Najika Kazami is a girl with a deep love for food, whether it involves eating or cooking. She cherishes her home, an orphanage in Hokkaido known as Lavender House, along with its owner, Hagio. Despite the affection she receives from Hagio and the other orphans, Najika decides to leave the orphanage to attend a special academy in Tokyo, pursuing her dream of becoming a pastry chef.
However, Najika has another reason for enrolling in the academy. She hopes to find the boy she calls the "Flan Prince"—a boy who left a lasting impression on her with a cup of flan seven years ago. Now 13 years old, Najika discovers that the emblem on the spoon he left behind matches the emblem of her new school—the prestigious Seika Academy.
With high hopes, Najika enters the beautiful campus of Seika Academy and becomes a first-year student in its junior high division. Although she is not popular among her classmates due to her love of eating, she finds support from two boys who recognize her culinary talents—Daichi and Sora Kitazawa, the popular brothers. Will Najika be able to find her place at the academy through her cooking, and possibly reunite with her Flan Prince?
Kitchen no Ohimesama won the 2006 Kodansha Manga Award for children's manga.
The series was originally published by Del Rey from January 30, 2007, to July 7, 2009. Kodansha Comics USA later acquired the license and republished it as a four-volume omnibus edition from June 5, 2012, to June 18, 2013.
When you glance at the cover of this manga, your initial thought might be, "This is a typical shoujo manga, probably about some girl who enjoys cooking." And you'd be right. So why have I rated it an 8? What makes this manga special?
STORY:8 The storyline is fairly common for a shoujo manga. It involves two popular boys falling for the sweet, kind protagonist. She gets bullied by others and so on. The identity of the prince is quite predictable. However, there are some unexpected twists and touching scenes that make me give it an 8.
ART:9 I absolutely love the artwork in this manga. The characters are adorable, and the food looks incredibly appetizing.
CHARACTER:6 Expect mainstream characters galore. Their personalities are nothing new; we've seen them countless times in other shoujo manga. Honestly, I didn't feel much connection to any of them except Fujita.
ENJOYMENT:8 Reading this manga was a pleasant experience. It wasn’t groundbreaking or deeply moving, but it was enjoyable enough to keep my interest. Some parts were exciting, and happy endings always add a nice touch.
OVERALL:8 Overall, if you're seeking something unique or realistic, this isn't the manga for you. However, as others have mentioned, it's a good starting point for someone new to shoujo manga because they might not be as aware of the clichés. I’d also recommend it to those who enjoy looking at pictures of delicious food since the sweets depicted here are just ^o^ !
This is an exceptional manga.
The story revolves around a female protagonist with an unparalleled sense of taste, capable of creating dishes that bring joy to everyone. The heroine, an orphan raised in Hokkaido, is surrounded by warm and supportive people who encourage her culinary pursuits. Her late parents were renowned pastry chefs known worldwide. Due to her family's legacy and her extraordinary palate, she receives an invitation to a prestigious school. One of the main reasons she accepts the scholarship is to find her "Flan Prince," who provided her strength during her childhood following her parents' death.
Throughout the chapters, the heroine participates in cooking competitions and experiences romantic dramas and tragedies, ultimately leading to a happy ending.
The only downside to this manga is its brevity and lack of a definitive conclusion regarding her success in pastries. While it implies future achievements, it doesn't explicitly show readers what happens.
Overall, it's a fantastic manga and one of the best I've read. :D
Story: This anime struck me as adorable. Najika bears a strong resemblance to Tohru from Fruits Basket. Despite losing her parents, she remains cheerful for those needing it most. The plot revolves around an incident from her childhood when Najika was rescued by a boy while drowning in a river, shortly after her parents' death. He gave her a silver spoon as a keepsake. Now older and living in an orphanage, Najika is admitted to the best culinary school in fictional Japan. Though reluctant to leave, her caretaker insists she go. There, she encounters two brothers, Sora and Daichi, who both resemble her rescuer. Sora is a gentleman, whereas Daichi is his polar opposite. However, they both strive to support Najika against bullying peers. Who saved her life? I found the story clever, with Najika’s character evolving beyond her initial simplicity. 10/10
Art: The artwork echoes Gentlemen's Alliance Cross but Kitchen Princess is less cluttered, making pages more appealing. Though the brothers look similar, they aren’t identical twins. It’s typical big-eyed shoujo manga, yet not creepy or annoying. The artist excels at conveying emotions through facial expressions. 10/10
Character: Najika shares traits with Tohru; initially lacking depth, she gradually understands the real world better than during her orphanage days. I didn't dislike her much, though her rival was quite obnoxious. I wished Najika avoided being a stereotypical romance shoujo girl. Sora, a gentleman, also attracts many admirers, which I usually find off-putting. Daichi’s brusque personality isn’t my favorite either, but he’s sincere towards Najika, giving honest feedback even if harsh. As the story progresses, Daichi softens as he realizes Najika's past struggles. He’s also jealous of his brother’s popularity, understandably so. 9/10
Enjoyment: Similar to Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, I eagerly anticipated each development. Unfortunately, I can’t reveal much without spoiling this short series. Suffice to say, it’s sweet rather than humorous, tugging heartstrings like classical music. By the end, I shed a few tears. 10/10
Overall: As mentioned in Gentlemen's Alliance Cross, I’ve covered everything essential. If this became an anime, I’d definitely watch it. Overall, it scores a rounded-up 10 out of 10.
This is one of the manga I recommend to friends who enjoy a lighthearted story with romance woven through it. While this manga isn't among my absolute favorites, it has a way of lingering in my thoughts from time to time. It's not easily forgotten.
The first few chapters are delightfully light-hearted, but then something unexpected comes along that takes you by surprise. If you're feeling discouraged about this manga, I suggest reading until you reach the middle, as that's when the narrative really starts to take off.
Overall, here's how I'd rate this manga:
STORY - 9
CHARACTERS - 7
ART - 8
Kitchen Princess was the very first manga I ever delved into. It touched me deeply, to the point where I found myself shedding tears upon finishing it.
Story - 8
The narrative revolves around Najika Kazami, a young girl with an extraordinary talent for cooking and an exceptional sense of taste. Her parents, skilled pastry chefs, had passed away before the story began. Najika enrolls in a prestigious school on what seems to be a scholarship, aiming to find the "Flan Prince" who once saved her life. She encounters two boys, Sora and Daichi, sons of the Academy's Director. Without giving too much away, since it's rather apparent to me at least, one of these boys is the Flan Prince. =3
Art - 9
I have immense admiration for Andou-san's artwork. It’s both cute and beautiful, especially how she draws the eyes. The cover art of this manga was what initially caught my attention, compelling me to pick it up. If I had chosen another title, like Hana Yori Dango perhaps, my first impression of manga might have been different and possibly less favorable.
Characters - 10
...
Enjoyment - 10
I found myself laughing alongside Najika during joyful moments and crying with her through the sad ones. This manga provided me with a lot of enjoyment.
Another typical shoujo manga that, in my opinion, doesn't deserve its #250 ranking on the manga list. The story is extremely predictable and lacks any unique elements that would make it unforgettable or encourage repeated readings. It follows an orphan from Hokkaido who travels to Tokyo in search of her Flan Price, the person who gave her strength during tough times in her youth. Essentially, it's a journey centered around love and cooking, which is quite conventional. While it's worth spending time reading, it's not worth the money to purchase.
It's a charming manga that blends food and romance. The storyline is engaging, and the characters are well-developed.
HOWEVER, the artwork is terrible. By the end of the manga, I had to force myself to keep reading because it was visually painful. Those enormous eyes and poorly drawn mouths, along with consistently unchanging character expressions, made me wonder if the artist just reused the same templates. This aspect was so dreadful that it significantly diminished my enjoyment.
The romantic elements were quite good though, with several unexpected twists.
Additionally, there were far too many characters who abruptly transformed from villains to heroes (I think around five), which felt out of place and really bothered me.
Overall: I wouldn't recommend this manga to anyone who values artistic quality in their reading experience.
This manga is absolutely fantastic!! I'm really fond of the characters and the plot too. It's an incredible roller coaster of a love story that just keeps getting better as it unfolds. So, in summary:
I'M HEAD OVER HEELS FOR THIS MANGA!! =D
Hehe, that's my overall take on it.