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東京タラレバ娘 [Tōkyō Tarareba Musume] #3
Tokyo Tarareba Girls, Vol. 3
"What if I had done this..." "What if things had been different..." After wasting so much time spinning hypotheticals at their What-If Girls' nights out, they ended up thirty-something women at one of life's critical moments. One-night stands? Being the other woman? Even when they do find romance, it's not like it was when they were in their twenties?!
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
February 23, 2021
This series would be perfect if it wasn't for those fish-liver characters! I don't know why but I just find them annoying...
January 13, 2019
Why can't things go right for these girls??? It hurts to read this sometimes, but now I am hooked. The pain is all too real.
November 22, 2023
Ubolewam, że tak ciekawa tematyka jest psuta przez kilka pojedynczych elementów.
December 9, 2018
This review covers all three volumes together, so yes, there are spoilers!
I was so excited when I found out that the manga-ka who did Princess Jellyfish has put out another series which is now available in English. I’m sorry to say that within reading the first three volumes, I was no longer excited for this newer series at all. In fact, my wish to read this series fizzled out that quickly, though I had wanted to give it a chance so I read the first three books in the series before I called it quits.
Basically, the story breaks down like this; There are three friends who have man problems as 33-year old women in Japan. The fact that they are 33 is highly important. They are considered old even though 33 isn’t old. It’s some sexist attitudes that they have to all deal with that quickly become depressing and not funny. This series is written to be a comedy too, which I frankly didn’t understand. The food characters who talk to the main character aren’t charming at all. First they start out strange and then they’re really repetitive and annoying. I think they are supposed to be representations of the poor woman’s anxiety.
She is a script writer who has an affair with a younger, irritating actor. Basically he’s full of himself and causes her a lot of unnecessary grief. He is constantly ragging on her and her friends for being pathetic because they aren’t married yet. I don’t like him and I’m not sure if you’re supposed to like him because he’s terrible. Her two friends are just as unlucky in love.
Her friend who is pretty and owns a nail parlor starters seeing her high school boyfriend again now that he’s a successful musician. She dumped him when he didn’t seem like he’d get his shit together when they were younger. She finds out that she is actually one of many girlfriends now. His main girlfriend has gone to America for a trip when he starts seeing her. He doesn’t love her, he’s just using her.
Their third friend is the practical one. She is the daughter of the bar where the three friends commiserate over being badly treated by these men. She is also tragic in her choice of men. Her guy at first seems like a harmless business man, if not kind of a ditz. She feels like she has to protect him and takes joy in cooking for him. But of course, she finds out when he’s in the hospital that he has a wife and family who live in another city.
What’s probably worse is that the author wrote this story as a cautionary to her younger female co-workers that they shouldn’t waste their twenties. Many of them she was angry with because they came to her with hesitation of dating men or anxiety over not having a boyfriend/husband/family already. This pressure seems pretty high for women in Japan already based on this comic and other media I’ve seen from Japan. It makes me mad that a woman would write this trying to scare other women into worrying about getting a husband to the point of obsession.
I rate this series (Volumes 1-3) at 2.5 stars! Even though this was written by the same manga-ka who brought us Princess Jellyfish, I definitely wouldn’t suggest this title unless you want to be really depressed. This was so bad, I’m almost afraid to read the end of Princess Jellyfish. I only have the last volume left, I’m probably going to go for it since I read the first 18 volumes. I’m pretty committed at this point.
I was so excited when I found out that the manga-ka who did Princess Jellyfish has put out another series which is now available in English. I’m sorry to say that within reading the first three volumes, I was no longer excited for this newer series at all. In fact, my wish to read this series fizzled out that quickly, though I had wanted to give it a chance so I read the first three books in the series before I called it quits.
Basically, the story breaks down like this; There are three friends who have man problems as 33-year old women in Japan. The fact that they are 33 is highly important. They are considered old even though 33 isn’t old. It’s some sexist attitudes that they have to all deal with that quickly become depressing and not funny. This series is written to be a comedy too, which I frankly didn’t understand. The food characters who talk to the main character aren’t charming at all. First they start out strange and then they’re really repetitive and annoying. I think they are supposed to be representations of the poor woman’s anxiety.
