Interesting to get a taste of manga, but the plot was a boring cliche. ( )

Wow, this is a brutal and unpleasant book - quite deliberate, but unnerving coming from Tezuka, and in his cartoony style.

The plot is set over roughly 25 years, and revolve around the Tenge family, who are coping with the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Every member of the family is culpable for some crime - legal or moral, and of differing severities. Every member that is, except Ayako, who is only 4 when the story begins. She becomes something of a scapegoat for the family's ills - the guilty secret that haunts each of them.

It's an impressive work, with a wide emotional range. Very affecting, as even though at times unpleasant it is also compelling, and does not descend into mere prurience. In the story of one rotten family, Tezuka illustrates a swathe of Japanese history, and enriches it with a powerful allegory of sacrificed innocence. A truly multi-layered, monumental work.

One thing - I found the translation a little jarring. There was lots of mimicking of American country talk, presumably to show the provinciality of the Tenge family. It didn't really work for me. ( )

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Kept reading mixed reviews and have to say I disagree with the negative ones. Yes this is dark and gets creepy, but keep in mind this is during Tezuka's dark period when he made manga more appealing for adult instead of just children. This story is full of drama and emotions it's hard not to get into it unless you're not a fan of dramas. I also liked this because it proves that you don't need fantasy and zany out-of-place elements in a manga to tell the story. I'd still like to watch an anime based off of this or see anime be more realistic like this sometimes too (without making it a romance like Nana which I liked, but that was more of a romance than a drama).

The story of this is a little complicated, but after a few chapters you might get use to the who-is-who parts. The title character isn't the main character. I would argue that the family is the main character as a whole. However, Ayako is a girl who is locked up in a basement of her home due to the fact she found out that her older brother murdered one of her sister's husbands. She become a little too comfortable living in small closed-in places. Not to mention this manga goes into spies, war, politics, murder, and yes even incest (which turns off most people, but works for this story if you ask me). It all builds up to realizing old traditions and modern world society don't always mix well. This family is torn apart by each other. The mother of the family is the only one I thought who had any peace in her life, minus the fact she was lonely if no one was near her. I could talk more about the characters, but I think I'd spoil too much. This is a family drama.

The one thing that I kind of didn't like abut this was the translator. Not even sure if it's the translator or Tezuka though, but dialogue for the country folk was a little too folksy at times. Sometimes it threw me off of the plot, but living in farm country myself I could relate to it as well. I can see reasons some might not enjoy this, but like I said I disagree with them. I still think Tezuka is a great writer at the things he does.

NOTE: I don't recommend this or MW (which was so-so) as your first choices of Tezuka if you want to read the godfather of manga. I say start with Astro Boy or Buddha and if you like those a lot, his other stuff is worth reading if you are a fan of his art style and writing. Just be careful with his dark stuff, I'm noticing there are hits and misses depending on taste. ( )

Ayako descubre por accidente que su hermano mayor, Jiro trabaja como agente realizando asesinatos para el gobierno de Estados Unidos. El problema se complica cuando también descubre un terrible caso de incesto dentro de su familia: la mujer de su hermano mayor es en realidad su propia madre, quien ha tenido frecuentes aventuras con el padre de Ayako.

Para esconder toda esta serie de secretos, la familia presionada por el patriarca Sakuemon decide encerrar a Ayako en un sótano por el resto de su vida...

The period is 1949-72. Twenty-three years that cover roughly the ill-fated existence of a young girl that, having grown up in seclusion and isolation, is thrown into a world that she cannot understand and has violently abused her. Born into a family of incestuous relations in which powerful traditions and connections rule, Ayako is a victim that reminds the reader of some well-known real cases of long-term incarceration suffered by children and youngsters. Yet Tezuka goes beyond the horror of the situation by placing it in the midst of a Japanese society torn after the upheavals of the Second World War. A dislocation that is marked by corruption and greed. Not a comfortable story to read but, nevertheless, an unforgettable one that reminds us of ethical values and the ways that life can sometimes go completely awry. ( )