[Otomen: 12] [by: Aya Kanno]

Otomen #12

by Aya Kanno

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T. Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things--sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo comics. But in a world where boys are expected to act manly, Asuka must hide his beloved hobbies and play the part of a masculine jock instead. Can Asuka ever show his true self to anyone, much less to Ryo Miyakozuka, the girl that he's falling for?

Secretly taking a baking class for men, Asuka is relieved that there’s a safe haven where he doesn’t need to hide his girly side from his anti-otomen mother. But when she finds out that he’s been attending this class, things get set to explode!

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Young Adult, Comics

Paperback

First published February 18, 2011

About the author

Aya Kanno (菅野文; Kanno Aya) is a Japanese shōjo manga artist.

Former assistant of mangaka Masashi Asaki of Psychometrer Eiji fame, she made her debut in the January 2001 issue of Hakusensha's magazine "Hana to Yume" with Soul Rescue. Her works include Otomen.

Reviews

[Mizu · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌸SYNOPSIS
While taking these baking classes in secret, a place where Asuka feels like he can be himself may be short lived when his obnoxious mother decides she has to know what he is doing but then she finds out the truth and that’s where things get more heated than usual in this kitchen.
Next thing that occurs when the Chef is staying with Asuka and before long, the truth is revealed! How will Asuka handle the news? Will this be the end of Chef and Asuka’s blooming relationship!? Not only that but The Poet is having one hell of a time as students write to him for advice through his poems, what will happen to him? Will he be able to make love bloom in a place where one must conform? Find out in this tantalising volume of Otomen.

🌸OPINION
I am so glad to learn more about Asuka’s father, but he doesn’t seem like he has become a woman but much rather pursued his dream that was deemed womanly considering that these days that most cooking and baking masters tend to be males. I am enjoying the cover art more as the series grow and the art ages, it seems more vivid and open about the characters and I love it so much.
I love how some of the characters seem to have grown, especially the minor ones but I also feel their stories are kind of fillers for the story since it seems like Aya is trying to reach a quota without starting a new arc and leaving things on a huge cliff-hanger, which is great in my opinion.

🌸PRO
You find out more about Asuka’s father

🌸CON
Asuka’s mother, which will probably be here for the next five volumes.

🌸FINAL SAY
“He was always watching over me”
This is true, Asuka has always been watched over by his father, even more so in his teen years where he is trying so hard to be this manly figure his mother desires while trying to be true to himself, which seems like such a huge burden for a teenager. I am so glad that things are progressing.

[Rowie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a genre of manga full of standard love stories and similiar cutesy tales Otomen truly stands out. This manga series plays with gender roles in a funny, but most of the time respectful way. I say most of the time, because Asuka's father being a trans woman is sometimes used for gags. I hope they do handle that respectfully as well, because this manga plays with expectations of gender like no other. It's even more interesting that this series originated in Japan where gender roles seem to be very strict. I've known about this series for a while and used to borrow some volumes from my friend Amy years and years ago. I stopped when she didn't have them all, but even when her collection was completed I didn't continue. But whenever I'm hanging out at her place and she's busy I'm just going to take one of these from the shelves.

This volume concluded one of the bigger arcs in the manga and had some genuine beautiful moments. It's been about four years since I read a volume, but the main characters immediately draw me in. I'm happy it played out like this and can't wait for more interactions between chef and Asuka.

[Michael (Mai) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute as always. There is a big revelation for Asuka that made me a little misty-eyed. Asuka's mom is still annoying but it seems Asuka's life will settle down for a second with her.

[RaspberryRoses · Rating 2 out of 5]

this usually charming manga is always at its worst when it tries to tackle the problems of asukas family.

that is what this entire volume is based around, unfortunately, so it sucks in my opinion.

[melhara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is part of a personal challenge to: 1) read more French books; 2) improve my French; 3) read all the French manga novels from my mom's manga collection. Seeing as I read this book in French, the rest of this review will be in French (duh).
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Cette critique fait partie d'un défi personnel: d’améliorer mon français!

Je n'ai pas trouvé les histoires de ce livre aussi amusantes que celles des volumes précédents.

Cette tome continue là où le volume 11 s’est arrêté (avec l'atelier de pâtisserie pour les hommes). Dans ces chapitres, on découvre l'identité du père d'Asuka et l'histoire de son enfance avec son père. Cette volume se finit avec une chapitre sur la poète du lycee, Mr. Amakashi.
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Note moyenne de la série: 4.1/5
Critiques pour le reste de la série:
Tome 1 | Tome 2 | Tome 3 | Tome 4 | Tome 5 | Tome 6 | Tome 7 | Tome 8 | Tome 9 | Tome 10 | Tome 11 | Tome 12 | Tome 13 | Tome 14 | Tome 15 | Tome 16 | Tome 17 | Tome 18

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asuka’s mother becomes suspicious. His aunt somehow wedges herself into his life as a photographer after acting like a creepy stalker. The enigmatic Mr. Amakashi and the quiet-to-the-point-of-muteness Patisserie le Violet owner and chef are hosting cooking lessons for men with the otomens’s enthusiastic participation. With all this going on, you wonder when these students have time for school.

The additional characters bring their own problems, especially since they’re starting to bear a disorienting sameness to each other. Only surface accoutrements like a kendo outfit, camera or shades (worn indoors and nobody comments—oy) enabled me to see which character was which in a certain scene. This is a serious lapse on the part of the illustrator and can’t really be ignored. Also, I couldn’t always tell when something was taking place in the present or whether it was a flashback. Yet another stylistic problem.

Sometimes it’s hard to make out what the author’s intentions are. On the surface, this would seem to be an amusing manga where humor is emphasized. But the tone shifts from the light hearted to the deadly serious and back again, sometimes so rapidly that I felt confused. Somehow it feels as if the writer is trying too hard to make this a manga that appeals to both boys AND girls.

All in all, I felt that this volume was too scattered in tone to be quite polished, a big flaw in a series now in its 12th installment.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most good stories are driven by sense, but Otomen is driven by cheese. Well, cheese and sugar. Normally, I fault a series for this a lot, but for some reason, Otomen has just been growing on me. The main relationship still hasn't developed much, and there are logical holes in some of the characters' beliefs and the story itself. If Asuka's dad left to become a woman... how come he's still not a woman? How can Asuka's mom cling to gender roles so much when she herself outright defies them? How are sunglasses a remotely decent disguise?

But ya know what? These thoughts are at the back of my mind when I'm reading. Instead, I think things like "I want a patisserie like that by my school! D'aww, these character are such cuties! I absolutely love all of them. Those cakes are drool worthy. How long until there's a giant group hug that involves the entire cast? I really want some cake." Did I mention the cake? I really wanted some cake when I finished this volume...

This volume is very heavy on the sugary sweetness, in terms of the amount of baking taking place and the story line. It focuses on Asuka and his dad, and their relationship ends up being remarkably sweet. It's so very, very cheesy, but it's so sweet that I can't help but feel happy for Asuka. That's really how I felt about the last few volumes overall; they're incredibly cheesy, but also so sweet that I can look past the cheese.

[Amy Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful volume! From Asuka's mother blowing up at her son to the revelations regarding the baker, I loved every second of it.

But I think my favorite was the last chapter, about the Poet of Ginyuri. It's a bittersweet story that focuses on Mr. Amakashi and his students in a way that made me feel like crying. And yet, I loved watching the events unfold.

I think that's one of the things I've come to love about this series. Not everyone gets what they want, but they always get what they need. Ending up as a couple isn't the endgame. Instead, I get to watch these wonderful people grow as individuals, hopefully finding love along the way.

This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite manga series.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooowww. Almost 5 stars for this one. Asuka finally learns who Chef is. Family secrets and memories are coming undone and his mother causes trouble. Honestly his mother isn't very feminine so why does she push the stereotypical roles on everyone else.And who is she to tell her staff what they can do off school property over the weekend?! Crazy woman...
This one brings on some feels for Asuka and Chef. I need more between them. The whole Poet bit at the end did nothing for me though. Maybe it is because poetry is not my thing (like I actually dislike it for the most part) so watching people get into it just isn't for me.

[Kereesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of my favorite of the series. The father-son storyline was just handled so well, jokes and all, that I couldn't help but feel touched.

I'm such a sucker for those storylines. As goofy, silly, and kind of outrageous as this series is, there was some really good writing at the heart of this volume.

Bravo. 4-4.5/5

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forced to bake a cake at gunpoint! I can't even count how many times this has happened to me. lol. I like how Asuka and his dad are reunited, yet there are so many questions! why is his dad not a woman? Isn't that why he left home? When will Asuka's mother figure it out? . Love this series!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today's post is on Otomen volume 12 by Aya Kanno. It is the twelfth in her Otomen series. It is 200 pages long and is publishes by Shojo Beat. As this is the eleventh volume in this series, you need to have read the first eleven volumes to understand the story. The cover is green turning yellow at the base with Kitora and his flowers on it. The intended reader is someone who likes shojo manga, humor, and love stories. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main character with moments of the other characters added in for plot development. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Secretly taking a baking class for men, Asuka is relieved that there’s a safe haven where he doesn’t need to hide his girly side from his anti-otomen mother. But when she finds out that he’s been attending this class, things get set to explode!

Review-  We finish the hidden baking class for men in this volume and move into the meat which is Asuka's father is the baker. He has been watching over Asuka over the course of the whole series and but a villain has appeared and forced him out. Of course the villain is not really a bad guy and it all works out but we are left with why isn't Asuka's father living as a woman? The volume ends with a love poet at the school who is trying to not get caught by the school policies. I hope that we get back to Asuka's father and why he is not living the way that he wanted, especially since he left his family over it.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asuka’s mum follows him and finds out he is taking cooking classes. Asuka manages to cover it though,by making sure his dessert is as manly as possible. 😂

Asuka also discovers that the person teaching him to cook,is the father that abandoned them years ago and due to an accident,he has to stay with Asuka and his mum until his place gets fixed.

[Mirdell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ketebak sih pasti Asuka ketemu bapaknya. Eh ternyata bener dong.

[Judyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

~3/5
[Taken from my blog: http://geekyreading.blogspot.com/2012... ]

I generally enjoy this series, but it isn’t my favorite. And, I guess I wasn’t too excited with it (or I was lazy/procrastinative) because I’ve put reviewing it off for several weeks now…
Anyway, the book started with Asuka at his men’s baking class. He’s happily enjoying it, but it doesn’t take long for his mother to find out about it. Instead of there being too big of a show down, though, Asuka comes up with a good excuse, and his mother hesitantly believes it. So then the manga moves onto its main focus: Asuka’s dad.
We find out who it is when he has to stay with Asuka and his mother, who happily take him in, since neither recognizes him. Asuka starts getting closer to him, and then when people take him hostage and his father saves him, he starts feeling love for him. (Although the kidnappers’ motives bother me; it’s sweet, what they want them to do, but they went about it all wrong. I guess they wanted to be all tough about it, but they should have just asked in the first place, especially sense they begged for it later. It was just, kind of a dumb way to bring it all about.) It’s sweet, and I’m glad to get to see Asuka’s father, and for him to be able to get closer to him now. That’s nice, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of that later. And hopefully for the whole thing with his mother to hit a climax soon. And, I guess, for everything between him and Ryo to get fully cleared up, to actually hit a romantic climax or something. Because I guess they’re going out, but they don’t really act like it…
Then there’s a chapter about the poet teacher guy, who I somewhat remembered. He has a poetic interaction with one of his students, which is sweet, I guess. I wasn’t too excited for it, though; probably because I didn’t feel much for the characters.
I don’t know, I’m just not feeling too much for this series. Like I said, it’s just not one of my favorites; and the fact that the volumes are coming quite far in between probably has something to do with it. I’m not saying that I won’t be getting the next one, though, because I will.

