Customer Reviews

Yotsuba&!, Vol. 3

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

The energetic Yotsuba Koiwai continue in the third volume of Kiyohiko Azuma's new manga series, involving a precocious Yotsuba, she with four pigtails, her father, their next door neighbours, the Ayases, and Jumbo, the hyperthyroid friend of her father's.

Giving each other souvenirs or gifts is something so Japanese, called "okaeshi" or return favours, and it can be endless. Since Asagi, the eldest and prettiest Ayase sister gave Yotsuba a souvenir from Okinawa (see last issue), Yotsuba is bent on giving her something in return. Yotsuba finds something and then, thanks to Asagi and her friend Torako, enjoys fireworks the two bought. Torako learns of Yotsuba's mischief when she sets a lighted firework on her car!

In previous volumes, Asagi's shown to have somewhat of an attitude, but that may just have been the way her mother treated her. We see a childhood flashback of Asagi showing her mom a four-leaf clover, only to be told to find her a five-leaf one, as those bring money, but alas... So how does Ms. Ayase justifying telling Asagi, "You were such a sweet little girl. I wonder how you turned out to be such a bad seed."

Accompanying Fuka Ayase to the florist's reveals what Jumbo does for a living, which is helping his father run his shop. Giants running florists is nothing new-see Hightower in the first Police Academy. However, Yotsuba sees a bus from Fuka's bike and learns that kids ride for free. When Fuka turns around, Yotsuba's gone, she freaks out until she sees Yotsuba get off from a bus! Mischievous kid!

It's just things Yotsuba says that are simply funny. When introduced to Jumbo's father, Yotsuba cries out, "Whoa! Even Jumbo has a dad. I have one too!" Whaddya mean "even Jumbo?" one wants to say in exasperation. Jumbo's father, who is so taken by Yotsuba, that he gives her a whole bunch of flowers, those are still pretty but ready to go.

That leads to Yotsuba becoming the flower cupid, as she hands out flowers to people in the city, charming them with a German folk outfit, complete with kerchief, black vest, and angel wings on her back, with a basket of roses in her left hand. When her father remarks she looks like the little match girl, she asks brightly, "Oh, you mean someone who sets fires in her house?"

We also meet Mr. Ayase for the first time. He is charmed by her politeness and when he to come everyday if she likes, Yotsuba blurts out innocently, "I do come everyday!" And she does her own fireworks dance, which amuses Mr. Ayase, who gives Ena, his youngest daughter, permission to go to the fireworks show.

The funniest involves a trip to the Ajisai Animal Park. After reading a book of animals with her father, she has a hankering to go see the animals. However, Yotsuba being Yotsuba, some funny things occur. In trying to feed a baby goat, another goat is quicker to the punch, which leads to Yotsuba punching the goat! The highlight of the visit is an elephant, whose size amazes Yotsuba. However, her father apparently can't tell an Asian elephant from an African one.

And finally, a trip to the fair with Jumbo, Yotsuba's father, Ena, the Ayase's youngest daughter, and Ena's friend Miura, yields the obligatory yukata (summer kimono) wearing, yoyo-fishing, trying to catch baby turtles, eating snacks, and topped off by the fireworks festival, the main reason for going there. One page has the fireworks spirals in drawn in colour. Yotsuba gives off more than one enchanted smile there, shouting out "boom" with Ena and Miura, and once, "you can even feel the sound."

That's what I feel when I read this series. I feel the sound and imagine how Yotsuba sounds when she speaks, and the atmosphere she creates when around others. The enchantment, fun, and comedy continues.

"Yotsuba&!" Volume 3 continues the adventures of everybodys favorite green haired rascal.

Like the previous volumes, each chapter deals with Yotsuba engaging everyday activities and we,the readers,are treated to her happiness.

The first chapter,"Souvenirs" concludes the last chapter from volume 2 where Asagi returns from Okinawa with gifts for her family and of course,Yotsuba.She decides to return the favor with a "souvenir" of her own(which sparks a memory from Asagi's childhood which is touched upon later on).We're also introduced to a new character,Torako,Asagi's cigarate smoking friend.

"Asagi" has Yotsuba waiting for another souvenir from the long haired lady next door.Yotsuba's reaction when she discovers Asagi didn't pick her up anything is dead on to what a real kid would do in the same situation.Later,the girls set off fireworks(including one on top of Torako's Car!)

We learn something new about Jumbo in "Flowers" as Yotsuba takes a trip to the Florist with Fuka and returns with flowers...ALOT of flowers for just 10 yen(read to find out how).

"The Bon Festival" has Yotsuba dressed as The Flower Cupid,a perfect way for Koiwai(Yotsuba's Dad) to get rid of the flowers from the previous chapter.In her adorable outfit,Yotsuba is told to go around the neighborhood and give away the remaining flowers.During her tour,she encounters a number of people, including a Female Police Officer(the scene in question has a nice reference to the Water Gun from volume 2).

"The Elephant",my favorite chapter in this book,has Yotsuba's first trip to the Zoo.There are plenty of Animal moments with Yotsuba(Her punching out a Goat is one of the highlights of this volume) and also quite one with her and her Dad.

By far the most shocking moment occurs in "The Fireworks Show?"...We FINALLY meet Ena,Fuka and Asagi's Father(the one Asagi never remembers and thinks is dead).Jumbo also tries to use Yotsuba to ask Asagi to go to the Fireworks Show with him...which leads into the last chapter:"The Fireworks Show!"

While this is really just a repeat of the "Asagi" chapter it does have some new material,like a frustrated Jumbo asking Miura,Ena's short haired friend, if she's a boy or girl and scenes in which the girls take advantage of Jumbo's crush on Asagi to buy food and play the games at the show.

Once again,we have solid artwork from Kiyohiko Azuma,whose character designs are one of the main highlights of each volume.While the plots are fun in this collection,they weren't as crazy as the first two volumes(which isn't a bad thing)they were more relaxed.If this volume had any weak points it would be we didn't receive any new details on Yotsuba's Mom or her life overseas and also there weren't any Translation Notes(some more facts on The Bon Festival would have been helpful).

Funny,cute and sweet.A highly recommended title.

Yotsuba volume #3 still manages to delight with its simple vignettes chronicling the day to day adventures of precocious Yotsuba and her daily adventures experiencing life in sub-urban Japan. Volume #3 is interesting for its portrayal of unique aspects of day-to-day life in Japan such as the prominence of the Summer time fireworks festival along with the importance of bringing back 'souvenirs' to family and friends upon return from a journey somewhere.

While the stories may seem lighter then air I still manage to remain highly impressed with Azuma's ability to strongly convey emotion and action through expressive facial artistry. Worth checking out for this factor alone, IMO.

By now anyone who does not know about how great Yotsuba manga series is should read the reviews in volume 1 and if you must know Yotsuba is one of the rare mangas where you do not necessarily have to buy volume 1 to know what's going on, since you can technically buy any volume and enjoy the story since there is no continuation from the last volume (though what happened prior does get mentioned), but even with that said, please start from volume 1 as you will get a better understanding of the series. Well unto the review!

Volume 3 starts off with the emphasis between Yotsuba and Asagi. Though have a huge age difference, they have one of the closest bonds within the series (exception would be Yotsuba and her father). This volume features stories of Yotsuba dealing with fireworks, finding out Jumbo's occupation, dressing up as a flower girl (or should I say Flower Cupid), going to the zoo and eventually watching a fireworks show. Each story transitions very well and is filled with many funny moments as you have been expected from this series.

Do yourself a favor and get this volume if you have been a fan since volume 1 or if you are simply tired of cliche mangas out there (I'm looking at you shonen and shoujo mangas) then this series is for you.

Yotsuba&! volume 3 holds true to the series, making Yotsuba a curious but clueless little girl who goes running around her life exploring everything. Although this volume doesn't have the hilarious moments of the second, it still has some funny parts (i.e. at the very beginning of "Yotsuba & The Elephant") and some cute parts too. All in all, another great Yotsuba&! installment.

In the third volume of Kiyohiko Azuma's hugely popular comic series "Yotsuba&!," green-haired five-year-old girl Yotsuba enjoys the fireworks with the Asagi sisters in the most unique way (and to the great annoyance of Torako), becomes a "flower cupid" and goes to the zoo where she actually punches a goat.

In addition to Yotsuba's joyful adventures, Volume 3 has some funny sketches of the supporting characters including a brief flashback into Asagi's childhood, and quick-witted Miura seeing through the Jumbo's crush on Asagi. Also, you will meet the father of the Ayase sisters, gentle and laidback, even humorous in his own way (see how he imagines the day when his youngest daughter Ena gets married).

This installment has a chapter "Obon." In today's Japan "obon" (or just "bon") is usually celebrated around August 15th. Some families (especially those living in cities) return to the hometown of the parents, and this is why the Ayase family is not at home when Yotsuba visits their house. The weather is still hot, but by the time this traditional festival ends, most Japanese feel summer is about to be over soon. The comic is not just funny; it is also realistic descriptions of everyday life in Japan.

The volume ends with an episode about Yotsuba and friends going out to eat and play games at market stalls (known as "yomise" stalls) at the fireworks show. There is one color page cleverly used to express the thrill and wonderment of watching the fireworks. Yen Press's new edition also restored the original's firework-shaped end credits at the end of the book, which was missing in the older ADV edition. Good job done.

As other reviewers have rightly said, this is a charming comic series with the fleshed-out characters you relate to. Enjoy it.

This is the third book in an absolutely charming manga series. I think it's a bit odd that the 5-year-old heroine wanders about the neighborhood and city on her own, and the adults don't seem concerned. But the world of this series seems free of the dangers and fears of the real world which makes for a refreshing read that makes you feel good. It's a pleasant place to spend an hour as you watch Yotsuba discover the world around her.

It is a cute story line about a little five year old girl who clams to be six this Voulme is about Yotsuba returning a souvenir that she had gotten from Asagi the oldest darghter of her and her farther Koiwai neighbor others stories include her seeing fire works and going to a flower shop among other things.

I don't know what magic Kiyohiko Azuma has, but it's truly wonderful. He really seems to understand children.

This whole series of manga center around a small child named Yotsuba. The stories are her daily adventures: going shopping, playing with her neighbors, going to the zoo. The premises are simple, but the character interaction and the comedy that comes from it are beautiful.

Rediscover the everyday world through the wondrous eyes of a child. You will not be disappointed. The entire series is great!

Like Azumanga Daioh, Yotsuba&! does not really lend itself to plot summaries, since there is very little of the aforementioned literary device in these books. The stories are as episodic and unmemorable as Yotsuba's attention deficit plagued brain. But that doesn't make this third volume any less funny. Yotsuba is not here to change your life, but simply to bring you a smile and a laugh. Yotsuba's amazement of the simplest things in her world rekindle your own sense of wonderment as a child. To Yotsuba, even things as mundane as fireworks or going to the zoo are incredible events. And that's not even mentioning Yotsuba's joy of giving when she raids Jumbo's flower shop, taking all the unusable ones and giving them to strangers in the street. She even makes friends with a policewoman with her innocence and charm. Of course, in the real world, Yotsuba would have been run over by a car or stuck her finger in a light socket and been electrocuted by now. But in Kiyohiko Azuma's manga, you can survive even if you are stupid, and that's not such a bad thing.