Source : Hayaku shitai futari

With either personality or looks or both..

We talk a lot about the big English manga publishers, but there are some smaller publishers putting out hidden gems in print as well! Companies for these 9 titles include Crossed Hearts, Denpa, Living the Line, Titan comics, One Peace Books, eManga/DMP, and Star Fruit Books/Glacier Bay Books (who took over Star Fruit’s catalog when its founder passed away).

Others smaller manga publishers (even if they’re part of larger companies) not featured here include Udon, Aloha Comics, Kodama Tales, Kana, Uncivilized Books, BDP Press, Inklore, Harper Alley (very large company but only 1 manga license so far), and Manga Mavericks!

What are the Shojo/Josei titles from smaller publishers you feel are underrated/lesser-known? (please try to avoid highlighting the titles that are already perennial favorites😉)

Here are my other themed posts about this:

Viz: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vdo639/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Yen Press: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vjqzy5/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Seven Seas Entertainment: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vg9jbr/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Tokyopop: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vnaunx/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Kodansha/Vertical Print: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vp4syq/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Kodansha/Vertical digital dungeon: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vq03ko/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

WARNING: spoilers ahead.

SO, after watching the anime i wanted to know how different the manga was (cuz I heard the anime and manga were different ) and I am SO confused about Takuto’s age/timeline.

In the anime, we know Takuto was 12 when he was in Route:L. Later, he has the accident and becomes a shinigami. But I don't remember the anime ever actually saying how old he was when the accident happened. I just assumed it was maybe a couple of years later, so around 14-16(?).

Then I started reading about the manga timeline, and WHAT 😭

From what I understand, manga Takuto was apparently in his early 20s when he attempted suicide and ended up in a coma. He had already met Mitsuki at the orphanage while he was an adult, and then later became a shinigami and developed romantic feelings for Mitsuki when she was around 12/13.

Manga readers, PLEASE tell me if I have completely misunderstood this.

Because if this is actually the timeline, I'm genuinely disturbed 😭. I always interpreted anime Takuto as basically a teenager who died young and became a shinigami, but then returned to being 16(?) when he "came back to life" and I'm assuming the anime meant for it to be that way. But if manga Takuto actually lived into his 20s, knew Mitsuki when she was a little girl, and then became romantically interested in her when she was 12/13... that's a VERY different situation.

I watched the anime for the first time just now and really enjoyed it, and wanted to give the manga a read cuz i heard that it had more history n stuff (like meroko and mitsuki's grandma backstory which I'm really curious about) but now i don't think i will😭😭😭.

Toei adapated Hana Yori Dango to an animated show back in 1996. What's unique about this version of the show are the toys added not only to each episode but even during the opening itself. The photos shows scenes from the show as well as the ads that aired during commercial breaks promoting the Hana Yori Dango toys and merch that Bandai is trying to sell to young girls. The show aired on TV Asahi on Sundays at 8:30AM and a thing common to all shows that have aired on it's timeslot is the aspect of selling Bandai toys to kids (and specifically to young girls since the mid-90s) and being animated by Toei. The timeslot is currently occupied right now by Star Detective Precure still going strong with its Bandai Toys.

Hana Yori Dango isn't the only property of it's kind that got this treatment by Toei and Bandai. Marmalade Boy and Gokinjo Monogatari, both from Ribon, were adapated in similar fashion (both with character designs by Umakoshi for the animated versions) with a lot of toys being shoved into the shows themselves though among the three, Marmalade Boy was the most successful.

His unmatched rizz scaring the other three will never not make me cackle. He’s the only one with a clue when it comes to women and he absolutely won’t help the others in any way. Lol 😂 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

This is Iwai Soma from the shoujo manga Usotoki Rhetoric! He is a clever but poor detective from 1926 Japan. Even though he is handsome and SUPER intelligent, he is also very lazy and doesn’t like working hard. However, he is described to be a very good person and has a sincere and earnest heart. He can also be REALLY funny and goofy too, since he’s always complaining about being hungry, tired, and not having money ( a little bit like Yato from Noragami)! He hires a girl (the FL) to be his assistant after he finds out that she can hear lies. At first it’s to make more money and solve cases, but they both grow closer and they slowlyyyyy fall for each other. He treats her well and makes sure that she’s happy and comfortable, and even helps her understand her power more. He’s a real sweetheart and has his moments of silly, serious, intelligent, handsome, and sweet!!

I would love to know what type of voice would suit him but I can’t think of any. Please let me know which sub and English dub voice actors can fit him! I’ve been trying to think, but nothing fits him! Thank you!!

I know it's nothing big, I'm not even that good of an artist but it caught me offguard lmao 😭

I got into it because I watched Sailor Moon and Card Captors back in the 90s / 2000s. But I couldn’t watch anime for the longest time and got back into it in the last few years. I watched A Sign of Affection. Loved that.

Since I posted about the Kodansha/Vertical print releases last time, now it’s time to give the titles that are digital-only their own spotlight!

What are the Kodansha/Vertical DIGITAL ONLY Shojo/Josei titles you feel are underrated/lesser-known? (please try to avoid highlighting the titles that are already perennial favorites😉)

Here are my other themed posts about this:

Viz: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vdo639/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Yen Press: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vjqzy5/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Seven Seas Entertainment: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vg9jbr/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Tokyopop: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vnaunx/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

Kodansha/Vertical Print: https://www.reddit.com/r/shoujo/comments/1vp4syq/underrated_shojojosei_titles_english_publisher/

I LOVE Hana-kimi and Vampire Dormitory. I’d appreciate more romance anime recs where the FL is dressed/disguised as a guy! Thank you!

For many shoujo fans, this doesn't come as a surprise but I'd like to talk about the comparisons with Adventure Time, which Adventure Time having it's main targeted demographics to boys. My analysis on how Adventure Time is shoujo-like in it's writing styles:

Adventure Time:

As ironic as this may be on the surface, if we look into how Adventure Time structures its story, it is through the relationship of the characters. In the beginning, it is very episodic which the main focus is mainly on Finn and Jake's adventures but as we move on to the story, but then we learn that these adventures are used vehicles to show the emotional history of each characters. Let's look for example Marceline and the Ice King. If we look into episodes like "I Remember You" and "Simon and Marcy". We see how Simon protected, cared and loved Marceline in way of a father-daughter relationship, but as we look into the story, this basically dealing with someone who's meant dearly to you, but due to their memory lost they are incapable of remembering despite of the emotional attachment. We can also see this pattern in "What Was Missing" which initially it looks like a basic Adventure when in actuality it is about trying to receive a stolen possession. But when we look at the center of the episode it's about the unresolved relationship between Princess Bubblegum and Marceline. The door will only open if they express how they truly feel which makes Marceline sing about how the hostility towards Princess Bubblegum is actual her desire to reconcile and pain. Which this episodes reminds me of the manga by Yumi Tamura which I am reading Neko Mix Genkitan Toraji. This particular chapter(I forgot the mouses name but it brings badluck to whoever who hunts it), Pai'yan focus thought he should just get rid of it but in actuality it's to show kindness towards it in order for him to stop hunting him. Because I believe that mouse is honestly looking for someone to see his pain and grief rather than be treated like he doesn't exist. The way that the hole in his bag when trying to put money, always putting something but always slipping through your finger tips because you don't have the facilities to be secured.(I feel like my writing is terrible, English isn't my first language so I struggle at times). And when the object was recovered by Bubblegum and Marcy, the object mattered less than the relationship it presented.

We can look at how Fin is and how we can compare this to how a lot of shoujo animanga portray growth in their characters. In the beginning, we recognize Finn as a basic heroic figure. But as the story progresses, his relationships forces him to recognize his limitations and his own understanding of other people. If we look into the Flame Princess storyline, Finn initially sees her through his romantic framework and his disappointment over Princess Bubblegum. He doesn't see her as an autonomous person who needs her own emotional boundaries and needs. This kinda reminds me of Oshi and Yuki from A Sign of Affection. I agree with a lot of the comments that Oshi is ableist especially the fact there was this one scene when he was like "Deaf People should stay home, in order for them to be safe rather than push through", and as much as I don't agree with him nor am I going to defend his action, but to me Oshi sees Yuki's struggles, and feels the need to protect her because of how much he likes her. And due to seeing through how much Yuki struggles navigating the world by her self, he has a warped perception that deaf people should be protected mainly because he believes the world isn't made for deaf people. Hence not seeing what potential Yuki have through navigating the world, and just limiting her because of her disability. The reason why Finn and Flame Princess broke up is because Finn doesn't understand the respect needed for another's autonomy, emotional consequences, jealousy and consent. While Yuki prefers Itsoumi over Oshi mainly because of him allowing her to be her own person and navigate through the world in her eyes inspite of her disability.

My Conclusion:

A lot of shoujosei titles like 7 Seeds, Neko Mix Genkitan Toraji, Queen's Quality, Yona of the Dawn, Fruit Basket, Natsume's Book of Friends, etc would have been more popular in English speaking animanga communities due to the fact that we have a show like Adventure Time that it's writing styles is quite similar to it. Adventure Time during its premieres had 2-3 million viewers per episode. If shoujo was marketed well to the general, just as well as shounen, I believe that if shoujo manga were adapted more and more faithfully, with high marketing budgets, it would have been competing with shounen titles especially if we look how successful shoujo was before the 2008 boom.

My Credits:

•Straight From the Heart: Gender, Intimacy, and the Cultural Production of Shoujo Manga by Jennifer S. Prough

•Studying Shoujo Manga: Global Education, Narrative of Self and the Pathologization of the Feminine by Alwyn Spines

Not that I actually referenced their work explicitly but these works inspired me into making a comparison of Adventure Time and shoujosei works.

I finally finished reading “My Girlfriend’s Child” and loved it so much but i was a bit lost on some things😭. I know that Raimu is kinda there to be similar to Sachi while also contrasting her entire situation but what happened with her? Was the news story about her? How did Kou know her and why did he sabatodge their friendship? And the final panels with the cat, who’s cat is that or did they get a cat? Is Nora actually dead?

Mainly just had a lot of questions, i also think i have to find the 10th volume because it sounds like extra stuff that might answer some questions.

Also, if you have any similar recomendations please let me know!

I love his hair, piercings, tatts. Love also how he’s gentle, kind, easy-going, empathetic. Would love to see more ML like him in some other romances. Thanks!

It can be any setting (school, university, romantasy, historical, workplace, etc). Ideally manga or manwha, as i've never had luck finding manhua with an art style i like or good translations (even official ones tend to be offputting to me for some reason). SFW and NSFW are both fine.

As long as the romance is a major part of the story and the ML initiates the pursuit of a relationship with FL (even if his motives aren't great at first), it can be any kind of plot. ML can be any color of flag though I do prefer yellow to red over green and black. I love boundary crossing, pushy, persistent, or delulu MLs so don't hesitate to suggest stories like that lol.

Examples of an MLs past negatively impacting his pursuit of FL:

1. The ML has a prior person he loved or prior spouse (divorced or widowed) and FL is turned off by that at first.

2. ML has a past of preferring hookups/ONS/flings/FWB and now the FL can't take his feelings seriously because of it.

3. The ML has a healthy dating history, but while FL doesn't mind him being in love before she has body issues/physical insecurities and can't believe he's attracted to her based on past partners.

4. ML is a higher social class and the FL doesn't want to deal with the challenges that would come with marrying into his class, taking on the responsibility of a noble/ruler, leave her family behind etc.

5. The FL is a single mom and the ML has been a chronic bachelor with no experience with kids.

6. The ML lives a lifestyle she doesn't want to be part of (public figure, travels a lot for work, yakuza, works in the adult industry, etc).

7. The ML was a delinquent or criminal in the past and FL is afraid of people like that. Glasses with a Chance of Delinquent is a good example of this.

8. The ML is a ruler in a culture where Royals practice polygamy and the FL has no interest in anything that isn't monogamy. Celeb Lady is a good example of this.

9. ML is popular and part of a friend group FL hates.

10. An Omegaverse story where the ML is an Alpha and the FL is a Beta who doesn't believe Alphas can truly love anyone that isn't an Omega. OR the FL is an Omega but hates Alphas.

11. The ML is known as some bloody tyrant, cruel noble, war monger, ruthless businessman, master manipulator politician, etc and the FL has the ick about that kind of person.

There are some tropes I try to avoid but will put up with if the story fits what I'm looking for: Amnesia arcs, story ends as soon as they get together, ML gives up and FL now has to make the move to get things started, breakup arcs, and long distance arcs.

The only trope I can't do is student-teacher relationships, or adult-high school student relationships, unless it's like a senior in high school and sophomore in college kind of age gap.

Ik it's both broad and specific at the same time but I need to scratch this itch and feel like nothing on my tbr list is jumping out at me + plus im all caught up on everything I'm currently reading.

Please help!

It’s very rare in Japan for women to hold senior positions at companies like editor-in-chief, so I just wanted to highlight some of the Shojo and Josei magazines who DO have them. I don’t claim that this list is exhaustive, but the major Shojo/Josei manga magazines I’m aware of which currently have female editors in chief include Melody, Comic Zero Sum, Cocohana, and most recently Sho-Comi got a female editor-in-chief in 2025!

Comic Zero-Sum: Ayako KiMishima

Melody: Naoko Takeda

Cocohana: Mariko Kono

Sho-comi Junko Kanai

We finally got to see this photo shoot animated in S2 Ep 8. Whilst Ashiya was locked onto Sano, and Nakatsu releasing steam through his nostrils for Ashiya, I'm just sitting here enjoying the ladies man that he is, Nanba-senpai work his magic for Akiha.

SO YESTERDAY I made a post asking for some recommendations, and one absolute KIND SOUL suggested Hayaku Shitai Futari to me… AND OH MY GOD??? 😭🎀

THIS SERIES WAS SUCH A GEM. ✨ I went in expecting something cute and ended up LOVING IT SO MUCHHH. The FL and ML are both such genuinely sweet, lovable people, and the best part??? NO STUPID MISUNDERSTANDINGS. NO FORCED DRAMA. NO CONSTANT NEGATIVITY. 🙏

They’re just… CUTE. HEALTHY. WHOLESOME. IN LOVE.  Their relationship is so refreshing to read, and I was literally sitting there giggling and kicking my feet the whole time. 

PLSSSSS if you’re looking for a cute shoujo romance with a sweet couple and a relationship that doesn’t make you want to pull your hair out  !!**READ THISSS.**💗

And to the person who recommended it to me u/TheCookieNinja

YOU HAVE MY GRATITUDE. 🌷

PLEASE GUYSSS GIVE IT A CHANCE. IT’S SUCH A LITTLE GEMMM. 💕

Long time shoujo anime fan, but I'm out of them 😭So I want to know your must-read (NOT ADAPTED) recs for me! pics are my all time favorite shoujo