This Female Celebrity Comes from the Cultivation World

Asano Inio stands as the unheralded Aesop of our era. He skillfully intertwines his personal ideals and perspectives on life into his manga, repeatedly teaching and inspiring us.

In this anthology of short stories, Inio imparts a singular lesson, explicitly stated on the first and last pages of the second volume: "This world that we live in is gentle yet sad, fun yet sorrowful, strong yet ephemeral..." / "...but as long as you're alive, something good is bound to happen. I'm sure of it."

Each story depicts struggle. They illustrate how harsh "ordinary" life can be. Two friends drift apart because one becomes "popular." A father, too absorbed in his work, fails to return home even for his child's birthday. A couple maintains a superficial relationship.

Each story also conveys hope. Sometimes, bullies are real people capable of change. Sometimes individuals realize their self-worth. Sometimes estranged parties reconcile.

None of the stories overemphasize this hope. The dedicated father doesn't abruptly quit his job to bond with his son. The shallow relationship remains at a "casual talk" level. The two friends remain separated. Yet, there's a spark of hope.

This distinguishes Inio from other mangaka. Being overly inspirational by delivering an ultimately "happy" ending can disappoint readers. "Happy" endings often ruin anime and manga for me. I dislike tragedies resolved by deus ex machina conclusions (After Story, I'm looking at you...). When bad things occur, they simply happen without miracles. What a Wonderful World doesn't depict a utopia because it isn't meant to - this world is wonderful due to the glimmer of "hope," not because everyone lives happily ever after.

The primary allure of this manga lies in its bittersweet narratives and the themes Inio has embedded - chronicling the struggles, dreams, and ambitions of ordinary people. That said, the other elements aren't lacking. The artwork is exceptional, the characters profoundly developed, and every panel serves a purpose. Even if you're not a fan of realistic manga, this masterpiece will still captivate you.

In the final chapter, tragedy strikes. The ultimate tragedy - something nearly worse than death. Amidst this, Inio dedicates his only two-page spread to demonstrate that hope persists. Even if life following this tragedy feels like hell, one day, something good will happen.

What a wonderful world indeed.

When it comes to authors who can make the ordinary fascinating, few can match Inio Asano. He's among the rare mangakas capable of transforming a slice-of-life setting into a unique experience that stands out from other manga. To understand what I mean, consider Subarashii Sekai (What a Wonderful World!): Asano's first manga to reach Western audiences. Subarashii Sekai can be briefly described as the manga equivalent of a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, presenting stories about various people and what motivates them to keep living.

Now, it might not be entirely accurate to call Subarashii Sekai a compilation of stories, as there isn't much traditional narrative here. Let me explain. The manga consists of 19 chapters, each a vignette from the lives of everyday people. Through these vignettes, we glimpse the daily struggles and motivations of these individuals. But that's not all; occasionally, we see an unusual day in the life of someone breaking free from their otherwise bleak routine.

Despite Asano's reputation for brutally honest portrayals of reality, Subarashii Sekai is one of his more optimistic works, offering a meaningful message: life is a precious gift not to be taken for granted. This manga is essential reading for anyone experiencing tough times, as it can brighten even the darkest days. It also serves as an excellent introduction to Asano's other works, such as Solanin and Oyasumi Punpun.

In comparing Subarashii Sekai to Asano's later creations, I personally connect more deeply with Solanin and Oyasumi Punpun. However, this doesn't diminish Subarashii Sekai's value. Even though Asano has refined his craft significantly, this manga remains worth purchasing and displaying on your shelf. Its messages are timeless, regardless of where you are in life. That's all for now. Feedback is always appreciated, and with that, I'm out. Peace :)

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"I gaze up at the clear, blue morning sky. It hurts my eyes. And just like that, a wave of nostalgia hits me as I realize it's the start of a new day—and the first thing I do is step in some crap."

Asano Inio's debut serial, Subarashii Sekai, is an intriguing anthology of loosely connected short stories centered around individuals caught in the limbo between prolonged adolescence and adulthood. These characters strive to resist the pressures of a rapidly moving society while grappling with their crumbling aspirations and relationships.

The protagonists range from a college dropout and a bullying victim to others who will resonate with many readers on a personal level. On the other hand, we encounter more surreal figures such as a mob fugitive dressed in a panda costume and Tepodon, a pet turtle who, upon understanding that life sometimes demands moving forward regardless of the risks, escapes his tank to transform into a half-man, half-turtle-like being. While Tepodon could be interpreted as a manifestation of the dropout's subconscious, these fantastical elements are crucial to an otherwise harshly realistic backdrop. They highlight how bizarre life can occasionally be while injecting a touch of humor. In a somewhat twisted manner, some of these tales lean towards the comedic side.

The manga refrains from passing judgment on its characters' actions and occasionally teases readers by bringing them back for cameos in later chapters. It’s suggested that the dropout returned to school, though this remains uncertain. Regardless, she appears to be faring alright. "Wonderful World" portrays the world as a harsh place, yet the title isn't meant sarcastically. From a different perspective, the world can indeed be wonderful.

Given its structure of nineteen separate stories, there are bound to be standout chapters and those that don't shine as brightly. However, this manga emphasizes focusing on the positive aspects of life. At its peak, Subarashii Sekai is undeniably brilliant.  

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It is an anthology of stories, each chapter featuring a protagonist in a distinct situation. Some characters reappear as secondary figures in other tales. While each scenario is unique, the overall theme can be generalized: these are the everyday experiences of ordinary people, each dealing with common situations in their own way.

Whether it involves romantic relationships, family ties, friendships, personal growth, or life in one's environment, none of the protagonists start—or necessarily end—in a good place. However, the idea of how they might improve is emphasized, as the manga itself says, "As long as you live, something good will happen to you."

"Subarashii Sekai" marks Inio Asano's first serialized work, and its quality is understandably uneven. Some chapters successfully convey their message both narratively and artistically, while others feel disjointed. It’s tempting to attribute these narrative gaps to the author's intent to provoke thought, but given that this was almost a debut work, it’s more likely due to a young mangaka figuring out his craft—what he wanted to achieve and how.

This anthology contains the seeds of many ideas, themes, and styles that would later define Asano's career. For instance, there's a near-prototype chapter reminiscent of "Solanin," showcasing his ironic humor, the sense that every secondary character has their own struggles, and the blend of pessimism with sincerity and hope.

I don’t mean to suggest that its value lies solely in its historical or comparative context. There is undeniable brilliance here. Many chapters effectively communicate a message of positivity in the face of life's challenges, provided we're willing to change for the better. This often happens in the less "dark" stories, focusing on teenagers navigating adulthood without knowing how.

The manga's otherwise realistic tone includes occasional fantastical elements that seamlessly blend into the everyday world, creating a form of rudimentary magical realism. These moments contribute some of the manga's most memorable scenes and panels, though like other aspects, they serve as a foundation for refinement in future works.

Artistically, even at the age of twenty-three, Asano demonstrated impressive compositional skills. He uses character placement and panel pacing to evoke meaningful reflections. His handling of gazes and raw emotional expressiveness adds depth and heart to the stories.

I’ve read numerous reviews of this work, many of which uncover complex social and philosophical insights. I believe most of these interpretations come from hindsight—attributing them to the Asano who would emerge rather than the Asano who created this piece. Instead, the best approach is to appreciate the anthology's strong elements while acknowledging the author's journey of self-discovery.

Asano Inio might be a bad writer, but he's undeniably the best for MAL. I don't intend this to be a condescending review, but the truth is, he writes for 15-year-olds. You know, those 15-year-olds who just discovered what "nihilism" means or that society isn't perfect? That's his core philosophy and audience, and teens adore it. When I was a teen, I loved it too!  

