Ciguatera 1 Paperback – November 9, 2021

This is such a hidden gem. Mark my words, in a few years down the line, Minoru Furuya will be appreciate much more by English-language otaku’s. Such beautiful art and story make this one of my favorite releases of 2022. Sometimes it pays to try new series and author/artists.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha, Vertical Comics, and Minoru Furuya for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.Ogino isn't the most attractive guy. He also gets bullied a lot. When he meets some girls from his motorcycle licensing class, one of them really gets his heart pounding. When it turns out she feels the same way, the way he is treated and his priorities in life change. He's certainly not a very worldly guy, and a kiss or nudity with his need girlfriend makes him a bit shy, but she loves him anyway!This manga was a lot longer than expected at about 450 pages. The art isn't my favorite kind of style for manga, but it has a very traditional Japanese feel too it as well as being a true-to-life coming-of-age story that the reader can relate to, as we all go through these moments at some point in life, usually in our teen years. A very realistic manga full of friendship, tough times, and hope.