Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan Omnibus, Vol. 4

Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan Omnibus #4

by Gaku Kuze

4.1 FADE IN: INT. LOCAL PUB - HAPPY HOUR

Time comes for us all...including URAMICHI’s poor back muscles. While contending with an aging body and brutally honest kids may all be in a day’s work for him, dealing with a happy-go-lucky con artist sure isn’t! As URAMICHI is unwillingly dragged into another one of HANBEI’s desperate attempts to meet upper management at the bare minimum, MITSUO and HACHITA are also caught in the crossfire. Could one of them be URAMICHI’s knight in shining armor?

4.2 CUT TO: THE JADED COMEDY THAT INSPIRED THE ANIME.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Comedy, Contemporary, Humor, Graphic Novels, Slice Of Life

278 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2023

About the author

Associated Names: 久世岳 (KUZE Gaku)
Pixiv: https://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=1...

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is reliably silly with a couple of laugh-almost-out-loud chapters per volume. "Picture Telephone" was the real standout this time.

[Cee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laugh so much and then at the end of each volume my heart hurts for the characters as we dive into their backgrounds. Poor Uramichi... I do hope he can find some happiness in his life.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introducing new characters who the main cast knew previously (and who the reader hadn't had the slightest hint of) eight volumes into a series can feel like a retcon, but Kuze makes it work. I'm looking forward to seeing more about the handcrafting show, though maybe not looking forward to Uramichi's creations.

A couple of years after this volume's English release, the next one is on its way in the mail. I expect that, as usual, I'll be happy to catch up... and less happy that I'll have to wait a while for the next one.

[di(vi) · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolute cinema

[Siren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more🥺

[marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
Vol. 2 ★★★★★
Vol. 3 ★★★★★

Another volume full of bangers. Iketeru's cluelessness makes for some hilarious chapters. Kumatani is also extremely funny. Uramichi should totally do more arts and crafts, because he actually seems to enjoy it a lot. Aside from how funny it is, one of my favorite things about this volume is how much it humanizes Uramichi. He genuinely cares a lot about kids and is doing the best he can despite a pretty terrible childhood.

Favorite chapters: 55 (fake merch), 58 (cockroach), 59 (ASMR), Kyoto Trip Bonus Chapter, 60 (picture telephone), 61 (needle felting), 62 (Miracle Handcrafts), 64 (BunnyBear Theater), 65 (crying), Kumatani Student Teacher Bonus Chapter

[Lucky Karms · Rating 5 out of 5]

The usual shenanigans ensue. The highlight of this for me was the more emotional sides of Uramichi. When a little boy says he wants to grow up to be like Uramichi because Uramichi is kind and hardworking, he starts to cry. Then my favorite part, they have a live meet up with the kids and they have to draw their fathers. Uramichi draws his dad throwing him (in a really shitty drawing) and his child self is crying. His father forced him to train and would throw him against the mat if he skipped. Horrifying imagery aside, a child asks him if he was sad having him as a dad, Uramichi's answer actually surprised me.

He said that if his father didn't do that, Uramichi wouldn't be standing there in front of the kids. We only have one life and we can't tell whether our actions are mistakes or not, but if they brought us happiness, then they weren't mistakes at all. The mistakes of our parents will all depend on what kind of lives we grow up to lead.

"Even if you can't live for somebody else...if you can live without blaming someone else, I think that's a wonderful."

THIS. THIS QUOTE is the heart of Life Lessons with Uramichi Oniisan. Uramichi spent his entire life training for gymnastics and while he's now in his 30s, suffering with depression and slowly killing himself with cheap booze and cigarettes, he continues to live on. Trying to live life by looking to the future and not to blame others even when he has every reason to.

This quote is also why I believe that Uramichi belongs on Together with Maman. Comedy aside, he give genuine advice that will help the kids in the show and the real life audience reading and watching the series via the anime and manga.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ Includes volumes 7 & 8 ⭐️

Yes!! A new volume it’s here!

As always I enjoyed it a lot! We got to see more about Uramichi’s (and the rest of the crew) past and as always he’s always (painfully) relatable to me.

The only thing I didn’t like is that the author always ends up turning his anxiety/trauma/depression in some sort of joke. And yeah, I know this is a dark comedy, but I feel so bad for Uramichi… you can see he’s trying to do his best with the cards he’s been dealt so I don’t like it when everything ends up being a simple punchline but this may be because I see so much of myself in him I’m just projecting.

Anyways, I can’t wait for the next volume!

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know that it's supposed to be a comedy but for me it feels more like a tragedy of some sort. An athlete who somehow ended his carrier (because of injury?) decided to be a part of some kids' show and is now depressed because his only joy was taken away from him? Yeah, comedy.
Also, the first chapter was terrible because since I know a person who is having problems with their back and has a few discs slipped, it's really nothing to make fun of.
And insomnia (and slipping discs) should be treated.

[-moonprismpower- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay… I love every character but Kikaku’s crazy ass is my favorite. He’s so neurotic and angry and his interactions with Uramichi (and Uebu) are utterly hilarious. I can’t stop laughing when I read this series!

[Jesarah Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this manga, I can't wait for the next english omnibus volume to be released. I used to be a preschool teacher, and I've always been dead inside, so it's relatable being in my late 20s like most of the characters, too.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Picture Telephone is definitely one of my favorite chapters of the series. Unfortunately, I'm not liking Kikaku, Nusumi, or the storyline with all the characters being connected before the show.

[Raechel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uramichi and coworkers are still going with trying to brighten childrens days. The more that is revealed about them, the more the reader and children realize that this group of adults have their own unique problems. Even with all of the revelations, the characters draw you in to learn more.

[ChelseaFace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one as always! The creator really has a wonderful sense of humor that I identify with. I will look forward to picking up the next volume.

[Anouk Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

💚

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to be a fun series.

[Illy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more. I love this series so much. Probably one of my top ten of all time at this moment.

[wrenliii · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars
if Gaku Kuze does not come out with a volume 5 soon I will cry. I need more Hanbei Kikaku

[goopster · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love u mr mag a. zine

[Jourdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually laughed out loud so much in this volume omfg

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funniest volume IMO

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe my favorite manga overall. I thought vol 4 was never gonna hit the shelves.

Need more of my favorite depressed millenials plz

[Marcy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this series so much. I feel like every volume just gets funnier and I love the characters more and more. I love workplace comedy manga and this one is is so lived-in. A lot of the time in this genre, the workplace is a generic office building which, don't get me wrong, is still a pleasure to read like in Wotakoi. But this feels like a real kids show and TV set which I love so much.

I can't wait to see what boy finally manages to keep the door to Uramichi Oniisan's heart open🩷

[GwenolaBarr · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of volume 1 of this series gives an overall sense of how I feel about this series.

I just love this series. I just love the cynicism. Kikaku-kun and Uramichi-san combined just resonate.

The panel is this volume where Kikaku-kun has a nervous breakdown about someone -else- not doing their work and making it -his- problem to fix... perfection. I have never felt so seen or felt raw emotions expressed in a panel so deeply before.

[Black Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way the two volumes just gave me a huge burst of serotonin. I was cackling and snorting in public transport.
I need vol 4, I need to buy it. This series gives me so much joy and I love these people so much that I have no words. If the anime went on, that would TRULY delight me.
Also, can I please marry Mitsuo? Pretty please?

[Noiiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

God this book always is so good I like how it shades lightly why uramichi is how he is