Touring After the Apocalypse, Vol. 1

終末ツーリング [Shuumatsu Touring] #1

by Sakae Saito

All alone after the end of days, two girls ride through the desolate ruins of Japan―but they’re not about to let the collapse of civilization get in the way of sightseeing!From the hot springs of Hakone to the massive Tokyo Big Sight, they’ve got the run of the country’s most popular tourist spots all to themselves, so why not make the most of it?

Genres: Manga, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comics, Post Apocalyptic, Young Adult, Dystopia

194 pages, Paperback

First published April 26, 2021

About the author

さいとー栄

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world may have ended, but there are still sights to see. Guided by her sister’s photos, Youko and her friend Airi travel Japan. Along the way, they’ll eke out an existence and see nature’s continued reclamation plus the detritus of a humanity that no longer exists.

Remove the zombies from Zom 100 and dial down the boobs and antics quotient by 90% (don’t worry, nary a manga alive exists that can resist drawing a bikini) and you’ll get this cozy little tour of a planet recovering from whatever humanity has wrought upon it and the melancholic signs that remain.

This is a very satisfying story of basic friendship and sightseeing with some sci-fi trappings mixed in. It’s equal parts hopeful, lonely, and reflective. Youko is the energetic one and Airi can be both quiet and a little odd, though the reason why soon becomes apparent. Together they see the world and play tourist on the trail of Youko’s sister.

I think the very charming art helps a lot - this would be a lot more to take if it was all grim and gritty, but this has the nice reminder that, yes, the sun will still rise long after we’re gone. Some of the wider shots are absolutely gorgeous - one underwater sequence in particular is just stellar - but everything is just gorgeously done.

The obfuscated nature of what’s currently the state of the world is a nice touch too, as the very organic, breadcrumb-laden storyline gives a little plot to the wanderings that works quite well. Side digressions turn to the action-oriented at times, to the wondrous at others, and sometimes to the downright melancholy (the man the girls meet and one bedroom are particularly noteworthy in that respect).

Rather than being a dour affair, the events that caused this were undoubtedly awful (Youko’s dreams suggest as much), but there’s still beauty to be found in the present day. It’s just beauty that knows how to bite and, if it won’t draw blood, it will at least leave a bruise. That one man? Phew, even knowing where that story is going, it’s a sad moment.

Road trips boil down to companionship plus the drive to just see what’s out there and enjoy the ride. Even if these two are not exactly the most dynamic duo, they at least have the energy and positivity to make spending time with them fun and the apocalyptic edge makes it a more clever premise than your typical ‘manga does tourism’ sorry.

4 stars - this isn’t anything new, but it’s old wearing a very lovely hat with a little more to think about than might initially be apparent. It walks that tightrope between hope and wallowing in the past well enough that I’m not upset at the prospect of more of these two.

[Lucille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un titre très sympathique, petite tranche de vie et road trip à moto dans un monde post apo

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samtiden och desillusioneringen. Tankar om varför i helvete man överhuvudtaget går till jobbet när jorden så tydligt håller på att gå under. Krig. Döda barn i flödet. Folkmord.
Jag vet inte vilka vi blir när vi lever i denna ständiga domedag.
Känner mig ledsen och hopplös.

Så när jag traskar runt på jobbet och ser titeln "Touring after the apocalypse" av Sakae Saito i mangahyllan sliter jag åt mig den.
Har läst efter apokalypsen-tematik förr i manga, och ofta lyckas de med något som västerländsk post apokalyps litteratur sällan sysslar med: närvarande sorg men också det mysiga vardagslivet.

Just i denna följer vi två flickor som åker moped genom ett tomt och förstört Japan. Efter ett tag visar det sig att den ena är en människa och den andra är en robot. De har aldrig träffat några andra. De letar mat, badar i hot springs, ser pingviner i centrala Tokyo (!) och en hel del annat. De turistar i en postapokalyptiskt värld. Det är både mysigt och sorgligt.

Läser den som terapi. Kanske går det att leva efter katastrofen.

[Larakaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this mix of a melancholy post-apocalyptic setting infused with teenage curiosity and naive fun.
I also love the pun of the original title (the japanese words for weekend and end of the world are homonyms)

[mymt zaza]

Une lecture feel good, tranquille et vraiment très sympathique. On suit 2 amies qui visitent en mode tourisme un Japon post apocalyptique. On est amené à faire du tourisme-urbex, et j'adore ça. Le décalage entre l'ambiance du manga et le comportement très solaire des héroïnes fait grimper ma curiosité, très hâte de lire la suite

[Abendstern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it!

[Robert Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book actually does a good job of balancing the cute whimsical town of two friends traveling to see the sights and the after Pacalypse that they have to deal with the artwork is very well done the story has a cute whimsical dark side to it and it’s enough that you know that you’re reading something that this world has gone through an apocalypse but it feels far enough in the past and the world has started to heal itself and you see how the main characters can explore it this is actually I think worth a read I’ll definitely look forward to reading the other volumes.

[Yuyine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Les promeneuses de l’apocalypse est un manga surprenant qui arrive à mêler la mélancolie d’un post-apo à l’exaltation de ses personnages pour un rendu foncièrement doux et positif qui n’oublie pas de petites touches d’émotions. Les paysages du Japon effondré sont splendides ce qui rend cette virée à moto d’autant plus agréable.

Critique complète sur yuyine.be!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute, enjoyable read. Two girls are touring Japan on a motorbike after the world ends.
We aren't really sure what happened but there are references to climate change and flooding.
It seems like at least one of the girls is strangely affected by the new environment... hopefully we will learn more in the next volume!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très bon ! ❤️

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hat mir echt gut gefallen, es hat etwas trauriges, hoffnungsvollen und lustiges

[Lune · Rating 4 out of 5]

début très prometteur ! j'ai aimé l'ambiance, y'a un équilibre parfait entre un ton assez léger et une atmosphère un peu glauque. les persos sont adorables, et mnt j'ai envie de faire la moto

[auma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beau visuellement tout en gardant un style "enfantin" et marrant, l’histoire pique ma curiosité !

[Holly Letson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy "liminal spaces" artwork, you will love this manga, which is full of nice art of empty places.

[Yona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slice of life that also gently points towards humanity’s self-destructive path. Despite the sad setting, the story is lighthearted overall and celebrates the world. A few fan-service-y moments but they’re pretty mild.

[dovesnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozy manga about two young girls who are touring post-apocalyptic Japan. I sense background and excitement coming, but I don’t think it’ll change the campy vibes (which I’m happy about). Cute and laid back read that I’ll definitely continue.

[Enairolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce titre a beaucoup attisé ma curiosité. J’étais hyper intriguée et j’avais surtout très envie de découvrir ce titre. Et bien je n’ai pas été déçu pour le coup. J’ai dévoré ce premier tome en un rien de temps et j’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé. Je suis encore plus curieuse maintenant que j’ai découvert l’univers et surtout je me pose vraiment beaucoup de questions. J’espère avoir les réponses dans le prochain tome parce que j’ai besoin de réponses pour le coup!

Dans ce premier tome, on va suivre les personnages de Yôko et Airi qui visitent les endroits les plus célèbres du Japon avec leur moto tout terrain. Admirer le mont Fuji depuis Hakone, pêcher sur le point de la baie de Yokohama, sans oublier d’aller faire un tour au Taokyo Big Sight. Voilà le voyage qui attend nos deux jeunes filles à moto. Hélas, le monde s’est effondré et est complètement en ruines..

J’ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ce premier tome. Comme je le dis plus haut, j’ai pas mal de questions qui me viennent à l’esprit après avoir tourné la dernière page. J’ai hâte d’avoir les réponses parce que ma curiosité est clairement piquée. J’ai adoré nos deux protagonistes. Ces deux jeunes filles parcourent le pays pour visiter les endroits les plus connus mais surtout les endroits où la soeur de Airi a été et a pris des photos. Elles vont donc partir à la recherche de ces fameux lieux. En suivant leur périple, on va trouvé un monde totalement en ruines.Il n’y a personne à part elles, les eaux ont montées, la population est inexistante et j’en passe. Un monde apocalyptique qui fait tout de même un peu froid dans le dos.. Se retrouver seules comme ça c’est vraiment quelque chose de terrifiant je trouve. La fin est pleine de promesses et je sens que le second tome va être tout aussi plaisant à découvrir, il me tarde de l’avoir entre les mains.

