Miss Modern, Vol. 1

Haikarasan ga tooru: 7 volumes edition #1

by Waki Yamato

The tomboy Benio is forced to marry the lieutenant Shinobu, who is from a wealthy family. At first Benio doesn't get along with the distinguished way of life at all. When Shinobu is sent to fight in Russia, Benio makes her own way... as an emancipated woman in Tokyo of the 1920s!

Genres: Manga, Komik, Comics, Romance, Shojo, Comics Manga, Japan

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Waki Yamato (大和和紀) is a Japanese mangaka.

She is most famous for Asakiyumemishi, her adaptation of the Tale of Genji.

At one time, she formed some sort of association with IGARASHI Yumiko and TADATSU Youko. These three were also instrumental in revitalizing shoujo manga, but unlike the Year 24 Group, they are known for more traditional stories of love and romance.

Reviews

[Yukino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recensione serie completa.

Credo il più bel manga che abbia letto, divertente e romantico allo stesso tempo.

Da leggere assolutamente!

[Dini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Tokyo in the Taisho era (I don't even know exactly when that is), this is the story of Hanamura Benio, a girl too modern for her time. Her family matchmade her with a dapper young military man with stunning good looks and really long legs, 2nd Lt. Ijuuin (I forgot his first name, but hey, she always calls him lieutenant anyway). At first they rejected the arranged marriage and despised each other, but after word came out that the lieutenant was going to be sent away to Russia, only then they realized their love for each other.

An incident in the battlefield left the lieutenant presumed dead. He actually lost his memory and was saved by a Russian lady. Much like a twist in daily sinetron, Ijuuin looks exactly like the lady's late husband, Sasha Mikhailov, who is -- oh my God, who'd have guessed! -- actually Ijuuin's brother. Then the lieutenant returns to Japan with a new identity, but what happens when she reunites with Benio?

This is one of the first manga that I read as a kid. As a sap for love story as I am, I devoured the romance between Benio and her favorite lieutenant. But above all I love the heroine, a feisty chick who, after Ijuuin's death, had to support his aging grandparents and make a living as a reporter. There are also many hilarious moments caused by Benio's love of sake. Overall, it's a good mix of comedy, romance, feminism, all-out wackiness, beautiful drawing and bits of history all rolled into six volumes of comic.

I had long since lost my original copy of the series. But I would always love to read it again. Oh, and did I mention that the lieutenant is drop dead gorgeous? Siapa juga yang nggak mau sama si letnan...

[LaCitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letto un milione di anni fa, ricordavo solo l'ambientazione e che mi era piaciuto molto.
La giovane Benio è, come dice il titolo, una ragazza alla moda, una di quelle che, nel Giappone dei primi del '900 rivendica una sua indipendenza e un ruolo che non sia subordinato agli uomini. Lo fa a modo suo: menando le mani, ubriacandosi e rompendo le regole, eppure è chiaro che è una ragazza di gran cuore, e quando si trova invischiata in un matrimonio combinato...
Carinissimo, divertente, leggero, ma con intelligenza e disegnato in modo sopraffino

[lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic manga by Waki Yamato.

This wonderful, hilarious, crazy manga accompanied my childhood and made me fall in love with manga.

The story is actually a simple one, it's a love story between Hanamura Benio a girl who is betrothed to a 2nd lieutenant, the insanely handsome Ijuun. At first Benio rejected the engagement out of principal, she is a modern woman and modern women do not accept arranged marriage. While the 2nd lieutenant does not let the engagement bother him much and only thinks that it is a way to make his beloved grandmother happy.

As always there is a love rival, who is more suitable to Ijuun's lifestyle, Tamaki (or Tamari, i forgot). But the difference in this series is that Benio and Tamaki developed a strong friendship that was first based by their love for Ijuun.

Benio's feeling to her 2nd lieutenant started to change when she learns that he will be sent away to Russia. While Ijuun already aware of his feeling towards Benio and promised her to come back to marry her.

But Benio got devastating news that Ijuun was killed in Russia and she has to live without him. I love the fact that she doesn't let herself smash and burn, but after a good drink and a fight, she dusted herself up and find work as reporter to support Ijuun's grandparents who lost their fortune due to war.

