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血の轍 [Chi no Wadachi] #3
Blood on the Tracks, Vol. 3
The last days of summer creep toward a violent climax...
Seiichi's family begins to fall apart in the wake of his cousin's "accident," but nothing compares to the mental and emotional torture he undergoes as he tries to maintain some sense of self in the face of his mother's manipulations. Torn by his love for her, Seiichi is pushed to the breaking point and finds himself unable to speak, both literally and figuratively.
The tension continues to build in Shuzo Oshimi's masterwork of understated psychological horror, as Seiichi falls further and further into the abyss of his mother's unraveling psyche.
Seiichi's family begins to fall apart in the wake of his cousin's "accident," but nothing compares to the mental and emotional torture he undergoes as he tries to maintain some sense of self in the face of his mother's manipulations. Torn by his love for her, Seiichi is pushed to the breaking point and finds himself unable to speak, both literally and figuratively.
The tension continues to build in Shuzo Oshimi's masterwork of understated psychological horror, as Seiichi falls further and further into the abyss of his mother's unraveling psyche.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 27, 2018
40 people are currently reading
847 people want to read
About the author
Shuzo Oshimi
137 books1,067 followersShuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews
November 26, 2022
THAT ENDING?!?!
November 22, 2022
Wow, this keeps getting more and more wild with every volume. Also, my heart is breaking for this kid, like damn, his mom is the actual worst 😅
February 3, 2022
Volume Three ended on a point where you cant decide whether to sympathize for characters or let them go. In any case, you will have no choice but to stick around once the story hooks you in — to watch what happens next..
August 25, 2021
“The ultimate toxic parent.”
This manga just keeps getting creepier.
This manga just keeps getting creepier.
December 13, 2021
Another agonizingly slow volume of psychological horror in a series about Sei, his mommy and daddy, a cousin, Shige, in a coma, and a girl, Fukiishi, who likes him. Mom refuses to go to the hospital to see her nephew, who was hurt on a hike they took together with Sei, and she also refuses to allow Sei to visit, until clueless father intervenes and the two of them go to the hospital.
Fukiishi sees Sei being bullied, knocked down, and hels him with his cuts, and then asks him if he had read the letter (expressing affection for him) and Sei nods, but reveals he can't respond "because of Mmmy." The girl asks the question we now know something of an answer to: "Is your mommy hurting you?"
Dad seems to not get why his wife and son ar spinning out of control. She tells him she wants to leave him, and he notices that Sei is stuttering, almost unable to communicate at all. So things are frightening, getting worse, and especially so in the last issue of the volume. Yes, it's scary, but as a scary story it is wonderfully subtle with almost no dialogue, mostly conveyed through masterful close-ups of facial expressions.
Fukiishi sees Sei being bullied, knocked down, and hels him with his cuts, and then asks him if he had read the letter (expressing affection for him) and Sei nods, but reveals he can't respond "because of Mmmy." The girl asks the question we now know something of an answer to: "Is your mommy hurting you?"
Dad seems to not get why his wife and son ar spinning out of control. She tells him she wants to leave him, and he notices that Sei is stuttering, almost unable to communicate at all. So things are frightening, getting worse, and especially so in the last issue of the volume. Yes, it's scary, but as a scary story it is wonderfully subtle with almost no dialogue, mostly conveyed through masterful close-ups of facial expressions.
April 19, 2022
This manga is so damn intense. Seiichi is basically suffering from PTSD as he struggles to cope with what his mother has done. I don’t really know how to describe how uncomfortable this manga is to read. You know there’s something wrong with his mother but as a reader there isn’t anything that you can do to help him. What never ceases to amaze me about this series is that there are so few words on a single page. So the reader is forced to connect with the art which is the most disturbing aspect of it all. I literally felt haunted looking at the pages of art that showcase their downfall. If you’re into horror/psychological thrillers this definitely might be the series for you.
March 11, 2024
This is insane and is just so addicting. I have a pit in my stomach and am so unsettled but I can’t stop reading.
September 16, 2021
LA MAMÁ ES UNA LOCA.
Pero necesito saber que le paso para estar así. Wow. Pobre niño.
Pero necesito saber que le paso para estar así. Wow. Pobre niño.
November 20, 2021
Seiichi and his mother begin to unravel under the weight of their shared secret. That which once cleaved them together begins to cleave them apart.
The super decompressed storytelling again makes this book a swift read that leaves you wanting the next one immediately. Fortunately I have one more on hand.
The super decompressed storytelling again makes this book a swift read that leaves you wanting the next one immediately. Fortunately I have one more on hand.
April 28, 2021
This woman needs a therapist.
Actual rating: 3.5/5
Actual rating: 3.5/5
May 20, 2023
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck
January 9, 2021
Utterly gut-wrenching. Blood on the Tracks gets under your skin and makes it crawl.
After reading just three volumes, this already ranks as the best ongoing series for me. Oshimi has perfected the art sequential storytelling imo. His pacing is just immaculate and he uses extreme close-ups, POV shots, light and shadow, and characters that stare straight at you from the page to totally immerse you in each scene. There's actually very little dialogue. I love how Oshimi emphasizes the facial expressions and body language of his characters.
I think I forgot to exhale reading this, it's that gripping.
After reading just three volumes, this already ranks as the best ongoing series for me. Oshimi has perfected the art sequential storytelling imo. His pacing is just immaculate and he uses extreme close-ups, POV shots, light and shadow, and characters that stare straight at you from the page to totally immerse you in each scene. There's actually very little dialogue. I love how Oshimi emphasizes the facial expressions and body language of his characters.
I think I forgot to exhale reading this, it's that gripping.
September 1, 2022
Hay un capítulo magistral dentro de este tomo: cómo el niño observa una conversación entre su padre y su madre a través de una cortina. El papel simbólico de ese velo traslúcido, lo que supone de revelación del vínculo entre sus progenitores, se entrecruza con una elección supermeditada de los gestos de su madre que acierta a ver. La crueldad psicológica es brutal y el tartamudeo que padece el chaval parece una secuela menor. Shuzo Oshimi es chungo de cojones y supongo que nosotros también si no podemos parar de leer esta cadena de abusos.
February 27, 2020
Reading this at night is not a good idea
July 7, 2024
See review for Vol 2 cause same... nothing's changed ha
September 22, 2021
Can’t. Won’t. Glad I tried.
700 pages in and I still don’t understand what the point even is??
700 pages in and I still don’t understand what the point even is??
September 17, 2021
I need to hire two therapists, one for me, and one for this family.
Poor Seiichi developed aphasia from all of this. It's so messed up seeing him unable to talk, he's been traumatized to a degree he can't even speak anymore...I don't think there can be a more horrible mother, she's destroying him mentally with that isolation tactic.
I don't understand the mom at this point. one minute she's obsessed with the boy, the next she's saying she's alone and wishes he wasn't born.
I felt so bad when I saw Shigeru's face...and for Seiichi when he broke down in tears. I feel so bad for him, he's stuck in a situation where he's not safe anywhere because of his mother. He lost one of his best friends and he can do nothing to help because of his mother.
Mf tried to have her son strangle her theb tried to strangle him and said "Dont u dare disrespect grownups again"??
Poor Seiichi developed aphasia from all of this. It's so messed up seeing him unable to talk, he's been traumatized to a degree he can't even speak anymore...I don't think there can be a more horrible mother, she's destroying him mentally with that isolation tactic.
I don't understand the mom at this point. one minute she's obsessed with the boy, the next she's saying she's alone and wishes he wasn't born.
I felt so bad when I saw Shigeru's face...and for Seiichi when he broke down in tears. I feel so bad for him, he's stuck in a situation where he's not safe anywhere because of his mother. He lost one of his best friends and he can do nothing to help because of his mother.
Mf tried to have her son strangle her theb tried to strangle him and said "Dont u dare disrespect grownups again"??
December 26, 2020
This is probably some of the most uncomfortable manga I've ever read, but in a good way.
Our main character, Seiichi Osabe, is having a tough time even talking now. He stutters like mad, and when he does talk, he usually says opposite of what he wants to say. Especially around his mother Seiko. But when his father takes him to the hospital he finally breaks when he sees the condition of his cousin. The ending heats up as Seiko demands to know what Seiichi is doing but what happens when he can't stand it anymore?
This is another great volume. While not as weird as the last the tension racks up BIG time at the end and it seems like mama isn't playing anymore. My only downside to this all is how fast I read them and have to wait. But Oshimi got some good shit here.
A 4 out of 5.
Our main character, Seiichi Osabe, is having a tough time even talking now. He stutters like mad, and when he does talk, he usually says opposite of what he wants to say. Especially around his mother Seiko. But when his father takes him to the hospital he finally breaks when he sees the condition of his cousin. The ending heats up as Seiko demands to know what Seiichi is doing but what happens when he can't stand it anymore?
This is another great volume. While not as weird as the last the tension racks up BIG time at the end and it seems like mama isn't playing anymore. My only downside to this all is how fast I read them and have to wait. But Oshimi got some good shit here.
A 4 out of 5.
April 9, 2021
Mommy ain't playing no more.
January 13, 2025
CW: incest, child abuse, emotional abuse, medical content, bullying
Sei's traumatized, I'm traumatized, you're probably traumatized... We're all traumatized!
Sei's traumatized, I'm traumatized, you're probably traumatized... We're all traumatized!
November 14, 2024
Zastanawiam się, czy w tej mandze nadejdzie moment, kiedy będę wiedziała, na czym stoję
January 19, 2025
CO SIĘ TU DZIEJE
June 15, 2022
This volume was too heavy to digest and the art style is getting even more creepy. But it was so satisfying when Seiichi Osabe finally bursted out and talked back to his mother. Lol, he needed to see Shige's condition before he realized what's right and wrong. I could swear he had mother complex but yea that's straight outta trash. The kid is afraid of his psychotic mother. This is plain manipulation, and Seiko knows the cards all too well, very Oshimi. This series about to take a huge turn. I'm excited and nervous at the same time!
June 12, 2023
Disturbing story of the cyclical nature of child abuse
It can get pretty frustrating from a reader’s point of view because I want Seiichi to be free of his mother’s abuse, but on the other hand, I also know that’s not a simple thing to do as if you’re flipping an on-and-off switch.
Also shows how a person’s definition of love can really vary. In this case, Seiichi’s mother’s definition of love is that Seiichi will only love her and only her and Seiichi will hate whoever she hates.
It can get pretty frustrating from a reader’s point of view because I want Seiichi to be free of his mother’s abuse, but on the other hand, I also know that’s not a simple thing to do as if you’re flipping an on-and-off switch.
Also shows how a person’s definition of love can really vary. In this case, Seiichi’s mother’s definition of love is that Seiichi will only love her and only her and Seiichi will hate whoever she hates.
July 2, 2022
Low key probably the best manga series I’ve ever read. I can’t stop reading it.
September 2, 2022
WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
August 6, 2024
Este manga es terrorífico de una manera muy oscura y turbia.
January 14, 2024
By now, I can already tell that Oshimi is a master at playing with our emotions, in a good way.
In this series he continues that trademark of his but he doesn't simply reuses the same formula that he did in the past, he attempts to evolve it by testing and breaking boundaries. He tries to play with emotions and feelings in ways he hasn't done before.
Increasingly, we get to see how messed up Seiichi's mother is. We don't really know why yet but their relation is really disconcerting and I wonder what is the end goal here.
Seiichi is struggling with recent events that has thrown his cousin into a near-vegetable state at the hospital, to the point that he is stuttering, unable to verbalize what he feels.
Oshimi's makes all this look so easy to transmit, but I don't think it is. The guy is a master.
In this series he continues that trademark of his but he doesn't simply reuses the same formula that he did in the past, he attempts to evolve it by testing and breaking boundaries. He tries to play with emotions and feelings in ways he hasn't done before.
Increasingly, we get to see how messed up Seiichi's mother is. We don't really know why yet but their relation is really disconcerting and I wonder what is the end goal here.
Seiichi is struggling with recent events that has thrown his cousin into a near-vegetable state at the hospital, to the point that he is stuttering, unable to verbalize what he feels.
Oshimi's makes all this look so easy to transmit, but I don't think it is. The guy is a master.
July 4, 2023
3.5 stars. That ending really kicked it up a notch. I’m still not 100% sold on this series but I do own up to volume 5 so I will for sure give it a shot and if we can keep closer to the pacing and suspense that the last chapter in this volume offered I think this is a series that will have my business through to the end. Time will tell but I can say for sure I’m very interested to see what will happen next after that ending.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 583 reviews