Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou

In typical fashion, I decided to read this manga months after watching the anime adaptation. And while the anime remains partly true to the manga, the manga itself offers so much more than what the anime ever could. Not only that, but it continues past the anime's ending point - the cultural festival, or more importantly, the stage play that was taking place. This is actually quite an important part of the story. Now, I know what you're thinking - "this is just another high school romantic comedy manga." You know the ones, boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy declares undying love for girl = happily ever after. And for the most part, that is exactly what Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances - which is the English title) actually is. But there is more to this manga than just a simple love story. The more you read into it, the darker it becomes. While the anime had some of the darker infusions towards the end, the manga delves in much deeper. This story contains love, betrayal, secrets, child abuse, self-harm (two instances), teen pregnancy, and a lot more that really makes it worth reading. All the pain and confusion that a person can suffer when growing up is all there in the Kare Kano manga. Like most manga, character development takes place over a period of time, and this is no exception. The more the story progresses, the more complex the characters' personalities become. This is most apparent in Arima Soichiro's personality, and this generally starts to take place during the stage play (which is why it's a key occurrence). The art style changes slightly as the manga continues, but it keeps its style well and is really fitting with the story content. The complexities between the relationships of some of the characters are also well constructed. Apart from the main relationship (Arima and Miyazawa), there are three other relationships that are happening - one being a step-brother/step-sister relationship, as well as a high school student dating an adult (though this particular relationship receives much less attention compared to Arima and Tsubasa's respective relationships). In essence, the reader could possibly relate to any number of issues that occur in the manga better than the anime (with its slightly off-key ending and no closure whatsoever). This is one manga that I would actually encourage people to add to their collections.

Most, if not all, people experience a phase of self-discovery. They may try to act like someone they're not, but eventually, someone might break down those walls hiding their true selves. Could this person be the one you love? Well, probably! With that said, this manga is one I've been eager to read for quite some time. By alternating between reading it online and borrowing volumes from the local library, I managed to finish it. And I have to say, I made the right choice.

Ladies and gentlemen, queens of vanity everywhere, here is my review of the long-running manga, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (Kare Kano for short), known in English as His and Her Circumstances.

Yukino Miyazawa appears perfect to her classmates, but in reality, she's far from it; she merely acts that way to gain attention. So when she enters high school and a boy named Souchirou Arima takes her "number one" spot, she is furious! To make matters worse, her secret is discovered... by Souchirou, of all people! However, Yukino soon discovers that she and Souchirou have more in common than she initially thought, and they end up becoming friends and eventually lovers. Kare Kano is essentially the story of how they fall in love and reveal their true selves to everyone else.

The story of Kare Kano was FANTASTIC! It starts off cute and fluffy but later delves into deeper themes. There was significant character development, especially for Yukino and Souichirou. Yukino may seem unlikable at first, but she turns out to be an engaging protagonist. Souichirou, her love interest, was even more intriguing with his deep backstory and obvious affection for Yukino. Besides Yukino and Souchirou, there are several supporting characters. For example, Asapin, a friend of Yukino and Souichirou, is very funny, and while I didn't like Tsubasa (who used to like Souichirou) at first, her character development won me over.

Let's not forget the artwork! Masami Tsuda both wrote the story and created the artwork for this manga, and she did an excellent job on both fronts. The artwork is beautifully drawn, the character designs are solid, and the occasional chibis are incredibly cute. Honestly, words can't fully describe how great the artwork is, but trust me when I say it complements the story perfectly.

Yes, I know Kare Kano has an anime adaptation; I knew about it before reading the manga. I'm really excited to start watching it, and the manga has only heightened my anticipation! Overall, Kare Kano was a fantastic manga. I'd recommend it to any romance fan looking for a great story with wonderful character development and solid artwork. It truly shows that being yourself is important because even if most people don't accept you, there will always be someone who will.

Kare Kano is an incredibly beautiful manga that leaves me at a loss for words. Don't be fooled by its seemingly typical shojo high school facade; this story dives deep into serious romance and drama. It tackles real-life issues and situations faced by the main couple, Miyazawa Yukino and Arima Soichiro. Both characters are compelling in their own right and form one of the best couples I've ever encountered. Arima, in particular, undergoes significant transformations throughout the story. The manga covers a wide range of topics, from something as simple as a sports festival to deeply profound themes like family and true love.

Although it may appear light-hearted on the surface, Kare Kano delves into heavy subjects such as rape, family abuse, abandonment, teenage pregnancy, and self-harm. It gets quite dark, making the struggles of the main characters all the more realistic. Despite these heavy themes, the story still manages to have its humorous moments. In summary, this is a heartbreakingly beautiful romance that no manga reader should miss.

If you're on the hunt for a quintessential good-girl high school manga, this one fits the bill perfectly! It revolves around Yukino, a stunning, intelligent, athletic student who seems to have it all. Everyone in the school looks up to her and admires her self-proclaimed excellence. However, behind closed doors, Yukino is an attention-seeking "Queen of Vanity," lounging around in sloppy clothes and burning the midnight oil to maintain her facade.

Her jealousy towards Soichiro, a handsome and equally talented peer, begins when he catches a glimpse of her true self during a visit to her home. He uses this knowledge to blackmail her into doing his extra work. Despite initially rejecting him after he confesses his love, Yukino eventually realizes her own feelings for him. When they finally come together, they make a pact to be true to themselves—no more seeking approval or, in Soichiro’s case, trying to prove himself to the world.

I've read Volumes 1-8, and trust me, you're in for a compelling story! This manga is ideal for fans of romance and drama. While some readers find the main character shallow, I beg to differ. The characters evolve throughout the narrative, becoming better individuals with added depth. The artwork is elegant and captures that awkward yet graceful essence of high school life. Although the bonus manga can be a bit dull, there are exceptions. As an added treat, the side-splitting Tsuda Diaries offer a humorous peek into the lives of real manga artists!

I am completely captivated by Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou.

Beneath what might appear to be a simple budding romance between our main characters, Arima Souchirou and Miyazawa Yukino, lies a multi-faceted story of love, childhood, family, and friendship. Initially, I underestimated this manga. The artwork didn't particularly appeal to me, and although the story did, I was skeptical about whether it could hold my attention.

How wrong I was.

With 21 volumes, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (Kare Kano for short) seemed like a daunting read. And in some ways, it was. However, what emerges from this extensive read is a profound and dark narrative centered around Arima and Miyazawa. On the surface, you see the comedy and light-hearted tone typical of a high school romance. But as the manga progresses, it transforms into a heavy, gripping story that pulls you deeper until you can't stop reading.

The true strength of Kare Kano lies in its character development. While the story itself is outstanding, the evolution of the characters throughout the series outshines other elements of the manga. Although Kare Kano does explore the stories of other characters besides Arima and Miyazawa, these seem somewhat less engaging compared to the journey of Arima and Miyazawa as a couple. What's truly fascinating is Arima’s character. His facade and the secret behind it may shock you with its darkness, but it is utterly captivating.

The art in Kare Kano may not be its strongest suit, but I still loved how the characters are drawn. When the story turns serious, the art conveys that tone effectively. When it shifts to comedic moments, the art becomes cute and adorable!

Without spoiling any further, I can say that Kare Kano is one of the most surprising manga I've ever read—in a good way. It's akin to a set of nested boxes; once you open the box containing the past and story of the characters, there are more layers waiting within smaller boxes until you reach the end. This is a highly recommended manga, especially for those seeking a deep, dark, and realistic story wrapped in romance and comedy.

Thank you so much for reading my first review on MyAnimeList!

His and Her Circumstances

I watched the anime first and was expecting a light-hearted, funny story. Boy, was I wrong. After finishing the anime, which had a terribly low-budget art style, I couldn't wait to read the manga.

Story: The narrative begins by introducing two brilliant teenagers who pretend to be someone they're not in real life. Yukino, the female lead, has a twisted second personality, while her biggest "enemy" is the flawless Souichirou. Initially, I thought this would be another romantic shoujo manga spiced with humor. Once again, I was completely off the mark.

Firstly, this story features logical and genuine emotions from a realistic relationship between the two main characters. I've never seen anything like this in a shoujo anime before. Their love develops beautifully to the point where they decide to take their relationship to the next level. This is incredibly rare in romantic anime, as most only build up to the first kiss or the start of the relationship. But not this one. And the best part? The story only gets more intriguing from there, as we delve into the male protagonist's true nature and thoughts. I don't want to spoil anything, but it gets very dark—way too dark for a typical romantic shoujo manga. I loved it!

Secondly, all side characters have real backgrounds and stories. They are not just side characters; they play crucial roles in the story. It's so rare to get so much information about characters other than the main ones. Any of the side characters could easily be the main protagonist of their own standalone manga, given their detailed personalities. Honestly, this amazed me! We even learn about all the parents and their backstories, which is very rare!

Overall Story: I rarely say this about anything, but the story is outstanding. There are no awkward, silly situations; everything is realistic and still manages to be funny. I read the manga right after watching the anime, and it became one of the most interesting stories I've ever read. 10/10

Art: The art was very good considering how old this manga is. The only thing I didn't like was the excessive scribbles between conversations, which made it a bit messy. 8/10

Characters: If I started analyzing all of them, I'd write an essay. They are fantastic! It doesn't matter which character you talk about; they all have their unique stories. As mentioned earlier, any of the side characters could easily become the main character of their own manga. The main male protagonist's story is so captivating that I stayed up until 4 AM for two days straight just to learn more about him. My favorite character was Kazuma. No particular reason, he's just like an angel, but not in the typical anime way. He's truly something else. Characters are an absolute 10/10.

Enjoyment: I loved it! It left a significant impact on me. I'm thrilled I found it. The only reason I give it a 9 instead of 10 is that there were some chapters where I felt compelled to skip because something interesting was happening, then suddenly, five chapters of something entirely different.

Overall: This is a great manga. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys mature themes and strong characters. READ IT! Haha 9/10

This story takes a while to get interesting. It really picks up in the second or third volume. The first volume is quite slow and might make you feel bored, but wait until the second volume before deciding whether to drop it or not.

The romance isn't too intense. It's more like a cheesy junior high crush with lines like "he was destined for me." Essentially, it's about two teenagers trying to discover their true selves instead of pretending to be someone they're not in everyday life.

I was really let down by this series. I adored the anime and had purchased the box set, watching it frequently. I always wanted to read the manga but only managed to get my hands on the complete series this year. So, I was super excited to finally read it since I knew the anime had omitted a lot of content.

But wow, the anime actually kept the best parts! Reading through this was a struggle; it was painful, and I felt so disappointed. It seemed like the series would never end. I ended up skipping most of the side character chapters because I just didn't care about them at all. I celebrated when I finally reached the end, knowing that the torture was finally over. To cheer myself up, I rewatched the anime.

The highlight of the entire series for me was reading all the author's notes. They were delightful, and I hope everyone who reads this gets to enjoy those as they were truly the best part.