(Manga review) Watashitachi wa douka Shiteiru by Ando Natsumi

English title: Something’s Wrong with Us/ We Are Not Ourselves Today

Read scanlation @mangadex (1 volume)

Rating 3/5

I read an update stating that there would be a new live action based on a josei manga starred by Hamabi Minami and Ryusei Yokohama. I don’t know why, every time I read an update saying that there would be a manga getting a live action, I’m always excited. And before, I always try to read the manga. If it happened to be interesting, I would gladly finish reading it. But if the story is too gloomy, the illustration of the manga is not to my liking, then I would drop it, and I would just wait for the film. 😂😂😂

Looking for the manga with the English title as Something’s Wrong With Us is not easy. What I got is just volume 1 in mangaowl as well as in mangadex. I tried to browse more websites, and guess what I got! It’s complete volume with around 41 chapters! BUT!, it’s not in English. Glancing at the letters, I guess it’s Thai or something I cannot recognize. It’s as curly as my hair 😄😄😄

As it is written in the synopsis, it is about a traditional Japanese sweet maker, Tsubaki from a well-known confectionery store named Kougetsu An. He met his childhood friend, Ookura Nao whose mother used to work in Kougetsu An. One day, a tragedy took place. Tsubaki’s father was murdered, and the one who happened to be next to him was Nao’s mother. She was accused as the murderer. As she went to jail, Nao was stranded somewhere outside from Kougetsu An.

Fifteen years later, Nao has become a masterly sweet maker who worked in a small confectionery store. Due to some circumstances, Nao could not work in the store anymore. Meanwhile, she got an offer to make confectionery gift for a couple who was going to get married. She took the offer since she was desperate for her own future career. What she knew, she loved making sweets, and she got cookie cutter left from her mother. She just wanted to continue making sweets anywhere and anytime. Never had she known that she would be meeting adult Tsubaki. The family of the couple wanted to have these two young confectionery makers to compete to present for wedding gift.  

Sweet made by Tsubaki

Sweet made by Nao

Another unexpected encounter was followed by another incident. Tsubaki seemed not to recognize Nao as someone he made friends with when he was child. On the contrary, Nao still kept her revenge against Tsubaki who accused her mother to be the murderer. Her mother even ended her life in jail. You can imagine how she felt towards Tsubaki. However, she couldn’t do anything yet since Tsubaki offered her a marriage!

What could be the motive of this marriage?

I somehow know how the mangaka would bring the story to. The two young confectionery makers would compete each other to make sweets, and to be recognized as the legendary sweet maker. Tsubaki seemed to hide his anguish towards his sneering mother. Nao, in her own decision, accepted the marriage.

I just finished volume 1 just in time it gets more interesting. I just love how the mangaka created beautiful tempting sweets. I myself don’t really like sweets, but I’m sure if I get one of the sweets, I’d love to try one. And I’m sure, the battle in becoming number one confectionery maker would be thrilling, so would the growing feeling between them. I guess, this is not merely about romance between the two, but also about how Nao revealed the truth about who murdered Tsubaki’s father. Looking at how annoying Tsubaki’s mother is, how she prohibited Nao to roam around Tsubaki’s family house, I’m sure the mystery involved her. Well, it’s just my assumption.  

Minamni Hamabe as Nao Ookura

Ryuse Yokohama as Tsubaki

Speaking about the live action, Minami Hamabe would be Nao. With her qualified acting, I’m sure she would make Nao come to life. I cried a river when she played in I Want To Eat Your Pancreas. She’s also amazing in Kakegurui drama. This time, she would perform more in kimono and apron. Aaahh, I suddenly remember her role in Hotel on The Brink. In the drama, Minami-chan played as a chef in a hotel. For Ryusei Yokohama, I know he’s a skyrocketing actor. But, honestly, I don’t find his acting superb yet. He might be one promising actor in the future. But, he needs to try all kinds of possible roles with totally different performance. Wish that he could be a good partner for Minami Hamabe in this drama.

Overall, I’m looking forward to the live action. If you happen to know the rest of the volume of the manga, please kindly leave the comment. Ah, I’m sorry, I should read the legal manga, right? Hmmmmm…. 🙈🙈🙈

Share this post