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Danza
Danza is a collection of stories about being a foreigner, sometimes even in your own home. Quiet, comtemplative and subtle, Danza collects some of Ono's best short work.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Natsume Ono
99 books106 followersNatsume Ono (Japanese name: オノ・ナツメ) made her professional debut in 2003 with the webcomic La Quinta Camera. Her subsequent works not simple, Ristorante Paradiso, and Gente (a continuation of Ristorante Paradiso) met with both critical and popular acclaim. In 2009 Ristorante Paradiso was adapted into a TV anime series. Her current series House of Five Leaves (Saraiya Goyou), also adapted into a TV anime series in 2010, is running in IKKI magazine.
(http://www.sigikki.com/creators/natsu...)
She also writes BL under the pen name of basso.
(http://www.sigikki.com/creators/natsu...)
She also writes BL under the pen name of basso.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 20, 2024
Another short story collection from Natsume Ono! Compared to
Tesoro,
this is more of a mixed bag. The ones I don't like really don't work for me. While these stories are certainly ambitious, they're also convoluted. One of the worst offenders is "Smoke": it took me a while to properly figure out the characters' relationships with one another. Still, I appreciate that she's branching out and trying new things.
Favorites:
"Rubber Boots"
"Diorama"
"The Gelateria and the Carabinieri"
Favorites:
"Rubber Boots"
"Diorama"
"The Gelateria and the Carabinieri"
November 18, 2013
3.5 Some of the stories were much better than others. Good, solid work from Ono.
March 5, 2018
Every story in this collection is incredibly sweet and spun with talent. Just love Ono's style and stories, always.
May 27, 2023
Random gem I picked up at Anime North, these finds make those sketchy ass mega cheap book sales so thrilling to go to every time LOL. It's always so weird to me that there's so much media out there that I'll never get to experience that I'll definitely love just because of language barriers or by chance and whatnot :(
In any case, fun collection of short stories about bonds between men, father/son as well as with friends and family. I always feel that relationships between guys are slightly more contentious : like it ressembles a sort of battle of convictions? Or idk, like a game of chicken where neither side wants to cede before the other, pride simply doesn't let it. I don't think it's a bad thing honestly as getting through this phase really makes for some great friendships - when both sides eventually break down their own barriers and can finally see each other, that initial impact of this initial struggle seems to make the relationship more profound.
That's how this book feels like, a representation of the many ways the abovementioned scenario takes place. Sometimes this fight is brief, e.g friends from the get go, or it can be long-lasting e.g father/son relationships. But once the battle is done, there is connection. I guess the lesson is to dare to express your doubts and your regrets. That the idea of being a hardened unbothered man is perhaps not what masculinity should be. Is it not less "manly", that is to say cowardly, to declare yourself to be unbothered by others when it in reality stems from one's fear of being judged? I would say so - rather strength (and masculinity ig) I'd argue is the ability to recognize your own bravado and then take real action to solve your problems.
I don't think I can ever give a full 5/5 to short stories (I probably have I'm too lazy to check) since they are all too short to properly flesh out a character and plot so they all feel somewhat shallow. It sucks that some of them weren't longer really, I liked the farm one and the cranky japanese guy a lot, it's a shame that they were so short. Oh and the art was really pretty, if I ever get to making a comic, it'd have an art style like this probably.
In any case, fun collection of short stories about bonds between men, father/son as well as with friends and family. I always feel that relationships between guys are slightly more contentious : like it ressembles a sort of battle of convictions? Or idk, like a game of chicken where neither side wants to cede before the other, pride simply doesn't let it. I don't think it's a bad thing honestly as getting through this phase really makes for some great friendships - when both sides eventually break down their own barriers and can finally see each other, that initial impact of this initial struggle seems to make the relationship more profound.
That's how this book feels like, a representation of the many ways the abovementioned scenario takes place. Sometimes this fight is brief, e.g friends from the get go, or it can be long-lasting e.g father/son relationships. But once the battle is done, there is connection. I guess the lesson is to dare to express your doubts and your regrets. That the idea of being a hardened unbothered man is perhaps not what masculinity should be. Is it not less "manly", that is to say cowardly, to declare yourself to be unbothered by others when it in reality stems from one's fear of being judged? I would say so - rather strength (and masculinity ig) I'd argue is the ability to recognize your own bravado and then take real action to solve your problems.
I don't think I can ever give a full 5/5 to short stories (I probably have I'm too lazy to check) since they are all too short to properly flesh out a character and plot so they all feel somewhat shallow. It sucks that some of them weren't longer really, I liked the farm one and the cranky japanese guy a lot, it's a shame that they were so short. Oh and the art was really pretty, if I ever get to making a comic, it'd have an art style like this probably.
January 29, 2025
Natsume Ono more like Godsume Ono!!!
Diorama and Smoke were my favorites. Also this was loaned to me from a library near my hometown in Nebraska and I got to read it while it rains peacefully outside and there were tiny bits of orange peel nestled in the spine of the book so the whole book smelled softly of citrus and that's the ideal Natsume Ono reading experience.
Diorama and Smoke were my favorites. Also this was loaned to me from a library near my hometown in Nebraska and I got to read it while it rains peacefully outside and there were tiny bits of orange peel nestled in the spine of the book so the whole book smelled softly of citrus and that's the ideal Natsume Ono reading experience.
July 6, 2017
Weird translations.
November 30, 2020
A short story collection. Each piece is thoughtful. Touches of humor. Always honest. I love Ono's work.
December 30, 2020
De verdad adoro la escritura de la autora. Logra hacer que me interese por los personajes en los pocos instantes que los conocí en esta antología, y su arte me encanta.
March 1, 2017
While still not among my favorite manga, I did enjoy this book by Natsume Ono more than the previous one I read (Tesoro). I find the combination of Italian locales/themes and Japanese culture, all translated into English, to be sometimes problematic for me. This collection focuses on the relationships between fathers and sons, brothers, and partners. I particularly enjoyed "Diorama" about a somewhat cranky Japanese man trying to relate to his German son-in-law. I found the ending of that story to be quite touching. The final story, "Partners" was also very enjoyable, tracing the developing relationship between two police partners as the new, young officer comes to trust and understand his more experienced partner.
July 28, 2014
3.5
A few vignettes of different lives, very much in the same style as Ono's previous works. I enjoyed reading each story to it's conclusion, which weren't always all peaches and roses etc. I like the subdued art, dialog and over all feel of Ono's stories, where not everything has to be said out. I prefer her longer works, just when I felt I was getting into the meat of one of these short stories it was over, a too short taste of Ono's superb storytelling.
The variety of stories, characters and situations is as usual quite wide-ranging (esp. compared to most manga-ka who stick to what they know). Even sci-fi elements can be found within the collection.
Any fans from previous works, such as Gente, Not Simple, etc. will enjoy this collection and no doubt wish for more.
A few vignettes of different lives, very much in the same style as Ono's previous works. I enjoyed reading each story to it's conclusion, which weren't always all peaches and roses etc. I like the subdued art, dialog and over all feel of Ono's stories, where not everything has to be said out. I prefer her longer works, just when I felt I was getting into the meat of one of these short stories it was over, a too short taste of Ono's superb storytelling.
The variety of stories, characters and situations is as usual quite wide-ranging (esp. compared to most manga-ka who stick to what they know). Even sci-fi elements can be found within the collection.
Any fans from previous works, such as Gente, Not Simple, etc. will enjoy this collection and no doubt wish for more.
June 19, 2014
6 short stories linked in the theme of people getting to know someone that would normally be close to them. Some stories are sad, some happy and some in between. A lot of characterisation in a small short amount of space. The whole book is deconstructed in style and content, but only in such a way as to get to the real story with no needless padding.
Danza is not Natsume Ono's best work, but it is still very good and I enjoyed it greatly.
Danza is not Natsume Ono's best work, but it is still very good and I enjoyed it greatly.
January 22, 2013
A wonderful book about interpersonal relationships that will leave you with a slightly melancholy warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart. Loved it, will definitely revisit these short, very digestible stories when I need a reminder of how tricky and yet rewarding platonic relationships are.
Favorite stories: Diorama, and Smoke.
Favorite stories: Diorama, and Smoke.
February 1, 2013
Profound and well drawn, this early collection of a variety of thought provoking short stories is excellent. While it doesn't quiet equal Not Simple in complexity or artwork, it well worth owning and reading.
June 14, 2013
I liked the intent of this book - collection of short stories about human connection/bonding. But not all the stories were strong. The first two were quite thoughtful and deep. But past that, I wonder if something was lost in translation - the remaining concepts/stories were too abstract for me.
January 26, 2013
Historias sencillas y emotivas. Estrellita a la del policía y los helados
February 27, 2013
very sweet - loved "Rubber Boots" and "The Gelateria and the Carabinieri"
August 28, 2014
I blinked and the stories were over. Didn't really do anything for me, maybe my focus was shot for the day. Will try again later. Loved Tesoro but this one is just okay.
January 25, 2016
Great premise-that's why I bought it. Poor delivery of what it promised-that's why I gave up reading it , 60% into it
January 30, 2016
Some stories were better than others, but the ones that were good were great. And it was cool to see the variation in Ono's stuff, even if the stories varied in grabbiness.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews