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東京タラレバ娘 [Tōkyō Tarareba Musume] #1
Tokyo Girls 01/09
Rinko lo ha hecho todo bien. Se esforzó y conseguió triunfar como guionista y alquilar su propio estudio en un barrio de moda de Tokio antes de los treinta. Todo debería haber salido según lo planeado... Pero, a sus 33, no puede evitar lamentar que su carrera se ha estancado, todavía está dolorosamente soltera y pasa casi todas las noches bebiendo con sus dos mejores amigas en su pub favorito. Una noche, borracha, Rinko jura casarse antes de que se celebren los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio. Pero encontrar un hombre, y el amor, puede ser un trabajo despiadado para una romántica de corazón.
176 pages, Paperback
First published September 12, 2014
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February 18, 2019
Tarareba
means
"what if"
in Japan which is also what the young and handsome guy Key named the trio of Rinko, Kaori, and Koyuki, who are friends since they were in high school. These ladies always enjoy a girls' night out at Koyuki's restaurant and their current dilemma is to be able to get married before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Countries like South Korea and Japan is reportedly has a decline in the number of women who are getting married due to lack of housing and employment. I even saw from the local news before that the government is alarmed by this because it also results in low birth-rate especially in South Korea.
Through the story of this trio, this manga shows that a great number of women in Japan are career-driven and pushed marriage plans aside, and on how people treat and view women who are still single in their 30's. This treatment is not only limited to East Asian countries because it's also being experienced by other women, especially in other Asian countries.
Although there are hilarious parts in this manga, Rinko and her friends' tale is quite relatable. Also, I found out that there was a TV drama adaptation that was broadcasted last year so I immediately check it out. And as much as I enjoyed it, I still prefer the manga because it's funnier and more entertaining.
Countries like South Korea and Japan is reportedly has a decline in the number of women who are getting married due to lack of housing and employment. I even saw from the local news before that the government is alarmed by this because it also results in low birth-rate especially in South Korea.
Through the story of this trio, this manga shows that a great number of women in Japan are career-driven and pushed marriage plans aside, and on how people treat and view women who are still single in their 30's. This treatment is not only limited to East Asian countries because it's also being experienced by other women, especially in other Asian countries.
Although there are hilarious parts in this manga, Rinko and her friends' tale is quite relatable. Also, I found out that there was a TV drama adaptation that was broadcasted last year so I immediately check it out. And as much as I enjoyed it, I still prefer the manga because it's funnier and more entertaining.
August 2, 2019
Just sampling some manga series here, but this one is fun, a kind of Bridget Jones' Diary or Sex in the City (two media events I only know about, never saw or read) in Tokyo. I know, I know it's 2019 and it's #metoo and feminism has taken yet another new turn, but this one focuses on Rinko at 33, working in an office and drinking most nights, suddenly realizing she is not married. At 23 she turned down an offer from a kind of disheveled guy, and came to regret it as he still works in her office and now has the hots for. . . well, that's for you to find out.
The women she drinks with are her age, and some guy in the bar mocks them, calls them "the what if" girls: what if I lost a couple pounds, what if used this make-up, bought that little black dress, and so on. Okay, I know, it's not political correct (and in an afterword she says not everyone at 33 sits around trying to scheme ways to get men to be attracted to them, but she is reflecting the experience of a lot of women she knew, and she's just having fun, cool it!), but the writing is really lively and fun. Maybe in future volumes it will take a more feminist turn, but hey, maybe not!
The women she drinks with are her age, and some guy in the bar mocks them, calls them "the what if" girls: what if I lost a couple pounds, what if used this make-up, bought that little black dress, and so on. Okay, I know, it's not political correct (and in an afterword she says not everyone at 33 sits around trying to scheme ways to get men to be attracted to them, but she is reflecting the experience of a lot of women she knew, and she's just having fun, cool it!), but the writing is really lively and fun. Maybe in future volumes it will take a more feminist turn, but hey, maybe not!
July 17, 2018
My thanks to NetGalley for a review copy of this one.
This was my very first manga read. I have watched some of the animated versions of course, Fushigi Yuugi (Curious Play), Nodame Cantabile, Emma, and Yatitake Japan, among them but had never really read any. So when I saw this on NetGalley, and the cover looked like fun, and the theme/plot something that could be interesting, I decided to give it a shot.
