Ciguatera by Minoru Furuya

Fan Boy Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Venezuela

Ok people this is going to be the place to discuss Ciguatera, the first project where i do more than just removing the chickenscratches here in Mangascreener (and i hope it isnt the last).

Like stephen said in the update i think Cigua really brings Harmony Korine to mind, with his view of teenagers and when i first saw a cigua chapter what came to my mind was "KIDS". it's a really bleak vision of the day to day of a guy in highschool and even if it has some lighter moments, some of the himizu presence is still here.

Ah and of course Miwa Sakazuki is now officially the MS babe, read the series and see why. Wink

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:44 pm

It's kind of too bad that all of (IMO) the most interesting things about Ciguatera can't really be discussed until you've read the entire manga and can compare it to Furuya's other works... so for now, all you can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

Groupie Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 118

Who is Harmony Korine?

So...this becomes less "I WANT TO DIE I HATE MY LIFE DREAMS ARE FUTILE" than Himizu??? Seems pretty depressing so far, but I suppose the main character isn't quite as defeatist. He seems to have hope that one day those assholes will leave him alone. That just makes me feel sorry for him though. At least the lead of Himizu didn't give a crap that his life sucked. This guy seems more fragile.

I wish I could read more of Himizu as well...but different group to beg for that.

I like this manga. I really this guy's work overall, even Ping Pong Club. I look forward to more. Smile

Fan Boy Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 23 Location: Venezuela

http://www.harmony-korine.com/ He totally specializes in the losers you're happy to see fail, like the no luck trash teenagers in Kids, and the cripples and freaks in Gummo.

Well like i said it has some lighter moments, but like with every Furuya manga there's a darkness in there too. Ogi and Sumida are alike in that both of them are resigned to his place in the world, sumida is more of a "life sucks and then you die" type of guy and ogi who is in my opinion a "this will pass and everything will change someday" passive type of person (this from Himizu's vol 01 and what you've read so far in Cigua) but yeah they grow up and change, but that whole "loser antihero" kinda vibe they all have its always there in a way, but like stephen said with furuya you really need the bigger picture to draw conclusions so we still have a lot to see from Ogi & co.

Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 7:08 pm

Yeah, chapter 1 was pretty "light"... not like Himizu, or Harmony Korine. Just depressed kids with dreams and a life that basically sucks, but has its good things. Of course, since its the author of Himizu we´re talking about, I can imagine how those "good things" will fade slowly...

Groupie Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 118

Thanks for the new chapters! I liked the slangy translation. Worked really well.

Wow, poor guy's life is just getting hilariously miserable now. Having the ugliest chick in school after him wasn't the kind of torture I'd have guessed he has to endure next. I'm just waiting for the trainwreck.

Roadie Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 58

sakazukiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Fan Boy Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Posts: 2

"Errrrrr....Did I mention the beautiful Sunset thats calling for your attention...?"
mano...This manga should be called " A Wussy's Life"

I just registered on this Forum to tell you this:

THANKS FOR THE NEW CHAPTERS!!!!!!!!I love this manga and I was like checking every day since february 3rd to see if it was updated ,THANKS A LOT ,along with Ryuguden Ciguatera is one of my favs

Thanks

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:28 am

Glad you like it!
Now that we got to the guy and the girl going out, we're past the point 95% of most crappy romance-comedy comics never reach! It gets a lot better from here on too.

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:43 am

Just finished reading volume 1 in one go, and I have to say I'm very pleasantly surprised. It reminds me of Beck, but less shounen and less music.
Really good stuff!

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:16 am

Volume 2 is done!
And it ended in a cliffhanger! Ogi-boy in heat! Nagumo and him alone, at his house!

How I love this manga, let me count the ways... *wanders off in thoughts
God, Furuya's characterizations are so flippin' awesome.

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:38 am

Damn is this manga a quirky charmer or what. I didn't think I'd ever use the word "charmer" to refer to a Furuya manga, but I just did. Still, there's that lurking fear that something's going to go horribly, horribly wrong (it's been present ever since I read the title and saw the author's name). In any case, guy knows what he's doing so I look forward to future readings.

Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:57 pm

I'm trying to avoid reading any of the other comments for spoilers because I've only read 4 chapters of this so far. It's really good, quite addictive. I saw someone mention Harmony Korine, which I can see (though unfortunately no equivalent of the Herzog character in J. Donkey boy so far), also maybe Tod Solondz? I like this better than Welcome to the Dollhouse so far though.

hmm, hard to think of comments on the story as a whole after just four chapters, but I like how fiercely private the main character is, seems like the kind of guy who even if he was in a relationship would be too chicken to let his guard down. guess I'll have to wait and see.

[edit]woops, guess i might have been wrong about ogi. One more thing i really like about this is taniwaki's completely detached bullying style. Same with ogi the two of them just seem to be playing their relationship by rote. It's a nice detail that shows the characters have some "off-camera" life (which are probably all as boring as ogi's anyway).

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:39 am

Oh yeah, Furuya's stuff definitely reminds me of Todd Solondz' movies.
It's just way more interesting to watch or read a story about losers; I've always felt that way. Cause deep down everyone is in some way. And it's way too funny to ignore that side of yourself.

Fan Boy Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Posts: 18

My first Furuya series, and I'm already gushing over anything with his name on it. Pretty bizarre for me, but man, Ciguatera is just a powerhouse storytelling exhibition. It's the little touches for me, I guess. Like, the first kiss. There was all this huge buildup, anxiety and whatnot and bam it happens offpage and is hardly reflected upon. That just impressed for me some reason.

It's only one example of a countless number, but it's what made me love this series. I like romance manga, but I never thought I'd ever really consider one truly good. Whelp, except for possibly Adachi stuff, but that's ... different.

So huge thanks for scanlating this and bringing it to my attention (There are a surprising number of series now I have the same to say about!) to all you folks and you know.... Thanks for actually having taste.