Rhapsody in Blue

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Revision as of 10:32, 22 February 2023 by Aislynweaver (talk | contribs) (→‎Reception: Specified that we don't know how much attention it garnered in Japan when it was released.)
Rhapsody in Blue's front cover, depicting Alpha Hatsuseno in a roughly 3 inch by 3 inch box, just above the book's title.
Rhapsody in Blue's front cover

Rhapsody in Blue (Japanese: ラプソディ・イン・ブルー) is a fan-made doujinshi written and illustrated by Hirokawa Youichi based on the Japanese science fiction manga series Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou written and illustrated by Hitoshi Ashinano. It was published by Soramimi Skip Factory on December 28, 1997 in a 24 page saddle stitch bound paperback book.

The book depicts illustrations of Alpha Hatsuseno, Kokone Takatsu and her coworkers at the Musashino Trading Company, Ojisan, Sensei, Takahiro, pikachu, and other various familiar iconography and environments from the manga. Notably, it features a two page spread of Alpha trying on different clothing styles, and also contains a two page spread of Alpha and Kokone with their respective firearms.

Reception

It is unknown how much attention Rhapsody in Blue garnered in Japan. Outside of Japan, it failed to receive any sort of widespread attention until it was scanlated by Roselia Scans and uploaded to MangaDex on March XX, 2023. After this, the English speaking community received the doujinshi warmly. Many viewers were charmed by the well-executed art style and were interested by the concept of Alpha changing up her style. Some users wished that they were Pikachu, who was depicted being hugged by Alpha.

As of April 12, 2023 the doujinshi's MangaDex page has received XX views and XX comments, all of which have been positive.

Notes

Despite being a book written in Japanese by a Japanese fan, it was never actually published with it's Japanese name. The title of the book was originally Rhapsody in Blue, and was only translated into Japanese by the scanlation group Roselia Scans.