A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow is a story almost anyone can relate to. Through both females leads, Konatsu Amano and Koyuki Honami, the story shows the need for relationships, expressing one's true feelings, and the effects loneliness can have on oneself. Konastu, a first-year, moves to a new town from Tokyo. Alone from friends and family, Konastu would fall into loneliness, only being pulled out by Honami, a second-year. Honami is an almost perfect girl. She's athletic and smart; however, all of these expectations lead her to create a fake persona. She bottles down her true self deep inside, afraid to break people's expectations of her. Through the two meetings, they change each other greatly. The story follows not just the two girls developing each other, but the struggle and story of several other side characters. Each arc and story have been done masterfully.
Characters
The best part of the manga is the main leads, Konatsu and Koyuki. Konatsu's struggle throughout the story is brilliantly done. Konastsu struggles with herself deeply. Having to come to terms with herself to move forward in life. Koyuki's arc is much of the same brilliant writing. Koyuki's struggle parallels Konastsu a lot but differs itself enough to feel fresh and interesting. As individual character arcs, both are amazing; however, what pushes A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow to a masterpiece is the dynamic Konastsu and Koyuki share. They each are the main driving force behind each other's changes in life. As they both individually change, the dynamic changes and struggles. Ultimately climaxing in one of the best emotional payoffs in all of manga.
The side cast of A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow is just as compelling as the leads. Each of the several side characters experiences a different type of mental struggle, many having to do with loneliness. Every character ending in a completely satisfying and enjoyable conclusion similar to the leads.
____Story
The story of A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow is simple. It tells the story of two girls becoming friends and changing each other. The story is constantly moving and is put at a great pace that kept me wanting more. As we switch P.O.V. between the two leads we get a different insight into how they each see the situation they're in. A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow has one of the greatest emotional payoffs in all of manga. The buildup of both leads and other side characters conclude and explode in moments that give me a feeling of pure amazement.
The story is aided by great uses of symbolism. The story alludes Salamander and Other Stories by Masuji Ibuse in the use of his characters, the salamander and the frog. The two animals are used masterfully to develop and give an insight into the two lead's mental states. The symbolism gives rise to some of the best panels and moments in the manga, giving me moments of serotonin and awe.
Art
The art of the manga is definitely the weakest part. The art at times looks unfinished and average compared to other manga art. However, the art at its best becomes the best part of the manga. Even with my criticism of the art at times, there are many moments of beauty in the story. Makoto Hagino has an amazing talent for portraying facial emotions for her characters. When the art needs to show a character expressing their emotions, Makoto Hagino does so magnificently. She can create faces that feel almost real.
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Themes
The main theme of A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow is loneliness. The characters all experience and suffer greatly from loneliness. As the story progresses and the characters move on from that feeling of loneliness, major life lessons of opening up to people and expressing how you truly feel take root. A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow is one of the few pieces of fiction that have affected me so much they changed how I live.
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Conclusion
If you can't figure it out by now, I highly recommend this to you. You should drop whatever you are doing to read this masterpiece. It's a story almost anyone can relate to. With payoffs that go beyond just the manga but into real life. I confidently give A Tropical Fish Yearns for Snow a 10/10 and now sits comfortably as my 2nd favorite piece of fiction.
