Manga Reviews Reviews Sponsors Yen Press

Manga Review: Touring After The Apocalypse Vol. 1 & 2 (2023) by Sakae Saito

A relaxed trip through the world's end

With Japan in ruins and humanity seemingly eradicated, a young girl, Youko, heads out into the wasteland with her AI companion Ainri. Following in the steps of her sister through her social media posts before the fall, the two young girls explore once was, reflect on the past, and keep a constant lookout for signs of life. Across the two first volumes, the duo does a tour of the Japanese countryside, Kisarazu, and ends up in Akhibara in an attempt to find the source of the mysterious radio broadcast.

A slice of life while roaming a post-apocalyptic Japan, 's “” takes a rather relaxed approach to the world-end, even choosing to celebrate what once was, through the quizzical nature of its main characters discussing various areas of Japan. In the inaugural volume, noted fans of “Girl's Last Tour” would enjoy Sakae Sato's own apocalyptic tale, and while that description is apt, “Touring After The Apocalypse” brings its own unique charm. Both capture a peculiar comfort in the solitude of a fallen civilization, but “Touring After the Apocalypse” has a surprisingly upbeat and wholesome tone that makes it a more relaxed read. Add in the more open and serene depiction of the landscape, and “Touring After The Apocalypse” is anything but a replica of its popular counterpart.

However, the series is not without its own challenges, as there is a general lack of direction or a greater narrative being built. Certainly, the protagonist has a goal, to find her sister, but this is less of a driving force and the focus is more on living in the moment and enjoying the company of Ainri. Furthermore, there is a focus on educational elements as the two piece together what the landscape once was, further adding to the impression of just existing at the moment as opposed to working towards a goal.

Follow Us on Twitter banner 2

Unfortunately, the laid-back approach makes Youko the least inspiring character in the series, despite her being the main protagonist. This is highlighted by the robots that occupy the land, with two separate instances across the two volumes where AI becomes a more tragic figure than the lonely girl. While this, undeniably, shows Saito's ability to tell an emotionally charged story, the lack of the same emotional response to the lead is slightly disconcerting for the longevity of the series. At this junction, enjoyment of the title will hinge on whether readers are comfortable with the lead character being the least fascinating thing about the series.

The artwork successfully captures one of the most integral elements of a work of this ilk, depicting the aftermath of the world's end. The background work is fascinating and feels considered, such as a trip to an abandoned and overgrown Akihabara conveying the writer's own experience. Consequently, “Touring After the Apocalypse” resonates with a love for Japan, with picturesque views of the landscape and a romanticization of the culture.

“Touring After the Apocalypse” is a difficult tile to pin down, it radiates positivity in the face of destruction but its approach is almost lackadaisical when it comes to establishing a greater narrative and building up its protagonists. This is the second volume, and the series is still ongoing, yet it still is difficult to approach with certainty. After two volumes it is still difficult to recommend or have a strong opinion about the work, but there are enough elements that the series exceeds in that it makes it worth coming back to see how the story develops and whether it evolves into anything beyond the post-apocalyptic tourism it currently offers.

About the author

Adam Symchuk

Adam Symchuk is a Canadian born freelance writer and editor who has been writing for Asian Movie Pulse since 2018. He is currently focused on covering manga, manhwa and light novels having reviewed hundreds of titles in the past two years.

His love of film came from horror and exploitation films from Japan that he devoured in his teens. His love of comics came from falling in love with the works of Shuzo Oshimi, Junji Ito, Hideshi Hino, and Inio Asano but has expanded to a general love of the medium and all its genres.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

>