Monokuro Kinderbook

Like the waters of the Minanogawa river, that flows by the crest of the Tsukubane mountain, is accumulated and finishes in an abyss, my secret love has also become a void of deep melancholy. Emperor Yozei (898-949). Very clever, very subtle- even when her words are very direct. Kan Takahama tackles a wide variety of delicate subjects in this collection of short stories including a lovers' pact, bar room chat, mermaids and child pornography. She does so with a robust yet delicate grace in her artwork that moves along with the strong scripts to enhance and entrance the reader. Probably the most talented manga-ka to have recently emerged from Japan, her art and storytelling will surprise when least expected.