Suzuka

Okay. It's 2020 and I've just finished reading this manga over the past few days. I started reading it around 2008, I believe, but back then I didn't have enough time to finish it completely.

This is one of only three or fewer romance mangas I've ever read in my life. Usually, I despise stories in these genres because they're so predictable and cliché. For me, though, this manga was absolutely worth reading. Honestly, I'm writing this review with a heavy heart after finishing it. Apart from wanting more, I simply hated how the story went since chapter 1... and this hate isn't the bad kind of hate.

If you really want your emotions to be tested—if you want to cry, feel sad, laugh, and get angry all at once—this might be the manga for you. When I said "I hated the story," what I actually meant is that I hated how realistic it was. How it could have happened to me in real life. And how different it is from your usual love story formula everywhere. It was definitely worth my time reading it.

The only reason I'm not giving it an overall perfect score is due to the time skips and sudden shifts in character personalities towards the latter part of the story. I don't know if this was because of the author's deadlines or something when it wasn't finished yet, but I think the story could have been stretched a bit more to show more character development and provide more backstory for each character.

Anyway, I don't really feel fulfilled with what happened in this story, but that's because of how beautiful it was. I'll be rereading it again for the third time right after this review.

Ok, first off, this is a review and my very first one at that. I'll try to keep it spoiler-free and follow the site's scoring criteria.

Story: The story is largely solid, nicely wrapped up by the end, though the conclusion felt rushed. Suzuka didn't conclude as it should have because the author grew bored and didn’t want to leave it open-ended. So, he hastily added an ending that, while tying everything up neatly, feels out of place within the manga’s context. The beginning and middle sections are both strong, with no dull moments, always leaving me curious about how things would unfold.

Art: There's not much to say here; it's well-drawn without unnecessary detours, with a decent amount of detail but nothing flashy or eye-popping. Then again, this isn't some fantasy/sci-fi/WTF manga where the art would be crucial. It's primarily a romance, and what you're reading for is the story and character development.

Character: This is where the story shines. It revolves mainly around two central characters, occasionally branching out to others for background information. Each character is well-developed. The main characters have just the right amount of backstory, letting you understand their emotions, past, and more. Side characters also receive adequate development, providing enough information so that their actions make sense and don't leave you wondering why something is happening.

Enjoyment: While not everyone's cup of tea, within its genre, it's a great read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even the ending. There was never a moment when I thought, "This is boring, next!" I lost sleep to finish this, and I'm glad I did.

Overall: As mentioned above, though not for everyone, fans of school life, slice-of-life, romance, and related genres will likely find satisfaction in reading it. It's well-presented, properly developed, and only gets rushed towards the very end. As a standalone piece, it's well-executed and made me happy that I sacrificed sleep to read it.

I initially approached this thinking it would be a standard romance manga with sports elements woven in. However, as the narrative unfolded, I found myself unable to put it down because every moment felt significant and left me wondering about what would happen next. The characters, particularly the main ones, are exceptionally well-developed, making you genuinely care for them. They each have their own motivations, goals, aspirations, and fears. These aspects drew me closer to the characters.

The two main characters are young, naive, and typical teenagers, but witnessing them experience sad, confusing, and lovable moments gives their struggles immense weight. This is crucial because some of these struggles and worries can resonate with the reader, making the story feel impactful. That's why I gave it a high rating; the themes vary and evolve.

The pacing was excellent, and the character interactions were highly enjoyable. The story isn't static, so the characters' motivations and goals shift frequently, making this manga incredibly realistic and engaging to read. Not only do the characters grow emotionally, but they also develop physically, which is remarkable.

The romance is fantastic, sweet, and innocent. However, as the characters mature, the challenges in their relationships start to surface, keeping you hooked and curious about what will happen next.

Suzuka is a must-read for any romance fan or anyone seeking a heartwarming story filled with suspense and unexpected twists. I awarded this manga my first perfect score because Suzuka made such a profound impression on me as an exceptional read. Personally, I related to one of the main character's struggles, prompting me to reconsider certain aspects of my life. Ultimately, this story deserves to reach many readers, and I hope it brings something new or transformative to your life as well.

I believe "Suzuka" is a masterpiece of manga. *Salutes to Kouji Seo* It's about a guy named Yamato and his hardships with a girl named Suzuka.

~Story
The story, for me, was a class A romance (...with a bit of comedy) tale. It starts off very normal, but as you progress through the later chapters, you'll realize how good of a story "Suzuka" really is. Literally a masterpiece!

~Art
The art is phenomenal! Whether you're reading it online or in physical form (...for me, manga is best), the art is simply phenomenal. Need I say more?

~Character
The downside was that the story was completely focused on the two protagonists, so you would feel quite disappointed about the other characters' lack of development.

~Enjoyment & Overall
Words cannot express how heartwarming the story is (...including how hilarious it is). *Salutes to Kouji Seo*. Bottom line is, the story is definitely re-readable and definitely a kick-ass love story! It's a must-read!

Basically, the storyline revolves around a guy who likes this girl, but she doesn't seem to reciprocate his feelings even though she does feel something for him but chooses not to show it. This manga truly evokes a lot of emotions from the characters and mirrors real-life situations very well. There are no overly cliché scenarios.

The art is excellent, and the characters are well-developed and humorous. I know my review might come across as messy and poorly written, but I genuinely believe that this manga is worth reading if you're looking for romance and drama; it's seriously one of the best out there. :)

By the way, I'm neither English nor American, so please bear with my language. :)

I initially planned to give Suzuka an Overall score of 8 because it's really good, but after some thought, I realized it was very enjoyable and deserved a 9 in my opinion. It's a great romance and quite realistic too. You can relate to it in several ways, especially if you've been in a relationship, as the events in the story mirror real-life situations. There are some highs and lows, but when you consider the entire series, you can appreciate the plot's progression and its development towards the end.

"If you stand still, nothing changes... but... if you take even a step forward... I have a feeling something will change, and something good will happen!"

The writer presents a simple tale about a guy moving to Tokyo for life, study, and inevitably finding love because it's a romance story. Not long after the manga begins, we are plunged into a "Boy Meets Girl" scenario where he notices a beautiful girl and becomes captivated by her. Yes, that's how such mangas typically go.

Simple events from the start were not the case, as things later become complicated with the introduction of other characters, causing this simplicity to fade into many twists which could be annoying at times but eventually get resolved somehow.

The manga extends beyond 100 chapters, spanning from high school to presumably adulthood. Despite various perspectives, it only has one ending, evident from the early chapters. Even if the girl is persistent and the guy is clueless, he will try his best to win her over, leading to that predictable conclusion.

After numerous events and rejections, it enters an intriguing stage involving parents making significant decisions that children must face. Getting approval is crucial, reflecting real-life hardships. Before that, there are captivating moments like conflicts and feelings of acceptance and rejection, which always hurt.

Beyond our characters' lives, the manga features a lot of sports, adding more depth than just romance. We see characters' dedication to sports fluctuate, striving to surpass rivals who ultimately become respected friends. I loved this aspect of the manga.

First Meeting

The protagonist arrives in Tokyo for the first time and sees a beautiful girl practicing, captivating him instantly. However, he is unaware of the challenges ahead. Love stories often involve falling hard, trying persistently, some giving up, others pushing till the end regardless of future outcomes.

Persistence

Persistence embodies the "love can overcome anything" philosophy. Without giving up despite circumstances, it made me cheer for him. Yet, I also hated him for avoiding reality. The writer aimed to spice things up, as Seo Kouji’s characters usually possess strong persistence but also wavering emotions.

Last Step

Being accepted is tough because mistakes could ruin loved ones’ futures and disappoint expectations. In this manga, what seems like a mistake is depicted beautifully. Despite my lack of experience, it ended well. There’s not much left to say.

Overall

We began with "Boy Meets Girl" and went on a roller-coaster ride—meeting new friends, choosing life paths, pursuing romance, facing dramatic events, and concluding appropriately. Perfect? Not really. Good? Yes. Romance overflowed, drama moved me, nothing more or less.

My sincere thoughts? The manga was written quite well, not overly dragged out. Events unfolded sequentially without regrets. As far as manga goes, it showed enough. A book is a book, and its story cannot be rewritten because there will always be only one original story.

Art [8/10]

Seo Kouji’s art is quite nice; all characters are well-drawn, and the atmosphere and backgrounds feel right, consistent with his other works.

I did manage to finish this manga, which means it kept me reading, but I ended up disliking the main character quite a lot. The art is commendable, effectively conveying a sense of space without detracting from the story. It's unobtrusive, allowing you to focus on the narrative itself.

However, the story was where I encountered the most issues. As another reviewer mentioned, the protagonist is utterly unpleasant. Throughout the tale, she treats the male lead terribly, leaving me puzzled about his attraction to her. She comes across as moody, irrational, selfish, cruel, greedy, and mean. She crushes his hopes and sabotages any potential relationships he might have with other, kinder girls. I found myself rooting for him to end up with his childhood friend who had long harbored feelings for him, but his obsession with the antagonist ruined that possibility. I repeatedly thought, "Don't go back to her!" throughout the entire story.

The male lead is equally frustrating because he almost never stands up to her. There were multiple instances in the story where she slapped him, and each time, he blamed himself! He never seems to find his backbone until near the end when they start acting like a real couple. This was somewhat relieving, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that he deserved someone far better.

This is my primary complaint: the story failed to make me genuinely like the main characters, and I couldn't empathize with either of them. One is a nasty person, and the other is spineless. I'm glad they made it through, but I doubt I'd ever reread this. If you enjoy stories about indecisive men who never stand up for themselves, then this is for you. But personally, I prefer men with backbone and courage. Just my two cents.