Customer Reviews

Kamikaze Girls

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

...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.

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.

This was a thoroughly entertaining book. After reading this for the first time, I loved all the characters and re-read it, equally loving it the second time. I would, however, let you know that the number of swearwords in this book are numerous. About halfway through the book, I counted more than 150 swears, all by Miss Ichigo there.
Nonetheless, this is a very good classic book.

but fourtunately i was unable to. the book is better than the movie, because the characters are clearer. in the end of the movie, i didn't really understand momoko's desicion not to (thing she decided not to do because i don't want to spoil it for others)but in the book i understood it better.

like another reviewer said: it would help you to know a bit about japanese pop culture, but most of the time important things are explained pretty clearly.
so read the book, even if you aren't interested in lolita fashion, you'll laugh, worry, feel sad, w00t... and come away feeling good about being different, which is not something i can say for a lot of books written for brokemold teengirls these days.

I love this book. The art work is OKAY, not the best, but it fits the story well. Momoko is a sweet lolita, not a gothic lolita. There is a BIG difference. Ichigo(AKA Ichiko) is a yanki, who seems a bit clueless at times. There are some pretty big differences between the movie, then novel, and the manga, so try not to get too confused if you own all three! This book also includes 2 bonus stories, "The Pinky Finger Princess", and "The Middle Finger Princess". My favortie of the two is "The Middle Finger Princess", which might not be suitable for younger readers. There's some cursing in this book, but probably not as much as there is in the origional novel, so I reccomend this book for younger readers, as a substitute until they can handle the language.

My teenage daughter and her friends were watching this movie at our house one night and I got sucked in. It was wonderfully odd. So, I decided to read the book and although it didn't have quite the same tone, it was a worthwhile read.

This is a story of two girls that are complete opposites and yet exactly alike. Momoko is elegant. Ichigo is tacky. Momoko is coolly logical. Ichigo is a dynamo of uncontrollable emotions. And so on. But this seemingly mismatched pair form a bond that turns out to be surprisingly strong. The foundation of this bond is their uncompromising insistence on being who they are rather than trying to "fit in" and their respect for each other for adhering to that principle. At the end of the book Ichigo has a great paragraph, explaining their friendship to the girls in her biker gang when they demand to know why she chooses to spend so much time with Momoko.

I also enjoyed reading about Lolitas and Yankis, two very different fashions with lifestyles to match for those truly dedicated to them.

I hesitate to call this a light read because I came away from the novel having learned something. There are several underlying concepts that at several points in the novel made me stop and think.

Momoko, the main protagonist, is a lolita obsessed with the designer Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. She subscribes to the lolita lifestyle 100%, even though she gets weird looks and comments. One can see Momoko's life philosophy in the way she lives her life and the things she says. For example, when Momoko says, "People have different values. I don't think the convictions and philosophies of people who become doctors to save the lives of poor people in developing countries are superior or inferior to those like myself...." p.41.

Many of Momoko's actions and comments (including the one above) remind me of the philosopher Frederich Nietzsche. Momoko's reality does not fit with that of the life that she wants (instead of rows of gorgeous fields she has rice paddies). But while at first she comes off as a romantic idealist, she is very in touch with reality (being more grounded and logical than Ichigo). She creates her own meaning for her life.

Ichigo on the other hand is a yanki, and not as enlightened as Momoko. But, like Momoko, she subscribes to a set of values and has impeccable integrity. She comes off as rough, but she's very loyal to those she cares about. While Momoko doesn't know what to make of Ichigo at the beginning, I think Ichigo's authenticity and integrity draws Momoko in.

The similarities between these two characters become more obvious as their relationship develops. As Momoko notes at one point, both girls celebrate extravagance and individuality in their own ways. Both are true to themselves.

Kamikaze Girls was both entertaining and enlightening. Definitely recommended.

okay probably not words you think of when you think of a Japanese novel about a Yanki and a Elegant Gothic Lolita. Probably few if anyone that reads manga would probably even think to pick up the book. Yet I say EVERY girl should read it.
Because, its about the bonds that are the very beginning of any life long friendship. The friendships that actually last and will stand the tests of what ever is thrown at one during life, and what you'll throw back at life to keep that friendship.

Its just a wonderful book, that every girl should read. Even if its about two wildly different Japanese girls and neither is really a 'mainstream underground' in America, everyone LUVS a E.G.L. and who doesn't want to be a big bad Yanki sometimes?

word of warning, there is some cussing. artfully and tastefully done. and yes I apply those types of words to cussing.

I love the book and the movie. I must admit, every time I read of Ichigo, I think of Anna Tsuchiya. :-)

The Lolli and The Yanki...priceless.

A fun read...a good read...a good movie.

...of course, maybe my time was also in the Rococo Era. LOL