Suzuka

Original Title: Suzuka
Author: Seo Kouji
Length: 18 Volumes (Complete)
Status: Finished

Description: Yamato is ready for a fresh start. So when his aunt invites him to stay rent-free in her big-city boarding house in hustling, bustling Tokyo, Yamato jumps at the chance. There’s just one teensy-weensy catch: It’s an all-girl housing complex and spa! Things get even more nerve-racking when Yamato meets his neighbor Suzuka, a beautiful track-and-field star. She’s not just the cutest girl Yamato’s ever met, she’s also the coolest, the smartest, and the most intimidating. Can an ordinary guy like Yamato ever hope to win over a girl like Suzuka?

I first came across this manga in a Popular bookstore quite a long time back. For some unearthly unknown reason, I went ahead to read the summary for volume 3. (I have seriously know idea why but I did the same with a lot of manga like Pokemon Adventures and Love Hina) Thus, I know what to expect when Yamato confessed to Suzuka in the previous volume.

Putting aside the fact that I have spoiled myself, I did not really consider to buy the manga as it was not released by Chuang Yi which means that it costs a lot more. The summary above also makes it sound as though it is very similar to Love Hina. Truth to be told, when I read the first chapter, Love Hina did crossed my mind. There were girls, fan service, and more girls. Maybe there were not many girls at the beginning chapter but they will be the only girls in the entire dormitory that interacted with him. (Note: It’s excluding girls he met outside or in school) The fan service may be a lot fewer compared to other series but they are more graphic.

However, it is evident that this is not a harem manga but truly a romance manga as the story developed. Sure, there are your usual stuff like love triangles but the manga scores in a sense that the entire story is not that predictable. (Especially nearer the end, when I realised that it is going to take a turn towards a different ending than what I anticipated in the earlier chapters) Furthermore, the main lead isn’t so useless afterall as he really do have some skills. It helps quite a bit as it doesn’t entirely dwell on romance alone. The comedy is a great bonus to the manga and it keeps the mood going.

Many of the stuff in the manga can relate to real life. 18 volumes (167 chapters) is more than enough to show you the different possible situations you might face in life. It doesn’t matter if it is just a normal crush on a guy/girl or things like “how to be a good boyfriend” but one can really learn a lot of things in this manga alone. However, I really feel like slapping Yamato sometimes because some of the things he say or do, which causes him to be in trouble, is just plain common sense.

This manga has seen mixed reviews from its readers. Some will say this is your average romance manga with its so ever predictable plot while some will say it is the best one they ever read. Whatever their opinions are, this is one manga that will burn a hole in my pockets. 18 volumes in total and if each costs at least 10 bucks, I’ll be freaking broke (*cursing*) Oh well, after 2-3 years, I finally decided I’ll get this series as well.

Singapore National Kendo Championship 2008

I swear to you people that my form today is definitely U.G.L.Y. However, surprised surprised, I manage to get 1st in the Men’s Junior category. Luck? Perhaps. Although I won’t be able to figure out how I did it as it was a blur to me.

Congratulations to those who won! Oh well, this will be my last tourney before I head off to National Service so i can’t really complain can I with the results? (On the contrary, I still felt I fought horribly…) Those who didn’t get what they wanted, let’s work hard together and continue to improve ourselves.

Bitter Virgin

Original Title: BITTER VIRGIN
Author: Kusunoki Kei (楠桂)
Length: 3 Volumes (Incomplete)
Status: In Progress

Description: Suwa Daisuke is the ladies man of his small town high school, and he has his eye on most every girl, except for one. Aikawa Hinako isn’t his type, but when he overhears a deep dark secret of hers, he finds himself thinking of her more and more.

When I first came across this manga a month or so back, I decided to give it a pass for the moment as I thought it might be a just another shoujo manga or the fact that her deep dark secret is related to rape ( I would usually stay away from these type of shows/stories if I can help it due to certain circumstances plus well, rapist really do disgusts me.)

I was reading a forum today and the topics was on ‘Dark Anime’, which are basically anime series that revolves around the darker side of life. All is well until I came across this post:

well i don’t know much about dark anime
but if you want a manga there is this ” bitter virgin “
i won’t spoil the story here but i’d like to warn you before you read that manga
may be its just me
this is truly the darkside story, if you have weak heart avoid it
i read without aware of it and now my heart is aching whenever i remember the story
but i can’t stop reading it now
so its like you read at your own risk

Thus, I decided to try the manga out on a whim. I read the first chapter and was instantaneously ‘hooked’ to it that I read all 24 chapters in one sitting. It tackles on issues which include rape, pregnancy, abortion etc. The burden the lead female, Aikawa, have to carry when she was in junior high is very heavy indeed. The psychological effects after the horrible experience in that few years was such that she dared not go near anyone from the opposite sex at all.

That is when the lead male, Suwa, comes in. The story starts off showing that he is just one of your typical high school cum good-looking guy who likes to flirt with girls but his whole life change after he accidentally came to know Aikawa’s past and the reason why she behaves like that around men. As the summary suggested, he starts thinking about her more and more.

The manga belongs to the seinen genre, a mistake of mine to assume it was shoujo, and it is only 4 volumes long. (They only have it till volume 3 currently. Volume 4 is not up for scanlations yet although it has been released in Japan.) The plot is very well developed, pending between drama and romance. Characterization was exceptionally good as well. Thankfully, it is not overly dramatic like those malay drama series you watched in Suria where their main aim is to simply stress you out. As a matter of fact, I was simply touched by this manga and I was totally immersed in the story. It just captures your feelings and emotions throughout. It is pretty unique and is a must-read, no qualms about it. I am going to buy the manga but I don’t think Chuang Yi will ever release this title so I will probably head down to Kinokuniya to get it.

Lack of updates

I sincerely apologize for the lack of updates. I was working for about 2 weeks awhile back plus I was feeling lazy to go online; with the exception of watching anime. Haha, fret not, will be updating it soon