Feb 18, 2017
There's nothing to be spoiled when the synopsis gives everything away, but all you need to know is that Mizutama Puzzle is a very standard but cute (even endearing) Josei manga that delivers everything it needs to in its two short chapters, so you won't get disappointed reading it.
Its main strength is mainly in the artwork. To be honest, the whole reason I've bumped it to a 6 is because of just how gorgeously drawn the woman's design and facial expressions are. From my very subjective standpoint, Tamako is a 10/10 career woman, info of which is probably not helpful but was important in
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my enjoyment while reading. Even more, she's different from other Josei female protagonists in that she's much older than the guy (8 years older), acts like it, has a grounded, weary personality and wow, she is just gorgeous!
It is also interesting to note that this is Hidaka Shoko's first manga without any sort of male/male romance or relationship. Now if you don't know about Hidaka Shoko, she's a popular author of the shounen-ai/yaoi genre and the creator of two of my favourite mangas of all time (Hana wa Saku ka, Yuuutsu na Asa), which is how I came across this manga at all. The fact that Tamako is older than the male MC (who looks suspiciously like a few of her other gay characters) is humour not lost on me, as it's a consistent favourite trait across all her stories of hardworking, weathered, older men struggling with the idea of being infatuated with younger guys.
Maybe that's partially why I'm so in love with Tamako, as she's an inversion of a trope Hidaka likes to use. Anyways, you won't be disappointed reading Mizutama Puzzle! But I can't promise that it'll be your fav either. It's overall a good romance manga, but take a look at Hidaka's other work and her main strengths as an author will show up more.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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