Perfect World

Tsugumi Kawana is an interior designer who has just reunited with her childhood friend from high school, Itsuki Ayukawa. But, since their last meeting, Ayukawa had gotten into an accident leaving him in a wheelchair with a spinal cord injury. As Kawana gradually falls in love with Ayukawa, she begins to realize how difficult her life would be dating someone in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, Ayukawa refuses to fall in love ever since he had broken up with his high school sweetheart.
Perfect World does not sugar coat the issues arising with disabilities. I had expected this manga to have a lighthearted story where Kawana would have to overcome her reservations for dating someone in a wheelchair. Instead, Ayukawa's health problems are worrisome, and paint an accurate portrait of what someone with a spinal cord disability would have to face on a regular basis. When Ayukawa is first introduced, he appears to be an optimist who has begun to overcome adversity faced through his spinal cord injury. But, as the story goes on, Kawana realizes just how difficult Ayukawa must struggle on a daily basis. Their love story is hardly perfect, but its realism makes it all the more endearing.
The artwork of this manga is clean, and the translation is very clear and understandable. Perfect World is a great manga for those who love to read romantic dramas.
*I received an advanced copy of Perfect World from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Perfect World at times feels heavy handed and preachy about the challenges facing those with wheelchair disabilities; but at the same time, it's an important reminder that Japan, unlike countries like America, does not have many laws in place to give equal opportunity access in public places. Still, many plot points feel there simply to make a statement or create a 'poignant moment' rather than as a natural occurrence. But the illustration work is quite lovely and (mostly owing this to being a josei (adult women oriented) rather than shoujo (school girl oriented) title) is a thought provoking read. Especially for all the fans of Jojo Moyes "Me Before You" series since there are similar issues explored.

Story: 26-year-old Tsugumi Kawana works as an interior designer, having long ago given up her dream of being a painter. At a work party, she ends up meeting again her long time unrequited crush Itsuki Ayukawa (whom she has not seen since high school graduation). He had always planned to be an architect and he, unlike her, managed to make his dreams come true. But she soon finds that life wasn't without its own price for Ayukawa; in college, he was struck by a car and received a permanent spinal injury, resulting in the need for a wheelchair. As Kawana gets to know him better and works with him, she finds she is falling in love with him all over again. But Ayukawa lives with all the mental and physical complication of his injury: from pushing away all people to the constant risk of further injuries and complications. Is there a future for the two?

As with the Jojo Moyes book, we have a highly successful and driven male lead who becomes permanently handicapped by a freak accident. Cue somewhat ditzy but sweet girl who doesn't know how to handle the strong-willed boy but knows she is falling in love with him anyway. In this case, Kawana had known Ayukawa most of her life and always was drawn to him, even when he ended up choosing a different girl. Her memories of him, especially the heartbreak when he chose a different girl, form the pathos of much of the book.

The plot does feel contrived, though, to push certain points. From the ex girlfriend who seemingly 'dumped' him when he became handicapped but who in reality was pushed away - to a boy whose parents hire Ayukawa in order to help them redo their house to be handicap friendly to their son, who was recently crippled in an accident. Both chapters were about Ayukawa learning to understand his own disability and grow from it. But both situations were far too convenient to be happening just as Ayukawa meets him.

The illustration work is very clean and lovely. It is in the typical Josei fashion and can be irregular at times but I prefer this to the overcrowded paneling of most shoujo manga. The focus is on the nuances of emotions rather than zany action.

In all, I greatly enjoyed Perfect World, even with the detractions. It is a smooth and clean story, if a bit preachy. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.