Saruyama!
Monkey High!

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

I loved it. I mean the story line of, new girl transfers to school, guys like her, she falls in love is not that original but the characters are funny and make it worth while.

Haruna grew as a character and as a person.

The characters area ll likable and act the way you'd expect, there isn't any momental bad choices or anything so dramatic.

All in all I thought it was great and Masaru deserved that ending..and the fact that he was so short is what increases the manga originality

If I'm being honest I LOVE the fact that the funny friend guy is the protagonist instead ... of the usual, tall, dark, and hansome type.

I bought the first volume of "Monkey High" and I enjoyed it a lot! It was light, it was entertaining. And it had plenty of cute moments. The problem is, it doesn't really go anywhere. Sure, maybe in the remaining 3 volumes, something will happen, but from my perspective volumes 3-5 just rehash the same old stuff all the time. The characters don't seem to progress, and I just got bored with it.

Story - Our heroine changes schools - from some super-elite to a normal school, as her father (a former politician) has gone to jail. She is cold, and withdrawn, and doesn't interact ... with her classmates. But she warms up, mainly through the presence of Michuru, a small, monkey-like boy in her class. This manga pretty much follows the relationship of the beautiful girl, and the monkey boy, and their classmates. It is a nice enough story. It is certainly a gentle story. And, in a way, that is part of my proble. The first couple of volumes set them up, and then nothing happens!

Art - the art is fine. Michuru manages to both look like a monkey and a person at the same time, which is great. The art is not particularly memorable.

Characters - the characters are nice. The main ones are well drawn, and there are certainly more I would like to know more about (Haruka's dad for one thing!), but the minor characters, whilst present a lot, are kind of.. nothing. Which is a disappointment. I didn't feel that this was a manga where the sheer personality of the 2-3 main characters could drive it.

Enjoyment/Overall - as you can probably tell, I have been a bit disappointed with this. I felt like it had the potential to be a lovely story, but it just doesn't go anywhere. I only have the so much time and space to read the same thing happening again, and again, before I am going to move onto something else. And unfortunately, by v5, I just had had enough. Other reviews have expressed much more satisfaction, but I am more than ready to try something else.

hahaha. this manga is so amazing!! totally cool.


it's so funny. i really love it!

After checking out the recommendations page for Lovely Complex (a manga that I love and just finished re-reading), I was directed to Saruyama!, and because of that, I both expected and wanted to like this — I really did — but even though this is the second chance I've given this manga, even though I've only made it four chapters in (I believe one more than my reading prior), and even though I don't exactly *hate* this series, I cannot force myself to go any further.

This manga, to be frank, is dull (sometimes cliched and lackluster even when it isn't), moves way too quickly ... (Masaru/Macharu does seem like someone another person could quite easily fall for, I think, because of his personality, which doesn't make Haruna's feelings all that difficult to understand, but the progression into their relationship and of it — how little its build-up is, et cetera — kind of negates that), and is really kind of dramatic (nearly everything seems to end up blown way out of proportion, as if it has to be made into a scene: a happening that is based entirely on audience rather than feeling, which almost everyone who has so far been introduced just has to be a part of). Basically, it's all just so LOUD that it makes it hard to focus on the (rare, as it would so far suggest) quiet moments in which character depth and further familiarity is attempted to be established). And this is too bad, because I have a feeling that I could have gotten into this manga if only it had been paced more slowly and it hadn't been deemed necessary to place every other occurrence on display. After all, the main characters, at least, seem fairly interesting (although not interesting enough to hold my attention despite the other elements I didn't care for, obviously), and I like the idea of a couple like Macharu and Haruna (just not its execution here).

All of this said, however, I'm not saying that this is a bad manga or that it shouldn't be read — definitely not, it's clear from the other reviews for this that there are people who feel the opposite of me, which is perfectly fine — but if you are a reader like myself who needs to have characters/stories/relationships/et cetera be grown into over a period of time, as well as one who requires some patience in delivery, then this may not be the manga for you.

A frat girl and crowned silliest boy in school (AKA "monkey") love story. More or less original, but the character development and creation is what got me laughing through along with a bit of heart aches (but none too severe).

Everyone has their antiques here; and in the process, they compliment each other and especially the new high-esteem transfer-student pit against a class full of foolhardies HAR' HAR' (no one's serious). They have their definite characteristics you'll grow to love them. And, you know, even when they do turn on each other.

What got me through wasn't the love affair, unfortunately. It was the humour! Usually the ... sophomoric jokes, like childish themes, pranks, name-calling and other immature behaviours. What did you expect? It says 'Monkey High'. Don't heed, though. It was funny as hell. Just don't expect the main male protagonist to be glamourised for the ride. 'Cause he's usually the butt of the jokes.

Love demeanours. I would always side with the innocent (male protagonist) fella' here. He's a bit stupid in many cases, but it's the hard work. Don't expect a lot of romantic gestures from the guy. I'm only up to volume 5, so you know. It's difficult to see him "masculine" as a man (he's in similar height as the female protagonist) and you'll see him as a "boy" until further known!

In conclusion, I would recommend it to you. For laughs. Easy laughs, at least.

I'm still in the process of reading this manga, but I have absolutely fallen in love with it after only seven chapters. When I first saw the cover, I was a bit put off by the art style, which is different from what I usually prefer, but the plot synopsis seemed interesting enough, so I decided to give it a try.

Story: 6
The plot is a bit simplistic and run-of-the-mill, in my opinion. The two main characters get together by chapter two or three, leaving the story without an overarching feeling of anticipation or suspense. However, each chapter has its own issue or hurdle that ... the couple must overcome, which keeps the reader interested in Macharu and Aizawa's relationship.

One redeeming factor of the manga is that while the plot is not extremely gripping, it avoids the rather ridiculous and frustrating scenarios typical of many shoujo works--- the overly dramatized 'drama'. Neither of the main characters is hiding some deep, dark secret from the other. There is trouble in Aizawa's family life centering around her father, but so far it has failed to affect her ability to be with Macharu in any significant manner.

Overall, the story is light and pleasing, a refreshing break from more complicated and tiring shoujo romance stories.

Art: 7
While not breathtaking or particularly notable, the art of this manga has a soft feel to it that suits the story and the characters perfectly. The characters' expressions are more realistic than most manga I have read. As I mentioned before, I was at first a little put-off by the art style of this manga, but as is the case for many manga, once I actually began to read it, I was drawn in more by the character relationships and the story than the art.

Character: 8
I am thoroughly impressed by the characters in this story. They are more like normal people than most of the lovestruck girls and arrogant, libidinous boys found in the typical shoujo manga. I admit to taking guilty pleasure in these character types as well, but the simplicity and innocence of Macharu and Aizawa has its own charm. It is extremely gratifying to find a story in the shoujo genre which focuses more on the relationship between the two lead characters than their physical attraction.

Enjoyment: 8
If you are looking for a cute manga to peruse leisurely during your free time, you have found it. The slow pace lends itself to a casual reader who is likely to set it aside for several days before returning to it. The pace makes it easy to simply read the manga for the enjoyment of reading it. There is no feeling of needing to get to the next chapter in a hurry in order to reach the conclusion of some overly dramatic break-up scene or what-not.

Overall: 7
This is a good manga for a bit of light reading on the side. The lack of convoluted plot lines gives it a very sincere atmosphere. Its simplicity of character and story will leave the reader with a wholesome satisfaction at the end of each chapter. All in all, a good manga for those seeking an escape from the typical over-sexed shoujo love story.

Saruyama! Is a Japanese Manga written by Shouko Akira and published by Shogakukan.

Story:
When I first started reading Saruyama, it really reminded me of Love Com.
The main characters are complete opposites but are still the couple is completely lovable.
I found it funny that Haruna Aizawa thought that high school was like a monkey mountain. What makes it funnier is she fell in love with a boy who looks like a monkey.

Art:
The art of this manga is actually simple and a little on the boring side.
However, the storyline makes up for the lack of interesting art.
...
Character:
Although the characters of this story are relatively simple. (They have little to no depth.)
They make up for it with their humor and sarcasm.
My personal favorite character is the main protagonist Haruna Aizawa.

