Sailor Moon 'Live Action'

Masih ingat serial animasi “Sailor Moon” yang ditayangkan di salah satu stasiun televisi swasta pada awal tahun 90 an itu? Untuk anda yang menjalani masa remaja pada periode tersebut tentu cukup akrab dengan serial ini. Sukses dengan rating tinggi pada waktu itu, versi komik (manga) nya pun mulai beredar di toko-toko buku, baik hitam putih maupun full colour deluxe edition (yang full colour ini harganya duapuluh ribuan lho waktu itu!).

Ternyata, Sailor Moon juga telah dikemas dalam versi yang lebih hidup, live action dorama, yang tayang di Jepang dari 4 Oktober 2003 sampai 25 September 2004. Dengan total 49 episode, Sailor Moon live action ini tak kalah pamor dalam menyedot perhatian pemirsa.

Meskipun tidak 100% sama dengan versi anime atau manganya, kisah 5 sailor senshi, dua kucing ajaib (luna dan artemis) serta tuksedo bertopeng tak kalah menariknya. Si ceroboh Usagi Tsukino (sailor moon), si jenius Ami Mizuno (sailor mercury), si cenayang Rei Hino (sailor mars), si tomboy Makoto Kino (sailor jupiter), dan si penyanyi idola remaja Minako Aino (sailor venus) sama-sama berjuang melawan Dark Kingdom yang ingin menguasai dunia. Dark Kingdom ini dipimpin oleh Queen Beryl dengan empat orang shitennou nya (Jadeite, Kunzite, Zoicite and Nephrite) dan sang sumber kekuatan jahat Queen Metaria. Keempat shitennou ganteng melancarkan aksi-aksi mereka dengan menciptakan youma (monster) yang bertugas menyerap energi manusia di bumi. Energi inilah yang akan semakin memperkuat Queen Metaria dan Dark Kingdom.

Pada awal cerita dikisahkan tentang penemuan kembali jati diri para sailor. Keempat sailor (sebelum sailor venus bergabung) menjalankan misi mereka dalam memberantas para youma dan melindungi sang putri. Perburuan dan perebutan kristal perak antara para sailor, para shitennou dan tuksedo bertopeng juga menjadi tanda tanya besar di episode-episode awal dorama ini. Kenapa kristal perak itu sangat berharga sehingga diincar oleh banyak pihak dan siapa yang berhasil mendapatkannya?

Berbeda dengan versi animenya yang lebih menekankan aksi-aksi laga para sailor dengan youma, pada versi dorama ini terasa lebih hidup karena lebih didominasi pada kehidupan para sailor di luar perannya sebagai pejuang kebenaran dan keadilan. Masalah-masalah mereka di keluarganya, di sekolah atau persahabatan para sailor itu sendiri disajikan dengan plot menarik dan tidak membosankan. Intrik percintaan dan permusuhan yang melibatkan usagi – mamoru serta sang putri serenity – pangeran endymion, atau persaingan antara rei dan aino minako tak kalah andil dalam menghangatkan dorama ini. Meski awalnya, agak susah untuk menerima wujud dorama ini di awal-awal episodenya, secara ini adalah hasil adaptasi yang tidak mudah, saya malah balik mengagumi usaha pihak produksinya yang sedemikian optimal mencoba menghidupkan tokoh-tokoh di dalamnya tanpa harus membuat banyak perubahan yang melenceng dari ide originalnya. Acting para pemainnya terutama Sawai Miyuu yang pada mulanya agak canggung dan kelihatan tidak natural, pada episode-episode berikutnya cukup berkembang dan terasa lebih masuk ke karakter asli seperti animenya. Untuk Queen Beryl dan para shitennou nya yang ganteng-ganteng, tokoh mereka dari awal sampai akhir episode memang hampir menyerupai animenya. Hanya figur-figur youma yang mestinya membuat seram dan takut, malah sering membuat saya tersenyum sambil geleng-geleng kepala, kawaii deh para youma itu! After all versi live action ini not bad kok  

Produser: Taoi

Naskah asli: Naoko Takeuchi

Pemain:
Sawai Miyuu: Sailormoon – Tsukino Usagi
Hama Chisaki: Sailormercury – Mizuno Ami
Kitagawa Keiko: Sailormars – Hino Rei
Azama Miyuu: Sailorjupiter – Kino Makoto
Komatsu Ayaka: Sailorvenus – Aino Minako
Shibue Jouji: Tuxedo kamen – Chiba Mamoru
Sugimoto Aya: Queen Beryl
Luna (voice): Han Keiko
Artemis (voice): Yamaguchi Kappei
Masuo Jun: Jedeite
Matsumoto Hiroyuki: Nephrite
Endou Yoshito: Zoicite
Kubodera Akira: Kunzite
Koike Rina: Nekono Luna

KAT-TUN

KAT-TUN adalah adalah kelompok boyband asal Jepang yang dibentuk perusahaan hiburan Johnny & Associates. Nama kelompok ini disusun dari huruf pertama nama keluarga keenam orang anggotanya. Selain itu, KAT-TUN bisa mengandung arti "keberuntungan untuk menang" (勝つ運, Katsu un^?), sehingga penggemarnya di Jepang menyebut nama kelompok ini sebagai Katsu-un.

Anggota

• K：Kamenashi Kazuya（23 Februari 1986 - )
• T：Taguchi Junnosuke（29 November 1985 - ）
• T：Tanaka Kōki（5 November 1985 - ）
• U：Ueda Tatsuya（4 Oktober 1983 - ）
• N：Nakamaru Yūichi（4 September 1983 - ）

• A : Akanishi Jin （4 Juli 1984 - ）

Karier musik

Tahun 2001 - 2004

• 16 Maret 2001

KAT-TUN dibentuk oleh Johnny Kitagawa dengan maksud untuk dijadikan penari latar dalam acara televisi NHK, Pop Jam pada tanggal 16 Maret 2001. Tanggal tersebut dianggap sebagai hari resmi terbentuknya KAT-TUN, walaupun tanggal 7 April juga disebut-sebut sebagai hari jadi KAT-TUN.

• 10-11 Agustus 2002

KAT-TUN tampil pertama kali dalam konser berjudul Okyakusama wa Kami Sama - Concert 55Nin Ai no Request Kotaete!! (お客様は神サマー Concert 55万人愛のリクエストに応えて !!^?, Tamu adalah raja - Konser untuk mengabulkan permintaan cinta dari 550 ribu orang). Sama halnya dengan judul pertunjukannya, konser mereka yang pertama dilangsungkan sebanyak 4 kali di hadapan total 200 ribu penonton yang beruntung dari keseluruhan 550 ribu orang yang mengikuti undian agar bisa memberi karcis. Konser kemudian diperpanjang sebanyak 2 kali lagi hingga keseluruhan menjadi 6 kali pertunjukan dalam 2 hari. Masih di bulan yang sama, konser KAT-TUN diadakan pada tanggal 26-28 Agustus di gedung Shōchiku-za, Osaka. Selama 3 hari, KAT-TUN mengadakan 20 kali pertunjukan, sedangkan di hari kedua KAT-TUN mengadakan 11 kali pertunjukan singkat. Jumlah pertunjukan KAT-TUN dalam satu hari memecahkan rekor dari kelompok serupa seperti TOKIO dan V6 yang pernah tampil 10 kali sehari.

• 26 Februari 2003

Album DVD berisi rekaman pertunjukan Okyakusama wa Kami Sama - Concert 55Nin Ai no Request Kotaete!! mulai diedarkan. Album DVD ini menduduki urutan nomor satu dalam tangga Oricon untuk angka penjualan dalam 3 kategori sekaligus (DVD, kaset video VHS, dan penjualan total). Album DVD pertama KAT-TUN menjadikan KAT-TUN sebagai kelompok penyanyi Jepang yang pertama kali menduduki tangga lagu Oricon sebelum merilis album dalam bentuk CD.

• 8-28 Agustus 2003

KAT-TUN melangsungkan pertunjukan keliling berjudul Ko Nen Mo Ah Taihen Thank U Natsu (Ko年モ Ah Taiヘン Thank U Natsu, Tahun ini juga 'Ah' Luar Biasa Terima Kasih Musim Panas^?) di Tokyo, Nagoya, dan Osaka.

• 12-20 Agustus 2003

KAT-TUN ikut serta dalam acara keramaian musim panas bernama Odaiba Bōken Ō (Raja Petualangan Odaiba) untuk memperingati hari jadi ke-45 stasiun televisi Fuji Television. Pertunjukan KAT-TUN diberi nama KAT- TUNの大冒険de SHOW (KAT-TUN no dai-bōken de SHOW) dan dilangsungkan di sebuah hotel di kawasan Odaiba, Tokyo.

• Januari 2004

KAT-TUN tampil dalam pertunjukan sandiwara musikal berjudul Dream Boy Hideaki TakizawaTackey & Tsubasa) yang dilangsungkan di Imperial Garden Theater, Tokyo. Pertunjukan drama dengan cerita yang sama, tapi menampilkan Kazuya Kamenashi sebagai peran utama disebut "edisi KAT-TUN & Kanjani8". (

• Agustus 2004

Pertunjukan hiburan yang menjelaskan sejarah perusahaan Johnny & Associates dilangsungkan di Harajuku Big Top, Tokyo. Pertunjukan ini diberi nama Summary of Johnnys World, dan KAT-TUN ditampilkan bersama NEWS.

• 28 Desember-5 Januari 2005

KAT-TUN mengadakan konser keliling bernama KAT-TUN Live Kaizoku-ban di Tokyo, Nagoya, dan Osaka. Pada hari terakhir pertunjukan di Yokohama pada 5 Januari 2005, secara total KAT-TUN sudah melangsungkan konser sebanyak seratus kali.

Tahun 2005

• Januari 2005

Serial drama berjudul Gokusen yang dibintangi Kazuya Kamenashi dan Jin Akanishi sebagai murid SMA mendapat jumlah angka penonton yang tinggi. Selanjutnya di bulan April tahun yang sama, Jin Akanishi semakin terkenal setelah memerankan karyawan baru dalam serial drama Anego.

• 3 Mei 2005

Album DVD berjudul KAT-TUN Live Kaizoku-ban dirilis, dan angka penjualan awal mencapai 129 ribu keping dan menempati urutan ketiga dalam tangga Oricon untuk minggu-minggu pertama penjualan DVD.

• 2 November 2005

Kamenashi Kazuya dan Tomohisa Yamashita membentuk unit sementara bernama Shūji to Akira untuk menyanyikan lagu "Seishun Amigo" yang dijadikan lagu tema serial drama Nobuta wo Produce. Dalam 4 minggu, singel "Seishun Amigo" mencatat angka penjualan di atas 1 juta keping di Jepang.

Tahun 2006

• 22 Maret 2006

Singel pertama KAT-TUN berjudul Real Face dirilis di Jepang. Lirik lagu ditulis oleh Shikao SugaTakahiro Matsumoto dari grup musik B'z. Pada hari yang sama juga dirilis album kompilasi berjudul Best of KAT-TUN dan album DVD berjudul Real Face Film.

• 26-27 Agustus 2006

KAT-TUN tampil sebagai bintang utama dalam acara televisi 24 Hour Television - Ai wa chikyū wo sukuu. Acara televisi ini berlangsung selama 24 jam secara terus menerus, dan merupakan acara derma yang dilangsungkan setahun sekali.

• Oktober 2005

Jin Akanishi diumumkan akan berangkat ke Amerika Serikat untuk belajar bahasa Inggris selama 6 bulan. Sementara itu, kelima anggota yang tersisa meneruskan kegiatan KAT-TUN seperti biasa.

• Singel ke-3 KAT-TUN yang berjudul Bokura no Machi de karya Kazumasa Oda dijadikan lagu tema serial drama Tatta Hitotsu no Koi dengan Kazuya Kamenashi menjadi peran utama.

Tahun 2007

• 3 April-17 Juni 2007

KAT-TUN melangsungkan pertunjukan keliling sebanyak 28 kali di 7 kota di Jepang. Tur ini diberi nama Tour2007　cartoon KAT-TUN II You

• 4 April 2007

KAT-TUN untuk pertama kalinya memiliki acara televisi sendiri. Acara ini diberi nama Cartoon KAT-TUN dengan KAT-TUN sebagai bintang utama, sekaligus merupakan acara televisi pertama mereka yang diberi judul yang mengandung kata "KAT-TUN". Acara televisi semacam ini disebut Kanmuri bangumi dan umumnya kesempatan ini hanya diberikan kepada artis terkenal di Jepang.

• 20 April 2007

Jin Akanishi kembali bergabung dengan KAT-TUN, dengan menggelar jumpa pers yang dihadiri lengkap oleh seluruh anggota KAT-TUN, setelah cuti selama 6 bulan untuk belajar bahasa di Amerika Serikat. Dan keesokan harinya langsung ikut dalam konser di Sendai

Daftar album

 

Singel

• "Real Face" (22 Maret 2006)
• "Signal" (19 Juli 2006)
• "Bokura no Machi de" (7 Desember 2006)
• "Yorokobi no Uta" (6 Juni 2007)
• "Keep The Faith" (21 November 2007)
• "LIPS" (6 Februari 2008)
• "Don't U Ever Stop" (14 Mei 2008)
• "White X'mas" (03 Desember 2008)
• "ONE DROP" (11 Februari 2009)
• "RESCUE" (11 Maret 2009)
• "Love Yourself ~Kimi ga Kirai na Kimi ga Suki~" (10 February 2010)
• "GOING!" (12 May 2010)
• "Change UR World" (17 November 2010)

Album CD

 

• Best of KAT-TUN (22 Maret 2006)
• cartoon KAT-TUN II You (18 April 2007)
• KAT-TUN III Queen Of Pirates (4 Juni 2008)
• Break the Records ~by you & for you~ (29 April 2009)

Album video DVD/VHS

 

• Okyakusama wa Kami Sama- Concert 55Nin Ai no Request Kotaete!!(2003)
• KAT-TUN Live Kaizokuban (2005)
• KAT-TUN Real Face Concert (2006)
• KAT-TUN Tour 2007 Cartoon KAT-TUN II You Concert (2007)
• KAT-TUN Live Break The Records(2009)

Hanazakari ni Kimitachi e (Hana Kimi) The Drama

TAIWAN

In the winter of 2006, "Hua Yang Shao Nian Shao Nu", a live action drama version of Hana-Kimi, began airing in Taiwan. It stars well-known Taiwan singer/actress Ella as Lu Rui Xi (Mizuki), Wu Chun as Zuo Yi Quan (Sano), Jiro Wang as Xiu Yi (Nakatsu). This series ran for 15 episodes, and a second season is planned!

The drama does a fairly good job at following the manga storyline. A few events are condensed, but for the most part they cover the essentials. They even do a good job at matching the floorplan of Sano and Mizuki's room! I think Ella looks okay as Mizuki, but her acting is a bit too exaggerated for me at first. She spends most of her time making these stupid goofy faces. I think I would like her more if she played the part a little more seriously. Jiro is AWESOME as Nakatsu though, and Wu Zun is hot as Sano *_* It took a few episodes for me to get used to the over-acting, but I soon came to love this show, and I can't wait for season 2!

I will eventually add synopses of the epsidoes here

Some basic info about the drama:

CAST:

• Ella - Lu Rui Xi (Mizuki)
• Wu Chun - Zuo Yi Quan (Sano)
• Jiro Wang - Jin Xiu Yi (Nakatsu)
• Tang Yu Zhe - Liang Si Nan (Nanba-sempai)
• Tang Zhi Ping - Mei Tian (Umeda-sensei)
• Zhang Hao Ming - Wang Tian Si (Tennouji)
• Duncan - Yuan Qiu Ye (Akiha)
• Ruan Jing Tian - Shen Le (Kagurazaka Makoto)
• Joelle Lu - Abby
• JJ Lin - Lu Jing Xi (Shizuki)

Opening theme: Zen Me Ban by S.H.E (Ella is a member of S.H.E)
Ending theme song: Zhuan Shu Tian Shi by TANK

A few screencaps:

JAPAN

The Japanese Hana Kimi drama began on July 3, 2007 and has quite an attractive cast. It lives up to its tagline of 'Ikemen Paradise' ^_^ It is slated for 12 episodes, which is a pretty good number for a Japanese drama. After watching 7 episodes, I have to say that while there are some things I like about this version, over-all I think I prefer the Taiwan one. I think this Japanese version has changed too much from the manga plot, and some of the casting bothers me. Actually, in a perfect world, I would combine my favorite actors from the Taiwan version and the Japanese version into one all-star cast ^___^ Horikita Maki is pretty good as Mizuki (she is almost too pretty ^_^) and Ikuta Touma is amusing as Nakatsu, but Oguri Shun is a bit too emo for Sano, in my opinion ^_^

CAST:

• Horikita Maki - Ashiya Mizuki
• Oguri Shun - Sano Izumi
• Ikuta Toma - Nakatsu Shuichi
• Mizushima Hiro - Namba Minami
• Yamamoto Yusuke - Kayashima Taiki
• Kimura Ryou - Senri Nakao
• Ishigaki Yuuma - Megumi Tennouji
• Kyo Nobuo - Masao Himejima
• Kamikawa Takaya - Hokuto Umeda
• Konno Mahiru - Akiha Hara

Opening theme: Ikenai Taiyou by Orange Range
Ending theme: PEACH by Otsuka Ai

A few screencaps:

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (Hana Kimi) The Characters

Ashiya Mizuki

• Height: 160cm ( ft in)
• Birthday: May 2
• Age: 17
• Blood Type: O
• Favorite Movies: Field of Dreams, Philadelphia
• Favorite Musicians: Kinki Kids, Spitz, Bonnie Pink
• Image Flower:Daisy
• Image Model: Endou Kumiko (EnKumi)

Mizuki is the heroine of the story. Before the story began, she lived in America, and looked pretty much like your average girl- cute, dressed like a girl, and had long hair. Then one day she saw a video of a high-jumping competition and she saw her first glimpse of Izumi Sano. She was so impressed by him that she was willing to have her long hair cut off and to travel to Japan to meet him. Mizuki is still cute with short hair, and is cheerful, and somewhat naive. While Sano begins to have feelings for her right away, it takes much longer for Mizuki to start having feelings for Sano, and even when she does, she is slow to figure out what those feelings mean. Sano is not the first guy she has liked though. In America she had a crush on another boy back when she was only 13. His name was Gilbert.

Sano Izumi

• Height: 180cm ( ft in)
• Birthday: December 24th
• Age: 17
• Blood Type: O
• Favorite Movies: Star Trek, Bladerunner
• Favorite Brand: Nike
• Favorite Sport: High Jump
• Image Flower: White Calla Lily

Sano is the reason behind Mizuki's return to Japan. He becomes her roommate in the boys dorm and he quickly begins to develop feelings for her, even though everyone believes she is a guy. As for what Sano believes? Well, that would be spoiling things! Sano is very strong and athletic and is easily the best high jumper at the school. Outside of class he is somewhat quiet, and can be seen brooding a lot. However he cares for Mizuki very much and always tries to protect his roommate from harm when he can. Sano has a younger brother with whom he does not get along very well.

Nakatsu Shuichi

• Height: 180.5cm ( ft in)
• Birthday: August 20
• Age: 17
• Blood Type: B
• Favorite Movies: Die Hard, Speed, Matrix
• Favorite Brand: Good Knife, Addidas
• Favorite Sport: Soccer
• Favorite Music: Ulfuls, TMR
• Image Flower: Himawari (Sunflower)
• His hair is bleached.

