Boys Over Flowers: Hana Yori Dango, Vol. 10

花より男子 [Hana Yori Dango] #10

by Yōko Kamio

Rich boy Tsukasa returns to Japan after he discovers the true identity of Tsukushi's "Kinsan." Tsukushi herself is having trouble accepting his identity. Then Kinsan invites Tsukushi to a swank party where they bump into Tsukasa, who causes a major scene when Kinsan declares his intentions toward Tsukushi! Still desperate for money, Tsukushi goes to Tsukasa who comes up with a plan that everyone can benefit from. That is, if Tsukushi can win a beauty contest...!

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

176 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 1995

About the author

Yōko Kamio (神尾葉子) is a popular Japanese manga artist and writer. She is most famous for Boys Over Flowers (花より男子, Hana Yori Dango?), for which she received the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1996. Her work has been translated and distributed in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Yōko Kamio readily admits that she had no intention of becoming a professional manga artist when she was young. Kamio originally went to secretarial school, but her love of drawing soon led her astray. She then eventually entered the professional mangaka field in 1989. In the following years, Kamio published Suki Suki Daisuki, Ano Hi ni Aitai, and Meri-san no Hijitsu in Margaret before she finally created Hana Yori Dango in 1992.

The Hana Yori Dango manga became established relatively quickly in Japan. Many people commended Kamio for her realistic portrayal of high school life and everyday violence through the Hana Yori Dango series. Although Kamio was initially surprised by the confessions of high school violence stated in fan letters, she realized that Tsukushi's fiery character served as a role model for much of Japan's youth and helped others cope with school violence.

Kamio watched as the success of Hana Yori Dango's 1992 début followed through with many more months on the best-sellers list. Voice CDs by SMAP and a live action movie about Hanadan charted the series success in the mid-1990s. By 1995, an animated series for Hana Yori Dango was already in progress and Kamio had also helped pick main leads for the anime show.

Hana Yori Dango ran in the Japanese Margaret magazine as well as the Korean Wink. The series has also been published in Japanese, Chinese, Cantonese, Thai, Korean, French, and English. The anime series has been broadcasted in Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Italy, and has also been licensed and released in the United States. Additionally, it was also recreated in a Game Boy Color game (only released in Japan) during the summer of 2001. With its ever-increasing popularity, Hana Yori Dango was then made into a popular live action TV series in Taiwan titled Meteor Garden. The manga series finally ended in Margaret's August 2003 issue, and the 36th tankōbon which included the Akira special "Night of the Crescent Moon" was released in January 2004 as the manga's final volume.

While Yoko Kamio initially wanted Hanazawa Rui to be the main hero of Hana Yori Dango, due to the outstanding personality of Domyoji Tsukasa (and Domyoji also becoming more popular than Rui) she changed the hero role to Domyoji.

Despite Hana Yori Dango's success, Kamio had originally planned to end the series by Spring 2000. However, in February 2000, at a mangaka conference in Taipei, Taiwan Kamio announced that she would continue writing Hana Yori Dango. At one point, she got so wrapped up in the Hana Yori Dango storyline, that she confessed to having dreams about Doumyouji. Of course, she said that "Falling in love with a character that I created is just disgusting..."

Reviews

[Annie♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cada tomo de este manga me dibuja una sonrisa en el rostro...

[Project August · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have exams.
I have assignments.
I have homework.
I'm getting insomia

But reading boys over flowers is more important than all of those things :)

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not know that Kin-san’s part in the story was this huge. He confessed to Makino and got Tsukasa mad. Haha.

Anyway, Makino’s dad showed his stupidity by loaning and losing money that well, affected Makino so heavily again. She’s really unlucky to have parents who have placed their family’s future on her shoulders even though she’s only just a high school student. Tsk tsk. Good thing she is lucky on her charm of opposite sex.

[Nidhi Bhatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

That cute friend is interested in Tsukasi. The series adaptation doesn't show that. :)

[Malli (Chapter Malliumpkin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content/Trigger Warnings: Bullying, minor threats/act of violence, minor anger issues, minor manipulation

Tsukushi Makino is from a poor family, but she’s attending an elite school for the super rich. Her life has become intertwined with the ruling boys of the school in a whirlwind of love and confusion. Rich boy Tsukasa returns to Japan after he discovers the true identity of Tsukushi’s “Kinsan.” Tsukushi herself is having trouble accepting his identity. Then Kinsan invites Tsukushi to a swanky party where they bump into Tsukasa, who causes a major scene when Kinsan declares his intentions toward Tsukushi! Still desperate for money, Tsukushi goes to Tsukasa who comes up with a plan that everyone can benefit from. That is, if Tsukushi can win a beauty contest…!

Do you every get those moments of deja vu when you read a book? That somewhere, somehow, you came across something insanely similar to that book. Yeah, that’s the feeling I got when I read this book. It seems so oddly familiar and combines elements that I have recognized from some of my favorite anime and K-Dramas! How does one even begin to process this?!

Well, for starters, this book follows two main characters. We have Tsukushi Makino who come from a family who struggles financially and she has to spend every day working hard to prove she belongs at the elite school she goes to. Then we have Tsukasa who comes from a very rich family so rich that his family is one of the economic power houses of Japan. He’s also taking an intense liking to Tsukushi and will do anything to keep suitors away from her.

In all honesty, I thought I was going to love this volume much more, but there were a lot of things that I disliked and there were plenty of good things to go along with it. I honestly wanted a little bit more romance out of this book and even though we get one really sweet moment near the beginning of the book, it definitely wasn’t enough to make me feel invested in the characters. In fact, I found I was having the complete opposite happen and a lot of the times I had conflicting feelings about the characters and how they were handling situations. I had a strong detachment from them and no matter how badly I wanted to connect with the characters or be invested in them, I couldn’t find a way to overlook a lot of things.

I think the thing I liked the most about this book was the overall family issue. We have this family that isn’t perfect, they’re struggling financially, and then the major event happens then suddenly there’s talk of divorce. I loved how realistic everything felt with the family. Things didn’t feel forced and the way everyone was reacting to things felt like the most natural responses to have in that moment. I just have a deep appreciation for content that shows the flaws in a family and shows very realistic problems that happen all too often in the real world. I loved seeing that and I wish more books talked about them more often!

Speaking of familiar things, this manga has so many vibes of Ouran Highschool Host Club. Now it doesn’t follow it exactly, but there’s moments where I have to pause and double check myself because they will feel so familiar to one another. And then of course, if you’re a fan of the K-Drama, Boys Over Flowers, well that show was based off of this manga and that’s why it feels so oddly, scary familiar. Even though I couldn’t connect with the characters of this manga, finding those familiar bits in this manga from those two elements really hit me with some nostalgia. So if you loved either of those shows/manga then you should definitely consider this manga series. It’ll bring such familiar vibes to you.

Overall, there were things in this book that I disagreed with and not being able to feel connected to the characters didn’t really help. However, just the nostalgic vibes was enough for me to find enjoyment. Plus, there are some moments that are sweet and a little endearing, not all, but some. I think if you’re looking for a manga that will be a fast read and probably bring you some nostalgic vibes from K-Dramas and different anime/manga then you should consider picking this series up. There’s bound to be more chaos in later volumes, but there’s also bound to be more moments of awe in them.


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[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tellement dramatique le mec kin-san alors qu’il a une fiancée wtf
Et bon, le père de Makino est une vraie ordure mais il faut bien que le scénario avance lol

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is technically just me reflecting on the past 10 volumes. This Manga truly feels like a product of its time in a lot of ways. Especially with the way that it's not afraid to pull punches. Many. Many punches. If these kids weren't rich so many of them should be in jail... or therapy... and I feel like so much will start to turn around if or when these dunces learn to communicate LOL! But, despite the "faults" (fat shaming, the bullying omg, Akira and Shojiro hooking up with older women all the time) I can see now reading a Manga thats about as old as myself, I truly like the main character. At first, I was iffy about if I gave two flying leaps about any of them. But man. Tsukushi is a main character I don't always see that often (probably just a me problem) in these sorts of stories. She's bullheaded, hardworking, steadfast, caring and even a little obtuse sometimes. I like that she isn't ditzy. She isn't afraid to dress up and be cute, but she's also not afraid to kick a rich douche in the face. I also like that she feels like a character who is learning from her past experiences. They don't just happen and then all of a sudden it's not relevant anymore. I like that she's a character who will forgive but absolutely never forget. Anyways. Sakurako Sanjo is a major bitch and I hope she has the day she deserves.

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volume 10 captures a turning point in the ongoing tug-of-war between Tsukushi Makino and Tsukasa Domyoji, balancing romance, comedy, and class tension. The main highlight is the gradual deepening of their connection, with a few vulnerable moments showing cracks in Tsukasa’s arrogant façade. Tsukushi’s blend of pride and determination keeps her relatable, even as the plot throws her into more dramatic entanglements.

However, the volume also suffers from pacing issues, with certain comedic misunderstandings and side character antics stretching longer than necessary. The stakes are present but not always urgent, making some chapters feel like transitional filler rather than essential story beats.

The expressive art and emotional flashes keep it engaging, but as a whole, it’s a steady rather than standout installment—entertaining enough for fans, but not the series’ most memorable.

[Megan M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to stop reading these. Really. Really, I do. Why are the ratings so high for this series? I do not understand.

Although the manga seems to have moved on from the criminal acts of harassment, all the men in Tsukushi's life are either jerks or idiots. And now she's expected to compete in a beauty pageant. I don't even know.

[Yura Lasari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pertama baca manga ini waktu umurku 10 tahunan - ikut membaca waktu kakakku sewa dari taman bacaan komik di dekat SMA-nya. Sebetulnya ini terlalu dewasa, sih, untuk anak SD haha. But anyway, dulu rasanya cukup menikmati karena karakternya goodlooking dan stylish. Alur ceritanya juga banyak yang membuat ngakak. Sekarang, umurku 30 tahun dan membaca ini cukup merasa terganggu di banyak hal: romantisasi abuse, violence, sexual harassment, institutionalized bullying, dan membangun mindset 'I can fix him' untuk remaja perempuan. Memang, sih, manga ini 'kan dibuatnya tahun 1992 - mungkin society memang belum seprogresif sekarang. Tapi jadinya menurut saya manga ini lebih cocok ditujukan untuk orang dewasa, ya, ketimbang remaja putri seperti shoujo pada umumnya.
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Volume #10
Tsukasa Doumyouji (ML 1) di New York menemukan cover majalah TIME bergambar Kin yang ternyata bernama asli Seinosuke Amakusa (ML 3). Kin ternyata adalah anak seorang anggota parlemen, dengan keluarga besar politikus. Tsukasa yang sudah mengira bahwa Kin tertarik dengan Tsukushi Makino (FL) begitu marah dan memutuskan untuk langsung pulang ke Jepang untuk mengkonfrontasi Kin dan melaporkannya pada Tsukushi. Ketika ini terjadi, Tsukushi merasa sangat kecewa bahwa Kin berbohong seolah-olah mereka sesama rakyat jelata. Akhirnya Kin mengakui bahwa Ia sudah jengah dengan kehidupannya sebagai kalangan elit, dan ingin menjadi orang biasa saja, maka dari itu Ia mulai bekerja paruh waktu dan kenal dengan Tsukushi. Seiring berjalannya waktu, Kin menaruh perasaan pada Tsukushi yang walaupun miskin tetap tegar dan bersemangat menjalani hidup.
Puncaknya, Kin mengundang Tsukushi ke pesta ulang tahun yang diadakan oleh orang tuanya. Ketika memberikan kata sambutan, Ia berterus terang bahwa Ia ingin keluar dari keluarga itu dan melamar Tsukushi - di depan seluruh tamu dan media! Tsukasa yang tenyata juga diundang dalam pesta itu (sebagai bagian dari jaringan elit) langsung marah dan memukul Kin. Insiden ini menyita seluruh perhatian media.
Namun akhirnya, Tsukushi menolak lamaran Kin - terutama karena Tsukushi tidak terima bahwa selama ini Kin berpura-pura miskin. Dari sini, Tsukasa semakin yakin untuk terus memperjuangkan perasaannya pada Tsukushi. Tapi ternyata Tsukasa punya misi lain - yaitu mengasah Tsukushi untuk bisa menjadi perempuan kelas elit juga. Apa yang akan Tsukasa lakukan?

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

How on Earth did Makino get roped into entering the Miss Teen Japan contest? As crazy as that sounds, that's exactly what happened. She's going to spend the next two weeks training for it, coached by Domyoji's sister and the teacher's she finds. Of course, once again her biggest fan is Domyoji. He's the one giving her unfailing support in this. "If anyone can do it, she can." That's why Domyoji is perfect for Makino. He's the one person that always supports her, always thinks she can succeed.

[Narumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I focus on costume. I compared with the costume of manga version and anime version. Please look at this picture. School uniform of manga version is more complex than anime version’s one because manga has two kinds of school uniforms, but anime has only one version. Moreover, skirt of manga version is checkered, but anime’s one is just blue color. And also, manga use a lot of screen tones for clothing. So manga’s costume is more complex than anime’s one.

[Zahra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debo reconocer que este es uno de mis tomos favoritos, porque introduce lo que viene siendo una de las mejores situaciones del manga que es Makino en el concurso. Yeeey, que ganas tenía de llegar a esta parte >u<

[Mafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Los padres de Makino me da risa pero, llevándolo a la vida real, es bastante perjudicial que tangan actitudes como esas: el papá siendo tan irresponsable y la mamá teniendo por único objetivo que Tsukushi tenga un esposo rico.
Y con respecto al concurso, solo puedo decir: ¡Vamos, Makino!

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinsan seems like he might be the nicest dude of all of the suitors, even if he still does stupid things bad for her, but there is no way she'll end up with him. Then, Tsukushi's father gets into stupid money troubles so the story can convince her to join some Teen Japan contest. O.o

[hannah ⏾ · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh

[melinameetsworld · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute, I definitely dont recall the events of this volume being in the kdrama.
I do wish the covers had more to do with the volume's events though.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seguimos con eso que todos los personajes nuevos se enamoran de Tsukasa y/o Tsukushi, pero la segunda miad estuvo divertida y recordé cosas del dorama.

[✨Sky✨ ♏ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars

[Ailurophile · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only excuse I can give is that quarantine blues overtook me. What is this-this-?! How can people like this?!

That's it! No more! I can't put myself through this!

[Yawenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh wow.

[Esther Carretero · Rating 5 out of 5]

¡Se ha puesto muy interesante! Aunque Domyoji haya madurado un poco, sigue teniendo una mentalidad... peculiar

[h · Rating 2 out of 5]

Things are getting intense, oh my.

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Bullying

[Taya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy are so dumb🙄

[leigheas ✞ ✰ ⚢ · Rating 4 out of 5]

kinsan il était inutile mais tout ça ce n'est que mon avis subjectif de personne aigrie

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ends on a Princess Diaries-esque note.

[Brenna B Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I really liked this one! Wish they would have included this part of the manga in the anime.