di[e]ce 1 by Yamamoto Kana & Saki Otoh and You are Mine 1 by Ohta Saki (3L josei and shoujo manga out nau~)

Streeted 30 December 2011, according to Angelzon. Oh, and happy new year 2012 (I've been out with teh flu. :P)

di[e]ce © Yamamoto Kana & Saki Otoh/Ichijinsha [First serialized in Comic Zero-Sum] · Kimi wa Boku no Mono © Ohta Saki/Shogakukan [First serialized in Cheese!]. Published in Indonesia as di[e]ce and You are Mine by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

I'm betting di[e]ce by doujinshi circle Negahyst Yamamoto Kana and Saki Otoh will prove to be the next Tramp for 3L. What do you think?

Identical faces, same birthdays. The lives of Naruse Kazuki and Koutake Haruki are upended when they turn 16, the milestone marking the start of a deadly game in which their lives are forfeit.

So we get Survival, Best Friends, Chess Roles, Game of Death, Betrayal (Baka-Updates Manga user tags for di[e]ce).

I mentioned that Yamamoto Kana and Saki Otoh form the doujinshi circle Negahyst; Saki Otoh also belongs to the manga-ka group Naked Ape. Both have logged an impressive list of doujinshi (for Death Note, Eyeshield 21, Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Naruto, Prince of Tennis)—see here and here—but every so often, manga series creep in like the shoujo Ken was a normal high-school student until he was killed...chasing after a riceball Shinigami Doggy, serialized in ASCII Media Works's Sylph (two Sylph Comics tankou per 2011.08) or Togainu no Chi, based Nitro+CHiRAL's visual novel of the same name (Sylph Comics: 2008.07).

I don't know what rating 3L gives di[e]ce 1—can't tell from the cover—but I'm assuming it's as safe as the no overt BL Togainu no Chi.

Meanwhile, Ohta Saki's You are Mine is clearly marked as suitable for a Teen audience, despite having originally serialized in Cheese! Let's assume that's for Older Teens, to be safe. (Scroll down for You are Mine's preview.)

3L josei and shoujo manga (2011.12.30)

1. [Series Premiere] di[e]ce vol 1 of 6 by Yamamoto Kana & Saki Otoh

di[e]ce 「ｄｉ［ｅ］ｃｅ」 by Yamamoto Kana & Saki Otoh
Ichijinsha Comic Zero-Sum, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2007.09

2. [Series Premiere] You are Mine (Kimi wa Boku no Mono) vol 1 of 2 by Ohta Saki

Kimi wa Boku no Mono 「君はボクのもの」 by Ohta Saki
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2000.11

Related
Side story: to Yoru Made Matenai (eight volumes)

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Galism 5, Sayonara My Love by Watanabe Shiho, Touch by Your Kiss 1 by Kaori (3L shoujo manga out nau~)

Street date: 6 December 2011, give or take a day.

Galism - Renai Joutou 3 Shimai © Yokoyama Mayumi/Shogakukan [First serialized in Betsucomi] · Bye-Bye, Suki na Hito © Watanabe Shiho/Shogakukan [First serialized in Cheese!] · Kimi no Kiss de Furete. © KAORI/Shogakukan [First serialized in Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Galism ~ 3 Sisters first-class Love ~; Sayonara, My Love; and Touch By Your Kiss by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

In the penultimate High Tension love comedy! Galism ~ 3 Sisters first-class Love ~ (volume 5):

Because of that, I don't want another unrequited love.

Flowers bloom madly in the background of our silly couple Yuudai and Ran. But sadly, whenever they want to take their relationship to the next level, Someone. Always. Interrupts! Ran finally lucks on a perfect opportunity for some quality alone time with Yuudai on Yuudai's birthday. Guess who should show up to join the party? Yuudai's mom, Yukari!

3L also launches Sayonara, My Love, Watanabe Shiho's Bye-Bye, Suki na Hito, and the first of KAORI's two-volume Touch By Your Kiss or Kimi no Kiss de Furete. Both first serialized in Cheese!. Previews after the release list, but making it clear up here that only Sayonara, My Love is not rated for a Mature or   [DEWASA] audience.

3L shoujo manga (2011.12.07)

1. Galism ~ 3 Sisters first-class Love ~ (Galism - Renai Joutou 3 Shimai) vol 5 of 6 by Yokoyama Mayumi

Galism - Renai Joutou 3 Shimai 「ギャリズム」 by Yokoyama Mayumi
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 5 first published in Japan 2006.11

2. [Premiere] Sayonara, My Love (Bye-Bye, Suki na Hito) by Watanabe Shiho

Bye-Bye, Suki na Hito 「バイバイ、好きな人」 by Watanabe Shiho
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2011.01

3. [Series Premiere] Touch By Your Kiss (Kimi no Kiss de Furete.) vol 1 of 2 by Kaori

Kimi no Kiss de Furete. 「きみのキスで触れて。」 by KAORI
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2007.07

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Asa chun! by Hanaya En and The Flower With Knife by Sakurada Hina (3L shoujo manga out nau~)

Street date: 11 November 2011
Sankyuu to tweep Ln1885-san for the out nau~ confirmation.

Asa chun! © Hanaya En/Shogakukan [First serialized in Cheese! Zoukan] · Hana wa Knife o Mi ni Matou © Sakurada Hina/Shogakukan [First serialized in Cheese! and Flowers]. Published in Indonesia as Asa chun! and The Flower With Knife by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

Hanaya En's Can I Hug You was ♡, so leading with Asa chun!

Four years we haven't seen each other, and he turns into such a hottie!? And I have to LIVE with him for a whole month!?

Akane's doki-doki days, start-OH! She feigns miserable under all that heartbeep pressure, but I bet she likes it. Him, her Childhood Buddy turned Live-in Lover, I mean.

Live-in Lover regardless, it isn't Asa chun! what carries teh Mature or [DEWASA] label; that "honor" is reserved for The Flower With Knife:

School girl Kako models for her art teacher, and she wants Enjo Sensei to look at no other girl but her. She confesses her love for him the day before graduation, only to be rejected by Sensei who tells her, "Your feelings are only an illusion." What's worse, she learns that her beloved teacher is already engaged.

Kako has problems accepting, which prompts her to sneak into his room, where she sees Sensei kissing Yuri, her good friend. Her emotions spiral out of control and...

The titular Knife has to figure in there somewhere.

Baka-Updates Manga users tag the Hana wa Knife o Mi ni Matou psychological drama Art, Jealousy, Modeling, Obsessive Love, Yandere, Bishoujo, Student-Teacher Relationship, Beautiful Female Lead, Betrayal. In addition to The Flower With Knife, the Sakurada Hina antho contains Beautiful World and Yori-chan no Kimochi. (I don't know what 3L chose to title this third one-shot; I haven't had time to check out Gramed, but it's prolly along the lines of Yori-chan's Feelings.)

If you're interested in other Hanaya En and Sakurada Hina manga 3L has already published (and those it hasn't), scroll down.

3L/Tiga Lancar Comic shoujo manga (2011.11.11)

1. [Premiere] Asa chun! by Hanaya En

Asa chun! 「朝チュン！」 by Hanaya En
Shogakukan Cheese! Zoukan, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2010.05

2. [Premiere] The Flower With Knife (Hana wa Knife o Mi ni Matou) by Sakurada Hina

Hana wa Knife o Mi ni Matou 「花はナイフを身にまとう」
by Sakurada Hina
Shogakukan Cheese! and Flowers, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2009.08

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Sacrificial Love Trouble by Honda Natsumi, I Can't Stop Loving You by Watanabe Shiho, Galism 4 ~ 3L shoujo manga out nau~

These 3L shoujo manga should already be available at your favorite bookstore or newsstand. I got the newbie pair already ^^v

Ikenie no Koiwazurai © Honda Natsumi/Shogakukan [Serialized in Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Sacrificial Love Trouble by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

[May contain SPOILERS!]

Imagine Noriko's consternation when one fine day, Souma, the school terror, orders her to become his “sacrifice.” Sacrifice? Does he mean he wants Noriko to serve him? Whatever that means? But when Noriko shows her reluctance, Souma backs off...and makes a quickie U-turn to “Be mine!”

What will happen to Noriko naww?

Nik sez... More than the main Sacrificial Love Trouble—which has The Kiss
(＾∇＾) rushing four pages into the story—this Honda Natsumi antho contains my all-time Guilty Pleasure read, Slight Fever of Snow AKA Binetsu Snow. (Even if The Kiss here only hurtles in 11 pages into the story, it's an atsui! French Kiss Ｏ(≧∇≦)Ｏ) Rui's eager anticipation of cousin Ritsu's visit mutates into panic after she finds out that (1) Ritsu's actually a boy and (2) she, the androphobe, has to share bathrooms live with him!

Needless to say Sacrificial Love Trouble is a GET! on the strength of Slight Fever of Snow alone. If you're not convinced, however, Honda Natsumi-sensei's second tankou also compiles Goodbye My Love, I Can't Tell Anyone and Beastly Boy in the Midnight, in addition to those two *chuu~*ful titles. All, I suppose, first debuted in Cheese!.

In the mood for even heavier angst? Then check out —

I Can't Stop Loving You by Watanabe Shiho

Gomen, Soredemo Kimi ga Suki
© Watanabe Shiho/
Shogakukan [Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as
I Can't Stop Loving You
by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

A month before Valentine's Day, Yoriko promises to double-date with her best friend Hi-chan and her boyfriend. A 2×twosome day in Disneyland should've been fun, fun, FUN! but reality is nowhere near the mark. Yoriko can. Not. Spit. Out! that she and partner Kengo have broken up.

Desperate to keep the truth hidden, Yoriko begs Kengo to pretend to still be with her... at least, until Valentine's Day...

Watanabe Shiho's I Can't Stop Loving You, originally Gomen, Soredemo Kimi ga Suki, also includes Sho-Comi one-shots Hey, Do You Like Me?, Confession, My 15 Years of Life and You and Pure Heart Tears.

