manga review: real fashion
October 3, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment
In a recent manga review for the Daily Yomiuri, Kumi Matsumaru reviews the manga “real fashion”.
Matsumaru wrote, “Seeking a balance between the sometimes conflicting demands of love and work has always been a major theme of manga, especially those aimed at girls or women. Real Clothes, by veteran mangaka Satoru Makimura, is among those currently addressing the theme.”
“As the story unfolds with a top-notch department store as the background, readers can go through the various states of mind of ordinary people who work there, such as feeling timid or low-key at times, with a modest sense of self-worth in sharp contrast to the gorgeous halls adorned with dazzling displays of clothes, shoes and bags in the latest fashions.”
“Thanks to her good sales records and care for her customers, Kinue, the 27-year-old protagonist, is transferred from the futon section of the living floor–a workplace she was very fond of–to the women’s clothes section at a popular department store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which appears to have been modeled after Isetan.”
“While struggling to survive in the star section of the store, dealing with big-spending customers and getting to know trendy items she previously had no familiarity with or interest in, Kinue is gradually motivated to become a fashion professional. She comes to realize more clearly what she is seeking when she passes a test for promotion and starts to work with a team of buyers under the direction of renowned fashion pro Yusaku Tabuchi.”
