Koi wa Ameagari no yoni
By Jun Mayuzuki (Shogakukan)
“Middle-aged men in their 40s and older are popular with young women” is a claim often made in weekly magazines for men. Is there any truth to this? I came across a piece of research that shows women are less hesitant than men about dating someone of the opposite sex who is much older than themselves. I empathize with middle-aged men who want to interpret these figures favorably to feed their fantasies, although I’m sad to admit it.
The manga this week, “Koi wa Ameagari no yoni” (Love’s just like the feeling after the rain), taps into this popular theme. It’s a love story about a couple with a 28-year difference in ages — Masami Kondo, a 45-year-old manager of a family restaurant, and Akira Tachibana, a 17-year-old high school girl working there part-time. one day, Akira tells Kondo that she loves him. Kondo is divorced and his child lives with his former wife. With little hope for any major success at work, Kondo’s only pleasure in life is to meet his child from time to time. By any standard, he is just a boring and uninspiring middle-aged guy. only Akira recognizes Kondo’s unique kindness. Her one-sided, single-minded affection for him slowly brings out his long-dormant passion.(218 words)
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