Otoko no Isshou

Description

From Stiletto Heels:
Douzono Tsugumi, who works for a major electrical company, spends her vacation at her grandmother's home in the country. Her grandmother soon passes away during hospitalization, and Tsugumi decides to continue living in her grandmother's house. However, a mysterious man shows up holding the key to the rear house, and despite not fully comprehending the relationship he had with her grandmother, they begin living together.

Note: Was nominated for the 3rd Manga Taisho Award in 2010.

Type

Manga

Related Series

N/A

Associated Names

Lifetime of a Man

Otoko no Issho

Otoko no Isshou Kekkon

Vợ của người đàn ông

ใครไม่รักเรารักกัน

おとこのいっしょう

娚の一生

娚の一生スピンオフ

娚の一生結婚

谜样的他

Groups Scanlating

Stiletto Heels

Latest Release(s)

v.2 c.11 by Stiletto Heels 7 months ago

v.2 c.10 by Stiletto Heels 9 years ago

v.2 c.9 by Stiletto Heels 10 years ago

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Status in Country of Origin

4 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Anime Start/End Chapter

N/A

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

0 topics, 0 posts

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User Rating

Average: 7.9 / 10.0 (79 votes)

Bayesian Average: 7.46 / 10.0

25%

13%

15%

28%

10%

Last Updated

March 23rd, 2025 12:48pm PDT - 2 months ago

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Genre

Comedy Drama Josei Romance Slice of Life
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Kimi to Tonari. - Toshi no Sarenai no Jijou

Dakkou Suru Made Ochimasen

Ao no Shima to Neko Ippiki

Taisetsu na Hi wa Itsumo Ame

Minus Ondo no Serenade

Recommendations

Miman Renai

Kore wa Koi no Hanashi

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Shogakukan

Serialized In (magazine)

Flowers (Shogakukan)

Rinka (Shogakukan)

Licensed (in English)

English Publisher

N/A

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #556

(+1)

Monthly Pos #1510 (No change)

3 Month Pos #3469

(-61)

6 Month Pos #5105

(+335)

Year Pos #6521

(-38)

List Stats

On 626 reading lists

On 469 wish lists

On 58 completed lists

On 27 unfinished lists

On 200 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

User Comments [ Order by time added ]

Definitely deserves its award

by TheAlmighty
11 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

After finishing the whole series, I think one of the best things I can appreciate from this manga is the mangaka's ability to create three dimensional characters. The female protagonist may be at the top of her career, but she has her own vulnerabilities. The assumption people often make about power women is that they think and act like men and in the process forget their femininity. It's disappointing because it suggests that femininity hinders a woman's career, which is not true. If a woman's asset is her femininity she might as well use it instead of trying to hide it. The female protagonist encompasses all these qualities which gives us a three dimensional side to her character. She is clever, aggressive, independent, but vulnerable, scared and insecure at the same time, something that every woman today can relate to.

While the female protagonist is incredibly good at the job she does and is clearly a capable independent woman, she still finds herself bound by a lot of society's expectations of marriage, especially at the age of 35. I think this is certainly relatable to many women who are considered as 'old' and facing pressures of society to get married. We cannot criticise her for her insecurities in marriage, when half of the women today face the same problem.

To top it off, because of her past relationships, she has a lot of insecurity issues when it comes to the question of marriage. I can see some people think that she's docile and expected her to be this power woman type of lady. She does and does not fulfil that expectation at the same time. Yes, she's is independent and many men commented that she can do business like a man (yes that is offensive because it implies that women cannot do business, but we have to take into account that Japan and many other countries today are still very much a patriarchal society); but at the same time, as a woman, she finds it difficult to ratify her insecurities. Think about it, one of the things a lot of capable women have is that men find it hard to measure up to them and give them the happiness they wanted. They think that a woman's happiness is the typical housewife and kids ending, and women who excel at their work tend to intimidate men like them. It's sad, but often true and the manga certainly demonstrates this point very well.

That is also why pairing her up with a 50 year old man works so well. The male protagonist may be old, but as they say men are like wine, the older the better. And this manga clearly demonstrates this point. He is not insecure with his own capabilities since he has already well-established his career by this age and mature enough to give her the space she needed without completely letting her forget his interests in her. Of course one can argue that these qualities can also be found in a younger male, but the characters are decided by the mangaka, so who are we to argue? Besides, it is hard to find examples where a mangaka can turn the man's flaws into something that is loveable, but I find that this is the case for me in this manga. Princes are outdated anyway.

... Last updated 11 years ago

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A wonderful josei in every sense of the word.

by mizunosaki
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Before I read this series, I admit I was interested in the fact that this was nominated for Manga Taisho award. When I read the summary I was unsure because the premise a middle aged man is rarely explored in romance or josei, so I was unsure if their relationship is going to develop as romance or something else.

When I first read it, my first impression was 'OYAJI BANZAI'!! Yes, (at least for me) men is like wine that just keeps getting better as they gets older lol. At least in this case, I can't believe how a 51 year old guy can still look sexy in this manga to me who's in my early 20s. A good man looks good no matter how old he is, I guess. And he speaks in Kansai accent, which is always a plus.

The manga is subdued in a lot of ways. In a lot of ways it's a stark contrast to fickle love issues and insecurities that we often see in shoujo that's targeted towards teenagers (does he like me? does he not like me?). This series is unmistakeably and indubitably mature, calm, and composed in carrying out its romance, like an experienced adult that's been a veteran in the love games.

The art is flawless, and the framing and pacing is done beautifully. That's not to say that the series doesn't have its comedy moments, but its being carried out nicely.

Watching Tsugumi and Kaida in the romance makes me want to watch them forever. It's romantic to see a man that has put on some years to found love again and be caught up in it.

The age gap bothered me only the first time, but eventually I have come to accept it. The age difference of 16 years might seem like a lot, but it's not all that strange nowadays.

All in all I highly recommend this series, especially since Stiletto Heels is doing a stellar job scanlating it 😀

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might be a good manga

by tekiteki
13 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

Just for now it feels pretty good and catching (i'm on the 2 chapter of 1st vol.). I like female protagonist, and the male protagonist is irritating enough to be interesting ^_^ (at least, he has to be wise, because he is a teacher).

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Disappointing

by Mytskine
13 years ago

Rating: 6.0 / 10.0

I've only read the 2 chapters that Stiletto Heels have translated, but I probably won't read any more of this series. After seeing the description and the award nomination, I was hoping for a subtle slice of life with two complex characters. Unfortunately, I found nothing subtle in this, I even got bored.

The narrative style is hard to follow at the beginning, when the author wants to set up the context as soon as possible, then it gets rather ordinary. The drawing are usually good, though not very refined, but some pictures are surprinsingly ugly. I remember a frame where the girl turns the head at 120° (don't try to imitate her!), with extremely long legs (they aren't so long in other frames), and with arms and legs thinner than her bike's tires. Oh, and she always looks at least ten years younger than her official age (35).

But IMHO, the biggest flaw is the dreariness of the characters and the story. I tried to feel interested in the protagonists, but I couldn't. The woman is supposed to be some kind of department chief at work, yet she behaves submissively here (hand washing some unkind stranger's pants, seriously?). The man is very arrogant, which I find annoying. As of yet, the story doesn't amount to much, the days look empty for both of them, and there are a few not so subtle hints of the romance to come.

I don't think it is a bad series, but I feel it lacks inspiration, so I wouldn't recommend it. If you're looking for a romance josei, then "Futago" or "3 a.m. dangerous zone" are much better IMHO. If you prefer a quiet slice-of-life (without romance), then go for "Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou", "Aruku hito", or "Chichi no koyomi".

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Tries to be realistic but isn't believable at all

by moredrowsy
10 years ago

Rating: 6.0 / 10.0

I agree with Mytskine. This series is a disappointment. Perhaps people who gave this review at 9 or 10 were mislead by it's serious and "realistic" tone but if you carefully think about it, the characters are too inconsistent with their background description to make it believable.

Like what Mytskine says, the female lead is supposed to be a big shot and a talented genius; a section chief, of a very powerful electronic company. A person like her should have enough experience to be tough with people with her position. However, her personality came off the total opposite. She's docile. stupid and gets bossed around by a old stranger. What's worst, she readily accepts to wash a stranger's underwear on the second day of knowing him. How pathetic can you get? Isn't' she supposed to be a section chief of a very powerful electronic company (think of sony). Her character's introduction doesn't match with her actions.

Another example from chapter 1, an old friend of the grandma (who has given him a copy of a key to the house's guest room) is arguing against the grandchild (with backup from the grandma's will) for the ownership of the house?! Are you fucking kidding me?! That old stranger, no blood relation, has no legality of even arguing for the ownership of the house. Yet, the main female lead, humbly becomes submissive to him just because he says "your dead grandma gave me a key to the guest house so you can't kick me out." She's over 30 years old and has no sense of direction. Completely ridiculous premise.

I seriously question the 9-10 ratings below because it seems the reviews are just blinded by the "cool" and "arrogant" old suave guy.

... Last updated 10 years ago

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