SYNTHESIS Page 005 is up in the comics section! Click the thumbnail to the left to go to the page index.

I have to admit, I’m not a big reader — of books or comics. The only series I’ve enjoyed reading through were the Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy, the three volumes of Cowboy Bebop and the two of FLCL. [–But if we count art collection books, well, that’s a whole different story.] However, early last month I’ve found a new manga called “Yotsuba&!” [To be exact, the manga isn’t new in Japan. It’s been in syndication for years officially known as Yotsubato!. However the official translated editions have taken their time coming overseas.] The books caught my eye as I recalled seeing a package for a collectible action figure of the main character, Yotsuba Koiwai.
I was interested to take a peek inside the first issue, and to my surprise, it’s created by Kiyohiko Azuma — the artist and mastermind behind Azumanga Daioh. Right off the bat I knew that Yotsuba would be something I would appreciate. Then and there, I bought all five available volues, the comic store clerk saying himself, “You know, I’ve been really meaning to read this…” I really shouldn’t have been so surprised that Yotsuba was by Kiyohiko Azuma. One look at the art style should have been a dead giveaway. I’ve been a fan of Azumanga Daioh for years, after all.

Cover of volume #6, Yotsuba and her offbeat Dad.

Yotsuba&! follows the Koiwai family, comprising of just Yotsuba and her father, who move to a new town somewhere in Japan. Mr. Koiwai unintentionally adopted the orphaned Yotsuba one day from a land somewhere overseas, saying “one day I just sort of found myself looking after her.” He acknowledges that Yotsuba can be an odd child, often not knowing or understanding things that an average 5 year old should. Though Mr. Koiwai can be a real oddball himself, he remains a good father to Yotsuba, who she looks up to as a primary role model. The Koiwai’s are soon discovered by the neighbors, the Ayase family, through Yotsuba’s energetic arrival. From then, Yotsuba spends a lot of time at the Ayase household, and each family member has their own stance with Yotsuba. Asagi, the eldest daughter and a university student, loves to pick on people, which makes her an adversary for many of Yotsbua’s antics. Fuka, a 16 year old high school student, often becomes unintentionally entangled in Yotsuba’s activYotsuba and her father, who move to a new town somewhere in Japan. Mr. Koiwai unintentionally adopted the orphaned Yotsuba one day from a land somewhere overseas, saying “one day I just sort of found myself looking after her.” He acknowledges that Yotsuba can be an odd child, often not knowing or understanding things that an average 5 year old should. Though Mr. Koiwai can be a real oddball himself, he remains a good father to Yotsuba, who she looks up to as a primary role model. The Koiwai’s are soon discovered by the neighbors, the Ayase family, through Yotsuba’s energetic arrival. From then, Yotsuba spends a lot of time at the Ayase household, and each family member has their own stance with Yotsuba. Asagi, the eldest daughter and a university student, loves to pick on people, which makes her an adversary for many of Yotsbua’s antics. Fuka, a 16 year old high school student, often becomes unintentionally entangled in Yotsuba’s activities. She tries her best to maintain a positive impression on the Koiwai’s, though she’s frequently picked on by them. Ena, a few years older than Yotsuba and her most frequent playmate, usually ends up lying to Yotsuba to protect her hopes and feelings. These usually end up coming back to grief her later. Mrs. Ayase finds Yotsuba’s presence a delight, and appears to have no issue with a soon developed habit of being called “Mom” by her. Mr. Koiwai himself becomes concerned about the Ayase family constantly having to put up with Yotsuba and helping her out as much as they do. In exchange, Mr. Koiwai usually feels the need to invite the daughters on trips special events. Each anecdotal chapter of Yotsuba&! revolves around these interactions between the two households and the town they live in. [Explanation: the title “Yotsuba&!” is a tie in with the way chapter names are written, telling what the primary subject matter will be. For example, some titles are: Yotsuba & Moving In, Yotsuba & Challenges, Yotsuba & Revenge.]

Yotsuba, Asagi, and Fuka

Yotsuba & Ena

Ever since reading the mangas, I’ve been strangely addicted to the simple “slice-of-life” story telling that Yotsuba&! offers. Reading the mangas just make you feel damn good. Not to mention their blunt, somewhat dry humor is as appealing as Yotsuba is adorable. The tagline of the manga, “enjoy everything,” really just kind of makes you miss the old days of being a kid yourself — experiencing new things daily and just being carefree. If a Yotsuba like this green-haired, quad-pig-tailed, adorably clueless one exists…. I want one!!

The actual quality of the artwork within Yotsuba&! is really a showcase for the talent of Azuma himself. Azumanga Daioh was kept very simple in both the manga and the animation. Most of the backgrounds were reduced to simple gradients or shallow-depth scenes. This wasn’t a bad thing for Azumanga, it was originally drawn in four-panel manga, after all. Since each panel was the same size and rather small, they really only had enough room for a couple characters and speech bubbles, thus backgrounds weren’t very important in Azumanga. However, Yotsuba&! is a whole different story. The backgrounds are meticulously drawn panel to panel with fine details and shading. You get a feeling that what you’re reading is real, with real scale and weight. Some of my friends have actually commented “Oh, I thought those pictures were photos from afar” to the illlustrations. Each panels composition and angle is taken into great consideration — Azuma almost makes it look easy. It’s actually done so well, you’re able to playback what you read in your mind as though it were really an anime.

Yotsuba excited for a long-awaited trip to the beach.

Unlike Azumanga Daioh, Yotsuba is not an anime, and currently has no plans to be animated (so Azuma says. In a couple years, I have reasons to believe otherwise.) Though we cannot see Yotsuba and her adventures animated, Azuma was kind enough to give us something else: music. We can hear Yotsuba’s movement representationally through meoldy, thoughtfully performed by the Kurikorder Pops Orchestra. (Yes, the same orchestra who did the music for Azumanga Daioh —  continuity is good!)

Yotsuba plays the recorder.

The idea of making a soundtrack for a manga series sounds gimmicky at best, but don’t let the idea fool you — the soundtracks are actually just as significant stand-alone as the actual mangas themselves. Azuma explained at their release that the soundtracks are NOT a literal play-by-play of the manga that you listen to as you read. Referred to as “image albums,” the music is designed to elicit mental images of events described by the titles. The end result is an interesting listening experience that adds significance to Yotsuba and her family and friends.

The first album, simply [and cleverly] named “Yotsuba&♪,” follows Yotsuba throughout the course of a typical summer day. 33 tracks follow her from dawn, just waking up, to dusk, going to bed. The music is full of a couple reoccurring themes, usually involving a string ensemble, a piano, a flute, a xylophone, and Japan’s signature childhood instrument: the recorder. It sounds very appropriate for music reminiscent of summer. The simplicity of the tracks, just like the simplicity of the manga, just make you feel good and I find actually help my concentration when doing things around the apartment. The expertise of the Kuricorder Pops Orchestra also help because no matter how simple the music is, none of it sucks. The orchestra has some insanely professional recording equipment. The tracks are among the most clean and noise-less recordings I’ve ever heard done in a studio. Props to them for not skimping.

Interesting highlights of Yotsuba&♪:

Track 1 “Dawn” – Contains an absolutely beautiful string melody as an opener. It gave me a good chill down my spine the first time.

Track 13 – “Drawing Together” – The attitude of this track is just great, love the electric piano and pizzicato strings.

Track 17 – “Making Lunch” – Try to guess what this track is supposed to be of!

Track 18 – “Eating Lunch” – Contains possibly the most standard rendition of the Yotsuba theme.

Track 19 – “Nap” – Delicately performed. This song shows that a recorder can be a wonderful instrument.

Track 22 – “Yotsuba’s Small-Big Adventure” – Perhaps the most mentally engaging song of the album, at 3:30, there’s an amazing flute and recorder solo, joined in by drums.

Track 33 – “See you tomorrow” – Fans of Azumanga would appreciate this track. It sounds most like the music of Azumanga Daioh. Very nostalgic.

[Download YOTSUBA&♪ - 57MB]

(Album is properly tagged. The first track, “Dawn & Album Artwork,” contains the entire booklet originally included with the album.)

Just like the summer album, the winter album focuses on following Yotsuba through daily activities. However, unlike the summer album, it does not follow her through a single day. Through a series of fully orchestrated suites it illustrates the entire season. Spanning from when winter arrives, to christmas, to new years, spring cleaning, and spring arriving. The orchestration of the winter album consists of more or less the same instruments, only playing to a new set of themes that are more winter appropriate. Most tracks have a more full sound to them, such as the first few tracks which rival “Yotsuba’s Small-Big Adventure” already in their mental imagery. I find this album more interesting to listen to during these months thanks to its unique sound which still makes you think “winter.” Western wintry music always finds the need to remix the same Christmas songs over and over and over until you become physically ill from the repetition. Other countries who don’t focus so heavily on Christmas as much as we do sure tend to come up with better music for the colder months. I’m sure if you give it a listen you’ll agree as well.

[Download YOTSUBA&♪ Musical Suite (General Winter) - 67MB]

(Album is properly tagged.)

Miura, (Ena’s friend,) Ena, and Yotsuba performing morning calisthenics.

If you haven’t checked out Yotsuba yet, you’re probably going to want to. It’s a real treat.

Enjoy everything!