The Way of the Househusband, Vol. 1

極主夫道 [Gokushufudō] #1

by Kousuke Oono

Housework without honor or humanity

He was the fiercest member of the yakuza, a man who left countless underworld legends in his wake. They called him “the Immortal Dragon.” But one day he walked away from it all to walk another path—the path of the househusband! The curtain rises on this cozy yakuza comedy!

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Humor, Comics, Fiction, Comedy, Slice Of Life

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2018

About the author

Japanese mangaka. Aka おおのこうすけ (Ōno Kōsuke) creator of Gokushufudou.

Reviews

[The Artisan Geek]

18/7/20
Hands down the funniest manga I have ever read wow. The wholesome of this manga in combination with this dude being an ex-Yakuza member is actually the best ever. I need to read all the other volumes asap.

18/7/20
Read the first couple of pages yesterday and I am hooked! A Yakuza turned Househusband?! This is freaking hilarious haha!!

You can find me on
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[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gag manga is only as good as the main gag. The entire point of a good gag manga is that it can take that one joke, use it in various situation while keeping it fresh, and most importantly funny. It has to be repetitive, without feeling repetitive. Fortunately in the case of this series, the joke is exceptionally good.

Here we follow the daily life of a househusband, as he does such common things as making lunch, cleaning house and trying to get groceries while they are on sale. All common place, and he views them as such as well... the joke is though, that he's a former yakuza, and though he may be reformed he approaches everything still from the yakuza mindset. Anyone helping him shop is an underling who needs to follow orders. The roomba vacuum that doesn't properly do it's job, isn't cleaning up his turf enough. The next door kid breaks a toy... well, time to bury it six feet under in the backyard.

The approach to the mundane, but using such an over the top character can work, but only if never over done or TOO ridiculous. In this case it works, as though it is absurd, it never goes too far away from a realistic possibility. It may be the same joke told in a different fashion each chapter, but it's an exceptionally well done one and makes for one of the funniest manga series I've read in some time.

Highlight of the volume: Easily the chapter where our protagonist is planning out his wife's birthday.

4/5 stars and a full recommendation for slice of life comedy fans.

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me, I think I have a new favorite manga series.

This is absolutely adorable and hilarious. I love how each chapter starts off with a vague scene that comes across as violent or sketchy, and then there's always a reveal that his goings-on are totally innocent and helpful. Honestly, just absolutely precious and I laughed out loud so many times reading this one volume that I already can't wait for Vol. 2!

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The winner of the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication, The Way of the Househusband, vol. 1, by Kousuke Oono, translation by Sheldon Drzka, is about a former legendary Yakuza (Japanese gangster), Tatsu, also known as the Golden Dragon, who walked away from that life, and stayed home to take care of the home as his (rather ordinary) wife worked. He cooks, he cleans, he shops, and occasionally he is seen by tough punks on the street who can't believe he is now more into cooking than anything. So it's one basic, foundational joke out of which various stories/anecdotes are spun.

Tatsu can't quite get free of the gangster life, though; he's in transition: When the punks mock him, he beats them up with mad samurai skills. Under his chef's apron he wears the same badass clothes he wore as a Yakuza; clearly is still a scary dude, so his wife tries to get him to look more like a suburban Dad, but no dice. He takes on a roomba that doesn't clean according to his high standards. . . but he loses in a confrontation. He is sweet in searching for a birthday gift for his wife; he makes her an amazing feast. He finds her a copy of a volume of an anime she loves. But can this decision to be an ordinary househusband last? Very fun and heart-warming.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting manga and I really ended up enjoying it. I'd had my eye on it for a while and I really was curious on whether I was going to enjoy it or not. The Way of the Househusband focuses on a Yakuza boss named Tatsu who ends up falling in love and leaving the gangster lifestyle behind. While his partner works, Tatsu works at home as a househusband. It was hilarious watching him work through his daily house duties while maintaining some qualities that are reminiscent of his gangster days. This is a manga that is almost told in short story collection form. In fact, I would consider this volume to be a bind up of one shots. I'm not sure if their is going to be an over-arching story/plotline, but I'm enjoying it for what it is. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the scenes and the artwork as done so nicely. I'm interested in seeing where the story is going to go in future volumes.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way more hilarious than I anticipated, even given the concept of a former notorious yakuza settling down to be a house-husband for his career-minded wife. There's this:



But mostly it's this:



With some of this:

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is he the Yakuza who single-handedly broke up ten rival factions in a single night - unarmed! OR, just a simple guy who likes to cook and clean while his wife brings home the bacon?



Could be either, could be both . . . the way of the house-husband and the way of the Yakuza are connected.

This was a fun read, and I plan to continue with the series.



I can't wait til this happy couple has kids!

[Artemy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yesss! Here’s my new favorite gag manga. The premise is genius — a former Yakuza boss decides to abandon his criminal past and become, you guessed it, a househusband. Follow him as he gets into bargain bin sales, apartment cleaning, cooking, DIY and all that good stuff, while occasionally trying to manage former fellow gang members who are not yet accustomed to seeing their old boss in this new stage of his life. The jokes are hilarious, the characters are delightful, the art is fantastic and there’s an occasional cute cat here and there. What’s not to love?

[Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell]

I want to read this so bad it sounds so wholesome and I can't

It's giving me Samurai Cat vibes, tbh. Bad-ass/give no fucks bae with secret weakness for soft things.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was pretty hilarious: former yakuza boss turned househusband. I loved that he's wearing his sharp suit, hat, and sunglasses (sometimes IN the house) with an apron with a cute character on it all the time. That he covers his hair in a kerchief to mop the floors, and that he is not afraid to threaten a guy to get a good bargain!

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be one of those manga where you either love it, or it just seems pointless. I'm in the former camp. The transposition of the main character's badass yakuza seriousness into the environment of cooking classes and housecleaning is cracking me up. I'm really looking forward to the next volume, as I could see it either staying vignette / slice-of-life format, or that there could be a storyline developing since not everyone from his former life is happy that he's retired. Either way, I'm here for it.

[Han (semi-hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant! Hilarious and brilliant! This is manga crack, and I want to binge it all.

Tatsu vs. Roomba almost took me out.

We love someone who supports their high-powered, aspirational career woman and takes care of their home!!! *snaps and claps*

P.S. I would already die for Gin the cat

Chapters 1 through 9 (+ bonus manga 1 through 3)

[Jen - The Tolkien Gal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazingly funny break after reading Dorohedoro. I'll post a more comprehensive review tomorrow.

The premise of the story is simple but hilarious - an ex Yakuza member called Immortal Tetsu by his fellow members, abandons his life of crime and murder to become a house husband. And what I love about it, is that it doesn't make fun of his masculinity, but rather his obliviousness to how menacing he seems., illustrated here:





I'd recommend this to all fans of Gintama and Saiki K and Hinamatsuri, as recommended in the comments ;)

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehh. This one was pretty average but I do see potential. It's funny, but still a little bland because, let's face it, he's doing really bland things.

The illustrations are okay but there aren't too many characters yet to really make things interesting - the greatest pull is just the mystery of how he went from what he was to the house husband he is now. So my guess is this series will get more interesting as the past is revealed.

For now, happy to move on to a different series.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
Ehhh ... I have a feeling this gag could get old real quick, the story needs a little more substance.

[Irem⁷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

[CW ✨]

Can't believe I learned cleaning tips from an ex-yakuza house husband???

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

Tatsu used to be a member of the yakuza. But he left it all behind to be a househusband. The way he handles everyday chores is hysterical and entertaining.

I love the anime (which is on Netflix) and the manga! It's exactly what I needed after a long and stressful month of work. It was a quick, easy, and fun read.

Highly recommend it to fans of slice-of-life comedy.

*Read for AAPI Month 2023*

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

100th booked review in 2021! Let's goooooooooooooooo!

So this is turning out to be one of my favorite mangas already.

A Ex-yakuza decides to live the househusband way. His wife goes to work and during that time he gets into all types of adventures. Dealing with a cleaning robot, trying to cook the best meal he can, buying a present for his wife and so on. It's all over the top, all very funny, and such a quickly paced manga I read it in about 15-20 minutes.

But it has a lot of heart. A lot of great laugh out loud moments. Art is fantastic and the little action that is shown is brutal to say the least. The wife and husband chemistry is near perfect. I really have very little bad to say about this one.

I just bought volume 2-4 I loved this so much.

[Nicolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can take a man out of the Yakuza, but you can't take Yakuza out of the man.

What we have here is a collection of episodic chapters chronicling the domestic life of a former gangster as he takes on the challenges of cleaning, cooking, and home improvement projects with the same intensity he did when he was a Yakuza enforcer.

Right there is a recipe for some of the funniest short stories in manga. 5 stars.

March 10, 2021.
Netflix adapted this manga into an anime. Based on the trailer, it got the funny right.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Ahora mismo tengo un bloqueo lector de agüita. Necesito algo tan ligero que me haga reír y ya. Esto lo ha conseguido.

Imáginate a un ex yacuza lo más siniestro posible como amo de casa. Este manga no te plantea la historia de su vida sino que simplemente te muestra su día a día y sus problemas en el hogar, como se pelea con señoras en las rebajas o como reúne todos los cupones que pueda para el supermercado.

Son mini capítulos que te hacen pasar un buen rato y ya.

PD: el dibujo es una pasada.

[Auntie Terror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very amusing and unexpectedly absurd at times. Curious to see where this is actually headed.

[Mitticus · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars b/c made me snooze.

Art - 3.5
Story - what story?

Good art, but Gag Manga is not for me.

A feared Yakuza turned househusband that takes day-to-day chores very serious. The way the people acts with his so-called fierce facade and way to do things is supposedly funny.



It have just 'chapters' , with not story or former story of the change just vignettes with no arc.



Didn't work for me. I expected something else. Sorrynotsorry.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Oh dear...this manga really fell flat for me :/

The basic premise is a former yakuza boss adapting to life as a house husband, and being his ‘typical’ self, he takes everything SERIOUSLY (including food shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.) The chapters were very short and the same gags were used repeatedly. We don’t really learn anything about the MC except his former occupation and he really doesn’t seem that terrifying apart from his expression which does look murderous.

The manga was incredibly surface-level reading with not much depth to either the characters or plot. I know some people love this but unfortunately this manga just wasn’t for me :(

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun! We pick up with the immortal dragon or Tatsu, this deadly Yakuza guy whose now a househusband and he performs his duties as that and this manga is a quick read and focuses on slice of life adventures with him and its comedical and there are fun chapters like him tryna vs cleaning machine, making food, getting fit for his wife Miku or going to supermarket with her or fun stuff with his Yakuza-mate Masa and its so well done! It reads quickly but like its so fun and a great stress reliever on a hectic day! Loved the simple stories and the art style compliments it really well!

[ExtraGravy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The back cover says it is a "cozy yakuza comedy" and it lives up to that claim. It was light and fun, I'll read another one.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-execuated, but seems pretty one-note in its conception. I may try the second volume to see if it gets deeper.

[hotsake (André Troesch) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So far this was only mildly interesting.

[Hirondelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very cute, the adventures of Tatsuo who retired from being a mythical Yakuza boss to be a good househusband to his businesswoman wife. And I can not be very articulate, I just went squee at so many of these vignettes. Vignettes is the best way to describe this first volume, it is not even a collection of short stories, some of these stories just kind of stop, they are more like little bits of perspective into several characters (not just Tatsuo and Miku, but their cat and a dog in the neighborhood, and the evils of the roomba, and the anime expert convenience store clerk, Masa the young yakuza). Very very charming.

Incidentally, I suspect there are many many samurai/bushido jokes just whooshing way past my head that I can not recognize at all (well there is the title..). Obviously a lot of yakuza jokes I can not appreciate either, but those I expect, but I get the hunch there might be a lot of samurai stuff as well.

I am looking for more issues, I was smiling almost all the way through it...

[Ris Sasaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

This is the kind of idiotic fun that I want in my life.