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お祭りのようだった世の中がゆっくりと落ち着き、のちに“夕凪（ゆうなぎ）の時代”と呼ばれる近未来の日本。ある日『カフェ・アルファ』へやってきた宅配便。それは、アルファのオーナー・初瀬野（はつせの）からの物だという。それを届けに来た“ココネ”もまた、アルファと同じ、『アルファ型』の女性ロボットだった。
126 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 1996
6 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Hitoshi Ashinano
64 books67 followersHitoshi Ashinano (芦奈野 ひとし, Ashitano Hitoshi) is a Japanese manga artist.
Prior to his professional debut as a solo cartoonist, Ashinano worked as an assistant to manga artist Kousuke Fujishima, while also releasing some doujinshi (amateur manga) under the pen name 'suke'.
Ashinano's comics are known for their contemplative, laid-back, nostalgic feel. His first and best-known series is Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, a slice-of-life manga set in a post-apocalyptic world. The manga was serialised in Kodansha's comics magazine 'Monthly Afternoon' from 1994 to 2006, won the 2007 'Seiun Award for Best Science Fiction Manga' and was adapted into an anime.
Prior to his professional debut as a solo cartoonist, Ashinano worked as an assistant to manga artist Kousuke Fujishima, while also releasing some doujinshi (amateur manga) under the pen name 'suke'.
Ashinano's comics are known for their contemplative, laid-back, nostalgic feel. His first and best-known series is Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, a slice-of-life manga set in a post-apocalyptic world. The manga was serialised in Kodansha's comics magazine 'Monthly Afternoon' from 1994 to 2006, won the 2007 'Seiun Award for Best Science Fiction Manga' and was adapted into an anime.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 14, 2023
A post-apocalypse story... that’s actually extremely wholesome, relaxing and uplifting. There’s no darkness, violence, despair or evil to be found within these pages. Nothing but ambient, atmospheric, nature-fueled positivity between the last remnants of humanity and humanoid androids coming together to live peacefully in harmony and give each other the love and support they need to find purpose in their daily lives.
Alpha is a sweet robot girl that runs a cafe at the end of the world. She invites the few guests she receives into her shop to sit down and talk with her over a steaming cup of coffee. She bonds with locals and travelers by sharing heartwarming stories of the past and dreams for the future. They share happy memories in the present rather than dwelling on the past. Communities come together to raise children with hope for a brighter future. The population has decreased immensely, but loneliness has become a thing of the past.
The story plays out in a seaside country with boundless blooming nature with no pollution or industrialization in sight. Nature has reclaimed the earth, sea levels are rising and rich vegetation covers nearly every inch of land. The last survivors of the world respect nature and treat it like a friend rather than as a resource to be abused for profit.
It’s a mature apocalypse story that balances whimsical childlike wonder with coming of age self-discovery and finding contentment in a world that’s been robbed of most living things.
An underrated classic gem.
My rating: 4.5/5
Alpha is a sweet robot girl that runs a cafe at the end of the world. She invites the few guests she receives into her shop to sit down and talk with her over a steaming cup of coffee. She bonds with locals and travelers by sharing heartwarming stories of the past and dreams for the future. They share happy memories in the present rather than dwelling on the past. Communities come together to raise children with hope for a brighter future. The population has decreased immensely, but loneliness has become a thing of the past.
The story plays out in a seaside country with boundless blooming nature with no pollution or industrialization in sight. Nature has reclaimed the earth, sea levels are rising and rich vegetation covers nearly every inch of land. The last survivors of the world respect nature and treat it like a friend rather than as a resource to be abused for profit.
It’s a mature apocalypse story that balances whimsical childlike wonder with coming of age self-discovery and finding contentment in a world that’s been robbed of most living things.
An underrated classic gem.
My rating: 4.5/5
October 31, 2020
gay robots....
October 22, 2024
I like how the story is developing, slowly but surely.
June 11, 2023
There's a biker gang in this volume, but they're not cannibals.
My favorite story here was the photography trip--after receiving a camera from Kokone, another robot sent by Alpha's owner with a package and a message, Alpha decides to take her camera out on the road and capture the scenery. But every time she thinks she finds a good place, she looks at it for a while, absorbs it, and then travels on. In the end, the only picture she takes is of the scooter that she rode on while exploring the scenery. As she says when she plugs into the camera and looks at the scooter:
There are other amazing moments, like a simple glass bottle being a treasure from the time before or a surface-to-air missile used as a firework because there's no more need for violence, but Alpha sitting and reminiscing is what stands out to me.
Previous Review: Volume One.
My favorite story here was the photography trip--after receiving a camera from Kokone, another robot sent by Alpha's owner with a package and a message, Alpha decides to take her camera out on the road and capture the scenery. But every time she thinks she finds a good place, she looks at it for a while, absorbs it, and then travels on. In the end, the only picture she takes is of the scooter that she rode on while exploring the scenery. As she says when she plugs into the camera and looks at the scooter:
それに今日の風景はいつもより鮮明思い出せるThe robots are the memory of Earth. When humanity is gone, they're the ones who will remain, carrying humanity's memories and hopes.
"And anyway, I can remember the scenery from today more vividly than usual."
There are other amazing moments, like a simple glass bottle being a treasure from the time before or a surface-to-air missile used as a firework because there's no more need for violence, but Alpha sitting and reminiscing is what stands out to me.
Previous Review: Volume One.
December 8, 2023
It’s wonderful to have a vision of the future (with robots! and cataclysmic climate change!) that focus on humanity, rather than violence and war. (I like those too, but there are a lot.) This volume, this whole series, does a really wonderful job of catching those little moments that seem to open up a deeper discussion of the world, of time, of purpose. We have them, and they might otherwise be lost to the stream of life and time, if not forced back upon us. When Alpha thinks about people, and purpose and time, it gives me permission to as well. The slow nature of the stories allows for these sorts of reveries without missing much. Alpha daydreams as she rides her scooter into town, and I do too. I enjoy these books immensely.
December 19, 2021
The chapter 'Navi' is one of the best texts I've read on photography, honestly. There are also musings on climate change, memory, the paranormal. This series is so soft, whistful, and pastoral. What a bummer it's never been published in English. I'm currently reading a digital fan translation but if it continues to be this enjoyable I'd probably seek out a copy in Japanese at some point just to have since it's not too dialogue heavy.
April 5, 2021
Même avis que le premier !
J'ai aimé l'arrivée de cette autre robot, ses interactions avec Alpha (par contre, s'embrasser pour se transférer des données, petit aspect fanservice à la chobits ? C'était quand même mignon !) et l'appareil photo qui pousse Alpha a de jolies réflexions.
L'histoire en parallèle sur cette fille/créature nue qui vit dans le lac est un peu bizarre par contre
J'ai aimé l'arrivée de cette autre robot, ses interactions avec Alpha (par contre, s'embrasser pour se transférer des données, petit aspect fanservice à la chobits ? C'était quand même mignon !) et l'appareil photo qui pousse Alpha a de jolies réflexions.
L'histoire en parallèle sur cette fille/créature nue qui vit dans le lac est un peu bizarre par contre
December 20, 2022
Okay yes this series is perfect oh my god. The photography chapter, and that beach arc, are incredible. This series manages to say so much with such short little chapters and is just so danged sweet. It's like a warm hug on a cool summer night, but with a sweet robot.
January 13, 2025
Me encanta la simpleza de los capítulos.
Las situaciones que ya no se viven como usar bien las fotos de la cámara...
El planteamiento del mundo y su construcción me encanta.
Cada capítulo es una caricia al alma.
Las situaciones que ya no se viven como usar bien las fotos de la cámara...
El planteamiento del mundo y su construcción me encanta.
Cada capítulo es una caricia al alma.
July 25, 2020
liking these even more as I progress! the atmosphere is really setting in and I feel at peace
April 25, 2021
this is such a nice, chill read, i am really enjoying it 🥺
August 28, 2021
oh sorry! this looks like a cute and wholesome manga about a LESBIAN robot having a coffee shop in a post apo settings
February 23, 2022
l'ambiance est toujours autant agréable
September 8, 2023
this series just wrecks me man
Read
January 19, 2024Will have to see where it goes from here but could easily see this being one of my new favorite manga series, has such a warmth and melancholy to it that's just perfect
October 21, 2024
I love the vibes of the moon guitar and floating fish scene, the flashback of the "seasonal view," and the spread of the streetlights lighting up. Another very chill and warm volume.
November 29, 2024
Very light sci-fi, slice of life with nice art. Story very minimal. The information transfer between two robot people is ridiculous, but cute.
December 2, 2024
i think there is usually a lot going on with a bunch of different characters and nothing is really That Urgent so it felt like more of a slog to me
Read
June 22, 2025It’s just so sweet.
December 10, 2025
so glad that I was able to get my hands of the volumes of this story because the anime was way too short and I needed more!!!
June 20, 2021
Le premier tome m’avait vraiment énormément plu. J’avais hâte de me plonger dans ce second tome. Et bien j’ai tout aussi apprécié que le premier. Ce manga est vraiment une ode au cale. C’est un manga que je trouve vraiment apaisant. Ce n’est pas celui où il y a le plus d’actions mais ce n’est pas pour autant que c’est nul. Je suis vraiment fan de l’ambiance, des personnages ou encore des dessins. Les traits sont fins, c’est super beau à regarder. Ce manga est une petite merveille pour moi.
On retrouve Alpha, qui va découvrir le message de son maitre. Elle découvre donc qu’elle va devoir resté seule encore un moment. Elle profite donc de sa vie calme au café et profite surtout de tous ces petits bonheurs que la vie lui offre. Comme par exemple un feu d’artifice entouré de ses amis.
Comme je le dis plus haut, j’aime vraiment ce côté très calme, apaisant de ce manga. Je trouve qu’il est si reposant, le lire est un vrai plaisir. Je me suis sentie vraiment toute apaisée après l’avoir lu. J’aime vraiment beaucoup suivre Alpha dans ses aventures. Dans ce tome, on découvre le personnage de Kokone, celle qui lui transmets le message de son maitre. Elle lui donne également un appareil photo. Alpha va donc partir en vadrouille, explorer les horizons pour essayer de photographier le plus de choses possibles. On n’apprends pas grand chose de plus sur le maître d’Alpha ou encore sur les autres personnages et pourtant, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde. J’ai vraiment adoré la voir analyser les paysages pour en faire LA photo.
Je lirais la suite avec beaucoup de plaisir. J’adore les personnages, j’adore l’ambiance, j’adore l’histoire. J’ai vraiment hâte de découvrir la suite, découvrir les autres mystères, surtout celui de Misago. C’est quelque chose qui m’intrigue fortement!
On retrouve Alpha, qui va découvrir le message de son maitre. Elle découvre donc qu’elle va devoir resté seule encore un moment. Elle profite donc de sa vie calme au café et profite surtout de tous ces petits bonheurs que la vie lui offre. Comme par exemple un feu d’artifice entouré de ses amis.
Comme je le dis plus haut, j’aime vraiment ce côté très calme, apaisant de ce manga. Je trouve qu’il est si reposant, le lire est un vrai plaisir. Je me suis sentie vraiment toute apaisée après l’avoir lu. J’aime vraiment beaucoup suivre Alpha dans ses aventures. Dans ce tome, on découvre le personnage de Kokone, celle qui lui transmets le message de son maitre. Elle lui donne également un appareil photo. Alpha va donc partir en vadrouille, explorer les horizons pour essayer de photographier le plus de choses possibles. On n’apprends pas grand chose de plus sur le maître d’Alpha ou encore sur les autres personnages et pourtant, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule seconde. J’ai vraiment adoré la voir analyser les paysages pour en faire LA photo.
Je lirais la suite avec beaucoup de plaisir. J’adore les personnages, j’adore l’ambiance, j’adore l’histoire. J’ai vraiment hâte de découvrir la suite, découvrir les autres mystères, surtout celui de Misago. C’est quelque chose qui m’intrigue fortement!
January 9, 2011
There's a warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with the way our café shop owner Alpha is drawn in what comes off as a feminine tomboy look while she emotionally ranges from cool and in control to totally lost and falling into a valley of abandon and fond memories.... or does that feeling come from the lesbian robot kiss drawn by Ashinano between Alpha and Kokone with such tender sensitivity yet actually done for comedic affect?
May 8, 2014
Alpha's new friend Kokone is just like her! Main points of the chapters in this volume are the camera she receives from "owner" and how memories are happening every day. Misago is remaining very elusive.
March 26, 2013
I've written a short review over here.
July 20, 2015
Kind of disjointed. I feel like I missed some information, especially regarding the couple of new characters who showed up seemingly without introduction.
November 22, 2025
20251121 2nd read
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20181223 1st read
發射煙火的火箭居然是勝利女神飛彈!
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20181223 1st read
發射煙火的火箭居然是勝利女神飛彈!
May 27, 2020
currently obsessed with the lezbots
September 29, 2025
The robot girl craves emails.
http://aminoapps.com/p/vos9fm7
http://aminoapps.com/p/vos9fm7
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews