Kominka Gyaru to Renovation Gurashi - Ch. 1 - A Big Bath is the Best!

[Weoooo]

I feel like the setup is less "women are bad!" And more to establish a setup where the male lead is incredibly traumatized and beaten down. It's a plausible way someone could absolutely destroy his life in a way that leaves him with some fairly severe PTSD. Note he blamed himself for the tub falling apart and immediately assumed someone who has shown nothing but positive intentions was going to instantly turn against him. Part of this story is probably going to be him learning to get over his trauma and learn to trust people again.

Exactly! This isn't "THAT BITCH OF AN EX WIFE NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED," it's establishing that he sees his size as intimidating, his strength as dangerous, his company as unwanted and his life a drag on those around him.
The scene where he remembers his wife covering her head and looking scared is the point, not that he did naht hit her, he did naht.
I think the manga has done a good job setting this up! He instantly accepts blame and even says that he doesn't remember hurting her. He doesn't viciously deny it; he doesn't think its true, but he also, clearly, can't argue that its false. This isn't gonna be that kind of manga, but I can even see a development where he did make his wife uncomfortable and threatened, but not out of an excess of malice. That would be a fascinating turn; if her feelings were legitimately felt, but were mis readings of his intent, it makes the whole situation more tragic because nobody did anything wrong. If there's a villain, its easy. Which is why I think the manga is mostly fine with making her be completely in the wrong, because it can then move on to the story about changing his self-perception.

 

[Weoooo]

Yeah, basic reading comprehension would suggest they both are around the same age.

It's probably because they both looks 10 years older/younger than their actual age

There's a really simple reason: the shape of the story and the characters are that of an age gap. He's an ex-professional who moved back to town after his marriage fell apart and the way it did destroyed his career, and he's re-united with a vibrant woman who he remembers interacting with when she was a child. This is exactly the shape of a specific, recognizable age-gap story where a man comes home and the kid he remembers grew into an adult when he was away.
"Basic reading comprehension" would suggest that, but the visual style, choice of childhood-anchored flashbacks, narrative structure, and the fact that we have not specifically seen them interact as unarguably the same age, but instead easily just being children of different ages, makes people see a clear story.
Because they've read a manga before.

 

[kmd3133]

I'm actually trying to suss out the age gap; he might be a couple years older, but he's also described as a big dude; they could be roughly equal in age, and reuniting after some time apart. (She's not in any uniform and I didn't see any in a closet or something so they could both be out of high school at this point.)
If it is age gap that's fine too--but it would be neat to see them both be adults in this situation, personally.

When they were kids we know that she was elementary schooler and he looks like a middle schooler there so if he married and divorced she is probably an adult but just a little petite for her age.

 

[kmd3133]

Exactly! This isn't "THAT BITCH OF AN EX WIFE NEEDS TO BE PUNISHED," it's establishing that he sees his size as intimidating, his strength as dangerous, his company as unwanted and his life a drag on those around him.
The scene where he remembers his wife covering her head and looking scared is the point, not that he did naht hit her, he did naht.
I think the manga has done a good job setting this up! He instantly accepts blame and even says that he doesn't remember hurting her. He doesn't viciously deny it; he doesn't think its true, but he also, clearly, can't argue that its false. This isn't gonna be that kind of manga, but I can even see a development where he did make his wife uncomfortable and threatened, but not out of an excess of malice. That would be a fascinating turn; if her feelings were legitimately felt, but were mis readings of his intent, it makes the whole situation more tragic because nobody did anything wrong. If there's a villain, its easy. Which is why I think the manga is mostly fine with making her be completely in the wrong, because it can then move on to the story about changing his self-perception.

He said something like "that i just held her arm and with my size and power it probably come of as scary". Well the problem is taking voice recordings isnt legal to use in court bc just some yelling doesnt prove anything and if other party doesnt know it its illegal at least in my country but if a woman says something it gets treated as the truth to give them positive discrimination, some people use it for bad intentions.

 

[kmd3133]

There's a really simple reason: the shape of the story and the characters are that of an age gap. He's an ex-professional who moved back to town after his marriage fell apart and the way it did destroyed his career, and he's re-united with a vibrant woman who he remembers interacting with when she was a child. This is exactly the shape of a specific, recognizable age-gap story where a man comes home and the kid he remembers grew into an adult when he was away.
"Basic reading comprehension" would suggest that, but the visual style, choice of childhood-anchored flashbacks, narrative structure, and the fact that we have not specifically seen them interact as unarguably the same age, but instead easily just being children of different ages, makes people see a clear story.
Because they've read a manga before.

It looks like what u said but i dont think it is, she said she was elementary schooler that time and also said when we were both kids and for size they dont look that much different. So he could be a high school start or middle schooler at most at that time. So we can safely assume they have 7 years age gap at most. In my guess its 2-3 or so though. I dont think they r the same age but i dont think that they have like 10+ years gap. Also he looks like old but i think thats bc of the face type and how messy his life is now. Ill assume she is around 23 and he is 26-27 now until they clarify that.

 

[kmd3133]

Thank you for the translations especially about the divorce paper, those demands may look normal but it seems that its too one sided. Just bc she said those things and recorded his voice (without his knowledge) in an out of nowhere divorce talk. The part about lawyers didnt believe him absolute garbage (it could of been checked if she really is abused in hospital, it would show if she did it herself or he did it) bc divorce demands seems odd especially the last one. Friends or family cant know what happened so she may be doing something bad behind his back while using the money. Its not uncommon of course but i cant deny that i may be wrong about this and he really hurt her in some way.

 

[Asynchria]

Thanks for the translation! Definitely can't wait to see more

 

[Lightbrand]

He might as well be obsessed with Japanese doll and she loves cosplay

 

[story645]

He might as well be obsessed with Japanese doll and she loves cosplay

This also gave me dress up darling vibes in terms of their looks.

Also these two on page 6 are drawn as pre-pubescent kids who are roughly the same age:

 

[g1m2]

The comments can all agree………………………………………….…………………….….…………………….…………………….…………………….…………………….that woman who divorced him can go eat a can and fall into a hole

 

[goodhunter]

There are so many tropes I'll just never understand in a lot of media. One of them here is when a character is so surprised that someone they haven't seen since elementary school changed so much. Like what the fuck did you think? People change like crazy from when they were a child to a full grown adult. Also, always weird when people find so much attachment with someone they were friends for like a couple years during their childhood, and they haven't seen them at minimum like 12 years ago, and they act all super chummy. You're practically strangers with them at that point. If I met friends I had in my childhood now as an adult, they'd literally be complete strangers to me aside from maybe remembering their names.

 

[goodhunter]

Also, is the Japanese legal system this retarded? That they'll judge a person without any real evidence just because he's big? What, because the bitch of an ex-wife recorded him slamming his hands on the table once? Whilst ignoring the context of the entire audio that was recorded?

 

[weleasewodger]

pure wish fulfillment slop

More slip please Mr Hackett

 

[Kosnope]

First the house renovating, then the babies making.

"Okay, you've painted the walls, now how about painting my insides white."

 

[HenkumaEnthusiast]

Better call higuruma

 

[xTachibana]

As far as I can tell, they're both adults. She mentioned she works and she probably did so straight out of high school since it's suggested there are issues with her parents and they likely didn't support her beyond that. He probably pursued higher education, got married and a job.

My guess is he's in his late twenties while she's in her early twenties. So there's an age gap, but it's not more than a decade. It does seem that he stopped seeing her before she hit puberty since he has no memories of her not being a kid.


I don't think it's that kind of story. The divorce has already been settled and it's just a setting for his current condition. I doubt we'll ever see his ex-wife again.

If, for some reason, they ever interacted again, the only thing she should do is walk away and not talk to him because anything else is an admission that she lied for her divorce and talking with him is dangerous since he could record her and it goes against the divorce terms of only communicating via writing. Well maybe she'll interact with him but it'd be stupid.

Idk why you guys think there's much if any age gap....when they were kids they were roughly the same height, do you guys think you wouldn't be able to tell apart a 5 year old girl and a 8 or 9 year old boy? The height differences would be massive. Even if he's older it's only going to be 1 or 2 years realistically speaking, unless the artist did a really poor job of drawing them as kids.

 

[xTachibana]

Cheap misogyny bait ahh manga... Why is Japan like this?
Edit: Since people are asking, this is misogyny bait because the DV plot point was completely unnecessary. The author could have easily made the reason for the divorce literally anything else; losing the house or having to leave wasn't dependent on MC beating his wife (myriad of other reasons could have been used). There is no reason why DV should even get a mention in a 'doing renovations with an adult gyaru fantasy' manga.
Only took 4 more comments for someone to mention beating their wife/girlfriend, if they theoretically played them. Like, how can you guys not see this?

Oh please lmao. With his personality now (depressed and feeling he was the one in the wrong), DV was the best option. The only other plot device that would lead to a similar result is NTR where the ex made it out to be his fault that she cheated, and I hate NTR, so yeah I'm good. I'd rather his wife just be a lying bitch, you act like there aren't plenty of vile women in the world. There's 4 billion women on the planet, there's going to be many millions of women that are willing to lie and pin stuff on their husbands, just like there's going to be many millions of men that DO beat their wives.

 

[xTachibana]

Most likely why the wife did what she did is because Japan does not have a “no fault” divorce system. There has to be a reason. She clearly wanted to break up, so created the reason. It sucks, but it is a consequence of Japan’s divorce system.

Even without no fault, you can still get divorced in Japan you know? Like even if the other party doesn't agree, all you have to do is take it to mediation and make it clear that you do not want to be with the person anymore, you don't need to make up stuff to get divorced over there lol Obviously it's easier and more convenient if both parties agree, but even without it, you can get a mediator. Making up claims to get out of a marriage is just easier I guess, or she has other reasons for doing it...maybe she hates him or she cheated on him or something, we'll see.

 

[LordTartaros]

I like it so far, having a mature setting is refreshing.

 

[Shaggyrand]

plywood in a bathroom, no waterproofing, no before hand measuring and set in stone plans for how to correctly replace the bathtub.

Then again its an anime, but common.


Still I kinda wish this anime focuses on the small progress of casually replacing and refurbishing the home, and a bit less time on the romance, maybe just in small teases, not to much in your face romance

I think it is supposed to be hinoki (Japanese cypress) blanks, not plywood. They get used a lot for wet areas In homes like bathrooms, tubs, and saunas in Japan. It is highly water, mold, and bug resistant. It's also often used for temples. Not sure why on that one.