What do you think?
Rate this book
DIVE!! Manga #2
DIVE!!, Vol. 2
As Tomoki's natural genius for diving blossoms under the guidance of Coach Asaki, his relationships with the people around him sour. But even while suffering from the growing rifts in his life, Tomoki has to retain his focus as the trial meet for the Beijing training camp looms!
208 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2019
2 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Eto Mori
83 books44 followersEto Mori has been a literary star in Japan for over thirty years. She has won numerous major awards in Japan including the Naoki Prize, one of Japan’s most prestigious awards for popular fiction. Colorful has been translated into seven different languages, and adapted into three films. Colorful is her first novel to be translated into English. She lives in Tokyo, Japan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 28, 2021
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/bnd-5lthSho
There was A LOT packed into this volume!
I was feeling all the emotions by the end because I absolutely love these characters! Tomoki, Youichi, Okitsu literally vie for first place in who is my favorite is because they all are so unique and have different backgrounds. Just when I think one of them is a favorite for one reason, another character will come up and remind me why I loved THEIR character. It’s great though! I feel it’s sort of rare for me where I go back and forth on who is my favorite, so I’m just going to say all of them. It’s a win-win for everyone! LOL!
While I LOVE the green of this cover, Reiji and Ryou are definitely my least favorite characters. I still found Ryou’s actions unacceptable, but I was disappointed in one of his final decisions in this manga thus far.
Though saying that, Tomoki’s home life had me SUPER upset! That was something I didn’t see coming especially because of how the beginning of this volume was. I also didn't see one of the other "surprises" concerning Okitsu either!
It made me SO thankful for Youichi though! I have really liked his character since we first met him and just so thankful he is in Tomoki’s life. <3 Okitsu too!
By far the best chapter is all the guys just being friends! I won’t spoil it by saying more but I wanted to hug my personal volume because it made me so happy!
This series is really shaping up to be something special! I’m deeply enjoying the adventure these guys are taking me on and seeing them all grow!
There was A LOT packed into this volume!
I was feeling all the emotions by the end because I absolutely love these characters! Tomoki, Youichi, Okitsu literally vie for first place in who is my favorite is because they all are so unique and have different backgrounds. Just when I think one of them is a favorite for one reason, another character will come up and remind me why I loved THEIR character. It’s great though! I feel it’s sort of rare for me where I go back and forth on who is my favorite, so I’m just going to say all of them. It’s a win-win for everyone! LOL!
While I LOVE the green of this cover, Reiji and Ryou are definitely my least favorite characters. I still found Ryou’s actions unacceptable, but I was disappointed in one of his final decisions in this manga thus far.
Though saying that, Tomoki’s home life had me SUPER upset! That was something I didn’t see coming especially because of how the beginning of this volume was. I also didn't see one of the other "surprises" concerning Okitsu either!
It made me SO thankful for Youichi though! I have really liked his character since we first met him and just so thankful he is in Tomoki’s life. <3 Okitsu too!
By far the best chapter is all the guys just being friends! I won’t spoil it by saying more but I wanted to hug my personal volume because it made me so happy!
This series is really shaping up to be something special! I’m deeply enjoying the adventure these guys are taking me on and seeing them all grow!
July 23, 2019
In Summary
Tomo nails it in the diving department while crashing in the relationship department. This could’ve been good drama, but it feels forced and comes off ridiculously melodramatic. Thankfully, the story shifts to Okitsu, who’s traveling a more interesting path and faces challenges that are actual obstacles. There is also a fair amount of diving in this volume, but most of the focus is on decisions and interactions out of the water.
The Review
The Tomoki character arc continues with him reconciling with Ryou and Reiji and nailing the three-and-a-half somersault dive, just to fall apart when his girlfriend dumps him for his younger brother. It’s been clear from the beginning Tomo has no real affection for Miu, so the break-up is no surprise. The fact that his brother takes her adds drama, but where it goes off the deep end is how badly Tomo takes it. He never cared about Miu before so it’s difficult to believe he’d ditch practice and sulk in bed for two weeks because of her. Overall, Tomo displays an oblivious insensitivity toward others and a hypersensitivity to rejection that makes me want to slap him. Even with his “diamond eyes” talent on the verge of a breakthrough, he’s not at all appealing as a character.
Fortunately, about halfway through the volume, the focus shifts from Tomo to Okitsu. Unlike Tomo, who’s mainly struggling with his stupid self, Okitsu is dealing with MDC expectations, the burden of his grandfather’s unfulfilled legacy, and his identity as a village boy in the big city. While the Beijing trials is an important meet for all the athletes, for Okitsu, it’s also his debut into competitive diving and everything it entails. Okitsu’s outsider perspective and his choices make the usual who-will-hold-up-under-the-pressure-and-win narrative a bit more interesting.
However, the outcome of the training camp selection takes an odd turn with the abrupt introduction of the Okitsu family back problems. While this isn’t nearly as bad as Tomo’s post-breakup self-destruction, it’s puzzling the creators didn’t drop more hints about this potentially disabling problem. That aside, watching Okitsu return home and ponder the meaning of diving in his life was engaging. It was certainly more compelling than Tomo’s miserable angst.
Another oddity of this installment is that we never actually get to see the training camp. After all the hype and anguish deciding who gets to go, we never meet the famed Chinese Coach Sun and see him at work. It could’ve been an opportunity to see our characters in an international environment, but oh well.
As with the previous volume, this volume covers the same territory of the corresponding Dive!! anime episodes. However, thanks to the slower pace and the broader perspective provided by thought bubbles, the characters are more fleshed out and their motivations clearer than in the TV series. In the anime, Coach Asaki was especially one-dimensional: all no-nonsense coach and not much else. She’s still mostly that in the manga, but we also get a couple scenes and flashbacks where she expresses a different emotion.
Extras include the first four pages in color and translation notes.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
Tomo nails it in the diving department while crashing in the relationship department. This could’ve been good drama, but it feels forced and comes off ridiculously melodramatic. Thankfully, the story shifts to Okitsu, who’s traveling a more interesting path and faces challenges that are actual obstacles. There is also a fair amount of diving in this volume, but most of the focus is on decisions and interactions out of the water.
The Review
The Tomoki character arc continues with him reconciling with Ryou and Reiji and nailing the three-and-a-half somersault dive, just to fall apart when his girlfriend dumps him for his younger brother. It’s been clear from the beginning Tomo has no real affection for Miu, so the break-up is no surprise. The fact that his brother takes her adds drama, but where it goes off the deep end is how badly Tomo takes it. He never cared about Miu before so it’s difficult to believe he’d ditch practice and sulk in bed for two weeks because of her. Overall, Tomo displays an oblivious insensitivity toward others and a hypersensitivity to rejection that makes me want to slap him. Even with his “diamond eyes” talent on the verge of a breakthrough, he’s not at all appealing as a character.
Fortunately, about halfway through the volume, the focus shifts from Tomo to Okitsu. Unlike Tomo, who’s mainly struggling with his stupid self, Okitsu is dealing with MDC expectations, the burden of his grandfather’s unfulfilled legacy, and his identity as a village boy in the big city. While the Beijing trials is an important meet for all the athletes, for Okitsu, it’s also his debut into competitive diving and everything it entails. Okitsu’s outsider perspective and his choices make the usual who-will-hold-up-under-the-pressure-and-win narrative a bit more interesting.
However, the outcome of the training camp selection takes an odd turn with the abrupt introduction of the Okitsu family back problems. While this isn’t nearly as bad as Tomo’s post-breakup self-destruction, it’s puzzling the creators didn’t drop more hints about this potentially disabling problem. That aside, watching Okitsu return home and ponder the meaning of diving in his life was engaging. It was certainly more compelling than Tomo’s miserable angst.
Another oddity of this installment is that we never actually get to see the training camp. After all the hype and anguish deciding who gets to go, we never meet the famed Chinese Coach Sun and see him at work. It could’ve been an opportunity to see our characters in an international environment, but oh well.
As with the previous volume, this volume covers the same territory of the corresponding Dive!! anime episodes. However, thanks to the slower pace and the broader perspective provided by thought bubbles, the characters are more fleshed out and their motivations clearer than in the TV series. In the anime, Coach Asaki was especially one-dimensional: all no-nonsense coach and not much else. She’s still mostly that in the manga, but we also get a couple scenes and flashbacks where she expresses a different emotion.
Extras include the first four pages in color and translation notes.
For more manga and book reviews, drop by my blog Keeping It In Canon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2019
DIVE!! Volume 2 continued to show the gap and distance Tomoki’s friends put between him as they realized Tomoki was going full speed ahead of them. Ryou appears to take it so hard that he seemingly starts to resent him for it, and even complains about it. Unfortunately, after a discussion he comes to take things in a perhaps interesting and maybe non optimal direction that allows him to make up in some way to Tomoki but then quit the club. This was baffling too me, but considering how this was also in response to his performance at the major meet it somewhat understandable.
I found the this focus on a secondary character and making them have a real conflict that involves partly the lead character but then their own shortcomings makes this book standout among a few other sports series in which secondary characters aren’t throwaways. Another character here, such as Okitsu’s self-reflection and loss of direction stands out too. His pages became really emotional in the second half of the volume and really took off once Tomoki and Youichi visited him. It’s really, really memorable as well as the finale for it.
Overall, like volume the characters really stand out more than the diving but the diving is not something to scoff at or ignore, as several panels it looks really amazing and some of the characters attitudes over it is awesome, specifically Tomoki’s response over the score, Youichi getting fired up, and Okitsu’s first and second dive. Amazing.
Good art, and good writing. Again like v1, no bonuses.
I found the this focus on a secondary character and making them have a real conflict that involves partly the lead character but then their own shortcomings makes this book standout among a few other sports series in which secondary characters aren’t throwaways. Another character here, such as Okitsu’s self-reflection and loss of direction stands out too. His pages became really emotional in the second half of the volume and really took off once Tomoki and Youichi visited him. It’s really, really memorable as well as the finale for it.
Overall, like volume the characters really stand out more than the diving but the diving is not something to scoff at or ignore, as several panels it looks really amazing and some of the characters attitudes over it is awesome, specifically Tomoki’s response over the score, Youichi getting fired up, and Okitsu’s first and second dive. Amazing.
Good art, and good writing. Again like v1, no bonuses.
June 4, 2019
Now I have to wait till the end of July for book 3..*sigh* But what a great ending..I teared up and wanted to give everyone a hug.
These kids seem to be going through grown up decisions that would have been difficult even for me as a middle schooler and high schooler.
Themes of quiting and finding my limits to working through injuries and loosing friends/family and gaining new ones.
this is why I live sports manga/anime. They bring great joy and fill my heart with love and all these emotions.
Highly recommend.
These kids seem to be going through grown up decisions that would have been difficult even for me as a middle schooler and high schooler.
Themes of quiting and finding my limits to working through injuries and loosing friends/family and gaining new ones.
this is why I live sports manga/anime. They bring great joy and fill my heart with love and all these emotions.
Highly recommend.
April 18, 2019
Somehow I dislike the coach even more now.
August 6, 2021
More like a 3.5
Read
May 1, 2024Why tease a two week training arc in Beijing if you are going to skip the training arc????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2022
Volume 2 was just as fun to dive into as volume 1. Pun intended. Sakai picks himself up after his break up and finally nails the dive he has been training so hard for!
In this volume, our characters experience their first dive meet and two earn the honor to go to their first training camp in China. Readers are treated to learn more about Okitsu's backstory, see his hometown and meet his girlfriend.
In this volume, our characters experience their first dive meet and two earn the honor to go to their first training camp in China. Readers are treated to learn more about Okitsu's backstory, see his hometown and meet his girlfriend.
May 13, 2020
La recensione di questo volume e di tutta la serie presente al seguente link: https://bookmarksarereadersbestfriend...
Tomo, concentrandosi così tanto sui tuffi, sta perdendo i suoi amici e altre persone a lui care. Ma si avvicina la gara per decidere i partecipanti al raduno in Cina dopo il quale saranno annunciati i rappresentati giapponesi per le Olimpiadi. Lui deve trovare un modo per prendere parte al raduno e andare avanti anche se soffre. Anche Okitsu soffre perché non sa cosa fare e come portare avanti l'eredità di suo nonno ed entra in crisi. Tomo e Youichi interverranno a supportarlo e a prendere una decisione sul suo futuro. Un volume bello e devo dire che il manga mi sta piacendo più dell'anime perché ha delle piccole aggiunte molto belle sui suoi diversi personaggi e la loro evoluzione; anche le tavole dedicate ai tuffi sono molto bene fatte. Non voglio arrivare al finale troppi feels, non so se posso farcela!
Tomo, concentrandosi così tanto sui tuffi, sta perdendo i suoi amici e altre persone a lui care. Ma si avvicina la gara per decidere i partecipanti al raduno in Cina dopo il quale saranno annunciati i rappresentati giapponesi per le Olimpiadi. Lui deve trovare un modo per prendere parte al raduno e andare avanti anche se soffre. Anche Okitsu soffre perché non sa cosa fare e come portare avanti l'eredità di suo nonno ed entra in crisi. Tomo e Youichi interverranno a supportarlo e a prendere una decisione sul suo futuro. Un volume bello e devo dire che il manga mi sta piacendo più dell'anime perché ha delle piccole aggiunte molto belle sui suoi diversi personaggi e la loro evoluzione; anche le tavole dedicate ai tuffi sono molto bene fatte. Non voglio arrivare al finale troppi feels, non so se posso farcela!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews