Genshiken, Bunny Drop, and Stolen Hearts
26. 5 volumes of Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture (げんしけん).
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Written and illustrated by Kio Shimoku
from DelRey
Vol 1: MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
It’s the spring of freshman year, and Kanji Sasahara is in a quandary. Should he fulfill his long-cherished dream of joining an otaku club? Saki Kasukabe also faces a dilemma. Can she ever turn her boyfriend, anime fanboy Kousaka, into a normal guy? Kanji triumphs where Saki fails, when both Kanji and Kousaka sign up for Genshiken: The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture.
Undeterred, Saki chases Kousaka through the various activities of the club, from costume-playing and comic conventions to video gaming and collecting anime figures-learning more than she ever wanted to about the humorous world of the Japanese fan . . .
Vol 2: SAVE THE GENSHIKEN!
Kanji Sasahara has finally accepted that he’s a true otaku who belongs in the Genshiken. Meanwhile, Saki Kasukabe still can’t stand how much time her boyfriend, video game master Kousaka, wastes with the Genshiken guys.
Saki isn’t the only one who’s upset that the club members do nothing but sit around playing video games. Kitagawa, the vicious vice president of the campus activities organization, is determined to break up the Genshiken. But the Prez has some dirt (and leverage) on Kitagawa. In fact, the Prez seems to have the lowdown on a lot of students-including Saki Kasukabe, who suddenly harbors a fear of hidden cameras!
Vol 3: SISTERLY LOVE
Kanji Sashara’s annoyingly normal little sister, Keiko, has fallen for video game master Kousaka. And now she’s willing to do whatever it takes to steal him away from his girlfriend, Saki Kasukabe . . . even if it means becoming a fangirl herself!
But as a wise member of the Genshiken once said: “You don’t become an otaku by trying.” So Saki teaches Keiko-chan what dating a rabid fan truly means . . . and it ain’t pretty. Then, just to add to the craziness, there’s plastic modeling mayhem (don’t ask), the challenge of Kanji’s first PC, and Saki’s penchant for pyromania. Looks like things are heating up!
Vol 4: ALL HAIL PRESIDENT SASAHARA
A short time ago, college freshman Kanji Sasahara was struggling with an otaku identity crisis, but joining the Genshiken gave Kanji the confidence to fully embrace the otaku lifestyle. So when club president Madarame resigns from office, he pegs Kanji as the best candidate to fill his shoes. And what is President Sasahara’s first order of business? To create a Genshiken fanzine to sell at the next Comic-Fest, which seems to many like a bold step for the notoriously inactive Genshiken. Meanwhile, cosplay aficionados Ohno and Tanaka appear to be spending a lot of time together. Does that mean love is in the air?
Vol 5: THE DOUJINSHI CODE
The Genshiken has long been famous for its remarkable record of inactivity. But now that Kanji Sasahara has stepped in as the new club president, it looks as though things may change. Kanji wants the club to produce its first fanzine-and when the Genshiken members are accepted as official vendors at the summer Comic-Fest, they are forced to create a real doujinshi . . . and fast! With only a month before the submission deadline, can this sluggish bunch of otaku actually get anything done? Meanwhile, Kousaka is about to reveal a secret side of himself that nobody has ever seen. . . .
Some points:
- Borrowed from inter-library loan
- It's very funny. I like it a lot more than I had expected. Page turner.
- It doesn't look down on the otaku culture.
- I like the characters in the club. None of them are really obnoxious. Well, the prez looked a bit strange, his face looked like bug - especially the eyes.
- What does it say about me that I could understand 50% of the otaku references without checking the editor's notes at the end (Though, I do appreciate them :))
- Kousaka is surprisingly a good character - I keep waiting for the bomb to drop that he's really a jerk. Not that any of the characters in the group is a jerk. Except for Saki - she could be blunt at times! But she does have redeeming points.
- Madarame is in love with Saki!
- His cosplay is too cute for words :) He's so kind to Saki - I wonder if he loves her. She seems to love him. How is Madarame's love for her going to resolve at the end?
Bottom line, it's a really good series. Can't wait to read more.
27. 1 volume of Bunny Drop (うさぎドロップ, Usagi Duroppu).
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Written and illustrated by Yumi Unita
from Yen Press
Going home for his grandfather’s funeral, thirty-year-old bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover! The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin. In a fit of angry spontaneity, Daikichi decides to take her in himself! But will living with this overgrown teenager of man help Rin come out of her shell? And hang on, won’t this turn of events spell doom for Daikichi’s love life?!
Some points:
- I've read this book in French before Yen Press licensed this series here. I had planned to follow it in English, but I have changed my mind after seeing there is a 6-month gap between volumes, and the french has released all 6 volumes - almost up-to-date with the Japanese. I had suggested a buy at my local public library - fingers crossed that it will get bought :)
- Comparing covers between English (above), French, and original Japanese.
- I'm kind of surprised that the size of Yen Press book is the same as the French one and not the standard English manga size which is one inch smaller in both width and height. I wonder if the Japanese publisher/the author had requested the book size.
- In both Yen Press and French books, the translation was arranged through the Japanese publisher Shodensha!
- The quality of the paper (both covers and inside) of the french book is better. Both versions have the first color page which is really great. Even though from the pictures above, both covers have the same hue of blue, in reality, the french is light blue, and Yen press is the blue similar to Tiffany's (the jewelry store).
- One more interesting thing, there is only 1 item common in both version: the explanation of Daikichi's name.
Bottom line, it's a very good series. The sojei that I like. Highly recommended.
28. 1 volume of Stolen Hearts (とらわれごっこ).
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Written and illustrated by Miku Sakamoto
from CMX
Everyone's afraid of Koguma-the biggest, most intimidating guy at school. So when Shinobu accidentally spills milk on his bag, you can bet she's pretty scared. It turns out the bag contains an antique kimono, of all things. It belongs to Koguma's grandmother, who runs a kimono shop. To make up for ruining the outfit, Shinobu's will have to start modeling kimonos as part of grandma's big plan to market her products to younger customers. And in the process, Shinobu's about to discover a whole new side to the guy everyone else fears.
Some points:
- Shinobi is very cute. And Koguma is so handsome :) and blushing Koguma is so adorable. His hair reminds me of a lion's mane. I keep thinking the author will start to regret his hair style since it's troublesome :)
- I like grandma the best :) she reminds me of the grandmother in Ultimate Venus!
- There are lots of cute kimono and yukata - swoon! for both boys and girls.
- I especially like the "coloring pages for young maidens" at the end of the volumes - heh!
- I wonder if this series is on-hiatus since it started in 2006 and 4 years later 4 volumes and still on going.
- Next volume cover is great - guys in pink yukata/kimono :P
- There another series that the main couple is similar: tall guy, short/cute girl: 1 volume Sweet Black (スイートブラック) by Nishikata Mai (the author of Venus Capriccio already licensed by CMX)
Bottom line, what a fun series. Definitely reread and recommended.
- Continuing series:
- Anime
- Natsume Yujincho epi 10-26 - The End
- Manga
- Basara 26-27 Extra possibly spoilers
- We were there 8-9
- Red River 19-22 - spoilers
- Maid Sama 4
- Mixed Vegetables 7