Customer Reviews

Nana, Volume 1 (v. 1)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I simply adore this manga.

Huge in Japan, NANA recently made the swim across the Pacific to US markets, and horray for that! 20-something Nana Komatsu is your average charming 'hopeless good girl,' an aimless graduate trying to find direction, survive self-doubt, and a string of never-ending boyfriends. Nana Osaki is nearly the opposite: a cool, confident, focused lead singer of her own punk band and dealing with internal longing for success and the only man she loves. This first volume fills in the details of their lives and how it is that they later came to be on the same train to Tokyo, where despite their obvious differences, they soon become roommates and the best of friends in one of the most charming and endearing storylines ever.

This is not necessarily what American audiences think of when they think of manga (Japanese comics). It's not rockets or robots shooting up the old west, or cowboys in deep space. Instead NANA is a more down-to-earth read about growing up, aspirations, relationships and a more intimate side of two contemporary heroines. The title falls under the term 'shojo' and it's like 'chick-lit' manga - except for a slightly mature audience. This particular series is not for young kids as it has an amount of sex and adult socializing, but NANA is a really good read!!

Forget feeling silly, or feeling like you're 'too grown up' to read comic books! Artist Ai Yazawa has created a story and artwork that is both delicate and nicely stylized. It's a pleasure to read, doesn't force unrealistic circumstances down your throat, but rather engages and endears. Most of all, it's just as enjoyable the second time around... and there aren't many 'chick-lit' or even manga books that can claim that. I understand that in Japan, NANA is such a sensation that fans have named cafes and clubs after it, demanded and purchased a NANA video game, and there has been a live-action movie (I'd definitely see that). I've read the first novel and kept up on the serialized version in various magazines. I'm already convinced I'm going to be a fan for all volumes... Read with confidence, NANA is an enjoyable guilty pleasure - like getting the uber-large super mocha latte...

Nana Komatsu has had a string of bad luck when it comes to men. One right after another she falls into desperate love with them and ends up heartbroken and alone. So when her most recent relationship with Takashi Asano (age 29) ends in his moving to Tokyo she doesn't know what to do. Having applied at an art college with her friend Jun she bobs her hair and sets out for a new life and a new attitude. Of course the first thing that happens when she enters class is she falls in love with Shoji Endo, an amenable fellow who knows Jun from Junior High. He introduces the two too Kyosuke Takakura, his friend, and everything seems to be going ok. Jun points out Nana's attraction and accounts it to be the reason why Nana has no male friends, which Nana resolves to change. From then on she refuses to see men as object and vows to befriend them. This puts a cramp in Shoji's plans, who actually is attracted to Nana. Things become even more complicated when Jun surrenders to her mutual attraction to Kyosuke. Nana thinks this is betrayal, but actually does feel as if she is growing from her male friendships.

When the group decides to apply to art colleges in Tokyo Nana is the only one who is rejected. She goes on a scouting trip anyways where she has a fight with Shoji and then ends up running into Takashi and making amends all around. Things with Shoji end up so intense that they manage to maintain a long distance relationship while she works and is determined to reapply to the Tokyo schools the following year.

Enter an entirely different Nana. Nana Osaki lives with her boyfriend and band mate Ren Honjo. Fronting a punk band has her feeling good about her past, a childhood where she grew up apart from her parents, alone and unwanted. Suddenly Ren is afforded this great opportunity to make it in the music industry by joining another band as their bassist, and he decides to take it. Nana decides to wait until she is better prepared to follow, but in the end she packs her bags and heads off to Tokyo.

The series is interesting, especially with the two points of view on life. I imagine the two Nanas will meet up together, but from there I don't know quite what to expect. Will they be friends? Enemies? Lovers? Who knows. It is obvious that these two will meet up in Tokyo, but how it will go from there is unknown. I admire some of the art.... I do stress some though. There are parts that are beautifully drawn, and then there are some parts that are just not well done...and the super tall and skinny frames of the main characters are a touch exaggerated at times for my taste. Overall though, a decent read. I will probably check more of this series out in the future. For now though we must all be content with the two that are available, thus far.

