paradise lost

This is my first time reading Kunieda Saika, although the reviews of this series tell me maybe that’s a bad thing. Upon reading I definitely do feel like I want to explore Kuneida-sans work. This is a compilation of short oneshots, the sort with deep, dark storylines containing many different themes and plenty of unexpected twists.

The first story is “Like as the Time Will Come When it Will Rain”. One rainy day Ryouchi takes in a young boy he finds lying outside his house. The boy remembers nothing about himself, what has happened to him or even his own name. Being in that kind of state, the boy doesn’t leave and the lonely Ryouchi doesn’t kick him out…even giving him the name “Shiro”. The days pass happily, but Ryouchi’s past will catch up to him. A past that may just involve Shiro. The ending was unexpected, but I love oneshots like this that start typically then do a 360 and become so much more.

The second story “An Uncertain cycle” starts very light-hearted before a bittersweet ending. Tsuda finds himself randomly thinking of an old acquaintance one night when that person suddenly shows up. Tsuda is surprised, they were never friends they only knew each other one and off. Hitomi tells Tsuda he is getting married and moving away, and he basically felt like seeing Tsuda again. But as the night wears on Hitomi’s true intentions surface. I liked how this story was quite light-hearted and funny throughout, yet at the same time ending really sadly in a way. The thirds story continues from this one though, now set three years later. In “Changing Odds” Hitomi’s marriage hasn’t worked out, and so he’s back in Japan where Tsuda again runs into him completely randomly (almost like it’s destined ^^) There is once again a weird twist in the middle that makes Hitomi and Tsuda’s story all the more interesting. It’s a little confusing in a way, but still gorgeous. I like the supernatural themes, reminds me of another short oneshot “A bird in a dream”. This oneshot was very subtle in exploring the idea of a destined love, a love that neither of the characters even realise they have for each other.

The fourth story “Reflections in the Water” is a bit of a surprise-because this is the oneshot that Itsuki no Kimi e was based on! I thought the movie was based on something lengthier. Now that movie wasn’t perfect, because it was clearly based on a Manga and in some ways it was pretty ridiculous and annoying. But as a manga it works. I think maybe because the story is more compact and more focused. I mean how do you go about turning a 46 page oneshot into a movie? So anyway, Hayase is dating Fukami Shou- and then one day unexpectedly finds out he has a twin. Fukami arranges for Hayase to meet his brother who is fairly different from the distant, introverted Shou. Naturally there are some things the same which Hayase notices. In fact, he’s exactly the same…no he IS shou?! But why? I enjoyed this a lot more than the movie. In the end it’s a very original and moving story.

Next up is the salary-mans tale “Secrets and Lies”. Yuusuke Sasaki hunts down his sister’s old boyfriend, and from their on they form a physical relationship. Kitagira has his own secrets, which Yuusuke knows from the many times Kitagiri would come to his sister and talk to her. But why would Sasaki want to see him again? “Secrets and Lies” is an appropriate title for this story, where even by the end where you think he’s revealed anything he’s still keeping to himself the most shocking truth. Yuusuke is actually a character by the end you kind of dislike, as he’s a bit messed up. This story is one of the more psychological here, almost disturbing really.

Lastly is “A single Futon” which is about Shunji who has practically raised his older brother Yuu. Suddenly Yuu wants to move out and Shunji, figuring that his brother Yuu had a girlfriend helps Yuu persuade his parents. But when Shunji drops by his brother’s new place he finds out his girlfriend is actually a boyfriend! After years of taking care of the older Yuu, can Shunji let his brother go? Or rather, can he accept that Yuu has grown up, changed/matured and they can not be as close as they used to? Although this could, and seemed like it was going to be a story involving the forbidden love of two brothers- it instead takes the more realistic route of two brother who probably loved each more than they should, but both grew up and moved on…eventually.

All in all these are a fantastic range of oneshots. They have solid, deep storylines with some interesting themes that are well handled. Each story was unique, with a wide range of different themes and always an unexpected outcome. Some of them very actually pretty shocking, alot of them are kind of sad. Although there is some good comedy in a few of them too ^^ The art isn’t perfect, but it comes close and I like Kunieda’s unique characters designs. No one looks the same you know? And in the third oneshot, she even managed to make Hitomi and Tsuda still Hitomi and Tsuda but just a little changed. She seems good with details like that. There is some sex in these oneshots, but these are the sort of stories that don’t need to rely on it to make them good but instead use it to tell the story. Even then only a few of them were explicit in that way and the ones that didn’t have it didn’t need it. These are the sort of oneshots you read for the story. And they don’t let down there.

See MangaUpdates entry for more information…