In the span of 7 series, we encounter many characters who either fall in love with Benio or with Ijuun.

As a sappy love story, this one is a uniquely wonderful one, due to all the crazy antics that is happening in the books yet despite all that still manage to get a hold on the main love story between Benio and Ijuun.

No other Waki Yamato's books that are come close to this one.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ricordo di aver iniziato anni fa a vedere il cartone quando ero solo una bambina, e leggere il primo volume per caso a distanza di tanto tempo ha revocato questi ricordi. La storia è carina e simpatica, certamente il cartone ha la sua grandissima pecca quindi faccio un pensierino sul proseguirla!!!

[Indah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the first two manga books I read in my childhood... The other one is Pop Corn. I can still feel the feelings they've ignited after I read them. They are very good, they gave me different point of view about this world in my early years.

This manga has historical-fiction kind of genre, and now that I think about it, maybe it's because of this book that I now love that genre. The setting is set on Japan in the World War era. It's a romance story between a girl and a lieutenant - her fiancee whom she had to marry by family arrangement. I really love the young lady's character. She went to a young-women's school and she didn't like it at all. She had always been a bit boyish for she had never seen her mother, whom died after she gave birth to her. She's strong and willing to change the old and rigid rules of Japanese high blood family. She's separated with her fiancee by war, but she made it to stand on her own feet by becoming a journalist, an occupation that only goes to men during that age.

The story is far from boring till the end. It really cracked my jaws and made me shed many a tear. It's rich with social and cultural issues of Japan in its changing era. I think the ending is a bit rush, but it's not disappointing at all. Love it!

[Bunga Mawar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serial ini saya baca waktu SMA, pinjam dari teman. Gara-gara serial ini juga saya jadi demen banget pada nama "Benio", hehe...

Sama halnya pada banyak bacaan saya yang lain, apresiasi tinggi saya berikan pada serial ini karena latar belakang (ULANGI: LATAR BELAKANG SEJARAH) yang jelas, yaitu pada masa awal Jepang mengalami restorasi Meiji. Anak-anak perempuan mulai pergi ke sekolah, samurai-samurai kehilangan masa kegemilangan menyandang pedang, dan para pria muda dipanggil untuk berperan serta dalam Angkatan Perang Kekaisaran yang modern.

Cerita roman Benio yang badung dan Letnan Muda Ijuuin yang ternyata blasteran Rusia (pantesan ganteng banget!) ini makin seru karena kita jadi masuk sedikit pada Perang Jepang-Rusia dan gempa bumi dahsyat di Tokyo tak lama sesudahnya. Saya jadi berharap punya koleksi serial ini, hiks!

[Bubu · Rating 5 out of 5]

MO DICETAK ULANG MA ELEX MEDIA TERBIT 13 JUNI 2012

AKHIRRRRNYAAAA
********************************************************************
lucu banget deh ini komik ... bacaan pas SMP pokok nya baca nya ampe ngakak2 .... benio sama letnan dua ... gak ada matinya... pokok nya juara

[Selvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

senaaang akhirnya bisa nemuin komik-komik lama yang dicetak ulang...jadi inget pas SD harus ngumpulin uang saku biar bisa nyewa komik2 ini di Asterix...

[Jessille silv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay it is definitely a shojo that is good for its era.
It is fun, comedic and all, but to be uphold for current standard? Not at all
I was hoping for some sort historical fantasy romance like Chie Shinohara's work, that is intrinsicly shojo but can still give enough pull of a strong willed woman. Moreover, in Chie's work, the girl always have development, agency and work. There is always plot
But here? I think I enjoy it well but it is hard to resist not to cringe by reading it
What i hate the most maybe is the lack of personality of main couple. If I can understand Kail adoration toward Yuri boldness, shinobu is... pretty but plain because the attraction between him and Benio is really cannot be understood. They lack interaction but why Shinobu like Benio? Why Benio still soften up to Shinobu(except for being perfect whateva).
I hope I can ship them like Ms Abbot and the doctor where the relationship is developed in conversation and interaction, while being amusing, or like Lelouch and CC(they're really an ultimate high chemistry partner), but well... it is a 70's shojo

[Dera Sagita Purwadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

kereeennn

[Yenie Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with her Hahahhahahahhahahaha
Repeatedly read it and still RoFL, LOL
Lovely

[Anne Rahmawati · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is the first comic that I have, I want to think back to that happy moment

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siamo nel settimo anno del periodo Taisho che corrisponde, secondo il calendario occidentale, all’anno 1918. In un Giappone ancora legato al sistema feudale, dove però si diffondono le prime ideologie femministe, si svolgono le vicende tragicomiche di Benio, studentessa tanto imbranata quanto dolce, che crede così tanto in queste nuove tendenze da venire indicata come la ragazza più anticonformista della scuola. Sembrerebbe pensarla in maniera del tutto diversa suo padre che le impone un matrimonio combinato con un ragazzo che Benio non ha mai visto. E secondo voi potrebbe trattarsi di uno scorfano brufoloso?! Ovviamente il prescelto, il sottotenente Shinobu Ijuin, è un figone pazzesco: biondo, bello, colto, gentile e tremendamente affascinante. I tentativi di ribellione risultano vani: Benio viene costretta a trasferirsi nella dimora del suo futuro sposo per imparare le buone maniere di una perfetta sposina…senonchè la nostra protagonista di femminile non ha niente: si diletta nell’hobby del bere, è un’abile spadaccina ed esercitandosi nell’ikebana finisce sempre per tagliare le corolle dei fiori. Molto più femminile di lei risulta essere l’amico d’infanzia Ranmaru che, essendo innamorato di Benio, per esserle vicino si traveste da cameriera e la segue in casa Ijuin. E qui succede il miracolo… Benio porta una ventata di ilarità, trasgressione e senso di giustizia in una famiglia mummificata da rigide quanto anacronistiche regole di vita. Contemporaneamente scopre di amare il bel Shinobu, ma il destino vuole che non abbia il tempo di rivelargli i suoi veri sentimenti perché questi parte per una spedizione in Russia dove è appena scoppiata la rivoluzione. Il dramma giunge presto: arriva la notizia che Shinobu è disperso… Il dolore di Benio è grande, troviamo a questo punto una delle scene più commuoventi del manga: la ragazza si taglia i capelli e indossa un candido abito da lutto decisa ad amare per sempre Shinobu nonostante la sua precoce morte. Dopo i tentativi di uccidersi annegando in una bacinella e successivamente in un barile di sakè, per Benio è il momento di reagire… e il seguito non ve lo svelo!!!

Il titolo originale della serie è “Haikarasan ga tooru”, letteralmente “Passa la ragazza col collo lungo” perché così venivano soprannominate le ragazze alla moda; proprio per questo il titolo italiano è stato adattato in “Una ragazza alla moda” mentre “Mademoiselle Anne” è invece il titolo del cartone animato. (Chi è stato quel genio dell'adattatore che ha usato il francese per un cartone così palesemente nipponico??)
Cosa ha di tanto particolare questo manga? In fondo la trama non ha niente di particolarmente originale rispetto a quella di altri shojo di ambientazione storica… Quello che rende unico questo fumetto è la travolgente comicità demenziale abbinata a una storia dai caratteri spesso tragici. Mi sono ritrovata spesso a ridacchiare da sola gustandomi le scenette esilaranti che invadono la storia: come non sorridere di fronte a personaggi inverosimili come “la strascicata”: la donna affamata di uomini o le assurde apparizioni del travestito Gigi in perfetto stile “Rocky horror picture show”?? Tra l’altro sono decisamente interessanti i vari riferimenti alla cultura e alla storia nipponica; riferimenti la cui comprensione è facilitata da delle note del traduttore.
Da leggere perché il divertimento è assicurato!

[Yuu Sasih · Rating 4 out of 5]

This rating and review are for all completed volumes.

Saya rasa saya baca ini waktu kelas 4 SD, pinjam punya kakak sepupu saya yang jadi pengaruh utama saya menjadi otaku.

