Faded Picture Scroll

Classification: 🍋🍋

Awairo Emaki (Faded Picture Scroll) is a manga written by Fujitobi, published on 2018 on Home-Sha’s .Bloom magazine. It’s a 5 chapters manga licensed in English by futekiya. 

The main character is Ryuta, an ordinary 16-year-old who lives in a village. One day, Ryuta meets Izumo, the exorcist that save his life when a snake youkai attacked him when he was a child, who promised to take him in an adventure when he got older. However, Izumo has no recollection of Ryuta, nor of the promise he made.

While fighting a youkai, Izumo gets hurt and Ryuta, feeling responsible for his wound, decides to accompany him in his journey. Then, the pair starts traveling together from village to village, fighting youkai and spirits as they try to learn more about Ryuta’s past.

Although we see Ryuta and Izumo’s relationship deepening through the story, I’d say that it’s not the main focus of the manga. It’s more about Ryuta’s growth and the mysteries surrounding his past that even himself has no idea about. 

This manga reminded me of Fukigen na Mononokean (The Morose Mononokean). Even the main characters’ personalities are similar in both works. I like stories surrounding youkai and other supernatural entities, even more when those creatures have their own stories and personalities, instead of being just another monster being defeated by the protagonist.

Fujitobi’s drawing style is extremely cute and cartoon-like, it matches the story’s tone.  I think an animation based on this manga would look amazing.

I’d say that the only negative aspect of Faded Picture Scroll is that it is way too short.  Of course, all main conflicts presented in the story are resolved throughout the five chapters, it doesn’t have an open ending, but I’d love to see more of Izumo and Ryuta’s daily life. 

Faded Picture Scroll is a short and sweet manga for those who love adventure stories with bit of romance. You can read it officially on futekiya.