By Kei Sanbe 

5 Stars

This mystery, science fiction, suspense manga is full of twists and turns, and each chapter leaves you wanting to read more while also leaving you with a lot of unresolved questions. The original Japanese name of ERASED is called Boku Dake ga Inai Machi which means ‘The town where only I’m missing’. The title refers to a time when children in Hokkaido, Japan, went missing. 

This manga is about a man by the name of Satoru Fujinuma, a 26-year-old Japanese man, aspires to be a great name in the manga industry but has had difficulty breaking through, and is usually depressed during his days. Satoru has an unknown ability called “Revival” which allows him to go back in time to prevent tragedies. He is sent back in time to the year 1988 to help save kids from being abducted. 

The plot is interesting because his choices will have an impact on the future, and he can’t rely solely on his ability to save him from danger. Another fascinating thing about this is that the protagonist is in the body of an 11-year-old boy but has the mind of a 28-year-old man, which aids him in decision-making due to his experience. 

There are several points in the manga where the protagonist has reservations about these decisions and is unable to overcome them, resulting in horrific circumstances. When I was reading the novel, I came across a quote that stuck with me: “The future is always blank. Only your willpower can leave footsteps there.” Satoru discovers that the only person on whom he can fully depend for his decisions is himself. 

Benjamin J.

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