Review by Ian Keogh

Minami’s Lover is a cheerily bonkers concept that would surely be shot down at the opening stages of any discussion with an American publisher, yet in Japan…

A dashed off explanation in the opening pages tells that Chiyomi suddenly shrunk to a few inches high, and now lives in a dolls house supplied by boyfriend Minami, as for reasons never explained she feels she can’t return home. Despite her writing them a letter, her parents believe her dead and from reading her diary Minami is the prime suspect, although that never becomes an issue. Explanations for other complications that may occur are summarily dismissed by Shungiku Uchida, as what she’s interested in are the comedy complications, not the logic.

For all the nudity and sexual references there’s still an innocence to Uchida’s work, as she details what might have been the result had Tinkerbell’s love for Peter Pan been reciprocated. The attraction is still there, but Minami also has to be Chiyomi’s carer, ensure she’s kept safe and avoid her being discovered by anyone else. Assorted complications are explored in ten chapters of comedy drama. For instance, if being Minami’s pocket isn’t an option, how is Chiyomi to be taken on the school trip? Or what does she do when Minami’s ill?

Despite the premise and funny moments, this isn’t a gag-packed comedy, but an attempt to investigate how matters might play out should the improbable occur, and Uchida’s art reflects the tone. It’s neat and precise, using minimal thin lines to construct a convincing world and charming people. She gives both Chiyomi and Minami consistent personalities and doesn’t idealise them. At different stages both behave poorly, and there’s fair amount of emotional content.

Minami’s Lover is complete in ten chapters, and given the tone of the first nine Uchida will shock everyone with how things conclude. However, that’s seemingly more consistent with the remainder of her work, with Fantagraphics having another translation in progress.