Despite his best efforts, URAMICHI continues to find himself at the mercy of the outrageous demands of his fellow coworkers and management. Whether it’s looking after someone’s pet or younger sibling, or drumming up new designs for HANBEI’s merch, the paths to escape responsibility are too few and far between. Then, just as he’s reaching for a lifeline during one of his most grueling days yet, his old college acquaintance NEKOTA appears. Could someone with such a different take on adulthood be URAMICHI’s salvation?
3.2 CUT TO: THE JADED COMEDY THAT INSPIRED THE ANIME.
This series makes me laugh the whole read through, sometimes till I get tears in my eyes.
I relate SO. SO. MUCH. And it always gives me a good reminder of what life is all about. After the week, or, month, or... well... yeah, I've had, this hit perfectly. <3
This series is actually pretty hilarious but I don’t think it will appeal to everyone. It is definitely a cynical type of humor that won’t have mass appeal. I’ve enjoyed these first 3 omnibus editions and I might pick up the next one when it comes out but I’m not committed to the series. I think what I’m lacking here is a connection to the main character or an overarching storyline. (PS. The one guy who is always thinking about onigiri is literally me.)
I’ve been waiting for over a year for this volume so I’m incredibly happy it was finally released today!
Uramichi is relatable as always and some scenes make your heart hurt for him (specially the ones depicting his days at college). I also laughed a lot with many of the chapters (the Christmas one was great lmao) but I found the kids to be unnecessarily mean to Uramichi in this volume and that kind of irked me. I know they always run along with his self-deprecating jokes and pessimism but in this volume their comments were too mean at times and there wasn’t the usual wholesome praise from one of the children that moves Uramichi to tears :(
Still, LLWUO is one of my favorite series and I can’t wait for the next volume, I just hope I don’t have to wait another year to read it.
The gag of the music video in the opposite weather gag was a nice call back to the second volume and this time the twist was that it was a Christmas video in the middle of summer heat. Kumatani snaps and goes to the director to make some "demands." Usahara mentions that it is Kumatani standing up for others and himself that often gets him in trouble and in fact, it's how he was fired at his last job for knocking out a power tripping supervisor. Love the little details building up about the cast.
Though my favorite part has to be their college days once again, a flashback to 10 years ago. Uramichi's dorm was being renovated which is why he stayed with Usahara and Kumatani, revealed in the end of the second volume. There was a harsh storm and Kumatani was outside , then they hear a crash. Outside, a big tree fell on the dorms that was being renovated, Uramichi's dorms. From then, they would continue to be roommates as the dorms were never completed until after Uramichi graduated. Back to the college days, Uramichi sees that Usahara is limping and he tells him to take better care of himself, because this ankle injury could be the end of everything. Usahara just tells him that even if he can't do track and field anymore, it's not the end of everything. Uramichi doesn't lecture him, but simply look at him with curiosity.
"I had no idea how to interpret...the childlike purity in his questioning eyes."
With Uramichi's insistence he goes to the doctor and gets a crutch, but he finds himself thinking back to the words Uramichi said to him. This could be the end of everything.
"And I thought...could gymnastics really be all he has? That awkward smile of his...only made me wonder more."
Now we're starting to piece together more about Uramichi and why he's so unhappy in present times. He clearly takes gymnastics seriously and yet in the future, he's very clearly not an athlete anymore, but he does always show off his gymnastics in subtle ways like doing flips for concerts and live meetings. I love these small details and how they make the future make more sense.
My favorite parts of this volume were (1) the couple of episodes where the characters crossed each other's paths before they started working on the show (2) the end of ch. 52, where Uramichi is again moved to tears by the sweet thoughtfulness of one of the kids, who normally are presented as having incredibly old and cynical souls.
It's hard to read things like this in the author's afterword from a volume published in 2021, and not be taken back to some bad times. I'll likely be caught short by others like it as I continue to work through my backlog.
It can tire the soul to stay strong in today's world. I hope this work helps brighten your day at least a little with a few laughs.
This is becoming an all-time favorite series. It's so relatable and funny yet never feels repetitive. Hachita is a great addition to the cast, primarily because I love seeing his interactions with Mitsuo. I'm also obsessed with how all the panels with Kikaku are drawn like they're straight from horror movies.
This manga is so relatable. I love being able to read about adults who don’t know what they’re doing or their goals or who are tired and just try to live day to day and try to find something that makes it all worth it. Plus it’s hilarious.
JAJAJAKAKA las risas siguen estando, y amo mucho a Uramichi! Jajajaja y ay, me gusta mucho cuando muestran como cosas del pasado y vemos que de algún modo todo el cast ha estado en el mismo espacio físico o así.
The team is back to film the popular kids show with pop ins of adult topics. This volume follows discussion of love, dreams, and the "joys" of marketing the shows products. An interesting mix of comedy, adult life, and the innocence of children as they learn about life.
“It can tire the soul to stay strong in today’s world. I hope this work helps brighten your day at least a little with a few laughs.” It did Kuze-sensei :’)
Wish I could properly articulate how much joy this gives me. This is a severely sarcastic comedy and it hits just right for me in every aspect. I am a bit depressed there isn't more of it but I adore it to absolute bits. Mitsuo Kumatani is THE MAN for me.
My review of volume 1 of this series give an overall sense of how I feel about this series.
This volume had a little bit more hope and uplift than previous volumes... with just as much cynical spice. Plus - it delivered more Kikaku as I requested.