F***ing Sakura – Review

Who among you wouldn’t want to go to Japan? This is probably one of the desires that accompany every true anime and manga fan, including the protagonist of F***ing Sakura, graphic novels all Italian written by Giulio Macaione and published by Planet Manga (Panini Comics) in a colorful format Webtoon. However, things don’t always go right! Why you ask? Find out with our review!

Two tickets to the country of cherry trees

As the title might suggest, F***ing Sakura he says yes an adventure set in Japan, but off to a bad start! Josea classic “nerdo” who grew up on bread, anime and video games like so many of us, finally leaves for “THE” journey par excellence for a otakuand he does it with his girlfriend Chloe. However, there is a problem: the two they have no passions in common! In fact, he works as a videogame tester and she as a writer, dedicating a good part of her time to managing social media like influencers. Precisely from a last argument, arising from one too many outbursts of one and from line problems of the other, the couple breaks down irremediably: this is how, on the plane headed towards the country of cherry trees (Sakura precisely) the two passengers split up.

If for José this is an opportunity to return to being a teenager and enjoy the long-awaited trip, for Cloe, who didn’t even want to go, it is a nightmare in a country she knows nothing about, despite being helped by her partner for the ” practices” of arrival. Thus begins a strange tourist journey separated, with the boy who doesn’t want to give up his plans and the girl who tries to adapt to the situation, without showing her followers that she had been left. Both will have time to look over their shoulders, thinking about the choices made and the new paths towards the future. Whether Cloe and José will make peace or not, thanks to the magic of Japan, you will only find out by reading this miniseries to the end!

Nerd Heart

As in the famous J-Ax song, this story, while excellently showing the sentimental points of view of both elements of the couple, it is based on the peculiarities of being a nerd, but don’t think you’re starting out prejudiced in your reading! In fact, for once (even with some extenuating circumstances) it is the male protagonist, and not theinfluencers, to initially attract the reader’s dislikes, perhaps precisely to balance “the public’s favor” for belonging to the world we love so much. Everything else is a “modern” relationshippleasantly narrated through both “bells”, as rarely happens: on the one hand there is Cloe, representative of a cross-section of society that thinks more about appearing than to live in the moment, but also made of a certain superficiality (see the judgments given by the friend to the category of nerds or to the management of the trip), so much so that it led her to state “I’m tired of seeing myself through the eyes of others”.

On the other there is Josè, who considers himself the most rational, spiritual and open, and who, however, despite criticizing the bigotry and intolerance in which we grew up (but fortunately not all of us), begins the story as a perfect careless, talking about politics, venting on the girl and leaving her at the worst moment. On the developments of their relationship, between misunderstandings, new attractions, modern approaches (we also talk about genderfluid) and detachments, perhaps branching out towards some superfluous aspect, the underlying theme of the work is built up to the surprising finale. I’ll be honest, I’ve had a lot of shojo get my hands on lately, but see one of these stories not through the eyes of a Japanese, but of a Europeangave that extra charm to an adventure that could have been like many others, making everything more realistic than many comics of the genre.

“Maybe today nerds are in fashion”

But let’s say it just as clearly: the reason why this graphic novels What is so attractive is not the story itself, but the setting. A world that has now entered the common imagination despite being so distant. As written in the initial part “Lost in Translation” by Marco Ricompensa, F***ing Sakura excels in representing Japan. The spirit of the Rising Sun can be breathed and seen clearly through José’s eyes: the sushi and traditional dishes, the compact cars, the shopping districts, the paradise of Akihabara, the kimonos, the votive statues and the temples of Kyoto. Majestic scenarios enriched by equally spectacular quotes (Rayearth, Ranma 1/2, Evangelion, Sailor Moon, Protect My Land, Utena, Courtyards of the Heart, just to name a few) that they will fill you with nostalgia from the first chapter. An unusual tourist trip (a bit à la Our Not So Lonely Planet Travel Guide) which pushes you to immediately pack your bags to see for yourself the many references placed by the author.

However, there is also another aspect that Giulio Macaione conveys to us: Once upon a time talking about anime and manga was for losers! It was a passion linked to a paltry, mistreated niche, which however, going from 1% to 20% of the population, has become “fashionable”. José’s stories and memories exude what we went through as children, when due to the few friends or the difficulties in reaching them, we threw ourselves into video games and readings/animated series, outlining our little world. Of course, there were already social phenomena that captured everyone a bit, like Dragon Ball or The Zodiac Knightsbut otherwise it was just nerdy weirdness, which thankfully Nowadays they have become a medal and not a stigmata.

Blue skies, pink sunsets

The graphic aspect is one of the plus of this volume: the landscapes seem to have been built in collaboration with an advertising designer, enhancing all the elements inserted, with good contrasts and clean lines; envious postersdespite often being in contrast with the thoughts of Josè or Cloe, emotionally engaged on other fronts: From the many cherry trees, to the examples of pop culture, up to the magical sunsets, everything is lit up like in the webtoons that we have learned to love in recent years . Color management in particular, starting from the clear pink and blue division for the thoughts of the two protagonists (so simple, yet impactful) enhances each scene: the strong colors used by Laura Gugliermo know how to strike and enchant. Even the characters, expressive and realistic as in American comics, do their duty, as do the interludes between chapters, never left empty, but filled with nice plots that refer to the volume itself.

As for the pages themselves, they are there various gems that we must not overlook: on the narrative level the dialogues are sensible and know how to capture attention, as are the phrases of an “external narrator” and the thoughts that are well suited to the genre, leaving the reader to reflect before the more excited scenes; on the opposite side, the alternation of humour, discoveries, scenarios and tragic and amorous situations makes reading more pleasant and captivating, almost forcing the reader to go faster than the time he would like to dedicate to admiring the plates. The inclusion of words in Japanese that many of us know thanks to anime (and in any case explained in the final tables), as well as the travel map and some travel curiosities, are a further gem of this volume. Here we also find the illustrations of the two covers of the first edition (two issues in 2020) which in this format it is more accessible to the largest post-covid audience. PS: A final piece of advice: the cover is certainly solid, but it is made of that cardboard that quickly becomes sticky, don’t leave it out in the open!

Who do we recommend F***ing Sakura to?

An easy question for once. All Japan fans they might in fact find this self-contained story pleasant, which at an affordable price is able to give many emotions and quotes. We certainly recommend it to those who regularly read slice of life and shojo, but this adventure will also please all avid fans. manga reader, who like me, will look for the various references to the works read. Furthermore, we are talking about one Italian color graphic novelideal for a break from the usual black/white.