Josei manga are getting very popular these days and so are making their entry in the Western Market due to its high demand. Something’s Wrong With Us is the new josei manga from Kodansha and in this article I will be reviewing it to let you know if it’s worth reading.
The story focuses on 21 years old Nao Okura who is a sweet maker who inherited the art of making traditional sweets from her mother. Her mother used to work as the sweet maker in one of the best confectionary company which also provided the accommodation. While they lived their Nao befriended the son of the founder of the company, Tsubaki and he brought light in her pain life.
One morning Nao found the owner of the dead and Tsubaki accused Nao mother for the murder of his father. Nao was shocked and denied the accusation but unfortunately, her mother died even before the trial. 15 years later, Nao cannot leave her mother’s legacy of making sweets and peruse her career as sweet maker but she has to face those who refers her as the daughter of a murderer.
Her past flashes in front of her once again and she was approached by a mysterious man after which she decides to become rival of Tsubaki’s company in a sweet making competition to make sweets in her best friend’s wedding ceremony. At first Nao was not willing to do it but later she musters up the courage to face Tsubaki and compete against him in order to discover the truth. Will she stick to her plan and find out the truth or end up tangled in a romantic relationship with her childhood friend.
This latest manga is written by the famous mangaka Natsumi Ando who is known for her famous manga Kitchen Princess, Arisa and Let’s Dance a Waltz. Like her other manga, this new manga also has a compelling story with the element of mystery blended with romance. Initially, it is implicated as Tsubaki is the one behind the mysterious murder but since the manga is still in continuation the conclusion can’t be made and there are so much going on in the story that it seems like truth is not what it looks like. The story is captivating and will keep you hooked. It is perfect for the josei fans with the element of romance in it.
When the were kids, Tsubaki named Nao Sakura due to the similar characters in her name. Therefore, once they are reunited after 15 years Tsubaki doesn’t recognize her as she had changed her name after the death of her mother. It’s a major advantage in Nao’s quest of meeting her old friend without letting him recognize her so that she can find out the truth. Tsubaki on the other hand, tries to make her fall in love with him and wants her to join his company.
This mystery romance is fascinating and apart of the story, the characters are also interesting and the chemistry of the two main characters is also likeable as both are opposite in nature. Nao is a joyful, daring and loveable character. While Tsubaki is rude, egotistical and has a bad temper. While you will like Nao, you might not have the same impression for Tsubaki. As we still don’t know who the culprit is, Nao or the viewer should not root for him.
As far as the artwork goes, those who have read the manga of Andro knows her clear and detailed style of art. Although it is a josei manga and the style is according to the genra but the visuals are toned down which seems a little different from the other josei manga especially a mystery romance. It does not outshine the other things in the story. The design of the character is also nice and feels a little distinctive from other josei manga characters. It is something likeable in the Western Market.
The manga Something Wrong with Us has been brought to the Western Market by Kodansha Comics and is available in English Translation done by Sawa Matsueda Savage. The translation has no issues and is clearly understandable and there is also some extra information regarding the sweets which is mentioned in the back of the book that comprises of four pages. It explains all things about the traditional Japanese sweet mentioned in the story. Something’s Wrong with Us is has compiled into 9 volumes so far in Japan and is an On-Going manga. Volume 2 will be released by Kodansha in English in July 2020.
Something’s Wrong with Us is a very captivating and fascinating story that is highly recommended to the josei fans. It feels a little different from other romance as the 1st volume builds up the story well and seems intriguing from the start. The characters are the other most compelling part of the story that makes it even more attractive.
