Kakushi Goto is a single father who just so happens to write ecchi (pornographic/adult/perverted) manga. He has this fear that if his sweet daughter, Hime, were to learn this is what he does for work that she would hate him and be alienated by her peers. It’s a slice of life story that starts off with Hime actually learning what her father does and then goes back in time to explain why the revelation happened. Goto-sensei, for all that he does everything possible to make sure Hime never learns about his job, such as wearing a suit and going into town every day that she goes to school, he is not very good at being “normal.”


I really enjoyed the volume even though slice-of-life isn’t my usual genre. I really enjoyed seeing all of Goto-sensei’s weird quirks like not being able to write unless he was naked. His love for his daughter was really apparent but I was paranoid the entire time that the only reason Hime learned at the beginning of the manga that her father does what he does is because he might be dead… but this is only volume 1 in a 12 volume series so I won’t know unless I read the rest of them!

I would highly recommend this to anyone that enjoys slice-of-life manga or that have read any of Koji Kumeta’s previous work.

A fun, funny story, and with a touch to the definition of a united family, is a manga with a lot of humor in which we see the relationship between father and daughter and how he treats the way his daughter grows up in a healthy environment without the little girl finding out about her real work, in this volume we are introduced to the story in different chapters, there are many things to discover in this manga and in each volume we can see how the story unfolds, in my case all the time that I was reading I was laughing (mostly, except in certain things in which they are giving information).
At the end of the volume you still have the desire to continue reading, but you will have to wait until volume 2.
Support this work is beautiful, it has a lot to offer.
Thank you very much for the advanced copy.

A super funny and sweet comic about a single dad trying to keep his career a secret from his daughter. The shenanigans are hilarious in this story. The father daughter relationship is absolutely charming. This was such a fun read and I can't wait to read vol 2.

Kakushigoto is an humorous manga about a dad who is a R18 manga artist and try to keep his work a secret from his daughter. The manga is divided in chapthers that are little events that occured in the artist's life. There are also a few special notes from the creator itself.
The relationship between Kakushi Goto and Hime (father and daughter) is so precious. He wants that she see him like a good example. Hime wants only what’s best for her father.
I like how secondary character have importance in this manga, my favorite is Hime's sensei.
Kouji Kumeta show how be a manga artist in Japan isn't easy like we think.
The art style isn't my favorite but I've enjoyed it.

*I received this manga from Netgalley for an honesty review*

This series is really adorable! A single father going WAY out of his way to make sure his daughter doesn't find out that he writes dirty manga. The stories are short and sometimes play on top of each other. I really liked how there were notes from the author on how some of the stuff has happened to him, and how it is in the manga business. You learn a bit of what goes on and at the same time, are laughing at what this father is willing to do. I have seen some spoilers from Funimation, but I am not sure of all that happens at the end of this series, but I think it might be a little sad so heads up! It is also an anime on Funimation, but I haven't finished it yet. 

If you like slice of life, definitely check out this series!

Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition is a very cute and humorous manga about a single father raising his daughter and trying to hide his occupation from her at the same time. The manga is setup as short chapters of each escapade/event, and the humor tends to hit in rhythms similar to how 4panel manga does. Most of the humor is derived from misunderstandings or close calls with Kakushi Goto and his daughter Hime.

While father and daughter are the main focus here, I found the supporting cast to be super interesting. In this first volume, we did get to see a bit of each character more than I expected and got to get a good glimpse at their personalities as well. I have to say my favorite being Hime's teacher who is a fan of her father's work, yet tends to misunderstand him in ways that leads her to think there are budding feelings.

Overall I think this is a very amusing read that people should give a chance. It can switch between laugh out loud and heartfelt moments seamlessly. I believe this series will be nice to read with ample time between volumes, as I do worry that this premise could get tiresome if you try to binge read. Overall I have to recommend this series and I'll definitely be checking out the next volume to see how this series grows moving forward.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

What the book is about:
Volume One of Kakushigoto is about a father who is also a daring manga artist. During this volume he spends his time drawing, trying to be a good father and also keeping his job from her.

Pros:
The art is really cute and it was actually the art that made it stand out to me
The relationship between the father and daughter is adorable
Very readable in terms of how the dialogue and art is planned out

Cons:
Couldn't grasp my full attention as I don't think it is my type of Manga

Rating:
3⭐

Would I read it again:
Sadly, I don't think I will.

Would I recommend it:
Yes because even though it isn't for me, I am sure other people would like this premise!



https://www.dannisbookreviews.com/post/kakushigoto-my-dad-s-secret-ambition-vol-1-by-kouji-kumeta

Personally, I really liked this manga, I thought it was a concept that could come up between a parents career and wanting to keep their children free from worrying, knowing or being ridiculed because of it. A topic that could occur anywhere, not just in Japan with being a creator. I didn't, however, realise that being a manga creator would be held accountable with those varying jobs.

This was a 3.5 star read for me; It was so close to 4 star, but I wasn't gripped quite enough for that. There were many aspects of this manga that I did enjoy; the uncontitional love he had for his daughter, that he would to anything to keep her safe and happy, how he worried the lack of maternal figure would affect her, and how much he wanted for her to be untarnished by his career. Unfortunately, for me the repetition of his worries, somewhat made it less impactful for me. I think if these were being released as issues, they would have been far enough apart that it wouldn't have made such an impact but reading this through in under 24 hours- it seemed a little much, but I didn't let that stop me and I'm glad I didn't as the ending as made me want volume 2 all the more.

This truly was a beautiful story of a single father trying to do his absolute best for his ten-year old daughter who is his world. The artwork is clean, and the translations are easy to follow. I will be on the look out for the next part - I need to know what happened!

This manga had a lot of potential but unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I really loved the art style and I found it to be really interesting seeing the behind the scenes of a manga artist. However, the way the story was actually told (in very short chapters) was really jarring and made it really hard to connect to the characters and understand what was really going on.

I really did love the plot of the story. It made me think alot about what goes into being a manga artist of such a genre. You never think of their life, their family, etc. This book kinda of humanized manga artist as well as erotic authors to me. It got me thinking probably more than intended. The dad’s actions were so dramatic it was hilarious. The art was good as well! I’d definitely like to see how this story ends.

The day Kakushi Gotou's daughter, Hime, was born he decided he must never let anyone know he was a dirty manga artist. The amount of embarrassment his daughter would have to endure was unbearable to think. So far, he's been successful in keeping it a secret but it comes with a price. The constant sneaking around to creating diversion tactics fill up his day with hijinks. It is sweet how much he wants to involve himself in Hime's life. Everything he does is for her sake.

While the short chapters are full of hit and misses jokes, I do like how they end with a cryptic "author's note" for his manga readers. The art is stylistic but flows especially for a gag manga. The relationship between Gotou and his daughter is simplistic but endearing. She wants to make him happy as well. As they spend time together, it's obvious that there's not much to their dynamic as she maybe is too young or underdeveloped. There are moments where she does question where her mother is and there are clues spread throughout. It just falls flat trying to be mysterious when we could have it all on the table and include the mother as an offscreen character.

Instead, the real comedy and energy comes from Gotou and his manga assistants. As they work on the dirty manga, their banter fuels the story. We even get inside perspective about what it's like to be a manga artist. One thing that never fails is writing about the very industry you're in. Most of the jokes come from being a manga artist and they get old pretty quickly. In fact, the only joke I smirked at was one about capitalism. I guess the editor was right, people don't really laugh out loud anymore.

I recommend this for fans of casual reading but it's not something I think will stick unless there's more done with the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review!

I don't usually read manga but once I saw the cover of this volume, I was immediately intrigued. I mean, it looked too cute to pass. And I'm so happy I picked it up because it was a fun ride from start to finish. I loved seeing how Kakushi Gotou went to do the most over the top things because he worried that something might hurt his daughter. I loved reading about the father-daughter relationship in this too. Plus, this manga was hilarious. There were plenty of scenes were I'd just laugh out loud ( specially the scenes with the teacher).

All in all, I do recommend this manga in case you were looking for something fun to read for the summer!

Single dad taking care of his daughter, those stories have always touched me. The love a father had for his girl is unimaginable, especially in this one. He wants her to remain pure while he does what he does best. Even if it's not so honorable.

It's a humor manga and the puns the Japanese so love, are seen in the names of the support characters. It's cute and the story intrigues me. It's been awhile since a read a comedy manga with a good story. I'd definitely recommend this to other manga lovers.

This follows a father and daughter as the father tries to hide his job from his daughter. I generally love relationships between family members but the over the top reactions from the father were repetitive and I was not that interested in what happened. I do think that if given the chance I would try to read the second vol to see if I connect with the characters more.

As the synopsis says, the basic premise of this is a father who is a manga artist hiding his profession from his kid, Hime. When was first published, he used his real name, and since his most famous series involves a lot of NSFW humor, he doesn’t want her life to be affected by his name, so he takes a lot of precautions to keep his professional life away from his home life. He changes from a business suit (Hime thinks he is an office worker) to a casual outfit on the way to his studio, takes care to dissuade her from the general area itself, has even gone as far as to communicate to her teacher that he is hiding his profession (said teacher is also, incidentally, his fan AND has a crush on him), and his league of assistants are trained in emergency drills where they have to prepare for a situation if Hime ever walks into their studio.

The humor is a lit outrageous, but that is because Goto himself is very concerned and goes to worst case scenario at the drop of a hat. His older assistants are used to it, but a new one questions a lot, which is how we get most of the exposition. Along with that, he also relates some of the joys and most of the perils of working in the manga industry, and it also has an entertaining editor character. At home, Goto’s and Hime’s interactions are so adorable – you can see how much he dotes on her, and how much her image of him drives a lot of his decisions. Hime herself is so cute, and while as a kid, doesn’t understand much of what her father fears she might catch on, but she is also mature in a sense. I am not a big fan of the character design (can’t make out anyone’s ages) but I like the clean lines of the artwork and the expressions for the characters, as well as all the ridiculous tid-bits and scenarios!

"What's your secret?"

If you read or watched Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei or even Joshiraku
you'll know what to expect of this. The type of narrative and the 'daily life acid humor' is also present here.

(the art really made me miss Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei!)

So this is pretty much the story of this manga: a father trying to hide from his daughter that he writes dirty mangas since he's afraid she'll be embarrassed and teased about it.

If you know some things about the creation of a manga, or watched/read something about it you'll enjoy how it is shown in this. All the process is very familiar for those who like to know how these things are done

You'll get a lot of daily situations involving Goto-sensei at his work (or trying really hard to hide what IS his profession) and sweet situations with Hime, they have a very cute daughter/father relationship.

It's a really funny manga, (crazy situations, like Goto-sensei being able to draw only if he was naked but changed this habit after his kid was born) if you like Kumeta-sensei other works I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this one too!

What's your secret?

From the author of Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei and Joshiraku, Kouji Kumeta brings us Kakushigoto - the story of a mangaka whose sole purpose in life is to hide his career from his daughter.

The life of a manga artist is anything but luxurious - back-pains, bad hygiene, poor mental and physical health, these are just some ways to describe a mangaka. And to find success in such an industry, one must be prepared for impossible deadlines, constant online harassment, and condescending looks. For artist Kakushi Goto, his career was met with moderate success. But everything changed the day his daughter was born. Who would want to be related to a dirty gag manga artist? What would she think of her father if she knew he drew such crude comics for a living? In order to give his daughter Hime a normal life, Kakushi Goto has vowed to hide his career as a mangaka from her. And so we have Kakushi Goto's kakushigoto (a double meaning, can be read as both "secret" and "drawing job").

What ensues from here is a mixed bag of genres and themes - part meta-commentary on the manga industry, part workplace comedy, part wholesome family slice-of-life, and part mystery/drama. Even with such a loaded portfolio, Kakushigoto tells the story of the Goto family succinctly and to great effect. The interplay between the characters is rife with double-meaning, satire, and foreshadowing. Goto and Hime are a loveable main duo and the supporting cast covers a range of perspectives and personalities. Each chapter offers insight into the entertainment industry, parenting, and social interaction. While not always having the most gripping plot, it's an excellent character-driven story. Kakushigoto is always deliberate in its messaging and the themes it's trying to get across.

It should be pointed out that while much of Goto-sensei's career is based on real-life experiences from Kumeta, it is by no means an autobiographical work. This is nothing new for Kumeta, but for the uninitiated, it could be seen as such. For those who are new to Kumeta's work, prepare yourself for one of the most satisfying manga designers in the business. With about 30 years under his belt, Kouji Kumeta's manga looks very clean. It isn't the most-detailed or pretty, but what it lacks in substance it makes up for in style and layout. Kumeta's character designs are slick and minimal, sharing many similarities with pop art, the designs seem to burst out of the page. Not only are his designs appealing, but his page layouts are some of the most calculated and well-balanced I've ever seen. It isn't as simple as a traditional page layout like the Z-pattern - each image flows organically, leaving little space between panels. Some of my favorite details come from the visual tricks employed by Kumeta, as characters rest their hands on the top of a panel box, or the way objects move from one image to the next. Kumeta's intuitive layouts and designs are on full display for Kakushigoto.

I've been writing weekly reviews for the Kakushigoto anime as it is currently airing, and while I really enjoy the anime, this is one of those examples where the manga elevated the source material greatly. Much of that is due to the story's focus on manga. Of course, a manga about making manga will have its fair share of poking fun, and Kumeta is surely doing that here. Every couple of pages will have an author note from Goto-sensei, similar to a weekly manga magazine, or maybe Goto will throw shade at one of Kumeta's contemporaries. Those 4th-wall breaking elements as well as the written portions from Kumeta are a great addition that the anime doesn't provide.

With the anime approaching the final episode, the manga is slated to release its final volume at the same time. This is only the first volume, but from what the anime has shown me and from what I've read here, I'm captivated by the look and feel of Kakushigoto. While I look forward to how the story will end, I'm even more excited to re-experience it as the manga gets released Stateside.

Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition volume 1 review
A humorous premise upheld by sweet innocence

As kids, we’ve all wondered what our parents do for a living. Some are teachers, others wear suits to work, and some stay at home. How would you feel though if your Dad drew ecchi manga? That is the problem we have before ourselves as father Kakushi Goto tries to shield his daughter Hime from his profession. Admittedly had it not been for AgeOfBoredom, I might not have given this title another look. Kakushigoto is currently released digitally by Kodansha, but with an anime adaptation, we may get a physical edition in the future. So let’s find out, is Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition worth reading? Find out in our Kakushigoto volume 1 review!

The story unfolds
As I mentioned in my introduction, the basic premise is that of a father, Kakushi wanting to hide the fact that he draws dirty manga from his daughter, Hime. We start the story with her having just turned 18 and travelling to a beachfront town to find out what her father was trying to avoid. From here, we jump back in time and are introduced to Kakushi as he explains the situation and how he tries to hide his profession. Every morning he sends Hime to school dressed in a suit only to later get to his studio and change into the loosest fitting clothes he can find. He really goes to extremes which in some cases is ridiculous but in a humorous way.

Hime Colour page - Kakushigoto volume 1 review


Being a slice of life, gag manga, it follows the same pattern. You’ll have Kakushi go into a situation that involves Hime, whether that’s letting her go to a beach retreat or taking her to a festival, it varies by chapter. What helps to make this series stand out from other pure gag manga, is that you can see Kakushi clearly cares for Hime. As ridiculous as his actions may be, they are solely to make sure that she’s all right and happy. Though it may be somewhat subtle at points, it helps to add to the overall depth of the story. It shows what parents go through to protects their child’s innocence.

I’d also like to add that there’s a chapter in here that is absolutely hilarious. While it may not tie directly to Hime, I still found my self having some good laughs. Let’s say that Mangaka store some odd items in their studios. It just helps to show how bizarre the manga process may seem to those who stumble their way into a studio without warning.

Weird stuff - Kakushigoto volume 1 review
A Father and Daughter
Curry - Kakushigoto manga worth reading
Ironically while there may feel like there are many characters, the focus is only on Kakushi. Even though it’s a gag manga, the book’s core is about the relationship between a father and his daughter. For Kakushi to want to keep his profession secret and to go to the extremes that he does shows how much of a caring father he is. After all, I would imagine as a parent; you’d want your kid to be proud of you and be able to have you as a role model. It’s about preserving your kid’s innocence while you still can. So while he may seem overbearing and crazy at points, underneath it all, it’s because of the love he has for Hime. Of course, that being said, some of the things he does are just ridiculous in the best way possible.



The only other character I can talk about is Hime. She is cute as a button, and her naivety is quite charming. She loves her Dad without caring what he does, and all she wants is for Hime to be happy. As the beginning of the story sets up her endpoint, it’ll be interesting to see how much she starts to poke into on her own.

The manga assistants are fun in their own right. However, they are yet to progress past being minor supporting cast. Some get a one-page highlight, but currently, they support Kakushi’s antics.

Simple but clean
Masks - Kakushigoto manga worth reading
Jumping over to the art for this series, I have to say that the first few coloured pages were lovely. They make me wish that the whole volume was in colour due to how stylized it feels. It’s very vibrant, with a lack of shading, which makes the contrast between the colours stand out that much more. This type of art direction even translates onto the black and white panels as there is also no shading. It’s an immaculate art style that makes the pages feel less cluttered. It lets the situations and characters stand out much more.

A peek behind the curtain
Worthy of mention are some of the fun little details spread out throughout the volume. At the end of each chapter, there are little authors notes similar to those that appear in Shonen Jump. Kakushi-sensei himself does these himself. It’s a nice little touch, which usually relates to something that happens in the chapter. Also, at the end of every chapter are some author notes from Kōji Kumeta (the mangaka himself). These give a neat little look behind the curtain and into the mind of the mangaka himself.

Kakushigoto’s anime adaptation
An anime adaptation by Ajia-do Animation Works premiered on April 2nd, 2020. The first volume covers roughly four episodes, even if the chapters are slightly reordered. The art style is just as clean as the manga and looks particularly great in the intro and outro credits. AgeOfBoredom has been watching and reports that below the humour of the series, there is a melancholic undercurrent. Not to mention a few mysteries to solve!


Is Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition volume 1 worth reading?
Yes. Going into this, I was certainly expecting more ecchi; however, underneath all the humour, there is a sense of genuine innocence. That’s what I get for trying to judge a book by its cover. If you’re looking for good humour with some emotional depth, this could be a good fit.

I want to see how this keeps evolving as I feel that if it stays with the gag route, it might start to feel stale. Although I think that won’t be the case here. I look forward to picking up this next volume as this was an unexpected joy to read. So have you read Kakushigoto: My Dad’s Secret Ambition, or seen it’s anime adaptation? If you did let us know what you thought and drop a comment down below.

This manga was funny, and some of the jokes made me laugh out loud. The father/daughter relationship was very sweet and reminded me of Haruhi Fujioka and her dad from Ouran Host Club, and Hime herself reminded me of Tohru Honda. (Hime being a bit clueless and Naive. The manga itself was atmospheric and heartwarming, and I learned a surprising amount about the manga industry.

I am very interested to see where the relationship between Hime and her dad leads, and see what other shenanigans they get themselves into.

"Right from the get-go, Kakushigoto: My Dad's Secret Ambition has already caught our attention. With such a catchy title, we can’t help but give the series a chance. That titular secret ambition sure does not disappoint. After all, just how many of us want to become an erotic mangaka, right? Fine, that may be more than what we’ve anticipated. Nonetheless, the series has already got us hooked, line, and sinker from the very beginning. In addition to that, the manga’s smooth, simple art style is both easy on the eyes and soothing to look at."