Chikan Otoko

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So I know what you're thinking... A 10? Really?

Yes, really and with good reason.

Today if you ask a lot of manga readers what makes all these romance or slice of life manga that take a typical school or 'normal' life setting so infinitely great an answer tends to be "It's not boring like real-life." or "It's so exciting/thrilling compared to how it would happen in reality." Anyone who thinks this way now I'd like you to take a seat and read this manga. Chikan Otoko(Molester Man) is a 21 chapter manga with comedy, romance, drama and so-on. What makes this manga particularly different from ... others? It is actually a real-life story that was posted on 2chan that follows the events of a college student and the ordeals he goes through going from essentially an awkward anti-social shut-in to a really dynamic evolving character that you can't help but love in the end.


Story 10/10:

Let the criticism come forth, but this is the score I stand upon. The story follows a MC named Molester Man who has a part time job and goes to school, but besides that is really just a shut-in that stays on his computer all day long, plays games, watches anime and reads manga. One day on his way home from class he somehow ends up being mistaken as a stalker and is arrested by authorities. Thus begins the story of Molester Man and the ordeals he goes through while trying to find love in the end. The story is something that cannot really be mocked. Most manga tend to be fiction so it's easy to critic the faults in a story that is really just thought up; however, Molester Man stands in its own league that cannot be easily changed as it isn't fiction at all, but something that took place in the real world. The story itself is already great as it is, but just knowing that is is based on a real story just adds that much more to it.


Art 7/10:

The art isn't all that impressive, but it does have its plus sides with the added over the top silly facial expressions for comedic scenes. Overall it's not fantastic, but it's not bad. It gets the emotion across on the characters very well which is good enough.

Character 10/10:

The characters are what really make this manga what it is. Every character we meet have an important role in the story. Especially the MC who literally goes from the most nerdiest, anti-social shut-in to a guy that just becomes a completely different person(Avoiding spoilers.) They all develop very well and not one character is just some shallow supporting character that has no influence whatsoever in the story. We see the interactions between the characters and the MC as well as the interactions between one another that just really make each character shine. Characters crying for joy, loneliness, feeling betrayed, anger, confusion and so-on you'll literally see every character go through so much and so much more. All the characters have very vibrant and fantastic personalities and it's just really hard not to like any of the characters you'll meet throughout the manga.

Enjoyment 10/10:

From cheering, laughing and almost shedding a tear, this manga made me feel it all. The pacing is almost perfect and it doesn't drag on forever(Being only 21 chapter) having the perfect length for the story keeping me interesting from the moment I picked this up to the very last chapter. I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the year by reading such a fantastic manga.

Overall 10/10:

Yup, a 10/10. The story and characters all feeling so real(because they are) I just couldn't help but enjoy every last bit of this manga. Every chapter kept me excited to see what happens next and it made me really feel for all of the characters. I could have never imagined a story that came out of 2chan could be so great. This is a definite read, so I suggest you hop on it right away!

There is a common problem with character-driven stories that is often overlooked. They're supposed to engage the characters in various trials and tribulations, and by way of these occurrences, shape them into stronger individuals. It sounds simple, yet so many works fail to create memorable characters, instead relying on banal and insipid cliches to make the work seem more than it is.

Chikan Otoko is the antithesis to this trend.

It relies on the most frivolous acts and interactions between characters to naturally explicate the beauties of everyday life and characters. Moreover, Chikan Otoko never tries to be more than it is; and through its sincerity, it ... is laudable. Laudable for its shameless use of memes and potty humor. Laudable for it weaving together a narrative that is so ludicrous in concept. And laudable for its ability to blend heavier elements like loneliness and depression together with comedy and mundane follies, yet in a manner so lighthearted as if to remind us to laugh at our own miseries.

Be honest. Be yourself. A hackneyed phrase it may be, but simply put, you won't be able to get through life by being anyone else. This is a creed that our protagonist, Molester Man, follows closely. He's never been a hot-shot with girls. Since elementary school, he's engrossed himself in what one would consider typical "otaku" activities. However, his life takes a one-eighty when, during his college years, he coincidentally bumps into a beautiful female of the human species and, well, ends up trying to protect her, thinking that there's a stalker chasing them.

And so originates the name: Molester Man is, in reality, mistaken by Miss Understanding (the beautiful female of the human species) to be a stalker, and there was no one following them to begin with. Long story short, he gets accused of sexual harassment. Sounds ludicrous? Sounds insipid? Good, that's just what they want you to think.

The beginning chapters are arguably the weakest part of the entire story. Molester Man looks as if he's another two-dimensional geek who spends too much time browsing 2chan. Miss Understanding is yet another immaculate angel who has transcended the holy earth to become a cutesy reincarnation of Venus. Although initially unimpressive, these personalities and tropes quickly become entertaining quirks that will grow on the reader. Once the pacing picks up, the story also builds upon these quirks, making them a cherished and integral part of the manga.

A virgin he is, but an absentminded and oblivious individual he is not. Unlike innumerable other got-it-from-the-recycling-bin harem leads, Molester Man bares honesty. He is perceptive of his actions and, as such, reflects upon their consequences; he has the upbringing of a chivalrous man gone insane. At first, Molester Man feels apathetic towards (3-D) women, but by the end, he understands the importance of human relationships. He slowly reaches the epiphany, begins to feel original, vivid emotions, and most importantly, accepts his own flaws to reach a new perception of his world. His development feels so tangible that it's almost as if the author intended to involve the reader directly. It is not a call to action, but more so an emphasis on Molester Man's inner thoughts and emotions through the entire process. He grows, he trips, he falls over, and we experience this vicariously as we see him stand up. That's life.

Accompanying Molester Man's main development are numerous side characters that contribute to the story. Eventually, as Molester Man attempts to clear his allegation of being a stalker, he reconciles his relationship with Miss Understanding, becomes friends with her, and is introduced to her circle of friends. Contrary to the depictions of trite and (literally) flat characters, these newly introduced female leads all carry realistic personalities, more so than your generic blow-up dolls. And more than being believable, they are invaluable to Molester Man's development. Although not completely free of cliches and conventional tropes, most side characters are given a substantial role within the story that literally churn the gears of the plot. They influence Molester Man to feel feel-good feelings and become a feeler of all feelings that can be felt. Molester Man truly begins to taste the feeling and feel for the sentimentalities of manhood as he cops a feel from other characters. He feels more than just feelings; he is the feeling.

The simple-looking artwork, familiar setting, and its basic paneling are all largely why Chikan Otoko's comedy works so well within the context of its mundanity: unobtrusive speech bubbles, average-looking phone texts, and standard 2chan messages; plain, white backgrounds and plain, modest looking human figures. The art does not aim to impress, but rather, aims to complement the down-to-earth tone of its character interactions and conversations. It not only enhances the naturalism of the manga, but also enriches the dynamic and cleverness of the dialogue. The comedic antics are all so diverse and unpredictable that the reader will never know what bizarre nonsensicality is coming next.

And the comedy is just that: simple, direct, and clever on the one hand; at times shrewd, dark, ironic, and immature; or in many cases, it's just downright base and coarse internet humor. These may sound inappropriate in text, but Chikan Otoko manages to make it work. Some of the most memorable scenes from the manga stem from its brilliant humor, which range from exaggerated expressions to allusions made to Kuso Miso Technique. One might laugh so hard that they would actually spit orange juice through their nostrils while reading it. Not that I'm suggesting that I did such a thing... But in any case. Bravo, bravo.

Between its zany humor and breathtaking drama, Chikan Otoko is a manga that aspires to be something simple and ultimately shines in its simplicity. It's hilarious, silly, random, and presents to us a mundane story with phenomenal characters. Chikan Otoko is more than an example of a character-driven story done correctly, it is a story that will make one feel. Feel the feels. Live the feels. And become the feels. Feels the become.

The plot is somewhat basic, but it's also unpredictable. There is a highly realistic element to it, accented by the simplicity, which adds to it's emotional impact. Even though Yokota Takuma did not actually invent the story, he does deserve some credit for its pacing and exceptional balance between comedy and drama.


Some might criticize the sketchy art style, but I thought it complimented the minimalist nature of the plot exceedingly well. It got the point across, while managing to make the characters unique and expressive. There was never a part when I was blown away by the art, but never a part when I thought ... it was a problem either. It definitely feels sufficient for the story being told.


All of the main characters are unique, realistic, entertaining, and play off each other surprisingly well, given their differences. The character development is one of the best things about this manga; the main character starts off as an anti-social loner and slowly progresses as a person. He realizes that many of his initial assumptions about the girls are not true and watching his opinions of them change comprises a large aspect of the development. None of the characters are archetypes or cliches, and they all manage to hold my interest and sympathy.


It started off sort of slow, but about a fourth of the way through it gripped me and I couldn't put it down. It's funnier than most comedies and simultaneous sadder than most tragedies. It is very down-to-earth and it never becomes self-indulgent or overblown. This, combined with an unexpected amount of unpredictability, gives the manga an exceptional enjoyment score. This manga is highly recommended, seeing as it has wide appeal, and is a decent 8. It is much more of a conventional romance than Onani Master Kurosawa, this artist's previous and more renowned work, but it should not be overlooked either.

Ok so I've never written a review before, but I thought this manga deserved one sooo here I go:

Story (9.5 round it up idk) - The story is freakin hilarious ok. The manga has this slice-of-life feel, but it does have some sort of plot where Molester fumbles through his relationships with this group of girls after he gets mistaken for a molester by one of them (Miss Understanding). It's very realistic and down to earth, like I can really relate to Molester and all his awkward, otaku, nerdyness. At the same time though the story still keeps this manga like feeling that is ... really enjoyable. The only drawbacks I would say are: the whole 2ch lingo that I don't really understand, and I think the translators should have explained more (or maybe they did and I'm dumb), and maybe the pacing, sometimes it feels a little weird to me like in some places, like it should be faster in some or slower in others (that might just be me being overly anal though).

Art (9) - Some might say it's a drawback, but I quite like the art, it's sketchy, comical and it's clear to understand so I don't see any problem. It's also done by the same person who did Onani Master Kurosawa (check that out too).

Characters (9) - All the characters do have development. You get to see new sides of Molester as you get to know more about him and the girls as he slowly makes friends with them. Although sometimes I find the way the characters act annoying, and usually its the girls, but it's not "shoujo" annoying it's "they're based off of real people and I find that person's personality annoying".

Enjoyment (10) - I 100% enjoy this I always look forward to whenever the new chapters come out, I 100% recommend you read this.

Overall (10) - I give this a 10 because I really do laugh and find this a fun read, and end up really relating to Molester, it feels like he's a friend, as sad as that sounds. So go out and read about Molester and all the shenanigans he gets into with all his new friends in Chikan Otoko.

“You’re so narrow-minded!!”
“I’m broad-minded!!”

Life. What is its meaning? Why are we here? Why were we born? Depending on the one you ask these questions, the answers could be several, or none. However, someone will eventually reply: love. Life is nothing more than a quest for love.
Love is no trifling matter. Sometimes making a relationship work is tough. More common, however, is the problem of actually managing to establish a relationship with someone we love. The focus of this doujinshi is the latter. Our socially awkward main character, a guy in his 20’s with no friends or close ties to his family, boringly attending college every ... now and then for the credits, working part-time to survive and spending the remaining of his time in front of a computer screen, browsing 2ch and reading manga, has never been in a relationship. Actually, being loved by someone is nothing more than a dream to him. However, after being mistaken for a stalker, he meets a cute girl. A girl that was actually nice to him despite all the previous confusion. Excited with the sudden possibility of developing a romance and the chance to be a new Densha Otoko (the train man; for more information consult the manga of the same name, which I, by the way, recommend), he decides to share his story and ask for advice on 2-chan. We follow the curious twists of fate and the despair and inexperience of a boy in a world he has never lived in. Thus begins the story of Molester, Miss Understanding and her group of friends.

Characters - 10
As one would expect from the author, just like in Onani Master Kurosawa, the strongest point of this amazing doujin is the superb characters and their development. It is impossible not to “fall in love” with them as we read more and more, as we get to know them better and as we watch how everyone else develops their relationships with the main character. The dialogue is extremely well-written despite its simplicity, and it feels quite natural. The constant struggles of the main character and his attempts to look cool and manly after persistently asking for advice on the internet is not only hilarious but also shows us how indecisive and inexperienced Molester was at love matters, and how much a person can change without really changing.

Art – 9
Even though it looks sketchy, it was nothing new if you’ve read Onani Master. If you haven’t though, it may feel weird at first, but as you get used to it you really start to understand how well it fits the story. I’ve read somewhere that the art makes it look like a diary, and I couldn’t agree more. Thanks to the art, everything looks and seems a lot more personal, which really brings out the fondness for the characters, and the fact that the main character is the narrator really adds a lot to this comparison. Personally, I think it would be impossible to make such a story work this well with any different art style. So I give this a 9 not out of how good the art is, but of how well it suits the story.

Story – 9
The story is not complex at all, au contraire; it’s simple and feels realistic. Well, that’s to be expected, since it was based on real events posted on 2-chan by one of their anonymous visitors. Yet despite the realism, some events seem so out of the ordinary… The story has such an odd feeling, it’s hard to describe. But odd in a good way. Actually, throughout the story, there’s always a feeling of duality regarding several aspects of it – and that’s another brilliant point of this doujin.
There aren’t a lot of unexpected or unbelievable twists, but that doesn’t mean it gets boring. Quite the opposite, actually, it gets better and better. It proceeds smoothly, and as it unfolds we find ourselves being carried by the love Molester feels and tries to transmit, and the choices and difficulties he finds on the process and the repercussions of those factors on his personality and on his way of acting towards the world and people.

Enjoyment – 10
I had an amazing time reading this. Once you start, it’s almost impossible to stop. It’s so compelling and every little thing is so deliciously well orchestrated that you will often times find yourself amazed, laughing, feeling sad, cheering for Molester… It is truly an emotional rollercoaster. It’s one of those mangas that make you look at the ceiling and ponder about your life choices after finishing it. After spending some years reading manga, it gets harder and harder to find something that really touches you. This doujin, however, did it for me, and as I finished it with tears in my eyes, I simply laid back and realized that life really does have a meaning, and that maybe we should all just indeed be searching for the ones we love.

Overall – 9,5
So just sit down, put on some music and enjoy a wondrous journey through this simple yet mind-blowing tale of everyday relationships and heart-warming love.

Molester Man? What is this, some feminist enraging hentai manga involving schoolgirl rape? Absolutely wrong! If the name of this doujin put you off reading it then do not be mistaken as it is nothing like what it sounds and lets be honest; how on earth could a rape hentai make it into the top 10? What you'll get is a funny tale of a lonely otaku man that gets mistaken for being a molester and the events thereafter where he is able to befriend the women that misunderstands him and also falls into her group of friends and eventually finds love with ups and ... downs along the way.

Story:
The story is kind of explained in the synopsis so instead i'll be giving my thoughts on it. Since this is based of a true story, it's quite realistic that you can easily relate to it which is what I find beautiful. There aren't any silly quirks you usually find in fictional romance manga like fated meetings, sudden girlfriend appearances, smooth as butter relationships, etc. Its a story that is mature and down to earth that almost feels like you're watching a live action TV drama. But why oh why would you read this? It sounds very mundane, right? If I wanted a live action TV drama, i'd go watch one instead! Despite it being based on true events, you can get really immersed in the story knowing that the crazy scenarios that take place actually happened. Chikan Otoko's isn't anything special but the way its narrated in a comedic fashion of an otaku's viewpoint and the tense drama that ensues can get you extremely gripped. Laughter and tears are to be expected.

Art:
The art... isn't great. But then what more can you expect from a young amateur mangaka. It gets the job done that's for sure but nothing fancy at all. The shading is very sketchy and there is no colour at all except for maybe 4 or 5 pages in the entire doujin. From start to finish, I never even found out what colour some of the character's hair were (Kansai's hair is green; never expected that at all). Few cameo artstyles appear in this such as Doraemon the cat and Aizen from Bleach which kind of break from the reality but are more there to be used as personifications for character's expressions or reflections on events. Nevertheless, you'll easily get use to the art and improvements can be seen chapter by chapter.

Character:
Since this is a true story, you won't find any farfetched characters that go beyond a normal humans capabilities (OK, maybe the majority of supporting characters are a tad weird but the main characters are much believable). Molester Man is your typical loner otaku that must resort to 2ch for advice and is awkward when it comes to dealing with women. I can honestly say I didn't like him that much but then real people aren't made to be liked, are they? Afterall, he is based of somebody and isn't trying to be fictional character. Molester Man has selfish motives, is indecisive and hides behind a facade to please people but as the story progress, he develops into a stronger but still flawed character after making new friends. What I find funny is that everyone refers him as Molester Man even after the incident was resolved. Besides the MC, we have 3 other characters; Miss Understanding, who serves as the airhead, Loli Jugs, a happy go lucky girl and Kansai, the tomboyish dependable big sister type. They're pretty normal and don't have contrasting personalities like what you'd expect from a harem rom-com and it makes for a refreshing change. The 4 have very strong character development and their interactions are the driving force of the story. Supporting characters are not very prominent and serve mainly as comic relief. Even Abe, the Yaranaika? guy makes an appearance! I'll also add that these characters are not dense. Their intuition is the real deal and they will jump on anything they find suspicious like any normal person.

Enjoyment:
Guaranteed you will find yourself enjoying every bit if you can relate to the MC. If you aren't a little bit of an otaku (why are you on this site?) then you might find it hard to understand the references that are made and will lose yourself in most of the comedy moments. The romance is still very touching despite the narrative being told in a comedic fashion and this doesn't dull the drama at all, leaving you engaged as you'll feel empathy for these characters with a torrent of emotions.

Overall:
Don't let the art or title fool you! Give this a read and you will not regret it. It starts off slow but once it kicks in, oh boy does it really kick in! The length is just perfect and the ending will leave you satisfied. You'll grieve, cry, scream and laugh. This is not your typical shounen romance. Its true and stays true to the source and your outlook on life will change for the better good. Yes, Molester Man will change your life! lol

Chikan Otoko was inspired from a post in a certain forum, that read something along the lines of “Today I was mistaken for a stalker”. Indeed that is how the manga begins. Actually, our protagonist seems like a suspicious guy due to his foul bachelor lifestyle; 20 years old, living alone, half-assing his studies, and acts as a woman repellent. His gateway out of his half-hikikkomori, irl-friendless lifestyle is the darkest corner of the forum, where the foulest of bachelor's lurk, ready to troll and humiliate. A most glorious lifestyle. Hail to those of us who have experienced it (except the repellent part. I sure ... hope no one lived through such a phase).

After clearing the misunderstanding with the cute girl, he manages to get her to have another cup of coffee. Along the way he meets 3 beautiful friends of hers and the story goes on.

The first thing that is clearly wrong stares right at you; the art is bad. Simple as that. As you read the first handful of pages a second problem emerges; the panel arrangement has no sophistication. A lot (and I mean a lot) of pages consist only of text squares relaying a forum post or an email, basically switching the medium to a novel. A third thing that's wrong is, that while this manga tries to pass as a comedy, it is clearly not. After a couple of OK jokes in the beginning the humor dries out and the genre becomes that of a hardcore slice-of-life.

I noticed that people praise that style and find exciting the meticulous realism in the way that the manga develops. That would be nice and well, if it retained that realism in the major plot turns. Well it doesn't; at every major “event” the outcome is unrealistic, all to force the conclusion upon us, making all the realistic details we have been reading pointless and tedious.

Nothing in this manga stands out, and I can not understand the hype. Overrated, while being mediocre through and through. 5.0/10.

Romance… Romance Manga and Anime has been my enemy for quite some time. Not because I don’t like to be swept off my feet, I do, even though it might be a little naive to want that. But, I don’t like Romance stories because, usually, they fall into the same categories, the same tropes. Let’s list them;

Love Triangle
Red Herring Romance
Uninvested Romance
Paint by the Numbers Romance
Ecchi Romance
Main Character Romance
Secondary + Main Character Romance

Usually Romance Fits into these categories, and usually they aren’t good. Most stories rely on heavy use of tropes and cliches. Ever bump into a cute guy/guy and fall in love? Have you ever ... just hated this one guy/girl, but suddenly when someone says you’re a couple you just can’t help noticing her womanly features? Yeah… I’m sure you haven’t, but they clog up scripts from Hollywood, to Bollywood, to Anime. Hell, even I considered it at one point with an old script of mine you may remember. But Molester Man, despite its name is real, it’s raw, and most importantly it’s believable. And this is why it may just be either the worst, or the best romance of all time. Throughout this review, and by the end of this review, we will find out what category this manga falls into. So now let’s start this review of the 2004 Manga based on real events, Molester Man. And remember, giving a like takes two seconds, but spend a minute or so down below telling me what you think of this review, or what you think about the manga. Let’s have some fun!

Background

Released 2004 and lasting 21 chapters, Molester Man is a Romance Manga written by Takuma Yokota. Takuma has written other manga like Shoodan!, Tsunbaka, and Koganeiro. This manga is also based off a true story, which is what is so endearing about it. Now, I don’t know if it’s based off one of Takuma’s experiences, but it’s a rather beautiful story because it’s so real. I’m getting ahead of myself. Molester Man other than that is a pretty mysterious little story though, as there isn’t a lot of information about it.

Story

Molester Man is on paper, a generic manga with no real substance. Just hanging on a thread by using tropes and played out story beats. But in reality it’s a nuanced character driven manga with a great setting, great characters and a great script. It’s obviously dramatized, but it feels real at points. Which is important to manga that are character driven. We need to be invested in the characters they make for us. I get so tired of the kid who gets all the demon chicks with huge ass tits. That isn't something I can connect to, that’s silly and not an attractive alternative. What makes a romance good, is relatable characters with layers, like an onion, Donkey. What Molester Man is a lot like what would happen in real life, so things are erratic, and decisions are made quickly. Which would create a story that’s slow in some areas, but through the dramatized parts in the story, it elements these troublesome areas and creates an near perfect story, but a perfect in execution romance. That’s right, it’s the perfect romance. And I am going to stand on this hill die, because I believe this is the greatest romance manga of all time, at least in my opinion. Believe me though, this does not come lightly, I am very strict about romance.

The Comedy of this story though is one that made me laugh out loud. I can’t tell you how hilarious this manga is truly, because it’s something you need to experience. I think the only time I snorted out loud during a manga was with Yamada-kun, and even then it wasn’t anything special. With Molester Man I was laughing my ass off constantly, because it’s such a hilarious manga. The reactions from Molester Man to the most mundane things like Loli Jugs and Kansai messing with his action figures turns out to be one of the most hilarious moments of the manga, laugh out loud hilarious. I swear to you, if you have a soul, and unless you are some robot, you have one, if you give this short manga a chance, then you will laugh out loud just as much as I did. The comedic timing of this manga is amazing, probably one of the better manga when it comes to pure comedy in the most realistic sense. I think there may even be some Dragon Ball Z jokes in there too.

Art

I’m not sure what I was to expect here, as starting off it was incredibly jarring to look at. Obviously this kind of art style is on purpose to give the effect it’s a simple story. Which it is, so it does fit the story and style they were going for, with there rarely being panels that are animated to perfection. It’s usually just this kind of scratch style you’d see with late drafts of manga. It’s not bad by any means, it’s unique and still solid, just very jarring starting off. I also find the panels where they draw the scenes in full are really good though. Honestly if I were to pick high quality art or the low quality I’d pick the low quality. Something about the minimalist style really appeals to me in the most simple of ways. There isn’t a million things going on, and because of this we can focus more on the characters, which I believe is why this was done. If there are things in the background, you may notice an important character reaction or that perked eyebrow, or Loli Jugs’ dazed reactions.

Characterizations

Last but not least, oh especially not least, the Characters in this Manga are some of the best well written characters in a romance Manga I’ve ever read. They’re all colorful and bright characters with persona all their own. But most importantly they’re relatable characters that have conflicts that are relatable. I’ve said this already, but don’t try to fool me with romance that’s just so out there it’s impossible to relate. Molester Man is relatable and fun, because it’s based on real events. But let’s get into some of the characters, and use the Titular character Molester Man. He’s a simple Otaku living in Japan, he’s 20 years old, he’s lonely, and he’s a virgin. This is all explained in the first couple of chapters. From there we see Molester Man grow and change to become almost a completely different person by the end. This doesn’t continue for every character, as Miss Understanding seems to be a very static character, and so does Kansai. But for most of the other characters they do grow in some form. Focusing our attention back on the whole, I think Molester Man is one of the better manga out there in the romance category for many different reasons that what I just listed here.

Final Rating

Molester Man is honestly a Manga that took me by surprise. I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was, and it honestly is a wonder I actually out about this manga. But you can’t deny it’s quality, the characters, the story, the terrific comedy that’s nuanced and hilarious without being too over the top. But also the characterizations and what comes along with that. There aren’t many things I can truly say that turn me off from this manga, there actually aren’t any. I can’t find any egregious flaws with this manga. Hell, the only thing I can find close to that is the simple Art direction of the manga, but even then that’s an artistic direction, it’s not a flaw. Please do not miss out on this manga, it’s one of the best romance manga of all time, easily, and for me it’s my favorite romance manga ever, there is no other.

Molester Man isn't perfect, but it receives a 10/10

Chikan Otoko or more commonly known as Molester Man is a manga that is based off of a series of posts from a person in 2 chan. The story at first might seem cliché from the premise, but later has twists and turns that would be expected from a real life scenario, but unexpected in a story sense. By making the story about real life set in a true story Chikan Otoko manages to surprise me and surpass my expectations for what a romance manga can and should do.

I’ve read this manga twice before. The first time was a couple years ago. The weird ... thing about the first time for me reading this was that I didn’t even know that this story was based off of posts from 2 chan. But now after rereading it I think that it is essential to know beforehand that this story is heavily based on real life events. After I read it a second time I looked at Chikan Otoko in a new light and truly saw that it was an amazing work.

-----The story and characters

To me a romance manga (or story) is supposed to show relatable drama and a relatable story that the viewer can relate to. This is true for all series all the way from Toradora to even the most lewd stories like High School DxD. Romance stories are supposed to invoke a feeling of relatability. The authors usually tend to do this by having a relatable protagonist that goes through many common situations that a person might find themself in.

The great thing about Chikan Otoko is that it is based on real life events from a person on 2 chan. We can relate to the protagonist because he is very much like a lot of people. He is antisocial and a borderline NEET. If it weren't for him having a job and going to high school he would just spend his entire time playing video games, watching anime, go on 2-chan(japanese 4chan), and heck even masturbate. Molester Man is an extremely relatable protagonist who is not only funny because of his anime references and jokes, but is also down to earth and relatable.

Chikan Otoko is first and foremost a story about an antisocial otaku becoming a “Man”. A person that can be somewhat true to himself and isn't ashamed or worried to be with others. It's about a borderline NEET learning to make friends and to even get himself a girlfriend. It is a story that a bunch of the readers at home could use as a lesson on how to get out of their current antisocial lifestyle. By learning to branch out Molester Man became a lot more confident in himself and eventually gained some amazing friends as a result.

---------The Art

The art in Chikan Otoko is a bit simple. You can tell that this might have been the artist's first or second manga that he has done. The artist probably wanted to get these chapters out as fast as possible while the original posts were still relevant and as a result the manga looks more like a NAME then an actual completed work, which is completely fine for an artist that is probably doing this with no assistants, for no money, and just his passion.

There are no screen tones, but there is shading, and there are only a handful of backgrounds drawn, but despite the rushed nature of the manga I could easily tell what everything was and everything was clear and concise.

-----------Enjoyment and Overall

This manga is special. I enjoyed the passion and love that went into this manga. While it does look dated by today's standards and the fact that you can't get a physical copy is a bit disappointing, I think that this is an amazing read. I am a huge nut for romance manga and anime and Chikan Otoko is one of the best workers that I have read. I related a ton to these characters and having past romance experiences helps a lot with the relatability with this manga. Some of the references and jokes in this manga might go over many peoples heads, while for other people they might understand them all. I loved this manga from beginning to end and that is much better then plenty of other things that I have read.

----10/10

There is a bit of profanity in this review, be warned.

Pre-conceptions are a powerful thing, people judge each other fairly quickly, reach conclusions before even talking to someone and let that define their (lack of) interactions. But, sometimes, it is possible to ignore those conceptions and build something new in its place. This is the basis for Chikan Otoko.

Chikan Otoko (Molester Man) is a romance doujin (Japanese indie comic) that adapts a story out of 2chan thread, popularly known as Molester Man. Takuma Yokota, most famous for his work on Onanie Master Kurosawa, adapted the story to the doujin format. Before starting, none of the ... characters have "real names", they are only known by the nicknames Molester Man gave them.

One day, while walking back home from work, Molester Man notices a small woman walking in front of him, and she keeps looking over her shoulder. It starts to rain and Molester Man, who has no umbrella, starts to run and so does the girl. Molester Man notices that she thinks he is a stalker and tries to stop her, which makes him look even more like a pervert. The police gets involved and it becomes clear that Molester Man is not actually a molester, so the girl, nicknamed Miss Understanding, offers the protagonist a lunch together as an apology. This eventually results in Molester Man meeting Understanding's friends, Loli Jugs and Kansai. The story then becomes a romance.

While not entirely free of clichés, Chikan Otoko knows how to subvert most of them and create unusual and unpredictable situations. The romance is completely different from the usual boy meets girl by chance -> they fall in love -> they confess dramatically -> everyone lives happily ever after.

Chikan Otoko also deals with its themes with maturity and care, while also making the most of the more light-hearted moments. That is to say, when it needs to be serious, it manages to be, and when it wants to be absolutely hilarious, it delivers.
The characters are easily relatable, to say the least. The protagonist, in some ways, is the image of the internet aficionado, with all of its slobness and social-awkardness. But he also develops beyond that, becoming a more confident and socially acceptable person as the story develops.

Miss Understanding is, well, understanding and easily trusts everyone else, but Spoilers she isn't the focus of the story, which means she isn't incredibly developed. End of spoilers. Kansai is an incredibly deep character with a lot of contradictions, for example, she is very decided most of the time, but there is one moment where she simply can't do that. It is not a fault of characterization as it is portrayed, it is a virtue of realism.

