Wasn’t the premise that it’s easier so will be read faster? Is this going to be one of those “next poll runs before the book even starts” kind of situations?
Here’s the home thread! I put up start date and reading speed polls too:
Not necessarily alone! I would read at least the first one with you!
Ohhh I’d be interested! lmk when you’d want to 
Series I’ve previously bought the first volume of on sale some time back need to stop winning these things!
Haven’t planned that far yet, don’t even know yet the start date or how long the new book club will run. Don’t have any strong feelings either way (if the next poll should be soon or not), we can just do as the majority prefers 
ガイコツ書店員 本田さん
Natively: Level 33
Summary
Ever wonder what it’s like to sell comics at a Japanese bookstore? Honda provides a hilarious firsthand account from the front lines! Whether it’s handling the store, out-of-print books, or enthusiastic manga fans, Honda takes on every challenge!
Availability
Physical:
CD Japan
Kinokuniya JP
Amazon JP
Amazon US
Ebook:
BookWalker
Honto
eBook Japan
Amazon Kindle JP
Personal Opinion
I think this manga would be really fun to read as a group partly because they refer to a lot of popular books and disguise the titles. It would be fun to see how many we can guess!
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Learn useful bookstore vocabulary for your next book-buying spree in Japan!
- There is an anime
- Comedy
Cons
- Slice of life
- Level 33 (hard!)
Pictures
来見沢善彦の愚行 (Kurumizawa’s Folly)
Natively: Level 24?? (I think it’s higher than that)
Summary
時は1971年春、熱気あふれる『少年ビクトリー』編集部。かつて一世を風靡した人気漫画家・来見沢善彦は焦っていた。新作の構想を編集者に見せるも、色よい返事は返ってこない。行き詰まり苦悩だけが募る道すがら、漫画家志望の青年・畑と出会う。才能あふれる畑の漫画を見た来見沢は、ある禁断の手段に出る――。
English Summary
The year is 1971 and the once popular manga artist Kurumizawa is in a major slump. The pressure builds as each new submission is rejected. But one day, he meets a young, promising artist named Hata. When he sees Hata’s wonderful work, Kurumizawa hatches a dark plan…
Availability
Physical: Amazon JP, CD Japan
Digital: Bookwalker, Amazon
(More links on Natively)
Personal Opinion
I have been reading this in English since the first chapter came out, and it has hands down been my favorite thing Shounen Jump has put out in a while. It’s one of those stories I feel is more entertaining the less you know going into it. The drama and suspense is great, and is one of those stories where the mystery and tension is pushed forward by amazing dialogue and just characters talking. This manga is such a 9~10/10 for me so far, and I’d love to re-read it.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- The first 3 chapters in English are free on Shonen Jump website/app
- Compelling, very well written mystery/drama
Cons
- Some kanji don’t have furigana
- There may be some specific vocabulary around creating manga
- It may take a little to get used to/into the story?
Pictures
Sounds like we should have a new poll soon
Uh yeah, probably. There’s only three more weeks of Nicola after this one, after all.
I forgot that club was going on… I even bought the first volume on sale. How’s it going anyway? Is it too easy for IMC after all?
I think we’re due for another 4-koma pick, but I don’t know which to nominate. My favorites are ご注文はうさぎですか? | L25 (already eliminated from weak polling) and ひとりぼっちの○○生活 | L22 (beginner level). We already read 紡ぐ乙女と大正の月 | L30 (though I would continue that if anyone wanted to).
I guess that would leave 星屑テレパス | L25 as another of my favorites. It’s a bit on the easier side for a Kirara 4-koma, but people did think 紡ぐ was too hard, so maybe that’s a good thing. The mangaka also makes panels that are more dynamic compared to most 4-koma. Tomorrow I’ll look through my list of unread ones too to see if any are worth nominating.
Although it’s not something of interest to me, I wonder if Rifle is Beatiful matches your interests. (I’m going based only on the 4koma format, cover art, and tags on AniList.) [Not that you’re necessarily looking for something extra on top of what you may already own, but there’s always room in one’s 積ん読.]
I mean, it’s vaguely fits into the type of manga I read, though I’m not sure this premise calls out to me. I think I’d sooner read さばげぶ, even though that’s not a 4-koma.
I’ll have the poll up this coming Friday evening (EU time), so there’s still some time for new nominations!
I mean I don’t think あずまんが大王 has been nominated here to my knowledge? May be a bit in the easier side. I haven’t read it but I loved よつばと so much I’ve been itching to read it. Don’t have the time to host more clubs right now but would definitely participate if someone else wants to nominate!
Azumanga Daioh (あずまんが大王)
Natively: 24??
Summary
Azumanga Daioh is a slice‑of‑life comedy manga series. The story follows the daily lives and humorous antics of six high school girls — including a ten‑year‑old child prodigy, a spacey transfer student nicknamed “Osaka,” an animal‑loving gentle giant, and their eccentric teachers — as they navigate school events, friendships, tests, sports festivals, and graduation. The comedy arises from character interactions, everyday absurdities, and the contrast between each girl’s personality.
Availability
Physical
Japan (Original):
Digital
Personal Opinion
I think Azumanga Daioh would be excellent for this book club because it’s humorous, light and slice-of-life (so relatively easy vocab). It’s also pretty short (originally four volumes, or three in the Japanese reprint), so completionists could polish off the rest of the series in an off-shoot club quite quickly.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Slice of life, so common vocab
- Short chapters, easy to divide into weeks
- Finished series, perfect for an offshoot club
- Finally understand the memes!
- Kindle edition is dirt-cheap on Amazon (940yen for the whole series)
Cons
- Humor might not click with everyone
- Digital version is exclusive to Amazon
- “There is a certain male teacher character that has a bit of an… obsession with his female students in a way that might put some people off” (@2OC3aOdKgwSGlxfz)
Pictures
I am surprised that you found a digital version at all - for many years the author refused to have a digital version of the manga (same with Yotsubato!). Checking the info, it seems it was released as digital for the first time last year in February, ( it just took 25 years after the manga started publishing in 1999 … )
I am not completely sure if this happens also in volume 1, but another content warning here is that there is a certain male teacher character that has a bit of an… obsession with his female students in a way that might put some people off.
That’s a good point! I went through vol 1 and I did see that teacher a couple of times. Haven’t read the manga yet, so don’t know exactly how objectionable things get, but I added it to the cons regardless.
I’ve seen the anime for this, I never knew there was a manga!