"Mountains, Appetite and Me" is a manga series that has been serialized on the web manga site Kurage Bunch since 2015. It depicts the mountaineering adventures of the protagonist, Hibino Ayumi, a self-proclaimed solo mountaineer who hates being called a "mountain girl," and the meals she eats at the summit. It's an outdoor gourmet story that will make you want to climb mountains and get hungry while reading. The dishes are so authentic that an official recipe book has been released, and as the author's own hobby is mountaineering, the depictions of mountaineering that draw on her own experiences have become a hot topic. In this article, we'd like to introduce the charm of Komatsubara Koiko, a senior colleague at work of Hibino Ayumi, the protagonist of "Mountains, Appetite and Me."
① A Senior at the Same Company as Ayumi
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Komatsubara Koiko is a senior at the same company as Hibino Ayumi, the protagonist of "Mountains, Appetite, and Me." She hails from Kyoto and is known for her gentle manner of speech. She also has a gentle, laid-back appearance. She has a bob hairstyle.
② Interested in mountain climbing!
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
After learning that her coworker, Hibino Ayumi, enjoys mountain climbing, Komatsubara begins to learn more about it by asking Ayumi about it. She's so interested in it that she even buys and reads mountain climbing magazines. However, it seems he still doesn't have much knowledge about mountain climbing, and at times he mistakenly thinks that mountain climbing means picking mushrooms in the mountains or hunting boars and deer. After climbing a mountain with Ayumi once, he seems to have become completely fascinated by the mountains, even doing strength training with her in his free time.
③ The generosity of Ayumi, who is shy and understanding
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
Komatsubara Koiko, the protagonist of "Mountains, Appetite, and Me," learns that Hibino Ayumi, a junior colleague at her company, loves mountain climbing. When she goes to ask her about it, Ayumi, shy as she is, runs away. However, Koiko seems understanding, saying, "Even if you're a beginner, you shouldn't end up looking like goldfish poop... Ayumi, you're always alone at work, so I guess you like doing things alone..." Later, when she sees Ayumi working out in her free time, such as when she's making copies, she says she admires her determination to work hard even if it means rejecting others.
④ Her hobby is collecting temple stamps!
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As our protagonist, Hibino Ayumi, heads out on a hiking trail, she arrives at Kenchoji Temple, the entrance to the trail, where she spots Komatsubara Koiko. A year ago, Koiko broke up with her boyfriend of six years, and was feeling lonely and unsettled on the weekends when a relative suggested she start collecting goshuin stamps. Once she started collecting, she became completely hooked, and continues to do so to this day.
⑤ Pushy but approachable
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Komatsubara Koiko, who has developed an interest in mountain climbing, is the first to approach Hibino Ayumi, who shares her hobby of mountain climbing, so she doesn't seem to mind interacting with people. Later, after a mountain climbing trip with Ayumi, he invites her out to an outdoor shop one weekend. Ayumi's friendliness is so strong that it almost seems like she's spending too much time with her outside of work, which is one of her charms.
⑥She also has an old-fashioned side
When the section manager at the company where protagonist Hibino Ayumi and Komatsubara Koiko work suddenly resigns, Koiko is promoted to chief. However, Koiko said that she wanted to get married in her 20s, quit her job, become a housewife, and enjoy raising children, housework, and gardening. She was also seen shouting, "I'm not the kind of girl who wants to be active in society!" However, she later learned that her salary would increase, and she was determined to give it a go since she had come this far. Rather than aiming to advance her career like today's women, she has an old-fashioned way of thinking, but she also seems to have a flexible mindset that allows her to take on challenges when the time comes.
⑦ A responsible and reliable senior
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
After the section manager at the company where protagonists Ayumi Hibino and Komatsubara Koiko work suddenly resigns, Koiko is appointed chief. At first, she is unmotivated, but she quickly changes her attitude and seems enthusiastic about taking on any challenge. Later, Taki Sayori arrives as a new employee, and although she does her job well, Koiko is troubled by her inability to communicate. That's when she comes up with the idea of mountain climbing recreation, and invites Taki to Mount Takao. She has the charm of taking responsibility for whatever she's assigned to do.
⑧ Motivated
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
Komatsubara Koiko, who has developed an interest in mountain climbing, visits Hibino Ayumi to ask her about it, and one weekend after her first mountain climbing adventure, she invites Ayumi to visit an outdoor shop. She seems to be a very proactive and energetic person. When she hears that her junior colleague, Taki Sayori, met a man in the mountains and got married, she immediately signs up for a mountain party (a type of group date where men and women meet and socialize through mountain climbing or hiking).
9. Do you work harder than others?
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
After Sayori Taki, a junior colleague at work, gets married, Komatsubara Koiko, anxious to get married, decides to join the protagonist, Ayumi Hibino, at a mountain party (a type of group date where men and women meet and socialize through mountain climbing or hiking). At the mountain party, Koiko is busy conversing with the men from the start, but she also appears to be secretly taking notes. In her notes, she writes down what she talked about with each man. She even seems to write down their estimated annual income. One of her charms is that she puts in more effort than most.
⑩ She can be lonely, too
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
After her junior colleague, Sayori Taki, got married, Komatsubara Koiko actively participated in mountain parties (group dates where men and women meet through mountain climbing and hiking) and even invited Hibino Ayumi to an outdoor shop. Komatsubara Koiko's desire for companionship is evident. One Friday after a failed pairing at a mountain party, she invited Ayumi out for drinks, but she was turned down. At that moment, she sadly said, "Ayumi, don't leave me alone...don't leave me alone..."
A summary of the charms of Komatsubara Koiko from "Mountains, Appetite, and Me"!
Source: Mountains, Appetite, and Me ©SHINCHOSHA
Did you enjoy this article? This time, we introduced the charm of Komatsubara Koiko, a senior colleague at work who works for Hibino Ayumi, the protagonist of the outdoor and gourmet manga "Mountains, Appetite, and Me." Despite her gentle manner of speech and appearance, she also possesses a sense of responsibility and drive, making her a charming character with a distinct personality. I hope Koiko, who yearns for human contact more than most, finds a wonderful partner. Thank you for reading to the end.
