His Majesty's Devious Sins

NAH BUT BFR A FLIGHT SKILL USER, SUCH A CUTE BABY, IF NOT FLUFF AND BLONDE THEN WHAT ELSE

I think I’m in love! 😍 In love with the story and its author, in love with baby Noah and our brain damaged yet so hilariously lovable ML. ❤️ If you are hesitating about whether to give this story a shot, stop hesitating right now and go read it! I promise you won’t regret it!

Weirdness level just went up

Amazing and itresting

I distinctly recall watching the anime with my older sister and then diving into the manga. Honestly, I never even realized it was categorized as a Josei anime.<br /><br />It was such a charming anime, boasting an amusing plot. "Gokusen" revolves around a Yakuza woman who transitions into becoming a teacher. Her primary mission is to assist her students in passing their exams and achieving success. The intriguing twist here is that she doesn't want her students to discover her Yakuza background, leading to countless hilarious situations.<br /><br />As a character, Yamaguchi Kumiko, or "Yankumi," is incredibly stubborn and set in her ways. She adheres to values that she refuses to compromise. She wholeheartedly believes that every student has a future and strongly disapproves of teachers or adults who abandon hope on kids. She's frustrated when students don't strive for improvement and detests unfair fights. These are admirable traits that contrast beautifully with her Yakuza life. She unintentionally injects humor by pretending to be less capable, acting dimwitted to hide her true identity. Lines like, "How did I dodge that thing you threw at me? It must've been an accident!" are classic examples.<br /><br />Beyond the comedic elements brought by Yankumi, this manga realistically portrays the lives of students. It delves into issues like students skipping school because they feel abandoned by their teachers, those coming from tough backgrounds, the pressure to act tough, and even touches upon serious topics like suicide caused by bullying. Despite its moments of humor, it doesn't shy away from addressing these heavy, real-life issues.<br /><br />I'm mainly relying on my memory here, having read this manga years ago, but I vividly remember enjoying it immensely. I highly recommend this manga to anyone. It offers a mix of slice-of-life, gang conflicts, and comedy, making it a well-rounded read.

Gokusen wasn't exactly the kind of manga I usually gravitate towards, but I'm glad I gave it a chance. What kept me hooked, despite my initial hesitations, was the subtle complexity in both its art and storytelling.  

The artwork and writing were robust, skillfully steering clear of stereotypes. Instead of succumbing to typical manga clichés, they were reimagined. The characters were multidimensional and intriguing in their own right, with genuine depth that didn't feel like a superficial gimmick. In fact, it seemed the mangaka had a great time exploring nuances. Overall, it was cleverly crafted and beautifully executed.  

In terms of content, it surpassed average, which is quite refreshing. Average can be so predictable. This manga was laugh-out-loud funny at times and included plenty of moments to make fangirls swoon, yet it avoided falling into the trap of adhering rigidly to conventional manga formulas. It's neither strictly shoujo nor purely shounen.  

What I initially thought was its biggest flaw turned out to be one of its strengths. It followed an episodic format, which usually bothers me... but here, it was clear that the stories served as vehicles for character development. The characters were the focal point, so the plot was deliberately understated and occasionally underdeveloped.  

The romance was also subtly handled, surprisingly to great effect. You could see the genuine connection between the two love interests without all the usual manga tropes. It presented a more realistic and sincere portrayal of affection.  

The reason this isn't among my favorites might sound odd. I missed the quirky, over-the-top elements that define many mangas. I missed the impossibly handsome boys and overly simplistic archetypes; the absurdities that manga fans often take for granted. That's why, while I deeply appreciate what this manga achieved, I wasn't entirely captivated by it. Its refusal to take itself too seriously, though charming and distinctive, also stopped me from fully engaging with it as a reader.  

<p>

Gokusen is a fantastic manga, offering a distinctive storyline and hilarious characters. However, it just... isn't quite there.  

I will explain:  

**Story:**  
Gokusen boasts a unique storyline, with Yankumi being the heir to a Yakuza clan and all that comes with it. I adore how, in the early chapters, she tries to keep her Yakuza background hidden while using her skills to protect her class. It's genuinely funny humor. However, many chapters follow a repetitive pattern:  
a) Her students get into trouble.  
b) Yankumi saves them.  
This can become monotonous after a while, making some past chapters less memorable (though not the entire story—just certain parts).  

**Art:**  
This is Gokusen's weak point. I almost stopped reading early on due to the art, which I found unappealing. Still, it's clean, crisp, and easy to follow, which kept me engaged. Then again, this is a josei manga, so I didn't expect insanely beautiful bishounen or flowers in every panel (cough, CLAMP, cough).  

**Characters:**  
I absolutely love the characters, especially Yankumi. While she can be dense, stubborn, and oblivious to others' feelings, she's a force to be reckoned with. I adore how she can beat up thugs and then act completely innocent about it. It's also endearing when she accidentally slips into "Yakuza mode" and has to cover it up by acting dumb or girly.  
Now, onto Shin. Although his haircut annoyed me immensely at first, I've grown fond of him. He's incredibly cute when trying to hide his feelings and when he blushes (which is rare).  

**Enjoyment and Overall:**  
I'll combine these two since they're closely linked. I thoroughly enjoyed Gokusen; it's a highly entertaining josei manga. While the romance is understated, the student-teacher relationship between Shin and Yankumi is one of the best out there. I have to give Gokusen an 8 because, although the art isn't exceptional, the premise is unique and memorable.

This is one of my all-time favorite series. Whether it's the manga, the TV show, or the anime, I absolutely love it because it features a teacher who truly knows how to take care of herself. She doesn't need a man to come to her rescue since she was raised by a man who instilled in her the importance of self-reliance—a trait that seems to be missing in quite a few characters in anime and manga.  

The main characters in this series have fantastic chemistry with each other. Yankumi has an incredible ability to adapt to any role she's placed in. As someone who works in education, I deeply admire her attitude toward her students. All they really needed was someone who would stand up for them, which is unfortunately a common issue in many educational systems around the world. Sadly, not everyone in real life gets a teacher like Yankumi to guide them toward success.  

The series might (or might not) present a somewhat romanticized version of the yakuza. Having no personal experience with organized crime, I can't say for certain, but I wouldn't rely on this show as a factual source about the mafia. Still, it's fun to dream. Yakuza stories are undeniably popular in pop culture—they're entertaining at the very least—but one can hope to never encounter what it's really like on the inside.  

One thing that did catch my attention was Fujiyama's apparent attraction to teenage boys (not to mention that she also voices Satoshi in countless Pokémon episodes). This made me laugh, except for the fact that it's illegal in my home country to engage with anyone under 18 in that way. I had to shift my perspective a bit to not find it odd. Luckily, I can appreciate media without overreacting. One of my friends gave me a lecture about enjoying this show precisely because of this cultural difference. So, if you're someone who struggles with the fact that Japan has a different cultural context, this show might not be for you. However, if you have an open mind, this series is enjoyable on so many levels.  

<p>