Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan

Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan is a touching and also tragic manga. BEWARE there are lots of feels! This is a short manga, yet it leaves a strong impression on you, and teaches you some valuable life lessons. I enjoyed seeing Juri and Yuu develop. It truly is heart-breaking to know what the end will be like... It was interesting to see how 2 people who both tried to commit suicide several times relate and change for the better. The art is quite refreshing and mature.

Overall I found all the components well in sync. I definitely recommend this manga if you want to read something new and tears at your emotions.

This was a beautiful manga that I found by chance. The end led me to tears. The art was ok but that isn't the main part though, the story line did not spend too much time on it that you got annoyed with it instead it kept the story flowing. The theme was good and I really enjoyed it.

though i have to say i'm not a fan of reviewing art or reviews in general, as art is an entirely subjective form, i have to say a few words about this - this is the story of how two very lost people are saved by each other and fall in love for a very short time - sad to say, but our greatest loves are sometimes far too short - a suicidal girl agrees against her will to start visiting a murderer on death row and over a very short time each teaches the other what it means to really live each day to it's fullest and also that redemption from our mistakes is available to all of us, if only we can forgive those who've hurt us - it's also a very moving protest against the evil of the death penalty because we are all human; even the worst amongst us was once a baby and pure - why is it a sin to murder outside of a prison wall but not to murder those inside? this story is a true tragedy, but also a true dream of what love is and the evanescence of our sometimes short time with those we love - i would recommend this to anyone whose heart is not made of stone..............

I already knew this one-shot for a long time, is also among the best rated on MyAnimeList, which is pretty impressive. I imagined that this success did not come from nowhere, but I never imagined having such a blow of heart!

Story:
This one-shot features two complex characters: Juri, a young woman who tried many times to end his days and Yuu, a young prisoner sentenced to death and trying, too, to commit suicide in his prison cell. It is through Juri's aunt, a nun, that these two people will meet and finally see life in a new light.
It's a really dark story, where you can meet all the vices of society: murder, rape, prostitution ... These are not the elements I look for in my reading. And yet, I really loved this story, which contains all the hardships of life. I was impressed by how the mangaka plays with these difficult issues and how she manages to move us with. I was really touched by the delicacy and depth of storytelling that has never suffered from the usually frantic pace of one-shots.

Characters:
The two protagonists are extremely endearing:
Despite being very blasé and often disconnected from others, Juri is a woman that you will appreciate very fast, especially from the time it delivers the funds of her thoughts.
As for Yuu, I loved the way it was gradually revealed through his letters. His past, although very hard and difficult to read, gives us even more sympathy for the prisoner, who really has not had an easy life.

Arts:
 Besides the sublime cover, the design is also sumptuous between pages.

enjoyment:
This story made me shed a few tears. The relationship between these two heroes makes the story more beautiful and amazing. How they will change both through the presence of the other is beautiful. I loved watching these changes that were really touching. Yet thirty minutes, every Thursday, this is the only time of meeting offered by the mangaka. But the interviews are really intense, pure bliss!

Overall:
Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan is a masterpiece of one-shot !
Upsetting, Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan is also cruelly realistic as beautiful and poetic. I can only recommend.

I will admit I cried like a baby while reading this manga, but I still had that warm fuzzy feeling. The story is absolutely beautiful, heart felt, and original. Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan passes on a message to it's readers that many wouldn't think about, " Is pity something that we do just to elevate ourselves?"

Watashitachi no Shiawase an Jikan tells the story of a woman, Juri, who has tried to kill herself for reasons of her past. She is approached by her Aunt Monica, a Catholic nun, and asked to visit an inmate,Yuu, who is sentenced to killed for murder. The story progresses from this simile plot line into story that is unlike any other.

Overall it's a stunning piece of art

I'm crying. The ending is easy to see coming but still hurts like hell when it hits. The length of this was perfect; it didn't draw anything out, and it delivered a rich and painful story in only eight chapters.
If you're looking for something to make you cry, then this is it. Mixing in pain, regret, mental illness, religion, and love, it's hard to forget about this story after you finish it.
The art is beautiful, and while it may be cheesy and mushy at times, it's a manga and you can't expect no cheesiness. But, that being said, the cliches don't distract from the story line and message, and can be tolerated in order to understand and enjoy the bigger picture.

Here's my take after reading all 8 moving and tear jerking chapters of Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (Our Happy Hours) by Sumomo Yumeka.

When you loose something important/essential in your life it would either have 2 effects: Moving forward to keep living and striving to be normal or giving up on life and to run away.

This is the story of Yuu, a murderer who is waiting for his death day and Juri Mutou, a young lady who gave up on playing the piano due to her tragic past.

Right off the bat the story establishes itself to be as hopeless and disconsolate to us readers having seen the crime of Yuu and Juri's yet another attempt of suicide.

But as you read on through the story it will slowly open a glimmer of redemption when the two characters cross paths. You would start to feel happy for the characters as they have found someone who really understood each other without hypocrisy.

I would not spoil the story any further from here. I would say that the art for story fits it perfectly, and I love how the words and art are given time to shine in the presentation of the manga. It narrated the story fluidly.

The characters' back story and motivation are well crafted and identifiable. Their characters really are the driving force of the story so Yumeka-san really nailed it there.

After I have finished reading this piece, is when I truly understand what it meant when you say happiness, that it is not just some shallow word to express your happy feeling, but it is something that is buried in the deepest part of someone's life that you would need to take time on digging and uncovering to genuinely get the value of.

With that said, I would give Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan a perfect 10.

oh my goshh. first off, I wasn't planning on reading this because I don't like this kind of artwork and it looked gloomy, but after reading the synopsis it still lingered in my mind the next day, so i decided to read it.
I seriously almost cried. It's so saddd :( but in a positive way which will make sense if you've read it. Although I really wanted it to be like those typical, only-in-mangas happy ending! But I guess this way made it more realistic. Especially because I'm into more shoujo mangas, but I guess these kinds of mangas are good once in a while too!

Losing something is never easy whether it's part of your dream, someone important to you in life, or a property that you hold dearly. It is a burden to bear and the wound sometimes may never be healed. It is because times are hard to come by that we should treasure them and enjoy the happy hours we live through.

Watashi-tachi no Shiawase na Jikan (also known as Our Happy Hours, Our Happy Time) is a manga illustrated by Yumeka Sumomo and Sahara Mizu (who the latter is also an author of the work) However, the manga is actually adapted from Gong Ji-Young's novel. She is of the Korean origin and broke into prominence among other female writers in the late 1980s. Some of her other famous works includes The Day I Became a Butterfly and Voices of a Distant Star. The manga is consisted of only one volume of 8 chapters covering roughly about 300 pages of material. However, its genres of drama, romance, slice of life mixed with psychological and seinen themes with a possible touch of josei makes it an unique piece of work that I found quite enjoyable.

To me, words cannot describe the beauty of this work. What started out as a bitter some with a gloomy atmosphere later turns into story of defined elegance. The two main characters, Yuu and Juri, are introduced in the first chapter. We are also introduced to Monica, the aunt of Juri who similarly bears a painful past. The manga later depicts the meeting between our two main characters, one by the name of Yuu. He is seen as an orphan and is now in prison at death row. The depression that has beared on his mind hangs over his shoulders so much that he tries to commit sucide many times. Similarly, Juri also has an urge to commit suicide as dreams are flying away and reaching further and further from her. "I decided to die – because if I live any longer, there is no doubt that I will kill you!" (Chapter 1) is just one of my many examples from the beginning chapters that depicts how deep of a depression a character has gone through. In this quote, Juri expresses her inner desire to die before she thinks that her inner self will cause her to harm others. We learn about their life in a profound way that deals with their conflicts, troubles, and their inner selves. There's also sense of mature themes involving themes of murder, rape, and suicide. These moments captures the narrative voice and strongly emphasizes the darkness of this manga. However at the same time, there seems to be hope as we see the connection between these two characters that is presented in a beautiful way as we see their progression. It expresses the idea of happy hours from a painful tale and the author does an excellent job of that presenting it both in text and visually.

In this story, there is beauty with expression. That is expressed by the way the story progresses itself. The story is told from a first person's viewpoint. There are many flashbacks involving the two main characters from their point of view. For example, we can see that Yuu feels guilty about the acts he committed. It is realistic because what the actions he has committed results in Yuu doubting himself so much that he wishes to end his existence from this world. In terms of language, it is vernacular but seems to have a lack of feelings in the beginning. However as the pages goes by, that feeling seems to increase more and more. It almost makes you feel empathic the characters. As the tone of the story is serious, there is little sarcasm or humor involved. Instead, readers may feel sorry for the characters for what they've gone through. Some might pity them for the choices they've made but it is through their crushed hopes and dreams that lead to them the way they've seen life as: a world of darkness. An example is the question echoing throughout Yuu's mind in the manga, "why did you kill them?" reflecting on the question that he is unable to answer with either words or thoughts. He sees himself as an evil now in that dark and lonely world by himself. This manga depicts this psychological aspect of the story and the aftermath of committing a hideous crime. It is not just one but several mental scars that are stuck in the heads of the characters.

Perhaps a second prominent aspect of this story is the changes that the characters embrace and goes through as they discover that life is meaningful. At first, their lives seems to be contrasting to each other as Juri lives with wealth while Yuu is left with poverty. Yet, it is quite interesting to see the two characters interact and we can see more similarities. The two main characters shares quite a lot of similarities – they both wishes to end their life, both of them suffers from a painful past of crushed hopes, and both of them seems to be untrustworthy of others. There's a connection that builds up once Juri and Yuu gets to know each other more. It seems to be loosely connected at first but the two shares their own troubles and conflicts. The story then takes that dark tone and presents it in a more profound way. There are even symbols such as the piano that depicts a smooth melody of the happy times before Juri's depression. The handcuffs that Yuu wears throughout the manga symbolizes a lock of his freedom for the actions he has committed along with a strong sense of guilt. The snow seems to act as a symbol for frozen emotions but at the same time, readers may be able to see it as purification as a result of Juri meeting with Yuu. The drawing in chapter furthers a more evidence of happy emotions as Juri herself. Additionally, we can tell that Juri's cutting of her hair demonstrates a new confidence in herself and possibly letting go of her past to move on. All of these ideas and passages are the blocking blocks of this manga that shows its beauty through connections of this story. In more than one ways, Yuu reflects on everything indirectly of what he has gone through since his encounter with Juri. Now that he has lived with more meaning in the final days of his life, Yuu hopes those meaningful moments will be a part of her as well.

The artwork of the manga remains consistent throughout the series. It gives off a feeling of realism that collaborates with the mood of the story. There's no cliched artwork that makes it seems like moe or comedy. Rather, it depicts the depression of a dark world in which the characters lives through and forces to go by. In many ways, the artwork is how Sumono Yumeka conveys all her other previous works: beautiful, artistic, and a remarkable way of life.

Ultimately, this manga to me is an inspirational piece of work that is strong, passionate, unique, tragic, and a beautiful presentation. In more than one way, I think that the appeal of the work is not just limited to readers with a knowledge of Japanese narrative traditions but can be related to all other narratives of similar genres. It has that sense of universal appeal because it is realistic and expresses deep thoughts through the conscience of the characters. The story itself maintains that strong feeling of guilt, struggles, and hopelessness. However, there is hope and readers can clearly see how it can impact their lives as it has did for Yuu and Juri. All in all, this manga is a dazzling work that is a hybrid of both light and dark written by a gifted writer.

In the world, people beget other people vexations, tribulation and despair. Yet it is unerring that it IS people who usher felicity into our lives. There are diegeses out there that will make someone gape how existence would have been if they hadn't ploughed through the story. They will ponder what it would be like if they hadn't read that story that impelled them to weep, smile, and have their hearts thawed. For me, "Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan" is one of those--I can't imagine life without having read this eloquent story. It is a heartwarming parable polished with tenderness that makes you grizzle. "Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan" succors an allegory emphasizing the hefty question that hassles human's ethics, is it ethical to brood on suicide in order to scoot away from life's professed affliction?

First off, this is an elegant work of striking artistry which made me cry shamelessly. Though, I'm not sure if the predicament will be relatable. The story is ephemeral, delightful, sensitively woven narrative which WILL absolutely incite the reader. The story pivots around two main characters. And is unconditionally focused on their past and present. Reader will thoroughly enjoy the veritable elegance of it. The characters' past and present states are so well brought out that you can't help but succor with them. The emotions rendered are so compelling that you'll find yourself amidst of the characters weeping. Emotions were well channeled by the characters flaunting the artist's flaunt in facial structure and competence for expressiveness. The art is clear, not too detailed, pleasant for an eye and overall beautiful. The lack of details were compensated by vivid toning befitting the disposition of the manga.

Some may categorize this under a dark-themed manga, so it may not go well with everybody. I would undeniably suggest it to anyone who's looking for a intricate, yet pragmatic manga that deals with a whacking gravity of vehemences. It is an emotional, memorable, heartwarming, morbid, and essentially, a phenomenal manga. I'm thankful that I read this manga, it caters a articulate literary experience which is diverse from the ones I used to read.

About storyline,
This story really make me crying.Falling love with a criminal not a good idea but we can know their painful life in this world.We must become a brave person in this world if want continue life.Don't give up with life.
It's painful when Yuu crying when hear Juri playing a piano.I think this manga can make other people crying.

About Art
The arts in this manga not bad.It's good and can be understand.This arts look like oil painter but it's okay.

Character
The characters in this manga also good.Yuu as a criminal and Juri as a lecturer.Juri can play a piano but she quit play piano because she is raped by her piano teacher.That i can say about this manga.

Enjoyment
I really enjoy with this manga.From what i say this manga can make people cry.Don't what to say but the criminal really love that girl,he want her live and continue life with happiness feeling.

I’ve always known that this manga would be a tragic experience. I’ve been putting this on hold for quite a while, but now, I’ve come terms with my fear that I finally found the courage to read this masterpiece. I don’t know what’s got into me that one morning I decided to read it once and for all.

It wasn’t an easy read. But if you manage to overcome the fact of how sad this manga could get, you’d see how this story can be so liberating like the title of it suggests – Our Happy Time. A story that will make you realize that no matter how hopeless it gets you’d still find a reason to want to continue living and that we would always have our fair share of regrets in life.

The story is about Juri, a woman who tried to end her life thrice, a scarred woman who’s full of anguish about her mother and being a pianist that she once loved so much if not for one incident that made her despise it. And Yuu, whose life has always been a living hell and who’s carrying a heavy burden of those lives he took. Together they found happiness on Thursdays, the only day they are allowed to see other, thus, making it their most treasured moments.

This manga is adapted by Yumeka Sumomo from a novel made by Gong Ji Young. I didn’t read the novel but I’ve read a couple of manhwa to say that as always, there’s something about the quality of Korean stories. The images and words they formed in your head and engraved to your heart continue to haunt you and won’t leave no matter what. It creeps and it stays there. It’s mind-blowing and I think Yumeka Sumomo did an excellent job putting it into a manga. Her art fits the tone of the story. Eight chapters may seem short but somehow she delivered the whole thing unhurriedly. My admiration goes to her for that. Only a few mangaka can deliver a powerful material in such a short story like that.

The story, the art and the characters are all of high qualities. The plot is solid. The story has no intention of making you cry but you’ll cry anyway. It was simply telling a story about two people who are alive while dying every day inside and how they somehow found the reason for wanting to live. And that where this manga was so painfully real you can almost touch them and feel their pain. Seriously, it was bad for my heart, I was teary-eyed the entire time. I had to take in deep breaths to calm the emotions that were building up but I lost it in the last chapter. I broke down. It was tough. Really tough.

The entire story was an experience I had to experience in order to fully grasp how is it to be alive, to feel your heart beating, to feel the pain each and every time and muster the courage to move forward and continue to fight every day of your life. Surely, no matter the reason is, taking a life – yours and someone else’s – can never be justified. In the end, we pay for our sins. The world we live in is cruel. It happens every day, some experience it themselves, others witness it. We see it on the news, in papers, in the internet. For most of time we ignore it. We tend to look away from things that can hurt while obliviously enjoying our lives. I do that every day.

Words are powerful. I think all readers must have realized it by now. Stories have the power to transform lives. Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan did its wonders to me. No one can change overnight but after reading this manga, I feel that maybe, just a little bit, I’ve become a better person than I used to be.

This story, i have to admit, brought out emotions i could not understand. I cried and cried at the end. It made me realize that justice can be soul tearing. This manga made me ask so many questions not just based on the manga but also my environment, the government and society's dictation.

This manga was posted on my recommendations list. I am thankful for reading this. This manga is one of the most beautiful, moving and emotional manga I've read. Its so realistic and universal. You will instantly get hooked and pulled into their world. A world of lies and sin. Change and love. It will teach you about how precious life is. Yours and everyone's else's.

Story: 10
The story is amazing! Anyone can relate to this! If it doesn't relate to you personally, I'm sure you know someone who has been going through the same emotions as these characters. I too can relate to both of these characters and that's what makes this story even more awesome. It toys with your emotions. It makes you question happiness. It changes your way of thinking. It teaches you compassion. And that, is what makes this story outstanding because of the life lesson it teach.

Art: 9
I personally enjoyed the art. It wasn't too much or too little. But enough to paint the picture in your mind. I love how in this manga, it shows a lot of images with no words. It was more of the scenery for you to grasp panel by panel of what is happening. It made it more emotional too on most parts.The art is really well.

Character: 10
The characters, flashbacks, and their story was executed outstandingly. I love how it wasn't all predictable. It is where you could put aside what you were taught is right or wrong, good or bad. And just feel and understand the lives that Mitou and Yuu have lived. What they have learned in their process. Their grief.

Enjoyment: 10
I enjoyed this bitter sweet story. I can't get enough of it. I might actually read it again.

Overall: 10
Need I say more? It's an awesome story that deserves a score of 10. You won't regret it.

This was my first tragic manga I read and after reading this it just passed like an arrow through my heart... The Storyline or plot is just too good ... The way emotions are being shown and everything about this manga is amazing.. Those who like to read manga regarding romance tragedy and which deals with reality .. this manga is just made for them .

I didn't like this manga when I first read it and after seeing a bunch of good reviews, I decided to give it another shot and liked it much better than the first one. The story shows us that not everyone is as bad as they seem, sometimes things change looking from different people's perspectives. I remember I didn't like this manga at first because I found the drama so forced and that they were trying so hard for the reader to pity Yuu. I don't think that was the case, the author's aim seemed to be writing a story about people that will be blamed before listening. Most times r*ped women are never believed, are silenced and it must be the same case in prisoners on a death row. No one would believe someone who had murdered 3 people. Still even though Yuu had a very hard time or has a reason, does it really make it ok to murder a person intentionally? I think that was another point that made me very confused because the story seemed to imply his innocence.

The watercolor effect on the art was beautiful. Also the way hair and bodies are drawn were very unique.

I think that you have to not be in a bad mood while reading this because it might change your way of thinking. I personally think that this manga wasn't for everyone but it was very unique.

Well, I still didn't read many mangas but I think I've read enough to say "This is something really special".
The story is just incredible. There isn't any cliché, any boring parts. The plot is original and interesting. And... realistic.
"Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan" means "Our happy hours" (or life, I'm not sure). It is true - the hours they spent together were more precious than years they spent alone.
This manga shows how can be the life changed just in a few hours - short time when you compare it to the whole life, but... short time doesn't mean useless time. "Bad past" doesn't mean "no future".
It's really difficult to give hope someone in the world where isn't any. But... WnSnJ could do it.

Well, it's hard to write a review without any spoilers. If you hesistate - read or not - I can give you just one advice - Read. There are a lot of mangas, which are just interesting. Or enjoyable. Or... funny? But there aren't a lot of mangas, which really make you think about your life. Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan is like this.

Although a not very well known manga, I can say it's the best I've read.
STORY:
The story is original, heartwarming and sad, without being cheesy and stupid. It's so touching and exhibits human nature in a mature and interesting way. Very well put together. Rating: 10/10
ART:
In many mangas, the story is raelly great but the art lacks or vice versa. Not in this one. The art is more realistic than most but I think it just contributes to the brute reality of the piece. All round, really beautiful, especially the cover. Rating: 10/10
CHARACTER:
Yay! No Mary Sue characters here. Juri is both real and fresh. She's able to teach Yuu important lessons without annoying the reader with her goodness. Yuu is also really nice because he's a criminal but the reader feels sorry for him because of the circumstances presented in the story. Rating: 9/10
OVERALL:
A great story with amazing art, themes and characters. My new favorite manga! I would recommend to anyone, especially seinen fans.
OVERALL RATING: 10/10

Wonderful story; I was not expecting such a good story when I picked up Watashitachi No Shiawase Na Jikan, but pleasantly surprised. It is a must read for anyone looking for a story that deals with the psychological aspects of socially neglected and abused people. Thoroughly enjoyable and fantastic read.

Some may consider this review to contain spoilers, but please read on.

Our Happy Time is not just a mediocre manga, it's plenty pretentious too. This pure cheese story starts off with some grim subject matter and continues to vomit more grim subject matter at you until you are beaten and bored. It's a cliche narrative about an inmate on death row who finds a reason to live again through love. With no exceptional visuals and no original characters, this manga reads like the pulpiest young adult fiction imaginable. There's no nuance, there's no subtlety, and the self-righteousness of the main character is suffocating.

If this manga was an attempt to argue against the death penalty it does so weakly. It presents an incredibly one-sided perspective about death row and it's cruelty and actually goes as far as to pardon murder. It paints the lead male out as a stoic hero, sadly brazen by life's overwhelming cruelty. Everyone feels bad for the handsome prisoner in this manga. No one understands him truly though, except our suicidal mary-sue whose mother used to beat her.

There's just so much extraneous schlock in this disgustingly cheap story of "redemption" and revitalization. Why was it packed with so much teen angst for a story about adults? This story deals with real issues dubiously and over saturates their significance. With rape, murder, suicide, crime and self-loathing all snowballed into one goofy mess I can't bear to give this lazily drawn shoujo drivel anything more than a poor to dreadful score.

Check back on this page often to see when it's getting it's LifeTime movie adaptation.