For other Watanabe Shiho and Honda Natsumi manga, scroll down. Both Sacrificial Love Trouble and I Can't Stop Loving You are Teen or Remaja-friendly. I preview Yokoyama Mayumi's Mature or   [DEWASA] rated Galism 4 after the release list.

3L shoujo manga (2011.08.19)

1. Galism ~ 3 Sisters first-class Love ~ (Galism - Renai Joutou 3 Shimai) 4 of 6 by Yokoyama Mayumi

Galism - Renai Joutou 3 Shimai 「ギャリズム」 by Yokoyama Mayumi
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 4 first published in Japan 2006.05

2. [Premiere] I Can't Stop Loving You (Gomen, Soredemo Kimi ga Suki) by Watanabe Shiho

Gomen, Soredemo Kimi ga Suki 「ごめん、それでもキミが好き」
by Watanabe Shiho
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2010.07

3. [Premiere] Sacrificial Love Trouble (Ikenie no Koiwazurai) by Honda Natsumi

Ikenie no Koiwazurai 「いけにえの恋わずらい」
by Honda Natsumi
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2007.11

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Bitter Stamp with a die by Miyake Madoka and Sleeping Beast by Yamada Komomo ~ 3L shoujo manga out naaw

Street date: 8 August 2011, or so sez Angelzon, my continuing info fount for all manga 3L because 3L's fesbuk is playing kakurenbo with me :P

Bitter na Kokuin © Miyake Madoka/Shogakukan [First serialized in Sho-Comi] · Nemureru Mori no Kedamono-tachi © Yamada Komomo/Shogakukan [First serialized in Cheese!]. Published in Indonesia as Bitter Stamp with a die and Sleeping Beast by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

We get Good Girl Class Prez making a deal with Class Troublemaker for teacher trainee Big Bro's sake in Miyake Madoka's Bitter Stamp with a die. It's not so much what Chika exchanges for Shibuya to cooperate that's the tease; it's that two other boys find out about the dangerous arrangement, forcing our hero to...

Another class prexy Rinko dreams of love and instead meets... geek childhood buddy Haruki. Except now he's all grown-up and hawt and he's after her in Yamada Komomo's Sleeping Beast.

Per their goody-goody leads, these shoujo manga are rated for Teens. (I give you leave to :O considering this is 3L we're talkin' 'bout...)

For other Miyake Madoka and Yamada Komomo titles, scroll down.

3L shoujo manga (2011.08.08)

1. [Premiere] Bitter Stamp with a die (Bitter na Kokuin) by Miyake Madoka

Bitter na Kokuin 「ビターな刻印」 by Miyake Madoka
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2010.06

2. [Premiere] Sleeping Beast (Nemureru Mori no Kedamono-tachi) by Yamada Komomo

Nemureru Mori no Kedamono-tachi 「眠れる森の獣たち」
by Yamada Komomo
AKA Nemureru Mori no Kemomotachi
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2010.05

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Because You Smile To Me, I Like You Most, Please Let Me be the First

These are 3L shoujo manga out now :D Angelzon sez they shipped the 21st.

Kicking off with the ungrammatically rendered Because You Smile To Me by Kyomachi Hisa that apparently comes with a major Kleenex alert.

Datte, Kimi ga Warau kara © Kyomachi Hisa/Shogakukan [ChuChu]
Kimi ga Daisuki Nanda © Mino Nozomi/Shogakukan [Cheese!]
Hajimete wo Kudasai © Murata Yuka/Shogakukan [Flower Comics]
Published in Indonesia as Because You Smile To Me, I Like You Most and Please Let Me be The First by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

“I have only three months left to live...”

Yui moves to the countryside and transfers into Ryo's class. Yui has one desire left; Ryo wants to fulfill that wish, but...

Follow a young couple's eternal promise in Because You Smile To Me, originally Datte, Kimi ga Warau kara serialized in ChuChu. Check out also the other one-shots — Koi no owari to hajimari ni and Hotaru no kimi eien no yakusoku (obviously NOT 3L's translated titles).

Other Kyomachi Hisa manga
In addition to Datte, Kimi ga Warau kara, Kyomachi or Kyoumachi Hisa-sensei also created the Chasing After Her Love Kare to Kanojo ga Uso o Tsuku Hi (Japan release: 2011.04) and the popular Teacher/Student Sensei no Kanojo (skedded to release 2011.08.26). The latter couple of one-volumers first serialized in Sho-Comi though.

I think I've seen Mino Nozomi's Kimi ga Daisuki Nanda/I Like You Most before as a bootleg; glad it officially licensed. (So, GET!)

I Like You Most by Mino Nozomi

Your cheerful face... How you look... All these make my chest pound. But why is it, in front of you, I can't smile? Still, I'm happiest beside you. Because I like you the most.

Other Mino Nozomi manga
Kimi ga Daisuki Nanda is Mino Nozomi-sensei's debut tank. The Cheese! manga-ka followed it up with the I have to kiss him, I have to hug him! Aishinuite mo Ii desu ka (JP release: 2008.01); the Player × Shy Girl First Love - Zutto Daisuki (2008.10); Moar Shyness with Hanikami Children (2009.04) and Shakaijin no Kare or A Mature Boyfriend (2009.10). Mino Nozomi-sensei's latest is the First Love, First Experience Hatsukoi, Hatsutaiken. (2011.02).

