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The Day I Became A Butterfly
Uka is counting down the hours, waiting for the day he becomes a butterfly. Although he has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, Uka doesn’t believe that this is the end. He knows a day will come when he will be free to flutter and fly as a butterfly.Watching silently from the shadows is the mysterious Mikami. Mikami “senses” that Uka is nearing his end. He knows that falling in love with a boy who is about to pass away is hopeless but he cannot help himself. Will Mikami’s love be strong enough to keep Uka’s butterfly wings grounded?
166 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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February 12, 2022
02.2015:
The title story was sad but at the same time I really liked it. This story and the second one have the same atmosphere as "Same Cell Organism" (and the second story in "Same Cell Organism") which is hard to describe for me. It's kind of melancholy but peaceful and lovely.
I have no idea what the second to last story was about. The last one was alright. It had potential but it was too short.
Also one point of criticism: Maybe something got lost in translation, but the mangaka states in their afterword that they find their work awkward and inadequate and that they feel ashamed and at the same time grateful that those stories were collected in this volume. They say they dislike one story and that they don't understand it themselves, another one they declare as nonsense and that they can't even remember the last one. Having lived in Japan myself and also having studied Japanese studies, I know that Japanese people often hide their light under a bushel and are not overly outspoken about their accomplishments in order not to put others down or stand out too much themselves etc., its part of the Japanese culture but this statement feels just rude and insulting to their readers (even though they thank the readers for their support), or at least to me. They didn't say one positive thing about the stories. I liked some of those stories, but they just go and technically say, "Oh, this is all crap but let's just have it published so you can spent your hard-earned money on something I created but that I have nothing good to say about." That really makes me angry, which is a shame because as I said before, I liked some of the stories and this statement just makes me feel like they're not taking their works and their readers seriously.
The title story was sad but at the same time I really liked it. This story and the second one have the same atmosphere as "Same Cell Organism" (and the second story in "Same Cell Organism") which is hard to describe for me. It's kind of melancholy but peaceful and lovely.
I have no idea what the second to last story was about. The last one was alright. It had potential but it was too short.
Also one point of criticism: Maybe something got lost in translation, but the mangaka states in their afterword that they find their work awkward and inadequate and that they feel ashamed and at the same time grateful that those stories were collected in this volume. They say they dislike one story and that they don't understand it themselves, another one they declare as nonsense and that they can't even remember the last one. Having lived in Japan myself and also having studied Japanese studies, I know that Japanese people often hide their light under a bushel and are not overly outspoken about their accomplishments in order not to put others down or stand out too much themselves etc., its part of the Japanese culture but this statement feels just rude and insulting to their readers (even though they thank the readers for their support), or at least to me. They didn't say one positive thing about the stories. I liked some of those stories, but they just go and technically say, "Oh, this is all crap but let's just have it published so you can spent your hard-earned money on something I created but that I have nothing good to say about." That really makes me angry, which is a shame because as I said before, I liked some of the stories and this statement just makes me feel like they're not taking their works and their readers seriously.
June 5, 2010
What an impressively ambitious collection of poignant short stories. Yumeka apologizes that they don't always make sense, but I really liked the complexity, depth and texture to the stories. No, everything isn't always explained clearly, but I don't think that matters. I guess it's a bit like what we might call an "art film" in terms of the artistic styling, too: a lot of interesting movement, art spilling from one panel into the next, translucence, overlays, etc. There's an ephemeral quality to it all, and a magic created in these small moments of heartbreakingly real life.
All of the stories aren't about homosexual pairings (or conventional romances). I like that, too.
I thought it was really beautiful.
All of the stories aren't about homosexual pairings (or conventional romances). I like that, too.
I thought it was really beautiful.
June 25, 2020
Que confusão.
Não sei se por ser o primeiro manga que leio e não estar habituado a este estilo, ou se de facto as histórias são mesmo confusas.
Pelo que percebi, são contos muito curtos que falam de relações. O típico episódio de anime que eu, muito honestamente, nunca vejo.
Confesso que achei o primeiro conto, “The day I become a butterflie” fofinho, o resto... não me diz nada.
Dou três estrelas apenas porque me sentia-a mal a dar as duas. Adoro a edição! Não sei se os mangas são todos assim mas este tem as folhas rijas e a capa gira!
Foi-me emprestado pela Cristina do canal, “Books, less beer and a baby” 😊
Não sei se por ser o primeiro manga que leio e não estar habituado a este estilo, ou se de facto as histórias são mesmo confusas.
Pelo que percebi, são contos muito curtos que falam de relações. O típico episódio de anime que eu, muito honestamente, nunca vejo.
Confesso que achei o primeiro conto, “The day I become a butterflie” fofinho, o resto... não me diz nada.
Dou três estrelas apenas porque me sentia-a mal a dar as duas. Adoro a edição! Não sei se os mangas são todos assim mas este tem as folhas rijas e a capa gira!
Foi-me emprestado pela Cristina do canal, “Books, less beer and a baby” 😊
August 14, 2017
Confusing and disjointed but interesting.
I thought it looked good, but the flow was off, the ideas were very cute though. I enjoyed the diversity of stories.
I thought it looked good, but the flow was off, the ideas were very cute though. I enjoyed the diversity of stories.
August 24, 2017
Lovely story and art!
November 25, 2021
Meh. It's fine.
Nothing special, nothing lasting.
Nothing special, nothing lasting.
May 8, 2023
I love that that in tye author's note the mangaka themselves are like "I'm sorry this is a bunch of nonsense"
April 14, 2020
Strange tales with emotional hooks. Some of them have follow up stories told from another character's perspective!
March 12, 2022
Was confused throughout.
November 24, 2016
Aku mengenali Sumomo Yumeka lewat salah satu gambarnya yang ada di Pinterest, yang ternyata adalah bagian dari komik ini, tepatnya cerita "The Day I Become A Butterfly". Seperti biasa, aku suka sekali artworknya Sumomo Yumeka dan cerita yang diracik olehnya; semuanya berkesan bittersweet. Kamu tidak perlu memahami apa yang ada dibalik cerita ini, cukup resapi artworknya yang indah, dan kata-katanya yang menurutku puitis dan indah.
Komik ini terdiri dari enam cerita, tapi tentu saja favoritku adalah cerita "The Day I Become A Butterfly". Aku suka sekali meresapi perasaan insecurity dan anxiety lewat dua karakter yang ada di dalam cerita itu; apalagi karakter perempuannya; Uka. Ketika aku membaca cerita itu, aku merasakan sedikit kesamaan dengan diriku; Uka dan aku. Melalui cerita ini juga, rasanya aku bercermin sendiri terhadap perasaan yang tidak ingin aku hadapi. :")
*tiba-tiba, aku juga jadi ingin menulis cerita yang seperti ini.....*
Komik ini terdiri dari enam cerita, tapi tentu saja favoritku adalah cerita "The Day I Become A Butterfly". Aku suka sekali meresapi perasaan insecurity dan anxiety lewat dua karakter yang ada di dalam cerita itu; apalagi karakter perempuannya; Uka. Ketika aku membaca cerita itu, aku merasakan sedikit kesamaan dengan diriku; Uka dan aku. Melalui cerita ini juga, rasanya aku bercermin sendiri terhadap perasaan yang tidak ingin aku hadapi. :")
*tiba-tiba, aku juga jadi ingin menulis cerita yang seperti ini.....*
July 29, 2008
This book seriously, made me cry it is SO sad!!!!!!!! But then again, very touching.....In the end Uka doesn't die!!!! YAY!!!!! and my favorite scene, personally, is when at the end, Uka and Mikami are holding hands and both of their hands together make one butterfly, that scene right there at the end made me cry my eyes out, it was just sooooo cute!!!! Oh by the way Uka IS a guy, I guess he's just really feminine or something. I don't know, but I still find Uka AND Mikami adorable (Uka especially, Mikami is more hot than cute, lol) well this is my favorite June Yaoi manga I have read so far, I'm still looking for better, but I think this one is going to be tops for a very long time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2008
i don't know if its the translation or what, to be honest I've read better fanfiction. the stories are just too short... i don't get into the characters at all >.< i hope the rest of the yaoi that gets across the waters is better than this >.<
Give me fake over this craptastic one shot any day (waste o moneys)
Give me fake over this craptastic one shot any day (waste o moneys)
March 30, 2011
I was very impressed with the overall depth and portrayal of emotion in this manga, as well as the other stories included, which were balanced with a healthy dose of charm and humor. I found these stories to be very expressive, relatable, and profound. Definitely worthwhile to read! :)
July 23, 2016
kindle edition.
Presented as a yaoi manga, but it really isn't.
The genders are a bit non-described and that actually works to the benefit of the story being told. Because sometimes the connections between people don't need gender as a factor.
Presented as a yaoi manga, but it really isn't.
The genders are a bit non-described and that actually works to the benefit of the story being told. Because sometimes the connections between people don't need gender as a factor.
June 15, 2013
I want give 10 stars if I can :| this is the best Sumomo-sensei's work I've ever read... first time read I didn't really understand what the story is, but then I re-read and got the point :'|
"Let's became a butterfly, so we ca fly away"
"Let's became a butterfly, so we ca fly away"
May 25, 2012
I found this to be desperately boring. For most stories I couldn't figure out what the main character wanted, or what the stakes were, so it was really hard to care.
May 26, 2016
Cute and poignant short stories. Two of those are not BL, but I still liked them a lot.
The only criticism I have is that a lot of the characters look the same.
The only criticism I have is that a lot of the characters look the same.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews