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CITY #1
CITY, Vol. 1
From the creator of nichijou, this surreal-slapstick series revolves around a penniless college student, Midori Nagumo, who lives in an ordinary city filled with not-quite-ordinary people. And as this reckless girl runs about, she sets the city in motion.
Midori is in a bit of a bind. She is in debt, and her landlady is trying to shake her down for unpaid rent. Her best friend refuses to loan her cash since she’s wised up to her tricks.
Maybe some bullying would help. Or a bit of petty theft? Neither is sustainable. Maybe getting a job would settle things... But working means less time for fun adventures in the big city...
Midori is in a bit of a bind. She is in debt, and her landlady is trying to shake her down for unpaid rent. Her best friend refuses to loan her cash since she’s wised up to her tricks.
Maybe some bullying would help. Or a bit of petty theft? Neither is sustainable. Maybe getting a job would settle things... But working means less time for fun adventures in the big city...
172 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2017
30 people are currently reading
396 people want to read
About the author
Keiichi Arawi
52 books82 followersKeiichi Arawi (あらゐ けいいち, Arawi Keiichi) is a Japanese manga artist and illustrator.
Arawi was born in the prefecture of Gunma in 1977. He started his comics career at age 19 and for about a decade he published short stories. His series Nichijou, a slice of life comedy manga, was first serialised between 2006 and 2015 in the magazine 'Shonen Ace', and collected in ten volumes. In 2011 Nichijou was adapted into a 26-episode anime directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, now considered a cult. From 2016 to 2021 Arawi worked on the comedy manga CITY. In 2022 he resumed the serialisation of Nichijou, as well as starting a new strip called Amemiya-san.
Arawi was born in the prefecture of Gunma in 1977. He started his comics career at age 19 and for about a decade he published short stories. His series Nichijou, a slice of life comedy manga, was first serialised between 2006 and 2015 in the magazine 'Shonen Ace', and collected in ten volumes. In 2011 Nichijou was adapted into a 26-episode anime directed by Tatsuya Ishihara, now considered a cult. From 2016 to 2021 Arawi worked on the comedy manga CITY. In 2022 he resumed the serialisation of Nichijou, as well as starting a new strip called Amemiya-san.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 8, 2019
I haven’t read any of Arawi's previous series Nichijou, but based on this first volume of City, I am going to check it out. Nichijou was about a high school, random things happening, for laughs, I am told.
City is about a college-age group of young people, with loosely connected events, very manic, surreal, slapstick, that begins with broke Midori scamming friends to make rent. We move in this neighborhood of a big city—a woman loses her points card, a crispy noodles farce, a father teasing his son for wearing a miniskirt, two students making duck faces to make money, a girl photographing broccoli, someone planting expensive Haniwa statues around town.
What the hell is the point!? Exactly, Arawi seems to say! Relax and enjoy and laugh.
City is about a college-age group of young people, with loosely connected events, very manic, surreal, slapstick, that begins with broke Midori scamming friends to make rent. We move in this neighborhood of a big city—a woman loses her points card, a crispy noodles farce, a father teasing his son for wearing a miniskirt, two students making duck faces to make money, a girl photographing broccoli, someone planting expensive Haniwa statues around town.
What the hell is the point!? Exactly, Arawi seems to say! Relax and enjoy and laugh.
October 21, 2018
Keiichi Arawi's City
is a graphic novel that will make anyone laugh while reading it. I didn't expect much when I downloaded the reading copy provided by the publisher. But after I was done perusing it, I want to read more of the funny banters of the characters in the story. I'm anticipating to get my hand on the second volume of this excellent manga by the author, and I hope that there's a chance that there will be an ARC also of the said volume.
April 7, 2019
A deadbeat student dodges her elderly street fightin’ landlady. An impressionable lad is conned into wearing a miniskirt by his cheeky old pops. A newspaper cartoonist about to be unemployed, the Japanese version of Dudley Do-Right and a peeping tom with cameras dotted everywhere for some as-yet-unknown revenge all make up some of the cast of Keiichi Awari’s daffy sit-com CITY, set in a lively small urban neighbourhood - and the first volume’s not bad!
The first half of the book is a bit dull. I wasn’t that taken with the penniless student trying to cobble together the rent money or her landlady’s attempts to get it. The doormat officer is also just meh – the humour was a bit too slapstick-y and kiddie-ish for me.
