Review: DIVE!!

 Swimming events are always some of the most popular events at the summer Olympics.  If only this series understood anything about its appeal.

DIVE!!, based on the light novel series by Eto Mori and character designs by Suzuhito Yasuda and the Animation DIVE!! Committee, with art by Ruzuru Akashiba.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2019.

PLOT:

Ever since he was a child, Tomoki has been obsessed with competitive diving, ever since he saw the flawless dives of an older boy named Youichi.  That's why he and his friends Ryou and Reiji joined the Mizuki Diving Club to get better.  Things change drastically when they get a new coach, an aggressive young woman who makes drastic changes to the boys' training regime and brings in a surly but aggresive new diver, but will those changes bring the boys Olympic glory or break their friendships before they can get there?

Review: NINJA BASEBALL KYUMA!

We move on from the world's most popular sport to Japan's favorite sport: baseball.  There are no shortage of baseball manga to choose from, but this one stood out for a few reasons.

NINJA BASEBALL KYUMA! (Kyuma!), by Shunshin Maeda.  First published in 2004 and first published in North America in 2009.

PLOT:

For years, the young ninja Kyuma has waited in the mountains, training for the day when someone will need his skills.  That someone turns out to be Kaoru, the captain of the Moonstone City Baseball Club team.  He needs someone strong to help his ragtag team to win games, and Kyuma agrees to follow his new "liege".  He may not understand the modern world (much less baseball), but he's ready and eager to learn and put his newfound talent to the test!

Review: DAYS

Since this month marks the start of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, we'll be taking a look at a series of sports manga this month (which will almost certainly be safer than anything going on at the actual Olympics).  We'll start with a series about one of the most popular sports in Japan and across the world: soccer.

DAYS, by Tsuyoshi Yasuda.  First published in 2013 and first published in North America in 2017.

PLOT:

Tsukishi Tsukamoto is a shy, hapless kid with more bullies than friends.  Everything turns around when he's accepted into the prestigious Seiseki High School.  Not only will get to go to school with his childhood best friend Sayuri, but that's the day he meets Jin Kazama.  Kazama is everything Tsukishi isn't: handsome, atheletic, eccentric, popular with just about everyone he meets.  Yet right from the start Kazama sees potential in Tsukishi.  He sees a level of determination and endurance that has largely gone untapped, and Kazama encourages his new friend to go out for the soccer team.  Tsukishi is no natural-born athlete, but he's determined to run and practice until he's good enough to play alongside Kazama.