Last upgrade: 31-Jul-1997

"Handsome na kanojo" page ^^

Or what is the same but in English: "Handsome girlfriend/girl" ^^ A 9 volumes manga created by YOSHIZUMI Wataru right before Marmalade Boy, her most known work. It's published under Ribon Mascot Comics label and it was serialized in the shoujo monthly magazine Ribbon ^^

This is her second work and the longest for the moment, it's also the first story of hers that got some fame, and was turned into an OVA. But of course, a nine vol. story doesn't translate very well in such short animation... :(
(Please, ask for permission before using the background, text or any of the images in these pages, thank you! ^^)

The story.

(Contains spoilers!)

[Each manga volume synopsis] Coming soon

This is the story of young actress and model Mio Hagiwara, (yeah, the blonde cute of the left and the background ^^ ), 14 years old, and her way into shows, school and friends, and over all, her relationship with Ichiya Kumagai, a cool young actor of her age of which Mio falls in love.

Mio attends to a school that seems to be specialized in young idols and stars, her best friend is the idol-wanna-be and actress too Aya Sawaki, a cute silent short dark haired girl that happens to be in love with the actor Mio first has her sights on... ^^; Though, happyly Mio changes views pretty fast ^_-

Mio, after being refused by Ichiya gets involved with his best friend, Osamu Kani, though later returning to Ichiya's arms after he willingly acepts her (hohoho, second thoughts are always bad, they give remorses! ^O^ ).

The story also includes an US production directed by Arthur Criton (hint, hint ^_-) that makes Ichiya move to US and have another bunch of sentimental problems with the lead actress of the movie, Jenny... (personal opinion here, looks to me that producers of the anime of Marmalade Boy looked at this for all the romantic fuss of Yuu in US ^_-)

Though of course, everything gets resolved happyly and Ichiya resturns just to "almost" loose Mio in another solitary man... sigh... But this is a happy story and everything turns out well at the end ^^ Most volumes have side stories of the secondary characters of the manga, the ninth one has a separate nice story involving tenis, BTW ^^ You can find some of the color illustrations in the "Marmalade Boy illustration collection" ^^

Manga ordering info.

Vol.1- ISBN4-08-853486-7 (359Y w/o taxes) Vol.2- ISBN4-08-853500-6 (359Y w/o taxes) Vol.3- ISBN4-08-853514-6 (359Y w/o taxes) Vol.4- ISBN4-08-853526-X (359Y w/o taxes) Vol.5- ISBN4-08-853541-3 (379Y w/o taxes) Vol.6- ISBN4-08-853569-3 (379Y w/o taxes) Vol.7- ISBN4-08-853587-1 (379Y w/o taxes) Vol.8- ISBN4-08-853594-4 (379Y w/o taxes) Vol.9- ISBN4-08-853607-X (379Y w/o taxes)

Why do I put the price w/o taxes? ^^ Look at this little explanation.

You can find a fan-sub by the hand of Tomodachi anime. And here is what the Shoujo anime list says of it... "High school love-story which doesn't have quite as much angst or as many people trying to steal other people's partners (as compared to Marmalade Boy). (RDL) LD/VHS: 36 min."(Entry number 91 in the shoujo anime list ^^)