Yuunagi ni Mae, Boku no Ribbon

After Rintarou sees a woman performing rhythmic gymnastics with a ribbon, he becomes determined to learn the sport himself and doesn't give up. He fights for his passion and finds his purpose in life. What I love most about this manga is its answer to the question: Why is he doing this? Why does he endure all the negative consequences and limitations? Because he enjoys it. That’s it—and I love the simplicity of that wish. He doesn’t care about winning competitions, he just likes doing what he loves. It’s an unspoken invitation to others: to support him, and to find their own passion in life. That’swhat real inspiration looks like. He takes something and makes it his own, imbuing it with personal meaning, without trying to forcefully change the system. His goal isn’t to bulldoze his way to the top or win just for recognition. His goal is to pursue what he loves, and he finds a new, personal path to do that. That’s admirable, and that’s what I love most about this manga. Objectively speaking, the characters could use a bit more development, and the story is essentially a retelling of the film Billy Elliot, which I saw a long time ago but honestly couldn’t really connect with. Still, the story follows a classic structure—and classics endure for a reason: because they work. The story is really emotional. Rintarou’s determination ends up shaping not only his own life but also the people around him—not just in terms of sports, but also in how they deal with their own fears, goals, and dreams for the future. The art style is fantastic and fits the story perfectly. The dancing poses are dynamic, and the characters' emotions and expressions are so vividly and beautifully drawn that you truly feel what they feel. Yuunagi ni Mae, Boku no Ribbon really spoke to me on a personal level. It’s the combination of all its individual elements that come together to form something special. It’s a deeply emotional story with a fitting art style, and I recommend it without a second thought.