Manga Review: Azumanga Daioh

Azumanga Daioh by Kiyohiko Azuma has been published in many forms since its creation. It began in the magazine Dengeki Daioh (1999-2002), was collected in four volumes published in both Japanese and English (2003-2004), became a single volume omnibus edition published by ADV Manga (2007), and most recently was released as a newly translated omnibus edition by Yen Press (2009). It is this new omnibus that I chose to read--665 pages of black and white manga, with ten full-color pages interspersed throughout the book. After watching and enjoying part of the anime which was based on the manga, I was eager to read the original material.

The style of this manga is a sharp contrast from most other popular titles. With the exception of three chapters, the entire story is told using the yonkoma format--four-panel comics, with panels arranged vertically and read from the right side of a panel to the left. This particular version retained the original Japanese sound effects, with English translations inserted in tiny print next to the Japanese characters. A similar method was applied to Japanese lettering on signs and clothing, with translations appearing below the panels. The art style is very simplistic and cute, fitting the tone of the manga and leading the reader to focus more on the characters themselves rather than on the artwork.

A typical page from the manga.

The characters are truly the heart of Azumanga Daioh--five high school girls and two of their teachers make up the main cast. The manga begins when the girls enter high school, and concludes three years later as they all graduate (note: Japanese high schools cover the equivalent of American grades 10 through 12). There isn't much of a plot, but rather random scenes from everyday life are highlighted: exams, sports festivals, culture festivals, summer vacations, class trips, study sessions, etc.

Right from the beginning, it becomes clear that each girl has a unique personality that sets her apart from the rest of the group, and their differences are the focus of conflict and comedy.  There is Chiyo, the ten-year-old child prodigy; Tomo, the energetic loudmouth; Yomi, who rarely fails in her studies but always fails at her diets; Sakaki, calm and quiet and a lover of cute animals; and Osaka, an extremely odd new student who moved from the city of Osaka at the beginning of the series. Added to the group are two of their teachers: Yukari, who is almost like an older version of Tomo, and Minamo, the far more serious and responsible of the two. Very little backstory is given, but Azumanga Daioh isn't the kind of story that relies heavily on events of the past. All emphasis is on the events of the present and the interactions of the characters.

The story starts out as a very light-hearted comedy, and it retains this feeling all the way to the final page. Towards graduation time, there are a few moments of bittersweet nostalgia, as the girls are accepted into different colleges and begin to walk their separate ways. However, young Chiyo points out, "Even after graduation...we're still together." There isn't a huge moral lesson to be taught, or any overarching theme to take away. Read it simply for the enjoyment of it. Get to know the characters, learn their quirks, laugh at their comedic antics. I greatly enjoyed Azumanga Daioh, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone.