Kamikaze Girls [Paperback]

Novala Takemoto (Author), Masumi Washington (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2008

Life in the boondocks of rural Ibaraki prefecture is anything but glamorous, and to escape her humdrum existence, Momoko, a "Lolita," fanaticizes about French rococo, dreams of living in the palace of Versailles, and decks herself out in the finest (and frilliest) of 18th century haute couture from an expensive Tokyo specialty store. Her dreams of an idyllic existence are rudely interrupted by the appearance of Ichigo, a tough-talking "Yanki" motorcycle-chick (on a tricked-out moped) who's part of a girls-only biker gang known as the Ponytails. Together, this unlikeliest of duos strikes out on a quest to find a legendary embroiderer, a journey that takes them to back-alley pachinko parlors, chic boutiques, and epic bike-punk battles. Novala Takemoto's hit novel [ital.] Kamikaze Girls [ital.], already a cult-classic in Japan and the inspiration for an internationally acclaimed film of the same name, is more than a quirky coming-of-age tale, it's a new way of life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This charming example of shojo (manga for adolescent girls) adapts a popular novel/movie and adds two original stories dealing with the same characters and/or set in the same commercial milieu. Momoko is ultra-sensitive and feminine, picturing herself as a pampered French princess while meticulously embroidering frilly clothes. Ichigo is a member of a girls' biker gang who hides softer emotions and dresses like a feisty boy. When the two young people are thrown together, each helps the other develop new skills for survival—and for living as a whole woman. Artist Kanesada continues Takemoto's story by writing and drawing an additional episode in Ichigo's maturation, then concludes with a tale about a schoolgirl who falls in love with an older man in the garment industry. The book is more character-driven than much manga, and the page layouts do an unusually good job of weaving together different levels of the action, as readers can simultaneously see what the characters are doing, saying and thinking. There's something creepy about young girls calling themselves "Lolitas" and imagining that having sex with a grownup will transform them into grownups, too. Still, there's also a genuine sweetness about these stories as the characters grope uncertainly with new roles and take chances that can pay off wonderfully. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Born January 26, in Uji City, Kyoto. Aquarius.

Debuted with the novel "missin'" in 2000. Was a candidate for the Yukio Mishima Prize for literature two years in a row with "Emily" in 2003, and "Lolita" in 2004. Other novels include "uloko hime," "twins," "A Child Abandoned by Deus," and "calps alpis." His sequel to "Kamikaze Girls" was published in June of 2005.

Official website: http://www.novala.net/

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; 1 edition (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421513951
• ISBN-13: 978-1421513959
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Japanese

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lolita and a Yanki?!?, February 27, 2006

By 

Tori Q. "Sweet Lolita" (Duvall, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kamikaze Girls (Novel) (Hardcover)

I am in love with this book. The story of Momoko and Ichigo's friendship is unbelievable, Takemoto's writing was beautiful. I originally was introduced to the book Kamikaze girls from the Baby the Stars Shine Bright website. I had to settle for the movie though, seeing as the book was written in Japanese (which, no matter how hard i pretend, I cannot read!). It was well worth the wait though. Along with this book being cute and smart it was incredibly funny, I laughed extremely hard on several occasions. I could not put this book down, so on my bed, ironically clad in my own BABY frills, I laughed and was greatly impressed by this sweet coming of age story.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You know the story..., January 28, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Kamikaze Girls (Novel) (Hardcover)

...becuase you've heard it before. Two girls, though they are complete opposites, manage to form a friendship that no one can break. So if you've heard the story already, why bother with this book?
....because you haven't read it before. I know that what I have just said makes no sense, but it's true--Kamikaze Girls is not the most original story, but that's what makes it the most ravishing, well-written female bonding story a girl (or boy)can read. Momoko is a girl that feels she was born in the wrong time. She dresses, acts, and spends her time like she was born in 18th century France--a lolita, in other owrds. She walks the streets of her rural country town in frills, bows, petticoats, and bonnets, all for the sake of her fashion identity. Ichigo (prefers to be called 'Ichiko')is her, if not complete, opposite--a thug that gets into fights, rides a tripped out MoPed, and spends her tiem dressing like a Yanki (girl gangster). The only thing that these two girls have in common is their love of clothes, no matter how different their tastes are, and they use this knowledge to become best friends...if only Ichiko would stop head-butting Momoko! Anyone looking for a rainy Sunday morning book should look no further than Kamikaze girls--the writing style is different, the characters are relateable, and though the difficulties Momko and Ichiko go through aren't very easy to relate to for American girls, the problems the characters face because of their personalities are universal--friendship, love, and (most importantly) an identity created by fashion.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This novel-inspired manga is an engaging read!, April 3, 2006

By 

J. E. Perry "Shojo Guru" (Southeast ID) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kamikaze Girls (Manga) (Paperback)

Based on the cult-classic novel by Novala Takemoto, Kamikaze Girls is a story about two girls on different ends of a fashion/culture spectrum: a yanki, (slang for a bad boy or girl, often members of a gang) and a Lolita (a.k.a. Gothic Lolita because the style comes from Gothic, Victorian era). Ichigo, the yanki, is an impulsive member of a local yanki girl’s-only biker gang. Momoko, the Lolita, will stick to her “Gothic Lolita” code of conduct even if it means walking everywhere, and travelling three hours by train to get to Tokyo instead of by motor bike, which only takes one hour, because the wind might mess up her headdress or clothes. These two girls form a friendship based, at first, on a common ground for most girls their age: clothes, or rather, their passion for fashion. They later discover that they want to be friends because they really like the person inside the clothes. They are soon comforting, supporting, and saving one another as they start to spend all their time together as best friends. These girls protect their friendship to one another so recklessly, some might say they’re suicidal!

The continuation of Ichigo and Momoko’s misadventures, written by the manga artist, Yukio Kanesada (with Novala Takemoto’s approval), are sweet, romantic, and fun! There are two other extra stories, “Pinky Ring Princess” and “Middle Finger Princess” that are also a treat to read (although due to some adult/sexual situations in them, they're not for anyone younger than 16—which is the rating VIZ Media gives this manga, anyway).

It was through this manga that I really got to see the non-stereotypical aspects of being a yanki and Gothic Lolita, and where I got to learn more about their culture. While the yanki community often attracts delinquents, Ichigo’s sense of loyalty, honor, and fighting for what you believe in is almost samurai-like. Ichigo shows you don’t even think twice about doing something contrary to your style if your motivation is for love. Momoko teaches that Gothic Lolita isn’t about young girls calling themselves "Lolitas" and behaving like the famous Lolita (having sex with adults to become “adult” yourself). Gothic Lolita according to Momoko is about being frilly, pretty, feminine and going back to a more innocent, romantic time of history: the Victorian era. To Momoko, being a Lolita means being radiant, graceful, elegant, calm and always beautiful. But also Momoko shows that if it’s for a best friend, a Lolita, “must, even if she can’t be elegant, even if it’s a losing fight, must join the battle” and be tough enough to scare the wits out of a gang of yanki biker-chicks! This is a great manga. I recommend it to anyone who thinks the stereotypical things about yankis or Lolitas as a really delightful re-thinking of "those types of people". I plan on buying the novel that the manga was based on as soon as I earn up the funds to do so.