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ブルーピリオド [Blue Period] #17
Blue Period, Vol. 17
Yatora studies hard and gets good grades, and he parties hard, staying out late drinking and watching soccer with his friends. He checks all the boxes he needs to be the perfect high school student. But it all starts to feel empty, and he begins to wonder what part of his life expresses who he is...or even if he has a unique voice at all. Then he wanders into the art room one day, and a lone painting captures his eye, awakening him to a kind of beauty he never knew. Compelled and consumed, he dives in headfirst--and he's about to learn how savage, unforgiving, and exhilirating creating art can be!
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 22, 2025
6 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Tsubasa Yamaguchi
34 books436 followersTsubasa Yamaguchi (山口つばさ, Yamaguchi Tsubasa) is a Japanese mangaka.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 16, 2026
Last volume might be the pinnacle of recent Blue Period, but this isn’t much of a step down from it. It’s very different, minus one notable factor in the form of Yatora, but it’s very strong nonetheless.
Yatora’s relationship with art and his role in the creation of it has felt more prominent lately, but it has definitely been part of the story from the beginning and I was probably too busy complaining about other things to really appreciate it.
Rather than feeling like he was lost at sea, it’s more that he continues to visit every single possible port of call and learning from it. When he winds up trying to make an olfactory installation later on, it’s about the most Yatora thing I can imagine.
What this book does well is calling back to the art club that was instrumental in the beginning volumes of the series, especially Mori, who Yatora has always had fondness for in one form or another.
What it does less well is reminding us who any of them are. I realized we were supposed to recognize them, but that’s a long way out from those chapters, even if you’re a weekly reader. Once I got back into the groove it was fine, but there was more on-boarding than I would have liked.
Bringing the band back together, with all their disparate elements, is a great distraction from the ongoing TUA courses and Yatora’s money woes. It fits in neatly with everything that’s been going on.
Of course, the big deal is the return of Mori, who Yatora has constantly been impressed with and chased as an artist. What her role in his life really is at this point becomes a real narrative question this time around.
I like that the answer is kept somewhat nebulous and we don’t, at this point, know where Mori’s own thoughts are. There’s a moment where it becomes clear that Yatora’s idea of Mori and the reality are not the same, but that only considers the artistic side of things.
Still, it clearly slams into Yatora hard that somebody he sees as an inspiration might not be as dedicated as he is. Really, if anything, it’s the other way around, but he can’t get his head around it. Honestly, if he stepped back at all, Yatora would probably realize that he’s ahead of his former club members in being a proper “artist” (although that’s not meant to impugn on the incredibly popular mangaka in the group).
And we don’t really know where Yatora falls in terms of liking Mori romantically, or vice-versa, although she seems more on the friendly side herself. Yatora says one thing, but words and actions aren’t always aligned. Enough so that next volume promises to be interesting.
The rest of the volume is pretty good as well. The info dump on art installations is a bit bland, albeit mercifully fast, but the art exhibit that Yatora and Mori visit is super interesting. The candy concept absolutely fascinated me, so I can’t fault the series for increasing my art appreciation.
Minus some issues with getting the band back together and not remembering who anybody was, this was really strong. The last two volumes have impressed the heck out of me and I’m enjoying Yatora’s journey much more than some of the earlier university chapters.
4.5 stars - I’m really torn on rounding this up or down, but I do think it took a little too long to refresh the memory of the old art club that I’ll be a bit harsher on than I might’ve been otherwise.
Yatora’s relationship with art and his role in the creation of it has felt more prominent lately, but it has definitely been part of the story from the beginning and I was probably too busy complaining about other things to really appreciate it.
Rather than feeling like he was lost at sea, it’s more that he continues to visit every single possible port of call and learning from it. When he winds up trying to make an olfactory installation later on, it’s about the most Yatora thing I can imagine.
What this book does well is calling back to the art club that was instrumental in the beginning volumes of the series, especially Mori, who Yatora has always had fondness for in one form or another.
What it does less well is reminding us who any of them are. I realized we were supposed to recognize them, but that’s a long way out from those chapters, even if you’re a weekly reader. Once I got back into the groove it was fine, but there was more on-boarding than I would have liked.
Bringing the band back together, with all their disparate elements, is a great distraction from the ongoing TUA courses and Yatora’s money woes. It fits in neatly with everything that’s been going on.
Of course, the big deal is the return of Mori, who Yatora has constantly been impressed with and chased as an artist. What her role in his life really is at this point becomes a real narrative question this time around.
I like that the answer is kept somewhat nebulous and we don’t, at this point, know where Mori’s own thoughts are. There’s a moment where it becomes clear that Yatora’s idea of Mori and the reality are not the same, but that only considers the artistic side of things.
Still, it clearly slams into Yatora hard that somebody he sees as an inspiration might not be as dedicated as he is. Really, if anything, it’s the other way around, but he can’t get his head around it. Honestly, if he stepped back at all, Yatora would probably realize that he’s ahead of his former club members in being a proper “artist” (although that’s not meant to impugn on the incredibly popular mangaka in the group).
And we don’t really know where Yatora falls in terms of liking Mori romantically, or vice-versa, although she seems more on the friendly side herself. Yatora says one thing, but words and actions aren’t always aligned. Enough so that next volume promises to be interesting.
The rest of the volume is pretty good as well. The info dump on art installations is a bit bland, albeit mercifully fast, but the art exhibit that Yatora and Mori visit is super interesting. The candy concept absolutely fascinated me, so I can’t fault the series for increasing my art appreciation.
Minus some issues with getting the band back together and not remembering who anybody was, this was really strong. The last two volumes have impressed the heck out of me and I’m enjoying Yatora’s journey much more than some of the earlier university chapters.
4.5 stars - I’m really torn on rounding this up or down, but I do think it took a little too long to refresh the memory of the old art club that I’ll be a bit harsher on than I might’ve been otherwise.
February 5, 2026
This was a really fun volume, they looked so cute with the Comiket and reunion, but what did it for me was the last chapter. Yatora has been looking up for a long time only to be struck by the truth that the one he's been putting on a pedestal is already at the ground, at his side. Yes, Mori has lit his fire for art, but that doesn't mean Mori will carry that fire forever.
December 29, 2025
4.5
Toujours aussi fan trop heureuse de revoir Mori et tout l’aspect nostalgie du club du lycée !
Toujours aussi fan trop heureuse de revoir Mori et tout l’aspect nostalgie du club du lycée !
January 17, 2026
du coup la je dois attendre le mois de mai ?
August 6, 2025
Espectacular, una cátedra sobre el valor del trabajo y el status de artista. ¿Qué es realmente ser artista? ¿Podemos seguir ejerciendo el arte sin la necesidad de ser artistas? ¿Cómo podemos vivir del arte? Siento que existen muchas cosas interesantes sobre las que conversar, y pequeños detalles que nos den indicios sobre esto, y nuevamente Yuka siendo un gran personaje para ejemplificar todo esto. En este volumen tenemos varios indicios, pequeños sobre como cada persona se sustenta en el arte: el profesor es un mantenido que realmente nunca tuvo un sueldo hasta los 40 años; Yuka debe tratar de host y vive reventada en un día a día sin parar para sobrevivir en su pequeño apartamento; Umino quién se dedica a hacer ilustraciones. Siento que al presentar distintas maneras, nos hace sentir realmente que esto no se vive de sueños y fantasías, hay que ser realista y entender que a veces todo tiene un coste. El apoyo familiar siempre es importante, y creo que justamente es una de las temáticas que quiere abordar la obra, sobre el valor importante del sustento para cumplir sus objetivos, de ser así, se hace muy pero muy difícil avanzar. De hecho, todo esto termina con la confesión de Mori, diciéndole a Yotaro que no será artista, ya había decidido cambiar de rumbo y tomará otro camino. Si bien es un poco duro y todavía no vemos las motivaciones, siento que debido a las características realistas del manga, es una decisión definitivamente impulsada definitivamente por el dinero. Y no está mal, de algo hay que vivir, no todos tenemos una esposa que nos de dinero o familias con sustento económico para que nos ayuden en el viaje del arte. Por eso, siento que Yuka le da una visión tan extraordinaria al manga, porque trata de alejar a Yotaro de sus raíces teóricas para darle más calle, y traerlo a la realidad.
February 21, 2026
Man! another excellent volume. I love watching Yatora grow in leaps and bounds as he experiences pockets of life. That is the epitome of art, being able to take that experience of the moment visually, emotionally, and present it to other people. Loved the reunion and that the art club is getting together to do a show together. That ending chapter with Mori, man that actually hit hard.
January 5, 2026
Les tomes passent et je conserve le même déchirement à la lecture de la série avec un héros fade dont l'évolution m'intéresse peu et des propos sur l'art qui eux, malgré leur dialectique trop lourde, me plaisent énormément.
17 tomes plus tard, en effet, Yatora réalise à peine qu'il veut devenir un artiste... Comment dire ? C'est bien de se poser la question et l'autrice enrichit heureusement ce questionnement avec la mise en parallèle du destin de son ancienne mentor, mais ça ne sonne pas juste à mes yeux. De 1/ cela intervient trop tard, de 2/ on a l'impression que le retour de ses amis sort de nulle part. Bof.
Je conserve ainsi toujours mes réserves avec ce personnage sans réelle personnalité, qui se laisse porter, passe d'une influence à l'autre, sans réellement exprimer qui il est, ce qui me rend perplexe avec sa volonté de devenir un artiste. Je le trouve extrêmement lisse et son parcours ne donne pas particulièrement envie, l'autrice ne parvient pas à le faire vivre, à lui donner les aspérités nécessaires à mes yeux. Bref, on s'ennuie.
Heureusement, il y a tous les propos sur l'art. J'ai pris grand plaisir à suivre la mise en place d'une exposition collaborative entre lui et ses anciens amis du club d'art du lycée qu'il retrouve. On a d'abord une petite incursion par le Comiket où l'autrice salue ces auteurs indépendants, leur popularité et/ou leur abnégation et leur plaisir de juste créer, questionnant sur la mise en vente des oeuvres ou non. Puis, ensuite, on entre dans le vif avec ce en quoi consiste le montage d'une expo : le lieu, le thème, le coût, l'organisation à plusieurs. J'avoue que j'aime découvrir de tels coulisses.
Mais surtout, c'est le volet culturel qui me séduit. J'ai été vivement intéressée par les installations au coeur de ce tome, que ce soit la branche olfactive méconnue qu'on risque de voir un peu plus dans le prochain tome, ou l'oeuvre terriblement émouvante de cet artiste américain rendant hommage à son amant décédé. Je connais mal cet aspect de l'art et je me rends compte qu'il pourrait beaucoup me plaire et est surtout extrêmement complexe et passionnant donc à découvrir. Je suis heureuse que la série nous offre cela.
Même si l'autrice peine à me convaincre avec son héros fade trop facilement influençable qui continue de se cherche inlassablement, je salue et adore sa passion pour l'art sous toutes ses formes qu'elle nous transmet à chaque tome. Le volet ''installation'' de ces derniers temps me passionne et j'aime comment cela irrigue son propre art, à travers quelques planches à couper le souffle qui reste longtemps dans la rétine, en général quand Yatora percute enfin après un cheminement introspectif artistique et philosophique des plus réussi.
Article complet: https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....
17 tomes plus tard, en effet, Yatora réalise à peine qu'il veut devenir un artiste... Comment dire ? C'est bien de se poser la question et l'autrice enrichit heureusement ce questionnement avec la mise en parallèle du destin de son ancienne mentor, mais ça ne sonne pas juste à mes yeux. De 1/ cela intervient trop tard, de 2/ on a l'impression que le retour de ses amis sort de nulle part. Bof.
Je conserve ainsi toujours mes réserves avec ce personnage sans réelle personnalité, qui se laisse porter, passe d'une influence à l'autre, sans réellement exprimer qui il est, ce qui me rend perplexe avec sa volonté de devenir un artiste. Je le trouve extrêmement lisse et son parcours ne donne pas particulièrement envie, l'autrice ne parvient pas à le faire vivre, à lui donner les aspérités nécessaires à mes yeux. Bref, on s'ennuie.
Heureusement, il y a tous les propos sur l'art. J'ai pris grand plaisir à suivre la mise en place d'une exposition collaborative entre lui et ses anciens amis du club d'art du lycée qu'il retrouve. On a d'abord une petite incursion par le Comiket où l'autrice salue ces auteurs indépendants, leur popularité et/ou leur abnégation et leur plaisir de juste créer, questionnant sur la mise en vente des oeuvres ou non. Puis, ensuite, on entre dans le vif avec ce en quoi consiste le montage d'une expo : le lieu, le thème, le coût, l'organisation à plusieurs. J'avoue que j'aime découvrir de tels coulisses.
Mais surtout, c'est le volet culturel qui me séduit. J'ai été vivement intéressée par les installations au coeur de ce tome, que ce soit la branche olfactive méconnue qu'on risque de voir un peu plus dans le prochain tome, ou l'oeuvre terriblement émouvante de cet artiste américain rendant hommage à son amant décédé. Je connais mal cet aspect de l'art et je me rends compte qu'il pourrait beaucoup me plaire et est surtout extrêmement complexe et passionnant donc à découvrir. Je suis heureuse que la série nous offre cela.
Même si l'autrice peine à me convaincre avec son héros fade trop facilement influençable qui continue de se cherche inlassablement, je salue et adore sa passion pour l'art sous toutes ses formes qu'elle nous transmet à chaque tome. Le volet ''installation'' de ces derniers temps me passionne et j'aime comment cela irrigue son propre art, à travers quelques planches à couper le souffle qui reste longtemps dans la rétine, en général quand Yatora percute enfin après un cheminement introspectif artistique et philosophique des plus réussi.
Article complet: https://lesblablasdetachan.wordpress....
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October 19, 2025Art is one of the purest forms of expression and a practice that people are drawn to irrespective of labor dynamics throughout history; its depictions vary according to social context but the core of communication and relation through an abstract medium has always stayed the same; therefore there are elements of it that must speak deeply to a universal human experience. Perhaps a large contributor to this is that beyond being a technical skill, the majority of art is about teaching yourself to see properly and deciding what point of view you want to take on and express. As a result creating and examining art naturally causes us to question the ways we think and act every day…how do I want to present myself? in what direction should I stir this conversation? what kind of dreams should i have? etc. Blue period is able to navigate all of these topics with so much tact and intrigue. I really love this manga and I find myself thinking about it a lot so Im glad to have reread it. It presents such a unique story that has so much depth and style and you can really tell the authors passion about the subject and lived experience from the level of immersion and liveliness of the characters.
I am someone who could never imagine having a dream that is so important to me that I would abandon my preconceptions and responsibilities, so seeing my character reflected in a protagonist like yatora was particularly compelling. I often see people who pursue arts as a career as privileged (and they usually are) but bc of that I thought the arcs about yatora’s need for self centeredness was so interesting. He has dedicated his entire life to monotonously studying through hard work so even in the face of these new challenges, he never experiences any regret or hesitation, but rather fully immerses himself in the new world he finds himself in. Yet at times, his work ethic causes him to lose sight of his personal vision. Yatora is able to pursue anything he puts his mind to, which is what makes it so difficult for him to pinpoint what he truly wants and wants to express, and why it is so moving that he decidedly lands on becoming an artist. His progression as an artist also shows us that art, both in its technicality and conceptualization, is something that can be improved upon regardless of someone’s status or previous experience and perceptions. I loved this overall narrative structure of detailing the parallels between yatora’s relationship with himself and his work and thought it made the story and character relationships so strong and interesting. Let’s abolish battle shounen and whip up 50 more of these 🙏
I am someone who could never imagine having a dream that is so important to me that I would abandon my preconceptions and responsibilities, so seeing my character reflected in a protagonist like yatora was particularly compelling. I often see people who pursue arts as a career as privileged (and they usually are) but bc of that I thought the arcs about yatora’s need for self centeredness was so interesting. He has dedicated his entire life to monotonously studying through hard work so even in the face of these new challenges, he never experiences any regret or hesitation, but rather fully immerses himself in the new world he finds himself in. Yet at times, his work ethic causes him to lose sight of his personal vision. Yatora is able to pursue anything he puts his mind to, which is what makes it so difficult for him to pinpoint what he truly wants and wants to express, and why it is so moving that he decidedly lands on becoming an artist. His progression as an artist also shows us that art, both in its technicality and conceptualization, is something that can be improved upon regardless of someone’s status or previous experience and perceptions. I loved this overall narrative structure of detailing the parallels between yatora’s relationship with himself and his work and thought it made the story and character relationships so strong and interesting. Let’s abolish battle shounen and whip up 50 more of these 🙏
March 26, 2026
Tengo que decirlo: ¿DÓNDE ESTÁN MIS NIÑOS, POR QUÉ NO SALEN MIS NIÑOS? Nah, es broma. En realidad, me encanta cómo las diferentes etapas de este manga van recuperando unos personajes u otros según lo necesitan. Y el final. EL FINAL. Ese último panel, esa pregunta. SE VIENEN COSITAS. Me encanta cómo la autora aborda sin complejos temas que, aunque mil veces discutidos en determinados círculos, no calan en sus "obviedades" en la sociedad en general. En fin, qué gozada es este manga, cómo me gusta siempre.
September 11, 2025
Really freaking good I don't do art or anything like that but this is one of the few mangas where I felt like I could relate to a main character
November 30, 2025
soldado caido
December 13, 2025
J’adore blue period, je trouve qu’on peut facilement se reconnaître
Review of advance copy
Yaguchi bébou 😭. Ce manga est vraiment excellent. C'est trop bien 🥹.
January 29, 2026
Completely forgot about Mori, tbh.
February 12, 2026
Me ha encantado 😭😭
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February 24, 2026The ending of this volume 🥲
February 24, 2026
What a great volume that showcases success and how talent doesn’t translate directly to passion. It’s been a while since the story has taken such a direct focus with the story.
March 10, 2026
I'm all caught up! 😭 This series is soooooo good.
March 10, 2026
看完這兩本好像比較懂
為何是繪畫專科卻老是做畫畫以外的作品了XD
教授們看重的創做的意圖，媒材反而是其次了
還有隨著學級往上爬
藝術家還是不免要學習PM的技能
才能夠在資本主義社會裡活下去啊~
看著化身葛奴乙
提練各種記憶中的味道的八虎
被憧憬的學姐爆擊
還是覺得理想與現實的拉鋸好揪心啊~
為何是繪畫專科卻老是做畫畫以外的作品了XD
教授們看重的創做的意圖，媒材反而是其次了
還有隨著學級往上爬
藝術家還是不免要學習PM的技能
才能夠在資本主義社會裡活下去啊~
看著化身葛奴乙
提練各種記憶中的味道的八虎
被憧憬的學姐爆擊
還是覺得理想與現實的拉鋸好揪心啊~
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2026
THIS WAS SOOOOOOOO PEAK I’M YATORA X MORI BIGGEST DEFENDER THEY ARE SO CUTEEEEE UUUUUGGGHH
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March 24, 2026Blue Period, c'est une mini claque émotionnelle à chaque tomes...
March 27, 2026
[Blue Period, Volume 17 - Tsubasa Yamaguchi → ☆☆☆☆.5]
April 4, 2026
Yatora necesita dinero y termina trabajando con sus antiguos compañeros del club de arte. Y deciden hacer una exposición en conjunto cosa que pone nervioso a Yatora ya que va a exponer junto a Mori
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews