October’s Harta! This and the next one I read a while back before I did my big rundown of currently running Harta series (which got a really nice reception and I made at least one new Harta-reading friend out of the deal so that was nice) but I’ll try to go through it anyway and refresh my memory on what stood out this issue. Come to think of it, I think I particularly enjoyed this issue and it’s one of the ones I churned through mainly in one very pleasant evening (but I don’t remember for sure).

I loved the chapter of 本なら売るほど -古本屋十月堂とその客- by 児島青 this issue! It’s about a young woman who likes wearing kimono her own way in her day to day life but is a bit self-conscious about it, meeting a super cool old lady who encourages her and they bond over a book! It’s good!

This installment of ハクメイとミコチ by 樫木祐人 was really cute! It’s about the introverted anxiety of wanting to become a regular at a cute cafe where customers share snacks with each other, but overthinking the whole process.

極東事変 by 大上明久利 concluded this issue. This is a fairly long-running series that I enjoyed as a rollicking post-war action story! It involves nigh unkillable soldiers born from Unit 731 experiments, and pits good guys slightly reluctantly working for the occupying government against fascists trying to keep the war alive. Definitely one to check out if you like old cars.

This chapter of いやはや熱海くん by 田沼朝 is a good example of Asa Tanuma being very very good at conversation. I stopped myself from sharing a full four pages to serve as that example.

対岸のメル　by 福島聡 concluded this issue also. It’s a ghost mystery story with the final volume coming out in November and I think it’s good and interesting but didn’t quite get off the ground into fascinating territory.