Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou

Sarfallet

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō (ヨコハマ買い出し紀行) by Hitoshi Ashinano (芦奈野ひとし).
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"The title can be translated Yokohama Shopping Log or Record of a Yokohama Shopping Trip.
The series depicts the daily life of a robot who runs a coffee shop some time after the Earth's ecology has collapsed. It is noted for its beautifully spare pen-and-ink drawing style, as well as its calm, meticulously paced stories and engaging characters.[4] Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō won the 2007 Seiun Award for best science fiction comic."
Well, that's the wikipedia about this work for you. I just finished re-reading it again and noticed an not so subtle lack of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō threads here on these forums. "None of that, I will have", I said and made this thread.
I hope I'm not alone in liking this series? I know I've seen some poster around here with a Alpha sig and avatar at least.

In case any of you is reading this and wondering why you should read it, not convinced by wikipedias "meticulously", "beautiful" and "ohs and ahs" allow me to add my own here.
It's a story about the small things in life. It's slow, really really slow. Like a chapter dedicated to the protagonist trying to find good water too make tea with. The story contains mysterious elements and raises alot of questions but never really answer any of them.
It gets to me and at times make me slightly melancholic.
Well, that's what it is to me anyway. I'm sure other people think of it in other ways. Which is kinda why I made this thread.
If anyone else read it, what do you think this shitty manga is about?

Traveller

It's one of the best manga I have ever read, but kinda too big for discussion. I just want to say I enjoy it.

Deviant_Mugen

I've read it twice and enjoyed it immensely, even though the way it shows the passage of time depressed me a bit. Still, it was great while it lasted, and it has a lot of reread value.

Also, Alpha is adorable… :wub:

BigLuffy559

One of my all time favs. I wish it would get licensed in English. I'd love to have it in my collection.

stephen

One of my favorites. Probably going to do a re-read sometime soon, although the author's current series Cub no Isaki is rather similar in style and tone and is also really good.

Also, the one tiny detail this guy does incredibly well that I can't get enough of is the way he draws lights reflected on the surface of water. It's all over YKK and it's so gorgeous.

Deviant_Mugen

@stephen:

One of my favorites. Probably going to do a re-read sometime soon, although the author's current series Cub no Isaki is rather similar in style and tone and is also really good.

Indeed, I also enjoy Isaki. It's a shame it's a monthly and I didn't discover it until after it had concluded, though (like I did with YKK). It's been about 3 months since the latest chapter popped up online, too…

Sarfallet

Haha, great that you guys enjoy it to. I was afraid apforums would be too shounen oriented and like no one would have heard of it and that would totally have crushed my heart and stuff. :V
Ah, and there's BigLuffy, the poster with Alpha sig and avatar.

@BigLuffy559:

One of my all time favs. I wish it would get licensed in English. I'd love to have it in my collection.

Same here. Hate it when I'm reading it and it's a really low quality scan. :S Even thought about getting it in Japanese even though my skills with that language is about nonexistent.

@stephen:

One of my favorites. Probably going to do a re-read sometime soon, although the author's current series Cub no Isaki is rather similar in style and tone and is also really good.

I just started Cub no Isaki, loving it so far. Gonna check out his other works too.
Ah, speaking of water reflection, I posted a picture with that in the "Manga in One Panel" thread. It almost doesn't look like a manga, more like a painting. >___>
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m00n

It been a couple of years since I read it but I still remember it well. This is the most laid back manga I've ever read. Defined by non-action rather than action, leaving you as a reader plenty of room to imagine what else may happen in the frame given here. This manga has perfect score in my book. First time I hear about Cub no Isaki. I'll give it a try over the holidays.

Dumhuvud

Oh man, I love YKK. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Sarfallet

@Dumhuvud:

Oh man, I love YKK. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Well, I know there has been some studies into using memory inhibiting drugs to erase memories. Wouldn't recommend it though.

Deviant_Mugen

Just finished my third read of this series, and it's just as amazing, and beautifully bittersweet as I remember. I'm glad Kokone moves in with Alpha (at least, that's what I took away) in the end, because imagining her ending up alone in her shop would emotionally destroy me. :sad:

Why isn't this licensed? It really should be. Also, anyone who hasn't yet read this masterpiece needs to get on it, stat…

Luxor

I'm going to start reading this soon. Maybe I'll like this as much as my beloved ARIA. :3

Lisa Hayes

Hmm, didn't realize that my beloved YKK gets talked about, especially here in AP forums.
Will wonders ever cease?

With the advent of modern technology, try reading the series outdoors, like under the shade of a tree, or by the beach, with a drink or two at your side.
I had, and it's perfect.
carpe diem.

Deviant_Mugen

Has anyone else watched the OVAs? Obviously they can't compare to the manga, given that there are only four episodes, but they're still pretty good, despite all the stuff that gets cut out. The second set is the best one, of course, but they're both worth it. Alpha's voice and animations are completely adorable.

All four episodes are on youtube, by the way, if anyone wants to check them out…

Ukimix

A group of people is now reading it in Mangahelpers. We have thread specially dedicated to the collective reading of it. We read a volume per week, and we are now in volume 2. Every one is welcome to join (the first time readers and the people who want to reread). The purpose of the thread is to share impressions and comments on this marvelous manga. Here the thread: http://mangahelpers.com/forum/showthread.php/2991680-Collective-Reading-of-Yokohama-Kaidaishi-Kikou

m00n

@Deviant_Mugen:

Has anyone else watched the OVAs? Obviously they can't compare to the manga, given that there are only four episodes, but they're still pretty good, despite all the stuff that gets cut out. The second set is the best one, of course, but they're both worth it. Alpha's voice and animations are completely adorable.

All four episodes are on youtube, by the way, if anyone wants to check them out…

I saw them years ago. From what I remember I was expecting them to be bad, cause they were not nearly rated as well as the manga. I was plesently surprised. I thought they capture the essence of the manga really well. They quiet, peaceful and strange post apocalyptic world felt just like in the manga. It really helps if you know that you dont have to expect much of a story, but rather a couple to hints to it. I think that may throw a lot of people off that expect some kind of closure.

Pochipochi

The tasteful kissing is my favorite part of the manga

I don't know. It's just

Really cute.

Whenever I reread, I look forward to Alpha and Kokone's relationship the most of all things.