Book Review: Itazura Na Kiss Manga Series (First 12 volumes)

Marissa

7 years ago

It started with the Korean drama, Playful Kiss. If I stopped there, I probably would have never read the manga (because I don’t care for it). Then I watched Mischievous Kiss, It Started with a Kiss, Miss in kiss, and Kiss Me. If I never watched the others, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with this story.

Itazura Na Kiss by Kaoru Tada

Published by Shueisha and Digital Manga Publishing
Genre: shoujo, romantic comedy, slice of life
Run: June 1990-March 1999
Volumes: 23 (I’ve only read 12)

Synopsis

High school senior, Kotoko, decides to confess her love in a letter to Naoki, a senior she has had a crush since the beginning of high school. He rejects her, but after an earthquake things are more in her favor.

Review

Written in 1990 by Kaoru Tada. The series became quickly popular. As in the paragraphs above you can see that it spread throughout Asia right into my heart and the hearts of others (haha I felt like being cheesy).

I love this story. Yes it’s a love story, but it’s also a story of determination, of staying focus, of never giving up.

Kotoko is a kindhearted character that only has eyes for Naoki. And even though he refuses to show it. It takes him almost losing her to confess. That’s one of my favorite parts too. Can you believe I got just as excited for this page (the picture below) as I do for the dramas?

Naoki’s mom is dead-set on getting the two together, but just like a Chinese finger trap the more she pushes him, the more Naoki pushes back. Not to mention Ken-chan, he is deeply in loves with Kotoko, but annoyingly so. He does so much for her, but she never seems to have eyes for him. Life’s like that sometimes.

The Best

I like how I get to see the original creator’s thinking. You get a different amount detail than the dramas. I think it’s because of the live action dramas’ budget, that they have to pick and choose what to add. But the manga has it all. I love the characters and the story. Surprisingly, early 90s fashion didn’t bother that much.

Such a cute outfit Kotoko is wearing.

The Worst

There’s nothing really except I hardly read manga, so when I started to read it took a long time for me to be interested. Also the fact that I can’t seem to find the other 11 volumes. Even though I’ve seen the dramas, I would like to know what the original author created.

After thoughts/recommendations

Reading the manga really solidified the story for me. I’ve been in love with the story since Mischievous Kiss, but now I love it even more.

I’d recommend Itazura Na Kiss to shoujo lovers. I’m going to read Hana Yori Dango next, so maybe that.

Best Quotes

Konomi, Yuuki’s crush

This quote was the only one that really caught my attention. Mainly because this really was one of my favorite quotes growing up. I’m almost certain that I heard it from One Piece (but I’m not 100%) and it was “fortune favors the bold.” That quote stuck with me because I’m not very bold, but it can be used as a reminder to be more bold if I want something.