just like the doll's ability to photograph any point of life of any object, this manga is also just a collection of snapshots of the doll's object. as such, there is no real plot or character development here. it give one a longing feeling for substance, because one can feel the potential of a great story. but all is not a waste, it have good artwork and give a certain calming feeling.

... Last updated on April 9th, 2013, 3:28am

i guess i enjoyed that...i liked the idea when i started reading the manga...quite interesting one...i must say i prefer her manga in b&w as well but it was really nice to look at ian's kimono in full colour

em...the story is ok...tries to be subtle and heart warming but it's not as much as it should be...it is a relaxing read...i could relate to only one story...this manga didn't make me think that much as well...

I was thinking the whole time that all of these things were going on in the photographer's-author's mind! maybe it was just his own fantasies ...you can see at some panels the doll and an object turning into inanimate when another human was coming (for instance with the umbrella's owner)...maybe they were inanimate after all and the whole thing was just what the author was writing about in his book

Having already read Hitsuji no Uta, the style of this volume is very familiar to me. This story lacks any of the drama of HnU, but has a more uplifting ending.

As others have commented, don't expect any suspense or surprises. Instead be in the state of mind for a quiet, contemplative experience. The characters are developed only in the sense that they each have a brief story to tell. The stories are interesting, and may give rise to some self reflection if you find you can relate to them.

The art is very nice, and the black and white chapter at the end works just as well as the full color chapters from the beginning of the book. IMHO, Tomei Kei's drawing style works very well in black and white. The female characters are rendered beautifully, and almost every panel with Ian is a work of art in its own right.

It seems that without any kind of plot there is no reason to explore the characters and their relationships very deeply. The stories work just fine, but one could imagine ways to expand the continuity for a volume or two longer without much effort.

Overall it's a very pleasant read that doesn't quite reach it's full potential. Still it's a very worthy contribution, and anyone who's enjoyed Toumei Kei's other works should consider this strongly recommended.

The supernatural and fantasy elements aren't strong enough to support a recommendation for those genres. Fans of drama and slice of life should definitely consider reading this.

... Last updated on November 8th, 2008, 11:54pm

Another of Toume Kei's excellent pieces, although this one may be a bit lacking in comparison. As always, the art is excellent and creates a strong atmosphere that aids the work. The issue is, as the other posters have already brought up, the utter simplicity of the storyline. Suspense and twists are not necessary for successful storytelling, but the pacing occasionally seemed stagnant here, and really could have benefited from such a device. The work as a whole is still very beautiful, so it received a positive rating from me, but Toume can really do much better than this.

The story ideas are unique and interesting, but the execution is just a little lacking. It's not a problem with the art, of course - but with the telling of the stories. It feels as if each one of them could've benefited from another page or two. They ended up feeling blunt and too straight-forward. No twists, no climax, no nothing. Just... Here's a story, here's the end. Overall, the book was rather dull because of this.

As always, Toumei Kei is good at creating interesting concepts and her artwork is certainly beautiful.

However, her storytelling ability is so straightforward that there are no surprises, no twists. By the time you've read a few pages of the manga, you already know how her manga is going to end and you already know what her characters will do and what they will say. What a pity that she doesn't team up with a good writer instead.

(Update: Hmmm... having turned into a recent convert of Toumei Kei's works... now I actually think it's an interesting story. The setting and various characters are really fascinating and I actually wished there was more. I guess it's a change of tastes while revisiting some of the older stuff I read. )

... Last updated on May 23rd, 2008, 11:03pm