Ce premier tome m’a vraiment beaucoup plu, j’ai hâte de découvrir les autres tomes de cette saga. Je sens que l’on va découvrir beaucoup de choses par la suite et que l’on aura encore beaucoup de mystères. Mais j’espère avoir des réponses à mes questions. C’est une belle surprise qui a su me convaincre, je lirais la suite et j’attendrais chaque tome avec grande impatience. Surtout quand je vois comment ce premier tome se termine je n’ai qu’une hâte : avoir le second tome entre les mains!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

as soon as I picked this up in the store and thumbed through it, I knew I would like it. the premise is interesting and so far, it toes the line perfectly between a fun, cute adventure story with rather somber undertones of an apocalypse.

what we know so far: youko is leading the two on a journey to retrace her (deceased?) sister's steps through old society. traveling with her is airi, who looks like a regular girl but seems to actually be a cyborg. I'm unsure at this point if she's human at all, or if she's fully robotic/ai. we don't have too much backstory on the apocalypse, just that youko has survived by living in a bunker that she's now escaped. it doesn't seem to be a zombie apocalypse, but rather one caused by human destruction...one scene hints at bombs, but we really don't have much else to go on yet. it seems some humans were still surviving after, since youko/airi reference buildings being looted/cleared of supplies, but they seem pretty certain there aren't many survivors left. the bodies they find are not completely skeletal, hinting at the apocalypse not being in the too distant past. their biggest fears at the time seem to be animals, especially aquatic ones. that cliffhanger ending though...I wonder if they'll end up finding another live human!

in the middle, they rescue and restart a cyborg named ichirou who has a rather tragic backstory. I thought for a moment that he would join them at least to their next destination, but his memories of his wife and children cause him to stay behind.

airi and youko's relationship is adorable - they joke around and care for each other in a truly sweet way. I am curious to know more about both airi (did youko's sister build her? is she human at all, or some kind of robot made to protect/look after youko?) and youko (she doesn't seem to have any knowledge of human life in the past - was she born after the apocalypse? was she just a baby that her sister saved and kept in her bunker? what are the dreams she's having about past human society?).

all in all, I am really enjoying this series so far!! had no idea this was coming out but now I definitely want to continue it.

[Artemissia G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Des dessins que je trouve mignons avec une histoire, pour le moment, assez tranquille et qui a de faux airs de A Journey beyond heaven, mais la ressemblance s’arrête simplement à l’apocalypse qui a frappé le Japon.

L’histoire se focalise, pour l’essentiel, sur la découverte d’un Japon totalement dévasté où il ne reste plus une seule âme humaine qui vive hormis nos héroïnes. Nous faisons donc la connaissance de Yôko, une jeune adolescente super enthousiaste à l’idée de parcourir tous les endroits que sa grande sœur a visités avant elle. Pour cela, elle est accompagnée de Airi au bras des plus impressionnants (mais je n’en dis pas plus). Sur leur chemin, les deux amies vont rencontrer un « robot » dans un piteux état et là nous allons avoir droit à quelques vagues idées de ce qui a pu arriver au monde dans lequel le récit se déroule.

Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais ce titre m’a fait penser un peu au magicien d’Oz alors que ça n’a rien à voir… enfin bon.

Pour l’instant, l’intrigue se base sur les aventures de ces deux adolescentes qui parcourent un Japon en ruine, dans lequel il ne reste pas un seul être humain à la ronde ou presque. On ne sait pas vraiment ce qu’il s’est passé ni pourquoi Yôko était enfermée bien avant que cette tragédie n’arrive ni comment elle a rencontré Airi.

C’est bien simple, ce premier tome nous interpelle, nous interroge, et c’est à la limite de la frustration. Pour ce qui est des dessins, j’aime beaucoup le style, avec des visages arrondis plutôt mignons qui contrastent avec la situation dans laquelle les deux filles se trouvent. Pourtant, elles semblent bien heureuses, enfin surtout Yôko.

Dans l’ensemble, j’ai passé un très bon moment de lecture même si j’en suis ressortie frustrée avec une multitude de questions dans la tête. J’espère que la suite saura nous apporter des éléments de réponses.

Voilà un manga qui pour le moment est plutôt sympa à découvrir !

[Namratha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Post the apocalypse, Japan is in ruins…the once great architectural splendors are in shambles and nature has reclaimed the land. The only two survivors seem to be two young girls: the upbeat Youko and the quieter Airi. Together on their trusty YAMAHA Serow 225 motorcycle (cherried-up, battery operated and with its engine replaced by an electric motor), they have decided to leave the confines of their shelter and go on a road trip through the abandoned and desolate remains of Japan, trying to visit all the places that Youko’s biker sister had chronicled in the pre-apocalyptic past.

Given its premise, this exquisitely drawn gem could have been depressing but yet again, the power of Japanese mangaka and their imagination leaves me amazed. We never really understand how the end of the world came about but small flashbacks and a heartbreaking encounter with an android give us a nebulous idea of the human-driven reasons behind the apocalypse. Youko and Airi could have been gritty, dour survivors eking out a desperate living in a post-apocalyptic world but the story has a surprisingly upbeat tone.

It is a road trip…complete with games to while away the time, pitstops at famous tourist attractions around Japan, friendly squabbles as the two forage for food supplies and drinkable water…so much so that you almost forget that Youko and Airi are probably the only humans left in world torn asunder by natural calamities and human depravity.

The first volume sets the tone with a blend of joy, a can-do attitude, melancholy and the undeniable fact that though the world may end (either literally or metaphorically) ….life goes on.
And we will have to live and survive and thrive in it.

This is one of the best manga that I have read in a while, and that’s saying a lot because I genuinely did read some excellent manga this year.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Youko and Airi, two girls who have survived the apocalypse, finally get to venture out of the shelter and explore the places that Youko's sister traveled to in Japan before the apocalypse. They have to scrounge for food along the way and avoid the hazards in this new world.

So there are clues that Airi might be at least part, if not full cyborg. She is much better informed than Youko, she can shoot projectiles out of her arm, and she's too heavy to swim. The girls stumble across another obvious android and call it a human (clarifying it is a cyborg a badly damaged human's mind was uploaded into, acting like that was a common thing during the apocalypse). The girls are visiting famous sights in Hakone, Yokohama, and different areas of Tokyo. The artists had fun reimagining these areas with a higher sea level, some damage from time and battles, and with interesting wild animals running around. My favorite part was when the girls get to swim with a group of penguins who have gone wild in the area now that the zoos have collapsed. Such a fun concept and artwork! There's nothing really suspenseful or anything about the girls' travels, so this is a cozy read. Youko starts to experience some weird dreams which will hopefully be explained in a future volume. Hand this to manga fans who like scifi and non-stressful dystopia adventures.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. (The girls change into pretty modest bikinis at one point.) You can tell there are dangers in the world, like the huge shark that steals Youko's fish bait and crumbling buildings and a robot tank thing that's programming is going haywire, but the girls are fine. If seeing destroyed buildings and structures from real Tokyo is disturbing to you, avoid this.

[Roman Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent first volume in a series I’m excited to continue. It was a little slow at first and I found that it had overtly wordy dialogue that took up half the panels at times, but if you have the patience for it Touring After The Apocalypse is a rewarding journey through the end of civilization, with a very lighthearted twist to it. Post Apocalyptic stories usually tend to be very bleak or Mad Max in tone, they tend to focus on the darkest parts of human nature and showcase the levels of depravity we are all capable of when theirs no order. Even with the exception of zombies, mutants, and other invasive monsters it’s always the other survivors you need to watch out for. Well this manga is very different from the typical tropes of the post apocalyptic genre, instead of having raiders, zombies, and crazed cannibals in the woods it’s a simple story about two girls traveling through the ruins of what was formerly Japan, meeting other characters and scavenging for food at the same time.

It felt refreshing to read something cozy and cute instead of bleak. I was surprisingly engaged with the two characters, and the bonds between them made every moment entertaining as they explore the desolate city landscapes. This is a comforting manga that brings a sense of wonder to the end of the world, and I’m excited to see where it goes from volume 1.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the vein of Doomsday with My Dog, Vol. 1 and Girls' Last Tour, Vol. 1, the apocalyptic manga is a favorite subcategory and I don't know why- well I do know why- because there's a humor and (un)existential crisis to the destruction of the world and the friendships that emerge from survival whether it's with other humans or animals.

This one is no different but what I loved about these two girls touring around is that readers get glimpses of spots in Japan. It opened with Hakone, which I just visited this past summer, so it brought me back. The imagination of what it could look like is creative and adventurous with a touch of the sci-fi. It also gives Laid-Back Camp, Vol. 1 vibes too with the nature aspect.

Girls getting it done at the end of the world.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is the most soothing post-apocalyptic fiction I've ever read. Yes, it's set in a world in which there's obviously been some form of great calamity, leaving the world in ruins and devoid of human life. But it's still almost entirely a wholesome travelogue of two girls touring Japan on a motorbike. And yet, with all the silliness and light-hearted warmth between the two girls, the human cost remains at least at the periphery. There are two moments that the narrative dwells on that cost, and they're such gut punches in context that it makes them all the more effective than if the entire book had been gloomy. There's several mysteries in the background, not least of which is what exactly happened to this world. And the art is just gorgeous. I think I would appreciate it even more if I were familiar with the Japanese landmarks that are pictured, but it's still beautifully melancholic to look at. A surprisingly cozy read, with interesting dark edges.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been wanting to read this for a while now because I loved the cover to volume 1, and now that I've had the chance -- wow! Absolutely loved it! It's a very fun and comfortable read. Beautiful too!! The artwork put into the scenery alone is gorgeous, and I can't help but think what this would look like as an anime.

It definitely hit a bit of nostalgia for me too, as seeing these two girls ride around on a motorcycle-converted-to-electric bike reminded me of watching the early episodes of Dragon Ball. Just instead of having kid Goku, we have a low-energy girl with some cyborg similarities and her "chaperone" who is spunky and eager to see her fill of the world.

The story handles some sad themes, such as losing loved ones or even struggling to find other survivors, but the girls remain chipper and optimistic despite this. I would definitely recommend this series if you're looking for either something cozy-ish, or even just need a pallet cleanser. This series is delightful, and I'm really looking forward to getting more volumes to this and watching the plot unfold.

[Lasorcieredesmots · Rating 5 out of 5]

c’est un premier tome qui nous permet de découvrir l’univers et les deux héroïnes. Il nous sert d’introduction, mais il est vraiment sympathique et agréable à lire. J’ai apprécié l’univers présenté et le fait qu’on ne soit pas dans un univers post apocalyptique dur, mais au contraire, assez doux et pas pesant. On est vraiment invité à suivre une promenade entre deux amies dans un dévasté, mais avec de l’humour et de la camaraderie. Les deux héroïnes sont agréables à découvrir et on s’attache facilement à elles, notamment à Yôko et à sa joie de vivre. C’est une belle découverte et je vais lire avec joie les deux tomes suivants. Je vous en conseille donc la lecture.

https://lasorcieredesmots.wordpress.c...

[Bentgaidin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting idea, but don't know if I'm going to stick with it. A girl and her robot companion go looking for her missing sister across a ruined Japan devoid of human life; but I'm not familiar enough with Japan to really enjoy the post-apocalyptic tourism aspect, and I feel like there's not enough destruction to justify the complete lack of any other humanity. It's like someone has built a destroyed-themed world, but I'm not feeling verisimilitude, and the characters haven't hooked me either. Might look at the next volume to see if they do anything with hints about other survivors, but it'd have be to _really_ gripping to get me to continue.

[Maarit · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 tähteä. Leppoisa aloitus sarjalle, jossa maailma (tai ainakin Japani) on tuhoutunut jonkinlaisen katastrofin takia. Keskiössä on kahden tytön, Youkon ja Airin, matka ympäri Japania moottoripyörällä, jossa Youkon motiivina on käydä samoissa paikoissa kuin hänen isosisarensa ennen tuhoa tekemällään matkalla vieraili. Katastrofi ei ole keskiössä tarinassa, vaikka siitä ja sen laadusta annetaankin vihjeitä siellä täällä mangan edetessä. Sen verran mielenkiintoiseen kohtaan teos jäi kesken, että yritän metsästää jatko-osan käsiini jostain.

[Krystal Caloia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good and unique but I have questions....
-What kind of Apocalypse was this?!?!
-Where is her sister that she talked to her on a TV in a shelter?
-Is Airi a Cyborg or an AI? She eats.....so I would think that she is at least....partially...human.
-How does she keep the phone charged and seemingly no power anywhere and use "Maps" with no Internet and no GPS?
-Who is she.....or her sister.....that she had access to a Shelter that saved her from the Apocalypse but there are seemingly ZERO other survivors?

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a wonderful mix of fun, sorrow/sadness, and intrigue. We follow two girls as they explore a world that is in ruin. The story doesn't present much in the way of why but that's not what is improtant right now. I really enjoyed the two MCs. They played off each other really well and had some fun interactions. The balance of emotions in this story made it a good read. I wasn't sure what to expect from this but it exceeded my expectations.