ぴたテン 3

ぴたテン [Pita Ten] #3

by Koge-Donbo*

Kotarou Higuchi has always had the ability to see spirits. But after an encounter with a mysterious new neighbor, he begins to have the ability to see other visions...and one just might change his heart. His so-called life will never be the same!

Genres: Manga, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Romance, Fiction, Comics, Japanese Literature

Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Koge-Donbo (or Koge-Donbo*) is the pen name of a Japanese manga artist. Koge-Donbo* started her career soon after college as a doujinshi artist. She got the idea of a unique pen-name, Koge-Donbo* from Akira Toriyama's pet cat. She made her first official US appearance at Otakon 2004 in Baltimore, MD as a Guest of Honor.
She's known best as the author of Pita-Ten, Kamichama Karin, and Kamichama Karin Chu series.

Reviews

[Nikakioy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich werd einfach nicht warm mit der Reihe. Die Geschichte ist bisher größtenteils so belanglos. Ein richtiges Freundschafts und Gruppengefühl will auch irgendwie nicht aufkommen.

1,5/5⭐

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for the complete series

Pita Ten was one of my first manga and one I still love to this day. I was a little taken aback when I realised there are quite a few negative reviews floating around for this series - after a reread ad mulling it over, I think I can see why. Some of it seems to come down to the English translation which I personally haven't read so I can't comment. But Koge-Donbo has quite a particular style, both art and story telling, which mixes certain elements together that don't often appeal to the same readers, and I find this shows particularly strong in Pita Ten.

This story around Kotaru and the angel Misha who moves in next door has all the signs of being a cutesy manga. The characters are in their early teens, the plot and especially Misha appear quite silly and even random and the distinct but cute art plays right into that. But Koge-Donbo often likes to blend over the top cute content with silly humour and darker underlining themes. While all the going ons in this series may start off seeming silly and without direction, it's actually a bittersweet tale of realising one's own dreams rather than relying on others.

You have to get about half way through the series before the more serious themes start to surface, and some readers might have already been put off by the silliness before they reach that point. Had I read this manga now for the first time, I might have felt the same. Although I still think that this is quite a niche manga that might not appeal to all, I do think that one needs a little patience with it for it to unfold its messages and potential.

One thing that I did notice during my reread is that I think the story would have benefited a lot had the characters been a tad older. Even a year old two older would have helped, at least I think some of the more serious themes - especially around love and loss - feel less impactful purely based on the fact that the characters are just barely teenagers.

Despite its flaws, I very much enjoy Pita Ten and it's more than nostalgia that lets it keep a place in my heart. It is both sweet and bittersweet and I wouldn't expect anything else from Koge-Donbo.

[Marzia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I keep saying this with each volume in this series, but the ages in this book are extremely hard to parse. And more attention is drawn to it this volume because Kotaro and the others are in their last year of elementary, so for japan that would be like 12. He also says Shia looks 19, and I would assume Misha would be considered the same, but Kotarou’s only like 1/2 a head shorter than they are. So, the idea that a 19 year old woman and a 12 year old child are very close in height is odd. Also does Misha look 19? It's not clear, but if Misha looks 19 then her relationship with a 12 year old is extra off-putting.

What makes this all even more frustrating is that honestly I think the story works a lot better if the characters were in junior high, so like 15, and you could still have all the same themes and exam worries and whatnot, and then being in the throws of puberty,and it does not feel like a lot of the questions with what you want to do with life would feel so incongruous to their ages and it would also make more sense with the lack of size difference between the students and Shia and Misha.

I like the revelation that Takashi does actually try hard with studies but does not want to insult those who go to cram school. And I like the whole thing of Kotarou being one of the only people who knows and you can see it with just a quick inset panel of him observing when Hiroshi tries to insult him by saying he doesn’t try, and then with him recognizing that Shia now also knows how hard he works.

All in all this volume was just meh. I know its necessary set-up for what comes later, but not a lot interesting happens in this volume alone.

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cute manga and has cute art/characters but that’s about it! The story was crappy and confusing 🤯😁❤️

[Harriet · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book for manga fans looking for a cutesy read. Pita-Ten has several characters that I love including Shia, Kaoru and Koboshi, although she seemed to be less in this book. Shia is a vampire, I think, but it is not explained well. Even after biting Kotarou twice no one really mentions it. I would be interested in finding out a lot more about Shia.

The supernatural elements in this manga is always kept at a distance. Even after Kotarou is told twice about Misha being an angel and flown into the sky he still does not react or seem to remember that she can fly.

Pita-Ten is very cute and I am attached to many of the characters. I like Shia and Koboshi best. I will be reading book 4.

[Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's not much to say. This is continuing to be a slightly above-average series with simple but cute art. I only wish Tokyopop translated sound effects!

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

i so got addicted to this book. i picked it up and i could never put it down

[Amy]

Pita-Ten, Volume 3 by Koge-Donbo (2004)

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

not for me, read it because of an ex-gf

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read/rated in grade school.

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is so amazing i would love to read this book a milloin times

[Magik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misha-san is way less annoying in this one! Not a lot happens. At least nothing super dramatic or anything. There is one thing that's probably gonna cause drama later.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not even sure what to think anymore with this series. Seriously.