Kodomo no Jikan. Ask any well-versed anime/manga fan about this series and they're likely to respond in either amusement or disgust. I won't attempt to sugar-coat it, if you find even the slightest allude to children being the target of sexuality to be absolutely disgusting, then you should probably keep your distance from this anime. Of course, I'm sure that no one is particularly fond of the subject, however, this series doesn't merely exist as a shallow loli-con's dream world; beneath it's humorous, light-hearted (although often inappropriate) surface lies a compelling story that questions morality and today's society as a whole in
...
a satirical fashion that is comparable to many classic novels of the past.
Story: 10
This, of course, brings us to the story of Kodomo no Jikan. The main drive and story-telling device used to develop characters and forward the story is the subject of sexuality. And while this topic is by no means new to the literary world, the fact that children become the main focus of this subject is the source of all the controversy surrounding this series. And while much of the humor results from the awkwardness surrounding the main characters' and their sexual encounters (as in related to the topic; there is no actual sex or anything of the sort involving these characters), it also serves another purpose of questioning society's standards and exactly where the line lies between what can be considered right or wrong.
Before delving into too much detail, I will state that, should one decide to read this manga, he or she should be prepared to view many sexual innuendos and panty shots (often grouped with Sensei's horrified reaction) along the way. And while these become a running gag of the series, author Kaworu Watashiya adds a fresh twist every time, which will likely leave you not only in stitches, but also probably with a slightly awkward feeling afterwards.
Returning to the actual story, the role of sexuality plays a major part in the developing of the series, as well as the driving force, ranging from the main topic of Rin trying to win her Sensei's love, to many of the younger characters' being unusually well versed in sexual knowledge for their age, to their developing bodies and the beginning of puberty. Many instances can be viewed merely as extreme fan service, however, others tie in directly to the deeper portion of the plot. Rin and her sensei's relationship brings up many important issues, such as the questionablility of standards of society and child psychology and development. In fact, the story itself is highly reflective of Rin's personality as a whole, on the surface cheery and situationally perverted in a cute way, while beneath lies another person, repressed out of fear and trauma, seeking security from the ones she loves. While the story may make excessive points at times, the actions of all the characters are always heavily influenced by their past and how it has led to the people they are present day, and possess a meaning. Kodomo no Jikan is comparable to Lolita, a 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov, from which the frequently used terms "lolita" and "lolicon" originated. Although the plot lines vary significantly, the overall question that the two bring forth are similar; the point of child protection laws are to protect innocent (sexually and emotionally ignorant) children from those who would do them harm, however, what happens when the child knows more than the adult?
Regarding the progression of the story, the series begins its first few volumes introducing the reader to what they can expect from the series, as well as developing many of the more important characters later on rather effectively. However, it is not until about the 5th volume that the real story kicks in, and this is where Kodomo no Jikan rescues itself from the potential danger of being written off as a poorly conceived lolicon piece, and earns a spot as a deep story with high potential (the series has only released up to vol. 5 thus far, so it is impossible to say where this will go at the moment).
Anyway, I feel that I have gone into too much detail regarding the story section. The main thing to note is that the reason that story was given a 10 was definitely not for it's ecchi/loli elements, but rather for the very compelling although scandalous story that accompanies them, and the humorous way in which it is delivered.
Art: 8
The panels of the manga for the most part held simple drawings which were clean and easy to follow, effectively putting focus on the significant parts of a scene as well as conveying emotions quite well. Regarding outfits, Rin and Kagami wear a new one everyday, and many of the other characters go through occasional costume changes, but what's really impressive is how every one of the more significant characters (as in all main and supporting cast) have reasons for wearing a different outfit, or the same one everyday. Whenever a few panels are colored in, the result is stunning. The shading gives an overall watercolor effect to the panels, creating a beautiful effect that is a treat to see (if only the entire manga could be in color!) While the art is nothing flashy, it is nevertheless nice to view and tells the story effectively.
