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最終兵器彼女 [Saishuu Heiki Kanojo] #1
Saikano: The Last Love Song on This Little Planet, Vol. 01
Frêle et timide lycéenne, Chise est amoureuse de Shuji. Rien de plus banal, sauf qu'une nouvelle guerre mondiale ébranle la planète. Le Japon est victime de sanglants raids aériens. Mais Chise n'est pas aussi fragile qu'elle n'y parait, en réalité, c'est une arme secrète, particulièrement meurtrière, oeuvrant pour le compte du gouvernement.
232 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2000
9 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Shin Takahashi
60 books26 followersShin Takahashi ( 高橋しん, originally 高橋真 Takahashi Shin?, born September 8, 1967) is a Japanese manga artist best known for writing Saikano (She, the Ultimate Weapon) and Iihito. He was born in Shibetsu, Hokkaidō on September 8, 1967.
He has been using computer graphics in his works since the time when few manga artists were able to use them.
He has been using computer graphics in his works since the time when few manga artists were able to use them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 20, 2021
This is a story about sex and death.
This is a series that I've owned for a long time, and Gregorian calendar 2021 is the year I finally take up the challenge of actually sitting down and reading through it.
This is a hard story to read. Not because of the Hokkaido dialect, which is largely limited to sentence-final particles, or the slangy way of talking. Nor is it because of how the main characters are idiot kids, although in a sense that does play into it.
This is a story about sex and death. That is to say, it's a teen romance without all the rough edges sanded off, so all the main characters are both painfully awkward yet sex-obsessed, set against the backdrop of a cataclysmic world war. And while the female lead can somehow transform into an unstoppable war machine, it isn't played as an empowerment fantasy.
The backdrop is horrific. A bombing raid on Hakodate that we catch just a glimpse of is mentioned as having left nearly 50,000 dead and over 60,000 missing. It's implied that Tokyo has been wiped off the map, and that the main characters' hometown is only untouched because the girl has been protecting it - but even there, she's being hunted by spec ops teams.
A lot of Japanese fiction has main characters who are irredeemable schmucks and I get kind of sick of it after a while. In this story, the leads are flawed and bumbling schlimazls... but you really do get the sense that it's because they're just kids, that they're trying hard to figure stuff out and improve, and that they might just more or less have themselves figured out by the time they're in their 20s... if anybody survives that long.
I feel like there's some guiding metaphor that I haven't cogged on to yet, but in any case the story is simultaneously devastating and gritty, but also wrapped in a haze of self-absorbed teenage obliviousness that somehow only makes the horror worse by refusing to engage with it, like the monster that becomes more terrifying when left to the imagination.
Just judging from plot beats I feel like the first volume could technically stand on its own, but it's also very clearly little more than a prologue, and I suppose that if you make it to the end of the book then you've signed on for the entire ride. So far I'd say this series is well worth your time, but emotionally difficult. We'll see how it goes.
This is a series that I've owned for a long time, and Gregorian calendar 2021 is the year I finally take up the challenge of actually sitting down and reading through it.
This is a hard story to read. Not because of the Hokkaido dialect, which is largely limited to sentence-final particles, or the slangy way of talking. Nor is it because of how the main characters are idiot kids, although in a sense that does play into it.
This is a story about sex and death. That is to say, it's a teen romance without all the rough edges sanded off, so all the main characters are both painfully awkward yet sex-obsessed, set against the backdrop of a cataclysmic world war. And while the female lead can somehow transform into an unstoppable war machine, it isn't played as an empowerment fantasy.
The backdrop is horrific. A bombing raid on Hakodate that we catch just a glimpse of is mentioned as having left nearly 50,000 dead and over 60,000 missing. It's implied that Tokyo has been wiped off the map, and that the main characters' hometown is only untouched because the girl has been protecting it - but even there, she's being hunted by spec ops teams.
A lot of Japanese fiction has main characters who are irredeemable schmucks and I get kind of sick of it after a while. In this story, the leads are flawed and bumbling schlimazls... but you really do get the sense that it's because they're just kids, that they're trying hard to figure stuff out and improve, and that they might just more or less have themselves figured out by the time they're in their 20s... if anybody survives that long.
I feel like there's some guiding metaphor that I haven't cogged on to yet, but in any case the story is simultaneously devastating and gritty, but also wrapped in a haze of self-absorbed teenage obliviousness that somehow only makes the horror worse by refusing to engage with it, like the monster that becomes more terrifying when left to the imagination.
Just judging from plot beats I feel like the first volume could technically stand on its own, but it's also very clearly little more than a prologue, and I suppose that if you make it to the end of the book then you've signed on for the entire ride. So far I'd say this series is well worth your time, but emotionally difficult. We'll see how it goes.
September 29, 2021
Rilettura di tutti e 7 i volumi.
Comunque Shin Takahashi diventò allora uno dei miei mangaka preferiti.
Comunque Shin Takahashi diventò allora uno dei miei mangaka preferiti.
August 11, 2020
Es un manga diferente, de los que había leído en este tiempo, ya que es una saga para adultos y aún así, me ha gustado, lo suficiente para darle el visto bueno. El problema que veo es que es demasiado corto en tener poco texto y mucha imagen, no puedo decir mucho de él.
Son una pareja de novios que tienen 17 años, son (Shú y Chise) son tímidos y no son capaces de dirigirse muchas palabras.
Para tratar de vencer la falta de comunicación en la nueva pareja, Chise propone un sistema curioso.
Este volumen cuenta, como los demás, con un índice bastante particular ya que al autor le gusta dividir los mismos en varias escenas o actos.
Mi valoración final 3/5
Son una pareja de novios que tienen 17 años, son (Shú y Chise) son tímidos y no son capaces de dirigirse muchas palabras.
Para tratar de vencer la falta de comunicación en la nueva pareja, Chise propone un sistema curioso.
Este volumen cuenta, como los demás, con un índice bastante particular ya que al autor le gusta dividir los mismos en varias escenas o actos.
Mi valoración final 3/5
August 2, 2015
Saikano is not for everybody. If you can imagine having your spirit beaten with a lead pipe made of sadness and tragedy instead of lead, and that experience seems desirable, you might enjoy Saikano.
As long as you can through the story without any sort of emotional breakdown, there's not much to dislike. The art, atmosphere, and story all fit together beautifully, drawing you completely into their world and making the inevitable resolution that much harder to face. The characters feel real, relatable and completely undeserving of all the horrible things that happen to them. As the story progresses they make the best of bad situations. They overcome hardship and grow together in the process. They show courage in the face of certain tragedy and dignity as they are used as pawns to bring about the end of the world.
This is my favorite love story, my favorite tragedy, and my second favorite war story.
As long as you can through the story without any sort of emotional breakdown, there's not much to dislike. The art, atmosphere, and story all fit together beautifully, drawing you completely into their world and making the inevitable resolution that much harder to face. The characters feel real, relatable and completely undeserving of all the horrible things that happen to them. As the story progresses they make the best of bad situations. They overcome hardship and grow together in the process. They show courage in the face of certain tragedy and dignity as they are used as pawns to bring about the end of the world.
This is my favorite love story, my favorite tragedy, and my second favorite war story.
May 16, 2020
Que estaba pensando cuando decidí lastimarme así XD leyendo esto.
June 19, 2023
Eine wirklich ungewöhnliche Geschichte. Auf den Erzählstil und die Art, wie die Charaktere sich ausdrückend, muss man sich einlassen. Atmosphäre und Handlung sind einerseits friedlich und etwas surreal, andererseits traurig und bedrückend. Ich bin gespannt, zu erfahren, wohin die Geschichte noch führt.
January 31, 2012
Chise and Shuji have just started going out. They both don't know how to act around each other and stress about the little things. One day, their town, Sapporo, is attacked by a foreign nation's air raid. During the raid, a small plane crashes and Shuji chases after it, only to find out it isn't a plane, but a girl with metal wings! The Special Defense Force had taken Chise and developed her into the Ultimate Weapon. The two keep it a secret and continue with their relationship. Chise's frequent absences to fight in the war take a toll on both of them and as Chise progresses and develops her skills as a weapon, the less human she becomes. What can two teenagers in love do?
