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波よ聞いてくれ [Nami yo Kiite Kure] #1
Wave, Listen to Me!, Vol. 1
The stage is Sapporo, Hokkaido. One night, our heroine, Minare Koda, spills her heartbroken woes to a radio station worker she meets while out drinking one night. The next day, she hears a recording of her pitiful grumbling being played live over the air. Minare storms into the station in a rage, only to then be duped by the station director into doing an impromptu talk show explaining her harsh dialogue. With just one recording, the many eccentric facets of Minare's life begin to pull every which direction as she falls ever deeper into the world of radio. Wave, listen to me!
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 22, 2015
16 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Hiroaki Samura
475 books246 followersHiroaki Samura ( 沙村広明) is a Japanese cartoonist and illustrator. He is best known for writing and illustrating the manga Blade of the Immortal (1993-2012). Among his other manga series Die Wergelder (2011-2018) and Wave, Listen to Me!, the latter serialised since 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
June 6, 2021
I started reading the first volume of Wave already knowing that I really like this story. It was one of the few anime series (or any pop culture things in general, really) I was following in spring of 2020 that somehow wasn't delayed due to the, y'know, that whole thing, so the show became one of those weekly treats that kept me sane(ish) and gave me something to look forward to at the time. I still get the opening song stuck in my head for days, and every time I remember it I inevitably think of that Sapporo scenery (god, I wish I could go to Japan...) and Minare's delightfully relatable misadventures trying to navigate employment, rent, relationships and whatever else life throws her way.
At the heart of it Wave is a slice of life story, but so much about it feels so refreshingly unusual. The modern Sapporo setting by itself is not something you see every day, and it's such an integral part of the series that you can practically feel the spirit of the city in its every aspect. But then there's Minare Koda, our protagonist. She's a 26 year old single Japanese woman, she's feisty and tough but also vulnerable, she's a bit of a mess and yet she holds herself together as much as she can. A far cry from countless stories focused on high schoolers, brooding men, superheroes or sci-fi magical entities (not that there's anything wrong with that). And there's also the whole radio aspect of it all, not really the kind of industry that gets a lot of attention, and yet it's such a fascinating one — dare I say, a bit romantic? Japanese radio in particular is so interesting to learn more about. All we get in my country are shitty modern pop songs, shitty retro pop songs and political propaganda, so I would take the kind of radio station Minare ended up working at in a heartbeat.
And it all comes from Hiroaki Samura, whose other, more famous manga Blade of the Immortal I found pretty much unreadable. Wave is not the kind of book you expect from a guy who previously wrote that. Thankfully, as I transitioned from Wave the anime to Wave the manga, I found that Samura's art and storytelling skills improved a lot since 1993, and I got through the first volume with no troubles at all. And since the anime only got 12 episodes with no sign of it getting a second season, I'm really glad there's quite a bit of manga to catch up on.
At the heart of it Wave is a slice of life story, but so much about it feels so refreshingly unusual. The modern Sapporo setting by itself is not something you see every day, and it's such an integral part of the series that you can practically feel the spirit of the city in its every aspect. But then there's Minare Koda, our protagonist. She's a 26 year old single Japanese woman, she's feisty and tough but also vulnerable, she's a bit of a mess and yet she holds herself together as much as she can. A far cry from countless stories focused on high schoolers, brooding men, superheroes or sci-fi magical entities (not that there's anything wrong with that). And there's also the whole radio aspect of it all, not really the kind of industry that gets a lot of attention, and yet it's such a fascinating one — dare I say, a bit romantic? Japanese radio in particular is so interesting to learn more about. All we get in my country are shitty modern pop songs, shitty retro pop songs and political propaganda, so I would take the kind of radio station Minare ended up working at in a heartbeat.
And it all comes from Hiroaki Samura, whose other, more famous manga Blade of the Immortal I found pretty much unreadable. Wave is not the kind of book you expect from a guy who previously wrote that. Thankfully, as I transitioned from Wave the anime to Wave the manga, I found that Samura's art and storytelling skills improved a lot since 1993, and I got through the first volume with no troubles at all. And since the anime only got 12 episodes with no sign of it getting a second season, I'm really glad there's quite a bit of manga to catch up on.
May 8, 2020
@ DNF at page 70.
I just couldn`t finish the 1th volume. I didn`t like the main characters and don`t get me started on the others, i loathed them. This just wasn`t for me, honestly.
I just couldn`t finish the 1th volume. I didn`t like the main characters and don`t get me started on the others, i loathed them. This just wasn`t for me, honestly.
April 13, 2020
Thanks to publisher for providing e-arc through Netgalley in exchange of honest review.
I'd normaly passed an opportunity to start a manga like Wave, but fortunately I noticed an anime adaptation that just started airing and I had to pick it up. I got tired of classical shounens after years of reading them and decided to try something different. Something fresh.
Wave, Listen to Me! centres around our MC, Minare, who just got dumped by her boyfriend and is full of anger. Eventhough she has a job as a waitress, she gets an opportunity to try working in the radio. Sounds pretty interesting, right? I wouldn't say Samura's art style is pretty to look at, but it's certainly different. I didn't mind, because I got immediately sucked in the story. It's not definitely your typical slice of life. We follow MC's journey, watching her daily struggles with real life. I personally love Minare as a character. She is spiteful, sassy and very very lively. Definitely bonus.
I must also mention romantic plot, which is important part of the story. I am not a huge of love triangle because it brings unneccessary drama (sure, I know why author did it, but still...). I cannot wait where author brings us in upcoming volumes.
I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for unique manga focusing on radio broadcasting.
4/5*
I'd normaly passed an opportunity to start a manga like Wave, but fortunately I noticed an anime adaptation that just started airing and I had to pick it up. I got tired of classical shounens after years of reading them and decided to try something different. Something fresh.
Wave, Listen to Me! centres around our MC, Minare, who just got dumped by her boyfriend and is full of anger. Eventhough she has a job as a waitress, she gets an opportunity to try working in the radio. Sounds pretty interesting, right? I wouldn't say Samura's art style is pretty to look at, but it's certainly different. I didn't mind, because I got immediately sucked in the story. It's not definitely your typical slice of life. We follow MC's journey, watching her daily struggles with real life. I personally love Minare as a character. She is spiteful, sassy and very very lively. Definitely bonus.
I must also mention romantic plot, which is important part of the story. I am not a huge of love triangle because it brings unneccessary drama (sure, I know why author did it, but still...). I cannot wait where author brings us in upcoming volumes.
I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for unique manga focusing on radio broadcasting.
4/5*
April 18, 2020
This is another title by the manga author who did the 'Blade of the Immortal.' I really loved their art style and general way of telling their story in their first title that I read, and that continued in this volume! The art style was consistent and iconic, and also portrayed the feelings properly. The story started out with a bang, pulling you into the story.
The main character, while at a bar and drunk, confided in a radio host. Later, the host broadcasts her conversation with him. He even shows her signature of allowance. She stops the recording and has to broadcast something, so she does. People actually liked when she spoke and she gets fairly famous from this incident.
I really enjoyed this one and can't wait until the next!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me the book via NetGalley!
The main character, while at a bar and drunk, confided in a radio host. Later, the host broadcasts her conversation with him. He even shows her signature of allowance. She stops the recording and has to broadcast something, so she does. People actually liked when she spoke and she gets fairly famous from this incident.
I really enjoyed this one and can't wait until the next!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me the book via NetGalley!
April 16, 2020
(3.5/5)
An incredibly relatable manga about a woman who's just trying to survive het twenties without going off on everyone in her immediate surroundings. Oh, and her drunken antics lands get a radio show that comes on in the absolute dead of night.
I absolutely cannot wait to pick up Vol. 2 and check out the anime.
An incredibly relatable manga about a woman who's just trying to survive het twenties without going off on everyone in her immediate surroundings. Oh, and her drunken antics lands get a radio show that comes on in the absolute dead of night.
I absolutely cannot wait to pick up Vol. 2 and check out the anime.
July 31, 2019
Quick thoughts: This is a weird one. Three volumes it has a kind of carwreck quality to it where I don't know if I'm enjoying it per se but still can't quite look away. It's not bad, and certain aspects are really compelling, but others keep breaking the immersion and I find it very, very, odd as a whole. Call this 2.5 rounded up, and I have no idea if I'll read more.
April 23, 2021
If you have been enjoying anime’s Spring 2020 season, you might be interested in the first volume of manga series Wave Listen to Me! by Hiroaki Samura, whose previous series include Blade of the Immortal and Die Wegelder.
Protagonist Minare Koda spills her woes in a bar to a stranger who just so happens to work at the local radio station. The next day, she hears her own voice over the radio, confronts the near-stranger in a rage, and is tricked into doing a tiny on-air segment explaining her ranting. But while running out mid-shift at her curry restaurant job might have negative consequences, both the station and listeners are willing to give the newbie radio personality a second try.
Minare is a bit more of a hot mess than even she realized. Yet, despite her quirks and failings, she remains an interesting person who is surprisingly eloquent when the situation calls for it. She can voice her opinions and give reasonings for them in an interesting, fluent manner.
This is very much a slice of life manga. As such, it is a slow tale that tells the day-to-day life of Minare, taking its time to get to the title of the series. All of the characters are flawed individuals. Some are selfish. Some don’t really listen to those around them, despite stating they’re acting in that person’s best interest. There’s drama. And a lot of the characters aren’t necessarily the most selfless of people. But they are certainly interesting to read about.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the flawed characters and Minare’s unique circumstances. However, there were some decisions regarding the manga that I found somewhat questionable. There are an excessive amount of footnotes. While getting extra information on things like references to other works or explanations of local companies or Japanese culture is always fun, their placement between panels was questionable to me. Having so much information between panels is distracting at best, and is sometimes quite difficult to read. There was also a tendency to over-explain things. Certain names of stores, for example, were explained thoroughly in notes when context made it quite clear characters were talking about some kind of local convenience store. It was when edamame was explained in a footnote that I drew the line. (At least in my area you can find edamame in every Asian restaurant, Japanese or otherwise, and in the frozen section of the grocery store.)
Watching or reading stories with characters who are a bit of a mess and plots that have a sort of train wreck feel can be quite interesting to read, nonetheless, so I did find myself enjoying the story. That said, a lot of this first volume is set-up. There isn’t too much of Minare actually working at the radio station. The majority does revolve around the restaurant she works at, her coworkers there, and how this unexpected radio segment changes her life and forces her to reprioritize certain things.
I am interested to see where the series goes from this point. Wave Listen to Me! Vol. 1 by Hiroaki Samura is certainly an interesting story. If the anime is something you’ve been enjoying, I would suggest giving the manga a try as well.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Protagonist Minare Koda spills her woes in a bar to a stranger who just so happens to work at the local radio station. The next day, she hears her own voice over the radio, confronts the near-stranger in a rage, and is tricked into doing a tiny on-air segment explaining her ranting. But while running out mid-shift at her curry restaurant job might have negative consequences, both the station and listeners are willing to give the newbie radio personality a second try.
Minare is a bit more of a hot mess than even she realized. Yet, despite her quirks and failings, she remains an interesting person who is surprisingly eloquent when the situation calls for it. She can voice her opinions and give reasonings for them in an interesting, fluent manner.
This is very much a slice of life manga. As such, it is a slow tale that tells the day-to-day life of Minare, taking its time to get to the title of the series. All of the characters are flawed individuals. Some are selfish. Some don’t really listen to those around them, despite stating they’re acting in that person’s best interest. There’s drama. And a lot of the characters aren’t necessarily the most selfless of people. But they are certainly interesting to read about.
Overall, I enjoyed reading about the flawed characters and Minare’s unique circumstances. However, there were some decisions regarding the manga that I found somewhat questionable. There are an excessive amount of footnotes. While getting extra information on things like references to other works or explanations of local companies or Japanese culture is always fun, their placement between panels was questionable to me. Having so much information between panels is distracting at best, and is sometimes quite difficult to read. There was also a tendency to over-explain things. Certain names of stores, for example, were explained thoroughly in notes when context made it quite clear characters were talking about some kind of local convenience store. It was when edamame was explained in a footnote that I drew the line. (At least in my area you can find edamame in every Asian restaurant, Japanese or otherwise, and in the frozen section of the grocery store.)
Watching or reading stories with characters who are a bit of a mess and plots that have a sort of train wreck feel can be quite interesting to read, nonetheless, so I did find myself enjoying the story. That said, a lot of this first volume is set-up. There isn’t too much of Minare actually working at the radio station. The majority does revolve around the restaurant she works at, her coworkers there, and how this unexpected radio segment changes her life and forces her to reprioritize certain things.
I am interested to see where the series goes from this point. Wave Listen to Me! Vol. 1 by Hiroaki Samura is certainly an interesting story. If the anime is something you’ve been enjoying, I would suggest giving the manga a try as well.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2020
Thank you to both Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
An interesting beginning to a series, but unfortunately, the execution of the plot is very...rough. On one hand, it matches the main character since she has a rough personality as well (she's interesting and very feisty!). On the other hand, it's too disjointed and all over the place, which can make reading it rather disconcerting.
That aside, the typography here is wonderful, and the art is incredibly detailed. It's been a while since I've encountered this kind of art style as a lot of the new manga I'm reading have clean and minimalist styles. It adds another 'rough' facet to this manga, which of course, makes it more 'on-brand' and also stand out better in overall.
An interesting beginning to a series, but unfortunately, the execution of the plot is very...rough. On one hand, it matches the main character since she has a rough personality as well (she's interesting and very feisty!). On the other hand, it's too disjointed and all over the place, which can make reading it rather disconcerting.
That aside, the typography here is wonderful, and the art is incredibly detailed. It's been a while since I've encountered this kind of art style as a lot of the new manga I'm reading have clean and minimalist styles. It adds another 'rough' facet to this manga, which of course, makes it more 'on-brand' and also stand out better in overall.
June 24, 2017
Minare è una cameriera che una sera lasciata dal suo ragazzo si ubriaca e si sfoga con Kanetsugu Mato direttore di una radio che manda in onda il suo sfogo. A Minare la cosa non piace per nulla ma l'uomo vuole che lei lavori alla radio perché ha un talento unico nel parlare. Questa è la trama iniziale di questa serie ma se devo essere sincera in questo primo volume c'è davvero poca radio: si da maggior risalto a Minare che vuole dare una chance al lavoro che Mato le offre ma si trova constantemente legata al ristorante dove lavora e ai suoi colleghi di lavoro. Il volume finisce proprio con la ragazza che deve davvero iniziare a lavorare in radio seriamente, quindi rimane la curiosità di leggere cosa le accadrà.
December 25, 2024
Fun!!!!
August 3, 2020
I received this book from Net Galley and Kodansha Comics in exchange for an honest review.
After finishing this manga, I'm conflicted on how much I enjoyed it. So let's start off with the good. The artwork is great, as is expected of Hiroaki Samura. I really liked the main character here, as Minare Koda has a lot of levels to her. She's kind yet fierce. She's dedicated, but can quickly lash out. She just feels like a very real character, instead of just being a stereotype. I also found the story about how she has the chance to be a radio talk show host after a night of drunk rambling to a stranger pretty intriguing. It's an interesting premise.
Now for some of the problems with the series. The other characters don't feel as interesting as Minare. Many of them fall in to the trap of being their to help push stories along, but not enough back story. To be fair it's only volume 1, but I felt like as a reader, I was left in the dark too much about who they really are.
I also felt like too much, yet not enough, happened at the same time within this first volume. We have this huge surge to get Minare a talk show right as she's losing her current job, then an accident happens and she's back at the old job temporarily. As I was enjoying watching Minare get excited, scared, and anxious for her talk show, then it was just right back to where she was, with another character being introduced. This is just my thoughts, but it felt like maybe Samura got stuck on where to go next, and fell back to something they were more comfortable with to get some content out while brainstorming.
I keep jumping between I liked this volume to being meh on it, so my recommendation is if you're looking for a manga that is a bit more tuned in to reality and less fantasy or gags, this is one you may enjoy. I'll check out volume 2, as I feel its only fair as I enjoyed it enough, and I'd like to see if it can resolve the conflict within myself.
Rating this a 3, but its probably closer to 3.5.
After finishing this manga, I'm conflicted on how much I enjoyed it. So let's start off with the good. The artwork is great, as is expected of Hiroaki Samura. I really liked the main character here, as Minare Koda has a lot of levels to her. She's kind yet fierce. She's dedicated, but can quickly lash out. She just feels like a very real character, instead of just being a stereotype. I also found the story about how she has the chance to be a radio talk show host after a night of drunk rambling to a stranger pretty intriguing. It's an interesting premise.
Now for some of the problems with the series. The other characters don't feel as interesting as Minare. Many of them fall in to the trap of being their to help push stories along, but not enough back story. To be fair it's only volume 1, but I felt like as a reader, I was left in the dark too much about who they really are.
I also felt like too much, yet not enough, happened at the same time within this first volume. We have this huge surge to get Minare a talk show right as she's losing her current job, then an accident happens and she's back at the old job temporarily. As I was enjoying watching Minare get excited, scared, and anxious for her talk show, then it was just right back to where she was, with another character being introduced. This is just my thoughts, but it felt like maybe Samura got stuck on where to go next, and fell back to something they were more comfortable with to get some content out while brainstorming.
I keep jumping between I liked this volume to being meh on it, so my recommendation is if you're looking for a manga that is a bit more tuned in to reality and less fantasy or gags, this is one you may enjoy. I'll check out volume 2, as I feel its only fair as I enjoyed it enough, and I'd like to see if it can resolve the conflict within myself.
Rating this a 3, but its probably closer to 3.5.
April 24, 2020
This was a fun one! Interesting, flawed, selfish, mysterious characters; a world (Japanese radio stations and curry shops?) I've never seen before; emotional ups and downs; food; ambition; aimlessness; an action-movie art style; and a story and people I found very interesting. Looking forward to reading more.
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2024
The author’s other two works I’m aware of are very violent and brutal, but this story is about radio in Sapporo. So I really wanted to give this a go. When anything remotely nefarious was happening in this, I was expecting a massive tonal shift and killing to happen, both due to how well this author creates an unnerving atmosphere and the type of dialogue he writes. Instead, this really was all about radio in Sapporo, and it’s pretty fun. Curious to see where it goes.
October 28, 2022
Read for Mangasplaining. Fun premise, but gets boring real fast. The story is incoherent and hard to follow. I don't connect with any of the characters and find them straight up annoying. By the time I got to the end, my eyes were glazing over. Maybe it'll get better but I just don't care enough to keep reading.
January 10, 2021
For my full thoughts, please check out this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiYza...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiYza...
April 24, 2020
Language: R (33 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
Minare didn’t know she was being recorded when she ranted to a guy at the bar about her latest dating disaster. However, once she heard her voice on the radio while she was at work, Minare knew exactly who was to blame and ran to confront him at the radio station. And that’s when everything starts falling apart.
I spent most of my time reading this manga in a state of confusion. Not only is the story all over the place, but the speech bubbles don’t make it clear who’s talking and several transitions are so rough I’m convinced panels are missing. Furthermore, Samura has given me no reason to care about Minare and what happens next in her life, so I’m saying goodbye to this series forever. The mature content rating is for groping and mentions of sex.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Minare didn’t know she was being recorded when she ranted to a guy at the bar about her latest dating disaster. However, once she heard her voice on the radio while she was at work, Minare knew exactly who was to blame and ran to confront him at the radio station. And that’s when everything starts falling apart.
I spent most of my time reading this manga in a state of confusion. Not only is the story all over the place, but the speech bubbles don’t make it clear who’s talking and several transitions are so rough I’m convinced panels are missing. Furthermore, Samura has given me no reason to care about Minare and what happens next in her life, so I’m saying goodbye to this series forever. The mature content rating is for groping and mentions of sex.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
March 29, 2022
Minare is truly wild and I love her. I won’t lie, I’m reading the series almost exclusively because I love her character so much.
April 15, 2020
[I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
I used to read a lot of manga as a teen, but have been reading less and less as an adult, preferring to pick up a graphic novel or comic. However I was drawn in by the front cover of this manga and after reading the description I thought I would give it a try.
WAVE, LISTEN TO ME! follows Minare, a young lady who upon going through a bad breakup is drunk in a bar complaining to a stranger. The stranger, Mato, is the chief director for the local radio station MRS (Moiwayama radio station) who decides to record Minare’s rant and play it on the air. After the great reception it receives he offers Minare a job in not-so lucrative time slot of 3.30am. Minare, having annoyed her boss at the curry house for the last time, takes up Mato’s offer and the premise for this manga is set up. Whilst there are also a few side plots that do not expand in this volume.
We meet several characters around Minare’s life and those that work at the radio station, each with a defined personality that adds some great comedic touches to the story.
It is during this first volume that we discover Minare’s life is quite a mess, with no goals (as often pointed out to her), and a messy apartment, she sees this job offer as an opportunity to take some control of her life (and hopefully marry a celebrity!), whether she can succeed is yet to be determined.
The art work is expressive and really builds up the environments around the characters, with the paneling being easy to follow once you get used to the right to left reading (if you have only read western maga).
It is hard to rate just one volume of a large arc, but I would recommend picking this up if the premise intrigues you. I am certainly interested to see where Hiroaki Samura takes this story.
I used to read a lot of manga as a teen, but have been reading less and less as an adult, preferring to pick up a graphic novel or comic. However I was drawn in by the front cover of this manga and after reading the description I thought I would give it a try.
WAVE, LISTEN TO ME! follows Minare, a young lady who upon going through a bad breakup is drunk in a bar complaining to a stranger. The stranger, Mato, is the chief director for the local radio station MRS (Moiwayama radio station) who decides to record Minare’s rant and play it on the air. After the great reception it receives he offers Minare a job in not-so lucrative time slot of 3.30am. Minare, having annoyed her boss at the curry house for the last time, takes up Mato’s offer and the premise for this manga is set up. Whilst there are also a few side plots that do not expand in this volume.
We meet several characters around Minare’s life and those that work at the radio station, each with a defined personality that adds some great comedic touches to the story.
It is during this first volume that we discover Minare’s life is quite a mess, with no goals (as often pointed out to her), and a messy apartment, she sees this job offer as an opportunity to take some control of her life (and hopefully marry a celebrity!), whether she can succeed is yet to be determined.
The art work is expressive and really builds up the environments around the characters, with the paneling being easy to follow once you get used to the right to left reading (if you have only read western maga).
It is hard to rate just one volume of a large arc, but I would recommend picking this up if the premise intrigues you. I am certainly interested to see where Hiroaki Samura takes this story.
July 2, 2020
Wave, Listen to Me! Vol. 1 by Hiroaki Samura, 194 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Kodansha Comics, 2020. $13.
Language: R (33 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Minare didn’t know she was being recorded when she ranted to a guy at the bar about her latest dating disaster. However, once she heard her voice on the radio while she was at work, Minare knew exactly who was to blame and ran to confront him at the radio station. And that’s when everything starts falling apart.
I spent most of my time reading this manga in a state of confusion. Not only is the story all over the place, but the speech bubbles don’t make it clear who’s talking and several transitions are so rough I’m convinced panels are missing. Furthermore, Samura has given me no reason to care about Minare and what happens next in her life, so I’m saying goodbye to this series forever. The mature content rating is for groping and mentions of sex.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
Language: R (33 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NO
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Minare didn’t know she was being recorded when she ranted to a guy at the bar about her latest dating disaster. However, once she heard her voice on the radio while she was at work, Minare knew exactly who was to blame and ran to confront him at the radio station. And that’s when everything starts falling apart.
I spent most of my time reading this manga in a state of confusion. Not only is the story all over the place, but the speech bubbles don’t make it clear who’s talking and several transitions are so rough I’m convinced panels are missing. Furthermore, Samura has given me no reason to care about Minare and what happens next in her life, so I’m saying goodbye to this series forever. The mature content rating is for groping and mentions of sex.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
May 9, 2020
I can't stand Minare and as the daughter of a radio broadcaster, a lot of the radio stuff rubbed me the wrong way. (As in, it seems wrong.) Oh well, can't like 'em all.
June 18, 2020
If anything, this manga proves you can literally write about anything. While the concept of radio personalities isn't quite new, the subject usually revolves around the plot of secret identities. Whoa, the quiet girl has been the loud voice we hear everyday on the radio?! This time we get Minare, a young woman current waitressing at a curry shop. After a rough breakup, she goes to the local bar to get shit faced and vent to anyone in proximity. What she doesn't find out until the next day is that she's been recorded and is hearing her rant on the radio. It turns out that the man she spoke to was radio producer who has taken a liking to her voice. She confronts Mato only to be tricked into being live on air. As events unfurl, Minare comes to find employment at the radio station as an up and coming talk show host at 3 am.
The story flowed until I reached the end of volume one and realized we haven't even had her first radio show yet! This isn't just a straight forward story about climbing to the top of the rankings. There is drama to Minare's everyday life from the colorful cast of characters ranging from mysterious to charming. What really pulls everything together is how Minare is the type of person to bring out the interesting side of people. In the company of anyone else, I can see their boring conversations. Instead, Minare's sense of humor (especially how the artist decides to draw comedic facial expressions) make her energetic. She really takes the spotlight and it makes sense as Mato sees in her a diamond in the rough. Volume one focuses on Minare's unwillingness to work towards anything resorting to being the jokester. When it comes to settling down to finding a career, she doesn't take much seriously leading some to consider her irritating or admirable. Through it all, we see an earnestness in her actions and the ability to care for others despite an veneer of insincerity. It's up to Minare to truly think about what she wants in life instead of going with the flow.
I recommend this manga to fans of romantic comedies with a strong female lead and a fun cast of characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for this advance reader's copy in exchange for a fair review!
November 7, 2021
Too slow-moving for me, with no clear aim. A brash, impulsive young woman fresh after a breakup drunk-rambles to a stranger who turns out to be a not-so-scrupulous radio broadcaster, who records her rant and plays it on his show - which happens to play at her work during her waitressing shift, causing her to run out and drive out to the radio station to confront him, only to end up manipulated into talking live. This costs her her job (which sucks, because she was barely getting by already), but the feedback on the broadcast leads the guy to offer her a job hosting a radio show (great!)...in an unpopular time-slot in the wee hours of the morning (not so great). If they can find a sponsor, so even that's not certain. Also her co-worker has a thing for her and dreams of running a restaurant together, but she doesn't want to. And there's the whole tangent of her needing to find a place to live - that's okay, she'll sleep in the storage closet at work. Except now she's staying with a younger radio station assistant...? With all tangential wandering, we never even get to see her first official broadcast. One interesting thing happens in the last few pages, but that seems like just another tangent.
Too many separate little things going on with no major or unifying plot. Is this a making-of story? A revenge-on-the-ex story (I thought so, but after her initial drunken rant it's as if the guy ceased to exist)? Is it going to be about the thing we find out in the last few pages, or is that another side-thing that's going to be dropped? There was nothing in this first volume strong enough to pull me in, it was too slice-of-life without any clear focus. The best part was the bonus page at the end with the main character's descriptions of the three least-ordered items on her restaurant's menu--that was funny. If only they'd kept up that tone throughout, to carry us through all the day-to-dayness!
Too many separate little things going on with no major or unifying plot. Is this a making-of story? A revenge-on-the-ex story (I thought so, but after her initial drunken rant it's as if the guy ceased to exist)? Is it going to be about the thing we find out in the last few pages, or is that another side-thing that's going to be dropped? There was nothing in this first volume strong enough to pull me in, it was too slice-of-life without any clear focus. The best part was the bonus page at the end with the main character's descriptions of the three least-ordered items on her restaurant's menu--that was funny. If only they'd kept up that tone throughout, to carry us through all the day-to-dayness!
May 19, 2020
I Received this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Kodansha Comics, via Netgalley.
3/5
Trigger Warning: a character is outed
Hiroaki Samura is an interesting man in the publishing world of manga. He is widely known for his unique traditional artwork that has no digital touch on them and his most famous series he ever wrote, Blade of the Immortal. I got personally obsessed with the man the moment I tried to read the first chapter of Blade of the Immortal and I had not regretted it. He has more notorious works that you perhaps haven't heard from like Die Wergelder, Bradherley's Coach, The Loitering Snow, Ohikkoshi and Hiroaki Samura's Emerald and Other Stories all of which are different takes with a personal touch of Hiroaki's realistic pencil work and captivating narration. But then comes a time when a creator makes something you are simply not sure what it's about. Exactly like the creator himself who confesses about it.
Wave, Listen to me! is centered around a young waitress who one night gets so drunk she share her most inner views to a stranger who is a radio broadcaster producer after she got dumped recently by her ex-boyfriend. He sees opportunity and takes this fiery confession of hers and surprise surprise, everyone and their mother, hears Minare and now she is a big hit. Minare now widely acclaimed is showered with praise and perhaps a change in a career, dealing with past co workers and diving into this new territory she has no idea what will happen once she's on air. Honestly, it sounds like a pretty good premise for a comedic romantic Josei series but it's labeled as a Seinen. I respect Hiroaki and adore whatever he is doing but with this one I am not entirely sure what was happening.
The premise on its own is intriguing sure but the jokes are hit or miss for sure but the artwork are mesmerizing as always and keeps you glue to the very last page of the volume but how can you take this plot so seriously? Minare is a fine lead but this story feels more like a novella then a series but who can tell. It is only the beginning so why not give it a try and pick up the first volume. You won't be disappointed :)
3/5
Trigger Warning: a character is outed
Hiroaki Samura is an interesting man in the publishing world of manga. He is widely known for his unique traditional artwork that has no digital touch on them and his most famous series he ever wrote, Blade of the Immortal. I got personally obsessed with the man the moment I tried to read the first chapter of Blade of the Immortal and I had not regretted it. He has more notorious works that you perhaps haven't heard from like Die Wergelder, Bradherley's Coach, The Loitering Snow, Ohikkoshi and Hiroaki Samura's Emerald and Other Stories all of which are different takes with a personal touch of Hiroaki's realistic pencil work and captivating narration. But then comes a time when a creator makes something you are simply not sure what it's about. Exactly like the creator himself who confesses about it.
Wave, Listen to me! is centered around a young waitress who one night gets so drunk she share her most inner views to a stranger who is a radio broadcaster producer after she got dumped recently by her ex-boyfriend. He sees opportunity and takes this fiery confession of hers and surprise surprise, everyone and their mother, hears Minare and now she is a big hit. Minare now widely acclaimed is showered with praise and perhaps a change in a career, dealing with past co workers and diving into this new territory she has no idea what will happen once she's on air. Honestly, it sounds like a pretty good premise for a comedic romantic Josei series but it's labeled as a Seinen. I respect Hiroaki and adore whatever he is doing but with this one I am not entirely sure what was happening.
The premise on its own is intriguing sure but the jokes are hit or miss for sure but the artwork are mesmerizing as always and keeps you glue to the very last page of the volume but how can you take this plot so seriously? Minare is a fine lead but this story feels more like a novella then a series but who can tell. It is only the beginning so why not give it a try and pick up the first volume. You won't be disappointed :)
August 27, 2023
Di Google Play Books aku kasih komik ini 2,8 bintang aja, tapi setelah kupikir-pikir karena beberapa hal, akhirnya aku sedikit naikkin ratingnya jadi 3 bintang.
Aku membaca komik ini karena lagi break sebentar dari baca Illuminae yang lumayan menguras tenaga, dan ternyata jujur saja membaca komik ini aku juga harus mengerahkan pikiran untuk memahami apa yang sebenarnya terjadi di sini.
Bercerita tentang Minare, seorang wanita yang bekerja di sebuah restoran sup yang baru saja putus dengan pacarnya. Sakit hati yang dialami oleh Minare ini membuatnya jadi tidak maksimal dalam bekerja, dan karena suatu hal, semua curahan hatinya dia keluarkan dalam sebuah stasiun radio dan didengarkan oleh hampir semua orang.
Namun hal tidak terduga justru terjadi, stasion radio tersebut mendapatkan feedback yang cukup baik, yang membuat Minare harus memilih untuk mendapatkan profesi baru, dengan membuka talk show-nya sendiri.
Well, sebenernya cerita inti atau garis besar komik ini tuh seperti itu, cuman entah kenapa di sini aku merasa bahwa terlalu banyak intermezzo atau kejadian dalam satu waktu yang bikin aku agak sulit menentukan konflik di komik ini, dan aku jadi bertanya-tanya: "ini tuh mau dibawa ke mana sih?"
Dan entah ya aku tuh merasa kalau pergerakan komik ini tuh lambat pake banget. Bukan karena alurnya, tapi karena balon dialog yang digunakan di sini tuh buanyak banget. Bahkan satu halaman aja bisa ada 6-10 balon-balon yang cukup bikin aku capek bacanya. Selain itu ada dialog yang font nya mini banget jadi aku harus zoom-zoom untuk baca, bahkan beberapa aku skip dialognya yang ukurannya mungil itu tadi...
Aku membaca komik ini karena lagi break sebentar dari baca Illuminae yang lumayan menguras tenaga, dan ternyata jujur saja membaca komik ini aku juga harus mengerahkan pikiran untuk memahami apa yang sebenarnya terjadi di sini.
Bercerita tentang Minare, seorang wanita yang bekerja di sebuah restoran sup yang baru saja putus dengan pacarnya. Sakit hati yang dialami oleh Minare ini membuatnya jadi tidak maksimal dalam bekerja, dan karena suatu hal, semua curahan hatinya dia keluarkan dalam sebuah stasiun radio dan didengarkan oleh hampir semua orang.
Namun hal tidak terduga justru terjadi, stasion radio tersebut mendapatkan feedback yang cukup baik, yang membuat Minare harus memilih untuk mendapatkan profesi baru, dengan membuka talk show-nya sendiri.
Well, sebenernya cerita inti atau garis besar komik ini tuh seperti itu, cuman entah kenapa di sini aku merasa bahwa terlalu banyak intermezzo atau kejadian dalam satu waktu yang bikin aku agak sulit menentukan konflik di komik ini, dan aku jadi bertanya-tanya: "ini tuh mau dibawa ke mana sih?"
Dan entah ya aku tuh merasa kalau pergerakan komik ini tuh lambat pake banget. Bukan karena alurnya, tapi karena balon dialog yang digunakan di sini tuh buanyak banget. Bahkan satu halaman aja bisa ada 6-10 balon-balon yang cukup bikin aku capek bacanya. Selain itu ada dialog yang font nya mini banget jadi aku harus zoom-zoom untuk baca, bahkan beberapa aku skip dialognya yang ukurannya mungil itu tadi...
April 16, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
This was a rough read for me. I’m all for an angry woman but we don’t ever see a transformation of her anger, it’s just what she’s lashing out at the moment and it makes it repetitive to read. She’s such a strong character but it’s frustrating that she complains so much and is so angry while doing little to improve her situation. Her interactions with Nakahara, especially later in the book, are frustrating because she comes across as such a bull-headed, angry character and then someone she has little chemistry with comes in to calm her down in an instant; it didn’t feel true to her character.
Although it will be part of a series, I feel like vol. 1 poorly set up what the rest of the series will be about. First, I thought it was going to be about Minare’s radio opportunity but then the majority of it ended up being about her at the soup shop.
I found it difficult to read the small text in some of the panels. Although, It was nice that footnotes were included about Japanese culture and references for non-Japanese readers.
I appreciated the author’s afterword recognizing some of these points and it gives me a little faith that vol. 2 will address a a few of these concerns. It provided me with the perspective that it was meant to be about love and radio and my hopes for vol. 2 are the expansion of Minare in the radio world and to learn more about Kanetsugu Mato.
This was a rough read for me. I’m all for an angry woman but we don’t ever see a transformation of her anger, it’s just what she’s lashing out at the moment and it makes it repetitive to read. She’s such a strong character but it’s frustrating that she complains so much and is so angry while doing little to improve her situation. Her interactions with Nakahara, especially later in the book, are frustrating because she comes across as such a bull-headed, angry character and then someone she has little chemistry with comes in to calm her down in an instant; it didn’t feel true to her character.
Although it will be part of a series, I feel like vol. 1 poorly set up what the rest of the series will be about. First, I thought it was going to be about Minare’s radio opportunity but then the majority of it ended up being about her at the soup shop.
I found it difficult to read the small text in some of the panels. Although, It was nice that footnotes were included about Japanese culture and references for non-Japanese readers.
I appreciated the author’s afterword recognizing some of these points and it gives me a little faith that vol. 2 will address a a few of these concerns. It provided me with the perspective that it was meant to be about love and radio and my hopes for vol. 2 are the expansion of Minare in the radio world and to learn more about Kanetsugu Mato.
June 28, 2020
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this ARC in return for a honest review.
The beginning of this took a minute to pick up, I was expecting Minare [our MC] to be in the industry already and she isn't - however the story line picked up. I'm not entirely sure I like all of the characters, a few of them seem shady to me but that's real life at times. I don't like that the producer [Mato] recorded her for the radio without telling her and I don't know what Tachibana is hoping to get out of this, but I think she's a bad egg like her brother. I don't mind the swearing and I appreciate that there is no killing in this!
I'm not sure where some of the plots will lead both Minare and the other characters surrounding her, and although this wasn't a favourite of mine I do think that I will pick up the next volume when it is released.
Also - her supposed friend and "business partner" needs to understand that no means no.... It bugged me that she set a four-year limit when she obviously didn't want to be with him. Take the time and let your heart heal - if you didn't like him before you likely won't like him later either... And personally - I didn't like that they outted someone for being gay like they did - though said man shouldn't have been so touchy either - there are definitely boundaries that weren't being followed.
The beginning of this took a minute to pick up, I was expecting Minare [our MC] to be in the industry already and she isn't - however the story line picked up. I'm not entirely sure I like all of the characters, a few of them seem shady to me but that's real life at times. I don't like that the producer [Mato] recorded her for the radio without telling her and I don't know what Tachibana is hoping to get out of this, but I think she's a bad egg like her brother. I don't mind the swearing and I appreciate that there is no killing in this!
I'm not sure where some of the plots will lead both Minare and the other characters surrounding her, and although this wasn't a favourite of mine I do think that I will pick up the next volume when it is released.
Also - her supposed friend and "business partner" needs to understand that no means no.... It bugged me that she set a four-year limit when she obviously didn't want to be with him. Take the time and let your heart heal - if you didn't like him before you likely won't like him later either... And personally - I didn't like that they outted someone for being gay like they did - though said man shouldn't have been so touchy either - there are definitely boundaries that weren't being followed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2020
'Wave, Listen to Me! Volume 1' by Hiroaki Samura is a manga about a woman between two careers, one as a waitress in a curry shop and a possible new one as a host on the radio.
Minare Koda, drunk and heartbroken, spills her guts to a stranger. Unbeknownst to her, he has recorded the conversation and plays it on the radio station. Horrified, Minare races to the station and ends up on the air. The station manager sees in her a possible new on air talent, but Minare is torn about the whole thing.
This book has the feeling of a story that started as one thing and evolved in to another, and that is pretty much stated in the afterword. I didn't mind this so much, and Minare is a strange protagonist. I'd be interested to see how this story evolves. The art is pretty good.
I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
Minare Koda, drunk and heartbroken, spills her guts to a stranger. Unbeknownst to her, he has recorded the conversation and plays it on the radio station. Horrified, Minare races to the station and ends up on the air. The station manager sees in her a possible new on air talent, but Minare is torn about the whole thing.
This book has the feeling of a story that started as one thing and evolved in to another, and that is pretty much stated in the afterword. I didn't mind this so much, and Minare is a strange protagonist. I'd be interested to see how this story evolves. The art is pretty good.
I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
January 27, 2022
Overall I think this was just ok. Minare was annoying for more than half of the volume but didn't really have redeeming qualities and the plot is kinda fun but mostly just absurd in a way I don't necessarily like.
I really liked Blade of the Immortal but that is such a different story. I do think the writing and even the character work isn't bad in this one, I just don't like annoying adults that act like they're not even off age yet but they are consuming wine and using a lot of 'foul' language when it's not necessary.
Read: Minare doesn't know when to keep her airhole shut and instead screams out in unnecessary anger.
Near the end, it got more fun and a bit more like what I was expecting. I've done some volunteering at a regional radio station when I was about 16 and it was fun, but this story didn't reflect how it went at the station I was at very much. Except for sponsoring, that will always be a hassle.
I need some time to decide if I'll give volume two a shot.
I really liked Blade of the Immortal but that is such a different story. I do think the writing and even the character work isn't bad in this one, I just don't like annoying adults that act like they're not even off age yet but they are consuming wine and using a lot of 'foul' language when it's not necessary.
Read: Minare doesn't know when to keep her airhole shut and instead screams out in unnecessary anger.
Near the end, it got more fun and a bit more like what I was expecting. I've done some volunteering at a regional radio station when I was about 16 and it was fun, but this story didn't reflect how it went at the station I was at very much. Except for sponsoring, that will always be a hassle.
I need some time to decide if I'll give volume two a shot.
April 3, 2020
This was very weird, and not necessarily in a good way. The storytelling was disjointed and I could barely follow it, the references to pop culture flew over my head (understandably, considering I’m not from Japan and no amount of footnotes will change that) , and honestly I just got bored. The art wasn’t bad, which is why I didn’t give it a 1 star, but nothing about the story really pulled me in and made me care. The main character whose name I never learned had the potential to be funny but just ended up being annoying in my opinion, and I wanted to stop reading a third of the way through. It’s clear that this manga wasn’t for me, and I don’t like to give low ratings but I’m afraid even reading to the end didn’t redeem how mind numbingly boring this was to someone who likes a lot of plot to my manga.
June 30, 2020
This is a tough one to rate. One the one hand, it’s Hiroaki Samura sensei. Of course, the art is fantastic. Panel transitions are spot on and effectively communicate the scene. I’m also a big fan of copious translator notes at the end of a manga (though we only need a currency conversion once, right? Not every other page). The concept of a person being conned into a radio DJ job is interesting and novel. I even like Minare as a character. Not every character can be a white knight, some of them can be grating. And, as it’s a first volume and a big genre departure, I can forgive the meandering storyline. The casual homophobia lost all the stars for me, however. It sucks when underrepresented populations become the gag. It makes for a disappointing start.
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