Tag Archives: The Way of the Househusband

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

Leave a reply

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

Leave a reply

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!

Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 10 by Kousuke Oono

Leave a reply

The Way of the Househusband, Vol 10     

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 15, 2023

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Tatsu is enlisted by a local grocery to look out for shoplifters because they are causing the business to bleed cash due to the number of thefts. But Tatsu’s methods are not quite what the owner expected. And when a shoplifter is actually caught, Tatsu and the others becomes too engrossed in what the man planned to use his stolen ingredients for.

One of the ladies in Tatsu’s group has a weight problem, and Tatsu is quick with solutions! He warns her of enemies who will try to lay her low, but he knows a group who will be perfect to help her in her fight against the battle of the bulge!

Tatsu meets up with his old boss in the park, who is babysitting his granddaughter An. When An announces she is hungry, the boss asks Tatsu if he can help, since he lives close by. Tatsu is happy to oblige, of course. But cooking for a child with a discriminating palate is more of a challenge than he realized!

Tatsu has finally broken his bad habit! He quit smoking and it’s been a week now! But, as his friends and acquaintances learn to their chagrin, reformed smokers can be the worst and the quickest to give unasked-for advice and lectures!

Tatsu is excited for Christmas! But when Miku comes down with an unexpected bug on Christmas Eve, Tatsu has to temper his enthusiasm with Miku’s needs.

A member of Tatsu’s group arrives late to their meeting, and he is startled to see her dry, cracked lips. He attempts to discuss skin care with her, but she seems oblivious to her problem. Can Tatsu tell her in a diplomatic way? Or will her stubborn refusal to listen to what he is saying only lead to more pain for her?

Tatsu is the proud owner of an electric bicycle he won in a drawing! When he runs into Masa on the street, he is more than happy to show off his new ride. But their old boss shows up in his new ride, a huge SUV, and Tatsu lets him know just how bad for the environment that gas guzzler is.

Tatsu and the gang are searching for a missing feline, but when the cat is returned by an unexpected source, Tatsu becomes defensive and accuses them of catnapping!

It’s granddaughter An’s birthday, which is stressful not knowing what to get her for a gift that will be pleasing to her and the boss. She receives a new game called Boss in a Barrel and wants to play it with the guys. The goal is to kill the boss in the barrel. But they have to fight their instincts to never harm their boss, and this isn’t going to be easy for them!

Bonus story 1: An and her friend play a game called Guess the Face.

Bonus story 2: Animal Bossing (think Animal Crossing, Tatsu-style!)

I don’t even know which Tatsu story I loved the most! I never get tired of reading about Tatsu and his exploits. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!

Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 10 by Kousuke Oono

Leave a reply

The Way of the Househusband, Vol 9 

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 21, 2023

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Tatsu is in the neighborhood and decides to drop by Masa’s place for a surprise inspection! Deciding that the apartment smells like death, Tatsu decides to educate Masa about herbs and what they can do for you.

Tatsu becomes interested in needle felting and goes to the craft store, where he runs into Ms. Torii, who has developed the same interest. They both decide to make the same cute cat. Ms.Torii taunts Tatsu in to teaching her what to do, so now it’s on. Who can make the best-looking cat?

With temperatures spiking, the local patrol find themselves sweltering in their suits. But what can they do, they have an image to maintain! Luckily, they run into Tatsu and he has some great tips for staying cool!

Tatsu, Miku, and Masa are sitting around, telling ghost stories. Whose story will be the scariest?

Tatsu has a new assignment – to get the five-year-old daughter of a friend to eat her vegetables! But the usual hiding tricks won’t work on this girl, she’s far too smart for that. Has Tatsu met his match?

When Tatsu finds his landlord struggling to get rid of some troublesome weeds that have popped up, he calls in some back-up to help him tackle the unwanted invaders!

Two young boys are arguing over the respective merits of a stag beetle vs a rhinoceros beetle in a fight. Tatsu and Torajiro step in, each championing his favorite. The fight is on!

Shopping malls are taking customers who used to go to small stores, who are suffering as a result. Tatsu to the rescue! He has some suggestions to get the crowds to come back! But will his ideas work?

Tatsu and his boss spend some time at a café in order to see what young people are in to these days. Can they apply the same methods to their café?

Another great volume of Tatsu. I think I recognized some of the stories from the anime, which is great! I love them both. The bonus stories are great too. I hope Kousuke Oono keeps writing this series for a long time to come. Looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 8 by Kousuke Oono

Leave a reply

The Way of the Househusband, Vol 8   

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 16, 2022

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

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Sales at Torajiro’s crepe truck have plummeted, and the reason is Koharu, his sister.  She’s opened a rival truck called Lovely Donuts, which is taking Torajiro’s customers. What’s a guy to do but call on the only man who can save him…Tatsu?

Tatsu and Miku awake to find a winter wonderland just outside their door. But it’s the condensation that has Tatsu’s knickers in a twist! While Miku goes to work, Tatsu heads to the store to stock up in case things get worse. He runs across some men who are under orders from their boss to clear the area outside of his office, but they are having a tough time of it. Tatsu berates them for having the wrong equipment and sets them straight.

Tatsu, Miku, and Masa get together for movie night. The only question is what to watch. Seems that everyone has different ideas and tastes.

Miku’s coworker persuades her to adopt his hamster, but since they have Gin, that doesn’t seem practical, so they try to present him to Masa as a gift. But Masa barely has enough for him to subsist on, let alone a pet. Tatsu’s old boss is also a no-go because of Pinky. While Tatsu tries to figure out what to do, the cops think they’ve finally caught him doing something illegal.

Miku is supposed to go golfing with a client, but she’s never golfed before. Tatsu tells her she’s in good hands with him and he’ll show her the ropes! He takes her golfing, but she finds the rules as he explains them to her probably don’t apply to her.

Tatsu and Miku run into Tora and Koharu. The crepe man claims to have a very hot product to show them, but he can’t do it there. So they arrange to meet on the mountain over the weekend. The product turns out to be a riverside tent sauna! Sounds like fun, right?

Tatsu and Masa and some of the guys head to the mountain to search for bamboo shoots. Tatsu reminds them that since it’s the boss’ mountain, he will need a cut of their haul too.  But when circumstances deal them a blow, and they’re left with almost nothing, how do they explain that to the boss?

Tatsu takes Miku and Masa to his favorite Chinese restaurant, which he says has a secret menu. The chef proudly shows them his newest dish, a Sichuan super spicy hot pot. Anyone who can finish it will get the dish for free. Of course the three of them are game! But can they do it?

Tatsu attends a crime prevention class, and he is most eager to assist the officer in charge with her demonstrations.

Tatsu is back and he’s in fine form with another round of hilarious hijinx! These stories never get old, and I love Tatsu so much! I hope this series runs for a long time to come. Look for bonus stories, one about zombies and the other an episode of Policure! If you don’t know what Policure is, you need to go back and start reading the series again lol

Book Review: The Way of the Househusband, Vol 3 by Kousuke Oono

Leave a reply

The Way of the Househusband, Vol 3     

Author: Kousuke Oono

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: May 19, 2020

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Comedy/160 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Miku arrives home to find Tatsu in a panic and their home in disarray. When she questions him, Tatsu says it’s the black bullet, a hitman with a lot of balls. But he swears he’s not going down without a fight!

When Masa goes to the store with Tatsu, he’s surprised to see his former boss pa Christmasy apron and a Santa cap! Tatsu tells Masa it’s for the neighborhood kids club Christmas party. The kids are somewhat taken aback by Tatsu’s appearance. He certainly isn’t the traditional Santa they expected! Tatsu’s got it all covered, as he puts his own spin on the festivities!

Miku comes home from work, exhausted, to find that Tatsu intends to pamper her with a variety of foods calculated to give her the boost she needs. However, she questions his methods when he pulls out a blindfold. Will this have the effect he hopes it will?

Tatsu is looking to make some cash in a hurry. Something to utilize his particular skill set. Can he serve his customers to their satisfaction?

While browsing the clearance section of the grocery store, Tatsu runs across the wife of the Torii group, who apparently works there. She recognizes him and they catch up on old times.

While Miku and Tatsu are shopping together, Miku suddenly drags him off to show him that there is a live Policure show going on! When the call goes out to the audience for a volunteer to come to the rescue and afterwards have their picture taken with the members of the show, Miku is too shy to volunteer. What else can her loving husband do but offer to go in her stead?

Masa has acquired an item he isn’t sure how to handle, so he comes to Tatsu for advice. Together, can they figure out how to use a toaster oven?

Tatsu encounters his old boss, whom he hasn’t spoken with since he left the family. The boss has something he wants to discuss with Tatsu. Will he suck Tatsu back into the yakuza life?

Masa comes to Tatsu’s apartment, meeting Miku for the first time, in order to bring Tatsu’s birthday present. When he sees the state of the apartment, he offers to help Miku surprise Tatsu when he comes home later that evening. Together, will they make this an occasion to remember?

I am so in love with these books, and with Tatsu! I’ve already pre-ordered the next volume! Tatsu is so adorable! I love him and Miku together. I would love to see more of their past lives, and how they became a couple, see what changed Tatsu from yakuza to house-husband.

The story is very funny, and also touching. The artwork is fabulous, and the characters memorable. I’ve seen some reviewers call the series one-note. I prefer to think of it as variations on a theme, all of them good, and very much fun to read. I would love to see an anime made from this!

Can’t wait for the next volume, although I’ll have to. I think it comes out in September.  lol