She is a script writer who has an affair with a younger, irritating actor. Basically he’s full of himself and causes her a lot of unnecessary grief. He is constantly ragging on her and her friends for being pathetic because they aren’t married yet. I don’t like him and I’m not sure if you’re supposed to like him because he’s terrible. Her two friends are just as unlucky in love.
Her friend who is pretty and owns a nail parlor starters seeing her high school boyfriend again now that he’s a successful musician. She dumped him when he didn’t seem like he’d get his shit together when they were younger. She finds out that she is actually one of many girlfriends now. His main girlfriend has gone to America for a trip when he starts seeing her. He doesn’t love her, he’s just using her.
Their third friend is the practical one. She is the daughter of the bar where the three friends commiserate over being badly treated by these men. She is also tragic in her choice of men. Her guy at first seems like a harmless business man, if not kind of a ditz. She feels like she has to protect him and takes joy in cooking for him. But of course, she finds out when he’s in the hospital that he has a wife and family who live in another city.
What’s probably worse is that the author wrote this story as a cautionary to her younger female co-workers that they shouldn’t waste their twenties. Many of them she was angry with because they came to her with hesitation of dating men or anxiety over not having a boyfriend/husband/family already. This pressure seems pretty high for women in Japan already based on this comic and other media I’ve seen from Japan. It makes me mad that a woman would write this trying to scare other women into worrying about getting a husband to the point of obsession.
I rate this series (Volumes 1-3) at 2.5 stars! Even though this was written by the same manga-ka who brought us Princess Jellyfish, I definitely wouldn’t suggest this title unless you want to be really depressed. This was so bad, I’m almost afraid to read the end of Princess Jellyfish. I only have the last volume left, I’m probably going to go for it since I read the first 18 volumes. I’m pretty committed at this point.
March 22, 2019
I've been half enjoying this series and half reading it from behind my hands, as the manga-ka heaps one indignity after another upon her hapless lead characters. The series doesn't seem to interrogate much the central trio's obsession with being married, and only attacks them for failing at finding suitable men. There seems to be no suggestion that they should find happiness within themselves first. There's one particular antagonist character who is needlessly, senselessly cruel, and I have no idea what purpose he is supposed to serve.
I'm not sure if I'm going to go on, because after this downer of a volume, I read spoilers and it sounds like I won't like where everything wraps up. Maybe I can chalk this one up to cultural differences—I sure don't know what it's like to be an unmarried mid-30s career woman in Japan—but I'd rather read a story in which the author doesn't seem to hate her characters.
I'm not sure if I'm going to go on, because after this downer of a volume, I read spoilers and it sounds like I won't like where everything wraps up. Maybe I can chalk this one up to cultural differences—I sure don't know what it's like to be an unmarried mid-30s career woman in Japan—but I'd rather read a story in which the author doesn't seem to hate her characters.
May 16, 2019
this series is way too mean-spirited for me. i'm out
2 stars
2 stars
January 20, 2022
Two things:
One: did you know Kindle Unlimited has manga? I didn’t know Kindle Unlimited has manga.
Two: God I am so nervous for Rinko. I’m not going to lie to you, I do not care for Key as a romantic option. While I’m glad for this new guy, I’m still so on edge for her.
Two-point-five: Key specifically annoys me because the story writes the girls and their problematic (and irrational) desires for men and companionship with nuance. Their relationships are clearly unhealthy for them and the story makes a point of showing us that they’re devaluing themselves. Key, however, straight up degrades and insults Rinko and it’s under this weird guise of “ohh I’m the hot, wise younger guy with a dead ex-girlfriend and I think you’re a washed up, flighty hag because you’re 33”. And it’s like. Okay. Boy, fuck you. This isn’t a problem with the story and I think this volume is good at four stars, but still. Like I said. There’s something so realistically depressing about this series and I feel my stomach drop every time I start and finish a volume.
I’m going to check if see if KU/Comixology offers Volume 4 for free and we’ll go from there!
One: did you know Kindle Unlimited has manga? I didn’t know Kindle Unlimited has manga.
Two: God I am so nervous for Rinko. I’m not going to lie to you, I do not care for Key as a romantic option. While I’m glad for this new guy, I’m still so on edge for her.
Two-point-five: Key specifically annoys me because the story writes the girls and their problematic (and irrational) desires for men and companionship with nuance. Their relationships are clearly unhealthy for them and the story makes a point of showing us that they’re devaluing themselves. Key, however, straight up degrades and insults Rinko and it’s under this weird guise of “ohh I’m the hot, wise younger guy with a dead ex-girlfriend and I think you’re a washed up, flighty hag because you’re 33”. And it’s like. Okay. Boy, fuck you. This isn’t a problem with the story and I think this volume is good at four stars, but still. Like I said. There’s something so realistically depressing about this series and I feel my stomach drop every time I start and finish a volume.
I’m going to check if see if KU/Comixology offers Volume 4 for free and we’ll go from there!
June 21, 2017
This series is so good!!
February 13, 2020
How does this continue to be so awesome? I enjoy it so much. Some of the things hit home, maybe that's why. But mostly I think the characters are so fleshed out and relatable.
June 28, 2019
While I'm not going to say this manga is relatable in its specifics--'cause it isn't--it definitely is relatable when it comes to the mindset of the main characters. Gotta get out there and make those silly mistakes, even if you know in the middle of making them that that's what they are.
Oh dear. I think I can see where Rinko's latest fling is going.
This manga's funny most of the time, although it also has its wretched and pitiful moments.
Oh dear. I think I can see where Rinko's latest fling is going.
This manga's funny most of the time, although it also has its wretched and pitiful moments.
February 19, 2019
I don't think this series is for me and am undecided as to whether I'll continue to read it. The emphasis on cis binary gender essentialist roles makes me uncomfy and the characters very one-note. I wish I enjoyed this more.
March 31, 2022
maybe it's because I'm younger but I can't help but get angry at this manga and it's views on women in their thirties and marriage. I had high hopes since I love princess jellyfish, but I don't think I'll be continuing with this one.
March 10, 2019
Key is truly one of the most obnoxious love interests I have read in years. I do not care about what is done to redeem him; he’s awful.
April 30, 2022
Nuestras tres amigas treintañeras, que responden al apodo de "doñas ysi", siguen con su crisis emocional. A las tres les surge algo con tres hombres, pero las tres están lejos de poder llamarlo amor... ¿O acaso el chico que se ha fijado en Rinko puede ser "el definitivo" para ella?
Desde luego, parece el hombre perfecto, pero algo en sus últimas palabras del tomo me hacen perder la esperanza de que sea lo que ella necesita. Y lo peor de todo es asistir a cómo ella misma boicotea su carrera simplemente por la posibilidad de casarse y así dejar de trabajar... Algo que sigue siendo muy habitual en la sociedad japonesa, por otra parte.
Cada vez la crítica de la autora hacia este tipo de conductas es más demoledora, pero a veces también parece rozar la crueldad. En el consultorio final, de hecho, responde a algunas de las solteras que le piden consejo llamándolas "so lelas"... Demasiado fuerte para mí, aunque tiene consejos divertidos.
Dicho esto, sigue habiendo escenas buenísimas de humor (toda la liada del hospital), el personaje de Kei, aunque salga poco, va mostrándonos detalles de su pasado y sigo teniendo ganas de acompañar a estas chicas y desearles todo lo mejor en la vida. Así que continuaremos su lectura con el siguiente tomo y espero que mis predicciones con el chico de Rinko no se cumplan...
Desde luego, parece el hombre perfecto, pero algo en sus últimas palabras del tomo me hacen perder la esperanza de que sea lo que ella necesita. Y lo peor de todo es asistir a cómo ella misma boicotea su carrera simplemente por la posibilidad de casarse y así dejar de trabajar... Algo que sigue siendo muy habitual en la sociedad japonesa, por otra parte.
Cada vez la crítica de la autora hacia este tipo de conductas es más demoledora, pero a veces también parece rozar la crueldad. En el consultorio final, de hecho, responde a algunas de las solteras que le piden consejo llamándolas "so lelas"... Demasiado fuerte para mí, aunque tiene consejos divertidos.
Dicho esto, sigue habiendo escenas buenísimas de humor (toda la liada del hospital), el personaje de Kei, aunque salga poco, va mostrándonos detalles de su pasado y sigo teniendo ganas de acompañar a estas chicas y desearles todo lo mejor en la vida. Así que continuaremos su lectura con el siguiente tomo y espero que mis predicciones con el chico de Rinko no se cumplan...
June 2, 2025
Vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
That cliffhanger is absolutely brutal. While I still think Key is obnoxious, I'm starting to understand his role in the story. Without him, there's no one to challenge our main characters. And while he's going about it cruelly, he does have Rinko's best interests in mind. He knows she's capable of more and wants to get her out of her funk.
Vol. 2 ★★★☆☆
That cliffhanger is absolutely brutal. While I still think Key is obnoxious, I'm starting to understand his role in the story. Without him, there's no one to challenge our main characters. And while he's going about it cruelly, he does have Rinko's best interests in mind. He knows she's capable of more and wants to get her out of her funk.
June 15, 2026
This continues to alternate hilarious misunderstandings and situations with painful cringing at one bad decision after another. Our main character finally meets a man who seems perfect and is just as interested in her! Will this finally be true love? The way this series has been going, the answer is probably not!
January 1, 2021
You can really see why these women are not married yet, they are kind of terrible people. It was kind of funny in the first two volumes but it just kind of got sad in this one. Idk I'm just the type of woman to go off of intuition than strategy I guess.
December 10, 2024
I really don't know what to think of this manga because I like it but also I am not sure if it's trying to reinforce the amatonormativity that is one of the source of distress of our heroines, or if it's trying to describe it to critique it ? I have no idea.
October 23, 2018
It dragged a bit but dammit if this manga isn't toying with my heart right now I love it a lot, but the first half of this volume I do not think was as nearly as good as the 2nd half
September 9, 2022
緩慢推進度，金髮男講話真的很靠北，日本人的三十歲焦慮好嚴重
January 26, 2023
I will say there have been some straight up savage lines AKA hard truths in this one...LoL
April 19, 2025
3,5 estrellas
Son un poco patéticas, pero me hace gracia las situaciones tan tontas en las que se meten ellas solas.
Son un poco patéticas, pero me hace gracia las situaciones tan tontas en las que se meten ellas solas.
September 17, 2024
Okay. I'm officially very invested.
It is still messy: alcohol everywhere, cheating and affairs.
However, the main aspect of the story is the adult female friendships. And I think I see an actual romance plot brewing.
It is still messy: alcohol everywhere, cheating and affairs.
However, the main aspect of the story is the adult female friendships. And I think I see an actual romance plot brewing.
August 10, 2020
So it's not a happy go lucky traditional rom-com manga by any means, it's a slightly messy (in terms of relationships) funny yet tragic story, but it's also a little relatable, and that makes it good. I like how it really is an adult story, and honestly I think it would be hard for many under the age of 25 to even relate to (except for relating to the confused younger characters perhaps).
I like the characters, and honestly I like how flawed they are.
I felt like this volume started te o have some development, only to have it roll back in some aspects (but not all) job vs. love life.
I've really been enjoying this series so far and am looking forward to seeing where it goes.
I like the characters, and honestly I like how flawed they are.
I felt like this volume started te o have some development, only to have it roll back in some aspects (but not all) job vs. love life.
I've really been enjoying this series so far and am looking forward to seeing where it goes.
October 20, 2017
Reminds me of Sex and the City with all the guys who are too good to be true and then one thing is wrong with them. The "What If" peanut gallery characters look like Shopkins.
February 19, 2022
Totally knew that this hunk is good for nothing, even though he got the looks.
July 28, 2024
i feel for rinko so hard in this volume bc film bros really do just be like that
February 6, 2026
❀° ┄─────────────────────────────╮
“✧ Los tiempos cambian. Y lo hacen mucho
más rápido de lo pensamos nosotras
vertiginosamente. De manera despiadada
y cruel.
╰─────────────────────────────┄ °❀
3.5 / 5 ✩✩✩✩✩
Este manga tiene algo tan interesante y que me aleja tanto a la vez. Siento que la autora refleja mucho la sociedad patriarcal japonesa y la gran idea de que una mujer a sus 30's esta en su peor etapa cuando aun no se ha casado. Las mujeres treintañeras presentadas sienten esa necesidad de dejar todo atrás por el "amor" pero más que nada el ideal de poder casarse.
Rinko cree que por un hombre joven que le dice que las oportunidades para ellas ahora son crisis que si no se logran, se pierden y se fallan de manera brutal hace que su mundo se derrumbe. Demuestra como una protagonista con gran ego pero poca estabilidad emocional pasa por travesías junto a sus amigas que solo la hacen caer en un sistema que la desprecia y tortura.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Tiene un 3.5 porque genuinamente siento ganas de matar a la autora en momentos por como trata a las mujeres y como trata a los hombres pero entiendo que es un reflejo de la sociedad patriarcal japonesa.
✮⋆˙ Topics:
— Relaciones
— Juventud
— Matrimonio
— Cine
“✧ Los tiempos cambian. Y lo hacen mucho
más rápido de lo pensamos nosotras
vertiginosamente. De manera despiadada
y cruel.
╰─────────────────────────────┄ °❀
3.5 / 5 ✩✩✩✩✩
Este manga tiene algo tan interesante y que me aleja tanto a la vez. Siento que la autora refleja mucho la sociedad patriarcal japonesa y la gran idea de que una mujer a sus 30's esta en su peor etapa cuando aun no se ha casado. Las mujeres treintañeras presentadas sienten esa necesidad de dejar todo atrás por el "amor" pero más que nada el ideal de poder casarse.
Rinko cree que por un hombre joven que le dice que las oportunidades para ellas ahora son crisis que si no se logran, se pierden y se fallan de manera brutal hace que su mundo se derrumbe. Demuestra como una protagonista con gran ego pero poca estabilidad emocional pasa por travesías junto a sus amigas que solo la hacen caer en un sistema que la desprecia y tortura.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Tiene un 3.5 porque genuinamente siento ganas de matar a la autora en momentos por como trata a las mujeres y como trata a los hombres pero entiendo que es un reflejo de la sociedad patriarcal japonesa.
✮⋆˙ Topics:
— Relaciones
— Juventud
— Matrimonio
— Cine
April 10, 2020
Hmmmm, on the surface, things seem to be looking up for Rinko in the relationship department... but it certainly seems to be happening fast, and he seems pretty intent on her looking like Andi McDowell... Meanwhile, it seems like Key maybe does have Rinko’s best interests at heart, but he is obsessed with this idea that people (or maybe just women) get stuck in place in their 30s. Clearly this opinion is shaped by the woman he knew before who died, so hopefully he can work his way out of that.
As for Kaori and Koyuki, they are each still struggling with their own loneliness and desire for love. The reality of being someone’s #2 aren’t pretty for either woman, especially when you find out you might be one of many, or that perhaps your married boyfriend has one kid and another on the way. I hope they can figure out a way to be happy, even if that means being okay with being single (which, once again, is a perfectly acceptable way to live).
As for Kaori and Koyuki, they are each still struggling with their own loneliness and desire for love. The reality of being someone’s #2 aren’t pretty for either woman, especially when you find out you might be one of many, or that perhaps your married boyfriend has one kid and another on the way. I hope they can figure out a way to be happy, even if that means being okay with being single (which, once again, is a perfectly acceptable way to live).
August 30, 2021
Rinko's luck seems to take an upward swing (despite her clear signs of being an severe alcoholic) as she gets another chance at the job she lost and bumps into a tall dark (single) stranger. Meanwhile Kaori and Koyuki hit some rough patches with their men of choice and have to decide if it's worth continuing.
Also, they name drop Andie Macdowell (she's the leading actress in the movie they watch in this volume) and I did a little bit of a fan squeal because Andie is from my hometown.
In other news, I'm a little worried about the direction we're going in because I don't want Rinko to end up with a weirdo and that's what they're hinting at.
This series has 9 volumes.
Also, they name drop Andie Macdowell (she's the leading actress in the movie they watch in this volume) and I did a little bit of a fan squeal because Andie is from my hometown.
In other news, I'm a little worried about the direction we're going in because I don't want Rinko to end up with a weirdo and that's what they're hinting at.
This series has 9 volumes.
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