Yotsuba&!

Yotsuba&!
A book cover. Near the top, yellow text reads "From the creator of Azumanga Daioh". A wide-eyed, smiling girl holds a bouquet of uprooted sunflowers while next to her is text in the shape of an exclamation point reading Yotsuba&! 1. A small brown box at the bottom reads Kiyohiko Azuma.
The cover for Yotsuba&! volume 1 (English version by ADV)
よつばと!
(Yotsuba to!)
Genre Comedy, Slice of life
Manga
Written by Kiyohiko Azuma
Published by ASCII Media Works
English publisher Canada United Kingdom United States ADV Manga (former)
Canada United States Yen Press (current)
Demographic Shōnen[1]
Magazine Dengeki Daioh
Original run March 2003 – ongoing
Volumes 9 (List of volumes)
Anime and Manga Portal

Yotsuba&! (よつばと! Yotsuba to!?) is an ongoing Japanese comedy manga series by Kiyohiko Azuma, the creator of Azumanga Daioh. It is published in Japan by ASCII Media Works, formally MediaWorks, in the monthly magazine Dengeki Daioh and collected in nine bound volumes as of November 2009. It depicts the everyday adventures of a young girl named Yotsuba as she learns about the world around her, guided by her father, the neighbors, and their friends. Several characters in Yotsuba&! were previously featured in a one-shot manga called "Try! Try! Try!"[2] The phrase Yotsuba to means "Yotsuba and," a fact reflected in the chapter titles, most of which take the form "Yotsuba and something."[3]

The manga was licensed for English-language distribution by ADV Manga, which released five volumes between 2005 and 2007.[4] Volume six was supposed to have been released in February 2008, but was delayed indefinitely in order to focus on ADV's core business of anime.[5][6] At New York Comic Con 2009, Yen Press announced that it had acquired the North American license for the series;[7] it reprinted the first five volumes with new translations along with volume six in September 2009, and is continuing with later volumes.[8]

Contents

Story

Yotsuba&! is centered on Yotsuba Koiwai, a five-year-old[9] adopted girl who is energetic, cheerful, curious, odd, and quirky—so odd and quirky that even her own father calls her strange. She is also initially ignorant about many things a child her age would be expected to know, among them doorbells, escalators, air conditioners, and even playground swings.[10] This naiveté is the premise of humorous stories where she learns about, and frequently misunderstands, everyday things.[11]

At the start of the series, Yotsuba and her adoptive father, Koiwai, relocate to a new city with the help of Koiwai's best friend, an impressively tall man nicknamed Jumbo. Yotsuba makes a strong impression on the three daughters of the neighboring Ayase family, Asagi, Fuuka, and Ena, and many of her misadventures come from her interactions with them.

The series has no continuing plot—the focus of the stories is Yotsuba's daily voyage of discovery. Many chapters take place on successive days (for details, see List of Yotsuba&! chapters), so that the series follows, almost literally, the characters' daily lives.[12] The tone can be summarized by the motto, used on chapter title pages and advertising, "Today is always the most enjoyable day" (いつでも今日が、いちばん楽しい日 Itsudemo kyō ga, ichiban tanoshii hi?).

Main characters

Koiwai household

A scene from the manga. A smiling girl with four pigtails holds a four-leaf clover.
Yotsuba with a four-leaf clover
Yotsuba Koiwai (小岩井 四葉 Koiwai Yotsuba?) / "Yotsuba" (よつば Yotsuba?)
Yotsuba is depicted as an energetic five-year-old[9] girl with a child's wonder towards even the most unremarkable of new discoveries. She is shown finding enjoyment in nearly everything, and her constant enthusiasm is infectious.[2] Before moving to her present house, she and Koiwai lived with his mother, then before that on an island that is, according to her, "to the left."[13] Nothing is known about Yotsuba's parentage other than that she was orphaned somewhere outside of Japan and subsequently adopted by Koiwai and that she is sometimes taken for a foreigner by strangers. She is an excellent swimmer, but not as good an artist as she thinks she is.
The name "Yotsuba" (四葉?) can be translated as "four leaves," and is part of the phrase yotsuba no kurōbā (四葉のクローバー?, "four-leaf clover"). Her green hair is always worn in four pigtails, giving her somewhat the appearance of her namesake.[14]
Mr. Koiwai (小岩井 Koiwai?) / "Dad" (とうちゃん tō-chan?)
Koiwai, given name unknown, is Yotsuba's adoptive father. The circumstances of her adoption are obscure—he tells Fuka that without intending to, he found himself taking care of her while somewhere overseas, but gives no other details.[15] Though he acknowledges Yotsuba is a bit odd, he can be offbeat himself.[16] He is depicted as something of a slacker;[11] he habitually wears an undershirt and boxer shorts when working at home during the summer, and apologizes more than once for being "irresponsible." He works from home as a translator, though what languages and materials he translates is unknown. Regardless of his skills as a parent, Koiwai tries to be a good father to Yotsuba.[17]

Ayase household

A page from the manga. In the top panal, a dark-haired girl looks shocked. The next panal shows the same girl with a group of three other girls, and a middle-aged couple seated for breakfast. Each holds a piece of paper.
Above, Fuka reacts to shocking news being spread about her. Below, from left to right: Fuka, Yotsuba, Asagi, Ena, Mrs. Ayase, and Mr. Ayase at breakfast.

The Ayases live next-door to the Koiwais.

Asagi Ayase (綾瀬 あさぎ Ayase Asagi?)
The eldest of the three Ayase sisters, Asagi lives at home while attending a nearby university. She is depicted as an attractive young woman who enjoys teasing people, especially her parents; her friend Torako describes her as a horrible person for teasing Ena.[18] She is the best of her family at managing Yotsuba,[2] and her mother claims she was much like Yotsuba when she was young. Asagi's irreverence may have come from her mother's teasing when she was a child—for example, when Asagi found a four-leaf clover, Mrs. Ayase asked for a five-leaf clover instead, which Asagi could not find.[19]
Fuka Ayase (綾瀬 風香 Ayase Fūka?)
The middle Ayase sister, Fuka (also romanized as Fuuka) is 16 years old and in her second year at a local high school. She is the most responsible of the sisters, and during Yotsuba's first visit to her school, one student calls her "vice-president."[20] She finds herself frequently helping the Koiwais, even though she does not intend to and is more flustered by their eccentricities than anyone else. Fuuka is often teased by the other characters, especially about her fashion sense and sense of humor. She is fond of making bad puns, which irritates Asagi, and wearing shirts with odd or interesting graphics (such as Chiyo's "father" from Azumanga Daioh, who also appears as a plushie in her room).[21]
Ena Ayase (綾瀬 恵那 Ayase Ena?)
The youngest Ayase sister, Ena is a few years older than Yotsuba and her most frequent playmate. She is sensible for her age and tries to be responsible by recycling and limiting her use of air conditioning. Her attempts to spare Yotsuba's feelings sometimes lead her to make little white lies, such as praising Yotsuba's childish sketches[22] or letting her believe that Miura's cardboard costume is a real robot named Cardbo (in ADV's translation) or Danbo (in Yen's translation) (ダンボー Danbō?),[23] with consequences that rebound on herself and Miura. Ena likes drawing, something at which she is quite skilled, and playing with her teddy bears, either by herself or with Yotsuba. Ena is unsqueamish and even enthusiastic about such things as handling large frogs and gutting live fish.[24]
Mrs. Ayase (綾瀬家の母 Ayase-ke no Haha?) / "Mom" (かーちゃん kā-chan?)
The mother of the Ayase sisters, who frequently has Yotsuba over as a visitor. Unlike her daughters, she seems unfazed by Yotsuba's habit of calling her "Mom." She is often irritated with Asagi, possibly because, as her husband observes, they have similar personalities.[25] Mrs. Ayase has something of a sweet tooth, with cravings for ice cream, cake, and other desserts.
Mr. Ayase (綾瀬家の父 Ayase-ke no Chichi?)
The father of the Ayase sisters is almost never at home, at least during the workweek. While his profession is not revealed, it appears consistent with the life of a salaryman. Asagi frequently teases him about his constant absence, even sometimes mentioning him in past tense as if he were dead, but he otherwise has good relationships with the rest of the family. He has a very laid-back and sentimental personality.

Friends

Takashi Takeda (竹田 隆 Takeda Takashi?) / "Jumbo" (ジャンボ Janbo?)
A friend of Koiwai and Yotsuba, having known Koiwai since they were childhood classmates.[26] Standing 210 centimeters (6 ft 11 in) tall, he dwarfs the other characters, especially Yotsuba. He is always called by the nickname "Jumbo," and when Fuka learns his real name she calls it "common." He works at his father's flower shop, as Yotsuba discovers when she meets him there. He helps the Koiwais move in and frequently visits their house, where he is more or less treated as a member of the family by Yotsuba.
Jumbo has a dry sense of humor and is prone to deadpan quips, which sometimes confuse members of the Ayase family.[27] At the same time, he is impulsive, and sometimes spontaneously organizes activities for the younger children, such as fishing and star-gazing. As he does this, he enters a bizarre one-sided rivalry with Miura, including spending a single day in Hawai'i after he learns that she will be going abroad. He develops a deep infatuation with Asagi when he first meets her, but is too nervous around women to directly act on it. Instead, he tries to use Yotsuba's friendship with Asagi as a way of getting close to her, though his plans usually backfire.
Miura Hayasaka (早坂 みうら Hayasaka Miura?)
A friend and classmate of Ena. She is boyish and brusque, in both her appearance and speech (this is very noticeable in the Japanese version; see gender differences in spoken Japanese). Sometimes, she can be too straightforward and insensitive, and she counters aggressively in a tsukkomi-like manner if she feels mistaken or made fun of. Because of this, Miura appears less kind and thoughtful than Ena, but she is aware of others' feelings. For example, she immediately notices Jumbo's infatuation with Asagi and uses it to her advantage.[28] She is also extremely squeamish: when Jumbo takes the younger children fishing, Miura refuses to handle live bait, using salmon roe instead, and hides while Jumbo and Ena clean their catches; she is also terrified by a large frog Yotsuba catches.[24] Miura often wears sports-related clothing (such as jerseys of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Dodgers) and rides a unicycle. Jumbo once teases her by calling her Lamborghini Miura.
Torako (虎子?)
A friend of Asagi's, surname unknown, who attends the same university. She smokes constantly and appears obsessed with being cool. Because of this, she sometimes gets annoyed with Yotsuba's antics, though she also admits to Koiwai she's not used to being around small children.[29] Her name means "tiger" (虎 tora?) "girl" (子 ko?) and Yotsuba frequently calls her just Tora ("tiger"). She is interested in photography, and is the only member of the younger cast with a car.
Yanda (ヤンダ?) , actual surname Yasuda (安田?)
Yanda, given name unknown, is a friend of Koiwai and Jumbo. Though mentioned in the first and fourth chapters, when Jumbo calls Yanda "no good" for making lame excuses for not helping the Koiwais move, he does not appear until chapter 30. He is somewhat childish, as shown by the tit-for-tat pranks he plays on Yotsuba, including bribing her with candy then taking it back when it does not work, eating her ice cream, and prank-calling her, and is shown enjoying teasing Yotsuba and acting as her "nemesis". Koiwai refers to Yanda as his kōhai, but in what context he is Koiwai's junior is unknown. He is living from paycheck to paycheck, telling Koiwai that he eats instant ramen because he does not get paid until the end of the month,[30] and only eating frozen meals the rest of the time.
Hiwatari (日渡?) / "Miss Stake" (しまうー Shimaū?)
A friend of Fuka's, given name unknown, who is in the same homeroom. Her first official appearance is in chapter 45, when she visits Fuka's home and recognizes Yotsuba from her trip to their high school in chapter 40.[31] Hiwatari has a somewhat eccentric personality. She is normally called by her nickname Miss Stake (しまうー Shimaū?) due to a "mistake" she made when she first introduced herself to her class (in Japanese, shimau used as an auxiliary verb can mean to do something by accident, hence the pun).

Development

In 1998, Azuma published a one-shot manga and two webcomics called "Try! Try! Try!", in which Yotsuba, her father (who is unnamed), Ena, Fuka, and Asagi first appeared.[2] Although some of these characters, including Yotsuba herself, are largely the same as in Yotsuba&!, Fuka has a different character design, a more mischievous personality, and a different spelling of her given name (in "Try! Try! Try!", it is written with the kanji 風夏, meaning "wind-summer"; in Yotsuba&!, it is 風香, meaning "wind-scent").

Media

Despite its popularity and the success of Azumanga Daioh, no plans have been announced for an anime adaptation of Yotsuba&!. In an entry posted on his website on 15 May 2005, Azuma said there were no plans for it to be animated;[32] he reiterated this 5 December 2008, claiming that the stories and style of Yotsuba&! are not well-suited for animation.[33]

Manga

The manga is written and illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma, and published by ASCII Media Works in the monthly shōnen (aimed at teenage boys) manga magazine Dengeki Daioh since the March 2003 issue, with serialization on-going. Chapters have been collected in nine tankōbon volumes as of November 2009.

In English, Yotsuba&! was originally licensed by ADV Manga,[4] who published five volumes between 2005 and 2007 before dropping the license. The North American license was picked up by Yen Press,[7] which republished the first five volumes along with the sixth in September 2009; as of April 2010, Yen has released eight volumes.[8] In addition, the series is licensed in France by Kurokawa,[34] in Spain by Norma Editorial,[35] in Germany by Tokyopop Germany,[36] in Italy by Dynit,[37] in Finland by Punainen jättiläinen,[38] in Korea by Daiwon C.I.,[39] in Taiwan by Kadokawa Media,[40] in Vietnam by TVM Comics,[41] and in Thailand by NED Comics.[42]

Each chapter of Yotsuba&! takes place on a specific, nearly sequential day of a common year starting on Wednesday. The year was initially believed to be 2003, coinciding with the date of the manga's serialization, but Azuma has stated that the manga always takes place in the present day.[43] This allows the appearance of products created after 2003, such as the Nintendo DS Mr. Ayase plays in chapter forty-two.

Calendars

Both monthly and daily Yotsuba&! calendars have been released every year since 2005, although a monthly calendar for 2009 was not released due to constraints on Azuma's schedule.[44] The 2005 edition of the monthly calendar featured pictures of Yotsuba playing with animals such as lions, zebras, and kangaroos. The 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2010 editions feature photographs altered to include Yotsuba doing such things as playing with other children or reaching for a balloon.[45] The photographs were by Miho Kakuta, with drawings by Kiyohiko Azuma. The daily calendars have a mix of original and manga artwork, with occasional captions, as well as other fun items — for example, the 2006 calendar had a game of shiritori ongoing through the year.[46] The daily calendars run from April to March, following the Japanese school year instead of the calendar year.

The 2010 monthly calendar was recently released in November 2009.[47]

Music

Two Yotsuba&! music CDs have been released, both purely instrumental, called "image albums".[48] The music is designed to elicit mental images of events described by the titles. Both albums are composed by Masaki Kurihara and performed by the Kuricorder Pops Orchestra, who also worked together on the Azumanga Daioh soundtrack.

Picture books

A Yotsuba&! picture book, Yotsuba & Monochrome Animals, was published on 16 December 2006 (ISBN 978-4-8402-3714-7).[51] The book has pictures of Yotsuba playing with various black-and-white colored animals, such as pandas. The name of each animal is given in Japanese and English, along with the scientific classification of the species.

Reception

A section of a page from the manga. Two girls ride a bike, with the older one steering and the other clinging to her from behind; the younger one has an enormous bundle of various flowers larger than her strapped to her back. In the background, a girl stares at them.
Fuka (left on bicycle) and Yotsuba (behind) return from an over-successful shopping trip.

Yotsuba&! is drawn not in the vertical four-panel strips of Azuma's earlier series, Azumanga Daioh, but in a full-page format giving him more artistic scope.[52][53] Azuma's work on Yotsuba&! has been noted for his clean art,[54][55] detailed backgrounds,[56][57] and expressive faces.[58][59] Azuma is also praised for his joyous tone,[56][60] slice-of-life storytelling,[52] comedic writing,[55][61][62] and eccentric yet realistic characters, especially Yotsuba herself.[2][3][53][60][63]

The Comics Reporter described the series as "read[ing] like a love letter to the way kids can be at the age of 2-5,"[64] and a reviewer at Anime News Network compared Azuma's ability to capture "the wonder of childhood" to Bill Watterson's in Calvin and Hobbes.[53] Manga: The Complete Guide described it as "a light, feel-good manga, like an endless summer day."[65] Nicholas Penedo of Animeland said "with Yotsuba, we find ourselves plunged into the wonderful world of childhood," calling the French edition of volume eight, "A beautiful manga for children and adults."[66] BD Gest praised Azuma's skill in making distinct secondary characters, calling them "immediately recognisable", and saying that they each spice up the story in their own ways.[67] However, Azuma has been criticized for creating characters that are "too clean, too perfectly functional,"[61] for overusing "outrageous expressions and reactions,"[53] and for dragging out jokes too long.[62]

Yotsuba&! has been popular with readers as well as reviewers. For example, on Amazon.co.jp, volume six was the third best-selling comic in Japan for the first half of 2007 and volume eight was the second best-selling comic in Japan for 2008;[68][69] volumes seven and eight both were number two on the Tohan comics chart the week they debuted.[70][71] Volume eight sold more than 450,000 copies in 2008, making it one of the top 50 bestselling manga volumes on the Oricon chart for the year.[72] The first five volumes of the English translation were each among the top 100 selling graphic novels in the United States in the month of release.[73][74] Volume six of the English edition reached number 3 on the New York Times best seller list for manga, and it stayed on the list for four weeks.[75][76] Volume 8 debuted at #2 on the manga best seller list.[77]

Awards and recognitions

Yotsuba&! received an Excellence Award for Manga at the 2006 Japan Media Arts Festival, where the jury citation praised the vivid characters and gentle atmosphere.[78] In 2008 Yotsuba&! was nominated for the 12th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award[79] and the Eisner Award "Best Publication for Kids" category,[80] but did not win either, and was runner-up for the first annual Manga Taishō award.[81] The English translation was listed as one of the best 20 comics of 2005 by Publishers Weekly,[82] one of the best comics of 2006 by the staff of The Comics Journal,[83] and one of the top graphic novels for teens in 2008 by YALSA.[84] Volume one was named Book of the Month in the June 2005 issue of Newtype USA.[59]

There was an exhibit of Yotsuba&! artwork at the Gallery of Fantastic Art in Tokyo from 2–17 December 2006.[85] The lead article of the May 2009 issue of the Japanese design magazine Idea was a study of Yotsuba&!, focusing on book design, interior layout, and how translated editions were handled.[86][87]

Notes

  1. ↑ "JMPA on Dengeki Daioh" (in Japanese). http://www.j-magazine.or.jp/data_001/man_6.html#001. Retrieved 9 February 2008. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Chad Clayton (6 June 2005). "Yotsuba&! vol. 1". Anime Jump!. http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=639. Retrieved 8 August 2007. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Greg McElhatton (24 March 2005). "Yotsuba&! Vol. 1". Read About Comics. http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2005/03/24/yotsuba-vol-1/. Retrieved 11 August 2007. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Yotsuba&! (Archive)". Wayback machine/ADV Films. http://web.archive.org/web/20071013094406rn_1/www.advfilms.com/buy/manga/all-ages/yotsuba-/shop.aspx?categoryid=3351. Retrieved 10 February 2009. 
  5. ↑ Alverson, Brigid (23 June 2008). "ADV Manga Is Still in the Picture". Publishers Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6572652.html?nid=2789. Retrieved 5 December 2008. "‘When will Yotsuba&! come out?’ We don’t know, and we’re not going to lie about it." 
  6. ↑ Scott Green (28 May 2008). "AICN Anime-Yotsuba Questions Answered, An Early Look at Gantz, Koike's Color of Rage and More!". Ain't It Cool News. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/36891. Retrieved 1 June 2008. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Koulikov, Mikhail (7 February 2009). "New York Comic Con Yen Press". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2009/new-york-comic-con/yen-press. Retrieved 11 February 2009. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Yen Press » YOTSUBA&! by Kiyohiko Azuma". Yen Press. http://yenpress.us/?page_id=636. Retrieved 5 March 2009. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Initially, she claims to be six years old, but this is corrected by her father in chapter 36: Azuma, Kiyohiko (September 2009) [31 December 2006]. "Chapter 36: Yotsuba & Bicycles". Yotsuba&!. Volume 6. New York: Yen Press. pp. 46. ISBN 978-0-316-07324-0. 
  10. ↑ Doorbells: chapters 2 and 4; escalators: chapter 5; air conditioners: chapter 3; swings: chapter 1; in Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). Yotsuba&!. Volume 1. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1413903171. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Tom Spurgeon (15 August 2005). "Yotsuba&! Vol. 1". The Comics Reporter. http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/cr_reviews/2598/. Retrieved 22 September 2007. 
  12. ↑ Beard, Patricia (22 June 2007). "Yotsuba&! Vol. #04". Mania.com. http://www.mania.com/yotsuba-vol-04_article_83459.html. Retrieved 1 July 2009. 
  13. ↑ As reported by Ena Ayase in Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 14: Asagi & Souvenirs". Yotsuba&!. Volume 2. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1413903188. 
  14. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Translator's Notes". Yotsuba&!. Volume 1. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0317-1. 
  15. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 7: Yotsuba & Rain". Yotsuba&!. Volume 1. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0317-1. 
  16. ↑ Carlson, Johanna Draper (28 July 2008). "*Yotsuba&! — Recommended Series". Comics Worth Reading. http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/07/28/yotsuba-recommended-series/. Retrieved 19 January 2009. "Dad’s not particularly normal, either. During move-in, Yotsuba gets distracted and wanders off. His reaction is that “she’ll be back when she gets hungry,” as though she was a pet." 
  17. ↑ Chad Clayton (6 June 2005). "Yotsuba&! vol. 1". Anime Jump!. http://www.animejump.com/index.php?module=prodreviews&func=showcontent&id=639. Retrieved 19 June 2008. "Yotsuba's "dad" Koiwai has more than a little of the "twenty-something slacker" aura, but he genuinely cares about her and does his best to take care of her." 
  18. ↑ Chapter 61: Yotsuba & Balloons
  19. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 16: Yotsuba & Asagi". Yotsuba&!. Volume 3. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0329-4. 
  20. ↑ Whether this means vice-president of the student council or another body is not clear. Azuma, Kiyohiko (September 2009) [31 December 2006]. "Chapter 40: Yotsuba & Delivering". Yotsuba&!. Volume 6. New York: Yen Press. pp. 161. ISBN 978-0-316-07324-0. 
  21. ↑ Chiyo-chichi shirt: Yotsuba&!, chapter 8. Plushie: Yotsuba&!, chapters 29 and 42.
  22. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 8: Yotsuba & Drawing". Yotsuba&!. Volume 2. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0318-8. 
  23. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2007). "Chapter 28: Yotsuba & Cardbo". Yotsuba&!. Volume 5. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0349-2. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Frog: Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 13: Yotsuba & the Frog". Yotsuba&!. Volume 2. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0318-8. . Fish: Azuma, Kiyohiko (2007). "Chapter 23: Yotsuba & Fishing". Yotsuba&!. Volume 4. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0345-4. 
  25. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 20: Yotsuba & the Fireworks Show?". Yotsuba&!. Volume 3. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0329-4. 
  26. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2007). "Chapter 31: Yotsuba & Stars". Yotsuba&!. Volume 5. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0349-2. 
  27. ↑ For example, his various comments about his height in Yotsuba&!, chapter 4: Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 4: Yotsuba & TV". Yotsuba&!. Volume 1. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0317-1. 
  28. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2005). "Chapter 21: Yotsuba & the Fireworks Show!". Yotsuba&!. Volume 3. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0329-4. 
  29. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (April 2010). "Chapter 50: Yotsuba & The Restaurant". Yotsuba&!. Volume 8. Yen Press. ISBN 978-0-316-07327-1. 
  30. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (2007). "Chapter 30: Yotsuba & Yanda". Yotsuba&!. Volume 5. ADV Manga. ISBN 978-1-4139-0349-2. 
  31. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (December 2009) [2007]. "Chapter 45: Yotsuba & the Pâtissier". Yotsuba&!. Volume 7. New York: Yen Press. ISBN 978-0-316-07325-7. 
  32. ↑ "あずまきよひこ.com: TOPICS (FAQ)" (in Japanese). http://azumakiyohiko.com/archives/c_15.php. Retrieved 16 August 2007. 
  33. ↑ "Yotsuba&! Creator Kiyohiko Azuma Addresses Anime Rumors". Anime News Network. 4 December 2008. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-04/yotsuba&creator-kiyohiko-azuma-addresses-anime-rumors. Retrieved 6 December 2008. 
  34. ↑ "Yotsuba&! Vol 1" (in French). Kurokawa. http://www.kurokawa.fr/humour/fiche/81/yotsuba-t1. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  35. ↑ "¡YOTSUBA!" (in Spanish). Norma Editorial. http://www.normaeditorial.com/main.aspx?page=coleccion&pageindex=0&pagcount=0&idcoleccion=140&idserie=563. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  36. ↑ "Yotsuba&!" (in German). Tokyopop Germany. http://www.tokyopop.de/buecher/manga/yotsuba/index.php. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  37. ↑ "Yotsuba & !" (in Italian). Dynit. http://www.dynit.it/scheda.asp?mn=3&ctl=2&iddsc=365. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  38. ↑ "Yotsuba&!" (in Finnish). Punainen jättiläinen. http://www.punainenjattilainen.fi/tuotteet.php?do=yotsuba1. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  39. ↑ "요츠바랑!" (in Korean). Daiwon C.I.. http://www.daiwon.co.kr/comic/05comic04_view.asp?vm=vie&seq=10049. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  40. ↑ "四葉妹妹!" (in Chinese). Kadokawa Media. http://www.walkersnet.com.tw/details.asp?id=1958. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  41. ↑ "Yotsuba&!" (in Vietnamese). TVM Comics. http://www.tvmcomics.com.vn/index.php?controller=story&action=detail&id=28. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  42. ↑ "โยทสึบะ หนูเด๋อจอมป่วน!" (in Thai). NED Comics. http://www.ned-comics.com/book_inside.php?bkid=1563&isbn=974-254-483-2. Retrieved 20 May 2009. 
  43. ↑ "Azuma Kiyohiko discuses volume 6" (in Japanese). 23 January 2007. http://azumakiyohiko.com/archives/2007/01/23_1124.php. Retrieved 24 January 2007. 
  44. ↑ Azuma, Kiyohiko (27 November 2008). "あずまきよひこ.com: ENTRY [カレンダーとか] [AzumaKiyohiko.com: ENTRY "And Calendar?"]" (in Japanese). http://azumakiyohiko.com/archives/2008/11/27_0420.php. 
  45. ↑ "Yotsuba Wall Calendar Site" (in Japanese). http://www.yotuba.com/2007cal_top.html. Retrieved 17 May 2007. 
  46. ↑ "Yotsuba Desktop Calendar Site" (in Japanese). http://www.yotuba.com/2006hime_top.html. Retrieved 17 May 2007. 
  47. ↑ "Yotsuba Calendar". kiyohiko Azuma. http://azumakiyohiko.com/archives/2009/07/31_0032.php. Retrieved 20 September 2009. 
  48. ↑ "Yotsubato! Image Album". Anime News Network. 23 March 2005. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-03-23/yotsubato-image-album. Retrieved 17 January 2007. 
  49. ↑ "Yotsuba Music CD Site" (in Japanese). http://www.yotuba.com/cd_1.html. Retrieved 18 May 2007. 
  50. ↑ "Fuyu Shōgun CD Site" (in Japanese). http://www.yotuba.com/fuyusyogun_top.html. Retrieved 18 May 2007. 
  51. ↑ "よつばとしろとくろのどうぶつ" (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. http://asciimw.jp/search/?isbn=4-8402-3714-X. Retrieved 22 March 2009. 
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Carlo Santos (27 November 2007). "RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Society for the Study of Really Awesome Endings". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2007-11-27. Retrieved 27 November 2007. "Such is the way of Kiyohiko Azuma's slice-of-life storytelling, which was mastered within the four-panel pillars of Azumanga Daioh but perfected only in the full-chapter format that Yotsuba&! brings." 
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 53.2 53.3 Carl Kimlinger (9 February 2008). "Review: Yotsuba&! GN 5". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/yotsuba&/gn-5. Retrieved 10 February 2008. "What is really special about Yotsuba, though, is that newness with which she, as a child, sees the world. That the manga allows us to glimpse the world through those same eager eyes is what gives it appeal far beyond its humor. And it's in this that Azuma's decision to move past the four-panel format really pays dividends." 
  54. ↑ Jessica Chobot (2 August 2005). "Yotsuba&! Vol. 1 Review". IGN Comics. http://comics.ign.com/articles/638/638360p1.html. Retrieved 7 August 2007. "Incredibly strong drawings with excellent composition, detailing without being over-drawn and solid inking enhances the whole package." 
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Deb Aoki. "Yotsuba&! Volume 4 by Kiyohiko Azuma - Yotsuba Manga Review". About.com. http://manga.about.com/od/reviews/gr/Yotsuba4.htm. Retrieved 13 June 2008. "Crisp, un-fussy artwork, with delightful character expressions... The humor flows effortlessly with flawless timing." 
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 Greg McElhatton (21 June 2007). "Yotsuba&! Vol. 4". Read About Comics. http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2007/06/21/yotsuba-vol-4/. Retrieved 1 August 2007. 
  57. ↑ Carlson, Johanna Draper (28 July 2008). "*Yotsuba&! — Recommended Series". Comics Worth Reading. http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/07/28/yotsuba-recommended-series/. Retrieved 19 January 2009. "He beautifully draws everyday life and items, providing a grounding background. The detailed settings, such as the town streets, nicely contrast with the simpler character faces. And his sense of motion makes action sequences feel like a cartoon, they move so smoothly." 
  58. ↑ Dan Grendell (29 December 2005). "Big Eyes for the Cape Guy presents YOTSUBA&!". Ain't It Cool News. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/22129#6. Retrieved 31 July 2007. "Azuma's facial expressions bring YOTSUBA&! to life, making every page feel rich with personality, almost radiating emotion. The faces play a key role in the art, dominating each panel but not overpowering it." 
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Johnston, Chris (June 2005). "Yotsuba&! Volume 1: Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic". Newtype USA 4 (6): 162. "Its light-hearted fluffy slice-of-life episodes are accentuated by Azuma's cutely expressive artwork, which gives the book a near-weightless quality.". 
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Mike Dungan (31 March 2005). "Yotsuba&! Vol. #01". Anime on DVD. http://www.mania.com/yotsuba-vol-01_article_82171.html. Retrieved 1 July 2009. "Yotsuba is like a blank slate of joyous fun, learning about everything and loving every minute of it ... Yotsuba&! manages the clever balancing act of being both manic and gentle fun at the same time." 
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Tom Spurgeon (31 May 2007). "Yotsuba&! Vol. 4". The Comics Reporter. http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/cr_reviews/8824/. Retrieved 8 August 2007. 
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 Carlo Santos (26 June 2007). "Yotsuba and RTO - RIGHT TURN ONLY!!". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2007-06-26. Retrieved 22 September 2007. "The second half of the book is observational humor at its absolute pinnacle ... [T]here are plenty of times when Yotsuba&! is less than brilliant—usually when the series defeats itself by dragging out a joke too long." 
  63. ↑ Carlson, Johanna Draper (28 July 2008). "*Yotsuba&! — Recommended Series". Comics Worth Reading. http://comicsworthreading.com/2008/05/21/aria-book-2-recommended/. Retrieved 19 January 2009. "Almost everything is a new experience for her, and her enthusiasm provides the appeal of the stories. Her wide-eyed innocence and seemingly inexhaustible energy makes for charming misunderstandings and comedy." 
  64. ↑ Tom Spurgeon (15 August 2005). "Yotsuba&! Volume 1". The Comics Reporter. http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/briefings/cr_reviews/2598/. Retrieved 25 January 2008. "Kyohiko Azuma's Yotsuba&! manga reads like a love letter to the way kids can be at the age of 2-5, when they are in most ways functioning human beings but function in a world that's impossibly huge and easy to accept for its more benign surface qualities." 
  65. ↑ Thompson, Jason (2007). Manga: The Complete Guide. New York: Del Rey. pp. 402–403. ISBN 978-0-345-48590-8. 
  66. ↑ Penedo, Nicholas (13 January 2009). "Animeland - Critiques - Yotsuba ! • Vol. 8 - La BD" (in French). Animeland. http://www.animeland.com/critiques/voir/14780/Yotsuba-Vol-8. Retrieved 28 February 2009. "Toujours aussi frais et mignon, ce tome ne déçoit pas : avec Yotsuba, on se retrouve plongé dans le monde merveilleux de l’enfance. Un beau manga pour petits et grands." 
  67. ↑ Natali, M. (31 August 2006). "BD Gest' - Yotsuba ! 1. Yotsuba et le Déménagement" (in French). BD Gest'. http://www.bdgest.com/chronique-1657-BD-Yotsuba--Yotsuba-et-le-Demenagement.html. Retrieved 28 February 2009. "Azuma brosse des personnages attachants, aux caractères bien marqués, immédiatement reconnaissables et qui pimentent chacun à leur façon les savoureux chapitres de cette comédie." 
  68. ↑ "'07 上半期 Booksランキング > 和書" (in Japanese). Amazon.co.jp. http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/1000099986/. Retrieved 29 February 2008. 
  69. ↑ "Amazon.co.jp Posts 2008's Top Comics, Light Novels". Anime News Network. 4 December 2008. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-04/amazon.co.jp-posts-2008-top-comics-light-novels. Retrieved 5 December 2008. 
  70. ↑ "コミックランキング - THE 21 なんでもランキング - お楽しみ - PHP研究所" (in Japanese). http://www.php.co.jp/fun/ranking/books.php?genre=f2007-10-04. Retrieved 9 January 2008. 
  71. ↑ "コミックランキング - THE 21 なんでもランキング - お楽しみ - PHP研究所" (in Japanese). http://www.php.co.jp/fun/ranking/books.php?genre=f2008-09-03. Retrieved 6 September 2008. 
  72. ↑ "2008's Top-Selling Manga in Japan, #26-50". Anime News Network. 21 December 2008. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-21/2008-top-selling-manga-in-japan-no.26-50. Retrieved 9 February 2008. 
  73. ↑ Volume 1: [1], volume 2: [2], volume 3: [3], volume 4: [4]. Retrieved on 31 July 2007.
  74. ↑ Volume 5: [5]. Retrieved on 27 November 2007.
  75. ↑ "Best Sellers: Graphic Books". New York Times. 24 September 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html?_r=2. Retrieved 8 November 2009. 
  76. ↑ "New York Times Manga Best Seller List, October 4-10". Anime News Network. 16 October 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-10-16/new-york-times-manga-best-seller-list-october-4-10. Retrieved 8 November 2009. 
  77. ↑ "Best Sellers: Graphic Books: Manga". New York Times. April 29, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html?ref=bestseller. Retrieved May 3, 2010. 
  78. ↑ "2006 Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Excellence Prize YOTSUBA &!". Japan Media Arts Plaza. http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2006/manga/000510/index.php. Retrieved 22 August 2007. "... [A]ll the characters are vividly depicted, which gives exhilaration to the work and the whole atmosphere has a gentleness." 
  79. ↑ "Asahi Shimbun 12th Osamu Tezuka Culture Award Final Nominees Announcement" (in Japanese). http://www.asahi.com/tezuka/. Retrieved 17 April 2008. 
  80. ↑ "2008 Eisner Nominations Most Diverse Yet". Comic-Con International. http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_eisners_08nom.shtml. Retrieved 19 June 2008. 
  81. ↑ "Shinichi Ishizuka Wins First Ever Manga Taisho for Gaku". Anime News Network. 31 March 2008. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-31/shinichi-ishizuka-wins-first-ever-manga-taisho-for-gaku. Retrieved 5 December 2008. 
  82. ↑ Calvin Reid, Heidi MacDonald, and Douglas Wolk (7 November 2005). "Best Comics of 2005". Publishers Weekly. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6280956.html. Retrieved 31 July 2007. 
  83. ↑ "Best Comics of 2006 Index". The Comics Journal. 2 March 2007. http://www.tcj.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=562&Itemid=48. Retrieved 31 July 2007. 
  84. ↑ "YALSA Announces Great Graphic Novel List". 17 January 2008. http://67.192.23.170/articles/news/11927.html. Retrieved 17 April 2008. 
  85. ↑ "よつばと!展 [Yotsuba&! exhibition]" (in Japanese). http://www.yotuba.com/yotuba_ex_top.html. Retrieved 16 July 2008. 
  86. ↑ "idea magazine » IDEA NO. 334 : Designs for Manga, Anime & Light Novels (Vol.1)". Seibundō Shinkōsha. http://www.idea-mag.com/en/publication/334.php. Retrieved 10 September 2009. 
  87. ↑ "Yotsuba&! Design" (in French). Kurokawa. 23 July 2009. http://blog.kurokawa.fr/2009/07/23/yotsuba-design/. Retrieved 10 September 2009. 

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