With the Light, Volume 6

I’ve already said on more than one occasion how much I love this series. How each new volume ends up being read upwards of twenty times before I finally set it aside and wait for the next one. How much it has taught me about autism. Unfortunately, this is the second-to-last time I’ll be raving over a new volume – and the reason was enough to drag me out of hiding long enough to write a new post. Keiko Tobe-sensei passed away in January after a long illness, and Yen Press will be publishing the last volume, number 7, in September.

In case you haven’t already heard it from me, With the Light (光とともに; Hikari to tomo ni) is about the Azuma family – Sachiko, Masato, Kanon and Hikaru, who is autistic. The series follows the family as they struggle with Hikaru’s diagnosis, his education and the way he is treated by people around them, including their own family members

Manga Recommendation: With the Light

Something I have always found particularly interesting about manga is that no matter who you are or what your position is, there is a manga targeted toward you in Japan. There are manga designed specifically for businessmen, cat lovers and even young mothers. Because many of them aren’t considered “exciting” enough to draw a large audience, there are few of these specialized manga that see an English translation.