This article was written by Camryn Yi of Richard Montgomery High School
Trigger Warnings: This manga includes elements of death of a loved one and parental neglect.
When you think of the word family, what comes to mind? A father, mother, or a sibling, maybe even a pet. However, The Gods Lie by Kaori Ozaki redefines the term family. This one-volume manga changes the reader’s perspective of the true meaning of family. Ozaki portrays family as togetherness and support. Her definition of family shows you do not have to be related to be considered family, you can just be friends and still be a family. She defines family in three terms, happiness, support, and contentment, which The Gods Lie portrays beautifully. The Gods Lie is a bittersweet and moving coming of age story that all teens, young adults and manga lovers should read. I absolutely love this manga; it has made me smile, it has made me tear up and almost cry. It’s a manga that will tug at your heartstrings while still giving you hope.
“It’s just the two of us here. Don't tell anyone. Okay, Nanao?” - Rio Suzumura, The Gods Lie (Kaori Ozaki)
At the beginning of the summer, sixth grader Natsuru Nanao discovers a small kitten on his way home and plans on taking her home. However, due to his mother being allergic, he must find a new home for her. He soon after stumbles upon his fellow classmate, Rio Suzumura, and her younger brother, Yuuta. This brief interaction and Rio’s agreement to take care of the kitten are the start of an unbelievable friendship.
After discovering Rio and Yuuta live on their own and their father is not home due to traveling for a fishing trip. Natsuru decides to skip his soccer camp in exchange for hanging out with Rio and Yuuta at their old and worn down home. As time goes by, he spends more and more days with Rio and Yuuta, and partakes in many of Rio’s day-to-day errands and chores. As his friendship with Rio grows and summer goes by, a grim secret hangs upon their happiness, waiting to disturb this heartwarming friendship.
“I see. All those lights. They only shine if someone is home.” - Natsuru Nanao, The Gods Lie (Kaori Ozaki)
What first drew me to The Gods Lie was the mysterious secret that hung over Natsuru and Rio’s friendship and Ozaki's art style. Ozaki draws all the characters in a soft style, but decides not to choose a shounen (an art style that appeals more to male readers) or shoujo (an art style that appeals more to female readers) style that would target a specific gender. Instead, she decides to create a style that anyone can pick up and read. I adore Ozaki’s style, even though it is more simplistic than other mangas. She decides to focus the details on certain landscapes and settings, from the clutter in Rio and Yuuta’s home to the different flowers representing the different places Rio and Natsuru would visit and the passage of time as summer comes to an end.
Besides the amazing artwork throughout the manga, what I love about The Gods Lie is the developing friendship between Natsuru and Rio. As he spends more time with Rio, Natsuru learns that Rio is extremely responsible, from cooking to calculating the weekly grocery cost to taking care of Yuuta. Rio does not act the way we think of a normal grade school student. Instead, she acts more as a guardian and caretaker. However, Rio is also sensitive and still has a childlike naiveness to her. The way Ozaki writes Rio shows that although she acts very mature and responsible, she is still a grade-schooler who is hopeful and can still get frightened by things most adults aren’t. As Natsuru enters her and Yuuta’s daily life, he helps Rio with her daily activities and responsibilities, while also acting as an older brother to Yuuta. Together, he becomes a part of their daily life, and instead of just visiting he stays over at their house and eats dinner with them. Although their friendship could be seen as just friends, it is the way Ozaki draws and writes their conversations that define their friendship as more. Together, Natsuru, Rio, and Yuuta are family. A scene that stuck with me, that defines their family, is a drawing showing them sitting at their dinner table and relaxing on a warm summer’s afternoon. Even though there is no dialect, Ozaki’s drawing portrays the calmness they have around each other and the tranquility of peace.
“To me, you were always like a blue sky I could only see from a distance. Thank you, Natsuru. I never dreamed you’d become part of our family.” Rio Suzumaru, The Gods Lie (Kaori Ozaki)
In addition, Ozaki shows this meaning through Yuuta himself. Although he is younger than Rio and seems immature, it's the way she focused on drawing Yuuta’s actions and writing his dialogue when interacting with Natsuru that shows their friendship is more similar to family. Since Yuuta grew up without his father around, he sees Natsuru as an older brother to almost a parental figure. Natsuru helps Yuuta in many ways, spending time with him and playing along with Yuuta’s creative and silly imagination. It is the way Natsuru acts with Rio as well that also shows a more parental dynamic. Rio is a mother figure that Yuuta never has. She is responsible and mature, and is the only other family Yuuta has. She is also the only female role model he has in his life. As Rio and Natsuru’s relationship grows and a romance blooms between them, their family dynamic grows even stronger. It is the bond and connection Natsuru and Rio have that helps strengthen them together.
I absolutely love Yuuta’s character; not only does he strengthen Natsuru and Rio’s relationship, he also adds comedic relief to the story. Yuuta has a lot of silly and fun dialogue that shows him as a very imaginative and energetic child. He is also a nice contrast to his big sister Rio, who is much more serious and responsible, making sure Yuuta is safe and has food on the table to eat.
“But, y’know my sister said before that you're really cool.” - Yuuta Suzumura, The Gods Lie (Kaori Ozaki)
Furthermore, I love all the characters Ozaki created in The Gods Lie. Each character she wrote has their own unique personality that all ties back to the title of the manga. Even the minor characters have distinct character traits that show their personality. Ozaki uses her art and character design to show different character traits and the character’s background. For example, she shows a character having a high economic status by giving her clothes drawn with lots of details like lace and decorative collars. While, she draws Rio with simple and plain clothes, sticking to one shade of white or grey for the coloring of her clothes, rather than giving her clothes with colored details.
However, the only time the reader sees Rio in a detailed piece of clothing is her yukata she wears at the summer festival and on the cover of the manga. This article of clothing worn when attending a Japanese festival is also used to show Rio’s cinderella moment. Not only is this the first time the reader sees her wear a more detailed article of clothing that makes her stand out at a busy festival. It is also the moment where Natsuru sees Rio in a more romantic view rather than just close friends.
I adore Rio’s festival outfit. Her yukata is gorgeous, and although the manga is in black and white I love how Ozaki uses this as the outfit Rio wears on the front of the manga. Additionally, I love Ozaki’s use of spacing and color in the festival scene. She draws many different characters in different outfits related to the festival, however she emphasizes on Rio by making her the only character wearing a dark article of clothing. By making Rio the only character wearing a dark yukata, she brings the focus to Rio throughout the festival scenes, making her stick out and draw the reader’s eye in. It’s also symbolizing Natsuru’s view of Rio, because although there are many people at the festival. Rio still stands out to him, emphasizing his feelings for her.
Overall, The Gods Lie is a gorgeous, heartwarming and bittersweet manga. This is a manga you can pick up anytime and read, and feel content with it after. Ozaki’s writing and art are absolutely beautiful and touching. The lesson she teaches the reader about family adds a new perspective. After reading The Gods Lie, I had a whole new idea of family and the meaning. Although I had an idea about how friends together can make a family, The Gods Lie deepens the definition and adds a very moving meaning to the word. I encourage all readers and especially manga lovers to read this manga. The story will open your eyes about family and make you see a whole new perspective.
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