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Released as Confidential Confessions volume 3 by Tokyopop
This volume contains :
Dizziness (Main Story)
Our Future (One-Shot)
This volume contains :
Dizziness (Main Story)
Our Future (One-Shot)
Unknown Binding
First published January 13, 2000
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About the author
Reiko Momochi
39 books27 followersReiko-san is treasured by manga fans in Japan for her unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the myriad serious issues facing teens today.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 16, 2022
I never forgot reading this manga series.
All of the Confidential Confessions books contain realistic, and quite dark short stories about the life of Japanese teenage girls, and the problems they are facing. Sensitive topics such as suicide, prostitution, drug abuse, and rape are written in an emotional, believable, heartbreaking, and humbling way.
I read these books as a teenager, and I believe they had a positive impact on me. These stories may shock you, but these are real-life events that affect many young women. These stories made me think about issues of struggling young women in a different way. They made me more empathetic and less judgemental of other people's choices in life.
All of the Confidential Confessions books contain realistic, and quite dark short stories about the life of Japanese teenage girls, and the problems they are facing. Sensitive topics such as suicide, prostitution, drug abuse, and rape are written in an emotional, believable, heartbreaking, and humbling way.
I read these books as a teenager, and I believe they had a positive impact on me. These stories may shock you, but these are real-life events that affect many young women. These stories made me think about issues of struggling young women in a different way. They made me more empathetic and less judgemental of other people's choices in life.
February 3, 2018
The third volume of CONFIDENTIAL CONFESSIONS contains two stories: "Dizziness," a tale about the raise and fall of a meth addict, and "Our Future," a short story about a girl who dates a boxer.
"Dizziness" takes up most of the volume, and it's probably the quintessential story anyone thinks of when they think of CONFIDENTIAL CONFESSIONS.
It begins with a shy girl, Kyoko, who's insecure about her body and having a hard time passing her classes. All and all, her life's not so bad-- aside from her strict and perpetually disappointed father, her family life isn't in tatters, she has friends who love her, and she's never had anything really bad happen to her before. After a chance encounter with a classmate who uses drugs, Kyoko gets hooked on one in particular: speed. At first, it seems to solve all her problems, as she's quickly losing weight and passing all her exams with ease. As the high quickly turns to addiction, however, it becomes clear that's no way that Kyoko can keep using without it tearing up her life.
Like "The Door" from volume one, "Dizziness" uses two characters to illustrate what could happen. Kyoko, of course, fills the role of the relatable everygirl, though she quickly becomes a partner in crime to Aya, a fellow classmate who introduced her to drugs in the first place. Aya is peppy, gorgeous, and lives in the moment: she's everything that Kyoko isn't. That facade slowly starts to crumble as she becomes more and more dependent on both drugs and drug dealers. While portrayed as bad news from the get-go, Aya isn't some one-note villain from a drug PSA. Even at the end, it seems like she genuinely cares a little for Kyoko and is trying to do her good in her own little way-- it's just a pity that she mistakes feeling good for actual good. It makes her downfall all the more tragic.
While there are a few plot threads that seem pointless, like the weird abusive and perverted tutor, the story does try to explain the cycle of drug addiction without outright preaching to its readers. The progression from casual one-time use to full-blown addict is explained gradually, which definitely does a story a lot of favors, as the fears of a sweet school kid turning into drug addict does feels a tad sensationalized. I do appreciate that the main character has legitimate reasons for turning to drugs instead merely succumbing to "peer pressure," and book also emphasizes the importance of having a good support system. All around, it's a far more impactful message for teenagers than the typical "don't do drugs."
As par for the course, the story is somewhat dated, particularly with its drug-related jargon. It's probably one of the best written of CONFIDENTIAL CONFESSION's signature depressing tales, but it's also kind of forgettable in comparison to the extreme situations that crop up in the rest of the series. It feels like this is the volume where the author really started to hit their stride with the material.
The bonus story, "Our Future" is sweet, but also feels like whiplash after the serious story preceding it. In fact, it's not even listed in the table of contents in the volume itself. There's really not much to say about it either: a boy has to chose between devoting himself to the ring or being a good boyfriend. Like everything in this series, the ending is bittersweet, but definitely one of the most positive yet.
All in all, this is a recommended read for fans of the series, and maybe teenagers that need more than DARE's iconic failure of a program to teach them about the dangers of drugs.
"Dizziness" takes up most of the volume, and it's probably the quintessential story anyone thinks of when they think of CONFIDENTIAL CONFESSIONS.
It begins with a shy girl, Kyoko, who's insecure about her body and having a hard time passing her classes. All and all, her life's not so bad-- aside from her strict and perpetually disappointed father, her family life isn't in tatters, she has friends who love her, and she's never had anything really bad happen to her before. After a chance encounter with a classmate who uses drugs, Kyoko gets hooked on one in particular: speed. At first, it seems to solve all her problems, as she's quickly losing weight and passing all her exams with ease. As the high quickly turns to addiction, however, it becomes clear that's no way that Kyoko can keep using without it tearing up her life.
Like "The Door" from volume one, "Dizziness" uses two characters to illustrate what could happen. Kyoko, of course, fills the role of the relatable everygirl, though she quickly becomes a partner in crime to Aya, a fellow classmate who introduced her to drugs in the first place. Aya is peppy, gorgeous, and lives in the moment: she's everything that Kyoko isn't. That facade slowly starts to crumble as she becomes more and more dependent on both drugs and drug dealers. While portrayed as bad news from the get-go, Aya isn't some one-note villain from a drug PSA. Even at the end, it seems like she genuinely cares a little for Kyoko and is trying to do her good in her own little way-- it's just a pity that she mistakes feeling good for actual good. It makes her downfall all the more tragic.
While there are a few plot threads that seem pointless, like the weird abusive and perverted tutor, the story does try to explain the cycle of drug addiction without outright preaching to its readers. The progression from casual one-time use to full-blown addict is explained gradually, which definitely does a story a lot of favors, as the fears of a sweet school kid turning into drug addict does feels a tad sensationalized. I do appreciate that the main character has legitimate reasons for turning to drugs instead merely succumbing to "peer pressure," and book also emphasizes the importance of having a good support system. All around, it's a far more impactful message for teenagers than the typical "don't do drugs."
As par for the course, the story is somewhat dated, particularly with its drug-related jargon. It's probably one of the best written of CONFIDENTIAL CONFESSION's signature depressing tales, but it's also kind of forgettable in comparison to the extreme situations that crop up in the rest of the series. It feels like this is the volume where the author really started to hit their stride with the material.
The bonus story, "Our Future" is sweet, but also feels like whiplash after the serious story preceding it. In fact, it's not even listed in the table of contents in the volume itself. There's really not much to say about it either: a boy has to chose between devoting himself to the ring or being a good boyfriend. Like everything in this series, the ending is bittersweet, but definitely one of the most positive yet.
All in all, this is a recommended read for fans of the series, and maybe teenagers that need more than DARE's iconic failure of a program to teach them about the dangers of drugs.
July 23, 2017
The first story in this manga is so very sad,it shows how hard parents can be on their kids and how that can effect their child's life. Most of the adults in these volumes seem to be a lot alike. Then we have the second story that is more like a short love story about how a young boys boxing career gets in the way of his relationship. It was a nice little short story but I preferred the little love story about the girl who fell in love and sold the guys guitar and tried to get it back but got lost in the darkness along the way.
September 3, 2020
Manga about teens exposed to drugs. A character in high school is pressured by her parents to get high grades to get into a top university. She’s stressed to lose weight. She finds drugs and they act as a stimulant for her and her school performance improves and she loses weight.
However, the story takes a lift when the author shows us the how damaging and dangerous drugs are. I love the author’s style of showing morals in a simple and kind way.
I cried while reading it because it felt so real.
However, the story takes a lift when the author shows us the how damaging and dangerous drugs are. I love the author’s style of showing morals in a simple and kind way.
I cried while reading it because it felt so real.
March 17, 2023
When Kyoko’s dad FINALLY saw his daughter as a PERSON that desperately needed help and not just a would be trophy for him to show off, I cried…
“I’m a good girl right, daddy?” Straight through the heart!!!
And I really liked that short story about boxing at the end of this volume. I didn’t like the ending though but it seems that this author takes the realistic route…
“I’m a good girl right, daddy?” Straight through the heart!!!
And I really liked that short story about boxing at the end of this volume. I didn’t like the ending though but it seems that this author takes the realistic route…
December 13, 2023
this one was always my favourite
April 17, 2016
I'm just going to leave one big review for the whole series rather than writing them individually. It's been years since I read them. But I remember them quite well. This is one of my favorite series I've ever read. And warning a head of time, its a pretty dark one. So if you can't handle stories about drugs, prostitution, rape, suicide, etc.. then stay away. This series brings to light some of the struggles teens today face, and some adults. Not all the stories have a happy ending. But they do shed a little light on some of the problems today. They make you think and that's what I like about them. The books all contain two stories each. One longer story taking up 75% of the book and them a smaller quicker story.
November 20, 2008
Reiko Momochi, Confidential Confessions, vol. 3 (Tokyopop, 2001)
Momochi carries on with (arguably) the most controversial series in manga with volume 3, the bulk of which deals with a girl who, in an effort to get her grades up to her strict father's standards, starts taking meth. As usual with the series, the storyline is predictable as all get-out and the ending is sappy, but the characters are well-drawn and it's at least readable. Ends with an odd short about a boxer on the rise, an aspiring actress, and how their relationship gets in the way of their respective dreams. While I wasn't sold on that one, the main story in the volume makes it worth your time. ****
Momochi carries on with (arguably) the most controversial series in manga with volume 3, the bulk of which deals with a girl who, in an effort to get her grades up to her strict father's standards, starts taking meth. As usual with the series, the storyline is predictable as all get-out and the ending is sappy, but the characters are well-drawn and it's at least readable. Ends with an odd short about a boxer on the rise, an aspiring actress, and how their relationship gets in the way of their respective dreams. While I wasn't sold on that one, the main story in the volume makes it worth your time. ****
July 31, 2010
This series deals with various controversial subjects that young women are dealing with in today's society. For the most part they are tackled well.
June 3, 2011
This book was very interesting
September 5, 2013
The rating given for the manga as a whole is determined by the stories in the manga.
Dizziness *****
Our Future **
Dizziness *****
Our Future **
September 12, 2013
mmm that was a bit too after school special for me. 2 stars
November 12, 2015
Read prior to joining Goodreads.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews