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Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 12 by Kousuke Oono

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The Way of the Househusband, Vol 12   

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 20, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Comedy/168 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

When another baseball shatters a window in the Boss’ home, he becomes fed up and determined to do something about it. So he sends for the troops, his purpose to go to war. Tatsu and the others arrive on the field to face their opponents – a baseball team of youngsters, who promise to “crush them inta dust.”  Can age hold its own in the face of youth?

Masa decides he wants to be a YouTube content creator and hopes to grow it to be his main source of income, as he explains to Tatsu. Tatsu notices that Masa’s view counts are rather sad, though. As Tatsu is visiting and relaxing with Masa, Masa suddenly starts filming for his channel, and announces he has his first guest – none other than Tatsu, who is taken by surprise. Masa’s intent is to review convenience food items, but maybe Tatsu wasn’t his best choice?

Tora is annoyed to find new competition for his crepe cart in the form of a nearby oden cart. He and Tatsu come down a little hard on the owner of the cart, especially considering the poor guy hasn’t even had a customer yet and isn’t doing very well. So Tatsu and Tora decide to help the newcomer out by critiquing his food.

A group of parents and kids, including Tatsu, are attending a traffic safety class being given by Officer Masaki and the police department mascot, a monkey named Fuzz. Masaki demonstrates safety by putting Fuzz into dangerous situations so he can explain what to do if that happens, but Tatsu is having none of it, and butts heads with Masaki, concerned over the mascot’s own safety.

It’s Halloween, and Tatsu is determined to show the kids the ins and outs of trick or treating!

While taking tea with some of the women from the committee, Tatsu reveals that a Starbox Coffee has opened in their town! They decide they need to check this out and hurry over there, only to be met by a rival gang with the same idea. The leader and Tatsu get into a contest to see who can outdo the other with their orders.

Tatsu and Masa are on a mission to thoroughly clean Tatsu’s apartment. But when Masa mistakenly tries to burn one of Miku’s Policure figurines, she decides to bring in an expert to show them how it’s done.

Miku invites Tora’s sister, Koharu, to go with her to buy a Valentine’s present for Tatsu. Koharu buys a chocolate making kit and Miku decides to help her so they can both give chocolates. Miku has a unique style, perhaps influenced by Tatsu, and she turns the experience into a game of Russian roulette for Tatsu and Tora, who are less than thrilled at spending time together.

Another great volume of The Way of the Househusband. Tatsu is always up to something and it’s invariably entertaining. By now, everyone has become a familiar character and I look forward to seeing them all and what they are up to. I never get bored, and I look forward to the next volume, which I have already pre-ordered.

Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 11 by Kousuke Oono

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The Way of the Househusband, Vol 11     

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 20, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Comedy/168 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Tatsu and Miku head to a theme park for a little fun, but everywhere they go, someone is muscling in on them – none other than Tora, who is there with his sister, Koharu. Everywhere they go, the two couples seem to keep running into each other, with the men trying to outdo each other. Can Miku and Koharu keep these two in check?

Masa is looking for new digs because his landlady is threatening to kick him out if he’s late with the rent again! Tatsu goes with him to do some recon, but the realtors seem kind of shady. The trouble is, Masa doesn’t have a lot of money. Can he make do with what he can afford, with the help of Tatsu? And can he overlook some of the problems?

The small café where Tatsu works during the day becomes a bar at night. A new client who enters the premises is dismayed by the strong Yakuza presence. But he quickly learns that appearances can be deceiving as he pours his heart out to them.

When Miku asks Masa if he’s made any progress at cooking, he offers to cook them something from whatever Tatsu has on hand. When Miku shows off her skills with ramen, Masa knows he can do better, given the chance. Will he manage to impress his boss, or will Tatsu have to school him once again?

Miku’s friend gives her an old camera, and Tatsu suddenly becomes camera-shy, telling her not to point it at him. To please Miku, they head off for a day of photography, and all is well, until something unexpected starts to show up in the photos.

Tatsu doesn’t like the way his clothes smell when dried inside because of the rain so he orders a secret weapon – a professional grade laundry dehumidifier! Tatsu declares war on odors, and that includes Gin!

Tatsu learns about a new and improved product that has five times the lactic acid bacteria, is good for stress relief, and improves sleep quality. But when he tries to purchase some, he’s told the product is sold out! Of course, he can pay a high price for it on the black market. Tatsu’s mission is to find a source of Yakmil Y – cause he’s gotta have it!

Tatsu and Miku receive thank you gifts in the mail from the hometown tax donation program – marbled matsukata steaks! Miku wants the cooking to commence, but Tatsu tells her that’s not the way to do it. They have to let the steaks rest until dinner the next day. All day, they manage to get through each of their days by remembering the dinner that is to come!

A young reporter visits the Katagi Shopping District, but she is rather brash and impolite in some of her language. When she enters the café where Tatsu works, she immediately accuses everyone of being Yakuza! Time she learned who she is really dealing with!

In Bonus Story 1, Tatsu prepares to take his tea like a gentleman,  and in Bonus Story 2, the young reporter spends some time with Gin. In the third Bonus story, a boss rallies his employees to do their best at Katagy Land!

I never get tired of reading about Tatsu and his adventures, to be honest, so I hope he keeps writing them for a long time to come. I especially like stories with Tatsu and Miku, or Tatsu and Masa, or the three of them together. I loved the first story, with Tatsu and Tora posturing at the theme park, Katkagy Land, which also features in one of the bonus stories.  I’m afraid one of the stories didn’t exactly resonate with me, the one with the Yakmil Y, but I think it was because Tatsu was portrayed as some kind of addict I that one, but that doesn’t mean others won’t enjoy that one too. That didn’t deter me from enjoying the entire book, already pre-ordered the next one!