--- product_id: 776840598 title: "Ayako" price: "EC$244" currency: XCD in_stock: true reviews_count: 6 url: https://grenada.desertcart.com/products/776840598-ayako store_origin: GD region: Grenada --- # Ayako **Price:** EC$244 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Ayako - **How much does it cost?** EC$244 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [grenada.desertcart.com](https://grenada.desertcart.com/products/776840598-ayako) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Long considered as one of Osamu Tezuka's most political narratives, Ayako is also considered to be one of his most challenging as it defies the conventions of his manga by utilizing a completely original cast and relying solely on historical drama to drive the plot. Ayako, pulls no punches, and does not allow for gimmicks as science-fiction or fantasy may. Instead Tezuka weaves together a tale which its core simply focuses on a single family, a family that could be considered a metaphor for a rapidly developing superpower. Overflowing with imagery of the cold war seen through Japan's eyes, Ayako is firmly set in realism taking inspiration from a number of historical events that occurred over the American occupation and the cultural-revolution which soon followed. Believed to be Tezuka's answer to the gekiga (dramatic comics) movement of the 60's, Ayako should be considered one of the better early examples of a seinen (young adult) narrative to be published. Initially set in the aftermath of World War II, Ayako focuses its attention on the Tenge clan, a once powerful family of landowners living in a rural community in northern Japan. From the moment readers are introduced to the extended family, it is apparent that the war and American occupation have begun to erode the fabric that binds them all together. The increasing influence of political, economic and social change begins to tear into the many Tenge siblings, while a strange marriage agreement creates resentment between the eldest son and his sire. And when the family seems to have completely fallen apart, they decide to turn their collective rage on what they believe to be the source of their troubles—the newest member of the Tenge family, the youngest sister Ayako. Review: Stop half-way through and you won't be disappointed - Found the first several chapters of this "novel" very interesting and exciting. However, was greatly disappointed by Tezuka's failure to or refusal to maintain the novel he had begun. That is, from about the halfway point, from the time Ayako begins to "become of age," the plot became --in many ways-- absurd, and lost its "reality" punch. I found myself wondering why this was so. The story had begun so believably and with roots in actual history. A disappointment. Review: Odd in a charming way - Ayako is an odd book. If you've read any of Tezuka's other books then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Some things just don't translate well. Aristocrats read like farmers and strange abbreviations leave you questioning whether the speech bubbles actually match the pictures. Is it British-English? Japanese-English? American-English? I don't know. Often you'll be left scratching your head wondering what the hell is going on... and its great! You see all that oddness yields an unusual kind of charm. Is it flawed? Yes. Is it a great piece of literature? No. Do I care? No. The story isn't cookie-cutter. Its rich and complicated - just like the artwork. Ayako is a challenging and rewarding read. I loved every page. You can't compare this to Watchmen, The Boys or Asterios Polyp. For as diverse (and brilliant) as those other books are, they were written on planet Earth. Ayako on the other hand was surely written on planet Mars. Its that different! It allows you to peek inside a world that's completely foreign to most of us. The world shown to us isn't Japan. Its Osamu Tezuka. If that appeals to you then buy this book. If not then look for some more men in tights. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Amazon 売れ筋ランキング | 洋書 - 235,263位 ( 洋書の売れ筋ランキングを見る ) War Fiction - 1,083位 Historical Fiction - 2,759位 Shonen (Boys) Manga - 4,628位 | | おすすめ度 | 5つ星のうち4.6 546 レビュー | ## Images ![Ayako - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41YWZ4g1K7L.jpg) ## Available Options This product comes in different **Media Format** options. ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stop half-way through and you won't be disappointed *by A***A on 2011年3月8日に日本でレビュー済み* Found the first several chapters of this "novel" very interesting and exciting. However, was greatly disappointed by Tezuka's failure to or refusal to maintain the novel he had begun. That is, from about the halfway point, from the time Ayako begins to "become of age," the plot became --in many ways-- absurd, and lost its "reality" punch. I found myself wondering why this was so. The story had begun so believably and with roots in actual history. A disappointment. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Odd in a charming way *by D***Y on 2011年1月14日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み* Ayako is an odd book. If you've read any of Tezuka's other books then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Some things just don't translate well. Aristocrats read like farmers and strange abbreviations leave you questioning whether the speech bubbles actually match the pictures. Is it British-English? Japanese-English? American-English? I don't know. Often you'll be left scratching your head wondering what the hell is going on... and its great! You see all that oddness yields an unusual kind of charm. Is it flawed? Yes. Is it a great piece of literature? No. Do I care? No. The story isn't cookie-cutter. Its rich and complicated - just like the artwork. Ayako is a challenging and rewarding read. I loved every page. You can't compare this to Watchmen, The Boys or Asterios Polyp. For as diverse (and brilliant) as those other books are, they were written on planet Earth. Ayako on the other hand was surely written on planet Mars. Its that different! It allows you to peek inside a world that's completely foreign to most of us. The world shown to us isn't Japan. Its Osamu Tezuka. If that appeals to you then buy this book. If not then look for some more men in tights. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sehr gelungenes Familien-Epos *by S***K on 2012年9月6日にドイツでレビュー済み* Eine Geschichte, die sehr geradlinig und doch tiefgründig erzählt wird: Das Schicksal einer reichen Farmer-Familie, die nach dem 2. Weltkrieg immer mehr zerbricht, weil sie sich mit den politischen Veränderungen genausowenig arrangieren kann wie mit den eigenen charakterlichen Abgründen. Hier gibt es praktisch keine Guten: Fast jede Figur hat mit Mord, Korruption, Betrug und Verrat zu tun, zumindest die männlichen Protagonisten werfen ein sehr schlechtes Bild auf die Familie Tenge. Über einen Zeitraum von über 20 Jahren kann der Leser ihren Absturz verfolgen. Dramatisch das Schicksal der kleinen Ayako, die vom Zeichner teilweise herzzerreißend in Szene gesetzt wird. Poetische Gerechtigkeit gibt es erst ganz am Ende, bis dahin hat man eine 700 Seiten lange Reise durch Abgründe und Niedertracht zu absolvieren, stets garniert mit der Hoffnung auf Rehabilitation und Erlösung. Zeichnerisch ein Genuß, storytechnisch ein echter "Pageturner" kann man diesen Klassiker der japanischen Comic-Kunst wirklich nur empfehlen. In "Ayako" sind auch die Figuren glaubwürdiger als z.B. in "Ode to Kirihito", einem anderen Werk des Mangameisters das mir eine deutliche Spur zu sehr ins Absurde geraten war. Positiv auch das Format, ein handliches Hardcover das gut in den Händen liegt und im Regal schön aussieht. Auf einen Schutzmantel hat man verzichtet, wenn es den Preis so positiv beeinflußt (17 € für 700 Seiten finde ich schon sehr günstig), soll es mir recht sein. ## Frequently Bought Together - Ayako - The Book of Human Insects - MW --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://grenada.desertcart.com/products/776840598-ayako](https://grenada.desertcart.com/products/776840598-ayako) --- *Product available on Desertcart Grenada* *Store origin: GD* *Last updated: 2026-10-18*