The series starts to find its legs though as the book continues. The woman who lost her points card was an odd little digression but such a charming story. The whole crispy noodles farce genuinely made me laugh as did the dad teasing his idiot son for putting on a miniskirt and walking around town – that joke got funnier the more it went on! And the student and her mate making duck faces as a potential means for making money was unexpectedly hilarious too.
The first volume’s second half made me chuckle so many times it went from being a duff read to a half-decent one and made me immediately buy the next book in the series. I don’t know yet if this title is all that but if you’re after a silly but enjoyable manga, CITY might be worth a look.
The first half of the book is a bit dull. I wasn’t that taken with the penniless student trying to cobble together the rent money or her landlady’s attempts to get it. The doormat officer is also just meh – the humour was a bit too slapstick-y and kiddie-ish for me.
The series starts to find its legs though as the book continues. The woman who lost her points card was an odd little digression but such a charming story. The whole crispy noodles farce genuinely made me laugh as did the dad teasing his idiot son for putting on a miniskirt and walking around town – that joke got funnier the more it went on! And the student and her mate making duck faces as a potential means for making money was unexpectedly hilarious too.
The first volume’s second half made me chuckle so many times it went from being a duff read to a half-decent one and made me immediately buy the next book in the series. I don’t know yet if this title is all that but if you’re after a silly but enjoyable manga, CITY might be worth a look.
April 25, 2018
Nagumo is dirt broke, unemployed and has a gambling addiction. She's also behind on her rent payments. She steals an expensive idol, breaks it and ends up working at a restaurant to pay back the owner. The owner just so happens to be the son of her landlady, so it's all very messy. Hilarity ensues. Nagumo is a pretty entertaining, lazy bum that makes everyone's lives a living hell. Basically, Nagumo is a toned-down version of Haruko from FLCL.
There is no real linear story in City; it comprises of little stories that overlap here and there with recurring characters like Tatewaku, the gullible teenage boy who pratfalls at every joke that his father and sister chuck at him:
The wacky policeman that is completely incompetent at doing his job:
And some minor characters who are thrown slapdash into the middle of things:
Overall, City was a fun read but it left me wanting. I love the simplistic style, fast pace and blurry action. I enjoy how everyday life is flipped on its head and transformed into something a little crazy, but I feel that the author was reluctant and left a lot of the potential hilarity untapped.
"Perhaps if I kept stacking up such happy moments, I'd have a crazy amount of happiness"
This book was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 16, 2018
I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
The newest manga by Keiichi Arawi, and sadly I am not impressed. :( I was really looking forward to getting this manga, but I am now putting it off my list.
The idea is pretty neat, this story follows the weird/bizarre lives of people living in a city. No clue which city, it is just a city. We see a boy working at his parent's restaurant, an old granny, a police officer, a girl who probably will be rich if her friend finally paid off her debts to her (plus this girl loves making weird photographs), then we have our so-called MC who is frankly highly annoying and dumb and needs to grow up. These are just a few characters, there are more! Making it more confusing, though I am already happy that the manga isn't only about our annoying MC, Nagumo.
I had a laugh at the beginning when we first met her, but then I noticed that the way she is acting is something she always has done. And it just pissed me off how she treated her friend. How she kept going to her to have her do all sorts of things or just to beg for money.
The stories are also not really funny, just like the jokes just fell flat. I also had that problem with Nichijou, some jokes just didn't work with me, but whereas Nichijou was still mostly hilarious, this one was not. There was actually one scene that had me in stitches and that was the grandma parts. Dang, that lady is awesome. You should definitely not mess with that woman.
Oh, and the editorial trio chapter also was funny, well at least how they made those horoscopes. :P Just turn the wheel and shoot a dart. Yup. Perfect way to bullpoop your way through a horoscope.
The art, well it was typical of Keiichi Arawi. Silly art, silly faces. It did fit with Nichijou, and it also fits with the weirdness that is City.
Plus I do quite like the city everyone lives in. It seems like an exciting place with never a boring day. Manholes opening up, strange statues, weird policemen, crazy people running around. Yup, I wouldn't mind living there.
But will I be continuing this series? Sadly, no. It just wasn't for me. Which is a shame as I was looking forward to something new when I finished Nichijou.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The newest manga by Keiichi Arawi, and sadly I am not impressed. :( I was really looking forward to getting this manga, but I am now putting it off my list.
The idea is pretty neat, this story follows the weird/bizarre lives of people living in a city. No clue which city, it is just a city. We see a boy working at his parent's restaurant, an old granny, a police officer, a girl who probably will be rich if her friend finally paid off her debts to her (plus this girl loves making weird photographs), then we have our so-called MC who is frankly highly annoying and dumb and needs to grow up. These are just a few characters, there are more! Making it more confusing, though I am already happy that the manga isn't only about our annoying MC, Nagumo.
I had a laugh at the beginning when we first met her, but then I noticed that the way she is acting is something she always has done. And it just pissed me off how she treated her friend. How she kept going to her to have her do all sorts of things or just to beg for money.
The stories are also not really funny, just like the jokes just fell flat. I also had that problem with Nichijou, some jokes just didn't work with me, but whereas Nichijou was still mostly hilarious, this one was not. There was actually one scene that had me in stitches and that was the grandma parts. Dang, that lady is awesome. You should definitely not mess with that woman.
Oh, and the editorial trio chapter also was funny, well at least how they made those horoscopes. :P Just turn the wheel and shoot a dart. Yup. Perfect way to bullpoop your way through a horoscope.
The art, well it was typical of Keiichi Arawi. Silly art, silly faces. It did fit with Nichijou, and it also fits with the weirdness that is City.
Plus I do quite like the city everyone lives in. It seems like an exciting place with never a boring day. Manholes opening up, strange statues, weird policemen, crazy people running around. Yup, I wouldn't mind living there.
But will I be continuing this series? Sadly, no. It just wasn't for me. Which is a shame as I was looking forward to something new when I finished Nichijou.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 18, 2025
Look, there's only one high school girls but they're wacky manga, and its Azumanga Daioh. Lucky Star? Hidamari Sketch? Yuyushiki? All false idols built to lead you astray.
But if I had to pick a false idol to be led astray by, it would be Keiichi Arawi's Nichijou. And he made another manga, this time about college girls. And brother, they're wacky.
The jokes are very hit-or-miss (there's a duckface bit in here that would have felt dated upon its original publication), but the art and the action sequences are all consistently delightful. I also love that the titular city feels so lived in, with the focus roaming from chapter to chapter on all its various characters.
But if I had to pick a false idol to be led astray by, it would be Keiichi Arawi's Nichijou. And he made another manga, this time about college girls. And brother, they're wacky.
The jokes are very hit-or-miss (there's a duckface bit in here that would have felt dated upon its original publication), but the art and the action sequences are all consistently delightful. I also love that the titular city feels so lived in, with the focus roaming from chapter to chapter on all its various characters.
March 22, 2018
1.5 stars
I do like manga but I didnt enjoy this volume. I liked the artwork but I didnt really understand what the book is trying to convey. It seems to be about the antics of the main character who is always broke and borrowing money from a flatmate. I think some of the jokes and the storyline have been lost in translation. Not a good one for me, although the artwork is enjoyable.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I do like manga but I didnt enjoy this volume. I liked the artwork but I didnt really understand what the book is trying to convey. It seems to be about the antics of the main character who is always broke and borrowing money from a flatmate. I think some of the jokes and the storyline have been lost in translation. Not a good one for me, although the artwork is enjoyable.
Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 5, 2019
I just cannot find the humor in these strips. I think I chuckled once in the whole book. I was also underwhelmed by Nichijou, Vol. 1, so I guess I should have known better.
September 26, 2021
what a fun little read.
March 26, 2025
I love Keiichi Arawi! He's totally one of my favorite manga-ka. That's why I was so excited to read this series, after I learned Nichijou had ended. After finishing this, I have a few thoughts. First, I was a bit disappointed, because while this certainly had many of the elements that I had come to expect from Nichijou and Helvetica Standard, but the execution was a bit different. The characters seemed so foreign to the rag-tag group that I had come to love in his previous collections. But, I think as with anything, it can be hard when a beloved series ends and is replaced with something new.
However, for the positives: I really loved the quirkiness of the series, and I think that I can find myself falling for these characters. It's fun, and shows a lot of potential. I think the hardest part for me, though, is getting used to the plot structure. Before, I was used to quirky little stories that lasted only a few pages, and had nothing in common with the rest of the plot (with the exception of a few ongoing stories, like Mio's manga, Dolph and Princess Starla, and Nakamura's attempts to capture Nano).
