By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

I’m pretty sure that Pahanjip, also known as Time and Again, authored by Yun Ji Woon (or Youn Jiwoin, as there are many ways found for how to spell her name), is the first manga series that I ever purchased.

Prior to acquiring it, I had read several manga titles online, borrowed them from friends or the library, and even flipped through them at bookstores like Borders or Barnes and Noble before deciding on a YA novel or another book to buy. However, it wasn’t until I was around 11 or 12 years old, and had my own money to spend, that I decided to purchase a manga instead of a toy. That manga turned out to be Yen Press’s translation of Time and Again which currently sits, all 6 volumes of it, on my bookshelf at home.

In addition to it still being one of my favorite reads, reading the first volume left me captivated by the profound differences in culture I was seeing while still maintaining similar values to those I was raised with. I found myself eagerly anticipating the release of each new volume over the next few years, patiently re-reading the existing volumes numerous times during that wait.

In fact, I believe it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the series inspired my keen interest in East Asian culture and entertainment today, similarly to the way American Girl’s Samantha series impacted my interest in historical context of literature around a similar time period. Both interests leading me to get or pursue graduate degrees in those subjects and both works still resonating with me long after the final chapter.

Personal interests aside, Pahanjip is set in a world where grudges and ghosts intertwine, painting a hauntingly beautiful narrative that follows Baek-On and Ho-Yeon, exorcists-for-hire, traversing the vast landscapes of their country. Their encounters with various spirits unveil stories of tragedy and loss, each one echoing sentiments they themselves are all too familiar with. The story also explores the cruelty of the living, proving that, sometimes, the most monstrous entities are not confined to the realm of the supernatural.

What made this story so engaging to me was probably my own upbringing in the Lutheran Church. At the time I first began reading, I was adjusting to public school after years of bullying in the religious private elementary I had attended for six years. It felt like volume one spoke to the harder, difficult feelings and sentiments I had around that time, showing how the intricacies of grudges and the human condition can sometimes feel like you’re being chained down by an overwhelming force that fuels both sadness and hostility.

As the story of Baek-On and Ho-Yeon’s journey continues, I think that readers are compelled to confront the depths of these emotions and their profound impact on the characters’ lives through the different spiritual depictions found in and with various characters. In many ways, it feels like the complexities of human emotion serves as a mirror reflecting our own inner struggles and the lingering shadows of our past as you read.

I know that it’s something many Westerners have probably not read or even heard of since it’s not exactly common for sure, inspiring me to bring it to the forefront. I was also reminded of this series again when I noticed that Yen Press has been listing links for where to purchase their older publications! So, I hope I have convinced you to at least check it out because I recommend it highly!

You can learn more about the series and where to purchase it on Yen Press’s website, linked here: https://yenpress.com/titles/9780759530584-time-and-again-vol-1

Developmental edits by: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow