honey and clover Vol. 10 by Chica Umino (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

October 10, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

The final volume of “Honey and Clover” is here. An awesome conclusion for a magnificent manga series! Highly recommended!

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 10 (aka Hachimitsu to Clover)

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

Final volume! Hagu and Takemoto are the last of the gang to graduate, and after his bike odyssey Takemoto has a future in temple restoration. But Hagu’s recent injury might steal her ability to paint forever. Can love make up for such a painful loss?

“Honey and Clover”, the popular young adult manga series by Chica Umino that has generated an anime series and also a live action movie (all available now from Viz Media) and earned her a Kodansha Manga Award. With a total of ten mangas published in Japan, the ninth volume has now been released by Shojo Beat Manga and continues on the life of five young adults.

From their beginning years as art students, to graduating and finding careers and now the two youngest members of the group: Yuta Takemoto and Hagumi now preparing for their graduation and life after school.

In the last volume of “Honey and Clover”, the story focused on Yuta Takemoto’s indecisiveness of whether to focus on his career or stay in the city to be close to a girl that he loves (and not sure if she cares about him the same way). Also, answers to why Morita is constantly leaving school to do high paying odd jobs and a near tragic accident prevents Hagumi from doing what she loves the most… painting.

Here we are with the final volume of “Honey and Clover” as the five friends we have watched as they have entered the art school, are now at the next chapter of their lives, finished with school and now must make the final choices for them to move on.

Here is a brief summary of each character of “honey and clover”:

Yuta Takemoto: One of the primary characters, Takemoto is the youngest of the guys and majoring in architectural design. He is the normal guy of the group and trying to find himself. He has fallen for Hagu but is not the type to share his emotions or act upon them. It’s his moment to find a career and is very unsure of what he wants to do. But since his hiatus, he has found himself to have more courage and express himself much better emotionally.

Shinobu Morita: A carefree, does whatever he wants type of guy. Very cool but very strange. A gifted sculptor who has attended the University for years, has not graduated but tends to make money doing freelance work and constantly on the move. With everyone going through major life changes, it’s starting to have its effect on Morita.

Takumi Mayama: Mayama is the only one among the friends who have graduated and working his career job as a graphic designer. His love is for his boss named Rika but she doesn’t see him that way, especially since she lost her husband in an accident not too long ago. Meanwhile, he knows that Ayumi has loved him for a long time but he doesn’t share the same feelings for her.

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. But now she’s starting to discover that being world renown for her paintings may not be her thing.

Ayumi Yamada: Yamada aka “Iron Man” has graduated from college but still tends to help out at the art college and assist her family’s business. She is so much in love with Mayama even though she knows he loves Rika.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Professor Hanamoto: Just like one of the guys, Hanamoto is the guardian of Hagumi and more or less like an adviser to the students. He has observed his students and tries to assist them and point them in the right direction. But he is reminded by Takemoto that he’s very much like him when he graduated from school. But he is starting to find out that his feelings towards Hagumi are more than just a guardian.

Rika: A former classmate and a close friend of Professor Hanamoto and is running a graphic design business by herself after the death of her partner and husband. She has been distant and depressed since the death of her husband and knows that Mayama is trying to help her.

Mayama’s co-workers at Fujiwara Architects also play a role in the series:

Miwako – The boss of Fujiwara Architects and likes to make fun of her employees and make them feel uncomfortable at times. And very close to her dog.

Nomiya – The suave and calm architect that knows Yamada is trying to get Mayama jealous and goes with it. But at the same time, can’t understand why she’s head over heels in love with Mayama. But now he finds himself falling deeply in love with Hagumi.

Yamazaki - An employee at Fujiwara Architects that has a crush on Miwako but Miwako tends to look at him as an employee she can try to take advantage and make fun of.

Here is what to expect from volume 10 (summaries only, no spoilers):

Chapter 61 – Yuta senses that Professor Hanemoto looks at Hagumi as more than just a student he helped raise. Meanwhile, Morita tries to make his move on Hagumi.

Chapter 62 – Professor Hanemoto considers his emotions towards Hagumi, meanwhile Morita is dealing with rejection with Yuta.

Chapter 63 – Professor Hanemoto makes a decision on what he wants to do with his life and if he will leave or stay with Hagumi.

Chapter 64 – The final chapter – Nomiya has remained patient towards Ayumi, but will he stand by her still, as she still has feelings towards Mayama? Each friend spends their final night together and Yuta says goodbye.

Umino and Her Fun Friends - Chica Umino reflects on her time working with her crew and completing “Honey and Clover”.

Birds in the Sky – A one shot story about a young woman named Nao and her relationship with her boyfriend Sohei.

Mini Bonus Episode: Valentine’s Day Memory – Ayumi and Hagumi are making a Valentine’s Day treat but both Yuta and Mayama try to warn Professor Hanamoto.

Bonus episode - An episode featuring Mayama and Professor Hanamoto as well as Miwako and Yanazaki.

Opera of the Stars – A one shot that Chica Umino did for “Comic Cue” with the theme being, “What if you had one of Doraemon’s secret gadgets?”

A Little Extra – A final goodbye from Chica Umino for those who have supported her throughout the “Honey and Clover” run.

Also, included is a Honey and Clover Study Guide featuring explanations on various words used in this latest volume.

It’s hard to believe that “Honey and Clover” is over. The series has been an emotional and dramatic ride as we have seen the characters start out at the art institution and watching these characters grow over time. While, here in the US, this 10-volume manga series has taken two years. In Japan, this manga series started in 2002 and completed in 2006, and almost like a full college year, I can see how readers feel as if they grew up with the characters and to see how these characters evolve overtime.

Back in December 2008, for the first volume of “Honey and Clover”, I wrote, “I really enjoyed this first volume. Similar to young novels or manga (or even dramas) such as “Asunaro Hakusho”, “Wakamono no Subete” or “Hakusen Nagashi”, I really enjoy stories that cover young adult life. From the parties to just hanging out with friends, meeting new people, career choices to finding love (or not finding love), “honey and clover” is one of those series that is realistic in the sense that many people can related to these characters.”

And in many ways, you wondered how this series would end. Like any graduation from school and friends that you grew up with, graduation is one of the greatest times in college life but at the same time, it’s also a time when you know you will be separating from your good friends and starting a new chapter of your life. This is how the characters of “Honey and Clover” are. Great friends and together they have endured partying, getting drunk, love, happiness, disappointment and everything else that close friends have experienced.

For me, the final volume ended appropriately but at the same time, I guess I was expecting more of a final setting with each of the friends together one last time. But if anything, the story ended the way it began, Yuta entering colege and his thoughts towards Hagumi and ends with Yuta and Hagumi. Once again, appropriate, especially in its relation to the title of the manga series.

Chica Umino had literally put her life into this series and her artwork and storytelling was well-done from beginning to end. I did find the additional one-shots included in this volume quite interesting, because we get to see Umino’s different character designs and if anything, I look forward to reading her next manga series “March Comes in Like a Lion” (which was nominated in 2009 for a 2nd Annual Manga Taishou) and hopefully we receive an American release for it.

Overall, “Honey and Clover” has been nothing but an enjoyable, dramatic manga series. It has been great to get away from the supernatural or extremely dark manga series and to find one that deals with genuine characters and their emotions of young adult life, finding a career, finding love and life after graduation. From beginning to end, this series has been quite enjoyable and so entertaining!

If you have been reading the series thus far, it’s a no-brainer that the final volume is a must buy. And if you are a person who has never read this manga series before and want something a bit more realistic and fun, I highly recommend “Honey and Clover”. It’s easy to get into and its a series that is not very long at all.

Definitely recommended!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Vol. 9 by Chica Umino (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

April 28, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

The next-to-last volume of the “Honey and Clover” manga series answers one major question involving a character but shocks us with a near tragedy to one of the main members of the group. An emotional volume definitely preparing us for the final tenth volume of the popular manga series. Definitely recommended!

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 9

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

The mystery behind Morita’s obsession with money is finally revealed – he and his brother Kaoru need all the cash they can get their hands on to bankroll their revenge against the man who destroyed their father. Now they’re finally close to their goal, but what will they do once their purpose for living is gone?

The ninth volume of “Honey and Clover” focuses on Yuta Takemoto’s indecisiveness of whether to focus on his career or stay in the city to be close to a girl that he loves (and not sure if she cares about him the same way). Also, answers to why Morita is constantly leaving school to do high paying odd jobs and a near tragic accident strikes one of the members of the group and may change this person’s life forever.

Here is a brief summary of each character of “honey and clover”:

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. But now she’s starting to discover that being world renown for her paintings may not be her thing.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Mayama’s co-workers at Fujiwara Architects also play a role in the series:

Miwako – The boss of Fujiwara Architects and likes to make fun of her employees and make them feel uncomfortable at times. And very close to her dog.

Yamazaki - An employee at Fujiwara Architects that has a crush on Miwako but Miwako tends to look at him as an employee she can try to take advantage and make fun of.

Here is what to expect from volume 9 (summaries only, no spoilers):

Chapter 54 – Takemoto and Hagumi know that they are near graduation and it is starting to hit them that their friendships and their closeness as a group will be ending.

Chapter 55 – We learn about the past of Morita and his older brother and Kaoru and how their father was betrayed by a close friend.

Chapter 56 – Morita and Kaoru plan to make their move for revenge.

Chapter 57 – Near tragedy hits one of the main characters and now it is not known if the person will ever be able to use their hands.

Chapter 58 – Morita re-evaluates his life and standing by his brother’s side. Meanwhile, the group worries about the injuries of their dear friend and if that friend will ever be able to work again.

Chapter 59 – As the friends worry about the future of their other injured friend, Takemoto must make a decision of whether to pursue the job offer he has received or to stay and support his friend.

Chapter 60 – Morita finds out about the injuries to the friend and returns to be with that person.

Also, included is a chapter of “Umino and Her Friends” in which Umino talks about having her manga published in two publications but due to the economy, those publications folding. Also, included is a Honey and Clover Study Guide featuring explanations on various words used in this latest volume.

Here we are, over a year later and with the ninth volume of “Honey and Clover”, the next to last volume in the manga series.

For those of us who have read this manga series since the beginning, have seen the anime series or even the live film. In many ways, it’s sad to say goodbye to this series because Chica Umino has done such a fantastic job in character development and making this series so genuine and real, that you actually care for each of these characters.

This latest volume does answer questions in regards to Morita and possibly why he hasn’t graduated college but now it introduces us a big question to what will happen to one of the members of the group after the accident. I have to admit that I was not expecting this accident to happen, especially to the character that is now hospitalized. Each of these characters are talented in what they do and the fact that each of them are close to each other, like family, you can sympathize in what the characters are feeling, when something near tragic happens to a loved one.

This storyline will definitely set things up for the final volume which I look forward to but in many ways, I think anyone who has graduated from high school, college and had a great group of friends knows how things go after everyone graduates. And these are the emotions that Hagumi and Takemoto feel in this volume. But what happens next? I suppose we’ll find out in the final tenth volume.

Overall, “Honey and Clover” has been nothing but an enjoyable, dramatic manga series. It has been great to get away from the supernatural or extremely dark manga series and to find one that deals with genuine characters and their emotions of young adult life, finding a career, finding love and life after graduation. Volume nine definitely answers some questions but also adds a major question mark on one of the main members of the group.

If you have been reading the series thus far, it’s a no-brainer that the ninth volume is a must buy. And if you are a person who has never read the manga series, I highly recommend “Honey and Clover”. It’s easy to get into and its a series that is not very long at all. Definitely check it out!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Vol. 8 by Chica Umino (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

March 28, 2010 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

Volume 8 of ‘honey and clover’ is probably the most emotional volume of the series yet. Featuring an Ayumi-Mayama-Rika-Nomiya driven volume and if you have stayed with this manga for this long, definitely a volume worth reading! Highly recommended!

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 8

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

Ayu still can’t give up on her love for Mayama, even though his relationship with Rika seems to be deepening. Nomiya’s growing interest in Ayu might be a balm to her broken heart, but he’s moving to Tottori for six months! Is Ayu cursed to suffer hopeless love affairs forever?

Six volumes ago, Chica Umino’s “honey and clover” began as a manga series about a group of art students/friends who attended together. You had the young Yuta Takemoto who was just happy to make good friends at the school; the carefree and crazy Shinobu Morita who lived next door to Yuta; Takumi Moriyama who interned for a business and fell in love with his boss (who is a widow still in mourning); Ayumi Yamada, the sculptor who has always loved Mayama but knows he has no interest in her and then the gifted artist who looks like a young girl, Hagumi.

Five students who grew up with each other with the advice of their friend Professor Hanamoto and have weathered challenges in their friendship and also preparing for that next step into adulthood by finding a career for themselves.

“honey and clover Vol. 8″ marks Umino’s fifth year working on the manga and also the fifth year in the lives of these characters. Everyone is grown up, working their own careers while the only college students are Yuta and Shinobu (who seems like he will never graduate since he takes off on a leave of absence to do high paying gigs). But one unresolved storyline is the love triangle storyline between Ayumi, Mayama and Rika. Ayumi loves Mayama who loves his boss Rika. It’s been like this for years and now, things become much more complicates as Mayama’s former co-worker Nomiya-san finds himself falling deeply in love for Ayumi. But with Ayumi still not over Mayama, can she find love elsewhere?

Here is a brief summary of each character of “honey and clover”:

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. But now she’s starting to discover that being world renown for her paintings may not be her thing.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Mayama’s co-workers at Fujiwara Architects also play a role in the series:

Miwako – The boss of Fujiwara Architects and likes to make fun of her employees and make them feel uncomfortable at times. And very close to her dog.

Yamazaki - An employee at Fujiwara Architects that has a crush on Miwako but Miwako tends to look at him as an employee she can try to take advantage and make fun of.

Here is what to expect from volume 8 (summaries only, no spoilers):

Chapter 47 – As Ayumi now works with Rika and Mayumi, she starts to know how different he is around Rika versus when he is around her.

Chapter 48 – Nomiya starts to learn more about his feelings towards Ayumi.

Chapter 49 – When Nomiya drives ten hours straight to check on Ayumi, he is unaware that Miwako has sent Ayumi to deliver merchandise to him.

Chapter 50 – Nomiya must decide if he wants to let Ayumi know of how he feels about her.

Chapter 51 – Mayama accompanies Rika on a trip to Hokkaido.

Chapter 52 – Miwako takes Ayumi out to Health Land for some R&R.

