Review of a Good Manga “Gura Zeni(グラゼニ)”
This manga, characteristic of a Morning series, confronts the realities of the dream job of being a baseball player while also teaching us the importance of having dreams.
Check on Amazon
Check on ComicAddict
More Realistic Than Any Baseball Manga Before: The Raw Reality of Players
The protagonist is a professional baseball player, but not a top player, instead, he is a relief pitcher who sometimes gets hit and sometimes doesn’t, earning an annual salary of 18 million yen, which doesn’t seem very dreamy for a professional athlete.
This manga depicts how such players adjust, get notified of their game appearances, and their feelings, offering a glimpse into the real-life aspects of sports athletes that we don’t usually see on TV.
A Meritocracy Much Harsher Than That of a Salaryman
Baseball players may have a glamorous image, but they live in a very harsh world. While the strict meritocracy of this world is well known in stories, seeing it visualized in manga form truly brings home the reality of their tough existence.
The Reality of Commentators, Managers, Coaches, Journalists, and Insiders
It’s not just about the players; the manga also portrays the lives of those around them, such as commentators, coaches, journalists, and insiders. It offers a peek into the society that makes up the baseball world, including the dramas of personnel decisions influenced by personal preferences or the owner’s wishes, and the fight for the limited slots by commentators.
Changing How You View Baseball
This might be the most realistic baseball manga yet, making baseball players feel more relatable and reigniting interest in watching baseball. It makes you aware of the dramas in each player’s life beyond the star athletes.
Engaging Story
Despite focusing on the real-world depiction, the story itself is engaging, with the protagonist performing well in a balanced manner and facing various issues. It’s a manga that’s worth reading, and it’s understandable why it’s popular.
[1] Yuji Moritaka, Keiji Adachi, “Gurazeni” Volume 1, 2011, p10
[2] Yuji Moritaka, Keiji Adachi, “Gurazeni” Volume 1, 2011, p38
[3] Yuji Moritaka, Keiji Adachi, “Gurazeni” Volume 1, 2011, p62
