Hyouka - Volume 03 - The Kudryavka Sequence - Welcome to KANYA FESTA! (1)

3-1 The Morning Landscape
023 - ♦05
Ashes at Dusk was a 30-page manga containing three short stories. Despite its
morbid-sounding title, it actually came from Rennyo's [1] well-known verse:
"We may have radiant faces in the morning, but by evening we may turn into
white ashes." [2]
The overarching theme across these short stories is its emphasis on the
abstract impermanence of life. Taking place in a classically dim Showa-style
backdrop, the story describes a rather sad story. That said, the manga doesn't
indulge itself in the retro-feel, but actually focuses on the platonic love of
high school girls as well, so it was also rich in entertainment.
As a Third Year Junior High student, I was lost for words when I saw and
bought this on a whim while visiting the Kamiyama High School Cultural
Festival. Though there was nothing special about the theme, it just felt
earnestly vivid to me.
A unique story that develops alongside its rich dialogue, it is supported by
sensitive-looking artwork, which looked like something right out of a kabuki
theatre. In certain pivotal points of the plot, the art would give a surreal
effect. If I have to list a work, regardless of whether it is commercial or not,
that leaves an impression on me, then it has to be Ashes at Dusk.
And thus, this was a manga that possesses a certain charm which words alone
cannot describe. If I had to give criticism, then I would say the background
art looked a bit amateurish, but even that is not enough to make it bad.
There were only two doujinshis that have taken my breath away completely,
one was Ashes at Dusk, the other was Body Talk, a title I found in another