MY MANGA DELIGHTS 1.0

As I already mentioned, I'm a huge anime fan and avid manga reader. I keep up with weekly manga releases from different genres.

Today, let's talk about some shoujo mangas. (Shoujo means aimed primarily at a young female audience, typically teen girls.)

You can guess from the description that there would be a super handsome guy and a girl who eventually fall in love.

Absolutely! And I love these stories. Who wouldn't? You've got a tall, handsome guy who's into basketball and gaming, with killer looks to boot! He only has eyes for one girl. Even though a bunch of other girls fawn over him, he never pays them any attention and eventually falls for the damsel in distress.

Highly unrealistic, right? It's the classic shoujo manga charm!

But despite the recurring themes, there are some outstanding shoujo mangas I've read. One of my favorites is Fruits Basket. If you're into anime, you've probably heard of it.

FRUITS BASKET

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'Fruits Basket' has a complex storyline, not your typical shoujo. it incorporates elements of supernatural stuffs and slice of life as well.

It tells the story of Tohru Honda (our girl), an orphan who meets Yuki, Kyo (our boy), and Shigure Sohma. She discovers that 13 members of the Sohma family are possessed by the animals of the Chinese zodiac and turn into their animal forms when weak, stressed, or hugged by the opposite gender who isn't possessed by a zodiac spirit. As the series progresses, Tohru learns about the hardships and pain the Sohma family faces and, through her generous and loving nature, helps heal their emotional wounds. 

You should definitely watch the anime! There are two versions, but I highly recommend the 2019 one because it completes the story. As for whether they were able to break the zodiac curse or not... well, let's avoid spoilers for now!

KONO OTO TOMARE

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I also love 'Kono Oto Tomare! Sounds of Life'. The anime didn't finish the story because the manga is ongoing, (which obviously I've been following..)

The story focuses on the Koto club at Tokise High School in Kanagawa Prefecture. Takezo Kurata, a second-year student and the last remaining member, works hard to recruit new members after the seniors graduate. When delinquent Chika Kudo (our boy) applies to join—despite his troubled reputation, including damaging his grandfather's koto shop—Takezo hesitates. But as he learns the truth, everything changes. Joining them is koto prodigy Satowa Hozuki (our girl), who has her own motives. More members with their own reasons eventually join, all aiming for one goal: competing at the Koto Nationals.

The anime features incredible koto music with a captivating traditional Japanese tone that you'll surely love. As for the manga, its beautiful art and compelling story never fail to amaze me.

Yours truly,
Subarna

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NOTES

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(Slice of Life : In art and entertainment, slice of life depicts everyday experiences realistically. In theater, it aligns with naturalism, while in literature, it often presents a character's life through seemingly random events, without traditional plot development or conflict, sometimes ending openly.

source : Wikipedia)

(Koto : The koto is a Japanese plucked half-tube zither instrument, and the national instrument of Japan.
source : Wikipedia)

Image Source : Google