オトメン(乙男) 13

Otomen #13

by Aya Kanno

ある日、いじめの現場に遭遇したりょう。止める際に投げ飛ばしてケガをさせた坂田に代わって、名門・桜銅高校柔道部のコーチを買って出ることに。ところが桜銅には女人禁制の伝統があり、予想外の事態が！ さらに銀百合学園との試合が決まり、飛鳥たちと対戦することに!?

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

Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 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

[melhara · Rating 4 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!

Ce volume est dédié à Ryo. Après avoir accidentellement blessé le capitain de l'équipe de judo dans une autre école, Ryo prend l'initiative de traîner et joindre leur équipe de judo. Elle ne savait pas qu'Asuka avait été également invitée à affronter son équipe au tournoi de judo!

Ce que j'ai aimé dans ce volume: Il y a enfin du développement dans la relation entre Ryo et Asuka!
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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

[Rowie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this manga portrays gender norms. It plays with fragile masculinity as well. The tough boy might just be into baking, make-up or girly plushie. Otomen combines this with the Japanese culture of high expectations. After years this remains one of the more interesting manga because it has the guts to tackle issues like this. Thankfully it does so with respect. Of course there's some typical manga tropes in here but they're not played up as much. This issue we learn more about the badass Ryo and I think that was about time.

[Mizu · Rating 3 out of 5]

🌸SYNOPSIS
Ryo has found something to do but not long after, she ends up at an all-boys school training their Judo team but that’s not all, she has been asked to take part in the tournament, not only will she don her male disguise, but she must face Asuka in a fight! Will she be able to pull through and still be with Asuka? Or will this fight be their first and last one?
That’s not all but from certain ordeals, Ryo has found the voice to finally say how she feels, will Asuka still be there? Will he accept them? Or will there be more to this tale that I can’t give away. Find out in volume 13 of Otomen.

🌸OPINION
This is a middle ground of I like the story progress, that appears near the end, and I don’t like the filler but it’s thanks to that, that the story was able to progress to this stage. I really hope this manga keeps up the story momentum and it really inspires me to share my love with my partner. I am kind of becoming a sap for the romance but then again, who knows how long that will last.

🌸PRO
The relationship and character progress between Ryo and Asuka.
Finally seeing the story progress in a way that it is going to get juicy in later chapters.

🌸CON
The way it feels like a filler but it is pretty entertaining compared to other ones.

🌸FINAL SAY
“And I want you to always be with me”
I can relate so much to this and I want the characters to last but then again, that’s the joy of this manga. No matter how many challenges come, Asuka and Ryo always overcome it and makes them stronger than ever. Possibly after the last volume, their love would be eternal.

[Michael (Mai) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man this was such a good volume! I love Ryo and Asuka's relationship and there was some major progression in this volume ❤️

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I really liked this volume. I loved seeing Ryo help out the other school and it was interesting how it led to a face-off with Asuka but I will admit the actual result was a bit of a let down. I like how this made people question friendship, respect and trust in others. Now the ending gets a bit confusing. We just had a valentines day volume, and suddenly it is Christmas, but very out of the blue and it is just glossed over. The next chapter is back to another Valentines day somehow. So the timeline feels off and annoyed me but as Asuka begins to question his future, I will simply say the ending melted my heart on one page and I almost squealed on another. Enjoy!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today's post is on Otomen volume 13 by Aya Kanno. It is the thirteenth in her Otomen series. It is 200 pages long and is publishes by Shojo Beat. As this is the thirteenth volume in this series, you need to have read the first twelve volumes to understand the story. The cover is blue with Ryo in the a boy's wig in the center looking at the reader. 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- Ryo ends up coaching a high school judo team, but women aren’t allowed at that school! She finds a way around this obstacle, but the real challenge comes when she finds herself facing off against...Asuka?!

Review- This volume is Ryo centered and it was a nice change of pace. She spends the volume both training a judo team but also thinking about her relationship with Asuka. Of course she is just so cute that one of the judo team members ends up falling for her but there is no one in her heart but Asuka. We do not see much of Asuka's mother or father. Ryo tells Asuka that she loves him and the final story for this volume ends with Asuka basically proposing to her. He is starting to think about his future and what he wants. That is not what his mother wants but he needs to get together and talk to her about it. Maybe that will be the final arc because we are getting close to being finished with this series. Only five volumes left.