Character: 10
Tying in directly with the story, the characters are represented and developed very well. While at first, there is little development, as the story continues to progress, most of the characters receive quite a bit of development and a backstory, the most interesting of which happening to be the story of Rin's mother, which plays an integral role in the later story. In a similar fashion, all of the other characters backstories add to the plot as well, creating an intricate web that could come unraveled with the slightest of ease. Psychological impacts of childhood also play an important role in the personalities of the characters and the ways in which they act. In addition, the main conflict surrounding Rin is masterfully done; it is hard to side with one person on the issues that surface later on in the story (avoiding spoilers). The past of each character directly affects the personality and actions each takes during the story. Overall, the characters are well developed and the chemistry is evident in the way they all interact with one another.
Enjoyment: 9
Despite feeling that many of the more...controversial elements were kind of unnecessary, I nevertheless found myself laughing at many of the jokes, amused by the awkward situations, and drawn in by the unique, catching (and entirely possible in real life) story. I read from the beginning to the latest volume within the course of a few days.
Overall: 9
There's no disputing the fact that Kodomo no Jikan definitely pushes boundaries and tests the limits of what can be considered acceptable. While many may find themselves offended by the material of the series, for those who stick with the series until the real development starts to begin, they are in for a rewarding, if somewhat disturbing, story. The main thing to remember while reading this series is to keep an open mind, and not to take everything at surface value.
Score: 37/40; A (92.5%)
*Reviewer's Note:
Since the series is still ongoing, I will update this review as I deem necessary. However, don't expect any major changes in what I've already said above unless Kojika does a complete 180 and changes for the worse.
One more thing: it's important to note that Japanese culture is different from Western cultures (assuming you are from one) in what is considered acceptable and what is pushing limits (not saying that they condone using children or anything, don't get me wrong). Also, for those who didn't already know, it's entirely normal to like, or even marry, your cousin in Japanese culture.
 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: A Child's Time, Kojika, Nymphet Japanese: こどものじかん InformationType: Manga
Volumes: 13
Chapters: 93
Status: Finished
Published: May 22, 2005 to Apr 22, 2013
Theme:
School
Demographic:
Seinen
Serialization:
Comic High! Authors:
Watashiya, Kaworu (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #13052 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #842
Members: 21,567
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May 12, 2008
Kodomo no Jikan. Ask any well-versed anime/manga fan about this series and they're likely to respond in either amusement or disgust. I won't attempt to sugar-coat it, if you find even the slightest allude to children being the target of sexuality to be absolutely disgusting, then you should probably keep your distance from this anime. Of course, I'm sure that no one is particularly fond of the subject, however, this series doesn't merely exist as a shallow loli-con's dream world; beneath it's humorous, light-hearted (although often inappropriate) surface lies a compelling story that questions morality and today's society as a whole in
...
Oct 25, 2007
Kodomo no Jikan (A Child’s Time) is a Slice of Life, Romance, Comedy, Drama notorious for its controversial take on the relations of underage children in our society. There’s plenty of comedy to enjoy but it does get very serious at times.
The story is about an inexperienced, elementary schoolteacher (Daisuke Aoki) who’s having trouble with the class he teaches but there's one girl in particular he's finding hard to control (Rin Kokonoe) But what’s more is said girl has got a huge crush on him. That’s basically how this manga is laid out and for most of the beginning chapters it is littered with a ... 
Aug 25, 2015
Imagine you had a friend named Bob. Bob is a great guy, nice, interesting, and you like having conversations with him. He's also a non-active pedophile. What do you think of Bob? Do you disregard all his good points because of this TERRIBLE thing? Or do you continue associating with Bob because those good points outweigh his disgusting side?
This is what I struggle with when thinking about Kodomo no Jinkan, there is a reason why this manga is controversial (And the controversy is what made me want to read it). However, at the same time, it's actually quite well written, well thought out, and brings ... 
Aug 18, 2015
A new teacher in elementary school is afflicted by an adorable little girl in his class who believes she's in love with him. And at first it really is an affliction. He has no interest in little girls as romance or sex objects, AND since he is the girl's teacher, any relationship with her at all, if misconstrued, could ruin his life.
So far, so good, and very promising. For those of you who don't know yet, manga writers delight in creating "unworkable" couples. There are so many opportunities for humor in them! And this female mangaka clearly started out to produce such a funny story, ... 
