Customer Reviews

Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango), Vol. 1

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was pretty skeptical when I started reading this manga, mostly because of the graphics: compared with other mangas, I felt they were rather poor, with very little scenic detail. I was also somewhat turned off by the "so 1992" vibe (the clothes, the hair), but this manga is twelve years old and was meant to be relatively realistic, so you can't blame the author. The graphics, however, improve in later volumes in a spectacular manner.

Despite this, once I'd finished the first volume, I found myself going back to the bookstore to buy the next two. I was a little ashamed of myself because, being in my early twenties, I thought I was beyond reading teen romance stories; and at the same time, I kept thinking "I don't care! I want to know what happens next!"

Plot and characters are this manga's strong points. Tsukushi Makino is a barely-middle-class student in a higher-than-upper-class highschool, the kind of school where girls buy Channel by the barrel and boys are all destined to inherit large companies. Although initially determined to get through highschool without getting herself noticed, Tsukushi can't help but stand up to a posse of boys called the F4, the richest, most handsome boys in the whole school, whose pastime is to pick on others. They are lead by the egocentric Tsukasa Domyoji. Thus, she becomes the target of the F4 and the entire school. However, unlike many shojo heroines, Tsukushi is not one to weep for chapters before taking passive-agressive measures. Instead, she fights back head on and isn't afraid to take drastic action.

Apart from having a heroine with moxie, Hanadan is a very interesting depiction of a phenomenon that is (or maybe was)unfortunately pretty common in Japan: ijime. It's not just bullying, it's mass-bullying, when the whole school is either against you, or passively watches on. I was shocked by the lengths Domyoji was willing to go to to break Tsukushi's spirit. There are some pretty harsh scenes in this volume.

Now, this is a shojo nevertheless, so expect romance galore, at least in following volumes. All the confusion and beating around the bush will probably get annoying at some point: Tsukushi is very mature when it comes to many things, but when it comes to love, she's as hopeless as all the other shojo heroines. Jeez, Tsukushi, pick one already! But this is also part of the fun of Hanadan, it keeps you on your toes and gives you an insane desire to know what happens next. I know I'm going out of my mind, after 10 volumes.

Sure, it's a cheap thrill, it's miles away from philosophy, but after the complexity of animes like Akira and Serial Experiment Lain, it's always fun to dive into the simple (and yet oh so complicated) world of Hana Yori Dango. Personally, I'm rooting for Domyoji!

I guess I'm gonna have to look at some things to trash, because I've been giving out too many good ratings lately. I just couldn't help, but give this five stars. I was expecting this to be another Marmalade Boy. (Which by watching I think you start to lose manhood points that can only be recovered by watching Evangelian or Elfin Lied.) That anime had a very similar in appearance, main female as the focus too. Fortunately, the difference, is night and day. Unlike the whiny, neurotic female lead Miki of MB, which had me nearly discontinue the series 3/4 of the way through, this gal is a real heroine.

The story of a girl trying to maintain a low profile and get through and elite high school in Japan. For those of you unfamiliar with the Japanese schooling system (and I'm far from an expert,) some Japanese high schools are prestigious enough that the students funnel directly into a top rated college or university. The heroine of this anime, either due to grades, or some other type of qualification, has got into this top notch school. Trouble is most of the students are the upper crust of society, and have what seems to be a natural disdain for the common folk.

Nowhere is that more apparent than with the F4 a group, four boys from some of the most prominent families. They use their status, and just plain meanness to intimidate everyone in sight. One day our heroine can't take watching this any more, and speaks out. Her life may never be peaceful again after this, as it seems the entire class is now against her. Instead of folding under the pressure, she decided to fight back. When she attacks the leader of the F4, he becomes intrigued, and asks her to be his girlfriend, (on the sly of course)problem is she likes another member of the F4.

While the romantic motivations of this series are a bit shallow, they are not unlike those in many real life situations. The F4 leaders motivation for liking the heroine is that she's probably the first female to ever stand up to him. Her infatuation with another member is he is the one member who can't quite tolerate the other students going overboard to "punish" the outcasts on his behalf, and helps her on several occasions. While these are both quite shallow reasons to begin to like someone, isn't that often the start of a lot of relationships, a "gut" reaction. I found that to be very real. Typically long term relationships are formed when those initial reactions lead to the person taking the time to get to know who they've been drawn too. Sometimes it works out sometimes not. Such is life.

What's great about this is that while the stories of this are essentially soapers, they find time after time a way to suck you in at the end to want to see what happens next. Unlike many anime of this type where its obvious who will "get the girl or guy", this manages to keep you guessing till the end. Which is another thing to recommend it, it does have an ending. It didn't run out of budget like some series, or just terminate with no conclusion, or grow stale, and have a default ending.

There are a few reasons not to buy depending on your point of view. Truth be told, this anime is just one step removed from "His and Her Circumstance" in the use of limited animation stills. Fortunately it doesn't "cross the line" like H&HC did when it began using rough cut black and white story boards as anime frames. The art looks very air brushed and water colored, a very 80's look for a 90s series. The other reason is that if you buy volume one, you will have to buy the whole series. This is not a series like Ranma, LUM, or others that you can just watch self-contained episodes. You'll be compelled to see the entire series, don't say I didn't warn you!

This Manga is one of the most endearing story in most of Asia. It has spawned several live action shows as well as an anime. It has plots that keeps you wondering what will become of Tsukushi and the F4. Kamio-sensei developed her characters so well that you come to care about even the supporting characters such as Shigeru, Sakurako,Yuuki and Tsubaki, just to name a few. When they are introduced, they know how to make in impression. Tsubaki is the only woman Tsukasa will bow to,(whether he likes it or not) Shigeru is his energetic fiancee and one of Tsukushi's best friend..(EH? you'll see) Sakurako is a scheming, psychotic minx (book 5) turned good friend to Tsukushi(book 6 and beyond).

Tsukushi is unlike any manga female ever. She is a STRONG character who won't take crap from anyone. She has a strong sense of right and wrong and a good enough heart to forgive those who have wronged her (though it does gets irritating at times to see her do that...you eventually come to admire her strength in her faith in people) She's violent, she curses, she's stubborn. She's prone to make mistakes like everyone. She's original.

The Pun about the weed is that Tsukushi is a Japanese weed, something like a horsetail weed. To be in Eitoku is to be in a well maintained garden. Beautiful flowers thrive under pampered conditions...Kind of like the F4 and the rest of the student body. But a weed in the garden, though you may stomp on it, and spray it and try to kill it on several occasions...(and you'll see what I mean by Book 5!!) the weed will grow back stronger.

As for Kamio-sensei's drawing style, if you're not too crazy about it, keep reading her side comments. She was learning her skill as she was developing the story. By the end of the story (which ended in Japan in August 2003) Her drawing and storywriting skills were perfected. Looking through her earlier books and comparing it to the later ones, it's hard to believe it's the same author. Trust me, Tsukasa will not always look like Medusa and Tsukushi will lose those braids!

Hana Yori Dango (Boys over Flowers)is truly a one of a kind story with unforgettable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing until the end! But a fair warning for you all... the Japanese Mangas concluded by book 36. If you hate waiting, go to your local Japanese Bookstore or check the web for translations. Oops, can I say that?

Boys over Flowers has become one of my favorite mangas. I have only read the first volume, but I am hoping the quality continues. The plot is interesting, the characters are interesting, nice drawing style, and overall it is very moving.

The story starts out Tsukushi Makino is a middle class student attending a very, VERY private school for rich kids on her parents wishes. All she wants is to go through High School unnoticed. And it has been working out really well, until a fellow student named Kimoto is leaving Eitoku because of a group of boys called the 4 Flowers whom cause anyone who opposes them to be snubbed by the whole school. This stirs emotions in her and makes her sick at how others just dismiss it, and especially her on inactivity in the situation. But when her friend runs into and lands on top of the head of the group(Domyogi), she is finally ready to take a stand against this group of snobs. Soon, they have declared war on her, and she is fighting back just as hard, to the suprize of most people. She will not go down without a fight!!!!!

Boys over Flowers works so well because it strikes a chord for all the people whom have been bullied and may have some fantasies of revenge or for those who have had hopes of getting a guy(or girl) out of their reach. Sometimes fighting back is the best route, and this book shows that.

I would definitely reccomend this to anyone whom is looking for some quality manga. :D

God Bless & *Enjoy* ~Amy

I have loved this series for years. It ranks as my numer one all time favorite anime and manga. I have waited TEN YEARS for it to come out in english! Finally, finally... someone was smart enough to pick up this fabulous, smart, funny, romantic series.

Makino Tsushi has been forced by her parents to attend a snobby private high school controlled by a clique of boys known as the "F4." When, in protecting her friend, Tsukusi mouths off to the F4 leader, it becomes a battle for survival. She becomes the target of the whole school, and is hazed, abused and harrased daily. Makino is one of the strongest female leads in all manga. Her strength and hope will blow you away. She FIGHTS back, and in turn wins over the hearts of two of the F4 members (the love triangle is one of the best parts of the story).

The story is multi-level and complex, and is very well written (impproves as it goes on and as Kamio-sama matures herself as a author). You actually cry for Tsukushi nad some of the things she goes through, and of course the romantic bits are very nice too ^_^v. If you're a fan of the Shoujo Romances that have been published in the past few years, this really is a must have. I've even known guys who've loved this story! Also, if your familiar with the "F4" craze that's strating to bleed into the states from Asia, this is the story that "Meteor Garden" is based on.

All I can say is "get it." Then get the next one and the one after that ^_^. You won't be sorry.

This is not a negative review - don't get me wrong. I love this series, and recommend it heartily to any shoujo anime fan. I do have a bone to pick with the English publisher/translator, however.

I've followed HYD from the time it was still serialized in Margaret. I have Japanese text tankubon with pages of English translation notes. I loved and obsessed over Makino's problems then, and reading the official English translations is great, but aggravating for one reason.

Viz decided, for reasons known only to them, that all of the characters would call each other by their first names, regardless of how well they know each other. This is endlessly aggravating to me, as a longtime fan, because you get a much better sense of how people feel about each other when you use first and last names appropriate to Japanese culture. Everytime I see Domyoji or one of the F4 call Makino by her first name it makes me scream. Aahhh!

Does Viz think Americans are so dumb that we can't figure out that the Japanese refer to each other by last name unless they are close friends/lovers/family? Aargh!! <tears hair out> Couldn't you have just put a note at the beginning, or something?

I realize that this really isn't going to be a problem for a reader whose only experience with this series is with the official English translation, but those readers should understand that they are missing important elements of the story. In one instance, Makino's relationship with a childhood male friend is completely misunderstood by *spoiler* because he hears them address each other by first name, something that would usually indicate gf/bf/lover status in Japanese culture. The English version does not make it clear the reason why *spoiler* gets so upset.

Ever run into one of those heroines you'd REALLY like to shake up cause they're too wimpy? If you read a lot of manga, chances are you have. Well, my friend, this heroine breaks the mold. Don't get me wrong, we have to have a moment or two (geez, we can't all be perfect) and yes, this girl does that whole schtick for about a page or two...But after that, she kicks butt! Literally! The art is great, the character's great, and here's a hint...she doesn't end up with who you think she does. Highly reccommended! Happy reading!

not gonna give a summary of the story, because the other reviews have already done that, and it would be a waste of words. i will tell you, however, that i had read this story years ago, and absolutely loved it. it did have moments that dragged on, but the overall story was awesome. i purchased this used, for very cheap, and it came to me in mint condition. no damaged cover, or binding, and the pages were like new! very happy with purchase, and you would be too!

this was the story that got me into manga. some arbitrary stroke of luck had me stumble across the j-drama when it was coming out and i watched the whole thing (the jdrama is much better than the older version so don't worry if you watched that and didn't like it). so after the first season i was kind of impatient and looked it up and found the anime, which is monstrously long, but worth it i guess, and i've been watching anime on tv since i was a kid so it was an easy transition, then i found out there was a manga... which began my current obsession that is manga.

the story is good. i'd like to think of it as one of the classic shoujos, especially compared to a lot of what's coming out today, over hyped drama. the drama in hana yori dango was kind of angsty, as it was a high school drama, but i'd argue not overly so... or maybe there's worse out there, take your pick. there are quite a few problems the heroine faces, but there is a logic to them so her feelings make sense. though sometimes you just want her and tsukasa to get over themselves. the art is not my favourite but the story makes up for it, and to be fair i have seen far worse art out there.
anyways, it'll be a trek no matter through which medium you go for the story (though i recommend the manga because it's always better and the anime/ dramas usually change things). it is long, but a lot happens so it's worth it, and if you get into it it'll feel a lot shorter than it actually is, and you'll wonder where it all went when you're close to the end.
every shoujo aficionado should in some way or another acquaint themselves with this story because it's one of the good ones.

This series only gets better for me as time passes. I tend to think it's best suited for 15+ because of some of the material, but no upper limit applies. This title is great for me to read even as an adult, sure to be an emotional read (and those emotions will run the gamut from tears to wanting to hit some of the characters in the head with a cast iron skillet) no matter how many times I reread this series.

Tsukushi is a poor girl in a rich kids' school, her life full of all the problems that situation could possibly present. She starts off pretty meek and not incredibly likable, but quickly lets her true self come out. She may be odd and slightly paranoid, but she also kicks butt and lets no one walk over her. The story is basically a love triangle for quite a long while, with all three involved characters only learning their true feelings over the course of time. Like any good love triangle, the situation and timing are always just a bit off.

Be prepared to fall in love with characters you start off hating and to be betrayed by characters you've loved since they were first introduced. But that's part of the fun of this series. This title will complete at 36 volumes.