characters. I had to go back a couple of times during certain chapters to remember names and even then they're not really ... memorable in my mind. I really thought there was going to be more about the dude's brother, but in the end, was kinda disappointed that there wasn't more.

The ending also wasn't very satisfactory to me, but it was a quick read so I'm not super mad about that. Really wouldn't recommend it unless you have nothing else to read, to be honest.

Just finished re-reading this manga by Inio Asano, an absolute GOAT who made Oyasumi Punpun (Good Night Punpun).

As much as I hated how this manga channels such a depressing vibe, I still couldn't get over the way Asano brings out so much depth and emotion to portray heartbreaking moments with an astoundingly beautiful artwork. Unlike any other Asano's works, this atypical harsh coming-of-age manga may be considered easy to read as it has only 20 chapters and not too much text per page.

Some might find the story a bit too shallow for Asano's work, truth be told, Asano stated that Umibe No Onnanoko was ... actually meant to be less depressing and dark. However, it's still made by Inio Asano and he never fails to depict some heavy, melancholic stuff. So make sure you are in a good state of mind before attempting to read the story (this also applies to all of his works).

As for the title 'A Girl by the Sea' , I believe it has something to do with Asano trying to create a metaphor of emotions through the waves, showing how emotions are like big waves coming to us. Also the way waves crash and return could describe various transformations in a relationship.

To start off, I'll say that this manga is definetely worth your time, no matter your background or life situation.
Having said that, I don't feel that its merit relies on well-built characters, a compelling story, its art (even though the art itself is as per usual with Asano, outstanding) or a nicely put finish. The merit of this piece relies on the fact that it is less of a tale but a collage of human fantasies.
This collection of twisted desire, selfishness, despair and wrath is displayed in an absolutely unrelatable way since it is certainly unbelievable that any teenager no matter how traumatized or ... stranded might display this train of thought. But being observed separately, difficult as it may be to alienate these singular moments from the overarching story, they gain much more weight and suddently one might feel itself in communion with the characters.
Thus Inio Asano presents a set of characters that lack any restraint and thus accomplish all the things we might have felt like doing at some point and didn't, and they do so at an extraordinarily fast pace. This adds the visual impact that a more introspective exploration of these thoughts might've lacked.

Maybe instead of a review, this is more of like an afterthought. First of all, everything gets a 10. The art just fits perfectly with this type of story, something more realistic compared to the normal exaggerated type of style. (Nothing wrong w those styles btw but I feel as if a more realistic style for this matches the type of story more.)

As we grow, we're sure to experience several of these feelings. Relationships with people all happen eventually and what happens, happens. Life just goes on, with the many conflicts we experience and the solutions we come to. I think that's expressed very ... well in this story.

This story covers a girl growing up and her romantic (?) relationships. After a heartbreak, she flocks to this boy who likes her, who she also rejected previously. As things go on, they involve each other more and more into their daily lives, with the boy still in love and the girl only using him for her comfort. And as the girl realizes she has feelings for the boy, the boy tries his best to not focus on her too much. Of course real life isn't as nice or romantic but in a way, I'm sure many people can understand or feel the same. It's one of those that end with a bittersweet ending and that's perfectly fine.

Asano Inio's work has always been - according to what I have read - telling the truth of fantasies that cannot be fulfilled; make us see reality more really as it looks, showing the constant depression of its characters in the struggle to find true happiness. Umibe no Onnanoko, is not an exception, but it is not a marvel, honestly, since it falls back on the repetition of perversion, which is not bad, if a sub-plot that we had not thought about expands through it It was done,but moderately and almost at the end of the story.

Work is not bad, it is only a perception ... of something that is gradually seen in our lives, which we have not dared to accept as "reality." And it is not that he has not enjoyed the erotic scenes, it is that when it becomes repetitive, by simple whim it falls in value.

The art is outstanding.
The whole text below is SPOILER-ish.
I don't like the stuff that didn't happen because the stuff that did did. The point in that for me is that I did grow to care about it. One of the things I was not entirely in sync with was the certain 18+ scene. I love the significance that I had thought it represents though; Him loving her so much that her everything is perfect.
In another life.. I hope I'll get to have someone to have some perfect moments with, such those few for me perfect moments in the story.
I guess the word for this story ... is "realistic".
I was reading it without thinking to myself "Yea, sure.". Isobe's back story and the way he handled his response to the blogger were unquestionably realistic for me.
I would like to see Isobe and Sato see each other once again, by accident, with the whole meeting lasting a moment, making it immediately apparent how even still in that moment of the future they'd jump back in to their old selves and act immaturely without coercing themselves in to doing the "right thing" and prolonging the encounter, their image triggering a relapse of the past for each other.. That's just one way it could happen.. Stories that do this to me, make me think like this, what more can I get, I guess.
Will they ever grow up to look back thinking how what they've had was exotic, perfect, rare, and be put on a smile by the thought, knowing it's already been 10 years since and that the past is dead..
Sato did such a huge thing for Isobe in the end and he'll probably never have gotten to know of it.
During their time, it was just time, as it was coming to an end, the value of it became more palpable by the day.
In the end, you don't know what you have until you've lost it, and with that experience of the past, Sato is at the end seemingly on the beginning of another story. But is it another story, or will it now just be living? That stage of her life was already writen.
Will it bring to saying the words "I love you.", before she actually feels the feeling, will it make everything hard because she'll be awkward with herself not feeling the feelings she thinks that she should feel and if the situation was over would feel? This is getting too subjective of me.
Sato's childhood friend, Kashima.
Perfect implementation.
Exactly as it goes with some "childhood friends", from my experience.
They're not some big existence, they're just people you've known for a long time.
Full on spoiler from now on:
In the end, on the last few pages, you can see how there could've been told a lot more, were Inio to have included how Sato and Kashima had met. That time when Kashima called for Sato to come to him, so his squad of friends could tell him if he's taller than her yet. She unhesitatingly obliged. That surprised me, I literally thought that they were going to bully her. On the last few pages, I was given so much more context. He casually goes about hinting at her that he wants to be with her. And it's not just that, it's that he hinted at her that he STILL wants to be with her. Like with NieR:Automata, it seems to me that a whole segment of plot took place before the narration began. He's obviously been head over heels for her for such a long time, BUT, I think that the unnarrated plot part is that she knows that. He was ever truly only her childhood friend though. The sort you're good with, but the sort that isn't so much an anime childhood friend, but a real life childhood friend.