The problem with this style of writing is its shallowness—it's so incredibly shallow. Let me dive into spoilers here. There are five characters who commit suicide in this work. Suicide is tossed around like a mere plot device. It's unbearably childish. Characters just say, "Oh screw it, I'm done," with absolutely no subtlety. David Foster Wallace captured suicidal ideation perfectly: “The so-called ‘psychotically depressed’ person who tries to kill herself doesn’t do so out of quote ‘hopelessness’ or any abstract conviction that life’s assets and debits don’t square. And surely not because death seems suddenly appealing. The person in whom Its invisible agony reaches a certain unendurable level will kill herself the same way a trapped person will eventually jump from the window of a burning high-rise. Make no mistake about people who leap from burning windows. Their terror of falling from a great height is still just as great as it would be for you or me standing speculatively at the same window just checking out the view; i.e., the fear of falling remains a constant.” This perspective highlights the difference between a poor writer and one who can truly observe something and draw new, thought-provoking conclusions.  

The writing also falls into the same trap we all did as 15-year-olds: dark = mature. If I watched a movie with gore, I thought it was for adults and super mature. But that's rarely true. In fact, it's often the opposite. The story continually tries to introduce big concepts and winks at the audience, saying, "Deep and dark, right?" Some argue this is due to its short-story style, which doesn't allow for deeper exploration, but a skilled writer can delve into concepts with depth regardless of length, as DFW demonstrates.  

Overall, this is a very weak work that feels somewhat insulting.  

Time for a bonus round of the cringiest moments:  
-tone of suicide catering to edgelords  
-absurd bullying scenarios—kids can be mean, but they're not insane  
-drug addicts who think they've figured everything out  
-the same mentality Rick and Morty fans have: "It's so tough being smart, am I right, fellas? :)"  
-weird, borderline pedophilic relationships  
-bad imagery and symbolism, like "a raaaiiiinnnnnnboooowwww"  
-everyone's parents are dead—like everyone's  
-high school students with a vague understanding of existentialism  
-teens looking at the sky philosophizing and saying things teens would never actually say

What a Wonderful World – Spoiler Free – Not Recommended  

TLDR  
Overall: 4/10  

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of this work—a collection of short stories—my usual evaluation parameters of Story, Art, Characters, and Enjoyment with a weighted average won't be applied. Instead, a general overview will be provided.  

This world we inhabit is gentle yet melancholic, enjoyable yet sorrowful, resilient yet fleeting...  
-What a Wonderful World  

"What a Wonderful World" ranks among Asano's least successful works, as he once again tries to craft multiple independent narratives through short stories. "What a Wonderful World" suffers from the same flaw as "Before Dawn" and "The End of the World": it is far too underdeveloped to hold significant value. "Before Dawn" and "The End of the World" provide the closest comparison to "What a Wonderful World," almost like twins. However, some stories do offer comic relief or surreal elements that make them stand out slightly. Unfortunately, these aren't enough to redeem the overall work.  

One positive aspect of this piece, consistent across all of Asano's works, is his exceptional literary quality, which shines brightly in "What a Wonderful World."  

Almost no characters are memorable, as none were properly developed. Inio Asano requires time to flesh out his characters, something that doesn't happen here, which proves disastrous for his storytelling.  

A saving grace of Asano's work, even when the story falters—which is rare—is the art. "What a Wonderful World" is no exception: the shading is flawless, the art style is visually stunning, imbued with his distinct personality, and the page flow remains smooth.  

"What a Wonderful World" could have been much more impactful if the short stories had been interwoven into a cohesive narrative structure rather than being 19 separate tales too brief to carry any real significance. However, that didn't happen. Unlike some of his other works, "What a Wonderful World" fails to inspire growth in readers, otaku, or individuals, nor was it an engaging read. For these reasons, it doesn't warrant a recommendation and lacks even the mixed-feeling appeal, save for its art style.

The story is so awesome. Very interesting, I love the story line. 😍😍

Thank you!! I’m so glad you are enjoying it. Thanks for leaving feedback. Much appreciated.❤️