It's been 20 years since his mother told Seiichi that she renounced motherhood, since she thanked him for being a killer, since he tried to strangle her there in the courtroom—and somehow he made it through. Living alone, working the night shift at a bakery, barely speaking to his father, Seiichi's life is solitary and empty, and he likes it that way. But nothing lasts forever...
The grand preface is over—and now the real story begins!!
Shuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator. Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions. Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha. Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV. Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Wow!!! So wild that 20 years have passed since the last volume, and now he’s 36 years old! This volume was so sad and depressing, but still so engaging and disturbing and I’m soooo curious to see where the story will go from here.
20 YEARS?! When Oshimi said prologue, he wasn't messing around.
13 volumes in and I'm still holding my breath when I flip the pages. There were moments I wanted to cry. This volume is depressing and bleak and so lonely.
But you know that the hurricane's about to bust in at this next volume. I don't know if I'm going to like Seiichi as much as a 36 year old man and a MIA Seiko. But I have faith in Shuzo Oshimi.
Time-skip to 2017, when Sei is already 36 years old, alone in a messy apartment, breathing, living an empty life, and but dead inside—with Shige's ghost following around. Man, this is just too sad.
Notice the transition of cover color themes. From bright red (psychological torture) to white (enlightenment), to blue: not peaceful, but not rowdy or intense either. There's deep loneliness that envelops the character's tortured soul.
Haunting. Splendid prologue ends. Main story starts. It's been twenty years since Seiichi Osabe had his trial. We now follow his silent life as a thirty-six year old man.
And this is where I shall end my Chi no Wadachi journey. While this story was fantastic and an incredible representation of abuse and the fallout I have gotten everything I needed from this. The art and what it represents is incredible but at this point, I am tired and that's okay because I had a great time up until now.
How do you begin to live your life after experiencing so much trauma?
Now, get this volumes 1-12 was the prologue. Seriously? I guess Shuzo Oshimi said, "Hold my beer and don't spill it."
We start with Sei living his life in Tokyo. He has a normal job, 36 years old, and living alone. He still suffers mentally, but he is dealing with it. His father stops by to visit and realizes his son is barely clinging to life. His apartment is a mess, and his attitude is very nonchalant. He suggests to his son that they should go out to dinner to get out of the trashy apartment.
Over dinner, Sei father apologizes for all the pain Sei has experienced and begs for his forgiveness. Afterwards, Sei continues on with his life. He later receives a phone call from a local hospital. They basically let him know his father is very ill. Sei rushes to the hospital and sees his father unconscious. For days, he remains that way until he finally awakens. Doctors let Sei know that his father may not make it due to the severity of his condition. His father dies, and Sei is left with the responsibility of placing his father remains at rest.
Now, after all this, Sei feels he can die at peace. Meaning he can end his life because there is no one left to keep watch. The artwork is absolutely haunting and disturbing. You feel every emotion in each panel. Shuzo does an incredible job of making you feel uncomfortable while reading this manga. I mean, volumes 1-12 were just an introduction. Jesus, take the wheel, and please drive me right off a cliff. I don't think I can take 12 more volumes of this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is brutal. Sei is all alone. I sob every time his father grabs his hand in the hospital. Gets me every time. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 5 stars
Shuzo Oshimi does it again! This volume picks up 20 years after volume 12, which was a huge shocker for me. This volume opens up with Seiichi living in society and working a factory job. He has not seen his mother since she renounced him in court and has a tentative and barely present relationship with his father. Seiichi's mind is still shattered, fractured, and slipping. This felt so hopeless. It broke my heart into a million pieces. This poor kid is now a man with no one and nothing. I can't wait to see where this story goes. It could go in so many different directions and I'm nervous, scared, but also itching for more.
Patada para adelante para seguir hurgando en las consecuencias, ahora con salto en el tiempo. Bien Oshimi, ¡¡bien!! (dijo él mirando el panorama desde la rendija que prepara con su mano entre el marco de la ventana y la cortina)
After the truly terrible words said by his mother in the last volume we get a huge time skip, 20 years later, and Seiichi is trying to live his life the best he thinks he could. Which is not very well. He's going through the motions, not wanting or needing anything. Only staying alive because his father is still around. He sees him every once in awhile but when tragedy strikes, Seiichi gets closer and closer to the line of suicide.
A great look into depression, suicide, and loss. I really love the more somber look into 20 years later verses some more movie-like ending where something scary or major happens. This feels realistic, and in the best way possible. Shuzo keeps on maturing as he continues to write, and I hope that continues.
three things: first, the time jump?!?!? i gasped second, the fact that the synopsis at the end says, “the great preface is over - and now the real story begins!”…….. so all that I just read was just a little toe dip?? a little sneaky peak? thirdly, is that why this is the first manga to ever make me cry (twice)? idk how oshimi does it
Well, I guess it isn't a Shuzo Oshimi series unless we get one of his unwelcome time jumps. The story screeches to a halt as we have to get up to speed on the characters' boring lives twenty years on.
সেইচি এখন যুবক। পুনর্বাসন কেন্দ্র থেকে ফিরে এসে শুরুতে বাবার সাথে থাকলে পরে নিঃসঙ্গ জীবনযাপন করে।পরে বাবা মারা গেলে সে আর একাও হয়ে যায়।তবে এটা ভুল সে যে পুরোপুরি একা।বরং তার মনোজগতে এখন ঘুরে বেড়ায় তার সেই মৃত কাজিন যাকে সে মেরে ফেলেছিল নিজেকে মারতে গিয়ে।
This volume is sad, but story is not creepy as it was before. But still holding my breath when flipping the pages. Also, it’s 20 years!!! after the main events. Why author did that???
This takes quite a a change as we start to follow Seiichi 20 years later at 16 years old. It's still just as engrossing and I need to read the next volume asap.
Volume 13 takes place 20 years after the previous one, where Saiichi has been released from prison and now lives alone in Tokyo. Despite not having been in contact with his mother, the events of his past still shape him today. His body lives, but he seems to lack any soul.
This volume explores Saiichi's relationship with his father, who supports him unconditionally. The genuine love that Saiichi's dad has for him brought tears to my eyes.
As a reader, we can feel the suffocating loneliness of Saiichi's life through the drawings. I'm eagerly anticipating the next volume!
I’m reading it online and I don’t know exactly where the chapters start and end but the father and sei whole appearance in like after 20 years is extremely sad like I literally cried my heart out it was so miserable and quite touching seeing how sei’s life is just gone waisted all because of his mother who still hunts him even when he wants to finally rest it’s exhausting actually and I’m wondering why the author decided that after all these years sei mother is going to have a comeback I just need an end please
Before I review this, some context, I collected the “prologue” when they were releasing them physically. I first hated it and then mellowed out. Then vol 12 ended saying “the prologue is over” or something like that and sold my set. I would not buy volumes again but I’ve heard things that happen so I wanted to pick it back up.
Okay now the review, holy shit this volume was amazing. Probably because the mother is not here at all (I know she shows up later). Oshimi loves his time skip moping arcs. I liked how broken Seichi was cause it feels natural to get to that point. I feel so bad for his dad even though he is a bit at fault. Rippppp. It all felt natural and depressing. Nothing weird happened at all and honestly when Oshimi writes realistically he’s at his best. Glad I’m picking this back up lowkey. Hoping Seichi fully turns around. He needs to see what life really has to offer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.