You ever get that weird feeling of déjà vu where everything seems perfect but also just... wrong? That’s the entire vibe of Kowloon Generic Romance. If you’ve been reading Jun Mayuzuki’s masterpiece, you know that Kujirai Reiko isn't just a quirky real estate agent who likes smoking while eating watermelon. She’s the center of a cosmic, nostalgic puzzle that makes your brain hurt in the best way possible.
Most people dive into the series thinking it's a cozy slice-of-life romance set in a retro Hong Kong. Then the rug gets pulled out. You realize the city shouldn't exist. You realize Reiko has a "double" with pierced ears and a different personality. Honestly, trying to track what’s real and what’s "generic" is a trip.
The Two Reikos: Who Is Kujirai B?
First off, let's settle the biggest source of confusion. There are two of them. Well, sort of.
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The Reiko we follow—let’s call her Kujirai A—is 32 years old, works at Wang Lai Realty, and is head-over-heels for her grumpy coworker, Hajime Kudo. She’s bashful, earnest, and has zero memories of her life before coming to Kowloon. Then there’s the "original" Reiko, often referred to by fans and characters as Kujirai B.
Kujirai B was Kudo’s senior colleague and, more importantly, his fiancée. She was confident, wore glasses, and had her ears pierced. She also died.
Wait, how did she die? That’s where the "generic" part of the title comes in. The manga hints that Kujirai B took a banned pharmaceutical drug from the Hebinuma Group. It wasn't necessarily a straightforward suicide. Some theories suggest she took it as a gamble—a way to see if she could survive the "end" of the original Kowloon Walled City. She told Kudo that if she woke up the next morning, she’d marry him. She didn't wake up.
Is Reiko a Clone? It’s Complicated
If you're looking for a simple "yes" or "no" on the clone front, you're gonna be disappointed. Kowloon Generic Romance uses the term "Generic Being."
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Kujirai A isn't a lab-grown clone in the sci-fi sense. She’s more like a physical manifestation of Kudo’s regret. The "Second Kowloon" where the story takes place is a simulated or reconstructed world hovering in the sky, powered by a system called Generic Terra.
Basically, Kudo’s grief was so intense that it "resonated" with the Generic Terra technology. It rebuilt the city from his memories, but since Kudo didn't truly know everything about the woman he loved, the reconstruction was imperfect. Kujirai A was "born" into this world as a 32-year-old woman with a blank slate.
- Kujirai B: The real person who lived, loved Kudo, and died.
- Kujirai A: The "generic" version. She has the same face, but she’s her own person.
This creates a brutal dynamic. Kudo is essentially dating the ghost of his dead fiancée, but he’s constantly reminded that she isn't her. He even pushes her away after a reflex kiss, telling her she’s the "wrong person." Ouch.
Why the Watermelon and Cigarettes Matter
Jun Mayuzuki is a master of using tiny, weird details to build character. The whole "smoking while eating watermelon" thing? That’s actually a real-life habit of Mayuzuki’s mother. In the story, it serves as a "save point" for Kudo’s memory.
When Kujirai A does it, Kudo is hit with a wave of nostalgia. It’s a sensory bridge between the dead woman he misses and the living woman standing in front of him. But it also highlights the tragedy: Kujirai A does these things naturally, without knowing they were Kujirai B's habits. She's living a life that was already lived, like a cover song that sounds just a little bit different from the original.
The Truth About the Hebinuma Group
You can't talk about Reiko without mentioning the Hebinuma Group. They’re the pharmaceutical giant behind "Generic Terra." While the manga starts as a romance, it shifts into a corporate conspiracy pretty fast.
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They are obsessed with "Absolute Self." They want to create a world where people can live forever in their "best" state. But as we see through Reiko’s eyes, this "purgatory" is hollow. The residents of the Second Kowloon are often just echoes. When a "real" person from the outside world enters the city, their "generic" counterpart usually vanishes in a puff of smoke.
Reiko is the exception. She stays. Why? Because she’s starting to develop an identity that Kudo didn't invent. She’s becoming "Generic" in the sense of a generic drug—chemically identical but sold under a different name.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
Without spoiling every single panel, the core of Reiko’s journey is about breaking the loop. For a long time, the city of Kowloon was stuck in an eternal summer, resetting over and over because Kudo couldn't let go.
The breakthrough happens when Reiko stops trying to be the "Kujirai Reiko" that everyone expects and starts making choices for herself. She realizes she doesn't have to be a replacement. She can be the "Absolute Self" that the Hebinuma Group failed to manufacture.
Actionable Insights for Readers
If you're still scratching your head over the timeline, here is how to process the Reiko mystery:
- Watch the eyes and ears: In flashbacks, look for Kujirai B’s glasses and piercings. If she doesn't have them, you're looking at the "Generic" Reiko.
- Don't trust the scenery: The "Second Kowloon" is a physical place, but it reacts to Kudo’s emotions. When the ground shakes or buildings change, it’s usually tied to his mental state.
- Pay attention to the "Old Man": Characters like Gwen and the manager know more than they let on. They are the anchors to the original world.
- Read the "Generic" metaphor literally: Just like a generic medicine is a version of a brand-name one, Kujirai A is a version of Reiko. She has the same "active ingredients" (DNA/appearance) but a different "brand" (soul).
The story isn't just a mystery; it's a meditation on whether we love people for who they are, or for the version of them we keep in our heads. Reiko Kujirai is a reminder that even if you were "made" from someone else’s memories, your life is still yours to live.
To fully grasp the weight of the story, revisit the early chapters and look for the moments where Kudo looks at Reiko with genuine fear. He isn't afraid of her; he's afraid of the fact that he's starting to love the "fake" more than the "real" woman he lost. That is the true heart of the generic romance.
Next Steps for Fans:
Track the appearance of the "Earth" or "Generic Terra" polyhedron in the sky throughout the chapters. Its proximity usually signals how close Reiko is to discovering the truth about her existence. Compare the "summer" scenes in the early volumes to the "winter" shift in later arcs to see how the world begins to break its artificial cycle.