What do you think?
Rate this book
Land, Vol. 1
In a village where all residents die upon reaching fifty lives a girl named An, whose older twin sister was sacrificed to the “other world” that lay beyond the mountains. This village, called “our world” and governed by people wearing animal skins, is watched over by deities. When An seeks the truth about the mysterious inhabitants of the mountains, hope and despair await her...
658 pages, Hardcover
Published September 9, 2025
6 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Kazumi Yamashita
168 books7 followersName (in native language) : 山下和美
Zodiac : Leo
Blood Type : AB
Although she writes primarily older shoujo manga, she is best known for The Life of Genius Professor Yanagizawa, which was published in the seinen magazine Morning, and for which she received the 2003 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazumi_Y...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 22, 2025
Yamashita Kazumi was one of the featured artists/creators at the currently on-going Art of Manga exhibit at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. Her artwork on display and this story in particular caught my eye. This is a relatively recent compilation and translation to English of the first 18 installments of "Land."
Twin sisters separated harshly at an early age have their fates cross as such stories do. The pencil work and shading are nice, the story itself is more staggering. One sister lives in the village proper, the feral other in the hinterlands with a ragtag band out of outcasts. Both are within a world bracketed and patrolled by four large statue/gods each stationed at the north, east, south and west.
But there apparently is a world beyond this bracketed one, and glimpses of it come with a cost.
Things are not as they appear; in the village politics, in the animals roaming the wilderness, and perhaps in the Logan's Run/Naryama aspects of elder-care.
Unfortunately missed the SF presentation by Yamashita. My kids were familiar with may of the featured artists at the De Young but had not heard of before Yamashita before. I am grateful for the introduction.
The second English volume is not due until Apr 2026 on Zen Press.
Twin sisters separated harshly at an early age have their fates cross as such stories do. The pencil work and shading are nice, the story itself is more staggering. One sister lives in the village proper, the feral other in the hinterlands with a ragtag band out of outcasts. Both are within a world bracketed and patrolled by four large statue/gods each stationed at the north, east, south and west.
But there apparently is a world beyond this bracketed one, and glimpses of it come with a cost.
Things are not as they appear; in the village politics, in the animals roaming the wilderness, and perhaps in the Logan's Run/Naryama aspects of elder-care.
Unfortunately missed the SF presentation by Yamashita. My kids were familiar with may of the featured artists at the De Young but had not heard of before Yamashita before. I am grateful for the introduction.
The second English volume is not due until Apr 2026 on Zen Press.
December 23, 2025
Yamashita Kazumi is one of the featured artists at the currently Art of Manga exhibit at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. This story in caught my attention and I got the book right away. The art and the story are wonderful, I can't wait to read the rest.
December 13, 2025
The art, worldbuilding, and overall premise are very promising. The flow of plot/dialogue can be a little uneven and confusing to follow at times.
January 6, 2026
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
Twin girls born to a superstitious village in the middle of a valley must have one twin sacrificed to the gods to protect the village. Thus, Sutekichi takes one of his daughters to the mountain. He raises his other daughter, An, who is energetic and inquisitive. She begins to ask questions and investigate the workings of the gods, including why every villager seems to die when they reach age 50. The mystery is intriguing and Yamashita's beautiful soft art perfectly suits this esoteric, haunting story.
Full review in Booklist Magazine.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12
Twin girls born to a superstitious village in the middle of a valley must have one twin sacrificed to the gods to protect the village. Thus, Sutekichi takes one of his daughters to the mountain. He raises his other daughter, An, who is energetic and inquisitive. She begins to ask questions and investigate the workings of the gods, including why every villager seems to die when they reach age 50. The mystery is intriguing and Yamashita's beautiful soft art perfectly suits this esoteric, haunting story.
Full review in Booklist Magazine.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 10-12
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews