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Aqua #2
水星領航員首部曲 2
水無燈里想成為「領航員」，而來到過去被稱為火星的星球─「ＡＱＵＡ」。這是個以二十一世紀前半，存在於地球義大利的水鄉澤國為基底，所建造出來的與水共生的港都。燈里來到水星已經半年了，也完全習慣了在新威尼斯的生活。但還是半正式領航員的她，要成為真正的「領航員」之路還很漫長。就在此時，突然有個顧客指定要她載往目的地。第一次載客人的燈里是否能夠順利完成任務呢？
178 pages, Paperback
First published March 27, 2002
About the author
Kozue Amano
151 books71 followersKozue Amano (天野こずえ Amano Kozue) is a female Japanese manga artist. She is widely known as the creator of Aria, which proved to be a best-selling hit, and was adapted into an anime television series consisting of 3 seasons and an OVA.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 23, 2019
We back in Aqua as the adventure continues! To not repeat myself too much, this book, as it's a sequel, is similar enough that my review of the first book essentially covers the gist.
It's a light-hearted slice of life as we, once again, follow Akari in her wonder and exploration of this new world. We meet a new character (Akatsuki), have some fun with President Aria, and learn more about what makes this planet so special. The stories are cute, fun, and the artwork is gorgeous! Just one of those books that make you feel all giddy and happy on the inside. It's an easy read, very relaxing, and one I recommend, especially if you enjoyed the first book! A wonderful series for all ages :)
For Japanese learners:
Like my last review of the first book, this is the same. N4+ grammar, a few N3 sprinkled in, and plenty of vocab to keep you busy. If you've read the first one, you should have an easier time with this one. (Books in a series are easier to read the more you go through them, given the same writing style, repeated vocab, etc.)
It made a big difference this time to have my official English translated manga to compare with. Whether I got stuck or just to check my work, it was a huge help. If that's not an option for you, fan translations are out there, but from my experience with them, they were hit/miss with this series.
This is a very beginner friendly series though, so if you're learning, I highly recommend this!
It's a light-hearted slice of life as we, once again, follow Akari in her wonder and exploration of this new world. We meet a new character (Akatsuki), have some fun with President Aria, and learn more about what makes this planet so special. The stories are cute, fun, and the artwork is gorgeous! Just one of those books that make you feel all giddy and happy on the inside. It's an easy read, very relaxing, and one I recommend, especially if you enjoyed the first book! A wonderful series for all ages :)
For Japanese learners:
Like my last review of the first book, this is the same. N4+ grammar, a few N3 sprinkled in, and plenty of vocab to keep you busy. If you've read the first one, you should have an easier time with this one. (Books in a series are easier to read the more you go through them, given the same writing style, repeated vocab, etc.)
It made a big difference this time to have my official English translated manga to compare with. Whether I got stuck or just to check my work, it was a huge help. If that's not an option for you, fan translations are out there, but from my experience with them, they were hit/miss with this series.
This is a very beginner friendly series though, so if you're learning, I highly recommend this!
August 9, 2018
Kind of more of the same, following the previous volume. Still a very high level of quality, though. Highlights are the two stories about President Aria himself, both making him out to be very cute as a mascot-type character, despite his kinda-weird appearance/design. The chapter about Aria leaving home for a day kinda feels a little "forced" with its drama, but the panel of Aria hugging his favorite stuffed toy on the rooftop of Aria Company's headquarters, the panel cutting off before showing Aria's face, assumed to be shedding a tear, is just absolutely brilliant, pulling the reader's heartstrings with so simple an image, when other manga may need so much more in order to evoke similar emotional responses. Following this story, the chapter about Aria running around town as a feline Kamen Rider ripoff is likewise incredibly cute, with Aria almost falling into another spell of depression when he seems not to have succeeded in his mission to deliver a doll back to its young owner, only for things to turn in his favor, culminating in a nice shot of Aria walking proudly alongside the setting sun.
The other stories are fine, too. The first chapter of this volume, Chapter 6 of the overall manga, introduces a male character Akatsuki, acting as another foil to series lead Akari, while also teasing the existence of another job class on Aqua, the all-male Salamanders, effectively foreshadowing the existence of Gnome and Sylph jobs, to follow the trend of Aqua careers named after classical Elementals. Another chapter introduces the "night-light" windchimes, a cute little addition to the overall lore of planet Aqua, though perhaps this chapter is the most "obvious" of all tales in the series, with it being utterly obvious Akari would end up with one of the eternally glowing windchimes, teased in the beginning of the chapter. The last chapter finally gets to the floating island seen in the background of many previous chapters, revealing the purpose behind Akatsuki and other Salamanders (to regulate the heat of planet Aqua, naturally colder than "Manhome," aka Earth), and ending with a revelation for Akari herself, brought on by a fireworks show which seems to work well enough in a two-page spread of black-and-white manga: Akari is ever-nostalgic for events experienced in real-time on Aqua, an attitude perhaps most ideal for everyday living in our non-fiction world.
Alicia looks great on this volume's cover, and Aika looks better in the bonus chapter about her having a cold.
The other stories are fine, too. The first chapter of this volume, Chapter 6 of the overall manga, introduces a male character Akatsuki, acting as another foil to series lead Akari, while also teasing the existence of another job class on Aqua, the all-male Salamanders, effectively foreshadowing the existence of Gnome and Sylph jobs, to follow the trend of Aqua careers named after classical Elementals. Another chapter introduces the "night-light" windchimes, a cute little addition to the overall lore of planet Aqua, though perhaps this chapter is the most "obvious" of all tales in the series, with it being utterly obvious Akari would end up with one of the eternally glowing windchimes, teased in the beginning of the chapter. The last chapter finally gets to the floating island seen in the background of many previous chapters, revealing the purpose behind Akatsuki and other Salamanders (to regulate the heat of planet Aqua, naturally colder than "Manhome," aka Earth), and ending with a revelation for Akari herself, brought on by a fireworks show which seems to work well enough in a two-page spread of black-and-white manga: Akari is ever-nostalgic for events experienced in real-time on Aqua, an attitude perhaps most ideal for everyday living in our non-fiction world.
Alicia looks great on this volume's cover, and Aika looks better in the bonus chapter about her having a cold.
May 11, 2023
There are not one, but two, stories in this volume with President Aria as the central character. To what do we owe this abomination boon? Did Aqua's audience in Japan love this character so much they wanted to see more of him? Did the author? Both stories show us that his mental age and capabilities are maybe that of an early elementary school child. Alicia's the one who's really running the place, I guess, because Akari would have no clue either. Then again, dreary reality--keeping the books up to date, making sure the house and grounds are in good repair, etc.--has no place on Mars as a Venice-themed amusement park and/or idyllic Japanese neighborhood.
The last episode in this second, and final, volume of Aqua features Alice, who wasn't introduced in either book before showing up as part of an established gondola training trio with Akari and Aika. This episode displays a somewhat more refined storytelling style-- including a more affecting take on Aika as a character--than the other stories in these two books, so I'm guessing it was added to a later printing. One of the chibi mini-comics in the margins of this volume has Aika asking Alice "So? Really... Who are you?" and Alice replying "Please refer to the continuation of this series, Aria" which supports my guess.
The last episode in this second, and final, volume of Aqua features Alice, who wasn't introduced in either book before showing up as part of an established gondola training trio with Akari and Aika. This episode displays a somewhat more refined storytelling style-- including a more affecting take on Aika as a character--than the other stories in these two books, so I'm guessing it was added to a later printing. One of the chibi mini-comics in the margins of this volume has Aika asking Alice "So? Really... Who are you?" and Alice replying "Please refer to the continuation of this series, Aria" which supports my guess.
June 22, 2022
Another reread. This volume reminded me why I associate this series with wind chimes. It's interesting how, after all these years, I forgot almost all the stories but remember almost on a subconscious level the main images and the emotions each of them gave me.
The wind chimes story, the fireworks one, and the last one about Aika sum up pretty well the spirit and the aesthetic of this manga as a whole. The Japanese lit major in me couldn't help but appreciate the use of seasonal images in these stories, which lead me to a realization: the best way I can find to describe Aqua (and Aria) is "a series of haiku in manga form".
The wind chimes story, the fireworks one, and the last one about Aika sum up pretty well the spirit and the aesthetic of this manga as a whole. The Japanese lit major in me couldn't help but appreciate the use of seasonal images in these stories, which lead me to a realization: the best way I can find to describe Aqua (and Aria) is "a series of haiku in manga form".
October 13, 2022
aria/aqua honestly has some of the best worldbuilding out there, because it asks "what value will tradition have in the future?"
The chapter on nostalgia for something you're experiencing for the first time is what drives this home, and is relevant to today; in the face of technology permeating every facet of our lives, why do we seek out or romanticize doing things the old fashioned way?
I still remain unconvinced by President Aria (the cat)'s chapters, they are way too slapstick and clash hard with the meditative tone of the rest.
The chapter on nostalgia for something you're experiencing for the first time is what drives this home, and is relevant to today; in the face of technology permeating every facet of our lives, why do we seek out or romanticize doing things the old fashioned way?
