Kabu no Isaki by Ashinano Hitoshi

[Ukimix]

Since I don't see the thread, there you have…

Kabu no Isaki by Ashinano Hitoshi

Kabu no Isaki
by Ashinano Hitoshi the same author of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou.

Adventure - Sci-fi - Seinen - Slice of Life

From wiki:

Isaki is a young airplane pilot who flies a Piper Super Cub. The Cub is owned by the beautiful Shiro, and Isaki often flies errands for her as a way to pay for his use of the plane. Shiro's younger sister Kajika is also capable of flying the plane and occasionally accompanies Isaki on his journeys.

Kabu no Isaki shares many characteristic hallmarks of Ashinano's style: fascination with aeronautical themes; a setting in the future; a setting on and around the Miura peninsula; a vision of Japan that is isolated and nostalgic; and a natural world full of mystery that the protagonists explore with a sense of wonder. As such there are many parallels with Ashinano's previous work Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō.

Personal comment: Just wonderful!!

The manga is already complete in Japan (6 volumes), and Roselia Scanlations group is translating it into English. They go in vol 5, and the last chapter has been released 3 weeks ago.

[Deviant_Mugen]

@Ukimix:

Personal comment: Just wonderful!!

I completely agree.

I can't wait for Roselia Scans to finish translating and to see what Mr. Ashinano comes up with for his next work…

[Ukimix]

@Deviant_Mugen:

I completely agree.

I can't wait for Roselia Scans to finish translating and to see what Mr. Ashinano comes up with for his next work…

Yes, Roselia Scans is planning on taking the next serie of Ashinano-sensei if he writes a new one. I love all of his work: Position and Kumabashi no Koto, apart of Kabu no Isaki and YKK. Kumabashi… is clearly a Kabu no Isaki premonitory manga. Some main ideas of both comics are pretty much the same.

[Ukimix]

This week I was waiting for Mt Fuji. But Ashinano choose to spend some chapters more in the way to it. Now, I wasn't expecting for a view from Mt Fuji, but for a view of Mt Fuji. That was a nice surprise.

Curiously, past June 22th Mt Fuji was declared World Heritage sacred place by UNESCO. Just in case, here the link.

[ShimpanzeeThat]

I got that bittersweet feeling reading yokohama you only get after reading reeealy good books, Honestly that manga was amazing. I hope Kabu No Isaki wont dissapoint me!

[Ukimix]

@ShimpanzeeThat:

I got that bittersweet feeling reading yokohama you only get after reading reeealy good books, Honestly that manga was amazing. I hope Kabu No Isaki wont dissapoint me!

I would say, YKK idea about people who fly all the time is a central topic in Kabu no Isaki, aswell as in Kubamashi no koto, and in Position, specially the seven chapter (all of them by Ashinano-sensei). Without being as wonderfull as YKK, those are good mangas, as lovely as this one. I would give all of them a try without worries. :-)

[ShimpanzeeThat]

yep, and I will try them, especially now, when Kabu no Isaki is finally completed

[Luxor]

My first thought when I saw the cover: Damn, this looks like YKK. My thought when I read the line underneath: Damn, it is.

I'll be sure to read this after I'm done with YKK and waiting for the next Amanchu.

[Ukimix]

@Luxor:

My first thought when I saw the cover: Damn, this looks like YKK. My thought when I read the line underneath: Damn, it is.

I'll be sure to read this after I'm done with YKK and waiting for the next Amanchu.

Ey, you reading YKK? What chapter are you reading? We are reading it together with some people in mangahelpers, as a part of a project to read old classics and to share coments and impressions. We go in Vol 4, and we read a volume per week. You are welcome to joins us. Here the thread: http://mangahelpers.com/forum/showthread.php/2991680-Collective-Reading-of-Yokohama-Kaidaishi-Kikou

[Luxor]

I'd join you, but I'm only on volume 1. And I'm reading a bunch of other manga at the same time, so I'll be going slowly.

[Ukimix]

@Luxor:

I'd join you, but I'm only on volume 1. And I'm reading a bunch of other manga at the same time, so I'll be going slowly.

Sure no problem. You also can now post those impressions/questions you want to share on vol 1. The thread would be for that too :happy:.

[Purple Hermit]

Well after finishing YKK, I read what's currently available for Kabu no Isaku yesterday. And it's terrible. Because I got to the latest chapter and finished it. And I want _more_​.

[Sarfallet]

Hm, I wouldn't put it on the same level as Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō. But it's still great! :D

[Ukimix]

This chapter echoes in my mind with this YKK's page:

! 

People who fly al the time (Isaki and co), people who walk all the time (in this case Shirosan). The point is that in both cases the character are travelling for pleasure (not work) and also certain apathy towards towards labour. It's much more evident in Shirosan, but her point keeps working through the whole manga: "When you fly this Cub of mine the destination and such… they're of secondary importance".

To me, Isaki is the adolescent who finds his way and discovers the life and a sense of liberty flying the cup. But Shirosan is the soul of the story. I love her.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@Sarfallet:

Hm, I wouldn't put it on the same level as Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō. But it's still great! :D

I agree it's not at the same level of YKK. Rather is more simple, but still lovely.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Is Izu = Mt Fuji?

tristanthorn, Kabu no Isaki's translator answers:

Good question!
In the above map, the Izu peninsula is in the west, Mt.Fuji is directly above Izu, and the Miura peninsula (where Kabu no Isaki and YKK are set) is in the East. So in Kabu c.34, Shiro-san is in Miura loking North-west across Sagami bay towards Mt.Fuji.

[Ukimix]

I feel kind of sad with this end, even if the evaluation of the whole manga makes me value it as one of the best I've read. The firsts volumes were absolutely great. But the end is not good to me, as it happened with the end of vol 5. Both were kind of cryptic, and I couldn't go beyond the magnificent metaphors and poetic images already portrayed in a much more simple and clear way in Vols 1 - 4. The analogy between a motorbike and a plane, and the idea that both are metaphors of freedom were already beautifully presented not only before this ending chapter but also in YKK. So I kinda feel that the author was out of resources in the end of his story and was just repeating himself.

Much more if he left us with questions that won't be answered, at least that I have missed something in the previous chapters that explained, but: How is it that Isaki didn't recognise Shirosan? Was all the story just a dream? And what's the deal with that bottle? Is it that Shirosan was a witch and stole Isaki's memories in the previous chapter? :blink I feel I have to reread the last 2 volumes to make the most of them, but right now honestly I don't understand this end.

Even so this story, and particularly Shirosan, just gave joy and so delightful moments. With out a single doubt about it, Hitoshi Ashinano is one of the greatest artist ever in the manga world. This manga made me to want to learn to fly.

[Purple Hermit]

Maaaaaaaaaan~ that ending was extra cryptic. As was said, the first few volumes were really beautiful. I'm kinda just weirded out for sure that it was all just a dream, especially when Shiro starts talking about being aware that the world we were watching was extra large. Might also tie in with the Fuji segment, too, I suppose.