Bitter Virgin is a surprisingly mature, beautiful and dark story with a strange and misleading title. When I first saw the title of Bitter Virgin, I figured it was yet another mediocre Ecchi/Comedy that would feature some girl with overly sized breast to the point their unattractive embracing random men as their heads go into the breast. Classic joke isn't it? Of course thinking that, I decided to ignore the series, and wasn't even looking for a new series at the time, focusing on the things I was already reading. I heard it's name thrown around a couple of times afterwards, and finally looked at
...
it. I was surprised to see that ecchi and comedy weren't even on the list, and instead it was a dramatic romance story. Though I couldn't help of thinking of NANA and how it portrayed the dramatic live of sluts (okay, okay, people who jumped from boyfriend to boyfriend and dreamed of having sex with various people) and got acclaimed (never liked sluts), I once again passed it. Today I decided to give it a chance, and it started off something like how I pictured it, the main character Suwa being a womanizer, attractive women chasing after him, and things similar, despite being done in a serious way. However things take a complete turn when Suwa is relaxing in a church that he spread rumors of being haunted, and hides when someone enters, thinking it may be one of the girls he just got away from. However he is surprised when it was the classmate, Hinako, that he tried to hit on only to have her run away. He pretends to be a priest, but ends up getting a confession, and a shocking one at that. Not just Suwa, I was pretty surprised at how serious the sudden plot twist was, and it didn't take long to realize how the story was going to be, a sad romance about overcoming the past, or something like that. Bitter Virgin is a misleading masterpiece, with a mostly dark but beautiful and hopeful story, with a great message.
Normally I would leave the secret as it is, a secret and let you hear it from the book and not me. However it seems other reviews have already told you, so I guess there's no point in not saying. Hinako got a stepfather, and her mother looked happier than ever, of course Hinako wanted her to be happy. However on the first night she was late for work, the stepfather grabbed and raped Hinako. Hinako burst into tears upon seeing her mother the next day, but the stepfather quickly showed up, and Hinako stayed silent, wanting her mom to be happy, and afraid of what would happen if she told. The stepfather continued doing it, and eventually impregnated her. Of course after suffering signs of it, she was taken to the doctor, and her mother found out she was pregnant. She got angry, and when Hinako said it was her stepfather, she didn't believe and made her get an abortion, and didn't tell their stepfather, not wanting him to think badly of her. It continued and she once again got pregnant, but this time was covered in bruises, and this time there was no escaping the truth of who did it. The mother made the stepfather leave, but Hinako was already sacred for life, and terrified of men. I'm sure you'll get what the rest of the story is about from that, and it is a beautiful and well developed story, as you watch Hinako and Suwa grow closer, as Hinako slowly accepts him more and more. Brilliant story, especially if you're looking for a more serious side of romance.
The art is pretty good and makes a mix of Seinen and Shojo drawing. I can remember moments with flowers blooming behind smiling or blushing characters, though the story is mature as hell, and at times it will reach a darker moments where the drawings move away from that style as well. Nothing particularly special, everything's drawn well, and doesn't really add to or distract from the series, and all the characters also look pretty good.
The characters are all done well, and despite the dark story actually mix in some comedy with it as well. Suwa is careful about getting close to Hinako despite his feelings for her, and is always looking out to protect her from men, though also tries to help heal her from her fears, of course he doesn't tell her that he knows here secret. Hinako is actually fairly happy, especially around Suwa, for the most part. Of course mentions of babies or being around males will scare the hell out of her are make her sad, but that's only normal. These are the two main characters, and there are also other re-appearing characters of course. Like Suwa's mother who wants him to get a local underage teen pregnant, and start his life as the keeper of her shop. More get introduced as time goes on, and they are all done well, with both a little comedy and especially having great drama ties to the story as well.
Overall Bitter Virgin is an amazing read despite it's short length, it stays focused on the true story without any non related side stories, and greatly develops the characters in that short time, as we get to slowly see the Hinako overcome her past, with a lot of help of course. Overall don't even think about the title, Bitter Virgin is an amazing read for anyone who likes the dramatic and mature side of romance, and is highly recommended to anyone who likes either genre.
 Alternative TitlesJapanese: ビターバージン InformationType: Manga
Volumes: 4
Chapters: 32
Status: Finished
Published: Feb 18, 2005 to Mar 7, 2008
Theme:
School
Demographic:
Seinen
Serialization:
Young Gangan Authors:
Kusunoki, Kei (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #14952 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #382
Members: 46,468
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Aug 1, 2009
Bitter Virgin is a surprisingly mature, beautiful and dark story with a strange and misleading title. When I first saw the title of Bitter Virgin, I figured it was yet another mediocre Ecchi/Comedy that would feature some girl with overly sized breast to the point their unattractive embracing random men as their heads go into the breast. Classic joke isn't it? Of course thinking that, I decided to ignore the series, and wasn't even looking for a new series at the time, focusing on the things I was already reading. I heard it's name thrown around a couple of times afterwards, and finally looked at
...
May 2, 2011
“If this were a nightmare, then this is the part when I would open my eyes.”
Life. It can be cruel and even when it's not it will tests you. Sometimes to see how far you can go before you break, or even after that. That’s how it is for characters in this story. This manga shines light into things that happen more often than not to women and their families but that we don’t think about until it happens to someone we love. In case you’re wondering, it doesn’t just deal with a girl’s story into overcoming rape and pregnancy. It throws into a whirlwind everything ... 
May 9, 2008
I have to admit, I've only just started reading this manga, and this is my first review.
A manga like this, with such a taboo plot, doesn't usually hit this close to home. Not to me, but with my very dear childhood friend. This is captured perfectly, the step-father's attempts, the mother thinking the child is lying, then when the mother was backed into a corner, she had no choice but to kick him out and beg for forgiveness. Some of us have gone through things that happened in this manga, some can relate on another level, (for me it's the fear of men I have because ... 
Sep 19, 2008
Bitter Virgin is a really compelling Shoujo/Seinen, Slice of Life, Romance, Drama with a story that will blow you away. This manga deals with the terrible sorrows in life, so it’s definitely not for the fainthearted.
Daisuke Suwa is just your ordinary teenage boy who has been living a simple life but doesn’t enjoy it one bit. Then he soon becomes involved with his classmate Hinako Aikawa, after unintentionally learning about her deep dark secret. The story really gets serious, right from the start, which is pretty uncommon for your average romance. Though what intrigues me the most about the story is the bittersweet relationship that ... 
Jan 17, 2008
This Manga is a beautiful Manga with a truly unique storyline. The lead female character, Aikawa, has an extrordinarily designed personality and history, and the lead male character, Suwa, is so very sweet. This manga makes you feel a sympathy towards the main characters, particularly Aikawa.
I love this romance, of how Aikawa's story transform's the girl chasing Suwa into someone in love without her even noticing, and how Suwa changes Aikawa's view on men and love. over all i have fallen in love with this manga as it was the first ever shojo manga i heve ever read(i was not a huge fan of shojo ... 
Jul 12, 2009
Bitter Virgin is a short, four-volume manga about a girl with a secret and the boy who learns of it.
STORY - …Bitter Virgin isn’t actually about a bitter virgin. Quite the opposite, actually? To be honest, the shock value and tragedy of Aikawa’s secret faded relatively quickly for me (probably because of one too many episodes of Law and Order: SVU). The subject matter also reminded me a lot of those in Mondaiteiki Sakuhinshu (brought overseas as Confidential Confessions). Consequently, the story premise and flow felt rather typical and predictable in that romance drama sort of way. Nevertheless, Bitter Virgin is well told, and ... 
Feb 7, 2008
The manga starts out like one of the typical school life manga involving a guy. The big tough playboy like guy who seems to want every girl. Then when one girl says a secret to him on accident, the storyline changes so fast its like getting smacked in the face by a freakin boxer.
To me, i found this manga to be one roller coaster of horror despite that not being one of its genres. The drama of this thing is so amazing, when i first found out what this story was going to be about, all i could say was... "Holy...sh-" with my blood ... 
Oct 20, 2014
Think of the worst things that can happen. It happens here. Not only that, but this manga takes the phrase 'from bad to worse' to a whole new level. Wow. I don't think I've ever read anything that rips out my heart like this manga.
Story: Like above. Wow. Just wow. Have tissues, and maybe someone to talk to about your feelings after this one, because just when you thought something good will happen- NOPE! But dagnabit, I want them to end up happy! So if that was the intent, well done. Art: Didn't really do it for me. There was more than a few panels that ... 
Aug 27, 2015
I enjoyed the story of this manga, dark as it was, especially the relationships with the support characters. I felt it was a bit drawn out and repetitive in some of the interactions between the two main characters. The exchanges did not seem to add much of anything, other than really drilling the main plot point into the readers mind. Other than that, it was worth reading. While the story did not hit home to me personally, the side characters still pulled at my heart and made the entire story tragic for everyone involved.
Sep 25, 2015
I read this on a whim, and man, do I ever regret doing so. Bitter Virgin is so poorly-written that it actually managed to offend me.
I found the premise intriguing: A girl, Hinako, works to move past horrific abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Unfortunately, Hinako isn't our protagonist. Instead, we get Daisuke, your average seinen guy. Appallingly, the story plays out in typical harem fashion. We're introduced to a couple of other potential love interests: a cute childhood friend and a haughty clingy-type. Both are completely smitten with Daisuke--one to the point that she will commit actual, not-played-for-laughs violence on rival Hinako. ... 
