Review — Friday at the Atelier, Vol. 1

Friday at the Atelier is the first volume in a new series with a bizarre premise — an exhausted office worker moonlights as a nude model. Emiko finds new meaning in life posing for an artist she just met. These poses always mean placing fish on her naked body, and her wages include a meal made with the catch of the day. At first, the strange plot feels like a coming-of-age story for the millennial generation. Eventually, it changes into a subtle romance.

Content Guide

This manga is Rated M for Mature Audiences.

Violence/Scary Images: A man grabs a woman’s wrist in a threatening manner.

Language: None

Drug/Alcohol References: Several adults meet up at a bar and drink alcohol.

Sexual Content/Nudity: The female protagonist is a nude model and is frequently seen naked. Nipples and butt cheeks are shown on the page, but the situations and poses are never sexual. A female character is willing to have sex with a man she just met. One man asks someone to get naked for him and implies she is promiscuous.

Other Negative Content: Suicide is casually mentioned. One character works herself so hard she collapses.

Spiritual Content: A woman wonders if God dropped fish from the sky for her.

Positive Content: A budding relationship between two friends teaches both of them the beauty of life. Both parties are surrounded by support systems that are ready to assist them in their jobs and personal lives. The manga itself is humorous, and the jokes will cheer up its readers.

Review

The reviewer received a copy of this title from the publisher.

Friday at the Atelier is a slice-of-life manga that defies expectations. For a mature title, I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of vulgarity. There is no swearing and hardly any sexual undertones, aside from an instance of harassment and a couple of misunderstandings. Though the nudity is anatomically correct, there is no sexuality present in the poses. Emiko treats modeling as a mundane part-time job, and Shunsui (the artist) never tries to take advantage of her. He even averts his eyes when she wanders out of the shower without clothes.

The human body is a beautiful part of God’s creation, and this manga shows how we can appreciate that natural beauty without leaning into impure thoughts. Now, I’m not saying you should read this manga if you struggle with pornography or sexual temptation; I cannot recommend it if that is the case. However, for those who do not find themselves tempted by the naked figure, this is a fun read.

Its slow-burn romance features none of the typical genre tropes. Shunsui likes Emiko, but only the reader and himself are privy to these feelings. Emiko is clumsy, hungry, and oblivious; she never notices his crush even when he outright mentions it. On the other hand, Shunsui is an accomplished, arrogant artist with the makings of a classic tsundere.

These opposite temperaments would usually clash, but Emiko seems emotionless about anything except meals. These juxtapositions between events and her blank expression provide a plethora of humorous anecdotes. I found myself laughing aloud at several panels. All the characters have vibrant facial expressions portrayed throughout the volume.

In conclusion, Friday at the Atelier is a quirky new manga series. Though its basic plot could delve into mature territory, it stays relatively wholesome. If this first volume is any indication of how the rest of the series will go, it will be a breath of fresh air for adult readers.