A comfortable life in a dystopian future
- Mangka : Ashinano, Hitoshi
- Publisher : seven Seas
- Style : slice of life, sci-fi, mystery, seinen
- published : August 2022 – Present
Yokohama Kaidashi Kiko is not a new manga. On the contrary, it is actually an older title that has just received its official English translation through Seven Seas. This manga made its debut in 1995, and published its final chapter around 2009. Throughout his life, Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou has received many accolades, including the 2007 Seyun Award for Best Manga.
Now, after years of waiting, we can finally buy the official English version of this amazing manga. Even better, Seven Seas decided to publish the manga in the deluxe edition, which is basically a 3-in-1 omnibus. This means that the whole series should be finished in about 5 volumes. So let’s see what the ruckus is through this review for the first volume of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou.
Yokohama Kaidashi is the story of the daily life of Kikou Alpha, a female android who runs a cafe in post-apocalyptic Japan. That being said, although Alpha is undoubtedly an android, she looks remarkably similar to a normal human. The expressions on his face, the movement of his body, the way he speaks, laughs and blushes… all this makes anyone who doesn’t know who he is, immediately assume that he is just another normal is human.
Although now Alfa lives alone, she actually has an owner. Not much is revealed about him in this first volume, but we do know that Alpha misses her owner a lot. So whenever she receives a letter, or any other news from her master, she is very happy.
This manga follows Alpha as she goes through her day-to-day activities. From talking to the local gas station owner whenever he needs to refuel his trusty scooter, to buying groceries and other products his cafe needs in the nearest town, to chasing him down when he rides on his scooter. The perfect scene to capture on camera given to him by his owner. Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is what makes the post-apocalyptic world so healthy and fascinating.
Why you should read Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition
![Yokohama-Kaidashi-Kikou-Wallpaper-1-687x500 Yokohama Kaidashi-Kikou: Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 [Manga] Review - A Comfortable Life in a Dystopian Future](https://i0.wp.com/honeysanime.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Yokohama-Kaidashi-Kikou-Deluxe-Edition-manga-356x500.jpg?resize=356%2C500&ssl=1)
1. A Healthy Dystopia
A “healthiest dystopia” sounds like such a strange concept, doesn’t it? After all, whenever we see a dystopian future, whether it’s in manga or some other fiction, the world always looks so harsh and gloomy. Which makes sense – after all, we’re talking about a world that just went through an apocalyptic event. What other option do the place and its people have than to feel sad?
Yokohama Kaidashi Kiko doesn’t call that silly notion. Even a dystopian future can be good. It all depends on the attitude and enthusiasm of the people living in it. And that’s why this seemingly absurd concept works so well. Alpha has such a good vibe that everything she does and everyone she talks to gets infused with that chill and positive vibe.
Such a unique concept relies heavily on the characters, as nothing about the world has really changed. It is still a post-apocalyptic world. But add people with positive attitudes to the story who really enjoy each other’s company, and voila, even a submerged Japan can feel like home. They say home is where you build it, and the alpha cheerful android sure makes this dystopian world into its healthy home.
2. Well Executed Soft Worldbuilding
Hard worldbuilding is the type of worldbuilding where there are clear rules and concepts that can explain to the world where the story takes place. Everything is clearly laid out for the reader so that we can understand why certain things happen. The best example of this is the remarkable world building in Made in the Abyss. The author thoroughly explains the concepts behind the abyss to paint vivid pictures in the reader’s mind of how dangerous but fascinating that giant hole that pierces the earth is.
However, soft worldbuilding is just the opposite. In this type of world building, only a minimal explanation is given to the readers. As the story progresses we find pieces of the puzzle, and yet there is no guarantee that we will understand everything about this fictional world. The main advantage of soft worldbuilding is that it gives both writers and readers a sense of wonder and freedom in a way. After all, we’re just along for the ride and we don’t know what will happen or what we’ll find during our journey.
Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is a perfect example of soft worldbuilding. We know it is a post-apocalyptic world because there are hardly any people in the city and most of the huge structures have collapsed. Alpha can barely ride her scooter on broken roads, and when she does, she stumbles upon a newly submerged area of town that forces her to look for another way.
From the simple fact of how advanced Alpha is for Android, we know that the world used to be a high-tech place. And yet Alpha still receives letters from his master which are written on pieces of paper. This suggests that a means of mass or digital communication may have collapsed during the apocalypse. These are the kind of puzzles that are scattered throughout the 24 chapters of this first volume, and it’s a blast that puts them all together.
Why you should skip Yokohama Kadashi Kikou: Deluxe Edition
1. Lack of a consistent narrative
This first volume of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou only tells a story about what Alpha does each day, the places she visits, and the people she talks to. It is a slice of life at its core. For some people, this type of relaxing story can provide a complete and relaxing reading experience, but for others, the lack of a consistent narrative may find it boring to read. So if you are someone who likes to read a compelling story where there is a clear purpose and motivation behind the character’s actions, Yokohama Kaidashi Kiko may not be for you.
You can find a lot of interesting things to do in Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. From the unique concept, to the lovable characters, to the engaging world building, it’s all tailored to the perfection to give us a unique yet satisfying reading experience. There aren’t many manga that touch on the theme of a healthy dystopian world, so that alone should be a good enough reason for you to try this manga. Even if you’re not a big fan of the slice-of-life genre, we urge you to at least try this first segment.
Have you read Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou? If you have, what do you think about it? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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