Kabu no Isaki

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This is a story that hit all the right notes for me..!

The world is one that operates in a similar fashion to that of YKK (without the apocalypse, though), and provides the characters with a huge amount of freedom.

As expected of Ashinano, the story is quite relaxing, but spices it all up by being far more focused on wanderlust than YKK was. This world has just as many tantalizing unsolved mysteries as the one Alpha lives in; that's an aspect of storytelling I've seen in precious few stories (Blame, Dark Souls, YKK, and Name of the Wind), and it's something I think adds an ... enormou sense of Life to any given artistic work.

Including ambiguous details allows the world to exist beyond the bounds of its narrative, and keep the mind forever wondering what else exists. I think this really touches at a part of the human mind that is not usually accessible to the average person. The world has become small, but in stories like these we can feel what it must have felt like to be at the edge of the known world.

Ashinano panels this story in such a way as to convey the vastness of a world ten times larger than our own, and to allow us to feel the slow and steady flight of the Cub plane.

An interesting note, this story was the first I've ever read that genuinely brought tears to my eyes from a page transition. The moment Isaki sees the vision atop Mount Fuji is one I'll never forget. I was blown away by the buildup and payoff Ashinano provided with this adventure.

For anyone enamored with stories about exploration and pushing one's boundaries, this is an absolute must read.

I've came to this manga years ago and just periodically read few chapters.

Compared to Hitoshi Ashinano's probably most known series, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikko, this tittle is much simpler and have very little world building or characters.

Story follows young adult, Isaki who is capable of flying airplane without proper license.
Piper PA-18 Super Cub, or just "Cub", is owned by middle aged woman Shiro and hers much younger sister, Kajika, often tags along, as she's too small and weak to pilot Cub on her own.

Shiro and Isaki have an agreement that instead of paying any money, he'll do some flying chores and deliveries for plane owner.

Later ... on, another young pilot is introduced: Sayori. She's a hot headed and energetic, as much as Ashino could make such, character.
She pays great respect for Shiro, who apparently is well regarded pilot and character, in the region despite hers laid back, borderline lazy, drunk-aunt attitude.

Problem I have with this story is that even for Ashino, it is barely holding itself. Art is reserved and character design is simplistic. Stylized anatomy is too close to parody with elongated and stretched figures, and very deformed heads and faces - as if the author didn't feel like drawing.

All six volumes were published in the span of six years, and for me, it does feel like story should have had stayed a one shot as it originally was, because how aimless it feels most of the times.

What initially been reserved, stylized or a just choice in most places, later felt like tired or messy obligation to finish the chapter, and eventually entire comic series.

Worst offender though, must be the finale and resolution.
It tried to answer some question, none wanted to get answered. It tried to bond everything together, but ended being cheap or superficial at best. If it wasn't so much out of the blue than perhaps it might be working, but it ended being kind like those exposition-dumps, bringing whole experience to low, disappointing feeling of being cheated.

It is a nice read, specifically if you know Hitoshi Ashino and his other works, or just enjoy laid back and calmer slice of life, but still is just lacking any proper value.

It really should've had been one-shot, and one-shot only.