Kare Kano by Masumi Tsuda

Serialized in Hakusensha's Lala manga anthology since 1995, Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (or otherwise referred to as Kare Kano) is a popular shoujo manga by Masami Tsuda. The English translation of Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou is "His and Her Circumstances" which depicts an adolescent love story using the viewpoint of both the female and the male characters.

The heroine of the story is Yukino Miyazawa, who appears to be naturally bright, beautiful, and kind. Both her male and female classmates idolize her because of her perfection. However, her appearance is somewhat disillusioned and readers realize that her perfection comes at a price. When she is at home with her family, she is a sloppy and vain girl who strives to be perfect just for the sheer reason of being idolized and praised by others. Even though she dedicates all her efforts to be the top student in school, in reality, she is very lazy and short-tempered at home.

When Yukino enters high school, she realizes that she has been dethroned as the top student in her class by Soichiro Arima, a popular, intelligent, and all-around nice guy. She is furious that he has stolen the spotlight from her and vows to take revenge. Considering him her ultimate rival, she is determined to be the top student in class once again. However, Soichiro doesn't seem the same way when he makes attempts to express his true feelings for Yukino.

As the story continues, readers realize that Yukino is not the only one with a deceiving appearance. Even though Soichiro's reasons for being the model student aren't as vain as Yukino's reasons, he too wears "a mask" to prevent others from seeing his true self. Even though he wishes for Yukino's affections, he also fears that becoming too close with result in rejection.

Tsuda's artwork in Kare Kano can be appreciated by readers for its variety in style. The plot features both comical and serious moments, which is well complemented by the artwork. During the story's touching moments, Tsuda uses soft, light lines to illustrate the expression of the characters. However, during more comical moments, her style is varied to a darker, clean-lined appearance. Her drawings make the story and dialogue come to life and brings the Kare Kano manga to a whole new level.

Even though the manga cover is pink and decorated with tulips, Kare Kano can be enjoyed by anyone. Despite it being categorized in the shoujo manga genre, the story is told by both a male and female character. Also, the story features enough romance, comedy, and drama that add variety to the plot. Whether you read Kare Kano for the storyline or art, it is a rare manga title that can appeal to all.

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