As an animeonly watcherwho has recently started following manga latelyI have been capable of utilizing my time searching for something to read.Howeverwhenever we stumble upon a manga that approaches a controversial topic our interest is piqued. I decided to check if there were other indistinguishable series. There are no results. That would mean autism as a theme in general is uncovered by manga of any demographic. Thisoccurrence causes me to beg the question Why isnt there more series that tackle autism? Awareness is significantit implementschange to influence ourselves and others around us. Autism has been beginning to be more prevalent since the aughts but now we are furnished with presentday information. Which offers more comfort as families face current challenges. Set in the 80s everywhere to witness parents of children are flooded with judgmentall of which is appalling. Schools have trouble providing appropriate services to a diverse and increasingly numerous student population diagnosed with ASD. This is where I present you to undoubtedly one of the betterunderrated manga With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child a glamorous characterdriven series that explores the spectrum with organic interactions. With the Light by force is a rare breed in the manga industry. It solemnly involves a controversial topic and centers not just on the person with autism but rather depicts the personal difficulties of parenting along with them. With the Light provides an imaginative exploration of how the Japanese perceive and take care of those who are on the autistic spectrum. In America they have acquired a better insight into ASD and provided aid to them despite the issues that need to be addressed. The situation in Japan is dire especially since the Japanesedraw from a further traditional background comprising a collective society and being conservative regarding delicate topics. Japans treatment of those with autism is appalling compared to North America primarily since the general awareness of mental health is low from firm traditional values. To elaborate start by recognizing the relative performance of such measures in diverse cultures. While the issue seems universal there aresubtle differences in their expressions and personal traits. We possess little knowledge involving families of children with autism from cultural perspectives. It allows the audience to identify the elements influencing parenting stress among parents of autistic children in Japan. That is what rightly makes With the Light remarkable compared to other series. Love can be different for each personthe way everyone perceives affection depends on how they desire it to be. Howeverthat is only in the process of attaining love if you truly yearn for it. Denial anger depression and acceptance. With the Light follows the story of Sachiko a diligent mother whogave birth to her son Hikaru. She expresses a deep ambition to tend to her beloved child and fantasizes about an ideal family to fulfill her expectations as there was research regarding raising a baby. Howeverthose expectations did not come to light. Learning what autism is Sachiko begins to be in disbelief about Hikarus disability. Denial. She got detached from most of her dearest ones such as her fianc Misato. A workaholic husband who doesnt retain a firm grasp of fatherhood. The blame and their vexation proceeds to Hikaru. Anger. Venting in her cognitive dissonancethe sheer complication any mother could have with their child not expressing their affection. Depression.Fortunatelyas Sachiko was sobbing it seemed Hikaru could finally reciprocate her love and enlighten her with inflorescences. It encapsulated her ambitions now willing to accept the responsibility to teach herself valuable skills so that someday she may experience the life of an excellent mother. Acceptance. A few readers willencounter problems with how the emotional buildup paces too fast with the evocative narrative in the beginning. Considering the subject matter this series walks on a path by focusing on a family that happens to give birth to an autistic son. The notable aspect of the writing in With the Light comes from its concept of ASD and how it is integrated into the narrative. Timing and concentration are taken into consideration to allow these small yet significant and alluring moments to sustain an appropriate buildup to genuinely possess a resonating effect. The reason I mentioned thisissue is because there are stories thathandledrama as a way to toy with the audiences emotions. While there are hints of melodrama it still establishes significant scenes that showcase the development of Hikaru and his family. A crucial issue would furthermore be that the ending does not include a proper conclusion which makes it vague for the audience to grasp. What do I mean by a proper conclusion? Unfortunately the mangaka passed away before she could complete the series. As time continues their relationship grows potent these characters are deeply flawed but made realistic because of that. They were selfcentered and condescending. Yet also stressed broken andsimply yearning for an ordinary family. Initially you may find a dislike for Sachiko and Misato since they were absentminded with themselves. Ultimately you will witness them blossom as parents. The side and supporting characters are enthusiastic maintaining their morale high despite the hardships they face. To illustrate they also devote time to explore issues within ASD that affect friends and acquaintances known to Hikaru and his family. Which includes abuse child discipline etc. When looking at the supporting cast it is not merely Hikarus family finding themselves in handling these issues. The characters display a broad variety of emotions such as anger fear embarrassment and indifference. All of which are conveyed well to the reader. Everything is directly passed on to the audience candidly and naturally. However the issue is we merely receive a narrow portion of their lives which was ordinarily never intended for such a miniature audience.This is vital if we considerthe importance of education in its narrative. With the Light already mentions that autism is different for everybody however they need to emphasize it a bit more. School is imagined as an integral part of the communitys culture and ones development. It enhances a pivotal environment in Hikarus growth as an adolescent boy. A fostering place of learning it is there where our mind flourishes intellectuallythen later perceives introspection. The artwork is your retroshoujo manga but the drawing still captures the characters expressive gestures and movements. Nothing feels underused but at the same time nothing happens tobe too brash. The visuals match the wholesome vibe but simultaneously it is nostalgic. Furthermore there will not be any extraordinary characteristic details that seize your earnest attention which is unfortunate considering the personal setting. It is crucial to pay attention to minor details when you try to evince signs of autism to the intended audience. If you are dissecting this series as an academic resource or gaining a comprehensive grasp of autism restrict your expectations from being excessively high. Despite the lavish praise I gave With the Light does not perfectly provide a deep exploration of ASD or portray all of its issues along with it. We will not see different therapy methods such as Hikarus thought process trauma or coping mechanisms. Proper terminology can be outdated. The audience willgain a more thoroughunderstanding. If you want to inform yourself even further I suggest researching to obtain extensive knowledge and talking to them about their lives for anecdotes. Why? Attentively experts in the manga encourage our characters to refer to an autistic child in the same way you would to a foreigner using simple words and bold gestures. For instance when foreign characters were introduced they spoke in broken Japanese similar to autistic people. All things considered you should appreciate this mangaas a profound story. It is one of the most underrated manga I wholeheartedly adore for everything the series attempts to bring. From the tact it brought to the topic for the audience to the relatability for people living with ASD. In conclusion if you are autistic chances are you will resonate with this series. The same applies to those who happen to recognize someone on the spectrum as well. Rest in Peace Keiko Tobe. 19572010 Thank you kindly for reading my first review.