I will start off by saying my 10 rating is from my immediate sentiment that this is a frighteningly brave topic to show in honest detail. It works as a short story, it is jarring and pause-worthy because of the pace involved in a short story, it is in my opinion forever memorable because it was wrapped up as a short story.

Poignant, brutal, but sublimely human in its portrayal on the effect of apathetic mob mentalities, Koe no Katachi still leaves this afterglow of shame and hope in me after slowly flipping through its 60 or so pages. I'm ashamed to say this series struck a chord with me because I've bullied and also been bullied, sometimes acceptable (underclassman hazing as a rite of passage in school sports in the name of Esprit de Corps) and unacceptable (picking on the new kid who has no friends). Alas, even as a fully grown adult who's grown out of a bigoted, prejudiced shell formed from adolescent ignorance, this story moved me in ways I never thought the internet was capable of after years (almost decades for me) of jaded, overloaded media absorption.

When I first began reading this series, I was excited to find that it was much different from many other stories of a similar nature. First off, we have an (ex)bully as our narrator. Second, there is the involvement of a deaf person and sign language which was a really refreshing aspect. At the beginning, the bullying genuinely pulled at my heartstrings as I felt bad for both Shouko, as the recipient, AND Ishida as he reeled with guilt and horror over what he had done to her.

For me, the story quickly looses steam when the author begins introducing all the side characters. I liked Yuzuru and Sahara, who seemed like good people. But the other characters were so irritating! These characters (minus Ishida's short friend) formerly bullied Shouko and threw Ishida under the bus when they got caught. They were jerks at a young age and they are jerks in high school. I feel that this is relatively realistic and appreciate the author trying to show their growth after reuniting with Ishida/Nishimiya. But the key word here is "trying." In my opinion, these characters hardly grew at all (if any), yet somehow at the end everyone becomes friends. Poorly used time skips and weak background stories behind the side characters, which I believe were meant to make them a bit more sympathetic, just made me more confused as to HOW these kiddos were actually turning into friends.

The two girl bullies, for example, have almost zero redeemable qualities up until the very end. Especially

Anyways, I was just disappointed that the author spent so much time rehashing the same problems with little to no character growth in our side characters. As realistic as the author tried to make this series, it turned out unrealistic and unbelievable thanks to the weird "friendship" dynamic that suddenly happens at the end (which, by the way, felt super abrupt and rushed).

So I was ready to give this series a 10/10, or at least a good 9.5. I was reading along, then I hit the end suddenly. At first I thought that I had somehow missed the last chapter, and I went on a few different sites looking for this "actual ending". Needless to say that when I found out the truth I was none too happy. Just to be clear the ending isn't awful or anything. But it IS straight up disappointing, since they've teased you with this relationship for over 60 chapters just to shrug in the end and say "well MAYBE they get together, who knows?!"

The thing is that the manga doesn't give enough of a resolution to round out the story, just in general. I mean there's almost no follow-up to the main character's childhood friends, no romantic subplot gets resolved and just in general it feels like there's hardly any resolution. It really does feel like some guy came along and stole the last chapter or two, you know the part with the resolution to the main relationship that they tease over and over again. Not a deal breaker, but the story really felt like it needed that nice and happy ending to round out the amount of heartbreak early on.

Anyhow, for what it's worth I think the rest of the manga is really good. The bullying early on is just painful to read at times, it really makes you kind of hate the main character at first. This is okay with me because the story is supposed to be about how this guy changes from the jerk he used to be into a mature adult. There are times when he acts perhaps a bit too pathetic but I guess I might to the same thing if I had no friends for years.

In the end this is a good read. Just don't expect any lovey-dovey resolutions here, that's all.

... Last updated on January 13th, 2017, 8:15pm

I'm never going to read this again.
Which doesn't mean it's bad. I can only recommend it.

Well... I expected... a nice cute oneshot about lots of friendly kids who accept this poor little deaf girl. What I got wasn't what I wanted. It was too truthful. It was like it really could happen (most of it at least). And I really, really didn't like it. Because it does happen. It's not some fantasy, not some bad dream, it's reality. And heck, this manga doesn't close its eyes on this topic just to look better.
The mangaka knew what he was creating.

Please read this oneshot. Even if you - just like me - won't ever read it for a second time, it's worth reading it.

This is honestly the best manga I've ever read. It is so touching and a pleasure to read both for the story and for the art. I'd recommend it to anyone. Both the other reviewers have said a lot of what I want to say already - it's so effective because it's a oneshot, it's honest, not sentimental but uplifting. I'd also say it's good because it's sympathetic towards the bully as well as the victim. I wouldn't call it brutal though; if anything it's gentle and an easy read but it doesn't waste time beating around the bush.

Most of all, I would recommend this story because it doesn't feel like reading a fictional manga, it feels like looking at any classroom - or just looking right at yourself!

... Last updated on May 19th, 2013, 2:26am

Most things have already been said, so I shall keep it focused:

Some people may complain about the ending, about how the series lost its momentum in comparison to the one-shot; however, I think the final development is very befitting. Things mellow out as you grow older. And as much as Koe no Katachi is about bullying, it is also a coming-of-age story.

Events and people that seemed so crass, so insufferable in your youth become bearable as you learn to put them into perspective. Even more so as time makes you realise that people cannot change that easily - and they don't have to.

This does not mean that one should just forgive and forget. However, life will never go exactly the way you want. Not everybody can get along with each other, in the same way that you cannot like everybody; not even among your close acquaintances - but that's all right; we're only human after all.
Once you've accepted this fact, you'll be able to take life's various unpleasantries in good humour,
What really counts is to grow aware of one's own flaws and attitudes, so that when the time comes and you want to change, you'll know where to begin. Or to say it with Ishida Shōya's words I believe that is the message Ōima Yoshitoki-sensei wanted to convey when she chose to leave some conflicts unresolved.

Same goes for the romance. Don't be bothered by the "Unresolved Romance" tag! Some people might see it that way, I personally don't - but does it matter? The main "romance" - if that's what you want to call it - is realistically subtle, and no matter how it goes, life will go on for our protagonists. We know that they'll be fine regardless of what life may throw at them because they have matured throughout the series and will continue to do so. That's all we need to know as readers of this marvellous manga.

... Last updated on September 21st, 2016, 1:08am

Possibly one of my favorite manga of all time.

Silent Voice tackles the issue of bullying, but instead of just painting it black and white with the victim serving justice to the bullies, it takes a more intricate look on just how complicated the situation can be. There are no heroes, no villains, only people - and that's what makes this manga an absolute must for any fan of the genre.

It's not a flawless story. The one shot, and the first volume, are spectacular, but after that it quickly drops and becomes unnecessarily drawn out, and the ending leaves a little to be desired. The subject of being deaf is also left to the side a bit, and ironically it sometimes felt like Nishimiya never really got a moment to have her thoughts come across. However, sprinkled across the entire manga are the occasional fantastic moment, making it worth the read. In the end A Silent Voice has several morals it wants to get across, and it manages to do just that. And for this reason, I'm giving it 9.8, the highest I've ever given to a manga.

... Last updated on July 13th, 2015, 6:41pm

it is rare to see a manga that treat this kind of thing in a serious way, without getting too sentimental.
the manga is mature, it portrays the life of a group of teenagers that have various problems, mostly related to bullying.
the bullying is realistic, the author doesn't exaggerate just to make the reader cry. its difference from other manga that have this topic, koe no katachi has a feeling that is mature and realistic. every character has his own personality. the author, without spending pages and pages, gives to every of her characters a specific and no-stereotyped personality.

something about the love story: there is one. to many people, me included, this is not something welcomed, but here the protagonists are mature, with their flaws. there is not a feminine crybaby girl and the guy is not a strong, bishie, perfect knight. this nearly perfect characterization make the love story real, also the author didn't rush the love story (is still not completed).

following this manga since the one shot came out and looking forward to it

I don't understand why this manga would stir controversy. Perhaps it struck too close to home for many readers... I can relate, but not in the usual route, since I was a bully myself in grade school. This story fills me with bitter nostalgia of the countless times I chose a path of ignorance, taking part in ostracizing those "different" from the norm. And now that I've grown older, wiser and turned into something of a loner, I can admit I feel the pain of the recipient's shoulders.

Whatever.

... Last updated on December 22nd, 2013, 5:45pm

The start of serialization actually deals deeper with the lives of kids around Nishimiya. It's not like we just plainly get her bullying story expanded. We get the opportunity to know better, from where does bullying come, which issues can cause kids to go bully. The problem is really complex, and the author tries to look at it from all kinds of angles now.
Next, we return at the point where we left boy and girl at the end of oneshot. What will he do? What new impacts will he receive, how will his life and worldview change (again)? What are the backgrounds of Nishimiya's life and what does she endure every day? The story involves more and more details, and though oneshot was a fully completed little shiny gem, what we get now is a wide and complex picture. And who knows what will next parts of it show us. Because "it's life".

... Last updated on October 11th, 2013, 12:44am