I guess that's true of anime versions of manga, too, but I was really struck by just how different this manga was. Though the general premise is the same, the plot is actually a lot different in the manga than it is in the J-Drama. I have no idea why - the manga is brilliant. I'd been told the manga was even better, but I haven't got around to reading it until now. I know there's a Korean and Taiwanese version as well, but I haven't seen them (yet). I first watched the J-Drama of Hana-Kimi years ago, and was pretty much hooked.

The premise is a bit eh, to be honest, but this manga is much better than the synopsis makes it sound. Why? To help inspire her idol, Sano, to high jump again. Mizuki disguises herself as a boy in order to enrol in an all-boys boarding school. I look forward to seeing how the relationship between Sano and Mizuki will continue as well as how Nakatsu will continue to evolve in this series. 3Ĭhapters 11 -16: This volume was another great addition to the series and had a new problem causing character whose role was both introduced and ended during this volume. The second character is Mizuki's older half-brother who turns up and after discovering she is at an all boys school he tries to stir up trouble and take her home but thanks to Sano and Doctor Umeda's help she manages to stay. The first is a former rival of Sano's who turns up trying to provoke Sano by pointing out how he is surpassing him and in his own way he may be trying to push Sano back into competition. 2Ĭhapters 05 - 10: In this volume 2 new characters are introduced to us. This volume also contains a Bonus Story called 'The Cage of Summer'. So far I really like Mizuki Ashiya and am enjoying her one on one interactions with Sano, Nakatsu, and the school doctor Umeda. 1Ĭhapters 01 - 04: This volume provides a good introduction for several of the characters in this series.

Hana-Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo