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If you're familiar with Rikako Iketani's work, then you've probably read Bitou Lollipop and you will most certainly know just what to expect from Six Half. It is a moderately long and elaborate manga, very dramatic at times, extremely emotional both in a sense of emotions conveyed by the characters and emotions evoked by the story, and it is not in the least boring.

The art is top-notch and the mangaka's style is easily recognizable. Although at the beginning it takes some time getting used to (for example, I saw people commenting on the eyes, but it really is just a matter of taste), the ... art is undeniably part of the whole psychological experience and it goes well with the story. Plot-wise Six Half is rather well written. The word 'quality' often comes to mind when I think about this manga. It has enormous re-readability value. That is, if you enjoy dramatic slice-of-life stories packed with emotions and complex relationships.

Anyway... We have an amnesiac protagonist with a difficult past and a complicated family situation. We follow the protagonist on her journey as she tries to reinvent herself and struggles to find her place in the suddenly unfamiliar surroundings. She is very troubled by the loss of her memories and the things she learns about herself from those around her. Her identity crisis is a major part of the plot, as well as the underlying events that might have contributed to her memory loss. The characters are complex and there is a lot of development, both positive and negative. You are likely to feel love, sympathy, pity, hate, maybe even rage. You might not even like where the story goes and how it ends, but it is a worthwhile read regardless. Six Half has left me with mixed feelings. I did enjoy it quite a lot, but at the same time I did not like some of the emotions I experienced while reading it. But that is normal and certainly not something to be afraid of.

If you're looking for a unique romcom josei, Nimo Kakawarazu is just what the doctor ordered!
At first I wasn't sure what to expect from this manga, since I wasn't familiar with Tsutsui-sensei's work and the synopsis was rather vague. I recommend reading Chocolate Junkie before reading Nimo Kakawarazu, because some of the characters appear in both manga, however, it doesn't affect the plot in any way, so if you accidentally read Nimo Kakawarazu first (just like I did), have no worries.

Story: 10. It was hilarious, it was heartfelt, it was so damn good! A very humane story, if I may say so. Realistic ... too, although at the beginning it gives this false impression of being greatly exaggerated. But don't stop reading! This manga opens up and offers so much more than just simple laughs.

Art: 9. Art was great. I didn't quite like the patters, but I have no complaints about the character design and expressions. And I absolutely loved how they blushed!

Character: 10. Kiyo is the ultimate tomboy. Fierce and strong, but still a girl at heart. She blushes like crazy and is unbelievably adorable despite how she looks in those ridiculous clothes of hers. And that's really an achievement for the mangaka - to be able to create such a character. Mine is not what you expect him to be, and his character development is probably one of the best in the whole manga. Tara-chan is an odd-ball, but he is so kind and lovable that you can forgive him all of his eccentricities. The side-characters each have their own unique character and appearance and are surprisingly realistic.

Enjoyment and overall: 10. Nimo Kakawarazu is an amazing manga. However you look at it, it is surprising and completely not what you expect it to be. At the same time, it is heartfelt, pretty down-to-earth, and totally packed with feelings. A fast and easy read, I almost wished it to be a bit longer, but in all honesty the pacing and overall development was right for its length, so that's just me wanting to prolong the experience. I hope you will enjoy Nimo Kakawarazu as much as I did!

Ichibanboshi Kirari was a true pleasure. Even though there are so many student x teacher manga out there, most of them drag out for a long time and over-complicate things with too much drama. Life isn't all candy and butterflies, but there are sweet and kind people out there, so I believe that perfect encounters are still possible. And that is the premise of this manga - a perfect encounter between an honest open-minded girl from a small island and a teacher who tries very hard to do his best. Something that started as admiration, transformed into strong one-sided feelings, and ended up being mutual ... love.

10/10
Ichibanboshi Kirari made me feel excited, warm, and hopeful towards the future. Like a cure for a lonely heart *chuckle*, this manga was perfect in every aspect. Adorable art, just the right pacing and length, noticeable character development (for a story of only eight chapters), overall heartfelt and heartwarming atmosphere. I'm so glad I came across this manga! I look forward to future works by Uri Suguta. I think she has loads of potential.

Since it's been a long time Kore wa Koi no Hanashi was last reviewed, I feel like an update was overdue. I cannot guarantee giving an unbiased review, however, I am quite sincere in my assessment of this manga. Now that I finished reading it, I can say with absolute confidence that Kore wa Koi no Hanashi found its place in the top of my all-time favorites. This manga received various comments and a lot of critique. Some argue that a romantic relationship between characters with such a huge age gap is bizarre and indecent. But I can assure you, there is nothing indecent about ... this manga. It is a heartfelt story about humans, family, friendship and love. It is also a story about all the things that change with time and the things that remain unchanged. It is truly amazing.

Story: 10
The story is perfect. Yes, it is a drama, and there are moments to shed a tear over and feel a painful squeeze in your heart. But there are also moments to smile about, moments to feel happy for, moments to feel connected to the characters. The only thing one can complain about is the sudden jump (actually several jumps) a couple of years forward, but it has been quite skillfully executed each time so it didn't disturb the story's pacing. I am content with the ending as well. It wasn't rushed or forced, despite the fast-forward jumps. It was the most logical and beautiful end.

Art: 9
Personally, I enjoyed the character art. Faces and expressions were done quite well, especially for all of the main characters. But a little more detail in the backgrounds wouldn't have hurt. There is room for improvement.

Character: 9
Although I have no complains about the overall character development, I'm not giving a max score because I feel like there were still a few things that could have been done for Haruka's parents.

