A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow Vol 1: Volume 1

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Really cute and the thought of having an aquarium/ocean centred student club at school with actual aquariums and rescue animals (if I understood that right) is crazy to me (especially because it actually exists, apparently??) As for the art, it is simply gorgeous, rendering characters cute and charming. Not to mention that the cover is pretty much appealing. The moment I saw the cover, I became interested in the manga. The only complaint is that the art started to get a bit rough in the 7th volume and clearly noticeable in the 9th volume, anyhow, it is filled with much more details and the volume cover is incredibly beautiful.

As Konatsu tries to navigate her new school, she finds herself running into Koyuki and the girls continue to bond. As each student is required to join a club, Konatsu wonders whether joining the Aquarium Club is a good idea. The author brilliantly delves into the inner complexities of our heroines, the complicated feelings they have for each other, and the underlying sense of loneliness they have. Nov 20 From the U.S. to Japan, You Can Control the Life-Size Moving Gundam from the Comfort of Your Own Home I like how each of them got their own scenes with Kaede their other classmate, whose the bubbly, outgoing energy mixing among their quiet, introverted personalities. I especially liked in this volume when Konatsu told her classmate not to cling to stereotypes. And Konatsu and Koyuki had a sweet moment on the beach. The things the girls are worried and happy about aren't big melodramatic stuff but something we all might face at one time or another, so it can be pretty relatable (oh Koyuki, I know the difficulty of saying no too...). While Konatsu is realizing she's starting to fit in at Nagahama high school, she doesn't feel as lonely lately, she's attending a school sports event and even plans to lead the club's cultural festival event. She's also learning how much she knows such a different, more personal side to Koyuki than her other classmates.While all stories have layers to one degree or another, Makoto Hagino's quiet yuri tale A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow may be covering up more than we might at first think. This possibility comes from the fact that one of the protagonists, Konatsu, keeps relating her relationship with the other, Koyuki, to Masuji Ibuse's 1919 short story “Salamander.” The base plot of Ibuse's piece is that a salamander, having grown too large to leave its hole, eventually traps a small frog with it to soothe its loneliness. Unfortunately, the frog eventually dies from its entrapment, once again leaving the salamander all alone. While there is undoubtedly symbolism of its own in Ibuse's story, Hagino's fairly consistent referencing of the text maybe should give us some pause, especially since Konatsu casts herself as the frog to Koyuki's salamander, a theme that is once again brought to the fore in volume four. But for the deeper feeling of loneliness and slow build of their dynamic, it makes sense and I actually don't mind it in this series. I think its done incredibly well truly making you feel connected to the inner emotions of Konatsu & Koyuki, no matter the scene. I'd give it lower because it's basically yuri bait, but I'm giving the mangaka the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they truly believe platonic relationships go like this.

Koyuki’s feelings can probably be partially explained by her loneliness as well, but I do think she has a little crush on Konatsu. But Konatsu… I really don’t know. I don’t see her having a crush yet, but I think that’s ok. Romance would be too much so soon on top of everything else she’s going through— all these changes and trying to fit in. But on that note, she’s beginning to really carve her place in the school and I’m so happy for her that she’s making her own place to belong among others. She’s opening up to new people, trying to become closer to others, and creating and honing her own skill set in the things she wants to feel useful in. That’s also really encouraging to me— someone struggling in school right now, in more ways than one. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 23, 2018). "Raise wa Tanin ga Ii, Senpai ga Uzai Kōhai no Hanashi Take Top Prizes at Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 10, 2021 . Retrieved January 13, 2023. When Konatsu's father gets a job overseas, she's forced to move into her aunt's house in a small fishing village. Here, she meets Koyuki, the sole member of the high school's Aquarium Club. But, there's something drawing these two together, so Konatsu joins the club. She also starts to become friends with bubbly Kaeda, who tries to recruit Konatsu to the Home Ec club. To prepare for the monthly open house of the Aquarium Club, Koyuki gives Konatsu a crash course on some of the fish the public will ask about. Konatsu can't answer everything, to her shame, but she does answer an enthusiastic little boy's question about salamanders, and they both get their first glimpse at the aquarium's newest member, a Cloud Salamander Konatsu affectionately named Koyuki because of their similarities. Presumably part of this anxiety is concern that Konatsu only sees Koyuki as a friend, when Koyuki has made it clear to the readers that she's a lesbian attracted to the other girl. The fear that she'll be not just rejected, but actively repel the object of her affection is real, and Konatsu just doesn't seem to even be aware of romantic feelings, such as when she can't figure out why Koyuki's all flustered over an indirect kiss. However this turns out, the delicacy of the art, the unusual aquarium angle, and the skill with which Hagio shows us what's going on without actively telling it makes me want to keep reading. Characters: 6/10 - Nothing out of the ordinary. The characters go through some character development but nothing outstanding. They are likeable characters at least.

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Apparently it's purely platonic to be extremely jealous whenever your friend hangs out with somebody else. Or get really sad that you're no longer the only one that makes them smile. Or mutually pine for each other in the middle of the night. I liked that Kaede had more of a spotlight in this volume as well, she's been the bubbly, easy-going and talkative supporting character thus far in the series (also a good friend to Konatsu and Koyuki). However, in this volume its clear that...she's lonely too. It was a nice change of pace to see how others deal with loneliness and was such a thematically strong element of this volume. Also, can we take a second to appreciate how SUPPORTIVE Koyuki's parents are?? They want her to be happy and support her anyway they can, which is something I can relate to...YET I can also relate to Koyuki in her feelings of isolation as life continues to move forward at that age (or older). Notice how I haven't used any gendered pronouns in my review? This is why it's getting a 6. It doesn't matter who the protagonists are. Whether they're two boys, or a boy and a girl, it doesn't matter. I would still give this manga a 6. It is absolutely insane to claim that the two protagonists has a completely platonic relationship with each other.