So it’s actually been a while since I’ve checked out Kasane no Tao. Volume 4 was reviewed over two years ago so in restarting this I did worry that I might think less of what has been an awesome sports manga involving a girl’s journey to make a ton of money playing golf, and that includes competing against the men, and dealing with their nonsense.
*completes Volume 5*
KASANE!!! CHIP!!! LET’S GOOOOOOOO!!!
*ahem* my bad. A great manga is great no matter how long it takes to read it, and the final match to win the qualifying tournament recommendation was really good.
The only misgiving for volume 5 of Kasane no Tao was the likely unnecessary drama to Chip’s already unfortunate situation. Chip’s motivations are already known, so why throw in that one of his sisters got seriously hurt in an accident? The drama occurs when Koga and Hogen, when told, must decide when Chip should know, but I wasn’t a fan. While they know why Chip’s competing, the golf is too good, so this type of inclusion is unnecessary.
And I mean it when I say the golf is good. Watching golf just never excites me, yet I’ve gained a much better appreciation of it from reading this series. You do need to have a level of stamina and skill for sure, but in order to be great at golf, you need so much more — the mental makeup to deal with the expected and unexpected, understanding the course, and most importantly, forcing players out of their comfort zone. A good example of the last one is Kasane, realizing Chip’s putting is too good, prevents him from putting by going first which chooses the hole for Chip, who’s been reading the line. After then giving him the okay to putt at a crucial moment, this actually trips Chip up.
Most sports seem fairly simple on the surface, and generally speaking, talent can overwhelm an opponent. But sometimes being competent works better. In this match alone we see both Kasane and Chip display their talent but also show it’s more than just themselves they have to worry about; it’s also finding a way to trip up their opponent. But even when one falters, being mentally strong can serve as a strength in a match between two talented players. As the main character, we see Kasane’s growth on the green as she learns what her body can do on the course even when facing seemingly difficult challenges, and it’s great to see, especially considering where she was at the start of this series.
It’s Kasane and Chip’s growth that ends up making the Irozaki members realize their lack of seriousness. Maybe serious enough to get by, but while they were slacking off for years, they essentially let two newbies who arrive about a year and a half ago take them over. I can imagine this scenario happening in real life too, and in some cases, it’s not terribly serious. But some likely realize they had a chance to get better, and they blew it. We’ll see how they handle themselves moving forward but they know getting past Chip and Kasane will be difficult.
Anyways, aside from my misgivings on Chip’s situation, the golf in this volume was amazing. But there’s two more volumes to go! How much can the golf get better? Will have to find out soon!
