Suatu hari, ketika sedang belanja, seekor kucing menyambar belanjaan Tatsu. Distrik pertokoan pun heboh oleh kejar-kejaran antara Sang Naga dan Kucing Maling!!
Honestly, I'm not sure that there will ever be a cohesive plot for the series. I thought we would possibly get something more cohesive following volume 3, but it went back to an accumulation of short stories. I don't necessarily mind this format because I think that they are hilarious, but I also can see myself growing tired of the series in the future if we don't ever actually get a story. The stories included in this one were hilarious. I actually found myself laughing out loud a few times which was completely unexpected. It always gets even more interesting when we get to see Tatsu drag former mob members into his foolishness. For now, I'll be continuing the series to see where it goes.
30/8/20 My kanji skills are not that great and this manga doesn't have furigana unfortunately, but luckily VIZ gave me a review copy and so now I'm reading it alongside it :) After this I'll definitely be looking forward to tackling volume 5 on my own :)
This series has been hysterically funny from the very beginning, but this volume is definitely the best so far — it’s a collection of absolute bangers, not a single weak story here. And I absolutely love that Tatsu’s wife Miku gets a lot more page time in this volume, she’s such a fantastic character and their comedic chemistry with Tatsu is off the charts. Brilliant series!
Eisner-award-winning manga series continues, and I know, as someone said, one repeated Dad joke, but hey, I ordered five volumes, and it's an amusing break. It is true that the same strategies appear again and again, such as Tatsu scaring people who think he is talking about drug deals or yakuza violence when he is really just talking about chopping vegetables, but it's just fine, really, still amusing.
In the corny opening a "cat burglar" (an actual cat) steals Tatsu's fish, followed by threats of gangsta violence. When he and his wife go to a kiddie theme park Tatsu reveals he never got to go when he was a kid since he was being groomed for the gang, and admits he really likes it. Tatsu's wife assumes a little larger role in this volume, which is good, pushing him to man up and insist on a return volleyball match.
I love this goofy series so much, and this was my favorite installment since the first one, I think. I'm honestly just such a sucker for this type of humor (silly, lots of word plays and misunderstood meanings, etc.) and I especially love the scenes where we get to see other former and current yakuza members being sucked into Tatsu's homemaking ways.
Chapter 31 is the series in a nutshell. After a spirited discussion regarding balls, tapioca balls; Tatsu and friend proceed to create their own version of the bubble tea. However, the way they approach their simple concoction sounded like they were selling contraband; which isn't far off from reality, bubble tea can be addictive. However, it ends on an unexpected but happy note.
This is another strong volume of single episodes chapters. It has the added joy of more wife appearances. After all, what is a house husband without the breadwinner wife. Chapter 34 is the best Tatsu/Miku episode yet.
I keep accusing this series of driving its one joke into the ground, and it seems to double down this time around doing the hey-we're-talking-about-a-common-thing-as-if-it-were-really-drugs gag like three or four times in a row. The need to make a tortured joke overrides any chance at character development.
The only intriguing characters in this series are the women are the women, and too little time is spent with them, even though the wife was in a few more strips than usual this time.
This book came in the mail today and didn’t even make it onto my shelf. I found myself standing by my bookcases, reading it and laughing out loud. My family member would have assumed something was wrong with me if they didn’t know me. So, now this book is on my shelf but already used. It took less than 15 minutes to read, but I have no regrets. I would suggest not binge reading this series as it would probably get old fast. I am trying to read it one volume at a time but months apart.
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 4, by Kousuke Oono, continues this high quality series of vignettes about a former Yakuza boss turned househusband. He cooks, cleans, shops and crafts with the gusto and honour of a stereotypical Yakuza. These are funny, light hearted and sweet in many ways. A Netflix adaptation of this series has just been released, and is also quite compelling. I am glad this first time manga artist is gaining such attention, and would recommend these books as humorous, fluffy reads. They do not have total substance, but are wholly enjoyable to this reader, and easily recommended for fans of manga, or those looking for a funny, slice of life style quick read.
First story in this installment: On what begins as just another shopping trip, Tatsu has a run-in with a thief—of the feline persuasion! Another fun romp of a tale that leaves me hungry.
Reading about a character being super dramatic over the mundane things in life is just hilarious to me. Maybe I've been home for too long, but this series is the kind of comedy I need right now.
While reading this I always wish that a) the story would take itself a little more seriously and b) that it would drop its single-chapter gag format and tell a longer form story or arc. Still, it is entertaining for what it is.
the chapter where tatsu was helping that kid with his homework and the teacher reads the storyline AND THINKS TATSU WAS TEACHING HIM HOW TO PREP DRUGS HELPPPP
Tatsu is back at it, bringing his own unique brand of homemaking mixed with yakuza values to every kind of domestic situation imaginable.
When this series is on fire it is ON FIRE. There is a solid slate on offer here, with no obvious duds. On average it might just be the strongest volume to date. They’ve also started integrating Tatsu’s wife, Miku, into the mix more and she adds some welcome variety (her bonus manga goes in some funny, yet appropriate, directions).
On the positive side, this book has fantastic art and it knows how to deploy it for maximum comedic value. The best story for me involves a trip to the discount store and a series of utterly brilliant panels where Tatsu describes how simple items bring great joy - funny on its own, but the examples kill.
There are other great sequences, including a volleyball match that shames most shonen series in terms of over the top moves. I also loved one specific shot of Tatsu and Miku wearing rags amongst a sea of dogs.
I have one asterisk for the writing, see below, but for the most part it compliments the art delightfully. As an example, I lack any context for the Japanese tale of Momotaro, but Tatsu telling that story to a bunch of kids has enough context for me to get the gist and it is STILL a riot.
While this volume is top-notch, there’s no getting around the big question of how long this can go on. I’m amazed that this series remains so consistently funny, but it is spinning gold from what I can only imagine is a dwindling pile of straw.
I raise that point because this volume’s biggest misstep is its over reliance on white powder/cocaine juxtaposition jokes. They’ve been there before but they are rampant here and rather distracting. They should have kept it solely for the bubble tea chapter.
Still, great series. It has a single joke to tell, but it still remains brilliantly iterated on. It also has the perfect release schedule in North America - three months or so is just enough time to be in the mood for another one of these. Satisfying.
Smooth-sailing and hilarious! I will never get tired of saying how wholesome this is
First of all, Torajiro came back! And he's got a new dang business, the bubble tea! That part cracked me up so much. Especially, how Tacchan applied yakuza language to every day living. I mean, how weird but extremely funny is that? This is really freaking amusing! By the way, I so love the picnic and beach scene so much. I mean, just how adorable can you get? And I love just how strong Miku is! And I love how trusting their neighbors are with Tacchan despite his appearance, it actually made me tear up. I love that kind of trope, seriouslym Gah! I love this series so much! I mean, it's literally the the paved way of a househusband.
By the way, I'd like to get to know more about the foreign neighbor.
Really enjoying this series. In this volume, our hyper-dramatic ex-Yakuza hero turns his skills (and ongoing linguistic suggestion) to shameless thieves, his neighbour’s barby and the tough street business of tapioca, as well as showing his softer side (under protest) on a day out with Miku and training his prentice in the benefits of a thrift store.
I think this volume is my favorite of the series so far. The scene where Tatsu and Miku go to the theme park is priceless as is the bubble tea making, and the tea with his fellow homemaker friends.
tatsu going nuts for the dollar stores is a big ass mood
petition to make him and miku my parents. what a power couple esp during that beach volleyball game. if you insult tatsu you're gonna find miku's foot 6ft deep in your ass
Not sure if I'll continue reading this series. Reading the first four volumes in a one-sitting drained me. Sure, it's funny but the formula of the comedy is mainly based on the ex-yakuza's 'clueless' attitude with anyone. I am hoping to see more of how Tatsu has managed to live after such a dark past and how he has handled problems with fitting in again in society (how he has appealed his father-in-law, for instance).
The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 4 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (28–36) of the on-going manga series with three bonus chapters.
It continues the adventures or rather misadventures of Tatsu, once an infamous and feared yakuza boss nicknamed "the Immortal Dragon" and now a househusband. The episodic series depicts a variety of comedic scenarios where Tatsu does ordinary things, but his past and scary looks would cause humorous results with his fellow housewives, the public, former member of his yakuza, other yakuza members from other groups, and the police who are out to get him and doesn’t believe that he has reformed.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Kousuke Oono. For the most part, it is written and illustrated rather well. Most of the stories centers on Tatsu's relationship with his neighbors like barbequing, reading to neighborhood children, helping out a neighborhood boy with his summer homework, and hanging out with the other housewives. Tatsu also goes on two dates with Miku, his wife one to a fair and the other to the beach. He also mentors Masa how to save money by going to the 100 Yen store and make bubble tea with his former rival Torajirō.
All in all, The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 4 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems really intriguing and I can't wait to read more.
I think in this volume the mangaka has finally settled into the world and people he’s created. Although this is just a collection of short, funny comics every character has a defining personality and I’m glad that we’re finally getting a chance to revisit some of these characters in this volume. I also liked that it felt like Miku was in this volume more. The chapters with Miku and Tatsu were the best because I love seeing their dynamic. We need more men who appreciate their wives like Tatsu. While I still find this series a fun read I have to admit the initial spark of it has worn off. I’m not sure if it’ll ever come back, but as long as I’m still enjoying this series that doesn’t really matter.
Another great volume. This one wasn't as strong as volume 3 but still plenty of laughs. The chapters with his wife are by far the best. I especially love the one where they go to the park together.
I've already stated this but if looking for a unique, funny, and charming series this it the one. I have a feeling once it hits Netflix on April 8th this series will be even more popular. But this volume is worth grabbing like the other 3!
Tatsu’s retelling of Momotaro made me laugh. Also liked the first story of a cat stealing his fish, making bubble tea, going to the 100 yen store, helping the kid with his summer project and his wife’s dream.