Yawara!

At the time of writing this review, I've only managed to read 92 chapters as those were the only ones available to me. Hence, my feedback will focus solely on these specific chapters and not the entire manga.

The plot of Yawara! is straightforward. It revolves around Yawara, a talented judo practitioner who desires nothing more than to live a normal life, focusing on fashion and embracing her femininity. However, her dreams are constantly thwarted by her stubborn grandfather, who insists she becomes the world's greatest judo athlete. Adding to her challenges, she finds herself pursued by a determined reporter seeking a sensational story and a playboy judo coach who considers himself her rival.

Despite judo being central to the storyline, this isn't strictly a sports manga. Instead, it leans more towards drama, romance, and comedy. The manga occasionally delves into explaining aspects of judo, so readers might pick up some knowledge along the way. Its humor is decent, often stemming from the absurd situations that prevent Yawara from leading a 'normal' life. While it won't leave you in stitches or give you abs, the comedic elements add charm. The romance angle is quite appealing but unfolds at a slow pace.

The majority of characters are likable, although some can become incredibly irritating. Given that I haven't completed the series, I'm uncertain if they undergo significant character development.

The artwork isn't groundbreaking, but it's well-executed and visually pleasing. Its simplicity complements the narrative perfectly, and I particularly appreciate the detailed backgrounds.

Overall, I rate it a solid 9/10!

It's challenging to succinctly recommend this manga. Perhaps another reviewer has articulated its appeal better. From the 92 chapters I've experienced, Yawara! is engaging, fun, and thoroughly enjoyable. I'm confident that the remaining chapters will be equally, if not more, entertaining. Although it may not reach the heights of Naoki Urasawa's other works, it remains a commendable piece.

I suggest giving this manga a try if you're looking for something new and interesting to read.

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and I had just enjoyed lunch at my girlfriend's parents' house. Just as I was about to head home, her sister handed me the first volume of Yawara, suggesting I give it a try.

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of romantic comedies or sports stories—thinking that’s what Yawara was all about back then. I'd rather put out a cigarette on my eyeball than sit through an episode of Sex and the City. And I’d rather inject sewage into my arm than watch an episode of Eyeshield 21...

So, with some hesitation, I picked up Yawara. But with a long train ride ahead, I figured, why not? It was either this or staring at dilapidated houses passing by the train window...

I'm glad to say my initial impressions were way off.

The first thing you notice is how superbly written Yawara is. Reading it for the first time, I thought I should hate this kind of story, yet here I was, pestering my girlfriend to get the next volume from her sister...

Yes, it has elements of romantic comedy and sports, but it's also a powerful character-driven human drama—and much more.

The story revolves around Yawara, a girl with god-like Judo abilities. Typically, we see characters start weak and strive to improve, hoping to achieve something great. In Yawara, our protagonist starts as a Judo GOD who wants to live a normal life.

You might think, "This must be the most boring manga ever—if she starts so strong and wins every time, where's the tension?" The answer is that Yawara isn't really about Judo; it uses Judo to bring characters together and create drama. Even during matches, the focus is often on dramas happening outside the mat.

Yawara (the manga) centers on Yawara's relationships with others. There's comedy in her interactions with her grandpa, Jigoro, who tries relentlessly to make his reluctant granddaughter realize his dream of Olympic Gold.

Then there's the love triangle between Yawara, her rival Sayaka, and Kazumatsuri, Sayaka's handsome Judo coach. This soon expands to include Matsuda, a sports reporter following Yawara, and Kuni-chan, a photographer eyeing Matsuda. A love pentagon?

Friendship and rivalry are explored with top Judo competitors like Jody Rockwell, Tereshikow, Christine Adams, and Kim. While these rivalries have their moments, I preferred Yawara's friendships with her high school friend Hanazono-kun and university friend Fujiko. Their relationships take many turns, encompassing love, drama, comedy, despair, and shock.

A mysterious element is Yawara's father, who left home when Yawara threw him down as a child. Yawara and her mother's search for him adds another intriguing layer to the already rich story.

The characters, no matter how briefly they appear, are vividly realized, making readers care deeply about them. This, not the Judo fights, keeps you turning pages.

On a side note, my favorite character is Matsuda. While Yawara drives the story, I read it for Matsuda's pursuits of her, both as a news subject and love interest. His underdog charm, good-guy nature, and Yamagata accent!

Combined with Naoki Urasawa's distinctive art style, this manga is a must-read. Trust me, a guy who thought he'd hate it only to be blown away in a very good way.