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Summary

Asuka continues hiding his otomen self from his mom, but he finds solace as he and the Violet pastry chef connect on a deeper level. Their bond, though, goes even further than he expects. It’s a couple of close calls and one big revelation for our hero in this installment of Otomen.

The Review

Teen romance takes a backseat in Otomen Volume 12. In fact, Ryo only shows up in a couple panels. Instead, the focus is on the mysterious pastry chef of Violet. The series has been hinting for a while at the connection between him and Asuka, but now we finally learn of their true relationship as well as that of Amakashi and a couple other characters.

The circumstances by which the chef comes to live with Asuka and his mother are a bit over-the-top, but once past that, the otomen bonding that takes place between the two is really, well, cute. Kanno-sensei goes off the deep end again a chapter later with a parody of a violent yakuza kidnapping. The gangster and the demand he makes are nothing short of laughable, but the chef and Asuka treat the situation so seriously that it works, creating a dramatic revelation scene followed by a touching conclusion.

For the final chapter in this installment, the focus switches back to love – as through the eyes of the poet of Ginyuri. Amakashi gets his moment to sparkle (literally) in the spotlight as Kanno-sensei delves into his particular otomen obsession. The ending is somewhat bittersweet, but considering the way other shojo manga have depicted fordidden student-teacher love affairs, I’m glad Kanno-sensei handled this story the way she did.

[Sarah Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many questions are answered in this volume of Otomen, such as "What is the true identity of Chef?," "Who is the Poet of Ginyuri?" and "How did Asuka's parents meet?"

Some of these answers were a little obvious (such as Chef's identity) and others weren't quite expected.

This volume was a little bit more low-key on the Otoman hating front, which made it a little more likeably in my opinion. There were also plenty of hilarious scenes to balance out the some of the serious ones.

This is mainly an Asuka related volume, so we don't really get to see many of the other characters, except for in passing, and in the last fourth of the volume, with the story of the Poet of Ginyuri.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great volume that reveals more into Asuka and his father's (Hiromi) past. Hopefully his father will come forward in time to talk about his secrets to his son and wife. I also love the poet side story too.

[Miss Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wait what? I thought Asuka's dad ran off to become a woman! Hiromi is clearly still male and in love with his wife. Why did he leave? S_S Quick slight read. I'm getting a bit tired of this series, Kanno hasn't done anything fresh with the concept in ages. 2 stars

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

All caught up in the series except for volume 13 which just came out.

I really enjoyed this volume, especially the chapter about poems. I'm also enjoying where things are headed in Asuka's family. Need more focus on Juta soon, though!

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many exciting things happen in this one! A father! A friend! Hearts expanding! Maybe one day I could become a poet! I don't think so, but the poems and situations are lively. Granted Asuka's mom is a scary woman, I think she could change...

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love the cover! i'm quite biased cause it's green! but anyway, without giving anything away, i never expected the minor characters that suddenly popped out were very important characters in the series. i loved that they even have there own chapter/story in the series.

[Emi えみ Takami 鷹見 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asuka's mom follows him to his baking class. How will he wriggle out of this one? Also, Mr. Masamune's identity is revealed!

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asuka finally finds out that chef is his father.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww this was adorable. Too cute but still. And don't get me started that the foods in this look delicious. The art is of course really good.

[dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a good series and the author says that she plans on wrapping it up soon.

[Rici · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hier ging es wieder mehr um andere Charaktere, und da ich mit Poesie nicht so viel anfangen kann ging ein großer Teil der Story leider an mir vorbei.