The Quest For The Missing Girl

by Jirō Taniguchi

Mountaineer Shiga made a promise to his best friend following his tragic death in the Himalayas - now 12 years later he is called upon to honor that promise. When 15-year-old student Megumi fails to arrive home from school her mother calls on her dead husband's best friend for help. Shiga abandons his mountain refuge and enters the city to look for the girl - and with the police investigation at a standstill, Shiga has to go it alone.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Japan, Seinen, Bande Dessinée, Mystery

334 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 1999

About the author

Name (in native language): 谷口 ジロー
Zodiac: Leo

He began to work as assistant of the late mangaka Kyota Ishikawa.
He made his manga debut in 1970 with Kareta Heya (A Desiccated Summer), published in the magazine Young Comic.
From 1976 to 1979, he created several hard-boiled comics with the scenarist Natsuo Sekigawa, such as City Without Defense, The Wind of the West is White and Lindo 3.
From 1984 to 1991, Tanigushi and Natsuo Sekigawa produced the trilogy Bocchan No Jidai.
In the 1990s, he came up with several albums, among which Aruku Hito (歩くひと), Chichi no koyomi (The Almanac of My Father), and Keyaki no ki.
In 2001, he created the Icare (Icaro) series on texts by Mœbius.
Jirô Taniguchi gained several prizes for his work. Among others, the Osamu Tezuka Culture Award (1998) for the trilogy Bocchan No Jidai, the Shogakukan prize with Inu wo Kau, and in 2003, the Alph'Art of the best scenario at the Angoulême International Comics Festival (France) for Harukana Machi-E.
His work has been translated in many languages.

Far from the violent storylines often associated with the manga, Taniguchi has developed a very personal style, more adult. Along with other writers, like Tsukasa Hōjō, his comics focus more on the Japanese society and culture, with a subtle analysis of its customs and habits.

Reviews

[Psicologorroico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un Taniguchi in versione "mystery". Pensavo mancassero dei riferimenti alla montagna visto il genere ma... anche qui la sua passione trova spazio nel protagonista, che è appunto un esperto scalatore. Quando la figlia di un suo caro amico scompare, Shiga decide di aiutare la madre della ragazza. Ho apprezzato in particolare la psicologia dietro i personaggi e più in generale scoprire la cultura giapponese in modi di essere e atteggiamenti molto lontani dal modo di pensare occidentale.

[Mec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storia difficile che getta una luce sugli aspetti meno presentabili del Giappone. Con il tipico ritmo dilatato vengono presentati la disgregazione dei nuclei familiari, l'enko (prostituzione delle studentesse in età scolare) e la sessualità morbosa di certo tipo di giapponesi. Fa da contraltare il protagonista maschile Shiga, uomo d'onore che cova dentro di sé un profondo senso di colpa, ma che agisce secondo i rigidi canoni morali del Giappone.
Un po' ridicola la scalata, ma trattandosi di un alpinista evidentemente una scena del genere non si poteva evitare.
Il tutto è raccontato con il tratto raffinato di Taniguchi, che non indulge sui dettagli morbosi della vicenda ma li suggerisce e preferisce, invece, insistere sul concetto di amicizia e sull'importanza della parola data. Forse non è la sua opera migliore, ma credo valga sempre la pena leggerlo.

[marko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ova manga je u svakom smislu Jiro Taniguchi, ali u isto vreme ni najmanje ne liči na njega. Kombinacija planina i metropole jednostavno nije bila dovoljno upečatljiva, a radnja (koja je u svakom smislu tragična i teška) odlazi u smeru koji na kraju postaje potpuno nerealan i u neku ruku komičan. Iako je “U potrazi za nestalom devojkom” još jedna prelepo nacrtana Jirova manga, njena tematika mi nije dozvolila da se poistovetim sa likovima koji su tipično hladni i nepristupačni (u ovom slučaju u značajnijoj meri). Iskreno se pitam koji je razlog postojanja ove mange osim Jirove ljubavi prema planinama koju izgleda nije mogao da kanališe (i nakon “Vrha bogova” da ponovi) na neki drugi način osim kroz ovu neizbalansiranu i čudnu priču o Megumi i njenom stricu (?).

[Marijana☕✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I never see you at the club."
"I never see you connecting with nature."

Kontrast dva sveta i malo drugačiji Taniguči koji i ovde proučava porodicu, međuljudske odnose i distancu, kao i potragu za smislom u svetu koji preti da nas proguta. Nema ovde onih istančanih emocija na koje smo navikli, ali priča je veoma mračna i teška. "Potraga za nestalom devojkom" donosi suočavanje sa sopstvenim izborima, propuštenim prilikama i nemogućnošću da zaštitimo one koje volimo od sveta koji je razarajuć i okrutan.

Malo mi je žao što se devojka iz naslova nije izgubila na planini. Koliko god volela scene Tokija i Šibuje, više volim Tanigučijevu prirodu koja evocira Mijazakijeva dela. Bonus points za najhot Tanigučijevog lika do sada. 😂🤭🌄🔥

[Aline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pris complètement au hasard à la bibliothèque, c'était un bon choix! Moi qui pensais me retrouver dans la montagne j'ai été plongé en plein Tokyo. Pas le Tokyo des cartes postales mais le Tokyo des excès, de la prostitution de mineures et des entrepreneurs déviants.
Une histoire difficile mais importante sur l'amitié, la fidélité, la responsabilité, le dévouement et la liberté.

[Stefan Garland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Za sada najslabije Tanigućijevo delo. Priča je bila nekako meh, i nisam saživeo sa junacima i njihovim problemima u potpunosti.

[Timur · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love reading Thriller/Crime before Smartphones were invented - they have to ask around on streets with photographs and no social media or google maps in sight.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shiga, un montañero que raramente abandona el refugio que regenta en los alpes japoneses, recibe una llamada de Yoriko, la viuda de un amigo muerto en el Himalaya, su hija Megumi ha desaparecido sin dejar rastro... Shiga viaja a Tokio para buscarla, ya que prometió a su amigo que cuidaría de ambas si le pasara algo.

Así Shiga inicia preguntando a los compañeros del instituto de Megumi una búsqueda que le llevará a ir conociendo el lado oscuro del barrio de Shibuya, donde muchos jóvenes van a divertirse, su búsqueda le llevará a enfrentarse con algún que otro pandillero y se encontrará con algunas trabas inesperadas.

Aunque el tono del manga es bastante inocente, muchas veces las cosas que no se cuentan dicen más que lo explícito, así no cuesta mucho ver el lado turbio de las discotecas, de los locales de karaoke donde cuarentones pagan a jovencitas para que actúen para ellos o de personajes como Yoshio, un hombre que ayuda a Shiga en su búsqueda, que dejó su trabajo de salaryman para mezclarse entre las muchachas con un libro de recados y fotos mediante el cual se comunican las chicas que van por Shibuya.

El dibujo de Taniguchi es excelente como siempre, aunque quizás no sea su mejor obra, su estilo es detallado y eficaz.

[Atreb · Rating 4 out of 5]

No conocía a este autor y ha sido una grata sorpresa.
Nos presenta una historia sencilla pero de gran envergadura donde un hombre recluido en las montañas debe bajar de ellas para cumplir una promesa.
Es un relato bien estudiado que con un ritmo pausado y a la vez trepidante mantiene el interés en todo momento.
El dibujo también esta muy cuidado dando personalidad a cada uno de sus personajes
Muy recomendable

