Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha for the ARC.

This is a touching story about two people finding each other while dealing with their own pasts. This manga touches on some pretty serious topics - death, depression, guilt, loneliness, etc. It does get a bit dark at times, but it is overall more hopeful than anything else. I really enjoyed the two leads, their stories, and the relationship they develop.

I have read a few of Kaori Ozaki's works. So far, I really love Gods Lie the most, Mermaid Prince was okay and this new manga fell in between this two. The simple story about moving on from the past and trying to find happiness in what we have now is such a heartfelt message. Our main character dealing with her affairs with a married man goes back to her hometown in an island to care for her dying father met a younger man that worked in a convenience store with a dark past. The tone of the story is more lighthearted with a slight darker undertone but not as dark as Gods Lie. I like the budding relationship between the couple as they learned to let go of the past and overcame their fears. There aren't much of character development but i like the simplicity of these people living their life. Its a sweet simple story

This is a tale of two broken adults who are now living in their rural hometown after being away for a long time. Despite being two very different people, Nichiko and Chimaki begin to get closer as they figure out how to move on from past incidents, or their sins, and what to do with their lives. I really enjoyed reading this, since their struggles of not knowing what to do in their lives and trying to find something is very relatable.

I think I just like this author's work, cause again super slice of life yet I couldn't stop reading.

Basically a 34 year old women is trying to figure out life. Goes back to a small town with her ill father, and as he passes away she tries to find the meaning in life. Sadly she's mixed up, messing with a married man, but meets a new guy on the island who has a set of troubles himself. The past is never nice to people, and this story is about forgiveness and letting go while finding meaning in life. Overall a great look into the life of normal people trying to get by in life. A 4 out of 5.

This was super sweet. A slice of life story between two adults lost in their pasts and trying to move on. It was so sweet to see them work through the things that was holding them back from enjoying life, and somehow finding solace with each other

Personally, the MMC is not one that I'm fond of-happy go lucky personality type but I still enjoyed the story nonetheless.

I loved the art style and will definitely be checking out the artists other work!!

A solid complete-in-one volume of an adult drama that takes place in a small island town in Japan. Dogs and Punching Bags deals with themes of being an outsider and coming to terms with your past. It was sweet to see the relationship between the two super different main characters Nichiko and Chimaki develop over time. Good for those looking for a dramatic story with adult characters.

I really enjoyed this! I thought the story was well thoughtout and realistic. The characters were relatable, flaws and all. There was a bit of an age gap between the two main characters, but it wasn't as much of an issue for me as they were both of age. I thought the romance between the two was really cute, and would definitely read more! The art had a very adorable quality to it, too!

Thank you so much for letting me read this manga. I liked this story very much. The characters stay with you long after finishing the story.

This was a great read. I loved the interaction between the leads and how their relationship grew over time. There were some weird moments, but they didn't ruin the overall reading experience. I loved the art and how the story progressed from start to finish. The book felt like a good feel good animated movie.

Overall, highly recommended by me. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

I was thrilled to see a new story for Kaori Ozaki, I've always loved her art and the way she writes her characters. They're so messy and fresh. Her small town stories are always heartwarming and full of humor.
While some of the tropes she gravitates toward aren't really my cup of tea, I find that I don't usually mind because of her execution, which is always on point. I loved this.

"Life can wear you down like a beat-up punching bag, but it still goes on"

Thank you to NetGalley, Vertical Comics, and Kaori Ozaki for an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title!

Nichiko knows her alcoholic father's days are numbered as she steps back onto the remote island she once called home. Troubled with her feelings about her father, the wretched past she left on the mainland, and her musings on feeling somewhat unmoored in her 30s, she expects to find little comfort as she exits the ferry. When she runs into an eccentric younger man who is the manga equivalent of a golden retriever boyfriend - complete with a burning desire to save everything and everyone he comes across - she is surprised at the hope she feels (even through he's 10 years her junior). Dogged and dig-eyed Chimaki has his own secrets, however, and only time will tell if together they can carve out something new and true in their respective beat-down lives.

I thought this was going to be a wrestling manga based on the cover and picked it up on a whim because I thought the artwork was beautiful. While it's not really about boxing beyond being a metaphor, I was completely pleased to find a wonderful story that I think a lot of people can really resonate with - finding yourself as an adult, the power behind regret and sunk cost, learning to live under and out from the shadow of tragedy, the warmth of found family, the societal expectations that can hold us back, the redemptive power of forgiving yourself, and learning to let go of regrets in the things we cannot change, to name a few points. A little corny at times, and deeply emotional at others (and with some adult-level spice, content, and language, so don't pass this along to your kids), this was a beautiful 2-in-1 volume I'd recommend to anyone who needs an afternoon of a crisp and fulfilling story to shake their woes away.

Thank you Kodansha and Net Galley for the copy to review!

Kaori Ozaki has always been an amazing story teller and artist and as such I was really excited to read her newest work "Dogs and Punching Bags". The story starts off really strong, with a sweet romance and two incredibly likeable leads. At first, it feels like a heartfelt story about two people facing their pasts together, but as it goes on, the plot starts to lose focus. There are a lot of unresolved plot points that take away from what should’ve been an emotional ending, leaving you with more questions than closure. That said, the characters are great, and despite the messy storytelling, it’s still a fun and engaging read!

The concepts in the manga would be confusing for young children, I would rate this a 14+ series.

I want to start off with by saying that Chimaki is most Golden Retriever MMC probably ever and I love it. Also, It was also nice to see a FMC in a manga be about my age and it not be treated like a curse or something.

I was not expecting such an emotional roller coaster when I started this manga, but I loved the whole ride. One minute I'm giggling and the next I'm crying. There is nothing I can think of that I would really change other than there being more volumes so I can read more about Nichiko and Chimaki's life.

e-ARC from NetGalley.

This was fine. I expected a lot more from it, tbh. The side stories were so underdeveloped that they really should have been excluded entirely, and the comparison of the love interest's eye mole to her childhood dog's tick bite immediately icked me out.

I'm not having good luck with manga this month.

To be honest, I’m not 100% sure how I feel about this one. I’ve loved all of Kaori Ozaki’s previous works, especially The Golden Sheep. And I want to love this one just as much.
On the one hand, it’s a cute romance between a woman who’s been hurt by love, and a man who’s never been in love before. But on the other…the age gap. The age gap kind of bothers me just a tiny bit.
Dogs and Punching Bags follows the story of Nichiko who returns home to her secluded island to care for her dying father after a messy break-up with her boyfriend. While at the island, she meets a mysterious young man named Chimaki whom the island residents are wary of, but she can’t help but grow closer to, his outgoing personality drawing her in.
The underlying intrigue really kept me reading. I’m a sucker for mysterious characters, and I had to know more about Chimaki. I did appreciate that she felt conflicted about the age gap. Also, the last chapter had some innuendo, which if you’re not expecting it can be surprising. Nothing too graphic, all mostly suggestion. Loved the story, loved the resolution, but I have mixed feelings overall.
Overall, Dogs and Punching Bags is a cute, gentle tale of love, perfect for fans of manga like A Sign of Affection and/or Kaori’s other’s works.
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for the opportunity to read and review this manga. This is something that I was not sure what I was getting into, but I always enjoy this mangaka's art. I at first thought it was a romance. It is, but it also is more of a coming of age/woman's fiction story with an age gap romance(among adults) as a bonus aspect. It teaches some life lessons about how people learn about grieving , how life can change with one event, and how people can make your life better. I have gone back and forth trying to decide what to rate this and I have to say, it's 5 out of 5 stars. This is what I wanted 5 centimeters per second to be and I love the characters and setting. If it becomes a movie, I will watch it. 5 out of 5 stars.

I just finished the comic book and I wanted to write my review right away while my feelings and emotions were still fresh. First of all, even though it has a melancholic atmosphere due to the backgrounds of the main characters, it also warms the heart with the close-knit society it reflects. Although I like the characters in general, there is one place I didn't like in the flow of the story, and that is when Mr. Saito returned to mainland, his wife begged for forgiveness from the man by crying / feeling awful, and the man returned to the role of decent family father as if nothing had happened / as if he had done nothing wrong. I also think that there should be a warning and the age limit should be +18 due to the fact that sexuality is shown by drawing, albeit in poetic expressions.

I want to start this by saying I’ve already ordered the physical copy of this. Being in my 30s I adored that the protagonist is older and how heartwarming this is. It really deals with a lot of complex issues but in such a tender way. I adored the unique characters, the exploration of different types of relationships and how a small community interacts.

The art style and panel layout worked so well and I adored every second of this one. Part slice of life, part exploration of the human condition, this is a must read.

As always thank you to Kodansha Comics for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

thanks to NetGalley for a copy

This was a sweet lil story. 4 stars

Pros:
Gorgeous Art
Short, quick read
Sympathetic Characters

Cons:
Honestly I just wish it hadn't wrapped up so neatly for all our characters. They all had complicated lives and backstories and there was a lot of nuance in portraying them. So the happy end all around came off as slightly twee.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for an arc for review.

Maybe it's because I'm a peer to Nichiko but something about Dogs and Punching Bags hit just right. Am I finally actually aging into josei? (I've been here lol.)
1. The art is gorgeous, the characters are expressive and distinct
2. Nichiko is... so wildly different than me but also so relateable
3. Chimaki is a little guilt ridden weirdo, in the best of ways

The book is heavy with grief, shame, and life changes. But it also maintains it's sense of humor. And even the secondary characters are more fleshed out than I typically experience in one shots. While the resolution was beautiful, I'd happily read more from the island.