When I first laid eyes upon this cover art, I was temporarily whisked away into a fantasy world where Nobu and Hachi would miraculously have a change of heart and fall madly in love with one another all over again, living happily ever after in their own Paradise. However, this is not your typical unrealistic shoujo fantasy, but the real deal when it comes to the unrelenting portrayals of reality and the barriers that we all must face in our lifetimes.
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It was painful seeing Nobu holding onto Hachi for dear life, knowing that absolutely nothing would result from his embrace. How does one possibly cope with the reality that the love of your life will never be within your reach? Especially when there’s nothing that you can do to change or improve the situation any. No matter how hard you try swimming up to the surface, the undertow will find its way to keep you down and immobilized. Nobu admitting that he still likes her, or rather, still in love with her, makes it such a realistic story, and such a tragic one at that. Both of them are victims of their own circumstances, and there’s no one to blame since it is what it is and impossible to change or alter the past. I even feel slightly bad for Yuri, since she never asked to be a part of any of this. I don’t care for her character all that much and it wouldn’t even bother me if she were no longer in his life, but what annoys me is the fact that Nobu’s been using her merely as a cheap replacement. It’s so cruel to do that to anyone, and it isn’t right. If fate were to kick in and work in his favor, Yuri would be old news and dropped like a hot potato. He tries to be noble by telling Hachi not to ruin his peace with his girlfriend…but both of them know that he doesn’t really want to be with her (Yuri, that is). His heart has always remained open for Hachi and Hachi only, and that will most likely never change.
It’s also taken her this long to realize that Takumi isn’t ever going to be the type of man that she’s been hoping for all of her life. Despite his marriage to her, it’s always been based on obligation and responsibility from the get go rather than any love for her. She just never wanted to acknowledge or accept it for what it was because that would mean that she was living a lie. Lust is so different from love, although it can be confusing…especially when the person you want most in this world only sees you as a sexual conquest and nothing more. But it’s better than being reduced to nothing at all. The consequences of this are absolutely devastating. But in Hachi’s case, Takumi doesn’t think of her purely as a sexual partner of course. I don’t know what he truly thinks of her other than someone he has to deal with out of obligation, but it isn’t as a life partner or someone as a reliable source of comfort during her worst days, as we’ve seen plenty of times throughout the series. He does the minimal amount that a responsible husband would fulfill, but not anything derived from his heart. Reira, on the other hand, is a different category altogether, since he tries to protect her at all costs. It’s sad how we place people into different categories based on how we feel about them. Essentially, it’s a no-win situation for all of them.
I love the fact that Mz. Yazawa never makes it easy on her readers to digest the painful realities of the characters’ lives. Absolutely nobody is spared from tragedy, regret, or heartbreak. Chapter 83 presents the illusions of hope; that love doesn’t always prevail when it comes to matters of the heart…as well as the fact that no matter how hard you try, some things in life just never seem to pan out the way it should or the way we’d want it to. Perhaps it’s the rule of fate that prevents us from getting everything we desire, or maybe some things…just aren’t meant to be.
Whenever Nana finishes its run, I hope Viz will publish a few multi-volume compendiums that have cover art that aren’t embarrassing for someone not of the target gender to buy. Nana is just so damn addicting and is best as something to read in marathon sessions. I can’t buy the U.S. versions though because it’s fairly embarrassing for a guy to buy shoujo manga with covers like that (yes I know they’re probably faithful to the Japanese versions but still). Thank God for scanlations…
Well…you could always purchase NANA over Amazon, which would kill two birds in one stone…but I do understand how you feel. I’m too embarrassed to step foot into the romance aisle since it would mean that I actually read those trashy books in the first place. Funny, I’m not embarrassed at all about admitting to reading something cool like Blame!, but when it comes to NANA, I tend to keep my thoughts about it exclusively on this blog and never in public…
I tell everyone? hehe. No-one says much to me, my ex seems to think it is strange… but she wouldn’t touch anything remotely feminine she’s probably more masculine than me… which makes her just as strange.
Hmmm…yeah, people can be strange from time to time. I know I am. I don’t like interacting with strangers, yet I enjoy being out in a crowd. I don’t like being the center of attention, yet I enjoy the attention of others. This has nothing to do with your comment whatsoever…but I’m in a semi-irritated mood due to… plans being canceled, and I’m at home with not much to do except to lurk online.
maybe i should read this manga. is it really that much of a :’(?
Read it, and you’ll find out for yourself. But if you actually take the time to read my entries, you’ll get your answer.
The more i read this manga, the more my friend that reads it keeps saying that Nana and Hachi should end up together in the end.
And of course at this point, Nana and Hachi are a little TOO close for friends
maybe i should read the manga
Thanks for this review…now i def want to read this…amazon here I come.
First off I just want to say how much I love this manga!
I wish they would make more anime but I am so glad to hear Ms. Yazawa is out of the hospital, now maybe we will finally get our long awaited chapter 85, anticipated to be released end of july 2010! This manga hits home in so many ways and the tears never cease to fall when reading it. I think of all the couples Hachi and Nobu definitely make a better pair, you can really sense the love they have for each other. Yea Takumi may be like, some hot rock star with an attitude that he is hot shit and dont care about nothing, or whatever but face it, he is a prick 
and he is cheating on Hachi when he “stays at his ‘other’ house”. Its terrible. As for miss porn star. she irritates me. Thats just plain and simple. I think it is just terrible what happened to Ren and I couldnt help but cry my eyes out! This manga is a must read! Every girl needs Nana! 
I am happy Yasu found a nice girl. He is such a good guy. Nana and Hachi are so close because they are best friends. Nothing more then that, 
so dont ruin it with fithy comments about how they should be together. Ha! Anyway, I think Nana will meet her younger sister, well this time knowing it is her sister. And I think Reira and Takumi’s affair will lead to her getting pregnant with little Ren… why else would she be with little Ren. If it were me I would not let that homewrecker near my kid (if it were Hachi’s child, she certainly would not let Reira watch him by herself). Oh how I pray for some closure and really hope they dont drop it how it is. 
It would truly be painful to not know what happens after Nobus heartwrenching confession and their warm, and quite long, embrace. Nana and Ren were too perfect for each other. 
Somehow seeing the future clips and what not I do not think Nobu and Hachi will be together and I think Nana runs away after the death of her beloved and all the press and the stress of her mom/family she never knew, she leaves everything behind. Eventually just dont know how/why/when Hachi and stupid head get a divorce… and who cares about the Porn Queen lmao!
amazing! keep up the good work!
NANA anime/manga?
The anime is done, but the ending was too……………anyways, can some1 please tell me what volume of the Nana manga picks off from where the anime left off?
Thanx in advance to any1 who answers
I have a feeling it would have a very unique story-line. I’ll go for it.