Once upon a time, in the distant year of 1991, the girls who were sent to another world did not come to the other world with the ability to cheat. Their new world is not a replica of the games they have played or the books they have read. They don’t speak the language. Before isekai (especially male-power fantasy variations) were common, stories of people falling into other worlds were a bit more involved, and Hikawa Kiyoko’s from afar is a good example.
Of course, I say this a bit glibly; even modern isekai isn’t a behemoth, and there are definitely some older series that are more in tune with today’s genre. (Immortal Wood Gamefor example, using a book device. ) but to modern readers, Glacier’s 1991-2002 series remains compelling, perhaps even more compelling than Chie Shinoharaof red riverpublished during from afarSerialized, because Noriko really has no shortcuts.
Most notably, Noriko must learn the language of the fantasy world she enters. She doesn’t quite get it for most of the first seven books, and even after achieving conversational fluency, she still stutters from time to time. It’s a very fundamental part of the story – with bits of The Awakening, magic, and other fantastical things abounding, Noriko’s arrival may be a long-term feared character, but there’s still no substitute for putting our heads down and figuring out how to communicate with people who, after all, are just human beings like her.
Or at least, most Like her. Long before Noriko reached the Sea of Trees, legends told of an awakening to come, though no one knew exactly what that would look like. (They certainly weren’t expecting teenagers from another world.) The awakening is frightening because the prophecy says they will “awaken” a monster called the Demon, whose appearance will bring destruction. To this end, finding the Awakening and removing it from the game is something many groups have a vested interest in – one of which is Yitzhak, the young man who found Noriko upon her arrival. Yitzhak’s desire to destroy Awakening is deeply personal, but when he sees this lost, confused girl, he doesn’t know what to do with it. Yitzhak, who has a troubled past himself, was unable to kill Nozi, who was basically impressed with him when they met. Although he tries to leave her behind and distance himself, something pulls them back together and they both must decide whether to fight their so-called fate.
Ideas of fate and prophecy form the backbone of these volumes, forming the first half and first three chapters of the story. Since so little is known about Awakening and Demon, many assumptions have been made, most of which are that it would be disastrous for the two to meet. But as we know, fear distorts perception and thought, and as Yitzhak and Noriko get closer, it starts to look less like the awakening will cause disaster and more like she will tame the demon. Love can certainly be destructive, but more often than not it appears as a healing emotion. So, if it is Lack Will awakening lead to the rampage of demons? As these books were published, the theory seemed to take hold more and more, culminating in the idea that separation would ultimately be more destructive.
While this isn’t a new idea, and it’s probably not the first isekai story to use it (and certainly not the last), the way Hikawa writes and draws it is impressive. She never expresses the idea outright, but is careful to show and guide readers to realize that the world may have gotten it wrong. People are so afraid of these monsters under society’s collective bed that they cannot be considered human; they are always other people. As a transplant from late 20th century Japan, Noriko is a double other: she is the awakened one, but she is also a foreigner who must learn the language and customs. This makes it difficult for some to see her as human, and Hikawa is careful to ensure that one of the villain’s defining characteristics is that they can’t see Noriko as a human being. Even her allies, like Yitzhak and Agor, have to overcome their assumptions about her to become her true friends… and even then, as events unfold, Agor and some others may not be able to continue to see her that way.
Glacier’s art does a great job of helping the plot show rather than tell. One of my favorite things about her work is the way she paints eyelashes – Hikawa’s style is very early 80s, and every time Noriko or any other young woman closes her eyes, she paints huge, fluffy, multi-layered eyelashes. This, along with the shape of the man’s face, are the most dated aspects of her art style, but they do add an otherworldly feel to Noriko’s adventures. Other details, such as the animals known as “horses” which look nothing like our horses, and the clear fashion in which the people are dressed, enhance the otherworldly quality of the story, giving everything a very creative, otherworldly atmosphere. The translation is clearly an older one in terms of the occasional slang, but it still reads beautifully. My one complaint is that, at the time of writing, the print version is out of print.
from afar As far as I’m concerned, this is the gold standard for isekai that all modern series should follow. With solid world-building, a protagonist who has to grapple with problems, and a great story, this is a beautiful comic. Whether you like another world or not, girl Old comics or not, pick this one up. From the distant days of 1991 to today, it’s all been worth it.