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神田ごくら町職人ばなし [Neighborhood Craftsmen: Stories from Kanda's Gokura-chou] #1
Neighborhood Craftsmen: Stories from Kanda's Gokura-chou, Vol. 1
Whether it’s household goods or clothing or their very homes, the people of the Kanda neighborhood in the city of Edo depend on the expertise of local craftsmen. These artisans have years of experience perfecting their craft, but there’s always room for them to learn and experiment, developing new techniques that will take their work to even greater heights. Step into the exquisitely illustrated workshops of a cooper, swordsmith, dyer, weaver, and plasterer and witness the traditional techniques on which modern Japan was built.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published July 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 23, 2026
Historical fiction short stories for those of us who can't surf past the History channel without pausing or always hit play on those "How It's Made" videos on YouTube.
The first four chapters take us through a day in the lives of a cooper who makes and repairs wooden pails, a swordsmith whose output was recently used to kill a child, a dyer who is trying a new technique to make complex patterns on fabric, and a weaver who is repairing worn tatami mats in a brothel. These stories all struggle a little with the balance between showing the work being done and providing a real story for the characters -- who often go unnamed -- to participate in.
The final three chapters of the book are all part of one longer story, giving plenty of time to develop relationships between characters who actually get names while showing not only how they do the work, but why.
There are some Translation Notes that give a minimum of detail about the historical context, but I do wish there were more significant essays about what we are seeing in the stories. And it would be nice if some dates were provided too; for now I'm just assuming the stories happen at various different times during the Edo Period, which stretches from 1600 to 1868.
Most of the stories have women as the lead artisan, and I really would love more context for that also. A brief Google search says women in that era of Japan did indeed participate in certain trades, but did they really lead crews of men? How much is fiction and how much is factual? Some documentation and explanation would be nice.
I love a book that stimulates my curiosity, and this one not only does that but shows growing potential in just being outright entertaining to boot.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. The Cooper -- Chapter 2. The Swordsmith -- Chapter 3. The Indigo Dyer -- Chapter 4. The Tatami Weaver -- Chapter 5. The Plasterer I -- Chapter 6. The Plasterer II -- Chapter 7. The Plasterer III -- Translation Notes
The first four chapters take us through a day in the lives of a cooper who makes and repairs wooden pails, a swordsmith whose output was recently used to kill a child, a dyer who is trying a new technique to make complex patterns on fabric, and a weaver who is repairing worn tatami mats in a brothel. These stories all struggle a little with the balance between showing the work being done and providing a real story for the characters -- who often go unnamed -- to participate in.
The final three chapters of the book are all part of one longer story, giving plenty of time to develop relationships between characters who actually get names while showing not only how they do the work, but why.
There are some Translation Notes that give a minimum of detail about the historical context, but I do wish there were more significant essays about what we are seeing in the stories. And it would be nice if some dates were provided too; for now I'm just assuming the stories happen at various different times during the Edo Period, which stretches from 1600 to 1868.
Most of the stories have women as the lead artisan, and I really would love more context for that also. A brief Google search says women in that era of Japan did indeed participate in certain trades, but did they really lead crews of men? How much is fiction and how much is factual? Some documentation and explanation would be nice.
I love a book that stimulates my curiosity, and this one not only does that but shows growing potential in just being outright entertaining to boot.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. The Cooper -- Chapter 2. The Swordsmith -- Chapter 3. The Indigo Dyer -- Chapter 4. The Tatami Weaver -- Chapter 5. The Plasterer I -- Chapter 6. The Plasterer II -- Chapter 7. The Plasterer III -- Translation Notes
July 8, 2025
FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/p9fBezKiIxI
Absolutely amazing read!
I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this, but a friend's excitement influenced me to give it a try and it was so incredible! The amount of detail that went into literally everything was insane! I've never read a manga that was so rich in making you able to see every single piece of texture! Not only that, but it was as if I reached out and touched the page, and could actually feel the different textures! Wow!! There were so many times I made sure I was reading extremely slowly despite that for at least the first two chapters there were hardly any words on the page. I wanted to make sure there was NOTHING I missed, but I feel I could come back and read this again and find things I missed the first time!
When it comes to the stories themselves, it's hard to say which is my favorite honestly! I really really enjoyed the last three because I liked both the "main" characters a lot, but I also LOVED the samurai one! That was GOOD! I definitely think each story excelled though showing the art of each craftsman as it left me in a sense of awe at the work they were doing. You can really tell the care, love, and passion that went into each thing they did, and caught myself being very invested with each "obstacle" they were trying to overcome!
Overall, I'm really glad I gave this a chance! It was something I didn't know if I would like, but caught myself not being able to stop reading! If you're looking for a historical manga and/or richly detailed manga, this is it!
(Random heads up: There is some pretty extreme bullying in the later chapters, with someone getting beaten more than once. I would not say it was overly graphic, but it was disturbing nonetheless.)
Absolutely amazing read!
I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this, but a friend's excitement influenced me to give it a try and it was so incredible! The amount of detail that went into literally everything was insane! I've never read a manga that was so rich in making you able to see every single piece of texture! Not only that, but it was as if I reached out and touched the page, and could actually feel the different textures! Wow!! There were so many times I made sure I was reading extremely slowly despite that for at least the first two chapters there were hardly any words on the page. I wanted to make sure there was NOTHING I missed, but I feel I could come back and read this again and find things I missed the first time!
When it comes to the stories themselves, it's hard to say which is my favorite honestly! I really really enjoyed the last three because I liked both the "main" characters a lot, but I also LOVED the samurai one! That was GOOD! I definitely think each story excelled though showing the art of each craftsman as it left me in a sense of awe at the work they were doing. You can really tell the care, love, and passion that went into each thing they did, and caught myself being very invested with each "obstacle" they were trying to overcome!
Overall, I'm really glad I gave this a chance! It was something I didn't know if I would like, but caught myself not being able to stop reading! If you're looking for a historical manga and/or richly detailed manga, this is it!
(Random heads up: There is some pretty extreme bullying in the later chapters, with someone getting beaten more than once. I would not say it was overly graphic, but it was disturbing nonetheless.)
July 8, 2025
FIRST IMPRESSION VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/p9fBezKiIxI
Absolutely amazing read!
I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this, but a friend's excitement influenced me to give it a try and it was so incredible! The amount of detail that went into literally everything was insane! I've never read a manga that was so rich in making you able to see every single piece of texture! Not only that, but it was as if I reached out and touched the page, and could actually feel the different textures! Wow!! There were so many times I made sure I was reading extremely slowly despite that for at least the first two chapters there were hardly any words on the page. I wanted to make sure there was NOTHING I missed, but I feel I could come back and read this again and find things I missed the first time!
When it comes to the stories themselves, it's hard to say which is my favorite honestly! I really really enjoyed the last three because I liked both the "main" characters a lot, but I also LOVED the samurai one! That was GOOD! I definitely think each story excelled though showing the art of each craftsman as it left me in a sense of awe at the work they were doing. You can really tell the care, love, and passion that went into each thing they did, and caught myself being very invested with each "obstacle" they were trying to overcome!
Overall, I'm really glad I gave this a chance! It was something I didn't know if I would like, but caught myself not being able to stop reading! If you're looking for a historical manga and/or richly detailed manga, this is it!
(Random heads up: There is some pretty extreme bullying in the later chapters, with someone getting beaten more than once. I would not say it was overly graphic, but it was disturbing nonetheless.)
Absolutely amazing read!
I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this, but a friend's excitement influenced me to give it a try and it was so incredible! The amount of detail that went into literally everything was insane! I've never read a manga that was so rich in making you able to see every single piece of texture! Not only that, but it was as if I reached out and touched the page, and could actually feel the different textures! Wow!! There were so many times I made sure I was reading extremely slowly despite that for at least the first two chapters there were hardly any words on the page. I wanted to make sure there was NOTHING I missed, but I feel I could come back and read this again and find things I missed the first time!
When it comes to the stories themselves, it's hard to say which is my favorite honestly! I really really enjoyed the last three because I liked both the "main" characters a lot, but I also LOVED the samurai one! That was GOOD! I definitely think each story excelled though showing the art of each craftsman as it left me in a sense of awe at the work they were doing. You can really tell the care, love, and passion that went into each thing they did, and caught myself being very invested with each "obstacle" they were trying to overcome!
Overall, I'm really glad I gave this a chance! It was something I didn't know if I would like, but caught myself not being able to stop reading! If you're looking for a historical manga and/or richly detailed manga, this is it!
(Random heads up: There is some pretty extreme bullying in the later chapters, with someone getting beaten more than once. I would not say it was overly graphic, but it was disturbing nonetheless.)
April 17, 2026
Dry but fascinating, this is for anyone who's ever wondered how tatami mats are maintained or the sort of tools Edo era coopers used. It could have used a glossary, but it's interesting nonetheless, particularly in how many women are shown working in these fields.
August 13, 2026
I understand why people like this, but it took me forever to finish this volume because I rarely felt the urge to return to it. I thought the longest story, "The Plasterer," would be my favorite of the bunch, but the shorter stories are much better.
Favorite:
"The Cooper"
"The Indigo Dyer"
Favorite:
"The Cooper"
"The Indigo Dyer"
May 5, 2026
Glad I didn't read this one first, now I have a palette cleanser from the kitty lust manga I just read, haha. In this one we follow different trades/craftsmen or women in a neighbourhood. Like the cooper who makes pails and all that. Or a swordsmith with determination. Or an indigo dyer with dreams. But I just wish beyond wishes that the Plasterer didn't take so many chapters. I wanted a craftsmen per chapter not like 3 or so chapters with one. It was a good story in the end, but just felt way too long.
All in all, I had a lot of fun with this one and I wouldn't mind reading more. See more craftsmen or women. On that note, I love that most of the crafts were done by girl bosses!
All in all, I had a lot of fun with this one and I wouldn't mind reading more. See more craftsmen or women. On that note, I love that most of the crafts were done by girl bosses!
March 4, 2026
Great art and setting, but the sections aren't long enough to fully educate on each craftwork or to get much of a story started. The plasterer's story is great, though, and I hope there are more stories like this in the future volumes.
November 14, 2025
Very nice art! Which is important for a book about crafts of different kinds. But as beautiful as this is, let me tell you it is dull as dishwater. Took me two extra days to get through, it was that boring!
September 5, 2025
這讓我想到很久以前看過的男的民俗學系列日本職人繪本
但漫畫稍微空想了一下
把江戶時代的職人都改成香香的妹子
除了這個之外感覺都很寫實
各種工匠的作業都畫得鉅細靡遺
很像森勳那種精細的感覺
作為讀者是看得很開心啦
但這種畫法感覺就是要操死作者，一年出不了幾回
這坑一開又不知道要等多久才看得到下一集了...
還要加上冷門題材台灣是否會繼續出也是個問號啊
但漫畫稍微空想了一下
把江戶時代的職人都改成香香的妹子
除了這個之外感覺都很寫實
各種工匠的作業都畫得鉅細靡遺
很像森勳那種精細的感覺
作為讀者是看得很開心啦
但這種畫法感覺就是要操死作者，一年出不了幾回
這坑一開又不知道要等多久才看得到下一集了...
還要加上冷門題材台灣是否會繼續出也是個問號啊
October 7, 2025
In Summary
Neighborhood Craftsmen is a real gem from a visual and storytelling perspective. The short story, slice-of-life format may not appeal to everyone, but its vignettes of Edo craftsmen showcase their various trades in an engaging and entertaining way. If you’re interested in traditional Japanese crafts or the lives of ordinary townsfolk in this era, pick it up!
The Review
Kanda is a historical area of Tokyo. During the days of samurai, the city was called Edo, and within each of Kanda’s neighborhoods, local craftsmen used their skills to meet the needs of residents. One such neighborhood was Gokura-chou, whose artisans not only honed traditional techniques but also developed new ones to enhance their craft.
If you enjoy historical slice of life à la Kaoru Mori, Neighborhood Craftsmen is definitely worth a look. Like Mori-sensei’s works, the attention to visual details is exquisite, whether the wood shavings on a cooper’s floor, the tools hanging on a swordsmith’s wall, or the different sections of an Edo-era brothel. It’s also apparent that the setting and featured trades were meticulously researched by the creator.
The biggest difference between Neighborhood Craftsmen and Mori-sensei’s works is that there is no central or overarching storyline. Rather, it’s a collection of vignettes. In fact, the first three stories begin with, “This is a day in the life of a craftsman in Kanda,” and the fourth story might as well start with that same line. Unlike the others, the final story takes up three chapters instead of one, but that’s because it follows a plasterer and her crew over the months-long construction of a storehouse.
But while the techniques of these traditional Japanese crafts get the spotlight, Sakaue-sensei frames them against the vivid tapestry of life in this fictional neighborhood. The cooper in Chapter 1 dishes out advice as she repairs damaged pails and builds new ones. The swordsmith in Chapter 2 is driven to create an unusual sword in the aftermath of a tragedy. The indigo dyer of Chapter 3 seeks inspiration to help her out of a creative rut. The tatami weaver in Chapter 4 plies his trade at a pleasure district brothel amid its gorgeous workers and their clients. And the lead plasterer of the final story butts heads with another master of the trade and struggles to keep her subordinates in line in a high-visibility construction project.
That’s another thing about this book. Except for the tatami weaver, all the protagonists of these vignettes are female. I’m not certain how historically accurate that is for a woman to rise in the ranks in the swordsmithing and plasterer trades. However, the plasterer’s story does address the difficulties a female boss has in wielding authority over male subordinates in that industry.
Because the stories do get into the weeds with aspects of these crafts, there are a bunch of trade-specific terms that come up in the narrative. On top of that, it’s a historical, which brings in another set of vocabulary that most modern Western readers won’t know. The translation notes at the back do a good job of covering these references, but it does get a bit dense, so be warned.
Yen Press beautifully produced this title as a hardback with a full-color dust cover and matte pages.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Neighborhood Craftsmen is a real gem from a visual and storytelling perspective. The short story, slice-of-life format may not appeal to everyone, but its vignettes of Edo craftsmen showcase their various trades in an engaging and entertaining way. If you’re interested in traditional Japanese crafts or the lives of ordinary townsfolk in this era, pick it up!
The Review
Kanda is a historical area of Tokyo. During the days of samurai, the city was called Edo, and within each of Kanda’s neighborhoods, local craftsmen used their skills to meet the needs of residents. One such neighborhood was Gokura-chou, whose artisans not only honed traditional techniques but also developed new ones to enhance their craft.
If you enjoy historical slice of life à la Kaoru Mori, Neighborhood Craftsmen is definitely worth a look. Like Mori-sensei’s works, the attention to visual details is exquisite, whether the wood shavings on a cooper’s floor, the tools hanging on a swordsmith’s wall, or the different sections of an Edo-era brothel. It’s also apparent that the setting and featured trades were meticulously researched by the creator.
The biggest difference between Neighborhood Craftsmen and Mori-sensei’s works is that there is no central or overarching storyline. Rather, it’s a collection of vignettes. In fact, the first three stories begin with, “This is a day in the life of a craftsman in Kanda,” and the fourth story might as well start with that same line. Unlike the others, the final story takes up three chapters instead of one, but that’s because it follows a plasterer and her crew over the months-long construction of a storehouse.
But while the techniques of these traditional Japanese crafts get the spotlight, Sakaue-sensei frames them against the vivid tapestry of life in this fictional neighborhood. The cooper in Chapter 1 dishes out advice as she repairs damaged pails and builds new ones. The swordsmith in Chapter 2 is driven to create an unusual sword in the aftermath of a tragedy. The indigo dyer of Chapter 3 seeks inspiration to help her out of a creative rut. The tatami weaver in Chapter 4 plies his trade at a pleasure district brothel amid its gorgeous workers and their clients. And the lead plasterer of the final story butts heads with another master of the trade and struggles to keep her subordinates in line in a high-visibility construction project.
That’s another thing about this book. Except for the tatami weaver, all the protagonists of these vignettes are female. I’m not certain how historically accurate that is for a woman to rise in the ranks in the swordsmithing and plasterer trades. However, the plasterer’s story does address the difficulties a female boss has in wielding authority over male subordinates in that industry.
Because the stories do get into the weeds with aspects of these crafts, there are a bunch of trade-specific terms that come up in the narrative. On top of that, it’s a historical, which brings in another set of vocabulary that most modern Western readers won’t know. The translation notes at the back do a good job of covering these references, but it does get a bit dense, so be warned.
Yen Press beautifully produced this title as a hardback with a full-color dust cover and matte pages.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2026
3.8
Interesting premise. Nice artstyle and vibes over all, but I feel this is the kind of series which is gimicky and unfortunately short-lived because there is very little plot, which is understandable given it is telling the story of the craftsmen and their craftsmanship and not some grander plotline.
Not to mention by the end of the day you will eventually wear out from reading the "same" kind of short stories and descriptions of trades as so far they all seem to be following a template. Nothing wrong with it to educate people or even perhaps a younger audience of old trades, but even without internet brainrot brain and whatnot the novelty of this will wear off and become "boring" in the long run I fear, no matter how cool the artstyle might be. If this remains a shorter run series describing old crafts, then I'm all for it but if it is dragged out in 10-15+ volumes, it will kill the novelty and enjoyment I had reading through this.
TLDR; Overall enjoyable and interesting so far, but the novelty might go away if this turns into a long running series.
Interesting premise. Nice artstyle and vibes over all, but I feel this is the kind of series which is gimicky and unfortunately short-lived because there is very little plot, which is understandable given it is telling the story of the craftsmen and their craftsmanship and not some grander plotline.
Not to mention by the end of the day you will eventually wear out from reading the "same" kind of short stories and descriptions of trades as so far they all seem to be following a template. Nothing wrong with it to educate people or even perhaps a younger audience of old trades, but even without internet brainrot brain and whatnot the novelty of this will wear off and become "boring" in the long run I fear, no matter how cool the artstyle might be. If this remains a shorter run series describing old crafts, then I'm all for it but if it is dragged out in 10-15+ volumes, it will kill the novelty and enjoyment I had reading through this.
TLDR; Overall enjoyable and interesting so far, but the novelty might go away if this turns into a long running series.
July 22, 2025
Big thanks to the publisher for the DRC! What a wonderful set of stories! There are several smaller stories along with one longer one, and each feels alive with the respect and admiration of the craft and workers that we follow. The art style is really lovely, and I was pleasantly surprised with how many of the craftsmen were women as well.
It wasn't a long read, so easy to devour in one sitting, and I'm really looking forward to more volumes!
It wasn't a long read, so easy to devour in one sitting, and I'm really looking forward to more volumes!
August 27, 2025
I was so stocked to get a copy of this. Thanks to Yen Press for the DRC!
Getting to read about different craftsman was so enjoyable and I want more. Although it focused on craftsmen in an earlier time, the skills and items they mended or created are still workflows and skills used today. The last and longest story about the plasterers was very well developed and I found myself wishing the guy from the West stayed a bit longer as well. Everyone really grew as characters in such few pages.
Getting to read about different craftsman was so enjoyable and I want more. Although it focused on craftsmen in an earlier time, the skills and items they mended or created are still workflows and skills used today. The last and longest story about the plasterers was very well developed and I found myself wishing the guy from the West stayed a bit longer as well. Everyone really grew as characters in such few pages.
March 4, 2026
The art is so good. But that’s all it really got going for it. The plot was weak. There was little substance. There were some insights into the process of each craft; however, there wasn’t nearly enough. The swordsmith story had some interesting details and the plasterer had some more. Yet, the weaver had literally no explanation and the dyer basically had none. Part of my excitement when I found this book was learning about traditional techniques but this fell short.
August 27, 2025
A fun novelty read with excellent visuals. A pretty hardcover about Japanese cratsmen was guaranteed to get bought by me. The stories are more story than education, so any displays of technique are likely to be visual rather than textual. You are unlikely to learn much in an academic sense, but you can get a glimpse of a day in the life of a craftsman. It reminds me slightly of A Bride's Story.
September 12, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss and the Publisher for the Digital Review Club.
I think this would be the perfect gateway manga for history buffs. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the stories conveyed the craftsmanship of Japan's history.
It was grounded, beautifully drawn and told with great restraint. I loved it.
I think this would be the perfect gateway manga for history buffs. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the stories conveyed the craftsmanship of Japan's history.
It was grounded, beautifully drawn and told with great restraint. I loved it.
January 2, 2026
***vrijdag 2 januari 2026 | hardcover***
⭐4 - liked it
Translator: Ko Ransom
This is the kind of nerdy stuff I adore.
This is a collection of short stories all about different kinds of (historical) craftsmanship explained through characters and a hint of plot.
Not easy to recommend for sure.
⭐4 - liked it
Translator: Ko Ransom
This is the kind of nerdy stuff I adore.
This is a collection of short stories all about different kinds of (historical) craftsmanship explained through characters and a hint of plot.
Not easy to recommend for sure.
January 20, 2026
I liked the attention to historical detail in the drawing. Architectural backgrounds, texture, and material were really well represented and fun to look at. Sometimes I didn't know what was happening with the plotline/dialogue but maybe some elements were lost in translation. A quick read and nice introduction to traditional Japanese crafts.
December 25, 2025
So easy to read. Felt nice and refreshing like slice of life ought to. Some vignettes proceeding a nice, philosophical, well paced story. The art was phenomenal, and it was great seeing all the craftsmanship's workings.
December 8, 2025
Why is everyone in this book so angry?
January 5, 2026
it was pretty good. The 2nd chapter had a bit of violence, but it's talking about Tokyo before it had all the electric stuff like electric taps!!!
May 4, 2026
Absolutely gorgeous art with fascinating little stories as a viewpoint into traditional crafts. I'd love to see more!
August 27, 2025
I think this is really wonderful.
In this first volume, readers are introduced to several of the traditional crafts that built modern Japan. Each chapter is a vignette. Through the circumstances of each short story, we get to see the processes behind the featured craft, the craftsman in action, and get a glimpse into how the work lives on.
It’s such a lovely collection—and so beautifully illustrated.
I appreciate how the storytelling and art transport me to another time. I also found it fascinating for this story to be told through the perspective of a female character. It allows for this story to not only explore traditional crafts but also traditional gender roles.
Overall, I liked this story a lot and I’m looking forward to not only reading more but learning more about these different crafts.
Would recommend for all readers to check out, especially fans of historical fiction manga~
In this first volume, readers are introduced to several of the traditional crafts that built modern Japan. Each chapter is a vignette. Through the circumstances of each short story, we get to see the processes behind the featured craft, the craftsman in action, and get a glimpse into how the work lives on.
It’s such a lovely collection—and so beautifully illustrated.
I appreciate how the storytelling and art transport me to another time. I also found it fascinating for this story to be told through the perspective of a female character. It allows for this story to not only explore traditional crafts but also traditional gender roles.
Overall, I liked this story a lot and I’m looking forward to not only reading more but learning more about these different crafts.
Would recommend for all readers to check out, especially fans of historical fiction manga~
August 16, 2025
Richly detailed and deeply respectful, Neighborhood Craftsmen: Stories from Kanda’s Gokura-chou, Vol. 1 isn’t just a manga — it’s a living gallery of Edo-period artistry.
Akihito Sakaue brings to life seven beautifully illustrated stories of artisans in Edo Japan, from swordsmiths to plasterers, with a refreshing inclusion of women craftsmen that adds a modern, relevant lens. The artwork is stunning — some of the best I’ve seen in manga — and the visual storytelling immerses you in the world more than exposition ever could. Though not an action-driven series, its quiet character studies, layered themes of craft, gender, and community, and impeccable art make it well worth reading, especially for those interested in Japanese history and culture.
Full review on my blog: bookstheword.com
Thank you to Edelweiss and Yen Press for the ARC
Akihito Sakaue brings to life seven beautifully illustrated stories of artisans in Edo Japan, from swordsmiths to plasterers, with a refreshing inclusion of women craftsmen that adds a modern, relevant lens. The artwork is stunning — some of the best I’ve seen in manga — and the visual storytelling immerses you in the world more than exposition ever could. Though not an action-driven series, its quiet character studies, layered themes of craft, gender, and community, and impeccable art make it well worth reading, especially for those interested in Japanese history and culture.
Full review on my blog: bookstheword.com
Thank you to Edelweiss and Yen Press for the ARC
September 19, 2025
This is for the people who shop at Michael’s and Lowe's. Or anyone who appreciates the time and effort of a skilled craftsman.
It’s not exciting, but the artwork is beautiful. As a creative person, I can relate to the precision and time the characters have to exert.
I was getting a little confused because some of the characters looked so similar (Choushichii and Konkane).
But I really enjoyed the Plaster arc if you can call it that – a female boss in male-dominated field who just wants to mix plaster all day. I hope Jinzaburou comes back; those two are kind of magnetic.
Lowkey Rokuji needed to have been stomped out a long time ago.
There is truly a manga for everything.
It’s not exciting, but the artwork is beautiful. As a creative person, I can relate to the precision and time the characters have to exert.
I was getting a little confused because some of the characters looked so similar (Choushichii and Konkane).
But I really enjoyed the Plaster arc if you can call it that – a female boss in male-dominated field who just wants to mix plaster all day. I hope Jinzaburou comes back; those two are kind of magnetic.
Lowkey Rokuji needed to have been stomped out a long time ago.
There is truly a manga for everything.
August 4, 2025
看完非常想要去當水泥工⋯⋯水泥的藝術被畫得有夠美超喜歡！！！！！！
January 9, 2026
Absolutely beautiful compositions and drawings.
The story was enjoyable too.
The story was enjoyable too.
February 9, 2026
Wonderful
Great introduction to pre Meiji Japanese industries. You get to explore how they shone their skills and craftsmanship thar are appreciated.
Great introduction to pre Meiji Japanese industries. You get to explore how they shone their skills and craftsmanship thar are appreciated.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews