Conclusion of Mahoraba

Finally read the last two chapters of a manga called Mahoraba. I have watched the anime series before, but as a manga and anime fan, if it is really good, I will see the anime and read the manga since not all of the things in the manga usually make it into the anime and sometimes the story is different due to anime classification, for example the depth of rudeness in Bamboo Beat anime is way toned down for Miyamiya compared to her behaviour in the manga.

The story of Mahoraba is about a boy called Shiratori Ryuushi, who returns to live at a housing complex called Narutaki-so. The housing complex is unique in a way because it is a low-set single story collection of rooms that surround a middle garden, while the buildings around this rustic place have all been developed into highrise apartments etc. Shiratori attends an art school with his dream of becoming a childrens book author and illustrator and ends up staying at this particular place. Unknown to his current memory, but is remembered further on, he did stay at this place in his much younger youth. He meets a very diverse group of lodgers at this place, and also the manager of the complex, a girl called Aoba Kozue, who he grew up with, but didn't remember about.

There are 62 chapters across 12 volumes in this manga, and it is wonderfully drawn by Kojima Akira. The final volume was published in 2006.

There are twists and turns, and in general could be said to be a comedic manga, but there are plenty of drama and serious issues also presented in this manga.

I really liked it and would highly recommend anyone to read it.
I have been reading it through the servers at Anime-Source so if you want to, you can also find it there in their manga section.

This is the front cover (image taken from Anime-Source) if you wanted to find it in book format or something and can read Japanese since the scans are scanlated by the group Hiyoko no Gao.