G.C's Japanese-language Shoujo Manga Page #5

Shoujo Manga Page #5

On this page I will review more Japanese manga, in particular Shoujo manga.
Note that the quality of the images, reproduced here for bona fide review purposes, has been affected by the scanning and compression processes, so if you want to see how the originals look, you'll have to buy the books!

Reviewed:

The BLUE-GREEN YEARS (= mizuiro jidai)
MAHO TSUKAI TAI!
THE SKIN OF HER HEART

REVIEWS

The BLUE-GREEN YEARS (= mizuiro jidai) by Yuu YABUUCHI (Flower Comics), ISBN 4-09-134134-9, 190pp, Y390, 11x18 cm.
I've given Mizuiro Jidai the English-languge title used by the Techno-girls for their subtitled edition of the anime adaptation. It's a story of junior high-school life, and the title refers to the colour of the school uniform (and, in typical Japanese punning fashion, probably other things as well.) As far as I know, there isn't any fantasy in it at all. The heroine, Kawai Yuuko, (shown with dark hair and ribbon) is a typical schoolgirl, but her friend Taka-chan (shown with fair hair, on right) is a more unruly sort. The story concerns school activities and, apparently, the stirrings of feminine interest towards various boys. The heroine has the same first name as the mangaka; we can make what we will of that.

Vol.4, page 93	Dialogue, from top left.
	Insert: Girl: But it's co-education! It's natural to associate with them. You meet every day on the train. Main: Girl: I'm not seeing honesty about this boy. Hee hee. I will get the truth about this! Tr. by GC. Get original scan (higher resolution, 50K)

REVIEWS

MAHO TSUKAI TAI! (= Witchcraft) by Tammy OHTA (Asuka Comics), 1996, ISBN 4-04-852674-X, 196pp, Y505, 11x18 cm.
This is a series about school students and magic. Without some more research (which you could do yourself!) I can't tell you much more. I'm almost certain that there is also an anime version.. The artwork is quite prettily done in a distinctly shoujo style.(GC).

Vol.1; Page 96	Dialogue, from top left
	Text: Magic - it reacted to my voice. Note by flower: But Ryoko is wrong Inset: But find out the method. Eh? (Tr. by GC.) Get original scan (higher resolution, 93K)

To Index

REVIEWS

THE SKIN OF HER HEART by Keiko NISHI (Manga Vizion, v.3 no.5, $4.95)
Though this is set in a space colony, the setting looks very much like our world (the ultimate in retro lifestyle, perhaps?). The heroine has a boring job and is disliked by the other factory girls because the factory boss's son has taken an interest in her. However she isn't sure if she wants to marry him. The artwork has a disarming simplicity and omits the usual shoujo flourishes. (GC).

MV v.3, no.5, Page 69	English adaptation by Matt Thorn
	A lonely woman with a dull factory job in a space colony searches for meaning in her life.

To Index

N (GC).

NAGI,p.? Dialogue (from top left)

spare
Tr. by GC.

To Index

R(GC).

Page 104 Dialogue, from top left

spare.
(Tr. by GC.)

To Index

{G.Cowie, 31.3.97}