Saya langsung suka dengan cerita ini karena tokoh utamanya, Benio, yang sangat tomboy. Dia jago berpedang, berkuda, dan memanjat pohon, pokoknya sangat jauh dari tipikal Yamato Nadeshiko yang dielu-elukan pada masa feodal jepang deh! Dan ironisnya, teman sepermainannya dari kecil, Ranmaru, justru sangat feminim walaupun dia laki-laki. Ranmaru bisa berdansa dengan begitu gemulai, gemar memakai kimono wanita, dan perasaan serta tingkah lakunya sangat lembut, sangat berkebalikan dengan Benio yang berangasan. Ranmaru sejak kecil tidak bisa hidup tanpa Benio karena cewek itu yang selalu melindunginya.

Masalah muncul ketika Benio ditunangkan dengan Letnan Dua Ijuuin yang notabene adalah seorang bangsawan (dan hartawan). Bertunangan dengan Ijuuin, Benio yang tomboy dipaksa untuk bersikap lebih feminim agar bisa sesuai dengan norma masyarakat pada masa itu. Tapi Benio selalu punya cara kocak untuk menghindar dari pelajaran tata kramanya dan sejurus kemudian, menarik hati sang Letnan Dua dengan keunikannya.

Saya kira ini adalah cerita dengan tema rakyat-bertunangan-dengan-bangsawan penuh humor yang pertama, dengan tokoh utama wanita yang sangat black sheep bagi budaya feodal waktu itu. Komik ini selalu membuat saya membacanya berulang-ulang setiap kali saya datang ke rumah sepupu saya, karena kebetulan masa itu juga masa-masa awal saya berubah jadi tomboy--ya, sebelumnya saya selalu pakai frilly dress. :p

Katanya diterbitkan ulang ya sama Elex? I need to buy it!

[Geeky Bookers - Ilaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il voto è abbastanza generoso perchè sarebbe in realtà un 4 e mezzo, ma dovendo scegliere fra 4 e 5 credo che si possa meritare 5 stelle solo per le risate che mi ha fatto fare! :D
E il formato non è minuscolo, ma molto corposo, quindi lo gradisco di più! Mi aspettavo un manga storico e invece è molto di più! La storia è solo all'inizio, ma le ottime premesse ci sono tutte! :)))

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In conclusione ho apprezzato molto questa serie, assegnando come voto complessivo un bel 4/5.
La storia è zuccherosa al punto giusto, con un pò di dramma e uno sfondo storico che ho molto gradito.
Se dovessi trovare una pecca indicherei il modo di segnalare l'anno da parte dell'autrice: anziché indicare l'anno numericamente per esempio "1925", riportava "Tredicesimo anno del periodo Taisho"... insomma, non sto mica tutto il tempo con la calcolatrice a calcolare l'anno! Sarebbe bastato anche un'asterisco riportando l'anno a rendere più fluida e serena la lettura.

Consigliato!

[Henny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely my favourite comic books. Hilarious! I remembered laughing very hardly everytime I read them during my junior high school time, with exception of the 7th book which is quite sappy. I reread them recently after my trip to Japan. During the trip, I saw rickshaw, suddenly I remembered Benio (the heroine). Hence the urge to dig into my old book collections to find and reread them.

I must admit, though I still laughed, I found more romance in the series. I didn't remember wiping my eyes while reading the 2nd book back then. I guess age does change one...

Still, thumbs up for the author for not failing to entertain me, irrespective of at what age I read them. Also for portraying the heroine as a modern and independent woman, who perseveres in pursuing her goals but is also realistic when it is time to move on.

[Ontorsoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

ini komik kedua setelah candy-candy yang aku baca. awalnya cuma dikasih rekomedasi ma mbk echan, "dek, ada komik baru keren lho...".
yang buat aku suka dan kasih bintang 5 ntu saja ma critanya. dan lagi semangatnya si Benio yang setia ma Letnan dua, kekehnya usaha benio untuk diterima di keluarga bangsawan, kerja kerasany benio untuk jadi lady. Semangat perempuan jepang yang sarat dengan patriarki pada jaman itu dan benio bener-bener kuat, aku suka karakter benio. yang paling penting, letnan Dua na ganteng ^_^
ohya, salah satu plot yang aku suka, di buku terakhir sewaktu benio membela anaknya yang "bandel".

Haduhh... komik ini nguras air mata sekalis bikin perut berguncang dey saking kocaknya.

[kaylanurul · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say about Waki Yamato? She is defitely my most beloved manga writer. I love Yokohama by bits and her interpretation of Tale of Genji is so vivid I can tell that she translated the books well into the comic.

As for Miss Modern series, she again make me rethink about what does it take to be a Modern women. One line that I really remember is when Tamaki said "Women used to be the sun. It shines thoroughly. But nowadays, women is moon. Her shines depends on the sun". And by the sun, she means man.

So, what does it takes to be a Miss Modern? Waki wants us to learn it from Benio and how she go through life with her beloved Lieutenant Ijuin Shinobu.

[NiRmA CanTabiLe · Rating 2 out of 5]

hik, aku teralu berharap lebih... sebenarnya ceritanya menarik, tentang emansipasi wanita, namun sayang pembawaan ceritanya terlalu banyak lelucon yang aneh dan ga perlu, jadi terasa menggangu.(tiba-tiba datang zorro--masa zaman gitu ada zorro?, atau penulis naskah yang bergaya vampir dan banyak lagi deh...). jadi ceritanya terkesan tidak serius. aku baru baca dua jilid tapi ga kuterusin, karena terlanjur kecewa. hiks T_T padahal aku suka sekali sama cerita waki yamato yang lain.

[Sondang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaaaah, saya pecinta Waki Yamato,.... ampe sekarang belum ada yg bisa ngalahin komik dia menurutkuh...
Miss Modern ini serial pertama dia yang kubaca, baru Yokohama, Little New York dan Linden.
Semua komik dia keren sih, soalnya selalu gambarin perempuan-perempuan yang 'beda' di jamannya...
Dan selalu 'beda' dari cantik yang berlaku pada pakem jamannya.
Just loove it!

[Genochan · Rating 5 out of 5]

High recommendation for these series.. I love it so much, too much that I'm not sure if I can falling in love this hard into another comics. Waki Yamato was a good-creative writer ever.. In her book story, she combined between comedy, drama, tragedy, romantic, classic and sacrifice with so many artistic-classical pictures in sidebar.

[Nur Asyiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waki Yamato is one of my favorite comic author!
Dia selalu 'menyelipkan' cerita sejarah di balik komiknya yang sangat menyenangkan.
Dengan tokoh wanita yang sangat tomboi dan berani memperjuangkan emansipasi wanita pada masa itu, komik ini bisa langsung membuat pembacanya jatuh hati pada karakter utama komik ini, Benio.

[Mariyanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first japanese comic book!!!!
Ceritanya yg lucu + mengharukan dengan karakter cewek yg tomboy, kuat dan tegar bikin aku jatuh cinta ma komik jepang
Sampe sekarang pun kalo baca tetep aja jadi ketawa sendiri...xixixi...

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

sama kayak candy-candy..
ni salah satu novel tertua di rak g!! kangeeeenn.. si tomboy yg akhirnya mendapatkan tuan jutek OKB yg ternyata pekerja keras dan mencintainya sepenuh hati

si pangeran buat g ajah laaaahhh ;)

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Termasuk koleksi manga awalku, satu angkatan dengan Candy-Candy, Kungfu Boy, Dragon Ball, Min-min, dll.

Di movie/live-actionnya, Hiroshi Abe yang memerankan Letnan Dua. He was so young and so cute then!!

[Agnes Hutapea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baca ini waktu masih SMP, minjem dr sepupu, dr nomor 1 sd 7, ga bisa berhenti baca nya... sampe jam 5 pagi ketawa ketawa sendiri tp ga bisa kenceng ketawanya soalnya smua lg pada tidur... Sampe sekarang msh teringat gmana Benio jd Tk. becak buat cari uang... hahaaha...

[DeAprillia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oohh..my Letnan Dua Ijuin....what a romantic story...

[Puni · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most romantic (and HILLARIOUS!!!) comic book i've ever read :) Waki Yamato's detailed art is truly uncomparable.

[Bemy Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

so funny....