Hinamatsuri Manga Volume 1 Review

-Written by: Will

Stop me if you’ve heard this story before: What if a yakuza had to raise a superpowered kid from the future?

If you have heard of it, it’s probably because you’ve watched Hinmatsuri, the darling of the spring anime season. Now the original manga is being released by One Peace, and it’s great for both anime watchers and newcomers (like me).

Yakuza man Nitta enjoys the rich life a career in crime provides, but that all changes when a pod drops on his head. In that pod is Hina, a young girl with telekinetic powers. Forced to take care of Hina (How can you say no to a face that can make you explode?) Nitta tries to balance his career life with his new home life. What happens is classic Odd Couple arguing done to a perfect T.

Nitta and Hina’s dynamic sucks you in. They have genuine chemistry and treating each other as equals allows for the characters to grow. Hina is believable as an outcast unaccustomed to social norms, which leads to both funny and heartwarming situations. The manga could rest on this Odd-Couple premise, but it goes one step further by putting the characters in morally-ambiguous situations.

Nitta is a member of the yakuza and the manga doesn’t shy from that. Nitta’s day job constantly puts Hina in danger, often in shocking ways. Nitta needs the job to afford high-maintenance Hina, and leaving the yakuza could put them in even more danger. How is Nitta supposed to raise Hina to become a good person when he lives an evil life? How can a bachelor who doesn't want kids raise a kid?

It’ll take more than one volume to answer those questions, and luckily there are more to look forward too (if this sells well). Now am I patient enough to wait for the next volume or watch the anime? Oh wait, I work at an anime store; I don’t have to choose!