Ever wonder how a simple verse of poetry can unravel the complexities of young love? Join me on a journey through the pages of "Senryu Shojo," where emotions run deep, even in the tight constraints of a seventeen-syllable poem. This episode is a heartfelt homage to my favorite mangas that redefine romantic storytelling, and I'm thrilled to share my personal top 10 list with you. We traverse a landscape rich with emotional depth, from the silent yet profound connections in "A Sign of Affection" to the political subtleties and comedic undertones of "The Ideal Sponger Life."
Strap in for a tour of heartfelt melodies and familial bonds that'll tug at your heartstrings. "Fuka" strikes a chord, weaving music into its love narrative in a way that kept me reading all night. Meanwhile, "Fruits Basket" invites us to a poignant reunion with its mix of endearing characters and mythical zodiac humor. As a new father, I found a piece of myself in "So Life," reflecting on the joys and trials of parenthood, only enhancing my love for these emotionally charged tales.
Next week's episode promises to be just as engaging, with a mid-season review of the latest in anime. I'm all ears for your thoughts and reactions—it's the fuel that keeps our community thriving. So whether it's a manga that moved you or an anime that's caught your eye, let's keep the conversation going. Share your experiences, and let's connect over the stories that stir our passions and shape our views on love, life, and everything in between.
Ever wonder how a simple verse of poetry can unravel the complexities of young love? Join me on a journey through the pages of "Senryu Shojo," where emotions run deep, even in the tight constraints of a seventeen-syllable poem. This episode is a heartfelt homage to my favorite mangas that redefine romantic storytelling, and I'm thrilled to share my personal top 10 list with you. We traverse a landscape rich with emotional depth, from the silent yet profound connections in "A Sign of Affection" to the political subtleties and comedic undertones of "The Ideal Sponger Life."
Strap in for a tour of heartfelt melodies and familial bonds that'll tug at your heartstrings. "Fuka" strikes a chord, weaving music into its love narrative in a way that kept me reading all night. Meanwhile, "Fruits Basket" invites us to a poignant reunion with its mix of endearing characters and mythical zodiac humor. As a new father, I found a piece of myself in "So Life," reflecting on the joys and trials of parenthood, only enhancing my love for these emotionally charged tales.
Next week's episode promises to be just as engaging, with a mid-season review of the latest in anime. I'm all ears for your thoughts and reactions—it's the fuel that keeps our community thriving. So whether it's a manga that moved you or an anime that's caught your eye, let's keep the conversation going. Share your experiences, and let's connect over the stories that stir our passions and shape our views on love, life, and everything in between.
Speaker 1:
Hey there and welcome back to Rival Reviews. So this week I know last week we kind of talked about my favorite animas, so this week I thought that I would now take the opportunity to talk about what I consider to be my top 10 favorite mongas. The one thing that I did notice and I believe that I have brought this up in past episodes is that I find in Manga I put more importance on story relationships, everything else like that versus like action-oriented ones and full disclosure. I also tried to stick to just mongas because I felt that man was deserved their own episode, probably somewhere down the line I don't think it'll be next because I kind of already have plans for next week, but we'll get into that later. So, without further ado, let's start this list. So, like I said, I do think and what I noticed when I was putting this list together, is that it is very more kind of shojo-esque romance, kind of orientated, more so than, like I said, where you probably noticed in my top 10 manga. They're more action focused and world building focused and everything else where I find in manga I want to just kind of enjoy and read a cute story, and I think that will become more apparent as this list goes on.
Speaker 1:
So at number 10, I put Senryu Shojo. So essentially, what this one is about is about a it's kind of like a high school romance type of feel-y type of one. Only, the big difference that I found in this one is, like the title suggests, the main character only talks in Senryu, which is to my understanding and from what I've looked up, and it totally makes sense to the manga as well. And of course you can argue about translations and how they're done all day, but it looks as if Senryu is essentially the Japanese version of haiku. I do know that there are some differences in terms of like. You know, one is more about nature, while the one is about the humanity, and that's how you can differentiate them. Blah, blah, blah, blah. I don't really care, but it was essentially, again, not to spoil anything, but there were reasons as to why she has to talk in this manner and the male lead, you know, is at first like a delinquent, and then they kind of realize that they need each other and then they accept each other for who they are and it's just heartwarming. But yeah, so it's, in my opinion. I would just say it's a very unique and delightful, take on like a high school romance genre because it's a little bit different to the whole. Like you know, you're focusing on the whole, I guess, trope of like misunderstandings or love rivals, and you know the poly, the triangles, and yeah, it doesn't have really any of that. It's more so putting the importance of. You know, though they have different ways of communicating, they still can communicate and in some ways they communicate better than people that can just speak normally, which I find kind of say weighs really nice into number nine, which the number nine spot is a sign of affection.
Speaker 1:
As some listeners probably know, the anime adaptation is currently out on Crunchyroll right now and is currently playing weekly. I'm caught up with the manga on this one, which is kind of hurtful more than anything else, because it's you know, once you get to the monthly release, you kind of just want to slowly kill yourself because you're just waiting for the story to move on and you find that, you know the chapters are getting shorter and shorter, but anyway. So again kind of going back to why I liked Senryu Shojo so much, is that this one, I think, does a really good job at focusing on, though they can't communicate in the traditional sense they can not even communicate the same way. Some could argue that they communicate in a more, I guess. I guess I think I think passionate kind of way, so a sign of affection, kind of like the the name Suggest is the main character, she's deaf, and the male lead who's kind of like this, traveled, experienced, like you know as experienced, probably too much for somebody that is just only just in college, you know, kind of had a rough bringing up everything else like that, finds new interest in the world that she needs to live because of her, you know, hearing impairment and kind of like the hardships that come with that.
Speaker 1:
But also, and in a sense it's like you know, it's heartwarming and I find that it's like a realistic portrayal of love In regards to, like you know, like I said, not playing to those really niche kind of Arc types that I find a lot of the romances try to staple on. And, yeah, I just like I said, I think that it really puts a good Like a good focus on communication and like overcoming obstacles of everyday life that comes With having that hearing impairment and how they kind of live with that. Yeah, so that's what I would say about that number eight. I kind of go. We're kind of hearing off from the kind of I Guess feeling that the other two had. It's called the ideal spender life.
Speaker 1:
I know that I was actually in the middle of reading this in one of the episodes and now I've caught up. What I find fun about this one is is that this though I would still call it a romance one I find that it's not as Niche, because it's kind of like an isekai meets romance, meets comedy, meets Like the fantasy aspect of it. I know that in genre specific I think this is actually called a fantasy comedy, but essentially what it is that, like a, all of a sudden he gets worked into this world and is basically asked to marry the Queen and that's all that's asked of him, because essentially the Queen Is being forced to marry but still wants to rule. So basically, essentially, she wants to find herself Husband. That'll just be. That will basically just be a husband. You know, won't fight her honor politics, won't fight her on her the way she rules, anything else like that. Hence why it's called the ideal spender life, because essentially he just gets to Live the King's life without really having to do anything. Obviously, later in the thing he becomes more trusted and wants to have a more active kind of, I guess, roll in the way the politics work and everything else like that. But it's still very Focused in the sense that you know he's living his ideal spender life, hence the title.
Speaker 1:
It's a fun read and, like I said, what I find interesting is not one of those like isekai's where you know he got summoned because he Needs to go fight the demon king or whatever else. He's literally been summoned to essentially Be a trophy husband and it's just. It's a very Interesting, I think, turn On the isekai genre. It's, it's, it's very unique in that sense, in my opinion. Okay, so number seven the fragrant flower blooms with dignity. I have a hard time Putting. I had a really hard time trying to write down my thoughts as to why this deserve number seven and why this is. I mean, why this was number ten and what made it different from other Manga. Is it in this genre in the traditional sense? I would definitely say that this is definitely more traditional to the Romance trope.
Speaker 1:
I think what I find the most appealing about this title is that it's very Realistic and it's also Like you feel for the characters and like you, actually you, you grow with their stories and the weird like connotation. So essentially, without giving anything too much away, they're from us the boy, the, the. The male lead is in a school that is notorious, I guess, for delinquents and write across from them is a school, is isn't so, and again also like an old all-boy school, and the female lead is from an all-girl school where they're basically taught to stay clear of the male lead school and basically told that they're based essentially beneath them in the hierarchy of things which is just messed up in its own way. I so it kind of has like that rut, like almost like Not forbidden love, but like it kind of starts that way and then it like slowly brings in his friends and how they feel about the situation and her friends. Now they feel about the situation and how, though you know kind of the whole idea of them being split in this weird, it's not so much that it's a school of delinquents, it's just for the fact that you know Because so, basically, like this, it also kind of highlights the whole you know difference in like Schooling because, like in the Japanese system or whatever else, to get into certain schools you actually have to take a test to get into said high school there's obviously had like a lower Mark. So that's why it kind of gets its bad rep, I guess, where the one that she's from has more of like a higher I Guess pole, like bar set and yeah.
Speaker 1:
So it kind of like brings like those real life things and then also like it else. But it also has like the the male lead kind of Looks scary, like he's, like he's tall, you know, he has dyed blonde hair, piercings and he looks kind of like hardcore but like he's actually like Real soft guy that works at his parents bakery baking cakes and that's like his favorite thing to do and it's kind of like also like the whole. You know, don't judge a book by its cover and everything else and yeah, it's just, it's a really sweet read. So that's why I put it on the list and I felt that it was here. So, number put, number six, I put sense coupling. Now, if anybody has seen or read, it's Susie, your children.
Speaker 1:
I find that it's very kind of similar to this where you have or if I wanted to use like a real life example if you've ever seen something like a, like a love actually, or a New Year's Day or anything like that, where they have like all of these like separate stories that then come into and sometimes they big cross and sometimes they don't or have anything to do with each other, but like you get a sense of like an Overarching story. So this one, what I found interesting is that this one Kind of focused more on the idea of true, true soulmates, in the sense that, like every single one of the couples that you have seen were together in a past life and they have re-found each other in modern day and whether they're like you know they have, they all have like different ways of finding each other. Like some some are, like you know, our childhood friends and they found them right away. Some are Meet later in life and but, no matter what, there's always that idea of like they were meant and bound to find each other, which is just, you know, sweet in my opinion and it kind of like in my mind it it kind of almost, like I said, I think the weirdest part about this one is that they start like sharing dreams and stuff like that, and it's a fascinating exploration of the connection between individuals on a profound level and I just found it sweet because you do the whole like, oh, you're my soulmate and everything else like that. But this story is like. You know, they were like a warrior princess, like in the medieval, everything else. And now they're in modern day and they're in love again and it's just, it's sweet. That's really all I can say about it.
Speaker 1:
Number five I put Hori Mia. So again, this kind of goes back towards the traditional high school romance trope. The one thing that I say that does it really well is that it, it, it stamps on the idea of like. Just because you know somebody in like maybe. Well, in this case is more of like a school aspect, but like you could also know. So when somebody maybe in like a professional aspect and that's not necessarily who they are outside of that location, if that makes sense. I find that this one does a really good job in the sense that you know the like.
Speaker 1:
The female lead, for instance, like you know, she's popular to the point, very sweet, everything else. But at home, because she has to kind of be the mom and everything else like that, she's disheveled, she's tired, she doesn't come off as this perfect person, she's in sweats, you know, around the house and everything else like that, and she's trying to like maintain this image. So that's why when the when the male lead meets her and then she discovers that the male lead is completely different looking because, like outside, he has all of his piercings, which aren't allowed in schools there, and he's tattooed all over and everything else like that, but in the school he hides that all underneath, like his uniform and stuff like that. So then when she finally learns that you know, this guy that looks completely different is actually her classmate, it's the whole like concern of oh no, everybody in school is going to find out about how I am outside of school and that's kind of how their relationship starts. And what I like about this one too, is that this is the first, one of the first ones that I read that I found put a really big importance on the relationships between these side characters as well, because sometimes, you know, we get these characters introduced as to us from the side and, like all they are, are, like you know, the male's male lead's best friend or the female leads best friend, and that's kind of like it, where this one, like you know, once kind of like the male lead and the female lead, their story is kind of concrete. It actually then moves on and like kind of side pans to these side characters and what they're doing and what they're having to live through, and it's just I don't know, I found that it was. It was interesting enough to obviously give it the number five spot on my list, so number four I gave it to Fuka.
Speaker 1:
I know that I've talked about this one in the past and I know that I've talked about my love for COG's work, just because I find that he does relationships and romance and everything else in a very like realistic way and I find that he definitely does it in the lens of like a male reader versus a female reader, which I can also appreciate because, like I've said before, you know, men can like the romance trope too, and I think that is definitely something that he focuses on in his work, which I can appreciate. And what I like about this one too is that this one kind of revolves around the world of music, which is really cool, and like the complexities of the relationships between the band members and how hard it is to actually make it in that kind of world and everything else like that. And, like I said, I think, I think that it's just it's fun, it's very. It's very fun, in the way. If you haven't read a COG work like doesn't have to be Fuka, you can read Suzuki, you can read from the town we all know Even Cafe Terrace Hitman like. He does romance so well that honestly I could probably just make a list with all them. But I didn't want to make a whole list of a whole bunch of his works, so I just added my favorite.
Speaker 1:
This one can make you laugh, can make you cry, has those moments, those moments that can actually make you mad. And I find that Fuka was one of those ones where, when I was reading it, I had a very hard time putting it down. To do things like, you know, sleep. I know it sounds funny, but it was very much one of those ones that I had a very hard time putting down once I had started, which is why I gave it number four. Number three I got to give it to Fruits Basket.
