In 2012, I was pleased to say about Asagao to Kase-san “the emotions ring true and the story left me smiling” and that “I wish we got to see them after this volume ends, when their relationship begins taking off.”
Three, soon-to-be-four* volumes later, I’m now triply pleased. Not only did this series leave me smiling – again – and we will get to see this couple’s relationship develop, we also have the almost-unreal thrill of being able to read the series in English!
Kase-san and Morning Glories is the English-language edition of the first volume of Takashima Hiromi’s adorable, uncomfortable and delightful Yuri series.
Yamada is an average girl, with some self-esteem issues. Issues that were not holding her back, but become more pronounced the closer she becomes with school track star, Kase. In a story that makes me twitch with discomfort because it feels so realistic, we watch Kase and Yamada become friendly, then friends, then something more. Nothing here is rushed, nothing is forced. It’s all so normal that I can’t help feel we’re being creepy voyeurs into someone’s actual life.
It remains true that this is a very “Story A” -like story, but it also remains true that we will continue to watch (too closely?) as their relationship grows and becomes more intimate, both emotionally and physically. This is a series that feels like life. And for that reason, it made my end-of-year lists for all three volumes, even making my best of the year manga for the third.
I like Yamada, although not her best friend, and I like Kase-san, who seems very kind and decent. As I read, I want them to find one another and be happy together – a sentiment that I know I share with Yuri fandom. These two are not for us, they are for each other.
Takashima-sensei’s story is well-told and Jocelyne Allen handles the language with a deft touch. Ever characters sounds like themselves; the translation and adaptation never throws one out of the story. This volume is the “authentic reading experience” I believe manga fans are looking for. I’m so pleased that you all can join me in reading this volume, officially licensed in English and enjoy the story as I have!
Ratings:
Art – 7 A little messy, but I liked it
Story – 8
Character – 8
Yuri – 8
Service – 2
Overall – 8
*Thanks to YNN Correspondent Verso S for letting us know that a fourth volume of the Kase-san series will be out in June in Japan! Stay tuned for a title and link for pre-order. ^_^
Takashima mentioned chocolate in a tweet and illustrated the point of the comment with a page from the chocolate story but the Chocolate extra didn’t make it onto LINEmanga. Not yet anyway, They’re all keeping us guessing to some degree or other and thereby have our undivided attention for their teasing. Take this, for example:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C98eknWUIAAVyo-.jpg
But eventually they deliver.
Next up, on Tuesday, hopefully, the re-release of the first story from the “Obento to Kase-san” volume via LINEmanga.
Followed, on April 28, by the release of a completely new story in the “Yamada to Kase-san” series, via the Shinshokan Readers of “Wings”. Story #1: “Nadeshiko to Kase-san”.
Then June for “Sakura” and in July apparently another tankoubon will follow as well, according to:
http://gureko.blog21.fc2.com/blog-entry-387.html
Thank you for the details!
… forgot to include the title of the July release before clicking submit. Looks like its going to be: “Apron to Kase-san”
Releases in Japanese… A quick update here, to confirm that a completely new chapter in the “Yamada-san and Kase-san” story line has been released in “Wings”, as promised. While the first chapter, “Nadeshiko to Kase-san”, hasn’t popped up yet for me on the Shinshokan “Webwings” reader, that very new chapter did show up in “Flashwings” magazine. This early delivery of the Nadeshiko chapter can be accessed through the online Yahoo Japan bookstore, with or without an account. Don’t know if any of that works for you, where ever any of you are.
The following may be redundant but … Japanese terms to look for: FLASHウィングス,「山田と加瀬さん。」(山田と加瀬さん。第１話) and 「なでしこと加瀬さん。」
… hanakotoba…
One source of confusion has been dealt with. The last page of this chapter says つつく.
To be continued.
つづく rather.
and some links to follow…
https://bookstore.yahoo.co.jp/free_magazine-661169/
https://bookstore.yahoo.co.jp/shoshi-768902/
“Nadeshiko to Kase-san” is now also showing in Shinsokan’ reader for me.
http://www.shinshokan.com/webwings/title43.html
http://www.shinshokan.com/webwings/contents/yamada_kasesan001/
Yahoo Bookstore’s content was updated at midnight while Shinshokan ran “Webwings” updates throughout the day …and so did niconico for “Flashwings”
http://seiga.nicovideo.jp/watch/bk9509
All telling us to stay tuned for the animation clip as well. We will.
I saw the announceent, and also noticed that the chapter they were hawking was, “Yamada to Kase-san” which made me burst out in applause.
Check tomorrow’s report for news about the Kase-san Yurimeito event, too.
Though Yamada’s not as fleet this title places them on equal footing.
Looking forward to tomorrow’s report.
Yes, that is it exactly.