Manga Post: Asumiko Nakamura
Theme 05: mangaka, Asumiko Nakamura~
~(Wow it’s been a long time since I’ve done a manga post ^^; ) For lack of a more creative theme (please forgive me, having two English classes at school has really tapped out my creative juices), I’ve decided to dedicate this Manga Post to my number one favorite manga artist of all time: Asumiko Nakamura. She’s unfortunately on a hiatus at the moment, which has actually flamed my want to make her the main subject of this week’s post in honor.
Asumiko Nakamura is a bit of unknown artist with the English-speaking manga readers (at least I believe since there are still many of her works that aren’t translated), but she is actually becoming a rising star in Japan with her collaboration with Ikuhara “Utena” Kunihiko in creating a serialized manga called Nokemono to Hanayome (who’s first volume actually sold out in one day o.o), and with her popular BL manga called Doukyuusei. She truly is a fabulous artist with an extremely unique art style. I’ve actually had people tell me they don’t read some of her one-shots or mangas because the art seems weird to them. She has very long bodies for her characters, along with odd face shapes and such that throws a lot of people off ^^; Nakamura-sensei though is a fabulous storyteller and has created all sorts of stories for one-shots and mangas. She has quite a lot of BL stories, which I absolutely adore because they’re so innocent and sweet (well, the ones I’ve read), and she has many lovely, artistic one-shots. She can also get quite dark with her more mature manga (which I don’t really like since they scare me a bit hahaha).
I fell in love with her art one day when I bought a Japanese fashion magazine called KERA to help me out in my drawings, and it turned out it was the same magazine that serializes the Nokemono to Hanayome manga. The chapter featured was very short but it captivated me! Her character designs were so unique and wacky, and just her…whole style was extremely lovely. I ended up procrastinating on looking her up, but finally did when I obtained the English version of the Gothic Lolita Bible, which had a translated a one-shot by Nakamura. Since then I’ve tried to read all I can from her, and hoping one day the U.S will license my favorite mangas of hers. So now I’d like to share my personal favorites from Nakamura-sensei~.
B&W
Genre(s): Drama, Supernatural
Status: One-shot
Year: 2009
Summary: A story about a boy waiting for his sister…
Thoughts: It’s a really short one-shot, and at first I didn’t want to include this in the post, but I thought it was too good in my opinion to turn down. At first, you’re really confused on why this little boy is waiting so long for his little sister, but as it progresses, you notice something quite interesting!
I loved the twist in the end so much!! I sort of expected it, but even still it had another twist that I didn’t see. This is one of the reason why I love Nakamura’s one shots so much; they’re simple stories but in the end have exquisite twists that no matter what you may think, she totally turns your mind 360. I love how she only uses one particular color in her one-shots as well<3. You can always tell that it’s by her ;D
Doukyuusei (Classmate)
Genre(s): Drama, School Life, Shounen Ai, Slice of Life
Status: Completed
V0lume(s): 1
Year: 2006
Summary: A boy met a boy. They were in the flush of youth. They were in love that felt like a dream, like a sparkling soda pop.
Thoughts: This has to be…the most sweetest, innocent yaoi I have ever read in my entire manga-reading years. I-It’s just soooooooooooo cuuuuuuuuute! It has such an innocent storyline, and it’s so-gah! So sweet it’s gonna melt your heart :’D Seriously, it’s gonna give you diabetes! Doukyuusei is a very innocent tale of two high school boys a bit confused about their feelings for each other at first, and then continue to grow their new relationship, of course not without being a bit confused. It sounds a bit too simple, but it’s actually quite entertaning. There isn’t anything dirty (like they don’t do…that), but to the viewers who like those kind of yaoi mangas, don’t turn away!
I can’t tell you how much I fell in love with this manga. Living in a country where sex is almost EVERYWHERE in the media, this was such a nice refresher back to some old-school love stories ^^ I love the typical first-time-relationship situations that they go through, like jealously and wondering what to do if someone found out about them and what not. It’s so cute!<3 Plus, I’m a hopeless fangirl for meganes so I instantly was rooting for the glasses guy (sorry I forgot his name |’D). This story also has a 2 sequels, the first sequeal is composed of two volumes, which unfortunately isn’t completed scantalated yet so, I’m not sure how this wonderful love story ends (the second one is acutally right below this section ;D). If you need a nice slap of innocence in the face, or just want to delve in a nice love story, Doukyuusei is something you should definitely read~.
Sora to Hara
Genre(s): Comedy, School Life, Yaoi
Status: On-going
Volume(s): none
Year: 2009
Summary: Harasen a single, lonely 37 years old high school teacher is unable to cope the departure of a student, who is also his subject of unrequited love. Faced with a love sickness, he returns to the clubbing scene to start a fresh where he tangles up with a very troublesome guy…
Thoughts: So this is the second sequel to Doukyuusei (does that even make sense?) that actually deals with the teacher who was in love with the glasses guy (it’s not that weird, trust me). As the summary says, it became an unrequited love. I didn’t even realize that it was the teacher until I actually read it, heh |’D Anyways, it’s a rather interesting sequel! I really like the storyline; it’s pretty comedic because the teacher is very BLEAH and Doom-and-gloom and such, while this ‘troublesome guy’, Sorano, is pretty happy-go-lucky, and a bit naive so they’re always clashing. The expressions Nakamura gives them are really hysterical at times, and certainly fuel the comedy xD
My favorite is, of course, Sorano (you see the glasses thumbnail), but not only because he looks so freaking cute, but because of his personality. I don’t know how to explain it, I just love the nonchalant way he acts sometimes 8) I think they make a cute couple, personality wise. Do you have to read Doukyuusei before reading this? I don’t really think so, but it would help get to know the teacher’s situation and such. It makes me sad that more hasn’t been translated of this series because I do love it so, and it indeed is really good! It may not be as innocent as Doukyuusei, but it can be as cute~.
The Girl in the Diary of Unrequited Love
Genre(s): Drama, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Status: One-shot (part of a collection of short stories called Katakoi no Nikki Shoujo )
Year: 2008
Summary: Takashi accidentally found his father’s diary and in it, it tells a story of his father’s love for a girl with green flower hair pin. So who is this girl? What’s Takashi going to do about it? Read it to find out the bittersweet story of an unrequited love.
Thoughts: I instantly thought the summary was pretty interesting. I expected this to be a more calm, serious story, but I was totally mislead (Don’t judge books by their covers, kiddies) |’D It was actually quite a comical, no, hysterical story! The situations Takashi gets into while he’s trying to find this girl are just so funny! So many stalker innuendos, hahaha. And the girl herself was totally not what you expected either.
This short story perfectly shows one of the things I love most about Asumiko Nakamura’s mangas: the HILARIOUS, over-dramatic, comical face expressions x’D They are so exaggerated sometimes I instantly start laughing, and I don’t even know what the speech bubbles says! I was cracking up over Takashi’s reactions, each one of them. Sincerely I feel like this is one of her better short stories because of the pretty unique storyline, and the lovely characters~.
~Now I diverted away from showcasing the more mature and…*cough* hardcore BL mangas she does, just to keep this generally mild x’D She’s very bipolar in her stories in a way; one minute she has this innocent and cutsie manga, while in another manga its extremely dark and quite frightening at times. I strongly suggest reading not only these titles, but her other works as well because she has something different for every type of reader. It is going to be hard trying to find a place to read some of Nakamura-sensei’s works, but you won’t regret it~ ;D (I also apologize if this isn’t one of my better manga posts; it’s been a while!)
About Hoshi
A tired, over-dramatic 20 year old college student who likes manga and cheesy Korean boy bands. Prone to succumb to laziness and refuse to work for hours on end.
POWUH: iLurker with 6 comments
Oh wow.. I’m a huge fan of Nakamura-sensei’s, and it just about broke my heart when her site went down all of a sudden. But moving on, I have just one of her BL works (Anata no tame nara Doko made mo), and it’s just so comedic yet emotional at the same time.
I’ve no idea where Nakamura gets those ideas, but her artwork is wonderful (in a retro sort of way). Thanks for making a post about her. ^^;
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~YAY another fan! *high five* Oh yes, mine did too ;A;
Oh gosh, Anata no tame nara Doko made mo was the first BL manga I read of hers! That one is my absolute favorite BL manga of hers, which I didn’t put in the post because it is pretty dirty, hahaha.
Me neither; she’s just a GENIUS (ahahahaha) and yes, her artwork is just stunning at times~.
POWUH: iLurker with 6 comments
Seriously!? XD
What I read of Barairo no Hoo no Koro was good too. It was just so..wow, haha. I think what sucked me in was the whole “rich kid + smart kid” pairing on the cover. So cute~ And it’s so poetic somehow!
Oneshot-wise, I loved the Teddy Bear Murder Case. That one had a twist I didn’t see coming. |D
POWUH: iLurker with 6 comments
Oh oh Nakamura is also my fave mangaka ever!! I just love so so much her drawing style!! It’s such an eyecandy for me <33!
While I've read the most cutest stories of hers (like Non-Non and The Teddy Bear Murder Case to name some) to the most sadist and twisted stories (J no Subete which I totally disliked, and Coponicus no Kokyuu, that I found terribly shocking, yet it gets better at the end… Hope she'll finish it someday!) I don't regret reading any of them, it was at the end really addicting XDD
Hope she'll decide to draw some more!!
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~YESSSS ANOTHER ULTIMATE FAN! *high fives* Uwaahhh~ her art is just so stunning and unique, it’s definitely eye-candy for me as well<3
Ah, I've read Non-non, the Teddy Bear Murder Case, and a bit of Coponicus no Kokyuu (which freaked me out a bit) too :3 I think the one that kind of creeped me out a bit was Double Mints, for some reason |'D It was good though I have to say.
I do too~!!
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
ahahaha hooray for a manga post! xD Nice work Hoshi, this suits you so well ^^
Not knowing Nakamura at all and definitely not a manga person, I’ve now noticed how awesome manga is xD If I have time I’ll check out these manga’s since everyone is saying Nakamura is an awesome mangaka!
Another “to do” to add on my list of hundreds xD
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Awww, thanks Tofu-san ^^
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I’m glad you noticed, and I do hope you check out her stuff!! Actually, I hope you read more manga *3* In fact you should try reading manga that’s already been turned into an anime; that’s always fun because you can spot the differences hahaha xD
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
Thanks but no thanks, usually I only read a manga that is the same as an anime I’m watching for two reasons ONE: the anime ended while the manga is still going and TWO: If the anime was really good, I’ll check out the manga
I’m always in a debate with myself about whether I should watch or read since I don’t really like re-run’s unless if it’s K-ON xD
Sorry Hoshi~! T___T I’ll definetly check out Nakamura though, for you xD
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Ahhh I see, well I respect that :3
It’s all right! xD But yes, please check out Nakamura-sensei!! I doubt they can make her stuff into anime LOL
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
ahahaha Her work is too good to be a anime xD
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
“she totally turns your mind 360.”
LOL Hoshi, isn’t that a full circle? XDD So..you’re back where you started? Ahaha, hope you don’t mind me teasing you~
I’m so happy to see your manga posts back here again!! I don’t read a lot of manga, even though I like it, so I love getting your professional recommendations XD
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
Hoshi is the Self-proclaimed Manga Queen (as her rank name says) anything manga-related Hoshi will know xD
This is actually my first time reading a manga post and this is also the first time seeing a manga post from Hoshi, I can truly see the knowledge embedded inside the Manga Queens mind ahahahaha xP
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~THAT’S RIGHT!! LOL, thanks Tofu-san! x’D
Ahahahahahaha, reading gives you knowledge xD
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
I’m gonna quote here: “Feed your brain, not your face!” xD
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~NICE XD
POWUH: 1100-1199 and Meta's Evil rice-flour Product with 1137 comments
not too sure if u can call shoujo “knowledge”
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 234 comments
Sorry… but… I don’t… like… shoujo art 🙁
Don’t kill me
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~It’s okay, I respect that.
I won’t kill you, hahaha x’D
POWUH: 1100-1199 and Meta's Evil rice-flour Product with 1137 comments
HERESY! BURN THE WITCH
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
BURN THE WITCH!!! (Wait, I thought Sassy was a guy…) xD
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 234 comments
I am.
I can hook you up with like 100 series for guys if you want, but no shoujo lol
POWUH: Meta Resident and Yōko Fanboy with 1246 comments
Burn the…wizard? xD 100 series of what? manga? no thanks ^^
POWUH: 1100-1199 and Meta's Evil rice-flour Product with 1137 comments
hookups with a comic book…i think that takes adolescent curiousity to a whole new level
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 339 comments
Aaah, Nakamura <3
I've seen her work and illustrations quite often in Gothic Lolita bibles, she's damn popular as an illustrator with the lolita community. Her work is so soft and delicate, and really inspires alot of my linework, much love for her.
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Yessss<3 She is just an amazing artist.
And I figured since she has been cooperating with Baby the Stars Shine Bright on the new manga she's been working on :3 (I believe)
POWUH: Metanorn Regular with 88 comments
I also fell in love with her art through KERA & GLB, she is definitely one of my favorite mangaka/artists ever ♥ She has an amazing way with writing stories, and her artwork is so gorgeous. I wish I could meet her IRL so she can sign one of my GLBs c:
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Oh my…If I met her in real life I’d probably faint, then revive and start acting like a total spazz |’D I’d love to get my KERA magazine signed by her–NO! I want a personal drawing from her! *A*
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 21 comments
Ne~ Hoshi! Do a post about her other, darker works too! <3
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Hahahahaha XD I totally should…
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 304 comments
I’ve never read any of her works before, but now I think I’m going to have to. I love her art. It’s so unique and pretty. I’m not really much of a BL fan though. However, there are some couples that I like… like Sebastian and Ciel. If it’s as sweet and innocent as you are saying it is, then there is a pretty good chance that I’ll like it. Will check out her works. Also, you have a fellow megane fangirl right here! I can’t even tell you how much I love guys with glasses. xD
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Yes, her art is so unusual, but really stunning 8’D
Doukyuusei is the most innocent BL manga of hers so I’m pretty sure you’ll like it xD Be careful with her other ones though; they can get kinda dirty heehee.
Whohoo~!! *high fives* Ah, seriously…I’m always biased towards guy characters with glasses |’D
POWUH: iLurker with 8 comments
where can you read B&W. I’ve looked and can’t find it…
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 234 comments
Try http://www.mangatoshokan.com/series/BW
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 234 comments
It’s on manga toshokan
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Your advices are always so helpful! Now I know, what would I want to read, rather than just randomly choose…. Thank you~!!!!!!
POWUH: 800-899 and Self-proclaimed Manga Queen with 874 comments
~Awwwwww<3 ;A; I'm glad that I'm helping!
I always have trouble finding new series to read myself, so I'm happy I'm making it less harder for others! xD
POWUH: Meta Resident and Metanorn's Hime-chan~ with 1758 comments
Yeah, accidentally landing on a stupid manga is really painful *0* Thank you again, Hoshi!!!!! ^_____^
POWUH: Beginner (20-35) with 21 comments
Wow, thanks to you, I read Doukyuusei today, and it was soooo cute! And soooo waaaah!~<3