Let’s start a business
Creative Staff:
Story/Art: Hiromu Arakawa
Translation: Amanda Haley
Lettering: Abigail Blackman
What They Say:
As their second year looms large, the first-years of Ezo Ag are taking a serious look at their future plans. A casual remark about starting a business gives Hachiken a spark of inspiration. He’s arleady passionate about helping his friends achieve their goals: Could that become his goal? With only a half-formed not-quite-an-idea, Hachiken sets off to create a business plan that will meet not just his father’s strict standards for approval, but also those of his equally fearsome consultant—Tamako!!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Hachiken’s been this dude who doesn’t know what he wants to do for quite a few volumes, but it’s worked because, well, people don’t just decide what to do out of nowhere. I mean, some do, but Hachiken isn’t some. He’s got a lot of problems and insecurities, mostly stemming from his dad and the harsh culture of achievement that surrounded him. Hachiken is allowed to be this indecisive because he’s truly had no direction other than blind achievement.
But finally, by way of Mikage, his friends, and the work he’s put up until this point, he’s found a direction he wants to go in. Somewhere to direct his immense talents toward. He’s going to start a business. Not about pigs or bacon or anything else, but something that’s…quite unique.
Now I know basically nothing about business, but what Hachiken wants to create is something that allows smaller business to come together as one and sell their products as a whole. If one of these businesses fail, the others (by way of Hachiken’s as the lead) can hold it up. I don’t know if either of these comparisons are valid, but something like Ezo Ag holding the market for all of the food sellers, including Hachiken with his pig products. Or, on a larger scale, perhaps revenue sharing by MLB (not that multi-billion dollar businesses that are MLB teams will ever be in fear of failing).
I loved this volume because it means that Hachiken can finally work toward something. So much happened in here that wasn’t just making cheese or any other food. Hachiken got a new place for himself, a perk of becoming a second year. He helped Mikage raise her grades on the final exam, also a culmination of the last few volumes. A lot happened in Silver Spoon volume 11!
In Summary:
It isn’t going to be easy for Hachiken from here, because of course it isn’t. Starting a business isn’t easy! And he’s enlisted Tamako’s help with the business plan proposal. Plus he has to satisfy his dad with the proposal, which will be a tall task. This does give the manga drive though and lets Hachiken strive toward something himself, than help someone else strive toward something. It’s no longer a short term goal like making food out of the pigs he sold, or a longer term goal like helping Mikage with her test scores so she can get a recommendation into college. It’s Hachiken, trying to make a business for himself. And help his fellow farmers.
Content Grade: A
Art Grade: A-
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: A
Age Rating: 13+
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: October 29, 2019
MSRP: $15.00
