ANI NO YOME TO KURASHITEIMASU.

DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ANIME ComedyEgao no Taenai Shokuba desu.

REVIEWS

• 

  presence

  88/100
  saying goodbye is never easy

  It's been an honor to follow Ani no Yome to Kurashiteimasu throughout its 10-year serialization. That's ten years since the death of a character named Taishi Kishibe was written into existence, ten years since his sister Shino and his wife Nozomi began their process of grieving his untimely death. Throughout this run, I've watched the shadow of a dead man take form, ever-present in the lives of two individuals who cannot help but love him, reaching out desperately with feelings that have no true destination.

  "But what is grief, if not love persevering?"

  Kuzushiro writes Ani no Yome like a slice-of-life manga, one where the gimmick is simply that the protagonist lives together with her late older brother's wife. The whole narrative is practically told in the first chapter, where Shino establishes the comedic basis in just 20 pages. And the story unfolds exactly how you'd expect, with the two characters being placed in classic slice-of-life shenanigans, playing the straight man/funny man duo, and dealing with the completely normal challenges of the absolutely ordinary everyday. Yet in some of these interactions, mentions of a third family member naturally creep into conversation, as if he's about to burst into frame in the next second. Taishi is a subversion of Chekhov's gun, one that was fired long before the beginning of the story. The smoking bullet hole that remains is ignored at first, but occasionally someone points it out, and it begins smoking again. Shino and Nozomi experience waves of grief throughout the manga, continually wrestling with the realization that "feeling normal" feels out of reach.

  At a loss for how to feel and act, both characters become attached to others' expectations of themselves. Nozomi clings to her role as the reliable/helpful teacher and wife, while Shino retreats into her shell as the outwardly friendly but emotionally closed-off student and sister. These static character traits make it easy to write slice-of-life situations in which the two characters can interact with others in funny ways, as well as create humorous moments at home. But faced with reminders of their loss, both characters find that it's impossible to keep up a front all the time, especially to each other. So Shino and Nozomi gradually open up, and over time, develop a sisterly bond in which they can support each other in their lowest moments. Instead of replacing the gaping hole in their hearts with the next best thing, they instead acknowledge their shared grief and make space for each other to be their true selves.

  The first and last chapter of this manga almost feel like they were drawn by different artists. Kuzushiro's art and writing have improved tremendously since the first volume, and I think it's almost poetic that the two protagonists of her story have also grown tremendously throughout the full run. Ani no Yome tells a heart-wrenching story about the challenges of those who are left behind, for as easy it is to imagine death, it is much harder to keep on living. The mundane everyday offers no escapes from reminders of Taishi's death, but even within this setting, Shino and Nozomi find solace in their newfound relationship and everyday interactions.

  One thing I would like to briefly touch on is the Yuri tag for this manga. There is no explicit romance between Nozomi and Shino. I'm not sure if this needs to be classified as a spoiler, but if that's what you're looking for, it won't be found here.

  Ani no Yome to Kurashiteimasu. is a manga that will always have a special place in my heart because I feel as though it mirrors my own growth throughout this past decade. It is far from perfect, but it's this sort of imperfection that makes it feel like a true reflection of real life. In a way, I don't feel upset that it's over, but rather appreciative of the feelings that I experienced while reading this work. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this manga to everyone, but I greatly value it as a part of my personal journey.

  I wish the author nothing but success in their future endeavors.

  Continue on AniList

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