Tag Archives: manga

An Amazing Manga: Gazing at the Star Next Door

15 Jan

Are you a fan of girl/boy groups — especially in the world of K-Pop or J-Pop? Are you also a fan of unrequited love? As a long-time fan of Japanese male idol groups like Arashi, as well as manga and topics like love and romance, Gazing at the Star Next Door almost felt like it was made for me and the modern fangirl. We fans treasure our idols and ensure that we maintain healthy boundaries as we support our cherished artists. But Gazing at the Star Next Door playfully explores the question — what if a one-sided love for your favorite idol becomes mutual?

In the beginning of the series, we meet Chiaki Amano and Subaru Hiiragi — two high schoolers who are also childhood friends (a big trope in Japanese cultural works). Even though Chiaki and Subaru have that shared, intimate relationship with each other as platonic friends, a rift has developed as they have grown older and once Subaru became a rising teen actor. There is also an air of impatience — viewing love and dating as important milestones to reach during one’s high school experience. From this line of thought, Chiaki tries to get over her feelings for Subaru, the idol, by attempting to put herself out there and join a mixer with college boys. As the mixer sours and the college boy that Chiaki is paired up with starts bad-mouthing Subaru, it almost seems like the end of the world for her! But then, Subaru comes and picks her up from that snarky, two-dimensional college boy! Afterwards, he thanks her for defending him in front of the college boy — and then says she looks cute! What does this all mean for Chiaki’s plans?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the current volumes (the first three English volumes are in the BCCLS catalog, and the fourth English volume is set to be published by Kodansha US on January 28th) and seeing how the story develops between Chiaki and Subaru. Anmitsu (the author) also gives a curious taste into high school life, idols, fanservice, and teen romance and attraction. I recommend giving Gazing at the Star Next Door a try, and I am excited for when the next installment makes its way to BCCLS!

Written by:
Laura Austria
Information and Digital Services Assistant

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A Manga/Light Novel Pick for AAPI Heritage Month: My Happy Marriage

24 May

When it comes to manga (Japanese Graphic Novel), the first thing that comes to mind for many are Shonen titles, also known as action series. Things like Naruto, My Hero Academia, Bleach, One Piece, and Black Clover are often found on the forefront of that train of thought. There is a similar effect when light novels, a type of Japanese novella, are brought up. In this case, the one thing that comes to mind is the Isekai genre, in which a protagonist is brought into another dimension through various means. Rising of the Shield Hero, That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime, Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation, and I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level are a few examples of well known light novels among light novel fans.

However, there is one genre that falls into both the manga and light novel category that is starting to see a resurgence in popularity once more. Shoujo, a genre that focuses on works aimed towards young female readers, though anyone of any age can enjoy them. 

This is where My Happy Marriage comes into play. Written by Akumi Agitogi and illustrated by Tsukiho Tsukioka, both the manga and light novel editions tell the story of Miyo Saimori, a young woman, who is part of a renowned noble family which is gifted with supernatural abilities, but she was born without any power of her own. Frequently abused and neglected by her family, she is given away as a potential bride to Kiyoka Kudou, heir to another powerful family surrounded by rumors of cruelty from rejecting past would-be brides. 

Both light novel and manga vibrant in their storytelling, the light novel lets us see things through Saiyori’s eyes while the manga shows us just how hard things are for her, both showing us the abuse that she faces from her family that gives very strong Cinderella vibes.

The mediums of how they’re written also compliment each other very well. For the manga, the art throughout the pages is wonderfully drawn while the writing within the light novel is refined, yet simple. The one advantage that the light novel has over the manga is the fact that we get further insight into the thoughts of the characters and see the world they live in through their eyes. While the manga also does an excellent job of this, it’s not as deep of a perspective as it is in the light novel. With the anime due out in July and the live action movie hitting the top ten spot in movie theaters across Japan, it’s easy to see why many people find this series so captivating.

For those looking for a heartwarming read for the summer, My Happy Marriage is one I highly recommend.

You can learn about some additional staff Manga picks here and check out my review of Villains Are Destined to Die, a Manhwa (Korean Graphic Novel).

Share your favorite Mangas, Manhwas, Light Novels as well as Graphic Novels written or drawn by Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders with us for AAPI Month in the comments!

Written by:
Lauren Lapinski
Information and Digital Services Assistant

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