Private Opinion: Banana Fish Another Story

BANANA FISH #20

by Akimi Yoshida, 吉田秋生

名作ハードロマン「BANANA FISH」最後の番外編と、英二の高校生時代を描くよみきりを収録した、全ファン必見、待望の傑作集!!

Genres: Manga, Comics, Fiction, Comics Manga

140 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1995

About the author

Akimi Yoshida (Japanese: 吉田秋生, Yoshida Akimi) is a Japanese cartoonist from Tokyo, best known for her manga series Banana Fish.
Yoshida studied at the Musashino Art University in Tokyo and made her professional debut in 1977. Despite serialising her works in shōjo manga (girls' comics) magazines, most notably in 'Bessatsu Shōjo Comic' and 'Monthly Flowers', during the 80's she developed a visual style akin to the aesthetics of shōnen manga (boy's comics) of that era, contributing significantly to creating a bridge between these two traditions. This is particularly evident in her international best-seller Banana Fish (1985-1994), a thriller set in New York City blending action and homoerotic romance. Among her other major works are the series Yasha (1996-2002) and Umimachi Diary (2006-2018).
Yoshida's comics have received a number of accolades in Japan, including three Shogakukan Manga Awards (1983 and 2001 in the category 'shojo', 2015 in the general category), an Excellence Award for manga at the Japan Media Arts Festival (2007) and the 6th Manga Taishō award (2013).

Reviews

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one! I loved getting to see more of Ash’s childhood, and how him and Blanca met. I really like Blanca, despite him being an assassin he’s a pretty decent guy, defending Ash like that. Seriously I feel so bad for Ash, after the show ended I was shocked at first but then it hit me and I cried so much. This is the first time I’ve ever cried so much for a character. Ash went through so much and that’s the ending he got... he’s forever my favourite character I love him so much <3 He has so much personality, and he’s so strong despite everything he went though and the fact that he’s still basically a kid... oh now I’m talking about the show lol. But I read this book after Banana Fish, I read all the five side stories for some closure because the ending of the anime left me so.. heartbroken and lost? Lol I know I’m being dramatic but this is like the best story I’ve ever read/watched, it really left a mark on me. I just couldn’t get over the fact of how it ended, so I needed more. The side stories helped me process the ending better. But yeah, it was nice seeing their relationship in the past. Made me really take a liking on Blanca.

[T O À N P H A N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trời, sau ngần ấy năm đọc manga, tới tuổi này rồi mới tòi ra một bộ tui thích cực kỳ. Đồ cổ từ năm 1985 như vầy mà giờ vẫn chạm được tới rất nhiều cảm xúc của tui. Mãi yêu ~

[Giulia Angelica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently suffering for the anime is not enough. I have conflicting opinions about Blanca, he is such a morally grey character but yet so interesting and now I trust him a little more. And what about Ash ? He must be protected from all the evils of the world, I wanna give him a big hug. That’s it.

[Snow]

only brief thoughts on each side story because I will be reading the entire series soon and will come back when I do! (will update this review upon reread)


Private Opinion (x2)

Read this twice just to get more glimpses of Ash. Blanca may not be the best person, but I find comfort in knowing that there was at least one adult in Ash's childhood that he was allowed to look up to and was an anchor to him amidst all the abuse.


Fly Boy, in the Sky

I've always thought that Eiji's status as an actual, legitimate professional athlete is underutilized in the series, so it's cool getting to see his pole vaulting era, and we also get to see why Ibe is so protective of him.


Ura Banana (うら・BANANA)

This healed my broken soul, I love it so much! It's such a cute way to end the series. (I am excited to experience this again when I actually finish the entire manga series.)

[Fernanda M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mencionen a Ash y lloraré por ocho semanas más, esta historia es de lo que más amo en la vida y de lo que más me duele en la misma.
Le tengo un cariño enorme a mi hermoso bebé Lynx por todo lo que me hizo sentir, es mi personaje favorito y siempre voy a sufrir por él.❤️

[Faizah Finur F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always have a soft spot for Blanca since the first time he appeared and voilaaa what a man! I know I can trust him *shedding tears*

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

BANANA FISHの番外編。BANANA FISHが好きなら絶対読むべき！

[Necrxpolis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blanca says: "Break a Ped*phil*'s Hand" and I think we should all live by that

[Izar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigue doliendo como el maldito infierno esta historia, pero... Tenía que leerlo.

[eliza . · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cried very much

[Andrea Meca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blanca is THE MAN

[clove · Rating 5 out of 5]

i hate banana fish

[Annika · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolute menace of a manga.

[liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

the 80’s art style is so cursed

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

To have finished the 19 volumes over a year or so ago, and to now finish this, it feels like saying goodbye to my boys all over again. It was an enjoying read, and once again...Sayonara, Banana Fish!

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

deep sigh

[Pamela Zamora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash no merecía pasar por tanto sufrimiento.

[Jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

se me hizo una lectura más dura que el manga :(

[Eugene Oh · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading the final episode, I couldn't help but keeping asking myself why ash didn't choose to live, even though he could have. Now It begins to dawn on me that it could be freedom from everything that made him only painful. So sad about his life .At the same time happy with his liberty.

[Bunnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for fans of banana fish, has lots of important details about Ash's character.

I really appreciated the realistic portrayal of trauma and abuse, it's something that I rarely find in media.