Appare Jipangu

Title:  Appare Jipangu
Mangaka:  Yuu Watase
Length:  3 Volumes (Completed)
English Translation?  Nope.  You'll have to read it online for English.
Demo/Genre:  Shoujo/Historical/Comedy

Yusura was orphaned while still just an infant.  She was found beneath a cherry tree with a single possession:  the staff, Kongoumaru.  This staff glows blue as it absorbs the sadness of those around her, which she is then able to fire back on someone so that they feel the sadness they have caused others.  Now fifteen years old, she makes her living "battling sorrow" and helping the people of her village.

How did I find out about it?  I've read several works by Yuu Watase and investigations into her catalog led me to this one.

This series is pretty short and simple.  Unlike most manga, it wasn't published in a magazine.  Watase-sensei wanted to write a series without having to worry about the page restrictions of a magazine.  The result is Appare Jipangu!  The art is pretty much typical Watase, which is good (in my opinion).  While there is romance in the series, the focus is on the comedy.  Yusura's romantic interest is a young samurai named Samon who has terrible eyesight (a running gag in the manga).  AJ also makes many self-referential jokes, which I think is always nice.  It's generally just a fun romp.  Each chapter is pretty much stand-alone.  This isn't a manga that sticks with you for very long afterwards, but it was very fun to read, and if it were available in the States, I'd definitely get it.

This review was short, but there really wasn't much to say about it.  It's short, it's fun, and it's funny!  Well worth the read!