Merry Month of Manga: SMUGGLER

 And now we switch gears hard, going from a sensitive and accomplished coming-of-age drama to a messy seinen crime story.

SMUGGLER, by Shohei Manabe.  First published in 2000 and first published in North America in 2006.

                                               

PLOT:

Kinuta didn't meant to end up in the Yakuza.  He wanted to be an actor.  Then he got into some financial trouble, which led to him meeting the worst sorts of people and getting himself deeper in trouble.  Now he's stuck dumping bodies, bereft of any purpose in his life.  Things only get worse when a couple of Chinese assassins take out his boss.  His gang manage to capture one of the assassins, but Kinuta accidentally lets him escape.  Kinuta must take the assassin's place to hide his failure, but the longer the deception goes on the more he loses himself in the role.

Merry Month of Manga: SHINO CAN'T SAY HER NAME

 I finally found it - a Shuzo Oshimi manga that doesn't have weird hangups about women!  It's a miracle!

SHINO CAN'T SAY HER NAME (Shino-chan wa Jibun no Namae ga Ienai), by Shuzo Oshimi.  First published in 2011 and first published in North America in 2021.

PLOT:

Shino has long suffered from a stutter, one that tends to stop up her speech entirely in moments of stress (which only serve to make them more stressful).  It strikes during her class introduction, which only leads to mockery and alienation.  Then Shino meets Kayo, a rough-around-the-edges classmate who loves music but can't sing to save her life.  They form a tentative friendship, but can it survive a school festival music performance, a classmate with a crush, and Shino's own anxieties?

Merry Month of Manga: TOMCATS

One of the advantages of a month of one-shots is that it gives me a chance to do some deep diving in my piles of BL books, since most of those are stand-alone volumes.

One of the disadvantages is that means I end up encountering oddities like this.

TOMCATS (Tenshi no Jikan), by Mashiro Minamino.  First published in 2005 and first published in North America in 2008.

PLOT:

Mao was just another disaffected young man slaving his days away in a pizza parlor.  Then he meets Tora, a strong, silent man who becomes just as fond of Mao as he is of his cats (who just so happen to be little people with cat ears and tails who are capable of speech, understanding, and cooking).  Tora's yakuza past eventually catches up to him, forcing Tora to flee with Mao and their cats to the desert.  While Mao and Tora adjust to their new life, their pets discover magic birds, never-ending food supplies, and a cat god.

Merry Month of Manga: SHORT-TEMPERED MELANCHOLIC AND OTHER STORIES

 As this blog enters its 13th year, I'm celebrating it in the usual fashion: a month's worth of reviews.  This time around, it's all One-Volume Wonders, starting with this collection from notable shojo mangaka Arina Tanemura.

SHORT-TEMPERED MELACHOLIC AND OTHER STORIES (Kanshakudama no Yuutsu), by Arina Tanemura.  First published in 1998 and first published in North America in 2008.

PLOT:

Kajika is the heir to an old ninja family and is proud to show off the skills her grandfather taught her...at least, until her crush Fujisaki tells her to be more ladylike.  Her attempts fail, but after her childhood best friend gets into a fight with Fujisaki for her honor she learns that it's better to be true to herself than to meet some boy's unrealistic expectations.  This is followed by other simple tales of teenaged love, including a girl who uses her ditzy best friend as a stand-in during a date with a pen-pal, a girl trying to convince a stubborn boy to not give up on love, and a girl who gets over her crush on her best friend's boyfriend thanks to a particularly persistent admirer.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #20: SHIRAHIME-SYO

 Let's wrap things up with a beautiful little oddity from CLAMP's library of works.

SHIRAHIME-SYO, by CLAMP.  First published in 1992 and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

This short story collection tells the tale of four lost souls, seeking everything from revenge to reunions with lost loves.  All of them find themselves lost in the wildness of a snowy mountain, where they encounter strange animals and mystical forces they can only ascribe to the godly Snow Princess.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #19: PRINCE FREYA

Do you like shojo adventure stories?  Are you up to date on Yona of the Dawn and seeking something else in a similar vein?  This series is easily your best bet.

PRINCE FREYA (Itsuwari no Fureiya), by Keiko Ishihara.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2020.

PLOT:

Ever since her mother fell ill, Freya has depended upon the kindness of the village for their survival.  They do this not only out of the kindness of their hearts, but also because Freya's eldest adoptive brother Aaron is a personal knight to Prince Edvard, and as such one of the few people keeping the invading forces of the kingdom of Sigurd at bay.

Then everything goes drastically wrong.  Freya learns that the prince is dying of poison, and with his dying words he tasks her with taking his place.  She manages to save Aaron from enemy forces, only to lose him shortly thereafter.  Now she and her other adoptive brother, Alek, must grapple with their grief and guilt all while Freya learns how to act like a prince.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #18: CHERRY JUICE

It's weird to come across a shojo manga that feels so much like a shonen ecchi manga without actually being an shonen ecchi manga.

CHERRY JUICE (Cheri Jusu), by Haruka Fukushima.  First published in 2004 and first published in North America in 2007.

PLOT:

Minami and Otome are seemingly as normal as step-siblings can be, even if Otome's best friends all envy her for having such a hot, popular step-brother.  Then Minami's best friend, Amane, confesses to Otome and kisses her.  Now he's not sure just what the nature of his feelings towards his step-sister are, and Otome is starting to feel equally confused.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #17: NEW VAMPIRE MIYU

It's time for me to take a look at a once-beloved shojo horror franchise, long forgotten but not unloved.

NEW VAMPIRE MIYU (Shin Kyuketsu Hime Miyu), written by Toshihiro Hirano with art by Narumi Kakinouchi.  First published in 1992 and first published in North America in 1999.

PLOT:

Wherever corrupt human souls exist, you can find the demonic creatures known as shinma.  The only defense against them is the half-human vampire Miyu and her companion Larva.  By day she poses as an ordinary high school girl, but at night the two of them hunt down and exorcise these malevolent spirits.  Her greatest challenge is before her, as an invasion of western shinma led by the masked sorceress Carlua are coming her way.  Carlua wants two things: to possess Larva for her own and to destroy Miyu by any means possible.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #16: STELLAR WITCH LIPS

 This titles is a veritable mash-up of shojo sub-genres, along with influences both old and new.  If only that mash-up were as graceful as the magical girls on its pages.

STELLAR WITCH LIPS (Majo Kaito LIPS), written by Hana Kagami with art by Kotoko Ichi.  First published in 2019 and first published in North America in 2020.

PLOT:

Miku Hoshino is just as eager to help others as she is about her favorite boy band, even if doing so means missing out at a concert at the local museum.  That's all the proof her homeroom teacher Mari needs to pass on her magical girl powers to Miku.  With the application of a magical lipstick, Miku transforms into the magical witch Stellar Lips Star Crimson, The Sixth Witch of the Night!  She is soon joined by two other girls, who together must use their magic to keep others from stealing the mana of the people all while evading the attention of teen detective Ryusei Azuchi.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #15: CIPHER

 And now let's switch things around to the opposite: an old-school series set in (what were then) modern times.

A series that's literally as old as I am.

...oh dear.

CIPHER, by Minako Narita.  First published in 1984 and first published in North America in 2005.

PLOT:

One day, Anise manages to gather up her courage to confess to her handsome famous classmate Siva.  What she wants is not a romance but his friendship.  Amazingly, he accepts her offer but remains cryptic and cynical.  Eventually Anise discovers his secret: he and his identical twin brother Cipher have been switching places on a regular basis.  Anise is furious at the deception and presumes the two do this just to hold everyone at a distance.  She's ready to disclose their secret, but the boys counter with a bet: if she can tell them apart after two weeks, they'll tell her everything.  If she can't, she has to keep their secret forever.  Anise is determined to win, even if it means moving in with them.

Merry Month of Shojo Manga Review #14: GOLDEN JAPANESQUE: A SPLENDID YOKOHAMA ROMANCE

 And now here's a modern manga with an old-fashioned setting.

GOLDEN JAPANESQUE: A SPLENDID YOKOHAMA ROMANCE (Kin'iro Japanesque: Yokohama Kako tan), by Kaho Miyasaka.  First published in 2018 and first published in North America in 2021.

PLOT:

All Maria wanted to do was to go unnoticed.  She was tired of being a burden to her mother, tired of the mockery and shame that others heap upon her, tired of not even being able to read kanji.  She never expected to catch the eye of the young master Rintarou.  She certainly didn't expect him to discover the golden hair and big blue eyes she's desperately been trying to hide from the world.  The two find themselves unwittingly drawn to one another, even as the society of Meiji-era Tokyo strives to keep them apart.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #13: OTOMEN

Shojo manga's relationship to gender performance can sometimes be kind of fraught, but this series strives to be a little more understanding.  Does it work out?

OTOMEN, by Aya Kanno.  First published in 2006 and first published in North America in 2009.

PLOT:

Asuka Matsumune is a high school boy with a lot of traditionally feminine interests.  He's good at sewing and knitting, he's a great baker, and he loves shojo manga.  Alas, to appease his paranoid mother he has to play the part of a cool, manly, kendo-playing boy.  He ends up catching the eye of Ryo Miyakozuka, the daughter of a kendo master who fails at every attempt she makes at being traditionally feminine and declares that she could only love a truly masculine man.  Asuka adores her, but can he ever reveal his true self to her?

Merry Month of Shojo Manga Review #12: THE SAVIOR'S BOOK CAFE STORY IN ANOTHER WORLD

You'd think I would have loved this series, considering its older heroine and appreciation for reading as a hobby.  Alas, it's an idea that's more interesting in concept than execution...

THE SAVIOR'S BOOK CAFE STORY IN ANOTHER WORLD (Isekai ni Kyuseishu Toshite Yobaremashita ga, Arasa ni wa Muri Nanode, Hissori Bookcafe Hajimemashita), based on the light novels by Kyouka Izumi and story by Oumiya, with art by Reiko Sakurada.  First published in 2019 and first published in North America in 2021.

PLOT:

Tsukina was just minding her own business at home when some pushy orb claiming to be a god whisked her away to another world.  She has no desire to be any sort of hero, so instead she uses the god's power to set herself up with a cozy home/book cafe at the edge of town with just enough magic to defend herself and keep herself well-supplied.  She soon settles into a cozy routine with Il, captain of the royal guard, who himself just wants a quiet place away from the teenage savior creating chaos at the capital.  Unfortunately, it seems that same savior has the potential to do some serious damage and Tsukina's quiet days may be numbered.

Merry Month of Shojo Manga Review #10: UNICO

Let's look at a slightly unconventional bit of old-school shojo, one that's better known for its animated adaptations than the original source.

UNICO, by Osamu Tezuka.  First published in 1976 and first published in North America in 2012.

 

PLOT:

In the days of the old Greek gods, there was a lovely little unicorn named Unico.  He was the beloved pet of the princess Psyche, whose beauty and gentle nature has caused Cupid himself to fall for her.  Enraged by this betrayal but unable to lash out at Psyche directly, she decides to hurt Psyche by taking away Unico.  Venus commands the west wind to steal him away, erase his memories, and take him as far away in time and space as possible so that he cannot make friends.  Yet everywhere Unico goes, he finds others in need of his power and his friendship in order to find their own happiness.

Merry Month of Shojo Manga Review #9: CROSS

 Shojo manga loves to play with Christian imagery, but that doesn't always means it's tasteful about it.

CROSS (Juuji Kurosu), by Sunuko Amakawa.  First published in 1997 and first published in North America in 2004.

PLOT:

Tamara Amakusa is a holy exorcist working for the Catholic Church.  Wherever demonic forces are at work, he is there to fight back in the name of the Lord.  He faces his strangest battle yet when a strange girl stumbles into his church with mysterious powers and connections to a Satanic cult.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #8: FLOCK OF ANGELS

 I'm sure that the mangaka had nothing but good intentions with this one, but good intentions only get you so far with metaphors handled this badly.

FLOCK OF ANGELS (Tenshi no Mure), by Shoko Hamada.  First published in 2003 and first published in North America in 2007.

PLOT:

Over 100 years, a strange meteor fell to earth bringing with it the angeloid virus.  When infected, it would cause people to sprout wings, leading to years of persecution and abuse.  The disease had all but slipped from memory until a high-school boy named Shea spontaneously grows wings and his story goes public.  He soon becomes a spokesperson for angeloid awareness, which leads him to encounters with rich weirdos, a bigoted uncle, paparazzi, and the world's most popular boy band, just to name a few.

Merry Month of Shojo Manga Review #7: KAZE HIKARU

 There are few Shojo Beat releases as notorious as this - not because of its content or quality, mind you, but because of how poorly it has sold and how long its release has been dragged out.

KAZE HIKARU, by Taeko Watanabe.  First published in 1997 and first published in North America in 2006.

PLOT:

In 1863, a group of samurai called the Mibu-Roshi have been gathering in Kyoto.  Their goal is to protect the shogun in the face of the oncoming Meiji revolution.  Their latest recruit is the handsome, determined young Seizoburo Kamiya.  What they don't know is that Seizoburo is actually a 15 year old girl named Sei Tominaga.  She was the doctor of a local daughter, trained in swordsmanship by her older brother, who lost them both to roving samurai due to their political loyalties.  Grappling with her teammates' slovenly ways and the locals' suspicions is one thing, but what will she do when one of her teammates discovers her secret?

Merry Month of Shojo Review #6: JOSEPHINE THE FRENCH ROSE

It's hard to believe that the only Yumiko Igarashi manga available in English is this curious little digital artifact, a shojo manga that feels out of place and time.

JOSEPHINE THE FRENCH ROSE (Bara no Josephine), written by Kaoru Ochiai with art by Yumiko Igarashi.  First published in 2011 and first published in North America in 2015.

PLOT:

Long before she would become Empress of France, Josephine Bonaparte was merely Rose, an innocent young noblewoman growing up in 18th century Martinique.  Her constant companion is the young servant boy Agathon, who admires Rose's gentle heart and generous spirit.  Rose's innocent childhood ends when she and Agathon are spirited away to France so that Rose can marry the neglectful Marquis de Beauharnais.  As the years pass, Agathon fears that his mistress will lose herself to the decadent, deceitful machinations of the nobles around her.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #5: MAID IN HEAVEN

 I swear, I'm not always trying to pick on Kodansha and their digital shojo offerings.  It's just that they keep picking up the most questionable titles...

MAID IN HEAVEN (Meido in Hani), by Mari Yoshino.  First published in 2017 and first published in North America in 2020.

PLOT:

Niko Nanase seems like just another student at her private high school, but she couldn't be any more different from the rich kids and teen actors that surround her.  She has to scrimp and save every yen she gets from her multiple part-time jobs just to support herself and her younger twin sisters.  Her hope is to meet some pleasant rich boy so she can marry him for his money.  What she couldn't have anticipated was that the rising teen star/resident hearththrob Leon would take an interest in her, offering to pay her generously to be his part-time housemaid.  Niko reluctantly accepts, even if doing so brings her not only unwanted attention from the other girls in class but Leon as well.

Merry Month of Shojo Review #4: KARAKURI ODETTE

 Sci-fi and shojo is a combination we don't see a lot of in English, and that's a real shame because this series demonstrates just what kind of potential it has.

KARAKURI ODETTE, by Julietta Suzuki  First published in 2005 and first published in North America in 2009.

PLOT:

Professor Yoshizawa created Odette to be his most advanced android yet, but he never could have anticipated the day Odette asked to go to school like human children do.  It's there that she begins to better understand the full range of human emotion as she tries to make friends and escape danger without revealing her robotic nature to the world.