Review by Win Wiacek

Asumi Kamogawa has always dreamed of going to space, and against all odds – she is small, looks weak and is very poor – she endures and always succeeds in her training missions. She still talks with Mr. Lion, who seems to be the ghost of an astronaut who died on the Shishiga disaster during her infancy.

Kou Yaginuma supplies seven further episodes – or Missions as he has it – in Twin Spica 8, ending with another autobiographical vignette from his lovelorn days as a part-time server on a soft-drink stand in a theme park. It’s one more charming insight into creative minds, art in the raw and unrequited passions.

‘Mission: 39’ opens as the still guarded and aloof Asumi undertakes a devout daily personal ritual – absorbing the wonder of the Heavens at the local Planetarium. Times are tough, however, and the venerable old edifice is about to close forever, a victim of economic cuts and dwindling public interest. Later she rejoins classmates Oumi and Ukita on the school roof for more stargazing. Excitement rises when they think they might have discovered a new supernova.¦

‘Mission: 40’ concentrates on the rapidly approaching end of semester and exams. Oumi is ill and might not pass, whilst enigmatic Shu reveals yet another hidden talent after being given the shocking news that he is confidentially considered for participation in an American Shuttle mission.

Meanwhile, with Christmas near Asumi shares an intimate moment trimming a tree with shy, diffident Kiriu from the local orphanage. It’s a charming interlude fraught with implications.

‘Mission: 41’ sees Asumi’s concentration-slipping intensify and we learn some tragic truths about golden boy Suzuki’s dysfunctional and abusive home life. Most disturbingly, Asumi’s closest girl classmates think they’re catching odd glimpses – and even finding physical evidence – of Asumi’s ludicrous ‘imaginary friend’ Mr. Lion.

When Kiriu unexpectedly reveals he is leaving Japan, Asumi has to make a choice between her current feelings and her life’s dream. It takes another typically brash and dramatic intervention during a crucial exam by an old rival to set her straight on what she really needs in the heartrending ‘Mission: 42’.

The focus switches to orphan Kiriu’s history and his amazing secret is revealed through a poignant letter to Asumi in ‘Mission: 43’, whilst ‘Mission: 44’ concentrates on mounting school pressure with the conflicted Fuchuya recalling the pivotal moment in his childhood when his fireworks-making grandfather sparked his own interest in the stars.

The Americans’ tantalising offer to send a Japanese astronaut up with the US shuttle becomes public knowledge in ‘Mission: 45’ and fierce competition for the single placement ensues. In ‘Mission: 46’ the students are made to realise the importance of their final years, and solitary Asumi at last realises how her life has changed. With some surprise she grasps that she has actual friends she might lose as only one more year remains before final selections will be made and before most of the class will fail and vanish from each other’s lives. A countdown clock is ticking, and it moves forward in Twin Spica 9.

Also included are two ancillary tales. ‘Giovanni’s Ticket’ returns to Asumi and Fucchy’s formative years in Yuigahama whilst the poignant ‘Guide to Cherry Blossoms’ reveals the power of making art and following the path to love whilst examining roads not taken.

Another volume, another gem.