[Manga] ‘Nokemono to Hanayome’ and the Dec 2009 issue of Melody
Tankouban release of Nokemono to Hanayome [ノケモノと花嫁]
Illustration of "Nokemono to Hanayome"
To those of you who wonder what ever happened to Ikuhara “Utena” Kunihiko [幾原邦彦], I gathered from his blog that a tankouban of his manga collaboration with Nakamura Asumiko [中村明日美子] is to be released in December. This manga is serialized so far on a fashion magazine called KERA. I will be sure to place an order and write more on this when the time comes.
Ikuhara-sensei’s blog entry with a photo of this announcement can be found at: http://www2.jrt.co.jp/cgi-bin3/ikuniweb/tomozo.cgi?no=504
The Dec 2009 issue of the shoujo/josei manga magazine Melody
The cover of the Dec 2009 issue of the shoujo/josei manga magazine "Melody"
Because I could not wait to find out what happens next after the fifth volume of Ôoku [大奥] by Yoshinaga Fumi [よしながふみ], I went ahead and bought the Dec 2009 issue of Melody. I have written about Ôoku here earlier. Usually I do not buy manga mangazines and prefer to read manga in tankouban, but Ôoku is so excellent a story that it is the first series to compel me to do so in many years.
Not that buying an issue of Melody is that bad bargain, because in addition to Ôoku, it also serializes two other series I am following:
- The Top Secret [秘密] by Shimizu Reiko [清水玲子]
This issue features the beginning of a new storyarc and comes with a bonus gift of a plastic folder with Shimizu’s illustrations on it. So if you are a fan, please be sure not to miss it.
- More a Flower than a Flower [花よりも花の如く] by Narita Minako [成田美名子]
I have read three previous manga series by Narita-sensei: Cipher (1985 – 1990), Alexandrite (1991-1994) and Natural (1995 – 2001). She was “slice-of-life à la Honey & Clover” before “slice-of-life à la Honey & Clover” ever came along. This particular series is a story about Noh players and takes place in the same fictional universe as Natural.
So these are the current josei/shoujo manga series I am reading at the moment, along with Nakamura Yoshiki’s Skip Beat! (serialized on Hana to Yume) and Umino Chika’s March Comes in Like a Lion (serialized on Young Animal).
Of course, if there is anything else good out there, please feel free to give me a heads up any time.
I am behind on some many older manga that I dare not to buy the newest ones.
I’ve found an online Japanese bookstore, BK1, which ships abroad, so now it’s somewhat easier for me…
But even I was surprised when I realized that many titles on my to-buy list were historical or pseudo-historical pieces. Probably just the sentiment of the moment.
Anyway, I’ve purchased some volumes of Historie and Azumi. Among many other titles, I am still keeping an eye on Oooku, too.
I meant “so many older manga”, not “some”.
I apologize.
Ridiculus:
Vol. 1 of Ooku sets the stage, but the meat does not really come until Vol. 2.
Yes, I have heard about BK1 too. In case anyone reading this may be interested, here is their website:
http://www.bk1.jp/
I don’t think I have heard of Historie and Azumi – would you be so kind as to let me know more?
Many thanks in advance.
Well, Historie (ヒストリエ) is a series by Hitoshi Iwaaki (one of my favorite mangaka) about Eumenes of Cardia, who was the secretarial officer of Alexander the Great. The first couple of books are about his childhood. It is published in Afternoon and collected into 5 tankoubon till now. Even Moto Hagio herself said that she read Afternoon because of this.
Azumi (あずみ) is a series by Yuu Koyama, and I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve bought it based on recommendations and parts I’ve seen here and there. It was published in Big Comic Superior and there are 48 books in tankoubon edition! The titular character is a girl trained as an assassin in the Edo period of Japanese history.
I hope this helps.
Ridiculus:
Thanks for the info. ^-^ I will remember to check them out.