(WARNING: THIS MANGA MENTIONS TOPICS LIKE CHILD ABUSE, PEDOPHILIA, DEPRESSION AND OTHER MENTAL ISSUES. DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ANY OF THOSE TOPICS.)
Kodomo No Jikan is a story written and illustrated by the mangaka Kaworu Watashiya.
The manga was serialized between May 2005 and April 2013 in Futabasha's "Comic High!" magazine and it has 93 chapters and 13 volumes along with extra chapters and side stories. The story also has 2 anime adaptations that put together have 15 episodes (12+3 of the second season) along with 3 OVAs and one recap episode of the first series.
The story is very controversial especially from person to person(Similar to Lolita's book) and it is easy to understand why, since its Lolicon content and other quite disturbing subjects it portraits.
It starts with the young adult Aoki Daisuke, who finally has found his first job in a elementary school as a teacher, mainly of Japanese Grammar and Literature.
He will not expect however, his encounter with three little girls: Rin Kokonoe, Mimi Usa, and Kagami Kuro.
Especially Kokonoe, will have a strong impression of him right from the start, having what you could describe as "Love at first sight" feeling, and will try in all possible (and often uncomfortable, illegal and funny ways) to seduce him and make he see her as a woman (even if she is indeed still a child)
However, she is a child, only in age and body. With the story progressing, Aoki sensei will discover that all three of them, have very dark surroundings and very complex mind, with mature type of thinking.
Especially Rin Kokonoe, has a very dark secret.
Now, let's try to get to know this story better, starting on reflecting a bit about the lack of morality that many people find in it and why because of that, it is such a huge turn off for many.
First thing first, I can't deny that this review will have a lot of my personal thinking, but I'm sure it conveys about many objective facts socially speaking.
I absolutely love this story. Like, I have a huge passion for it, for everything it represents. Because Kodomo No Jikan, it's not just a softcore hentai and all comedy and stuff, to please the male audience.
Even the title, is amazingly great. The story also talks about the tragic childhood of other adults. The " Child's time" (The literal translation of the manga's title) it's not just children's time. It's about all of us. We all were kids, we all were one time. This also tho show, how precious our childhood is and also the effects it has on adults' type of thinking.
Most people would find it cute/sexy (not my case) or the reading of it pretty unsetting and disturbing.
However, I think that most of the plot, along with trying to lower our standards of "fake cleanliness" (This is undeniable) is to criticize such topics
Sounds weird right? Even though some of the anime tries to show its real message a bit, it almost seems like it's just a failed attempt to make it seem more interesting and deep than it actually is, to try to conceal and justify its lolicon content.
However it's not quite like this. It is almost the opposite in reality.
It could be true, it could be the first impression it gives off.
But it's not just that. This is incredibly fascinating as well, it almost seems like the author predicted the whole thing just like if all this was her wish, even if it probably was just a coincidence or accident.
People just judge by first impressions.
I can assure however, that in the manga especially, all these "little impressions and hints" that almost seems fake or excessively creepy for the poor seriousness this story has, are all explained and portraited with care. With its comedy, I'm sure it can be easily seens as dark humour.
This also gives you many think to reflect about. Adults prefer to ignore the possibility that kids may have such mature way of thinking and behaving, especially in the sexual manner.
However, do you know why many of us are "mature"?
From the magnificent adults of course.
From their world and education, even if they try so hard to keep us away from it, or not or even just pretending to, so that they can put their heads minds on ease.
Nobody wants trouble I guess.
In this story, there is so much criticism made on domestic violence, emotional abuse, rape and pedophilia, chikan, gender inequality, over-sexualization not of just young girls but also women in general.
Don't forget that this manga, was written by a woman, not a man. I really doubt that not female gaze can be seen here.
"Burusera" shops were also mentioned.
Burusera shops used to be shops in Japan, that selled female students' clothes, primarily underwear and socks of course, I mean.
Sometimes they weren't even washed, to satisfy the costumers and buyers' feticisms. Girls would gain money from it if they needed, even a lot amount of it.
