Hikari to Tomo ni...: Jiheishouji wo Kakaete
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child

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I don't consider this just a manga. No piece of fiction has caused me to think about life as much as this story.

Life's hard as it is. A collective series of choices that inevitably lead to one's death. Friends, family, children, a husband, a mother, the grandma, the grandpa. It's all a random set of circumstances in which we do what we can to be happy, but there's always a wrench thrown at most people. Some don't have the economic standing necessary to sustain a normal life, others have parental problems. Everybody's got their thing, something they've got to deal with in their own ... way. This story is about a family with a son, one born with autism, but it isn't just about the tribulations of that. Life isn't just about one thing, everything stems from the fact that we're alive, and we've got a responsibility.

While we mainly focus on the POV of a mother trying to raise her child, the story involves everybody around each person involved, and their struggles around the titular boy Hikaru. The characters are all rich in stories, in lessons about understanding, patience, love, the lack of love, situations in which we're thankful our main character wasn't born in. Nobody in here's perfect, not even the mother, or the father, or the son. It's a portrait of somebodies life, and it sometimes feels like voyeurism. A masterpiece in portraying a group of people, distant from me, or others. Maybe they remind you of people you know, but you'll feel a connection with their struggle.

The art is rather simple for the kind of story it is. It lacks in detail, but it makes up with the amount of personality on display. It's probably more of a “gets the job done” rather than being an explosion of art. What stands out is the writing.

Not many stories can keep me engaged while showing me normal life. You're always tense while reading, waiting for the good times to last, knowing hurdles are always there. I kept wondering where could it go? What more is there to explore? Only to get a curveball, a piece of dialogue. One of the most impactful moments were definitely when everything was calm, and reflective. “Will I live more than my old man?”, “I just want him to take care of himself before I'm gone”. It makes you feel the reality of being a parent, about how we look at our parents, and their aging selves. We age, everything changes, medicine changes, learning disabilities come to be understood, resources appear, and you yourself become part of the help.

It's the most “life” manga out there. An unfinished masterpiece that's not about a fantastical suffering, or a tale that scales time and space. We get a family, and they don't have it easy. It keeps you engaged, hoping for the best until the ending. It didn't, but of course it wouldn't. Life moves forward, one year at a time.

If I had ANY problems. Themes appear on the nose at the beginning, or characters spell out why something happened. Almost negligible compared to the rest.

9.6/10. You won't regret giving this a chance. Took me a while to finish, but it was worth it.

My favorite Manga series of all time. It is a very realistic and respectful take on what growing up with autism is like, specifically in Japan in the 2000's. Very heartwarming and gorgeously drawn story. This manga helped me develop a deeper understanding of my friends who most of them are on the spectrum (including me, who was not diagnosed until February 2011) and I was crestfallen when I found out about Keiko Tobe's passing. I am still not over her passing. I never will be.

However, my biggest criticism would have to be that it is super DATED. Like statistics and science on kids diagnosed ... with autism is outdated, it is told from the perspective of adults taking care of kids with autism and not from an autistic person's point of view so there are some things that are stereotyping or treating it as an issue than just a trait of someone, etc. Heck, Tobe herself based this story on a friend's kid, not herself or her own direct experience. Even though it's the first (and only that I know of) representation of autism in manga (I've heard something about one of the characters in Belle being autistic, but not 100 percent confirmed), it does a magnificent job of representing autism on different levels and with different people, and other disabilities as well (there's a kid with dyslexia and another kid with autism and ADHD too!). I wish there were other anime that had confirmed autistic representation.

There needs to be an anime of this, based on the WHOLE manga, no arcs skipped, faithful, no corners cut. However it should be modernized so it's relatable to today's audience. The only thing is that Keiko Tobe wouldn't be able to be involved sadly. It would have to be done SUPER well and respectfully.

How not as much people know about this manga is beyond me! I didn't even discover it in a disability setting, just in my local library at the teen room!

Recommended for everyone. If you have a pulse, then what are you waiting for?!? READ THIS MANGA ASAP! Though IDK how easy it is to find online.

As an anime-only watcher—who has recently started following manga lately—I have been capable of utilizing my time searching for something to read. However, whenever we stumble upon a manga that approaches a controversial topic, our interest is piqued. I decided to check if there were other indistinguishable series. There are no results. That would mean autism as a theme, in general, is uncovered by manga of any demographic. This occurrence causes me to beg the question, “Why isn’t there more series that tackle autism?”

Awareness is significant—it implements change to influence ourselves and others around us.

Autism has been beginning to be more prevalent since the aughts, but now, we are ... furnished with present-day information. Which offers more comfort as families face current challenges. Set in the 80s, everywhere to witness, parents of children are flooded with judgment—all of which is appalling. Schools have trouble providing appropriate services to a diverse and increasingly numerous student population diagnosed with ASD. This is where I present you to undoubtedly one of the better-underrated manga, With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child – a glamorous character-driven series that explores the spectrum with organic interactions.

With the Light by force is a rare breed in the manga industry. It solemnly involves a controversial topic and centers not just on the person with autism, but rather depicts the personal difficulties of parenting along with them. With the Light provides an imaginative exploration of how the Japanese perceive and take care of those who are on the autistic spectrum. In America, they have acquired a shrewder insight into ASD and provided aid to them, despite the issues that need to be addressed. The situation in Japan is dire, especially since the Japanese draw from a further traditional background, comprising a collective society and being conservative regarding delicate topics. Japan’s treatment of those with autism is appalling compared to North America, primarily since the general awareness of mental health is low from firm traditional values. To elaborate, start by recognizing the relative performance of such measures in diverse cultures. While the issue seems universal, there are subtle differences in their expressions and personal traits. We possess little knowledge involving families of children with autism from cultural perspectives. It allows the audience to identify the elements influencing parenting stress among parents of autistic children in Japan. That is what rightly makes With the Light remarkable compared to other series.

Love can be different for each person—the way everyone perceives affection depends on how they desire it to be. However, that is only in the process of attaining love if you truly yearn for it.

Denial, anger, depression, and acceptance. With the Light follows the story of Sachiko, a diligent mother who gave birth to her son, Hikaru. She expresses a deep ambition to tend to her beloved child and fantasizes about an ideal family to fulfill her expectations, as there was research regarding raising a baby. However, those expectations did not come to light. Learning what autism is, Sachiko begins to be in disbelief about Hikaru’s disability. Denial. She got detached from most of her dearest ones, such as her fiancé, Misato. A workaholic husband who doesn’t retain a firm grasp of fatherhood. The blame and their vexation proceeds to Hikaru. Anger. Venting in her cognitive dissonance—the sheer complication any mother could have with their child—not expressing their affection. Depression. Fortunately, as Sachiko was sobbing, it seemed Hikaru could finally reciprocate her love and enlighten her with inflorescences. It encapsulated her ambitions, now willing to accept the responsibility to teach herself valuable skills so that someday she may experience the life of an excellent mother. Acceptance.

A few readers will encounter problems with how the emotional buildup paces too fast with the evocative narrative in the beginning. Considering the subject matter, this series walks on a path by focusing on a family that happens to give birth to an autistic son. The notable aspect of the writing in With the Light comes from its concept of ASD and how it is integrated into the narrative. Timing and concentration are taken into consideration to allow these small yet significant and alluring moments to sustain an appropriate buildup to genuinely possess a resonating effect. The reason I mentioned this issue is because there are stories that handle drama as a way to toy with the audience’s emotions. While there are hints of melodrama, it still establishes significant scenes that showcase the development of Hikaru and his family. A crucial issue would furthermore, be that the ending does not include a "proper" conclusion, which makes it vague for the audience to grasp. What do I mean by "proper" conclusion? Unfortunately, the mangaka passed away before she could complete the series.

As time continues, their relationship grows potent; these characters are deeply flawed but made realistic because of that. They were self-centered and condescending. Yet also stressed, broken, and simply yearning for an “ordinary” family. Initially, you may find a dislike for Sachiko and Misato since they were absent-minded with themselves. Ultimately, you will witness them blossom as parents. The side and supporting characters are enthusiastic, maintaining their morale high despite the hardships they face. To illustrate, they also devote time to explore issues within ASD that affect friends and acquaintances known to Hikaru and his family. Which includes abuse, child discipline, etc.

When looking at the supporting cast, it is not merely Hikaru’s family finding themselves in handling these issues. The characters display a broad variety of emotions such as anger, fear, embarrassment, and indifference. All of which are conveyed well to the reader. Everything is directly passed on to the audience candidly and naturally. However, the issue is we merely receive a narrow portion of their lives, which was ordinarily never intended for such a miniature audience. This is vital if we consider the importance of education in its narrative. With the Light already mentions that autism is different for everybody however, they need to emphasize it a bit more. School is imagined as an integral part of the community's culture and one's development. It enhances a pivotal environment in Hikaru’s growth as an adolescent boy. A fostering place of learning, it is there where our mind flourishes intellectually—then later perceives introspection.

The artwork is your retro-shoujo manga, but the drawing still captures the characters’ expressive gestures and movements. Nothing feels underused, but at the same time, nothing happens to be too brash. The visuals match the wholesome vibe, but simultaneously, it is nostalgic. Furthermore, there will not be any extraordinary characteristic details that seize your earnest attention, which is unfortunate considering the personal setting. It is crucial to pay attention to minor details when you try to evince signs of autism to the intended audience.

If you are dissecting this series as an academic resource or gaining a comprehensive grasp of autism, restrict your expectations from being excessively high. Despite the lavish praise I gave, With the Light does not perfectly provide a deep exploration of ASD or portray all of its issues along with it. We will not see different therapy methods, such as Hikaru's thought process, trauma, or coping mechanisms. Proper terminology can be outdated. The audience will gain a more thorough understanding. If you want to inform yourself even further, I suggest researching to obtain extensive knowledge and talking to them about their lives for anecdotes. Why? Attentively, experts in the manga encourage our characters to refer to an autistic child in the same way you would to a foreigner, using simple words and bold gestures. For instance, when foreign characters were introduced, they spoke in broken Japanese, similar to autistic people.

All things considered, you should appreciate this manga as a profound story. It is one of the most underrated manga I wholeheartedly adore for everything the series attempts to bring. From the tact it brought to the topic for the audience, to the relatability for people living with ASD. In conclusion, if you are autistic, chances are you will resonate with this series. The same applies to those who happen to recognize someone on the spectrum as well.

75/100

Rest in Peace, Keiko Tobe. (1957-2010)

Thank you kindly for reading my first review.