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おおきく振りかぶって [Ookiku Furikabutte] #1
おおきく振りかぶって（１）
県外の高校に進学した卑屈で弱気なピッチャー・三橋廉(みはし・れん)。見学するだけと訪れたものの強引に入部させられたのは、全員１年生(くせ者揃い)に女監督(コワイ)という創設まもない野球部だった！ オレらのエースは暗くて卑屈。勝つために、弱気なエースのために。行け、オレら！ 読むとためになり、しかも血沸き肉躍り涙する。絶対に面白い本格高校野球漫画！
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2004
4 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Asa Higuchi
46 books12 followersAsa Higuchi (Japanese name: ひぐち アサ) is a Japanese manga artist, born in 1970 in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture (now part of Saitama City). She graduated from Saitama Prefecture's prestigious Urawanishi High School and Hosei University's department of psychology, with a major in sports psychology. During her high school days, she was a member of her school's softball team, which would go on to be an inspiration in her work Ōkiku Furikabutte as well as her high school which is featured in detail (the school now advertising the manga and anime on their website).
In 1998, Higuchi won noted seinen manga magazine Afternoon's Shiki competition with her work Yuku tokoro. It was noted for the unique relationships shared by its characters and was subsequently published in the August issue of the magazine, thus marking her debut as a manga artist. She is currently working on Ōkiku Furikabutte, which has spanned 32 volumes to date and being serialized in the monthly Afternoon. It won the 10th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for best creative work in 2006, and the 31st Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2007
In 1998, Higuchi won noted seinen manga magazine Afternoon's Shiki competition with her work Yuku tokoro. It was noted for the unique relationships shared by its characters and was subsequently published in the August issue of the magazine, thus marking her debut as a manga artist. She is currently working on Ōkiku Furikabutte, which has spanned 32 volumes to date and being serialized in the monthly Afternoon. It won the 10th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for best creative work in 2006, and the 31st Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2007
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 4, 2015
A great sports manga and a really touching coming-of-age story with incredibly likable characters which I cannot recommend highly enough.
I had heard good things about this manga, and it was recommended to me when I was looking for more sports manga to read. But I have to admit, since I knew next to nothing about baseball (I mean that, I was actually shocked that I knew so little), it was really difficult to get into it. So when I got the tip to try watching the anime first, I did that, and I have to say, it was a good tip (although the baseball stuff is still really difficult to understand at times). At this point I've read all the chapters of the manga that are available, and I have watched most episodes of the anime as well (and both in less in a week, which should tell you something. Like the fact that I was on vacation. Also, that I could neither stop watching or reading, so.) While watching the first season, I was ahead of the manga, but watching the anime for the games is really a lot more nerve-wrecking than reading it, so I did it the other way round starting with season two.
As I mentioned in the first sentence, this series has two main things going for it: the baseball part and the coming-of-age part. Don't worry, I'm going to elaborate (me liking a series equals novel-length reviews..).
Even for a baseball newbie as me, the baseball part was really interesting and captivating. I definitely learned a lot, and I was surprised how much strategy is involved in baseball. All in all, Oofuri follows the usual course for a sports manga, sometimes the protagonists' team wins against incredible odds, then it loses, trains more, gets stronger. I read a review somewhere complaining that the games are too long sometimes, and while I would agree that the Tosei game was really long, well, it's a sports manga, so there are going to be games. This is probably something that feels drawn out more if you're not reading it in one go (I remember feeling like that about the last Kaijou - Serin game in Kuroko no Basket which seemed to go on forever). There's also a lot of background explanation, like the effects of meditation and drills, and the reasons for seemingly small stuff like the choices of which tasks you have to do (like cooking meals).
Also, (and this is already connected to the second point) it shows the process of becoming a team very well, since the team consists of first-years from the start, so everyone slowly gets to know each other better and learn each others' strengths and preferences and such. The mangaka also lets the boys be boys, and not only does she include the players themselves, but also their parents (I LOVE the moms) and the cheering squad and so on. You also sometimes end up caring about the opposing team as well (like Tosei, not so much for Bijo), which I always find impressive. She does a good job of showing the emotions involved - the pressure, the dreams, the hopes, the disappointment. It does get really emotional, like all good manga. There's also plenty of humor and it's a very fun read. But it's serious as well - not just regarding the sports stuff, but the overall psychological stuff as well.
Which brings me to the other thing I loved about the series, the one that touched me the most: Mihashi's story.
Mihashi is the pitcher, and he used to be a pitcher in middle school, too. However, everyone at that school's team - including Mihashi himself- thought the was the team's ace simply because it was his grandfather's school. As a result, everyone ignored him outside of practice (and I can tell you, that is one of the worst forms of bullying there is) and tried to intimidate him to vacate his spot on the mound. So when he's starting high school, he's a very timid boy who stutters a lot and who has zero confidence in himself. Still, he wants to be the team's ace. And he gets to be, with Abe as his catcher.
Now, Mihashi and Abe's relationship is one of the reasons why I think this manga is so amazing. Abe is - not very patient, and gets loud really easily. And Mihashi gets intimidated easily. Also, Abe isn't very good at communicating in general, and it takes them a long while to form a proper partnership. And that's what I like about it - very often, this is a thing that happens in a few chapters, but in Oofuri's case I'd say we're finally getting there, and it's chapter 93 at the moment. There's a constant development, but it's definitely not easy for both of them.
Another complaint I've read somewhere is that Mihashi's behaviour is unrealistic. Now, while obviously some of the drawings are comical exaggeration, his behaviour is spot-on. I think everyone who's been a victim of bullying can relate to at least some aspects of his behaviour - the self-blame, the focusing on the runs of the other team rather than the outs (I hope I got that right..), the timidness, the lack of confidence. The desire to please everyone, not daring to voice one's thoughts. What actually hurt me the most was how he always goes, "That guy is a nice person" whenever someone simply doesn't act like a complete dick towards him.
Being able to follow his (and his teammates') path is a real treat, and it's the kind of series you can lose your heart to. I certainly did.
(P.S. After hitting save, I realized I completely neglected to talk about Momoe, and now I can't think of a good way to fit it in, so let me just say that she is an amazing coach and character and I worship at her feet. She's FANTASTIC.)
I had heard good things about this manga, and it was recommended to me when I was looking for more sports manga to read. But I have to admit, since I knew next to nothing about baseball (I mean that, I was actually shocked that I knew so little), it was really difficult to get into it. So when I got the tip to try watching the anime first, I did that, and I have to say, it was a good tip (although the baseball stuff is still really difficult to understand at times). At this point I've read all the chapters of the manga that are available, and I have watched most episodes of the anime as well (and both in less in a week, which should tell you something. Like the fact that I was on vacation. Also, that I could neither stop watching or reading, so.) While watching the first season, I was ahead of the manga, but watching the anime for the games is really a lot more nerve-wrecking than reading it, so I did it the other way round starting with season two.
As I mentioned in the first sentence, this series has two main things going for it: the baseball part and the coming-of-age part. Don't worry, I'm going to elaborate (me liking a series equals novel-length reviews..).
Even for a baseball newbie as me, the baseball part was really interesting and captivating. I definitely learned a lot, and I was surprised how much strategy is involved in baseball. All in all, Oofuri follows the usual course for a sports manga, sometimes the protagonists' team wins against incredible odds, then it loses, trains more, gets stronger. I read a review somewhere complaining that the games are too long sometimes, and while I would agree that the Tosei game was really long, well, it's a sports manga, so there are going to be games. This is probably something that feels drawn out more if you're not reading it in one go (I remember feeling like that about the last Kaijou - Serin game in Kuroko no Basket which seemed to go on forever). There's also a lot of background explanation, like the effects of meditation and drills, and the reasons for seemingly small stuff like the choices of which tasks you have to do (like cooking meals).
Also, (and this is already connected to the second point) it shows the process of becoming a team very well, since the team consists of first-years from the start, so everyone slowly gets to know each other better and learn each others' strengths and preferences and such. The mangaka also lets the boys be boys, and not only does she include the players themselves, but also their parents (I LOVE the moms) and the cheering squad and so on. You also sometimes end up caring about the opposing team as well (like Tosei, not so much for Bijo), which I always find impressive. She does a good job of showing the emotions involved - the pressure, the dreams, the hopes, the disappointment. It does get really emotional, like all good manga. There's also plenty of humor and it's a very fun read. But it's serious as well - not just regarding the sports stuff, but the overall psychological stuff as well.
Which brings me to the other thing I loved about the series, the one that touched me the most: Mihashi's story.
Mihashi is the pitcher, and he used to be a pitcher in middle school, too. However, everyone at that school's team - including Mihashi himself- thought the was the team's ace simply because it was his grandfather's school. As a result, everyone ignored him outside of practice (and I can tell you, that is one of the worst forms of bullying there is) and tried to intimidate him to vacate his spot on the mound. So when he's starting high school, he's a very timid boy who stutters a lot and who has zero confidence in himself. Still, he wants to be the team's ace. And he gets to be, with Abe as his catcher.
Now, Mihashi and Abe's relationship is one of the reasons why I think this manga is so amazing. Abe is - not very patient, and gets loud really easily. And Mihashi gets intimidated easily. Also, Abe isn't very good at communicating in general, and it takes them a long while to form a proper partnership. And that's what I like about it - very often, this is a thing that happens in a few chapters, but in Oofuri's case I'd say we're finally getting there, and it's chapter 93 at the moment. There's a constant development, but it's definitely not easy for both of them.
Another complaint I've read somewhere is that Mihashi's behaviour is unrealistic. Now, while obviously some of the drawings are comical exaggeration, his behaviour is spot-on. I think everyone who's been a victim of bullying can relate to at least some aspects of his behaviour - the self-blame, the focusing on the runs of the other team rather than the outs (I hope I got that right..), the timidness, the lack of confidence. The desire to please everyone, not daring to voice one's thoughts. What actually hurt me the most was how he always goes, "That guy is a nice person" whenever someone simply doesn't act like a complete dick towards him.
Being able to follow his (and his teammates') path is a real treat, and it's the kind of series you can lose your heart to. I certainly did.
(P.S. After hitting save, I realized I completely neglected to talk about Momoe, and now I can't think of a good way to fit it in, so let me just say that she is an amazing coach and character and I worship at her feet. She's FANTASTIC.)
June 18, 2017
Read from volume 1 to 27. This manga series is currently on hiatus because the mangaka is about to give birth to her second child. So I have to wait until July for the next chapter. Anyway, this manga is very different from other baseball manga I've read so far. There are lots of explanations about training and the game itself so it was very educational. I like the characterizations of the team members (love Abe and Tajima so much!) and I enjoy seeing their progress as the series goes on. I just hope that eventually the art will improve. Sometimes I can't differentiate who is who. But overall, I love reading this series again and again. :)
July 22, 2019
I like protagonist, Ren Mihashi because he has a strong will to play baseball, so he came to observe at first day. I’m so glad that Ren could meet his new team members and Momoe. No matter how long it takes, they always listen to him and Momoe can understand him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 19, 2020baseball....
September 23, 2020
im soft
Tenía pendiente hace años a estas wawas
Tenía pendiente hace años a estas wawas
April 24, 2020
Mihashi is a high school freshman with a desperate desire to play baseball, if not for the crippling anxiety that has prevented him from previously excelling at the sport and earned him the hatred of his middle school teammates. At his new high school, he meets Abe, an entitled but nonetheless fascinated catcher determined to mold Mihashi into a true ace.
REP: MC with severe social anxiety
PROS:
- Comforting message. I’m rereading this series, but I’ll never get over just how relatable Mihashi’s predicament is. Even if my own case with anxiety isn’t exactly similar, I relate so much to his constant, crippling fear that no matter the dedication, my efforts won’t be enough, so to see him begin to grow past that mindset is very cathartic.
