Moni Moni

Around an unusual cover, the promotional wrapper states modestly : “I wanted you to discover it”. Such an urge to share the strange universe of Moni Moni that Aihara Kôji doesn’t even wait for the interior pages to begin his story — which starts right off the cover, and ends up (reluctantly) on the back cover, promising there will be a sequel.^[1]

All along its 118 pages, this first volume of Moni Moni brings a total change of scenery, inviting the reader to a strange and poetic universe, in the same vein as its main characters — eggplant-like beings, with string arms and a dash of octopus.
Here, everything has to be (re)learnt, everything is to discover, including the language that those strange creatures use. The more courageous readers will dive into the little leaflet in the middle of the book, which proposes a mini-dictionary. But that would almost be removing part of the pleasure — let’s rather embark on an adventure and, page after page, progressively explore the customs of the place.

So if you wish to engage in a sidetrip away from the greyness of daily chores, hesitate no more — and step into Moni Moni and its decidedly strange land.