February 2001
Massugu ni Ikou by Kira (Bessatsu Margaret, Shueisha)
Tokyo Mew Mew by Ikumi Mia(Nakayoshi, Kodansha)
Dear Mine by Takao Shigeru (Hana to Yume, Hakusensha)
M to N no Shouzou by Higuchi Tachibana (Hana to Yume, Hakusensha)

March 2001
Kiseki de GO! by Hazaki Yasumi (Crimson Comics, Shueisha)
Luv (Ai toka, Koi toka) by Anisaki Yuna (Flower Comics, Shogakukan)
Vamp by Kosaka Rie (KC Nakayoshi, Kodansha)

April 2001

Saint Dragon Girl by Matsumoto Natsumi (Ribon, Shueisha)
Kooseruteru no Ryuujutsushi by Isurugi Ayuma (Crimson, Shueisha)
Short Sunzen! by Sakurai Susugi (Hana to Yume, Hakusensha)

May 2001
Nadesico Club by Sakamoto Miku (Hana to Yume, Hakusensha)
Wild Revolution by Takigawa Yuuki (Margaret, Shueisha)
Mondai Teiki Sakuhinshuu by Momochi Reiko(Dessert DX, Kodansha)

June 2001
Scoop! by Odagiri Kaname(Za Margaret, Shueisha)
Zig x Zag by Yasunaga Kei (Bessatsu Friend, Kodansha)

August 2001
D-Pro by Gamou Sou(Princess Gold, Akita Shoten)
Tonari. by Oosaka Kei (Ribon Original, Shueisha)

September-October 2001
Jouousama no Inu by Takeuchi Mikku(Princess, Akita Shoten)
Toraware no Mino Ue by Hinomatsuri(Lala, Hakusensha)
Renai Revolution by Hirose Natsume(DX Margaret, Shueisha)
Alice 19th by Watase Yuu (Sho-Comi, Shogakukan)
Platina Garden by Fujita Maki (Princess, Akita Shoten)

December 2001-January 2002
Mugen Dai Power by Sanase Akiha (Ribon Original, Shueisha)
Mekakushi no Kuni by Tsukuba Sakura (Lala, Hakusensha)

February 2002
Tokyo Style Bakudan by Hirose Natsume (Betsuma, Shueisha)

March 2002
Hiou Shirabyoushi 10 by Toujou Meguru (Bessatsu Hana to Yume, Hakusensha)
Lady Victorian 7 by Moto Naoko (Princess, Akita Shoten)
Fight! by Ooima Kanato (Ribon Original, Ribon Bikkuri, Shueisha)

April 2002
Renai Crown by Kouga Yun (Crimson, Shueisha)

November 2002
Hot Gimmick by Aihara Miki (Betsucomi, Shogakukan)

January 2003
Koi no Tamago by Makimura Satoru (Young You, Shueisha)

February 2003
Merupuri Meruhen Princess by Hinomatsuri (Lala, Hakusensha)

March 2003
Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge by Hayakawa Tomoko (Betsu Fure, Kodansha)
Venus no Kataomoi by Nakaji Yuuki (Lala, Hakusensha)

April 2003
Toppengamden e Youkoso by Soya Yuuka (Princess, Akita Shoten)

July 2003
Bud Boy by Shitou Ryouko (Princess Gold, Akita Shoten)

August 2003
Himegimi no Jouken by Sakuno Yasuko (Melody, Hakusensha)
Minimum Queen by Kamura Youko (Ribon Original, Shueisha)

December 2003
Mondai no Nai Watashitachi by Kimura Aya (Betsuma, Shueisha)
Suna Dokei by Ashihara Hinako (Betsu Sho-Comi, Shogakukan)

 

Massugu ni Ikou
by Kira
Ran in Betsuma, Deluxe Margaret, and The(Za) Margaret (Shueisha)

Sometimes a story can be incredibly popular in Japan for a long time without international fans seeming to notice, but hopefully this is not one of them.  Massugu ni Ikou is one of the few manga(maybe the only) my Japanese university friends will admit to still reading, even though it's in a magazine for high school girls. The story of a girl, Ikuko, as told by her pet dog Mametarou, started as a one-shot in the 1992 September The Margaret, came back a few times, and was so popular it ran until the February 2001 issue of Bessatsu Margaret.  It has great storytelling, and characters that you identify with totally.  If you want explosions, monsters, or soap opera plots, this is not for you.  But if you want to feel good with a story that's an easy read (both for difficulty and a good story), try this out.  Don't be put off by the length, you can easily read just one or two volumes without dying to have the next one.  But I found that over time, though I lost interest in other long series, I still wanted the next volume of this.  It kind of reminds me of Aka-chan to Boku in that way.  And you don't have to take my word for it, it was also chosen as one of the Outstanding Manga of 2000 by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.  If I thought I could do justice to the story, I would do a website on it ^_^ but thankfully, it's simple enough(mostly) that even beginners of Japanese can understand it.

 

Tokyo Mew Mew
Illustrations-Ikumi Mia
Scenario-Yoshida Reiko
Running in Nakayoshi (Kodansha)

The new millenium.  The earth is being mistreated by humans, and this mistreatment has given rise to...big monster animals!  It's up to Ichigo and her comrades, each with a different animal spirit in them, to save the world, aided by their cute advisors, Shirogane and Akasaka.  Ichigo is also trying to win the heart of Aoyama-kun, a guy who, while being the school idol, cares so much about nature he doesn't seem to notice much else!  Typical mahou-shoujo fun, with cute designs and a predictable but still interesting plot.  This story probably won't change your life, but it's well-done and is easy to read.

 

Dear Mine
by Takao Shigeru
Running in Hana to Yume (Hakusensha)

This series didn't grab me at first because of the undetailed, vague art, but once I actually read a chapter, I wanted to read the whole story.  16-year-old Satoko has been engaged to a 10-year-old boy by her mother.  The boy, Fuuma, is the head of a big family company and is very astute and mature for his age, but contrary to typical stories, he likes Satoko from the start.  This is the story of their developing relationship, and it's kind of slower-paced but very enjoyable.  The characters are likable and cute without being annoying.  It seems to be really popular with Hana to Yume readers in Japan, and deservedly so.

 

M to N no Shouzou
by Higuchi Tachibana
Running in Hana To Yume (Hakusensha)

Eh heh, this is a fun little series.  It's about Amakusa-kun and Abe Mitsuru, a guy and girl who both go out of their way to commute to a school far from their middle school to keep their secrets-Amakusa-kun is a narcissist and Mitsuru, regularly very meek and quiet, is a masochist!  It sounds weird, but it's funny as they try to keep the other students from finding out, and to see how Amakusa starts to like someone other than himself for the first time.  Hijiri-sempai, the only one who knows their secrets, is also entertaining as a lady's man with a fear of dogs.

 

 

Kiseki de GO! Volume  3
by Hazaki Yasumi
Ran in Comic Crimson (Shueisha and Sobisha)

This is a fairly short story about two brothers who are dismayed to find out that their grandmother, who raised them, wants them to follow in the family tradition and become witches!  At first they refuse, saying they can't because they're guys, but when their grandmother offers to make them into women unless they agree, they resign themselves to it.  The series is fairly episodic, and quite amusing.  Don't look for angst here, though there are some relatively serious bits(relatively...), and in this, the final volume, you find out what their background is and why their grandmother raised them. 

 

Luv-Ai toka, Koi toka Vol. 2
by Anisaki Yuna
Ran in Sho-Comi (Shogakukan)

This is one of my favourite of Anisaki Yuna's series so far, I'm not entirely sure why.  I really like her art style, which is fairly clean, with guys sometimes having almost as big eyes as the girls.  I like the plot of this one, where a girl, Hitoka, confesses to a supposedly 'perfect' guy Shiki-handsome, smart, and nice-then finds out that he's really very cynical and cutting.  He tells her he'll go out with her, but he doesn't believe in love at all, so she shouldn't expect anything.  However, Shiki can't seem to stop being jealous about Hitoka, and once tells her that he can't help being himself around her.  The situation is complicated by the inevitable transfer student who likes Hitoka, but also by an anonymous 'mail friend' of Hitoka's who advises her.  Who is the mysterious mail friend??  This is one series where I can't help liking both main characters, Hitoka for her straight feelings and Shiki for his messed-up personality^_^

 

Vamp
by Kosaka Rie
Ran in Nakayoshi (Kodansha)

A one-volume story, this has a lot of really funny moments in it.  Rio has lived at a convent with other girls since her parents died when she was very young.  The girls live as well as they can, making secret trips at night out to the convenience store to get junk food.  On one of these trips, Rio trips over a boy lying in the street.  He doesn't want to go to the hospital so she sneaks him into the convent.  At first when she wakes up that night to find him leaning over her bed, she has a very shoujo fantasy of a 'night of passion' full of romance, until she gets a look at his teeth-they're fangs!  She screams, bringing the sisters to her room, where they're not surprised to find the guy there.  Turns out he's supposed to stay at the convent for a while to 'recover' from something, and they say he'll sleep in Rio's room from now on!  From then on, Rio protects herself by tying him up at night ^_-.  But is he really a vampire?  The art's not beautiful, but the characters' gag faces are very funny.

 

 

Saint Dragon Girl Volume 2
by Matsumoto Natsumi
Runs in Ribon Original, Ribon Bikkuri, and Ribon (Shueisha)

I'm sure many of you have read at least one chapter of this story, as it has shown up in regular Ribon as well as the special editions.  To sum up, Momoka is the daughter of a martial arts dojo, and having practiced all her life, is very strong and skilled at fighting.  Her childhood friend Ryuuga, while also being able to fight, is knowledgeable about using magic-such as spirit seals and illusions.  He's good-looking and is popular at school, and always teases Momoka about liking him.  Though she always denies it(and usually knocks him into the stratosphere for doing so), it's true, but Momoka doesn't know what to do about it.  This volume continues their adventures, along with their friend Shunran.  The artwork is unique, anyone familiar with Matsumoto Natsumi's work will recognize it, and the story is lots of fun, with both Ryuuga and Momoka not wanting to admit their feelings while being totally obvious about it ^_^

 

Kooseruteru no Ryuujutsushi
Isurugi Ayuma
Crimson Comics, Shueisha
Running in Comic Crimson

Kooseruteru is a country full of spirits and dragons, and pretty much cut off from the rest of the world.  The only humans that live there are Dragon Magicians, who use the seven types of dragons(Wind, Earth, Tree, Water, Darkness, Light, and Fire) to perform magic.  In return, they raise baby dragons and teach them how to use their magic until they're mature.  So some people also call Dragon Magicians Babysitter Magicians *_*, because most of the time they're just taking care of the small dragons.  This story is mainly about one Magician called Mashelle, who has all seven types of dragons to take care of.  He sometimes has to fight with spirits, he has to teach his dragons, he meets other Dragon Magicians, etc.  No big overarching storyline, but enough going on to keep you interested.  What I love about this story is the baby dragons-they are adorable, and each has their own personality.  The oldest one, Naata, is a Dragon of Darkness, and he's the most knowing one, and a better judge of character than Mashelle, who's too nice.  The dragons also change into adult forms when they do magic, so you can see what they're going to look like when they grow up.  Overall, a fun story which is going strong in Crimson, if you like fantasy and dragons, it's a good choice.

 

Short Sunzen! Volume 2
by Sakurai Susugi
Running in Hana to Yume, Za Hana To Yume (Hakusensha)

Sorry for the horrible scans, I couldn't get the colour to look normal...Yeah!  This is one of my newest favourite series.  I was fascinated just by the description on the Hakusensha website and one picture, and now that I've read Vol. 1 I adore it.  Satsuki is a girl with a one-track mind- all she thinks about is fighting.  She goes to Tamakou High School, famous (or infamous) for its rough students and abundance of yankees.  She does enjoy cute things like regular girls, but her favourite hobby is beating up people who piss her off.  Her best friend at school is Sendou Aya, a guy who is even stronger than her, though he doesn't revel in fighting like she does.  Though Sendou is well-known for strength, all he wants is to make Satsuki realize his feelings.  He's always wondering how he can get closer to her, but she's very, well, dense.  She doesn't realize that anyone could see her romantically, however she's starting to wonder...

 

 

Nadesico Club Vol. 1
by Sakamoto Miku
Running in Hana to Yume (Hakusensha)

Reo-chan got dumped by her boyfriend because she didn't have female accomplishments such as cooking or sewing.  Determined to make him regret it, Reo-chan joins the Home-Ec club, where for some reason the only members are four (extremely cool) guys!  Three are second-years, while the last, Irinaka(the dark-haired guy), is a first-year like Reo-chan.  They put her through hard training and she does show her ex up.  The second installment has Reo competing with Irinaka in shirt-making to decide who is going to be the club's gopher :)  The story continues, while Reo-chan and Irinaka start to get close...but slowly, as Reo is dense and Irinaka is shy.  The three second-years often push Reo and Irinaka into situations together where interesting things happen.  Very enjoyable, and of course the four bishounens are quite easy on the eyes^_^

Wild Revolution Volume 2
by Takigawa Miyuki
Running in Margaret (Shueisha)

Eh heh, this month there are two stories where one girl gets involved with a group of bishounen.  Gee, I wonder why these stories are popular with female readers...^_^  Anyways, this story is about Mizuki, who is in the Morality Team (eh?  OK, I guess it's like the Student's Council Enforcement Team...maybe...).  She has a run-in with the notorious 'Z', a group of three delinquent students who break school rules all the time.  However, she ends up spending a lot of time with them, and starting a romance with the leader, Ren.  In this volume, she actually defends them against the controlling head of the morality squad, who is also the son of the principal.  The school uniforms in this manga are really cool and military-like, and the characters are quite good-looking, especially if you like bouffant hair on guys (like me^_-).  Also, it's finishing in the Margaret that just came out, so it will only go to 3 volumes if you like short series.

 
 
 

Mondai Teiki Sakuhinshuu
by Momochi Reiko
Dessert DX (Kodansha)
For those who think shoujo manga is all about bubblegum romance and meaningless angst, Momochi Reiko's work will be an interesting change.  Though I'm not sure exactly what is in this volume, from the title (it roughly translates to A Presentation of (Society) Problems/Issues), I assume it's like her previous manga, of which I have 3 volumes, almost by accident.  They all dealt with various serious issues facing Japanese youth today, such as drug use, rape, and bullying in school.  Even if you think that these problems don't happen to many Japanese girls, for those who get into trouble like this, their friends and family could well react as they do in this manga, sometimes not understanding or even trying to.  These are not happy stories, though they usually end on a hopeful note, but if you need relief from the often hard to believe shoujo manga world, or are interested in issues like these, try this out.

 

 

Scoop!
by Odagiri Kaname
Ran mostly in Za Margaret (Shueisha)

Odagiri Kaname is a fairly new mangaka, and this is her first tankoubon of short stories.  I've read two of her stories, one of which is Scoop!, and thoroughly enjoyed them.  The art style is clean, typical shoujo while being recognizably hers, and the stories are fun, with smart characters who don't act like idiots.  Scoop! is about a girl who's been sent to a high-class girls' boarding school by her parents, Riri, who's bored by the isolation and emphasis on acting like a lady.  A guy from the neighbouring boys' school, Hijiri, is trying to get material for his school paper article on 'A Day in the Life of a Madonna' (what is this Madonna idea that Japanese people seem to have?  I've never heard of a high-class lady being described as a Madonna in English...)  Anyways, Hijiri is dresssing as a girl, and pretends that he's Riri's older sister even though they're complete strangers, and Riri is drawn into the masquerade.  Sparks ensue, and Riri wishes that Hijiri would come back after his article's done...overall, straightforward shoujo with charming characters and situations. 

 

Zig x Zag Volume 2
by Yasunaga Kei
Ran in Bessatsu Friend (Kodansha)

Yuuki is a regular girl who just wants to see her father again, who left her and her brother when they were little.  He loved baseball, so Yuuki and Hiroaki decide that they'll try to make a championship baseball team to get to Koushien to get their dad's attention, wherever he is.  While they're not succeeding at all, a handsome transfer student, Iria, arrives who's half Japanese and half Scandinavian; though she does admire his blond hair and blue eyes, Yuuki soon realizes that he's a total weirdo (he sings strange songs aloud in class, dresses up in a bunny suit, you know, your everyday oddball^_-).  However, she sees him throw and it turns out he has star pitching potential.  Yuuki forces him to join the team, gathering up other players as they go, and this is the final volume of this story, where hopefully they succeed and meet her father.  The plot might be farfetched, but Iria is hilarious in his stunts and of course all the baseball bishounen aren't hard to look at either.  If you enjoy this story, you should check out her other series as well, Boys'n Girl, where another girl gets caught up with a bunch of renegade bishounen.

 

D-Pro (Professional of D) Volume 1
by Gamou Sou
Running in Princess Gold (Akita Shoten)
This story might be appreciated by those who want more than a love story in their manga-it's more of an action story, though the main characters are together. From the one story I read, I'm not sure exactly what D-Pro is, but it seems these two are skilled in espionage/bodyguarding type stuff.  They carry guns, and the story I read had the girl, Yuriana, picking up a teenager, J, on the street when he collapses against her.  When he wakes up, he says that he can't remember who he is, but several things about him are suspicious.  Yuujin, the male half of D-Pro, is jealous because the boy is good-looking, but the girl tries to help him.  Even so, she's not a fool, and when things get tense, with henchmen chasing them around, the D-Pro's know what to do.  The art is interesting, very elongated characters, and the story looks interesting enough that I want to read more, and find out who their enemies are and exactly what their mission is.

 

Tonari.
by Oosaka Kei
Running in Ribon Original/Bikkuri (Shueisha)
Sometimes I like Oosaka Kei's stories, sometimes not so much, but I really enjoyed this one.  Tonari. is a collection of her short stories that ran in the Ribon side magazines, and the title one is about a boy, Natsume, who is living in a boarding house.  He goes to the same school as the daughter of the house, Kayo, and though they're friends, they have no romantic feelings, especially since Natsume is a total player and Kayo doesn't understand his attraction for the other girls.  But there's a reason he acts like such a playboy; his parents' marriage isn't good, and he doesn't believe anyone would love him for more than a casual encounter.  His parents come to see him and things blow up, bringing everything into the open.  This author is good for those who enjoy Ribon stories with some more mature problems and realistic situations, and the art is quite nice.

 

Joousama no Inu
by Takeuchi Mikku
Ran in Princess (Akita Shoten)

Kamori Amane is pretty clumsy and was often made fun of, but she has a sixth sense and knows how to handle spirits. This is how she meets Inugami Hyoue, a spirit monster who becomes her servant. Hyoue is devoted to her, and has a rivalry going with her cousin Hiraka Hayato, who also protects her. This story is episodic, and it's described as 'occult action', which is pretty accurate. I haven't read the first chapter, so I don't know exactly how Amane and Hyoue met, but it's fun to see Hyoue and Amane together, since Amane doesn't seem to notice how Hyoue feels, even though he's supposed to be her boyfriend…Usually Hyoue looks like a regular guy, but in his monster form he looks kind of like a big flaming cat with long straight horns, kind of neat. This story caught my eye just from the title actually, it means "Her Highness' Dog", with everything that implies, eh-heh.

Toraware no Mi no Ue Volume 4
by Hinomatsuri
Running in Lala (Hakusensha)

This series has beautiful art, and all the pics I saw for it gave me the impression it was really deep and heavy. It does have serious stuff, but it also has a lot of humour. The story is that an heiress, Kougami Suzuka, who was lost in China since she was little, is finally coming home to Japan. Her parents died in China, and she's been raised by an old lady at their little restaurant. The family servant, Kuroishi, is happy that she has been found, but his son, Megumi , isn't thrilled that he has to give up the rich life-the mansion and everything would have come to the Kuroishis if she had never been found. However, Kuroishi tells Megumi that their family has always served Suzuka's family. Megumi can barely remember Suzuka from when she was baby, and doesn't expect to like her, but when Suzuka shows up, her eyes meet Megumi's and…he vows to be her faithful servant forever! Turns out that there's a curse on Megumi's family, from the time when one of their ancestors tried to steal a sacred scroll from Suzuka's family. From that time, the Kuroishi family must serve the Kougamis for a 100 generations. Since Megumi isn't used to the compulsion, the difference between when he's affected by the curse(when he looks into Suzuka's eyes) and his normal self is…pretty noticeable, and pretty amusing. However, Megumi does come to love Suzuka for her own sake, but she doesn't want him to be affected by the curse. Suzuka decides that they have to find a way to remove the curse, and I believe in this volume they find out how to awake the Dragon God(the one who put the curse on the Kuroishis in the first place).

 

Renai Revolution
by Hirose Natsume
Ran in DX Margaret (Shueisha)

This is a short story compilation, and the title story is hilarious. The art is ok, but be ready for the humongous eyes, they take up about 80% of the girls' faces, and just a little less of the guys'. Anyways, in the title story, the main character(I can't remember her name) is very beautiful, and always has guys confessing their love to her. She's never been in love, so she dumps them pretty harshly. Then one day, she sees this hunk walking down the hall with his friend and…she falls for his friend! Short, not that great at sports or anything, but somehow she falls for him and asks him out, but he says he doesn't want to have anything to do with such a cold-hearted girl. She's crushed, but she doesn't want to give up, so she decides to accomplish a Love Revolution. She challenges him to an arm-wrestling match, saying if she wins, he'll go out with her, and if he beats her, she'll give up. So how does it turn out? The hero might be small, but he's still a guy. Then again, the heroine is a lot stronger than she looks… I like this author, her stories are usually pretty fun and light-hearted, and this one is no different.

 

Alice 19^th Volume 1
by Watase Yuu
Runs in Sho-Comi (Shogakukan)

I'm sure many of you have heard of Watase Yuu's new series, maybe you know all about it already. But when I checked, I couldn't find too much info about this, and I like it, so I thought I'd intro it here. Of course, the main character's name is Alice, a meek girl who likes a guy in the archery club, Wakamiya-sempai. But her older sister, Mayura, also seems to like him. One morning, Alice is going to school when she sees a rabbit in the road. No one picks it up, and Alice notices a car speeding towards it. For a moment she's frozen, and she hears lots of voices, saying things like: 'Dumb rabbit, it should get off the road', 'I'm not going to save it and get killed myself', 'Pretend not to see it'. She can't bear to watch, so she runs and picks the rabbit up. The car is still coming, when there's a strange light around Alice, and then a second later Wakamiya-senpai, who saw Alice, knocks them safely to the side of the road. Alice loses the rabbit, but finds it later on, and it talks to her, saying that she has courage and power even though she doesn't think so. It turns into a girl, and its name is Nyozeka. It doesn't seem clear what Nyozeka wants, but she does want to awaken Alice's 'power'. This is happening at the same time as school is, and Alice's sister Mayura confesses to Wakamiya-senpai and starts going out with him. Then Mayura finds out that Alice likes him too, and is mean to her. Alice unthinkingly shouts at her to disappear, and she does! Nyozeka tells Alice that words have power, and Alice's have more than those of normal people, and that Mayura has gone into the darkness of her own heart. Nyozeka tells her that to save Mayura, Alice must use the Lotus, and that she must become a Lotus Master. From the kanji, it seems like Lotus means something like sacred words. When she says them, she goes into the 'inner world', which is the same as the regular world but most of the people are frozen. She sees Mayura, but Mayura is pulled away by a mysterious dark shadow…This story is interesting, I'm anxious to find out what Nyozeka really wants, and who the bishounen from another world is who appears at the end of Chapter 5 and announces he's Alice's fiance!

Platina Garden Volume 2
by Fujita Maki
Running in Princess (Akita Shoten)

Kazura is a very straightforward girl who hates it when people aren't honest. She's been unwillingly engaged to Magahara Mizuki, a guy who uses schemes and has a kind of warped personality(not weird, just not straight…). Mizuki is also from a rich family, and seems to have an important position within it that is somewhat mysterious. So Kazura is always getting mad at Mizuki, but they really do like each other. In this volume, Mizuki's cousin Shizuku, who thinks that she should be Mizuki's fiancee, tries to come between Kazura and Mizuki. Kazura understands her feelings and tries to work it out by talking. Kazura also meets and befriends Kagami Toshinobu, a boy who lives in a falling-down shack but is from a rich family as well. This is a fairly straight story so far, but it's cute and the characters are likeable without being totally unreal, especially Kazura, who is strong without being rude(usually^_-).

Mugen Dai Power
by Sanase Akiha
Ran in Ribon Original & Bikkuri (Shueisha)

Heh heh, I've been waiting for this one to come out. I know at least 2 stories in this short compilation, and they're linked together. Two characters get together in one, and in the next another girl likes the guy without knowing he has a girlfriend. The first is Sky Melody, and to be honest I can't remember what the other one is called. In Sky Melody, the main character likes this guy but he's moving after summer break, so she decides to confess to him before he leaves. She plays the piano, and she invites him to come to a concert in which she's playing, and is happy when he says he will if he can. But then he tells her he's sorry to move, because the girl he likes is here, and the main character gets too afraid to confess to him...The stories by Sanase Akiha are funny to read because of the characters faces and reactions, but their feelings seem genuine(not cheesy), which I like. I think the dialogue and timing also contributes, which unfortunately means that a lot of English readers won't get as much out of it, but you never know, maybe someone will translate it...and anyway, I think the visually expressive style helps show the mood even without the words. I wish I had a pic!

Mekakushi no Kuni Volume 5
by Tsukuba Sakura
Running in Lala (Hakusensha)

Urgh, I got this pic through a Lala Mail thingy, I don't know why but it seems morally much worse than scanning from my own comics. Sorry! But without a scanner, I have to use what I can, because the art style can make a big difference in getting people interested. Anyways, on to the story!!
How can I describe how much I love this series? It's one that even though I wasn't really into the art style at first(I actually like the B&W art much better than the colour), I adore both the art and the story and the characters, pretty much everything. I can read it over and over(OK, I'll stop raving). It started as a short story, so a lot of the chapters can be read on their own, but it should at least be read in sequence. I think it just started as an ongoing story in Lala, though it's made frequent appearances there for a while. Now for the plot! Kanade is a cheerful girl who's a bit scared of touching people, because once in a while she'll see their future(not more than a few days ahead). One day, she accidentally runs into a boy at school, but is relieved when she sees nothing. She's shocked when he turns around and announces that she's like him, because he can see people's pasts when he touches them. His name is Arou, and of course they start to like each other. Another boy comes in who can see the future too, Namaki-san. He likes Kanade as well, but doesn't pull the common tricks to try and get her to break up with Arou, because he wants her to be happy, even if it's with Arou. However, he's not the noble type, he takes whatever chance he can to get closer to Kanade and doesn't pull his punches at all. I love the characters in this story, I liked Kanade and Arou from the beginning, and they grow with the story as well. In this volume, an acquaintance who knows of Arou's power shows up, and there's at least one story with Namaki's dog(it's very cute, and almost a main character^_-)

Oh yeah, from left to right, the pic is: Arou, Kanade, Namiki, and Kaichou(the Student Council President, I would LOVE for her to get together with Namaki)

 

Tokyo Style Bakudan
Hirose Natsume
Running in Bessatsu Margaret (Shueisha)

Why do I like Hirose Natsume?  I can't say, but I'm sure her distinctive style was what made me remember her first.  Girls with dinner-plate sized eyes, and guys with sideburns.  But it's very consistent, and pretty in its way.  Her newest story is about Ranko, who so wants to be fashionable that she runs away from her hick hometown to Tokyo, staying with her stylist sister.  At first, she's still in major Ko-Gal mode, with loose socks, dark skin, and white makeup, and she's crushed when she realizes how 1999 she looks.  But not to fear, some cool boys come along and help her out of her image crisis, and she finds out they're an up-and-coming idol group w-inds.   W-inds is a real idol group now in Japan, and every issue of Betsuma has a poster or interview or something.  But unlike many other current manga concerning idols(Ahem, Musume...), in this story the pop stars are there to help the heroine and move the plot along(and of course, attract fans).  The story is ok, of course her dorky childhood friend comes after her and is transformed into a babe so they get together. So far it's been kind of episodic, not always a bad thing.

 

 

Hiou Shirabyoushi
by Toujou Meguru
Runs in Bessatsu Hana to Yume (Hakusensha)

Courtly romance, medieval court intrigue-no, this isn't about King Arthur, but Heian Japan, and how the Emperor's(Mikado's) supporters fought behind the scenes with his wicked advisor, the Sadaijin, who had tremendous influence.  That's the setting for this story, and it plays a major part-but the spotlight is reserved for the love story between Azusa, a young lady who is secretly Shirabyoushi, the feared assassin who kills corrupt politicans, and Tokihaya, the Captain of the Guard assigned to capture her.  Aside from the cool costumes and historical interest, I love this story because for once, the woman is much stronger than the man, even though the man is a fighter as well.  Oh-and since Tokihaya finds out in the first chapter who Azusa really is, don't worry about silly scenes where she gets away by changing her hair or something - people who see Azusa once recognize her, it's just that in Heian Japan, noble women rarely show their faces, so Azusa escapes notice.  If you've read Harukanaru Toki no Naka de, I believe it's around the same time frame, but with no contemporary characters stuck in.  And I love the art style, everyone has cat eyes ^_^  Well, if you see the picture, you'll know what I mean-beautiful women and cool, cool guys-yeah!  All in all, Hakusensha's catch-phrase sums it up well- Heian Love Action!

Lady Victorian Volume 7
by Moto Naoko
Running in Princess(Akita Shoten)

Another historical story, but this one is in Victorian England, not Heian Japan.  As you might guess, they're totally different, and though I laughed at the first thought of a Japanese manga set in 1890's England, Moto Naoko does a good job of the situation - she's obviously researched the history and customs of the period.  But this is no typical Harlequin - in this story, the very beautiful and graceful Silver Lady is actually a man, and the main character, Belle, is an impetuous, hotheaded governess (okay, that part is kind of typical^_^).  The plot is great because it's never obvious-though I have Volumes 1-6, I still have no idea who Belle will end up with, and at the moment, it doesn't seem likely that the hero will be the Silver Lady, though he does steal Belle's first kiss while dressed, or should I say undressed (you have to read it to find out^_-) as a man.  The two other gentlemen in Belle's life are the dashing and kind Noel, who owns the popular Ladies' Magazine, and the suave Count Martin, the Silver Lady's brother.  I enjoy this story so much, I made a site for it - but didn't post it, since I have no time to summarize it. If you've ever read and liked a Regency novel, or simply enjoy a fun, light romantic comedy, try this, it's a lot of fun!

 

Fight!
by Ooima Kanato
Ran in Ribon Original & Ribon Bikkuri (Shueisha)

What can I say, I love Ooima Kanato.  I fell in love with her stories from her debut a couple years ago, and I have all her stories in phonebook format(yup, I'm obsessed).  So I know which stories are in this tank, and they're good(how's that for objective? :b).  If you love Tanemura Arina and expect all shoujo art to be that beautiful, don't read this.  These stories are good for the characters, the dialogue, and the comedy-not that many cool guys, but tons of cute ones.  The title story is classic, about a girl who became friends with a guy she dumped as a kid, and then grows up to have feelings for him.  Does he still like her?  What about that cute kouhai girl that's always hanging around him?  If you're interested in finding out more, I have synopses and translations of several of her works(one translated story, Lovely, will be in this tank I believe).

 

Renai Crown Volume 4
Kouga Yun
Ran in Crimson(Sobisha, Shueisha)

Hmm. Well, to be honest, I've never read any other of Kouga Yun's stories, so I can't compare, but the plot of Renai Crown seems fairly normal compared to what I've heard. That being said, I don't know how she manages to imbue the story with such drama. The basic plot is that Hisayoshi, a really good looking, kind, and smart guy, falls in love with Rima, an idol singer, at first sight, and becomes a star in order to win her. She's not interested at all, but he's totally determined, and she gradually changes her mind. That's the bare bones, with all the other characters left out. The art is beautiful and simple, and it's easy to sympathize with the characters. Except for the starting plot device, nothing happens here that seems at all hard to believe. This story was one of Crimson's originals, and it's worth picking up at least the first volume. Volume 4 is the last one, and I think it's just about the right length-nothing added to stretch it out longer than it should be, and not rushed. The first volume, and the whole series is filled with quiet angst, which I'm not used to, but can definitely appreciate. Try it!

Hot Gimmick
by Aihara Miki
Running in Bessatsu Sho-Comi (Shogakukan)

This is the first Shogakukan title I've reviewed in a long time, mostly because I find most Sho-Comi series to disguise their lack of plot and character with sex. Not that I mind sex in shoujo, but there has to be something else for me to want to read it. However, I recently found that Bessatsu Sho-Comi, the big sister magazine to Sho-Comi, has a lot of good stories in it, and strangely enough, less sex, even though it's for an older audience! Hmm, does this mean that younger readers want sex, and older ones want a good story? I don't know, but a good example of this is Hot Gimmick! by Aihara Miki. I was first drawn to the art, since the guys are all very good-looking, but after reading her previous series SO BAD, another good one, I realized that Aihara-sensei is also great at creating good characters and very interesting plots. In Hot Gimmick!, Hatsumi is horrified when her childhood bully, Ryouki, returns to her apartment building and seems to want to pick up where he left off - always being mean to her and forcing her to do things. She's a bit relieved and happy when another former neighbour moves back, the boy she used to love and soon starts to have feelings for again. However, all is not what it seems, and this story involves not just this love triangle, but several other characters, and the relationships actually change-the love possibilities are not the same now as they were in Volume 1, for starters. This is refreshing, and compared to the vaguely similar plot of HYD (selfish guy falls for normal girl and tries to win her), I like how it takes less than 15 volumes for people's feelings to change(don't worry, I still love HYD^_^) The art is really nice, the lines are very smooth, and the story is a lot of fun, although it has its painful moments.

 

Koi no Tamago Volume 1
by Makimura Satoru
Running in Young You (Shueisha)

I love Makimura Satoru's stuff, and this is the newest story, running at the same time as another one of hers(his?), Do Da Dancin'! It's a much more mature story than most of my reading, and deals with an actual (gasp) adult relationship! It's about Tamako, a thirty-something office lady who drifts along through life not making many choices, until all in one day, she's told she's being restructured (sent to a different office, like a demotion), and witnesses her semi-boyfriend proposing to another woman! She doesn't know how to handle it, but is decisive for once in her life and quits her job, and dumps the guy. Now the story moves on to her learning how to really make decisions and choose her own path in life, including career, love, and friends. Great story, awesome, believable characters, and still fun! For all those fans who wish there was more shoujo dealing with adult lives, this is for you!

 

Merupuri Meruhen Princess Volume 1
by Hinomatsuri
Running in Lala (Hakusensha)

Kyaa! I love Hinomatsuri's art, it is soo gorgeous! This is her new series after Toraware no Mi no Ue, and it's even more fantasy-based. A regular girl, Airi, has a mirror from her grandmother. One day she drops it on her way to school, and almost doesn't go back to pick it up because she's trying to keep a perfect record - at her school, there's a legend that if a girl has a perfect attendance record for her whole time there, she'll have a wonderful love(this sounds like a school admin trick to me!) She has enough time though, so she goes back and finds a young boy holding it where she dropped it. He's a bit rude to her but when she says the mirror is hers, he tries to give it back. However, Airi sees the time and rushes off to school forgetting to take it, leaving the boy wondering what to do. On her way home, Airi runs into the boy waiting exactly where she left him, just to give it back to her. She's glad, but feels sorry for the boy, Aram, because he has no place to go, so she brings him home with her. He seems a bit arrogant, but he's very cute. At night, he's feeling alone, so Airi lets him sleep with her, but as the light is turned off...
Airi wakes up in the morning and feels a man's arms around her. Startled, she looks up and sees Aram's face, all grown up! He's had a spell put on him by his older brother, so that when it's dark he turns into a grown up and can't do magic, even though his mind is still a boy's. That's the first few pages; basically Aram is a prince of Asteiru, a magic kingdom. His older brother is trying to get rid of him so he can inherit all the power, so he has put this curse on him. To lift the curse, Aram has to kiss his first love-his brother thought that since he's so young, he wouldn't have a love yet. Aram surprises everyone when he announces that if that's the case, he has to kiss Airi! Airi doesn't want her first kiss to be with someone she doesn't love, and so the story's plot is set-Aram tries to get Airi to agree to kiss him, and Airi struggles with growing feelings for Aram, romantic or sisterly or both, since he is a child, though a lovable one. The main conflict is that even if Airi and Aram do like each other, it's a fact that Aram is 1) way younger than Airi, and 2) a prince of another world. Another mystery is that Airi's mirror seems to come from the magic kingdom, so she might have a link to there through her grandmother...Fun and beautiful, I really like this story! Lots of humour as well as drama, and boy, are the guys gorgeous!

Yamato Nadesico Shichihenge Volume 7
by Hayakawa Tomoko
Running in Betsu Friend (Kodansha)

I love this manga, it's one of my favourite fun stories. It might sound typical, a high-school girl somehow gets stuck living in a huge house with 4 gorgeous guys, but it has a hilarious and unique twist. The girl, Sunako, was traumatized in middle school when the guy she liked called her ugly. Again, pretty normal right? Not exactly. Her aunt, the absentee landlord, tells the guys that she'll let them stay rent-free if they can turn her niece into a 'young lady'. You might be thinking, "Yeah, so she sucks at cooking and she has a temper, it's the same as 50 other stories!" Eh heh. No. Sunako is very good at cooking and is very meek (usually), the catch is that she's...scary. Horror-movie type scary. She watches slash films all the time, loves blood and gore, and people mistake her for a ghost or monster a lot because of her long straight black hair and general aura of darkness. She also lives in her room with no lights and her best friends are an anatomy doll head and a skull. She wishes she could live away from these blinding creatures (to her, beautiful people are so blinding her nose sprays blood if she has to be near them for too long), and doesn't like being around people at all.
It's very funny, and it's almost the opposite of romantic even though there's a bit of a (slightly strange) love story in it. Great art, and lots of good scenes and outfits especially if you like Gothic style. Sunako is great, and also kicks butt when she's pushed too far.

Venus wa Kataomoi Volume 9
by Nakaji Yuki
Running in Lala (Hakusensha)

This is a very cute, normal love story about Eichi and Sana, two university students. Still going strong at 9 volumes, this story is not too angsty, and has very cute character designs.
In this volume, Sana is being approached by a handsome kouhai(younger guy), and Eichi is annoyed but he and Sana still aren't a rock-solid couple, so he mostly stews in silence. Fans of Renai Catalogue will probably enjoy this series.

Toppengamden e Youkoso Volume 6
by Soya Yuuka
Running in Princess (Akita Shoten)

I didn't pay much attention to this story the first time I saw it in Princess. The uneven lines and rough characters looked more like a gag manga than a real story. But the fantasy setting looked interesting, and the title sounded neat, so I got the first volume eventually, and boom! I was lost. The main character is Laura, the young princess of Toppengamden who is trying to prove herself worthy of ruling. She has the help of Reggie, a wizard, whom she depends on for advice and support. But through the course of the story, she tries to stand by herself and become independent, making decisions and dealing with adversity on her own. The cast of characters and their relationships are great, and I actually like Laura, who has relatively few annoying moments and appreciates intelligence in other people (since she's not the scholarly type herself). The romance between her and Reggie is sometimes very subtle, but it's a major plotline and is angsty in a non-overpowering way. In this volume, an ancient evil wizard is being resurrected by a witch who claims to be Laura's cousin, and Reggie tries to accept that he can never be with Laura because of their respective positions.

Bud Boy Volume 19
by Shitou Ryouko
Ran in Princess Gold (Akita Shoten)

19 volumes! That's long! Yup. But it's surprising how fast you can go through this story when you get into it, and you can also read a few stories, stop for a while, and go back if you want. It's a very neat, mythical setting, with the main character Tsubomi, the Flower Shogun and the son of the Flower Empress(or something similar to that). The language used in the mythical world is quite courtly, reminiscent of Heian stories, but a lot of the action takes place in contemporary Japan, where Tsubomi is exiled from the supernatural world at the beginning because of his arrogance and general obnoxiousness. Don't be fooled by his title into thinking Tsubomi is cultured or delicate, he's very strong, loves to drink and smoke, and actually prefers the world below because it's more suited to his personality. However, he is the Flower Shogun, and most of the stories are about him helping mortals affiliated with flowers or helping the flowers directly from supernatural harm. The plot and art are very mythological, so if you like fantasy you should try this. Volume 19 is the final volume, and I'm hoping that Tsubomi will finally meet his father, the West Wind (his mother's courtship was explained in an earlier volume), and perhaps have the binding removed from his body (his body is kept in its child's form, because his full-grown power is too strong for his body too handle). I really enjoy the mythic feel to this story, as well as the beautiful, traditionally Asian-looking art.

Himegimi no Jouken Volume 3
by Sakuno Yasuko
Hana to Yume Comics
Running in Melody (Hakusensha)

Far away, in a magical kingdom called (I can't remember), there lives a beautiful princess named Darian...who is very tomboyish and more interested in fighting than love. She has several brothers and a sister, all from different mothers, and they are fighting over the right to be the ruling monarch of the country. The king has decreed that whomever has the strongest power will rule. This power comes from having helper spirits, but the spirits must be convinced to become guardians - they cannot be forced. Darian is determined to acquire helper spirits of light and darkness, the two strongest types, but is dismayed when she finally acquires a helper spirit of a dandelion and discovers that the 'owner' of the spirit can't see, hear, or feel the spirit once they are acquired. The dandelion spirit was actually a close friend of hers, and now Darian can't see or hear her, though she can use her powers. This makes Darian very sad and she actually gets angry at the spirit for becoming her guardian when she didn't ask her to.

Another interesting conflict, however, is actually the crux of the story's dilemma - Darian's best friend and romantic interest, her bodyguard Keel, is (unbeknownst to Darian) actually a spirit of darkness. He is increasingly tortured by the decision between staying with Darian but not being able to protect her at all times, and becoming her helper spirit and ruining their growing relationship forever.

This story is so awesome!! I love all the characters so far, and the premise of helper spirits opens up interesting opportunities for different abilities. The central dilemma of Darian and Keel is agonizingly impossible - can Keel have a relationship with Darian if he doesn't become her helper, since he's fundamentally not a human(he's currently inhabiting a human body)? If he does become her helper, who will be a companion to Darian, since she's already asked him to marry her once she's queen? Though this story has a lot of comedy and focus on other characters in it, this subtle angst which is usually in the background rather than shoved in the reader's face adds a lot of depth, and you really feel for Darian and Keel, wanting them to get together.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to scan anything, the art is pretty good, the characters are usually very well-drawn and wear cool outfits-lots of black and leather-type stuff (crack that whip!^_^).

Minimum Queen
by Kamura Youko
Ribon Mascot Comics
Ran in Ribon Original (Shueisha)

What is it about Kamura Youko that I like? Her art style is really cute, with the shiniest eyes I've ever seen, and the stories are also cute, but I like that she explores different personalities. Yes, most of her heroines are usually spunky and her heroes are usually funny and 'regular'(not the school idol), but the way the characters behave is always different-you never feel like characters are repeated. The title story in Minimum Queen is about Ariko, the shortest girl in class who is also the strongest in school. The guy who likes her, Arahata, is of course weaker than her, so she doesn't think he'll like her, but it's all ok in the end. Fun and different, Arahata helps her not by becoming stronger, but by bringing backup (moral: know your limitations^_^) I can't wait to get this and read the other stories as well, since I know they'll all have different characters in them.

 

Mondai no Nai Watashitachi Volume 3
by Kimura Aya
Ran in Bessatsu Margaret (Shueisha)

This story was fresh in its treatment of the familiar "Girl somehow becomes the target of teasing at school" plot. In this series, the main character does become a target after she sticks up for another girl (typical), but totally manages to turn it around and make the head 'mean girl' teased instead. Then she has to take on a teacher, who accuses her of shoplifting to cover up her own theft. Why is this innovative? Think of how many times teasing, or ijime, comes up in shoujo manga. Pretty often, and I can't say how accurate they are, most of the victims crawl up into a ball, stop going to school, or just become loners. This is understandable. In the stories where they fight back, it seems very unrealistic, with the victim being vindicated dramatically, and everyone's happy and friendly after. In Mondai Nai, they become friends, but the group dynamics are still very much present, with different relationships between them. And I don't think there's any guys that show up as main characters, another exception-even girls' school stories usually have love interests get into the plot somehow.

 

Suna Dokei Volume 2
by Ashihara Hinako
Running in Bessatsu(Betsu) Sho-Comi (Shogakukan)

This story is kind of like a big flashback. It begins in the present day, with a young woman, An, getting ready for her wedding, and then it goes into her memories of growing up, her first love, etc. Her mother, separating from her husband, brings her to her hometown to grow up, and kills herself. The first volume dealt with that and with An's first love, a neighbour in her new town who is loveable but gruff. But we can tell that another guy, Fuji, who doesn't say much but is from a rich family, likes her. Who does An ends up with-it doesn't seem to be the first guy, but is it the second guy? Is it a totally different guy? Who knows. Each chapter has a heading as if it were an autobiography, with her age. It started at 12 and Volume 1 started on Age 14 as well, and in Betsucomi now I think she's 16, so perhaps Volume 2 is her 14-16 years diary. It's quite good, cute drawings and pretty believable characters, and a good pace. Very enjoyable.