- Existence of a world outside of baseball.The thing that I love about Oofuri is that while it’s a series centered around baseball, ultimately it’s about personal growth and reformation of courage in the face of past trauma. Baseball is just a medium for this growth to be displayed, and that’s okay!
- Long chapters. Oofuri chapters tend to be around seventy pages long (versus the classic twenty pages), and I think it works better because it doesn’t sacrifice Mihashi’s personal storyline for the sake of the quick, high stakes of most sports manga.
- Characters that feel real! As I said before, baseball is just a medium for this story. I’ve always loved that the characters have personalities that exist outside of baseball. They’re just teenage boys and it’s a very palpable, believable image.
CONS:
FINAL RATING: 5
REP: MC with severe social anxiety
PROS:
- Comforting message. I’m rereading this series, but I’ll never get over just how relatable Mihashi’s predicament is. Even if my own case with anxiety isn’t exactly similar, I relate so much to his constant, crippling fear that no matter the dedication, my efforts won’t be enough, so to see him begin to grow past that mindset is very cathartic.
- Existence of a world outside of baseball.The thing that I love about Oofuri is that while it’s a series centered around baseball, ultimately it’s about personal growth and reformation of courage in the face of past trauma. Baseball is just a medium for this growth to be displayed, and that’s okay!
- Long chapters. Oofuri chapters tend to be around seventy pages long (versus the classic twenty pages), and I think it works better because it doesn’t sacrifice Mihashi’s personal storyline for the sake of the quick, high stakes of most sports manga.
- Characters that feel real! As I said before, baseball is just a medium for this story. I’ve always loved that the characters have personalities that exist outside of baseball. They’re just teenage boys and it’s a very palpable, believable image.
CONS:
FINAL RATING: 5
December 14, 2024
[edited, 2023-09-03] This manga's drawing is unpolished even during the best part of its series. These days it’s clear that the author is struggling to transition from analog to digital drawing. Still, when I first read this series, I was impressed by how the series brought fresh air into the genre. There are a few talented players and moments of fine play, but they're depicted dramatically without getting fantastical. Instead of only showing the high and low points of the game, almost every batting of every inning is drawn to show the players' and coach's mindset and thought process. In a genre that tends to glorify superhuman athleticism, it celebrates normal high schoolers playing baseball.
I love that the series has lately been more about a Nishiura team team more broadly. The main character is still Mihashi, but the focus has broadened more to how the team is collectively getting stronger physically, technically, and mentally. Volume 24 talks about how positive thinking is essential for victory; in volume 35, the team visits various top baseball teams in the next-door prefecture to learn how they practice and use data; in volume 36 (the most recent one at the time of writing), they walk the 150-km (approx. 93 miles) roundtrip from Mihashi's house in Sakitama to his grandfather's mansion in Gunma as part of their mental training. It's really fun watching these kids working hard to become a winning team, and the glacial pace of the series makes each newly released volume precious.
I love that the series has lately been more about a Nishiura team team more broadly. The main character is still Mihashi, but the focus has broadened more to how the team is collectively getting stronger physically, technically, and mentally. Volume 24 talks about how positive thinking is essential for victory; in volume 35, the team visits various top baseball teams in the next-door prefecture to learn how they practice and use data; in volume 36 (the most recent one at the time of writing), they walk the 150-km (approx. 93 miles) roundtrip from Mihashi's house in Sakitama to his grandfather's mansion in Gunma as part of their mental training. It's really fun watching these kids working hard to become a winning team, and the glacial pace of the series makes each newly released volume precious.
November 12, 2018
Never finished reading the chapters that were available online, but I loved the anime. If they ever make another season or publish this in the US, I'd be ecstatic.
December 16, 2022
Read as much has been (unofficially) translated
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May 15, 2019My favorite sports manga!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews