Moonlight Nostalgia: Manga Review #1: Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan

Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (Our Happy Hours)

"I have something I don't want to lose"

"So much so that these terrible feelings have grown."

A pianist who attempted suicide 3 times, Juri, is taken to help her aunt at a prison where murderers who killed indiscriminately are sentenced to death. There, she meets a man named Yuu who took the lives of 3 people. A mother's antagonism--a brother's death... Together they embrace the violent rebellion in their hearts caused by the large, deep scars they carry. However, before long, they both embrace an earnest hope in their hearts. "I want to live"...

Other Names: Our Happy Hours, Our Happy Time

Japanese: 私たちの幸せな時間

Volume(s): 1

Chapter(s): 8

Status: Finished

Published: 2007

Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Seinen, Psychological
Author(s): Yumeka, Sumomo (Art) || Gong Ji-Young (Story)
Serialization: Comic Bunch

The Review

Story: 5/5

The story is introduced to the main character, Juri, who committed suicide, and is sent to the hospital immediately. Her aunt, who is a nun, visits her and tells her that Juri should go to a precinct with her to talk to a convict on death row.
The plot is very beautiful, and well-written. Considering that this manga only has 8 chapters with varying lengths, the story was started beautifully, and that's also the way it concluded. I absolutely have no more words for this manga. Truly beautiful.

Art: 4/5

The story's theme is very solemn, and that's also how the art was displayed. The art was very clean, but there are some times when the drawings are fuzzy. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the drawing style because it was unique.

Characters: 5/5

The character development really astounded me. Juri isn't the typical character who wants to commit suicide. She actually has an acceptable reason for wanting to end her life like that. Yuu, on the other hand, is a criminal who got convicted for murder. We might think that murderers are inhumane people because they kill. Yuu isn't like that. He has a reason for wanting to kill those 3 people. Oh god, I don't even know what to say anymore. The characters are really very, very amazing.

Enjoyment: 5/5

I really enjoyed reading this manga, which might seem pretty ironic because it isn't supposed to be something joyful. It's the type of story that will make you cry and change your perspective towards the beauty of life, but despite this, it will also make you enjoy reading it. I just love this manga so much.

Overall: 5/5

To be honest, this manga made me cry for 2 nights! I couldn't breathe well before sleeping and I even cried out of nowhere in our classroom because I remembered this. Yumeka-sensei deserves a two thumbs-up for this well-crafted story. It's so magnificent, and I don't think that any word could sum up the emotions I felt, and the beauty that this manga has.