Enjoyment: 10
I don't think I have to explain myself here. You can tell from the first two paragraphs of this review that I enjoyed Kore wa Koi no Hanashi a lot.
I would recommend it to anyone who is feeling lost and lonely at times, who is in a standstill and doesn't know how to move forward. Despite being dramatic, this story is also pure hope, warmth and growth.

Oh boy, that was one hell of manga. One of the most sensual mangas I've ever seen. Who would have thought that archery can be so erotic. Mikami's love is a little on the extreme side - he is emotional, aggressive, completely attached to Kishimoto - every fiber of him screams, breathes, lives and dies for her. A yandere character in essence. That kind of high-risk love is not healthy, yet you cannot turn away, and you keep longing for more... That's pretty much how you'll feel after reading Ichirei shite, Kiss.

Character gets a '7'. I was hoping for more in terms of character ... development. Some themes and questions raised in the story were left unresolved, e.g. Mikami's family matters, his best friend's health condition, among others. Kishimoto is not exactly a weak character, but she is rather susceptible, and even though in the end of the story she becomes a positive influence on Mikami, I kept waiting for more and felt like some of their insecurities remained. But still, it was an enjoyable experience. Don't be discouraged by the 'smut' tag. The sexual content is very mild, however, the tension is extremely high. From the first pages Mikami's character is portrayed in a deeply sensual fashion. His expressions are inviting, his gaze is hot. The art is outstanding. A solid '10' here.

The archery was presented in a realistic way. I recommend looking up unfamiliar terms and reading a little on archery, since a lot of professional vocabulary was used. I'm giving the story a '9', because of the unresolved issues, but the main plot is worthy this mark.

'8' for enjoyment. I'm trying really hard to be objective here. I enjoyed this manga a lot due to the themes, wonderful art, and its overall beautiful sensuality, yet the minor imperfections here and there make it impossible for me to give Ichirei shite, Kiss the highest mark.

I'm surprised to see Oiran Girl has never been reviewed on MAL. Although it's a regular historical shoujo in terms of story (heroine that lost all her fortune, forbidden love, the dashing hero who protects her and is obviously deeply in love but is bound by the shackles of their previous master/servant relationship, the obvious historical setting of Yoshiwara, yada yada, you know the drill), the delicious art and the most wonderful expressions of the characters turn it into a worthy read. Obviously, not the first and not the most original manga about Yoshiwara, it still manages to grab and hold your attention from the ... beginning until the very end. You can see how much time and effort the mangaka has invested into research in the great detail of art, especially the kimonos and hair accessories. Personally, I was captivated by both masculine Shin and his oiran personality Takao. The gender-bender is a major part of the story and how Shin switches into Takao-mode and back was done very well - the eyes, the expressions, the attitude - you just have to see it! The way Takao bullies Tsubaki and their constant banter are a great comedic relief, but each time Shin surfaces, he makes your heart swoon. Towards the end the manga becomes a bit rushed, but it still manages to wrap everything up nicely. Although the story is weak at times and the character development is quite obvious, my overall score is a solid 9, simply because Oiran Girl is a very beautiful and enjoyable manga.

The art is unfortunately the only redeeming feature of this manga. Honestly, that was the only thing that kept me from abandoning Koi to Kemono to Seitokai halfway through. The story is unbelievably cliche. This manga is an agglomeration of various features from other successful (and not so much) mangas. InuYasha, Kamisama Hajimemashita, etc etc. Yeah, the romance is fulfilled. Yeah, it's beautiful. Yeah, there are ultra-handsome and strong bishies present, but the characters are bland and underdeveloped. The story is too fast-paced to the point it's forced. So much wasted potential, it hurts! If only there was an original story, this manga could have ... been a beautiful gem among its predecessors. Alas!

QQ Sweeper is a prequel to Motomi-sensei's latest manga Queen's Quality. It's amazing how the quality of art improved since Dengeki Daisy.
I'm judging this manga from the perspective of a prequel, meaning - if there are things that are not entirely explained by the end of the last chapter or anything that can be deemed unsatisfactory - it will surely be explained later on in Queen's Quality. The story is great. It's a splash of Motomi-sensei's usual humour and light drama, with a tenderly developing romance, and a intriguing supernatural premise. The synopsis doesn't explain much, but the story is basically about exorcism and ... a secret(-ish) organization that helps cleansing people's hearts/spirits that are being possessed, while doing actual cleaning in people's houses at the same time (washing, scrubbing, etc.). It might sound weird, but the setting is really enjoyable. If you read and enjoyed Dengeki Daisy, then you will definitely like QQ Sweeper. The attention to detail both in the art and story is most notable. Needless to say, this manga has left me with highest expectations for Queen's Quality.

I'm really surprised there are no reviews on Nakanmon! A relatively short manga for its genre, but very enjoyable regardless. Remarkable characters, beautiful art, fulfilling romance, lighthearted humor - what's there not to like? The female lead is not your typical shy or stupid girl, and even though she is a crybaby, there is a reason behind her tears. Nevertheless, she is bold, enthusiastic, and strong. The romance between Tsukasa and Yoichi is refreshing. Even though I feel like the manga had a potential for a longer serialization, the story is fulfilled and the ending doesn't leave room for any regrets. I wasn't sure if ... I liked the art at first, but then after seeing the variety of expressions made by the main characters, I fell in love with both the art and the characters (especially in Chapter 16). Nakanmon! will surely brighten your mood on a sad and lonely evening. Give it a try!