"Love itself is an act of overcoming fear." Having just finished the anime, I found the time to finish the manga too. If there is any justice in the world, Ikoku Nikki will get a full anime adaptation, but given the josei track record that is unlikely. At least we have the manga, and my goodness, it's perfect. At the moment I'll give it a 9/10, because I find it hard to give something 10/10 when I've only just finished it. 10/10 is something a piece of writing earns after I've thought about it for a long time, reflected, kept coming back. Ikoku Nikki has 10/10potential, but I can say for sure that it's a 9/10 with very, very few flaws. I have almost nothing to complain about.

This is a manga that sets out to tell a coming of age story about grief. It tells that story perfectly. This undoubtedly deserves the label of being a 'modern classic' manga. Makio and Asa are memorable characters with a memorable dynamic that keeps you coming back throughout. The parallels between Asa and Makio's youth are beautiful. The relationship between Makio and her sister, Makio and Kasamachi, are all well thought, realistic and emotionally engaging. The art is striking and the dialogue soulful without being overly sentimental. The last ten or so chapters in particular are killer. My heart was in the proverbial shredder.

There's not too much to say. I am very fulfilled. This is a very good manga. It's probably a masterpiece. Read it now.