It's senior year in Itazura na Kiss by Kaoru Tada, and Kotoko Aihara has finally worked up the courage to confess her love to class genius Naoki Irie. But he rejects her, stating he doesn't like "stupid women." Infuriated, Kotoko decide to forget him. Then her house collapses, and her family is taken in by her father's old friends - the Irie family! Itazura na Kiss volume 1 is released by Digital Manga Publishing. A review of Itazura na Kiss volume 2 is now available.
Itazura na Kiss, Shojo Romance from Digital Manga Publishing
Even after humiliating rejection, Kotoko's love for Naoki burns hot. She seems like a vapid, boy-obsessed teen too willing to take abuse, but that's not quite the case. Kotoko realizes her feelings are one-sided, but you can't wish emotions away. Naoki picks on her, but she won't just take it - she fights back as best as she can, and though she can't always win against the genius she manages to ruffle his feathers, which is more than anyone else can say.
And though Kotoko doesn't completely hide her feelings, she's not unabashed by them either. She's excited by the idea that Naoki might want to go to the same college as her, but she blushes and stutters while she says it. The manga is honest in expressing how a teenage girl feels.
Naoki carries a high-and-mighty attitude that many readers will hate him for. But this personality also creates some funny moments. Readers expect him to soften when he finally reads Kotoko's love letter - instead he recites it to the family! Naoki's a jerk, but the way he interacts with everyone keeps the manga interesting.
Itazura na Kiss adheres to some shojo manga tropes (clumsy girl, pushy friends) but it also makes fun of others. Kotoko works hard at a part time job to buy Naoki a Christmas present - that everyone thinks is stupid. The good luck charm Kotoko sews brings Naoki nothing but misery. Itazura na Kiss appeals to shojo fans, but readers who find fault in the genre will get a kick out of it, too.
Mrs. Irie wins the award for most interfering parent - she is determined to have Naoki and Kotoko marry someday, purposely pushing the teenagers into romantic situations. Disregarding her son's intentions might make her seem like obnoxious character, but Mrs. Irie's antics are hilarious every time. Readers won't want her as their mother after seeing what she puts Kotoko and Naoki through - but they'll certainly wish she was their friend's mom.
Little brother Yuki constantly call Kotoko stupid, and at first readers will want to punt the smart-alec brat. But his remarks sound less cruel and more like an annoying brother as the manga progresses, and as readers realize he's starting to like Kotoko he actually becomes more endearing.
Friends aren't quite as developed as family members, but they help define certain attributes of the main pair. Kotoko's friends keep readers grounded in the real world of a teenager. Naoki can't be completely heartless if he's close to the sweet Watanabe.
One thing that's refreshing about Itazura na Kiss is when it takes place in the main pair's life stage. Their relationship begins in high school, but that career is over by the end of DMP's first volume. This will be a shojo manga about college students, which alone is different enough from the norm to make it interesting.
Kaoru Tada's Manga Art in Itazura na Kiss Volume 1
Fans of older shojo will be able to tell right away that Itazura na Kiss was created in the 90s from the art style: sparse screen tones, hair and clothing-styles, etc. It may look a bit bland to newer shojo fans who are used to a little more detail, but it's a charming and nostalgic look.
Kaoru Tada's expressions are her greatest asset in the art. Every emotion is visible from happiness to annoyance, hopefulness to a broken heart. Backgrounds are sparse, but panels don't seem empty. Scenes are filled with enough objects to give readers a sense of place, and Tada's oft-rambunctious characters fill out the space.
Itazura na Kiss Volume 1 from Digital Manga Publishing
Itazura na Kiss is a sweet story about a teenager's unrequited love with a good amount of comedy to keep the manga from being overwrought and obnoxious. Naoki is still so full of himself, and I can't say that I'm really rooting for him and Kotoko to finally wind up together. But Kotoko's sincerity has me at least hoping for her happiness.
Itazura na Kiss volume 1 gets 4/5.
- ISBN-13: 9781569701317
- MSRP: $16.95
- Release Date: November 4, 2009
- Page Count: 330
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