I do agree with the comments that the plot at times can seem quite confusing. It's one of those plots that fall gradually into place like a jigsaw; as a reader you are given piece by piece to fit into the whole frame. Still, I think it was perfectly clear to understand, and the more you read, the more you realise the hidden meanings of previous chapters.

Artwork is simply beautiful and it's very well constructed. I also think that the characters (every single one of them) are unique and very realistic. They have their faults like everyone else and it just makes everything so believable.

Although the series is quite comic, it has also has a sad/serious side which I love... The plot really does just get better and better. If you like mysterious plots and figuring stuff out, you'll love it!

this manga definitely has potential, plotwise though its a bit confusing as mention by many. unfortunately cant expect much out of action though, since its mainly an "all talk" manga.

the bad thing is, since the plot relies on pieces of the puzzle coming together, i have to friggin re-read the entire manga every single friggin time a new chapter is released so that previous content chapters make sense and things fall into place... this imo is probably the reason why people wont like this manga... hell i've dropped and repick this dozens of times... wish the scans would come out 1 shot... or at least on regular basis...

I think the genre lables are a little misleading...or is that just me?

This manga is confusing (I'm sure that has been established lol), BUT if you keep in mind that Toki's adventures take place inside virtual reality it makes a bit more sense. I think because people go into it thinking it's "time travel" and the parallel world is where all the confusion is coming from. I'm not sure how some people conveniently forgot these facts and are labelling it as time travel and such to confuse new readers.
That said, it was a little unclear as to what Toki and the rest inside the virtual world are trying to accomplish (at least at first) and the fact that the manga also retains a lot of mystery can add to the confusion, but it also adds to the plot.

I would probably recommend to new readers to save this manga until after it's finished. This is one of those stories that requires you to remember exactly whats going on and what happened several chapters ago. This is difficult to do unless reading the chapters consecutively within a short span of time. Reading a couple chapters every few months really adds to the confusion and has required me having to go back and re-read the manga from several volumes leading up to the newly released chapters.

It seems that the plot becomes more clear somewhere around chapter 80 (if the raws are any indication). At least one (and likely a couple more) important questions are answered then. So for now, I myself have put this manga on hold until the scanlations reach that point.

... Last updated on August 7th, 2012, 4:20pm

The plot is complicated, and there are more and more questions that pile up as the series goes on, but the journey toward those answers is fascinating, fun, and deeply layered in mystery. I can't help but read on because I want to know more. I want to find out what's really going on.

It seems pretty straight forward at first--guy gets stuck in a very real sort of virtual reality and has to deal with all kinds of Edo world people and demons (and that's as far as the plot goes in the anime), but it's sooo much more interesting than that. The plot has two main sides: the things that happen to Tokidoki in the Edo fantasy world, and the mystery and intentions behind the high tech company that seems to have created this world in the first place. The possible connections between the two are dangled tantalizingly just out of reach. You get bits and pieces of the puzzle at a time, and as a reader you have to try to put them together while the characters face the dangers of a world constantly on the brink of two different wars: that tension between humans and demons and between the Japanese traditionalists and foreign "barbarians".

I think the main reason so many are confused is because of the amount of historical allusions and mythology that's packed into this story. There's also a good amount of science and psychology. Not to mention a few philosophical questions scattered throughout. This is the kind of manga that makes you think, and yet still makes you laugh and cry and feel horror. That's sometimes kind of hard to find all in one story.

The art is also amazing. I envy the author's drawing talent. Lots of detail and fine lines and the covers have a beautiful coloring style. The character's expressions (especially Tokidoki's smile) seem a little weird at first, but I now feel like there was a reason Toki's smile always seemed a little off back then. His problems went a little deeper than you'd think at first, and the character development he goes through while wading through them is subtle but feels really meaningful. At the same time, you can't really take him too seriously. He's still a goofy nut at heart, and plenty hilarious sometimes.

I just wish they would publish this in English already. I would buy this one, and I don't understand why they would sell the anime and not the manga when the manga is worlds better. Come one.

... Last updated on September 23rd, 2014, 12:51am

Its starts slow, confusing and boring. One could sum it up with the writer sucking at introductions but!! Then it wham zam bam bom picks up speed and becomes really good with a nice storyline. So you start to enjoy the story and twists then the writer decides to go deeper into the rabbit hole. This destroys the pacing so much and the chapters is like a jigsaw puzzle where the writer seemingly cant decide where they wanna go with the story. Urk! It could become an epic piece to be honest if they make a bundle in the future where they cut out a lot of bad chapters. To sum it up so far, slow start, great in the middle, screwed currently.

takayama shinobu's works are wonders.

this one is especially layered, mixing all sorts of things you could ever imagine, and that exactly what makes me love this series. she makes very few miscalculation (in fact, I can't find any) despite having another series running (haigakura) which makes me wonder just how smart she is. you know, some author tends to blunder when they make long running series. I think that's why some of them often go to hiatus...

well, since this is really really good, I'm itching for more release... >,<

I must admit, even with its good plotline, original character personalities (Toki is the first 'hero' i've read about who constantly says "i dont wanna" and somehow make its seem convincing and realistic), awesome historical setting and all that other stuff but WOW is the plot confusing.... and it makes it worse that its slow at the same time. For a full volume there it was just a drawn and stretched out ball of pure confusion. I don't think i've ever been so happy to see a 'plot-recap' at the beginning of the next volume

If you can figure out the confusing bits, read the plot recaps, and do whatever it takes to figure it all out, it is a definite MUST read. And even if you can't figure it all out, the art and the characters make up for it

This a really good series but it's confusing if you don't read the text.
it's like a puzzle hahaha.
I recomend that you watch the anime first then read the manga.

it's sad that no ones really translating this manga lately...*cry*

Love this series - but I can see how people can hate it pretty easily. It's a little slow in places, sometimes confusing, but it all works together in the end! It's a definite read for people who like to try and figure what's going on at the same time as the main character, if that makes any sense.

It's too tiring and confusing to read. If only the art was clearer, I feel like it's quite messy at times and the colouring is too dark. The black and white isn't balanced, and the art uses a lot of black and grey. That's just me being picky though. It's an interesting concept but I feel as if it's difficulty to read makes it not worth my time.