this author is really bad at writing something longer than a one shot. (even though i have hope for dokuhime)i mean, you dont even know what happens to him and his neighbor girl friend. this wasnt really a series, more like a bunch of oneshots stapled together under the pretense of telling a story. i love her art and everything, but this is just...

... Last updated on November 18th, 2009, 6:23pm

It you're interested in embalming, this is probably a great manga for you. It's obvious that the author did a whole lot of research. On a purely informational and technical level, it's pretty fascinating.

In terms of storyline it's really predictable and kinda repetitive. Every story: embalming is for the living. it's a noble way to help people deal with their grief. k, sure. That's fine for a one shot, but for several volumes? Development please!

Probably I read as far as I did because Shinjyurou's hot and watching him get all seedy with various trashy ladies is vaguely amusing. He's not so enticing that I'm holding my breath for the next release.

A lot of depth an emotion went into writing these stories. The strong point of this series is the story telling. Though things start a bit slow, the stories become really good. Definitely worth the read. I hope the series somehow gets finished, since Tokyopop looks like it's going down.

I really do love this series a lot, i bought the whole drama on disk from Japan, I own the 4 vol too, this series is definitly a must read. I just want to know is this still ongoing in Japan? the last release was in 2005 i think =( but whatever, great plot, great, art, and it has just the right amount on suspence, drama, and romance!

Wow. Unlike many mangas I've read/am reading, this one is so realistic! It's educational too, which is a first. Not only is the plot original, the whole subject matter is uncharted territory. I'm not morbid, goth, emo, etc., but I find embalming to be really interesting, if a little gross. As for typical manga analysis, characters- great, even the minor characters are in-depth; art- good, story- really cool.

Oh, FYI and a warning to new readers- if you can't stomach corpse creepiness, DON'T READ IT. This is the first Mihara work I've read, but the others...make me think this one is really mild in the chills factor, even so, beware- light-hearts won't make it. But anyone interested in the medical line of work- try it out! A lot of research must have gone into this manga. Either that or she is a fantastic bluffer.

... Last updated on August 23rd, 2008, 10:19pm

Maybe because I'm not familiar with embalmment, I find this manga rather interesting. The character development is pretty well-done. I agreed with the ealier comment that the story gets stronger as it goes on. I especially the stories about the past of Mamiya.

Hmmm...I see that this series didn't recieve well with the commentators. Well, I've read a few of the manga-ka's other works and found them to be...creepy and vile, but at the same time, interesting. This manga, however, was somewhat different. Sure, the story holds a creepy sort of atmosphere in it as in all the other works, but I like the little romance that goes on the background, sort of like a background music that helps the audience fit in with the mood of the story. It's not strictly shoujo, but I'm sure it's a love all the same. Needless to say, the love the "embalmer" has for the girl makes it even charming to for me, and I like how the creepiness and horror is somewhat muted in this story. After all, when you've tasted enough horror and strange and terrible things in manga, it's somewhat nice to read one that also has a more "typical" style of love in it. (I'm probably not making a whole lot of sense, but it's hard to explain).

BTW. I think it'll be interesting to know that this manga is also a Japanese drama. Maybe this manga will be more enjoyable if you watch it on screen and read it.

Maybe this is interesting for Japanese readers, where embalming is something special but for Western readers this manga is mostly just boring. And if you subtract the embalming stuff, it is a run of the mill Josei manga.

The beginning of the series is only decent but once you get past the first half or all of vol 1, it gets way better.

I don't see why this got so many high ratings. Granted, I only read one volume but I was not the least bit enticed to read any more of it. It didn't seem like it was going anywhere, and the little stories in the first volume were simply not compelling enough for a dramatic series.