Synopsis
Tomoko Hanno, called Panko by her coworker and only close friend Kimi, is an office worker in her 30’s. At least outwardly, she’s painfully average and passive. She wakes up in the morning and puts on her makeup because that’s just what you do. She rides a squeaky old bike to her mindless job in a nondescript building because that’s just what she has. She goes to the company drinking party because she feels like she has to. She gives her number to the pushy “nice” guy at work because she feels like she has to do that too. She gets excited about potato salad.
One day, when her long-suffering bicycle breaks down, a striking man named Takahashi fixes it. He’s younger than her, good looking in a rough sort of way, with dyed hair and piercings. He’s direct, almost to the point of impoliteness. He’s not shy about what or who he likes or doesn’t like. Unlike her coworkers, he’s helpful without (usually) wanting anything in return. He’s the exact opposite of Panko in many ways. So it’s no surprise that she would be drawn to him.
The Main Appeal
The budding romance between this central couple is one of the most believable that I’ve read in a manga recently. They meet, they go out to dinner, they exchange contact info, they spend more and more time together doing increasingly date-like activities. Eventually their romantic feelings for each other become obvious. There are no bold declarations of love or tearful confessions. I don’t know about you, but none of my relationships have ever had any of that. It’s all so normal, which feels authentic to Panko’s character and to real life.
The exact circumstances of their first “date” (Panko can’t pay Takahashi for the bike repairs, so he suggests she buy him dinner that night instead) is the closest Takahashi ever comes to being pushy, creepy, or obnoxious like most of the other men around her. In fact, he steps in to protect Panko a couple times when he notices that she’s in an uncomfortable situation. He’s a good boy despite his intimidating appearance.
As Panko spends more time with him, she also meets his friends. I think this is actually where the manga’s characterization is strongest. The way Takahashi interacts with his friends, their kids, and Panko when they’re all together is funny and adorable. He feels like somebody you might actually know.
The One Slight Weakness
The characterization of Panko herself feels thin in comparison. She’s not thrilled with her station in life, but isn’t unhappy enough to do much to change it. She has a strained relationship with her mom and friends from home, but that’s because of her stagnating personal life, which we’ve already learned about by the time they appear in the story. She likes anime but rarely ever tells anyone about it. That’s about all we get. Maybe she’s intended to be a self-insert character, but there’s just enough info about who Panko is that I’m not convinced. I think it’s just that the author is more interested in Takahashi. That’s not a deal breaker though. This is only the first volume, so there’s plenty of time to develop her more.
The Icing on the Cake
Visually, Takahashi from the Bike Shop is a treat. The art has a style that I’d describe as “scribbly but detailed”. Character designs are simple in mid-to-long distance shots, but the backgrounds are frequently much more detailed than I’m used to in this genre. Character faces and expressions are similarly detailed in close-ups, particularly around the eyes and hair. Their expressions and the shapes of their faces reminds me just a bit of classic shojosei artists like Moto Hagio.
To top it off, the book opens with several absolutely beautiful color pages. I’m not sure what the original medium used actually was, but it sure looks like the colors were done with colored pencils. It adds another layer of soft detail to the already excellent art, lending an innocent, childlike quality that matches the wholesome vibes of the story.
The Verdict
Takahashi from the Bike Shop is a fun, endearing read that’s easy on the eyes. I think it probably needs at least one more volume to truly hit its stride, but it’s still well worth a look as is. Though it is demographically speaking aimed at women, I think anyone who enjoys well-crafted, realistic romance stories will be into Takahashi from the Bike Shop.
Takahashi from the Bike Shop Volume 1 can be purchased from Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, & Amazon.
If you like Takahashi from the Bike Shop, then you might also like:
- Tokyo Tarareba Girls
- Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
Credits
Author & Artist: Arare Matsumushi
Translator: Giuseppe di Martino
Letterer: Rochelle Gancio
Published in English by Yen Press
Thank you to Yen Press for the advance copy for review. Receiving this advance copy had no effect on the reviewer’s opinions as expressed here.
Article Editor: Adam Wescott
The Good
- Excellent art, particularly the color pages
- Well written male lead with a charming cast of side characters
- Central romance feels true to real life
The Bad
- Panko is under-written for someone who is ostensibly the main character
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