YOTSUBA&!, Volume 5

So what makes Yostuba&! #5 stand out from the other volumes? I mean, it's not like it doesn't have the fantastic art and planning of the series, perfect pacing and pauses, or the delightful sense of humour that comes with a five-year-old protagonist.

What makes this one special is the introduction of one of the greatest mascots ever: Danbo. (Cardbo in the ADV translation) This cardboard "robot" got turned into a miniature figure who played mascot for amazon.co.jp, quite popularly, I hear. There's no doubt that the Danbo chapter isn't wonderfully funny, especially since everyone except Yotsuba knows that it is Miura inside the costume, and of course that means more teasing and rivalry between the two.

Speaking of rivalry, another thing show more that makes volume 5 fantastic: the introduction of Yotsuba's arch-nemesis, Yanda Yasuda. Yanda is Koiwai and Jumbo's kohai (junior) from college and now, unlike those two, he's working in an office. Yotsuba immediately distrusts him (uncharacteristically for her, since she rarely expresses distrust of strangers) when he doesn't know her name. He's a bad guy! And it doesn't help when Koiwai replies to Yotsuba's question "Is he a good guy or a bad guy?!" with "He's a bad guy." Nor does it help when Yanda tricks Yotsuba into letting him in the house by giving her candy, then later taking it from her. Or by showing her his instant ramen and asking if she wants any, then denying her with a "too bad!" Or when Yostuba attempts to do the same thing to him with her ice cream, by biting the top off before she can react.

The Yotsuba-Yanda nemesis relationship is comedy gold (so to speak) and definitely makes volume 5 worth reading.

Also in this volume, Yotsuba helps out with chores at the Ayase house; Jumbo takes the four younger girls stargazing; it rains, and Yotsuba gets her first raincoat; and Koiwai takes three of the girls (no Miura this time) to the beach. The beach chapters are pretty amazing just for the lovely art of the ocean and scenery and sand. show less

When I'm reading this series, I just find myself smiling. It's no wonder that the neighbours' mom is so tolerant of Yotsuba, always welcoming her, buying ice-cream and cake, making her feel like one of the family.

This is my favourite volume so far, for every chapter seems filled with innocence and excitement. From Yotsuba's meeting with the robot, helping with the laundry and cleaning next door and eating grapes, meeting Yanda (even if that was frustrating for Yotsuba, it's entertaining for us on-lookers), eating noodles under the stars, the video store, and, especially THE BEACH. (I feel certain that Yotsuba would insist on those capitals!)

As an aside, I'm so grateful this series has been translated by Javier Lopez. His notes are also show more very helpful (for instance, explaining the reason that Fuka says she is the "stars", linked to the characters for "wind" and "scent" that comprise her name), whether explaining language or culture: much appreciated. show less

Really enjoying these now. Timing & repetition really used well. I enjoyed the new character of Yanda, and how enraged he makes Yotsuba. Very funny.

I'm continuing my exploration of manga. This series is what's called a "slice of life". To me, it means that the individual chapters are really not stories per se but rather a look at scenes in an individual's daily life. I think this is particularly fun with the Yotsuba series since she is a six-year-old girl, and we can see certain behaviors of young children that often are familiar to us. Some make us laugh, but other behaviors (ex. tantrums, crying to get what's wanted) might make us sigh. However, they are certainly well known to us adults.

In this volume, I particularly liked "Yotsuba & Danbo" (chapter 28) which tells about Yotsuba's visiting her friend Ena and encountering a robot in Ena's room. The robot was really Ena's friend show more Miura, but Yotsuba does not know this. The encounter between Yotsuba and the robot was quite amusing.

I also very much liked "Yotsuba & the Beach" (chapter 34) in which Yotsuba's dad takes her and two of her friends by train to the beach. They do just about everything I used to do at the beach when my kids were young. The last picture in the book was of everyone asleep on the train after a tiring day at the beach. I always felt the need for a vacation after a vacation at the beach! show less

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Title: Yotsuba&! Vol. 5
Series: Yotsuba&! #5
Author: Kiyohiko Azuma
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Genre: Manga
Pages: 210
Words: 8K

Synopsis:

Chapter List:

Yotsuba & Cardbo

Yotsuba & Helping

Yotsuba & Yanda

Yotsuba & Stars

Yotsuba & Rain

Yotsuba & Sunny Skies

Yotsuba & the Beach

My Thoughts:

Another great volume. Yotsuba meets her nemesis, Yanda for the first time. While he's supposed to be a working man, he reacts to Yotsuba at her level. A grown man acting like a show more 5 year old is amusing for a chapter. Azuma, the manga-ka, realizes when enough is enough and doesn't try to push it more than that one chapter though. Smart man.

The first chapter deals with Ena and Eimura (neighbor girls) doing a class project where they are creating a robot creature out of cardboard. Yotsuba barges in on them and thinks that Eimura is a real robot. I've included the picture that made me laugh the hardest in the volume.

The rest of the chapters were light hearted and fuzzily warm. Perfect to read on a day when it is snowing outside. I have to admit, I am (almost) surprised at just how well this series is standing up to a re-read. Sometimes something is cute because it is new. This is genuinely cute and continues to be so.

★★★★★ show less

Hilarious! I read this late one night and had to cover my mouth several times to stifle laugher so as not to disturb the neighbors.

A volume to remember. The introduction of the meme-worthy Danbo (Cardbo) and of the infamous ice cream stealing Yanda.