While this is not Nichijou, it's fun to see Arawi expanding into new territories and trying a new series. And while I'm sad that my favorites are over, I'm looking forward to see what he has in store for us next.
EDIT: 10/24/2023
I've read this volume four times now, and I feel like my previous comments were perhaps a bit unfair. While it's not Nichijou, this is a hilarious ensemble cast and a great story! I'm looking forward to reading it all again!
However, for the positives: I really loved the quirkiness of the series, and I think that I can find myself falling for these characters. It's fun, and shows a lot of potential. I think the hardest part for me, though, is getting used to the plot structure. Before, I was used to quirky little stories that lasted only a few pages, and had nothing in common with the rest of the plot (with the exception of a few ongoing stories, like Mio's manga, Dolph and Princess Starla, and Nakamura's attempts to capture Nano).
While this is not Nichijou, it's fun to see Arawi expanding into new territories and trying a new series. And while I'm sad that my favorites are over, I'm looking forward to see what he has in store for us next.
EDIT: 10/24/2023
I've read this volume four times now, and I feel like my previous comments were perhaps a bit unfair. While it's not Nichijou, this is a hilarious ensemble cast and a great story! I'm looking forward to reading it all again!
May 10, 2020
Mari awali ritual dengan tertawa kencang : Hahahaha.
Oh, I’m so in love with this manga!
Ini adalah karya baru dari salah satu penulis favorit yang humornya tidak pernah bikin garing. Saya ingat pertama kali nonton anime Nichijou bikin ketawa sampai keluar air mata *lebay*. Saya suka dengan cerita yang mengutamakan candaan bersih – kadang ada sedikit satir, tapi tidak condong jorok.
Ini premisnya sangat menjanjikan, sederhana: tentang masyarakat aneh di kota yang aneh. Bau-bau slice of life-nya kental, jadi bisa dibayangkan apa saja yang mereka lakukan dengan berbagai kegaduhan.
Akan saya perkenalkan tokoh-tokohnya :
Nagumo : Manusia blangsak, tidak tahu diri. Menjadi pengemis adalah keahliannya.
Niikura : Sosok malaikat yang selalu meletakkan tangannya di atas untuk membantu Nagumo walau secara tidak rela.
Tatewaku : Anak dari pemilik kedai yang polos dan sangat positif. Rok adalah alat keberuntungannya.
Nenek : Walau penampilannya lemah karena umur, sosok beringas di dalam dirinya tidak ada yang mampu menandingi. Ingat baik-baik : Jangan pernah berani-berani samapenagih hutang orang tua!
Izumi : Hamba Tuhan paling taat dan punya fetish aneh.
Pak Polisi : Keberadaannya bak kotoran burung di bawah langit. Tapi ia selalu berusaha agar lebih baik agar menjadi figure kota yang ideal. Semangat, pak!
Dll..
Gold Episode :
Bagian pak polisi yang disuruh nenek ambil barang malah jadi dikira pencuri. Narasinya puitis sekali! *terharu*
Saya pilih ini karena paling ramai di antara yang lain, bermunculan karakter minor numpang eksis, plus adegan dari satu panel ke panel lainnya bisa membawakan suasana jadi ketawanya benar-benar pecah. Selain itu juga ada bagian mulut bebek, wew, sampai dipraktekin. Haha. Lucu aja waktu Niikura bilang itu cara ampuh buat menaklukan para pria.
Agak sulit juga milihnya, tapi ke semua cerita menarik, aneh bin ajaib, sangat menghibur.
Oh, I’m so in love with this manga!
Ini adalah karya baru dari salah satu penulis favorit yang humornya tidak pernah bikin garing. Saya ingat pertama kali nonton anime Nichijou bikin ketawa sampai keluar air mata *lebay*. Saya suka dengan cerita yang mengutamakan candaan bersih – kadang ada sedikit satir, tapi tidak condong jorok.
Ini premisnya sangat menjanjikan, sederhana: tentang masyarakat aneh di kota yang aneh. Bau-bau slice of life-nya kental, jadi bisa dibayangkan apa saja yang mereka lakukan dengan berbagai kegaduhan.
Akan saya perkenalkan tokoh-tokohnya :
Nagumo : Manusia blangsak, tidak tahu diri. Menjadi pengemis adalah keahliannya.
Niikura : Sosok malaikat yang selalu meletakkan tangannya di atas untuk membantu Nagumo walau secara tidak rela.
Tatewaku : Anak dari pemilik kedai yang polos dan sangat positif. Rok adalah alat keberuntungannya.
Nenek : Walau penampilannya lemah karena umur, sosok beringas di dalam dirinya tidak ada yang mampu menandingi. Ingat baik-baik : Jangan pernah berani-berani sama
Izumi : Hamba Tuhan paling taat dan punya fetish aneh.
Pak Polisi : Keberadaannya bak kotoran burung di bawah langit. Tapi ia selalu berusaha agar lebih baik agar menjadi figure kota yang ideal. Semangat, pak!
Dll..
Gold Episode :
Bagian pak polisi yang disuruh nenek ambil barang malah jadi dikira pencuri. Narasinya puitis sekali! *terharu*
Saya pilih ini karena paling ramai di antara yang lain, bermunculan karakter minor numpang eksis, plus adegan dari satu panel ke panel lainnya bisa membawakan suasana jadi ketawanya benar-benar pecah. Selain itu juga ada bagian mulut bebek, wew, sampai dipraktekin. Haha. Lucu aja waktu Niikura bilang itu cara ampuh buat menaklukan para pria.
Agak sulit juga milihnya, tapi ke semua cerita menarik, aneh bin ajaib, sangat menghibur.
June 26, 2018
This manga thinks it’s a LOT funnier than it actually is, or maybe the jokes are lost in translation. Or maybe it’s just not my kind of humor. It’s very slapstick and the main characters were annoying. This took me forever to get through. Definitely will not be continuing.
April 22, 2018
If you're familiar with Nichijou, then this volume will have the same quirkiness and goofball manner. The difference is that CITY is a little bit more grounded and stars young adult characters instead of high schoolers. I wasn't a fan of Nichijou, but I wanted to try this as a different perspective. While there is no real story, it is a look at a poor, 20-something girl living in the city with no ambitions for the real world. Intermixed with her antics are the neighbors, shop owners, landlords, and an officer trying to live their simple lives with a touch of insanity. Good for people looking for light-hearted comedy with people closer to their age (again, the 20-somethings), but not for readers who enjoy a concrete plot.
April 12, 2018
I picked this book up for the cute cover art and ended up enjoying the style quite a bit. This manga relies on slapstick humor that at times was very confusing, yet I ended up liking the oddly paced stories that overlapped and skipped around a bit. Primarily following one young protagonist who is broke and always trying to borrow money to pay her rent, this book weaves together a restaurant owner, a police officer, an elderly woman, a young lady working for the news with the horoscope section, and more characters together in the city in which they all live. City is a quick read with a very cute art style.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2025
Vols. 1&2
Pure reward! Absurd, charming, hilarious in equal measure. Giggles throughout.
Pure reward! Absurd, charming, hilarious in equal measure. Giggles throughout.
March 30, 2018
City 1 is a surreal fast-moving episodic Sunday Comics-style manga.
Nagumo (20) doesn’t have her rent money. She tried to double her money by playing the horses and lost. Her landlady, called the Granny, is insistent. Niikura, Nagumo’s best friend cannot loan her the rent money. Nagumo goes through many schemes trying to pay her rent. Granny is a street brawler (literally).
City 1 contains twelve 12-page stories. All involve city life and build on each other. Some are ironic, some are humorous but all do not seem like traditional manga.
I’m not sure if the problem is in the translation or me not understanding Japanese culture well enough despite my worship of Studio Ghibli and mecha anime. Do Japanese really touch the gills of a shiitake mushroom or rub an eraser to relax? City 1 is clearly meant to be a madcap comedy. It fell short of that for me. However, tastes vary so I’ll give this comic 3 stars.
Thanks to the publisher, Kodanska Comics, and NetGalley for a copy.
Nagumo (20) doesn’t have her rent money. She tried to double her money by playing the horses and lost. Her landlady, called the Granny, is insistent. Niikura, Nagumo’s best friend cannot loan her the rent money. Nagumo goes through many schemes trying to pay her rent. Granny is a street brawler (literally).
City 1 contains twelve 12-page stories. All involve city life and build on each other. Some are ironic, some are humorous but all do not seem like traditional manga.
I’m not sure if the problem is in the translation or me not understanding Japanese culture well enough despite my worship of Studio Ghibli and mecha anime. Do Japanese really touch the gills of a shiitake mushroom or rub an eraser to relax? City 1 is clearly meant to be a madcap comedy. It fell short of that for me. However, tastes vary so I’ll give this comic 3 stars.
Thanks to the publisher, Kodanska Comics, and NetGalley for a copy.
July 11, 2025
CITY, Vol. 1 (My Kindle Review)
This was a real looney manga that offers a lot of topsy turvy-ness. Taking place in an odd city, we follow a handful of different characters such as a gruff old lady landlord, a dimwit cop and a grocery store run by a family. The main character we follow is Midori Nagumo, a broke and lazy college student who must try to make money to pay off her rent with the help of her reluctant friend.
Not much of a real story here yet, though “CITY” is still a funny manga read that has a fun cast of characters who we all see in quirky situations. A very lively place to live though. B (75%/Good)
This was a real looney manga that offers a lot of topsy turvy-ness. Taking place in an odd city, we follow a handful of different characters such as a gruff old lady landlord, a dimwit cop and a grocery store run by a family. The main character we follow is Midori Nagumo, a broke and lazy college student who must try to make money to pay off her rent with the help of her reluctant friend.
Not much of a real story here yet, though “CITY” is still a funny manga read that has a fun cast of characters who we all see in quirky situations. A very lively place to live though. B (75%/Good)
July 19, 2018
This is gag strips but, I think you either love or hate that gag, it depends on your preference. It would be dull gag for me.
December 29, 2024
Another masterpiece from one of the greatest humor manga creators ever. The absurdity and surrealism from Nichijou is on full display, but here it’s grounded in an ongoing, interweaving narrative involving adult characters navigating work, life goals, and paying the rent. Here’s hoping subsequent volumes meet the high bar set by this one!
April 5, 2020
To be honest, I feel like the way the craziness is portrayed, I would enjoy this in fast paced anime episodes. Same feeling I had with Nichijou. The manga format just isn't doing it for me. Would be nice to see an anime adaptation
June 22, 2022
If you enjoyed Nichijou as a teen you'll probably enjoy CITY as an adult! It's a pretty quick read, lighthearted, and mostly nonsense. I think it's one of the few manga I still like even though it changes POV a lot.
September 25, 2023
This is very silly/childish/slapsticky and felt like a humor manga from the 1980s. Not for me.
May 20, 2024
Not my kind of humor. The gags are stupid and not in a good way. That said, I still want to give Nichijou a try.
March 29, 2018
Just as absurdist and surreal as Nichijou, but this time there's a plot! Sort of? Maybe? Not to worry, it's still a fun read! :)
September 30, 2018
I literally guffawed multiple times reading this. It has a light hearted stupid humor that makes me want to be weirder.
April 20, 2024
Just a light manga about almost nothing. Perfect for days when you need that kind of thing.
April 4, 2018
I feel like this book was the preview of a really awesome series. We were introduced first to Midori - this young girl with an extremely snarky and self-serving attitude. She's avoiding her landlady - a crazy strong old lady - because she can't pay her rent. Why? Because she gambled it all away! I was surprised when the synopsis referred to the girl she is constantly pestering for money as her "best friend". Midori isn't exactly the type of girl I would want as a best friend. One who can be described as keep your friends close, your enemies closer. As I said, self-serving.
Then there was a brief blip about a girl who thought crumbling an eraser was fun. Was this a flashback of Midori before she became a college student? If so, oh my gosh girl, what happened to you?!
Then there's the little blip about the broccoli. Though I consider our broccoli-photographing girl a bit crazy to consider Midori a friend, I enjoyed their encounters. And the hilarious thing is - as she's laying on the floor taking a photo of broccoli, I thought oh my gosh, you're a booknerd with food! Because how many times have I set books up on the floor and sat there with my phone, trying to get just the right picture?
Final verdict - I am eager to see how this series progresses. It's definitely one that I will be buying in paperback format so that I can give it the attention it deserves. Midori is definitely one frustratingly intriguing character.
Then there was a brief blip about a girl who thought crumbling an eraser was fun. Was this a flashback of Midori before she became a college student? If so, oh my gosh girl, what happened to you?!
Then there's the little blip about the broccoli. Though I consider our broccoli-photographing girl a bit crazy to consider Midori a friend, I enjoyed their encounters. And the hilarious thing is - as she's laying on the floor taking a photo of broccoli, I thought oh my gosh, you're a booknerd with food! Because how many times have I set books up on the floor and sat there with my phone, trying to get just the right picture?
Final verdict - I am eager to see how this series progresses. It's definitely one that I will be buying in paperback format so that I can give it the attention it deserves. Midori is definitely one frustratingly intriguing character.
March 29, 2018
It might not be readily apparent since I read such a large volume of fantasy and science fiction, but I’ve always really enjoyed a good slice of life manga or anime. I was extremely excited to pick up just such a manga from the creator of Nichijou. City Vol. 1 by Keiichi Arawi is a slice of life manga with surreal humor and great characters.
City Vol 1 is set in an unnamed city somewhere in Japan. Our main character is Midori Nagumo, a college student with no cash but plenty of get rich quick schemes. She lives in a regular apartment building in a regular city that is filled with memorable, definitely unordinary people. This story revolves around Midori as she struggles to pay off her debt to the landlord and the people who live and work in her neighborhood.
Midori is a great character. She is always in debt and always has a scheme. Alas, most of her schemes don’t come to fruition and her elderly landlord will go to any lengths to get her cash. Her best friend knows better than to lend her money, going out of her way to avoid such scenarios, but to little avail. Midori’s reckless, irresponsible, and tons of fun to read about.
Though Midori is the main character, there is a large supporting cast. All of the characters are related somehow, even if it isn’t quite apparent at first. Chapters tend to be short and focused on a smaller set of characters. Indeed, we don’t see much of the city itself. The majority of the action takes place in a few key locations that are all in the same neighborhood. Character’s cross each other’s paths, sometimes without knowing their connections. It’s a small world filled with quirky people who are each just trying to go about their daily business.
This is a slice of life manga with plenty of surreal humor. If you like that genre, you’ll probably find at least some chapters that you’ll really like. Certain sections prove more memorable than others, but overall the manga was quite a fun read.
The art is unmistakably Arawi’s. Or, if you’re like me, makes you exclaim ‘oh, that looks like Nichijo!’. Characters are downright adorable and have rather expressive faces. Basically, if you enjoyed Nichijou’s art style you will enjoy City as well.
At the end of the volume is a map of the city where the story takes place. Unfortunately, nothing on the map was translated. While I like the concept of including the map and appreciate this inclusion, not bothering to translate anything on it renders it rather useless for anyone who can’t read Japanese.
City Vol 1 by Keiichi Arawi is a great slice of life manga that was ton’s fun. If you like slice of life manga I would highly suggest picking up a copy of this.
I received this manga from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review is originally found on Looking Glass Reads.
City Vol 1 is set in an unnamed city somewhere in Japan. Our main character is Midori Nagumo, a college student with no cash but plenty of get rich quick schemes. She lives in a regular apartment building in a regular city that is filled with memorable, definitely unordinary people. This story revolves around Midori as she struggles to pay off her debt to the landlord and the people who live and work in her neighborhood.
Midori is a great character. She is always in debt and always has a scheme. Alas, most of her schemes don’t come to fruition and her elderly landlord will go to any lengths to get her cash. Her best friend knows better than to lend her money, going out of her way to avoid such scenarios, but to little avail. Midori’s reckless, irresponsible, and tons of fun to read about.
Though Midori is the main character, there is a large supporting cast. All of the characters are related somehow, even if it isn’t quite apparent at first. Chapters tend to be short and focused on a smaller set of characters. Indeed, we don’t see much of the city itself. The majority of the action takes place in a few key locations that are all in the same neighborhood. Character’s cross each other’s paths, sometimes without knowing their connections. It’s a small world filled with quirky people who are each just trying to go about their daily business.
This is a slice of life manga with plenty of surreal humor. If you like that genre, you’ll probably find at least some chapters that you’ll really like. Certain sections prove more memorable than others, but overall the manga was quite a fun read.
The art is unmistakably Arawi’s. Or, if you’re like me, makes you exclaim ‘oh, that looks like Nichijo!’. Characters are downright adorable and have rather expressive faces. Basically, if you enjoyed Nichijou’s art style you will enjoy City as well.
At the end of the volume is a map of the city where the story takes place. Unfortunately, nothing on the map was translated. While I like the concept of including the map and appreciate this inclusion, not bothering to translate anything on it renders it rather useless for anyone who can’t read Japanese.
City Vol 1 by Keiichi Arawi is a great slice of life manga that was ton’s fun. If you like slice of life manga I would highly suggest picking up a copy of this.
I received this manga from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review is originally found on Looking Glass Reads.
September 26, 2018
Well, City is actually better than Nichijou, which was a good thing, since I'm not a fan of absurd Japanese humor. Arawi's style is so distinct and his humor isn't the easiest one to digest, really. The art feels slightly unfinished compared to Nichijou. Everything happens in a nameless city or it could just be called City, who knows. Different characters do things, work and live and there's interaction and happenings. Slice of life basically without any deeper meaning or plot. Midori Nagumo is the supposed main character and she's out of money and tries to come up with plans how to make money and not lose her apartment due to it. Like this, all the characters are somehow bound to Nagumo and her craziness. Basic Arawi, then. This works for a couple of books, but tends to get boring along the way when there's nothing to the comic. For now it's OK.
The font is absolutely hideous and it varies. It looks detached from the comic and I just don't get why it changes for no good reason. The basic one looks cheap too and doesn't fit with the style at all. The art looks slightly crude at times and the line work is shady from time to time too. City is newer than Nichijou so this makes no sense unless Arawi has changed for more rougher style. I'm amazed this series was translated, since Arawi and his humor aren't the thing here. Yet, it's good that stuff like this gets translated and not only the most obvious ones - just that there could be better ones.
The font is absolutely hideous and it varies. It looks detached from the comic and I just don't get why it changes for no good reason. The basic one looks cheap too and doesn't fit with the style at all. The art looks slightly crude at times and the line work is shady from time to time too. City is newer than Nichijou so this makes no sense unless Arawi has changed for more rougher style. I'm amazed this series was translated, since Arawi and his humor aren't the thing here. Yet, it's good that stuff like this gets translated and not only the most obvious ones - just that there could be better ones.
June 5, 2022
7/10
Arawi's CITY follows in the footsteps of his earlier big hit Nichijou, only with a slightly smaller ensemble of characters - for now! The recipe is the usual:
1) a variegate cast of very weird but very lovable characters, mostly young girls;
2) slices of everyday life suddenly turning into super absurd comedy;
3) a general aura of wholesomeness and heartfulness.
The art is also consistent with the minimality of Arawi's previous work. He never tries anything other than basic ink lines and basic designs.
I never busted laughing out loud reading the gags in this volume, something that actually happened to me also with most jokes in Nichijou. (The latter becomes dreadfully hilarious in its anime adaptation.) Anyhow, that is not even the point. The point is that reading this stuff heals your soul, assuming you still have one.
The main characters of this series seem to have personalities different enough from the Nichijou's gang to justify the existence of the manga. Nonetheless, I still wish that Arawi would find the courage to experiment a bit more, possibly finding ways to expand over his well-established style.
[EDIT: some months after writing this quick review, I now know that Arawi has finished this series with volume thirteen...and he is now back to do Nichijou! Speaking of finding new paths...]
Arawi's CITY follows in the footsteps of his earlier big hit Nichijou, only with a slightly smaller ensemble of characters - for now! The recipe is the usual:
1) a variegate cast of very weird but very lovable characters, mostly young girls;
2) slices of everyday life suddenly turning into super absurd comedy;
3) a general aura of wholesomeness and heartfulness.
The art is also consistent with the minimality of Arawi's previous work. He never tries anything other than basic ink lines and basic designs.
I never busted laughing out loud reading the gags in this volume, something that actually happened to me also with most jokes in Nichijou. (The latter becomes dreadfully hilarious in its anime adaptation.) Anyhow, that is not even the point. The point is that reading this stuff heals your soul, assuming you still have one.
The main characters of this series seem to have personalities different enough from the Nichijou's gang to justify the existence of the manga. Nonetheless, I still wish that Arawi would find the courage to experiment a bit more, possibly finding ways to expand over his well-established style.
[EDIT: some months after writing this quick review, I now know that Arawi has finished this series with volume thirteen...and he is now back to do Nichijou! Speaking of finding new paths...]
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