Mangaka Tohono is struggling to make a name for himself in the industry, with his past work suffering poor runs .Unable to come up with ideas, his editor asks him to try his hands at the ‘slice of life' genre. A request based on the simplicity and relatability of the genre, qualities lacking in his previous projects. Hesitant at first, Tohono finds confronting his own social fears a rewarding practice to help inspire the manga. Consequently, the challenge proves rewarding as the series first volume is a hit.
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“Yoshi no Zuikara” takes a meta approach to the subject material, with a manga about a mangaka struggling to come up with new material feeling self referential. Additionally, the first chapter which appears to be the subject's background, transforms into the opening chapter of the project he is currently working on. While it feels like a bit of a misdirect at first, this transition works well to frame the creator's own struggles for validation.
Falling under the genre of ‘slice of life' itself, the flow of the story is relaxed and observational, rather than conflict driven. The simplicity of the genre is made light of in the narrative, with the editor stating how easy it is to thrive in the genre. However, the mangaka's own struggle to transition shows the concept of being an ‘easy' genre far from the truth. Additionally, fans of ‘slice of life' are likely aware how difficult it can be to capture the nuances that attract readers to a title.
With that said, Satsuki Yoshino approaches ‘slice of life' in a complimentary fashion, building off strong characters and maintaining a persistent and endearing comedic tone. This is best exemplified in the relationship between Tohono and his assistant Toshi, whose youthful optimism both inspires and annoys the reclusive mangaka. Additionally, there are a lot of characters introduced in the first volume that seem placed to add later intrigue. While it is a bit early to praise character development overall, the first entry sets a strong foundation for future volumes.
The visual styling of Satsuki Yoshino is unlikely to win over fans, since, besides a knack for comedic timing, the overall presentation is rather lackluster. While this aspect is not necessarily key within the genre, a lack of flair does hurt the overall presentation. Thankfully, the edition from Yen Press includes some bonus chapters which help give more insight into the creative process, adding some needed depth in style.
“Yoshi no Zuikara” is an ideal slice of life manga, with a complementary flow, strong character build and an interesting concept within the genre. Additionally, the more memorable interactions from the awkward mangaka speak well to the success of future volumes. Overall, the series is perfect for readers who look to manga to unwind with endearing and humorous characters.
