Chain of Pearl 2 of 2 and King's Another Work by Fujinaka Chise (3L 20 June 2011 shoujo manga)

These Sho-Comi shoujo manga were shipped yesterday, sez Angelzon.

Shinju no Kusari © Minami Kanan/Shogakukan [Sho-Comi]
Ousama no Ura Shigoto © Fujinaka Chise/Shogakukan [Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Chain of Pearl and King's Another Work by Tiga Lancar Comic/3L

Thanks to Keito-senpai's ‘interference,’ club manager Hisa and soccer ace Sakyou meet and fall in love. Which dumps Keito out in the cold and forces him to toss the two out of the soccer club. The broken-hearted Keito also gets into a fight, which prompts Hisa to part with Sakyou and restore whatever harmony there was before she came in.

Chain of Pearl 2 of 2 also includes two Minami Kanan one-shots: Unconditional Love Formula, in which not-quite bright Ayumi bribes bishie brainiac Tachibana Kouya to tutor her in physics, and The Rumored Natori-kun in which Ai discovers that the guy she's crushing on is none other than the eponymous player Natori-kun. (Read more substantial synopses over at »Baka-Updates Manga.)

King's Another Work by Fujinaka Chise

3L launches King's Another Work, Fujinaka Chise's Manga-ka, Rich Boy, bossy boyfriend Ousama no Ura Shigoto first serialized in Sho-Comi.

Mayu nearly faints when learns the true identity of Isshiki-sensei, the manga-ka who illustrates her favorite comic. He is her egotistic and moneyed classmate (and constant tormentor), Shiina-kun!

And what's this about a mistake in the omake page of Isshiki-sensei's manga and what does it have to do with Mayu?

[Additions from Midnight Scans's Ousama no Ura Shigoto description, excerpted by Baka-Updates Manga]

King's Another Work appears to be Fujinaka Chise-sensei's debut tank (based on her 5-point backlist), but she also created Adeyaka Prince (AKA Glossily Kabuki Prince; JP release: 2011.01), the Guess who sneaks into my dorm room? Numurenu Mori no Hime, Ookami o Daku (2010.09), the Beauty Transformation, Revenge Bijin Kakumei (2010.06) and the 2010.01-vintage Student-Teacher Sensei to, Uwakichuu (which includes the Master×Servant Ouji na Geboku no Aishikata/Way to Love a Princely Servant one-shot). Her current Sho-Comi serial is Shakespeare no Oki ni Mesu Mama, which apparently has The Bishie Bard time slipping to Japan to help a heroine win her love.

3L shoujo manga (2011.06.20)

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

Shinju no Kusari 「真珠の鎖」 by Minami Kanan
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2002.09

2. [Premiere] King's Another Work (Ousama no Ura Shigoto) by Fujinaka Chise

Ousama no Ura Shigoto 「王様の裏シゴト」 by Fujinaka Chise
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2009.07

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

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Today, the Love Begin 11 by Minami Kanan (3L 13 June 2011 shoujo manga)

Angelzon sez it got this in yesterday.

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu © Minami Kanan/Shogakukan [Serialized in Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Today, the Love begin by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

Tsubaki disappears after she botches Kyota and his mother's ‘date.’ Kyota does meet his mom — what does he tell her? He also finds Tsubaki (of course *smirk*) and thus begins another series of Firsts: a date at the planetarium, part-time work, hatsumode... Tsubaki would be ecstatic, if not for the appearance of one very unsettling girl into their lives...

The Japanese Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu blurb claims that sales of Minami Kanan's hit love story have topped 500 million; I wonder how many copies 3L has sold?

Oh, and Today, The Love Begin 11 is rated for   [DEWASA] or Mature audiences only.

3L shoujo manga (2011.06.13)

• Today, The Love Begin (Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu) 11 of 12+ by Minami Kanan

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu 「今日、恋をはじめます」 by Minami Kanan
Shogakukan Sho-Comi and Sho-Comi Zoukan, shoujo
Volume 11 first published in Japan 2011.02

Other languages
German 3, 2, 1... Liebe! (Tokyopop Germany; Band 10 per 2011.06) and traditional Chinese 今天開始談戀愛 (Ever Glory Taiwan: volume 10 per 2011.04)

Adaptations
A JC Staff anime OAD, starring seiyuu Itō Kanae (Hibino Tsubaki) and Namikawa Daisuke (Tsubaki Kyota). The first episode was bundled with manga volume 9 (Japan release: 2010.06.25), the second with volume 10 (2010.10.26). The third episode released as a standard and premium DVD (2011.02.25).

A special drama CD was also given away with Sho-Comi's June 2008 issue and featured Satō Rina as Tsubaki and Kondō Takashi as Kyota.

A Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu: Hatsukoi no Prelude light novel was written by Takase Yunoka. Manga-ka Minami Kanan oversaw production of the novel which reprises the Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu story from Kyota's point of view. The novel streeted last February.

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

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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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Today the Love Begin 10, Boys Girl 2, He is More Than My Brother by Hattori Miki (3L shoujo manga out now) [UPDATED]

Please keep praying for Japan and/or do something to help the 3.11 quake and tsunami victims. ANN reports that all Shogakukan (and Shueisha) manga creators have checked in safe (Minami Kanan, Hattori Miki and Nagayama Ei, whose manga appear here, are all Shogakukan manga-ka).

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu © Minami Kanan/Shogakukan [Serialized in Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Today, the Love begin by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

Conventional wisdom holds that DAL (Deep Abiding Love) grows deeper following the resolution of UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension), but in fic terms, the development doesn't make for gripping reading. (Why else do you think stories end just when They lived happily ever after?) Minami Kanan-sensei is obviously aware of this because the Happy Happy “honeymoon” between Tsubaki and Kyota soon founders on angst, or so promises the back cover blurb of Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu/Today, the Love begin volume 10.

The following contains   [SPOILERS!]

So even in the midst of seriously delish nookie (Tsubaki and Kyota Did It in the previous volume, remember?), Tsubaki continues to worry. Worry escalates to full-blown anxiety when Kyota's mom comes to visit him on his birthday. Kyota turns her away and refuses to accept the birthday gift she got for him. Tsubaki who wants to be Kyota's pillar of strength then decides to...

Read what's next in Today, the Love begin 10, out now.

New 3L title: He Is More Than My Brother by Hattori Miki

3L's latest shoujo anthology is He Is More Than My Brother, Hattori Miki-sensei's Sono Otoko, Oniichan Ijou, first serialized in Sho-Comi.

Sono Otoko, Oniichan Ijou
© Hattori Miki/
Shogakukan [Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as
He Is More Than My Brother
by Tiga Lancar Comic

An earns the nickname Brother Complex because at sweet 16, she remains single and lives only for Big Bro. But the way An looks at it, as long as she has oniichan, she doesn't need a boyfriend. An's childhood pal Souya disagrees. Souya, the polar opposite of An's brother, then ups and confesses to An.

Herein lies the dilemma: An professes to hate Souya, but how come her heart races in his presence? Does this mean An's about to be cured of her brother complex?

Hattori Miki-sensei also created Kokoro mo Karada mo xx mo....

I preview Nagayama Ei-sensei's Boys Girl 2 after the manga list. I don't know whether Boys Girl 2 is rated for   [DEWASA] or Mature audiences, but He Is More Than My Brother and Today, the Love begin 10 definitely are.

3L shoujo manga (2011.03.14)

1. Boys Girl 2 of 3 by Nagayama Ei

Boys Girl 「ボーイズ・ガール」 by Nagayama Ei
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 2 first published in Japan 2010.04

2. [Premiere] He is More Than My Brother (Sono Otoko, Oniichan Ijou) by Hattori Miki

Sono Otoko, Oniichan Ijou 「そのオトコ、お兄ちゃん以上」
by Hattori Miki
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2009.10

3. Today, The Love Begin (Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu) 10 of 11+ by Minami Kanan

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu 「今日、恋をはじめます」 by Minami Kanan
Shogakukan Sho-Comi and Sho-Comi Zoukan, shoujo
Volume 10 (chapters 59-65) first published in Japan 2010.10

Other languages
German 3, 2, 1... Liebe! (Tokyopop Germany; Band 9 per 2011.01) and traditional Chinese 今天開始談戀愛 (Ever Glory Taiwan)

Adaptations
A JC Staff anime OAD, starring seiyuu Itō Kanae (Hibino Tsubaki) and Namikawa Daisuke (Tsubaki Kyota). The first episode was bundled with manga volume 9 (Japan release: 2010.06.25), the second with volume 10 (2010.10.26). The third episode released as a standard and premium DVD (2011.02.25).

A Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu: Hatsukoi no Prelude light novel was written by Takase Yunoka. Manga-ka Minami Kanan oversaw production of the novel which reprises the Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu story from Kyota's point of view. The novel streeted last February.

Read more »

Today the Love Begin 9 by Minami Kanan and I Love You Suzuki kun 6 by Ikeyamada Go (3L shoujo manga out now)

May contain   [SPOILERS!]

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu © Minami Kanan/Shogakukan [Serialized in Sho-Comi]
Published in Indonesia as Today, the Love begin by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

Minami Kanan-sensei finally lives up to her shoujo smut creds—established in Renai Shijou Shugi, Kyousou Heaven and Mitsu x Mitsu Drops, just to name a few—in volume 9 of the erstwhile smut-free Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu. 3L released the latest Today, the Love begin over the weekend.

Kyota and Tsubaki's First Night nets the manga—apparently a spin-off of Miyasaka Kaho's Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta (Love Affair in Indonesia)—a [DEWASA] or Mature rating.

Edit: See my comment below

Today, the Love begin 9 of 10+ by Minami Kanan

The study tour leaves Kyota and Tsubaki behind, after (literally) starstruck Kyota insists on staying on at Hateruma island to gaze at the stars of the Southern Cross or Crux, the southern hemisphere's most famous constellation.

It is not long before Tsubaki realizes just what their overnighter means. Faced with a self-conscious Tsubaki, Kyota...

Volume 9 compiles chapters 52 through 58. Smut starts from chapter 53. (Thank you, @lovely_mukyaa-san, for tipping me off on this tank's release.)

I Love You, Suzuki kun!! 6 of 10+ by Ikeyamada Go

Suki desu Suzuki-kun!!
© Ikeyamada Go
Shogakukan (Sho-Comi)
Published in Indonesia
as I Love You, Suzuki kun!!
by 3L Comics

Meanwhile, I don't see any reason, at least not from the back cover summary, why I Love You, Suzuki kun!! 6 also got rated Mature. 3L playing safe, I guess.

Meet Sayaka, Chihiro, Shinobu and Hikaru, two years into junior high. Sayaka dreams of becoming an actress, and today, the day of the Drama Club's performance, affords her the chance to debut in public.

But the other club members, jealous of Sayaka nabbing the lead role, decide to boycott Sayaka's performance. This prompts the show must go on trooper Sayaka to act out five roles. Sayaka's decision saves the performance and convinces her parents to give their blessings on Sayaka's future acting career.

But happiness proves short-lived, with destiny waiting in the wings, plotting...

My usual question: What about the Chihiro × Shinobu romance?

Volume 6 encloses chapters 26 to 30 plus an I Love You, Suzuki kun!! side story.

I guess it'd be too much to ask 3L to bundle the Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! and Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu anime OADs with its releases like Shogakukan does. No matter. I'll settle for 3L licensing the light novels. (Don't know what I'm talking 'bout? Toggle the list links below.)

3L shoujo manga (2010.12.11)

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

1. I Love You, Suzuki kun!! (Suki desu Suzuki-kun!!) 6 of 10+ by Ikeyamada Go

Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! 「好きです鈴木くん！！」 by Ikeyamada Go
AKA The Lovin' “S”
Shogakukan Sho-Comi, shoujo
Volume 6 (chapters 26-30 plus side story) first published in Japan 2009.12

Adaptations
The first anime OAD was bundled with Sho-Comi's first 2010 issue (released 2009.12; chapter 1 reenactment), the second with the Suzuki-kun!! Official Fanbook (shipped 2010.07; chapters 15 and 16 re-enactment).

Two light novels written by Tokiumi Yui and illustrated by Ikeyamada Go have also been released. The first, Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! Pure White Love (2009.12.24), detailed Hikaru and Sayaka's relationship during the couple's last year of middle school. The second Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! With Precious Heart light novel (2010.07.26) is set before the high school arc/between manga volumes 7 and 8.

A Nintendo DS game—Suki desu Suzuki-kun!! ~Yo-nin no Suzuki-kun—released in 2010.07. Per the title, the game introduces two new Ikeyamada-sensei designed characters also surnamed Suzuki: Suzuki Michiru and Suzuki Hiroto. A limited edition of the Idea Factory game came with a drama CD featuring a story about the four main characters.

2. Today, The Love Begin (Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu) 9 of 10+ by Minami Kanan

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu 「今日、恋をはじめます」 by Minami Kanan
Shogakukan Sho-Comi and Sho-Comi Zoukan, shoujo
Volume 9 (chapters 52-58) first published in Japan 2010.06

Other languages
German 3, 2, 1... Liebe! (Tokyopop Germany; Band 9 ships 2010.12.16) and traditional Chinese 今天開始談戀愛 (Ever Glory Taiwan)

Related
Adapted from the Bokutachi wa Shitte Shimatta manga by Miyasaka Kaho, released in Indonesia by Level Comics as Love Affair [Info from Baka-Updates Manga] Edit: See my comment below

Adaptations
A JC Staff anime OAD, starring seiyuu Itō Kanae (Hibino Tsubaki) and Namikawa Daisuke (Tsubaki Kyota). The first episode was bundled with manga volume 9 (Japan release: 2010.06.25), the second with volume 10 (2010.10.26). The third episode will release as a standard and premium DVD (2011.02.25).

A Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu: Hatsukoi no Prelude light novel was written by Takase Yunoka. Manga-ka Minami Kanan oversaw production of the novel which reprises the Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu story from Kyota's point of view. The novel streeted last February.

Read more »

I Love High School 1, Love at First Sight and Sensei, Me, my first (3L shoujo manga out now)

I ♥ HS © Yokoyama Mayumi/Shogakukan (First serialized in Betsucomi)
Koi ni Naru made © Yumachi Shin/Shogakukan (First serialized in Cheese!)
Published in Indonesia as I Love High School and Love at First Sight by Tiga Lancar Semesta/3L

Choose your launch sequence: Childhood Friends · Friends Become Lovers · Multiple Relationships · Perverted Guy OR Popular Boy · Shy Girl · Love at First Sight.

The first gets you Yokoyama Mayumi's I Love High School comedy; the second, Yumachi Shin's Love at First Sight (Koi ni Naru made) omnibus. Alternatively, you can plump for Student-Teacher Relationship — in which case you bring home Sensei, Me, my first (Sensei to, Watashi to, Hajimete) by Watanabe Shiho.

(Thanks to Baka-Updates Manga users for the I ♥ HS, Koi ni Naru made and Sensei to, Watashi to, Hajimete categories.)

Another option, if you drool over all the tropes listed, is to GET! all three.

I Love High School follows Megu and her friends whose normal banal days take a turn for the worse when childhood pest, I mean, friend Yamato returns. Love at First Sight subverts the usual confessing to the guy you fell in love with at the school's opening ceremony by replacing him with another guy at the designated kokuhaku place. I don't think Sensei, Me, my first needs further blurbing. The tag and the title already gave away the lure of a forbidden relationship.

These 3L manga also shipped without prior advisory (just saw them piled up in Gramed): KyouKoi 8 by Minami Kanan (in which Tsubaki and Kyota and the rest of the class go on a study tour to some island), Ways To Forget Your Love by Hanada Yumi and Plastic Surgery by Higuchi Marina, the latter duo sounding too self-explanatory.

3L shoujo manga (streeted 2010.07.13 and earlier)

Release links are hide/unhide. Click for more details and cover scans.

1. [Premiere] I Love High School (I ♥ HS) 1 of 2 by Yokoyama Mayumi

I ♥ HS 「 Ｉ・ＨＳ 」 by Yokoyama Mayumi
Shogakukan Betsucomi, shoujo
Volume 1 first published in Japan 2009.03

2. [New] Love at First Sight (Koi ni Naru made) by Yumachi Shin

Koi ni Naru made 「 恋になるまで 」 by Yumachi Shin
Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo
This volume first published in Japan 2008.07

Contains: Koi ni Naru made, Kimi ga Boku no Taiyou, Kimi no Kakera and Kimi Machi Bus (sequel to the 2008 Cheese! one-shot, Katakoi Iro)

3. [New] Sensei, Me, my first (Sensei to, Watashi to, Hajimete) by Watanabe Shiho

Sensei to, Watashi to, Hajimete 「 先生と、私と、初めて。 」 by Watanabe Shiho Shogakukan Cheese!, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2008.10

Contains: 先生と、私と、初めて。 (Teacher and my first time) and Fake Letter～嘘つきな恋文～ (Fake Letter ~A lying love letter~)

4. Today, The Love Begin (Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu) 8 of 9+ by Minami Kanan

Kyou, Koi wo Hajimemasu 「 今日、恋をはじめます 」 by Minami Kanan Shogakukan Sho-Comi and Sho-Comi Zoukan, shoujo Volume 8 first published in Japan 2010.02

5. [New] Ways To Forget Your Love (Jouzu na Koi no Wasurekata) by Hanada Yumi

Jouzu na Koi no Wasurekata 「 上手な恋の忘れ方 」 by Hanada Yumi Akita Shoten Renai LOVE MAX, josei This volume first published in Japan 2005.11

6. [New] Plastic Surgery (Seikei - Busu to Tsumi) by Higuchi Marina

Seikei - Busu to Tsumi 「 整形－ブスと罪－ 」 by Higuchi Marina Akita Shoten Princess Comics, shoujo This volume first published in Japan 2007.02

Sources: Field observation, with additional help from Angelzon.com

Iamque opus exegi,
~niki DBA huamulan03 (花木蘭03)

disclaimer

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

upcoming manga (21 July 2010 street date)

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