Stairway to Manga Haven
Anime and manga have always had an endearing, albeit a niche following amongst the people in any reader/viewer demographic in our millennial age group. We have been able to explore themes such as the simple ones of training and camaraderie through the Dragon Ball saga, of adventure and friendship through Pokemon and One Piece and the importance of family, community and cultural heritage through Naruto. This is not to diminish the importance of other manga genres and anime not named here but to just point out the powerful impact they have had on us and our ideology system through these most commonly heard ones. One of the reasons anime and manga are such beloved media is that these forms of art and expression never scruple in pushing boundaries. The viewership being maverick, eccentric and open to new ideas, allows for an author to pass on his or her message through story lines otherwise deemed “inappropriate” by society. What we don’t realize however, is that the perceived impropriety is why we are left with a lasting impression, one that can change us for the better. Social issues are easy enough to talk about from the comfort of our homes, but do we really have an accurate image of what stigmatized people go through? Depression, sexual abuse, isolation, etc. are problems that we can only tackle when we are willing to understand without bias.
Bitter Virgin is a manga that highlights such issues. It follows a high school girl who was raped, abused and impregnated twice by her stepfather, and a boy from her class who inadvertently learns of this. The inescapable reality of the consequences of one’s actions is the obstacle the characters face as they interact with one another. The heroine’s suffering is characterized by an unfortunate sense of guilt at having been abused, the androphobia she develops, and the eventual isolation that results from her self-loathing. The hero, despite his pure intentions, is put through many arduous trials as he tries figuring out how to best help her open up and convince her that not all men are bad. The importance of emotionally investing in people is highlighted throughout the story. The protagonists are faced with caustic surroundings — as victims of sexual abuse are looked down upon — but nevertheless struggle and find a path toward happiness and self validation.
Often when people face problems in life, one problem manifests itself in the form of another. The underlying issue therefore may never be realized on account of the outer layer being seemingly unrelated or unimportant. Child abuse, for example, can manifest itself in social isolation. Child abuse is talked about from moral perspective, a question of parental technique. The child is however not culpable, and it is a serious issue with the guardian that requires addressing. Erased is a story that is essentially a supernatural murder mystery, but explores such themes. The protagonist, Satoru Fujinuma, deals with the childhood loss of his classmates to an enigmatic serial killer who resurfaces in his adulthood. As he journeys to the root of the mystery and the psyche of the psychopath, he saves prospective victims from the pain of social isolation. The main victim at hand is Kayo Hinazuki, a girl who is disillusioned with the world around her, and desires nothing more than escape. Satoru befriends her to keep her safe, only to find out that her pain stems from domestic abuse. If empathy was a feeling reserved for anyone, Kayo and Satoru booked a table for ten. The manga brilliantly draws on readers’ emotions with relatable characters, who suffer from a troubled past and now battle a helpless present. The dialogue is rich and tells far more than the number of lines the characters have. The lasting impression that this roller coaster of emotions leaves you with is a treasure that trumps Blackbeard’s own.
Our Happy Hours is a tragic manga about a former pianist (heroine) and a prisoner (hero), both of whom lived through several attempts at suicide. The heroine had quit playing the piano after having been raped by her tutor, and her mother’s indifference to her plight eventually led to depression. The hero had run away with his disabled brother from an abusive household, and his only source of income was through self-prostitution. He lost his only companion, his younger brother when the latter committed suicide to avoid being a burden on the hero. His life was devoid of so much as a smile, and eventually his reckless frustration led to the death of 3 innocent people, putting him on death row. The two protagonists are introduced to one another by the heroine’s aunt, a nun, who hopes that they might be able to help one another. Although initially unwilling, the two are inevitably drawn to each other, being able to connect with one another’s pain. They learn to find happiness through talking to one another about all things great and small, and see a different and wonderful world through each others’ eyes. Their interaction is limited to the titular hours, once a week. Two people who only wished for death now find that they eagerly await and look forward to living, if only to interact with another. The characters in both of these stories are vivid and scarred, and the reader can truly feel their pain and sorrow as if it were their own. A reader cannot help but wish with all their heart that the characters overcome their pain and achieve happiness. Realistic and rich portrayals of what victims and well-wishers alike go through, which makes for a thought provoking and emotional read.
A great number do not know pain, yet a handful live alongside it. Interaction in our present day has spread itself rather thin and emotion is a concept we condition ourselves to avoid succumbing to. Perhaps it is for the best as we have to deal with a harsh and judgmental world, cutthroat surroundings that can make us crumble when we show weakness. Yet as humans, emotions are what make us feel alive and the stronger, the better. In such a world, stories are often the best way to feel without being threatened by our surroundings. Give these manga a go, feel the raw emotion and be human. You are not going to be alone.
Notes:
1) Please buy the volumes and support the author.
2) This is the experience people seek when they caption their Facebook photos.
3) Listening to background music that fits the tone of the story while reading leads to a lasting impression.
