What do you think?
Rate this book
Genkaku Picasso #3
幻覚ピカソ 3 (ジャンプコミックスDIGITAL)
【ページ数が多いビックボリューム版！】人の精神世界を描き、その絵の中へダイブすることで、クラスメイトの悩みを解決する、ピカソこと葉村ヒカリ。今日も友人の心を描いて救っていくが、不思議なピカソの力が知られて、親友を失ってしまう。そんな傷心のピカソの新たな絵に込められた真意とは…？
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2010
3 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Usamaru Furuya
101 books176 followersUsamaru Furuya (古屋兎丸) is a Japanese manga creator from Tokyo. His production covers a variety of art styles and genres, such as horror, humour, slice-of-life, erotica, sci-fi, always with a personal surrealistic touch. Society oppression and the human condition are common themes in his body of work.
Furuya showed an interest in comics making since elementary school. He graduated from Tama Art University, where he had studied sculpture and oil painting.
His manga career started in the alternative magazine 'Garo', in which he published a series of one-page comics called Palepoli (1994-1995). He then worked on Short Cuts (1996-1999), a gag manga serialised in the mainstream magazine 'Weekly Young Sunday'. Other short stories from the same period were collected in the books Garden (2000) and Plastic Girl (2000).
Over the years Furuya has created work for a number of manga magazines, underground and mainstream. Among his series available in one or more Western languages are: the dystopian The Music of Marie (2000-2001); the surreal horror Lychee Light Club (2005-2006), loosely based on a play by Norimizu Ameya; the post-apocalyptic 51 Ways to Save Her (2006-2007); Genkaku Picasso (2008-2010); No Longer Human (2009-2011), adaptation of a novel by Osamu Dazai; Amane Gymnasium (2017-2020).
Furuya showed an interest in comics making since elementary school. He graduated from Tama Art University, where he had studied sculpture and oil painting.
His manga career started in the alternative magazine 'Garo', in which he published a series of one-page comics called Palepoli (1994-1995). He then worked on Short Cuts (1996-1999), a gag manga serialised in the mainstream magazine 'Weekly Young Sunday'. Other short stories from the same period were collected in the books Garden (2000) and Plastic Girl (2000).
Over the years Furuya has created work for a number of manga magazines, underground and mainstream. Among his series available in one or more Western languages are: the dystopian The Music of Marie (2000-2001); the surreal horror Lychee Light Club (2005-2006), loosely based on a play by Norimizu Ameya; the post-apocalyptic 51 Ways to Save Her (2006-2007); Genkaku Picasso (2008-2010); No Longer Human (2009-2011), adaptation of a novel by Osamu Dazai; Amane Gymnasium (2017-2020).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
May 31, 2016
What! Only three volumes?! Boo!
June 23, 2021
The final one of the three and I can not get through this one without tearing up. Yuto was a bit of a random pop up, but I liked his story and how the mother was drawn. She looked controlling from the start. I liked how everything was resolved.
It’s a little funny how Sugiura gets two trips. That boy has issues. But it’s the most common problem. Rejection. His solution is less drastic than trying to kill someone, but I’m glad he didn’t hurt Kumi. The reaction was understandable, but Picasso was pretty much a guardian angel to the lot of them and out of the lot of them, Sugiura was the only one to freak out.
Hikari’s story broke my heart. First fight with his friend and has to dive into his own heart and face Chiaki’s death. The reveal of the note and the rotting got me. I liked how he was saved. Definitely one of my favourites.
It’s a little funny how Sugiura gets two trips. That boy has issues. But it’s the most common problem. Rejection. His solution is less drastic than trying to kill someone, but I’m glad he didn’t hurt Kumi. The reaction was understandable, but Picasso was pretty much a guardian angel to the lot of them and out of the lot of them, Sugiura was the only one to freak out.
Hikari’s story broke my heart. First fight with his friend and has to dive into his own heart and face Chiaki’s death. The reveal of the note and the rotting got me. I liked how he was saved. Definitely one of my favourites.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2015
It is a tad but repetitive but actually ended quite nicely. I liked the entire series.
The problems that they solved were very real. You could easily believe them happening.
The ending felt very true as well. Would you want to let go of the first friend you had?
I've rarely seen something like this from shonen and I like it.
The art was amazing. So realistic. A lot of skill and a lot of time and effort. I applaud you.
The problems that they solved were very real. You could easily believe them happening.
The ending felt very true as well. Would you want to let go of the first friend you had?
I've rarely seen something like this from shonen and I like it.
The art was amazing. So realistic. A lot of skill and a lot of time and effort. I applaud you.
April 27, 2022
The best comics are the ones that get better and better as they go on and that's what this series did. HOLY. MOLY. What a GOOD ENDING.
I'm so glad I found that first volume in a Little Free Library.
I'm so glad I found that first volume in a Little Free Library.
May 26, 2011
Reason for Reading: Next (and last) book in the series.
Volume 3, the last in this trilogy, continues on with the theme of the previous books with Picasso drawing the heart of another student and diving into the picture. This story revolves around a boy who has not gone to school for the past several years as he is in a state of depression where he feels that nothing is worth it; life is useless and all pursuits pointless as the world will end one day and we are all going to die anyway. His mother brings him to a festival at the school to try and cheer him up but Picasso discovers in the hidden heart that the mother is the cause of all the boy's trouble. A rather strange story which I wouldn't have really liked except that there is a cultural aspect to it about honouring one's parents that somehow changes this from a Western-type story of blame the parent for all the kid's problems, to something different.
The next story goes back to Sugiura and his crush on Akane. He finally asks her out and she accepts thinking it is just a friend outing but when Akane has to set him straight on the no romance side of their friendship, Sugiura goes on the rebound with a girl who has confessed she likes him and is more his type. When Picasso dives into Sugiura's heart he finally helps him discover why he has always had an attraction to Akane, even though she is not his type, and stops him from making a big mistake with this new girl. This is a fitting end to Picasso's adventures of "helping" people since Sugiura was the first he helped back in Vol. 1 and here he now is the last.
The time has come though for Picasso to examine his own heart and he is suddenly surrounded by a huge aura and draws a picture and dives into it, not realizing it is his own dark heart until he starts trying to solve the problem. Quite a spectacular ending that I was impressed with. It made the whole trilogy worth reading and the story is really quite deep when one examines it. All the characters we've met from all three volumes come back in this volume and join together to help Picasso in the final chapters.
This is not a series I would normally have read had the summary been more forthcoming about plot and content in the first, Vol. 2 especially contained a lot of content which I would not have continued to read if the volumes had not ended in a trilogy. There is a lot of s*xual situations, some way out of my "want to even know about" zone and therefore do pay attention to the publisher's recommended age of 16+ and I add that this series will not be for all adults either.
It wouldn't have been for me either. But I stuck with it after Vol. 2 to find out the ending and I'm glad I did at that point as I'm impressed with the writing and the direction the plot went. I'm not going to recommend this series, as I can't due to its content. But if after reading my reviews of the individual books, you find the topic/plot interesting you will find a well-written and unique manga trilogy.
Volume 3, the last in this trilogy, continues on with the theme of the previous books with Picasso drawing the heart of another student and diving into the picture. This story revolves around a boy who has not gone to school for the past several years as he is in a state of depression where he feels that nothing is worth it; life is useless and all pursuits pointless as the world will end one day and we are all going to die anyway. His mother brings him to a festival at the school to try and cheer him up but Picasso discovers in the hidden heart that the mother is the cause of all the boy's trouble. A rather strange story which I wouldn't have really liked except that there is a cultural aspect to it about honouring one's parents that somehow changes this from a Western-type story of blame the parent for all the kid's problems, to something different.
The next story goes back to Sugiura and his crush on Akane. He finally asks her out and she accepts thinking it is just a friend outing but when Akane has to set him straight on the no romance side of their friendship, Sugiura goes on the rebound with a girl who has confessed she likes him and is more his type. When Picasso dives into Sugiura's heart he finally helps him discover why he has always had an attraction to Akane, even though she is not his type, and stops him from making a big mistake with this new girl. This is a fitting end to Picasso's adventures of "helping" people since Sugiura was the first he helped back in Vol. 1 and here he now is the last.
The time has come though for Picasso to examine his own heart and he is suddenly surrounded by a huge aura and draws a picture and dives into it, not realizing it is his own dark heart until he starts trying to solve the problem. Quite a spectacular ending that I was impressed with. It made the whole trilogy worth reading and the story is really quite deep when one examines it. All the characters we've met from all three volumes come back in this volume and join together to help Picasso in the final chapters.
This is not a series I would normally have read had the summary been more forthcoming about plot and content in the first, Vol. 2 especially contained a lot of content which I would not have continued to read if the volumes had not ended in a trilogy. There is a lot of s*xual situations, some way out of my "want to even know about" zone and therefore do pay attention to the publisher's recommended age of 16+ and I add that this series will not be for all adults either.
It wouldn't have been for me either. But I stuck with it after Vol. 2 to find out the ending and I'm glad I did at that point as I'm impressed with the writing and the direction the plot went. I'm not going to recommend this series, as I can't due to its content. But if after reading my reviews of the individual books, you find the topic/plot interesting you will find a well-written and unique manga trilogy.
