Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou

[ScorpS]

I finally got around to ordering the 10 volumes of YKK a few months ago. I recently got the last shipment of volumes (1,4,9 were back ordered) yesterday, now I can start re-reading it for real. Oh and the art book too. Wow that art book was quite the xmas gift to myself, I love it. If you are a fan of YKK and don't have a copy of Ashinano-san's YKK art book, bow your head in shame.

Anyhow, I've been noticing more and more YKK avatars around lately. YKK fans are so few, or are we? I just want to know how many of us there really are (here), so if you are a fan, post a quick reply, maybe even a word or two about your take on it.

Thanks.

[xris]

Tsk, how can you call yourself a fan when you don't even have a YKK av :)

If you are a fan of YKK and don't have a copy of Ashinano-san's YKK art book, bow your head in shame.

Yes, yes, yes, we all hate you :joke:

It was the anime fansubs that introduced YKK to me (and I loved them), but I must say the manga makes it all so much better!

[stormy001_M1A2]

I adore this manga a lot, the sketches is lovely and touching. The OVAs is pale shadow compare to the manga.

[Briareos]

I love YKK. The manga is a rare gem; slow and serene in atmosphere, gentle and human in its characters, and intrinsically beautiful. Familiar blends seamlessly with the unfamiliar, and rare revelations about the current state of the Earth (in the YKK world) are woven leisurely into slice of life-type storytelling.

Watching the OVAs is like watching home movies of some of the highlights of the manga.

The artbook is wonderful: Well worth the price. I don't have the heart to actually put together the cut-out diorama though. :)

[NightWish]

Wow that art book was quite the xmas gift to myself, I love itOhh, good I'm not the only one who did that then :heh:Yes, yes, yes, we all hate you :joke:Muahhaha... ::Gloats with ScorpS::
umm...precious

Edit: For those interested this (http://www.visualdigest.com/~NightWish/2004-320x240-YKK-Diarama.jpg) is what the diarama looks like :) ... It isn't a fantastic picture but you get the idea.

[7thMethuselah]

Can someone tell me what YKK is about? I have the episodes from animesuki on my comp (for months allready) but i just can't get myself to seeing them, maybe if i knew what it's about ... :)

[ScorpS]

7thMethuselah:
That's a hard one to answer, but Briareos did a great job describing it. A friend of mine said this about it... "It's about watching a sunset, and not being able to share it with the one person that really matters."

Briareos:
Me neither. ^^;; But I did give it a good look, once, then put it back as is. I wonder why they picked the "airport". So many other places/things they could have done, like O-ji-san's gasoline stand, or Kokone's favourite Tea shop/stand in Musashino. I missed out on the calender that came with a small replica of the fish-shaped weathervane. That would have been cool.

NightWish:
Meri Kurisumasu!! ^^

stormy001_M1A2:
I partially agree with you. I really do love the first one, the pacing was great, and it was visually stunning, it's rendition of Chapter 22 Yokosuka Cruise was perfect. Alas, the second OVA just tried to cover to much material (chapters), so the pacing was all wrong. Plus it had 1 or 2 rather questionable scenes added that I didn't care for. I still don't hate it, but wish it was more like the first one.

xris:
Sorry I didn't mean to brag. I just wanted to say that it was really good.

[Mr_Paper]

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is an amazing manga series. I've been reading it
for a little under six years now and I can honestly say I wouldn't mind
reading it for at least another six.

/me hugs his subscription to Kodansha Afternoon

Oddly, the first time I read Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou I didn't think that
much of it. I liked the story, the artwork and the characters but I didn't
understand it at the time. It's hard to start reading a manga two years
into it's story. Now, I eagerly await each month for when I receive the
phonebook sized Kodansha Afternoon in the mail just to read it. :heh:
I tend to keep the copies of Afternoon until a manga volume is published
that covers up to the chapter in it. Then it's off to the recyclers for them.
Right now I have all ten volumes of the manga, the art book, all the DVDs
for the OVAs, the soundtracks and about a year and a half worth of
Kodansha Afternoon's. :heh:

I must say it's the small things in Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou that I love,
the little nuances of the characters that make them loveable. The way
Kokone gets all flustered about transferring data, the obvious fact that
the owner/server at Kokone's favorite Tea stand in Musashino has a crush
on her (he turns beat red just looking at her :p ). Maruko's jealously over
Kokone's affections for Alpha, same with Matsuki's (Makki) jealousy over
Takahiro. Misago's stalking of the local children and Alpha's strange
dealings with alcohol, milk and liqueurs.

Despite the simple drawing style and the lack of any apparent plot all the
characters, even the robot ones, are portrayed as being genuinely human.
I also am quite fond of how time passes in the manga or rather how its
portrayed. Time in the manga seems to pace at relatively the same pass
as in the real world. A year in the manga is literally the same as a year for
you or I. The character's grow and the scenery steadily changes.

Ah.. Only a couple more weeks than I can read Chapter 116. :D
I'd post a link to a site with all the chapters to date, organized by
volume/chapter and year, but I believe links of that sort are against the
rules... Shame really.

Later People and sorry if I rambled. :heh:

[NightWish]

Nice post :)

I'd post a link to a site with all the chapters to date, organized by
volume/chapter and year, but I believe links of that sort are against the
rules... Shame really.
No... I think you can post the link if you like: it would be on topic even if you owned the site and the manga isn't licensed in the English speaking world... so please do share it with us :D

Of course, we may know the site already ;) ...

[NoSanninWa]

Misago's stalking of the local children and Alpha's strange dealings with alcohol, milk and liqueurs.

Lol. That sounds so wrong that way.

[Mr_Paper]

The Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Translations (http://ykk.misago.org/) site. :D

If you go to the Contents section and click on the [cover] link under
volume one, you can read the entire manga page by page. Simply pressing
the next button on the top of the page advances you to the next page.

You can also download entire years, volumes and chapters individually, just
be respectful of the persons bandwidth (they even state this on their site,
so obey!). Their script with temp. ban you if you download too much or use
download accelerators.

I keep hoping this manga will get licensed one day, postal workers begin to
look at you wierd when it seems you get a new phonebook every month. :heh:

[Freddy C]

ive seen the OAV, i cant really see how the manga's better, but im probably horribly wrong. i mean the OAV didnt have a real story, but i didnt mind it, the OAV had a really nice score and sounds, it's also in colour making the scene all the better, so is the manga really that good, any example sans on the net i can preview?

EDIT: aha! found the manga

[xris]

any example sans on the net i can preview?

EDIT: aha! found the manga

I hope you did find the manga, I mean the post directly above yours gave you full details on how to find the scanlations :)

The beauty of the manga is that it provides a greater insight into the world of YKK. I found that after reading it, the anime improved tremendously (and I already enjoyed the anime before reading the manga).

To me, the anime it a bonus, a gift to the fans of YKK, a brief glimpse through the window looking at the world of Alpha but it's the manga which provides my primary enjoyment of the series. There are so many stories in the manga which I would love to know how they finish, sigh......

[Briareos]

There are so many stories in the manga which I would love to know how they finish, sigh......YKK is more like experiencing journal entries than reading a conventional story. Life doesn't let you know how things will end as quickly as your typical book. :)

[boneyjellyfish]

The Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Translations (http://ykk.misago.org/) site. :D

If you go to the Contents section and click on the [cover] link under
volume one, you can read the entire manga page by page. Simply pressing
the next button on the top of the page advances you to the next page.

You can also download entire years, volumes and chapters individually, just
be respectful of the persons bandwidth (they even state this on their site,
so obey!). Their script with temp. ban you if you download too much or use
download accelerators.

I keep hoping this manga will get licensed one day, postal workers begin to
look at you wierd when it seems you get a new phonebook every month. :heh:

Wow! Thanks for that link :D I think I'll do a chapter a day... hopefully that won't get me a temp ban :)

I also hope that the manga gets licensed. It would be great for me (I really liked the YKK anime) because I don't really know much japanese, and it would also mean that I don't have to read a lot of spelling errors like "prolly".

I read up to the end of the "Prologue" chapter, and I noticed that it explained what was going on in the opening to the YKK anime. Very interesting stuff!

[ubb]

I read the first volume of yokohama, it was pretty good, but I can't envision myself reading another volume where nothing really happens.

[Briareos]

I read the first volume of yokohama, it was pretty good, but I can't envision myself reading another volume where nothing really happens.That's a matter of perspective. I'd say that every time something touches a character in some way that something has happened. There is a grand scheme in the background of things as well, but details come slowly and leisurely. A lot of the joy of YKK is the atmosphere and peacfulness of it all.

If you want quick and to the point storytelling, this is not your bag.

[Mr_Paper]

http://www.sasugabooks.com/images/sasuga/4063211592.jpg

For anyone interested, volume 11 of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is now available for purchase at Sasuga Japanese Bookstore. I've already ordered mine and I can't wait to get it and the May volume of Afternoon Kodansha when it comes out.

http://www.sasugabooks.com/product_info.php?products_id=32042

[Lenaxia]

This is probably the most amazing manga I have ever read. I don't know why, I think ScorpS' friend put it very well when he said "It's about watching a sunset, and not being able to share it with the one person that really matters."

I can't find any way to really describe it, I mean it really is only about a person and their adventure into the world. I just found it about a week ago (Well I downloaded it about 2 months ago but forgot about it on my computer >.>), and I've read it probably 4-5 times all the way through since then, I don't get tired of it.

The http://ykk.misago.org also has a small forum if there really are any questions about it.

I really disliked the OVAs. It really did not properly convey the true feeling of YKK in so few minutes, it just started in the middle of one of the chapters, and it cut so much out.

[Mr_Paper]

http://ykk.misago.org (http://ykk.misago.org/) has post Chapter 116 which is appropriately titled 'Beneath the Pine Tree.'

It's a nice chapter with Ojisan and Sensei talking to each other about being lonely.

[abubo]

I have all 10 volumes and the art book as well. I love YKK... it is my most favorite manga of all time. It's full of beauty and mystery, taking place in a near-future where human beings are dying off and robots are coming of age.

I can't describe it either. I tried to come up with a whole theory about how this world came about, the origin of tappon and Director Alpha, but it's really not about the past. Human beings are becoming extinct and the Earth is left to a few remaining animals and "smart" plants; yet instead of horror and anarchy described in so many other post-apoclyptic fiction, human beings in the YKK world tried their best to survive in peace with one another and figure out a way to preserve their culture and civilization through biologically-based robots. The meloncholy setting is beset by optimism and love shared between the remaining human beings and the robots.

As I read YKK, I felt that even though Alpha's a robot, she's probably the most human character I've ever read in any work of fiction, not just manga. YKK touches on so many different levels, I don't even know where to start. Let's just say as far as quality manga goes, this is one of the very, very best.

[abubo]

/me hugs his subscription to Kodansha Afternoon




Despite the simple drawing style and the lack of any apparent plot all the
characters, even the robot ones, are portrayed as being genuinely human.


Hmmm, I tend to think YKK has a definate plot, albiet one that's very profound and not easy to identify.

[Mr_Paper]

Hmmm, I tend to think YKK has a definate plot, albiet one that's very profound and not easy to identify.Yeah it has a very good plot, but it's so slow moving it can easily be missed or overlooked. ^^;

[Key]

Read 3 volumes of it so far and... I must say it's very nice. Pleasant, although there's an underlying sadness about it that I can't quite place.

[Mr_Paper]

Well, Chapter 117 (http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/61) is available for download.

It's a good chapter, lot's of Makki!
It just might be me... but she's beginning to bare a striking resemblence to Ayase. ;)

[Briareos]

Read 3 volumes of it so far and... I must say it's very nice. Pleasant, although there's an underlying sadness about it that I can't quite place.I think that part of that sadness is the loneliness that YKK so subtly touches upon. There are also hints throughout the chapters that remind the reader of how many people must have passed on to make the world the quieter place it is.

Part of the beauty of the manga, though, is that it never spells things out. You have to read the unspoken words, and the subtle context of the relationships.

It's a lot like life. It's a very human thing to experience sadness and longing, and the characters in YKK -- as stated above -- are very human (even if they're not human). Without emotions such as melancholy, you'd never fully appreciate the joy of watching a sunset.

[NightWish]

It's a good chapter, lot's of Makki!
... striking resemblence to Ayase.
Yes it was :) ... ::laughs:: you might be right about Ayase.

Umm did anyone else notice that Neild (?) made a slight typo putting 119 in place of 116 on the previous chapter :heh:? I wonder if he knows....

[abubo]

Well, Chapter 117 (http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/61) is available for download.

It's a good chapter, lot's of Makki!
It just might be me... but she's beginning to bare a striking resemblence to Ayase. ;)
Hmm.. ur right. This maybe just Asahino's style but it could also be hinting something... like maybe the children (or young people) in YKK are genetically linked. Hmm... they could be based on the same set of DNA... Nah, no YKK theory today. :)

[Mr_Paper]

I don't thinks that the case. I'd rather assume she just likes dressing like him. ^^;

[Mr_Paper]

Well... It's that time of the month again.

New Chapter Time!

Okay, I'm a little late announcing this (I haven't checked my emails in a couple days). Anyway, it's a thoroughly cute chapter. :D

Chapter 118: "In Town (http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/73)"

Alpha goes shopping and runs into 'Maru-chan' while in town. ^^;
The chapter is a testament to exactly how cute 'Maru-chan' can be, she maintains a solid blush for nearly the entire chapter after running into Alpha. We also get to find out a little bit of Maruko's past and the reason for her name being Maruko Maruko. I'm somewhat glad to see Maruko and Alpha getting along better, although they do seem to try and embarrass each other, it's a definite improvement over the 'robo-bitch' incident. :heh:

http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/73

[Briareos]

Even though some of the colors may be wrong (Alpha's hair for example), I thought that YKK fans would want to know about the existence of these.
http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?Series=Yokohama+Kaidashi%0d&Category=Fig&Dis=2

[NightWish]

Ooo... interesting. But at the same time disappointing. They don't really look good enough to attract my wallet. I wonder how they managed to mix up blue and green... I'm pretty sure I've seen the Alpha model before actually... with the correct hair colour... and as a DIY kit. Although I could just be imagining that as I can't find the link now.

[7thMethuselah]

I started reading the YKK manga and what can I say : Beautiful !
It's exactly the kind of stuff I like, some sort of slice-of-life manga, very calm and serene, about enjoying the little things in life. It almost feels like I'm reading a persons diary.
One of the greatests things about it how they reflect back to the past. It's not a feeling of loss but rather a nostaligic feeling, sometimes a certain sadness comes with it. In YKK the complexity of modern day life has been replaced with the simple things in life, going sopping, taking a walk or just drinking some coffee while watching a sunset.
Celebrating new year by watching the sunset is certainly an inspiring way to start off, although I wonder why people are still keeping time in this manga. Todays time-pressured world is completely the opposite from YKK
One wonders if there are places like that left on this planet where people can live quietly and undisturbed, and most importantly without stress, since tomorrow there will be another day. If you know one, let me know, I'm moving :p

I love this manga, to bad the scanlation site seems to be down for the moment because I wanna continue reading :)

Apparently it's still unlicensed, can someone confirm this?

[Mr_Paper]

Apparently it's still unlicensed, can someone confirm this?Both the manga and the OVAs are unlicensed.

I'm eagerly awaiting chapter 120, the ten year aniversery chapter. ^^

[Ending]

Pretty interesting thus far; the artist is paying a lot of attention to the details. :) Still, would be interesting to get some boot to the characters and the story rolling -there is more than one "red line" to grasp from. ;)

[Mr_Paper]

I shall revive this thread from the depths to which it has fallen, page seven.

Unfortunately it seems that Neil's laptop was stolen shortly after the last chapter was posted. ;_; Sadly he kept not only all his personal information and files on the laptop but also all the information, scans, translations and other such things related the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou manga on it as well. There is, however, no need to fear for as I post this dDave's self proclaimed 'unholy alliance is working it's evil magic at this very minute.'

Hopefully this 'unholy alliance' will be able to release a chapter or two while Neil works to restore what he lost.

[7thMethuselah]

I shall revive this thread from the depths to which it has fallen, page seven.

Unfortunately it seems that Neil's laptop was stolen shortly after the last chapter was posted. ;_; Sadly he kept not only all his personal information and files on the laptop but also all the information, scans, translations and other such things related the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou manga on it as well. There is, however, no need to fear for as I post this dDave's self proclaimed 'unholy alliance is working it's evil magic at this very minute.'

Hopefully this 'unholy alliance' will be able to release a chapter or two while Neil works to restore what he lost.

That is very bad news ... I hope he can get his stuff back, maybe all of us should set up a torrent with the translated files :)
Anyway, I'm always eagerly awaiting more YKK, just will have to be a bit more patient

[Mr_Paper]

Neil has returned!
Rejoice~!

It seems he's finally got everything (more or less) back to the way it was, although he had to rewrite all the site's scripts since he didn't have a backup so it's a little buggy in someplaces. It's all good...

Also, to celebrate not only his return but the ten year aniversery of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, he has posted the all-color four page R&P -Rabbit & Pigeon- special chapter! The race is on as Alpha and Maruko face off in a moped drag race with what seems to be Kokone as the prize! :heh:

Read on: http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/105
If anything, I can see this chapter leading to some interesting avatars. :heh:

[Mr_Paper]

BTW I've been thinking about a YKK avvie but half the forum allready has one, so I'll have to look for a character not in use yet :pHalf? :eyebrow:

The only two other people with YKK avatars I can think of are NightWish and Xris. :heh:

[7thMethuselah]

Yokatta !!!

Looks like we can expect the next chapters soon then :)

BTW I've been thinking about a YKK avvie but half the forum allready has one, so I'll have to look for a character not in use yet :p

[NightWish]

Soon is already here! It arrived yesterday in the form of "Chapter 120: voice (http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/109)" (zip; 2.3m (http://ykk.misago.org/Archive/ykk_c120.zip)) :)

[Mr_Paper]

Hmm... I wonder why I didn't recieve an email notifying me of it's release...

Guess I'll just have to re-subscribe. ^^

[Mr_Paper]

It is my pride and joy to revive this thread with yet another translated chapter!

Chapter 121: "50km, 6 hours (http://ykk.misago.org/Afternoon2004/125)"

Poor tea-shop guy, this chapter alone could have given him a heart attack or atleast burst blood vessels in his face due to excessive blushing. :heh: It would seem our beloved Koko-chan has a fanclub in the Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou world, creepy given that I'm sure there are several dozen for her in this world too. Once again, poor tea-shop guy. ^^: Having to stand there listening to that conversation would be either devastating on his crush or inspire him to keep up hope.

[Spiggy]

I just finished reading chapters 1-121 a little last week. It took a couple of days but oh well. I must say that the manga (scanlations) is alot better than the OVAs. The OVAs was shown at anime night and it just completely turned me off b/c it was just slow. I didn't get curious about it until Mr_Paper madeh is Alpha entry for the winter 04-05 contest (no one would have the slightest idea unless they've read YKK or your post :)). I must say that the manga is a nice read. The story has alot of sentimental ideas and values. It also has a couple of funny moments like this one Alpha visits Kokone (http://ykk.misago.org/Volume5/43) and Takahiro's dream (http://ykk.misago.org/Volume4/92) and can't forget Alpha meets Nai (http://ykk.misago.org/Volume8/48.html). I must say that I'm enjoying it greatly :)

[Shii]

It's 2006 and the official misago.org forum rests in peace. Does anyone know where the other forum is located?

[NightWish]

dDave started one (http://pander.us/ykk/index.php), but there is also another (CafeAlpha (http://members.lycos.co.uk/cafealpha/index.php)) that has been around longer... sadly it is hosted on Lycos :eek:

[Hello]

Just wanted to mention that chapter 138 has just been released: link (http://www.cafealpha.org/ch138/1.html).

Once again we have a time jump. This development that has me feeling happy yet sad at the same time. Typical YYK! ;)

[TooPurePureBoy]

Ya you can mark me down as yet another new fanatic of YKK. Just a really relaxing and nostalgia inspiring read. I would imagine that the feeling one gets after reading a volume of YKK would be comparable to the release of meditation. It's just so good at putting one at ease, I really love it. :bow:

[Mr_Paper]

Just wanted to mention that chapter 138 has just been released: link (http://www.cafealpha.org/ch138/1.html).

Once again we have a time jump. This development that has me feeling happy yet sad at the same time. Typical YYK! ;)First, yay! I've wanted to see some form of romantic development between Makki and Takahiro for quite some time, so I'm quite happy about this.

I saw the cover and thought to myself "is that little Makki?" Imagine my joy when it turned out not to be Makki. To add to this, the Misago makes a long awaited appearence almost as a right of passage - a new generation to stalk. ;) Although I have to wonder, what does little Sae-chan call Kokone? Auntie Kokone? :heh:

There is however, still that growing fear that either Oji-san or Sensei has passed away with this chapter occuring, as best I can estimate, six or seven years after the last.

[Blaat]

I'm not really surprised by Makki and Takahiro. Although I was kind of hoping for something odd like Takahiro and Misago :heh:

Anyway the time jumps seem to be occuring more frequently now a days I guess we might be nearing an "end" of the manga soon?

[Mr_Paper]

Chapter 139 - 「夕凪通信」 "Twilight Communications (http://www.cafealpha.org/ch139/1.html)"*
*I view the title differently ^^:

An interesting chapter... It goes a long way to show that one can say a great deal with very few words.

Alpha commenting on the now overgrown path to her cafe, similar to many of Oji-san's comments on it, and the significance given to Sensei's necklace in many of the panels makes it seem that their deaths are now a certainty. While a sad fact of life, it wasn't unexpected - we've seen the characters grow, mature and grow older, death was an inevitability. Fortunately, Alpha seems to have also accepted this fact of life and her walk seems to be more for reminising than mourning.

More than this, Alpha's abilities seem to be growing quite rapidly. In previous volumes we've seen her tap into her abilities more subconsciouslessly than anything else (her daydreams of flying, feeling the plane and boat, etc.) but now it seems very much different. For instance, she is now seemingly able to operate her camera remotely. She can see through it without a cord and can even take pictures without pressing the shutter button. There isn't much to really support this theory but it really shows the degree to which Alpha has grown over the years and continues to grow.

There is something else significant about Alpha's walk and shutterbug activities. She's always been rather conservative when it comes to taking photographs, not wanting to waste the images incase something more important comes along. This time however she is taking pictures non-stop and randomly of her entire surrounds to the point of throwing the camera about to get the images. Given how prudent she has been thus far it really seems as if she's trying to preserve her memories of the area so that she can look back on them at a latter day without missing any part of it, especially after including herself in one of the images. It is almost begging the question but with most of the local population having died off it seems as if Alpha is preparing to leave her small cafe on the cape.

Finally, the chapter ends with what appears to be Alpha realizing that Owner will probably never be returning, most likely having passed away. The final lines really drive what appears to be the point of this chapter home, Alpha will be moving on into the world at large. This will probably mark and fulfill the indications of the series' end...

It's quite poetic, really.

Oh, yes. Sea-chan is perfecting her monkey ways. ^^;

[JokerD]

The managa that nothing happens indeed. Nothings happens on screen, everything happens offscreen and we are left wondering.

Still I wonder with Oji-san and sensei dead, is the village dying or deserted. Also there's been no talk of the other Alphas for a while now, I wonder if they still visit her. Or she's gonna be real lonely.

[Ashton]

:sad:
So, chapter 140 marks the end of the best manga ever created. Last chapter was released in Kodansha Afternoon few days ago. After reading chapter 139 I expected that this was coming sooner or later, but it still hitted me pretty hard.

[NoSanninWa]

It... it is... ENDING?!?!

I'm quite a few chapters behind (unfortunately) and all of a sudden I don't feel like catching up. Somehow the idea that YKK will continue forever in my heart makes me feel warmer than the idea of reading the last chapter. At least that is how I feel right now. I suspect that after some time passess I'll throw myself into downloading a lot of chapters and marathon reading them.

Right now though, I'm feeling a little depressed.

YKK has never been about the destination. It is about the journey. Now I find that the idea of it even having a destination is somewhat disturbing.

[Stxopher]

I know the feeling. It's like getting regular calls from an old friend who lives far away. You may not talk about anything important or earth-shattering but it's nice to hear from them.

And then no more calls.

Odd, isn't it that such a minor thing like a series devoid of action, dense prose or highly detailed artwork could have such a hold on people. Yet it does. Perhaps because of those very things it's more accessible.

This is the only series that I've gotten so far in the original language. Can't read it (have to use the scans to understand it, not that it's that hard with its limited dialogue) but it's nice to sit back and revisit once in a while. I just wish I could introduce more of my friends to it. (sigh)

[Rion]

I'm surprised to see more people feel similar to how I feel. When I told these news to a friend, he was feeling depressed as well. It has never occured to me that the news of the ending of a manga actually made me sad (not even the end of Naru Taru which is my favourite manga ever). But this one does... T_T If Emma ends, I might feel similar.

I can't wait to read the last chapter... but on the other hand, I don't want to read it, just like NoSanninWa.

[JokerD]

It... it is... ENDING?!?!

I'm quite a few chapters behind (unfortunately) and all of a sudden I don't feel like catching up. Somehow the idea that YKK will continue forever in my heart makes me feel warmer than the idea of reading the last chapter. At least that is how I feel right now. I suspect that after some time passess I'll throw myself into downloading a lot of chapters and marathon reading them.

Right now though, I'm feeling a little depressed.

YKK has never been about the destination. It is about the journey. Now I find that the idea of it even having a destination is somewhat disturbing.

I know how you feel. I got the feeling of hearing from an old friend, then being told to prepare for a funeral kinda thing. Still I can't wait for the chapter to come out and I can put this to rest.

[Mr_Paper]

It was a fun twelve years and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't saddened by its ending. It started in a casual and inconspicuous manner, went about its heart warming business with the utmost subtlety, and ultimately, ends in the same way it began. It's tough to say goodbye to such old friends but the wealth of memories remains with new titles to look forward to...

Ashinano's new series will begin with the May volume, let's hope it carries on his habit of heart warming stories and characters. >.>

*floats off to find something to fill the void*

[JokerD]

The scanlated chapter 140 is out @ http://www.cafealpha.org/

ojisan's gas station seems to be abondoned, from Alpha's musings it seems that humans are not going to survive, leaving the world (or at least Japan) to the Alphas. And Kokonoe seems to be living with Alpha now, or maybe just a visit.

[NoSanninWa]

The scanlated chapter 140 is out @ http://www.cafealpha.org/
Oh no! Please no~

[Oberon]

Just finished reading the final chapter and thought I'd follow up with some overall ramblings and, well, thoughts.


YKK and thus Alpha has been a constant companion in my manga reading habit for several years now and I'm both sad and glad that it finally came to a "conclusion". When I first began reading YKK I adored it, because of the overall calm mood inherent to each chapter. As the series went on the initial "feel good" mood was ever so slowly overshadowed by a growing sense of sadness and loneliness when someday along the way I realized that I watched how mankind in this setting has lost it's drive to evolve and continue on, but instead slowly and steadily fades out into oblivion, leaving behind the androids to live on in their stead. This sense of passing on was intensified by the happenings of the more recent chapters, where the flow of time got more notable, like Maki and Takahiro getting older, the old geezer handing down the gas station to Alpha etc. Therefore I'm somehow glad that we finally stopped following Alpha's path into a world where no alive human is left, but instead have a somewhat open ending where we can imagine for ourselves how things will continue from here on.

Interesting enough, it wasn't untill recently that someone pointed out to me that this wistful feeling of loss and things passing on is actually a literary concept rooted in japanese literature (mono no aware (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/GLOSSARY/MONO.HTM), for those interested) and not something the author simply came up with on a whim. This helped me understand why there never was nor would be an actual overarching plot going on that would tie in everything into a neat finished story package, including climax and closure. Of course that doesn't mean I wouldn't have liked some actual exploration of the "why" this world was based on instead of just a showcase of the "is". In the end we just got some facets of a world we never really comprehended until, and including, the very end. I definitely would have liked to know the story behind the original Alpha in the orbital plane or who Owner actually was, but I guess YKK wasn't this type of story.

That said, I'm content with how the story ended. Takahiro and Maki ended up together which is nice. The development of both Maki and Takahiro from children to adults made for a neat frame of time for the story to take place in and in which we followed everything from mostly Alpha's POV. I'm also glad that we didn't get to see what actually happened to the old man and the professor, as a confirmation of their demise might have made everything more depressing that it should. For all we know, he's still selling melons at the gas station and she's still watching over Alpha and the other androids. Oh, and !YAY!, Alpha and Kokone finally moved in togther.:love: Now there's something I would have liked to see an additional chapter or two spent on. :naughty: Maruko also got a whole lot nicer towards Alpha which is a plus as well.

Overall, it has been a fun ride and I'd like to thank Ashinano for creating one of the more unique manga out there both visually and contentwise, and I'm looking forward to what he'll be doing next.

[tsurumaru]

Oh no! Please no~

I feel your pain...

[suguru]

Just finished reading the final chapter and thought I'd follow up with some overall ramblings and, well, thoughts.


YKK and thus Alpha has been a constant companion in my manga reading habit for several years now and I'm both sad and glad that it finally came to a "conclusion". When I first began reading YKK I adored it, because of the overall calm mood inherent to each chapter. As the series went on the initial "feel good" mood was ever so slowly overshadowed by a growing sense of sadness and loneliness when someday along the way I realized that I watched how mankind in this setting has lost it's drive to evolve and continue on, but instead slowly and steadily fades out into oblivion, leaving behind the androids to live on in their stead. This sense of passing on was intensified by the happenings of the more recent chapters, where the flow of time got more notable, like Maki and Takahiro getting older, the old geezer handing down the gas station to Alpha etc. Therefore I'm somehow glad that we finally stopped following Alpha's path into a world where no alive human is left, but instead have a somewhat open ending where we can imagine for ourselves how things will continue from here on.

Interesting enough, it wasn't untill recently that someone pointed out to me that this wistful feeling of loss and things passing on is actually a literary concept rooted in japanese literature (mono no aware (http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/GLOSSARY/MONO.HTM), for those interested) and not something the author simply came up with on a whim. This helped me understand why there never was nor would be an actual overarching plot going on that would tie in everything into a neat finished story package, including climax and closure. Of course that doesn't mean I wouldn't have liked some actual exploration of the "why" this world was based on instead of just a showcase of the "is". In the end we just got some facets of a world we never really comprehended until, and including, the very end. I definitely would have liked to know the story behind the original Alpha in the orbital plane or who Owner actually was, but I guess YKK wasn't this type of story.

That said, I'm content with how the story ended. Takahiro and Maki ended up together which is nice. The development of both Maki and Takahiro from children to adults made for a neat frame of time for the story to take place in and in which we followed everything from mostly Alpha's POV. I'm also glad that we didn't get to see what actually happened to the old man and the professor, as a confirmation of their demise might have made everything more depressing that it should. For all we know, he's still selling melons at the gas station and she's still watching over Alpha and the other androids. Oh, and !YAY!, Alpha and Kokone finally moved in togther.:love: Now there's something I would have liked to see an additional chapter or two spent on. :naughty: Maruko also got a whole lot nicer towards Alpha which is a plus as well.

Overall, it has been a fun ride and I'd like to thank Ashinano for creating one of the more unique manga out there both visually and contentwise, and I'm looking forward to what he'll be doing next.


Reading the last chapter of YKK felt a lot like watching the last episode of Zettai Shonen--there are too many unanswered questions to list, and normally a really open-ended "ending" like this would make me start tearing my hair out, but somehow this kind of ending fits the series well. I'd like to have seen what happened to Director Alpha, or more of her backstory, to find out why humanity is slowly but peacefully fading away (most of the population is sterile maybe?), to see what Alpha does when the waves finally catch up to her beloved cafe (move it to what's left of Yokohama?), to find out what happened to the Owner, or to get some backstory on the Misago and how she came to be--but wrapping up every plot point could have taken another 140 chapters easily, and after twelve years of YKK, while I'd like to see it go on forever I can understand how the manga-ka would be ready to start a new project.

I give the author credit for taking the usual conflict-climax-denouement formula for storytelling, tossing it completely out the window, and making a compelling story anyway. I get the impression a lot of fans of the manga didn't like the OVAs, but I'm hoping YKK will get a longer anime treatment as well (probably a long shot, but I can hope).

And one more thought on the end:

It's good to see Alpha isn't alone anymore--I always thought she liked talking to people way too much to sit alone in her cafe as her number of customers slowly declines.

[TooPurePureBoy]

Ya this is one of those endings to a story that make you feel hollow and sad but at the same time very fullfilled. I'd be proud just say i've experienced YKK to anybody, but if they asked me what the story was about I'd have a really hard time answering. Not really sure how to put it into words but it is a glorious work of art that I'm glad I took the time to experience. I'm sad to see it go but at the same time I'm proud for the mangaka because until the very end he really never faultered from a flawless portrayal of the theme and tone he wanted to present. He didn't do flawed things in order to keep his story interesting on a more shallow level and for that he should be held in high esteem.

[Mr_Paper]

While still preparing his new work, Ashinano had this 'Special' chapter published in Afternoon a month or so ago...

YKK Special Chapter - 「峠」 "Mountain Pass (http://www.cafealpha.org/special/0.html)"

- Enjoy

[Stxopher]

Thanks for the heads up. Definately a short little thing but fit so well.

[G. Zeus]

So our beloved Alpha's been promoted from coffee shop manager to local legend. How fitting :)


I've been trying to create a sort of "reader's guide to YKK" since not all people have the time to figure out the story and connect the details on their own. In it would be chapter summaries, memorable lines, personal comments and interpretations, indications of related chapters and reoccuring themes and common fan speculations floating around the internet.

[edit]: And much like the licensing of YKK, the chances of this being finished are close to nil.

[textureheap]

I just got a chance to see the anime for this, didn't know about the manga. Only took a couple of minutes to realize this was a gem of an anime. This manga is very unusual, really awesome to find this entire series available online too :D

[G. Zeus]

This manga is very unusual, really awesome to find this entire series available online too :D
Partially due to the unfortunate fact that this manga is still unlicensed and will probably remain that way. A blessing and a curse if you will. :(


[UPDATE:]
The nominees for the Seiun ("nebula") Award (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiun_Award) have been announced and guess who's one of them. ;)

If these (http://community.livejournal.com/mangacast/509667.html) articles (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-04-15/japanese-national-sci-fi-con-award-nominees-announced) are correct, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou will be competing against Busô Renkin, Karakuri Circus, Yôsei-koku no Kishi, and Death Note for the Comic category.

While being nominated alone is already an honor, winning the award would really be neat since it could boost the chances of the manga getting a proper and official translation.

[Dop]

According to this (http://www.sfawardswatch.com/?p=285), Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou won this year's Seiun award for best manga.

Excellent!

I'm with G.Zeus on this one, hopefully this will increase the chance of the series being licensed!

[steelbound]

I recently discovered, read, and loved Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. When I looked around for wallpapers, I didn't find many. Therefore, I decided to try to may some of my own and here they are.

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/2703/ykk1copyru9.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk1copyru9.jpg)
http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2089/ykk2copyza2.th.jpg (http://img411.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk2copyza2.jpg) http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5540/ykk2copyafy9.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk2copyafy9.jpg)
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7627/ykk3copyjg6.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk3copyjg6.jpg)
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8302/ykk4copybc3.th.jpg (http://img519.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk4copybc3.jpg) http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2093/ykk4copyanr5.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk4copyanr5.jpg)
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/287/ykk4copybgg9.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk4copybgg9.jpg) http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5553/ykk4copycbv2.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk4copycbv2.jpg)
http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8071/ykk5copyao7.th.jpg (http://img519.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk5copyao7.jpg) http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1473/ykk6copyxx9.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk6copyxx9.jpg) http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/4452/ykk7copyny1.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk7copyny1.jpg)
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9310/ykk8copydr4.th.jpg (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk8copydr4.jpg) http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/2172/ykk8copyajr6.th.jpg (http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk8copyajr6.jpg)
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5770/ykk9copybg5.th.jpg (http://img147.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk9copybg5.jpg) http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3752/ykk9copyacu0.th.jpg (http://img206.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk9copyacu0.jpg)
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2272/ykk10copytv5.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk10copytv5.jpg) http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/4219/ykk10copyawj4.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk10copyawj4.jpg) http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/9962/ykk10copybij6.th.jpg (http://img512.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykk10copybij6.jpg)

[Jiji]

I recently discovered, read, and loved Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. When I looked around for wallpapers, I didn't find many. Therefore, I decided to try to may some of my own and here they are.

Really excellent, steelbound! Thanks. I've collected other wallpapers from various fans over the years. I think I discovered YKK in 2000 or so.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x147/ueda_photo/Kodansha_YKK.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x147/ueda_photo/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou_07.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x147/ueda_photo/Alphasmiles.jpg

These are just three of the best, I think.

In other news, Kabu no Isaki appears to be Ashinano-sensei's new series now. There has been two releases, chapters 1 and 2 so far. Go to Cafe Alpha (http://www.cafealpha.org/) to read or DL. There's tons of speculation on whether this is taking place in Alpha's world or not, although the leading theory so far is that Kabu no Isaki is a prequel, or at least earlier in time than YKK. I suppose we ought to start a new thread for it? I, for one, breathlessly await the next chapter. :D

[G. Zeus]

Wow. Recent signs of life.


From IIChan Translations' imageboard:
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/5636/1134665172401yn7.th.jpg (http://img338.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1134665172401yn7.jpg)

From pre-crash Danbooru:
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/486/danboorup11302939926340so9.th.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=danboorup11302939926340so9.jpg)

From pre-crash Danbooru, drawn by Yuki Urushibara, author of Mushishi:
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6868/danboorup11471213657803ae6.th.png (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=danboorup11471213657803ae6.png)

From Cafe Alpha (I think):
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2853/ykkquietwaitzg9.th.jpg (http://img528.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ykkquietwaitzg9.jpg)

Shameless plug:
Recently updated the YKK review (linked in my sig) to contain links to other YKK reviews by various authors and bloggers online.

Other stuff:
YKK jumped from #11 to #6 at MyAnimeList.net (http://myanimelist.net/topmanga.php) this week and has been occupying the top spot in Anime New Network's top 10 list of best rated manga (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/ratings-manga.php) for 3 or more weeks now. At Baka-Updates Manga, the series is still at #27 (with multiple tied titles).

[NoSanninWa]

Ah, but how well loved is it in Japanese ratings? That is crucial if it is ever going to get as much animated love as Aria.

[G. Zeus]

I haven't the slightest idea, I don't know enough moonspeak yet to navigate through those pages. I'm hoping that the positive feedback for the manga would eventually catch the attention of some English licensing/publishing company though.

Sidenote:
Should we create separate threads for Ashinano's other works (PositioN, Kumabachi no Koto, Kabu no Isaki) or would you prefer to have the discussions here as well? He's not exactly the most popular mangaka out there (i.e. relatively few readers -> expect few replies) and most of works so far seem to have the same themes and atmosphere anyway.

[Jiji]

Personally, I'd be surprised if PositioN warrants enough interest and/or discussion to have it's own thread. (And I look at "Kumabachi" as a part of the PositioN group of stories.) But if, as it is looking like, Kabu no Isaki is going to be Ashinano-sensei's new series, then it could probably use it's own thread. And I think I'll start that thread today. :D

[Shii]

Danbooru is still up you know. (Ads are NSFW)

http://danbooru.donmai.us/post?tags=yokohama_kaidashi_kikou

[Ottocycle]

I'm looking for the Chinese tankoubons of this manga. Might anyone know, by any chance about any publisher that exists for them?

[NaweG]

Ah, but how well loved is it in Japanese ratings? That is crucial if it is ever going to get as much animated love as Aria.

I do wonder if with Aria coming to a close if that will make an "opening" for YKK to get a full treatment.

Personally I've started playing around with Blender (using it's version of toon shading), talked to a couple of voice acting friends, and a friend with some music background about doing our own "episodes". Not sure what the video equivalent of a dojinshi/doujinshi would be called...

Anyway, with the recent award, and with a new series that an anime of this one could promote, one can hope that perhaps the stars are finally lining up for this!

[G. Zeus]

I'm looking for the Chinese tankoubons of this manga. Might anyone know, by any chance about any publisher that exists for them?
Ahahahaha...

If you insist, you could check out this thread (http://www.pander.us/ykk/index.php?topic=282.0).


Personally I've started playing around with Blender (using it's version of toon shading), talked to a couple of voice acting friends, and a friend with some music background about doing our own "episodes". Not sure what the video equivalent of a dojinshi/doujinshi would be called...
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/dakilang_epal/nice.jpg


I do wonder if with Aria coming to a close if that will make an "opening" for YKK to get a full treatment.

Anyway, with the recent award, and with a new series that an anime of this one could promote, one can hope that perhaps the stars are finally lining up for this!
Aye. After 12 volumes, 3 seasons, 1 OAV, and 1 PS2 game, let's just hope that they suffer from withdrawal symptoms that's bad enough to make them look for alternatives. :p

[NaweG]

For those of you interested in seeing the animatic/storyboard version of the "Everybody's Ships" chapter from YKK, it's now up at YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uduRPIoRH_8).

Would love to know if folks:

A) Are interested in seeing this version of these (since I can make these much faster than the fully animated version)?

B) Comments on the sound, music, etc.

Thanks!

[NaweG]

Based on the chapter of the same name from YKK (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMymyd958s), Chapter 2 is now up on YouTube. As always, comments and suggestions are appreciated. This time it's in color and has a bit more of a musical score :D

[Jiji]

For an amateur-produced video, I think you're doing an excellent job. Can it improve? Of course, but it's really good for a fanvid. Caitlin's voice work was good and improved from the first to the second one.

Of course, there's a ton of things that could be suggested, they only require tons of money and time and work and...

- Another voice for Makki might be fun. Caitlin did a good job expressing two different people, but a "little girl" voice would be even better.

- The lack of animation isn't a big disappointment, but what would really make it come "alive" is the addition of more layers of sound. Currently, you have two: dialogue and music. If you could find some sfx for the ocean, birds, wind, what-have-you, it'd be fantastic. I've always been impressed with Samurai Jack for that reason. They use about 8 layers of sounds in that show.

- I would suggest a song to fit Alpha's dance in the second vid. Something bouncy, with a beat of "walking step", about 80 - 100 bpm. It'd be a good comedy "beat" if it stopped suddenly when she sees the old couple and gets embarrassed. ^_^

Sooner or later, people involved in the industry are going to notice this, NaweG. I hope they offer you a job at that point! I'm liking them a lot and I hope to see as many as you can do!

[NaweG]

For an amateur-produced video, I think you're doing an excellent job. Can it improve? Of course, but it's really good for a fanvid. Caitlin's voice work was good and improved from the first to the second one.

Thanks for the comments. My biggest problem with adding sound effects at this point is my toolkit. I was able to upgrade from WMM to VideoSpin for the most recent chapter - which moved me from being able to mix in just one audio track to two audio tracks. However, to be able to also add in sound effects requires that I either never have all three going at the same time (possible but difficult), or I find an inexpensive video editor that can handle three audio tracks. I'll keep looking as I'd love to get more of a sense of place in these, but if anyone has some suggestions?

Another voice for Makki might be fun. Caitlin did a good job expressing two different people, but a "little girl" voice would be even better.

Caitlin has actually worked up a pretty nice voice for her next appearance as Makki, so we'll see if that helps. Part of the problem for someone new to the series is that depending on the chapter you see Makki as fairly young, and then almost overnight she's a young adult. That's partly my fault as a director as well. But I think I'm learning :D

Thanks again!

[glycine4]

The managa that nothing happens indeed. Nothings happens on screen, everything happens offscreen and we are left wondering.

Still I wonder with Oji-san and sensei dead, is the village dying or deserted. Also there's been no talk of the other Alphas for a while now, I wonder if they still visit her. Or she's gonna be real lonely.

First time posting here but saw one of the comments about Oji-san and Sensei.

Just for your information, and I don't know if this may be a spoiler about Doctor (sensei) and Oji-san but am wrapping in around a spoiler just in case.

We know that those old folks passed away. If you see the page 10 of Chapter 134-Radio, you see Alpha sleeping near her cafe with a radio on and one panel shows a field with 2 similar looking mounds. Those are grave sites, shapes are very much common in Japanese and Korean culture, implying that those were for the Sensei and Oji-san.

Lastly, I just want to say, this manga is the best manga that I've ever read so far. It is amazing.

[NaweG]

Assuming y'all still want to be updated about these, I've just posted Chapter 3 (Hot Sand) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAiaZMDFlcU).

If you've forgotten how that particular chapter of the manga went, this one has Alpha, Makki, and Takahiro go on a trip to the beach.

Hope you enjoy!

[NaweG]

Alpha's Cafe Chapter 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFwkifjG05k) is based on the Two Cups at Opening and Maruko, Maruko chapters of YKK - ヨコハマ買い出し紀行 /Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō (quiet country cafe)/ manga by Hitoshi Ashinano. Alpha has just finished rebuilding her cafe, when she gets two surprise visitors. Fully voiced and with musical accompaniment.

This one is about 7 and a half minutes, so make sure you have some time on your hands :D

[Ashlotte]

So by happenstance (And maybe alittle subconcious curiosity :heh:) I clicked on G.Zeus' siggy link the other day and figured "Well I've heard enough people mention YKK in passing and I dislike being ignorant about it so why not check it out..."

Managed to read through it over the course of a weeks nights and here I sit wondering if theres something wrong with me...Every review everywhere I read without fail gives this series glowing reviews and yet here I sit 14 volumes later throughly...unimpressed?

Eh yea I hear lynch mobs coming already heh...But yea...I don't know what else to say but it left about as much impression as half the things that I've read or seen lately which isn't really much...And yet here sits mountains of reviews making me think whats wrong with me heh.

I guess I wouldn't feel so mistaken if I didn't like YKK's genre, but its actually the complete opposite of that...Aria, Somedays dreamers, Sketchbook, H&C, and well...Ok just about every show or manga labeled SoL that I've seen/read yet i've throughly enjoyed and yet the one that seems to be so universally hailed as the pinnacle of the genre barely struck a chord with me?

Meh guess I'm just a freak...Maybe I should have read it slower or something...Probably has a completely different feel when you space it out across years of readership...:(

[G. Zeus]

Lynch mob in 3...

2...

1...

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/dakilang_epal/023.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/dakilang_epal/024.jpg

Even Alpha can't please all customers. :heh:

It's understandable, I guess. Abunai of ANN once mentioned that YKK "makes more demands of its readers and viewers" than other SoL stories so some people might actually have to exert effort to like the series. My own opinion of the manga was initially pretty lukewarm too and that only changed after I came across the final volume and convinced myself to go through the series again.

Then again, maybe it's just like that thing between the Alpha types and brown sugar (http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m68/dakilang_epal/072.jpg). YKK's fanbase seems to be composed mainly of older and/or sentimental peeps. :heh:

[NaweG]

YKK's fanbase seems to be composed mainly of older and/or sentimental peeps. :heh:

Hey, I resemble that remark! :D

[Jiji]

Every review everywhere I read without fail gives this series glowing reviews and yet here I sit 14 volumes later throughly...unimpressed?...Meh guess I'm just a freak...Maybe I should have read it slower or something...Probably has a completely different feel when you space it out across years of readership...:(

Not gonna lynch you, look: no rope or anything. :P
I came upon YKK halfway through it's run and didn't space out my reading of it over years, so I'm not sure that would help necessarily. It could be smaller things about how you read your manga. If it sparks your imagination while reading it or not, if you read a few panels and find yourself staring off into the distance or not...it's hard to say. The "work" that Abunai refers to is that sort of thing. People who dont' like YKK are mostly people who want it all shown to them, but YKK encourages the imagination to run wild. Some people just don't read that way.

I'm not saying to change the way you read, either. If you don't like reading that way, then reading it will seem more like a class assignment than pleasure and who wants that?

And yet here sits mountains of reviews making me think whats wrong with me heh. ... Ok just about every show or manga labeled SoL that I've seen/read yet i've throughly enjoyed and yet the one that seems to be so universally hailed as the pinnacle of the genre barely struck a chord with me?

I know it's disconcerting to find that you are at odds with just about everyone about something or another, but don't let that worry you. If you don't like YKK, then you don't! As a teacher, I would encourage anyone in your position to try and analyze why you don't like it, but it's not that important, really.

I'm just glad you're not doing what I see all to often, which is to say, "I don't like it therefore it sucks" instead of "I don't like it. It may be good, but *I* don't like it."

Having said all that, you might give it another try. It took me four tries to like ARIA (manga) and I kept trying because of the same thing you're saying: everyone liked it but me. heh.

[Solais]

Becasue G. Zeus' really irritated me, with that signature, like telling me, "You should read this manga!", so I finally read it.

Well... I loved it! It was a really beautiful story, without an actual ending. At some places, it was really melancholic, but I really liked it. It became one of my favourite manga.

Now, maybe it's strange, but since somebody said that YKK's successor is ARIA, I can't really stop thinking about that, the ARIA is not only a succesor, but maybe a possible sequel. It's maybe just my optimistic view of the world, that after every night, there always be a new morning... maybe there is a new morning for the humanity as well...

This manga really made thinking for hours, about life, and everything... (and about ways how to connect the two mangas together...)

[G. Zeus]

Well, whaddya know? Advertising still works. :D

Now, maybe it's strange, but since somebody said that YKK's successor is ARIA, I can't really stop thinking about that, the ARIA is not only a succesor, but maybe a possible sequel. It's maybe just my optimistic view of the world, that after every night, there always be a new morning... maybe there is a new morning for the humanity as well...
Somehow, I don't find that strange at all since those two titles have many similar themes and both leave plenty of room for imagination and speculation. In fact, I've been trying to tie up the stories of three manga series with Ai-Ren as the scorching afternoon, YKK as the calm twilight, and ARIA as the new dawn that follows (Neo-Venezian backgrounds would be hard to pull off though :heh:).

[NaweG]

Alpha's Cafe Chapter 9 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yb3R8_YriY) is based on the One Who Sees, Walks, and is Delighted chapter of YKK. Alpha and Sensei meet for the last time in this heartwarming chapter that deals with aging, loss, and the hope for the future. This is the finale for the Alpha's Cafe series, and features a full vocal track as well as musical accompaniment. At the end of the episode there are the normal chapter credits, and then a very special Series credits with images that weren't used previously in the series.

Hope that my fellow YKK fans have enjoyed these!

[G. Zeus]

Quoting my own post at ykk@pander.us (http://www.pander.us/ykk/index.php?topic=298.0):

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5884/104st5.jpg


After two years of reading and writing various posts and reviews for the series, I think I'm having less trouble now in describing YKK as a whole and pointing out most of its merits. However, I noticed that among its various elements (plot, setting, themes, narrative and art styles), the characters seem to given the least amount of in-depth discussion. So I'd like to ask you guys: What is it about Alpha and the rest of the cast which makes them more memorable than other characters that we may have come across?

As a guide, some of you might want to check the Wikipedia article for "fictional character" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_character).



The conversation that started it: (http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=314)
I noticed that Alpha's already been nominated several times for the character spotlight at C&C (http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=2913). The weird thing is that even though I've gone through the manga several times for 2 years now, I'd still have trouble pointing out what's so special about her if ever she gets picked.
True.

I think it is just that there is nothing specific to hate or love about her. It is that there is nothing special about her that makes her special. She is special because she isn't.

Feel free to respond here or in the original thread.

[Jiji]

I almost feel disqualified from speculating on this, being a Ph.D. candidate in English literature, but I felt I had to point out this:

Alpha's character benefits from the length of the series. 11 years of monthly installments provides plenty of "text" from which to draw examples of character. OTOH, Ashinano gives very little away in terms of her character. I'm reminded of the famous quote of Ingrid Bergman from her role in _Casablanca_, where she said she tried to keep her expressions as blank as possible, knowing that the audience would read into her face whatever they felt she *must* be feeling.

I feel the same thing happens with Alpha. We do get a few glimpses of her interior thoughts sometimes, but mostly there's very little hint of what is going on inside her. We are left to fill in the blanks ourselves. When I have some time, I intend to make a character analysis sheet, listing those instances when we do get *something* of her character from the "text". I'll post it here when i do. ^^

[G. Zeus]

Bump & minor update:
C&C (http://myanimelist.net/clubs.php?cid=2913) featured Alpha Hatsuseno for the spotlight (http://myanimelist.net/forum/?topicid=40717) a few weeks ago. She later earned 26 "yes" votes and only 2 "no" votes but 65 members did not know her so she'd need another round of voting to be formally inducted into the club. http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5884/104st5.jpg

For an anime/manga character, Alpha Hatsuseno stands out partly because she doesn’t. She has no peculiar catchphrases, running gags, outrageous activities, unorthodox philosophy, or even any specific plot to follow. The result is an unusual hybrid of the real and the ideal: she stands out because she is paradoxically both ordinary and special at the same time.

As Archaeon mentioned in the YKK review (http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=4&display=reviews), the most unusual thing about Alpha is the fact that she’s a robot. She may have the external appearance of a regular woman (with the exception of hair color) but her body functions are somewhat different and, more importantly, robots never age. These facts, combined with the few details given about the state of the world, could have easily been used as material for another run-of-the-mill science fiction series. Instead, they were used to complement and highlight the more “ordinary” aspects of the story. Despite being artificial creations, the robots were created in the image of mankind (literally and figuratively) and as such, Alpha is human in both her actions and experiences.

And it is this human element that keeps the series going. She’s very much down-to-earth and this makes it easier for readers to relate to her (or to understand her, at the very least). Loneliness, boredom, making new friends, keeping old ones, saying goodbye to others, losing parental figures, reminiscing about childhood, expanding one’s horizons, etc. These are all so common that, in effect, we readers are invited to reflect upon our own lives as well. She doesn’t simply share insights. She shares the experience from which we may draw our own insights. The world shown in YKK may seem unrealistic in that it’s free of violence or suffering but her interactions with and within it allow readers to see how similar it is to our own world in many ways.

Of course, “normal” does not necessarily mean “plain” or “predictable”. Because she’s not bound by any particular stereotype, trying to anticipate what she would do or say in any specific situation is difficult, if not impossible. Most chapters feature relatively mundane activities or conversations, but every now and then, the mood suddenly changes in the span of a few pages and such complex emotions are evoked with gesture and/or a few choice words.

In addition to this, she has so many facets that it’s wonder that all of these were somehow fitted onto a single character. She is cheerful by default yet solemn on many occasions, appreciative of both company and solitude, frank towards others yet subtle in displaying certain thoughts and emotions, innocent yet mature, unaging yet continually growing up, optimistic despite the twilight of humanity, a free spirit who’s well aware of her obligations, and a person who remembers the past, lives in the present, and looks forward to the future.


I also happened to stumble upon this interesting YKK AMV on Youtube:
ghUHY58SXvI

song: I'll Be Your Home by Rin Oikawa

lyrics:
Don't look back
Don't regret
Time's falling out of these hands
I'll let you leave me

Go on,
You know Home is always inside your soul
All the light to bless your way
Don't be afraid
And I'll be your home

In this time
In this place
This moment is all we have
And tomorrow we never know

Every precious time
Let it go
Somewhere away
You will learn, and you'll love,
forgive the past and you can move on

All the distance
You've come to a place
Then you see that your home is away
Now the sun is rising

lighting up your sky again brightly

Every precious time
Let it go
Somewhere away
You will learn, and you'll love,
forgive the past

Go on,
You know Home is always inside your soul
Wherever you go
Whatever you see
I'll be the place
And I'll be your home.

[G. Zeus]

Yo. Just wondering if I missed something in these lists.


Official sites:Kodanclub.com: promising works (http://www.kodanclub.com/cgi-local/comic.cgi?id=009-00029-01-001) (manga)

ヨコハマ買い出し紀行公式ＨＰ (http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Animation/yokohama/) (OAVs)
Where to order:Acclimate Solutions (http://www.aclimatesolution.com/)

CDJapan (http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/anime/essentials/yokohama/)

Sasuga (http://www.sasugabooks.com/)
Scanslators:Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Translation (http://ykk.misago.org/) (missing in action)

Cafe Alpha Manga Scanlations (http://www.cafealpha.org/)

Iscariote (hi-res scans, French) (http://www.iscariote.org)
Other sites for reading/downloading:
BoxTorrents (old link for manga (http://www.boxtorrents.com/details.php/129401/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou.html), new link for manga (http://www.boxtorrents.com/torrent/141644/hit/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou.html), OAV set1 (http://www.boxtorrents.com/torrent/126852/hit/BakaMX_Oretachi_Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou.html), OAV set 2 (http://www.boxtorrents.com/torrent/126853/hit/AC-NLA_Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou_-_Quiet_Country_Cafe.html))

hatsuseno.org (http://www.hatsuseno.org/) (direct download, zip files of separate chapters)

One Manga (http://www.onemanga.com/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou/) (online browsing)

Mangadownload (http://www.mangadownload.net/manga/series/532)
Database entries:Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou)

AnimeDB (OAV 1 (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=424), OAV 2 (http://anidb.net/perl-bin/animedb.pl?show=anime&aid=468))

Anime News Network (manga (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=3605), OAV 1 (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=1156), OAV 2 (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=2115))

Anime-Planet (http://www.anime-planet.com/anirec/198.html)

Baka-Updates Manga (http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=586) (manga)

MyAnimeList (manga (http://myanimelist.net/manga.php?id=4), OAV 1 (http://myanimelist.net/anime/975/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou), OAV 2 (http://myanimelist.net/anime/976/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou_~Quiet_Country_Cafe~))

TV Tropes Wiki (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YokohamaKaidashiKikou)
Reviews and various articles:YKK reviews page on MAL (http://myanimelist.net/manga/4/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou/reviews)

Animefringe (http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/2004/04/feature/02.php)

AnimeLife (http://anime.scottfrye.net/2008/06/19/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou/)

Anime on DVD.com (OAV 2: ep.1 (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/1354.php) & ep.2 (http://www.animeondvd.com/reviews2/disc_reviews/2225.php))

Azure Flame Reloaded (http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/06/13/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou/)

The Comics Journal (http://www.tcj.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=430&Itemid=70&limit=1&limitstart=2) (near the bottom of the page)

destroying all monsters (the last arial) (http://lastarial.wordpress.com/2007/09/26/the-cafe-at-the-end-of-the-world/)

Drastic My Anime Blog (http://bignanime.wordpress.com/2007/09/24/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou-and-the-wonders-of-free-time/)

Karmaburn (http://karmaburn.com/?p=163)

Madinkbeard (http://madinkbeard.com/blog/archives/quiet-country-cafe)

Okazu (http://okazu.blogspot.com/search/label/Yokohama%20Kaidashi%20Kikou)

Rossman Reviews and Ratings (http://www.therossman.com/rrr/other/ykk.html)

Senile_Seinen Rants and Raves (http://senile-seinen.blogspot.com/2007/04/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou-chobits-video.htmll)

Star Crossed Anime Blog (http://psgels.blogsome.com/2007/09/18/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou-review-85100/)

Stochastic Manga (http://stochasticmanga.wordpress.com/2007/08/04/review-yokohama-kaidashi-kikou/)

Suguru’s Dame-Dame Anime Blog (http://suguru-anime.blogspot.com/2006/03/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou-end.html)

Unknighted Manganime (http://manganime.animeblogger.net/304/yokohama-kaidashi-kikou-manga-review/)

Yet another review of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (http://www22.brinkster.com/gzeus/YKK%20review%20v3.htm)

YKK on LiveJournal (http://community.livejournal.com/_ykk_/)
Wallpapers and other images3 consecutive posts at Animesuki (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?p=1289652#post1289652)

Danbooru (http://danbooru.donmai.us/post?tags=yokohama_kaidashi_kikou)

Freddie's wallpaper (http://wp.madcowdisease.org/gp/Anime+Manga/Yokohama_Kaidashi_Kikou)

Minitokyo (http://browse.minitokyo.net/gallery/?aid=601)

ヨコハマ買いだし紀行 イラストギャラリー (http://air.niu.ne.jp/yokohama/yokohama_ig.html) (various images and what appears to be fanfiction)

photoshop coloring by a friend of Northlander (set 1 (http://manganime.animeblogger.net/331/ykk-color-images/), set 2 (http://manganime.animeblogger.net/355/more-colored-yokohama-kaidashi-kikou-images/))

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou Tribute by Kero (http://www.daisuki.com.br/wallpaper/1290)
Forum threads and discussions:The Age of Evening Calm (http://www.pander.us/ykk/index.php) (formerly known as Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou @ pander.us)

Anime News Network (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/bbs/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17548)

AnimeSuki (http://forums.animesuki.com/showthread.php?t=4125&highlight=kaidashi)

One Manga (http://forum.onemanga.com/search.php?searchid=1705529)

scans_daily (http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/5520001.html)
Other stuff:YKK - Behind the Panels (http://kimoto.cc/ykk/) (interesting YKK trivia)


If you think there's something else worth adding, feel free to bring it up.


Incidentally, the torrent at BoxTorrents was recently replaced and I'm not too excited about the change since I prefer Neil's wording. For comparison:

MP version
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2130/vol4ch25mpversionab6.th.png (http://img151.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vol4ch25mpversionab6.png)

Misago version
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/2522/vol4ch25misagoversionbg0.th.png (http://img504.imageshack.us/my.php?image=vol4ch25misagoversionbg0.png)