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.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryo and Asuka’s association hits another snag, this time brought about by a misunderstanding involving an overly aggressive teacher and his timid student.

While I liked the semi-seriousness of this particular plotline in the Otomen series, I found myself irked by the cop-out the author used to resolve a particularly difficult dilemma that resulted from Ryo’s initial mistake. I also found myself once more annoyed by Juta’s meddling in Ryo and Asuka’s limping affair simply in order to keep his manga “Hana To Mame” moving.

All of them seem stuck in their particular interests or mania: Asuka is drawn to girly things but jumps through absurd hoops to keep his mother from finding out; Kitora is obsessed with flowers; Hajime only seems to care about makeup and getting the better of Asuka and the girlish-looking Yamato is desperate to become a “real” man, something at which he thinks Asuka excels.

But the worst is Juta. True, his job depends on him keeping his manga going. But his meddling in the lives of people around him simply to aid as a spur to his imagination makes him truly unappealing at times. His playboy nature, compared to the steadfastness of those around him, make me wonder—again—why the others put up with him. What, exactly, is he bringing to the myriad friendships that swirl about him? At least Yamato’s occasional crossdressing has a purpose!

The additional Valentine’s Day-themed story seemed a little jarring after all that. The sole purpose seemed to be to get Asuka to declare his feelings towards Ryo. While I’m glad that’s finally done (after 13 installments!), I couldn’t help but think it was a lot of effort to accomplish so little.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryo really should get more screen time (or is it page time?). The chapters that focus on her are some of the most interesting, and they provide her with character development, something she's surprisingly been lacking in considering that she's, you know, the only love interest in a romance. But hey, this volume focuses on her, which is a step in the right direction. Her relationship with Asuka also develops a bit, which is also a step in the right direction. Their relationship has stalled for so long that a development, any development, is very very welcome. I'd say two steps forward is pretty good for a single volume.

This is probably my favorite volume of Otomen so far, followed by the previous volume. Hopefully the last few volumes keep this up so that Otomen ends on a very strong note to make up for the flaws the series has had up until now.

[Amy Keeley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally!

This volume focuses on Ryo and her experience coaching a boys' judo club. It's fun and inspiring watching her try to come to grips with her feelings and her expression of them.

Unlike other series where the characters seem to be stuck at the same grade year after year, the gang in Otomen has begun to look at the future, including Asuka. And that glimpse causes him to take a chance that I've been waiting for.

I'm so glad I can go straight to the next volume!

[Ariana Deralte · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for crossdressing so the Ryo plotline made me very happy. Also, humour wise, this book really hit all the right spots. Plot wise, there finally was a plot rather than the rambling mess that has dominated the last few volumes.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

finally! ryo is the star! i swear, i barely see her in this series. but this is good! i loved the plot and these minor characters really defined the story. i love the other chapters too! DEVELOPMENT! looking forward to the next one.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit more Ryo, which is good, and I liked how Asuka handled his bout with jealousy.

[Rebecca Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved getting to know Ryo more and seeing her strong side and her struggles. This volume was less comic than usual, but really sweet.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryo pretends to be a boy in order to fulfill the position of a captain she accidentally injured.

Asuka is confused by her distance and starts to believe that she is no longer interested until he learns the truth.

Near the end of the manga, Asuka reflects on the possibilities of the future and how he can be with Ryo after they graduate.

[teacupsandunicorns · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES MY GIRL RYO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR EMOTIONS. AND ASUKA STOP WORRYING SO MUCH.

DID HE JUST DO WHAT I THINK HE DID!!!!! they’re basically married now I love it.

But forty isn’t that old I’m hurt.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

So CUTE!

[Judyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4/5
[Also available at my blog.]



This was probably my favorite Otomen volume in a while. I’m not sure since when, but I’ve been a bit not-very enthusiastic about this series. Maybe it’s partly because the recent ones just haven’t been that good, but I’m sure it’s also partly because they haven’t been coming out very often. We’re almost, pretty much, caught up with Japan, so it’s been very slow. And that has lessened my enthusiasm by a lot, I’m sure. Which sucks, because while this wasn’t my favorite, I did really enjoy this series.

This volume, though, was awesome.

Mostly, it focuses on Ryo. Incidentally, she ends up being dragged into helping out another schools’ judo club, because she ‘hurt’ their captain. It’s an all-boys’ school, so she has to pretend to be a boy, but she doesn’t really mind that. Asuka, though, is a bit worried that she’s been busy and hasn’t told him why. Juta is worried about their relationship because they’re his friends, but also because he doesn’t know what to do with his manga. And when he sees Ryo going inside her house, he mistakes her for a boy and tells Asuka. The only reason this is really believable, though, is because she’s wearing a wig with even shorter hair than her own, a different school uniform, and she actually does look different.

Of course, though, upon first sight, not even seeing the front of her, Asuka knows that it’s Ryo. Which is just… so sweet. And so unbelievably awesome.

Aside from that, though, the captain of the club starts getting feelings for Ryo, and is confused until he finds out that he’s actually the she that kicked his butt. Not very much happens between them, though; mostly, it focuses on him and his teammates, and how he was a bully to them but actually cares and how they want to do good for him. This was… alright. I felt that he really shouldn’t have been as much of a jerk as he was, and that the other students shouldn’t have looked up to him for it.

The thing that I was most interested in, though, was Ryo and Asuka’s relationship. At one point, Ryo worries about it, too, and it was nice getting to see her thoughts on it. They have a date after that big storyline, during Christmas, where she tells him that she loves him. I was disappointed that the chapter ended there, though, and we didn’t get to see his reaction or them talk about it, or any of that romantic stuff that I love reading about.

The last chapter of the volume is Valentine’s Day, where the guys all bake a cake and go to give it to someone. Tonomine (the makeup guy) gives it to some woman whose face we don’t get to see, Kitora (the flower guy) gives it to Kuriko, in a very sweet, cute scene, but I don’t really remember her? I think, maybe, she’s related to Juta? But maybe not? I… I’m probably going to have to go look in the previous volumes.

Juta doesn’t really have anyone to give it to. And when Asuka’s cake gets crushed, he decides to make her another one. Only, after getting an epiphany or something, he makes her a ring with a chocolate (I’m guessing it’s chocolate; it could also be not-edible) rose after looking in a storeroom window with a wedding gown. This was super sweet, but still, I would have liked some more outright romance, instead of the subtly sweet; but that is kind of what this series does when it comes to romance: subtle.

Also in this volume, Asuka starts wondering about his future. Most people seem to know what they want, but his mother wants him to take over the family company, while he would rather be a chef or something along those lines.

This volume has gotten me excited for what’s next. I want to see what happens with everyone; I definitely want to see what happens between Asuka and Ryo. They are so cute together. This series isn’t really about the outright romantic, dramatic moments, and while I would really like to see some of those, I accept that I probably won’t get very many. I mean, I haven’t gotten to see the two kiss and they’ve been together a while (that would really be a scene I would love to see, though).

It’ll probably be a while till the next one comes out, but I am glad that I’m really looking forward to it this time.

[S.Q. Eries · Rating 2 out of 5]

In Summary

Finally, progress in Asuka’s relationship with Ryo! Kanno-sensei takes her time getting to it, working around a plot that has Ryo cross-dressing in order to coach a boys’ judo team, but readers get real confirmation of Ryo’s feelings toward Asuka at last. However, Ryo/Asuka fans will be even more thrilled with Asuka’s Valentine’s Day gift at the end of the volume!

The Review

With Asuka finally aware of his dad’s true identity, that leaves Kiyomi Masamune’s anti-otomen attitude and Asuka’s never-quite-dating relationship with Ryo as the main plot drivers for this series. In regard to the Asuka/Ryo romance, it’s been dragging for a while. In Volume 13′s opening chapter, even Ryo’s family expresses concern over the lack of progress between her and Asuka. For readers who’ve been feeling frustrated, Kanno-sensei finally delivers with a Ryo-centered arc in this volume.

The story’s set up to create tension between the couple when Ryo starts coaching judo at Odo Boys’ School but doesn’t tell Asuka. Yet despite Juta’s suspicions and the Odo team captain’s crush, you never really feel that Asuka’s relationship with Ryo is in any real danger, especially when Asuka immediately recognizes the “suspicious boy at Ryo’s house” to be Ryo herself, but it does push Asuka into mopey mode as he wonders if there’s truly anything between him and Ryo.

Ryo for the most part is oblivious–as usual–to the feelings of the men around her, but even she comes to the realization that her actions may have hurt Asuka’s feelings. The resolution is almost a parody of shonen “communicating through fists” with the two of them determined to “clash head-on” in the Odo-Ginyuri judo match. Fortunately for the romantics, a last-minute development changes the match from that of a couple wanting to work things out to a duel between boys interested in the same girl. And when Ryo finally does make up with Asuka, she does it in an unexpectedly romantic way. Sadly, Kanno-sensei cuts that scene short, keeping us from seeing Asuka’s response to Ryo’s Christmas gift, but she makes up for it with a Valentine’s Day chapter guaranteed to delight Asuka/Ryo fans.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think all the reviews that I've read for this volume all agree on one thing: yay for Ryo! She finally gets her share of the Otomen spotlight that have avoided her all this time.

Ryo takes over coaching an all-boys judo team after she accidentally breaks the arm of the team's captain. In typical shoujo form, she dresses up as a boy since the school forbids girls to even step on the hallowed school grounds.

It has been so rare to see Ryo's point of view in this series. Most of them, the reader gets insight on Asuka's anxieties and insecurities. I really felt that Ryo was portrayed without the usual teenage angst, so seeing that she does have the same worries as Asuka makes her a more complex and sympathetic character.

It's funny how Ryo's father asks her if she and Asuka have clashed head on; little did she expect how literally they would've clashed in the judo arena. I sort of wished they did battle one-on-one.

I was starting to get bored of the series prior to volume since the stories seemed to be slight variations on the theme of the various otomen trying to be accepted for who they are. This volume has made me excited about this series again, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing where Asuka, Ryo, and the rest of the group will go in the future.

[Miss Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow okay wow let me tell you a story dear goodreads friends. it is a story of a pure hearted shoujo hero! dedicated to justice and forthrightness and facing their struggles head on! a hero who coaches a struggling judo team, inspiring their prickly coach to admit his love for his school! a hero who bravely tells their boyfriend they love them! meet ryo miyakozuka ladies and gentlemen, perfect straightforward girl hero.

but who? what light through yonder window breaks? tis the light of feelings! welcome one and all, asuka masamune, sweet sensitive pure hearted otomen! asuka who makes beautiful cakes befitting of a queen's valentine's day! asuka who bravely faces his girlfriend in the judo ring, accepting her on her terms! asuka who holds fast to faith, trusting his girlfriend and gracefully avoiding all foolish contrived jealousy plots!

together they give you otomen! a tale of cakes, MANLY judo fights, the beauty of flowers, and the joy of poking traditional gender roles to bits and running off laughing merrily. 4 stars

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryo really steps up in this volume! It was great to see her help out the Odo judo team, and to then consider how to confront Asuka (her boyfriend) who will be her opponent. I enjoyed the Odo guest characters (especially Sakata). I also adored the later chapters too where Asuka and his friends consider their future options. Asuka really drops an amazing Valentine's Day surprise. Can't wait to see how this effects the characters in the future.

[Kereesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the bunch. Too silly at times, though there was an interesting moment when the mangakan did introduce another possible love interest.

Which quickly faded out and died.

Might have been nice to see if that could've panned out at all.

Oh well.

I think I'm just continuing with this series to see if the main couple will ever kiss or something.

A girl can dream, right? :P

3.5/5

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryo enters a judo competition to compete for Odo High School as she accidentally injured their star player. She almost has to go up against Asuka but in the nick of time Sakata jumps into the competition so Ryo doesn't have to try to beat him.

[Candice M (tinylibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are Ryo and Asuka ready to take their relationship to another level? What happens if the they aren't able to be straightforward with each other? Full of shojo win! Squee!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great volume! I especially enjoyed the chapter about Valentines day.

[Sarah Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars.

This volume was pretty cliche. However, it had a pretty good twist at the end. I'm hoping this isn't the last volume, but if it is, I don't have a problem with it.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute fluff reading.

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

That ending, just wow was that adorable. This whole is just that. And also freaking finally. Really good volume. Finally I'm catching up with this series. It really is a good series.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A possible Ryo and Asuka showdown? Is Ryo straying? Is Asuka falling behind his friends? Well much is answered in this volume!

[Rici · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsere Hauptcharakterin verkleidet sich als Junge um eine Judo Klasse zu unterrichten, wobei sich dort auch ein Junge in sie verliebt. Und wir haben ein Ende, das zwar passt und romantisch ist, aber die beiden haben sich noch nicht mal geküsst!