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clemrain's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
This series was fine. Nothing spectacular about it. Though I kept reading because it was refreshing to read characters that are in a healthy relationship (even if it was extremely unrealistic) and I have a need to finish everything I start reading.
Asako is insecure. Kotaro was sent down from heaven to fix her insecurity. Kotaro has a smelling fetish and Asako is insecure that she smells too much. Kotaro has a sense of smell that borders on supernatural. He can smell how Asako is feeling.
I really thought this smelling thing would fizzle out. But it just kept being part of the plot. Which felt like lazy writing because Kotaro only knows how Asako is feeling based on her smell. Even though he’s written as a perspective character who occasionally figures it out on social ques.
The way the characters talk sometimes had me convinced this manga was made to advertise products. It got so technical and boring. Another thing that was so weird was that both of the main characters were so devoted to their jobs. For example, Kotaro was talked out of paternity leave because he loves making soap as much as he loves his wife and child. It just felt like some weird propaganda to love your job. Considering the work culture in Japan, this did not sit well with me.
The art style is cute. However there isn’t anything special about it in terms of story telling.
The pacing is fine. Just the normal meet cute—if you call it that, Kotaro was pretty weird for coming in and just sniffing Asako and they tried to introduce an “actual” pervert to show that “Kotaro isn’t weird, there are actual weirdos out there” which I don’t think did them the service they were hoping it would—to romance to living together to marriage and kids.
The characters are forgettable. There’s basically no character development. Asako was getting over her insecurities and by the second last volume they were brought up again. It was a good volume, I just think that that arc should’ve taken place earlier in the story to help develop the characters and their relationship. This way, maybe we could’ve gotten more insight into Kotaro. He was basically there just to be a love interest. Which isn’t cute no matter who’s gender this trope falls on.
As far as representation goes, one of the characters is blind. But she’s not brought up that often. I just wish the side characters were given more time because they were interesting. We got glimpses of them and then we were brought back to Asako and Kotaro’s never changing relationship. I really liked Asako’s brother and it would’ve been nice if he were given a boyfriend of girlfriend himself because this is a romance series after all.
As for the mature rating. I’ve seen this series being labeled as an “ecchi”. They have sex in missionary position like 8 times. And that was the extent of it. Vanilla just like thier relationship.
Overall, I’m not sure why this series is so recommended. I could’ve gone perfectly fine without having read it. And I will never be rereading it. I have read many books and manga series that centre around characters and no plot and enjoy the simplicity of it. However, this just didn’t provide anything.
Asako is insecure. Kotaro was sent down from heaven to fix her insecurity. Kotaro has a smelling fetish and Asako is insecure that she smells too much. Kotaro has a sense of smell that borders on supernatural. He can smell how Asako is feeling.
I really thought this smelling thing would fizzle out. But it just kept being part of the plot. Which felt like lazy writing because Kotaro only knows how Asako is feeling based on her smell. Even though he’s written as a perspective character who occasionally figures it out on social ques.
The way the characters talk sometimes had me convinced this manga was made to advertise products. It got so technical and boring. Another thing that was so weird was that both of the main characters were so devoted to their jobs. For example, Kotaro was talked out of paternity leave because he loves making soap as much as he loves his wife and child. It just felt like some weird propaganda to love your job. Considering the work culture in Japan, this did not sit well with me.
The art style is cute. However there isn’t anything special about it in terms of story telling.
The pacing is fine. Just the normal meet cute—if you call it that, Kotaro was pretty weird for coming in and just sniffing Asako and they tried to introduce an “actual” pervert to show that “Kotaro isn’t weird, there are actual weirdos out there” which I don’t think did them the service they were hoping it would—to romance to living together to marriage and kids.
The characters are forgettable. There’s basically no character development. Asako was getting over her insecurities and by the second last volume they were brought up again. It was a good volume, I just think that that arc should’ve taken place earlier in the story to help develop the characters and their relationship. This way, maybe we could’ve gotten more insight into Kotaro. He was basically there just to be a love interest. Which isn’t cute no matter who’s gender this trope falls on.
As far as representation goes, one of the characters is blind. But she’s not brought up that often. I just wish the side characters were given more time because they were interesting. We got glimpses of them and then we were brought back to Asako and Kotaro’s never changing relationship. I really liked Asako’s brother and it would’ve been nice if he were given a boyfriend of girlfriend himself because this is a romance series after all.
As for the mature rating. I’ve seen this series being labeled as an “ecchi”. They have sex in missionary position like 8 times. And that was the extent of it. Vanilla just like thier relationship.
Overall, I’m not sure why this series is so recommended. I could’ve gone perfectly fine without having read it. And I will never be rereading it. I have read many books and manga series that centre around characters and no plot and enjoy the simplicity of it. However, this just didn’t provide anything.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual content
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