Loli Jugs is not as deep as Kansai, but she also has some very interesting interactions with most of the cast. Speaking of the cast, the supporting one is wonderfully comedic. Rather than using these character, with close to no emotional connection to the reader, for drama, they are (brilliantly) used for comedy.

The art is also unusual, with a rough, almost sketched art style. It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it has always had a way of gripping me. It is not the most detailed or the most beautiful art, but it such a recognizable style of the author that it became a novelty in and of itself.

Chikan Otoko is a completely unusual romance with a lot of interesting twists and several hilarious scenes. I would recommend it to basically anyone. But, to be fair, the ones that would enjoy it the most are the people who want an unpredictable romance.

Well, this is it. This is my first review. I sure hope this sorta stuff doesn't become a habit for me. Anyway, I might add that this particular review was written in Portuguese first and translated by me to english, so please endure if there's any grammar mistakes that will make your spine hurt

Let's get at it, then: First of all, I would like to emphasize that this work is a 2004 webmanga based on a thread to a Japanese forum similar to 4chan (yes, that pit of toxicity and degeneration of people with weak hearts and minds), however this factor does not impact the ... quality of the work at hand. Initially, I would also like to point out that the character names are based on that thread, that is, don't be scared by names like: '' Molester man '', '' Kansai girl '' or '' Loli Jugs ''.
Anyway, after this little contextualization for the general understanding of the opera, let's move on. The story follows our dear protagonist brilliantly called '' Molester man '' (molester to intimates) an archetype of the Japanese Neet virgin, nothing special at first . However, this guy finds himself in an unpleasant situation when he is mistaken for a Stalker for a girl (called by him Mrs. Understanding) who is distraught when noticing Molester is following her. Then Molester finds himself in this girl's life (after the mess is resolved) and, tipped off by purely sexual and selfish factors, resolves to help her in her tribulation.
Soon, our dear molester finds himself forced into a situation found only in the hottest fantasies of smelly otakus neets, finding himself surrounded by Mrs. Understanting cute friends and the like.
What differentiates ''Chikan Otoko'' from the rubbish found in this genre of ''Cynical neet japonese Romcom'' is the author's personal values in portraying his characters, the sincerity of those said characters and a unique approach to this type of orbit. When I refer to the ''sincerity'' in their characters, I must highlight the tangible reality and personality of these figures (who are based in irl people lol), which are essential to maintain the character of the work's message, which is: ''We'll all make it, man, if you strive and work at it you'll get that pussy '' a very common feeling on forums and sites frequented by losers and incels.
It is concluded that, despite its crude and unoriginal premise and belonging to a trashy subgenre of romcoms, ''Chikan Otoko '' is saved with unique characters, an engaging and personal plot, an appeal like feelings commonly found in many otakus and being based in a real life story. So go read it now you cowardly virgin and stop crying for a girl who never existed and will never love you!

Story - 8
Basically whole manga is retelling a thread from 2ch where a otaku asks for help because he (Molester Man) was mistaken for molester. He takes a advice from 2ch and tries make a move on girl(Miss Understanding) who mistook him for molester. Thanks to this Molester Man meets new friends and tries to make progress in his relationship with Miss Understanding. He founds out thats not so simple but with advices from 2ch he realizes that there are more doors open for him....

Art - 6
Art is pretty simple and sketchy. At the start it hasn't many backgrounds and mainly focusses on characters, that's ... a big plus because their expeessions are more clear and you can understand how they feel. It's not only facial expressions, the body movements helps easy get the atmosphere and enjoy it. Art gets better and more complex every chapter but doesn't lose focus on characters.

Character - 10
Molester Man has only few main characters, but each is unique and important to the story. We can see many emotions from each character and after a little backstory we could understand why where their actions or reactions as they were. Because this is MC storytelling, we can see most of his character.As the story goes on we can see more of his otaku habits (mostly for comedy) but more importantly also his progress as a person - he is little by little going out of his shell. Even after that we can see his inner struggle when he has tomake a big choice or be more iniciative. In some ways we can see this struggle to the end of manga but this make this manga more realistic and more unpredictable.

Enjoyment - 10
This manga is very enjoyable mostly because of its characters which are
realistic and pretty easy relate to. Autor does very good work when shows simple details like when Molester Man was totaly in to texting and was simply changing postures from sitting, lying or rolling on the ground. Thats one of many examples from which you can feel familiar athmosphere.

Overall - 9
Molester Man is a manga with good and very realistic story, perfect pacing,
unique and well developed characters and art wich does its role.

Como esto está lleno de reviews en inglés me voy a tomar el tiempo para hacer una en español.

Soy un lector recurrente de mangas de romance. El problema principal con estos es que su mayoría son extremadamente comerciales y para alargar la trama o para ''enganchar'' a mas gente le meten excesivo y poco real drama. Casos como ''GOOD ENDING'' y ''HETAKOI'' son claros ejemplos de mangas de romance demasiado dramáticos, quedando como tontos o simplemente infumables.

¿Que cosa no?, un 10 a Molesterman, ¿Por qué será?. Bueno, para comenzar no es nada de lo anteriormente dicho.

Historia:
La historia de Molesterman (''Acosador'' en español y ''Chikan Otoko'' ... en ponja) es algo sencilla pero por suerte casi nunca predecible. Esto se debe al manejo del autor, que causa que empatices con el protagonista, logrando así tener las mismas dudas e incertidumbres que él.
Todo comienza cuando el protagonista, es confundido con un acosador por una chica. Para pedirle perdón éste le dice de invitarla a cenar y luego de un tiempo el antisocial protagonista se encuentra rodeado de un grupo de amigos, aunque su atención está centrada en esta chica.
La trama a primera vista es simple pero con el carisma de los personajes y sin ningún drama innecesario la historia va tomando forma de manera sublime, sin nada forzado ni personajes que no cuadran o situaciones pesadas y repetitivas.
9/10

Arte:
El arte es lo mas flojo del manga, debido a que está hecho de manera poco profesional. Sin embargo, los dibujos son claros y aunque a veces el manga carece de ellos son suficientes como para ir entendiendo que pasa.
Personalmente me agradan, y si fuera por mi les daría mas nota pero estoy intentando ser objetivo y la verdad es que desde esta mirada dejan bastante que desear.
7/10

