MANGA REVIEW | "With You and the Rain" - Volume One
Once in awhile, the brain will require a read that’s both calming and cute to look at. These manga — sometimes in the iyashikei genre — will soothe those dealing with stressful work days or those in need of a break from the anxieties of the world. Ko Nikaido’s With You and the Rain is one such series that’s written to keep readers at ease, while at the same time deliver unexpected laughs from its fuzzy costar.
The story follows a nameless woman who stumbles upon a box on her way home. In the box is a tanuki looking for a place to live. After the strange animal gifts her an umbrella, the woman has no choice but to bring the raccoon dog to her house, where she finds that he’s a lot more clever than he looks. Together, the two bond over the mundane things in life, with the tanuki letting his new owner know his feelings with pen & paper handy.
How the tanuki wins the hearts of his owner and her circle is what With You and the Rain focuses on the most. From skeptical parents to the neighbors, the tanuki finds some fun and interesting ways to convince them that he’s nothing more than a dog. Despite a veterinarian’s warning or a mother’s dissatisfaction, the tanuki somehow manages to live life with his owner without any sort of fear. This of course leads to many cute moments that the animal brings to the pages, all of which will make anyone wish that these wild creatures were domesticated.
Trips to the beach, a summer festival, and even a walk around the city are presented with much sweetness and care. How the tanuki acts around baths, spiders, and even a doting father are showcased with the right mixture of cuteness and comedy. One moment you’re feeling fuzzy after seeing the tanuki write out its gratitude; the next, you’ll be laughing at how it rejects a matching shirt by a dejected dad. All of it is drawn with much care by Nikaido, who captures the owner’s beauty in the same way it brings forth the adorableness of the tanuki.
With You and the Rain is one of those manga that’ll easily relax your mind and fill your heart with warmth. It’s a slow burn, but one that’s greatly needed when the time comes to settle down after dealing with daily stresses. It may be another cute pet manga, but With You and the Rain goes to show that you can never have too many of these sorts of stories.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Tomo Tran of Kodansha Manga
