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Reviewed by Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane I think it's been a while since I dropped into the middle of a series without any kind of familiarity with it. All I knew about Mixed Vegetables was what little I remembered from Oyceter's review of vol. 1 when it came out, but happily it turns out to be the kind of series that's forgiving of someone just passing by. The setup is very simple: the protagonists, Hanayu and Hayato, would have much simpler lives if they could just trade families. Hanayu's family runs a patisserie, but she wants to be a sushi chef; Hayato's family runs a sushi shop, but he wants to be a pastry chef. I gather from the story-so-far that they've already tried and abandoned the obvious tactic of dating each other for strategic reasons, and they're now at the point of being friends who're cheering each other on. That would probably be working out better if Hanayu didn't seem to be falling for Hayato, of course. But that doesn't get a lot of focus in this volume. Instead, the two wind up challenging each other to a private radish-peeling competition, which Hanayu is determined to win so that Hayato will tell her his reasons for wanting to become a pastry chef. Komura, the author, uses the opportunity to delve not only into Hayato's motivations but also his family history, and to give Hanayu--who's apprenticing at Hayato's family's shop--a chance to get to know both the family and the craft better. It's very nicely handled, with a good eye for the characters' development. Later, the two do a bit of romantic meddling when they discover that Saki, another employee at the shop, has longstanding and unresolved feelings for their cooking teacher. Since they both clearly believe in going for what you want despite the obstacles life throws at you, Hanayu and Hayato's involvement is probably inevitable, and again, the story unfolds well. This book didn't hit me right in the heart, but I'm glad to have had the chance to read it. It's a bit on the fluffy side, but quite fun. Volume 4 of Mixed Vegetables includes two pages of cultural/translation notes. Review copy provided by VIZ Media. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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