Bartender...

The comics came to my attention while I was still studying

and came back home briefly to visit my parents.

Reading the series was such a pleasure

that I began searching for the English version that might be available in the Japanese shop in London.

 

I finally found it online where people post the translated version of Japanese manga.

Reading it in English felt rather strange.

The words of wisdom, the delicate conversation Ryu shares with his customers and fellow bartenders lost their charm in English. Clearly, it was translated by someone who lacks the knowledge of the Far Eastern culture.

 

Still, I was pleased enough to be keeping up with the progress of the story. Having something good with silghtly less charm than expectded seems to be better than not having it at all.

 

During the long years of studying alone, Bartender and many other Japanese manga kept me from feeling bored (or even lonely).