Cigarette Girl

By Masahiko Matsumoto,

Book cover of Cigarette Girl

Book description

Welcome to the quiet, evocative urban dramas of Masahiko Matsumoto, one of the leading lights of the Japanese alternative-comics movement known as "gekiga." Originally published in 1974, these eleven stories now form the first English-language collection of Matsumoto's mature work. His shy, uncertain heroes face broken hearts, changing families, money…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep the lights on. Or join the rebellion as a member.

Why read it?

1 author picked Cigarette Girl as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This is another of the early gekiga greats coming out in a big English edition for the first time. Matsumoto worked alongside Tsuge and Tatsumi in the late 50s, to push manga into more mature territory of what I’m calling literary manga. This book is from early 70s strips which show how people relate to each other in a big city in a simple, understated style. Again, it’s a balance to the image of manga being all about exaggeration. He considers alienation, longing, aimlessness, but with humour and a lightness of touch. It also shows various onomatopoeia which Matsumoto was…

From Sean's list on literary manga.

Want books like Cigarette Girl?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Cigarette Girl.

Browse books like Cigarette Girl

Book cover of Showa 1926-1939
Book cover of Abandon the Old in Tokyo
Book cover of The Swamp

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,123

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Japan, Tokyo, and Samurais?

Japan 516 books
Tokyo 92 books
Samurais 42 books