Things I love about From Far Away/Kanata Kara. (In no particular order)
(also spoilers so I'm adding a cut)
1. It is one of the four greatest Isekai manga ever (the other 3 being Inuyasha, Fushigi Yuugi and Red River/Anatolia Story)
2. All the characters
3. Gaya is awesome
4. Geena is cute as a button
5. Barago and Agol are both ride or die for the group and, lets be real, neither one of them actually wanted to join at first.
6. The language. The fact that Noriko has to actually learn the language and doesn't just get magic translation powers
7. We see Noriko change. Like, physically. I love the fact that she doesn't have a default outfit and that her hair gradually gets longer as the story goes on.
8. It's just so hopeful and optimistic but without being preachy.
9. How the villains are defeated. Keimos gets to go out fighting and Izark tells him that he'll never meet anyone stronger than him, allowing him to go out with a smile on his face.
9.1. The Big Bad is defeated by a magic hug and gets told that he has always been loved. And it's not awkward. It's our two heroes making sure that everyone gets a chance to find the light
(Also I need image urls for a blog submission that's why I'm making this post)
10. No forced love triangle or 2nd ml to cause drama. Yes there's the thing with Banadam in volume 6 and 7 but it's short, sweet and doesn't drag anything. It always felt natural to me.
11. Izark and Noriko are the most wholesome couple to come out of manga and the world needs to know. And I kinda like how their relationship isn't big. Like, there's no big "now they're a couple" type of scene. It's all small stuff like him smiling at her when she gets the language correct or just holding each other softly. I mean, as I'm typing this I'm realizing that the scene where she kisses him the first time cause she's afraid he'll leave cause she saw his demon form is probably supposed to be the big "now they're a couple" scene. But compared to some other manga it's, quieter I guess? But it's immediately (in the next volume) followed up with him lying next to her and hushed reassurances by the camp fire.
12. It's actually kinda silly sometimes? Like Agol constantly putting his foot in his mouth, Barago being Barago, Izark being both awkward and taking the time to tease Noriko when he gets a chance. And it's general lighthearted teasing too. That town that keeps coming up with cover stories cause they can't decide which one is more exciting.
13. Izark lifted a cow out of a ditch then immediately left to give Noriko a kiss cause he heard her calling him for lunch from like a mile away
14. I had to take another picture but the whole princess and knight cover story and Noriko being flustered and Izark managing to be cool (see below), a tease (laughs at her flustered reaction) and awkward (he knows how to fight things and how to love Noriko. He does not know how to come up with a convincing lie to save his life)
15. Noriko just has this aura of hope and happiness around her. Being in her presence would make the Grinch's heart swell 5 times
16. Making this list made me grin and I try to read this series at least once a year. Seriously check it out
