#Ryuusei Yoshida

[stargazer-sims]

These two are still a thing (unofficially, of course) 😉

[citypopdaily]

恋は流星 (Koi wa Ryuusei) by Minako Yoshida / 吉田美奈子

Album: Twilight Zone Year: 1977 Label: RCA Lyrics & Music: Minako Yoshida / 吉田美奈子

[leenaevilin-stage-market]

[Video] 2.5次元ダンスライブ「ALIVESTAGE」Episode4 『WYD』(2.5jigen dance live alive stage episode4 wyd)

the Blu-ray will be released on August 27th, 2021☆ ☆ ☆

☆ Blu-ray ♪ Amazon ☆ Blu-ray ♪ CD Japan

[rubymikun]

IVESTA TV DVD box shares searching

[Reblog Appricated]

I’m looking for shares for「IVESTA TV」DVD box. People who buy the share will be sent a link to download video rips of the performance on Google Drive, along with booklet scans in 600dpi.

Please send me a message to sign up.

The total amount of the DVD set (product) is divided equally to all participants (including me). I will handle the shipping and taxes myself.

Deadline for signing up is 31 August 2020,  and I will announce the amount you have to pay. People who sign up for this please pay before 15 September 2020.

Cancellation/Leaving AFTER signing up deadline is impossible. This would affect many people who joined. You can have a delay in payment if you tell me beforehand, NOT only before the deadline date a day.

Paypal accepted only. If you’re in Vietnam, bank transfer is accepted too ♡

The box is released by 25 September, so the files would be available in around first two weeks of October.

Please feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.

[calicocatcorner]

Shoujo Manga with Physical English releases List

The Manga series english title (The japanese title - the author (firstname lastname) /artist) extra info

13th Boy   (SangEun Lee ) out of print? Has digital release as well

@ Full Moon   (Sanami Matoh)

 A Condition Called Love (Hananoi-kun to Koi no Yamai - Megumi Morino)

A Devil and Her Love Song   (Akuma to Love Song - Miyoshi Toumori)

A Drunken Dream and Other Short Stories   (Various)

A Sign of Affection   (Yubisaki to Renren - suu Morishita)

Absolute Boyfriend   (Zettai Kareshi - Yuu Watase)

Aishiteruze Baby ★★ (Youko Maki)

Alice 19th   (Yuu Watase)

Alice in Murderland   (Kakei no Alice - Kaori Yuki)

Alice in the Country of Hearts   (Heart no kuni no Alice: Wonderful Wonder World   (Author Quinrose art Soumei Hoshino)

Angel Sanctuary (Tenshi Kinryouku - Kaori Yuki)

Ani-Imo   (Ani ga Imouto ga Ani de - Haruko Kurumatani)

Anonymous Noise   (Fukumenkei Noise - Ryoco Fukuyama)

Antique Bakery   (Seiyou Kottou Yougashiten - Fumi Yoshinaga)

Ao Haru Ride   (Io Sakisaka)

Arisa   (Natsumi Ando)

Aron’s Absurd Armada   (Aronui Mujeokhamdae - MiSun Kim)

Ascendance of a Bookworm   (Honzuki no Gekokujou - Author Miya Kazuki Artist Suzuka)

Baby & Me   (Akachan to Boku - Marimo Ragawa)

Banana Fish   (Akimi Yoshida)

Basara   (Yumi Tamura) out of print/available  digitally

Beast Master   ( Kyousuke Motomi)

Beasts of Abigaile   (Abigaile no Kemono-tachi - Ringo Naki)

Beauty Pop   (Kiyoko Aria) out of print / available digitally

Beauty and the Beast of Paradise Lost   (Kaori Yuki)

Beauty is the Beast   (Bijo ga Yajuu - Tomo Matsumoto)

Black Bird   (Kanoko Sakurakouji)

Black Rose Alice   (Kuro Bara Alice - Setona Mizushiro) out of print/no digital release

Bloody Kiss (Kazuko Furumiya) out of print/no digital release

Bloody†Mary   (Akaza Samamiya)

Bride of the Water God   (Mi-Kyung Yoon) Out of print/not available digitally

Cardcaptor Sakura + Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card   (CLAMP)

Ceres: Celestial Legend   (Ayashi no Ceres - Yuu Watase)

Cheeky Brat   (Namaikizakari - Mitsubachi Miyuki)

Children of the Whales   (Kujira no Kora wa Sajou ni Utau - Abi Umeda)

Claudine   (Riyoko Ikeda)

Clover   (CLAMP)

Cowboy Bebop   (Authors Shinichiro Watanabe/Hajime Yatate Art yutaka Nanten)

Crimson Hero   (Beniiro Hero -Mitsuba Takanashi) out of print /never completed series/ no digital

Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecillia Sylvie   (Akuyaku Reijou, Cecilia Sylvie wa Shinitakunai node Dansou suru Koto ni Shita - Athor Hiroro Akizakura Art Shino Akiyama) Originally a LN / also licenced

Cutie and the Beast   (Pujo to Yajuu: JK ga Akuyaku Wrestler ni Koi Shita Hanashi - Yuhi Azumi)

D.N Angel (Yukiru Sugisaki) Out of print but can get series digitally

Daily Report About My Witch Senpai   (Maka Mochida)

Dawn of the Arcana   (Reimei no Arcana - Rei Touma)

Daytime Shooting Star   (Hirunaka no Ryuusei - Mika Yamamori

Demon From Afar   (liki no Ki - Kaori Yuki)

Demon Love Spell   (Ayakashi Koi Emaki - Mayu Shinjou)

Dengeki Daisy   (Kyousuke Motom)

Descendants of Darkness   (Yami no Matsuei - Yoko Matsushita)

Disney manga series  (quite a few are shoujo)

Doubt!!   (Kaneyoshi Izumi)

Dragon★Girl   (Toru Fujieda)

Dreamin’ Sun   (Yumemiru Taiyou - Ichigo Takano)

Fairy Cube   (Kaori Yuki)

Fiance of the Wizard   (Mahoutsukai no Konyakusha - Author Syuri Nakamura  Artist Masaki Kazuka / Keiko Sakano)

Flower in a Storm   (Hana ni Arashi - Shigeyoshi Takagi)

Flower of Life   (Fumi Yoshinaga)

Fluffy Fluffy  Cinnamoroll   (Fuwa♥Fuwa Cinnamon Yumi Tsukirino)

Fragments of Horror (Ma no Kakera - Junji Itou)

Fruits basket + Fruits basket Another   (Natsuki Takaya)

Full Moon wo Sagashite   (Arina Tanemura)

Fushigi Yuugi   (Yuu Watase)

Gaba Kawa   (Rie Takada)

Gakuen Alice (Tachibana Higuchi) Out of print /unfinished/no digital release

Ghost Hunt   (Story/Art Shiho Inada  Story Fuyumi Ono) Out of print/no digital release

God Child   (Kaori Yuki)

Golden Japanesque: A Splendid Yokohama Romance   (Kiniro Japanesque - Kaho Miyasaki)

Goong (So Hee Park) /out of print? Has digital copies

Grand Guignol Orchestra   (Guignol Kyuutei Gakudan - Kaori Yuki)

Hana-Kimi   (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e - Hisaya Nakajo)

Hatsu*Haru   (Shizuki Fujisawa)

Heaven’s Will   (Satoru Takamiya)

High School Debut   (Koukou Debut - Kazune Kawahara)

Himeyuka & Rozione’s Story   (Natsukashi Machi no Rozione - Sumomo Yumeka)

Honey Hunt   (Miki Aihara)

Honey So Sweet   (Amu Meguro)

Hot Gimmick   (Miki Aihara)

I Am Here   (Koko ni lru yo! - Ema Toyama)

I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an OtomeGame but the Boys Love me Anyway!   (Akuyaku Reijou desu ga Kouryaku Taishou no Yousu ga Ijousugiru - Ataki / Sou Inaida)

I.O.N   (Ariana Tanemura)

Idol Dreams   (31☆Idreams - Arina Tanemura)

Ima Koi Now I am in Love   (Ayuko Hatta)

I’m the Villainess, So I’m Taming the Final Boss   (Akuyaku Reijou nanodo Last Boss wo Kattemimashita - Author Sarasa Nagase Art Anko Yuzu) originally LN; also translated

Immortal Rain (Meteor Methuselah - Kaori Ozaki)

Kageki Shojo!!   (Kumiko Saiki)

Kaiju Girl Caramelise   (Otome Kaijū Carameliser - Spica Aoki)

Kamikaze Girls   (Shimotsuma Monogatari - Novala Takemoto/Yukio Kanesada)

Kamisama Kiss   (Karisama Hajimemashita - Julietta Suzuki)

Karakuri Odette   (Julietta Suzuki) Out of print? / no digital release

Kare Kano his and her circumstances   (Masami Tsuda) out of print/no digital release

Karneval   (Kaanibbaru - TouyaMikanagi)

Kase-san series   (Hiromi Takashima)

Kigurumi Guardians   (Lily Hoshino)

Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You   (Karuho Shiina)

Kiss Him, Not me   (Watashi ga Motete Dousunda - Junko)

Kiss Me At the Stroke of Midnight   (Gozen 0-ji, Kiss shi ni Kite yo - Rin Mikimoto)

Kiss of the Rose Princess   (Barajou no Kiss - Aya Shouoto)

Kitchen Princess   (Kitchen no Ohimesama - atsumi Ando; Story by Miyuki Kobayashi)

Kodocha: Sana's Stage   (Kodomo no Omocha - Miho Obana )Out of print/ No digital release

Komomo Confiserie   (Maki Minami)

Last Game (Shinobu Amano)

Laughing Under the Clouds   (Donten ni Warau - KarakaraKemuri)

Lets Dance a Waltz   (Waltz no Ojikan - Natsumi Ando)

Let’s Kiss in Secret Tomorrow   (Ashita, Naisho no Kiss Shiyou - Uri Sugata)

Like a Butterfly (Hibi Chouchou - Suu Morishita

Liselotte & the Witch’s Forest   (Liselotte to Majo no Mori - Natsuki Takaya) Story discontinued by Author

Living-room Matsunaga-san   (Living no Matsunaga-san - Keiko Iwashita)

Love In Focus   (Renzu-sou no Sankaku - Youko Nogiri)

Love me, Love me not   (Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare - Io Sakisaka)

Love of Kill   (Koroshi Ai - Fe)

Lovely★Complex   (Aya Nakahara)

Lovesick Ellie   (Koiwasurai no Ellie - Fujimomo)

L♥DK   (Ayu Watanabe)

Magical Knight Rayearth   (CLAMP)

Maid-sama   (Kaichou wa Maid-sama! - Hiro Fujiwara)

Manga Dogs   (GDGD-DOGS - Ema Toyama)

Manhwa Novella Collection

Marmalade Boy   (Wataru Yoshizumi) Out of print/not digitally available

Mermaid Boys   ( Sarachiyomi )

MeruPuri: Märchen☆Prince   (Merupuri Matsuri hino)

Meteor Prince   (Otome to Meteor Meca Tanaka)

Mint Chocolate   (Mami Orikasa)

Missions of Love   (Watashi ni xx Shinasai! - Ema Toyama)

Mistress Fortune   (Zettai Kakusei Tenshi Mistress☆Fortune - Ariana Tanemura)

Moon Child   (Tsuki no Ko - Reiko Shimizu) Out of print/not available digitally

My Girlfriend’s a Geek   (Fijoshi Kanajo - By (author) Pentabu, By (artist) Rize Shinba)   /originally a novel

My Girlfriend’s Child (Ano Ko no Kodomo - Mamoru Aoi)

My Little Monster   (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun - Robico)

My Love Mix-Up!   (Kieta Hatsukoi - Author Wataru Hinekure Art Aruko)

My Love Story   (Ore Monogatari!! - Author Kazune Kawahara Artist Aruko)

My Special One (Kimi ga Tokubetsu - Momoko Koda)

My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!    (Hamefura - Author Satoru Yamaguchi Artist Nami Hidaka) Originally a LN / also licenced

NG Life   (Mizuho Kusanagi) Out of print/ no digital release

Nana   (Ai Yazawa)

Natsume’s Book of Friends   (Natsume Yuujinchou - Yuki Midorikawa)

Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun   (Yumekui Kenbun - Shin Mashiba)

No. 6   (Story by Atsuko Asano, Art by Hinoki Kino )

No Longer Heroine (Heroine Shikkaku - Momoko Koda)

Not Your Idol   (Sayonara Miniskirt - Aoi Makino)

Of the Red, the Light and the Ayakashi   (Aka ya Akashi ya Ayakashi no - Author HaccaWorks* Artist Nanao)

Orange   (Ichigo Takano)

Oresama Teacher   (Izumi Tsubaki)

Otherworld Barbara   (Barbara Ikai - Moto Hagio)

Otomen   (Aya Kanno)

Ouran Highschool Host Club   (Ouran Koukou Host Club - Bisco Hatori)

Penguin Revolution   (Sakura Tsukuba) Out of print/ no digital release

Phantom Dream   (Genei Musou -Natsuki Takaya) Out of print/ no digital release

Phantom Thief Jeanne   (Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne - Ariana Tanemura)

Pig Bride   (KookHwa Huh/SuJin Kim) out of print?

Please Save My Earth   (Boku no Chikyuu wo Mamotte - Saki Hiwatari)

Primitive Boyfriend   (Genshijin Kareshi - Yoshineko Kitafuku)

Prince Freya   (Itsuwari no Freja - Keiko Ishihara)

Princess Ai   (Princess Ai Monogatari - Author Courtny Love Art Misaho Kujiradou)

Princess Knight the Twin Knights   (Futago no Kishi - Osamu Tezuka)

QQ Sweeper / / Queen’s Quality   (Kyousuke Motomi)

Rainbow Days   (Nijiiro Days - Minami Mizuno)

Real Girl (Mao Nanami)

Red River   (Sora wa Akai Kawa no Hotori - Chie Shinohara) Out of Print/ has digital release

Requiem of the Rose King   (Baraou no Souretsu - Aya Kanno)

Revolutionary Girl Utena    (Shoujo Kakumei Utena - Be-Papas// Chiho Saitou)

Rose of Versailles   (Versailles no Bara - Riyoko Ikeda)

Rosen Blood   (Rosen Blood: Haitoku no Meikan - Kachiru Ishizue)

Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts   (Niehime to Kemono no Ou -Yu Tomofuji)

Sailor moon + Codename Sailor V   (Naoko Takeuchi)

Saint Tail   (Kaitou Saint Tail - Megum Tachikawa) Out of print/no digital release

Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura   (Sakura-hime Kaden - Ariana Tanemura)

Sand Chronicles   (Sunadokei - Hinako Ashihara)

Say I Love You   (Suki tte li na yo - Kanae Hazuki)

Shinobi life   (Shoko Konami) /out of print; also has digital

Short Cake Cake �� (Suu Morishita)

Short-Tempered Melancholic and Other Stories   (Kanshakudama no Yuutsu - Ariana

Shugo Chara!   (PeachPit)

Shuriken and Pleats   (Shuriken to Pleats - Matsuri Hino)

Skip Beat   (Yoshiki Nakamura)

Skull-faced Bookseller Honda-san   (Gaikotsu Shotenin Holda-san - * Honda)

Snow White with the Red Hair   (Akagami no Shirayuki-hime - Sorata Akizuki)

So Cute It Hurts!!   (Kobayashi ga Kawai sugite Tsurai!! - Go Ikeyamada)

Special A   (Maki Minami)

St.♥Dragon Girl   (Sei♥Dragon Girl - Natsumi Matsumoto)

Star⇄Crossed   (Wota⇄Doru: Oshi ga Watashi de Watashi ga Oshi de - Junko)

Stepping on Roses   (Hadashi de Bara wo Fume - Rinko Ueda)

Strobe Edge   (Io Sakisaka)

Stupid Love Comedy   (Love Comedy no Baka - ShuShuShu Sakurai) (has more vol.s digitally tho)

Sugar Princess: Skating to win   (Hisiya Nakamura)

Sweet Rein   (Yoroshiku Master - Sakura Tsukuba)

Tail of the Moon   (Tsuki no Shippo - Rinko Ueda)

Takane & Hana   (Yuki Shiwasu)

Tanemura)

That Wolf-Boy Is Mine!   (Watashi no Ookami-kun - Yoko Nogiri)

The Alchemist Who Survived Now Dreams of a Quiet City Life   (Usata Nonohara, Guru Mizoguchi, ox )

The Betrayal Know My Name   (Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo SHitteiru - Hotaru Odagiri)

The Cain Series   (Hakushaku Cain Series - Kaori Yuka)

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess   (Tensei Akujo no Kuro Rekishi - Akiharu Touka)

The Demon Prince of Momochi House   (Momochi-san Chi no Ayakashi Ouji - Aya Shouoto)

The Devil Does Exist   (Akuma de sourou - Mitsuba Takanashi) out of print / no digital

The Earl and The Fairy   (Hakushaku to Yousei - Author Mizue Tani Art Ayuko) Originally a LN series (which is not licenced)

The Gentlemen's Alliance Cross   (Shinshi Doumei Cross - Ariana Tanemura)

The Heiress and the Chauffeur   (Ojousama no Untenshu - Keiko Ishihara)

The Poe Clan   (Poe no Ichizoku - Moto Hagio)

The Prince and His Dark Days   (Ouji-sama to Haiiro no Hibi - Hico Yamanaka)

The Saint's Magic Power is Omnipotent   ( Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou Desu - Author Yuka Tachibana Artist Fujiazuki) Originally a LN / also licenced

The Savior’s Book Cafe Story in Another World   (Author Kyouka Izumi / Oumiya Artist Reiko Sakurada) Originally a LN / also licenced

The Secret Sakura Shares   (Sakura no Himegoto - Akira Hagio)

The Vampire and His Pleasant Companions   (Kyuuketsuki to Yukai na Nakama-tachi - Author Narise Konohara Artist Marimo Ragawa)

The Wallflower   (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichihenge♥ - Tomoko Hayakawa)

The Water Dragon’s Bride   (Suijin no Hanayome - Rei Touma)

The White Cat's Revenge as Plotted from the Dragon King's Lap (Fukushuu wo chikatta shironeko wa ryuuou no hiza no jou de damin wo musaboru - Author Aki /Kureha Artist Yamigo) Originally a LN / also licenced

The Wind Shines   (Kaze Hikaru - Taeko Watanabe)

They were 11   (11-nin Iru! - Moto Hagio)

Those Not-So-Sweet Boys   (Amakunai no Nichijou wa - Yoko Nogiri)

Those Summer Days   (Ano Natsu - Chika)

Time Stranger Kyoko   (Ariana Tanemura)

Tokyo Babylon (CLAMP)

Tokyo Boys & Girls   (Miki Aihara)

Tokyo Mew Mew & Tokyo Mew Mew a la Mode (Story by Reiko Yoshida; Art by Mia Ikumi)

Tomie   (Junji Ito)

Tsubaki-chou Lonely Planet   (Mika Yamamori)

Twinkle Stars   (Hoshi wa Utau - Natsuki Takaya)

Usotoki Rhetoric (Ritsu Miyako)

V.B Rose   (Banri Hidaka) Publisher became Defunct

Vampire Dormitory   (Ema Toyama)

Vampire Knight   (Matsuri Hino)

Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy   (Seiyuu Ka! - Maki Minami)

Waiting for spring   (Harumatsu Bokura - ANASHIN)

Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty   (Ohayou, Ibarahime - Megumi Morino)

Wanted   (Matsuri Hino)

We Were There   (Bokura ga Ita - Yuuki Obata)

Wolf Girl and Black Prince (Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji - Ayuko Hatta)

X (CLAMP)

Yakuza Lover   (Koi to Dangan - Nozomi Mino)

Yona of the Dawn   (Akatsuki no Yona - Mizuho Kusanagi)

Yukarism   (Chika Shiomi)

Yuzu the Pet Vet   (Mingo Ito)

[hotwaterandmilk]

I’m going to preface this by saying I’m not a vocal Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch fan, but I did read/watch the original series and you’d have to be living under a rock to miss the let’s say mixed reception the aqua sequel has been receiving from English-speaking fans (though I’d call its Japanese fan reception muted at best too, tbh).

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch aqua

Hanamori Pink, the illustrator behind the original manga series began aqua in the September 2021 issue of Nakayoshi magazine. aqua is being written and illustrated by Hanamori without the input of original co-creator Yokote Michiko this time around.

aqua, a sequel to the original, tells the story of Nanami Rukia, daughter of Lucia and Kaito from the first series. Raised without knowledge of her mermaid ancestry, Rukia learns about her parents’ legacy upon turning 17. She must now deal with a betrothal, danger in the seven seas, and her unexpected mermaid abilities all at once.

There are a lot of issues people cite with the content in the first two chapters of aqua (which is all that have been released to this point, September 7th 2021). Common ones I’ve noticed include: Lucia & Kaito look like teenagers, Rukia and Lucia look identical in mermaid form, Hanamori’s anatomy is all over the shop,  Kurosuna Ryuusei (Rukia’s love interest) is mean and kind of a dick, it makes no sense that the characters from the original series would keep all the mermaid stuff secret, arranged marriage haha wtf, etc. etc.

Most of these are fairly subjective and not what I want to focus on here (though imho the art and story here are not great). It is the change in maturity level that is seen in aqua vs. the original Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch manga that first graced the pages of Nakayoshi magazine way back in 2002.

What do I mean by change in maturity level? Well, you certainly didn’t see panels like this in the original MMPPP manga:

(Kurosuna  “a fish is fine too” Ryuusei  + mermaid Rukia from the second chapter - scan thanks to @hikayagami).

And frankly, if you haven’t looked at Nakayoshi magazine for 20 years I can appreciate why you’d be shocked at not just this, but Kurosuna’s fairly nasty behaviour over both chapters (treating human Rukia coldly because he’s only horny for the mermaid that saved him). However, this is only really surprising if you take aqua on its own, without the context of the changes seen in Nakayoshi since its readership peaked in 1993.

"But Nakayoshi is for girls aged 8-14! It isn’t like this!” Yeah... see Nakayoshi really is like this, nowadays. Forget the powerhouse magazine that ruled the shoujo landscape in the 90s and early 00s, Nakayoshi has been steadily losing readers for quite sometime -- we’re talking a circulation rate below 60,000 (when modern Ciao magazine is hitting over half a million -- see all mag data here). 

Without the power of strong media mix tie-ins, Nakayoshi has seen a change in the type of stories it serialises. What do I mean? Well, let’s compare what was running in Nakayoshi September 2002 vs. Nakayoshi September 2021 (when the MMPPP and MMPPPA manga began serialisation).

Nakayoshi September 2002

Daa! Daa! Daa! - Kawamura Mika (media mix)

Sister Witch (Love Witch) - Takeuchi Naoko

Juunikyuu de Tsukamaete - Andou Natsumi

Tokyo Mew Mew - Ikumi Mia and Yoshida Reiko (media mix)

Yobarete Tobidete! Akubi-chan - Kamikita Futago (media mix)

Urukyuu - Akimoto Nami

Kekkon Shiyou yo - Mizukami Wataru

Musume. Monogatari - Kanzaki Yutaka and Tanaka Rika (media mix)

Hoppe Ni Chuuboo! - Natsukawa Rika

etc.

Nakayoshi September 2021

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card Hen - CLAMP (media mix)

Tokyo Mew Mew Olé - Seizuki Madoka (media mix-ish)

Shinkon Dakedo Kataomoi - Yukimori Sakura

Chihiro-kun wa, Atashi Holic - Itou Sato

Unrivaled NAOMI Tenkaichi - Kamikita Futago, Mizuno Tama, Osaka Mari

Vampire Dormitory - Tooyama Ema

Chou ka Han ka: Gokudou-sama Afurete Afurete Nakasetai - Toriumi Pedoro

Kamitsukanaide, Kiss Shite yo. - Natsuzono Gouka

Ouji ga Watashi wo Akiramenai! - Asada Nikki

etc.

I tried to pick the top-listed series or those with colour pages for the above. While this comparison is in no way definitive, generally speaking we have more content with overt romantic pursuit as a primary focus now + said romance is racier than what was seen in the magazine 21 years ago. 

Today when you open Nakayoshi kabedon is on the menu from the start, and you can anticipate lots of holding down/pinning, blushing, biting, licking, and aggressive romantic/sexual pursuit that can the blur lines of consent between series leads. Yeah you still have gag works like Wankorobee but it is the exception rather than the rule these days.

To be clear, current Nakayoshi titles do not cross over into explicit territory. However, they do contrast considerably with what was on offer 20-30 years ago. While you’d see kissing in titles like Sailor Moon (which included moments of Usagi and Mamoru in bed), these moments were presented as romantic but not definitively sexual in nature.

(This is one of the closer moments from the Sailor Moon manga, seen in the Dream arc)

You can compare this with current Nakayoshi titles, that opt for a stronger sexual undercurrent that frequently starts in the first chapter rather than building across an entire series.

(Here are the leads getting physically close in the first chapter of Chou ka Han ka: Gokudou-sama Afurete Afurete Nakasetai)

(Some first chapter licking from Vampire Dormitory. Yummo.)

(Things wouldn’t be the same without some biting. Watashi ni xx Shinasai 19 -- admittedly this series has ended, but it is a previous series by the author of Vampire Dormitory so... yeah)

In Context, aqua Makes Sense (Kinda)

So Nakayoshi’s readership has been plummeting over the years and the overall trajectory of the manga it publishes now aims for a more overtly sexual angle. There’s some debate about whether the readership started to drop and so Nakayoshi went a bit “lude” to try and drum up more attention, or whether the change in content led to the readership drop. My interpretation (and I am not an expert) is that it’s a bit of both; Nakayoshi’s media mix works stopped competing with Ciao’s (and to a lesser extent, Ribon’s), their furoku stopped being nearly as interesting, and their stories changed.

aqua, while it seems a world away from the original Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, is not worlds away from other Nakayoshi titles of the 2020s. The editorial direction of Nakayoshi doesn’t seem to be changing its trajectory and when titles like Watashi ni xx Shinasai win Kodansha Manga Awards in the children’s category (years ago, but still) you can see why they aren’t exactly rushing to change where their magazine is at -- for better or worse (I would argue the latter). When new media mixes are attempted or magical girl titles that aren’t Precure are created, without the edgier content they tend to finish quickly and not develop much online support, ultimately fading away (Brat Hunt Chu and Majo Kaitou LIPS).

And that’s where we are now, with a Nakayoshi magazine that for years has offered plot points like arranged marriages (aqua), relationships based on power imbalances (Sheikh-sama to Harem de.), and relationships born of blackmail (Watashi ni xx Shinasai). Relationships like these have existed in some form in a lot of older manga as well, but when you add in the increased emphasis on sexual imagery and dialogue in a magazine ultimately aimed at a young readership, it really does make you wonder what happened to the “good old days” like you’re a boomer or something. 

(Argh and I haven’t even touched on any broader social commentary or trends at play here!!)

Conclusion

MMPPP aqua, two chapters in, when viewed in comparison with the original MMPPP series lacks emphasis on magical girl elements, friendship, and frankly anything other than a sexually charged romantic relationship between the two leads. A sequel in terms of chronology, it has yet to find any true connection to the spirit of the original work (though that could change).

When you look at MMPPP aqua among its fellow modern Nakayoshi works, you can see how it slots into the magazine’s landscape and how keeps with current editorial trends within the publication.

MMPPP and TMM are both doing well for Nakayoshi in terms of nostalgic merchandise tie-ins (along with even older series like Kaitou Saint Tail) but I do feel there is a missed opportunity to create a stronger title here with aqua.

Perhaps I (personally) find it so disappointing because I’m wrapped up in Tomita Sukehiro’s Wedding Apple, a visual web novel and spiritual successor to Ciao’s 90s media-mix series, Wedding Peach. Rather than trying to slot into where the old series fitted in, Wedding Apple went for a cutting edge web service that allowed for greater exploration of series themes, improving on frequently cited issues in Wedding Peach like the emphasis on heterosexuality, marriage being the ultimate goal for girls, age restrictions for magical abilities, etc. Does it hit the mark every single time? No, it doesn’t. However, I appreciate the fact that it tries and that it exists to convey a story, rather than simply to cash in.

Compare this to MMPPP aqua, which has yet to find a purpose outside of the nostalgia gravy train. I could be wrong here, in the next few chapters aqua could find its feet and portray a strong Rukia taking charge and making new friends like her mother once did. The art could look better than whatever-the-hell you call how it currently looks (peak sameface?).

In the pages of 2020s Nakayoshi though, a title that does this is rare and with a media-mix legacy propelling it forward, MMPPP aqua may well remain a soulless fin-sucking extravaganza that uses the original series’ mythology as nothing more than window-dressing for a generic, sketchily composed, and kinda ick relationship between two leads with all the romantic chemistry of house bricks.

Meanwhile Nakayoshi itself remains aimless, adrift, and unsure of what it represents anymore from an editorial standpoint as its numbers continue to dwindle.

It’s a bit of a bleak picture though I do have my fingers crossed for aqua to improve. Please improve, aqua. ;o;

[leenaevilin-birthday-calendar]

[March] J-Actors Birthday Calendar

♪ March 1st

◎ Akaso Eiji 赤楚衛二 1994

◎ Oota Hikaru 太田光る 1997

◎ Saitou Shuusuke 斉藤秀翼 1993

◎ Saki Masato 碕理人 1991

◎ Yoshino Keigo 吉野圭吾 1971

♪ March 2nd

◎

♪ March 3rd

◎

♪ March 4th

◎ Nakamura Aoi 中村蒼 1991

◎ Sugie Masahiro 杉江優篤 1989

♪ March 5th

◎ Chou Ikkou 張乙紘 1987

◎ Matsuyama Kenichi 松山ケンイチ 1985

◎ Oshinari Shuugo 忍成修吾 1981

◎ Shison Jun 志尊淳 1995

◎ Yamaoki Yuuki 山沖勇輝 1991

♪ March 6th

◎ Iwata Takanori 岩田剛典 1989

◎ Kuro Taka 黒貴

◎ Yoshimura Shunsaku 吉村駿作 1995

♪ March 7th

◎ Imai Ryou 今井稜 1995

◎ Nagayama Kento 永山絢斗 1989

◎ Nihei Takuya 二瓶拓也 1984

◎ Yuzawa Kouichirou 湯澤幸一郎 1971

♪ March 8th

◎ Masuda Toshiki 増田俊樹 1990

◎ Yamazaki Yuuta 山崎裕太 1981

♪ March 9th

◎ Chiba Yuudai 千葉雄大 1989

◎ Hoshino Yuuta 星乃勇太 1994

◎ Kaneo Hiroyasu 兼尾洋泰 1992

♪ March 10th

◎ Higashi Takumi 東拓海 1997

◎ Takahashi Mitsuomi 高橋光臣 1982

◎ Tonoshiro Yuuma 登野城佑真 1992

♪ March 11th

◎ Saikawa Kooji 才川コージ 1995

♪ March 12th

◎ Arai Shou 新井將 1992

◎ Ide Takuya 井出卓也 1991

◎ Negishi Takuya 根岸拓哉 1996

♪ March 13th

◎ Akimoto Ryuutarou 秋元龍太朗 1995

◎ Daitou Shunsuke 大東駿介 1986

◎ Nozaki Yutaka 野嵜豊 1999

◎ Yonehara Kousuke 米原幸佑 1986

♪ March 14th

◎ Akazawa Tomoru 赤澤燈 1990

◎ Isogai Ryuuko 磯貝龍虎 1987

♪ March 15th

◎

♪ March 16th

◎ Ichinose Hidekazu 市瀬秀和 1975

◎ Mihara Daiki 三原大樹 1997

◎ Rachi Shinji 良知真次 1983

♪ March 17th

◎ Hotta Masaru 堀田勝 1980

◎ Takagi Shun 高木俊 1981

♪ March 18th

◎

♪ March 19th

◎ Kobayashi Yutaka 小林豊 1989

♪ March 20th

◎ Endou Yuuya 遠藤雄弥 1987

◎ Inoue Masahiro 井上正大 1989

♪ March 21st

◎ Katou Ryousuke 加藤良輔 1984

◎ Satou Takamichi 佐藤たかみち 1998

◎ Satou Takeru 佐藤健 1989

◎ Tamura Ryouta 田村良太 1983

♪ March 22nd

◎ Shiramata Atsushi 白又敦 1994

◎ Tamaoki Reo 玉置玲央 1985

◎ Yoshida Taiki 吉田大輝 1994

♪ March 23rd

◎ Kyou Nobuo 姜暢雄 1979

◎ Matsuoka Takuya 松岡拓弥 1994

♪ March 24th

◎ Gotou Takeru 後藤健流

◎ Kenn ケン 1982

◎ Masaki Reiya 柾木玲弥 1995

◎ Miura Hiroki 三浦宏規 1999

◎ Ryuusei Ryou 竜星涼 1993

◎ Takigawa Eiji 滝川英治 1979

♪ March 25th

◎ Itou Yuuichi 伊藤裕一 1984

◎ Kotani Yoshikazu 小谷嘉一 1982

◎ Oohashi Noriyuki 大橋典之 1992

♪ March 26th

◎ Takeishi Gorou 竹石悟朗 1986

♪ March 27th

◎ Oguri Ryou 小栗諒 1987

♪ March 28th

◎ Isawa Takuma 井澤巧麻 1994

◎ Ishibashi Shuuhei 石橋脩平 1987

◎ Oono Hiroyuki 大野紘幸 1999

◎ Takahashi Ryuuki 高橋龍輝 1993

◎ Takeshi Naoki 武子直輝 1993

♪ March 29th

◎ Aoyagi Ruito 青柳塁斗 1990

◎ Hirai Hiroki 平井浩基 1994

◎ Ishida Tomoyuki 石田知之 1991

♪ March 30th

◎ Furuhata Keisuke 古畑恵介

◎ Karahashi Mitsuru 唐橋充 1977

◎ Satou Nobunaga 佐藤信長 1995

♪ March 31st

◎ Kimura Masataka 木村優良 1997

◎ Satou Yuuichi 佐藤雄一 1989

◎ Shiota Kouhei 塩田康平 1990

◎ Torigoe Yuuki 鳥越裕貴 1991

[stargazer-sims]

Ryu and his "bodyguard" Ji-Soo

Haru and Taiji gave Ji-Soo the style treatment, and now everyone barely recognizes her. Ryu definitely isn't complaining, though. He likes what he sees. His soldier-turned-princess really looks the part tonight.

This should fuel the gossip mill for a while.

[animoowoman]

10 Characters, 10 Fandoms

Tagged by @dykawitz for this one! i’m not gonna add pictures cause that sounds like a hassle, but here they are, in no particular order:

1. Hagita Saku from Orange

2. Kuriyama Mirai from Kyoukai no Kanata (Beyond the Boundary)

3. Kawabuchi Sentarou from Sakamichi no Apollon (Kids on the Slope)

4. Bokuto Koutarou from Haikyuu!!

5. Obi from Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (Snow White with the Red Hair)

6. Machi from Hunter x Hunter

7. Miyazono Kaori from Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso (Your Lie in April)

8. Yoshida Haru from Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun (My Little Monster)

9. Ichinose Kai from Hatsu*Haru (First*Spring)

10. Shishio Satsuki from Hirunaka no Ryuusei (Daytime Shooting Star)

aka i’m really gay and if i relate to you or you make my heart go doki doki once i’m yours

as always, i’m not gonna tag anyone, but @ me if you do this!

[stargazer-sims]

Sugar Valentine - Valentine’s Day Show!

Mt. Komorebi, are you ready?

It’s time to JUMP! and give a warm welcome to your very own Sugar Valentine!

The five boys run onstage, and in what has become their signature entrance, they form a line, join hands, and jump as high as they can. They're greeted by excited and enthusiastic cheering from their fans — their Valentines — who have come to see this special Valentine's Day performance.

Ryu: Mt. Komorebi, are you ready to…

All: JUMP!

audience: *loud cheering*

Senjirō: Here we come! We want to hear you!

Haru: Who do you love, Mt. Komorebi? Let's hear it! I want you to shout it loud!

audience: *screaming intensifies* SUGAR VALENTINE!!!

The members wait for the noise level to go down slightly before they introduce themselves to the audience, one by one.

Ryu: Hello, Valentines of Mt. Komorebi, and all our Valentines watching online! I’m Yoshida Ryuusei. You know me as Ryu. We’ve got an amazing show for you tonight. We put all our love into it, and now we’re sending that love out to you!

Keigo: Hey, everyone! My name is Sasaki Keigo. You know me as Kēki. I may be the Cake, but you’re the frosting. With all of your love and support, life’s so much sweeter. You’re beautiful and I love you!

Haru: Hey! How’re you doing tonight, Mt. Komorebi? Feeling good? I’m Abe Sakuharu, and you know me as Haru. I love you, my Valentines! You know what to do!

audience: *screaming* MARRY ME, HARU!!!

Haru: Yes!

Senjirō: Hello, Valentines around the world! I’m Aidan Okada. You know me as Senjirō. I’m really happy to be here tonight with all of you. Seeing your passion for what we do is special, and it means more than I have words for. I love you, Valentines, and I hope you enjoy the show!

Taiji: Last but not least, I’m your Baby Sugar, Kanematsu Taiji. Who needs stage names? You know me as Taiji, and I wanna hear you make some noise! Come on, Valentines, let’s make some noise!

-----

~ THE PERFORMANCE ~

The boys perform several of their most popular songs, as well as a special surprise; their as-yet-unreleased single, “One Thousand Paper Cranes”.

-----

~ AFTER THE PERFORMANCE ~

After the performance, the five members pose together on stage so their fans can take photos. This a is part of every show, and it’s a fan favourite feature of Sugar Valentine’s live stage events.

audience: We love you!

Happy Valentine’s Day from the boys of Sugar Valentine! We hope you enjoyed the show!

[stargazer-sims]

Starlight Rider II

The boys aren't entirely thrilled about having to rework their song to fit a western theme, but they do love the outfits.

[stargazer-sims]

Social Time

Ryota hung around after the boys’ lesson. He said he was making an effort to be social.

Taiji and Haru are onto him, though. They know their Mr. Takaichi is an introvert, and the only time anyone applies the word “social” to him is to say he’s socially awkward. If he’s here to be social, they’re pretty sure it means he’s here to clumsily flirt with his crush.

The crush in question doesn’t seem to have a problem with it.

Sarah: *twirls her hair*

Haru and Taiji find the whole thing amusing.

Ryu, on the other hand, is trying to pretend he doesn’t see any of what’s going on between Sarah and Ryota. The whole thing gives him the same sort of feeling of secondhand embarrassment he gets whenever he sees his parents being affectionate in public. He vows to himself that he and Ji-Soo are never going to be that couple, the one people feel compelled to avert their gaze from so as not to make an uncomfortable social situation even more unconfortable.

[stargazer-sims]

Sarah: I’m glad you gentlemen could join us.

Ryu: I thought I’d better come and give my input on the situation.

Taiji: Not gonna lie, I’m just here to see Haru get his ass handed to him. Didn’t I say you’d get in big trouble when Sarah found out, Haru?

Haru: Shut it, Taiji. This has nothing to do with you.

Sarah: Actually, this affects all of you.

Taiji: How does it affect me and Ryu?

Sarah: It affects you, Taiji, because you’re going to be sharing a room with either Keigo or Senjirō. They can’t share a room any more, with the video crew being here every other day.

Keigo: What?

Taiji: No way am I moving into their room. I’m not gonna sleep in their stupid pink bunk beds.

Haru: They don’t even sleep in the bunk beds. They’re both on the bottom bunk together most of the time.

Sarah: Is that true?

Keigo: What if it is?

Senjirō: We do sleep in the same bed sometimes, but that’s private.

Sarah: It needs to stop, and you’re also going to have to stop hugging and holding hands in public.

Senjirō: That’s not fair! I mean, guess I can understand the public part, but we’re allowed to do what we want when the cameras are off… aren’t we?

Sarah: *sighing* Senjirō, don’t make this any more difficult than it already is, please. I already told you that I’d let you do whatever you want if it were entirely up to me, but you know it’s not up to me at the end of the day.

Senjirō: I know, but can’t you do something? I… I don’t want to be in a room with Taiji any more than he wants to be in a room with me.

Ryu: What would you like, Senjirō? Would you feel better if you had the room to yourself? Keigo could come in with me instead, or if you’d rather not be alone, you could share with me. That could work, right?

Sarah: Either of those options are fine.

Senjirō: *shaking his head* I just want to stay with Keigo.

Haru: Senjirō, are you crying?

Senjirō: Leave me alone, Haru. This is all your fault. We’re being punished because of you, and all you have to do is delete a social media post, and it’s not fair.

Haru: I didn’t know Sarah was going to split you up. I just thought you guys looked cute, and I thought it’d be funny to see how quickly you’d go viral. I swear I didn’t mean anything.

Keigo: Whether you meant anything or not is literally not the point. You didn’t even ask us if you could take our picture, much less splash it all over Simstagram. You knew we were trying to keep stuff low-key and avoid drawing too much attention to ourselves, but you just had to mess everything up. Now everybody's going to assume something totally untrue about us, and it'll probably never go away.

Haru: I swear that wasn’t what I was going for. I didn’t think—

Keigo: That’s your problem. You don’t think. You hurt people and then treat it like it’s a joke, but it’s not funny.

Haru: I didn’t want to hurt anybody.

Sarah: Well then, Haru, perhaps you can think about that while your internet privileges are suspended.

[stargazer-sims]

choreography

The boys are getting ready to be on television. They'll be performing their song “Starlight Rider” from their most recent album, JUMP! (one of their collective favourites), and they’re doing one last run-through, wearing their performance outfits, just to make sure everything will work perfectly. They're used to crowds, but it hits different when they’re performing in front of a live studio audience on a talk show, and they have to be interviewed by the host first.

_____

I might be a little in love with them. Help.

Seriously, though... I feel like maybe this is the project I needed to get me back into things. These guys don't have much of a story (yet). I think it's just going to be gameplay with a bit of narration or dialogue, as well as some posed shots like these. It might be the perfect thing to help me feel less inadequate, and less like I'm wasting my efforts for no discernible outcome, since this isn't going to take massive amounts of time and energy to create like a full-on story would.

tbh I'm kind of hoping they get a bit of a "fan club" eventually. 😉

[stargazer-sims]

The beer pong isn’t going well for Ryu. He is currently questioning all his life choices.

I think it’s easy to guess who’ll be buying pizza for five hungry boys tonight.

[stargazer-sims]

They are pure chaos...

Ryu looks like he's tired of babysitting this lot. Everyone else is having a time, though.

I took individual screenshots for bios. Do we need bios?