“Kazuya Kawaguchi has always had a crush on Miki Toda since elementary school, but every time he tries to give her a love letter to confess his feelings, he ends up turning away in fear. Several years later, the two meet at an alumni homecoming. Much to his dismay, Kazuya discovers that Miki doesn't remember who he is, and so puts up an act to hide the fact that the revelation has affected him so. Meanwhile, Miki garners a vague recollection of Kazuya, and so begins feeling similarly dismayed at the fact that he seemingly doesn't remember who she is, either. But just when Miki thinks the night will end in sheer frustration, Kazuya builds the courage to ask her out on a date. And so begins the awkwardly cute love story of these two incidental lovers, where everything started with a stack of undelivered love letters well over a decade overdue.” (Irodori)
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Ordinally published as a twitter series consisting of a few panels per entry, “Love Letter For My Love Then and Now” evolved into a Doujinshi (Self published books that are in a shorter format with rights retained entirely by creator) before being translated by Irodori and released across multiple volumes. While the transformation from five page entries into a greater narrative has the potential to feel disjointed, Yuuki Sato ties together lovely reflections of timid romance that are equal parts heartwarming and hilarious.
Having been originally formatted as a five panel stories, the work is punchy with its desire to have a comedic sting or endearing moment to keep audiences entertained, guaranteeing a good chuckle or audible awe every few panels. In addition, Sato transcends the episodic format to offer a deeper narrative of a developing couple. Overall, the series benefits from its humble beginnings and reflects the care Sato took in further developing his work.
Kazuya Kawaguchi and Miki Toda are the ideal cute couple, with Kazuya's aloofness towards Miki's feelings making for moments of wholesome humor. Both subjects being kind-hearted in nature, it is easy to cheer them on as things begin to develop, from the first date to the first night spent together. The exploration of romance in later years of life (outside of school life) is largely underexplored in mainstream manga. Consequently, “Love Letter” is an ideal romantic tale aimed at an older audience that still maintains the lighthearted charm romance fans will find familiar.
Sato's artistic approach is often one of simplicity, with much of the story being presented in a simple cartoonish aesthetic. However, certain panels that call for big reactions from either Kazuya or Miki are imbued with a lot of defined character, particularly in the eyes. Certainly playful, the art may not be stunning but it perfectly fits the rom-com story that Sato expertly crafts.
The direct relationship required to publish Doujinshi formatted comics once again has Irodori handling the material with the utmost care. Companies like Irodori and Star Fruit Books are proving both the validity of the format for Western audiences as well as putting in the time to make the digital releases worthy of support. “Love Letter” is no exception with Frida Pramana making the lettering pop and Zhuchka compiling and formatting the work in a stylish manner.
As a reader who can indulge in romantic stories, “Love Letter” is a wonderful switch-up from the teen fueled romances that dominate the genre. Not just content to offer an unfamiliar angle, Yuuki Sato has impeccable comedic timing and an adorable aesthetic that makes the work a true joy to read.
