Takako Shimura is a polarizing name around these parts. Shimura’s work spends a lot of time delving into the lives of queer people, addressing real and fictional issues, without the author even identifying as queer. Does that Matter (TM)? Yes…and no, of course. It matters that Shimura-sensei takes nuanced and thoughtful looks at queer life. For some years and in some series, the use of stereotypes was more common and some portrayals rankled among the queer community, both in Japan and elsewhere. I have expressed some of these concerns myself.

Then there is Shimura’s narrative style. In early works it was often difficult to follow a story, as characters looped in and out of experiences in ways that felt repetitive, or even traumatic. This was particularly true in Wandering Son. But what has taken shape, through years of tying vignettes and ensemble stories together, is a unique style that takes some getting used to, but is rewarding in the end. Even Though We’re Adults is Shimura’s best and most fully realized narrative and characters, so if you are not familiar with the earlier, more haphazard style, it might be a bit confusing to get into an older work.

I say that, because it did take me a few volumes of Awajima Hyakkei to realize what, exactly I was reading. I reviewed Volume 1 and Volume 2 here on Okazu and read, though did not review, through Volume 4. Now we have Scenes From Awajima, Volume 1 in English, from Yen Press, and all my previous feelings about Shimura’s work come rushing back in a flood.

Awajima, in this instance, is the name of a very famous all-female musical revue troupe school. This story is ten years old now, and follows Shimura’s more meandering pathways, with vignettes about girls in the school now and in the past. These vignettes intertwine, as the current classes deal with the weight of expectations from mothers, aunts and grandmothers, even teachers, who once walked the hallways they do now.  The story is heavy at times, and does include the kinds of institutionalized bullying a real all-female musical revue troupe is infamous for, as well as personal slights of many kinds. The series will address many uncomfortable topics, from eating disorders to abuse. It also is about the hopes and dreams of young women…and adult women when they live in, or leave, that world.

I was just commenting today on the Okazu Discord, that I have come to dislike the neologism “shoujosei.” It elides the perspective of adult women, lumping them in with the needs, desires and perspectives of children. Scenes From Awajima is about students, but it is not a Shoujo manga. I cannot imagine a child reading this (or Journal With Witch, or Even Though We’re Adults or any other Jousei work) with any understanding – or interest – in what is going on.  Shoujo and Jousei are different and lumping them together infantilizes adult women. At Okazu, at the very least, we’ll remain aware that adult women deserve their own place in the world. A genre of our own was important for Yuri. It is equally important for adult women for many of the same reasons.

Scenes From Awajima does include some Yuri, as one might expect. In that environment, with girls literally training to perform gender and romance, it cannot be surprising that intimacy and romance develops between students sometimes. And sometimes it has lasting repercussions. 

For the best reading experience, go into Scenes From Awajima gently, letting the stories play out around you, moving through time and space, while you just watch and listen. As characters become more developed names and situations will stick in your mind and you’ll find that things tie together in some ways and and in other ways have horrible messy loose ends. Much like life. ^_^

Ratings:

Art – 8
Story – Variable
Characters – 7
Yuri – 3
Service – 1 on principle

Overall – 7, but will improve with time

An anime adaptation is on the way in April, trailers are already available. I think the story will be tidied up a bit for the anime.

Thanks to Yen Press for the review copy, via ANN, where I reviewed this for the Winter Manga Guide, as well. ^_^