Thursday, March 25, 2010

Gakuen Alice




Hi^^
Today,I´ll introduce Gakuen Alice written by Tachibana Higuchi.
This is the comic for girls. I lent this comic from my friends and read. It was really interesting one! So, I decided to introduce it. It was also adopted in anime series. Then, I´ll show you the summary of this comic.

Best friends Mikan and Hotaru grew up in a small town in the remote countryside.They are elementary school students. However, in one day, Hotaru moved to a school for genius without explaining Mikan why she will move to that school. Therefore, after Hotaru left, Mikan began bearing a grudge against Hotaru. She felt really lonely because she felt like betrayeded by Hotaru. Then, one day, Mikan heard Hotaru`s mother and principal of the school was talking in the schhool, in coincidence. Then, she knew the truth why Hotaru moved to the school for genius. If Hotaru allows to enter that school, government will give her family a great amount of money as a gratitude. The school Hotaru and Mikan spend their school life was really poor and almost closed down. The principal said `Thanks to your daughter, Hotaru. Our school has financially recovered.` Then, Hotaru`s mother responsed,
`That is my daughter`s wish. My daughter was really fond of this town. Transferring school many times ( to escape from the teachers from school for genius who followed Hotaru`s family to let Hotaru enter to the school) had left her without friends. But sahe finally found the true friend at this school. She wanted to save this school...even if she meant that she had to go.`
From this conversation, Mikan realized that Hotaru went to the school for genius for the sake of her school. At first, Mikan thought Hotaru didn`t care about her classmate any more. However, it was her misunderstanding. And also, Mikan realized that the real reason why Hotaru left Mikan without enough explanation. She realized the message from Hotaru which says
`If I`m going to become only the bad memory for you, then, I`d rather have you get mad, and forget about me. `
Mikan cried and said, `Hotaru,,you love is too difficult to understand.`
Then, Mikan missed Hotaru so badly and decided to travel to Tokyo herself to find Hotaru. She finds Hotaru in a school called "Alice Academy", and finds that the school is actually for people with special powers called "Alices". Mr. Narumi, a teacher at the school, discovers that Mikan also happens to have an Alice, and Mikan is admitted into the academy. Finally, she could meet Hotal and both of them were glad to see each other again. But, unfortunately, the students who enter to this school is not allowed to go out from school until graduate from the school. So, at first, she really missed her grandfather and became homesick. The environment of her classroom was horrible and it was almost classroom distintegration. And also, she became enemies with a boy who is the boss of the classroom with a fire alice, Natsume. So, at first, she couldn´t enjoy her school life there. But, because of her cheerful characteristic, she began to change the environment surrounding her by herself. Then, the later, she finds friends, love, and a life that she will never forget during that time Mikan uncovers the surprising past of her life.
( Some of this summary is from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gakuen_Alice)

There are a various kinds of alice. For example, Teleportation,Telekinesis,Super Speed, Human Pheromone,Shadow manipulation, Doppelganger Alice,Nullification Alice, Stealing Alice, Mark of Death Alice, the Fire Alice. Some of the students get suffer by having Alice. (ex. the person who has stealing alice is being afraid from everyone and can not make friends) Actually, many students are suffering in their school life. Mikan´s cheerful characteristic changes such a people´s school life. Mikan experiences a various kinds of things through her school life with her friends. It is really good story ^^

I really recommend you to read ¨Gakuen Alice¨. ( Alice Academy in Japanese)
These sites show about it in details.
http://gakuen-alice.rightstuf.com/ ( in English)
Thank you (●^o^●)

Saturday, March 20, 2010

「Nodame Cantabile」




Hi(*^^)v
Today, I'll introduce 「Nodame Cantabile」 which is written by Tomoko Ninomiya.
This is the comic for girls which is really popular in Japan.
In fact, the series has been adopted as two different television series: award winning live-action drama and anime. And also, it was cinematized as a live-action movie twice.
You could see how famous this comic is, right? kkk
Then, I'll show you the summary of this comic.

Megumi Noda ( her nickname is Nodame) is a piano student at Momogaoka College of Music. She is an extremely talented pianist who want to be a preschool teacher. She prefers playing by ear rather than reading the music score. She is messy and disorganized, takes baths several days apart and loves to eat.
Shinichi Chiaki is Momogaoka's top student. Born into a musical family, he is talented in piano and violin and has secret ambitions to become a conductor. He is an arogant multi-lingual perfectionist. He wanted to go abroad to improve in his music skills. And also, others recommended him to study abroad because he has a talent. However, it was impossible to him because of his childhood phobia of airplanes and the ocean. Because of it, he felt there's no future in him. He disappointed at himself and grew desparate.
Then, they meet by accident. Nodame quickly falls in love, but it takes much longer for Chiaki to even begin to appreciate Nodame's unusual qualities. However, he noticed her hidden talent in piano and began to be with her to draw out her talent. The relationship causes them both to develop and grow. Along the way, they meet some crazy people ( I mean, a person with a striking personality) and make lusting friendships. Because of Nodame, Chiaki gets the opportunity to lead a student orchestra and begins to have a broader appreciation of people's musical abilities. Because of Chiaki, Nodame faces her fears and enters a piano competition. Opportunities open up as both begin taking risks, stretching themselves far more than they ever thought possible.

This comic puts a gag into the story. So, it doesn't makes you boring even if you don't know about music well. And also, this comic is good for enjoy learning music because this comic describes each song in details. Actually, it is one of the reasons why my piano's teacher likes this comic. kkk

In addition, several soundtrack albums of classical music of Nodame Cantabile have been released. I have some of them and those are really good^^♪ And also, the music score of selections from Nodame Cantabile has been sold. I have one of them and played some songs by piano ^^ Nodame Cantabile is very good comic to enjoy music ♪
This is one of the scenes in live-action drama.
This is the scene when the student orchestra showed to Chiaki how could they improve without him. The guy in the audience is Chiaki. The mongoose ( Nodame said it's mongoose)who plays a keyboard harmonica is Nodame. The song they are playing is Rhapsody in Blue (by Gershwin). It's one of my favorite songs in Nodame Cantabile^^

I really recommend you to read Nodame Cantabile^^
These sites show about it in details.
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/nodame/index2.html (about live-action drama in Japanese)
http://www.nodame-movie.jp/index.html#/top (about live-action movie in Japanese)

Thank you ^^☆

Sunday, March 14, 2010

「I give my first love to you」





Hi^^
Today, I'll introduce you 「I give my first love to you」(Boku no hatsukoi wo kimi ni sasagu) written by Kotomi Aoki.
This is very popular comic for girls in Japan.
It was cinematized as a live-action movie in 2009.
Then, I'll show you the summary of this comic.

Takuma Kakinouchi is a patient with heart disease who went into the hospital since he was a child. This story begins with his childhood when he went into the hospital. When he was in the hospital, he always played with Mayu Taneda (same age with Takuma), who is the daughter of a doctor in charge of Takuma. They were very good friends. But, one day, accidentally, Mayu heard Takuma will not able to live until 20 years old. She was really shocked and began to worry about Takuma. Then, she asked him to go out of the hospital at night and look for a four-leaf clover with her, because she heard the story that a four-leaf clover can grant any wishes. She believed that if she can find a four-leaf clover, Takuma's disease will recover. They went to under the bridge to look for a four-leaf clover together. However, they couldn't find it and Mayu began crying. Then, Takuma kissed her and proposed to her by saying " Can you marry me when we grow up?" ( He doesn't know he will die before he becomes 20years old.) Mayu accepted his proposal and said " When we become 20years old, we'll marry. This is promise!!" Then, she cried. Takuma didn't know why she was crying at that time. Then, when he became an elementary school student, he left hospital and begun goint to school with Mayu. They were always together. But, one day, accidentally Takuma knew the truth that he can't live until 20years old. Then, he noticed the reason why she cried and the meaning of the responce to his proposal. He knew that he noticed that he can't keep promise of marriage and can't make her happy. He still loved her. However, because he knew such a truth, he began to treat her coldly to be apart from her. However, Mayu still follows him because she loves him and want to be with him even if he can't live until 20years old. Both of them fight against their distiny with a lot of sufferings.

This is an advance billing of live-action movie. Sorry, it's Japanese(/_;)
This comic is one of the my favorite comics for girls.
I really impressed when I read it.
So, I really recommend you to read this.
These sites show about 「I give my first love to you」 in details.
http://bokukimi-movie.jp/index.html (about live-actioin movie in Japanese)
http://www.aokikotomi.com/ ( official site of Kotomi Aoki in Japanese)

Thank you^^♪

Saturday, March 6, 2010

「FIVE 」







Hi ^^
Today,I'll introduce 「FIVE」 written by Shiori Furukawa. It is the comic for girls.
I bought this comic when I went back to Japan during last vacation.
And now, it became one of my most favorite comics for girls (●^o^●)♡
I really recommend you to read this one. Then, I'll show you the summary of this comic.

A heroin of this comic is the high school student, Hina Asou , whose father is constantly being sent to a different office by his employers. Therefore, she had changed from one school to another many times. Because of such circumstances, she had never been able to make a friend.
But, now, her circumstances changed. Finally, it was decided that her father won't be transferred to another city any more. She was so happy to know that she can settle in next school 「Shuei Gakuen. Since now, she will be able to really enjoy her school life. She dreamed of making a lot of friends and fall in love with someone. However, in the first day of the school, her dreams came crashing about her ears. There are only boys in her class. Because this school divides classes with one's grade. The class she entered was an classs for highest student and she was the only girl who could enter there ( she is a genius). She disappointed when she realized she can't have opportunity to be friend with girls. Then, suddenly, five boys (who were late for the class) entered in the classroom. They are the boys who are very popular among girls, called " Mens 5". They were interested in Hina and began to be with her. Then, she became friends with them. Her full of ups and downs, but enjoyable school life started.

Actually, Syuei Gakuen is strange school.
For example, the grade for physical education is decided only by ranking of a field day which is held in somewere like a jungle. There's a lot of things Hina feels like" What!? Is this a school!? I can't believe..." in this school. That's why this comic is funny. And also, all of the menbers in "Mens 5" are so cool ♡ This comic has a lot of appeal to readers^^

I really recommend you to read 「FIVE」
These sites show about it in details.
http://ameblo.jp/murderbanvi555/ (Shiori Furukawa's blog in Japanese)
http://www.s-manga.net/author/shiori_furukawa.html (you can read first part of the comics in Japanese)

Thank you (*^^)v♡