Hana-Kimi, Volume 1: For You In Full Blossom

Not the most inventive plot, but the plethora of interesting side characters save the day

The notion of crossdressing in manga is not a new one. The notion of using crossdressing in manga as a long-term device to acquire love is also not a new one. Therefore, I was not particularly shocked or intrigued by Mizuki's endeavors...especially when it takes the main couple 2 volumes to figure out that they're in love and *23* to actually say it. I would have put this manga back on the shelf long before I finished it, however...

All of the side characters in Hana-Kimi convinced me to not give up on the story until I had finished it. Despite the fact that you were supposed to be focusing on Mizuko/Sano/Nakatsu, I couldn't help but feel like each of the side characters had a more interesting personality or storyline than the main love triangle. (I'll admit that Nakatsu has his lovable quirks, but the naive, Mary-Sue type heroine, the silent, overly-protective love interest, and the goofball friend can only get you so far.)


Whether it was Oscar, the germanophile with a supremacy complex and his rivalry with the equally egocentric Hibari, the eccentric karate club and the questionable relationship between Kujou and Kadoma, or the mildly sarcastic psychic who can see auras and ghosts, everyone seems to outshine the the main group of lovers. Even at the end, I found myself saying "Oh no, what will happen to Kadoma once Kujou graduates?" rather than *SPOILER* "Oh no, Mizuki was found out!" *END SPOILER* Their situation and personalities were just too unbelievable and cliche to focus on, so I didn't feel a strong connection to them.

Art-wise, Hana-Kimi starts out a bit weak, but eventually grows to a more advanced style as the series progresses. Towards the last 3 or so volumes, the art quality does seem to take a bit of a nosedive, however. It maintains a very general 90's shoujo manga style, and doesn't take any risks or develop an extremely defining style.

Overall, Hana-Kimi is good for those who are interested by the average shoujo series, or for those who are content with being amused by the minor characters, but it isn't a very stimulating series, and you can easily skip 5 volumes and still see Mizuki and Sano doing exactly what they've always been doing. How much you enjoy this series mainly depends on what types of characters you are drawn to, and for how long you are interested in them.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Mizuki has always wanted to see her favorite high jumper jump in

Mizuki has always wanted to see her favorite high jumper jump in person and that is exactly what she is going to do. She devised a plan to convince her parents to allow her to go to school in Japan. However, she leaves out the part about it being an all boys school. She chops off all of her long hair and pretends to be a boy so that she can get close to Sano. Turns out that they will get even closer than she expected when she finds out that they not only have classes together but they are roommates as well!

I thought that this was a very cute manga. There is no crazy bad guys or any plot twists. Just a funny story about a girl pretending to be a guy to get close to her idol. Sano of course finds out that his roommate is a girl but plays along for her sake, pretending that he is clueless. Meanwhile, Mizuki thinks that she has everyone fooled and in some cases she does. There is a boy named Nakatsu in her school who is fighting his attraction to Mizuki and he is freaking out over it. He's not gay and tries to justify some of his actions with Mizuki. Poor guy has no idea that he really isn't gay, Mizuki is actually a girl.

I thought the whole book was funny.

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Good start

Mizuki enrolls in an all boys school to meet Izumi Sano. There's a problem though: Mizuki's a girl. First watched the show which is pretty good with interesting characters and has its share of serious and hilarious moments. With the first volume, it seemed to go by quick. I still liked the book. Good start.

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One of the best manga I've ever read

I had heard about this manga a lot, through magazines, anime conventions, and, of course, the internet. They had a lot of positive feedback to give, so I decided to see what it was all about. And I'm glad I did. This is without a doubt my number one favorite manga series out there, and I'm the kind of person who is extremely picky about what I read. If I don't absolutely love it from the first chapter then I don't read it. And I've spent quite a bit of time at the book store's manga section "browsing".

The characters in this manga are so likeable because the readers can relate to them. I love the ingenuity of the plot line and the fact that the creator takes the time to reveal more about the characters in each volume, something most authors forget to do.

I highly, highly recommend this book to all shoujo fans out there. Trust me it is definitely worth the money and a read.

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Excellent!!!

I really like the story its very original a little irealistic because I don't think any normal girl would disguise herself as a boy to go to an all boys school but I do find this story very funny and entusiastic, romantic and it makes you cry once in a while if you are sentimentalist. I do recomend this Manga..

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LOVE IT!!!!

I Never read Mangas before until recently and fell in love with them. I used to be a vampire fan but not anymore. This book is so cute and romantic. I even crack up sometimes cause it's funny.

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A Wonderful Series

I have been a follower of the Hana Kimi series since the first translated volume appeared on the shelf of my local bookstore. Nearly a year and a half later, I have completely fallen in love with the series and am eagerly awaiting the release of the final volume. Although the story line may appear simple and cliche-- its characters will captivate you. The art is beautiful and you cannot help but feel involved in the storyline. I'm not a hardcore manga reader, but I truly enjoyed this series.

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OBSESSION

I never read mangas. Like, ever. EXCEPT this one!!! i love it so much! it's adorable!! everytime i'm in the bookstore i check to see if the new one is out. I seriously have some sort of weird obsession. When i can't wait for the next book to come out, i read the old ones. =]

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A reviewer

Hana-Kimi is one of the greatest manga ever created! It has a wonderful plot to it. Toget close to her idol, Izumi Sano, JapaneseAmerican Mizuki Ashiya moves to Japan . . . and enrolls into an allboy high school! And as luck would have it they are not only in the same class but are roommates as well!! But can Mizuki keep her secret in the classroom, the bedroom, and from her classmates and the school nurse?

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I LOVE HANA KIMI

I will recommend for mostly.It's funny.

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a very lovely magna

i enjoyed hana-kimi at first the beginning may have seemed like some boy show but dont be creeped out bout that ^-^ i only have volume 1 for now but now i wish to by more! i want to know what's going to happen between sano and mizuki ^-^ hana-kimi is one of the best magna's i ever read! i definetly recomend it for everyone! ^^

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great series

this is my first manga. i was hooked within the first chapter and i think i'm falling for sano...

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FAVORITE MANGA

Hana Kimi is my ultimate favorite manga now!! It was so great while it lasted and I'm so sad that it really did end. I want to know what happens now to them, how does Sano ask Mizuki to marry him? And so many other questions form.

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It's a must read!

Hana-Kimi is a hilarious manga that I recommend shojo fans to read. It has a good plot, but... it's not probable. Oh well... That's what I like about it!^-^**

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For You In Full Blossom

THIS BOOK IS GREAT! Mizuki dresses up like a boy so she can meet her idol high jumper Izumi. Things start off well, they are in the same class, they run into each other, oh and they share a room together. It doesn't take long for her school nurse and roomate/idol to find out she is a girl. But Mizuki doesn't know that Izumi knows, and she has some men questioning there sexualty. It really is cute and I loved it.

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Only the best get by!

This is one of the best manga stories I've read in all my life(not that it's too long). I picked it up on an ordinary day and read the back cover and in an instant after reading the first three pages was hooked good! Most crossdressing mangas get old quick for me, but this was too funny, the art great and the characters too good to pass on. And the fact that it's set in such a realistic way...It just made it better. And since the beginning, it has just gotten better and better!

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MY GOSH!!!

IM SO JELOUS OF MIZUKI,SURRONDED BY ALL THOSE HOT BOYS........JUST KIDDING.BUT THEY ARE CUTE.THIS IS DEFENTINTLY A GREAT MANGA AND A MUST READ.NOT OVER DRAMATIC AND HILARIOUS COMIDY.

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Amazing Manga, Truly!

I started reading this manga on-line before it was liscenced in the United States, and it is absolutely my favorite manga! I can't wait for all the 20+ volumes to come out in the US! (Hopefully Viz has agreed to publishing the entire series.) It is an incredible book! Buy it now!

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One of my Favorites!

I am a dedicated shojo fan and I absolutely love this manga. I can read a little chinese but not enough to read the chinese version of this so I don't know if the translation is accurate. Although, I'm sure there must be some parts that the viz did not do a good job on, that should be expected. But overall, this is a GREAT manga and everyone should try it! I love Gilbert!

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Crossdressing to a WHOLE Another Level

I've been reading the series before it has been lisenced by Viz and the series is the BEST!!!! Normally crossdresser stories would stop probably after ten or less. However, this series has been printing in Japan since (from what I heard) 1992!! And still running! Just when you think the series can't get any better, it can five trillion times!

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