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砂時計 [Sunadokei] #3

Sand Chronicles, Vol. 3

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After her parents get divorced, An Uekusa and her mother move from Tokyo to rural Shimane. Used to the anonymity of city living, An can't get used to the almost overbearing kindness of the people in her mother's hometown. But when personal tragedy strikes, An discovers how much she needs that kindness. Can the sands of time bury the pains of the past?

Sweet 16-year-old Ann returns to rural Shimane from Tokyo for the summer, eager to reconnect with her boyfriend Daigo. But will the allure of their close friends--wealthy brother and sister Fuji and Shika--sunder the romantic ties that have bound Ann and Daigo since they were 12?

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2004

7 people are currently reading
218 people want to read

About the author

Hinako Ashihara

75 books120 followers
Pseudonym of Ritsuko Matsumoto, Japanese manga artist.

Debut with "Sono Hanashi okotowari shimasu" in 1994 on Bessatsu Shoujo Comics.

Japanese name: 芦原妃名子

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5 stars
504 (39%)
4 stars
431 (34%)
3 stars
248 (19%)
2 stars
65 (5%)
1 star
15 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for Misty.
148 reviews5 followers
May 26, 2019
I have enjoyed the series so far, but this volume really clicked for me. Life, relationships, family, friends it is all complex and simple and easy and hard, it's messy and this volume really illustrates that. Things aren't black and white, people change, and it can be happy or painfully sad.
Anyway it is a fantastic story and it ends on a freaking cliff hanger and the library does not have the rest of the series. I placed an ILL request for volume 4.
Profile Image for Alex2739.
320 reviews1 follower
Read
January 15, 2024
Things are getting tangled and more complex, such a sad volume… (.﹒︣︿﹒︣.)’
Profile Image for Laura A. Grace.
1,966 reviews306 followers
June 14, 2024
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/pQREVpbRfpY

"If you get depressed or worried and you think you can't take it anymore you don't have to always try your hardest!! . . . Don't push yourself too hard!! Take a break or run away from it all. I don't know how much I can help but I'll do anything I can."

Do you know what hurts the most after reading this volume?

It's the "speech" Ann gives Fuji near the end.

Why does that hurt so much?

Because I think of the manga creator and how she must have felt and how if someone had maybe told her the same thing Ann said, then maybe she would still be with us today. 😭😭😭

Maybe her story would have been different than the ending of this volume, and oh how I wish I could pray that it would have been because it hurts. 😭😭😭

The earlier part of this volume was good though! I was pretty shocked by one of the secrets that was revealed! Maybe I should have seen it coming but I didn't and now I'm worried for another character and what will happen later…

I really love Ann and Daigo's relationship and how rock-solid they are! I know things happened and it left Ann feeling guilty, but I'm thankful that they both talked and got closer.

I just…worry about how things will change moving forward. With everything that is happening, there is no way things won't change.

And with how anxious I'm feeling on behalf of these characters, I really want to look up spoilers and know how it ends so my heart can breathe. LOL!

I want to keep reading but I need to order groceries, but my heart is so invested and caught up in these characters' lives that I don't want to... LOL!
Profile Image for Kristin ✨.
1,424 reviews26 followers
May 18, 2025
The absolute twist and the turns. Feel so bad for our siblings, they both deserve so much more from the world.

and also why is absolutely everyone so aggressive? Four people got best up this volume.

otherwise I am really liking the fast progression.
Profile Image for a.
1,301 reviews
June 24, 2023
I can already tell these next few volumes are going to stress me tf out 😩😩
Profile Image for Ana Maria.
296 reviews1 follower
April 27, 2025
La verdad es que no he visto venir lo de Shiika y me parece un giro interesante que espero que aborden en el siguiente tomo, porque estoy bastante segura de que la desaparición de Fuji es x que se piensa que es el ilegítimo, which no! Sigo sin tragarlo mucho, pero voy a tener que superarlo porque es cuestión de tiempo que esté con la prota, Ann.

Me va a molestar todo lo que viene? Es más que probable pero en fin, yo puedo! (O no)
La verdad es que cualquiera que lea esta review pensaría que por qué no hago drop y ale, pero es que hay algo que me mantiene leyendo.

Anywaysss, Daigo es mi personaje favorito y Shiika en este tomo se ha convertido en el segundo, así que si los lían quizá no estaré tan en contra como con la otra pareja ups.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,018 reviews76 followers
February 19, 2017
When I began reading manga (which was only two months ago), I never expected to read something that was truly touching. I thought it would all be fun and cute. This series changes my mind completely about the type of manga I like. Sure, I enjoy reading funny manga like Special A or cute manga like Fruits Basket, but I enjoy reading manga with a realistic story line and deeper meaning much more. It’s just better that way. That’s what this series was for me and I can only hope I’ll find more like it.

The artwork is a little muddier than I like. I’m more partial to defined drawing, rather than the scratchy drawing so often found in shoujo manga. I think it’s meant to give a more dreamy quality, but I just find it a bit on the annoying side. Since I liked this series so much, I’m willing to put that complaint aside.

The character development in this series is just unreal. I didn’t think manga was capable of that kind of thing. I couldn’t have been more wrong in that assumption. Ann’s development throughout the series is heartbreaking and incredibly realistic, considering her age. She goes through so many of the screw-ups and indecision that comes with being a girl in her teens or early twenties. I felt that I could relate to her throughout most of the series because I have gone through a lot of the same things. Daigo has a tendency to be a little more hard-headed, but it definitely the more mature of the two. He makes no secret of his complete devotion to Ann, even when she’s too messed up to realize what’s in front of her. He’s unwavering and therefore a more static character. However, this doesn’t hurt the series, as it is about Ann growing up, not Daigo. The situation Fuji and Shika find themselves in is a little more dramatic. They too are developing characters and both do a lot of growing up. Their search for their true identities is one that gives the series a bit more intrigue. They both learn a lot they didn’t know about themselves along the way.

This is certainly the best written manga I’ve come across. If you’re into manga, or are thinking of trying it out I highly recommend this series. It’s definitely girly shoujo manga, but it’s got a great story.
Profile Image for WendyTheOwl.
616 reviews4 followers
January 4, 2023
volume 1->10 (no spoilers)
FR
Pour commencer l'année 2023; j'avais envie de me relire quelque chose que j'aime, une lecture doudou.
Alors, clairement, ce manga ne peut techniquement pas entrer dans cette catégorie réellement, parce que on parle notamment de suicide. Mais c'est une lecture très nostalgique pour moi.
Je l'avais découvert à un moment assez compliqué pour moi, et bizarrement, j'étais tombée totalement amoureuse de l'histoire, malgré la difficulté, malgré les personnages dont je ne supporte pas forcément ce qu'ils.elles disent/font.
Et malgré les défauts, malgré ce que moi, je n'aime pas...
C'est toujours un coup de coeur. Je suis toujours amoureuse.
Mon avis n'a pas changé. Je n'aime toujours pas les mêmes choses. Et j'adore toujours les mêmes choses.
Je ne peux pas le recommander à tout le monde, au vu des sujets. Mais si vous pouvez gérer les cw, n'hésitez pas !

ENG
To start the year 2023; I wanted to re-read something I like, a cuddly reading.
So, clearly, this manga cannot technically fit into this category really, because we are talking about suicide in particular. But it's a very nostalgic read for me.
I had discovered it at a time that was quite complicated for me, and oddly, I had fallen totally in love with the story, despite the difficulty, despite the characters of whom I don't necessarily support what they say/do.
And despite the flaws, despite what I don't like...
It's always a crush. I'm still in love.
My opinion has not changed. I still don't like the same things. And I still love the same things.
I cannot recommend it to everyone, given the subjects. But if you can handle the cws, don't hesitate !
Profile Image for Kevin .
319 reviews
September 12, 2017
What I appreciate the most about the third volume of Sand Chronicles by Miss Hinako Ashihara is she knows how to introduce a new element in the story without doing a gigantic reveal like what most animes and mangas do. I am talking about the introduction of Shika Tsukishima. Yes, she has been introduced from the previous volumes, but she receives a proper introduction as one of the main characters in this volume. Not only does Shika make the cast of characters bigger but she also gives the plot another direction. In other words, Shika makes the plot swerve in another direction, and she has this element of surprise lurking within her. What I mean is we know something is going to happen, but we, as readers, are hoping that it won't happen, because it will be big trouble for our characters. It is okay to feel that way because we care now for these characters. Because of this third installment, the fourth book can stir the plot anywhere.
Profile Image for bow down to our ace king victor vale.
615 reviews6 followers
April 26, 2023
2.75!

ah what a mess lol. the relationship drama is..a lot. i appreciate the story when it discusses the effects of trauma and when it focuses on building character relationships. i just wish there was more of that and less romantic entanglement between the four friends (platonic love would be nice to see). ann and daigo are end game, but they’re for sure gonna break up in an upcoming volume or something judging by the vibes and the way things are going now oof. despite the complications, i still want to follow the characs along on their journey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
35 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2019
As Ann Uekusa lives her life in Tokyo, she wonders about Diago. Is he alright? Why isn't he calling me? Has he found someone new? As Ann visits her hometown Shimane, she finds that everything is in place. Or so it seems. Meanwhile, in Shimane, Daigo is having trouble with Shika. As Shika find out about her family past, she seeks the comfort of Daigo. Ann, in Tokyo, has problems too. After sharing a kiss with Fuji, she can help but wonder, Is my relationship with Daigo going last? Is my friendship with Fuji, Daigo, and Shika going to be like this forever?
Profile Image for -moonprismpower-.
2,970 reviews15 followers
September 13, 2021
I like Ann and Daigo together but I have a soft spot for Fuji. I also would love if Ann experiences more than one relationship before getting married in the future…. Let’s be honest, we don’t all end up with our first love!
Profile Image for R.
2,248 reviews6 followers
April 3, 2019
Getting more interesting. I don't know what will happen but it seems like a lot of characters are going to get hurt.
Profile Image for Savannah Nazelrod.
11 reviews2 followers
January 27, 2021
I liked it. It was good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Samantha.
1,447 reviews13 followers
October 31, 2021
I don't mind this series- it's cute. It's just kind of meh. It took me way longer to finish this because I just don't care and I can tell what's going to happen and it kinda makes me sad.
Profile Image for ERIN!!!.
214 reviews
February 18, 2025
Shiika's struggles are so heartbreaking but so real

Ann trying to not mess up with Fuji while trying to respect Daigo and herself is such a hard thing to balance

Love Ann and Daigo's relationship
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

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