Shambhala

While reading some novels, I get so angry that I curse the author with all the swear words I know. so my karma is negative.

I'm getting tempted to reread...

this book is worth reading, and good character development

enthralling, seriously couldn't put the series down once I began.

Honestly a concept and beautiful writing like none other I have ever experienced! ...️

Stories within the anime and manga genre revolving around sports have predominantly been shaped by well-known series such as Prince of Tennis, Eyeshield 21, and Hajime no Ippo. These narratives typically follow the classic shounen template where a young hero transitions from obscurity to greatness. While these tales evoke warmth, their predictability and repetitive execution often lack depth. This is where the brilliance of Adachi Mitsuru emerges. His works not only narrate the journey of an ordinary child venturing into the world of sports but also intricately weave profound romances and reflect on everyday life aspects that are often overlooked. This is the essence of Adachi's masterpiece, "Touch."

"Touch" can be described as a story that, much like many of Adachi's other creations, blends a heartfelt romance with sports, focusing here on baseball. The narrative revolves around twin brothers, Uesugi Tatsuya and Uesugi Kazuya, alongside their childhood friend, Asakura Minami. Kazuya excels in both academics and baseball, while Tatsuya willingly steps aside, allowing his brother to shine, even concerning Minami. Despite the trio potentially being seen as central figures, the plot pivots around Tatsuya. Further details might spoil the remarkable plot twist Adachi masterfully introduces, leaving readers questioning its necessity for story progression. Rest assured, it effectively enhances the narrative.

Adachi's artistic style is notably simple and light, contrasting sharply with typical shounen sports manga. Characters are depicted without extravagant hairstyles or exaggerated physiques, representing ordinary individuals. This simplicity aligns well with the slice-of-life elements present in "Touch." Although straightforward and accessible, Adachi occasionally struggles to depict intense emotions on characters' faces, even during pivotal scenes. Whether this is intentional to maintain the manga's light-hearted readability or a challenge he faces remains debatable. Nonetheless, he skillfully conveys the intended emotions consistently throughout the story.

The characters in "Touch" represent both the strength and potential weakness of the narrative (if any exists). The evolution of Tatsuya from start to finish is profound and impeccably executed. Similarly, Minami and Kazuya experience significant development, albeit less pronounced than Tatsuya. Adachi enriches the storyline by introducing numerous side characters—rivals on the baseball field or those vying for Minami and Tatsuya's affections. These characters significantly contribute to the main protagonists' growth. However, some side characters appear and reappear rather abruptly, adding an element of unpredictability. Interestingly, Adachi humorously acknowledges this quirk within the story itself.

Although "Touch" seamlessly merges sports and romance, satisfying enthusiasts of both genres, it also qualifies as a slice-of-life narrative. Adachi cleverly integrates various life lessons, subtly and overtly, throughout the manga. Additionally, he frequently pokes fun at himself, eliciting chuckles from readers through certain panels. In essence, "Touch" is a deeply moving tale chronicling the lives of Tatsuya, Kazuya, and Minami as they navigate from middle school to their final year of high school—a story that any anime or manga aficionado will relish.

This is my first review, so I hope I do it well. :) Here goes:

I give the story a 9. The story is a great read. "Touch" is mostly about two boys who are twins and one girl who are all childhood friends. The younger brother, Kazuya, is exceptionally talented in both sports and studies. Tatsuya, the twin brother of Kazuya, tends to be tardy. However, he also has talent but is too lazy to fully utilize it.

Overall,  
I rate this a 10/10.  

This manga is a fantastic read for sports fans and features significant character development. However, patience is required because it takes some time for the story to advance. Even so, you should read it slowly and go with the pace of the manga. :)

:/ I'll write more later. Since I'm currently on Chapter 30, I shouldn't comment too much now. I'm going to finish reading and then complete my review.

If I change my opinion, I'll adjust the rating I've given as well.

<p>Touch stands as the inaugural entry in a trilogy of celebrated baseball manga crafted by Adachi Mitsuru, and it is, without question, the least compelling of the three. This assessment reflects more on the high regard I hold for H2 and Cross Game than any inherent shortcomings of Touch itself, although Touch does possess its own set of flaws. Chief among these issues is its excruciatingly slow beginning. The first sixty chapters or so are a testament to tedium. We have two slices of white bread—Kazuya and Minami—vying to see which one is the more flawlessly perfect human being. Kazuya has a twin brother who ostensibly possesses greater baseball talent, yet the author seems more interested in teasing the audience about whether this sibling will join the team rather than actually developing this potential storyline. Characters like Harada appear only when the plot demands their presence (if one can even call it a plot), while the love triangle unfolds at a painfully gradual pace despite its predictability. There's also an abundance of two-dimensional, one-off thuggish villains thrown in seemingly at random just to keep things moving. And for a baseball manga, there isn't much actual baseball being played during these early chapters. The sole significant moment comes when Kazuya is struck by a truck.</p>

<p>With that event, the real story begins. Uesugi Tatsuya, compelled by his deceased brother's dream, takes up the mantle to lead his mediocre high school baseball team to the summer Koshien tournament. It's a brilliant concept that imbues each match with substantial weight, but it takes far too long to set up, and much of this setup proves unnecessary for the rest of the narrative. A new rival emerges to reignite the love triangle, and somehow, Minami and Tatsuya's relationship appears to reset as if they had never shared a kiss. On this topic, Minami and Tatsuya's dynamic is the weakest element of the story. They lack chemistry, and their interactions are unbearably dull. Despite rooting against Minami, I found myself wanting Tatsuya to be with her, which perhaps marginally justifies her role—she provides Tatsuya with another reason to persevere and offers readers uninterested in baseball a goal worth seeing through to the end. Outside of this function, she is overly perfect, flawless to the point of blandness. She might as well be the Koshien trophy.</p>

<p>Despite Minami's incessant nagging, which elicits little more than terse one-liners from him, Uesugi Tatsuya emerges as the most complex and endearing character Adachi Mitsuru has ever created. Forced to embody his late twin brother, Tatsuya's situation transcends merely stepping into the role of Meisei's ace pitcher. His predicament mirrors that of a child thrust into adulthood prematurely or someone coerced into doing something contrary to their nature to meet others' expectations. His honesty in expressing his reluctance to conform, coupled with his selflessness in sacrificing his identity for the benefit of others, renders him both sympathetic and heroic. While this scenario could have been straightforward, Adachi respects the reader's intelligence, infusing depth and richness into what might otherwise have been a simple tale of loss and baseball. In simpler terms, Tatsuya embodies the belief—or delusion—that "I can do it if I try." He may be lazy, but when the stakes are high, he delivers, mirroring the reader's potential. Watching his transformation from a lethargic individual to a dedicated baseball player is one of the primary reasons to continue reading beyond the natural progression of the plot.</p>

<p>After Kazuya's death, the plot accelerates. Characters still emerge unexpectedly without prior indication, but there are fewer one-off, two-dimensional villains since actual baseball matches now take center stage. None of these matches stand out particularly, except for the final game, but they're engaging enough to maintain interest until their conclusions. Akio and his sister inject some life into the story, even if they adhere to stereotypes and rekindle the love triangle. Their introduced conflict is artificial, but at least it propels the narrative in a direction tied to baseball rather than the arbitrary conflicts seen earlier.</p>

<p>Adachi must have felt the need for more excitement, leading to the introduction of a major villain: Meisei's new coach. His inclusion is entirely superfluous, but regardless, he exists, stirs up trouble, exudes comically evil traits, and boasts a comically tragic backstory. His development follows predictable and clichéd lines, yet he remains a compelling character, contributing to some of the most intense and thrilling moments in the story. Ultimately, it's unclear if Adachi justifies his presence, but he undeniably adds a redemptive quality that elevates the emotional resonance of the narrative. Similar developments occur throughout, sharing this trait of being heavy-handed and contrived yet effectively advancing certain parts of the story.</p>

<p>None of these elements truly matter, though. Even if the story had deteriorated significantly, I would have read it to completion because, once Kazuya dies, you're inexorably tied to Tatsuya's journey. You want him to succeed so fervently that you'll endure countless bland exchanges between him and Minami, numerous fanservice shots, countless faceless, nameless secondary characters, and frequent fourth-wall breaks serving as filler. Touch manages to succeed despite all its imperfections due to this singular reason: Tatsuya is a protagonist worth cheering for—not just for who he is, but for who he aspires to be and what he aims to accomplish. The conclusion wraps everything up as perfectly as possible, offering a deeply satisfying resolution where Tatsuya defies everyone's expectations, including the reader's. Although less refined and overall less enjoyable than the subsequent baseball narratives penned by Adachi, Touch possesses a literary quality absent in H2 and Cross Game, making it worthwhile reading. Whether it surpasses books is debatable, but books are books, and manga is manga. One shouldn't expect one medium to replicate the other, nor would one wish for such replication anyway.</p>