This manga is PERFECT for me. It flowed so nicely, the story is thoughtful and complex, the art is sweet, and the situation (though it is bizarre) is presented in a way that makes it totally believable. Shuji is easy to connect to and even little Chise is relateable in some ways.
Don't hesitate because of the M for Mature rating - it's just for a brief boob scene.
This manga is PERFECT for me. It flowed so nicely, the story is thoughtful and complex, the art is sweet, and the situation (though it is bizarre) is presented in a way that makes it totally believable. Shuji is easy to connect to and even little Chise is relateable in some ways.
Don't hesitate because of the M for Mature rating - it's just for a brief boob scene.
February 19, 2019
This is an interesting little manga. It starts as being about a boy and a girl who kind of force a relationship to happen that isn't there, and their awkwardness in interacting in a relationship affecting how successful they can be. Ultimately, they restart their ship a quarter of the way through the book when they realize they can make it work because they find attraction to each other's real, awkward personalities. Unfortunately, this takes a massive turn at this point as
The rest of the supporting cast of characters are just there to observe this couple and give advice (they're the typical romcom wingmen and wingwomen in a story that is anything but typical).
This is one of those stories where it teases tragedy again and again, foreshadows, but it just keeps going. I don't know if that adds to the waterworks or helps you cope with what is coming.
The rest of the supporting cast of characters are just there to observe this couple and give advice (they're the typical romcom wingmen and wingwomen in a story that is anything but typical).
This is one of those stories where it teases tragedy again and again, foreshadows, but it just keeps going. I don't know if that adds to the waterworks or helps you cope with what is coming.
October 16, 2024
Well, this is different! It's definitely shojo manga, but not like any shojo manga I've read before. So far, the story is good and the art fits the story. I have six more volumes; I hope the quality keeps up.
May 5, 2018
Pretty cool manga🤔😁👌💕💕💕
Read
July 21, 2020As expected from the anime series, emotionally devastating despite the bizarre premise.
August 9, 2020
A deeply lovely and sad teenager affair in times of war.
November 14, 2020
Ni el arte lo salva.
Si están aburridos y tienen poco criterio para una lectura cortita, adelante.
Si están aburridos y tienen poco criterio para una lectura cortita, adelante.
March 17, 2022
I'm not going to cry on the bus, I'm not going to cry on the bus.
July 19, 2024
stand-in rating for the whole series
April 30, 2025
Takahashi crea un’opera sospesa tra il lirismo e la tragedia, capace di raccontare l’amore e la guerra con rara delicatezza.
Le linee leggere, a volte tremolanti, sembrano esitare sulla carta, restituendo tutta la fragilità dei personaggi: adolescenti spinti troppo presto ai margini dell’umanità.
Un linguaggio visivo perfetto per raccontare una storia che danza costantemente tra sogno e incubo, tra la tenerezza dell’intimità giovanile e l’orrore di un conflitto disumano.
Ogni tavola è attraversata da una malinconia sottile, mai gratuita. Lei, l’arma finale è una lettura che spezza il cuore e allo stesso tempo lo accarezza, riuscendo a trasformare la sofferenza in un racconto di struggente bellezza.
***
Takahashi weaves a tale suspended between lyricism and tragedy, capturing love and war with an exquisite, uncommon grace.
His delicate trembling lines seem to waver on the page, as if echoing the fragility of his characters—teenagers cast too soon to the edges of what it means to be human.
It is a visual language that drifts effortlessly between dream and nightmare, where the softness of young intimacy meets the brutal silence of war.
Each panel is touched by a quiet, aching melancholy—never forced, always true. She, the Final Weapon is a story that shatters the heart even as it softly holds it, turning pain into something hauntingly beautiful.
Le linee leggere, a volte tremolanti, sembrano esitare sulla carta, restituendo tutta la fragilità dei personaggi: adolescenti spinti troppo presto ai margini dell’umanità.
Un linguaggio visivo perfetto per raccontare una storia che danza costantemente tra sogno e incubo, tra la tenerezza dell’intimità giovanile e l’orrore di un conflitto disumano.
Ogni tavola è attraversata da una malinconia sottile, mai gratuita. Lei, l’arma finale è una lettura che spezza il cuore e allo stesso tempo lo accarezza, riuscendo a trasformare la sofferenza in un racconto di struggente bellezza.
***
Takahashi weaves a tale suspended between lyricism and tragedy, capturing love and war with an exquisite, uncommon grace.
His delicate trembling lines seem to waver on the page, as if echoing the fragility of his characters—teenagers cast too soon to the edges of what it means to be human.
It is a visual language that drifts effortlessly between dream and nightmare, where the softness of young intimacy meets the brutal silence of war.
Each panel is touched by a quiet, aching melancholy—never forced, always true. She, the Final Weapon is a story that shatters the heart even as it softly holds it, turning pain into something hauntingly beautiful.
May 25, 2025
ohhhhh fuck this is good
March 23, 2014
I giorni nostri, un qualsiasi liceo del Giappone. Una qualsiasi storia d’amore tra due qualsiasi studenti di quel liceo. È così che si apre Lei, l’arma finale, manga in sette volumetti di Shin Takahashi, autore finora sconosciuto a noi occidentali. Shuji, il protagonista maschile è un ragazzo serioso e occhialuto che sembra più grande della sua età; Chise è ingenuotta e drammaticamente imbranata. Verrebbe voglia di proteggerla, la piccola Chise.
Poche pagine e della qualsiasi storia d’amore non rimane che polvere: Chise nasconde un segreto, un peso enorme per una ragazzina della sua età: il governo l’ ha scelta per degli esperimenti che le hanno martirizzato il corpo trasformandolo in un’arma micidiale, l’arma finale, appunto… Un’arma cruciale in una guerra che il Giappone sta attuando contro degli ignoti nemici la cui identità non verrà mai svelata. I due ce la mettono tutta per salvare la propria storia: Chise dona a Shuji tutta la sua dolcezza, il ragazzo cerca di non farle troppe domande… In realtà Shuji pur amandola ha paura di Chise, ha paura di scoprire ciò che fa durante le sue missioni; non vuole sapere quanto le mani della sua ragazza siano già tinte di sangue.
Significativo che a questo punto entri in scena il personaggio di Fuyumi che è una ex di Shuji e a lui si aggrappa per scacciare via la sua solitudine. Fujumi rappresenta una possibile fuga nella normalità, coraggiosamente rifiutata da un tormentato Shuji.
La vicenda si basa in seguito sui tentativi di Shuji e Chise di salvare un amore quasi impossibile da vivere e arriviamo così all’allucinante e tenero (?) finale che ovviamente non posso svelare.
Il tratto di Takahashi è molto preciso negli sfondi, mentre si fa irreale, evanescente nel rappresentare i personaggi, a volte troppo simili tra di loro. Unica pecca che mi ha fatto storcere un po’il naso è l’insistenza, in alcune tavole, sulle scene di sesso…Spesso si ha la sensazione che sia un modo per “vendere di più”; decisamente poco lodevole per l’autore. Dal manga è stato tratto un anime in 13 episodi distribuiti in Italia dalla Shin Vision.
La guerra ha nel manga un ruolo molto significativo, si direbbe che sia lei stessa la vera protagonista…Non rappresenta Chise il rischio di perdere la propria umanità per via di una guerra che in ogni caso è una via inutile che porta solo all’autodistruzione?
È un’umanità fragile quella che viene rappresentata, indifferente rispetto al disastro che sta succedendo. È un’indifferenza che si tinge di cinismo, è un non voler sapere per non soffrire, per sopravvivere a un dolore altrimenti insopportabile. C’è chi reagisce, chi parte per il fronte per poi rendersi conto che non si è mai abbastanza coraggiosi per essere pronti a uccidere e a morire.. Per cosa poi? Per una guerra che la gente non ha voluto e di cui non si sanno neanche le vere cause.
Gli uomini sanno quel che sta succedendo alla terra, ma non fanno niente per cambiare le cose; preferiscono continuare a credere che niente sia cambiato, vogliono continuare a credere che sia possibile ancora vivere una vita normale. È questa la loro colpa…una colpa che deriva però dalla voglia di amare, dalla speranza di poter continuare ad amare..
