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From Japan: Tsubaki-Chou Lonely Planet, Takane to Hana, and Your Color on Lip

March 28, 2016

Here’s what I’ve currently been reading from Japan for the past couple of months. I have already written up license requests for Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet and Takane to Hana. Your Color on Lip is a short two volumes series that I really, really loved!

Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet – Mika Yamamori

Tsubaki-chou is the name of the residence that main character Ohno Fumi goes to work and live at. Because of her father’s debts, she’s kicked out of her own home and has to rely on her own connections to survive. Thus begins her life as a live-in housekeeper for a reclusive writer at Tsubaki chou. To her surprise, the reclusive writer is only a few years older than Fumi. What kinds of feelings will a young girl develop when she lives with and works for a young man?

The first couple volumes are no huge surprise in plot development with this series. Young girl WILL fall for the attractive older guy. I believe Mika Yamamori is taking some of her ideas from Daytime Shooting Star and playing them differently in Tsubaki-Chou. The teacher element is gone, so it’s not as much of a taboo for the girl to like the boy. This time the older guy relationship can work out. However, the plot is not really my driving motivation to read this series. I really, really love the ART! The cover art itself is gorgeous. I like how both covers have Tsubaki flowers for the background. The line art is just as pleasing to the eye as well. I can’t wait for more of this series to be printed in tankobans.

Takane to Hana – Yuki Shiwasu

Now this series I’ve been reading in The Hana to Yume, and have had waaayy too much fun reading it. It became so popular that I believe it’s being printed in regular Hana to Yume now. It tends to go back and forth between those publications, so it’s not always easy to tell. Anyhow, I had to get the tankobans as they became published.

The story is about sixteen year old Hana, who replaces her frivolous older sister for an omiai meeting (a courtship for marriage meeting) so that she may turn down the partner in her sister’s place. Little does Hana expect to be insulted and called plain and desperate by the handsome Takane (age 26) who is the successor to the largest corporation in Japan! Furious, Hana storms out of the meeting with her own set of insults, never expecting to see Takane again. However, Takane finds himself strangely intrigued and decides to pursue his curious omiai with Hana. This story follows the hilarious relationship of two headstrong people from different worlds who just might be perfect for one another.

I could go on and on about how enjoyable this series is, but it’s because I really love these types of relationships – all the tension and chemistry causing the two protagonists to banter each other. Takane thinks he’s so wonderful because of his looks and status, but Hana is great at knocking him on his ass and taking him down a peg or two. Takane’s maturity is right at the same level as Hana’s, even though they have a 10 year age gap, so his childish responses are just as funny. It’s so much fun to watch the two of them go at it!

Your Color On Lip – Keiko Iwashita

Your Color on Lip is translated from Kuchibiru ni Kimi no Iro. This series by Keiko Iwashita ran in The Dessert magazine where it caught my attention. Not only is the art really nice, but the story is very enjoyable as well.

High school student Aya has been ostracized by her classmates due to a teacher sexually harassing her. Her middle school art teacher grabs her and kisses her, but when he is caught in the act, he blames Aya for kissing him. After that, the other students call Aya all kinds of derogatory names pertaining to her being sexually easy. She decides she must become transparent, and have no color in her life. She stops drawing and painting. Then one day new student Aimu Sada transfers into the class. He becomes the catalyst for Aya, enabling her to begin producing art again. Also, Aya becomes an influence for Aimu, helping him to overcome his past. Not going to spoil the story, but it’s such a emotional connection that I instantly loved it. Plus the art is really, really pretty. I wish our publishers would pick up some of these shorter stories and see how they sell.