I love Nakatsu, he is so much fun! He seems to be the main comic-relief of the series, and has become one of my all-time favorite baka-boys. He is loud and impulsive, and can seem like a bit of an idiot, but he means well. Nakatsu is in the same class as Mizuki and Sano, and he lives in the same dorm.Things for poor Nakatsu start to get really confusing when he finds himself totally had over heels infatuated with Mizuki. Even though he thinks she is a guy, Nakatsu can't help how he feels. Often during the series we will get glimpses of 'Nakatsu-vision,' seeing Mizuki the way Nakatsu does- very soft and beautiful. Nakatsu has a bit of an identity crisis when he falls for Mizuki. When faced with an actual GIRL who likes him, he can't decide if he should continue pining for Mizuki, or date the 'real' girl!

Nanba Minami

• Height: 182cm ( ft in)
• Birthday: June 5
• Age: 18
• Blood Type: A
• Favorite Food: Italian, French
• Favorite Movies: Field of Dreams
• Favorite Musicians: Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Lauren Hill
• Favorite Sport: Basketball
• Pet: Dog (Irish Setter)
• Image Flower: Orchid

One of my favorite characters! (then again, I like just about everyone :) Nanba-senpai is an upperclassman at Ohsaka Academy, and is one of the dorm/class leaders. He is very handsome, and knows it. He is very flirtatious, and likes to hit on any girls he sees. I like how he tried to win over Mizuki's friend Julia. Ahh such a Playboy! Nanba-senpai likes to tease people, but he is very nice to Mizuki. Despite his outgoing, flirtations attitude, he can be serious at times, and can actually get melancholy when thinking about a past relationship that meant a lot to him. He has occasionally leaned on Mizuki for comfort. Family-wise, Nanba is the nephew of the school doctor, Umeda-sensei, and Umeda's sister Rio is his aunt.

Umeda Hokuto

• Height: 184cm ( ft in)
• Birthday: October 31
• Age: 27
• Blood Type: O
• Favorite Movies: Bladerunner, Salome
• Favorite Brand: Helmut Lang
• Favorite Music: T99, Prodigy, D.O.A., Enigma
• Image Flower: Anthurium

The school doctor, Umeda-sensei, is another fantastic character. He finds out right away about Mizuki's secret, and soon becomes the one she runs to when she is in trouble and needs help. He gives Mizuki advice and generally hangs around being very cool. He has a younger sister named Rio who is a student at the neighboring girl's school, and an older sister named Io who he is somewhat afraid of :) (She is very... domineering :). He is also the uncle of Nanba-senpai. Umeda-sensei is quite the playboy. He works at an all-boys school, and it certainly looks like he takes advantage of that fact. Every time Mizuki enters his office, she finds him in some really suggestive 'yaoi'-type position with one of the cute male student. It's so funny to see what he will be up to next!

Hara Akiha

• Height: 191cm ( ft in)
• Birthday: November 29
• Age: 25
• Blood Type: B
• Favorite Brand: Youji Yamato
• Favorite Sport: Beach Volleyball
• Favorite Movies: 101 Dalmations, Barbarella
• Image Flower:Flaming (?)

Yay! Another really great character! Akiha is a year younger than Umeda-sensei, and was one grade lower than Umeda back in school, and thus calls Umeda 'senpai'. Akiha is one of the few characters that can make Umeda-sensei freak out. Why? well because Akiha makes it very clear that he LIKES Umeda-sensei a LOT! Very flamboyant, he happily hugs and gets his hands all over Umeda whenever he can! (Much to Umeda's dismay!) His personality is very hyper, happy, and fun! Akiha is a famous photographer who is interested in getting Mizuki to model for him. He ends up getting all the HanaKimi school guys to model for him, making for some GREAT looking photos :) Akiha seems to be a fan of Disney, because he likes the movie 101 Dalmations, and he drives an old Volkswagon Beetle that he calls his 'Love Bug' ^_^

Oscar M. Himejima

• Birthday: September 9

Oscar M. Himejima (real name: Masao Himejima)is such a hilarious character. He is the leader of the Third Dormitory. He is very flamboyant and fancy and is a total narcicist. He loves himself! This character sparkles so much, he is blinding. He likes to speak random German phrases, and he calls himself 'Oscar' instead of his real name, 'Masao'. His hair is long and dyed, and he wears colored contacts. He loves beautiful things, and is very melodramatic about expressing his feelings. On the drama CDs, his character is voiced by Koyasu Takehito (how fitting!) and his background music is a harpsichord. He is that kind of guy!

Hanazakari ni Kimitachi e (Hana Kimi) The Manga

HanaKimi Volume 1

Japanese Version: ISBN# 4-592-11602-X
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16329-3

The series begins with Mizuki in America having her hair cut by her friend Julia. Mizuki is off to go study in Japan. She is on a mission: to find Izumi Sano and become his friend. She saw him in a sports video and decided she had to meet him. However he goes to an all-boys school, so Mizuki must make some cosmetic changes to her appearance, get a boys uniform and enroll in Ohsaka Academy. Once she is there, she not only meets Sano, she becomes his roommate, and meets several of his friends. Things between Mizuki and Sano heat up right away in many small scenes- she finds him sleep on the grass outside and he leans against her, she gets injured during a class soccer game, and Sano carries her to the doctor's office, Sano walks in on Mizuki in the shower, they get in an argument which causes Nakatsu to fight with Sano too, and much more. All throughout the volume Sano is close to Mizuki, and already he is beginning to have feelings for her! The school doctor discovers Mizuki's secret and becomes the one she runs to when she needs help.

HanaKimi Volume 2

Japanese Version: ISBN# 4-592-12852-4
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16398-6

Mizuki is getting pretty good at maintaining her disguise as a boy while living with Sano. She gets to watch Sano practice his high jump but has an angry confrontation with one of his rivals. Too much alcohol causes Sano to get a bit too friendly with Mizuki! EEk! Then thing get even more interesting- Shizuki, Mizuki's older half-brother arrives, and he doesn't know about Mizuki's charade! His arrival almost threatens to bring Mizuki's masquerade days to an end! She must try to convince her brother that what she is doing is okay, and to leave her there and not tell everyone, especially Sano, what she is up to! Meanwhile, Sano has a big competition coming up, and he is spending all his time at the track training for the high jump. Mizuki does her best to cheer him on!

HanaKimi Volume 3

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-12853-2
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16399-4

After a tough round of tests, it is finally summer vacation! But this poses a bit of a problem for Mizuki, as everyone is leaving the dorm for the summer, She needs a place to go. After a great ..er.. bed encounter with Sano (!), Mizuki and the gang end up heading for the beach to work at a beachfront restaurant as a sort of.. favor for Umeda-sensei. The summer job proves to be interesting as Sano's feelings for Mizuki intensify amidst some competition when another guy (his name is Makita-kun) at the restaurant takes an interest in Mizuki as well! The arrival of Sano's highjump rival causes some frction and humorous situations, but there is one very scary event that happens when Makita goes a bit too far in his interest in Mizuki.The tension between Sano and Makia is great! Mizuki's secret is discovered by someone else, yet she manages to stay a student at Ohsaka Academy!

HanaKimi Volume 4

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-12854-0
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16458-3

Summer vacation is over, and everyone is back at the dorms. But there is excitement in the air because it is now time for some school competitions! The classes are divided up into teams to participate in various events like a obstacle course, 500 meter relay, etc. Nanba-senpai is in charge of the group Mizuki is in, and he is all fired up to win! Everyone is extremely psyched up to win all their events! It looks like Nanba-senpai's fighting spirit and excitment may be covering up some feelings of sadness about something. Meanwhile, Nanba-senpai's main competition is a guy named Kujou, who seems to have some sinister things in mind. The part of the competition that everyone is talking about the most is the cosplay! Yes, a group of the guys from Mizuki's dorm will be running a coffee shop, and must dress as girls and act as waitresses! Ahh such fun! Mizuki's group has a theme for their costumes, and the results are adorable! Nakatsu in drag is priceless :) A guy named HIMEJIMA Masao is introduced in this volume. He's a very flamboyant upperclassman who likes to speak in German (he throws some French in there too) and calls Mizuki 'Kitten') ^_^ We also get a nice look into Nanba-senpai's past! There is a non HanaKimi story at the end of this volume about a romance between a girl named Miho and a mysterious boy named Yue.