Mar 20, 2008
a manga that tackles a sensitive subject. it's quite rare for me to be attached so much to this kind of manga.
i believe that bitter virgin's story gives color to the lives of those women that had their rights violated, to women that continue to fight, and to women that would always repent for the sins they made on their past. this also explains to the reader how such cases are viewed by other people. hinako who had undergone hell through her step dad and by aborting her child twice suffers the pain and anguish of her past. the pain and anguish that continues to torment her ... 
Dec 20, 2013
Most guys will never understand the mind of a girl, and this manga is a great example of that.
Story: 9 This story follows Suwu, as he pretends to be a priest as a girl confesses her dark secrets to him. Because of these dark secrets (And they are pretty dark), he is enamored by her and an instinct to protect her kicks in for Suwu. The problem is, the girl does not know Suwu knows, and other girls at his school become jealous of the attention that Suwu pays to the girl. This plot is started by a lie, a common story telling device, and ... 
Jun 10, 2013
This is a very popular manga. I would like to bring some contrast with my review.
Story - I wouldn't rate "Bitter Virgin" that high. It deals with a very serious matter, which is interesting, but there are some things that may be objected. The manga goes about a girl that was abused by her stepfather. As a result, she is scared of men, until she meets Daisuke. That alone is a very heavy burden to deal with, both for her and for Daisuke. But still, as if it were not enough, things keep happening to her. I think it was a little too much, and a ... 
Nov 18, 2012
I imagine this will give me more 'Not Helpful' ratings, but such is the business of reviews.
My last thought? Why did they have to write it this way? Warning that some minor spoilers may follow. Story - 9: I haven't read a manga with this subject matter before. Other reviews say that this manga was dark. It wasn't as dark as they described it to be. Maybe I didn't feel it like they did. Bitter Virgin is a manga about a girl named Aikawa Hinako who was repeatedly abused by her stepfather. This abuse resulted in an abortion, then a child. On the first birthday of ... 
Jan 16, 2009
Introduction
This manga is romance, drama and seinen (with a bit of comedy) genre. This is my first review here, so yoroshiku kudasai^^ Story - 8 The story is about the main character guy (Suwa Daisuke) who doesn't see the main character girl (Aikawa Hinako) as his type of girl for being extremely shy and reserved. But then, Daisuke finds out a dark, sad and repulsive secret about Hinako which caused her big fear of men and this information leads to him pitying her and thinking differently about her. He totally understands why she acted the way she acted all this time, and so, decides to protect her, ... 
May 20, 2008
This is a very heart-stopping manga, it tells u how life can treat u and that the world isnt just a fairy-tale and that basically the world is full of both good and bad people. It starts off with a normal boy who is the "happy-go-lucky" ladies-man at skool talking about all of the women he would like, except for one that he thought wasnt good enuff and just not the right girl for him. but acidently without her knowing, she told him her deepest secret that kept him gob-smacked and thinking more deeply about her. it a tough but also tender manga, well-woven and
...
Dec 19, 2013
I always have the urge to justify what I read/watch when the title of series makes people suspicious of who I am as a person.
Anyway, Bitter Virgin is one of the most misleading titles to date, and it could either make you disregard the book or make you curious to know more about it. As you can tell, I’m the latter. I read the summary and went straight to reading this series. Every time another chapter was translated, I got excited and read it immediately! Before anyone actually thinks this manga is about a bitter virgin, let me just tell you it’s not! It’s ... 
Aug 19, 2012
Bitter Virgin is a brilliantly crafted masterpiece. It delicately portrays the turmoils of a broken girl with a truly realistic and gripping plot.
This story is a definite 10. I truly enjoyed the intricacy of the relationships in this manga. I think it breached and explored an often taboo subject with grace and proper reverence. Rape and teenage pregnancy is often overlooked in many books, yet this manga dealt not only with this issue, but with the aftermath at well. Though the manga is only 4 books, the story took an appropriate time to develop and the character relations progressed smoothly. Art- 7 The art was ... 
Jan 28, 2022
This is the 'A Crow Looked At Me' by Mount Eerie album in manga form
What happens when a truly crushing reality of the darkest aspects of humanity intertwine with a standard coming of age romance? Well I would probably say this story is the closest fit to it. The main protagonist (Suwa) is a wannabe womanizer that accidentally hears his timid classmate's absolutely harrowing past full of sexual assault, trauma, and guilt while hiding in a confession booth. The setup is pretty good, and the story that follows is engrossing. It moves at a steady pace and I was never bored with it, which would be ... 
Nov 2, 2013
I hate romances due to the fact they waste too much time on love triangles and misunderstandings. And you know what? Bitter Virgin does that too, and I hate it for that. However, the reason why the two don't get together in the first place makes sense for once, and thus I celebrate that.
Bitter Virgin tells the tale of a boy named Suwa. At first off, he has no interest in a transfer student called Aikawa due to her fear of men, but after overhearing her confessing in a church that her step-father sexually abused her and got her pregnant twice, he finds that ... |
