(A disclaimer that I am not disabled, and that I have much to learn about the subject.) There’s much to like about this short, sweet manga – primarily the insight into the still-existing prejudice and inaccessibility that wheelchair users encounter in Japan. Kawana, being an abled person, has never given much thought into it before, until she meets her old high school crush Ayukawa in a company dinner.

Ayukawa in high school was an active basketball player, and even back then, his dream was to be an architect. Ayukawa in the present achieved this dream, but after an accident in college, now has to use a wheelchair to move around. His persistence is admirable and his colleagues highly value his skills – he pushes his limits sometimes to the detriment of his own health.

I appreciate how Ayukawa is not rendered as a prop for Kawana to save – the two of them fall into a friendship that makes better people of each other. It’s not easy – Ayukawa’s health fluctuates and Kawana has her own prejudices to get over – but they truly seem to enjoy each other’s company and they even push each other to work harder on their respective dreams. It is implied that the volume occurs over the course of a few months, but the romance still seems to have progressed too fast.

I also especially loved the chapter with wheelchair basketball – Real by Inoue Takehiko is one of my favorite manga, and it also tackles the realities of the sport and its players.

*I received an eARC from the publisher, Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

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Perfect World reminded me how there are still places that are not handicap-friendly. And the representation of how people look at disabled people, and some might break away their relations is well incorporated in this story.

The comic is divided into four chapters, each giving more character development to the main characters. While the story does feel rushing and 'too convenient' at times, it is the realism that I liked. The romance is not over the top and the stress the main character feels towards his disability is palpable. The illustration is clean and easy to follow.

Recommended to whoever reads romance mangas.

What a thoughtful manga. It attempts to illustrate the mental and physical difficulties which are encountered by those who are disabled and their friends and family, and personally I think this does a good job of showing illustrating this. The two main characters share a bond, and this through the writing and illustration is well portrayed, they are comfortable in each other presence and together they grow as people, becoming more thoughtful and positive along the way. The art style is beautifully dreamy and light, a nice contrast to what otherwise could be construed as a darker topic to feature.

Thank you to netgally and Kodansha Comics for a digital copy of this manga.

4.5 stars!

I really enjoyed this, but there's issues I couldn't ignore, but at the end the author notes how this was an earlier piece, but there's great strengths in this too.

The Good:

I loved seeing a manga, a romance, that deals with disability. It's something that's really important, and I hope to see more of in fiction as a whole in every genre. This manga shows Ayukawa still going through his emotional journey with his injury, and shows realistic ups and downs, and I felt it dealt with sensitive issues well (though keep in mind this is from an able-bodied perspective).

This manga is basically a budding romance, but it doesn't shy away from the less romantic issues that come with Ayukawa's spinal cord injury, showing his struggles that he's both overcome and still has to work through every day of his life. It shows that his injury is more than not being able to walk, but other medical issues that stem from the injury 6 years after the accident.

It shows the social side, and how it brings out the good, bad and in-between of both himself and the people around him.

There's warmth to this manga, and I found the characters, while a little bland, likeable, and could see how they could flourish given more volumes.

This showed a little of when they were in highschool, and I liked those panels, and something I could see enjoying being expanded in later volumes.

Things to be improved on in later volumes:

The pacing was a bit jarring, some scenes didn't flow, leaving questions on how characters got from one place to another, or jumping periods of time where the two main character's friendship grew closer without actually seeing it.

While this manga is meant to happen over a long period of time, there's a lot of progress and drama that happens too close together pacing wise.

Parts of the story is dramatized, and I'm aware of it, but this could come down to the pacing again. While the events of this manga are sure to happen in real life, or similar events, I couldn't be sure how truly accurate some of what happened was. A lot of issues came with his body and his social and romantic life in this manga. There's a lot of variables for every single person in a wheelchair, so I'm sure some of this will ring true for some people, and not at all for others. I what had happened in this one volume happened over more volumes, it may have read as less dramatized and more realistic, from my perspective in any case, though I can't speak for people.

Overall

Any issues I had with this really came down to the pacing, if it had been slowed down this could've easily have been a 5 star read for me. This is something that could easily improve with later volumes and I'm eager to continue on, as despite my concerns, I loved the story and want to learn more about the characters. This was both a warm, emotive, and informative manga.

A very sweet, heartbreaking and beautiful story about two high school students who reunite after years. Tsugumi reunites with her secret high school crush who is now a promising architect. Her feelings for him are instantly brought back to life. But there is only one problem...Itsuki had a terrible accident that put him into a wheelchair . Tsugumi is torn between her feelings for Itsuki but also she can't help but wonder if a relationship with a disabled guy will actually work and how will their life & relationship evolve

"Perfect World" follows Tsugumi Kawana as she reconnects with her old high school crush, Itsuki Ayukawa. He suffered an accident where he sustained a spinal chord injury, leaving him in a wheelchair.
This manga follows them as they rekindle their friendship and Kawana learns the problems Ayukawa faces daily in his life. As the story unfolds, you get to know the characters and watch them develop through their troubles.
I loved every single thing about this manga and its characters, I couldn't help feeling a bit emotional for them and I am anxious to see how it all unfolds in the future. I highly recommend this for everyone to read.

*This arc was provided by Kodansha Comics, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.*

Finally an interesting josei manga! I'm so happy we have got Perfect World in English, since there aren't that many manga for women and especially ones with a disabled lead. Tsugumi Kawana meets her former school crush Itsuki Ayukawa due to work, but soon learns that he is bound to a wheelchair because of an accident that left him with SCI (spinal cord injury). She feels like perhaps she couldn't ever date anyone in a wheelchair, but soon she notices that old feelings rise again and they both land on an unknown territory. I'm glad the manga takes the topic seriously and doesn't romanticize its topic - Perfect World is very realistic and grownup too. Some of the things annoy me, such as the fact that being in a wheelchair surely is something to whisper about when it's not and that hardly happens. Except we are talking about Japan where this actually exists. So, the need to look at this with cultural differences in mind is very much needed.

The art is slightly fragile and looks a bit crude at times, but otherwise it's good. Perhaps the manga looks slightly too much like shoujo, but the roughness eases that one oddly (which is good). There's a bit too much "learn about SCI" in the manga though. It bothers a little as Itsuki needs to explain everything to Tsugumi and it kind of eats out the pleasure, when you feel like it's not solely about the story, but the need to somehow educate grown people. Yet, Perfect World is wonderful and I'd say very important too. I wish we'd get more of these "different" series translated, since there's magic to them surely.

There was this one time I was at university and this blind student was tapping his cane listlessly and looked really lost. He turned to ask people for directions to a building but they mostly walked away, hoping he wouldn't realise they were there. (I understand this - in our world we're not told how to deal with situations like this; I blame no one). I asked him if he needed help. He said he needed to get to the law building. I didn't know where the building was, so he explained to me and I guided him. You could say it was a case of the blind leading the blind. We had a really nice conversation about the subjects we shared and he talked about his dogs, and I talked about mine.

I think what people need to realise is to stop treating disabled people like they're fragile and to be avoided. That being said, I think Perfect World does a really good job at portraying this, even if it's lacking a little in other areas and just a tad bit preachy. Address the person before you address their disability.

Also, this manga is just too cute. I exploded inside. My boyfriend had to mop me up because I was a soppy mess. I know I don't sound like I really enjoyed this, but I did. I don't often read cute things or romance (I'm all dark, gritty and noir-like). So when I do my innards go mush and my reviews don't make any sense and my boyfriend just doesn't know what to do with me. He appeals to my nihilism but I still just gush

Relationships: They're complicated.
There's an important thing about relationships - it's that once you look past the beauty, the fun and the good times, there are difficulties. Your partner could have depression, alcoholism, have been sexuality assaulted or be in a wheelchair. It's how you deal with these difficulties that makes your connection all the more great and your time together so much more meaningful.

Ayukawa is wheelchair-bound. But that's not all. He's a really cool guy. He gets way too excited about his architecture job and he's really friendly all round.

A girl who had a big crush in him in high-school, Kawana, joins his team as a designer. She's pretty shocked to find out about his accident and subsequent spinal cord injury, and very reluctant at first. But she falls for him. Hard. Obviously she does.

Kawana is pretty shocked by what happens to Ayukawa and all of his pain, but Ayukawa does not throw a pity party. He is not self-absorbed. He is strong and has overcome most of the sense of loss he felt in his youth after losing his ability to walk. But he's still hurting.

How Romance Should be Done
"When I saw the hole in his body I realised I knew nothing about him"
This manga does not romanticise spinal cord injuries although it is a romantic manga. Kawana doesn't get hit by a bout of "ooh guy in a wheelchair, it's so cool". She sits down and thinks to herself "Oh shit, can I do this? Am I strong enough?" Ya know, realism and all that. Ugh. I love this

Further on in the story, Kawana helps him with (view spoiler) I like Kawana's determination to be a part of Ayukawa's life. It makes me happy. It gives me hope in this world

This book is a little preachy though. However, there are beautiful moments peppered throughout. There is also a moment of realisation which Ayukawa and Kawana share, and it is so sweet.

4.5stars
This was such a different manga! I really enjoyed it. It was definitely not the easiest to relate to for me, but it's impossible not to fall for the characters and to not care about them.

This story is about two young adult characters that used to know each other back in high school. Tsugumi Kawana is now an interior designer, and Itsuki Ayukawa - aka her high school crush - is an architect. They see each other again and get to work together but a lot has changed since then. But one thing didn't - her feelings for him seem to never have gone away - until she realizes Ayukawa is now in a wheelchair. Can her feelings surpass the difficulties?

I really liked how realistic the story felt, and how it was brave and blunt enough to put what a lot of us thinks into words. It's not a nice thought to say "I would never date a person in a wheelchair" but we do think it. And the main reason is the number of difficulties. Although it's even more difficult for the person living with the disabilities, it's for sure not easy for the other half of the couple. Any type of disabilities also takes a mental toll on that person. God, I can't even think of how I would feel if it happened to me, and I can't really say I know anyone disabled deeply enough to know how they feel like but I believe it would be something like what the book shows.

Kawana has a lot to learn before she takes the step to a relationship with Ayukawa. And he has a lot to change and accept too. He has to accept that a person being in love with him is not a bad thing, that their life will not stop because of that. This book has a lot of deep thoughts and it's truly both heartbreaking and heartwarming.

I loved how caring and sweet Kawana was. She is a very strong hearted person and although initially, she was not sure if she would manage to date a person in a wheelchair, I loved how she still wanted to try and to learn.

Ayukawa was a very strong male protagonist, who always tried to show the bright side of things, even in the most difficult of days. He never gives up and I truly admire his strength. But he is also a person that has a barrier to his heart. And that's not only about love but for his family too. He doesn't want to be a burden for anyone, not to his parents and definitely not to a girlfriend. He doesn't want to date anyone and believes it's best to end up alone and he is resigned to it.

They have a long journey in front of them and I can't wait to see more about it! It's such a unique story! It's the first time I read about an MC in a wheelchair and it truly made me think. The art was also really nice and detailed. It was easy to read and very enjoyable. It transmitted the emotions clearly and all the thoughts put into this book are just so important!

This made me cry and think a LOT and I think it's a manga everyone should try and read. I would definitely recommend it and I can't wait to read more about their story.

This book would be a typical shojo manga except for the fact that there is an honest representation of a person (and the main romantic lead) in a wheel chair.

I was definitely drawn into the story and feel like this would be a great addition to any library manga collection.

As a Manga lover, I enjoy a variety of genres and I'd gladly sit down and read as many as I can but, even if I came across lots of different stories and complex personalities over the years, I still had to read one treating a delicate subject such as this. And, let me tell you, I'm happy I took the chance with "Perfect World"!

With a lovely and clean illustration, and characters who feel real, it's difficult for the reader to put this volume down. Of course, one thing that got me particularly invested in the story is that it doesn't lessen the issues caused by SCI, in fact, it makes you face the bitter truth for what it is. It shows you what someone with a spinal cord injury has to face on a daily basis—and for the rest of their lives—the struggle, the perils, and the mental strength required to go on with life, because life must go on. Itsuki Ayukawa successfully made a career no one would have thought possible after he got so severely injured, but his passion and determination didn't let the disability stand in his way and deprive him of his dream. That is truly admirable but make no mistake, just because he doesn't share it with the rest of the group—so to speak—it doesn't mean Ayukawa's positive attitude is all there is to see... After making better acquaintance with him and his condition, Kawana's scepticism soon changes, leaving her open-minded and making everything more heartwarming.

This first volume well presented a realistic series with quite the potential. I personally think that with a better pace it would have worked even better, but it still was a pleasure to read and I can honestly say I loved it! Enthralling, moving, and refreshing, I'd definitely recommend it.

A very entertaining old favorite of mine. This is a josei manga dealing with romance and disability.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Rie Aruga did a great job at creating a sweet, touching and realistic story. I loved the artstyle and how well the characters and their emotions and struggles were portrayed. The relationship between the main characters was carefully built up even though it felt a little too cheesy sometimes. That didn't bother me too much; overall I really liked this manga.

What a wonderfully heartwarming and endearing comic. The comic follows 2 friends after high school that meet each other again. However, one of the friends has suffered a life-changing accident that now leaves them disabled. This comic follows the love story of those 2 friends and how they grow together. I loved how the storyline was realistic as well as entertaining. I was not disappointed by this comic and I think anyone that likes to read comics and likes a good love story will definitely enjoy this comic.

In Perfect World, we're introduced to Tsugumi Kawana, a 26 year old interior design worker who is re-united with her first crush, Itsuki Ayukawa, who is working for the architecture firm that her company is partnering up with. Seeing him again has revived the old flame in Kawana's heart, until she finds out that he's wheelchair bound. Believing herself incapable of being in a relationship with someone who is disabled, she instead decides to be friends with him, and learns about the challenges that Ayukawa faces on a regular basis both in his personal and work life. When Ayukawa falls ill, Kawana goes to his side, and realizes just how serious his situation his. Faced with that, her feelings begin to change, as she learns more about his disability and the disabled community in general. While Kawana's feelings grow, it seems that Ayukawa is reluctant to let Kawana in, pushing her away from him and the potential relationship that is blossoming. Even so, love seems to be forming between them, the question is where their story will lead.
This story was beautiful and honest, a very character driven plot. There's a closeness that you feel with both Ayukawa and Kawana, seeing their internal and physical struggles. I loved that although Ayukawa is disabled, the story isn't simply focused on the fact that he's disabled, but also what his life is like outside of that, and I felt that there was definitely more positives than negatives. Ayukawa is also not the only disabled character in the story, which I really admired because disabilities aren't rare, although many stories tend to portray them as such. I also enjoyed the realism of the story, and definitely made my eyes a little misty at the end. Definitely a change of pace from all of the romantic comedies I've been reading. The artwork is lovely, and the panels don't bombard you with too many things to process at once. I finished it in less than an hour, and I can't wait until the next volume.

Something about this rubbed me the wrong way for the first half of the manga, I didn't like how her first instinct was to say she couldn't be with someone who is disabled. I didn't like that they were refusing to put in ramps. The people seemed really close minded about that, which seems awfully cruel when one of their employers was in a wheelchair.

As the volume went on, I am glad that she started to grow as a person, and be more understanding of disabled people I enjoyed that the romance was slow burning. I hope that later volumes show more of the teenager in a wheelchair and his girlfriend, so we can see how they are doing.

'Perfect World, Vol. 1' by Rie Aruga is a dramatic story about two people who knew each other in high school and about how their lives have changed since then.

Tsugumi Kawana runs into her old high school crush, Itsuki Ayukawa. He is now an architect and Kawana is glad to see him. Then she sees that he is in a wheelchair because of a spinal injury he got shortly after high school. His life is different, and the longtime girlfriend he had left him. Kawana doesn't know if she wants to be in love with someone living in a wheelchair, but she feels herself drawn more and more to Ayukawa.

The story is sweet. At first, the isues Kawana brings up seem shallow, but this helps to develop an understanding for her and the reader as the story progresses. The art is good, and I enjoyed the chance to read this story.

I received a review copy of this manga from Kodansha Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

This is definitely a heartwarming and relatable story. Very realistic and kind of makes you think about all the other people you may encounter in life and their everyday struggles. Beware of the impending tear or 2!

Perfect World was a manga that I had my eye on throughout this past March. I'm glad that I got the chance to read it, since I honestly ended up loving the story. Perfect World is different from all of the other Manga's I've read because the story actually takes place in the character's late 20's instead of the usual high school age ---- and the love interest who was able-bodied in high school is now wheelchair bound.

Beautiful artwork and plot, it kept me hooked until the very end.

I had expected the story to solely revolve around romance, but it goes much deeper than that to talk about the difficulties of being disabled. It was really heartwrenching to see the difficulties that Ayukawa went through, yet at the same time, I was reminded that these challenges are seen in reality too. I think that the author has cleverly blended a romance story with real societal issues in this one. While it was a joy to ride through this romance, it also reminded readers the importance of treating the disabled right. Disability is rarely a theme touched on in manga, so this was really refreshing and mind-opening!

So excited that this is only the first in the series, will be picking up the following volumes when they're out!