February 14, 2015
Okay, wow. Just wow. The ending of this book is just an emotional gut punch. For something that's disguised its self as a weird fluffy thing it really did just pull the rug out from under me. All of the most silly things are explained (but not all of them, which confuses me a little) and Picasso finally gets some closure.
May 23, 2022
The cover shows a smiling Hikari with clockwork insides. This is a foreshadowing about the final “heart” explored in this volume. So I won’t touch on it for the moment.
A student named Yuto, who’s been in social withdrawal (a phenomenon known in Japan as “hikikomuri”) has returned. He’s even more aloof and withdrawn than Hikari used to be. He also possesses a morbid, defeated outlook about the world. When he orates a macabre speech at a school outing, it stuns everyone. The adolescents swiftly recover their poise. Yuto’s mother, however, is immediately stricken by her son’s dark mood, weeping at her inability to reach him or pull him out of his gloom.
This volume is the culmination of all that has gone before it. The storyline comes full circle as Hikari explores the heart of the one person he’s avoided this whole time.
The wrenching sense of loss and the misery he’s refused to face serve to open him up to the people around him, the ones who realize their lightness of spirits, their renewed sense of happiness and joy are entirely due to his unseen efforts behind the scenes. Hikari’s strange behavior is explained when others come to understand the unusual gift that has haunted him since Chiaki’s death.
The psychological underpinnings of this series conclude in Hikari’s comprehension that he isn’t alone. He has friends, boon companions who care about his welfare, much to his astonishment. His “gift” perhaps was merely an unusual way for him to reach out to those around him. Thus, the mystery of the cheerful boy with the clockwork heart is explained.
This is a wonderful end to this series, one filled with struggle, achievement, pain and happiness. The artwork, as always, is brilliant and masterful. People who want to be artists will be inspired. Readers who like depth with their manga will find this a treat. Folks like me who crave stories that can be told in trilogies will be more than satisfied. And there’s a happy ending! What more could we want?
A student named Yuto, who’s been in social withdrawal (a phenomenon known in Japan as “hikikomuri”) has returned. He’s even more aloof and withdrawn than Hikari used to be. He also possesses a morbid, defeated outlook about the world. When he orates a macabre speech at a school outing, it stuns everyone. The adolescents swiftly recover their poise. Yuto’s mother, however, is immediately stricken by her son’s dark mood, weeping at her inability to reach him or pull him out of his gloom.
This volume is the culmination of all that has gone before it. The storyline comes full circle as Hikari explores the heart of the one person he’s avoided this whole time.
The wrenching sense of loss and the misery he’s refused to face serve to open him up to the people around him, the ones who realize their lightness of spirits, their renewed sense of happiness and joy are entirely due to his unseen efforts behind the scenes. Hikari’s strange behavior is explained when others come to understand the unusual gift that has haunted him since Chiaki’s death.
The psychological underpinnings of this series conclude in Hikari’s comprehension that he isn’t alone. He has friends, boon companions who care about his welfare, much to his astonishment. His “gift” perhaps was merely an unusual way for him to reach out to those around him. Thus, the mystery of the cheerful boy with the clockwork heart is explained.
This is a wonderful end to this series, one filled with struggle, achievement, pain and happiness. The artwork, as always, is brilliant and masterful. People who want to be artists will be inspired. Readers who like depth with their manga will find this a treat. Folks like me who crave stories that can be told in trilogies will be more than satisfied. And there’s a happy ending! What more could we want?
February 2, 2024
It makes sense that once Hikari Hamura helps someone with one of his drawings, that person feels closer to him. He is diving into their hearts and fixing something that is broken inside of them. That is bound to make them feel close to Hikari, and not understand why.
The author could have easily continued this series with more drawings. I would have loved to read more mysteries about what was going on with Hikari’s classmates, but at the same time it does feel fitting to end it with Hikari’s heart and seeing him finally move on from losing Chiaki.
The author could have easily continued this series with more drawings. I would have loved to read more mysteries about what was going on with Hikari’s classmates, but at the same time it does feel fitting to end it with Hikari’s heart and seeing him finally move on from losing Chiaki.
September 6, 2017
Fantastic manga series
Well, I had read some other works by Usamaru Furuya, but I think this one is my favorite. The different stories are nice and whole heartened, surprisingly more kind and bright than other works by the same author, and they are a perfect excuse to show us his artistic skills and his great art history and techniques knowledge. Some of the drawings are truly amazing. I'd recommend the series to anyone looking for a nice story with great art quality
Well, I had read some other works by Usamaru Furuya, but I think this one is my favorite. The different stories are nice and whole heartened, surprisingly more kind and bright than other works by the same author, and they are a perfect excuse to show us his artistic skills and his great art history and techniques knowledge. Some of the drawings are truly amazing. I'd recommend the series to anyone looking for a nice story with great art quality
February 28, 2019
Well, I did not expect this to go the direction it went. I'm thrilled it tied back into the beginning of the first volume. The ending was powerful. I almost teared up, which hardly ever happens to me when reading. Beautifully done. Bravo at a great ending to a series.
January 18, 2018
Towards the last couple of chapters I was actually moved to tears. This was a wonderful series. It told its story with precision and great feeling. The entire series is positive and each ‘character mystery’ leaves you feeling good in the end.
Despite the many tears I cried, it had a warm ending. I’m impressed with how well it dealt with grief and the joy of helping friends.
Despite the many tears I cried, it had a warm ending. I’m impressed with how well it dealt with grief and the joy of helping friends.
February 26, 2018
It is good that it ended as it did, for the story shouldn't have dragged on any longer.
Now it stopped in its prime, which is good! The story is closed in a touching way, giving the reader the feel-good-ending we all need so now and then.
Now it stopped in its prime, which is good! The story is closed in a touching way, giving the reader the feel-good-ending we all need so now and then.
April 1, 2019
Pretty great manga, Loved the story and art 😁😻❤️❤️
May 1, 2019
Picasso...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
The conclusion was very good, but I never really connected with these characters.
Read
December 31, 202212/31/22
March 3, 2023
bitch im crying
June 10, 2024
This series was incredible! I wasn’t sure at first but it dealt with many current issues including transphobia and ultimately grief! I really needed this to let go of my dad’s death…
November 26, 2025
Yeah, nah.
July 28, 2014
After a tragic accident takes the life of his only friend, Chiaki, Hikaru Hamura, or "Picarin," is given a second chance, but he must continue helping people or he'll rot away. When someone near to Hamura is in need he is compelled to create an image of their 'secret heart,' which is usually highly detailed and full of personal symbolism. Then Hamura and Chiaki, who has stayed with Hamura to help him as a tiny angel, dive into the picture (Hamura is seen by everyone to pass out) to help the person deal with their problem.
As he did so, helping people with some pretty intense issues, he grew himself and started to come out of his shy and cynical shell. At the beginning of the series Hamura is pretty much a loner. He hangs out at the river drawing pictures after school, where he is often joined by Chiaki a popular girl, who encourages and teases him.
All of his classmates appear pretty much normal, but even the best and brightest of them are actually deal with problems, sometimes dealing with their family life, sometimes past traumas. Some of the issues are really current and don't have much representation in the U.S., such as gender identity disorder.
I loved how each volume was dealing with different issues in an incredibly sincere and realistic way and how through the series you could see Hamura developing and changing as well. The last chapter of the book was very well-written (and drawn), I don't often get emotional while reading manga, but the ending of the series was, truthfully, heart-wrenching. I was glad for Hamura that he was able to finally solve his own broken heart.
These three volumes are perfect for people who don't see much value in manga, it deals with current issues in a responsible, yet humorous way, the characters are all well developed and continue growing and changing through the series, the artwork is amazing, and the storyline and plot all fit together perfectly for a satisfying read.
Since the series does deal with a lot of topics that teens struggle with or are dealing with themselves it also makes a good teen series, or might be good for a teen manga discussion group. I was surprised that this was in Shonen Jump since it is so heart-felt and not similar to any of their usual sports or battle manga titles.
As he did so, helping people with some pretty intense issues, he grew himself and started to come out of his shy and cynical shell. At the beginning of the series Hamura is pretty much a loner. He hangs out at the river drawing pictures after school, where he is often joined by Chiaki a popular girl, who encourages and teases him.
All of his classmates appear pretty much normal, but even the best and brightest of them are actually deal with problems, sometimes dealing with their family life, sometimes past traumas. Some of the issues are really current and don't have much representation in the U.S., such as gender identity disorder.
I loved how each volume was dealing with different issues in an incredibly sincere and realistic way and how through the series you could see Hamura developing and changing as well. The last chapter of the book was very well-written (and drawn), I don't often get emotional while reading manga, but the ending of the series was, truthfully, heart-wrenching. I was glad for Hamura that he was able to finally solve his own broken heart.
These three volumes are perfect for people who don't see much value in manga, it deals with current issues in a responsible, yet humorous way, the characters are all well developed and continue growing and changing through the series, the artwork is amazing, and the storyline and plot all fit together perfectly for a satisfying read.
Since the series does deal with a lot of topics that teens struggle with or are dealing with themselves it also makes a good teen series, or might be good for a teen manga discussion group. I was surprised that this was in Shonen Jump since it is so heart-felt and not similar to any of their usual sports or battle manga titles.
June 18, 2013
I really like this series, but this one seemed less poignant than book 2, so yeah. Jeanne is such a pretty maid! I love her as a girl since that's who she truly is. “He bumps into people and passes out. He's weird like that.” What's weird is that it's happened so often to Picarin that people don't really care anymore. It's horrible that Yuto thinks it's pointless to have dreams because the world will end. Yes, the economy may be bad, but that doesn't mean people should stop fighting for what they love. I hate it when parents try to discourage you from following your dreams, saying it's not realistic, like Yuto's mom. It's that way with me too. They should tell you that you need to work hard if you want to succeed. I'm willing to work hard for my dreams, and so it doesn't matter how hard it looks now. Even if it's a job that doesn't make any money, that doesn't matter-your soul will benefit from it. Anyone else notice how it seems that Yuto's mother has no eyes? The blue rose story is really sweet. Karaoke in Japan looks amazing! I hate Sugiura's reaction to Picarin's abilities. If something supernatural is happening to you, and you have proof, your friends should believe it and acccept it then want to be involved too. It would be so creepy to be surrounded by darkness like Picarin. I like how all Picarin's friends decided to help him despite his powers. Chiaki's face is sad when she's leaving Picarin. I love the note Chiaki wrote. I like the Riverside Club and how Picarin got friends through Chiaki.
September 8, 2011
Genkaku Picasso, Vol. 3
by Usamaru Furuya
Read this book to feel action within the book and discover the wonders of frendship and mysterysthat will not be understandable besides that.To draw a picture and get sucked in it is what many artists wants but not htis one and yet he is stuck until he understands why.
The way the autor ends the book shoocks me and it is suprisingly satifying ending becasue when you read this series you feel like it could go on forever and still be intresting but the author made sure to give a plausable end and fixed it.Even with all the changes and relisations in the story the understanding of it all make you feel better.
I can belive how well the story conected the three books , so people who dont like when the series dont really connect should read this book you will like how they all connect in the end. In no way was this expected.I wish to read this over and over just to make sure i got all the details, which are all important and intresting.
by Usamaru Furuya
Read this book to feel action within the book and discover the wonders of frendship and mysterysthat will not be understandable besides that.To draw a picture and get sucked in it is what many artists wants but not htis one and yet he is stuck until he understands why.
The way the autor ends the book shoocks me and it is suprisingly satifying ending becasue when you read this series you feel like it could go on forever and still be intresting but the author made sure to give a plausable end and fixed it.Even with all the changes and relisations in the story the understanding of it all make you feel better.
I can belive how well the story conected the three books , so people who dont like when the series dont really connect should read this book you will like how they all connect in the end. In no way was this expected.I wish to read this over and over just to make sure i got all the details, which are all important and intresting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2016
This is the final volume of the series, but per the author, it was always planned to be a short feature.
And it works pretty well that way. The premise turns back on itself, as Hikari is forced to dive into his own darkness and resolve the issues he's been avoiding since the first chapter. We also finally see what his predicament looks like from the outside. Some readers might object to the explanation or lack of same for Hikari's abilities, but it more or less works for this story.
The best part remains the surreal artscapes that reveal people's inner lives.
For more manga reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/manga/
And it works pretty well that way. The premise turns back on itself, as Hikari is forced to dive into his own darkness and resolve the issues he's been avoiding since the first chapter. We also finally see what his predicament looks like from the outside. Some readers might object to the explanation or lack of same for Hikari's abilities, but it more or less works for this story.
The best part remains the surreal artscapes that reveal people's inner lives.
For more manga reviews, see http://www.skjam.com/tag/manga/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2011
This has to be one of my favorite short manga series. The art is great and the story is pretty unusual. I like that the main character remains reluctant til the bitter end and he is so amusingly pervy!
June 29, 2012
Poor Picasso; we finally get to see what's in his heart this time. So sad, I would have cried if there weren't people in the room with me; but I'm sure I'll cry when I read it again. Oh, but aside from the very nearly boob-flash shot, yeah, it was a good way to finish it all.
July 19, 2011
I saw the ending coming a mile away, but that doesn't mean the series was great summer fun. It's lighthearted, experimental, cute, meaningful, and pretty.
August 26, 2012
Incredibly good ending to the series. Have tissues handy.
October 1, 2012
A interesting finale, still the story lags behind the wonderful artwork, but still is enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews