I have still not watched the movie so I went into this one with absolutely no idea or visions for the characters and that worked for me. The story is fast paced with no usual drama and Suzume and Shota are having one big adventure.

The illustrations are beautiful and you can go through this one in about 1-2 hrs.

I have always been a fan of Makoto Shinkai.

This manga did not disappoint. The art is so beautiful. The story is thrilling it left wanting more. I am curious about the door, key, cat, man who changed into kid's stool. Waiting for vol 2.

Makoto Shinkai truly is a magician of stories.

I haven't had the chance to watch the movie yet, but this manga adaptation is definitely making me want to!

The manga follows the story of a schoolgirl named Suzume, who accidentally discovers a strange door to another dimension. On her way to school, she meets Souta and learns about the keystone and the closers. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the two are forced to embark on an exciting journey, trying to catch a cat who is apparently the keystone and is disrupting Souta's plans!

This volume was a great introduction to the story of Suzume and Souta, and I am really excited to read more!

It's cute and all--wait, sentient chair v. god cat? Yeah, count me in.

Feels funny to call a giant vortex of chaos a slow start, but Suzume's character is so easygoing and the art is so charming that the opening chapters come across as pretty magical and serene. The familiar tropes welcomed me in - orphan girl, doing-her-best-caretaker, mysterious man on the road - and the quirky humor turned the story into a uniquely rambunctious ride with chaos and heart.

I'd most definitely recommend to fans of the webtoon Protect the Knight.

Thanks to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for giving me this advanced copy.

Firstly I have to say, Suzume is one of my favourite movies ever made, so I was super excited to get the first volume of this manga to read. It’s a beautiful and emotional story that deals with both loss and trauma while at the same time taking you on an action-packed adventure.
I was worried that it wouldn’t translate as well in manga format, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. This is still just as fun, fascinating and compelling as the movie - oh and did I mention it has a talking cat AND a talking chair!
Suffice to say, I loved this book, and will gladly buy the next instalment.

4.25 ⭐️

A wonderful tie in to the movie. I loved being able to read this, and I can't wait for the next volume.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

Ah yes, the infamous "hot boy gets turned into a chair" story lolol. I never got the chance to see this movie in theaters. I didn't really know what the premise was about either so this manga was a great introduction to it all! I now understand how he was turned into a chair lolol. It is a little odd though that she's a high schooler and he seems like an adult... don't know if I like that at all. Their relationship so far has been mundane and I mean... he's literally a chair so not many things can go wrong there.

Love the illustration style here. And I’m interested to see where the story goes. Very quick read, in a good way!

Suzume is on of my all-time favourite anime movies and with Makoto Shinkai's writing it is simply magic. The art is stunning and the manga follows the first part of the movie where Suzume meets Souta and also discovers the door. The movie as well as the manga is simply breathtaking and you simply immerse yourself into this universe. This piece of art feels so dreamy and adventurous at the same time. It also ends with kind of a cliffhanger that keeps you curious to read the next book (if you didn't watch the movie previously), which makes you wanna continue the story and connect to the characters more.

The first volume of Suzume is pretty good. It's the story of a girl with a traumatic past, and how bumping into a fantastic situation completely changes her life and makes her face her trauma and grow, all while dealing with a walking, talking chair, chasing a magic cat and closing dangerous portals. Those who already know and like Makoto Shinkai's style will probably enjoy Suzume. Those who don't will find it a good introduction to his work. I really liked this volume and now I want to check out the movie and see how the rest of the story plays out.

4.75 ✨
I loved the movie and I’m so excited to collect the mangas this is one of the best mangas I’ve ever read!🫶🏻

While the movie adaptation is stunning, the book delves even deeper into the story, offering rich details and emotional depth that make the experience even more powerful. Suzume’s adventure is beautifully written, and the blend of mystery, fantasy, and coming-of-age elements make it a must-read. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and immersive story.

I didn’t know there was a movie adaptation, after reading the first volume i’m very much excited to look it up and watch the movie and read the next volume. I loved the art style and the story was so wholesome.

If you’re looking for a manga that blends adventure, mystery, and a dash of the supernatural, Suzume 1 by Makoto Shinkai is your ticket to a heartwarming and exhilarating ride!

Adapted from the hit film directed by Shinkai, this manga captures the magic of his storytelling while bringing a fresh, new perspective to the story.

The journey kicks off when high school junior Suzume meets a mysterious and undeniably handsome stranger, Souta, who’s on a quest to find certain ruins and a special door. Curiosity gets the best of her, and she points him in the direction of an eerie, abandoned resort. But when

Suzume realises something isn’t quite right, she races back to stop him—only to accidentally open a door to another world! What follows is an adventure that’s as thrilling as it is touching, filled with seismic twists and turns (literally and figuratively).

What makes Suzume 1 such a fun read is how it balances the excitement of a grand adventure with the relatable, everyday struggles of a teenage girl. Suzume is a delightful FMC, brave, curious, and a little bit impulsive, which makes her journey all the more engaging.

The manga’s art beautifully captures the world beyond the door, filled with breathtaking landscapes and eerie ruins that hint at the wonders (and dangers) that lie ahead.

Whether you’re a fan of Shinkai’s previous works or new to his storytelling magic, Suzume 1 is a fantastic start to a series that promises to be just as enchanting as its film counterpart. It’s a perfect blend of cute, fun, and adventurous—a must-read for manga lovers who enjoy a mix of the mystical and the heartwarming.

Thank you to the publisher Vertical Comics, The authors Makoto Shinkai and Netgalley for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed the movie so I was curious to read the manga

The story starts with Suzume helping this hot stranger with an odd request of finding ruin to find a door. Then, Suzume winds up getting involved in this hunt for a supernatural worm that travels through doors. Also the hot stranger turns into a chair because of a keystone cat — CRAZY TURN OF EVENTS such a unique fantasy plot with adventure that awaits

I received an ARC of this book.
Suzume is a strange and fantastical story of a high school student who accidentally gets wrapped up in a world of curses, gods, and portals. The quirky narrative and beautiful imagery tie together nicely to create a fun and exciting read. I really enjoyed the unexpected turns in the story that were both intriguing and delightfully fantastical. I found Suzume to be an interesting character. She has a big heart and a sad backstory yet to be uncovered. The middle of the story is perhaps a bit slow as it delves deeper into the cast of characters but overall, it had me intrigued and wishing for more!

Thank you, Kodansha/ Vertical Comics, for the ARC.

I actually need more explanations and a better edited art sequencing for this manga. Hope we get to see it in the upcoming volumes.

Suzume meets a stranger one day on the road and gets asked a strange question looking for ruins. Well, it leads to a strange door for Suzume whew adventures begin with strange characters in an unknown world she never ever imagined.

Well….. let’s wait and see what comes next.

High school junior Suzume directs the beautiful stranger, Souta, to the ruins near her hometown but then remembers that they're dangerous and people aren't supposed to enter. She hurries to stop him but only manages to open a door that should never be opened and set loose a being that will lead her and Souta on an action-packed chase across Japan.

This is a straightforward manga version of the movie, pretty much nothing changes from one to the next other than the medium. It's a great story and Denki Amashima does an excellent job of portraying emotions, especially the danger unleashed on the world, but there is nothing new to surprise you if you've watched the movie. On the other hand, if you don't like animated features but enjoy reading an excellent manga, this one's for you.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, and Vertical Comics for the lovely read!

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I never thought I would be recommending a story where the male lead is a chair but HEAR ME OUT OKAY 😭

This story begins with the most unhinged chapter. Like I truly could not believe what I was reading at first, but the way this story just gets better and better with every page is what makes me truly love it all the same.

Okay so the plot... 😅

"Suzume" by Makoto Shinkai follows high school junior, Suzume, who lives with her aunt and dreams of becoming a nurse, and Souta, a self-proclaimed professional "closer" (of doors that lead to another world) who Suzume meets on the street and watches as he gets cursed by a kitten and turned into a chair. After successfully closing a door together, Suzume and Souta The Chair are led on an adventure all over Japan as they follow and catch the magical kitten through sitings found on social media via #hangingwithdaijin. Through their travels, they must close any other doors that happen to open and hope that the kitten it within reach to close and lock these doors for good. Doing so will stop a worm from another world from releasing its energy out through these doors and causing powerful earthquakes to damage Japan. It's truly a matter of life or death.

But wait, there's more!

There are emotional moments and beautiful dialogue between Suzume and Souta The Chair that I found to be so heartfelt and impactful. Although this story isn't a romance (Suzume is underage and Souta's age is unknown), the way they are able to spot positive qualities about each other so easily and communicate them even while they go on this stressful adventure is what makes me love them as individual characters.

With Suzume in particular, she gets the most development as a character and she really shines. Sure, you can say shes a bit reckless and naive for some of her actions. Travelling with a man-chair across Japan while skipping school isnt the best idea, I'll admit 😅. It wasn't until we get a better picture of her relationship with her aunt Tamaki that I realized the kind of person she is: someone who is incredibly good-natured and wants to do her best to help and care for others even when it might lead her into trouble. Her ability to build good relationships with new people and earn their kindness as well as maintain her relationship with her aunt despite her absence is what carries them so far. She is a character worth rooting for and whatever the plot will bring her in the future will only make her a stronger character. I, as the reader, believe that, and I know Souta The Chair believes that too.

I would highly recommend anyone reading this to give Suzume a shot. You'll find an excellent story waiting for you. ❤

[Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!]

Suzume, a high schooler, runs into a mysterious man who is seeking the directions to local ruins; a part of town that was previously destroyed in an earthquake. While in class, she sees a dark cloud from the area of the ruins, and runs to help. She accidently moves a key, allowing the dark cloud/worm to be able to travel into her world. This sets her and the mysterious man, Souta, on a journey around Japan to find the key.

The art is beautiful and I cannot wait for volume 2.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!