Aliens and Food Appreciation Make an Interesting Mix: "Kumika no Mikaku"

Synopsis

In this world, aliens have become a normal part of society. One of these aliens is Kumika, an office worker who can get nutrition just by breathing and therefore does not need to eat. One day, however, she ends up ill and under the care of her co-worker Chihiro has her first experience of delicious earth food. Now the uptight alien finds herself on a journey of discovering new tastes and new emotions that come from it.

The Good

If you’re looking for a story that takes on the theme of food appreciation mixed in with something different but is not a fantasy, this is it. The way that “Kumika no Mikaku” presents the concept of an alien enjoying earth food is both cute and visually interesting. More than this, it presents a highly interesting look at different alien cultures and quirks while getting you invested in Kumika’s character with the way that she is developed. Honestly, though, the series as a whole holds a subtle strength to it in how it plays its visuals. From the designs of the food, the expressions of the characters, and Kumika’s reactions, you can’t help but feel you’re part of the scene.

Going to Kumika’s development throughout the series, she’s surprisingly relatable in a few chapters. The simple way she enjoys food and other things related to it is highly endearing. Not only Kumika, but the other characters also make for rather endearing people in how they interact with one another. There’s a lot of unique but simple elements to enjoy in this series and it really sticks with you.

The Bad

The most prominent issue of the series is the whole song and dance it does with Chihiro’s crush on Kumika. This kind of thing with the guy liking the girl and everyone knowing but the girl has been done more than a few times. Even the whole bold rival towards the latest chapters has been done before. Personally, the romance would have been much nicer if there was some sort of establishment of feelings on Kumika’s part.

Conclusion

This is a series that actually brings something to the table. It has a lot of relatable qualities and the characters all have an endearing quality to them. As a series that features the theme of enjoying new tastes and food, the details and visuals that the series presents are highly enjoyable and leaves the reader craving just a tad. The only issue that the series seems to have is in the romance department. Other than this, this is a great story to enjoy something different.

Rating: 8.10