Jun 21, 2013
You might think it's a stupid manga, with nothing more than those "she seduces him-he falls for it" scene... But actually, this manga shows the story of not only Rin and Aoki, but also the other characters including their past, their way of thinking and reacting to things in a more detailed way. Also, what's interesting is there you don't see only one kind of love and the characters aren't all "normal"! You get to see different kinds of love including those who are legal and those who aren't, and you get to see different kind of personalities. Some characters even have personality dissorders which
...
Dec 28, 2007
I highly enjoyed this anime/manga picking it up due to the controversy around. Despite the content I did find the censors highly annoying in the anime. At first it seems like a lolicon's dream fest, but the story is much deeper then that; it touches on child abuse among other things. Despite what many think, this isn't just some 'Pedophile' Series.
It's very well done, despite the behaviour of kokonoe rin, whom many found uncomfortable to watch; due to her precocious behavior. But if you can look past that, you can enjoy this anime/manga. 
May 19, 2013
Lets start with the ARTWORK: Fair. Quite decent. A fair number of fan service drawings that are... well, not exactly to my taste. I try to be open minded about it, for example, if it was a story of love between two men, then it wouldn't either be my cup of tea, but the story is what is important, and how it is conveyed. The artwork is decent to carry the story.
The CHARACTERS are very good. I suppose there is a balance between characters being plausible and being interesting, and they attain both. They have their own flaws and issues, quite a few severe ... 
Dec 3, 2010
What an interesting manga. It's hard to give this one a review, simply because by its nature it's incredibly controversial; the foundation it's built upon is incredibly controversial. But behind all the panty shots and loli-paradise scenes, there's actually a real story, deep characters, and a fascinating assessment of children's' place in society.
Rin Kokonoe and her friends know far more about sex than would seem normal - but in these days of internet and easy access to information, is it really that strange? Their boldness and cheek is both jaw-dropping and intriguing. Plus hilarious when coupled with inexperienced Aoki-sensei's reactions. xD There's a very interesting ... 
Nov 25, 2009
Kodomo no Jikan, otherwise translated as "A Child's Time" is a story basing itself around exactly that (a child's time). More over, it gets involved in the psychology of children, and more prominently, lolita-complex.
The story focus is based mainly around a newly appointed 3rd grade teacher, Aoki Daisuke, and a female trio of students, Kokonoe Rin, Kagami Kuro, and Usa Mimi and how their school and personal lives start to become further engrossed as Aoki tries to keep his class manageable. As the story progresses it seems to cover multiple angles of child psychology/interaction, from the aspect of a Teacher/Parent trying to learn how to deal ... 
Jul 29, 2008
Kodomo No Jikan, also known as A Child's Time, also known as Nymphet, has had an odd history of censorship and bias against it. Given that it both parallels and subverts Vladimir Nabakov's 1950s novel Lolita, it does rather need explaining; For one, the reason no company will touch it is the the fact the characters are underage. The actions of the young characters Rin Kokonoe, Kuro Kagami, and Usa Mimi (3 years younger than Japan's Age of Consent) are meant to make you feel off-balance. Considering that the first character introduced is what can be considered the Avatar character, Daisuke Aoki, and he finds
...
Sep 16, 2021
I love this manga so tremendously much!
This was more than just Loli fanservice. It was about love, life, growing up, and how to cherish yourself. Every character is immensely likable, the teachers and the students. I had a fun time getting to know them. The story of a young preschooler girl Rin Kokonoe falling in love with her teacher Daisuke Aoki was so wholesome seeing them interact. The comedy was well done. I genuinely had a smile on my face and laughed a few times. There were also multiple emotional scenes that made me tear up quite a lot. It also undoubtedly has some steamy fanservice here and there, ... 
Sep 25, 2018
I often read the same kind of reviews so I thought I should write what I'd like to find and it's ridiculously hard to come by, spoiler free answers to the questions:
Is the ending good? Does the main couple end up together? Is it worth my time? I absolutely HATE SPOILERS with all my might! But I really don't see why I'd want to waste my time with a story that ends badly or one where, after all their trouble, the couple doesn't end up together. I also don't like to waste my time browsing through incredibly long opinionated reviews only to be more confused than ... 
Apr 21, 2021
Me entenderán los que hablen español, lastimosamente no soy especialmente bueno en inglés, por lo que no podré ir mas allá de mi idioma natal en esta review.
*LOW SPOILERS* Empecemos contando un poco acerca de la historia con más detalle: Aoki Daisuke, es un apenas egresado estudiante universitario, el cual dedica su tiempo a ser maestro de primaria. Él es contratado en una escuela ... 
Oct 20, 2020
Nothing but love and respect for this incredible manga and for the deep message behind it.
As much of an amazing read this was, while so was the ending but I really wished for the ending to be a bit more "sweeter" and emotional than how it was. As someone mentioned, Chapter 93 should've been reserved for all the other characters and a very special Chapter 94 dedicated ONLY to Rin and Aoki. Regardless, I still absolutely love the ending, but some added emotional elements to it, or some added surprise for Rin that Aoki finally confesses his love for her that she's been waiting for, for ... 
Mar 1, 2021
This series is most known for its controversial plot, but because of that, not many people realize how melancholic this series is.
After reading it all again I couldn't help but feel like this was a soliloquy about life. That no matter how old or young you are you'll be tormented by life, battling hardships, scraping for happiness in order to come out happy. Kodomo no Jikan is very introspective and deals with a lot of heavy themes that are rarely mentioned in media, especially in the West. With the main three girls aging through elementary school you get to experience the female side of sexuality ... 
Jun 6, 2016
Hooboy.
KnJ is a hard review to write. There's nothing easy to say about this manga, other than everything is weighed against the fact that yes, sex sells, and kids are the focus of this work. That said, immediately dispel any preconceived notion you have. There is something great here, one of my favorite pieces, because it tells a story no one else will. Story. The big draw to KnJ for many people is seeing how the MC interacts with Kokonoe Rin, the disturbed 12 year old who projects sexual advances onto him at every turn. It doesn't take long to realize that there's more ... 
Dec 1, 2020
So i start read this in 2020 because my friend recommend me
I read on 12/1 at noon and i think i could enjoy the story The fact that all the story full of teaseness, ecchi stuff, and a lots of adult romance, which means not so suitable for some ppl But then, i start to realize it has some humanity value, teaching, and some events that we might have experienced So i finish to read this at now, it is 12/2 at midnight I may not say that the story was good, or the story was bad, it plays my mood upside down for every events, arcs, and mementos At ... 
Mar 17, 2019
The book hinges mainly upon an interpretation of Rin's actions; some have used the word "seduction" to describe them and others "sexual harassment" — in my opinion the former description is ludicrous and cannot be justified. A lot of people have not seen it this way but to me this is fundamentally a book about Stockholm-syndrome where a character gains a twisted affection for his rapist and all the more interesting through that.
This is perhaps subverted by that the book aptly mixes serious and comedic elements; Rin's advances are sometimes portrayed as humorous childlike innocence and sometimes as grim sexual harassment. Another thing is ...
May 8, 2020
I first found Kodomo no Jikan a few years ago (the anime) and sort of enjoyed it but was put off by the Loli-echhi-ness of it after the first couple episodes. But something about it stuck with me. Perhaps that the characters didn't actually behave as typical Loli-Echhi characters (but were only drawn that way) peaked my curiosity as to what I may have been missing. So, against the brief but brutal recommendation of the "Otaku Guy" I obtained the complete series and this time binged the entire set in a week or so. And as is the typical assumption
...
Apr 5, 2021
heres my take on kodomo no Jikan
I liked it though it was weird how Rin liked the teacher and was masturbating A bit sus but I enjoyed reading it. I thought rin was a cool character mhm. the teacher was an ok pretty boring guy. the girl with the big tits was cool I think her name was Usa. The teacher with the big tits was pretty boring.I kinda hated the lesbian bitch. the story was pretty good and the art was nice. Man, I suck at reviews this my first one. why tf do i have to write more am done |