Enjoyment:
I really enjoyed this manga despite the simplicity of it.
So over all I'd rate this an 8

I don't usually write reviews but this manga was so amazing that I just wanted to gush over it.

Story:
First of all, this manga is not the typical brainless shoujo. I've always liked romance in mangas however its kinda hard to find one that appeals to me because I hate the overdone alpha-male saving damsel in distress/ nerdy / shy girl. I like nice guys, and nice girls and a realistic relationship that both parties are on equal footing and work hard together. Believe it or not, yeah those are hard to find.

This story is about how cool, beautiful and reserved girl falls for ... a adorable, short, and innocent guy. They fall in love and become a couple pretty quickly in the first few chapters and the rest of the manga is all about their relationship's progress and hardships.

While there are some pretty serious problems that were faced by the couple (realistic ones though... not the typical ones in dramas), the manga shows the couple going about it in a very mature manner. Both parties work hard to fix their problems together. There's very little angst here and none of those noble idiocy that is sooo common in mangas. They consider each other's feelings and work it out. And there's always a sense of optimism but also a sense of reality of what needs to be done to make it work.

Art:
There's none of those overly drawn eyes with the big eyelashes that are typical of shoujo. The realistic tone of this manga is reflected how the manga was drawn in such an ordinary way. There are no elaborate drawings whatsoever. This manga would never become an artistic show piece. However I like it because it doesn't distract from the story. Dialogue is also pretty well done in the sense that it doesn't get confusing who is speaking and who is speaking first.

Character:
This manga is told from the girl's perspective. Haruna is the daughter of a politician who got caught in a corruption scandal. She then moves into a normal high school from the prestigious one she used to attend. The high school is very rowdy especially compared to her old and thus she calls it a school full of monkeys. She has a very cool personality but she's not depressive... merely reserved. Which I totally love. I'm tired of super lively and cheery girls or super shy girls that blush a lot or really really sad girls. However reserved she is, she is completely assertive. She says her feelings outright (yay!) and she doesn't hide it. That trait is so weirdly uncommon in shoujo characters. Because she's so different from the guy, she has a tendency to do things that may inadvertently hurt the guy. She is sensitive to that though and actually does something to correct it although the guy is usually understanding and, more often than not, just brushes aside her apologies.

She falls in love with Machiru, who is short for a guy and is of the same height as Haruna. Now HE has the bright cheery personality that shoujo heroines are typically like. It is still quite refreshing though because its the guy this time. He gets teased a lot because of his monkey and gives an impression of being a baby monkey. He's a really innocent guy that is unexpectedly mature. He might have a cheery personality but that's not because he is ignorant. He's a happy guy because he always thinks about happy things. However, he's not the typical insensitive and clueless shounen hero either. He's sensitive to Haruna's feelings and is always watching out for her. Haruna has a tendency of keeping her problems to herself but he always senses her mood and bluntly asks her about it and helps her out. He's also really assertive like Haruna and speaks out about what he wants and thinks. He also actually does HELPFUL things to help Haruna out with her problems.

The manga focuses only on the couple. Side characters are only there to tease the couple and provide comic relief. Only Atsu, the guy's best friend who also falls in love with the girl is ever developed. I never liked Atsu even though he isn't really painted as a bad guy in the manga. The fact that he never agonizes about pursuing his friend's girl is kinda unforgivable for me. He should at least feel bad about it. Plus, he might be friends with Macharu, but he NEVER does anything for Macharu. He teases him, he torments him, laughs at him and has been generally buddy-buddy with him since middle school. But he doesn't even respect Macharu and openly tries to steal Haruna. Macharu is too much of a good guy to stop being friends with him but Macharu is not stupid to his intentions either.

Enjoyment:
This manga seemed to be tailored to my taste. There's plenty of romance and heart-pounding moments. There's just enough conflict to make it worthwhile. There's just enough humor to balance the conflict and make it enjoyable. The characters are thoughtful and actually nice.

Overall:
I love this manga. It's nearly perfect. Yeah I would have wanted that they wait until getting married before doing it but I know that, sadly, that doesn't happen often lately in this day and age. Happily, they only did it once in 3 years so its still pretty chaste. However, I love the sincerity of these two. It has 31 chapters but I would have loved more. There still would have been a lot of material for university life and married life.

"monkey High" is the type of manga you'd read for the simplicity of it, its a gentle journey through the world of high school romance and it is unique in its characterization.

I liked how the relationship in focus is vastly different from what you usually find in teen manga< thier problems and trials also seem so real when you read.

as for the art..its simple and i sometimes found myself disliking how rough the lines looked but..overall its not awful or amazing and it fits the story.

When I first saw this manga, I wasn't currently reading one and for some reason it just caught my eye. I don't know why. The story was common and the title was odd. But, I figured, sure. So I started reading and about three pages in I fell completely in love with this manga.

Story- 9/10

The story was common, but there was a charm to it that catches your attention. The plot...? Well, there really isn't one. It's a real slice-of-life. The story basically follows the main protagonists and their romance, and how they deal with different situations commonly found in shoujo mangas. There is ... a slight love triangle, but it works with the story.

Art- 10/10

The art is pretty and elegant. I love the art. The characters are drawn beautifully (the kiss scenes are so sweet), and it looks amazing overall.

Character- 10/10

The characters were probably the kicker for me. I fell in love with them. The romance between the protagonists was the sweet and raw and amazing, and I think it was made me love it so much. It was fun watching Haruna grow emotionally as a character and it's refreshing to watch her relationship with Macharu, Macharu's overprotectiveness of Haruna is so cute. The realistic comedy in the manga will make you laugh, and you will fall in love with them.

Enjoyment- 10/10

This manga was written beautifully and sweetly and the art and characters will make you fall in love. This manga has definitely climbed to the top of my favorites list, and I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a good read.

If you're in for a feel-good story, this is your read. The story is very light and easy to read. There is drama but bearable. I love how both Haruna and Macharu developed into better people through their relationship. This was an enjoyable read!

They are an idiotic couple but they are really sweet and the awkwardness between a young couple is realistic. The feelings of yearning for love and the desire to close the distance. I also loved how there were elements of the family combined. How it is important to gain the approval of your parents and how the power of love overcomes all.

9/10

*spoiler*

I ... WAS SUPPOSED TO GIVE 10/10 BUT WHY DID THE AUTHOR MAKE ATSU LEAD A SAD LIFE??? He might have tried sabotaging the two but he was still a good friend to Haruna and Macharu. :----(((( Author should have given Atsu an ending he deserved. </3

This manga pleasantly surprised me. I've read quite a few romance mangas, and while this one isn't perfect, and it does A LOT right.

First of all, it maintains a steady, comfortable romantic pace throughout the story, something that I feel so many others fail at. It doesn't race to sexual intimacy, but neither does it force the reader to wait 10 chapters for first eye contact. It also does NOT take long breaks of nothing happening. The mains meet and develop a relationship... and then something amazing happens... it CONTINUES to DEVELOP. Slowly but surely, and with plenty of cute/romantic moments along the ... way.

Second, the characters and relationships between them feel very realistic. All of the rivals, drama, developments feel like ordinary people living their ordinary lives, making reasonable decisions. There is no ridiculous escalation of drama, or plot point that only makes sense in some fantastical world. And I found this to be incredibly refreshing and enjoyable to read.

Third, it might be the only romance manga I've read that handled sex pretty much perfectly imo. To be fair, I can be pretty picky about how an author handles the topic. But this manga doesn't rush it, nor does it avoid the topic, nor does it avoid it a dozen times with silly accidents. It doesnt make it seem abnormally awkward, nor does it make it smutty. It feels like a genuine part of the romantic development, rather than some story checklist item. Its just... done well.

I will mention the manga is not perfect, hence my score. The art is just ok for the most part. That simple, realistic world I mentioned before does mean the story isn't anything out of the ordinary, and won't do much to really grab you. But its the execution of the story that this manga is quite good at.

Bottom line, Saruyama! is a straightforward, surprisingly well done romance, worth the read for any fan of the genre.

Looking for a new lighthearted shoujo, I decided to pick this up. On some level this series is lighthearted and fun, but after reading more chapters, nothing feels meaningful and it starts to feel dull.

Story: The main couple fall in love and go through situations too fast and too easy that it doesn't create or hold any meaning as I read and it made me question the plot more than other shoujos. Chapters are not well developed or meaningful that if you change the order of the middle chapters, that it probably would't make a difference in this young high school comedy romance that is ... dated, in the sense that it feels like it would be more enjoyable to a young audience.

Art: The art is very basic in shoujo and with nothing that'll blow you away.

Characters: Other than the main couples, a very few others feel relevant. Some characters are bunched together when they speak and you will forget who they are and their name. No one gets character development except the main couple. The couple are 15 years old and I think that a young audience can only appreciate their development as it tries to play with your heartstrings and it will if don't question it, but if you do, you start to question the series and not enjoy it.

Overall: This series did not grab me or have me excited to read the next chapter. It is dull, repetitive, too simple, and nothing that makes it stand out among the shoujo shelf other than the fact that the boy is short. It feels like its target audience is a very very young audience, but there are better reads out there.

I first read this as a young teen and am now re-reading it as an adult and enjoyed it just the same- I am specifically saying this just to say that it is good for a wide age range. The story was a rather typical shojo story. Nothing too epic to separate it from other school setting shojo manga in the term of plot. I love that the relationship was set pretty early on instead of 80% of the manga focusing on them being friends and gaining emotions and getting into a relationship more towards the end- which seems to be the more common route ... (or what I read more who knows). I liked how it focused on their relationship and their growth in the relationship and gaining understanding of each other because they have very different personalities etc. The art- crisp lines, nothing really out of place. I think it is recognizable to the mangaka, which is always nice and no same-face syndrome. I liked the diversity in the characters and how they interacted with each other- specifically the main 3, but with 8 volumes I think there could've been some more character building with the re-occurring characters. Like it would've been nice to see Haruna have friends aside from her boyfriend and his best friend. I mean she is seen interacting with them as a whole group but never really one on one hanging out with any of her classmates- anyway with that rant over- I really enjoyed the character growth of the main two! And on a side note that I really don't know where to fit into the story- I like how the mangaka handled the 'hormonal issues' that Macharu has as a teen boy. It wasn't too excessive, rather realistic, and added some good growth to his character (ik it sounds weird but trust me).

*Spoilers*

Shoujo can be a hit and miss genre, especially romances. Unpopular girl gets the attention of the most popular, handsome guy in school. Mix in a lot of drama and stupidity and you get your typical shoujo romance manga. Granted, not all are like that. Some are better, and try and break through cliches. Saruyama is one of them, well mostly. Haruna has to transfer schools from a prestigious school to a normal public high school. There she meets the Male Lead, Macharu, and then falls in love and so on.

What I found refreshing was that Macharu is the short, okay looking guy, and ... it's his best friend who is the tall, handsome womanizer (the typical shoujo lead). Macharu himself is very sincere and says what he thinks and feels, which is a great change to the ML's Im used to (can't communicate, dense af, dumb). Their relationship also starts early, and continues on into the short chapter amount of this manga (which is another nice change). I also admired that it approached sex maturely, where they wanted to wait until the right time, and eventually did do it. It's a nice change from the OTT innocence of manga sometimes.

It sounds like I'm gushing about this manga even though I gave it a 7. But I still have my problems with it, like side characters (the friend group that never seems to leave) who don't have an ounce of development, and just are comic relief. Atsu, the best friend, is kind of a piece of shit friend, who wants to break them up because Haruna doesn't want him, and he wants what he can't have. It's the most recurring drama in the manga, aside from typical relationship stuff. Any other drama lasts for like a chapter, and that's it. Also, the ending kinda just... ends?

Anyway, it's worth a read, it's short, it's sweet. Not long enough to have an impact, but not short enough to feel... underwhelming.