The Moon on a Rainy Night, vol. 1 | Review

The Moon on a Rainy Night, vol. 1
Story and Art by Kuzushiro
Kodansha, 9/5/2023
Age rating: Teen

I’m going to be very honest with you readers. When I first read this manga, it reminded me of something that no one really acknowledges: disabilities that are not noticeable to others, and the lack of respect towards the people who are affected. This is why I’m happy The Moon on a Rainy Night exists, as well as the beautiful metaphor within the title. 

When Saki meets her classmate Kanon, she learns that Kanon, while not completely deaf, is very hard of hearing. While she doesn’t know JSL (Japanese Sign Language), Kanon can read lips. On the first day of classes together, Saki witnesses the disrespect Kanon faces. Some of her classmates don’t take her condition seriously to the point that they think she’s faking it to be stuck up. Their teacher, while well-intentioned, coddles the poor girl which makes her uncomfortable, and Kanon isolates herself due to these circumstances. After hearing her classmates bad-mouth Kanon during lunch, Saki stands up for Kanon and makes an effort to become her friend, not because she feels sorry for her, but she knows that Kanon is a kind person based on their first encounter. Despite Kanon’s objections due to past treatment, Saki begins to break down the walls Kanon has put up, and the two girls start a friendship that begins to blossom into something more. 

What I loved the most about this manga was how Kanon’s disability is not romanticized, and best of all, there was no unnecessary fan service that you would see in Yuri (Girls Love) stories. This was a sweet, slow burn romance that beautifully represents its subject matter. Saki doesn’t pity Kanon or make Kanon feel inferior due to her hearing loss. She treats Kanon with the respect and kindness others failed to show her. Kanon is understandably guarded, but when she sees the effort Saki puts into truly getting to know her, the walls she puts up begin to crumble. 

I look forward to seeing how the relationship between these two develops and how they handle the challenges together. Just like how we can never see the moon on a rainy night, not all disabilities are visible. I hope this story encourages people to treat ALL disabilities and those afflicted with the respect and kindness they deserve.

Filed under: All Ages, Graphic Novels, Manga, Reviews, Young Adult