Sometimes along with the clothes, they would also show pictures of their bodies and/ or faces. I guess, to double the customers's satisfaction?
Theoretically speaking, those stores were banned in 2004, but who knows since prostitution is legal in Japan, and who knows what more happens in Kabukicho.
Sexual business sells a lot.
That said, I don't think people with "Perfect Morality" exists.
I don't even think morality exists in the first place.
Of course this doesn't make this type of thing normal at all, but since when we are so concerned of what is normal and what's not?
Our thought-process works like this:
It happens=it doesn't change=Normal
Or not, let me explain even better:
It happens=Not Normal=doesn't change with time or small actions /most people in power rule the world and they DO NOT have good intentions and neither keep the humanity's well being at heart= paassively accept it and conforms to it, either completely or either living suffering from it but trying to not think about it since you can't change a thing.
しょうがない (Shouganai) I guess?
Even so, people do not realize this is what makes world and life so hard and unfair for everyone . This all is deteriorating us, and our joy and love for life.
Furthermore, no true happiness neither freedom can be found in such a controlling envinronment.
Speaking with my experience, I don't think I ever had the possibility to be careefree or childish.
Since I was a kid. I could perfectly see the adults' wrong doing, and I often ended up in trouble, especially with them of course, since I tried many times to rebel against them.
I couldn't help it, for me, it wasn't enough to tell me I shouldn't do or say something because "It must be done like this", "It's the law", it's that and this.
"You should follow what adults say".
I don't care about that. Why?
I want to know why.
Why is my way of thinking and behaving wrong? Why are you superior or smarter than me only because you are older? Why should I follow what you say?
I couldn't accept it without any reason to, especially if those things weren't true.
I didn't want to basically erase my existence.
Existence isn't just your body. We have muscles and a brain for a reason I wanna hope.
At least this thing, I want it to have a reason and an answer, otherwise my god.
I wonder if this is the main reason I'm not used to be happy.
But there is nothing worse than any type of fake happiness, like what kind of horror movie scenario is that?
Are you seriously telling me, that in order to be happy" (or not even be happy at this point, maybe along with morality no true happiness exists either) but in order to not "suffer that much", I should accept all this wrong I see wherever I turn my head too?
This is sick. I don't like this, I can't help it.
I think this is why I was able to appreciate Kodomo No Jikan so much. I think it is a perfectly accurate rappresentation of what I had to go through while I was growing up. A perfect rappresentaion of children not bein heard or taken seriously in basically all aspects of their growth. The objectifications of females too.
Before being children, they are human beings with wishes, fears and feelings.
Also, I don't think that true love has anything to do with age but I guess this is another topic and honestly I prefer to not brag too much about it, especially because I still don't know what love is myself. But in the end, at least Aoki sensei wasn't feeling only sexual attraction towards Kokonoe, he also respected her persona and whom she truly was.
He even said: "She is so much stronger than what she seems even if she is so young and small.She is more mature even than me, I wish I had taken her seriously much sooner than I did."
You heard it right, he said "taking it seriously". In a responsible way.
I was surprised too trust me, I thought (of course by just the first impression) he was just a perverted, sick and disgusting virgin teacher too, to make a Kagami's perfect imitation.
At this point, small changes may be important too.
Of course, I can't help but hope for bigger changes, also because I would like tolive in that environment, where true happiness, freedom and individuality exists.
Not much has changed since some centuries ago and even not in all countries (incredibly disappointing and upsetting I should say) but still, small changes came.
Even from my experience, I noticed that most changes, comes from time.
I wanna hope that in the next centuries, finally the world open its eyes.
I wanna remain alive until that day.
Even just to see a small part of it, really. If I even was capable to do a contribution for it to happen, It would truly be an honour for me.
Most of my reviews are not analyzing the work itself, but what it means to me and what was the message it was able to convey my love for the manga ( which is my favourite) and by that also express the beauty it has.
Maybe the next time, aside from talking about my feelings, I should try re-watching or re-reaing the work first and take notes while doing so.
I would be really happy if my review made you feel something.
Thanks for reading it and have a great time on mal along with an exciting summer vacation! <3
