Fragrant flowers bloom with dignityis a heart-warming romance manga, and if you’re not laughing with joy by the end of the first volume, then something is probably broken in your soul. The heroine Kaoruko is so cute that I could die of sweetness, and the misunderstood protagonist Rintaro, I want to reach out and hug the poor boy. His whole defining feature is his “terrible eyes.” He always maintains a rather intense expression, characterized by his small irises, which are puppy-like cute compared to Kaoruko’s huge, shiny orbs. Think of him as the male version Girl with three white eyes‘Four minutes.
author MikamizakaThe theme is fragrant flower Explore how the uninformed judgment of others, especially when fueled by innate human tribalism, can lead to unfair treatment and social exclusion, ultimately damaging mental health and preventing people from reaching their true potential. The most obvious literary comparison is, of course, Romeo and Juliet – Despite family wars and social pressures, lovers stick together, even though maybe fragrant flowerClass-based bigotry is closer in tone Romeo and JulietNotable derivative works west side storyour two protagonists attend schools at opposite ends of the Japanese social spectrum. Thankfully, there are no instances of full-blown gang wars or lovers’ suicides in the first three volumes, although Rintaro and his friends have been involved in some battles with troublemaking delinquents.
Like the aforementioned Mizuno Amane, Rintaro (subconsciously?) projects a “mean” appearance by bleaching his hair blonde and wearing earrings, both of which are seen in more prestigious educational institutions Usually unacceptable. (Although, it’s endearing that he only chose this style because it “looked cool on people he respects.”) Despite the punkishness of his performance, according to this particular comic trope, it turns out that for Rintaro is the sweetest, most thoughtful person to those who take the trouble to get to know him, and he’s prone to overly apologizing for everything he does, whether he’s at fault or not. The way society treats him is extremely unfair – he’s looked down upon by the arrogant Kikyo girl just because he went to a “bad” school, and his face makes other passengers on the train cringe and the kids run away. Poor boy.
Kaoruko’s sweet, friendly nature is just what Rintaro needs to pull him out of his shell. Their relationship develops hesitantly – at first, Rintaro can barely believe that student Kikyo would even look in his direction, let alone feel comfortable around him. We spend a lot of time inside his head as he second-guesses himself, attributing wrong motives to Kaoruko’s actions while he desperately tries to distance himself from her. He was afraid of scaring her and of getting hurt himself. Mikami’s writing is insightful, delving into the damaged psyche of a young man paralyzed by self-doubt and social pressure. His spiraling, self-deprecating thoughts should be familiar to anyone who has experienced discrimination, bullying or social exclusion. His constant self-critical thoughts are frustrating on the one hand, but completely understandable on the other. His ghostly expression reminded me a little of silent voiceShoya Ishida (but without the problematic backstory), or beast star“Legosi.
Kaoruko is no manic pixie dream girl, she’s far from just fulfilling unrealistic male wishes – she has motivations and complexities. She loves stuffing her face with cake, which is so cute, but she also has a fascinating and extremely close friendship with Kikyo’s classmate Hoshina Subaru. Subaru initially appears as a vicious, possessive best friend character who seems jealous and even afraid of Rintaro’s intrusion into Kaoruko’s life. Author Mikami once again uses this behavior to explore another wounded character whose actions are motivated by love and concern for her friends, albeit selfishly and unconstructively. how i like fragrant flower Focusing not just on the central couple, but how their relationship changes the dynamics of each friendship group, each character changes, grows, and gets to know each other better. Nearly every chapter features positive, affirming emotional growth. By the end of volume three, the entire cast is very fleshed out.
Mikami’s art is excellent throughout, with characters that are well-defined and easily distinguishable, and faces that express a myriad of emotions from infectious joy to crippling anxiety. Kaoruko is the cutest little cinnamon roll (she’s barely five feet tall, while Rintaro is over six feet taller), and her big smile lights up the entire page. Her rare moments of contemplation reveal the thoughtful, studious nature beneath her optimistic exterior. She also expresses anxiety about her relationship with Rintaro—albeit usually in a healthier way. I love that she’s often the one pushing him forward, recognizing his lack of confidence, and even going so far as to ask him out on a date, blushing the whole time despite her bravery.
If it’s not so obvious by now fragrant flower A cut above your average comic book romantic comedy. With complex, nuanced characters and emotionally intelligent writing that understands that interpersonal and social problems don’t always have simple solutions, this book is a compelling and valuable read. No wonder this manga is so popular in Japan, I’m looking forward to it clover factoryThe anime adaptation will be released next year. fragrant flower is the best romance manga i have ever read sweat and soap (although it has a very different vibe) I highly recommend you check it out.
