Have you ever wanted to get a great redo in life? If so, then I'm sure you're going to get a kick out of this because today we're going to be talking about Jisanx Basan Wakageru or Old Couple X Rejuvenation or Grandpa and Grandma Who Returned Back to Their Youth by Karagiri Akado. You all thoughtfully couldn't have picked a name and stuck with it?!
Summary
Jiisan and Basan may live in the countryside, but they seem to have it all. They've been happily married for nearly 70 years, raised two sons who both have their respective granddaughters, and have made plenty of friends their age. Still, the two can't shake the feeling that they needed more time. And somehow, this pair of lovable geezers managed to get it.
Through mysterious phenomena, both Jisan and Basan have been restored to their youth, and with this literal new lease on life, they don't intend to waste a second of it.
Characters:
Jisan: The patriarch of their family, Jisan is a hot-blooded man who's always willing to work hard for his family and wife. Even when he's returned to his youth, he can be somewhat strict and stubborn, causing him to make misunderstandings or snap judgments, but it's also precisely why his better half loves him.
Basan: Serving as the matriarch of their family, Basan may act like a shy and calm flower, but she has thorns, too. Whether trying to kill a pesky bug or win a simple game, Basan will always give it her all. She's someone who, like her husband, appreciates the value of the little things, inducing each other's company.
Summary
If you're looking for a quick hour time waster or a daily bright spot in your reading list, this story is right up your alley because there's not much else you've got here. While it does get so much exposition later, the focus of the story doesn't lie much in how our titular characters got their youth back and more in how they use it.
The first few chapters focusing on the family's initial interactions are pretty cringy, but once that past, there's a lot of heartwarming shit here. As someone who lost his first set of grandparents and lived in countries away from the other set, this series was very therapeutic to read.
Outside of the initial shock, there's something so reassuring about knowing Jisan and Basan haven't changed their personalities and love for one another. For as many chapters as we see them try to reignite their now everlasting love for one another, there is plenty more focusing on how they still try to lend a hand to their community. A running theme we see expertly shown throughout the art as we know what other characters looked like in their youth.
Still, even though their youth provides a lot, the central theme of Wakageru is the definition of an age-old saying. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow. old because we stop playing." -George Bernard Shaw. No matter the complications or changes they both experience or even why they did what they did, one thing remains clear. Their drive to keep going and their contentment in the present gave them their second chance. Something that I plan to keep going as I get older in life.
Epilogue
Jisan and Basan isn't exactly a story that requires much explanation. It's made to be a sweet and funny slice-of-life story about a couple that got a little more time. While it's stayed under my radar for now, the recent announcement of an anime adaptation will shine a more well-deserved light on this series. However, only time is really going to tell, so until then, let's shift the spotlight once more.
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Webtoon Spotlight
RandomJust a simple person is trying to shine a little light on the beautiful world of webtoon. With a splash of sarcasm, narration, and spitfire along the way. And who knows I might have other segments just for the hell of it.
