Call Me Princess Volume 1

by Tomoko Taniguchi

New from CPM Manga! CPM is proud to present the first graphic novel in its new shojo manga line, the creator-owned CALL ME PRINCESS, by Tomoko Taniguchi. A heart-warming tale of teen romance, Miss Taniguchi's intricate art and true-to-life storytelling pull the reader into the story and won't let you go. Tomoko Taniguchi's work was previously seen in Colleen Doran's A Distant Soil. Remember your first high school love? Everyone does. And Call Me Princess will help bring back memories of those innocent days of dreamy eyes and embarassed blushes in classrooms and corridors. The story is told by Mako, a young freshman, as she is torn between her feelings for her first love, Yo, and newly arrived badboy, Ryu. It's a classic love triangle told from a Japanese perspective, which should make for an interesting experience for U.S. readers. And Miss Taniguchi's elegant style only serves to make this read a visual pleasure. Original story and art by Tomoko Taniguchi. Collects issues 1 to 6 of the series, with a new introduction by Colleen Doran and a new Omake (afterword) by Tomoko Taniguchi.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Shojo

208 pages, Paperback

First published February 29, 2000

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story had a cute plot and several fun and interesting characters in it.

[Skjam! · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Makoto Takenouchi was a little girl, she served as flower girl at her sister’s wedding. Shin and Shoko get along very well, and Shin has become Makoto’s ideal for a husband. Someone who will support her, and be kind, and call her “Princess.” One day at school, a boy named Ryu saves her from a fall. He turns out to be Shin’s little brother!

It seems that shortly before the wedding, Shin and Ryu’s parents had a particularly acrimonious divorce. The mother got sole custody of Ryu, but their relationship was strained at best, and she’s now passed away. Shin’s job is taking him to Hawaii, and their father is not interested in being a parent, so it’s been decided that Ryu will bunk with Makoto’s parents until he finishes high school.

Living together is bumpy at first; Ryu is often out late and comes home bandaged up; he’s not used to anyone caring where he is or what he’s doing, and he hangs out with a rough-looking crowd. He can also be quite rude, and Makoto finds him far from as pleasant as his brother.

But as this is a romance story, Makoto soon sees other, better sides of Ryu’s nature. He’s not nearly the “bad boy” he at first seems. They start getting closer, which upsets Makoto’s childhood friend Ko Takayama, who’d just kind of assumed Makoto would eventually come around, and her best friend Maki, who has a crush on Yo but knows he’s been pining for Makoto.

This shoujo romance manga is complete in one volume. This makes it just long enough to have some complications, while not overstaying its welcome. The characters are decent, and don’t overdo it with the drama.

Tomoko Taniguchi’s art is very “shoujo”, light and airy. It does have the effect though of making all the characters seem even younger than they actually are. (Even the “scary guys” Ryu hangs out with are doe-eyed and gentle-looking.) I should note that the CPM Manga edition has the art “flipped” to read left-to-right as was often the case early in the manga importation market. This becomes apparent when Ryu is injured on his left side according to the dialogue, but his right side according to the art.

Content note: Child neglect and emotional abuse, this volume is suitable for junior high students on up.

I think this story is best suited for those who like their girls’ romance comics on the pure-hearted side.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-warming tale of teen romance, Miss Taniguchi's intricate art and true-to-life storytelling pull the reader into the story and won't let you go. Tomoko Taniguchi's work was previously seen in Colleen Doran's A Distant Soil.

Remember your first high school love? Everyone does. And Call Me Princess will help bring back memories of those innocent days of dreamy eyes and embarrassed blushes in classrooms and corridors. The story is told by Mako, a young freshman, as she is torn between her feelings for her first love, Yo, and newly arrived bad boy, Ryu.

[Lena Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first picked this book up when I was twelve. I really liked it when I first read it. I'm not really one for manga, but this is actually pretty sweet. Granted, it has its cheesy and dramatic parts, but that can be expected.
I like the idea. A girl wants a man like the one her sister has, and she somehow meets the man's younger brother. Ryu is a poor soul. He's hurt and angry and doesn't really trust people. That's why Maki is perfect for him, because she's the exact opposite.
It was really sweet. I'm glad I read it.

[T.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mako: "Ryu, you're so cool to be doing this. This is so cool!"
Ryu: "Hey, don't make such a big deal about it."
Onlooker: "I want a girlfriend, too. She's cheering him on!" >_<

That's kind of how the whole manga goes.

The main character Mako is girly-twirly with her curled hair and daydreams of meeting a perfect man just like her brother-in-law. Then she meets Ryu, her brother-in-law's estranged younger brother who was raised by an abusive mother. Circumstances force Ryu to go live with Mako and her parents. Will they fall in love if they can survive living under the same roof? Corny and cute, but a little dull compared to the other ones I've read by Tomoko Taniguchi.

[Ericka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit of 90s nostalgia. Nothing too deep and heavy, just some fluffy will-they won't-they romance.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a one-volume story about Mako, a girl wants some boy to call her "princess." It has the usual types of romantic misunderstandings and misdirections. It's a nice, light, fluffy type of read with a surprise twist at the ending.