Nana to Kaoru Appreciation Post

 

Anyone who knows me knows that this is a series I wished was translated into English so I could feel more supportive of the industry, that and how much I have adored this series since I first read it.

Now I gave up with waiting. I decided to hell with it and get the Japanese editions of Nana and Kaoru (Nana to Kaoru), also grabbed Black Label and Last Year as well cause might as well get as much as this series as I possibly could.

There is no regrets here but I now feel a drive to actually better what little Japanese I know into an ability that would allow myself to fully immerse into my favourite series.

I do plan to buy other series that companies either won’t print or license into English cause why should I keep waiting for something when I can support the original publication? Also, there is something about owning the original form of a manga in it’s original language.

It doesn’t help that these are absolutely gorgeous and I am in love with them. It's a pity that you can't get these in English but you can basically get them in German, French and I think Spanish, so quite a few European countries. Heck, I noticed it gets asked for quite a bit and I wish it got noticed cause despite the S&M themes, it's a rather cute series that focuses on relationships and personal growth and development as well as giving a much better view of how S&M and BDSM works, unlike the other series that got printed which didn't start off with consent, looking at you Pleasure and Corruption. Don't get me wrong, Pleasure and Corruption is not a bad series but it's not a great representation of Bondage either. 

So, Nana to Kaoru (Nana and Kaoru) is an 18 volume series by Ryuta Amazume where it's about a 17yo Kaoru who has a love for S&M and Bondage, who is in love with his childhood friend Nana, not only that but he imagines doing such things with her. Until one day his mother hid his gear with Nana to try and get him to study. Nana, who is having a rut with her studies, decided to peek into the bag, she pulls out the leather one-piece and tries it on, pondering why it seems to fit her, without realising she accidentally locks herself into it, of course, she doesn't have the key! Embarrassed, she goes to the one person who can get her out of it, Kaoru. This starts a S&M comedy about a boy and a girl who uses these themes as a way to develop themselves and their relationships, not just around them, but between themselves.

It has a lot of ecchi and fan service in it but the one aspect I love the most is the romantic and slice of life themes that the story embodies. It's just a pity people see it and go "ewww" without reading it. Sure, it has some strong themes (urinating in public, bondage, pet play) but it also focuses and shows the development of relationships and characters within the story. It starts off like a cliche but it becomes something so sweet and sensual that it's an utter shame that this doesn't have an English print.

Though, now I don't care if it does get one (if it does, I'd get it just to sit with the Japanese) but I am super thrilled to have this series thanks to my partners help, he knew how long I wanted these and we finally found two sellers that had the lot. I am eternally grateful for having a series I love. It's the year of dreams coming true~! 

Crown of Love ~ Initial review

Hey all~!

It's been a while and I blame it on the fact that I haven't bothered with trying to go on the laptop of wondering what to type, so I'm here today to try and do a post about my initial feelings about a series I recent got.

It's called Crown of Love and by the same creator as Loveless, Yun Kouga and it was licensed and distributed by Viz Media and their shojo branch. 

Wiki synopsis:

After a chance encounter, Hisayoshi "Kumi" Tajima falls madly in love with teen idol Rima Fujio. Bewitched by her beauty, he only wants to get closer to her. As a fan, he lives in a separate world. But if he becomes a fellow idol, maybe things will be different. Thus inspired, he strives to achieve his goal.

So far, I've only read the first volume and I'm very meh about it.
The main character is a young man of talent, who gets beaten up by his father when he chose a life as an idol over what his father wants (yes, said father beats his wife too). Falls in love at first site, which, I don't know, I get but find that so boring these days cause he barely knows the lass. I mean, the lass is now better, she longs for someone she really can't have, her mother is legit have some problems and leaches off her daughter and possibly the manager. There is a lot to unpack and this is the first volume.

The art I can't dis since it's an older manga series from 1998, so the quality would seem a bit different compared to other mangas I read, especially ones that have come out in the last five years. For a shojo, it's very blocky and hard lining while there is detail, there is also very little. Despite the fact it got an English release in 2010, which was one interesting time for the manga industry.

Storywise? nothing is grabbing me, I really don't want to continue and I have no motivation from the series itself. Like, I don't care if the guy hooks up with the idol or the school friend or whatever. I mean, there is nothing for me to inspire me to continue but that's just me.

I will confess I got the series second-hand, so I don't feel like I wasted too much on it but I was hoping for more from it. Hopefully it will win me over in the end and so I can write up a new post possibly about it but until then, time to attempt to read it.

So far it's a 2.5 stars from me.

Until next time, read all the things~!