Released on February 12, 2020, the manga Uchikomi, highlights the traditional Japanese sport: Judo! The first volumes are already available from PIKA. A classic sports manga that gives punch!
Synopsis
"Ren is a fifteen-year-old boy with a small stature. Abused by his peers against whom he feels powerless, he contains his rage daily. But chance leads this high school student to discover the art that will hatch his unsuspected talent: judo. Ren then embarked on "the path of flexibility" with a tireless ardor and tenacity that would be the keys to his ascent!"
A classic path
If you are a fan of sports shônen, the story will seem more than familiar. Indeed, we follow the adventures of a 15-year-old kid with a complex, his size in this case, and he is the sufferer of his class. The manga does not surprise with its originality. In addition, we easily detect inspirations like Hajime no Ippo or Eyeshield 21. The manga absolutely does not claim to revolutionize the genre. On the contrary, he happily fulfills his specifications but he does it well. As a result, the story is captivating thanks to the multiple characters and makes you want to witness Ren's rise.
Uchikomi: a Shônen spirit
What is pleasant in Uchikomi and more broadly in sports manga is this energy that the manga transmits to us. Indeed, we totally identify with Ren and admire his selflessness and determination to achieve his goals.In addition, manga has this didactic side. We learn step by step the basics of judo at the same time as Ren. We learn the rules, the catches, the specific names… By the way, the "Uchikomi" is a judo catch! In short, we enter the world of judo in an intuitive way. And who knows?After reading Uchikomi, maybe you will discover a passion for judo. 
Judo: An ancestral sport
Football, basketball , boxing, the game of Go, cycling… Just about every popular sport has been covered in sports manga. With Uchikomi, judo is no exception. Emblematic sport of Japan, one could think that this art has known many adaptations. Don't get me wrong! Unlike other Japanese national sports, very few manga address judo as the main theme. Moreover, in Uchikomi, a character declares that "no one is interested in judo anymore, it's an old-fashioned sport". Perhaps it is we Westerners who see judo more popular than it is in the land of the rising sun. In the manner of Hinomaru sumo, who knew how to revitalize sumo, Uchikomi will give a second youth to judo. Solid on its foundations, Uchikomi- The spirit of Judo offers us a sporting epic pleasant to read. As a reminder, the first 4 volumes are available from PIKA editions.