I still remain unconvinced by President Aria (the cat)'s chapters, they are way too slapstick and clash hard with the meditative tone of the rest.
July 25, 2026
Once again, to all those confused out of their minds what this is, this is the continuation to Aria. Go read that first. Do not read this first. This is basically the final two volumes of Aria. It was not published first. You will spoil the entirety of Aria if you read this. Why are most of the reviews for these people not realizing this is a sequel? What happened that all these people read this first?
March 29, 2025
Akari evoluindo
O sentimento do primeiro volume se mantém nesse segundo volume, com cenas inocentes e emocionantes. Gostei muito da primeira viagem que a Akari faz com um cliente, não me recordo se é citado no anime qual é sua primeira viagem mas com certeza é uma bela adição pra história!
Agora é ler a continuação que promete ser muito boa também!
O sentimento do primeiro volume se mantém nesse segundo volume, com cenas inocentes e emocionantes. Gostei muito da primeira viagem que a Akari faz com um cliente, não me recordo se é citado no anime qual é sua primeira viagem mas com certeza é uma bela adição pra história!
Agora é ler a continuação que promete ser muito boa também!
July 26, 2020
Prequel di "Aria", racconta l'arrivo, il principio, di tutta la storia seguente con la stessa scioltezza e la stessa bravura dell'autrice!!!
June 3, 2021
Extremadamente "Meh". Solo lo salva que al parecer tiene una secuela que imagino que tendrá un hilo conductor más claro y pasarán más cosas, pero no me han dado demasiadas ganas de meterme con ella.
March 13, 2026
So gorgeous. Read every single volume just for the art.
March 6, 2015
I love this series so much that I already have the Aria series on hold at the library. I just can't wait for it to arrive!
It's just a beautiful story that's both heartwarming and relaxing at the same time. I wish more manga felt this way, but then again, I might not go for it. I love President Aria. He's adorable! I also love all of the folklore they transplant from Manhome/Earth to Aqua/Mars. Though I do have to admit, I completely forgot Manhome was Earth. Thought it was a space station for a second. haha! Anyway, this is one I could easily love again and again.
It's just a beautiful story that's both heartwarming and relaxing at the same time. I wish more manga felt this way, but then again, I might not go for it. I love President Aria. He's adorable! I also love all of the folklore they transplant from Manhome/Earth to Aqua/Mars. Though I do have to admit, I completely forgot Manhome was Earth. Thought it was a space station for a second. haha! Anyway, this is one I could easily love again and again.
November 4, 2012
This second volume is an improvement over the first. The stories were much better (except for the two that center on the Mars cat president-suddenly the cat who has only been able to say "NYU" can type out a sentence in English?!) and her mean friend didn't feature as much. These two volumes are a prequel to the Aria anime and manga, which I may or may not track down. Overall, I thought the series was just okay.
September 13, 2015
Wow, I really enjoyed this volume and am enjoying this manga series! <3 loved the anime too, its Aria: The Animation, The Natural, and The Origination on hulu : ) loved it and Akari and Aika make a new undine apprentice friend Alice in this volume, and she's really cool and funny : ) love the storyline, characters, and president Aria is すごくかわいい!です! (so cute! ) definitely recommend this manga series and the anime too : )
February 25, 2016
Thank God I finished it. I didn't like that series at all and I don't want to read anything more about it. It could be awesome, but it's just pointless and silly. I'm glad it's over.
July 22, 2008
chief Arya, a misterious blue-eyed martian cat that became the head of Arya Company. All cats in Aqua gather around for a day in a month, under supervision by the Cat King, Caithsith(is the spelling right?)..
September 22, 2008
the second one was also very good and it kept the readers interest by adding things i liked how the cat would sneek off and other stuffiez
it was overall very good
PS manga was again amazing
it was overall very good
PS manga was again amazing
December 17, 2008
The stories devoted to President Aria are a little weak, but this is so adorable that I forgive them.
July 23, 2009
This is still one of my favorite series and I can't even say why. Its sweet, slow, and nothing much happens...and I love it all the more!
Read
June 3, 2010F AMA
aqua
vol. 2
aqua
vol. 2
Read
July 18, 2010Extremely odd style of writing and reading. Definitely don't think manga is for me. This volume was several short stories about the same characters.
June 27, 2014
3.6
Still adorable. Shame TokyoPop stopped distributing in America. Could've used a final wrap up
Still adorable. Shame TokyoPop stopped distributing in America. Could've used a final wrap up
January 18, 2014
I like Mr. Salamander (I forgot his name... '-.-)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews