Hitsuji no Uta

This is one of my favorite books of all time. About a month ago, if you were to ask me for an example of something Japanese that would never, ever get translated into English, it’s likely I would have said this comic. Even in the weird circumstances that could bring this out in English, I’d’ve expected things like MONSTER or 20th Century Boys or even Saishuu Heiki Kanojo to get here first. And yet, here it is. I can’t even begin to tell you how surreal it is to find Hitsuji no Uta books at Bay Park Square mall in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In fact, the feeling is somewhat reminiscent of the one I had when, at a Book-Off in Nakano or somewhere, I found a manga about the Chicago Bulls’ road to the NBA championship, complete with tiny little manga Michael Jordan and manga Scottie Pippen speaking Japanese. Somewhat.