This is the first volume of the Manga, and the author is known for her other series, Princess Jellyfish (which makes an ‘appearance’ in the book as well). The title roughly translates to the Tokyo ‘What-if’ Girls’. This one features three girls/women—Rinko (who is our ‘heroine’) and her friends Kaori and Koyuki who she has known from high school. Rinko is a reasonably successful screen writer for web series and has set up her own office, but remains single at 33 as do her two friends, and the three often spend their evenings getting very drunk, gorging on snacks (their favourites being milt with ponzu sauce and liver), and discussing ‘What-if’ we had done this or that scenarios. A young man who observes them at the bar quite often, tries to talk some sense into them but to no avail. Then Rinko’s career begins to take a downward turn as well. The book also has two interesting ‘food’ characters, the Codfish milt (tara) and Liver (reba) who appear to speak to Rinko, when she is under the influence, always raising the what-if, what-if, what-if…
So as I said, this was my first time actually reading manga, and when I started reading, for about 16–17 pages I read the… er… normal way, and wondered why things were not quite sitting right, why Rinko would graduate after she had become a successful writer, and only then remember that Manga was supposed to be read the other way (right–left), and then went straight back to the start and things began to finally make some sense
But anyway, as for the book itself, I liked the idea of the story, of characters who realise that a large part of their life seems to have passed them by, without quite realising where it all went, and the things you had thought you would do by now, haven’t really happened at all, and there seems no likelihood of them happening either. One can understand Rinko’s frustration, her need to vent (but then you also realise that only doing this will get you nowhere), but what I couldn’t connect with was her need to get herself so drunk every day that she ends up literally walking into things and hurting herself—and doesn’t seem to even stop to question this. Perhaps partly because of this, and also because of her near obsessive focus of needing to ‘find a husband’, I didn’t really take to Rinko or her friends very much. But I did enjoy the two ‘food’ characters and thought they were good fun. The explanations of local and cultural references at the end I also found really helpful. While this wasn’t a book I can say I loved or even liked very much, it was still an ok read, and I wouldn’t mind reading the next instalment to see how things pan out for them.
This review also appears on my blog at : https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
This was my very first manga read. I have watched some of the animated versions of course, Fushigi Yuugi (Curious Play), Nodame Cantabile, Emma, and Yatitake Japan, among them but had never really read any. So when I saw this on NetGalley, and the cover looked like fun, and the theme/plot something that could be interesting, I decided to give it a shot.
This is the first volume of the Manga, and the author is known for her other series, Princess Jellyfish (which makes an ‘appearance’ in the book as well). The title roughly translates to the Tokyo ‘What-if’ Girls’. This one features three girls/women—Rinko (who is our ‘heroine’) and her friends Kaori and Koyuki who she has known from high school. Rinko is a reasonably successful screen writer for web series and has set up her own office, but remains single at 33 as do her two friends, and the three often spend their evenings getting very drunk, gorging on snacks (their favourites being milt with ponzu sauce and liver), and discussing ‘What-if’ we had done this or that scenarios. A young man who observes them at the bar quite often, tries to talk some sense into them but to no avail. Then Rinko’s career begins to take a downward turn as well. The book also has two interesting ‘food’ characters, the Codfish milt (tara) and Liver (reba) who appear to speak to Rinko, when she is under the influence, always raising the what-if, what-if, what-if…
So as I said, this was my first time actually reading manga, and when I started reading, for about 16–17 pages I read the… er… normal way, and wondered why things were not quite sitting right, why Rinko would graduate after she had become a successful writer, and only then remember that Manga was supposed to be read the other way (right–left), and then went straight back to the start and things began to finally make some sense
But anyway, as for the book itself, I liked the idea of the story, of characters who realise that a large part of their life seems to have passed them by, without quite realising where it all went, and the things you had thought you would do by now, haven’t really happened at all, and there seems no likelihood of them happening either. One can understand Rinko’s frustration, her need to vent (but then you also realise that only doing this will get you nowhere), but what I couldn’t connect with was her need to get herself so drunk every day that she ends up literally walking into things and hurting herself—and doesn’t seem to even stop to question this. Perhaps partly because of this, and also because of her near obsessive focus of needing to ‘find a husband’, I didn’t really take to Rinko or her friends very much. But I did enjoy the two ‘food’ characters and thought they were good fun. The explanations of local and cultural references at the end I also found really helpful. While this wasn’t a book I can say I loved or even liked very much, it was still an ok read, and I wouldn’t mind reading the next instalment to see how things pan out for them.
This review also appears on my blog at : https://potpourri2015.wordpress.com/2...
July 5, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Wow, this was just so shitty that I wish I hadn't laid my eyes on it. I adore Akiko Higashimura's other manga: Princess Jellyfish (I should really get the rest of the volumes as I am super behind). I was kind of hoping that this one would be just as fun, just as wow. I was delighted when I spotted it on Netgalley as I have been hoping to read it for some time now.
Sorry if this review is a bit chaotic, I am really raging and fuming about all the crap. :|
However this was just the worst. Rinko? Terrible terrible character. All she and her friends do is drink through the night, complain about all the things (mostly men and sometimes work), make fun of things, whine, whine and whine. Oh and drink. Drink until fucking oblivion when Rinko sees talking food. Then again, maybe she doesn't necessarily need to be drunk for that, instead just be herself. That talking stuff was really not helping the terribleness of the manga.
And whine she does. Oh boohoo, I need to find a husband, because it is totally not normal to be 30 and single/not married. /sarcasm *rolls her eyes* But instead of actually doing an effort to find a cute guy she constantly drinks (funnily, apparently her friends have various forms of alarms, it is that the author added that the manga as clarification, otherwise I would have thought that there was only the fourth alarm until about 113 pages in when we finally get another alarm kind, but which also means drink drink drink until death). And no, I am not against drinking, but every night? Just because you had a shitty day? Which is apparently all of the days given that I don't really get a clear image on how the days go by. Alcoholism ahoy?
I am sure if she actually did a bit of an effort, maybe went to other places than karaoke or the pub, and maybe act a little less over the top dumb (and drunk), she could easily find a good guy. She is strong-willed, looks cute/nice, is smart. I know that there is a Rinko there, under all the stupidity and idiocy, who is a good girl, and who could easily get a ton of cute guys. And maybe she should gain some confidence because she bases her No one wants me on two guys and oh yes, that one party she went to. Girl, please, do you really think that you will find your dream guy that fast? There are tons of fish in the ocean, and unless you have actually tried more of them I don't want to hear you whine about it. Plus she keeps going on and on about how she can't find a guy. Gee, did you even try?
There is one time that they actually make an effort, but I will give you one guess on what happened. *snorts*
Then there is Key. An asshole. Truly. He instantly judges the ladies when he comes across them in the bar, calls them names, and also makes some very judgemental opinions known. Not to mention that when Rinko has to add him to the tv show she wrote, he acts like a total jackass. Telling her that her writing is boring. Sure, he does show he cares... somewhere... but sorry, I just wouldn't want him and Rinko getting together.
Then there is that time the girls called all Japanese men pedo, especially hinting at Hayasaka-san falling for someone who is a fucking adult, but 12/13 years younger than him. What the actual hell? And they keep going on and on about it. Such hypocrisy, because I know for sure that if they had a chance? They would take it with a 19 year old guy.
Oh, and who the hell buys a 500 euro dress. o.0 I am sure guys are also happy with cheaper clothes, they probably won't even notice. :P
But the art was pretty fabulous, so at least this wasn't a total loss. Too bad about the rest though.
I am not going to read this series further. Bah. I need some werewolf romance to get rid of the bad taste this one left.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Wow, this was just so shitty that I wish I hadn't laid my eyes on it. I adore Akiko Higashimura's other manga: Princess Jellyfish (I should really get the rest of the volumes as I am super behind). I was kind of hoping that this one would be just as fun, just as wow. I was delighted when I spotted it on Netgalley as I have been hoping to read it for some time now.
Sorry if this review is a bit chaotic, I am really raging and fuming about all the crap. :|
However this was just the worst. Rinko? Terrible terrible character. All she and her friends do is drink through the night, complain about all the things (mostly men and sometimes work), make fun of things, whine, whine and whine. Oh and drink. Drink until fucking oblivion when Rinko sees talking food. Then again, maybe she doesn't necessarily need to be drunk for that, instead just be herself. That talking stuff was really not helping the terribleness of the manga.
And whine she does. Oh boohoo, I need to find a husband, because it is totally not normal to be 30 and single/not married. /sarcasm *rolls her eyes* But instead of actually doing an effort to find a cute guy she constantly drinks (funnily, apparently her friends have various forms of alarms, it is that the author added that the manga as clarification, otherwise I would have thought that there was only the fourth alarm until about 113 pages in when we finally get another alarm kind, but which also means drink drink drink until death). And no, I am not against drinking, but every night? Just because you had a shitty day? Which is apparently all of the days given that I don't really get a clear image on how the days go by. Alcoholism ahoy?
I am sure if she actually did a bit of an effort, maybe went to other places than karaoke or the pub, and maybe act a little less over the top dumb (and drunk), she could easily find a good guy. She is strong-willed, looks cute/nice, is smart. I know that there is a Rinko there, under all the stupidity and idiocy, who is a good girl, and who could easily get a ton of cute guys. And maybe she should gain some confidence because she bases her No one wants me on two guys and oh yes, that one party she went to. Girl, please, do you really think that you will find your dream guy that fast? There are tons of fish in the ocean, and unless you have actually tried more of them I don't want to hear you whine about it. Plus she keeps going on and on about how she can't find a guy. Gee, did you even try?
There is one time that they actually make an effort, but I will give you one guess on what happened. *snorts*
Then there is Key. An asshole. Truly. He instantly judges the ladies when he comes across them in the bar, calls them names, and also makes some very judgemental opinions known. Not to mention that when Rinko has to add him to the tv show she wrote, he acts like a total jackass. Telling her that her writing is boring. Sure, he does show he cares... somewhere... but sorry, I just wouldn't want him and Rinko getting together.
Then there is that time the girls called all Japanese men pedo, especially hinting at Hayasaka-san falling for someone who is a fucking adult, but 12/13 years younger than him. What the actual hell? And they keep going on and on about it. Such hypocrisy, because I know for sure that if they had a chance? They would take it with a 19 year old guy.
Oh, and who the hell buys a 500 euro dress. o.0 I am sure guys are also happy with cheaper clothes, they probably won't even notice. :P
But the art was pretty fabulous, so at least this wasn't a total loss. Too bad about the rest though.
I am not going to read this series further. Bah. I need some werewolf romance to get rid of the bad taste this one left.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 15, 2024
As a almost 33 year old woman there were parts of this that I definitely could relate to especially since I’m not married; however, the main characters could be a little annoying at times in the ways that they refused to actively change their lives. A few nights out to work through the frustration is understandable but the consistent complaining was overdone. With that being said, the ending definitely made me interested in what we I have to look forward to in the upcoming volumes.
May 12, 2019
Well this book is problematic. I enjoyed the hell out of it while reading it, but it really is a setback for 1) feminism, with the main characters considering themselves failures for not being married and taking desperate measures to fix the situation, and 2) the #metoo movement, with two women consenting(?) to sexual relations with men in more powerful positions to further their careers. It is set in 2014, but feels like the '50s.
The author seemed to acknowledge some of this in her afterword, and I'm hoping there is a overall arc to the series that will prove redemptive.
The author seemed to acknowledge some of this in her afterword, and I'm hoping there is a overall arc to the series that will prove redemptive.
November 11, 2022
Liczę, że rozwinie się w dobrą stronę, bo w tym momencie może wydarzyć się jeszcze wszystko.
February 23, 2021
This manga hit too close to home for my taste 😭
Ahah I loved it! I hadn't had so much fun reading a manga for a long time. It's nice to see a story targeted towards a more "mature" audience. I mean I love manga but I am not a teenager anymore so sometimes it's hard to relate to some of the stories... This was was just adorable and I can't wait to see what happens in the next volumes! I just feels so much for these characters... Hang on girl, you are going to have your happy ending, I am sure! 🥰
July 20, 2018
This book, while very good, was also very depressing. I want to read the rest, if only with the hope that the ending is a positive one for the three friends who are no longer in their 20s. I was under the impression that women in Japan were more career than marriage oriented, however this manga is based off of the author's experiences with her own friends, so I guess I was mistaken in my beliefs.
I really enjoy taking a peek at the lives of others in cultures and locals different from my own. I may not be able to travel to exotic-to-me places, but books can bring some of the experience to me. And, even better, this is from the lenses of an inhabitant of that area, not my lenses interpreting what I see. So, in reality, the book really is better, lol!
The artwork was fun, the plot line, grim but with hope and the ending, cliffhanger territory. I definitely want to read more. 4 solid stars. YA on up I would say, considering that ending...
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I really enjoy taking a peek at the lives of others in cultures and locals different from my own. I may not be able to travel to exotic-to-me places, but books can bring some of the experience to me. And, even better, this is from the lenses of an inhabitant of that area, not my lenses interpreting what I see. So, in reality, the book really is better, lol!
The artwork was fun, the plot line, grim but with hope and the ending, cliffhanger territory. I definitely want to read more. 4 solid stars. YA on up I would say, considering that ending...
My thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
February 13, 2018
I don't know how I could enjoy this. The main character is constantly scolded (even by drunken hallucinations) for her horrible mistake of not getting a man earlier and the whole 'no happiness without a man' thing is just miserable. Oh, they should have just gotten married when they were young, even if they weren't in love or the guys they were dating were awful, just so they wouldn't be siiiiiingle -- barf. And I'm not someone who hates on romance -- I love romantic manga! But this just made me feel angry and unhappy.
Plus, I have a feeling that she's going to end up with the total jerk character, and just the thought of it makes me cringe.
So yeah, I'm not continuing with this series. I hated this book, but it gets 2 stars because the artwork was nice and I did like the main character and her besties, even if I did get frustrated with them.
Plus, I have a feeling that she's going to end up with the total jerk character, and just the thought of it makes me cringe.
So yeah, I'm not continuing with this series. I hated this book, but it gets 2 stars because the artwork was nice and I did like the main character and her besties, even if I did get frustrated with them.
July 4, 2018
Best new series of 2018. (Yes, I know it was already released digitally. I don't read manga digitally SO THERE.)
May 24, 2018
I cannot believe how little I liked this book. It's not because I disagree with the heroine's world-view (you must get a husband to be happy), although I do, but because the story did nothing to make me understand why she thought that. She's successful in her career, and yes, she's been driving herself crazy anxiously remembering past romantic screw-ups, but none of that seems like any reason to make herself so unhappy. When things start going sideways for her, instead of looking at what might actually be behind it, she just assumes it's her "advanced" age of 33 and starts lamenting about being manless again.
The series may evolve into Rinko coming to understand these things. Asshole Key may become a better character and a part of that. But I don't think I want to stick around to find out. This woman in her 30s has other books to read.
The series may evolve into Rinko coming to understand these things. Asshole Key may become a better character and a part of that. But I don't think I want to stick around to find out. This woman in her 30s has other books to read.
March 21, 2017
I stopped reading shoujo manga a long time ago, save for a few titles that do not focus on high school romance (ex: Natsume's Book of Friends, Kaze Hikaru, etc.) Nowadays, I go for josei, which... is a bit of a weird genre. It encompasses whatever you graduate to after shoujo (read: young girl) manga. Yes, that means some of it is Fifty Shades of Grey stuff, and some of it is just better written stories with adult protagonists aimed at an older audience. In case you're wondering, this manga falls in the latter category.
Akiko Higashimura is a master of adult stories that hit a little too close too home when it comes to that feeling of uncertainty in new adulthood. As in her other big hit (Princess Jellyfish), Higashimura uses "Tokyo Tarareba Girls" to tackle themes like female adulthood and uncertainty in the face of societal expectations. Should women at age 30 be beautiful? Successful? Married? Should they have settled for something they didn't feel totally comfortable with in order to achieve these goals set by society? Do society's goals even matter? Is it childish to expect that golden standard--the happily-ever-after love story? Does love exist?
Higashimura knows how to write a story that packs real emotional punch without falling into melodrama. Her characters swing between telling themselves "hey, I decide what's best for me, not society!" and "I don't want to die alone, what if I should have dated that guy five years ago and what if I'm watching my life go by without doing anything about it?" And those are all real reactions, regardless of the role you're expected to fill in society (adjust as needed, of course).
I can't say whether the story contains any wish fulfillment yet, though there is some playful self-awareness where the main character is called out for writing a story where a younger, beautiful man falls in love with a 30-something-year-old woman... only for the main character to be propositioned by a *drumroll* younger, beautiful man. The only difference lies in that there is no love in this proposition. Not yet, anyway. It's about changing one's outlook, or rather, adopting an approach to life devoid of emotion where sexual activity is concerned. That's why I'm not sure if Higashimura will devolve into wish fulfillment (though she has no such wishes to fulfill, based on her own account of her life) or if she will develop this strange, kind of unhealthy beginning into a well-written and engaging story arc for her lost protagonist. If Higashimura's prior work is anything to go by, wish fulfillment is not on the menu, but raw, human realities are up for grabs.
I trust Higashimura to do her work justice. Recommended for anyone, regardless of prior manga-reading experience.
Akiko Higashimura is a master of adult stories that hit a little too close too home when it comes to that feeling of uncertainty in new adulthood. As in her other big hit (Princess Jellyfish), Higashimura uses "Tokyo Tarareba Girls" to tackle themes like female adulthood and uncertainty in the face of societal expectations. Should women at age 30 be beautiful? Successful? Married? Should they have settled for something they didn't feel totally comfortable with in order to achieve these goals set by society? Do society's goals even matter? Is it childish to expect that golden standard--the happily-ever-after love story? Does love exist?
Higashimura knows how to write a story that packs real emotional punch without falling into melodrama. Her characters swing between telling themselves "hey, I decide what's best for me, not society!" and "I don't want to die alone, what if I should have dated that guy five years ago and what if I'm watching my life go by without doing anything about it?" And those are all real reactions, regardless of the role you're expected to fill in society (adjust as needed, of course).
I can't say whether the story contains any wish fulfillment yet, though there is some playful self-awareness where the main character is called out for writing a story where a younger, beautiful man falls in love with a 30-something-year-old woman... only for the main character to be propositioned by a *drumroll* younger, beautiful man. The only difference lies in that there is no love in this proposition. Not yet, anyway. It's about changing one's outlook, or rather, adopting an approach to life devoid of emotion where sexual activity is concerned. That's why I'm not sure if Higashimura will devolve into wish fulfillment (though she has no such wishes to fulfill, based on her own account of her life) or if she will develop this strange, kind of unhealthy beginning into a well-written and engaging story arc for her lost protagonist. If Higashimura's prior work is anything to go by, wish fulfillment is not on the menu, but raw, human realities are up for grabs.
I trust Higashimura to do her work justice. Recommended for anyone, regardless of prior manga-reading experience.
December 12, 2019
This is too much like a cliched Japanese TV drama, if I was enough of a masochist, I could even dig up titles. I can pass on angsty women deciding they must bow to social convention and get married.
Princess Jellyfish, Tome 1 is much funnier and has a better premise.
Princess Jellyfish, Tome 1 is much funnier and has a better premise.
April 27, 2019
3.5 stars
Not quite as resonating with me as Princess Jellyfish, but still funny and heartfelt in that Higashimura style.
Not quite as resonating with me as Princess Jellyfish, but still funny and heartfelt in that Higashimura style.
March 17, 2020
Die Thematik ist super, aber die Erzählweise und die Protagonistin einfach nur nervi. Ich hatte selten Lust, den Manga in die Hand zu nehmen. Außerdem dreht sich die Handlung viel zu sehr im Kreis und das Selbstmitleid aller Figuren ist einfach nur anstrengend.
December 25, 2021
I just couldn't get into this.
I actually didn't mind how obnoxious the ladies could get during their Four Alarm drinking sessions. The "what-if" banter and talks, while something I don't see the point of, are things that plenty of people focus on (not just women), especially while drinking their woes away. And I wouldn't have even minded following Rinko as she continues to grow and find herself (and hopefully some self awareness).
But I just couldn't get into the hyperfixation of not just *needing* to have a man to the point that Rinko really was sad about that missed opportunity with Hayasaka, despite not even being remotely interested in him and that shitty ring. Like,,, girl. Look at the effort he went through for you compared to Mami-chan - if a man wants to be with you, the effort will show. So why settle? Also, it seems like she wasn't really concerned with a relationship so much as a bragging right.
And again, if it was following Rinko (and her friends) as they eventually learn that you shouldn't have to settle in life and to carve out space for themselves, I would be interested - even in pursuing relationships she may not have considered previously (looking at potentially dating a much younger man when she was blatantly judging Hayasaka for dating the much younger Mami). But, I'm not really willing to invest in the potential headache that will be putting up with the various male characters that have featured so far. Speaking of,
I did not care for Key, who is clearly going to be some sort of romantic interest. I found him to be obnoxious at best, and just really fucking gross considering he has never once said anything nice to her (calling her and her friends "what-if" girls, the title of the manga), made her lose face in a work environment, negged her multiple times, and then propositioned her for the sake of career advancement. The first volume ends with the implication that she essentially went with it (dubious consent and all given that she was toasted).
I don't typically care for super douchey male leads but I'm genuinely confused as to whether this is a couple we're supposed to be rooting for?
I actually didn't mind how obnoxious the ladies could get during their Four Alarm drinking sessions. The "what-if" banter and talks, while something I don't see the point of, are things that plenty of people focus on (not just women), especially while drinking their woes away. And I wouldn't have even minded following Rinko as she continues to grow and find herself (and hopefully some self awareness).
But I just couldn't get into the hyperfixation of not just *needing* to have a man to the point that Rinko really was sad about that missed opportunity with Hayasaka, despite not even being remotely interested in him and that shitty ring. Like,,, girl. Look at the effort he went through for you compared to Mami-chan - if a man wants to be with you, the effort will show. So why settle? Also, it seems like she wasn't really concerned with a relationship so much as a bragging right.
And again, if it was following Rinko (and her friends) as they eventually learn that you shouldn't have to settle in life and to carve out space for themselves, I would be interested - even in pursuing relationships she may not have considered previously (looking at potentially dating a much younger man when she was blatantly judging Hayasaka for dating the much younger Mami). But, I'm not really willing to invest in the potential headache that will be putting up with the various male characters that have featured so far. Speaking of,
I did not care for Key, who is clearly going to be some sort of romantic interest. I found him to be obnoxious at best, and just really fucking gross considering he has never once said anything nice to her (calling her and her friends "what-if" girls, the title of the manga), made her lose face in a work environment, negged her multiple times, and then propositioned her for the sake of career advancement. The first volume ends with the implication that she essentially went with it (dubious consent and all given that she was toasted).
I don't typically care for super douchey male leads but I'm genuinely confused as to whether this is a couple we're supposed to be rooting for?
September 18, 2018
Atrocious.
This story touts the most backwards-ass view of womanhood I can imagine. 33 year old Rinko has a successful career and great group of friends, but is missing one thing-a partner. Nothing wrong with that, a relatable situation. Except this story HARPS AND HARPS on age and how "women over 25 cant expect to play a lead role anymore". In anything from common curtesy on the street to acting roles. Rinko has the self esteem of a 12 year old girl. Apparently owning her own office gained her no confidence or wisdom. Guess who and what gets her to turn it around? A young man. Yup. Thats right ladies, because its (2014 in the book) and women still need external validation from totally strange men!! So progressive!!
Like I get a story about a woman who is concerned her age limits her in some way, but this is the rational across the whole world of the book. Unquestioned. There are repeated references to "what if's" and the women questioning and regretting not setteling for men from college that they never even liked!
This book contains a repugnant amout of outdated troupes about women, aging, and dating culture. Seriously what successful women *regrets* her successful education, career and luxury lifestyle ($300 manicures!!) because they *might* have gotten a husband if they traded all that in? WTF?
Its really a shame because I like the art, characters, and setting of the story. If only this could have been about a woman who summons her skills and confidence to find a man worthy of her...im sure there could be plenty of wacky adventures in pursuit of this goal that the book could pursue. But no.
Glad I did not pay for this sexist trash.
This story touts the most backwards-ass view of womanhood I can imagine. 33 year old Rinko has a successful career and great group of friends, but is missing one thing-a partner. Nothing wrong with that, a relatable situation. Except this story HARPS AND HARPS on age and how "women over 25 cant expect to play a lead role anymore". In anything from common curtesy on the street to acting roles. Rinko has the self esteem of a 12 year old girl. Apparently owning her own office gained her no confidence or wisdom. Guess who and what gets her to turn it around? A young man. Yup. Thats right ladies, because its (2014 in the book) and women still need external validation from totally strange men!! So progressive!!
Like I get a story about a woman who is concerned her age limits her in some way, but this is the rational across the whole world of the book. Unquestioned. There are repeated references to "what if's" and the women questioning and regretting not setteling for men from college that they never even liked!
This book contains a repugnant amout of outdated troupes about women, aging, and dating culture. Seriously what successful women *regrets* her successful education, career and luxury lifestyle ($300 manicures!!) because they *might* have gotten a husband if they traded all that in? WTF?
Its really a shame because I like the art, characters, and setting of the story. If only this could have been about a woman who summons her skills and confidence to find a man worthy of her...im sure there could be plenty of wacky adventures in pursuit of this goal that the book could pursue. But no.
Glad I did not pay for this sexist trash.
August 14, 2022
Malo pero de los malos. Ósea a mi hermana la prota se le acaba el mundo si no consigue marido. Y las mejores amigas en vez de apoyarla en el sentido de referirle que él mejor de los amores es el que se tiene uno mismo, ¡ah no! Le reafirman sus ideas erróneas sobre el tener pareja de forma muy superficial.
Gracias a este manga me recordó por que me dejó de gustar Sex and the City.
Gracias a este manga me recordó por que me dejó de gustar Sex and the City.
May 11, 2019
honestly this is just disappointing after how great princess jellyfish was. also if i were akiko higashimura's friend i'd probably be pretty insulted that this is the kind of story she decided to write based off our conversations
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
August 2, 2020
Oof. Oof. I've no other words for this right now that adequately sum up the impact of this manga but OOF. I don't even know if I can comment on the comedic aspects of this right now because there's just that much emotional impact from the OOF.
October 11, 2023
Un peu compliqué d’écrire un avis sur ce manga
J’ai à la fois adoré, et à la fois je ne suis pas très sûre du propos..
J’ai adoré parce que les dessins qui ne m’attiraient pas au départ ont fini par me convaincre, le rythme est hyper bien maîtrisé, on ne s’ennuie pas, on finit même par avoir de la compassion pour les personnages. Et pendant les premières pages je me suis demandée si ça n’allait pas devenir un coup de cœur.
MAIS… la vision des femmes, c’est du premier degré ou une satire (rassurez moi svp) ???
J’ai d’abord pris ce livre en m’attendant à une critique féministe avec bcp d’humour.
Mais en lisant j’ai eu l’impression que toute cette vision des femmes qui ne sont soit disant "plus désirables passé 30ans" était très premier degré.
Et en même temps peut être pas?? Parce que tout cet humour, cette caricature est peut être une critique?? Mais à aucun moment cette vision est remise en question, alors bon? Dur de se positionner
Puis à la fin! j’ai lâché un "OUF" en voyant la note de l’auteur. Ou pas..
Bref je ne suis pas sure du propos de l’auteur?
Suis-je passée à côté ?? Ai-je manqué une subtilité ??
Dans le doute je mets 4 étoiles (parce que je suis optimiste sur le but de ce manga)
J’ai à la fois adoré, et à la fois je ne suis pas très sûre du propos..
J’ai adoré parce que les dessins qui ne m’attiraient pas au départ ont fini par me convaincre, le rythme est hyper bien maîtrisé, on ne s’ennuie pas, on finit même par avoir de la compassion pour les personnages. Et pendant les premières pages je me suis demandée si ça n’allait pas devenir un coup de cœur.
MAIS… la vision des femmes, c’est du premier degré ou une satire (rassurez moi svp) ???
J’ai d’abord pris ce livre en m’attendant à une critique féministe avec bcp d’humour.
Mais en lisant j’ai eu l’impression que toute cette vision des femmes qui ne sont soit disant "plus désirables passé 30ans" était très premier degré.
Et en même temps peut être pas?? Parce que tout cet humour, cette caricature est peut être une critique?? Mais à aucun moment cette vision est remise en question, alors bon? Dur de se positionner
Puis à la fin! j’ai lâché un "OUF" en voyant la note de l’auteur. Ou pas..
Bref je ne suis pas sure du propos de l’auteur?
Suis-je passée à côté ?? Ai-je manqué une subtilité ??
Dans le doute je mets 4 étoiles (parce que je suis optimiste sur le but de ce manga)
February 6, 2020
I've heard about Akiko Higashimura before and I always wanted to check out one or more of her works.
And Tokyo Tarareba Girls was the perfect choice for me because I'm in my 30s and this manga is about some 30 something women who have to deal with the fact they are becoming "too old" to get married. But it's so much more than that. It's a very funny and text-heavy slice of life type of manhwa and Akiko Higashimura knows how to tell stories and write not only female but also male characters.
Definitely looking forward to read this series. 5* for the best reasons.
And Tokyo Tarareba Girls was the perfect choice for me because I'm in my 30s and this manga is about some 30 something women who have to deal with the fact they are becoming "too old" to get married. But it's so much more than that. It's a very funny and text-heavy slice of life type of manhwa and Akiko Higashimura knows how to tell stories and write not only female but also male characters.
Definitely looking forward to read this series. 5* for the best reasons.
August 28, 2018
Tokyo Tarareba Girls has a lot in common with Princess Jellyfish, but none of the charm. Instead we have a somewhat unlikable and desperate woman and her friends who are obsessed with marriage. They blame the men and younger women for why they don't have better lives and don't consider that their regular nights of drinking in a family pub might be keeping them from doing something to make themselves happier. But a young patron of the pub sees it and tells them. He's a jerk, but he's cute so the women are conflicted. I figured out where things were going and was still disappointed when I got to the end.
Higashimura explains at the end that she doesn't think women can only be happy if married or any of the other things her characters go on about, but that the story is influenced by her friends that do. But it was presented as "this is how women are, aren't they stupid?" Not what I want to spend my time with. I didn't think female friendship was the theme since they only support each other by getting drunk and almost kind of sort of questioning their lifestyle but not doing anything to change or explore why they want what they want.
Higashimura explains at the end that she doesn't think women can only be happy if married or any of the other things her characters go on about, but that the story is influenced by her friends that do. But it was presented as "this is how women are, aren't they stupid?" Not what I want to spend my time with. I didn't think female friendship was the theme since they only support each other by getting drunk and almost kind of sort of questioning their lifestyle but not doing anything to change or explore why they want what they want.
September 24, 2017
I actually started this some time ago and stopped after a few pages. Picked it back up during a flight and... wow. This is a very heartfelt story about women-in-their-thirties who are realizing that their careers aren't going anywhere, they still aren't married, and they've spent the last ten years of their lives watching life go by from the sidelines and mocking everyone who actually participated. It hit very close to a lot of my own insecurities, though I'm only almost-23 (where I live, everyone my age is married with children. I'm practically an old maid!) I appreciate the strong female friendships in this, the points of comedy punctuated (or punctured) by cold hard reality, the acknowledgement that adulthood isn't about having all your shit together all the time but about figuring things out along the way and picking yourself up when you fall. Anyways, it's a good story and I want more of it for sure.
August 12, 2018
A group of three girls get together to gossip, vent, and drink and before they know it their lives have passed them by. Now, in their 30s and single, they're stuck on the 'what if's' of life.
I was really torn on this one. I wanted to like it, and I hadn't read a manga in a while, but something just didn't sit right with me. I think the main factor was my inability to relate or like any of the characters. I found them almost too problematic but also kind of depressing. I enjoyed learning how other cultures view things and their lives but it kind of just stopped there.
For several pages, it's mainly just the girls drinking and complaining, and then the love interest I guess you could call him is such a major asshole it's hard to really root for anyone??
I don't know. As soon as it picked up it ended so I think it was just a miss for me.
I was really torn on this one. I wanted to like it, and I hadn't read a manga in a while, but something just didn't sit right with me. I think the main factor was my inability to relate or like any of the characters. I found them almost too problematic but also kind of depressing. I enjoyed learning how other cultures view things and their lives but it kind of just stopped there.
For several pages, it's mainly just the girls drinking and complaining, and then the love interest I guess you could call him is such a major asshole it's hard to really root for anyone??
I don't know. As soon as it picked up it ended so I think it was just a miss for me.
June 25, 2018
An interesting new (for English speakers) manga title, focusing on young women in their early to mid-30s, and the challenges facing them not only in terms of relationships, but also with their careers. There seems to be some tension between the story proper in this first volume and the "bonus comic" that ends the book. In the latter, Hagashimura expresses her rejection of any thoughts that a woman's worth should be wrapped up in men and marriage (and youth). However, the storyline in this first volume suggests otherwise. I'd be curious to see how future volumes play out in terms of tone and potential message.
July 16, 2018
"Tarareba" in the title is a Japanese pun that is either "What if?" or a portmanteau of a couple of pub snacks. Main character Rinko is berated by cartoony versions of these pub snacks as she not-very-successfully negotiates the post-30 dating scene in Omotesando, the Tokyo borough where the Olympics was held in 1968.
It's so refreshing to read a story that doesn't just assume everybody on earth is age 25 or below. Even though this fails hard at the Bechdel test, the narrative is self-aware, and there are plenty of laugh-worthy moments as these silly women go through their disastrous love lives.
It's so refreshing to read a story that doesn't just assume everybody on earth is age 25 or below. Even though this fails hard at the Bechdel test, the narrative is self-aware, and there are plenty of laugh-worthy moments as these silly women go through their disastrous love lives.
March 5, 2022
Uh…okay?
So, I just sort of checked out a bunch of random first volumes of various mangas without actually reading anything about any of them beforehand, and this…was not really what I was expecting? I found the main characters pretty darned irritating, and the ending felt sort of unbelievable. I dunno. I think this is just super not my genre. But I guess if you’re really into Sex in the City or something, maybe it could work for you?
So, I just sort of checked out a bunch of random first volumes of various mangas without actually reading anything about any of them beforehand, and this…was not really what I was expecting? I found the main characters pretty darned irritating, and the ending felt sort of unbelievable. I dunno. I think this is just super not my genre. But I guess if you’re really into Sex in the City or something, maybe it could work for you?
May 2, 2019
I think this was probably meant to be more tongue in cheek and satirical than it came off to me, and perhaps future volumes allow the heroine to find fulfillment and content with her life as a single woman, but in this first one, I was exhausted by the constant "I NEED A HUSBAND, NO ONE WANTS A 30-SOMETHING HAG" narrative.
The art was really, really good, though.
The art was really, really good, though.
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