Keigo Shizo does it again! The story has hit its (sedate) stride after the first volume, and this volume moves forward with the intertwining daily life plots of the various characters, all woven around the strong main thread of Hiroto and Yomogi’s coincidental interactions building towards actual acquaintanceship. This is interspersed with more standalone chapters that showcase Shizo’s touch with understated plotting.

And it isn’t just the plot, since I don’t think there’s a single character from the previous volume that isn’t made deeper and more interesting in some small way, and most of them are made so in significant ways. Especially interesting is how this volume teases future revelations that Hiroto ‘s departure from acting might have been more complex than was suggested back in the very first chapter.

And it isn’t just the plot and the characters. The art still has its slightly odd character designs (perhaps the only weakness of this series) contrasted with the amazing background and environment work that look more like something out of Bande Dessinee than manga. Only Shizo could create a spread on a city street with trash piled at every corner and still convince you a few lights and floats make it beautiful like he does on page 116.

An amazing installment that makes me hungry for more.

Hirayasumi charmed me in its first volume and here in volume 2, it continues to defy expectations and easy assumptions. This simple slice of life book, with each chapter capturing a single day in the life of this makeshift family, is endlessly charming. Shinzo's art is deliberate and efficiently paced, using panels and imagery in just such a way to draw the reader into a sense of comfort and intimacy with the characters. But then you're hit with a wide shot or a closing two page spread that wows you. The final image of this chapter is incredibly moving as our quiet, laid back protagonist absorbs the beauty of the mundane homestead he loves so much.

I really love this series.

I liked this a little less than the first volume, but it expanded on the character’s backstory much more and I love reading those portions. Maybe it’s just from the gap in between reading the first and second volumes, it just took much longer to feel invest in the story. Regardless, I love this manga and am looking forward to future volumes. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this for review!

It's now the peak of summer in this second volume and Natsumi is still struggling with school and trying to make it big as a manga artist. There is a lot of focus on Hiroto’s new friend Yomogi, Hiroto’s best friend Hideki, and Natsumi’s friend Akari. I really enjoy seeing their struggles and how they interact with Hiroto and Natsumi. I'm also really enjoying the wistful and melancholy atmosphere. I can't wait to read the next volume.

I really like that friendship was the main theme of this second volume of Hirayasumi, or at least the first half of the chapters. There was also the return to the overarching theme of home and who and where they best makes sense to someone. Readers are treated to a chapter with a mention of Granny, the woman who was befriended by Hiroto in the past and eventually left him her house where he lives in the current story. Readers may be internally interrogating themselves with their own questions such as: Where is home? Who in my life makes it feel like home?

Seeing workaholic Yomogi looking at the city lights alone in her beautiful high-rise apartment is a startling comparison to the memories of her bending down, close to the ground, happily petting the family cat in her youth at her parent’s place. Seeing Natsumi and Hiroto happily celebrating a special occasion with a smashed cake in their old, cluttered little house feels tonally appropriate and really special to see. I love that each volume of this manga returns to this healing, comfort manga category that I want to reread even before I get to the last page.

At heart, this second volume of Hirayasumi really reminds us why happier memories of the past can fuel us for the days to come and remind us why such relationships are important. That is illustrated by showing us a smaller version of Natsumi in the past showing off her manga to her favorite cousin–as in the current day she’s drawing more manga now in college. We also see it with Hideki reminiscing how much fun he had with Hiroto as a teen and wanting to have better balance in life having fun as an adult and responsibilities as he is a soon to be father. We even see it with Yomogi thinking back on seeing the family cat as a teen–now ancient while deep diving into working on a weekend.

I love every volume of Hirayasumi that I can get my hands on, and this second volume reinforces why slice of life genre is king. There is a need for stories that flourish in this genre, and Keigo Shinzo’s pen does incredible work bringing up the mundane and extraordinary of everyday life. Reading along to see these characters and their quest for purpose and finding or maintaining that place of home, that place of comfort and belonging is happily one I vow to continue reading.

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A soft, warm slice-of-life manga about living comfortably at a slow pace and appreciating the little things in life, like a home-cooked meal. I enjoyed the story, though it didn't blow me away. I'll continue to pick up the series.

TW: death of a pet

I received an ARC of Hirayasumi, volume 2 by Keigo Shinzo published by Viz from NetGalley and Viz in exchange for an honest review. This review contains spoilers.

As you may recall, I loved volume one of Hirayasumi. So to say I was excited about Hirayasumi volume 2 is probably an understatement. I wanted as much of the story as I could get, as soon as possible. Volume 1 did an amazing job of introducing the characters and giving us just enough about them to feel them out. Volume 2 picks up right where it left off and while it continues the breezy feel, it expands on everyone in surprising ways.

Natsumi's Growth in Hirayasumi Volume 2

Natsumi is an easy character to love because she's at the peak of growth. Eighteen, away from home for the first time, and dealing with a lot of growing pains. Sometimes she doesn't do or say the "right" thing but it's clear she's learning as she goes. I appreciate her willingness to own up to her mistakes and do better once she knows better.

In this volume, we see Natsumi become more vulnerable to Akari in multiple ways. Natsumi opens up to Akira about her mangaka dreams and shares her manga with Akira. Only Hiro had read her manga in the past. Akira is so supportive and encourages Natsumi to submit to a different publication, which ultimately leads to her manga winning an award.

We also see Natsumi get her first job, also thanks to Akira. At the job, she sees Akira in a different light and even thinks, "She's out of my league." Which then leads her to question why she thought that in the first place. It's interesting to read because some of Natsumi's thoughts about Akira border the line between admiration and crush. I'm not sure if that's the direction this relationship is going in, but regardless, I love to see the bonds between the girls deepen. It's clear they both have such a positive influence on each other. I only see more growth for Natsumi as a result of this bond.

Another relationship we see Natsumi appreciate is the one with Hiro. When Natsumi makes a throwaway comment and believes that she hurts Hiro's feelings, we see her hold on to this until she apologizes. We get to see Natsumi being so wrapped up in her life that she has to step out of herself for a moment and take in what is going on around her.

Hiroto's Past

At first glance, Hiroto is an always positive, upbeat guy, who knows what to say to family and friends. I was glad to see other sides to him that humanize him and also give context to why he is the way he is now.

Firstly, I loved Hiro calling out Hideki multiple times on his bullshit. "Why are you even friends with that jerk?" Natsuki asks the question that we are all thinking! For me, it was also notable that Hiro calls out Hideki regarding the fight with his wife. So many people would not get in between a couple's problems. However, I do think as a good friend, if you see your friend being a shitty partner, you absolutely have the right to say something. To me, it shows how much Hiro values Hideki and that he's able to speak his mind candidly.

We also learn a bit more about Hiro's acting journey and how he walked away due to the pressures of competition. It's clear to everyone that Hiro has the looks and is talented. But I get his refusal to want to be a part of the hamster wheel of competing for a spot. Always having to prove your worth and fight for roles would feel so demoralizing. I wonder if we will see Hiro make a return to acting down the line.

Yomogi Being Honest

It's hard to pick a favorite character when all three of the main characters are so charming, but with this volume, Yomogi is making a case! One thing I appreciate about her character is the stark comparison she provides about the satisfaction of life. It's clear to see that she feels very "meh" about where she is in life. This comes to a boiling point when she lashes out at Hiro during the festival prep.

Since volume one, Yomogi has felt contempt towards Hori because she perceives him as "breezing through life." When he makes a positive comment to her during the festival prep, not knowing her cat died, this sets her off and makes her confront exactly what she has been avoiding in her own life. When Yomogi later apologizes to Hiro, it looks like one of her walls has come down.

I'm a lover girl by default, so of course I am shipping these two. However, I wouldn't be mad if they became good friends down the line. Hiro has the right amount of optimism someone like Yomogi needs in her life.

What's to Come

There's so much groundwork laid in the fabric of this manga, that there is a lot of room for speculating what comes next. Things that seem to be throwaway comments or insignificant moments come around and have bigger impacts down the line in the story. Yet because the story is so open-ended, I'm not sure what to expect. Either way, I am so excited for the next volume and to see what unfolds next for these three.

Hirayasumi, Volume 2
Mangaka: Keigo Shinzo
Translator: Jan Mitsuko Cash
Publisher: Viz

Volume 2 is available for now.

Published by Viz Media and available August 20, 2024, Hirayasumi Vol. 2 is the followup to a book I reviewed previously. I really loved the first book in this series, so I was excited to get to review the second. I'm pleased to say it's just as good as the first, perhaps even better. This is a series about a laid-back character in a world of stress and anxiety and Hiroto's calm rubs off on the reader, even as it manages to influence the characters around him. The art is unique and all the characters are well-written, and this volume expands on the supporting cast as they experience anxiety, marital strain, and grief. One interesting feature of this series is the text narration, which is uncommon in manga, but here moves the story along and gives insight into the characters. It's an iyashikei (lit. "healing", a genre that focuses on soothing and healing the reader) and moves at a day-to-day pace that we all need from time to time.

Hirayasumi may be a slice of life story, but it is the manga equivalent of drinking a cold drink on a hot day. The characters are entertaining without reporting to caricatures and this second volume builds nicely on the events of the first volume. The blurb lists five characters and somehow you learn new things about all of them in this volume without having to devote a full story arc to show character development. We also get a lovely flashback in one chapter featuring the granny that left Hiroto the house which serves as the centerpiece of the story. I am looking forward to the next volume.

Hiroto Ikuta, his cousin Nat, his friends, Hideki and Yomogi, and Nat's friend Akiria all have their problems as summer heats up around them. Despite the all stress, Hiroto manages to keep calm which can be galling to those around him. In various of the chapters, we learn how he cam to be a movie star and why he left (at least two different versions) acting. We also get to see the triumphs and tragedies that come with navigating what we call life. Sometimes, it is nice to just set back and enjoy the flow with Hiroto!

Thanks Netgalley and Viz Media for the chance to read this title.

This was a strong follow up to the first book in the series. I'm intrigued by the characters, though there's little in the way of plot. It has a very relaxed vibe which makes sense considering Hiro's characterization. I also enjoy that we still get flashbacks of Granny, although I definitely do wish we had a little bit more. Many of the side characters did get fleshed out further, which I liked, and I still hope to see more of Natsumi's relationships develop in future volumes.

Loved this! Nat is finally starting to appreciate Hiro (as she should!) and she’s really grown for the better in his presence. It was great to see more about her journey and the journeys of a bunch of the side characters. And we even got some Granny moments! As someone the same age as Hiro, it’s so wonderful to see him be behind the milestones expected of him, but be so genuinely happy as he moves at his own pace. A relatable story told beautifully!