Lo mejor: Los contrastes que se muestran a lo largo de todo el relato

[Irena Pranjić · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na Tanigučija me nagovorio post Marka Šunjića od prije dva tjedna i uopće mi nije žao zbog toga. Taj isti dan posudila sam naramak njegovih stripova i prvo pročitala ovaj - Potraga za nestalom djevojkom.
Glavni lik ovog stripa je Shiga i pomalo je tarzanovski osmišljen jer živi u divljini, ali za razliku od Tarzana, nema kućicu na drvetu već stanuje u planinarskom dobu u kojemu je zaposlen kao ekspert za planinarenje. Ova varijanta plemenitog divljaka funkcionira kao dobra pripovjedna perspektiva iz koje se kritički sagledava suvremeni urbani Japan prepun perverzija - Shigina čista duša, poštenje i hrabrost bliješte u punom sjaju na mračnoj pozornici betoniranog Tokija, ali on nije samo Tarzan nego i Hammettovski tip detektiva koji tražeći nestalu djevojku otkriva metastaze kriminala u svim slojevima društva. Shiga se u svojoj potrazi mora probijati kroz složenu mrežu maloljetničke prostitucije, kroz licemjerne konvencije korporacijskih divova ali i obračunavati sa suvremenom arhitekturom, točnije, staklenim neboderom koji je u vlasništvu podmukle korporacije, na čijem vrhu se nalazi penthouse samog direktora koji je zarobio nestalu djevojku. Shiga se, opet pomalo tarzanovski, odlučuje popeti do tog cilja koristeći svoju planinarsku opremu. Ta penjačka epizoda je vrlo korisna kao primjer dobre režije napetih akcijskih sekvenci u stripovima i ako ću ikada crtati takvo nešto svakako ću joj se vratiti da je dodatno proučim.
Shiga se ne bori samo sa vanjskim neprijateljima već i sa svojim unutarnjim demonima jer je nestala djevojka koju traži ujedno i kćerka njegovog najboljeg prijatelja za čiju smrt krivi sebe, a ujedno i kćerka njegove bivše djevojke koju je u svojoj mladosti bio prepustio tom svom najboljem prijatelju. Na taj način priča je dodatno prokrvljena i sve je to dobro posloženo, logično funkcionira i dobro vodi priču od početka do kraja.
Na kraju sve završi sretno - pozitivci trijumfiraju a negativci su kažnjeni i Shiga se mirne duše može vratiti u svoju idiličnu pripizdinu.
Ono što mi je bilo zanimljivo primijetiti jest kako se u naraciji ovog serijala na više mjesta ponavljaju iste informacije kako bi se na taj način čitateljstvo ljubazno podsjetilo što je sve ono bilo u prethodnom nastavku, te kako se u stripu vjerno prenose tipične japanske razgovorne konvencije, konkretno, jako puno klanjanja, ispričavanja na smetnji.
Sve u svemu, zanimljivo.

[Monika Kilijańska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tak jak potrafił zaplanować atak na szczyt, tak teraz Shiga dąży prosto do obranego celu. Opiekuje się schroniskiem i zawsze służy pomocą rodzinie zmarłego przyjaciela. Nic więc dziwnego, że rozpaczliwy telefon z Tokio wywraca jego cały ten porządek. Shiga bez zastanowienia rzuca swoje poukładane życie i wyrusza do tokijskiej metropolii, by odnaleźć młodą Megumi. Policja, choć jest powiadomiona o zaginięciu dziewczyny, niewiele robi. Dlatego też Shiga zmnienia się z alpinisty w detektywa, nie zmienia się jedno: nadal jest ratownikiem.

Shiga doznaje jednak szoku. Nie tylko szokuje go wielkość miasta, ale przede wszystkim zajęcie młodocianych dziewcząt. Okazuje się, że mała Megumi ani nie jest już mała, ani nie jest grzeczna jak kiedyś. Z pełną premedytacją wykorzystuje, tak jak wiele jej koleżanek, dość dziwną dla nas, Europejczyków, ciągotę do ubranych w szkolne mundurki dziewcząt. Choć z drugiej strony i my mamy swoje galerianki przecież. Shiga w trakcie swojego prywatnego śledztwa powoli i ze sporą dawką niesmaku odkrywa kulisy świata sponsoringu. Im dalej się posuwa, tym trudniejsze i niebezpieczne staje się dla niego to zajęcie. Okazuje się, że jego doświadczenie we wspinaczce będzie i w tym przypadku przydatne.

Więcej na https://www.monime.pl/ratownik-manga-...

[Natira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich kenne inzwischen ein paar Manga von Jiro Taniguchi und auch wenn z.B. "Bis in den Himmel" von einem folgenschweren Unfall handelt, so war "Die Stadt und das Mädchen" deutlich anders und dunkler als die mir bislang bekannten Manga. Shiga ist Bergsteiger und lebt in den Bergen. Als Megumi (das titelgebende Mädchen), die Tochter seines verstorbenen Freundes, in Tokio verschwindet, macht er sich auf den Weg in die Stadt, um ihrer Mutter und ihren Großeltern beiseite zu stehen und Megumi zu suchen, auch wenn zwischenzeitlich die Polizei die Ermittlungen aufgenommen hat.
Ich habe mit Shiga gemeinsam die ihm zwischenzeitlich fremd gewordene (und mir ziemlich vollständig fremde) Stadt und das soziale Leben in ihr nach Hinweisen auf Migumi durchsucht, in der Schule nachgehakt, Mitschülerinnen angesprochen, nach einem Hinweis die Polizei informiert. Gespräche einerseits, die Zeichnungen andererseits, die diese z.B. durch Körperhaltungen und Blicke der Menschen komplettieren, ergaben dabei so manche dunkle Szene. Ich empfand das Tempo der Geschichte als drängend, nicht im negative Sinne, und hatte hier ein sehr intensives Leseerlebnis.

[dv · Rating 3 out of 5]

È il primo Taniguchi che leggo a sconfinare decisamente nel noir e, addirittura, in una trama da "action movie" à la Bruce Willis dei tempi d'oro (o forse era stato Stallone a fare quel film in cui si arrampicava?). A ogni modo, l'impostazione meno lirica del solito mi convince fino a un certo punto, anche se va riconosciuta a Taniguchi la capacità di destreggiarsi con ogni genere, incluso questo.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este autor me gusta mucho sus historias tienen profundidad, siempre te dejan poso unas más que otras, en esta ocasión aparecen varios personajes atormentados por diferentes circunstancias, aunque algunas relacionadas.

[Sred · Rating 3 out of 5]

wasn’t sure what to expect going into this but it ended up being pretty neat! noir type deal where a vigilante with an iron will (shiga) tries to find and rescue his dead best friend’s daughter (megumi) after she disappears one day ….. the story it tells keeps itself interesting but it was a bit lacking in parts (the climax, resolution and aftermath all happen in about 20 pages, there’s a few parts of megumi’s character/predicament that aren’t explained too well) but they give shiga clear motivation for all of his actions, including climbing up a literal skyscraper at one point !!! what a guy what a chad !! overall a pretty decent noir manga you can sink your teeth into and keep yourself entertained for two or so hours. nothing mind boggling but it’ll def make you go “huh. why are there 14 year olds prostituting themselves in shibuya” or “get a load of this beef cake (shiga)! abs for days woooo weeee!” or maybe it won’t! either way I liked it and that’s all that matters bc I’m the coolest person alive

[Sidonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un croisement entre Trouble is my business et le Sommet des Dieux.
Plein de suspens, un très bon moment de lecture, un bon Taniguchi.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shiga's best friend died while attempting a descent in the Himalayas. His final words were recording in his notebook: "Shiga...Yoriko, Megumi...please." Shiga took this request to heart, and watched over his friend's family from the distant mountain refuge he maintained for climbers. When Yoriko calls to report that 15-year-old Megumi has gone missing, Shiga leaves his refuge and heads back to Tokyo where he learns just how much the world has changed in a decade.

The story has a lot of potential, and it's not that it doesn't capitalize on it. Unfortunately, what it doesn't do is fully expound upon the emotions involved. While Shiga's anguish is shown, it doesn't quite seem real. The lack of scenes of Megumi in her situation also form a disconnect, not allowing the reader to fully build the necessary empathy. Additionally, the translation in this work feels a bit clunky and perhaps just a bit too literal. There needed to be a bit of editing to make the dialogue sound natural.

That said, Shiga's a solid lead. The underbelly of Shibuya is only shown briefly, but quite interestingly. The final climb is drawn out, building up a bit of tension (and since this is a series for adults, there isn't a guarantee of success). It really just felt that if there'd been another volume, the pacing would have worked better, allowing for a deeper look into the situation than what was provided. That probably would have fixed many of my criticisms. And for all those criticisms, this is still one of the better manga you'll pick up. It just didn't knock my socks off like A Distant Neighborhood did.

[Ayesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fascinating and really worth reading

[DoctorFeddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un uomo che lavora come guardiano di una baita protetto dalle sue montagne scende a valle per cercare una ragazza scomparsa, figlia di un suo amico alpinista morto quando la ragazza aveva solo tre anni. Per lei l'uomo inizia ad investigare e addentrarsi nella giungla della metropoli di Tokio scontrandosi con i problemi della società giapponese, tema molto presente nelle storie di Taniguchi, il personaggio di Shiga è molto complesso, si sente in colpa sia per il fatto che non è andato con il padre della ragazza, nell'ultima scalata da parte dell'amico sull'Himalaya ma anche per aver provato invidia nei suoi confronti. Quindi per espiare le sue colpe obbedisce alle ultime parole scritte nel taccuino dell'amico che gli affida la famiglia. La ragazza che si sente trascurata dalla madre e cerca di attirare l'attenzione su di se facendo cose che lei di solito, venendo rapito dal direttore di una multinazionale di elettronica. Tutta la parte della scalata dell'edificio, secondo me, è la parte più bella della storia senza togliere al resto della storia. Li si vede proprio il personaggio scontrarsi contro l'impossibile, scalare una parete e liscia senza fessure a cui appendersi. La cosa curiosa sono le onomatopee sono tutte in lingua giapponese che di solito si usa onomatopee in lingua americana. La mia seconda graphic novel che leggo e ho visto che l'impaginazione di questa storia è nello stile orientale rispetto alle altre opere che sono allo stile occidentale. I disegni sono sempre uno spettacolo per gli occhi, un tratto stilistico molto pulito e privo di sbavature, molto interessante gli sfondi di montagna.
Il mio voto per la storia è 8 mentre per il disegno è 10

[drown_like_its_1999 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cloistered mountaineer receives news from his deceased friend's wife that her daughter is missing. With a keen sense of obligation, he travels to Tokyo to assist in the investigation of her disappearance. As he searches for clues to her recent activities and whereabouts, he reflects on his isolation over the years since his friend's tragic death and how he let the event change him. He soon finds out worrysome details about what the young girl had become involved in and after runnning aground with the police, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

This was an excellent little thriller, fueled by a compelling mystery premise and subdued yet relatable human drama. The characters feel real and unexaggerated, even though much of the plot and set pieces they are placed within are quite extraordinary and high stakes. Speaking of the set pieces, the finale of this narrative is just sublime and perfectly encapsulates what a good climax should be. Tension builds steadily throughout the narrative and provides a compelling backdrop to analyze the relationship between the main characters and how their lives have changed since the death of the missing girl's father. Taniguchi's impeccable and grounded art perfectly compliments the narrative and has some of the best depiction of realistic character design I've read in any comic, right alongside if not exceeding the best work of Inoue and Urasawa. The only qualms I have with the series, though very minor and subjective, are that I wish the tone was built to a bit more of a fever pitch and that there was more exploration into the unspoken feelings between the main character and the missing girl's mother.

[Marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taniguchi je genije i radujem se svakom njegovom stripu do kog dođem.
Iako sa vođen "Vrhom bogova" i ovde očekivao planinarsku avanturu, ispostavilo se da mu je glavni lik planinar i planinarenje bio samo kontekst u kome će da smesti jedan solidan triler koji je opet obiluje emotivnim i dramskim zapletima glavnih junaka.

Iako sam dobio nešto što nisam ni približno očrkivao bio sam podjednako zadovoljan.

Taniguchi mi je onako pravi predstavnik mog doživljaja Japana u kome nikad nisam bio. Likovi koji su malo suzdržani i ponašaju se po očekivanim normama ipak imaju i pokazuju jednu dubinu emocija i empatije a okolina obiluje od sirotog do ultra bogatog sloja društva po kojim se naši likovi kraću.

Ono što najviše volim kod Taniguchija je njegov tehničko jak, skoro pa arhitektonski, crtež pejzaža i gradova dok su mu opet likovi isto vrlo tehnički ali pokazuju sjajnu dinamiku i još važnije emociju kao što je i ovde slučaj.

[Lxu · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'idée que Shiga vienne sauver la fille de son meilleur ami décédé est plutôt cliché et le déroulement l'est encore plus. Néanmoins, la particularité si appréciable qu'amène l'escalade n'est que pur délice. Plus encore, les planches du mangaka sont relativement sympathiques. Bien sûr, nous ne sommes pas sur le niveau de détail de Boichi ou de Miura mais le style est plutôt simpliste même s'il est assez détaillé. Par ailleurs, d'autres planches sont, pour certaines, superbement détaillées.
Je pense que je recommence ce manga d'autant plus qu'il s'agit d'une one shot donc plutôt rapide à lire (~1h).

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst lacking the depths of Taniguchi's other work, I would still say this is one of his best. The intricate relationship between a man and the daughter of the woman he loves, the harsh reality of the teenage world in Japan, the corporate cover-ups and the lives of mountaineers. It's all on display.

A great book with a tense ending that grips you to the last page and then wants you reading more.

Highly recommend.

[Luca Frasca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taniguchi non delude mai.
Ambientata in un paesaggio metropolitano, solo apparentemente distante dalle ambientazioni care all'autore, la storia si legge tutta d'un fiato: avvincente ma allo stesso tempo fortemente lirica, come solo Taniguchi sa raccontarne. Il disegno, soprattutto nel descrivere emozioni e relazioni tra i personaggi, è pura poesia.

[Codepoetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reclusive mountaineer returns to Tokyo to search for a missing fifteen year old girl. While in Tokyo, he is forced to confront his long-buried feelings for a woman from his past. Unlike most manga, this book has a surprisingly tense plot.

[daviddd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wie gewohnt ein guter manga von jiro taniguchi. Mit der Prämisse schafft er es den Lesern zu fesseln & man bleibt bis zum Ende dran, da man wissen will wie es zu Ende geht. Ein durchaus spannender manga. Fans von Taniguchi werden ihn mögen & empfehlenswert für Neueinsteiger

[Gaëtan Gaillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un bon thriller avec les magnifiques dessins de Taniguchi. Mais je préfère ses œuvres plus intimes. La beauté des paysages naturels contrastent beaucoup avec les lignes dures de la ville et cela fonctionne bien dans cet histoire d'enlèvement.

[Filip Mladenovic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solidno odradjena detektivska prica. Ne bas svojstven zanr za Jira Taniguchija ali, bez obzira na iskoriscen sablon zanra u prici se oseca Taniguchijev stil. Subjektivno gledano, u odnosu na druga njegova dela, najslabije odradjeno ali daleko od toga da ne vredi da se procita.

[Magnus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it. "Lawful good" characters are definitely my jam. Shades of grey and blue and orange morality has been really exhausting

[August · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a slow build-up at first, but the story's grand and exciting conclusion makes up for most of that. I love the almost impossible/nearly insane idea of moving the final climb from the mountain range to the metropolis, thus replacing the protagonist's beloved Dhaulagiri with a tall, sleek skyscraper.