Saturn Apartments

Saturn Apartments (Japanese: 土星マンション, Hepburn: Dosei Manshon) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hisae Iwaoka. Saturn Apartments was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Monthly Ikki from November 2005 to June 2011. It has been collected into seven tankōbon volumes. Viz Media licensed the series for English-language publication in North America.

Saturn Apartments
The cover of the first volume
土星マンション
(Dosei Manshon)
GenreScience fiction[1]
Manga
Written byHisae Iwaoka
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
ImprintIkki Comix
MagazineMonthly Ikki
DemographicSeinen
Original runNovember 25, 2005 – June 25, 2011
Volumes7

Plot

The story is set in a distant future, where the Earth has been evacuated and humanity now inhabits a man-made ring-shaped city orbiting 35 kilometers above the planet's surface. The ring is divided into floors, of which there are three; the first being the living space of everyday workers, the second being dedicated to agriculture, and the third being the dwellings of the upper class. The plot follows the life of a young man called Mitsu, whose job as a window cleaner allows him a glimpse into the lives of the ring's inhabitants, as he attempts to learn more about his father's disappearance while working in the same job.

Characters

Window Cleaners
Mitsu
The main character of the story, Mitsu works as a window cleaner because he takes joy in it and because he wants to learn about his father's ill disappearance at work. He tends to be of a very calm nature, and he is very dedicated to his job, something he is aware of as being a dangerous and low-paying occupation. He is somewhat inexperienced and insecure of himself.
Jin
Jin is Mitsu's superior and occasional supervisor who has had plenty more experience working as a window cleaner. He tends to speak gruffly and is externally of a brash nature, however he is caring for his co-workers. He lives with his wife, Haruko and his a close friend of Tamachi (even though they dislike admitting it).
Makoto
A co-worker of Mitsu who has a grudge with him for "replacing Tamachi" and for "having it so easy" in terms of work.

Other Characters
Haruko
Jin's wife. Haruko is frail and prone to blackouts due to what is described as an autoimmunity deficiency caused by a lack of sunlight in the lower levels. In a flashback it's revealed she dislikes hospitals due to an accident that led to her sterility. This doesn't stop Haruko from being cheery and from participating in public agriculture.
The Kageyamas
A family of three that occasionally house Mitsu. The family is integrated by the bald and boisterous Mr. Kageyama, his wife, and their daughter Fuyo.
Tamachi
Tamachi worked as a window cleaner until he had to take up his family's business in the upper levels. He was the former partner of Aki (Mitsu's father). It's revealed that he has a slight feud with Jin. Tamachi frequently hires Jin to clean windows above gardens. He works in a bio-gas plant and lives with his wife.
Sachi
An acquaintance of Mitsu who works as a "falling objects researcher" . She was originally mistaken as a man by Mitsu. She and her pet cat live outside of the ring on a small cabin, and the exposure to solar radiation gives her constant sunburns.

Publication

Saturn Apartments, written and illustrated by Hisae Iwaoka, was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Monthly Ikki from the January 2006 issue, published on November 25, 2005, to the August 2011 issue, published on June 25, 2011.[2][3] Shogakukan compiled its chapters into seven tankōbon volumes, released from October 30, 2006 to August 30, 2011.[4][5]

Viz Media licensed the manga for English-language publication in North America and as of May 2013, have released all 7 volumes of the series.[1] Saturn Apartments is licensed in Taiwan by Taiwan Tohan[6] and Kana in France.[7]

Volume list

Chapters are called "floors".

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 October 30, 2006[4]978-4-09-188339-1May 25, 2010[8]978-1-4215-3364-3
  • 1. "Earth" (地球, Chikyū)
  • 2. "Work" (仕事, Shigoto)
  • 3. "Lights" (灯り, Akari)
  • 4. "A Place Far Away" (遠い場所, Tōi Basho)
  • 5. "An Ocean" (ウミ, Umi)
  • 6. "The Green Room" (緑の部屋, Midori no Heya)
  • 7. "Beneath The Mask" (仮面の下, Kamen no Shita)
  • 8. "Artifice" (造り物, Tsukirimono)
2 June 29, 2007[9]978-4-09-188366-7November 16, 2010[10]978-1-4215-3373-5
  • 9. "A Small Room" (小さな部屋, Chiisana Heya)
  • 10. "So Close And Yet So Far" (近くて遠く, Chikakute Tōku)
  • 11. "Holiday" (ヤスミノヒ, Yasuminohi)
  • 12. "Dinner" (食事会, Shokujikai)
  • 13. "Night Festival" (夜祭, Yomatsuri)
  • 14. "Where I Am Now" (今いる場所, Ima Iru Basho)
  • 15. "Out Of Reach" (手の先に, Te no Saki ni)
  • 16. "Glitter" (キラリ, Kirari)
  • 17. "A Room Full Of Flowers" (華の部屋, Hana no Heya)
3 March 28, 2008[11]978-4-09-188408-4May 17, 2011[12]978-1-4215-3374-2
  • 18. "Alone In Her Room" (ヒトリの部屋, Hitori no Heya)
  • 19. "Symbols" (記号, Kigō)
  • 20. "An Empty Room" (空の部屋, Kara no Heya)
  • 21. "The Everyday View" (いつもの風景, Itsumo no Fūkei)
  • 22. "A Room With A Roof" (屋根のある部屋, Yane no Aru Heya)
  • 23. "Cleaner" (掃除屋, Sōjiya)
  • 24. "Use" (使いみち, Tsukaimichi)
  • 25. "The Long Way Around" (遠回り, Tōmawari)
  • 26. "A Voice That Travels" (届く声, Todoku Koe)
4 January 30, 2009[13]978-4-09-188436-7November 15, 2011[14]978-1-4215-3375-9
  • 27. "The Test" (試験, Shiken)
  • 28. "His Role Model" (目標の人, Mokuhyō no Hito)
  • 29. "His Own Road" (続くみち, Tsuzuku Michi)
  • 30. "Sanctuary" (聖地, Seichi)
  • 31. "Yukishima" (幸嶋, Yukishima)
  • 32. "His Last Day" (仕事納め, Shigoto-osame)
  • 33. "Saku" (さく, Saku)
  • 34. "Stars Aligned" (星の並び, Hoshi no Narabi)
  • 35. "Thoughts" (想い, Omoi)
5 November 30, 2009[15]978-4-09-188488-6May 15, 2012[16]978-1-4215-4129-7
  • 36. "The Egg Woman" (たまごの人, Tamago no Hito)
  • 37. "A Wide Window" (広い窓, Hiroi Mado)
  • 38. "Under The Window" (窓の下, Mado no Shita)
  • 39. "What He Realized" (手にしたモノ, Te ni Shita Mono)
  • 40. "A T-Shirt And A Resolution" (シャツと決意, Shatsu to Ketsui)
  • 41. "The Swallowed-Up Voice" (包まれる声, Tsutsumareru Koe)
  • 42. "Yukishima And Fried Chicken" (幸嶋と唐揚げ, Yukishima to Karāge)
  • 43. "The Beginning Room" (始まりの部屋, Hajimari no Heya)
  • 44. "The Druggist's Diagnosis" (薬屋の見立て, Kusuriya no Mitate)
6 August 30, 2010[17]978-4-09-188525-8November 20, 2012[18]978-1-4215-4130-3
  • 45. "The Guiding Thread" (導く糸は, Michibiku Ito wa)
  • 46. "The Ship You Will Ride" (君の乗る舟, Kimi no Noru Fune)
  • 47. "The Flat Ground" (平たい地, Hiratai-chi)
  • 48. "Hope" (希望, Kibō)
  • 49. "Looking At The Shadows" (影を見て, Kage o Mite)
  • 50. "Confused One" (戸惑う者, Tomadō Mono)
  • 51. "Smoke" (煙, Kemuri)
  • 52. "Confusion" (混乱, Konran)
  • 53. "Light And Shadow" (光と影, Hikari to Kage)
7 August 30, 2011[5]978-4-09-188556-2May 21, 2013[19]978-1-4215-5268-2
  • 54. "Quiet Procession" (静かな行進, Shizukana Kōshin)
  • 55. "Crossroads" (交差点, Kōsaten)
  • 56. "The Place Of Memories" (思い出す場所, Omoidasu Basho)
  • 57. "Promise" (約束, Yakusoku)
  • 58. "Change" (変化, Henka)
  • 59. "The Same Place" (同じ場所, Onaji Basho)
  • 60. "Unveiling The Ship" (舟のお披露目, Fune no Ohirome)
  • 61. "Each Of Their Thoughts" (それぞれの想い, Sorezore no Omoi)
  • 62. "End Of The Connected Paths" (繋がる道の先, Tsunagaru Michi no Saki)
  • 63. "To The Surface" (地上へ, Chijō e)
  • 64. "Homeland In The Sky" (空の故郷, Sora no Kokyō)

Reception

Matthew Warner enjoyed the interesting world presented in the manga, and praised the 'simple, yet gorgeous art style'.[20] Johanna Draper Carlson compares the protagonist, Mitsu, to Charlie Brown, as they both have rounded heads and small eyes, and are "dealing with a grim life".[21] Later, she describes Mitsu as being a typical 'plucky young manga hero' who improves at his work, but is also noted for his talking to his upper-class clients.[22] Greg McElhatton compares Iwaoka's artwork to Travis Charest and Sean Chen, praising the details of the work.[23] YALSA included the first volume of the series on their 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.[24]

References
  1. "The Official Website for Saturn Apartments". Viz Media. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
  2. 月刊ＩＫＫＩ　１月号 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on December 12, 2005. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  3. 月刊ＩＫＫＩ　８月号 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  4. 土星マンション 1 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  5. 土星マンション 7 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  6. 土星公寓 1. Taiwan Tohan (in Chinese).
  7. "La cité saturne". Kana. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  8. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  9. 土星マンション 2 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  10. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  11. 土星マンション 3 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  12. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 3". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  13. 土星マンション 4 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  14. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 4". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  15. 土星マンション 5 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  16. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 5". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  17. 土星マンション 6 (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on October 15, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  18. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 6". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  19. "Saturn Apartments, Vol. 7". Viz Media. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  21. "Saturn Apartments Volume 1". May 28, 2010.
  22. "Saturn Apartments Book 2 » Manga Worth Reading".
  23. Review: Saturn Apartments Vol. 1 - Comic Book Resources
  24. "ALA | 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens".
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