PositiveThe Times Literary Supplement (UK)... a curious and contemplative graphic novel ... Tsuge exploits areas of white throughout the book to give a vivid sense of the barren physical and emotional landscape. Elsewhere, the style can be cartoonish, while Tsuge saves his most intricately illustrated panels for the most moving moments of silence and reflection. The result is a deeply philosophical parable about capitalism, art and beauty, and the pressures of modern life ... It is easy to see from this book how Tsuge has become one of Japan’s most celebrated gekiga (\'dramatic pictures\') artists. But one aspect of it that has not stood the test of time is the author’s treatment of women ... female characters have no real role in the novel other than to chastise their hapless husbands.
