Hikage is a reclusive 8th grader who no one seems to notice. She finds comfort in her blog, and the the people who comment on it. Everything changes one day when two cute boys notice her. These boys are the most popular kids in the entire school. When one of them tells her something that she's always wanted to hear, she might not be as invisible as she thought...
She made her debut in September 2003 in the monthly manga magazine Nakayoshi with her story, Tenshi no Tamago ("Angel's Egg", no relation to the anime movie of the same name). Gokkun! Pūcho is considered her best representative work. Tokyopop has licenced it under the title Pixie Pop. All of her works are published by Kodansha, and they are enjoyed mainly by preteen and teen girls. None of her series have yet become anime.
Hinata und Teru haben sich zerstritten. Schuld daran ist die Intrige einer Mitschülerin. Wird es Hikage gelingen, die beiden Jungen wieder miteinander zu versöhnen? Und für wen der beiden schlägt ihr Herz? Wird es ein Happy End geben? *** Mein Leseeindruck: Dieses ist nun der Abschlussband dieser fünfteiligen Manga-Reihe. Ich muss sagen, ich war ein wenig erstaunt über das "frühe" Ende. Die Geschichte endet schon knapp nach der Hälfte des Mangas; danach kommen noch Bonus-Storys. Im Großen und Ganzen hat mir aber die Geschichte wieder Spaß gemacht. Ich mag an dieser Reihe besonders die Botschaft, die hinter der Geschichte steht. Ein schüchternes Mädchen findet endlich den Mut und die Kraft, aus ihrer Einsamkeit herauszutreten und findet ihre Erste Liebe. Eine süße Geschichte!
This was a super quick series but I feel like they were somewhat able to wrap it up okay. Overall, I would've loved it if this series was expanded a little bit more but at the same time I'm pretty contented with how it was written. Would recommend this only if you're looking for a quick read.
Este manga me hizo querer revivir mi blog después de años sin usarlo. Los dibujos son tan geniales! Adoro el estillo de T. Emma, soy una gran fan de sus trabajos
Hikage has always found it difficult to make friends as she is too shy to speak to her classmates. After an accident, she misses the first days at her new school and finds upon her return that her new class has already formed clusters of friends. Not belonging to any of them or having other friends to call her own, she shares her thoughts on her online blog where two strangers comfort and encourage her.
I am no poet but the English blurb is awful. I Am Here! is a beautiful manga that seems to get a bit of undeserved hate and it definitely deserves a better marketing text. This manga does feature a couple of shoujo clishés - I know some people hate them like the plaque whereas I am usually not too bothered provided they are done well. There is much more to Hikage's story than just a bunch of clichés though.
Yes, Hikage is a complete outcast and her love interest Hinata is the most popular boy at school - haven't we all heard that one before. But a stark contrast to other series is that it's primarily Hinata who seeks Hikage out whereas all she is looking for is friendship. Hinata also has reasons for liking her beyond I-saw-her-and-I-liked-her. Hikage is so unfamiliar with friendships and social life that romance isn't even on her radar when the story starts and I think the development between the two is done just right. Hinata definitely did well by her by giving her the time and space she needed as well as helping her get out into the world.
Now, Hikage as a main character seems to get her fair share of criticism from readers. I can kind of see where people are coming from - she is shy and she cries a lot . But I absolutely do not see her as a weak character. People are different and there are so many different forms of strength. Even though it is only ever said that she is shy, I think it is safe to say that she has some form of social phobia. As someone who has gone through high school with social anxiety I can tell you: yes, it can seem like the hardest thing in the world to enter a classroom yet alone say something. Social anxiety can be downright crippling to the point that it makes you physically sick. If my assumption that Hikage is more than just shy is correct, I find the portrayal of her behaviour more than realistic. She is desperately lonely and yet terrified once eyes are turned on her. It makes her knees shake, cry and run home to hide under a blanket, not knowing how she will face the next day. By the end of the story, Hikage might still be a shy girl, but she grows a lot throughout the series and learns to stand up for herself and maker herself heard. It takes a lot out of her and I think it may be hard to relate to for some just how difficult those situations are.
While this is definitely a romance manga, friendship and belonging are an equally big theme throughout I Am Here!. This manga is filled with lovely metaphors that just seem to hit the nail on the head. I love how Hikage describes feeling the warmth of belonging to a circle of friends for the first time, the way friendship and companionship are shown throughout the series really raises this beyond your average romance manga. Hikage also tends a sunflower throughout the story which equals her own growth as she finds herself out in the open sky turned toward the sun.
I Am Here! might still not be Tōyama at her best, but the art is very pretty and I love how she draws emotion onto characters' faces. It's a beautiful and heartfelt story that can encourage shy readers to go out there and do their best as well. It's definitely a favourite of mine and doesn't deserve bad press just because Hikage isn't a kick-ass heroine - she's a heroine in her own right.
This last volume of Koko ni Iru Yo! includes the typical, here melodramatic third act drama in a romance story and was another 3.5 stars read for me. The conflict was here so annoying: Aya, Hikage’s rival, creates an arbitrary conflict between Hinata and Teru which could be solved easily if they just talk to each other. Instead, it becomes threatening to the peace of their whole school class and Hikage is forced to make a decision – and it was so clear who she would choose.
When looking at the characters, I can say that I still like Hikage and that I love her character development, even though it was part of the classical “the friends we made along the way” message. Furthermore, it was interesting that the second person on her blog, Mega Pig, .
All in all, this series was a nice read. The story is not too deep and the characters not too interesting, but it still tackles important topics and has nice character artworks.
Koko ni Iru Yo! ➳ Average rating for the whole series: 3.6 stars
You may know her most popular work: Love Missions, which is still being published. I remember I wanted to find something cute and romantic to read, not too much suspense, but with a good portion of mystery behind the characters. And well I found this one. I finished it in one day and had this stupid grin on my face. Okay I was a bit disappointed that she ended up with Hinata, but well, can’t do anything bout it.
Now, let’s get back to the story. The main character – Hikage Sumino, even though she was a total wimp, she didn’t frustrate me as much as I thought she would. I was actually supporting her and understood all her feeling. I couldn’t really understand all o them, because I have always been noticed. She is one of those kids that are never noticed. She sits at her desk, but even teacher never knows who she is. To sum up everything, she is what you may call a ghost. Her classmates even mistake her name every time. Lonely right? Well, she has two online friends, who always visit her blog and cheer her up: Black Rabbit and MegaPig. Everything starts to change when one of the school idols – Hinata talks to her and says that he had always been looking at her, and that of course he knows her name. Well, he confessed, but what is going to happen to Hikage now? There are a lot of fan girls around Hinata and it is just the matter of time when they start bullying her. But that’s not the only thing keeping those two apart?
It appears that Hinata may know who Black Rabbit is. But he is keeping it secret. You will get the right idea from the very beginning. However, the author twists it so much, that you will have doubts about his identity. But the initial guess will be correct, the Black Rabbit is … nope, not telling. But that person will be around our lovebirds and will even try to steal Hikage from HInata. That volume was really heartbreaking.
I hope you will find some time to read this cuteness; you will love it a lot.
My feelings have reached beyond the roof. I will very willingly re-read those last two chapters over and over when I'm feeling sad because OMG THE FLUFFINESS FEELS. I was SO HAPPY when she chose Hinata-kun. Teru's a sweetheart, but really, Hinata-kun was very much there for her and he liked her first, come on now X) It was great to read the end of the love story and have it work out so well. And a bit open-ended, their little rivalry is so adorable, but it's mostly closed! It was awesome!!!
Megapig's story...was just...the cutest one-shot I've ever read. And I've read a few cute ones...this one took the prize BY FAR.
And the drawings...stayed...AMAZINGLY CUTE. THE CRYING, THE BLUSHES, THE SHINY EYES...SOOOOO DARN CUTEEEE!!! AIIIIII!!! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
No puedo decir demasiado. Pareciera que fue un manga que cancelaron y todo se apresuró al final. El mensaje es lindo, la idea es linda, y me gusta que se centre más en emociones y amistad, reconocerse uno mismo, que en el amor barato que suelen tener la mayoría de los shoujos. Igualmente, va sin pena ni gloria, es bonito, pero siento que quedó muy en el aire, había material y lo dejaron tirado. Igual no se ilusionen, no tenía mucho potencial.
La recomiendo por si se aburren y quieren leerse algo en pocas horas, pero no les va a afectar demasiado.
Why that annoying b**ch! Meddling with the feelings f others. Now, Teru and Hinata-kun are fighting. :/ i know it's hard to fit in but it doesn't mean you should bully people. That's wrong. But i'm glad that things ended well.
In the end, she chose Hinata! Yay! ♡ My team won! XD wahaha! Anyway, this was a nice cute short story to read. :) i still wonder who is MegaPig though. Just an extra. =))) lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Aoi Nanjo is Megapig!! I'm glad Hinata and Teru are friends again~ that Aya girl is a devil!!!!! She always laughs when someone's hurt. Creepy!!!! The ending's kinda boring but the whole story is interesting. I'm glad it isn't really long. I might kill myself if Sumino's stupidity goes on.
I like MegaPIG. He's so honest and seems fun to talk with. Although, he's known for being rude but at least he's honest. *thumbs up*