MANGA REVIEW | "Hirayasumi" - Volume Two
A good slice-of-life is just that. It’s a day-to-day look into the life of characters that could be reflections of our own selves. The best example of this comes from Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor, which places the author right in the spotlight with thoughts that hit you right in the jugular. Hiroto in Hirayasumi may not be as pessimistic as Pekar was, but he’s got a charm to him that makes him downright relatable. Along with the rest of his circle of friends & family, Hiroto brings life back to what it is, especially in the second volume.
While there is no linking story going on with these characters, was we do see is a truly humanistic growth happening within everyone. For cousin Natsumi, it’s her trying to make it in the tough world of manga creation. Her friend Akari attempts to break through her anxieties and be a better artist. Hiroto’s new friend — the real-estate agent Yomogi — takes on her job with as much mumbled gripes as the Average Joe. Even Hideki takes his slacker attitude head-on, which is necessary when he’s close to becoming a father for the first time.
So where does all of this lead Hiroto himself in Hirayasumi? To be frank, he’s kind of become the voice of reason in all of these people’s lives. When Natsumi storms out of the home in a huff, it’s Hiroto that helps cool her down simply by being there. The amount of times when Hideki messes up can fill up a phone book, and it’s always Hiroto that sets him straight with his complete bluntness. Even a simple gesture like offer food or simply talking allows Hiroto to make some friendly moves with Yomogi.
Although she was introduced in the first volume, Yomogi is more fleshed out here than before. Readers get a good idea on what her life is like, as she uses all of her energy to be a workhorse, even sometimes foregoing a meal for the sake of a dollar. To put it bluntly, she’s a wreck, and more weight is added when a family member passes away. It causes Yomogi to lash out at Hiroto, who makes a harmless comment about the upcoming festival. Thankfully, just as life often does, Yomogi gets a chance to redeem herself and apologize to Hiroto.
There’s a lot of gratitude given to Hiroto from those close to him, with very little of him to ask of in return. But deep down, it’s clear that’s something’s amiss. There are hints of what happened to his acting career, with one flashback showcasing him possibly at his lowest. Another revolved around the old woman whose house he now lives in shows him in another vulnerable state after they watch one of his films together. But I’m certain we’ll see the full tale sometime, when Hiroto is ready to talk about it.
Hirayasumi takes a one-day-at-a-time route with its narrative, if you can call it that. Volume Two continues to take Hiroto’s stride-taking attitude, bringing forth plenty of wisdom, humor, and the right amount of melodrama. The lessons it showcases are not deep, but they have enough to them that’ll leave some kind of mark on the soul. While there is no end game to Hirayasumi, I do look forward to seeing just how much these characters will grow as time goes by.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
