He's got the whole world in his hand.
Saturn Apartments is a seinen manga by Hisae Iwaoka, which was serialized in Monthly Ikki from 2005 to 2011.
The story takes place in a future when the entire planet Earth has been declared a nature preserve, and mankind lives in a space station apartment complex above it. The main character is Mitsu, a window-washer whose job it is to keep the windows of the space station clean.
This manga provides examples of:
- Accidental Misnaming: People just can't seem to get Sohta's name right.
- Cast of Snowflakes: Every single appearing character has somehting that makes them visually unique.
- Cliffhanger: Floor 38 ends with an unusually literal one.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: The boss of the power plant doesn't care that the safety at the plant leave a lot to be desired.
- Gentle Giant: Mr. Kageyama is a huge guy who loves children and is a nice dude in general.
- Idiosyncratic Episode Naming: This manga doesn't have chapters, it's got floors.
- It's Always Spring: Whenever we see Earth, we see no signs of winter or fall. Considering that this manga takes place in the future, global warming might be the cause.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Jin is a cranky old man, but his heart is 24 carats.
- Meaningful Name: Tamagoro Tamachi's favorite food is eggs. "Tamago" means "egg."
- Mole in Charge: Nishimaru plans to sabotage the project of sending someone down to Earth.
- Mundane Made Awesome: This manga shows more reverence for window-washing than your average priest shows for the holy sacraments.
- Non-Indicative Title: Saturn doesn't feature in the series at all. Instead, the space station forms a ring orbiting Earth, like the rings of Saturn.
- Parental Abandonment: Both Mitsu's dad and mom are dead.
- Running Gag: People keep getting Sohta's name wrong.
- Space Station: The new home for all of mankind.
- Space Suits Are Scuba Gear: The airtubes of the space suits are clearly exposed, for no apparent reason.
- Tell Me About My Father: Mitsu works with his dad's old workmates, and is always eager to hear anything they have to say about dear departed dad.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Tamachi loves eggs.Tamachi: Boiled eggs are simple and taste of happiness.
- Urban Segregation: The apartment complex is divided into three sections: The high levels, the middle levels, and the lower levels. The higher levels of the space station house the higher levels of society,and so on. As if that wasn't enough, you're not allowed to visit any levels higher than your own without getting a special permit, so only people from the higher levels can come and go as they please.