I preview the   [DEWASA] or Mature-rated Please Let Me be The First by Murata Yuka after the release list. Because You Smile To Me and I Like You Most are rated for a Remaja or Teen audience, but let's just say for Older Teens, to be safe.

3L shoujo manga (2011.07.21)

1. [Premiere] Because You Smile To Me (Datte, Kimi ga Warau kara) by Kyomachi Hisa

Datte, Kimi ga Warau kara 「だって、君が笑うから。」 by Kyomachi Hisa
Shogakukan ChuChu, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2010.03

2. [Premiere] I Like You Most (Kimi ga Daisuki Nanda) by Mino Nozomi

Kimi ga Daisuki Nanda 「キミがダイスキなんだ」 by Mino Nozomi
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2007.10

3. [Premiere] Please Let Me be The First (Hajimete wo Kudasai) by Murata Yuka

Hajimete wo Kudasai 「初めてをください」 by Murata Yuka
Shogakukan Flower Comics, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2009.12

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Lina-chan snap reviews manga just released: Just Love Me!, Miracle Kiss and Naughty Boyfriend

All these shoujo manga streeted on 15th June 2011.

1) Just Love Me! by Shiiba Nana

Rating: 9 of 10 ♥
Buy this manga! Oops, should I write a synopsis and comment first? XD

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Soul Eater 7, Dawn of the Arcana 1 by Toma Rei, Blade of Immortal 16 (Level Comics 1 June 2011 manga)

Kicking off with the Level manga generating the most buzz from my tweeps — Dawn of the Arcana by Toma Rei, debuting this Wednesday.

Reimei no Arcana © Toma Rei/Shogakukan [Serialized in Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Dawn of The Arcana by Elex Media/Level Comics

The southern and northern kingdoms of Senan and Belquat have long been at war. To end the conflict, Senan's Princess Nakaba is married off to Belquat's Prince Caesar. Nakaba already has two other obvious strikes against her going in — her “commoner” red hair, a slap to the face of the exclusively black-haired royal family, and her “sub-human” (half-beast) bodyguard Loki.

How will Nakaba fare, trapped behind enemy lines? Can the visions she sees stave off death threatening at every turn?

So, Arranged Marriage, Prince, Princess, War — sound familiar? You guessed it: Ogura Akane's Absolute Peace Strategy (published by Elex). The two differ, however, in the not even hidden hostility/contempt/ridicule Strong Female Lead Nakaba faces, and that's just from her husband. Also, there's her Special Power (prescience), to which the Arcana in the title alludes. Doesn't make sense? Just GET! to see what I mean. I guarantee you'll enjoy the ride.

If you're still not convinced, may I tell you that Dawn of The Arcana 3 has already entered the editing phase? Volume 3, peeps! (By contrast, North American readers only get Dawn of the Arcana, Vol. 1 in December 2011.)

Toma Rei-sensei is also the manga-ka of the game-based Star Color Present (Hoshiiro no Okurimono), the two-volume Stolen Kiss, Reverse Harem Boku wa Kiss de Uso wo Tsuku and the Maid In Love Tsukushite Agemasu, all serialized first in Cheese! like Dawn of The Arcana.

I preview the other manga premiere—the Zombie School! Dark Edge by Aikawa Yu—after the release list.

Soul Eater 7 of 19+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

To preclude the first Kishin's madness claiming more victims, Shinigami-sama assembles the world's most powerful death scythes. While the weapons discuss battle plans, the DWMA slowly reverts to its quotidian routine. But one new student has trouble adjusting to normal school life.

Yup, it's Crona, now a DWMA student and handed her/his first mission with Maka and Soul.

Soul Eater 7 compiles chapter 23 through 27: Daily Life, Experimenting School (Parts 1-3) and Bodyguard (Part 1). [*NOT Level's chapter titles]

Blade of Immortal 16 of 27+ by Samura Hiroaki

A prisoner of the Mugai-ryū, Manji serves as the guinea pig for Ayame Burando's immortality experiments. Burando has been ordered by Kagimura Habaki to graft Manji's limbs onto another—the first subject being death row inmate Dewanosuke—to replicate Manji's regenerative powers. The experiment fails, claiming the lives of many prisoners. But with Habaki egging Burando on, will the doctor persevere and eventually succeed?

[Additions from Casterman's L'habitant de l'infini, Tome 16 description and Mecha Mecha Media's Blade of the Immortal 16 review]

Level Comics manga (2011.06.01)

1. A Spirit of The Sun (Taiyou no Mokushiroku) 11 of 17 by Kawaguchi Kaiji

Taiyou no Mokushiroku 「太陽の黙示録」 by Kawaguchi Kaiji Shogakukan Big Comic, seinen Volume 11 (chapters 73-79) first published in Japan 2006.03

Awards
Best Seinen/General Manga, 51st Shogakukan Manga Awards
Grand Prize winner for the comic category, 10th Japan Media Arts Festival

Other languages
French (Tonkam Spirit of The Sun, tome 17: Le troisième pays per 2009.12)

Adaptations
Adapted into an anime special by Madhouse (two episodes)

2. Attack!! 7 of 11+ by Oshima Tsukasa

Attack!! 「アタック！！」 by Oshima Tsukasa Shinchosha Comic Bunch, seinen Volume 7 first published in Japan 2008.07

3. Blade of Immortal (Mugen no Juunin) 16 of 27+ by Samura Hiroaki

Mugen no Juunin 「無限の住人」 by Samura Hiroaki Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 16 first published in Japan 2004.05

Awards
1997 Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Prize

Other languages
English Blade of the Immortal (Dark Horse Comics: 23 volumes per 2011.02 • Volume 24: Massacre street date: 2011.11.08), French (Casterman: L'habitant de l'infini tome 25 per 2010.10 • Tome 26 ships 2011.06.29), Italian (Planet Manga), German and Polish (Egmont), Portuguese (Conrad Brazil) and Swedish (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB; serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 13-episode anime starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Manji) and Satou Rina (Rin) aired in Japan on AT-X from July to December 2008.

4. [Series Premiere] Dark Edge 1 of 15 by Aikawa Yu

Dark Edge 「ＤＡＲＫ　ＥＤＧＥ」 by Aikawa Yu Media Works Dengeki Comic Gao!, shounen Volume 1 first published in Japan 1999.02

Other languages
English Dark Edge (ComicsOne then DrMaster: 10 volumes per 2009.03.03)

5. [Series Premiere] Dawn of The Arcana (Reimei no Arcana) 1 of 7+ by Toma Rei

Reimei no Arcana 「黎明のアルカナ」 by Toma Rei Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.05

Other languages
English Dawn of the Arcana (VIZ Media: Volume 1 street date: 2011.12.06)

6. Ghost Mum Investigator (Ghost Mama Sousasen) 3 of 3+ by Sato Tomokazu

Ghost Mama Sousasen 「ゴーストママ捜査線 」 by Sato Tomokazu Shogakukan Big Comics, seinen Volume 3 first published in Japan 2005.12

7. Soul Eater 7 of 19+ by Ohkubo Atsushi

Soul Eater 「ソウルイーター」 by Ohkubo Atsushi Square Enix Shonen Gangan, shounen Volume 7 (chapters 23-27) first published in Japan 2006.09

Related series
First appeared as one-shots in two Gangan Powered special editions (Summer and Fall 2003) and Gangan Wing's 26 November 2003 issue. (Regular Monthly Shonen Gangan serialization commenced May 2004.)

Other languages
English Soul Eater (Yen Press: five volumes per 2011.02 • volume 6 street date: 2011.06.28), French (Kurokawa tome 15 shipped 2011.05.12 • Tome 16 street date: 2011.07.07), German (Carlsen Comics Band 11 street date: 2011.06.24) and traditional Chinese 噬魂者 (Sharp Point Press Taiwan)

Related series
Soul Eater Not! (side story; began serialization in Shonen Gangan 2011.01.12)

Adaptations
Manga volumes 1 to 12 adapted to anime by BONES. Fifty-one episodes starring seiyuu Omigawa Chiaki (Maka Alban) and Uchiyama Kouki (Soul Eater) aired in Japan from April 2008 to March 2009.

Square Enix bundled an audio drama, Soul Eater (Vol. 1): Special Social Studies Field Trip, with an artbook in August 2005. The drama CD featured different actors (Takeuchi Junko as Maka; Hoshi Souichirou as Soul Eater); only Kobayashi Yumiko reprised her Black☆Star role in the TV series.

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

European comics/BDs (2011.06.01)

1. Rantanplan - Biang Masalah by Morris (Lucky Comics)
2. Rantanplan - Natal Bersama by Morris (Lucky Comics)
3. Spirou dan Fantasio - Jamur dan Sang Diktator (Spirou et Fantasio, tome 7: Le Dictateur et le champignon) by Franquin (Dupuis)

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Chain of Pearl 1 by Minami Kanan, Swear Love on Your Knees by Honda Natsumi, Pet Wiz 1 by Morita Nana (3L manga out now)

Post wrote itself in the title...but NikBabble™. Will. Persist!

Shinju no Kusari © Minami Kanan/Shogakukan [Sho-Comi]
Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae © Honda Natsumi/Shogakukan [Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Chain of Pearl and Swear Love on Your Knees by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

In lieu of ramping up Today the Love Begin and giving us the Christmas and hatsumode episodes of Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu 11, 3L procrastinates with another Minami Kanan shoujo series—only a two-volumer this time—consisting of a 9 chapter [love triangle] story with 3 side stories, Chain of Pearl.

Keito-senpai asks Hisa to re-apply as her high school's soccer club manager, and she agrees. There she meets Sakyou, the soccer club ace who scores a big fat zero in manners. But Sakyou is not your regular bishie jerk-and-a-half; he soon uncovers Hisa's secret part-time job. So, of course, the outed Hisa falls for Sakyou, which troubles My name is actually ‘Faithful’ Keito, concealing an unrequited love for Hisa.

Volume 1 contains Chain of Pearl 1 (don't know how many chapters) and A ‘Girlfriend’ with Substance (scanlated as The Fruit Called Grapefruit), Minami Kanan-sensei's debut one-shot about Sachi who forces Takanori to make her his girlfriend, much to the latter's (initial) aversion. (The remaining shorts are in volume 2.) Baka-Updates Manga adds that an additional Chain of Pearl one-shot appears in tankou 1 of LoveSupreme Principle AKA Renai Shijou Shugi.

I discuss Honda Natsumi's Swear Love on Your Knees romance antho and Morita Nana's ongoing seinen 4-koma Pet Wiz after the manga list.

3L shoujo and seinen manga (2011.04.21)

1. [Series Premiere] Chain of Pearl (Shinju no Kusari) 1 of 2 by Minami Kanan

Shinju no Kusari 「真珠の鎖」 by Minami Kanan
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2002.07

2. [Series Premiere] Pet Wiz 1 of 2+ by Morita Nana

Pet Wiz 「ＰＥＴ　ＷＩＺ」 by Morita Nana
Ichijinsha 4Koma KINGS Palette Comics, seinen/4-koma
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.08

3. [Premiere] Swear Love On Your Knees (Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae) by Honda Natsumi

Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae 「ひざまずいて愛を誓え」
by Honda Natsumi
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2008.02

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

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Love Affair 8, Half an Apple 9, Blade of Immortal 15 (Level Comics 20 April 2011 manga) [UPDATED]

Love Affair 8 and Half an Apple 9 actually tied for Most Wanted manga, but since the former continues to serialize (volume 11 released February), Kotori can has the lead.

Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta © Miyasaka Kaho/Shogakukan
[Serialized in Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia as Love Affair by Elex Media/Level Comics

Determined to change, Yukito takes on a part-time job to pay for his dream bike, with which he plans to pursue Kotori, now even more of a sweetie after Natsume's makeover. Thanks to Abecchi, Kotori ends up working alongside Yukito. Their relationship has nowhere to go but up, that is, until a guy who once confessed to Kotori starts working at the same place.

Now for the Really Complicated —

Half an Apple 9 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

Look straight ahead. I am not there behind you.

After learning of Shizuka's love for Amano, Hikaru decides to throw her support behind her friend. But despite striving not to rely on Amano anymore, Hikaru realizes how much he means to her. Meanwhile, Shindo, suspicious of his wife, fast approaches his limit on restraining his love for Hikaru.

What happens next!? Level asks; you know what to do to dig out the answer.

ROMICs/BDs: Boule & Bill

Roba's Boule & Bill - Terserah Bill, deh! BD also quizzes: What if Bill were a king? What's going to happen to Boule's plan to enroll his beloved dog into K-9 training? For sure there go Bill's dreams of yummy bones and a soft bed all his own.

Level Comics manga (2011.04.20)

1. Blade of Immortal (Mugen no Juunin) 15 of 27+ by Samura Hiroaki

Mugen no Juunin 「無限の住人」 by Samura Hiroaki Kodansha Afternoon, seinen Volume 15 first published in Japan 2004.01

Awards
1997 Japan Media Arts Festival Excellence Prize

Other languages
English Blade of the Immortal (Dark Horse Comics: 23 volumes per 2011.02), French (Casterman: L'habitant de l'infini tome 25 per 2010.10 • Tome 26 ships 2011.06.29), Italian (Planet Manga), German and Polish (Egmont), Portuguese (Conrad Brazil) and Swedish (Schibsted Förlagen Sverige AB; serialized in Manga Mania)

Adaptations
A 13-episode anime starring seiyuu Seki Tomokazu (Manji) and Satou Rina (Rin) aired in Japan on AT-X from July to December 2008.

2. Half an Apple (1/2 no Ringo) 9 of 14 by Koyama Yukari

1/2 no Ringo 「１／２の林檎」 by Koyama Yukari Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 9 first published in Japan 2007.12

3. Love Affair (Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta) 8 of 11+ by Miyasaka Kaho

Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta 「僕達は知ってしまった」 by Miyasaka Kaho AKA We Experienced the Affair Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2009.12

4. Miso-Com (30 Kon Miso-com) 7 of 12+ by Yonezawa Rika

30 Kon Miso-com 「３０婚　ｍｉｓｏ‐ｃｏｍ」 by Yonezawa Rika Kodansha Kiss, josei Volume 7 first published in Japan 2009.02

Other languages
Traditional Chinese (Tong Li Taiwan: 待嫁熟女 11 per 2011.02)

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

European comics/BDs (2011.04.20)

• Boule & Bill - Terserah Bill, deh! (Boule et Bill, Tome 4: Système Bill) by Roba

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Couple who Love Buttocks 2 and My Sweet Roommate 2 of 2 (3L josei and shoujo manga out now)

Futari wa Oshiri Ai © Takada Rie/Shogakukan [First serialized in Judy]
Published in Indonesia as Couple who Love Buttocks by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

Yes, yes, it's been at least 10 days since these 3L manga—Couple who Love Buttocks 2 and My Sweet Roommate 2—made it to bookstore shelves, but since (1) it's only one more time that I need to line up at a cashier holding a Couple who Love Buttocks tome and (2) someone asked me what I thought about Couple who Love Buttocks and (3) I need something to get me out of my blogging slump, so post we go.

In the second to the last volume of Takada Rie's genius colorectal surgeon x assistant romance, biseinen Kuraku Budou-sensei continues to treat Asako little more than a ‘lurve slave,’ saddling her with housework in addition to her clinic duties.

Can Asako make Budou 'fess up to his real feelings? At least, enough to make her job a little less onerous?

3L promises that this second volume, still rated   DEWASA or Mature, will make you laugh until your sides hurt.

Couple who Love Buttocks 2 compiles 4th to 8th Hip! (chapter): To Compete, To Confess [sic] Each Other, To Fight, To Realize [sic] Each Other and The Encounter.

My Sweet Roommate 2 of 2 by Yamada Komomo

Mainichi Kimi ni Koishiteru
© Yamada Komomo
Shogakukan [Cheese!]
Published in Indonesia
as My Sweet Roommate
by Tiga Lancar Comic

Meanwhile, Yamada Komomo's My Sweet Roommate heads toward its Happy End...or does it? Because her brother moved in with his fiancée, Mei ends up living with Akira, his former roommate and the son of Big Bro's future wife. Propinquity has conspired to make Mei fall for Akira and wonder of wonders, she has screwed up enough courage to confess her feelings to her roomie and leave the megane bishie speechless. They should be getting closer, but...?

My Sweet Roommate 2 contains chapters 5th to Last (8th) Day, plus an Extra Story.

Tiga Lancar Comic manga (2011.01.11)

1. Couple Who Love Buttocks (Futari wa Oshiri Ai) 2 of 3 by Takada Rie

Futari wa Oshiri Ai 「ふたりはおしり愛」 by Takada Rie
Shogakukan Judy, josei
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2008.08

Related series
Doctor's Love or Oshiri Ai - Shinsatsuchuu (sequel; two volumes as at 2010.05)

2. My Sweet Roommate (Mainichi Kimi ni Koishiteru) 2 of 2 by Yamada Komomo [Finale]

Mainichi Kimi ni Koishiteru 「毎日君に恋してる」
by Yamada Komomo
AKA Every Day I Fall in Love with You
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2009.05

[Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.]

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Love in Full Blossom by Honda Natsumi and Boys Girl 1 by Nagayama Ei (3L shoujo manga out now)

Hanazakari de Koi Shiteru © Honda Natsumi/Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia as Love in Full Blossom by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

Despite the male friends surrounding you, I don't want any man to realize how sweet you are. I'm always thinking of you...

So goes Jealous BF Yukihito's thoughts on our heroine Kaede from Love in Full Blossom, Honda Natsumi's inaugural work that 3L released before 2010 closed. The romance shorts compiled in the antho (originally Hanazakari de Koi Shiteru) first appeared in Cheese! and beyond Possessive Lover, generate these Popular Boy, Tomboy, Studious Character, Tutor, Older Female/Younger Male, Rich Guy/Poor Girl, Appearance Different from Personality, Infirmary and Tsundere tags. (Bishounen is a foregone conclusion.)

GET!

I recommend Love in Full Blossom as a GET!. I give none of the stories—Love in Full Blossom, I Love You, Sweetheart, Summer, a girl and a beast and SOS Candy—a grade lower than 7 of 10 ♡. (Of course, your mileage may vary; I'm not exactly impartial when it comes to Honda Natsumi manga.)

This is shoujo smut and as such, meant for the Dewasa or Mature reader.

3L published Honda Natsumi-sensei's Love & Noise! in March 2010. Her other works include Guilty Pleasures Hizamazuite Ai o Chikae, Ikenie no Koiwazurai (which contains the guiltiest of Guilty Pleasure one-shots Binetsu Snow), Kiken na Honey and surprisingly, the supernatural troped Shinigami no Torisetsu.

Boys Girl 1 of 3+ by Nagayama Ei

I picked up this series debut, having mistaken it for a Hanaya En manga (I lurved Can I Hug You). Still, it serves the purpose of completing this 3L post.

Boys Girl © Nagayama Ei
Shogakukan
Published in Indonesia
by Tiga Lancar Comic

Kokona hates, detests, loathes—insert your SAT vocabulary word here—guys. Before school starts, she accidentally saves a ‘Sweet Girl.’ The erstwhile victim turns out to also be Misaki Hiromu, a boy who attends the same high school.

Kokona has the bad habit of knocking the lights out of any guy who touches her, but for some strange reason, she holds her punches when it comes to Misaki...

In addition to chapters 1-3 (the series is ongoing in Betsucomi), Boys Girl also contains Pasti akan bertemu lagi, pacaran yuk (We will surely meet again, let's go out) and Orang yang kukejar (The one I'm chasing).

3L has also published Nagayama Ei-sensei's Because I'm Falling In Love, Let's Sing for Love and Love Rookie.

3L Comics (2010.12.28)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.

1. [Series Premiere] Boys Girl 1 of 3+ by Nagayama Ei

Boys Girl 「ボーイズ・ガール」 by Nagayama Ei
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.10

2. [Premiere] Love in Full Blossom (Hanazakari de Koi Shiteru) by Honda Natsumi

Hanazakari de Koi Shiteru 「花ざかりで恋してる」
by Honda Natsumi
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This anthology first published in Japan 2007.06

Read more »

Can I Hug You by Hanaya En, Couple who Love Buttocks 1 by Takada Rie, Shinobi Girl by Kayono (3L shoujo and josei manga out now)

All three are rated   [DEWASA] or Mature.

Dakishimete Ii desu ka © Hanaya En · Futari wa Oshiri Ai © Takada Rie
Shinobi no Onna © Kayono (Shogakukan)
Published in Indonesia as Can I Hug You, Couple who Love Buttocks and Shinobi Girl
by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

Whoever observed that one should be careful of what one wishes for was really on to something. Because never would I have dreamed when I asked for 3L to license the prequel to Takada Rie's Doctor's Love that I would get it. (And within two months of the Doctor's Love premiere, too.) And now that it's supposed to be in stores, it would really test my GET! anything Takada Rie courage to walk up to a cashier carrying — Couple who Love Buttocks 1.

Because over and above the title's egregious singular/plural disagreement (Couple is singular, d*mmit!), how can you keep a straight face whilst hanging on to a manga titled Couple who Love Buttocks?? And for two more times after that at that? (The josei series spans three volumes.) Sure, the original 「ふたりはおしり愛」 does translate into some serious rear end love, butt! I mean, but!

ROTFLMAO over, here's the Futari wa Oshiri Ai synopsis:

Kuraku Budou. A ‘sinful’ man who makes flowers bloom in the hearts of his patients. But the genius colorectal surgeon turns out to be One Giant Ego, as Asako—living with, working for, and worshipping Kuraku-sensei—finds out to her mortification.

For once the biseinen doctor strips off his white coat, he transforms into one willful dude who upends Asako's life.

Only time will tell if Asako can withstand the doctor's overtures.

That there's a sequel implies...

Previews of the Shoujo with a Male Lead Can I Hug You by Hanaya En (Wolves Reward) and the Things Are Not What They Seem shoujo smut Shinobi Girl by Kayono (Ah! Itoshi no Caramel Boy) are behind the Fake Cut.

3L josei and shoujo manga (2010.11.27)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details.

1. [Premiere] Can I Hug You (Dakishimete Ii desu ka) by Hanaya En

Dakishimete Ii desu ka 「 抱きしめていいですか」 by Hanaya En
Shogakukan Cheese! and Cheese! Zoukan, shoujo
This anthology (four stories) first published in Japan 2009.06

2. [Series Premiere] Couple Who Love Buttocks (Futari wa Oshiri Ai) 1 of 3 by Takada Rie

Futari wa Oshiri Ai 「ふたりはおしり愛」 by Takada Rie
Shogakukan Judy, josei
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2008.07

Related series
Doctor's Love or Oshiri Ai - Shinsatsuchuu (sequel; two volumes as at 2010.05)

3. [Premiere] Shinobi Girl (Shinobi no Onna) by Kayono

Shinobi no Onna 「忍びのオンナ」 by Kayono
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This anthology (three stories) first published in Japan 2003.02

Source: Angelzon.com, retrieved 2010.12.04

Previews continued

Can I Hug You by Hanaya En

I'm afraid someone's going to take her away from me...

So goes honor student Ushio's predicament. Ushio's top-notch grades force him to choose between his girlfriend and studies at a Tokyo university. But he just can't help angsting over who might be putting the moves on his beloved Ruka—not known for her perspicacity when it comes to men (read: she's a little dumb)—while he's away.

Can Ushio's peace of mind, what little there is of it, endure a long-distance relationship?

Baka-Updates Manga points out in its Dakishimete Ii desu ka entry that this Hanaya En antho also contains shorts: Hitorijime Shitai, Suki to Ienakute and Majo Sweets.

Shinobi Girl by Kayono

By day I'm just a high school girl set apart from my classmates who, for various reasons, keep their distance; by night, however, I become one very popular host, mobbed by female guests. I am Shinobi Girl.

One day, Secretly a Woman Yuuka meets Renka, a female patron, and loses both her heart and...body!?

A unique love story between two who conceal their true identities from each other is how 3L hypes Shinobi Girl, known elsewhere as Secretly a Woman (from ShoujoMagic's scanlation). Baka-Updates Manga has synopses for the other two stories in its Shinobi no Onna entry: Butterfly Night with its the rogue who takes Princess Sheherazade's virginity for revenge premise and the Deal with a Devil Lovers in the Tower that Touches Heaven.

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA 30uɐlnɯɐnɥ (花木蘭03)
Mistress of Adoxography

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Cover images and source summaries used here for reference are © their respective intellectual rights holders. No infringement intended.

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Technorati tags

3L comics · manga · josei · shoujo · Can I Hug You (Dakishimete Ii desu ka) · Hanaya En · Couple Who Love Buttocks (Futari wa Oshiri Ai) · Takada Rie · Shinobi Girl (Shinobi no Onna) · Kayono · Shogakukan · Flower Comics · Judy Comics