Kowloon Generic Romance

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Watching the trailer for the anime adaptation, I found Kujirai hot and the art style hot and nostalgic, so I spent my weekend until Monday night reading from the start up until Chapter 78. I could have finished it sooner, but it's the kind of story where you want to take huge breaks in between because it's so good and you don't want to reach the end just yet.

Sure, Kujirai's hot, and the art and narrative are great and all, but what really kept me on the edge of my seat was the non-linear storytelling (just like Tengoku Daimakyou) and all the other characters. They're ... all fleshed out really well, and I love the setting - it makes me want to visit Hong Kong again. I started reading this for Kujirai, but I binged it till the most recently translated volume for Yaomay, Miyuki, Xiaohei, and the rest.

This manga gets it right—it shows rather than tells (I hate excessive exposition and monologues), shifts between multiple perspectives (I hate linear scifi/drama/mystery manga that rely only on the clueless main character’s point of view because it always gets boring and predictable), and makes sure EVERY character is multi-dimensional and has real depth.

There's a lot of philosophical moments too. Kowloon Generic Romance should be taught in schools instead of Camus, Sartre, and Hegel lol. Reading this made me feel like I was in college again. Yaomay sometimes sounds like that one fun philo professor teaching freshmen about existence precedes essence and the absolute self.

From a plot standpoint, I don't understand why others say it's a slowburn when there were several panels in the first five chapters that already show how there's something OFF. To the point where I thought it was heading towards Gakkou Gurashi or Bird Box mass hallucination levels. It's not as fast-paced as stories like Dandadan (different genres of course), but there were definitely clues, Chekhovs guns, and off-putting dialogues that already showed something was OFF - but they all give you a highly satisfying eureka feeling when you figure it out later on when the author starts showing more clues and eventually lays out the whole context.

Without spoiling anything, I assumed the worst out of almost all the characters but was pleasantly surprised when they didn't turn out how I thought them to be (and I'm hoping it stays that way because I've grown really fond of everyone).

I don't usually leave reviews, but this is absolutely s-tier writing and visual storytelling compared to what I've read in recent years that I'm surprised it managed to stay un-adapted and sort of obscure for so long. I usually hate writing reviews about a manga I'd just read because I think it takes away from the experience of speculating, reflecting, and waiting before the new volume is released. But this manga is just THAT good. Jun Mayuzuki just gained another fan.

Being a relatively new series , the story of romance revolving around Kowloon walled city is most definitely a interesting , unique , mysterious and confusing one .

The story itself begins quite simple , yet as it slowly progresses the plot tenses , darkens and with each new chapter mysteries of Kowloon and it's residents starts to unravel . Past , Present , Death , Alive , Lies , Truth , Love , Hate is all but questions that awaits to be answered In the walled city of kowloon

The Characters themselves are full of mysteries , each character is decently well written and captures problems ... that can reflect some in the real world. With the dynamic between the characters are also quite fictional so it might not be for everyone. Yet I think they also do capture and reflect how those that once lived in Hong Kong's Walled city go about their daily lives , showing the struggles that once faced those within the confined city

The World that is Kowloon Wall city is nothing breathtaking as it mainly focus within the confined city , no breathtaking scenery, no grassy plains , no clear blue seas . The city it self is nothing but a walled slum. Yet I think it excelled in recreating that nostalgic feeling that was once Kowloon , the tight narrow space , the tiny rooms , traditional food , cramped walking space , leaking roof , trash everywhere , elders playing mahjong , not so great work environment, all truly capture the essence of Hong Kong.

Final Note

This series isn't for everyone , the story is indeed quite confusing but extremely in depth , the dynamic and character design is also up to personal preference , in my opinion the style is similar to mysterious girlfriend x so it also might not appeal to some. But I think the world of mysteries within Kowloon walled city is definitely something to be explored and discovered, the world itself truly captures the essence that was once Kowloon walled city. If you come from Hong Kong I world most definitely recommend this towards you . But definitely check out this series if you enjoy romance and mysteries as this series is pack to the brim with it.

So i just read this full recently, until latest translated chapter. And having it read before, this is the equivalent to The series called Lost.

In Lost, each episode you are bombared with new information and new lore. But what kowloon does not get a grip at is that they never reveal the lore, presumably in the last chapters of this manga everything will be explained.

Following is my opinion. Why tf is there gay seggs between a psychopathic male doctor and a most likely a modefied male human. And all of a sudden this now about the 2 of them solving this "CONSPIRACY OOGGAAA ... BOOOGA". From a romance between a beatiful woman, and a good man to homos. (I have nothing against homo manga, read a number of yuri stuff)

Back on track. It does really hurt me not knowing the lore explained. Although i know what is the lore and you find out the whole gig fast, it still needs to be explained lol. I like the characters, the setting, but i just cant get over how the author just does not want to explain the lore that is embedded within these characters.
Other than that, nice realationship, nice setting, yeah wow i did not expect such a cool setting, think of it as a old school cyperpunk ish.
And yeah i did read it before, remembered some things. And some things i guess have aged poorly. Might just be me.

Read it, i wouldnt reccomend. Wait maybe till the manga ends