Nana is a story of two girls who meet on a train to Tokyo and become fast friends. The first volume in this 14+ volume series introduces us to the girls (both are named Nana, which means seven in Japanese) to their friends, and the loves of their lives.
Nana is by the same manga-ka who did Paradise Kiss, and it is a manga more concerned with day to day lives of the characters and their interactions. The art style is very unique and very beautiful. Yazawa carefully constructs three dimensional characters that one comes to care about.
Nana Komatsu is a boy-crazy artist wannabe who follows her boyfriend to Tokyo. She is a bit airheaded, but not stupid. She is aware that her sometimes foolish ways can get her into trouble and she's quite superstitious, citing that the Demon King is out to punish her for her deeds.
Nana Osaki is a singer in a rock group. She goes to Tokyo to pursue a singing career. She is more levelheaded and serious.
When these two girls meet, they hit it off immediately and by coincidence become roommates. The story chronicles their friendships, hardships and so forth.
This type of manga is usually classified as Shojo, because it generally appeals to females. The rating will probably be older teen because this series deals frankly with issues like sex, though it is never gratuitous.
Nana will probably appeal to those who like Paradise Kiss or any of Ai Yazawa's other work.
Here's hoping that Nana being translated means that Yazawa's other work like Gokinjo make it over here as well.

Nana has been one of my favorite manga series for years, and I was thrilled when it got licensed for English readers. While the story and art still stands up on its own, I found their choice of slang phrases in the translation really distracting. In many cases, it sounded like an old person trying to sound "hip" and in others, it made the characters sound younger then they actually were... They're supposed to be college age, how many 20 year olds actually talk like that?

Other than the very sad way the translaters tried to make it sound cool, this still is a great read. With fascinatingly flawed characters, a complex storyline, and beautiful art, this series is still in my top ten favorites.

This is my all-time favorite manga. I've been reading it since 2006. It starts off with the background of both Nana's (one who is later nicknamed Hachi). After that they by chance meet on a train to Tokyo where they both are hoping to achieve their dreams.

This story deals with so much, it has drama, music, romance. The characters are likable but they also have flaws that will make you go, "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"

The art is great. Ai Yazawa studied to be a fashion designer so even the clothes are always unique and well drawn.

I love this manga but the only sad, sad news is that it's currently been on hiatus for almost 3 years. And so far no sign that it's continuing. So for that reason read with caution because I know how hard it is to start something and then not be able to finish.

I saw the anime for this before I started to read the manga and I have to say that it is an amazing story so far. So in the fact that I wanted to know what happens next (or in between the story and "ending" they used in the anime) and started reading the manga.

The story so far is exactly as the anime shows but the only thing I did not like about the english translated Manga is the fact that they use the most annoying slang when the characters are talking or thinking. The subtitled version of the anime that I watched (on-line) was wonderful, and the slang used in the manga was not in that. I think that the manga would be a lot better if they would just translate it without the annoying slang. Like having the characters constantly saying "man" or "dude" or such things at the end of every sentence, it's just annoying and clearly these characters do not talk that way.

But the above is the ONLY negative thing I have to say about it. It is a great story and I highly recommend both the manga (despite the annoying slang) and the anime series. I have yet to see the live action films.

If you like a love story with a Comic twist this is the book series for you.

NANA like new Sid And Nancy is cool highest. A lovely girl named NANA is attractive. The development in the future became the enjoyment very much.

Love nana, even though people say that the translation is bad. I don't see the big deal, Nana is very good and very different!!! Love is not the main part of the plot! It also has insight scoop in the celebrity life.

I got obsessed with Nana when it was in a monthly Animation mag that I received. They stopped having it in the magazine on the 7th or 8th edition, so I had to go and buy it. Now I have all of them.

Nana is about 2 girls who's name is Nana. It's how they meet and become friends. One Nana is a punk girl who sings in a band, The Black Sones. And the other Nana is just a girl with bad luck in love.

I highly recommend this series!