Poche pagine e della qualsiasi storia d’amore non rimane che polvere: Chise nasconde un segreto, un peso enorme per una ragazzina della sua età: il governo l’ ha scelta per degli esperimenti che le hanno martirizzato il corpo trasformandolo in un’arma micidiale, l’arma finale, appunto… Un’arma cruciale in una guerra che il Giappone sta attuando contro degli ignoti nemici la cui identità non verrà mai svelata. I due ce la mettono tutta per salvare la propria storia: Chise dona a Shuji tutta la sua dolcezza, il ragazzo cerca di non farle troppe domande… In realtà Shuji pur amandola ha paura di Chise, ha paura di scoprire ciò che fa durante le sue missioni; non vuole sapere quanto le mani della sua ragazza siano già tinte di sangue.
Significativo che a questo punto entri in scena il personaggio di Fuyumi che è una ex di Shuji e a lui si aggrappa per scacciare via la sua solitudine. Fujumi rappresenta una possibile fuga nella normalità, coraggiosamente rifiutata da un tormentato Shuji.
La vicenda si basa in seguito sui tentativi di Shuji e Chise di salvare un amore quasi impossibile da vivere e arriviamo così all’allucinante e tenero (?) finale che ovviamente non posso svelare.
Il tratto di Takahashi è molto preciso negli sfondi, mentre si fa irreale, evanescente nel rappresentare i personaggi, a volte troppo simili tra di loro. Unica pecca che mi ha fatto storcere un po’il naso è l’insistenza, in alcune tavole, sulle scene di sesso…Spesso si ha la sensazione che sia un modo per “vendere di più”; decisamente poco lodevole per l’autore. Dal manga è stato tratto un anime in 13 episodi distribuiti in Italia dalla Shin Vision.
La guerra ha nel manga un ruolo molto significativo, si direbbe che sia lei stessa la vera protagonista…Non rappresenta Chise il rischio di perdere la propria umanità per via di una guerra che in ogni caso è una via inutile che porta solo all’autodistruzione?
È un’umanità fragile quella che viene rappresentata, indifferente rispetto al disastro che sta succedendo. È un’indifferenza che si tinge di cinismo, è un non voler sapere per non soffrire, per sopravvivere a un dolore altrimenti insopportabile. C’è chi reagisce, chi parte per il fronte per poi rendersi conto che non si è mai abbastanza coraggiosi per essere pronti a uccidere e a morire.. Per cosa poi? Per una guerra che la gente non ha voluto e di cui non si sanno neanche le vere cause.
Gli uomini sanno quel che sta succedendo alla terra, ma non fanno niente per cambiare le cose; preferiscono continuare a credere che niente sia cambiato, vogliono continuare a credere che sia possibile ancora vivere una vita normale. È questa la loro colpa…una colpa che deriva però dalla voglia di amare, dalla speranza di poter continuare ad amare..
June 30, 2017
*LA RECENSIONE RIGUARDA L'INTERA SERIE*
Saikano è a metà tra un seinen ed uno josei ed i temi trattati sono l'amore e la voglia di vivere degli esseri umani, di tutti e nessuno escluso, descritti nelle loro tinte più scure, profonde e graffianti.
Anche se fin dall'inizio la storia d'amore dei protagonisti è costantemente presente, non né è mai il fulcro centrale e di questo ne sono estremamente grata!
La trama non scivola mai nella casualità della fantascienza o del solito concetto di guerra o della scontata storia d'amore impossibile.
Chise infatti non è una pilota di un robot super tecnologico, ma è lei stessa l'arma. Un'arma però in continua evoluzione. Il suo essere ingenua e "debole" la rende più... vera e adorabile.
Chise compie crimini inauditi, distruggendo intere città, distruggendo la vita sua e quella di Shuji, il quale cerca in ogni modo di strapparla al suo destino di morte e distruzione, anche se sa che non ha nessuno mezzo per salvarla.
La guerra riesce a diventare un contorno perennemente presente. Verso gli ultimi numeri vediamo solo alcune scene grazie al punto di vista del tenente Tetsu ma comunque mai in modo completo, è tutto lasciato all'immaginazione del lettore eppure Shin Takahashi rende tutto così vivido.
I pensieri e i dialoghi sono stupendi, i disegni, anche se non colmi di particolari e molto abbozzati (sopratutto con gli sfondi e in alcune scene) portano il lettore a concentrarsi di più su quello che si dicono che su quello che effettivamente accade, e fanno comprendere meglio l'ingenuità e la delicatezza dell'amore dei protagonisti.
Questo manga lascia, ad ogni pagina, ogni capitolo e ogni numero, il continuo amaro in bocca ed un velo di tristezza!
Io lo consiglio a tutti coloro che vogliono leggere una storia d'amore e di morte non classica.
Saikano è a metà tra un seinen ed uno josei ed i temi trattati sono l'amore e la voglia di vivere degli esseri umani, di tutti e nessuno escluso, descritti nelle loro tinte più scure, profonde e graffianti.
Anche se fin dall'inizio la storia d'amore dei protagonisti è costantemente presente, non né è mai il fulcro centrale e di questo ne sono estremamente grata!
La trama non scivola mai nella casualità della fantascienza o del solito concetto di guerra o della scontata storia d'amore impossibile.
Chise infatti non è una pilota di un robot super tecnologico, ma è lei stessa l'arma. Un'arma però in continua evoluzione. Il suo essere ingenua e "debole" la rende più... vera e adorabile.
Chise compie crimini inauditi, distruggendo intere città, distruggendo la vita sua e quella di Shuji, il quale cerca in ogni modo di strapparla al suo destino di morte e distruzione, anche se sa che non ha nessuno mezzo per salvarla.
La guerra riesce a diventare un contorno perennemente presente. Verso gli ultimi numeri vediamo solo alcune scene grazie al punto di vista del tenente Tetsu ma comunque mai in modo completo, è tutto lasciato all'immaginazione del lettore eppure Shin Takahashi rende tutto così vivido.
I pensieri e i dialoghi sono stupendi, i disegni, anche se non colmi di particolari e molto abbozzati (sopratutto con gli sfondi e in alcune scene) portano il lettore a concentrarsi di più su quello che si dicono che su quello che effettivamente accade, e fanno comprendere meglio l'ingenuità e la delicatezza dell'amore dei protagonisti.
Questo manga lascia, ad ogni pagina, ogni capitolo e ogni numero, il continuo amaro in bocca ed un velo di tristezza!
Io lo consiglio a tutti coloro che vogliono leggere una storia d'amore e di morte non classica.
January 6, 2016
Évacuons d’abord ce qui m’a déplu, je n’ai pas du tout aimé le graphisme des personnages. J’ai notamment trouvé le visage de Shûji très étrange, avec une forme de menton bizarre.
C’est d’autant plus étonnant que Chise est par contre très belle quand elle est sous forme d’arme.
Au niveau scénario, j’ai également eu un sentiment étrange. Chise et Shûji décident qu’ils vont s’aimer et, partant de là et malgré toutes leurs différences, ils ne vont plus s’éloigner de leur objectif.
Chise n’est pas très attachante. Elle est agaçante et très pénible à toujours vouloir s’excuser pour tout et n’importe quoi. C’est quand elle écrit son journal que j’ai pu la comprendre un peu mieux. Tout comme Shû qui est lui même assez obscur et froid. Heureusement que le manga est écrit de son point de vue pour mieux le cerner.
Si leur histoire a mis du temps à me convaincre, leur obstination à avoir une relation « normale » malgré la guerre et le rôle que Chise y joue a fini par me toucher.
Et puis je suis très intriguée par cette toile de fond. Qu’est ce que c’est que cette guerre ? Pourquoi Chise ? Qu’est ce que lui a fait l’armée ?
C’est d’autant plus étonnant que Chise est par contre très belle quand elle est sous forme d’arme.
Au niveau scénario, j’ai également eu un sentiment étrange. Chise et Shûji décident qu’ils vont s’aimer et, partant de là et malgré toutes leurs différences, ils ne vont plus s’éloigner de leur objectif.
Chise n’est pas très attachante. Elle est agaçante et très pénible à toujours vouloir s’excuser pour tout et n’importe quoi. C’est quand elle écrit son journal que j’ai pu la comprendre un peu mieux. Tout comme Shû qui est lui même assez obscur et froid. Heureusement que le manga est écrit de son point de vue pour mieux le cerner.
Si leur histoire a mis du temps à me convaincre, leur obstination à avoir une relation « normale » malgré la guerre et le rôle que Chise y joue a fini par me toucher.
Et puis je suis très intriguée par cette toile de fond. Qu’est ce que c’est que cette guerre ? Pourquoi Chise ? Qu’est ce que lui a fait l’armée ?
February 28, 2013
An older Manga that never got much attention during it's time, Saikano is actually worth a read. The plot sounds very typical... Chise and Shuji are in high school in a small town and just started dating. Chise is actually a cyborg/robot type being that was engineered by the JSDF to be the ultimate weapon. It sounds very cliche but it stands out where other series sometimes don't. Further throughout the series it gets pretty deep and focuses on the emotional distraught of war from different characters points of view rather than many series that keep it lighthearted and/or focused on stylistic action; although there are plenty of those moments mixed in. To top it off the art style is pretty different and may or may not be to everyone's liking, but it at least achieves something separate from the majority of the giant-eyed anime's of today, the old styles of the 80's, and secures itself a relevant seat amongst other manga/anime in its genre, albeit being 10 or 11 years old now.
March 20, 2013
Saikano is one of those stories that really requires you to let go... especially if you're one of those readers who is not used to sci-fi romance/drama. Yes, this is a cute, budding love story between two teenagers. One of them just happens to be a transformer Ultimate Weapon for the Japanese defense force.
What makes this story great is how believable this plot line actually is. It's in the "near future," so war is not surprising, and the initial steps for Shuji and Chise's relationship are very realistic. Shuji's acceptance and concern over Chise's "condition" really is the beginning of the big mess - Chise is getting stronger and she cannot control the changes very well. And their desire to get away from all this war brings it back around to a more traditional love-story feel. Let the heartbreak begin.
What makes this story great is how believable this plot line actually is. It's in the "near future," so war is not surprising, and the initial steps for Shuji and Chise's relationship are very realistic. Shuji's acceptance and concern over Chise's "condition" really is the beginning of the big mess - Chise is getting stronger and she cannot control the changes very well. And their desire to get away from all this war brings it back around to a more traditional love-story feel. Let the heartbreak begin.
March 16, 2016
เวลาคนเป็นแฟนกัน เขาต้องทำอะไรกันบ้างนะ?
เออ..จริงนะ เป็นคนที่คิดไม่ออก บอกไม่ถูก นึกคำตอบไม่ได้เช่นกัน คนเป็นแฟนกันเขาต้องทำไงบ้างหว่า? อาจเพราะในชีวิตนี้เรามีแค่ช่วงเวลาของการแอบๆรักคนเดียวเท่านั้นอะ ไปไม่ถึงขั้นรัก..กันแบบคนอื่นเขาเสียที 555 TvT
การ์ตูนเรื่องนี้ เขาก็เริ่มมาแบบนั้น คนที่เป็นแฟนกันต้องทำไงบ้าง ถ้าคุณคิดว่าคำถามแค่นั้นไม่เห็นจะต้องไปคิดมากอะไรเลย เออใช่ ถ้าเป็นแค่เด็กวัยรุ่น คนหนุ่มสาวธรรมดาก็คงไม่ต้องคิดหนัก... แต่สำหรับพวกเขาแล้ว สำหรับพระ-นางของเรื่องนี้มันหนักโคตรๆ แม้จะเคยอ่านมาแล้ว (น่าจะนานเกือบจะสิบปี) ก็ยังอึดอัดกับบรรยากาศของเรื่องที่มันมากดทับเรา เรื่องรักวัยรุ่นที่เอาสงครามไร้ที่มาเข้ามาแทรก คล้ายเราจะหวาดหวั่นใจไปพร้อมๆกับพระเอกตลอดเวลา ที่ค่อยๆรู้ความจริงเกี่ยวกับสิ่งที่เกิดกับสภาพของ...นางเอก
เออ..จริงนะ เป็นคนที่คิดไม่ออก บอกไม่ถูก นึกคำตอบไม่ได้เช่นกัน คนเป็นแฟนกันเขาต้องทำไงบ้างหว่า? อาจเพราะในชีวิตนี้เรามีแค่ช่วงเวลาของการแอบๆรักคนเดียวเท่านั้นอะ ไปไม่ถึงขั้นรัก..กันแบบคนอื่นเขาเสียที 555 TvT
การ์ตูนเรื่องนี้ เขาก็เริ่มมาแบบนั้น คนที่เป็นแฟนกันต้องทำไงบ้าง ถ้าคุณคิดว่าคำถามแค่นั้นไม่เห็นจะต้องไปคิดมากอะไรเลย เออใช่ ถ้าเป็นแค่เด็กวัยรุ่น คนหนุ่มสาวธรรมดาก็คงไม่ต้องคิดหนัก... แต่สำหรับพวกเขาแล้ว สำหรับพระ-นางของเรื่องนี้มันหนักโคตรๆ แม้จะเคยอ่านมาแล้ว (น่าจะนานเกือบจะสิบปี) ก็ยังอึดอัดกับบรรยากาศของเรื่องที่มันมากดทับเรา เรื่องรักวัยรุ่นที่เอาสงครามไร้ที่มาเข้ามาแทรก คล้ายเราจะหวาดหวั่นใจไปพร้อมๆกับพระเอกตลอดเวลา ที่ค่อยๆรู้ความจริงเกี่ยวกับสิ่งที่เกิดกับสภาพของ...นางเอก
November 14, 2016
I have never read a manga novel before and this was my first. It may be a long time before I read my second.
I can safely say that manga just isn't my thing. I can certainly appreciate the great artwork and storytelling involved but it just didn't resonate. I was never a comic book kid either.. my interest has always involved the written word. Saikano is a great story and I can see why it is popular. Please do not let my personal thoughts impact your decision to read this book. If graphic novels are your thing, I am sure you will love this book.
I can safely say that manga just isn't my thing. I can certainly appreciate the great artwork and storytelling involved but it just didn't resonate. I was never a comic book kid either.. my interest has always involved the written word. Saikano is a great story and I can see why it is popular. Please do not let my personal thoughts impact your decision to read this book. If graphic novels are your thing, I am sure you will love this book.
October 24, 2024
The art is a little sketchy and hard-to-follow at times, but there's a surprising amount of humor and levity to this story about two very awkward, kinda horny teenagers trying to figure out the ins and outs of being in a relationship and caring for each other, even as absolutely dire outside circumstances close in on them.
Takahashi writes his star-crossed lovers with equal parts realism and compassion, and by the end it's hard not to feel for the two, even as one seemingly starts to lose her humanity.
Takahashi writes his star-crossed lovers with equal parts realism and compassion, and by the end it's hard not to feel for the two, even as one seemingly starts to lose her humanity.
August 30, 2007
everything. I cry everytime i read the end and at about 6 points inbetween. It's about humanity, the end of the world, love and a thousand other things. It's something I absolutley think every single person ever should read. Oh and there are 7 volumes to the story but im not going to add every one.Anyways, i tell people they should read it but no one does. I really, honestly, think it's important that everyone read this.
March 18, 2011
Et si vous appreniez que votre petite copine est une arme de destruction massive du gouvernement? Comment réagir face à l'évolution autonome de son armement qui, peu à peu, lui fait perdre son humanité?
Saikano nous propose une histoire d'amour improbable entre un garçon normal et une fille d'apparence fragile mais au lourd fardeau. Entre hésitations, amour et devoir, quelle sera l'issue de cette romance impossible d'un couple qui veut exister?
Saikano nous propose une histoire d'amour improbable entre un garçon normal et une fille d'apparence fragile mais au lourd fardeau. Entre hésitations, amour et devoir, quelle sera l'issue de cette romance impossible d'un couple qui veut exister?
June 26, 2012
Just as the title says, sad story. It's depressing, so if you are into that kind of story like I am, this is definitely for you. Poor Chise is so shy and timid, but she is given such power. The story is about how she manages with this new power and her love for Shuji. She struggles so much, and to be honest, I don't think anyone is really there to help her. Shuji in my opinion is rather pathetic. That's what I have to say about that.
October 15, 2012
Esta historia es más triste que aquella que Pinky y Cerebro habían escrito con el objetivo de deprimir a los presidentes del mundo para que les entregaran el mundo. Un manga bastante perturbador y con una onda melanco como no vi en casi ningún otro lado.
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