Love Hina, Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Ken Akamatsu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 7, 2002

When Keitaro Urashima fails his entrance exams to get into Tokyo University for the second time, he’s officially an unemployed and uneducated slacker. To make things worse, his parents have kicked him out of his house. Fortunately, his grandmother owns the fabulous Hinata Lodge and has agreed to take Keitaro in as caretaker. What he doesn’t know is that the lodge is actually a girl’s dorm and he’s the only guy around! Most guys would kill to live with five sexy ladies, but if Keitaro’s not careful, this job will kill him.

Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (May 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931514941
• ISBN-13: 978-1931514941
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent in Every way!, June 7, 2002

By 

Sakura (Heifong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Hina, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Keitaro Urashima is trying to get into Tokyo University, the most prestigious college in Japan, because of a childhood promise. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite have the smarts, so he's failed twice and is studying to take it a third time (and doing horribly). His parents are sick of it, so they kick him out of the house. He goes to seek refuge at his grandmother's hotel, but he doesn't know it has been converted into an all-girl's dorm. So, through a series of misunderstandings and unfortunate events, he becomes manager to a group of girls who hate him, overwork him, and think he's a pervert.

"Love Hina" was originally intended to be filler for a weekly shounen manga anthology, meant only to run until they could find something better to use up the space. Somehow, it managed to run long enough to take up 14 full graphic novels and was popular enough to spawn a twenty-four episode TV show, an OAV series, and a music video. The reason it did so is obvious: "Love Hina" succeeds in so many ways.

The premise is a familiar one: a hapless college student (or ronin...or high school student...) somehow stumbles into a situation in which he is surrounded by a bunch of gorgeous girls. More shounen series than I can count have the same basic plotline. Some, like "Hanaukyo Maid Tai" are thinly disguised excuses for fan service. Others, such as the "Tenchi" saga, "Oh My Goddess!" or "Saber Marionette" have genuine heart and sincerity. Love Hina, fortunately, falls into the latter category. While fan service abounds, there are many more reasons to read besides that. Keitaro is a genuinely goodhearted person, as are the residents of the Hinata.

Speaking of which, that's another thing done right in the series. Each character has their flaws and strengths, and is all-around endearing. Keitaro is a nice but chronically unlucky protagonist. He means well, but he just does so many things by accident that he's labeled a pervert. Those labels are justified, but completely inaccurate. Of course, the residents of the dorm are all fun and interesting. There's Naru Narusegawa, the pretty but slightly dorky girl with a violent streak; Mitsune Konno, a tricky, voluptuous and rather lazy woman whose nickname "Kitsune" comes from more than her fox face; Shinobu Maehara, a sweet, somewhat shy junior high schooler with excellent housekeeping skills; Motoko Aoyama, a boy-hating high school kendo master; and Suu Kaolla, a strange, foreign child genius with an endless arsenal of strange inventions. Like everything else about the series, each starts as a stock character, an anime staple. If you look at them and think about it, chances are you will be able to think of at least two other similar characters. However, each is developed so that they become truly endearing and seem like someone you might know in real life. Naru actually reminds me of myself. I found myself rooting for each in their personal struggles and I sympathized strongly with them.

Of course, characters aren't the only thing that makes this series work. From beginning to end, it is laugh out loud hilarious. Keitaro's misinterpretation of certain actions on the part of the girls (especially Kitsune) and chronic bad luck land him and the others in several comedic situations. But of course, comedy isn't the only thing. As I have said before, there is a great deal of character development, plus plenty of emotional moments that should keep shoujo fans happy as well (or at least this one). The story is mostly episodic in nature and you can jump around without much trouble. Nevertheless, there is a story and when read in order, each episode lends itself to further your understanding of the story and its characters.

All in all, "Love Hina" is an excellent series for something for most. Being shounen, it caters to fanboys with fan service, ecchi humor, and cute girls. But for everyone else, there is an interesting plot, fun characters, lovely art, and a story you can truly invest yourself in.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning Series, a Masterpiece, June 16, 2002

By 

T. Kim - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love Hina, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

Manga in Asia is treated as novels are treated in North America. Its readers are either light treaders who want to pass the time, occasional treaders, loving fans, or seriously anaylying scholars. I fall in that final category, having read manga series since I was a child.

And Love Hina struck me deep.

I'm not the only one. It took Japan by storm, had sensational critic acclaims in Korea, and sparked interest in China. And now, America witnesses this cornerstone in manga history. Written and drawn by a man whose talent hadn't really been realized yet, Love Hina grew to be a popular animation and manga. Of course, it is one of those fabled series that started off really just as an oppurtunity thing, but the publishers are glad that they gave our friend Ken a chance.

Love Hina portrays the life of Keitaro, who lives with five girls in a girls' dorm that he manages. As he struggles to get into Tokyo University, he also has to figure out just how to get along with his unlikey lodgers.

Love Hina falls into the popular genre of romance comedies. This genre has many mangas styled after it, but many fail because of loss of stylistic mechanics or linear storylines. However, like Ah My Goddess, Love Hina presents a unique drawing mechanic, plot twists and turns, as well as staying true to the genre with humour, fan service and character development. It succeeds all those requirements naturally required by this genre. Moreever, this series is enhoyable by a wide range of readers. Boys will appeal to the fan service, and live the experience of the main character as they read along. Girls can relate to their five lovely companions and see how they deal with and get to know Keitaro. All in all, it is a wonderful series. Although the translation isn't perfect, or even near perfect, like the Korean translations, Tokyopop has done the best job possible.

PS My final statement is that Love Hina is suitable for everyone. Just because it is rated 13+ doesn't mean that your personal judgment and wishes are impaired. After you've read my review, I'm sure you want to read it. :) If little girls in Kyoto or Osaka can enjoy it, don't be intimidated by the rating. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Hina- romance, comedy, and a bit of ecchi for the guys, August 2, 2002

By 

Anran Wang (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Hina, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

There are two ways to look at the main character (Keitaro Urashima) of this series and his situation:
1. This is a pretty dumb [guy]. He's failed the entrance exam for Toudai (Tokyo U, the most difficult school in Japan) twice already, going for the third. He's unemployed and is about to be kicked out of his house by his parents. Suddenly, he gets the opportunity to stay in Hinatasou, an all-girls dorm. With 5 cute girls and a hot springs on-site, he is the luckiest guy ever!
2. "Is he dead?"
"Don't think so"
Keitaro is beaten senseless. Almost everyday. Specialties? Naru Punch and Motoko's Zangen Ken and Raimeken. Poor guy is just unlucky with girls, thats all. Everytime he trips (happens a lot by the way), he ends up grabbing or falling on someone, then BAM, its off to the stars for Kei-kun.

Just looking at those two, you can see the makings of a great series. Shoujo, ecchi and mystical swordswomen (check out Motoko's Shinmeiryuu Ougi- Zan Ma Ken Ni no Tachi), the only thing this series doesnt have is mecha. And that's no big loss, let me tell you.

Be sure to watch the anime series as well (25 episodes, spring and winter specials, plus the 3 episode OVA Love Hina Again). Its great fun and has quite a few catchy songs thrown in.