Introduction
Hi, I’m Shimizu!
This time, I’d like to introduce Midori no Uta, a coming-of-age manga by Taiwanese artist Gao Yan. She’s well known for illustrating the covers of Haruki Murakami’s works such as First Person Singular. Her drawings—delicate yet detailed—leave a lasting impression.
Overview
- Author: Gao Yan
- Publisher: KADOKAWA / Beam Comics
- Genre: Coming-of-age, Music, Human Drama
- Published: 2021 (Japanese edition)
Synopsis
After graduating from high school, Midori, a university student in Taipei, meets Nan Jun, a young man active in a band. Through him, she becomes fascinated by Japanese music and literature. This is a gentle story about youth, discovery, and cultural connection.
Highlights
1. Real-life artists and creators appear
The manga features many real musicians, writers, and filmmakers. Japanese figures such as Happy End, Haruomi Hosono, and Haruki Murakami play especially significant roles in shaping the story.
You might find joy in spotting familiar names—or discovering new artists to explore afterward. Take your time looking through the bookshelves and CD racks drawn in the panels; you might notice works you know. Personally, I fell in love with the Taiwanese band 8mm Sky after reading this manga.
2. Universal feelings of youth
Friendship, first love, and the anxiety of an uncertain future—Midori’s experiences reflect emotions shared by young people everywhere. Her shy affection toward Nan Jun feels so honest you can’t help but root for her.
Many readers will see themselves in her—losing focus on studies while diving deep into music or books. No matter the country or era, the confusion and tenderness of youth feel strikingly similar. The story may not have grand twists, but its quiet moments of empathy linger.
3. Gentle yet intricately detailed artwork
As an accomplished illustrator, Gao Yan brings a unique visual beauty to the manga. Her artwork is rich in detail but soft in tone, creating scenes that draw you in—rooms, streets, and daily life painted with warmth. Each panel feels like it could be printed as a postcard.
The watercolor-like cover art, with its dreamy and nostalgic hues, makes you want to gaze at it for a while.
Gao Yan is also known for illustrating Murakami’s Abandoning a Cat: What I Talk About When I Talk About My Fatherand On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning—and this manga carries the same quiet elegance.
My Favorite Scene
One unforgettable moment is when Midori quietly cooks tarako pasta alone in her kitchen.
She absentmindedly prepares and eats it—then suddenly, as if a dam breaks, tears start to flow. Over the course of seven pages, Gao captures her emotional shift with such stillness and depth that it aches to read.
It feels like watching a tender, wordless scene from a film.
Conclusion
Midori no Uta is a calm, heartfelt coming-of-age story about a Taiwanese girl growing up while immersed in Japanese culture. It’s a perfect read for anyone who loves Japanese music, art, or quiet stories of self-discovery. And when you’re done, you’ll probably want to keep the book on display—its cover alone feels like a piece of art.
コメント