Introduction Going to say it straight up I adore this manga. There is always a weird preconceived notion of sports mangaanime. As it revolves around I dont particularly enjoy watching this sport so there is no point in experiencing it. Its so weird because in most cases it does not matter in the slightest. These artists are fully aware that the readers arent interested in the subject matter whatsoever. So they frame the story in a certain light that is both compelling to the fans of the sport and people who arent acquainted with it. I know people criticise the structure of this type of series but one aspect that I love is that it gives me a new perspective on something I never thought about. An Example is the anime Major. I generally dont like watching baseball despite the subject matter of Major being baseball I adore it and more importantly makes me respect the sport. It provides a perspective you would never get otherwise. The same can be applied to Hajime no Ippo what it takes to be a pro boxer and the sacrifices a person would make. The reason I recall this story is because this is the same experience I felt reading this manga. I will never get out of my way to watch this sport but I have a deep sense of respect that I would never have otherwise if I didnt read this brilliant piece of art. Firstly the sport is a character. Its not like Ashita no Joe or REAL where the sport is a backdrop to facilitate psychological trauma or drama. Its similar to Ippo or Baby Steps in that vein but with less detail. I always found it interesting to explore why do people become an athlete or partake in a sport. I aint talking about surfacelevel observations but something more poignant. Seeing so many perspectives on one sport gives you that appreciation for it. Compared to any other genre when this is executed well its just beautiful. We learn about Ballroom Dancing with Tatara and our conception of it grows as we continue reading the series. Story So what is this story about? Honestly I dont want to talk about that aspect as its not that important. The general setup of a sports manga is pretty similar because its a structure that works. What is arguably more important is the execution. This is what I think the author nails. Its not super predictable but therere aspects you would anticipate however its earned. You never groan about oh theyre doing this clich etc. You will be so immersed it doesnt matter. In terms of progression it achieves this quite well. The main character has a certain goal he is achieving and characterwise and plotwise he is advancing towards it. But of course there going to be those downtimes for reflection and slice of life which is excellent. Honestly pretty impressive thinking back upon Tataras journey from chapter 1 to the latest chapter 63 for me. The amount he learns throughout the journey is part of the reason I love this genre. Because the framing of the narrative compliments that very well. Characters Beyond representing the sports correctly with respect characters are the most important aspect of a sports manga. If you do not connect with the characters whats the point? I adore most of the characters and all of them have their own personal demons reasons why they practice the sport or do not. In general I think characters are very nuanced and not given enough credit. One of my fav characters is Chinatsu at the offset she is just a tsundere. But once you understand the character from subtle details or the flashbacks you understand all her actions. Honestly she is an incredibly realistic person and a fascinating individual. Even characters like Hanaoka could be perceived as a typical romantic interest though the author doesnt focus on her too heavily you notice she isnt onenote. Some characters treat her as such but she calls out certain behaviours and welcomes certain challenges. Almost every character here has characteristics that can be perceived as onenote or archetypal but Tomo goes the extra mile giving that added level of complexity. Even random side characters that are oneoff characters rarely feel disposable. Art How do you describe the art beyond just saying its breathtaking. Well yes its bloody breathtaking stunning and gorgeous. There are so many adjectives to describe it that I might not do it justice. I will try to articulate why its those adjectives firstly you will notice the eyes. Tomo Takeuchi understands what makes a piece of art just so vivid and alive. You will first notice the eye slashes and then you will see the pupils and then it strikes you. There is a specific technique she employs thats very different from the rest of her peers. Specific linework that makes her art style so distinct. If youre a wellread reader of manga there is a specific character design for male protagonists thats very standard and honestly interchangeable this does not employ that at all. Everyone has a unique character design and evokes something about their character from subtle details. Because this is about Ballroom Dancing posture and showcasing backs are something you must capture correctly and she does it. At times some drawings will make you awestruck. So she captures the human anatomy pretty well at least I have nothing to complain about on that front. I guess people complain about the necks which I didnt find to be an issue. The anime is jarring but thats mainly because its an art style best suited to its medium manga. Her art style honestly feels somewhat incompatible with anime its tough to convey because of the unique aspects of her style specifically. So the final thing about the art I will talk about is the shading. The movement that is conveyed is incredible because of the beautiful shading. On her Twitter she does breakdowns of her storyboards to the final piece and its glorious. p.s. The clothing are stunning and very accurate you can just tell the author had a blast. The attention to detail for this aspect hasnt gone out unnoticed. Panel Work Like the art as she has been drawing this manga for over a decade. This fundamental component improves significantly over time. Even from the offset the panel work never felt cluttered certain drawings have a great sense of flow. For sports manga understanding how to convey movement and good panel work are key and yeah she accomplishes it very well. A lot of moments would lose that impact if it wasnt framed in a certain light. The exposition never felt clunky just the right number of doses. A lot of the drawingspanel work adds to characterisation. The amount of personality that can be conveyed through the languages of the eyes is more than you would think. Overall this is an aspect that just gets better the more you read. One of my favourite examples of how to use this medium. Conclusion This is one of my favourite series in general. At the offset it can be perceived as a very generic beat by beat sports series but once you dive deeper you understand its not that at all. If you are into fantastic characters that seem archetypal at first but you realise have a lot of depth. Exploring a sport in depth and coming to appreciate it and a fantastic coming of age of sorts plus just something beautiful to look upon. If the aspects of my review sound intriguing definitely give it a shot its well worth the ride. Thank You for reading this Review.