Marrying a Werewolf to save her hybrid sister.

Uh oh she got educated and plan god be with us

This analysis delves into specific aspects of Nijigahara Holograph. If you haven't read the manga, it's best to avoid this review to prevent spoilers.

A crucial text to understand while reading Nijigahara Holograph is the book of Zhuangzi, a cornerstone of Daoism by Master Zhuang. It emphasizes spontaneity and discourages artificial distinctions such as good vs. evil, beauty vs. ugliness, and usefulness vs. uselessness. Creating these dichotomies separates us from the natural flow of the universe, which existed long before human cognition, reducing our chances of ultimate happiness. Like "butterflies torn apart by fate," humans have fragmented themselves, neglecting what makes us unified.

The prevalence of physical and mental suffering in Nijigahara Holograph mirrors real-world adversities. It highlights the iniquitous thoughts within all of us, waiting to be triggered. Unlike typical manga, Asano's artwork immerses readers in the harsh realities of his fictional world, evoking palpable fear rarely achieved in the medium. We hear about heinous acts daily but often overlook them to maintain our perceived happiness. Through his insight into the human condition, Asano forces readers to confront these abhorrent dilemmas without warning, revealing the odious nature of humanity. Primal emotions like lust, anger, and jealousy drive much of the turmoil for the protagonists, reminding us of our basic instincts.

The non-linear narrative and constant shifts between past and present provide insight into the relationship between time and reality. We believe in the thermodynamic principle of the arrow of time, where events move in one direction. However, this applies to the known physical world. How does this scientific theory apply to entities of unknown mass or origin, like human thoughts and dreams? Our perception of the world is shaped by our experiences, which we use to construct what we deem "real." Since thoughts and dreams are malleable, they can distort time itself, creating realities indistinguishable from the "real world." This may explain why our minds focus on negative experiences, producing recurring nightmares. Similar to Kyoko's physical scars hidden by surgery, the mental scars of each character linger, trapping them in a cycle of psychological torment. The resulting physical catharsis, though undesirable, is genuine to the human condition.

The conventional protagonist/antagonist paradigm doesn't apply here. Asano likely wanted readers to adopt a Daoist perspective, understanding how artificial distinctions, like Narumi's "ugliness," lead to cruel insults, hindering our unity as a species. Each character exhibits some level of malevolence, and it's not our job to justify their actions but to recognize the fragility of their rationality under complex situations. Take Kyoko Sakaki, who appears calm and composed. On the day of her divorce, she reveals the emotional strain from stopping a man from raping a student, costing her an eye. Due to her husband's inattentiveness, she calmly threatens to kill him and the children. This gender disparity, where women aren't allowed to express anger without being labeled defiant, contrasts with men's permitted anger, as seen by the bruises on the children's arms. This captures a pressing social issue contributing to depression and suicide. Furthermore, it hinders presence, as Kyoko laments her past actions, neglecting her role as a mother and the future impact on her children. While it seems absurd to compare her actions to Amahiko's foster mother, the absence of parental compassion can be as damaging as direct insults.

Amahiko Suzuki, a socially withdrawn adolescent, endures verbal abuse from his uncaring foster mother. This fragile family dynamic leaves him depressed and emotionally ill-equipped to form strong bonds. He views his botched suicide attempt — jumping off a school roof — as the opposite of a "clean break." This ties back to the spontaneity of life and how our attempts to control the world distance us from its natural flow. This doesn't imply a predetermined purpose but, as Asano puts it, "every human has a role in life." To fulfill that role, one must free themselves from past events, prejudices, and illusory divides created by categorization. Only then can one discern opportunities amidst hardships, as Narumi offers friendship to Amahiko.

Nothing is explicitly stated, yet those seeking the hidden meanings behind the mangaka's intent will undoubtedly enhance their mental acuity. Enjoy.

A tale centered around a group of young individuals who endured traumatic events in their town, intertwined with a supernatural occurrence whose meaning eluded me due to the disjointed storyline. The narrative shifts unpredictably between past and present, weaving through numerous characters, making it challenging to follow and complete in one sitting.  

It's an edgy, cool (?), graphic novel typical of Inio Asano's style. He thrives on shocking visuals and unexpected twists. However, I'm not particularly fond of his work; his unconventional art and character designs don't resonate with me. Many of his characters resemble Neuman, the iconic MAD magazine figure.  

Personally, I don't think it's poorly made, but I found it rather dull. Having a plot that blends happiness with disturbing elements doesn't inherently make a story great. That said, the author has a dedicated fanbase for a reason, so you might join their ranks and find enjoyment in it.  

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Asano Inio's works are renowned for their mature, realistic, and character-driven narratives that span from slice-of-life to psychological horror. "Nijigahara Holograph" is one of Asano's published works, but where does one start with this manga? The story was challenging to follow, and even after a second read-through, its ultimate purpose remained unclear.

The narrative of "Nijigahara Holograph" centers around the lives of Suzuki, a troubled boy; Komatsuzaki, an unpredictable bully whose trauma leads him to act in inexplicable ways; Arakawa, who harbors feelings for Komatsuzaki; a daughter in a coma; and a mother who took her own life. Alongside these characters, there's the sudden explosion in the butterfly population. The story spans ten years, during which the lives of all these individuals intertwine.

The difficulty lies in following the various storylines of each character, understanding how they interact, and deciphering the motives and decisions behind their actions. While the narrative jumps between the present and ten years prior, which is relatively easy to track, the characters' actions and their connection to the butterflies remain elusive. The story seems linked to an urban legend involving a monster in a tunnel, yet the purpose of this element and how it influences the characters' actions were not entirely clear to me.

The narrative feels like a puzzle with only some pieces available. It's crafted in a way that prompts readers to deeply consider human nature, using the characters' actions and backstories to try and piece together the puzzle, knowing that some parts will be missing. Personally, I couldn't fully assemble this puzzle, making it hard to grasp the story's ultimate intent. Any insights on this would be greatly appreciated.

"Nijigahara Holograph" features a large ensemble cast. The characters are well-presented, though occasionally too little information is provided to truly understand their backgrounds, leaving it to the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps regarding their behaviors and natures.

Character development does occur within the manga, but the ambiguous storyline makes it tough to clearly present such growth. Most developments lead to increasingly depressive outcomes. The characters' behaviors are largely realistic, showcasing typical human traits like jealousy, anger, and revenge, through which Asano highlights the imperfect essence of humanity.

The art in "Nijigahara Holograph" is impressive, as expected from Asano Inio's works. The diverse character designs and facial expressions contribute to a more realistic feel, crucial for conveying the emotional states of the characters. The backgrounds are equally impressive and detailed. Asano's shading skills are exceptional and align well with the story, enhancing the dramatic and mysterious atmosphere the manga aims to create.

Personally, I enjoyed "Nijigahara Holograph," despite the complexity of its narrative. The art style, characters, and mysterious ambiance made it a worthwhile read. If you're into psychological mangas, this could be something for you, but be prepared to immerse yourself deeply in the story, attempting to understand it and fit the puzzle together.

Thanks for reading.<p>

Psychological manga captivate me. The narratives are typically presented in a manner that compels you to revisit and ponder what you've just read. Nijigahara Holograph is one such story. You can't merely skim through this kind of tale and grasp its full essence. Even if you read this manga multiple times, some parts will still elude complete understanding. And that's its charm. Not everything in life always makes sense.

Summarizing the plot of Nijigahara Holograph would be an impossible task, perhaps even for the mangaka, Asano Inio (renowned for various works including Oyasumi Punpun). The story frequently shifts between a 10-year time span, sometimes making it a bit challenging to follow. It revolves around a group of individuals in a rural part of Japan. A swarm of butterflies, along with extreme heat, has caused issues for some, while others perceive a different significance in the butterflies that glow even at night. Ten years prior, it focuses on a fifth-grade class, their families, and teachers. In both timelines, murder, sex, violence, depression, and boredom abound. The story conceals many facts from the reader and gradually assembles the connections between people, their true identities, and their pasts, constructing a dark, psychological narrative that questions why God would create humans the way they are.

The artwork enhances the psychological elements of the manga. Panels often feature black backgrounds with white text, which I believe helps convey a sense of separation and loneliness for whoever's thoughts the words represent. The characters are skillfully drawn, yet the author frequently portrays them in an unattractive manner. The author highlights the negative aspects of humanity, from lust to greed to despair, using the art to perfectly align with the emotions and feelings being depicted.

This is fundamentally a character-driven story. The interactions between characters and within themselves are given top priority and gradually expand as the narrative unfolds. The characters largely remain enigmatic even at the conclusion. There are numerous surprising twists involving the characters and their relationships, none of which I anticipated beforehand. There isn't a single main character; instead, the author switches between characters to piece the story together. Suzuki, a boy who attempted suicide at his previous school but failed and now deliberately isolates himself, and Komatsuzaki, a bully whose personality drastically changes after crossing a line with his friends, are two of the most crucial figures. The story predominantly alternates between them, with all other characters connecting to one or both.

This is an exceptional psychological manga that I highly recommend, provided you don't mind depressing or open-ended stories. Fully comprehending it as a whole is challenging, but that's not the story's intention. It truly makes you question humanity, God, and why God would create humans the way they are.

If there's one overarching attitude in the world of media that truly bothers me, it's the belief that something being less accessible somehow makes it more artistic. The back cover of the American edition of Nijihara Hologram describes this single-volume work as "complex, challenging, and elliptical." Apparently, this is code for "pretentious, nonsensical, and over-complicated."

Now, don't get me wrong—I'm not upset with a work for challenging its audience. I have no problem with having to think while I read. However, there's a fine line between a work asking its readers to think and a work being so needlessly confusing that you'd need a flowchart to figure out what's going on. I don't have such little faith in my understanding of graphic novels to assume that "Oh, well, I just don't get this because it's too deep for me." I believe that most people passionate enough about manga or graphic novels to be reading this review have enough understanding of the craft to dismiss such flawed logic. While I don't think an author has to dumb down their work for the audience, I do believe a certain amount of responsibility for making an understandable script falls on the author. This seems to be a very unpopular opinion, but I firmly believe guiding a reasonably intelligent audience through a narrative is as much a skill as any other aspect of storytelling.

Nijihara Hologram is a collection of interwoven stories throughout the lives of a group of characters living near a cursed underpass, and Asano-san chooses to tell these stories by randomly jumping between them out of sequence. (According to the back of the book, we're also jumping between timelines, but I didn't sense that in the actual story at all.) Stories told out of order to reveal certain facts later or follow a certain emotion can be interesting, but Hologram seems to jump around without any rhyme or reason, creating no narrative or emotional arc. From what I could grasp of the story, nothing would have been lost by telling everything in order, or at least telling each character's full story before moving onto the next one. Since the scrambling of narratives adds nothing for the reader, the entire story reeks of a pretentious attempt at being more artistic by dropping everything into a blender.

The only reason I gave Hologram as high a rating as I did is partly because the art is wonderful, and partly because if you don't try to tie the stories together, each of the segments has its own interesting emotional baggage and hints of a story.

It's clear that Asano-san knows how to tell a gripping story, but Hologram is marred by a superfluous attempt to make it seem more meaningful by making it impossible to understand.

Remember when you read great pieces of literature in school and then spent two weeks analyzing the various themes, motifs, and subplots of the work?  

Well, if there's one manga that deserves to be explored in such depth after the first reading, it's probably this one.  

Let's address the obvious aspects first. This is an Asano manga, and as such, it delivers the familiar elements of coming-of-age drama, existential unease, depression, hard-hitting social and psychological realism, and the darker side of human nature.  
What sets this particular work apart is the extent to which supernatural and philosophical elements play a crucial role throughout the narrative, often blurring the line between reality and imagination.  

I found this work incredibly engaging on a literary level, particularly since I had never encountered a manga with such depth. Don't misunderstand me—I've read many mature and "serious" manga, but this one had more layers than any other manga I'd previously experienced.  
The downside is that it might be challenging at times to fully grasp the story during the first read. I found myself focusing on the more apparent aspects of the plot initially and accepting that some elements were still unclear to me. In response, I often developed temporary interpretations of what certain things might mean. I suspect many readers will find it equally tough to understand everything in this book right away, which is why I referenced studying literature in school at the start of this review: After finishing the book, I went online and looked for discussions where other readers had analyzed this work in detail. These analyses provided not only a summary of the story's complexity but also identified all the themes and motifs, placing them within their historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts. I had never done this before with any other manga because I hadn't felt the need. However, this detailed interpretation of the book added an entirely new level of enjoyment and appreciation for the work.

"Butterfly Field" + Holograph is indeed an intriguing title for a manga of this nature, as it can be interpreted in various ways. Consider the transformation of a butterfly from a caterpillar, and then the addition of the word "holograph," which carries multiple meanings when looked up in an online dictionary.

As mentioned in the description, it resembles a blend of the movie Donnie Darko with "The Butterfly Effect," transformed into manga form but with a darker twist where everyone's lives are interconnected. The narrative illustrates how humans are shaped by the actions of those around them, akin to the law of action-reaction, which is unavoidable and depends on the decisions one makes.

Regarding the title itself, "Butterfly Field Holograph," the story can be understood in numerous ways that align with its progression. The manga portrays humans and their world as a field of butterflies, with "holograph" symbolizing either an image encompassing three dimensions: past, present, and future, or a personal narrative written by one's own hand. Actions taken in the past influence present decisions and shape the future, while the world continues moving forward without pause or rewind.

The story captivates from the opening chapter through to the final page.  

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