From: yaniv_tempelman@hispeed.ch   
      
   Ping Kuo wrote:   
      
   > > It depends on your expectations and tastes.   
   > > YKK was never really about a big plot, it was all about atmosphere. The   
   > > small hints of a plot where just there to back the atmosphere up. This   
   > > doesn't make the manga as a whole "better" or "worse", it's also not a   
   > > sign of some kind of lazyness of the autor. It's just something   
   *differrent*.   
   >   
   > that is exactly my point,   
   >   
   > it could have been a great "atmosphere" series, or a great "different"   
   > manga. and in my book, it is not.   
      
   So what is your first choice for a "great atmosphere" type manga then?   
      
   > I know exactly why people like YKK, I just don't think it is as "great"   
   > as those people think of it, even though I do like it enough to follow   
   > it, notice what I said, it could have been a great "small" nice story?   
   > I am not asking for a fully explained epic plot, I am hoping for the   
   > author to "fill up the story a bit more"?   
      
   The goal of YKK for Ashinano and his editor (a guy in his fifties if I   
   remember correctly) always seemed to be a kind of "healing" manga.   
   Something you can read and relax living in a big japanese city in the   
   midst of all "noise pollution". Something for imagining one's ideal   
   'futuristic' furusato without beeing attached to the connotations of a   
   traditional japanese 'furusato'.   
      
   This kind of feeling for an ideal homeland, out in the wide open nature   
   with as few people as possible (and only kind people you wish to live   
   with 'em) is per see very nostalgic. So yes, I feel like you sadness and   
   melancholy, but also freshness and joy for the small details in one's   
   life. Details that don't need a plot or more story than it has until now   
   (I'm stuck at chapter 130, vol.13).   
      
   So, no, I don't consider the manga as some kind of cheating or lazyness   
   from the author (or editor). In my opinion it's not easy to create this   
   kind of "atmosphere" manga. If it was, there would be tons of them.   
      
   The downside of a manga like YKK is, you have to be 'in the mood' for   
   plotless stories with huge amount of atmosphere (in a novel the   
   atmosphere would be the description parts outside of plot time). If you   
   aren't, then it just doesn't work.   
      
   Another melancholic manga which deals with furusato, albeit in a way   
   more serious and realistic manner, is 'Hikari no shima' by Oze Akira   
   (Big Comics). Whereas YKK is about an ideal homeland and living for   
   eternity in this homeland 'Hikari no shima' is about the hardship of   
   growing and living in a remote place far away from the one's you love   
   (it's a story about a young boy who is separated from his family and   
   must go to school on a small okinawan island). I'd recommend this manga   
   for everyone in search of for grown ups and an interesting story.   
      
      
   --   
   Yaniv Tempelman   
      
   Manga Takarajima http://www.manga-takarajima.mangafan.net/ (german)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)