Speaker 1:
This is one of those ones and I know I've talked about it in the past, but it's just a crazy masterpiece and the perfect blend of like romance meets drama, touches with like a little bit of fantasy in there as well. Like I said, what I find what this one does really well is that obviously it has that aspect of like the zodiac animals, and I'm obviously trying to spoil things. It is an older one, so I feel like if you do get spoiled at this point it's more your fault than it is my fault. But essentially it takes on the idea of the old story about how the zodiac animals came to be and then if anybody knows basically the curse of the cat and why it isn't part of the zodiac, I would honestly do yourself a service and just read that story. It'll take you, like you know, a minute to read it and once you read that story you come to understand why the character of who the cat's zodiac is and why it's a I guess a curse is the best way that I can put it and how this affects the family and the family dynamic. Like it's almost kind of like a royalty without them actually being royalty, which I did find interesting. And, like I said, if you are looking for a romance but you're not entirely sure that you would be really into just a full romance story, I find that this one does a good job of you know. It has the romance, it has a really good dramatic story, so you get hooked on the story, not just the romance between the characters, and it's also very interesting to follow, like the fantasy aspect in the story, in my opinion, because it's not just in your face romance the whole time, it's also like almost kind of like a mystery in the sense to, because you're trying, you're getting little bits of information about how the whole family curse works and how it came to be and why the family members are the way that they are and everything like that. And I think what I find honestly the funniest is that, like you know, there are certain animals like you know, like, as we know, dragon is part of the zodiac and I don't want to spoil anything, but it's not an actual dragon, but the way that they turned the dragon into a different animal, that's all I gotta say. That's probably one of my all time favorite funny things that I've ever read in a, in a manga, and I'll just I'll just leave that as a little teaser. So number two I gave it to real life.
Speaker 1:
Now, this one, I feel like, struck a certain chord for me because it takes that classic question of what you, if you could go back, what would you change, and it takes that in a very real sense. So essentially what it is is that it's so. This guy, the male, the main character, basically just lost his job. He's kind of lost at what to do. You know, he doesn't have any friends, he feels alone. So somebody comes up to him and basically he's like, hey, if, if you could go back, you know, to high school to get a good start, to go to a good school, everything else like that, would you take it? And you know, like in an obvious manner he goes Well, especially because of where I am now in life, of course, and you know he takes this drug or whatever. Basically it's a pill that makes him go back to look the way that he did when he was in high school.
Speaker 1:
And the whole point of real life is that real life is a natural, like, I guess, company that does this for people, where they can go back to a certain point in life and relive and basically get a new start, so to speak. And I think it just does a really good job at answering that question, because I think we've all thought it right, like, if you could go back, would you? And if you did what we, what would you do differently? And it does a really good job focusing on that and like what the male lead does. And then the hard part is is that you know, once the experiment is over, you know he goes back and basically is able to get a company job with the new schooling that he would have and stuff like that. And you know he has to Make sure that, like you know, because the other big thing is that like he has to keep this whole experiment thing a secret so he can't tell anybody about it, because if he does, that's like automatic, like we're done, you go back to the way you were type of thing, and so him having to do this but then also regulate, you know, normal high school things again, but with the mentality of an adult.
Speaker 1:
It's very interesting and, like I said, if you have ever sat with yourself and your thoughts and gone, would I have gone back and what would I have done differently? I Feel like this Manga would hit home for you and for number one. I have loved, so life now, I've talked about this one in the past and I think I've also talked about the reasonings behind it, but I truly believe that, especially if you are a parent, this Really hits home for you. It's, it's adorable. Family values are crazy and basically it starts out with a daycare worker Essentially becoming like a surrogate mother for these twins that don't have a mom and don't have like a permanent father figure. And I Think, especially because when I first read this I had just become a dad it it really hit a heart string and it it's, it's cute, it's adorable, but then it it also then focuses on those like family aspects and Like how important they are, and I just find that it's a really endearing story and it offers like a really refreshing take on love and family and and the importance of it. And I think especially this was like the perfect manga for the time when I read it.
Speaker 1:
I am also seriously considering rereading it to see if it, if it makes me feel the same way that it did when I first read it. But if you like reading about families and relationships and if you also want to see pictures of adorable children because the twins in this are Stupid, cute and if you just want like Something to read that you feel like you're gonna have a smile on your face the whole time when you read it, this is what I would recommend and that's kind of all what I had for this week. I hope that guy is. That gives you guys some you know reading material, and I've tried my best to kind of I know if there wasn't really a lot of action in there. Like I stipulated beforehand, I like to read about relationships and good stories and heartfelt stuff versus reading about action. Really, I find that I get more out of that from Mon was if I am gonna read it, um, but yeah, what are your thoughts on my list? Have you read any of these? If not, do you feel like you might? And you know, if you do, I would love to hear from you guys.
Speaker 1:
Next week, I think what I'm gonna be doing is that we're gonna be getting to the halfway point of this season's anime, so I'm gonna make sure that I'm caught up on everything and kind of give my thoughts on the halfway point of the season and how we are doing with that, um, but yeah, so, like I said, um, if you could leave a review, reviews were great, did it? You know, share the podcast it. I would love to get more listeners and hopefully get some more Questions and comments from everybody who likes to listen, cuz, like I said at the end of the day, that's kind of what I'm doing this for. So yeah, so I guess I'll see you in the next one. Bye, bye.