KODOCHA: Sana's Stage, Volume 1 [Paperback]

Miho Obana (Author)

Book Description

Series: Kodocha | Publication Date: June 11, 2002

Sana gets a part in a TV movie, costarring with a hot new actress, but she’ll never get to the studio if she can’t survive the bullies at school. Akito "the Demon" Hayama continues his reign of terror so Sana comes up with a crazy plot to put him in his place. Sana takes advantage of Akito’s fear of heights and challenges him to a bungee jumping contest! Maybe the world’s biggest bully will finally back down.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (June 11, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193151450X
• ISBN-13: 978-1931514507
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #489,429 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kodomo no Omocha, a series you should be all over, November 26, 2003

By 

Shi-chan "Shi-chan" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KODOCHA: Sana's Stage, Volume 1 (Paperback)

If you are thinking of buying this book, don't think anymore! Quit reading my review, and go buy it! If you are not too financially strapped, buy all of the others in the series, or at least a few more, because from the first volume it just gets better.

Okay, if you stuck around for some reason, I will explain to you why you should get Kodocha: Sana's Stage. The standard explanation for the book is that it is about a hyper child actress named Kurata Sana, and her enemy, Hayama Akito. The heading on the back of the manga says, "comedy". I feel this is wrong, though, because Kodomo no Omocha (Child's Toy) is so much more than that.

Kodomo no Omocha is a story about relationships. That's its main focus. Relationships, between Sana and her mother, Sana and her manager, Sana and her friends, and of course, the main one, Sana and Akito. This is the only manga, by the way, that can make me cry and then, on the very next page, make me crack up. If you buy this book, you are making a commitment, because you will become addicted. Also, it goes on a wild roller coaster ride of emotions, particularly in books 9-10, which grow very serious and deal with big issues like depression. Don't be surprised if you find yourself a little down when Sana is, and on the top of the world when she is. It is especially gratifying, and somehow beautiful, to watch Akito grow and emerge with his emotions.

So don't be fooled by anything, not even the covers. This is a brilliant work of art, not just a manga, and in my opinion it is not even comparable to other manga, because it soars above the rest. Buy all ten volumes, and don't expect not to be on the edge of your seat at the end of each one. Even my review cannot do this series justice.

WHY ARE YOU STILL READING??? BUY IT!!!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining., July 6, 2002

By 

Daitokuji31 (Black Glass) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: KODOCHA: Sana's Stage, Volume 1 (Paperback)

A good friend of mine first introduced me to the Kodomo no omocha anime back in 2000, and since then I have waited patiently for it to be translated into English. I can read Japanese, but my knowledge of the language mainly deals with formal speech that is hardly used in manga. Anyway this is a very entertaining series about an 11 year old actress named Sana. Sana is a very happy girl, loving life, her mama, her friends, and her gigolo, pimp, Rei. Don't ask you must read this to understand. Sana, however, does have one blemish on her perfect world, and that blemish is Hayama Akito, a mean spirited bully.

Kodocha is a very funny series, but it is also very serious. It tackles many issues, including divorce, death of loved ones, and family turmoil. It is a very good series that should be read by any who are a fan of good manga.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars YAY!! Three cheers for an amazing manga :-), February 24, 2003

By 

Moko-chan (USA (japan, i wish!)) - See all my reviews

This review is from: KODOCHA: Sana's Stage, Volume 1 (Paperback)

WHoo Hooo! Kodocha is the best manga written!! This is about a girl named Sana, she is a child T.V star living in Japan. If you thought you had it bad in your school just wait 'till you read Kodocha. A bully named Akito is harrassing teachers and students. Sana and her friends haven't done school work in months. Sana finnally gets extremely fed up with what is going on so she tries stopping Akito, and boy is that gonna be hard. First off he has a huge following, or as Sana calls it his "Monkey Group" second off he is extremely strong and not afraid of hurting girls. -Sorry I'm probably revealing a little too much.
Anyways the reason I love Kodocha is becuase the characters are just so darn hilarious. The all have there own kooky traits and personalities so you feel like you actually know them. I also like the drawings. They're not amazing but they're sone with so much detail and personal style so they're fun for the eye. Kodocha takes a very long time to read because there is so much fine print and hilararious background drawings. The beginning of the first book is a little strange and confusing, but so is most manga and anime when you first start it. Over all I love Kodocha but my one problem with it is that the covers are so corny. Do NOT be fooled by the terrible front covers. Kodocha is hilarious for pretty much all ages mabye 11+ You're gonna have to stick with this wonderful characters. All in all there is 10 Kodocha's in Japanese but sadly at this moment (2/24/2003) there is only 5 out in English GRRRRRRRRR. The first one is probably my 3rd favorite of the ones I have read, meanign Kodocha just gets better and better. YAY go out and buy it today:-)
The hilarious side pannels are great also, don't forget to read these.