Chapter 53 – Ayumi must make sense of her feelings, now knowing that Mayama will never love her.

Also, included is a chapter of “Otaku House Call!” in which Chica Umino talks about how she wanted to thank the anime production team for working on the anime series of “honey and clover”. Plus the “honey and clover” study guide.

After a few volume focusing on Takemoto, Chica Umino now brings the story back to the storyline of Ayumi and Mayama. For many years, we have read about how Ayumi loves Mayama, Mayama loves Rika and Ayumi having difficulty of letting go. But with this latest volume, it’s quite evident that she appears to finally have gotten the hint that she and Mayama are never going to happen. And to make things even a bit more complex for her, Nomiya letting her know that he loves her, even though he knows that she is in love with Mayama.

So, I look at this volume as Umino really trying to tie things up with this storyline and letting these young adults now proceed with life. Mayama wanting Rika to know his true feelings and the same with Nomiya wanting Ayumi to know his true feelings for her and suffice to say, Ayumi definitely needs to move forward and hopefully after this volume, she has.

Overall, Chica Umino definitely captures that young adult angst in the seventh volume of “honey and clover” and I look forward in seeing how this series will conclude with three more volumes left in the manga series. If you have stayed with the manga series this long, then volume 8 of “honey and clover” is definitely worth reading! This latest volume is much more emotional than any of the previous volumes of “honey and clover” but Umino does another fine job by tying some loose ends with this volume.

Definitely a young adult manga series worth reading!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Box 1 (a J!-ENT Anime DVD Review)

November 18, 2009 by Dennis Amith · 1 Comment

Charming, beautiful, realistic and enjoyable… A wonderful young adult anime drama series that is faithful to the original manga and looks incredible in animated format. “honey and clover” is magnificent!

TITLE: honey and clover Box 1

DURATION: Episodes 1-12 + 1 bonus episode (300 Minutes)

DVD INFORMATION: Bilingual Japanese/English, 16:9 Widescreen

COMPANY: J.C. Filmworks/Viz Media

RATED: T for Older Teen

Released on September 22, 2009

Based on the manga by Chika Umino

Directed by Kenichi Kasai

Script by Yousuke Kuroda

Music by Yuzo Hayashi

Character Design by Shuichi Shimamura

Art Director by Chikako Shibata

Chief Animation Director: Takahiko Yoshida

Sound Director: Jin Aketagawa

Director of Photography: Yutaka Kurosawa

Featuring the following voice talent:

Haruka Kudou/Heather Halley as Hagumi Hanamoto

Hiroshi Kamiya/Yuri Lowenthal as Yuuta Takemoto

Mikako Takahashi/Julie Ann Taylor as Ayumi Yamada

Tomokazu Sugita as Takumi Mayama

Yuji Ueda/Sam Regal as Shinobu Morita

Keiji Fujiwara/Chris Kent as Shuuji Hanamoto

Sayaka Ohara as Rika Harada

What do you get when you cross creativity with self-discovery and unrequited love? Art school!

Yuta Takemoto has no idea what’s in store for his life when he enrolls at a Tokyo art college, but he enrolls at a Tokyo art college, but he finds out right away. It’ll never be dull! Love triangles form as fast as friendships when both Takemoto and senior classmate Shinobu Morita fail hard for shy artistic prodigy Hagumi Hanamoto. And while architecture student Takumi Mayama secretly pines for an older woman, dazzling ceramicist Ayumi Yamada pines for him! Confused yet?

Welcome to the bittersweet world of Honey and Clover….

Charming, beautiful, realistic and enjoyable… There are definitely a lot of positive things you can say about the anime adaptation of the Kodansha Award winning manga series by Chika Umino.

Having spawned a live Japanese drama and film, “Honey and Clover” has been a popular series that attracts both guys and girls as the story focuses on life and love from the perspective of both sides of the sexes. I was hooked by the manga series from volume 1 and enjoyed the film despite its different interpretation. But I have always been curious about the anime adaptation and now the first box set consisting of the first 12 episodes + a bonus episode is now available in the US courtesy of Viz Media. In Japan, a total of two seasons (48 episodes) have aired.

In 2005, “honey and clover” was turned into an anime series courtesy of Director Kenichi Kasai (“Nodame Cantabile”, “Gokudo”, “His and Her Circumstances”) and a screenplay by Yousuke Kuroda (“Big Windup!”, “Excel Saga”, “Gungrave”, “Infinite Ryvius”). The series features music by Yuzo Hayashi (“Sailor Moon” series), character designs by Shuichi Shimamura (“Saber Marionette”, “Yu-Gi-Oh!”, “Green Legend Ran”) and anime production by J.C. Staff.

“honey and clover” focuses on five students who attend an art college and the focuses on their persona lives, their friendships within several years and how they evolve in school to eventually planning a career.

The main characters are:

Yuta Takemoto: One of the primary characters of the series. Takemoto is the youngest amongs the guys. He is majoring in architectural design and seems to have a ho-hum life but is the normal guy of the group. A bit naive, he tries to enjoy the moments of life with his friends and has taken a liking to the gifted artist Hagumi.

Shinobu Morita: A carefree, does whatever he wants type of guy. Very cool when he shows off his sculptures or artwork but most of the time, he is very strange. Shinobu has attended the University for over seven years and has not graduated due to being caught up in other side freelance jobs that pay him a whole lot of money. He is drawn to Hagumi because she reminds him of a Koropokkur (a leprechaun or fairy) and likes to torment his friends during awkward moments.

Takumi Mayama: Mayama is the quiet type. He is the senpai (the upperclassman) for Takemoto and is the first person preparing for life after college and planned on his career. He works as an intern at a design firm in which he is secretly in love with the owner Rika. So, much that he somewhat stalks her.

Hagumi: A shy but gifted sculptor who is being taken care of by her uncle, Professor Hanamoto. She is not very talkative and very, very short. She looks like a little girl but she’s actually 18 and her cuteness makes everyone in a good mood. She lives with her guardian, Professor Hanamoto.

Ayumi Yamada: Yamada aka “Iron Man” is another gifted student at the art school known for her ceramic skills. She is also madly in love with Mayama. She knows that he is not interested in her but she takes it hard and sometimes can’t tolerate his attitude towards her but she does so because she’s in love with him. She’s very blunt, very beautiful, very athletic but also can get very violent and is known to beat people up who get on her bad side.

Other characters in the series include:

Professor Hanamoto – A mentor to the students who is the guardian of Hagumi (and constantly worries about her) and also grew up with Rika (the owner of the design firm where Mayama works).

Rika – Grew up with Hanamoto and she had a relationship with his roommate Harada but during a car accident, she survived but he didn’t and has lived her life with a lot of pain since then. She owns a design firm where Mayama works and doesn’t know that he likes her.

The following 13-episodes are featured on three DVD’s. Here is a spoiler-less summary of each episode of “honey and clover box 1″:

DISC 1:

EPISODE 1 – “I Saw Someone Fall in Love for the First Time” - The guys meet a new transfer student named Hagumi who will be living with Professor Hanamoto and one of the guys starts taking a liking to her immediately.
EPISODE 2 – “I Felt Left Out When I Saw Hagu’s Work” - Morita-san thinks Hagumi is a Koropokkur and tries to make money of her.
EPISODE 3 – “Why Is this Happening to Me?” - Mayama feels affection for someone. Who can it be? A Mayama driven storyline.
EPISODE 4 “I Don’t Like Christmas All That Much” - It’s the first Christmas together as friends but why doesn’t Takamoto like Christmas?

DISC 2:

EPISODE 5 – “I Came Home to See You” – Takemoto hasn’t gone home to visit his mother in a long time. A Takemoto-driven storyline.
EPISODE 6 – “Why Did You Fall In Love With a Guy Like Me?” – Mayama learns the truth of what happened to Rika and her past. Meanwhile, Ayumi reveals something big to Mayama.
EPISODE 7 – “Hagu, Let’s Go Together” – Professor Hanamoto is offered to travel on a sabbatical for a year. But that means leaving Hagu alone.
EPISODE 8 – “Feeling the Distance” - Hagu goes into depression while being away from Professor Hanamoto.

DISC 3:

EPISODE 9 – “Why Can’t I Tell Her” - It’s the second Christmas together and Hagu decides to work with Ayumi and her family during the holidays.
EPISODE 10 – “You Just Can’t Cast Your Feelings Aside” - The group of friends go on a trip and write a waterbus and to a theme park where they must deal with their own personal emotions towards others.
EPISODE 11 – “That Was No Fun At All” - Professor Hanamoto returns from his work-related sabbatical and the gang realizes that his time away from Hagu was as bad or much worse than Hagu being away from him.
EPISODE 12 - “Foolish Thinking” – Hagu must deal with her personal emotions. Meanwhile, Morita disappears once again and Takemoto goes to find out why.
BONUS EPISODE L – “Face to Face with a Legend” - The first “honey and clover” special featuring the friends talking about their appreciation towards a guy named Lohmeyer in two different storylines.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

“honey and clover” is featured in 16×9 widescreen and although the show is a television series, the artistic backgrounds, surround buildings are very well-painted and detailed. The character designs are true to Chica Umino’s manga character designs and for the most part, character designer Shuichi Shimamura stayed true to her designs. Animation is fun and colorful and for those who are familiar with the manga series can definitely appreciation the overall presentation of the anime series. Very well-done.

Audio is presented in Stereo and featured in English and Japanese. Both the Japanese and English voice dub are both are very well-done. In terms of audio quality, the series is front channel driven but I chose to set my receiver with stereo on all channels. But dialogue is clear and understandable.

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

“honey and clover” comes with the following special features:

DISC 1:

Cultural Terms References – Similar to the manga series, a reference to terms used on the anime series.

DISC 2:

Cultural Terms References – Similar to the manga series, a reference to terms used on the anime series.

DISC 3:

Making the Animated Opening – (10:59) A featurette about the still motion food from the opening sequence and how it was created and how the food was prepared. How 20 staff members worked for days on the opening and why they chose to make an opening so different from other anime series.
Cultural Terms References – Similar to the manga series, a reference to terms used on the anime series.
Production Art - Using your remote, you can view the various production art of each character.
Clean Opening and Ending
English Language Production Credits
Original Japanese Production Credits
Manga – Information on manga releases.
Viz Pictures – Trailers for Viz Pictures

I really enjoyed this first box set of “Honey and Clover”. I figured with so many situations from the manga series, how were they going to capture the essence of Chica Umino’s characters and storyline in an anime. But for the most part, the staff succeeded in covering the most essential parts of the series. The jokes, the the angst, the emotions….everything hilarious and dramatic was caught and those integral scenes were featured on the anime series.

Similar to popular Japanese dramas such as “Asunaro Hakusho”, “Wakamono no Subete” or “Hakusen Nagashi”, I really enjoy stories that cover young adult life. From the parties to just hanging out with friends, meeting new people, career choices to finding love (or not finding love), “honey and clover” is one of those series that is realistic in the sense that many people can related to these characters. So, you really take an interest towards the characters and I really liked the overall development of the characters through the course of the nine chapters.

Umino’s artwork and her storytelling is enjoyable, beautiful and has a good balance of entertainment through humor and that occasional love triangle drama that pulls you in. So, I was curious to see how much character designer Shuichi Shimamura can keep that quality and remain faithful to Umino’s work. Sure enough, he and the crew succeeded. Artwork is absolutely beautiful as the painted backgrounds capture the detail of the wooden home where the guys live in. Buildings, lush scenery, colorful skies, you name it…”honey and clover” is just beautiful to look at and as mentioned earlier, voice acting in Japanese and in English are quite solid.

This is one of those anime series that will appeal appeals to both men and women courtesy of the main characters and we get to see things in each of their perspective throughout the series. If anything, the episodes are dramatic but the series doesn’t take itself too seriously as you have the weird Morita, Hagu’s overall young look and Ayumi’s short temper helping to calm down storylines that can easily get too emotional and thus keeping the overall series lighthearted and fun.

Overall, being a big fan of the manga series, “honey and clover Box 1″ is a magnificent anime release thus far. For those looking for an anime series focusing on young adult drama, real-life situations in relationships and college and more, give “honey and clover” a try. You’ll definitely enjoy this anime series. Highly recommended!

Filed Under: Anime on DVD

honey and clover Vol. 7 by Chica Umino (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

October 22, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Volume 7 of ‘honey and clover’ is more Takemoto-driven and explores the fears and angst that young adults have when they come close to graduating from college. In Takemoto’s case, that feeling that he must find himself and Chica Umino gives us wonderful insight on the transformation of Takemoto. Another wonderful volume of ‘honey and clover’. Highly recommended!”

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 7

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

Takemoto’s journey across Japan continues, and though he’s sleeping in empty lots and subsisting on convenience store food, he seems to be getting closer to understanding what made him ride away from school and his friends. But with his money running out and his bike on its last legs, will he have to give up on his quest before he finds what he’s looking for?

“honey and clover Vol. 7″ marks Umino’s fifth year working on the manga and also the fifth year in the lives of these characters. This time around, this volume is Yuta Takemoto-driven, as the student has left his friends without saying goodbye and took off to find himself and maybe find out what kind of person he truly is and what kind of career that he wants. And for the other characters, a mere progression in life with Ayumi wanting to be hired by the woman that Mayama is in love with to Hagumi working as an art teacher for children.

Here is a brief summary of each character of “honey and clover”:

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. But now she’s starting to discover that being world renown for her paintings may not be her thing.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Mayama’s co-workers at Fujiwara Architects also play a role in the series:

Miwako – The boss of Fujiwara Architects and likes to make fun of her employees and make them feel uncomfortable at times. And very close to her dog.

Yamazaki - An employee at Fujiwara Architects that has a crush on Miwako but Miwako tends to look at him as an employee she can try to take advantage and make fun of.

Here is what to expect from volume 7 (summaries only, no spoilers):

Chapter 41 – Takemoto arrives in Matsushima but his bike is having problems and now he’s low on money. Takemoto encounters a group of temple and shrine restorers who take him in as a cook in order for him to make some money.

Chapter 42 – It’s Takemoto’s first day on the job as a cook and for Hagumi, her first day as an art teacher.

Chapter 43 – Takemoto is excelling at his job as a cook but his new friends know that he should continue on his quest to find himself.

Chapter 44 – Takemoto continues on his quest to find himself, while Hagumi learns about herself through her young student.

Chapter 45 – Takemoto has found solace in his long trip and now he must return back home.

Chapter 46 – The return of Takemoto and his friend’s reaction when they find a changed man.

Bonus Chapter – The Legendary Hero * Nyanzaburo – The story about how Nyanzaburo helped the amusement park, Arakawa Land.

Also, included is a chapter of “Otaku House Call!” in which Chica Umino looks back on her five years working on the manga. Also, included is a Honey and Clover Study Guide which explains certain Japanese terminology featured in volume seven.

“honey and clover vol. 7″ was an interesting chapter because it focuses a lot on Yuta Takemoto and his journey of finding himself and what to do with his life. The other characters of the series are also featured but this volume is dominated by Takemoto’s journey and Hagu’s job as a teacher.

I really found this volume to be quite enjoyable because it was different in the fact that it relies heavily on a sole character but also for the fact that these emotions that Takemoto feel are feelings that many young adults make when they graduate from college. Some are easy to transition to their new career but some need to find out more about themselves before proceeding to the next level.

With Takemoto, he’s always been a person that stayed back and let everyone speak up but through this journey, the young naive and shy student that we saw from previous volumes has become a man and no longer is he afraid to speak his mind.

For the women, there is a storyline between Rika wanting to hire Ayumi but she is still hurt in the fact that Mayama will never love her like she has loved him and to make things even more difficult, the woman he loves wants to hire her on projects. Personally, with so many men who fall for Ayumi, you wonder how long can Umino hold Ayumi back. I understand she has harbored these feelings for him for many years but I would love to see her character meet some happiness.

And for Hagu, she’s in a bit of funk right now. With graduation, pressure to do her best since she’s a gifted artist and now having to teach children seems that it’ll take its toll on her. But you often wonder how much of that fear is caused by the fact that Takemoto left her.

Overall, Chica Umino definitely captures that young adult angst in the seventh volume of “honey and clover” and I look forward in seeing how this series will conclude with three more volumes left in the manga series. If you have stayed with the manga series this long, then volume 7 of “honey and clover” is definitely worth reading! Definitely a young adult manga series worth reading!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Vol. 6 by Chica Umino (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

June 29, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Volume 6 of ‘honey and clover’ is well-rounded in terms of character development. Chica Umino does a wonderful job weaving through each of the characters emotions, may it be personal or career changing decisions. This is definitely a volume in which many people can really understand the characters and the thoughts and anguish they are going through in regards to making important adult decisions. Another excellent volume of ‘honey and clover’. Highly recommended!”

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 6

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

With graduation projects in full swing, Takemoto and Hagu are face-to-face with their future. Takemoto’s complete lack of job prospects are making a sad situation worse, and Hagu just wants to return to her home in the country to pain. With pressure mounting from the outside world, what life-altering choices will these two make?

Planning for the future and the fear of getting a job after college is a scary situation that many students go through and now Yuta Takemoto now wonders what job is willing to hire him but with all the stress, sometimes one needs to get some space and reflect and find themselves.

“honey and clover” vol. 6 is about discovery for each of our main characters. Discovery of Yuta’s future, discovery of Hagu’s goal in life, discovery of Morita’s future, discover of Ayumi’s feeling for Mayama and vice versa. And even Professor Hanamoto starts to realize that perhaps his dreams are being realized through one of his students.

In the manga series, “honey and clover” revolves around three guys who live in an apartment complex and attend an art school. By the sixth volume, many of the the students have graduated and are working careers. With the last remaining two, Takemoto and Hagu now pondering their future as they are about to graduate.

Here is a brief summary of each character of “honey and clover”:

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. But now she’s starting to discover that being world renown for her paintings may not be her thing.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Mayama’s co-workers at Fujiwara Architects also play a role in the series:

Miwako – The boss of Fujiwara Architects and likes to make fun of her employees and make them feel uncomfortable at times. And very close to her dog.

Yamazaki - An employee at Fujiwara Architects that has a crush on Miwako but Miwako tends to look at him as an employee she can try to take advantage and make fun of.

Here is what to expect from volume 6 (summaries only, no spoilers):

Chapter 35 – Mayama tries to find out why Yamada cares so much for Mayama despite Mayama not having the same feelings for her.

Chapter 36 – Mayama and Morita stress out when Yamada has not come home and wonder if Nomiya has taken advantage of her.

Chapter 37 – Everyone is going through life and career changes and wondering what their future holds for them.

Chapter 38 – Professor Hanamoto may be able to pull some strings and get Takemoto a job.

Chapter 39 – Takemoto leaves without contacting anyone or leaving a message and tries to find himself.

Chapter 40 – Takemoto tries to survive with what little money he has, while he tries to discover himself. Morita tries to do the same.

Bonus Chapter – Miwako tries her best to embarrass her employee Yamazaki by buying him the most ridiculous clothes she can find and making him wear it.

Also, included after the final chapter is “Challenge Club”, a story about Umino’s passion for collecting seashells. Also, a chapter of “Otaku House Call!” is included as no matter how Umino tries to not look Otaku, somehow Otaku’s zero in on her. Also, included is a Honey and Clover Study Guide which explains certain Japanese terminology featured in volume 6.

The sixth volume of “honey and clover” definitely captures the angst, the humor, the enjoyment of each character. In fact, I would have to say that this volume was well-rounded as everyone is featured and is more dramatic in terms of each person now trying to find themselves and sort out their own feelings and emotions of their life and their career.

With this volume, I think that many readers can feel the emotions that these characters feel. Takemoto’s uneasiness and stress of trying to find a new job after college, Morita seeing everyone making life changing decisions and knowing that he needs to do the same and of course, Mayama and Yamada starting to understand their emotions towards each other and knowing that they need to move forward alone.

Overall, “honey and clover” vol. 6 is another wonderful volume from the popular Chica Umino series. Despite the craziness of Morita, nearly every character in the manga series are quite real and I can sympathize and understand these characters and what they are going through.

Again, if you have been curious about this manga series, “honey and clover” is just a magnificent series featuring cool character designs but most of all, a well-written storyline about five friends growing up as college students and now entering their lives as young adults and planning for their careers.

“honey and clover” vol. 6 is highly recommended!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Vol. 5 (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

February 25, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Volume 5 reunites everyone together. Focusing on graduating, finding the right career after graduating, moving on and more! Well-written and beautiful artwork from the award-winning manga artist Chica Umino. Vol. 5 of ‘honey and clover’ is another excellent volume in the manga series!”

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 5

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

Takamoto is nearing graduation, but he doesn’t have a job lined up – he doesn’t even know what he wants to do with his life. His friends try to be supportive, but they have their own dramas to act out. With his health failing and his heart in turmoil, how will Takemoto find the strength to carry on?

Four years have passed since Yuta Takemoto has entered the art school and now it’s his time to graduate and finish his final project. Everyone has moved on but for Yuta, the stress of not knowing what is going to happen after he graduates is enormous.

“honey and clover” vol. 5 focuses on the moment before graduating and trying to know about one’s own self, their path that would lead them to the next step in their lives.

With Mayama now working for Rika, Ayumi still working at the school, her parents store and selling her own vase sculptures, Morita is still in Los Angeles, Yuta is planning his final project and Hagu is there for support and a year left of school before graduating.

In the manga series, the story revolves around three guys who live in an apartment complex and attend an art school. They are:

Yuta Takemoto: One of the primary characters, Takemoto is the youngest of the guys and majoring in architectural design. He is the normal guy of the group and trying to find himself. He has fallen for Hagu but is not the type to share his emotions or act upon them. It’s his final semester and he’s stressed out about graduating.

Shinobu Morita: A carefree, does whatever he wants type of guy. Very cool but very strange. A gifted sculptor who has attended the University for years, has not graduated but tends to make money doing freelance work and constantly on the move. He likes Hagu and being the first to show his feelings towards her, he bolts to Los Angeles without saying goodbye to his friends.

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. Still has a year left until graduation but always the good friend.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Here is what to expect from volume 5:

Chapter 29 – Mayama’s job at Fujiwara gets complicated as the twin brothers Mario and Luigi have a falling out and one group will be moving to Tottori and the other stays in Tokyo. For Mayama, he is selected to move to Tottori. But is he willing to move so far away from his friends, most of all, far from Rika?

Chapter 30 – The professors evaluate Takemoto’s final project, meanwhile Ayumi finally understands why Mayama doesn’ love her after many of her guy friends propose to her. Meanwhile, Ayumi finds out from Nomiya about what Mayama has chosen to do with work.

Chapter 31 – It’s Christmas time and everyone is a bit depressed that things aren’t the same anymore among the friends. But Professor Hanamoto tries to liven up the party.

Chapter 32 – Takemoto becomes so stressed about his future and graduation that he coughs up blood and collapses in front of Hagu and Ayumi and taken to the hospital. Will Takemoto be OK?

Chapter 33 – It is revealed what Morita has been doing in Los Angeles and to make things more interesting, unknown to the others, Morita has returned back to Japan. Just in time because he still has time to submit his final project to graduate or repeat a ninth year in college.

Chapter 34 – Takemoto is not so sure about how he feels of Morita returning back to Japan. Meanwhile, Mayama confronts Nomiya about his feelings towards Ayumi.

Also, included after the final chapter is “Challenge Club”, a story about seashells; another episode of “Umino and Her Friends” and discovering that their otaku-ness may force them to make another name change for their segment; “Honey and Clover Study Guide” with glossary of terms used in vol. 5.

Vol. 5 of “honey and clover” is excellent! Well-written, well-drawn and I was truly impressed with this latest volume!

It was great to see everyone together again but things are much more tense and dramatic as Takemoto stresses about graduation and career, Mayama stresses about work and Nomiya getting closer to Ayumi and also, will Morita finally graduate?

What I love about this manga is that it’s realistic. Emotions and everyday situations that can happen to anyone (well, Morita’s life is a bit far fetched but that’s his character).

But anyone stressing about their friends dating someone who may not be good for them to the stress of graduating, that is something that many of us can understand.

Chica Umino has a great way of bringing those emotional layers out for each character, bringing them together and just showing a wide variety of emotions and thus, making each chapter addictive. And this is a title that both guys and the girls can enjoy!

Overall, “honey and clover” vol. 5 is another excellent volume in the manga series that fans will enjoy! If you have been curious about “honey and clover”, definitely a series worth reading. Highly recommended!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Vol. 4 (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

February 10, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Volume 4 continues to go towards a more dramatic and deeper storyline and this time focusing on storylines that surround Mayama, Yamada and Rika. Well-written and beautiful artwork from the award-winning manga artist Chica Umino.”

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 4

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

Morita has disappeared, leaving his friends bereft and confused. Hagu and Takamoto turn to their art, while Mayama and Ayu cling to their unrequited loves. When his coworker begins to romance Ayu, Mayama can’t help interfering. But what does he care, when he’s nursing a flame for a woman he hasn’t seen in a year?

With the previous three volumes, I have had nothing but positive things to say about the Kodansha Award winning manga series “honey and clover” by Chika Umino.

Having spawned an anime series, a live drama and film, it’s no surprise that many men and women have enjoyed “honey and clover” and now available from Viz Media via their Shojo Beat imprint is “honey and clover”.

In the manga series, the story revolves around three guys who live in an apartment complex and attend an art school. They are:

Shinobu Morita: A carefree, does whatever he wants type of guy. Very cool but very strange. A gifted sculptor who has attended the University for years, has not graduated but tends to make money doing freelance work and constantly on the move. He likes Hagu and being the first to show his feelings towards her, he bolts to Los Angeles without saying goodbye to his friends.

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is graduating and has a lot of pressure to perform. But things have not been the same for her since Morita kissed her and with him gone, she’s slowly trying to get out of a funk. But now in a much better mood since her guardian, Professor Hanamoto is back from his research sabbatical.

And two characters that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

With volume 4, the storyline for this volume are more focusing on Mayama and his feelings for both Rika and Yamada.

Chapter 22 – With Morita off to Los Angeles, Takemoto doesn’t know if he wants him to come back. Perhaps now is a good time for him to share his feelings to Hagu and let her know how he has felt.

Chapter 23 – Meanwhile, Professor Hanamoto and Mayama talk about Rika and we get a glimpse of Mayama and Rika’s working relationship and his time with her.

Chapter 24 – It’s the Summer time and Yamada has planted basil and shiso. But the tall Shiso plant has broken off and her wife tells her to cut the plant and so it can grow normally but Yamada looks at the Shiso plant and the broken part still has new leaves growing. She sees herself almost like the Shiso plant. But it’s time for the summer fireworks festival and Yamada decides to try again to see if she can attract Mayama by wearing a kimono. Is she like the Shiso plant. Should she get a fresh start or continue to be broken.

Chapter 25 – We are introduced to Mayama’s co-workers at the firm. As for Mayama, he longs to see Rika but doesn’t know if its the right time to see her just yet.

Chapter 26 – Mayama’s co-workers are wondering why he won’t let them see Ayumi Yamada (there are more orders for the flower bowls), so his co-workers end up seeing him at a Shrine Festival and introduce themselves to Yamada. But all of a sudden, Mayama becomes jealous of Nomiya trying to meet Yamada because he’s a playboy. And even more shocked to find out that the following day, Nomiya went to visit Yamada.

Chapter 27 – Mayama’s co-workers, especially Nomiya confront Mayama in regards to why he goes out of his way to prevent them from trying to meet Yamada. Especially if he likes Rika. Meanwhile, Nomiya takes Yamada out on a trip to dinner many miles away.

Chapter 28 – Mayama is a bit furious that Yamada went with Nomiya to dinner. His friends don’t understand why he’s being so protective over Yamada and Yamada is furious that of all people, Mayama is trying to tell her what to do with her life. Meanwhile, in a chance meeting, Mayama and Rika see each other again face-to-face.

Also, included is “Umino and Her Friends” and concluding the manga is a “Honey and Clover Study Guide” featuring an explanation of certain location, talent and words such as “Galaxy Express 999″, “Rakkyo”, “Umeboshi” and more.

The fourth volume of “Honey and Clover” is definitely much more dramatic and deeper than volume 3. And more surprising is how the storylines focus more on Mayama and Ayumi and their emotions.

Typically, I love reading about all characters but I have to admit that I liked how Umino dedicated a good number of chapters in fleshing out the characters of Mayama and Ayumi and how both are pretty much torn on how they feel. Ayumi’s love for Mayama, Mayama knows Ayumi’s a great girl but his love is for Rika but yet cares deeply for Ayumi and doesn’t want her to be with just any guy.

I definitely enjoyed where this volume was going and it was quite enjoyable but at the same time, quite touching and sad.

Although “honey and clover” is a “Shojo Beat” title, this is not a manga strictly for females. The story involves men and women and the complexity they face in their lives. May it be graduation, what to do after graduation or the emotions that they feel inside but somehow, finding difficulty to express them. So, both men and women can definitely enjoy “honey and clover”.

“honey and clover” is a well-told drama ala manga series and it’s no surprise whey this manga series has had a live drama, anime series and film adaption. The storyline is enjoyable and there is an innocence to the storyline that we all can relate to. Also, it’s a fun manga series that is well written and well drawn and I’m impressed with how much Umino is able to include with each and every chapter.

Volume 4 is another fantastic volume in the series. More Mayama and Ayumi-centric but continues to be a wonderful series thus far! A series worth investing your time reading thus far.

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover Vol. 3 (a J!-ENT Manga Review)

January 26, 2009 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

“Volume 3 goes much deeper with the storyline and focusing on the emotions of each character and their friendships. Well-written and beautiful artwork from the award-winning manga artist Chica Umino.”

MANGA TITLE: honey and clover vol. 3

STORY AND ART BY: Chica Umino (羽海野チカ)

FIRST PUBLISHED IN JAPAN: SHUEISHA, Inc.

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: VIZ Media, LLC/Shojo Beat Manga

RATED: T for Older Teen

Professor Hanamoto is off in Mongolia on a research trip and Hagu is having a hard time coping. The gang do their best to help her out, especially Takemoto. But as graduation threatens to alter their friendships forever, Hagu begins to turn toward Morita…

A fantastic manga series thus far. There are definitely a lot of positive things you can say about the Kodansha Award winning manga series “honey and clover” by Chika Umino.

The third volume of “honey and clover” still manages to keep the humor of the storyline about three guys and two young women, friends who attend an art school. Some have since graduated and started their own careers and some that are now in their Senior Year and thus knowing that once everyone graduates, this close friendship that they have, these parties they celebrate each year, it may be over.

The series does get a bit more serious as this volume focuses on the friendships of each of the five characters but also trying to figure out where each of their lives are headed.

In the manga series, the story revolves around three guys who live in an apartment complex and attend an art school. They are:

Yuta Takemoto: One of the primary characters, Takemoto is the youngest of the guys and majoring in architectural design. He seems to have a ho-hum life but is the normal guy of the group who has taken a liking to the gifted artist Hagumi. In this volume, he is starting his senior year.

Shinobu Morita: A carefree, does whatever he wants type of guy. Very cool but very strange. A gifted sculptor who has attended the University for years, has not graduated but tends to make money doing freelance work and constantly on the move. He is drawn to Hagumi because she reminds him of a Koropokkur (a leprechaun or fairy) that he actually takes pictures of her in situations and puts it on the Internet and promoting her as one.

Takumi Mayama: Mayama is the quiet type. A senpai for Takemoto and works at a design firm in which he likes the owner Rika. Although he knows that he’ll never get that close to Rika, he somewhat does what he can for her. He is also the guy that Morita turned to when he needed help but now Mayama has passed the duty on to Takemoto. He has graduated and a salaryman now.

The two female characters are:

Hagumi: A shy, gifted sculptor who is being taken care of by her uncle, Professor Hanamoto. She is not very talkative and very, very short. She is almost like a little girl but she’s actually 18 and her cuteness makes everyone in a good mood. She does have a hard time knowing that so many people expect a lot of things from her because of her talent but also knows that because of dedicating her life to that talent, she doesn’t live a normal life like the other girls in school.

Ayumi Yamada: Yamada aka “Iron Man” is another gifted student at the art school who is madly in love with Mayama. She knows that he is not interested in her but she takes it hard and sometimes can’t tolerate his attitude but she does because she’s so in love with him. She’s very blunt, very beautiful, very athletic but also can get very violent (ala her karate moves).

And a character that is not part of the main group but important to the storyline:

Professor Hanamoto: Just like one of the guys, Hanamoto is the guardian of Hagumi and more or less like an advisor to the students. He attended the same art school with best friend and roommate Harada who dated a woman named Rika. The three were inseparable and both Harada and Rika got married. But after Harada’s death, he continued to help care for Rika who is now the boss at a design firm that Mayama works at.

What I find charming about “honey and clover” is the realism of the storylines. It’s more or less a drama, a romantic comedy and each of the characters are enjoyable and many people can relate to.

Chapter 16 revolves Hagu and Morita. Yuta starts to notice that Morita likes Hagu and he likes her as well but is not good at expressing his emotions.

Chapter 17 takes place around Christmas time and Ayumi’s parents shop is not really doing so well. So, the friends decide to help Ayumi with Hagu actually becoming a temporary employee and uses her talented art skills to create something that would attract people to the shop.

Chapter 18 features the friends going on a mini-cruise via the waterbus. Meanwhile, Mayama confronts Takemoto regarding his feeling about Hagu and why he doesn’t fight for her if he really loves her.

Chapter 19 marks the return of Professor Hanamoto and everyone learns how badly Hanamoto has missed Hagu in Mongolia.

Chapter 20 takes place in the Spring. Hanamoto talks to Morita about completing his final project so he can graduate, meanwhile Hagu looks saddened. Morita sees her and he decides to take the first step in how he feels about her.

Chapter 21 continues from the last storyline. Hanamoto and Takemoto feel that something must have happened between Morita and Hagu. Hagu is just in bad shape and hasn’t put any effort into her work and appears to be depressed. Meanwhile Takemoto encounters Morita’s brother and learns that Morita has left to Los Angeles and may not be back for months or longer. Takemoto is not sure if he wants Morita to come back.

Also, included is a side story featuring Hagu and Ayumi in a “pukkun and milky tea” storyline. The two sew their own pukkun (a cover for hot water kettles) and give them to their parents. The other storyline is the final “Otaku House Call” and how Umino and staff will change the name to “Umino and Her Friends” and concluding the manga is a “Honey and Clover Study Guide” featuring an explanation of certain location, talent and words such as “Shiso”, talent such as Nae Yuki and “Coming of Age Day”.

The third volume of “honey and clover” again manages to win people over because of it’s fun and enjoyable storyline. Of course, things are getting much more serious now as Mayama is now a salary man, Takemoto is graduating soon and everyone has their fun together but there is a little sadness that their circle of friends is winding down as soon, each of them will go their own way in their personal lives and careers.

For Takemoto, he’s been such a shy guy but he realizes how Hagu has made him happy and how much he cares for her but yet doesn’t have the guts to communicate those feelings. If anything, just making Hagu happy is enough. As for Hanamoto, his relationship with Hagu at first seemed like father and daughter like relationship but when you realize how much the two missed each other each day, it makes you wonder. But things change this time around. Morita has made the first step in declaring his emotions for Hagu but at the same time, bailing out and leaving Japan while Hagu, is confused and depressed.

It will be interesting to see what happens within that love triangle and with Morita gone, will Takemoto become a man who will tell Hagu how he feels about her or will he continue like he always has.

It’s definitely setting things up between Takemoto-Hagu-Morita for the fourth volume which I find quite exciting.

Volume 3 continues that fun and beautiful storyline, a bit more serious this time around. But still quite enjoyable! Another recommended volume in the “honey and clover” manga series!

Filed Under: Manga News and Reviews

honey and clover (a J!-ENT DVD Review)

December 21, 2008 by Dennis Amith · Leave a Comment

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“The Kodansha Award winning manga and popular anime/drama series gets adapted for the big screen in an endearing story about the life of college students preparing for the next stage in their lives, preparing for their careers and also finding themselves in love. A charming and endearing film.”

TITLE: honey and clover (Hachimitsu to Clover)

DURATION: 116 Minutes

DVD INFORMATION: NTSC, Region 1, 16×9 Anamorphic Widescreen, Japanese Language with English Subtitles

COMPANY: VIZ Pictures, Inc.

Directed by Masahiro Takata

Based on a manga series by Chika Umino

Screenplay by Masahiko Kawahara, Masahiro Takata

Produced by Shinji Ogawa, Takako Imamura, Maho Tada

Director of Photography: Keiji Hasegawa

Music by Yoko Kanno

Executive Producers: Yasushi Shiina, Noritaka Yamaji, Juli K. Fujishima, Yuji Shimamoto

Starring:

Sho Sakurai as Takemoto

Yu Aoi as Hagu

Yusuke Iseya as Morita

Ryo Kase as Mayama

Megumi Seki as Ayumi

Based on the popular manga series by Chica Umino which has sold over 10 million copies in Japan, HONEY AND CLOVER is a romantic comedy about a group of art school students who try to find their way. But when an innocent and talented 19-year-old girl enters their lives, things get a lot more complicated as love triangles result. Starring Yu Aoi (HULA GIRLS) and J-pop star Sho Sakurai. Directed by Masahiro Takata.

When I first saw the Japanese trailer for “honey and clover” (Hachimitsu to Clover), I definitely was excited to see this film.

Based on a popular manga and anime series, 10 million copies of the manga sold in Japan and also an award winner, stars such as the popular Yu Aoi and Sho Sakurai (of the popular Johnny’s Jimusho pop group ARASHI) and music by Yoko Kanno, an awesome theme song from both Spitz and Arashi. The trailer definitely gave me images of popular youth-based dramas such as “Hakusen Nagashi” and “Asunaro Hakusho”.

The film revolves around five characters, thee guys who live in an apartment complex and all attend an art college in Tokyo. The group gets together for parties and hang out but the film focuses on five primary characters:

Hagumi (Yu Aoi): A shy, gifted 18-year-old artist. Very shy, hardly talks but her expression in her artwork is incredible. She lives with Professor Hanamoto and two guys, Yuta Takemoto and Shinobu Morita both fall for her.

Yuta Takemoto (Sho Sakurai): One of the primary characters in the film. Takemoto falls for Hagumi and wants to do what he can to make her happy. Although part of the art school, he is trying to find out what he really wants to do in life and somehow Hagumi has helped him see life differently.

Shinobu Morita (Yusuke Iseya): A carefree, cool artist. He travels the world, hasn’t graduated from college because he’s always absent but also a gifted artist and an amazing sculptor. After seeing Hagumi’s art, he falls for her and unlike Takemoto, more forthright in letting her know about his feelings.

Takumi Mayama (Ryo Kase): Mayama is the quiet type. A senpai for Takemoto and works at a design firm in which he likes the owner Rika (more like stalks her). Mayama is fired from his job because Rika doesn’t like him getting to close to her because it affects business. This leads to Mayama being lost and looking for work. Meanwhile, his friend Ayumi is in love with him but he doesn’t feel the same for her.

Ayumi Yamada (Megumi Seki): Yamada is a sculptor and also teaches children artwork. She is madly in love with Mayama and is always hurt when he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings.

The storyline is pretty much a realistic portrayal of life among young adults and friends among the circle of friends who fall for each other and you have your love triangle or two and the young adult angst of what will one do after they finish school.

Having not watched the anime series before, my impression of the live film and it’s cast was pretty good. I felt that the characters were well-casted and of course, any film starring a Johnny’s Jimusho talent is definitely going to bring many women/girls to the theater especially with Sho Sakurai and one of the most popular actresses today in Japan, Yu Aoi.

Each actor portrays their character quite well. Aoi’s Sagumi is definitely shy, few words are spoken but it’s about facial expressions and smiles. Sakurai’s Takemoto is a character that is happy, reserved and overall a good man.

And the other three are well-cast as well. Yusuke Iseya’s Morita is well done and in the featurette, you learn that Iseya is very much like the character Morita.

VIDEO & AUDIO:

What I enjoyed about the film are the various locations. May the characters be at the school, walking through the street, overlooking the beach, there are just subtle locations but I guess from being here in America (and have gone to Japan several times), there is an enjoyment for me of locations and for me, the locations really enhanced the film’s overall enjoyment together with the beautiful music composed by Yoko Kanno.

But as far as video is concern, the film is featured in anamorphic 16×9. There is quite a bit of noise in low light situations but in well-lit areas, colors really do stand out.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

The DVD has a few special features:

Hanamoto Study Group – This feature actually has the cast passing a digital video camera around and each interviewing Yusuke Iseya. Each person asks Yusuke a question in regards to his character and most of all, the group is more or less just having sitting down and having fun talking with each other about certain scenes. I wished that everyone can be asked a question about their character but for some reason, the focus was more on Iseya and his character of Morita.
Director and Cast – This feature is a text-based feature with a short bio of the actors and actresses from the film.
Original Japanese Trailers – Two trailers of the film. One about a minute long, the other is over two minutes long.
Viz Picture Presents – Trailers for films available now such as “Densha Otoko”, “Ping Pong”, “Linda Linda Linda”, etc.

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I really enjoyed “honey and clover” because of it’s characters and it’s charming storyline. It’s one of those sincere and endearing storylines that is innocent and charming.

The characters were enjoyable and the various locations of where the film was shot and the beautiful music really enhanced the film for me.

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Also, another plus was the fact that the film revolves around art. As a person who is passionate about artwork, the whole art student storyline was quite enjoyable. But most of all, how art plays a part in the actual film. In one scene, watching Hagumi and Morita taking their paint brushes and just spatting paint all over the canvas and having fun and in the end, the two creating something quite beautiful. These type of scenes are just memorable and beautiful.

But one of the problems that you get by trying to condense a long manga or even an anime series to a two-hour film, it’s not an easy task. In a manga and an anime series, you have that extra time for character development and thus, you get emotionally attached to those characters.

But for those who have not seen the manga or anime series, we take these group of individuals from what we seen on film and with not too much focused on character development, you are given five characters right off the bat which you will either love them or you don’t.

Fortunately, Masahiko Kawahara and Masahiro Takata wrote a screenplay that simplifies the characters but from the first half hour, you pretty much know what kind of characters that they are. You know that Takemoto is a good guy, you know that Sagumi is very quiet and shy, you know that Morita is very cool and expressive, Mayama is stalkerish and quiet and Yamada is a woman that has a one-sided love towards Mayama. Each involved in their own love triangle but each dealing with life and how to move on with their own personal careers and not knowing where it will take them.

Having not read the manga series and not watched any of the anime or live drama series, I watched this film with an open mind not knowing anything about the series and thus felt content with the overall film.

Realistic, charming and at times, quite humorous, “honey and clover” is at best a film that doesn’t go dark, doesn’t go twisted, pretty much stays within a safe boundary of five students trying to figure out their own lives after college and moving on forward.

Filed Under: Asian Cinema DVD/Blu-ray, DVD Reviews