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金のひつじ [Kin no Hitsuji] #1
The Golden Sheep, Vol. 1
Winter of junior year. Not quite able to become adults, we couldn’t stay as we were as children, either.
Our tale explores a group of teenagers and their impatience and rebirth.
“They say if you write down your wish, bury it under Sheep Tower and then dig it up after 7 years and 7 months, your wish will come true…”
Tsugu Miikura, a high schooler who loves to play guitar, due to family circumstances, moved away from the rural town where she had spent her childhood. After several years, she’s back in her old hometown. She reunites with her childhood friends—Sora, Yuushin, and Asari—the friends she’d buried a time capsule with back in elementary school. Tsugu is overjoyed to be with her friends once more, but the bonds that she thought would never change have in fact started to grow major cracks...
Our tale explores a group of teenagers and their impatience and rebirth.
“They say if you write down your wish, bury it under Sheep Tower and then dig it up after 7 years and 7 months, your wish will come true…”
Tsugu Miikura, a high schooler who loves to play guitar, due to family circumstances, moved away from the rural town where she had spent her childhood. After several years, she’s back in her old hometown. She reunites with her childhood friends—Sora, Yuushin, and Asari—the friends she’d buried a time capsule with back in elementary school. Tsugu is overjoyed to be with her friends once more, but the bonds that she thought would never change have in fact started to grow major cracks...
228 pages, Paperback
First published March 23, 2018
22 people are currently reading
1728 people want to read
About the author
Kaori Ozaki
29 books173 followersKaori Ozaki (Japanese name: 尾崎かおり) is a professional comic artist and character designer. She made her debut in 1993 at the age of 15 for shojo publisher Shinshokan with the short series An Angel above the Piano. Her breakthrough work Immortal Rain earned her great acclaim globally as it was translated into a dozen languages and eventually published in the United States by Tokyopop. She worked on the eleven volume series for 12 years before switching publishers and switching genres with her first title from Kodansha's young adult magazine Afternoon, The Gods Lie.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
December 6, 2019
Well this manga literally broke me. It's been a long time since i was emotionally drained from a manga. It's heartbreakingly beautiful story about Friendship and how it develops/Changes over time. And sometimes those changes can be painful to accept.
It also captures some heavyer topics like bullying, Voilence, Sucide, Complicated family, Depression, Poverty, Parental Negligence. This was my first manga from Kaori Ozaki and I'm all pumped to read The God Lie.
🥀Plot
In this we follow the lives of four teenagers (Tsugu, Sora, Yuushin, & Asari) who used to be childhood friends. But due to some circumstances Tsugu leaves the town. Over the years they stay connected with letters. So, when Tsugu Mikura's mother decides to move back to that same town. She instantly feels the connection to reunite with her childhood friend. Hoping to share the same bond that they had formed earlier. But what Tsugu doesn't know is that those three are no longer friends. And each of them now carry some grief.
You can find Kaori Ozaki's artwork and additional information here
So Tsugu loves to play guitar and we get this opening chapter where she smashes the window of a car with that same guitar.
And my natural instinct was like "Dude! Musical instruments are expensive 😂 why would you even do that?"
And by the end of chapter 4 i became "Yeah~ Sure! I would have done the same thing. Good job!"
October 27, 2025
a good first volume!! not as upsetting as i thought it would be, but it is really dark and depressing so far
——
apparently this is gut wrenching... can't wait!
——
apparently this is gut wrenching... can't wait!
July 2, 2020
My heart, people, my heart. I did not expect that to hurt as much as it did.
November 5, 2023
“Did you write your report for school?”
“About our dreams for the future?”
“Yeah.”
“I wrote mine. I said my dreams is to be a manga artist. What about you?”
“…”
“A champion of justice.”
“Sora. Remember the real me. Even if, someday, I become someone totally different. I want you to remember the real me.”
Bro. This manga.
THE FEELS.
Can’t remember the last time it hurt reading a manga but this did just that🤡
It follows Tsugu Miikura who had to move away from her childhood best friends but just moved back after 6 years. She, very naively, thinks she can just pick up where she left off with them and everything will be the same, but everything changed.
It’s very much a story about changing even when you don’t want to, or when you cannot control it. It’s sad and it’s hard.
Anyway, really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading the next one!
“About our dreams for the future?”
“Yeah.”
“I wrote mine. I said my dreams is to be a manga artist. What about you?”
“…”
“A champion of justice.”
“Sora. Remember the real me. Even if, someday, I become someone totally different. I want you to remember the real me.”
Bro. This manga.
THE FEELS.
Can’t remember the last time it hurt reading a manga but this did just that🤡
It follows Tsugu Miikura who had to move away from her childhood best friends but just moved back after 6 years. She, very naively, thinks she can just pick up where she left off with them and everything will be the same, but everything changed.
It’s very much a story about changing even when you don’t want to, or when you cannot control it. It’s sad and it’s hard.
Anyway, really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading the next one!
June 7, 2022
Tsugu is a lighthearted rockstar girl that moves away from her hometown after leaving behind a time capsule she buried with her three best friends. When she returns home seven years later, she expects things to be the same as they’ve always been, but the friends she once knew have changed. To what degree they’ve changed, she might not be ready to accept. Especially when her dear friend Sora seems to be displaying concerning tendencies.
A surprisingly dark contemporary manga. It reels you in with the vibe of a colorful romantic comedy only to punch you in the gut with some intense psychological drama between friend groups turning extremely toxic and passive aggressive overtime as they all get sucked into their own selfish desires and immaturity masquerading as responsible adults.
The story is depressing and touches on some unfortunate truths about growing older and separating from people that used to mean the world to you, but the overall message and tone of the story is hopeful and optimistic.
The Golden Sheep: Vol. 1
My Rating: 4/5
***
If you're looking for ambient music that's perfect for reading fantasy, horror, sci-fi, comics, manga and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
A surprisingly dark contemporary manga. It reels you in with the vibe of a colorful romantic comedy only to punch you in the gut with some intense psychological drama between friend groups turning extremely toxic and passive aggressive overtime as they all get sucked into their own selfish desires and immaturity masquerading as responsible adults.
The story is depressing and touches on some unfortunate truths about growing older and separating from people that used to mean the world to you, but the overall message and tone of the story is hopeful and optimistic.
The Golden Sheep: Vol. 1
My Rating: 4/5
***
If you're looking for ambient music that's perfect for reading fantasy, horror, sci-fi, comics, manga and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
November 28, 2019
Hay ciertos temas que no me gusta leer. Tenía la percepción que The golden sheep tocaba alguno de esos temas, así que en un principio no lo iba a leer. Pero el dibujo de Kaori Ozaki me parecía demasiado precioso como para dejarme llevar por el prejuicio. Así que aprovechando que Milky way edita fabulosamente bien, lo compré. Y no me arrepiento para nada. Si que es cierto que el componente dramático está ahí, pero los personajes son complejos y interesantes y el dibujo me enamora. Y he de admitir que el tomo vira hacia algo que no esperaba.
October 19, 2021
4.5 stars. This was unexpectedly heavy, like I was not expecting to feel such attachment to the characters so quickly. Some of the story at this point is a little suspended disbelief, but enough makes sense to justify the wild. I love the devil may care approach to life that Tsugu brings to the story. Sora has my heart.
January 18, 2020
tw: bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts, parental abandonment, mention of ephebophilia/pedophilia
September 22, 2020
Welcome Back,
I feel like it has been a little while since we have reviewed a manga. Things have been so busy, between, work, graduate classes at night, all my responsibilities at home, and more, I feel like I just have not picked up another manga or volume in a long time. I have gone to my manga shelf a few times, picked up a volume or two of a series I started and want to read more of, even brought them with me to read in bed but just never got the time to. Until this week! I feel like I am finally getting into the groove of everything and setting up my work hours (I work from home) and my study hours, and such again. It feels good to finally have a handle on some things and be able to get back to reading a ton at night and on the weekend! So last night I went to my bookshelf and picked up the Golden Sheep Vol. 1, a manga I had been meaning to read for a very long time now.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Tsugu is about to encounter a big new life adventure. She is a junior in high school and is going to be moving with her mother, sister, and her sister’s child to a new city. Her father will be staying behind in Tokyo, (her mother and father are separating, I believe but it is never stated). Tsugu was super close with her father, she plays the guitar and has an interest in music just like him. In fact, he is the one who gave her the guitar and taught her some of the amazing classic songs she knows how to play. Luckily, for Tsugu they will be moving back to where she attended grammar school and this means she has some old friends there. This is one of the few things that helps to keep Tsugu’s head up, she knows she will have her old friends to relie on during this tough time. At first, things are going okay with her old friends and it is helping her not feel so bad about everything at home (like not being able to play the guitar in her new house because of neighbors or not having her dad there, or sharing a room with like all of her family). However, as things go on, stuff with her friends starts to get rough with some of her old group and Tsugu and another friend make a major life choice.
I really enjoyed this first volume, I picked it up on the recommendation of a friend who reads a lot of manga, and I am so glad I did. I love the art style of all the characters and places. Additionally, by the end of the manga, I was online ordering the next volume to read tomorrow night! I believe there are only three volumes for this manga in total so I am excited to find out where this short but great story is going. P.S. how cool would this cover be as a print!?!
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars
I feel like it has been a little while since we have reviewed a manga. Things have been so busy, between, work, graduate classes at night, all my responsibilities at home, and more, I feel like I just have not picked up another manga or volume in a long time. I have gone to my manga shelf a few times, picked up a volume or two of a series I started and want to read more of, even brought them with me to read in bed but just never got the time to. Until this week! I feel like I am finally getting into the groove of everything and setting up my work hours (I work from home) and my study hours, and such again. It feels good to finally have a handle on some things and be able to get back to reading a ton at night and on the weekend! So last night I went to my bookshelf and picked up the Golden Sheep Vol. 1, a manga I had been meaning to read for a very long time now.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Tsugu is about to encounter a big new life adventure. She is a junior in high school and is going to be moving with her mother, sister, and her sister’s child to a new city. Her father will be staying behind in Tokyo, (her mother and father are separating, I believe but it is never stated). Tsugu was super close with her father, she plays the guitar and has an interest in music just like him. In fact, he is the one who gave her the guitar and taught her some of the amazing classic songs she knows how to play. Luckily, for Tsugu they will be moving back to where she attended grammar school and this means she has some old friends there. This is one of the few things that helps to keep Tsugu’s head up, she knows she will have her old friends to relie on during this tough time. At first, things are going okay with her old friends and it is helping her not feel so bad about everything at home (like not being able to play the guitar in her new house because of neighbors or not having her dad there, or sharing a room with like all of her family). However, as things go on, stuff with her friends starts to get rough with some of her old group and Tsugu and another friend make a major life choice.
I really enjoyed this first volume, I picked it up on the recommendation of a friend who reads a lot of manga, and I am so glad I did. I love the art style of all the characters and places. Additionally, by the end of the manga, I was online ordering the next volume to read tomorrow night! I believe there are only three volumes for this manga in total so I am excited to find out where this short but great story is going. P.S. how cool would this cover be as a print!?!
Goodreads Rating: 5 stars
October 21, 2021
This series got such glowing reviews that I was really excited to pick it up, but unfortunately there's many aspects of it that fell flat for me.
The art style was beautiful and dynamic, and I appreciated that it was trying to touch on several very serious topics and the complications that come with friendships and hardships in life as you get older, but by the end of the third volume I felt like there were too many things that got tied up in a rush to finish the story, and the character development and conflict wasn't well resolved.
This story touches on two very serious and triggering topics, namely Suicide and Sexual Assault. And I felt that both of the characters who experienced this did not get focused on nearly enough to allow them time to process their feelings. I also didn't feel that the character who triggered both of these episodes for the other characters was handled well, he was AWFUL, and yet by the end of the novel he's framed in such a way that we're supposed to forgive him because of the things that have happened to him, and because he happens to have a soft spot for animals, but it doesn't directly address how his actions have effected others in serious ways, or really show any notable changes in his character to make us feel any genuine good will towards him.
Moreover, the main character feels a bit... stunted? I know it's supposed to demonstrate how expecting things to always stay the same isn't realistic, but in her quest to keep things feeling the same as they always have, she has a tendency to sweep everyone else's feelings under the rug and to try and keep pushing everyone together, even the ones who have very good and understandable reasons to NOT be around each other.
Ultimately, I appreciated what this was trying to do, which is why I gave it 3 stars, but I feel like this story could've benefited from another 2-3 volumes to flesh out the story further and wrap up the complicated feelings and character relationships in a better way.
The art style was beautiful and dynamic, and I appreciated that it was trying to touch on several very serious topics and the complications that come with friendships and hardships in life as you get older, but by the end of the third volume I felt like there were too many things that got tied up in a rush to finish the story, and the character development and conflict wasn't well resolved.
This story touches on two very serious and triggering topics, namely Suicide and Sexual Assault. And I felt that both of the characters who experienced this did not get focused on nearly enough to allow them time to process their feelings. I also didn't feel that the character who triggered both of these episodes for the other characters was handled well, he was AWFUL, and yet by the end of the novel he's framed in such a way that we're supposed to forgive him because of the things that have happened to him, and because he happens to have a soft spot for animals, but it doesn't directly address how his actions have effected others in serious ways, or really show any notable changes in his character to make us feel any genuine good will towards him.
Moreover, the main character feels a bit... stunted? I know it's supposed to demonstrate how expecting things to always stay the same isn't realistic, but in her quest to keep things feeling the same as they always have, she has a tendency to sweep everyone else's feelings under the rug and to try and keep pushing everyone together, even the ones who have very good and understandable reasons to NOT be around each other.
Ultimately, I appreciated what this was trying to do, which is why I gave it 3 stars, but I feel like this story could've benefited from another 2-3 volumes to flesh out the story further and wrap up the complicated feelings and character relationships in a better way.
May 16, 2021
I saw the cover and thought awww this is gonna be some cute music thing? A quartet of childhood friends brought back together in high school? Well... this first volume starts off with one of the characters in the middle of a suicide attempt so the actual series is nowhere near as cute and wholesome as the covers would have you believe.
God damn this was brutal. Tsugu moves back home after years and tries to bring her group of childhood friends back together, unfortunately all of them have gone on different paths since then. It's more like Anohana than K-On, except Anohana didn't have any of the friends try to kill each other.
Sure, it can be cute. It can also be wistful as you see Tsugu yearn for some sort of real life beyond the dready drama of high school. But the kids are not okay, and the more I see about this series the more I am convinced that everything is going wrong and the world is a terrible place. But at the same time Tsugu's love for her friends, her kindness, and her enthusiasm make you feel like maybe things could get better. Does growing up mean becoming everything you hated as a kid, or is there something more to it than that?
God damn this was brutal. Tsugu moves back home after years and tries to bring her group of childhood friends back together, unfortunately all of them have gone on different paths since then. It's more like Anohana than K-On, except Anohana didn't have any of the friends try to kill each other.
Sure, it can be cute. It can also be wistful as you see Tsugu yearn for some sort of real life beyond the dready drama of high school. But the kids are not okay, and the more I see about this series the more I am convinced that everything is going wrong and the world is a terrible place. But at the same time Tsugu's love for her friends, her kindness, and her enthusiasm make you feel like maybe things could get better. Does growing up mean becoming everything you hated as a kid, or is there something more to it than that?
February 17, 2022
First read:
This manga has only just started and it's already breaking me 😭 I'm going to be so emotionally drained by the end of this
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
- - -
2nd read:
Still just as good as the first time. Still cried. Still hated some of these characters (being in highschool and having an identity crisis doesn't mean you get to bully other kids ok 😑)
Trigger warnings- bullying, attempted suicide, pedophilia.
This manga has only just started and it's already breaking me 😭 I'm going to be so emotionally drained by the end of this
Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
- - -
2nd read:
Still just as good as the first time. Still cried. Still hated some of these characters (being in highschool and having an identity crisis doesn't mean you get to bully other kids ok 😑)
Trigger warnings- bullying, attempted suicide, pedophilia.
October 18, 2020
The pacing is a little off, cause it's trying to get everything set up, but I'm definitely into it. It went way differently than I expected and I'm going to have to pick up the next volumes to see where this goes. It's not hard to win me over when it comes to music + emotional slice of life lol. It's my insta buy and I almost always love it. I can tell I'm going to be in for an emotional ride.
January 4, 2021
Tf was this
September 17, 2023
I thought this was going to be wholesome and not crush my heart 😭💔
TW: the book literally start with the ML trying to commit suicide. There are many pages of bullying too.
TW: the book literally start with the ML trying to commit suicide. There are many pages of bullying too.
October 2, 2022
It was such a lovely manga - it made me sad the first part of the first volume, but the ending ❤️
July 4, 2022
★ 4.0 Stars ★
Amazing ghibli-like art, and a great beginning to the story, really invested in some of these chracters.
Amazing ghibli-like art, and a great beginning to the story, really invested in some of these chracters.
September 28, 2019
THE GOLDEN SHEEP VOL 1 BY KAORI OZAKI
Thank you to my friends at Vertical Comics for sending this volume to me for review.
Trigger Warning: Physical bullying, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, depression, and anxiety.
When this volume showed up in the mail, I was immediately impressed. Not only was the cover STUNNING, but it was so well made. With a matte, textured cover, this volume stands the test of time with its strong binding that didn't crack while reading it.
"Winter of junior year. Not quite able to become adults, we couldn't stay as we were as children, either. This story explores a group of teenagers and their impatience and rebirth."
In this story, we are following four teenagers, with a primary focus on Tsugu Miikura, a high schooler who loves to play guitar. She is moving back to the town where she grew up and left 3 friends who she cared for deeply 6 years prior. Upon her moving back, she tracks down these friends to reunite, and pick right back up where they left off.
What Miikrua doesn't know, is that these three are no longer friends. Sora has retreated into himself, and is truly thinking of ending his life. Yuushin has become a bully due to family circumstances, and Sora seems to be his favorite target. Asari continues to adore Yuushin from afar, while also not sticking up for Sora.
Tsugu coming back to town forces all of them together again, even though the other three want nothing to do with this little reunion. This coming of age story deals with them facing each other, and has on page bullying from two of our four characters.
This volume was incredibly moving, while also uncomfortable to read at times. The bullying panels in particular hit very hard. You can also feel the despair coming off the page in Sora's panels. The opening sequence was amazing and poignant, while also not pulling punches for the kind of story you are getting in to. It has the tone of A Silent Voice, while also being its own story.
This is a series that I am now highly invested in. I have left a lot of details out obviously so that you will want to run and experience this story for yourself. Just make sure that you take care of yourself as you read it.
Thank you to my friends at Vertical Comics for sending this volume to me for review.
Trigger Warning: Physical bullying, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide, depression, and anxiety.
When this volume showed up in the mail, I was immediately impressed. Not only was the cover STUNNING, but it was so well made. With a matte, textured cover, this volume stands the test of time with its strong binding that didn't crack while reading it.
"Winter of junior year. Not quite able to become adults, we couldn't stay as we were as children, either. This story explores a group of teenagers and their impatience and rebirth."
In this story, we are following four teenagers, with a primary focus on Tsugu Miikura, a high schooler who loves to play guitar. She is moving back to the town where she grew up and left 3 friends who she cared for deeply 6 years prior. Upon her moving back, she tracks down these friends to reunite, and pick right back up where they left off.
What Miikrua doesn't know, is that these three are no longer friends. Sora has retreated into himself, and is truly thinking of ending his life. Yuushin has become a bully due to family circumstances, and Sora seems to be his favorite target. Asari continues to adore Yuushin from afar, while also not sticking up for Sora.
Tsugu coming back to town forces all of them together again, even though the other three want nothing to do with this little reunion. This coming of age story deals with them facing each other, and has on page bullying from two of our four characters.
This volume was incredibly moving, while also uncomfortable to read at times. The bullying panels in particular hit very hard. You can also feel the despair coming off the page in Sora's panels. The opening sequence was amazing and poignant, while also not pulling punches for the kind of story you are getting in to. It has the tone of A Silent Voice, while also being its own story.
This is a series that I am now highly invested in. I have left a lot of details out obviously so that you will want to run and experience this story for yourself. Just make sure that you take care of yourself as you read it.
June 16, 2022
my heart hurts bittersweetly
“now is all that exists for us. now’s the only place. we have nowhere else to go.”
but simultaneously i feel numb reading this because it hits so close to home… i haven’t yet closely confronted my trauma from being bullied, so it’s a lot of awkward and uncomfortable denial i’m facing when reading (and relating to) this. if that makes sense. i wanted to cry but felt myself suppressing the emotions. it is so depressing. and innocently hopeful.
“sora. remember the real me. even if, someday, i become totally different, i want you to remember the real me.”
i totally wasn’t expecting that ending at all lol sooo we’ll see how that goes for them. i already have the rest of the series so i can’t wait to finish this out. kaori ozaki is the author of the first manga i’ve ever read, ‘the gods lie’, so it’s exciting revisiting her after reading a shitload of manga since then. going back to my roots in a way lmao
“sure! i won’t forget. i’ll remember the way you are now, forever.”
< / 3
“now is all that exists for us. now’s the only place. we have nowhere else to go.”
but simultaneously i feel numb reading this because it hits so close to home… i haven’t yet closely confronted my trauma from being bullied, so it’s a lot of awkward and uncomfortable denial i’m facing when reading (and relating to) this. if that makes sense. i wanted to cry but felt myself suppressing the emotions. it is so depressing. and innocently hopeful.
“sora. remember the real me. even if, someday, i become totally different, i want you to remember the real me.”
i totally wasn’t expecting that ending at all lol sooo we’ll see how that goes for them. i already have the rest of the series so i can’t wait to finish this out. kaori ozaki is the author of the first manga i’ve ever read, ‘the gods lie’, so it’s exciting revisiting her after reading a shitload of manga since then. going back to my roots in a way lmao
“sure! i won’t forget. i’ll remember the way you are now, forever.”
< / 3
November 1, 2025
So, this is going to be devastating. It’s pretty rough already.
If you are into “coming of age” stories that focus on the lives of young people coming up in a myriad of difficult circumstances, this one will definitely tug on your heartstrings. We’ve got four teenagers—childhood friends reunited after life has done a number on each of them—trying to navigate personal grievances and griefs as they struggle towards adulthood.
Trigger warnings for many things—notably suicidality, bullying, references to sexual assault, and threats of animal abuse.
This is one of those stories that makes you feel all twisted up inside. It reminds you that youth can be cruel—but, also, so full of promise and hope.
Definitely looking forward to how this story will irrevocably change me~
If you are into “coming of age” stories that focus on the lives of young people coming up in a myriad of difficult circumstances, this one will definitely tug on your heartstrings. We’ve got four teenagers—childhood friends reunited after life has done a number on each of them—trying to navigate personal grievances and griefs as they struggle towards adulthood.
Trigger warnings for many things—notably suicidality, bullying, references to sexual assault, and threats of animal abuse.
This is one of those stories that makes you feel all twisted up inside. It reminds you that youth can be cruel—but, also, so full of promise and hope.
Definitely looking forward to how this story will irrevocably change me~
June 2, 2021
Le doy un 4,25. ¡Me ha gustado un montón! No esperaba que la trama fuera tan oscura, el dibujo engaña mucho (aunque para mí es de lo mejor, es super cuidado y las portadas no pueden ser más bonitas). Me encantan los temas que trata, estoy deseando seguir con la historia porque tanto la trama como los personajes prometen mucho. Los protagonistas me han encantado, en especial Tsugu y Sora, están muy bien construidos. Como pega, el final me ha parecido un poco precipitado, pero si buscáis una historia profunda y tierna a la vez, ¡este es vuestro manga!
July 28, 2023
loved the "Orange" vibes from this story
February 27, 2024
that was … a lot to digest 😀
May 9, 2021
tw: bullying, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempt, parental abandonment, mention of pedophilia, mention of animal abuse/cruelty
Years after having moved away, Tsuga Miikura comes back to her old hometown and expects everything to be like it once was. When she moved away, she left Sora, Yuushin and Asari - her three best friends - behind and now, she tries to reunite with them. What she doesn't know is that the three are no longer friends. Sora is isolated and miserable, thinking about ending his life. Yuushin has become a bully and his favorite target seems to be Sora. Asari admire Yuushin from afar but doesn't stick up for Sora.
I didn't really know what The Golden Sheep was about before reading, only that it was about a guitar enthusiast moving back to her hometown. I was expecting a fluffy coming of age story about reconnecting with your friends and while it talked about that, it wasn't in the lighthearted way I expected. This manga deals with difficult topic (see the tw) and is centered about bullying, so be wary before going into this one.
It was pretty good but I have some issues with it. First of all, the pacing was off. The story was going really fast (a little bit too fast) and it did a 180 near but end. The characters made rash decisions and I feel like we didn't see them develop. One day they're best friends and the next, one bullies the other. I wish we saw how Sora and Yuushin's friendship went off the rails in more depth. Second of all, I really didn't like how Sora was portrayed regarding to the bullying. Let me explain: because of his family circumstances, it seems like Yuushin is not in the wrong when he bullies Sora. And I'm not talking about what Yuushin thinks of himself in that situation but more about how the readers are suppose to feel. Because Sora "abandoned" him after something major that happened, the blame was partly put on Sora for the bullying he was the victim of and I really did not like that.
"Sora. Remember the real me. Even if, someday, I become someone totally different, I want you to remember the real me."
It's made in a way that victim-blame Sora and it is as if the readers are suppose to agree with Yuushin. I could do a whole rant about it to be honest and, if it wasn't for that, I probably would have given this manga a higher rating.
Except for that, I enjoyed the story (well, maybe enjoy isn't the right word). In the very first pages, you see Tsuga stopping a boy from committing suicide. It was very poignant and these parts of the manga were well done. You could really feel the despair and hopelessness when characters were being bullied. It was heartbreaking to see the story unfold and I wish I loved The Golden Sheep as much as everyone else, but that's not my case. I would still recommend this story if the things I mentioned earlier don't bother you or if you just want a quick manga to read (it took me about an hour to read the three volumes, and I took my time).
Years after having moved away, Tsuga Miikura comes back to her old hometown and expects everything to be like it once was. When she moved away, she left Sora, Yuushin and Asari - her three best friends - behind and now, she tries to reunite with them. What she doesn't know is that the three are no longer friends. Sora is isolated and miserable, thinking about ending his life. Yuushin has become a bully and his favorite target seems to be Sora. Asari admire Yuushin from afar but doesn't stick up for Sora.
I didn't really know what The Golden Sheep was about before reading, only that it was about a guitar enthusiast moving back to her hometown. I was expecting a fluffy coming of age story about reconnecting with your friends and while it talked about that, it wasn't in the lighthearted way I expected. This manga deals with difficult topic (see the tw) and is centered about bullying, so be wary before going into this one.
It was pretty good but I have some issues with it. First of all, the pacing was off. The story was going really fast (a little bit too fast) and it did a 180 near but end. The characters made rash decisions and I feel like we didn't see them develop. One day they're best friends and the next, one bullies the other. I wish we saw how Sora and Yuushin's friendship went off the rails in more depth. Second of all, I really didn't like how Sora was portrayed regarding to the bullying. Let me explain: because of his family circumstances, it seems like Yuushin is not in the wrong when he bullies Sora. And I'm not talking about what Yuushin thinks of himself in that situation but more about how the readers are suppose to feel. Because Sora "abandoned" him after something major that happened, the blame was partly put on Sora for the bullying he was the victim of and I really did not like that.
"Sora. Remember the real me. Even if, someday, I become someone totally different, I want you to remember the real me."
It's made in a way that victim-blame Sora and it is as if the readers are suppose to agree with Yuushin. I could do a whole rant about it to be honest and, if it wasn't for that, I probably would have given this manga a higher rating.
Except for that, I enjoyed the story (well, maybe enjoy isn't the right word). In the very first pages, you see Tsuga stopping a boy from committing suicide. It was very poignant and these parts of the manga were well done. You could really feel the despair and hopelessness when characters were being bullied. It was heartbreaking to see the story unfold and I wish I loved The Golden Sheep as much as everyone else, but that's not my case. I would still recommend this story if the things I mentioned earlier don't bother you or if you just want a quick manga to read (it took me about an hour to read the three volumes, and I took my time).
September 3, 2020
The second half of this wasn't bad but the first half is trek to get through.
It starts off with a suicide, then doesn't do anything to make you care for any of the characters. Everyone in the first half are fake friends, they hang out but when the two guys are alone, one beats the other. It's weird how the girls didn't know because it's blatantly obvious, it doesn't help that the narrative is confusing. What I mean by that is you can't tell when something is taking place, there are a bunch of flashbacks but no indication as to when they happened.
Then in the second half, it redoes a scene so the narrative makes a little more sense. The flashbacks are still unclear until you finish it and think about it. The ending was a nice build up to what happens next, . It also tries to give reason as to why the bully is a disgusting human being, however introducing someone morally worse then the bully, isn't going to make me like the bully more. In fact I despised him, because he didn't stand up for himself. Instead he choose to take his grief out on others and I hate people like that, I just can't stand vile people like that, I know it's a reflection of our world but it's not something that I enjoy reading.
I'm not sure what the girls problem is, she seems overly depressed for someone who lives in a happy household. She even seems to shun her friends, it's weird. The only explanation is her dad, .
So yeah narratively when you think about all the situations, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Honestly if this started with final chapter and just focused on that story, I would have actually enjoyed it. . I would have given the second half 2 stars but the first half was so atrocious, I can't give this more than a one.
It starts off with a suicide, then doesn't do anything to make you care for any of the characters. Everyone in the first half are fake friends, they hang out but when the two guys are alone, one beats the other. It's weird how the girls didn't know because it's blatantly obvious, it doesn't help that the narrative is confusing. What I mean by that is you can't tell when something is taking place, there are a bunch of flashbacks but no indication as to when they happened.
Then in the second half, it redoes a scene so the narrative makes a little more sense. The flashbacks are still unclear until you finish it and think about it. The ending was a nice build up to what happens next, . It also tries to give reason as to why the bully is a disgusting human being, however introducing someone morally worse then the bully, isn't going to make me like the bully more. In fact I despised him, because he didn't stand up for himself. Instead he choose to take his grief out on others and I hate people like that, I just can't stand vile people like that, I know it's a reflection of our world but it's not something that I enjoy reading.
I'm not sure what the girls problem is, she seems overly depressed for someone who lives in a happy household. She even seems to shun her friends, it's weird. The only explanation is her dad, .
So yeah narratively when you think about all the situations, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Honestly if this started with final chapter and just focused on that story, I would have actually enjoyed it. . I would have given the second half 2 stars but the first half was so atrocious, I can't give this more than a one.
April 10, 2020
Warnings:
Kaori Ozaki is one of those authors I love that sadly is underappreciated in the manga industry. I first came to knew her in the early 2000s in the days buying licence manga was a luxury for those who could afford it and us simple working class such as mine had to result to scans and translations. I read her first manga, Immortal Rain and became an instant fan from how refreshing it was. The different artwork, the interesting story I've never seen before and of course how it all work perfectly. Sadly it abruptly came to end and like all good things I had to say goodbye, never hearing from her again. I was heartbroken, I needed more from her, and here we are again!!!
The Golden Sheep is a wonderful manga for old and new fans to Kaori Ozaki storytelling. A comedic yet deep tackle on this quartet of friends who became estranged from one another not by choice but due to life are now back in each other lives and they are all different then they were before. Each of them complex not the same kid they were before dealing with issues such as a runaway or dead father, depression, bullying, unfulfilled love declaration, dealing with other people's sins over their shoulder. It all comes perfectly and I love it and I am here to see where Kaori is taking us with the next volumes. I highly recommend you give it a try, especially if you looking for a new seinen or slice of life manga.
Kaori Ozaki is one of those authors I love that sadly is underappreciated in the manga industry. I first came to knew her in the early 2000s in the days buying licence manga was a luxury for those who could afford it and us simple working class such as mine had to result to scans and translations. I read her first manga, Immortal Rain and became an instant fan from how refreshing it was. The different artwork, the interesting story I've never seen before and of course how it all work perfectly. Sadly it abruptly came to end and like all good things I had to say goodbye, never hearing from her again. I was heartbroken, I needed more from her, and here we are again!!!
The Golden Sheep is a wonderful manga for old and new fans to Kaori Ozaki storytelling. A comedic yet deep tackle on this quartet of friends who became estranged from one another not by choice but due to life are now back in each other lives and they are all different then they were before. Each of them complex not the same kid they were before dealing with issues such as a runaway or dead father, depression, bullying, unfulfilled love declaration, dealing with other people's sins over their shoulder. It all comes perfectly and I love it and I am here to see where Kaori is taking us with the next volumes. I highly recommend you give it a try, especially if you looking for a new seinen or slice of life manga.
January 19, 2020
~4 Stars
(Contains light spoilers.)
I didn't know what I was getting into when I started this volume.
The volume starts in a very drastic place, and then goes backwards a bit. We meet Tsugu, who moved away from her hometown and best friends when she was younger, and is suddenly able to move back. There've been some family circumstance changes, and now that she's back, she wants everything to be the same. At first, it feels like it could be. But, slowly, the pieces of teen angst and change start showing through.
There are some very serious themes explored in this volume. Bullying, in particular, is harsh and awful, and we even get to see two different sides of it. And suicide, though I won't go into detail on that one, but warning none the less.
Tsugu is really the bright spot of this so far. She's optimistic, but also blunt and doesn't hide from things. When she discovers what's happening with Sora, she doesn't hide from it, and she doesn't shy from being there for him.
This volume took a very dark turn for a while in this volume. It's realistically harsh, and I definitely think it's well done in that. It's realistic in how it portrays being a teenager, too, while also being thoughtful about it.
I'm also glad to say that things seem to be looking up at the end of the volume, though. And knowing this is a short series, I'm hopeful that it won't go too dark and dreary in the end.
(Contains light spoilers.)
I didn't know what I was getting into when I started this volume.
The volume starts in a very drastic place, and then goes backwards a bit. We meet Tsugu, who moved away from her hometown and best friends when she was younger, and is suddenly able to move back. There've been some family circumstance changes, and now that she's back, she wants everything to be the same. At first, it feels like it could be. But, slowly, the pieces of teen angst and change start showing through.
There are some very serious themes explored in this volume. Bullying, in particular, is harsh and awful, and we even get to see two different sides of it. And suicide, though I won't go into detail on that one, but warning none the less.
Tsugu is really the bright spot of this so far. She's optimistic, but also blunt and doesn't hide from things. When she discovers what's happening with Sora, she doesn't hide from it, and she doesn't shy from being there for him.
This volume took a very dark turn for a while in this volume. It's realistically harsh, and I definitely think it's well done in that. It's realistic in how it portrays being a teenager, too, while also being thoughtful about it.
I'm also glad to say that things seem to be looking up at the end of the volume, though. And knowing this is a short series, I'm hopeful that it won't go too dark and dreary in the end.
April 6, 2020
Rep: depression
Warnings: suicide attempt, bullying and physical violence, mention of pedophilia, nudity
The Golden Sheep is a complicated story about childhood friends reconnecting in teenage, and finding things and relationships changing. Tsugu returns to her childhood town after 6 years, and she is happy to be united with her three best friends from childhood - Sora, Yuushin, and Asari (also called Sally) - and while initially everything seems okay, she soon finds out the cracks that has appeared in their group since the time she left, the changed dynamics between them, and the heart-breaking things that have happened in the meanwhile. Yuushin has become a delinquent where he was a rule-abiding honor student in the past, Asari's jealous of Tsugu getting attention from Yuushin and soon gets her friends to freeze Tsugu out and Sora is quietly suffering through abuse and bullying by Yuushin and his friends. Tsugu herself feels out of place, and the pace of life pricks at her, but she also has this determination to work towards a better future, which is why when she realizes Sora is suffering so, she tries to fix things things for him, in a big way. The artwork is good, and I loved the quiet way the story unfolds, letting us know about each character and their story. I am interested in seeing what the ending of this volume brings for them next!
Warnings: suicide attempt, bullying and physical violence, mention of pedophilia, nudity
The Golden Sheep is a complicated story about childhood friends reconnecting in teenage, and finding things and relationships changing. Tsugu returns to her childhood town after 6 years, and she is happy to be united with her three best friends from childhood - Sora, Yuushin, and Asari (also called Sally) - and while initially everything seems okay, she soon finds out the cracks that has appeared in their group since the time she left, the changed dynamics between them, and the heart-breaking things that have happened in the meanwhile. Yuushin has become a delinquent where he was a rule-abiding honor student in the past, Asari's jealous of Tsugu getting attention from Yuushin and soon gets her friends to freeze Tsugu out and Sora is quietly suffering through abuse and bullying by Yuushin and his friends. Tsugu herself feels out of place, and the pace of life pricks at her, but she also has this determination to work towards a better future, which is why when she realizes Sora is suffering so, she tries to fix things things for him, in a big way. The artwork is good, and I loved the quiet way the story unfolds, letting us know about each character and their story. I am interested in seeing what the ending of this volume brings for them next!
November 2, 2019
Reconozco que ya venía condicionado por Los dioses mienten, por lo que tenía grandes esperanzas con esta nueva obra de Ozaki y he de reconocer que de momento ha cumplido y de sobra.
He de reconocer que me ha sorprendido el tono de la historia, mucho más oscuro de lo que me esperaba ya que creía que sería una historia más amable sobre reencuentros. Aún así, pese a lo incómoda que resulta en algunos momentos, la energía de Tsugu, la protagonista, te atrapa, es un personaje tierno, algo infantil pero fuerte, un ancla para el lector.
Y ya que he nombrado a Tsugu aprovecho para decir que el retrato de los personajes y su evolución, me ha parecido de lo más interesante. El modo en el que han madurado los personajes y las dinámicas entre ellos me parecen tan realistas como puede ser en una obra de ficción, haciendo que los personajes sean medianamente complejos y que como lector puedas llegar a comprenderlos tanto si apruebas como si no su conducta.
Solo falta que los dos siguientes tomos estén a la altura y se convertirá en una de mis obras favoritas.
He de reconocer que me ha sorprendido el tono de la historia, mucho más oscuro de lo que me esperaba ya que creía que sería una historia más amable sobre reencuentros. Aún así, pese a lo incómoda que resulta en algunos momentos, la energía de Tsugu, la protagonista, te atrapa, es un personaje tierno, algo infantil pero fuerte, un ancla para el lector.
Y ya que he nombrado a Tsugu aprovecho para decir que el retrato de los personajes y su evolución, me ha parecido de lo más interesante. El modo en el que han madurado los personajes y las dinámicas entre ellos me parecen tan realistas como puede ser en una obra de ficción, haciendo que los personajes sean medianamente complejos y que como lector puedas llegar a comprenderlos tanto si apruebas como si no su conducta.
Solo falta que los dos siguientes tomos estén a la altura y se convertirá en una de mis obras favoritas.
March 31, 2021
The Golden Sheep is a story about four friends. When one, Tsugu, moves away the other three are blindsided shortly after by disturbing news that affects their friendships. When Tsugu returns years later to finish high school hoping to rekindle their friendship she quickly realizes things are not as they used to be.
The story appears to revolve around Tsugu. Tsugu seems to be a bit of a tomboy, she’s very forward and happy. She totes an electric guitar around and shares her talent and love of classic rock with anyone willing to listen.
Her oblivion unknowingly trips her up a bit as she attempts to familiarize herself with her old set of friends again. Her group of friends have flaws that are a bit more clear from the get go. Jealousy, anger, pain, fear are all prevalent in their lives and color their actions without her knowledge. Life isn’t back to the fun and ease she anticipated when moving back.
Volume 1 was well-written I could feel my stomach twist as things turn sour for the group. I wasn’t sure what to expect based on the description of this manga but, so far, I’m glad I decided to give this series a go!
The story appears to revolve around Tsugu. Tsugu seems to be a bit of a tomboy, she’s very forward and happy. She totes an electric guitar around and shares her talent and love of classic rock with anyone willing to listen.
Her oblivion unknowingly trips her up a bit as she attempts to familiarize herself with her old set of friends again. Her group of friends have flaws that are a bit more clear from the get go. Jealousy, anger, pain, fear are all prevalent in their lives and color their actions without her knowledge. Life isn’t back to the fun and ease she anticipated when moving back.
Volume 1 was well-written I could feel my stomach twist as things turn sour for the group. I wasn’t sure what to expect based on the description of this manga but, so far, I’m glad I decided to give this series a go!
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