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Perfect World #1
パーフェクトワールド 1
インテリア会社に就職した川奈つぐみ(26歳)は建築会社との飲み会で、高校の時の同級生であり初恋の人・鮎川 樹と再会する。樹にトキメキを覚えるつぐみだったが、彼は車いすに乗る障害者になっていた。「樹との恋愛は無理」。最初はそう思うつぐみだったが……。
168 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 739 reviews
October 20, 2018
The hardships of being handicapped were noted in this manga and that I like how the love story between Tsugumi and Itsuki was not rush, which might start in the second volume. The story recounts how the main characters were met during their high school years and on how fate pulled them to meet again after several years. If you are just like me who enjoyed and is a fan of Jojo Moyes' best-selling novel,
Me Before You,
I highly recommend that you should check out this spectacular graphic novel of
Rie Aruga.
Read
August 30, 2020
April 16, 2018
This romantic drama is amazing! It's so emotional and shows the real life struggles of being in a relationship with someone who is handicapped. I love the art style and feel like the writer really conveyed the emotions behind each character really well. I got so sucked into this manga and can't wait for volume 2!
Kawana is 26 years old and works for an interior design company called Cranberries. She shows up for a collaborative meeting with an architecture company called Sakuragaoka and unexpectedly sees her childhood friend and secret school crush Ayukawa. She fumbles awkwardly through the meeting, focusing more on how handsome her old crush is and doesn't realize until it's over that Ayukawa is in a wheelchair. She doesn't know what to think except that she doesn't understand disability and doesn't think she could ever date someone in that circumstance. They go out to eat to catch up and she has so much fun talking to him that their friendship renews. Now what will she do about these old feelings that have reignited?
I recieved this manga from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Kawana is 26 years old and works for an interior design company called Cranberries. She shows up for a collaborative meeting with an architecture company called Sakuragaoka and unexpectedly sees her childhood friend and secret school crush Ayukawa. She fumbles awkwardly through the meeting, focusing more on how handsome her old crush is and doesn't realize until it's over that Ayukawa is in a wheelchair. She doesn't know what to think except that she doesn't understand disability and doesn't think she could ever date someone in that circumstance. They go out to eat to catch up and she has so much fun talking to him that their friendship renews. Now what will she do about these old feelings that have reignited?
I recieved this manga from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 14, 2018
This manga was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
There was this one time I was at university and this blind student was tapping his cane listlessly and looked really lost. He turned to ask people for directions to a building but they mostly walked away, hoping he wouldn't realise they were there. (I understand this - in our world we're not told how to deal with situations like this; I blame no one). I asked him if he needed help. He said he needed to get to the law building. I didn't know where the building was, so he explained to me and I guided him. You could say it was a case of the blind leading the blind. We had a really nice conversation about the subjects we shared and he talked about his dogs, and I talked about mine.
I think what people need to realise is to stop treating disabled people like they're fragile and to be avoided. That being said, I think Perfect World does a really good job at portraying this, even if it's lacking a little in other areas and just a tad bit preachy. Address the person before you address their disability.
Also, this manga is just too cute. I exploded inside. My boyfriend had to mop me up because I was a soppy mess. I know I don't sound like I really enjoyed this, but I did. I don't often read cute things or romance (I'm all dark, gritty and noir-like). So when I do my innards go mush and my reviews don't make any senseand my boyfriend just doesn't know what to do with me. He appeals to my nihilism but I still just gush
Relationships: They're complicated.
There's an important thing about relationships - it's that once you look past the beauty, the fun and the good times, there are difficulties. Your partner could have depression, alcoholism, have been sexuality assaulted or be in a wheelchair. It's how you deal with these difficulties that makes your connection all the more great and your time together so much more meaningful.
Ayukawa is wheelchair-bound. But that's not all. He's a really cool guy. He gets way too excited about his architecture job and he's really friendly all round.
A girl who had a big crush in him in high-school, Kawana, joins his team as a designer. She's pretty shocked to find out about his accident and subsequent spinal cord injury, and very reluctant at first. But she falls for him. Hard. Obviously she does.
Kawana is pretty shocked by what happens to Ayukawa and all of his pain, but Ayukawa does not throw a pity party. He is not self-absorbed. He is strong and has overcome most of the sense of loss he felt in his youth after losing his ability to walk. But he's still hurting.
How Romance Should be Done
"When I saw the hole in his body I realised I knew nothing about him"
This manga does not romanticise spinal cord injuries although it is a romantic manga. Kawana doesn't get hit by a bout of "ooh guy in a wheelchair, it's so cool". She sits down and thinks to herself "Oh shit, can I do this? Am I strong enough?" Ya know, realism and all that. Ugh. I love this.
Further on in the story, Kawana helps him with I like Kawana's determination to be a part of Ayukawa's life. It makes me happy. It gives me hope in this world.
This book is a little preachy though. However, there are beautiful moments peppered throughout. There is also a moment of realisation which Ayukawa and Kawana share, and it is so sweet.
Someone please hit me over the head with Wind-up Bird Chronicles or Ender's Game this is just so unlike me.SOMEBODY BRING ME ALTERED CARBON. I NEED ACTION AND NIHILISM TO HARDEN MY MUSHY HEART
There was this one time I was at university and this blind student was tapping his cane listlessly and looked really lost. He turned to ask people for directions to a building but they mostly walked away, hoping he wouldn't realise they were there. (I understand this - in our world we're not told how to deal with situations like this; I blame no one). I asked him if he needed help. He said he needed to get to the law building. I didn't know where the building was, so he explained to me and I guided him. You could say it was a case of the blind leading the blind. We had a really nice conversation about the subjects we shared and he talked about his dogs, and I talked about mine.
I think what people need to realise is to stop treating disabled people like they're fragile and to be avoided. That being said, I think Perfect World does a really good job at portraying this, even if it's lacking a little in other areas and just a tad bit preachy. Address the person before you address their disability.
Also, this manga is just too cute. I exploded inside. My boyfriend had to mop me up because I was a soppy mess. I know I don't sound like I really enjoyed this, but I did. I don't often read cute things or romance (I'm all dark, gritty and noir-like). So when I do my innards go mush and my reviews don't make any sense
Relationships: They're complicated.
There's an important thing about relationships - it's that once you look past the beauty, the fun and the good times, there are difficulties. Your partner could have depression, alcoholism, have been sexuality assaulted or be in a wheelchair. It's how you deal with these difficulties that makes your connection all the more great and your time together so much more meaningful.
Ayukawa is wheelchair-bound. But that's not all. He's a really cool guy. He gets way too excited about his architecture job and he's really friendly all round.
A girl who had a big crush in him in high-school, Kawana, joins his team as a designer. She's pretty shocked to find out about his accident and subsequent spinal cord injury, and very reluctant at first. But she falls for him. Hard. Obviously she does.
Kawana is pretty shocked by what happens to Ayukawa and all of his pain, but Ayukawa does not throw a pity party. He is not self-absorbed. He is strong and has overcome most of the sense of loss he felt in his youth after losing his ability to walk. But he's still hurting.
How Romance Should be Done
"When I saw the hole in his body I realised I knew nothing about him"
This manga does not romanticise spinal cord injuries although it is a romantic manga. Kawana doesn't get hit by a bout of "ooh guy in a wheelchair, it's so cool". She sits down and thinks to herself "Oh shit, can I do this? Am I strong enough?" Ya know, realism and all that. Ugh. I love this.
Further on in the story, Kawana helps him with I like Kawana's determination to be a part of Ayukawa's life. It makes me happy. It gives me hope in this world.
This book is a little preachy though. However, there are beautiful moments peppered throughout. There is also a moment of realisation which Ayukawa and Kawana share, and it is so sweet.
Someone please hit me over the head with Wind-up Bird Chronicles or Ender's Game this is just so unlike me.
October 6, 2020
4.5 stars
A truly powerful and pretty emotional beginning to what is no doubt going to be a heartbreaking and tender story beautifully portrayed.
RTC
A truly powerful and pretty emotional beginning to what is no doubt going to be a heartbreaking and tender story beautifully portrayed.
RTC
September 5, 2023
Interesting first volume. I’ve heard a lot about this series from various readers of manga and I’ve always been nervous about the disability representation but it’s clear that the mangaka is attempting to be extremely careful in how they depict Itsuki’s disability. I do think that it becomes a little too informational at some points which throws off its ability to tell a cohesive story. I’m also concerned with Tsugumi’s perception of herself in relationship to Itsuki, but I do think they have great chemistry and I like that they already have somewhat of a history from high school. I know that this series does get more difficult emotionally as the story progresses but I’m interested in seeing where it goes.
May 15, 2018
Random thoughts:
- This is only the second manga title I've ever seen that prominently features a character who uses a wheelchair (the first title that comes to mind is REAL by Takehiko Inoue. I picked this title up for this reason alone.
- I have a lot of thoughts about the representation of Ayukawa's disability (but I'm not disabled myself, so please take these thoughts with a grain of salt):
1. I liked that this work was honest about what it's like living with a disability - there is no sugarcoating.
2. Kawana is not framed as "saving" Ayukawa - he's an adult who's settled in his life and it's actually she who can't seem to get shit together. Ayukawa didn't feel like fodder for inspiration-porn either. Kawana admires him, certainly, but he doesn't seem to be a device for the able-bodied protag to learn a trite lesson about life/love/etc (at least, that's been the case so far).
3. There was a moment I really liked where Kawana apologizes to Ayukawa for suggesting he speak to a teen who had recently had an accident and needed to use a wheelchair. She assumed that he would be an inspiration to the teen because she also made assumptions about how Ayukawa viewed and felt about his disability. After apologizing, she asks Ayukawa questions and makes a conscience effort to listen to him to better understand his experience, rather than assume.
4. While Ayukawa experiences a lot of difficulties due to his disability, Aruga balances out the doom-and-gloom by having a scene where Kawana sees a happy elderly couple where the husband is a wheelchair user.
I have more thoughts, but these are the only ones that I can really articulate coherently. Overall, I was surprised at how the representation seemed realistic and sensitive. However, I again want to stress that I am not myself disabled and so I could be 100% wrong on this assessment.
- So why only three stars? I have a few reasons why I docked this down to a mediocre rating:
a. The development of Kawana's feelings for Ayukawa felt much too quick. I get that she had a crush on him in high school, but to me, that felt like lazy storytelling to allow her to fall in love with him after spending such a short amount of time together when they're reunited as adults. The author does mention in an author's note that this story was originally supposed to be a one-shot, which may be why the pacing felt a little rushed to me.
b. The art is inconsistent. I believe this is Aruga's debut title, so this could be chalked up to a lack of experience, maybe, but I found the quality of the art varied quite a bit. Also, Kawana and Ayukawa looked way too young sometimes (more like teenagers than adults who are in their mid-20s).
c. The romance, though quick, is kind of cute, but it also felt kind of cheesy to me?? I dunno, the writing occasionally feels a little Lifetime Movie-esque.
Overall, I will be continuing reading this series and I would recommend it, albeit with some caveats.
FYI: the series has currently only been translated in French (which I'm thankfully fluent in, and my library carries), but I do hope that it gets an English translation. EDIT: It looks like Kodansha has published this in English back in March!! Unfortunately, it looks like there's only a digital edition available. Hopefully there'll be a print version available in the future.
- This is only the second manga title I've ever seen that prominently features a character who uses a wheelchair (the first title that comes to mind is REAL by Takehiko Inoue. I picked this title up for this reason alone.
- I have a lot of thoughts about the representation of Ayukawa's disability (but I'm not disabled myself, so please take these thoughts with a grain of salt):
1. I liked that this work was honest about what it's like living with a disability - there is no sugarcoating.
2. Kawana is not framed as "saving" Ayukawa - he's an adult who's settled in his life and it's actually she who can't seem to get shit together. Ayukawa didn't feel like fodder for inspiration-porn either. Kawana admires him, certainly, but he doesn't seem to be a device for the able-bodied protag to learn a trite lesson about life/love/etc (at least, that's been the case so far).
3. There was a moment I really liked where Kawana apologizes to Ayukawa for suggesting he speak to a teen who had recently had an accident and needed to use a wheelchair. She assumed that he would be an inspiration to the teen because she also made assumptions about how Ayukawa viewed and felt about his disability. After apologizing, she asks Ayukawa questions and makes a conscience effort to listen to him to better understand his experience, rather than assume.
4. While Ayukawa experiences a lot of difficulties due to his disability, Aruga balances out the doom-and-gloom by having a scene where Kawana sees a happy elderly couple where the husband is a wheelchair user.
I have more thoughts, but these are the only ones that I can really articulate coherently. Overall, I was surprised at how the representation seemed realistic and sensitive. However, I again want to stress that I am not myself disabled and so I could be 100% wrong on this assessment.
- So why only three stars? I have a few reasons why I docked this down to a mediocre rating:
a. The development of Kawana's feelings for Ayukawa felt much too quick. I get that she had a crush on him in high school, but to me, that felt like lazy storytelling to allow her to fall in love with him after spending such a short amount of time together when they're reunited as adults. The author does mention in an author's note that this story was originally supposed to be a one-shot, which may be why the pacing felt a little rushed to me.
b. The art is inconsistent. I believe this is Aruga's debut title, so this could be chalked up to a lack of experience, maybe, but I found the quality of the art varied quite a bit. Also, Kawana and Ayukawa looked way too young sometimes (more like teenagers than adults who are in their mid-20s).
c. The romance, though quick, is kind of cute, but it also felt kind of cheesy to me?? I dunno, the writing occasionally feels a little Lifetime Movie-esque.
Overall, I will be continuing reading this series and I would recommend it, albeit with some caveats.
FYI: the series has currently only been translated in French (which I'm thankfully fluent in, and my library carries), but I do hope that it gets an English translation. EDIT: It looks like Kodansha has published this in English back in March!! Unfortunately, it looks like there's only a digital edition available. Hopefully there'll be a print version available in the future.
March 20, 2018
I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Ahhhhhhhhh, this was just fabulous, sweet, heartbreaking, beautiful. Really, I would warn everyone to bring tissues when you are reading this one. You will need those. Tears were just streaming down my cheeks while reading. I am still all teary from this beautiful volume.
Tsugumi reunites with her crush from high school, Itsuki, during a get-together from her firm (interior design) and his firm (architecture). She is happy to see him and her love is immediately rekindled, but then finds out that her crush isn't having such a good life as she thought he was having. He is in a wheel chair.
And from that moment the manga truly begins as Tsugumi wonders about if a relationship with a wheelchair-bound guy would work. Can you be with someone who can't do everything you can? Can you handle the care, the worries, the fact he can get sick at any moment, even die in a few years? It is a very loaded subject, and we see how Tsugumi tries to find an answer while falling deeper and deeper in love with Itsuki. She tries to help him out whenever she can, she is there for him when he is in the hospital a few times, she tries to show him that she really cares, that she really wants him as he is. That she knows that it may not last long, that it won't be easy, but that she just loves him.
Of course it isn't an easy road. Itsuki is not doing well, despite just continuing with everything. While I was impressed that he never gave up and I could also understand that he wanted to continue as he is getting great chances at the firm... at times I wanted to shake him a bit to tell him that it is OK to take a break at times, you don't need to go until your body collapses, until everything shuts down.
Haruto's story was heartbreaking. The poor guy, I hope that with what Itsuki has done for him, showed him, that he can pave a new road to something awesome. Plus I hope he can accept his girlfriend again, she has waited for him. She has been visiting for a year now, waiting, waiting. I think you don't need to be worried she may run away from you (like Itsuki's girlfriend in college did after the accident).
I am also happy, well if you want to call it that, that we not only see Tsugumi's perspective, but also Itsuki's. We see him not being able to sleep due to the pain in his legs (phantom limb), we see him hurting. But we also see him fall in love with Tsugumi.
The ending was just perfection, I am so happy for both of them, and I hope that their romance will continue for a long time to come. Though... given several things, and I have read enough other manga, I fear that we may be going for a bad ending. I already cried tons while reading, I am not sure if I can handle a bad ending should one appear in the next volumes.
We also see how people react to a guy in a wheelchair and I frankly wanted to shake up some people. :|
The art is pretty decent, at times I felt the style didn't exactly fit with the story and the heaviness of it all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Ahhhhhhhhh, this was just fabulous, sweet, heartbreaking, beautiful. Really, I would warn everyone to bring tissues when you are reading this one. You will need those. Tears were just streaming down my cheeks while reading. I am still all teary from this beautiful volume.
Tsugumi reunites with her crush from high school, Itsuki, during a get-together from her firm (interior design) and his firm (architecture). She is happy to see him and her love is immediately rekindled, but then finds out that her crush isn't having such a good life as she thought he was having. He is in a wheel chair.
And from that moment the manga truly begins as Tsugumi wonders about if a relationship with a wheelchair-bound guy would work. Can you be with someone who can't do everything you can? Can you handle the care, the worries, the fact he can get sick at any moment, even die in a few years? It is a very loaded subject, and we see how Tsugumi tries to find an answer while falling deeper and deeper in love with Itsuki. She tries to help him out whenever she can, she is there for him when he is in the hospital a few times, she tries to show him that she really cares, that she really wants him as he is. That she knows that it may not last long, that it won't be easy, but that she just loves him.
Of course it isn't an easy road. Itsuki is not doing well, despite just continuing with everything. While I was impressed that he never gave up and I could also understand that he wanted to continue as he is getting great chances at the firm... at times I wanted to shake him a bit to tell him that it is OK to take a break at times, you don't need to go until your body collapses, until everything shuts down.
Haruto's story was heartbreaking. The poor guy, I hope that with what Itsuki has done for him, showed him, that he can pave a new road to something awesome. Plus I hope he can accept his girlfriend again, she has waited for him. She has been visiting for a year now, waiting, waiting. I think you don't need to be worried she may run away from you (like Itsuki's girlfriend in college did after the accident).
I am also happy, well if you want to call it that, that we not only see Tsugumi's perspective, but also Itsuki's. We see him not being able to sleep due to the pain in his legs (phantom limb), we see him hurting. But we also see him fall in love with Tsugumi.
The ending was just perfection, I am so happy for both of them, and I hope that their romance will continue for a long time to come. Though... given several things, and I have read enough other manga, I fear that we may be going for a bad ending. I already cried tons while reading, I am not sure if I can handle a bad ending should one appear in the next volumes.
We also see how people react to a guy in a wheelchair and I frankly wanted to shake up some people. :|
The art is pretty decent, at times I felt the style didn't exactly fit with the story and the heaviness of it all.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
May 31, 2025
a good first volume, although the plot feels a little disjointed. i'm excited to continue reading!
May 21, 2019
Un manga che parla di disabilità è come un miraggio, è una super novità!
Quindi ero curiosa, quindi le mie aspettative hanno sfiorato le stelle perché in patria questo manga ha vinto così tanti premi...
Mi aspettavo una storia dolce, ma forte.
Mi aspettavo una storia con un certo spessore, una storia profonda.
NO, dimenticate questi sogni di gloria.
Qui la disabilità è usata solo per far colpo sul lettore e sulla protagonista che si riscopre "innamorata" del suo ex dopo due misere pagine. Questo non è amore ma senso di colpa e, soprattutto, PENA e la pena come sentimento fa schifo.
Insomma è il solito shojo manga, con le paturnie dello shojo e con un protagonista disabile perché fa più figo...
In breve mi ha fatto accapponare la pelle!
Quindi ero curiosa, quindi le mie aspettative hanno sfiorato le stelle perché in patria questo manga ha vinto così tanti premi...
Mi aspettavo una storia dolce, ma forte.
Mi aspettavo una storia con un certo spessore, una storia profonda.
NO, dimenticate questi sogni di gloria.
Qui la disabilità è usata solo per far colpo sul lettore e sulla protagonista che si riscopre "innamorata" del suo ex dopo due misere pagine. Questo non è amore ma senso di colpa e, soprattutto, PENA e la pena come sentimento fa schifo.
Insomma è il solito shojo manga, con le paturnie dello shojo e con un protagonista disabile perché fa più figo...
In breve mi ha fatto accapponare la pelle!
March 15, 2022
Adorable. Bonus points for the kitten.
Popsugar 2022: MC who uses a mobility aid
Popsugar 2022: MC who uses a mobility aid
December 31, 2022
AHHHHHH
Es el primer manga que leo en toda mi vida así que primero les voy a contar mi experiencia leyéndolo. Al principio me costaba porque mi propia vista me traicionaba a la hora de leerlo. Porque pues quiera o no estoy acostumbrada a leer de la manera occidental y hacerlo de manera inversa en todos los aspectos me costó acostumbrarme aproximadamente 15 minutos. Pero en esos minutos tuve que releer varias cosas porque mi cerebro captaba que lo estaba leyendo mal, y así estuve hasta que lo logré.
Lo primero que queiro decir es que al pirncipio me daba miedo leer un libro de una manera diferente a la que estoy acostumbrada. Pero ¿en serio me voy a perder la oportunidad de leer grandes historias, solo porque estas se narran de una manera en la que no estoy acostumbrada? Exacto. No. Al menos eso creo yo, así que se empieza una nueva era de leer manga de romance. ¿Qué esperaban que iba a empezar a leer de terror, misterio o aventuras? I mean... puede ser que sí, siempre y cuando tenga romance yeiiii.
Ahora hablando de este mango que fue el primero y me agrada decir que fue un regalo de una amiga que quiero muchísimo y me lo regaló. Así que ese quería que fuera el primero de todos y amé quién me lo regaló y la historia.
Nuestra protagonista (si antes me costaba acordarme de los nombres, ahora es tarea imposible... de momento al menos, hasta que me acostumbre), tenpia un crush con este chico pero l odeja estar proque él se hace novio de alguien más. Pasan los años y se reencuentran por cosas del trabajo y del destino y ella se da cuenta que él, uno de los mejores jugadores de basketball de su escuela, está en silla de ruedas.
Es todo lo que les voy a decir, es bastante cortito. Lo amé. LEÁNLO Y NO SE PIEDAN ESTA GRAN HISTORIA.
Escribo esto mientras espero a que me llegue el segundo y tercer volumen que pedí en Panini... así que ¡LLEGA YA!
Es el primer manga que leo en toda mi vida así que primero les voy a contar mi experiencia leyéndolo. Al principio me costaba porque mi propia vista me traicionaba a la hora de leerlo. Porque pues quiera o no estoy acostumbrada a leer de la manera occidental y hacerlo de manera inversa en todos los aspectos me costó acostumbrarme aproximadamente 15 minutos. Pero en esos minutos tuve que releer varias cosas porque mi cerebro captaba que lo estaba leyendo mal, y así estuve hasta que lo logré.
Lo primero que queiro decir es que al pirncipio me daba miedo leer un libro de una manera diferente a la que estoy acostumbrada. Pero ¿en serio me voy a perder la oportunidad de leer grandes historias, solo porque estas se narran de una manera en la que no estoy acostumbrada? Exacto. No. Al menos eso creo yo, así que se empieza una nueva era de leer manga de romance. ¿Qué esperaban que iba a empezar a leer de terror, misterio o aventuras? I mean... puede ser que sí, siempre y cuando tenga romance yeiiii.
Ahora hablando de este mango que fue el primero y me agrada decir que fue un regalo de una amiga que quiero muchísimo y me lo regaló. Así que ese quería que fuera el primero de todos y amé quién me lo regaló y la historia.
Nuestra protagonista (si antes me costaba acordarme de los nombres, ahora es tarea imposible... de momento al menos, hasta que me acostumbre), tenpia un crush con este chico pero l odeja estar proque él se hace novio de alguien más. Pasan los años y se reencuentran por cosas del trabajo y del destino y ella se da cuenta que él, uno de los mejores jugadores de basketball de su escuela, está en silla de ruedas.
Es todo lo que les voy a decir, es bastante cortito. Lo amé. LEÁNLO Y NO SE PIEDAN ESTA GRAN HISTORIA.
Escribo esto mientras espero a que me llegue el segundo y tercer volumen que pedí en Panini... así que ¡LLEGA YA!
April 29, 2019
Recensione su Chibiistheway
Un manga molto carino che parla di disabilità. Ho apprezzato la scelta dell'autrice di affrontare questa tematica in maniera abbastanza diretta per cercare di sfatare alcuni luoghi comuni e sono curiosa di vedere come proseguirà
Un manga molto carino che parla di disabilità. Ho apprezzato la scelta dell'autrice di affrontare questa tematica in maniera abbastanza diretta per cercare di sfatare alcuni luoghi comuni e sono curiosa di vedere come proseguirà
August 16, 2021
*cries at ending* 😭
February 8, 2023
10 Nov 2017:
Untuk vol. 1 - 3 \(^ヮ^)/
Gambar : 4 bintang...tipe gambar shoujo / josei yang cantik & tampan sih, dengan nilai tambah gambar yang rapi & detil, ekspresif dalam berbagai situasi penuh emosi~
Cerita : 5 bintang...❤❤❤ direkomendasikan untuk para penggemar Isyarat Mieko , Happy! , dan The Shape of Voice .
Karena Ayukawa, si tokoh cowok, main basket kursi roda, jadi keinget Real juga, tapi dari isi ceritanya lebih ke arah drama percintaan sih (^///^;)>
Memang, biasanya Guguk dan (((drama percintaan))) itu terletak di planet yang berbeda~ Tapi komik ini merupakan pengecualian!
Mulai dari pembahasan soal cedera dan berbagai gejala sakit yang diderita Ayukawa secara riil, lalu momen bimbang Kawana yang murni, nggak munafik, mencoba menimbang kesanggupannya mendampingi Ayukawa, sampai ketika saat-saat penuh dengan berbagai emosi: bahagia, damai, terpukul, hancur, lelah...
Pembaca turut terseret dan harus berhenti beberapa kali untuk menghela napas, menarik napas dalam-dalam, merenung, dan pergi ke toilet... XD //udahgakusahdiceritain
Salah satu bahan renungan Kawana yang nancep ke hati dan bikin sakit walau ga berdarah itu saat dia melihat pasangan lanjut usia. Semua makhluk menua dengan berbagai kekurangan fisik masing-masing. Dan rasanya, (sekali lagi) menyadari keadaan ini bikin aku lebih 'nempel-ke-bumi' X"D //tadinyagentayangan
Sangat menantikan kelanjutannya~ (╯✧▽✧)╯
________________
08 Feb 2023:
Setelah ✧TAMAT✧ di volume 12 (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ
Rating tidak berubah! ( ; ω ; ) Memang cinta-berseginya lumayan bikin kesel, tapibisa diabaikan lumayan ketutup dengan kisah perjuangan hidup mereka berdua, juga orang-orang di sekitarnya.
Rasanya, inti yang mau disampaikan adalah "Yuk, kita ciptakan lingkungan hidup/tempat tinggal/fasilitas umum yang ramah difabel!"
Karena semua manusia pun menua, kita ngga bisa tau gimana kita ke depannya. Lingkungan yang aman akan membuat semuanya merasa nyaman.
Masih banyak lagi~ Sangat terkesan dengan kegigihan Kawana dan Ayukawa soal pekerjaan,
Seneng sekali komik bagus ini diterbitin sampai tamat, walau lumayan tersendat terbitnya, dan vol. 12 ini hasil cetakannya agak parah (*kirim santet ke percetakan).
Aku rekomendasikan, terutama untuk orang-orang yang juga gigih berjuang di tengah berbagai kekurangan dan keterbatasan.
❤❤❤ ~bless u all...
Untuk vol. 1 - 3 \(^ヮ^)/
Gambar : 4 bintang...tipe gambar shoujo / josei yang cantik & tampan sih, dengan nilai tambah gambar yang rapi & detil, ekspresif dalam berbagai situasi penuh emosi~
Cerita : 5 bintang...❤❤❤ direkomendasikan untuk para penggemar Isyarat Mieko , Happy! , dan The Shape of Voice .
Karena Ayukawa, si tokoh cowok, main basket kursi roda, jadi keinget Real juga, tapi dari isi ceritanya lebih ke arah drama percintaan sih (^///^;)>
Memang, biasanya Guguk dan (((drama percintaan))) itu terletak di planet yang berbeda~ Tapi komik ini merupakan pengecualian!
Mulai dari pembahasan soal cedera dan berbagai gejala sakit yang diderita Ayukawa secara riil, lalu momen bimbang Kawana yang murni, nggak munafik, mencoba menimbang kesanggupannya mendampingi Ayukawa, sampai ketika saat-saat penuh dengan berbagai emosi: bahagia, damai, terpukul, hancur, lelah...
Pembaca turut terseret dan harus berhenti beberapa kali untuk menghela napas, menarik napas dalam-dalam, merenung, dan pergi ke toilet... XD //udahgakusahdiceritain
Salah satu bahan renungan Kawana yang nancep ke hati dan bikin sakit walau ga berdarah itu saat dia melihat pasangan lanjut usia. Semua makhluk menua dengan berbagai kekurangan fisik masing-masing. Dan rasanya, (sekali lagi) menyadari keadaan ini bikin aku lebih 'nempel-ke-bumi' X"D //tadinyagentayangan
Sangat menantikan kelanjutannya~ (╯✧▽✧)╯
________________
08 Feb 2023:
Setelah ✧TAMAT✧ di volume 12 (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ
Rating tidak berubah! ( ; ω ; ) Memang cinta-berseginya lumayan bikin kesel, tapi
Rasanya, inti yang mau disampaikan adalah "Yuk, kita ciptakan lingkungan hidup/tempat tinggal/fasilitas umum yang ramah difabel!"
Karena semua manusia pun menua, kita ngga bisa tau gimana kita ke depannya. Lingkungan yang aman akan membuat semuanya merasa nyaman.
Masih banyak lagi~ Sangat terkesan dengan kegigihan Kawana dan Ayukawa soal pekerjaan,
Seneng sekali komik bagus ini diterbitin sampai tamat, walau lumayan tersendat terbitnya, dan vol. 12 ini hasil cetakannya agak parah (*kirim santet ke percetakan).
Aku rekomendasikan, terutama untuk orang-orang yang juga gigih berjuang di tengah berbagai kekurangan dan keterbatasan.
❤❤❤ ~bless u all...
April 7, 2024
already cried in this volume, cannot wait to cry in the other 11 volumes😭
Anyway! if you’re looking for an amazing series about the struggles of someone with a disability and their love stories >>>> go read this!
Anyway! if you’re looking for an amazing series about the struggles of someone with a disability and their love stories >>>> go read this!
May 11, 2025
estoy llorando, que lindos son 😭😭😭
July 7, 2019
Voto: 4,5 stelline
Un manga molto dolce e che riesce ad affrontare senza difficoltà il tema della disabilità senza ridicolizzarlo o renderlo un cliché. Mi è piaciuto molto il rapporto tra i due protagonisti e il modo in cui i ragazzi si avvicinano e accorgono di essere innamorati, nonostante sia stato un po' affrettato mi è piaciuto come Tsugumi sia riuscita ad andare oltre ai suoi pregiudizi iniziali innamorandosi della persona di fronte a lei ignorando gli ostacoli sul suo cammino. Mi ha emozionato inoltre il modo in cui Itsuki affronta la sua disabilità, non ci troviamo di fronte un ragazzo che ride e scherza e minimizza la sua situazione e neanche uno che passa il suo tempo solo a piangersi addosso. È molto bella la scena in cui il protagonista affronta un giovane nelle sue stesse condizioni spiegandoli cosa è per lui la disabilità e come la vive. Itsuki afferma di non aver accettato la sua disabilità e di non poterlo fare mai ma di voler a tutti i costi vivere e riuscire a farlo fino in fondo, sa che molte cose gli saranno precluse ma preferisce ugualmente provare fino in fondo a fare ciò che ama anche se questo non gli impedisce di avere paura. Proprio la paura infatti gli ha impedito di continuare una relazione che gli stava a cuore, è stato spinto a lasciare la sua ragazza per evitare di essere un peso e costringerla a vivere una vita limitata e piena di difficoltà. Itsuki è molto reale e vivo e credo sia una rappresentazione perfetta di un giovane nelle sue condizioni. Ho amato anche il modo in cui Tsugumi riesce ad aiutare l'amato. La scena in cui infatti la ragazza lo porta al matrimonio della ex mi ha commosso. Itsuki ha sempre in qualche modo avuto paura di scoprire di aver fatto la scelta sbagliata, di aver fatto soffrire la ex spingendola ad aspettarlo o ad essere per sempre infelice e vedere finalmente la donna che un tempo ha amato sorridere dolcemente con lo stesso sorriso che in passato gli ha rivolto, poterle dare la sua benedizione e augurare il meglio è per lui un sollievo, la dimostrazione di non aver sbagliato tutto e la possibilità finalmente di ricominciare e riaprire il suo cuore.
Questa manga è davvero intenso e commovente eppure... una piccola parte mi ha un po' fatto storcere il naso... il fatto di essere il primo di una serie. Questo volume infatti è perfettamente conclusivo con un inizio e una fine e si conclude con la coppietta finalmente unita, tutto perfetto e... il fatto che l'autrice stessa abbia ammesso che la storia era pensata come volume singolo... mi fa un po' spaventare... non troviamo infatti una trama forte da portare avanti, un progetto da raggiungere, pure la storia della ex che in futuro poteva creare grattacapi qui viene risolta e conclusa quindi... sono un po' in ansia. Temo che i prossimi volumi saranno solo un ammasso di scene di vita e drammi a caso... spero di no ma... sono un po' preoccupata visti altri manga. Proprio questo timore e il mancato inserimento di un qualsiasi dettaglio che ci spinga ad andare avanti nella serie mi ha portato a votarlo 4,5 stelline arrotondate qui su GR per ovvi motivi a 5
Un manga che mi sento di consigliare sia a chi è intenzionato a leggerlo come stand alone sia a chi vuole leggere la serie, dedicato a chi cerca una lettura impegnata ma anche ricca di dolcezza.
Un manga molto dolce e che riesce ad affrontare senza difficoltà il tema della disabilità senza ridicolizzarlo o renderlo un cliché. Mi è piaciuto molto il rapporto tra i due protagonisti e il modo in cui i ragazzi si avvicinano e accorgono di essere innamorati, nonostante sia stato un po' affrettato mi è piaciuto come Tsugumi sia riuscita ad andare oltre ai suoi pregiudizi iniziali innamorandosi della persona di fronte a lei ignorando gli ostacoli sul suo cammino. Mi ha emozionato inoltre il modo in cui Itsuki affronta la sua disabilità, non ci troviamo di fronte un ragazzo che ride e scherza e minimizza la sua situazione e neanche uno che passa il suo tempo solo a piangersi addosso. È molto bella la scena in cui il protagonista affronta un giovane nelle sue stesse condizioni spiegandoli cosa è per lui la disabilità e come la vive. Itsuki afferma di non aver accettato la sua disabilità e di non poterlo fare mai ma di voler a tutti i costi vivere e riuscire a farlo fino in fondo, sa che molte cose gli saranno precluse ma preferisce ugualmente provare fino in fondo a fare ciò che ama anche se questo non gli impedisce di avere paura. Proprio la paura infatti gli ha impedito di continuare una relazione che gli stava a cuore, è stato spinto a lasciare la sua ragazza per evitare di essere un peso e costringerla a vivere una vita limitata e piena di difficoltà. Itsuki è molto reale e vivo e credo sia una rappresentazione perfetta di un giovane nelle sue condizioni. Ho amato anche il modo in cui Tsugumi riesce ad aiutare l'amato. La scena in cui infatti la ragazza lo porta al matrimonio della ex mi ha commosso. Itsuki ha sempre in qualche modo avuto paura di scoprire di aver fatto la scelta sbagliata, di aver fatto soffrire la ex spingendola ad aspettarlo o ad essere per sempre infelice e vedere finalmente la donna che un tempo ha amato sorridere dolcemente con lo stesso sorriso che in passato gli ha rivolto, poterle dare la sua benedizione e augurare il meglio è per lui un sollievo, la dimostrazione di non aver sbagliato tutto e la possibilità finalmente di ricominciare e riaprire il suo cuore.
Questa manga è davvero intenso e commovente eppure... una piccola parte mi ha un po' fatto storcere il naso... il fatto di essere il primo di una serie. Questo volume infatti è perfettamente conclusivo con un inizio e una fine e si conclude con la coppietta finalmente unita, tutto perfetto e... il fatto che l'autrice stessa abbia ammesso che la storia era pensata come volume singolo... mi fa un po' spaventare... non troviamo infatti una trama forte da portare avanti, un progetto da raggiungere, pure la storia della ex che in futuro poteva creare grattacapi qui viene risolta e conclusa quindi... sono un po' in ansia. Temo che i prossimi volumi saranno solo un ammasso di scene di vita e drammi a caso... spero di no ma... sono un po' preoccupata visti altri manga. Proprio questo timore e il mancato inserimento di un qualsiasi dettaglio che ci spinga ad andare avanti nella serie mi ha portato a votarlo 4,5 stelline arrotondate qui su GR per ovvi motivi a 5
Un manga che mi sento di consigliare sia a chi è intenzionato a leggerlo come stand alone sia a chi vuole leggere la serie, dedicato a chi cerca una lettura impegnata ma anche ricca di dolcezza.
May 4, 2018
Note: I read the English translation, titled Perfect World (Vol. 1)
Falling in love isn't very easy under normal circumstances, and it's especially harder when the boy you're falling for is in a wheelchair.
Perfect World is a beautiful graphic novel which tells the tale of two people in their mid-twenties, as they fall in love. Beautifully illustrated in the manga style, with poignant moments scattered all over, this is a book that tugs at your heartstrings, as the protagonist learns what it is to truly love someone who is disabled.
Tsugumi Kawana is a 26 year old interior designer, who runs into Itsuki Ayukawa, her highschool crush, at a professional get-together in Tokyo. Though years have passed since she last saw him, just talking to him sends her heart aflutter – till she realises that he uses a wheelchair. (Paraphrased from the blurb.)
The story isn't simple – Kawana doesn't just hang out with Ayukawa, and they don't just fall in love. Kawana has a lot to learn, and Ayukawa has a lot to accept.
Kawana is initially apprehensive of dating someone in a wheelchair, even if she's attracted to him like a moth drawn to a flame. But as she spends time with Ayukawa and her "crush" turns into something more solid, she resolves to learn everything there is about him, and the best way to care for him. She's determined, level-headed, and caring, which in turn makes her an extremely likable protagonist.
Ayukawa, on the other hand, is resigned to his fate. An accident in uni left him with an injured spinal cord and paralysed legs, and while he hasn't let that stop him from pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an architect, he's given up on enjoying life. He doesn't want to fall in love, ever, period. Reason? He doesn't want to impose on others and be a burden to them. He wears his disability like an albatross around his neck to such an extent that he doesn't even inform his family when he's hospitalised twice in the course of the story.
The story is divided into four acts, and each act brings the protagonists closer to acceptance and understanding. The narration is primarily from Kawana's point of view, and documents her thoughts as she truly understands the difficulties disabled people face – not just physical obstacles, but also the ones thrown upon them by society. The few moments from Ayukawa reveal his self-doubt and uncertainty about life.
This is a beautiful love story, and a realistic one, at that, and catches an angle that I've never seen before. Rie Aruga's artistry is something to behold and respect.
In short, I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!
P.S. NetGalley provided me with a copy for an honest review, and this is about as honest as it gets!
Falling in love isn't very easy under normal circumstances, and it's especially harder when the boy you're falling for is in a wheelchair.
Perfect World is a beautiful graphic novel which tells the tale of two people in their mid-twenties, as they fall in love. Beautifully illustrated in the manga style, with poignant moments scattered all over, this is a book that tugs at your heartstrings, as the protagonist learns what it is to truly love someone who is disabled.
Tsugumi Kawana is a 26 year old interior designer, who runs into Itsuki Ayukawa, her highschool crush, at a professional get-together in Tokyo. Though years have passed since she last saw him, just talking to him sends her heart aflutter – till she realises that he uses a wheelchair. (Paraphrased from the blurb.)
The story isn't simple – Kawana doesn't just hang out with Ayukawa, and they don't just fall in love. Kawana has a lot to learn, and Ayukawa has a lot to accept.
Kawana is initially apprehensive of dating someone in a wheelchair, even if she's attracted to him like a moth drawn to a flame. But as she spends time with Ayukawa and her "crush" turns into something more solid, she resolves to learn everything there is about him, and the best way to care for him. She's determined, level-headed, and caring, which in turn makes her an extremely likable protagonist.
Ayukawa, on the other hand, is resigned to his fate. An accident in uni left him with an injured spinal cord and paralysed legs, and while he hasn't let that stop him from pursuing his childhood dream of becoming an architect, he's given up on enjoying life. He doesn't want to fall in love, ever, period. Reason? He doesn't want to impose on others and be a burden to them. He wears his disability like an albatross around his neck to such an extent that he doesn't even inform his family when he's hospitalised twice in the course of the story.
The story is divided into four acts, and each act brings the protagonists closer to acceptance and understanding. The narration is primarily from Kawana's point of view, and documents her thoughts as she truly understands the difficulties disabled people face – not just physical obstacles, but also the ones thrown upon them by society. The few moments from Ayukawa reveal his self-doubt and uncertainty about life.
This is a beautiful love story, and a realistic one, at that, and catches an angle that I've never seen before. Rie Aruga's artistry is something to behold and respect.
In short, I loved it, I loved it, I loved it!
P.S. NetGalley provided me with a copy for an honest review, and this is about as honest as it gets!
January 8, 2024
[ Re-read in 2021 and 2024. ]
Tsugumi, a 26 y/o woman finds herself attracted to her high school crush again, only this time, so many years later, Itsuki’s in a wheelchair.
At first, they start working together since he’s an architect and she’s an interior designer, but the more time they spend together, she has these romantic feelings back. Actually, the only thing that’s stopping her to make a move is the fact that he’s now a disabled person, and he’s just not in the mood for dating girls.
Despite this, Tsugumi can’t help herself and after spending time together, she confesses her feelings for him because, you see, people with a disability might never know what will happen next year.
On the other hand, Itsuki doesn’t want to be a burden, but at the same time, we see him relax around her –even his phantom pain goes away when talking to her on the phone. So maybe… and just maybe… they found each other in the most unexpected times.
Now, I’m so happy I finally have my physical copy of this manga. I really like the art style and I feel like it’s a well-written josei that talks about an important topic; people with disabilities are just like us: they get angry and sad, and happy, and have goals. Ultimately, people just want to be treated equally.
I feel like this was a great combo: a light-hearted narrative to depict something most of us don’t really know much about without being condescending. I think that both Tsugumi and Itsuki make a cute couple and I can’t really wait to read the second volume.
This volume contains chapters 1 – 4.
Tsugumi, a 26 y/o woman finds herself attracted to her high school crush again, only this time, so many years later, Itsuki’s in a wheelchair.
At first, they start working together since he’s an architect and she’s an interior designer, but the more time they spend together, she has these romantic feelings back. Actually, the only thing that’s stopping her to make a move is the fact that he’s now a disabled person, and he’s just not in the mood for dating girls.
Despite this, Tsugumi can’t help herself and after spending time together, she confesses her feelings for him because, you see, people with a disability might never know what will happen next year.
On the other hand, Itsuki doesn’t want to be a burden, but at the same time, we see him relax around her –even his phantom pain goes away when talking to her on the phone. So maybe… and just maybe… they found each other in the most unexpected times.
Now, I’m so happy I finally have my physical copy of this manga. I really like the art style and I feel like it’s a well-written josei that talks about an important topic; people with disabilities are just like us: they get angry and sad, and happy, and have goals. Ultimately, people just want to be treated equally.
I feel like this was a great combo: a light-hearted narrative to depict something most of us don’t really know much about without being condescending. I think that both Tsugumi and Itsuki make a cute couple and I can’t really wait to read the second volume.
This volume contains chapters 1 – 4.
August 25, 2023
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/QWWIP1NSkN8
Updated Review 8/18/23: WOW! It feels surreal coming back to the manga that started my MangaTube Channel journey as well as coming back to the manga that has made me cry multiple times!
While I didn't cry reading this time, I found this story to be so deeply moving!
Looking forward to ACTUALLY reading volume two this time around! LOL!
Original Review 4/7/20: I'm not even sure what to say about this story! Deeply eye-opening and emotionally moving seems like it's not descriptive enough. I found Perfect World extremely compelling and just an hour of reading flew by because I was so invested in these characters! Very interested in reading the next volume (though hoping I won't cry next time)! It was unlike any other manga I've read and truly opened my eyes to whole other perspective.
Updated Review 8/18/23: WOW! It feels surreal coming back to the manga that started my MangaTube Channel journey as well as coming back to the manga that has made me cry multiple times!
While I didn't cry reading this time, I found this story to be so deeply moving!
Looking forward to ACTUALLY reading volume two this time around! LOL!
Original Review 4/7/20: I'm not even sure what to say about this story! Deeply eye-opening and emotionally moving seems like it's not descriptive enough. I found Perfect World extremely compelling and just an hour of reading flew by because I was so invested in these characters! Very interested in reading the next volume (though hoping I won't cry next time)! It was unlike any other manga I've read and truly opened my eyes to whole other perspective.
April 14, 2024
josei sure is improving — it's so refreshing to see disability representation in realistically elaborate detail T T i loved itsuki's character design, his courage and tenacity is so inspiring throughout the timeline!
March 9, 2022
Not as inclusive as one would hope 🤦♀️ centered around the love interests disability and uses a lot of triggering language around it making him "less than."
September 12, 2021
wow there sure are a lot of reviews for this from abled people talking about what great disabled rep it is! that's always a good sign and not a red flag, right?
first things first, I'm physically disabled and a wheelchair user. however, I am an ambulatory wheelchair user, which means I can walk if necessary. at the moment my mobility has become more limited and I almost exclusively use a walker or wheelchair when I'm able to leave my house, but inside my home I do not use any assistive devices except for a stool in the kitchen if I'm going to be making something that takes more time. this is for chronic pain reasons related to previous back injuries. I have full use of my legs and have no nerve damage.
so I picked this manga up specifically because of the disability angle. I'm working on curating a list of manga with disabled characters, and happened to see this one when shopping online. after giving it a read, I'm not sure if it's one I'd want to include and recommend to other disabled people...
this is told mainly from the perspective of the able-bodied person in the relationship. a lot of it is about her realizing the daily hardships of wheelchair users as well as more specific health problems that people with spinal injuries deal with. there is a lot of casual ableism thrown around and the abled MC contributes to this in the beginning. we don't get a lot of insight into how the disabled love interest feels about things, which is disappointing.
there are topics related to disability that are very briefly touched on, such as inaccessible buildings and chronic pain, but it is VERY brief. oftentimes the disabled character is shown to "keep moving forward" with a positive attitude, which was annoying to read. there is some negativity present, and he admits that he hasn't fully accepted himself as a disabled person, but for the most part a lot of ableism is swept under the rug.
one part in particular that bothered me was at his architect job. when a customer says they don't want a ramp in the front of the building that would make it accessible for wheelchair users, he attempts to push back but is told to back off by his superiors. after this incident, we don't get any anger from him. the abled MC muses on how hard it must be for him to deal with that, but there is no deeper discussion to explore the frustration and anger a disabled person would feel at being told to their face that they aren't considered a worthy customer to this business. too often it felt like the love interest was playing the role of the "good cripple" where he takes ableist microaggressions with a smile and positive attitude.
there is also a comment made later by the MC where she comments on how she often "forgets" that the love interest is disabled which made me roll my eyes. I have been with my partner for several years and lived with him before we started dating and he has never "forgotten" my disability, especially out in public. if he did, I would be very angry! while there are certain accommodations he makes now without thinking twice about it, that doesn't mean he's "forgotten" my disability. my disability is a large part of my identity, and because of the ableist society we live in it's something I deal with daily. any relationship is made up of compromise, and being in a relationship with a physically disabled person requires a lot of compromise and constant learning. adjusting to living with a disabled person means being aware of all kinds of new things you would never notice about the world before, so "forgetting" that they're disabled just doesn't come into the picture!
as far as other criticisms, I felt the art was pretty weak and didn't add much at all to the story. there were certain beats the story hit that felt predictable and boring, and overall the entire thing felt very rushed. we don't get many reasons why the MC falls in love with the love interest, and their relationship felt hollow because of it. meeting the high schooler who is a wheelchair user and the girlfriend that wouldn't leave him alone (after a year??? she kept going to his house every day for a YEAR after he stopped talking to her? I don't care if you dated, that's stalker behavior!) provided at least an interesting storyline with the basketball team. however, I wish we could have seen the love interest interact with more disabled people, including disabled friends. it would have been good for the MC to be in a position where she's the odd one out and gain that perspective.
all-in-all, this doesn't work on any of the levels its meant to. the romance angle is weak and the disability representation is lackluster. while its nice that there's romance manga out there with disabled love interests, this sets a very low bar when it comes to quality.
first things first, I'm physically disabled and a wheelchair user. however, I am an ambulatory wheelchair user, which means I can walk if necessary. at the moment my mobility has become more limited and I almost exclusively use a walker or wheelchair when I'm able to leave my house, but inside my home I do not use any assistive devices except for a stool in the kitchen if I'm going to be making something that takes more time. this is for chronic pain reasons related to previous back injuries. I have full use of my legs and have no nerve damage.
so I picked this manga up specifically because of the disability angle. I'm working on curating a list of manga with disabled characters, and happened to see this one when shopping online. after giving it a read, I'm not sure if it's one I'd want to include and recommend to other disabled people...
this is told mainly from the perspective of the able-bodied person in the relationship. a lot of it is about her realizing the daily hardships of wheelchair users as well as more specific health problems that people with spinal injuries deal with. there is a lot of casual ableism thrown around and the abled MC contributes to this in the beginning. we don't get a lot of insight into how the disabled love interest feels about things, which is disappointing.
there are topics related to disability that are very briefly touched on, such as inaccessible buildings and chronic pain, but it is VERY brief. oftentimes the disabled character is shown to "keep moving forward" with a positive attitude, which was annoying to read. there is some negativity present, and he admits that he hasn't fully accepted himself as a disabled person, but for the most part a lot of ableism is swept under the rug.
one part in particular that bothered me was at his architect job. when a customer says they don't want a ramp in the front of the building that would make it accessible for wheelchair users, he attempts to push back but is told to back off by his superiors. after this incident, we don't get any anger from him. the abled MC muses on how hard it must be for him to deal with that, but there is no deeper discussion to explore the frustration and anger a disabled person would feel at being told to their face that they aren't considered a worthy customer to this business. too often it felt like the love interest was playing the role of the "good cripple" where he takes ableist microaggressions with a smile and positive attitude.
there is also a comment made later by the MC where she comments on how she often "forgets" that the love interest is disabled which made me roll my eyes. I have been with my partner for several years and lived with him before we started dating and he has never "forgotten" my disability, especially out in public. if he did, I would be very angry! while there are certain accommodations he makes now without thinking twice about it, that doesn't mean he's "forgotten" my disability. my disability is a large part of my identity, and because of the ableist society we live in it's something I deal with daily. any relationship is made up of compromise, and being in a relationship with a physically disabled person requires a lot of compromise and constant learning. adjusting to living with a disabled person means being aware of all kinds of new things you would never notice about the world before, so "forgetting" that they're disabled just doesn't come into the picture!
as far as other criticisms, I felt the art was pretty weak and didn't add much at all to the story. there were certain beats the story hit that felt predictable and boring, and overall the entire thing felt very rushed. we don't get many reasons why the MC falls in love with the love interest, and their relationship felt hollow because of it. meeting the high schooler who is a wheelchair user and the girlfriend that wouldn't leave him alone (after a year??? she kept going to his house every day for a YEAR after he stopped talking to her? I don't care if you dated, that's stalker behavior!) provided at least an interesting storyline with the basketball team. however, I wish we could have seen the love interest interact with more disabled people, including disabled friends. it would have been good for the MC to be in a position where she's the odd one out and gain that perspective.
all-in-all, this doesn't work on any of the levels its meant to. the romance angle is weak and the disability representation is lackluster. while its nice that there's romance manga out there with disabled love interests, this sets a very low bar when it comes to quality.
January 4, 2022
A genuinely beautiful and eye-opening love story. I loved everything about this manga, particularly how it both entertained and informed.
I honestly wanted to applaud this manga for not stereotyping or romanticising being wheelchair-bound and for not shying away from accurately representing the struggles wheelchair-bound people face. Discussing everything from bed sores to fecal incontinence was just one of the ways the true reality of being wheelchair-bound was explored and it was topics like those, topics that are almost taboo in society, which I’m particularly glad the author didn’t shy away from.
Ayukawa was a wonderfully written and illustrated character. His smile was genuinely beautiful and I really did believe that his ex who loved him loved that smile because when I saw it I loved it too. But apart from his obvious appearance, I loved that he wasn’t simply his wheelchair. He had a personality beyond it and it shone on several occasions and was appreciated by the protagonist.
Kawana was a fantastic protagonist. Compassionate, understanding, and supportive of everyone, especially Ayukawa, and I really loved to see it. She battled against the stigma of being wheelchair-bound and was the perfect character through which to learn more about what it meant as an able-bodied person to be more accepting and understanding and helpful. She was also extremely sweet and genuine.
The plot felt closed off and complete by the end of the vol which was surprising because most first volumes of a manga end on a cliffhanger to hook the reader for the next volume. However, given that this was supposed to be a one-shot (and was then continued due to popularity), it made sense that the plot was structured this way and I quite preferred it too; the cliffhangers usually feel irritating or like cheap tricks to drag on a simple storyline. At least this way I had no idea what Perfect World, Vol. 2 had in store and I could enjoy this vol as a whole cohesive story.
I honestly wanted to applaud this manga for not stereotyping or romanticising being wheelchair-bound and for not shying away from accurately representing the struggles wheelchair-bound people face. Discussing everything from bed sores to fecal incontinence was just one of the ways the true reality of being wheelchair-bound was explored and it was topics like those, topics that are almost taboo in society, which I’m particularly glad the author didn’t shy away from.
Ayukawa was a wonderfully written and illustrated character. His smile was genuinely beautiful and I really did believe that his ex who loved him loved that smile because when I saw it I loved it too. But apart from his obvious appearance, I loved that he wasn’t simply his wheelchair. He had a personality beyond it and it shone on several occasions and was appreciated by the protagonist.
Kawana was a fantastic protagonist. Compassionate, understanding, and supportive of everyone, especially Ayukawa, and I really loved to see it. She battled against the stigma of being wheelchair-bound and was the perfect character through which to learn more about what it meant as an able-bodied person to be more accepting and understanding and helpful. She was also extremely sweet and genuine.
The plot felt closed off and complete by the end of the vol which was surprising because most first volumes of a manga end on a cliffhanger to hook the reader for the next volume. However, given that this was supposed to be a one-shot (and was then continued due to popularity), it made sense that the plot was structured this way and I quite preferred it too; the cliffhangers usually feel irritating or like cheap tricks to drag on a simple storyline. At least this way I had no idea what Perfect World, Vol. 2 had in store and I could enjoy this vol as a whole cohesive story.
October 13, 2021
As a Manga lover, I enjoy a variety of genres and I'd gladly sit down and read as many as I can but, even if I came across lots of different stories and complex personalities over the years, I still had to read one treating a delicate subject such as this. And, let me tell you, I'm happy I took the chance with Perfect World!
With a lovely and clean illustration, and characters who feel real, it's difficult for the reader to put this volume down. Of course, one thing that got me particularly invested in the story is that it doesn't lessen the issues caused by SCI, in fact, it makes you face the bitter truth for what it is. It shows you what someone with a spinal cord injury has to face on a daily basis—and for the rest of their lives—the struggle, the perils, and the mental strength required to go on with life, because life must go on. Itsuki Ayukawa successfully made a career no one would have thought possible after he got so severely injured, but his passion and determination didn't let the disability stand in his way and deprive him of his dream. That is truly admirable but make no mistake, just because he doesn't share it with the rest of the group—so to speak—it doesn't mean Ayukawa's positive attitude is all there is to see... After making better acquaintance with him and his condition, Kawana's scepticism soon changes, leaving her open-minded and making everything more heartwarming.
This first volume well presented a realistic series with quite the potential. I personally think that with a better pace it would have worked even better, but it still was a pleasure to read and I can honestly say I loved it! Enthralling, moving, and refreshing, I'd definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect in any way my opinion of the book nor the content of my review—originally posted on Darkest Sins.
With a lovely and clean illustration, and characters who feel real, it's difficult for the reader to put this volume down. Of course, one thing that got me particularly invested in the story is that it doesn't lessen the issues caused by SCI, in fact, it makes you face the bitter truth for what it is. It shows you what someone with a spinal cord injury has to face on a daily basis—and for the rest of their lives—the struggle, the perils, and the mental strength required to go on with life, because life must go on. Itsuki Ayukawa successfully made a career no one would have thought possible after he got so severely injured, but his passion and determination didn't let the disability stand in his way and deprive him of his dream. That is truly admirable but make no mistake, just because he doesn't share it with the rest of the group—so to speak—it doesn't mean Ayukawa's positive attitude is all there is to see... After making better acquaintance with him and his condition, Kawana's scepticism soon changes, leaving her open-minded and making everything more heartwarming.
This first volume well presented a realistic series with quite the potential. I personally think that with a better pace it would have worked even better, but it still was a pleasure to read and I can honestly say I loved it! Enthralling, moving, and refreshing, I'd definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect in any way my opinion of the book nor the content of my review—originally posted on Darkest Sins.
March 20, 2018
I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review
First of all I should tell you that I requested this first volume of Perfect World for its cover and its synopsis. I intend to read diverse books and it’s not often that I come across books with a disabled person as one of the main characters. I picked it up for this, and for personal reasons.
Kawana starts working with her high school crush, they had been friends back then until he started dating another girl and that tore them apart. He was so smart, so lively and so determined to see his dream of being an architect come true. And that hasn’t changed. Ayukawa is the same optimistic man he used to be as a boy, his enthusiasm for his work is so encouraging that Kawana feels inspired by him. She, on her part, had given up her dream of being an illustrator but her job as an interior designer is what brought them together again and she’s thankful for it. But…
Ayukawa had an accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. He was on his third year of college. He was riding his bike when a car run over him making a mess of his body and since then he’s in a wheelchair. Kawana is shocked, so shocked that, at first, she reacts like everyone else does. Doubting herself, feeling outraged because she liked him but now… she can’t even think of being friends with him.
Ayukawa is so strong, so positive that little by little he gives her little lessons about what it is like to live in a wheelchair. What it feels like to live in a society where being disabled is unthinkable… or so it seems, because of the many hardships he encounters in his everyday life. And yet Ayukawa never loses his smile, he’s always encouraging and hardworking, trying alternatives when he reaches a dead end, both in his job and in his life.
Soon Kawana, as she gets closer and closer to him, learns that most of the smiles are just for show. Ayukawa’s experiences inspire Kawana, she starts learning, she changes and she falls in love with Ayukawa again, only this time she falls deeper than ever. But, as he did with his former girlfriend, Ayukawa pushes her away, he doesn’t want to be a burden, he doesn’t want anyone to feel responsible for him or look after him everytime he gets a fever or ghost pain (a pain you feel when one of your limbs isn’t there anymore or it doesn’t have sensitivity). It’ll be the time for Kawana to teach him the most important lesson of them all… love gives us strength to do anything, to bear anything.
I really loved this manga, and I wish everyone read it. It’s so important. Not only because representation matters but also because mangas, books, movies, etc, that show what it feels to live as a person with disabilities. I loved that everyday barriers are shown in the manga; both physical (stairs, for example) and personal (speaking behind their back, fear of certain topics).
There is a moment in which Kawana stops thinking about how Ayukawa’s situation affects her, up to that moment she thinks about herself. And eventually she starts thinking about him, his life and what it must feel like for him. I started to really like her then. I saw that she was just scared and that’s understandable, even Ayukawa tells her so. That’s the kind of change I would like to see in today’s society. We need to be more human.
It’s really eyeopening the fact that Kawana (at the beginning) says things like: “Ayukawa is strong, determined, intelligent, talented, hardworking, encouraging, and a really good friend… despite being in a wheelchair” please don’t hate her for saying it. This is exactly how people in general react towards disabilities. But thankfully in the manga there are people who tell her “That’s who he is, everything you said, that’s his personality… what does all that have to do with the wheelchair?”. This kind of people also exists in our society, and I’m grateful for that, because they bring hope for the future.
This little book was meant as a standalone but it was so important and it’s so incredibly beautiful and moving that people wanted more of Ayukawa’s and Kawana’s story, therefore Rie Aruga created a series around them. I hope and wish that one day it is published in my country so I can recommend it to everyone, and buy it for all of my friends’ birthdays and Christmases.
First of all I should tell you that I requested this first volume of Perfect World for its cover and its synopsis. I intend to read diverse books and it’s not often that I come across books with a disabled person as one of the main characters. I picked it up for this, and for personal reasons.
Kawana starts working with her high school crush, they had been friends back then until he started dating another girl and that tore them apart. He was so smart, so lively and so determined to see his dream of being an architect come true. And that hasn’t changed. Ayukawa is the same optimistic man he used to be as a boy, his enthusiasm for his work is so encouraging that Kawana feels inspired by him. She, on her part, had given up her dream of being an illustrator but her job as an interior designer is what brought them together again and she’s thankful for it. But…
Ayukawa had an accident that left him with a spinal cord injury. He was on his third year of college. He was riding his bike when a car run over him making a mess of his body and since then he’s in a wheelchair. Kawana is shocked, so shocked that, at first, she reacts like everyone else does. Doubting herself, feeling outraged because she liked him but now… she can’t even think of being friends with him.
Ayukawa is so strong, so positive that little by little he gives her little lessons about what it is like to live in a wheelchair. What it feels like to live in a society where being disabled is unthinkable… or so it seems, because of the many hardships he encounters in his everyday life. And yet Ayukawa never loses his smile, he’s always encouraging and hardworking, trying alternatives when he reaches a dead end, both in his job and in his life.
Soon Kawana, as she gets closer and closer to him, learns that most of the smiles are just for show. Ayukawa’s experiences inspire Kawana, she starts learning, she changes and she falls in love with Ayukawa again, only this time she falls deeper than ever. But, as he did with his former girlfriend, Ayukawa pushes her away, he doesn’t want to be a burden, he doesn’t want anyone to feel responsible for him or look after him everytime he gets a fever or ghost pain (a pain you feel when one of your limbs isn’t there anymore or it doesn’t have sensitivity). It’ll be the time for Kawana to teach him the most important lesson of them all… love gives us strength to do anything, to bear anything.
I really loved this manga, and I wish everyone read it. It’s so important. Not only because representation matters but also because mangas, books, movies, etc, that show what it feels to live as a person with disabilities. I loved that everyday barriers are shown in the manga; both physical (stairs, for example) and personal (speaking behind their back, fear of certain topics).
There is a moment in which Kawana stops thinking about how Ayukawa’s situation affects her, up to that moment she thinks about herself. And eventually she starts thinking about him, his life and what it must feel like for him. I started to really like her then. I saw that she was just scared and that’s understandable, even Ayukawa tells her so. That’s the kind of change I would like to see in today’s society. We need to be more human.
It’s really eyeopening the fact that Kawana (at the beginning) says things like: “Ayukawa is strong, determined, intelligent, talented, hardworking, encouraging, and a really good friend… despite being in a wheelchair” please don’t hate her for saying it. This is exactly how people in general react towards disabilities. But thankfully in the manga there are people who tell her “That’s who he is, everything you said, that’s his personality… what does all that have to do with the wheelchair?”. This kind of people also exists in our society, and I’m grateful for that, because they bring hope for the future.
This little book was meant as a standalone but it was so important and it’s so incredibly beautiful and moving that people wanted more of Ayukawa’s and Kawana’s story, therefore Rie Aruga created a series around them. I hope and wish that one day it is published in my country so I can recommend it to everyone, and buy it for all of my friends’ birthdays and Christmases.
August 20, 2019
Historia real, bonita y coherente con un dibujo precioso. Va a ser duro de leer pero merece la pena.
March 18, 2018
I received a free advanced e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is Volume 1 in this manga series.
I really enjoyed reading this manga, especially as I read a manga after such a long time. The story was quite sweet and emotional at the same time. However, there were times when I thought Kawana and Ayukawa seemed like teenagers, when they are supposed to be around 26 years-old.
Overall, a good read and definitely want to continue reading the series.
This is Volume 1 in this manga series.
I really enjoyed reading this manga, especially as I read a manga after such a long time. The story was quite sweet and emotional at the same time. However, there were times when I thought Kawana and Ayukawa seemed like teenagers, when they are supposed to be around 26 years-old.
Overall, a good read and definitely want to continue reading the series.
September 8, 2021
3.5 stars
Hmm I liked this but wasn't overly impressed by it. Might pick up the second volume to give it another chance 🤔
Hmm I liked this but wasn't overly impressed by it. Might pick up the second volume to give it another chance 🤔
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