Personajes:
Los personajes de Molesterman son bidimensionales en su mayoría, que quiere decir que generalmente podemos predecir que van a decir o que posición van a tomar en las diferentes cosas que pueden llegar a pasar. SIN EMBARGO, debido a que nuestro protagonista no tiene seguridad en si mismo y tiene nula experiencia socializando muchas veces pasan cosas que no las vemos venir, como tampoco nuestro querido prota. De esta forma se logra una excelente representación de la vida real, en donde uno que es tímido o que no tiene experiencia falla incluso cuando tiene todo planeado, o le sale todo bien sin siquiera saber el por qué.
Los personajes secundarios si bien la mayoría no ahonda demasiado en personalidad son muy carismáticos y tienen rasgos muy humanos. Quizás los personajes terciarios que aparecen como alivio cómico son los mas simples y sin profundidad, pero justamente por ser terciarios no complican ni aburren.
10/10

Disfrute:
¡QUE BUEN MANGA!. ES MI FAVORITO. Me gusta el comienzo, el desarrollo y el final. Me gusta que haya terminado donde terminó, que no haya secuela ni que hayan metido cosas demás. EXCELENTE.
100/10

En general:
Un manga perfecto para aquellos que no buscan la misma porquería de siempre y que tienen un cierto afán por el romance sin mucho drama pesado o personajes cliché mal hechos.
10/10

This is the kind of romance i wish for in every manga i decide to read.
one where the characters are allowed to develop independent of the relationship that is coming and have full personalities. Creating a much more memorable experience.

Its story kept you guessing and wondering and hoping along its path.
The best girl winning also helps lol

This manga is amazing probably because it was based on a real life story but it also proves why more manga in the romance genre should have some more realism to them.
Its a story of hope that even a shutin anime loving weeb can find someone who ... is right for them

It all started with my usual habit of checking top anime and top manga sections and i found something unusual. "Chikan Otoko/Molester Man". What's this? I thought it was a hentai manga. How come a hentai manga ends up with a ridiculously high rank? It even surpasses Slam Dunk -Best manga i've ever read. Time passes and here i am writing this sentence. Yes, i am giving it a 9.


Story (9)
A 2chan-er is misunderstood as a stalker/molester by a girl because he is walking behind that girl with an you-know-otaku/molester/stalker-face. For those who have read much hentai manga or such, you are wrong. It's not ... going to happen. Your imagination is too wild, get rid of it. Why is that? Simply because the story is based on a real one, and let me tell you this: Even though it started as a cliche, but it doesn't develop and end as one.
(+) It's unique. It's great. It's greater to know this happen to a shut-in in real life.
(+) Funny, highly enjoyable
(-) Try giving this story to "ordinary people", who is not an otaku or 2chan-er. They would have a hard time enjoying the jokes, and the reaction.


Character (9)
Since the characters in this story are just "Mr. Molester", "Miss Understanding", "Kansai", and "Loli Jugs" let's take a deeper look one by one:

Before we review the characters, you must understand, all of them are fictional nicknames. You know, for privacy since these characters are based from real ones.

Mr Molester: A student. Part-time worker. Otaku. And -this is the most important, because it adds a certain sensation to the story- a 2chan-ner. No it's not a man-made character, it's real. It's your typical shut in, have no friends let alone girlfriend. A great luck is needed for this guy to get a girlfriend. But. I have stated how great this story beforehand, haven't i?

Miss understanding: The main cause of series of "great" events that happen 'ere. A cute, long-haired, seemed-to-be-frail-and-intelligent types that work part-time at a family restaurant. At the beginning of the story it is shown she has problem with stalkers. I can't reveal much more, i'm afraid it would spoil the joy of seeing this character develops, and because the story pattern can't be expected.(It was based on real life)

Kansai: Waht. Yeah read it right. Making a character name from her accent, how cool is that. "Kansai" is Miss understanding best friend that helps with miss understanding stalker problem.Works at the same place with miss understanding. A lively and a tomboyish type. Again, i can't reveal much more, i'm afraid it would spoil the joy of seeing this character develops.

Loli jugs: I laughed when i read the name. Loli is Kansai and Miss Understanding best friend that works together with them. She got the name "Loli Jugs" because of her small stature and her great "jugs". Again, i can't reveal much more, i'm afraid it would spoil the joy of seeing this character develops. (This is the 3rd time i write this, because it is like that)

There should be more like "Yamaoka", "Glasses", but, as soon as you read it you'll know why i didn't say anything about them. One clue, it's based on real life, where people come and go.

(+) Brilliant character naming. Try imagining your father calling you molester
(+/-) Again, i can't reveal much more, i'm afraid it would spoil the joy of seeing this character develops. Because it's real life based.
(-) AGAIN, try giving Molester Man to your"normal" friends. They would have a hard time about the 2chan things.


Art (9)
From the beginning i know this is just a side project of whoever that draw this. Then my friend say this,"It was drawn by "whoever" that draws Onani Master Kurosawa." Yes, for those who is lazy enough to click the author in the details section, i will gladly tell you, the art was GOOD. First you will think the art style was too hasty, no nice finishing here and there. But hey, you will shut yourself up and drop your jaw seeing how "THAT'S SO ME" when seeing Molester Man reactions. You will smile seeing how cute the female characters react. That good.

(+)The art is good. not the oh-it's-just-a-scribble-unserious-doujin-project good. It is.
(+) Realistic approach with comical art, if you want to sweat small details like, the hair color. Not like usual Rom-com. (red blue purple green hair colour everywhere)
(-) The art is not neat at the beginning. This may hurts some eyes of the people who doesn't want to sacrifice for a good story.

Enjoyment (9)
Seeing those forum text makes me laugh. That makes me laugh. That makes the people who votes (maybe) 7 up, laugh. But what about another individual?
Seeing how the characters develop and the story progress is fun, mostly because of the molester man reactions who is a 2chan-er, again, it's hard to be understood by your fellow reader who is not a 2chan-er or otaku.
Seeing the how the romance develops, it's heart rendering. I'll tell you that. No less. It's good. If the romance has flaws, it would be that this romance is based from real life. (Calm down, just because it was from real life doesn't mean it could happen to everyone)
And there's a bit of slice of life, which is good, encourages you to do better. Yes i mean you. YOU. Otakus and 2chan-er or any lifeforms lurking in elecrical forums.

(+)Love story is cliche. This is not meant to be a love story. It's real-life love story. It's greater to know it's highly recommended to be read.
(+/-) Otakus, 2Chan-er. This is for you.
(-) If you read it and find it hard to be understood, it's good. You still a normal person with a good community.

Overall
(+) Read-able, heck, it's even recommended.
(-) Just feel happy that you are normal when you don't enjoy this.

The stories short but the journey feels like a life time worth. From how the first chapter introduces itself one wouldn't expect how it would end. The story is also heavy based on the relationships of the characters but it never loses focus.

A pencil, a Pen and maybe an eraser is pretty much the tools needed for this manga (And bare minimum computer assistance). The workmanship at first glance seem as if they were doodles on a notebook. But the consistency of the characters is quite astonishing. And although the background detail is limited to certain panels it never disrupts the flow of the ... moment.

Every character has the perfect balance of manga/anime quirkiness and sympathetic emotions making for a well rounded cast. And Individual characters distinct personalities keeps one from being bored of the one or the other. Character designs are simple yet they exhibit the charm of the artists style.

There is a void in my heart. And that Void can never again be filled. Because that void is only for Chikan Otoko.

I love Chikan Otoko. I love Yokota Takuma. I love Kansai. I loved this manga. I love it at 10!

When I first touch this series, I was curious on why it was so beloved on the website, with a title like that. And I after taking one night of binge reading, this has become one of my favourite love stories of all of manga.

So the plot is that a loner of a guy gets mistaken for a molester by a traumatized woman and after solving misunderstandings they strike up a friendship. Thats it , that all the information related to the title, and when you continue to reading, you realize how little that matters, Even the woman has little to do in the story ... and gets demoted to side character. But once you take this nd follow the romance, you realize this is a completely different beast altogether, and a beautiful one at that.

The hook is the romance, and trust me this is one of the most glorious, heart breaking and yet satisfying romance stories I have ever read. The main male lead is so likable, and that same time humorously weak minded, the kind of character whose no a push-over but a naive soul. The love interest is down to earth gorgeous, she oozes likability to the point you dont want to let her go.

As soon as I finished it , I wanted to return to it, because this felt like a roller coaster ride I never wanted to end, part of me wants a sequel , but another part feels so satisfied .i urge anyone looking for a beautiful love story to give this one a shot.You wont be dissapointed

Another well drawn by YOKO, based off a 2chan story, similar to train man (densha otoko). Yes, there is sex.

As it starts off, an otaku friendless man is mistaken as a molester during a walk, and the story revolves around the man and his relationships with various people he meets due to the incident.

You can instantly see the art is very similar to Masturbation Master. Rough sketches, no rulers, no ink, all pencil. Not very professional like, but it was a web comic. I actually like this style.

This is a story about relationships. Not like Kimi no Iru Machi with 200+ chapters that drags ... on and on. Not a one-shot either. Decently lengthed. The character development wasn't as great as Masturbation Master, but it is visible.

Highly recommended to read by not just fans of the romance genre, but for all.

Molester Man (Chikan Otoko)

Yes,the name may sound repulsive,weird and undeniably like a hentai but i can assure you that this manga is so much more than just a webcomic people know it for.
"Based off a real story which was posted on 2ch, Chikan Otoko is the story of how Molester Man is mistaken for a stalker by Miss Understanding, and how they overcome their personal challenges while slowly growing closer to each other."- This is what's there in the summary region of every manga site you will find this manga in.Although it sounds a bit far-fetched and unreasonable , molester man brings a whole ... new world of realism through characters people would think are normally played out in minority.

Story:
The story follows a MC named Molester Man who has a part time job and goes to university, but besides that is really just a shut-in that stays on his computer all day long, plays games, watches anime and reads manga.So ,guess what the MC is just what society would call a pathetic loner and an otaku to top it off.Most mangas tend to be set in a fictional world where weird occurrences are abundant.But in reality,there are no absolute heroes who save girls from bad guys and end up with the heroine and live happily ever after.Molester man keeps true to the boundaries of reality and shows us how exactly normally things would revolve in an uneventful loner's life.The parodies and gags bring about a mellow feeling to the story and lightens the mood for the readers to have a laugh but the underlying truth behind the jokes are to make up for the most critical and expressive moments of the manga.

Art:
The art isn't all that impressive, but it does have its own feel with the over the top hilarious facial expressions for comedic scenes. Overall it's not fantastic, but it's not something to be ignored at all.Some might criticize the sketchy art style, but I thought it complimented the minimalist nature of the plot exceedingly well. It got the point across, while managing to make the characters unique and expressive.

Character:
The characters are what really make this manga what it is. Every character we meet have an important role in the story. Especially the MC who literally starts out as an anti-social shut-in to a guy and as the story progresses turns out to be a decent and normal guy who tries to get his emotions known.They all develop very well and not one character is just some shallow supporting character that has no influence whatsoever in the story. We see the interactions between the characters and the MC as well as the interactions between one another that just really make each character shine. Characters here are shown as realistic as possible even the pivotal points of the MC's life depend upon the decisions and interactions between the other characters involved.

Enjoyment:
Hell yeah it was awesome XD
the comedy scenes at some points made my sides hurt XD

Overall this manga is a gem among gems.Though raw and unpolished to a certain extent , this manga brings out everything and anything that a normal person might encounter if faced with such circumstances.

Unironically a 10?! You’d go into this manga thinking that it would be some weird comedy or satire, especially with the title “Molester Man.” Once you read it, you find that it’s actually a fantastic rom-com/drama about an incel slowly becoming a great person. This is also the most “real” anime romance that I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t often feel “played-up.” They don’t go to the aquarium, the school festival, the beach, or watch the fireworks at the big town festival. It’s a very realistic story of a guy becoming a real person to the point at which HE became the master of his own ... fate, not the people around him.

This is an incredible story, and I highly suggest it to anyone looking into it. It can be hilarious like Grand Blue yet transition to series drama and then to a mind game in a heartbeat. It’s amazing, guys and gals. Just read it, and you’ll know.