HanaKimi Volume 5

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-12855-9
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16497-4

The class competition continues in this volume, and the boys are still in their cute female waitress costumes. Mizuki looks really cute with long hair! In this volume, Oh no! Nanba's rival in the class competition has Mizuki kidnapped! Sano and the others rush to try to rescue her! Sano is quite fierce indeed! Later on, Mizuki gets a postcard in the mail, and her thoughts are on it's sender, a bot named Gilbert. Back in America, he was the first guy she liked. She spent some time with him when she was 13. This is a nice background story for Mizuki! Back in the present, Mizuki watches Sano practice the high jump. Believe it or not, this results in a rather intimate moment between Sano and Mizuki! Much blushing here! Unfortunately, Nakatsu witnesses the scene, and gets really depressed! He really likes Mizuki (even though he is still in a bit of denial because Mizuki is a 'boy'). All he can think about is Mizuki until one day he is surprised with a love letter from a GIRL! Her name is Komari-chan. Her arrival throws Nakatsu into an even greater state of confusion. Should he date the new girl or stick with his affection for Mizuki? After all, Komari-chan is a GIRL, and she is pretty cute... Then one evening while studying with Mizuki, Nakatsu sees that she has fallen asleep! He stares at Mizuki, at her lips.. and slowly leans in closer to kiss them...

HanaKimi Volume 6

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-12856-7
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16498-2

Nakatsu's infatuation with Mizuki grows, but he decides to date Komari-chan anyway. Meanwhile, a reporter is sneaking around trying to take revealing pictures of everyone. Mizuki is now taking karate lessons (presumably to learn how to defend herself from attacks like the ones she has faced before). Even though he is dating Komari-chan, Nakatsu still likes Mizuki, and he struggles to contain his feelings. Finally he makes a decision as to who he likes more- Mizuki or Komari-chan, and ends a relationship. There is a background story for Nanba-senpai. It begins with him purchasing a bouquet of flowers to send to someone in congratulations for her wedding. Then we learn that the girl who is getting married is Nanba-senpai's first love from several years ago. She had been his tutor in more than just schoolwork ^_^; She had been his first love, and his first heartbreak ;_;. Returning to the main story, the romantic tension between Mizuki and Sano continues to grow, but everything is turned upside down by the arrival of Mizuki's best friend from America, Julia! Julia is a force to be reconed with. She can ignore Nanba's playboy advances, and fight with Nakatsu, yelling just as loudly! (watching her and Nakatsu together is rather funny, as he reacts to her like she is poison ivy :)

HanaKimi Volume 7

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-12857-5
English Version: ISBN# 1-591-16499-0

Mizuki's friend Julia has arrived, and is making waves with her 'revelation' that she is Mizuki's 'girlfriend'! Poor Nakatsu doesn't take this well :) Meanwhile, Sano's relationship with his younger brother Shin is revealed to be less than friendly. Julia has enrolled in the neighboring girls school. She hangs around Mizuki a lot and observes her relationship with Sano, then becomes suspicious as to exactly how much about Mizuki he knows! The boys all goes on a school field trip, and of course run into the girls at a hot springs. Late at night both Mizuki and Sano decide to indulge in the hot baths, and have a close encounter! Julia proves herself to be extremely good at fending off Nanba-senpai's playboy advances! :) Sano has a run-in with his brother while on the school trip, and Mizuki learns about their relationship. The usual romantic tension is still present between the two of them (they blush a lot, and look generally adorable when around each other :)

HanaKimi Volume 8

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-12857-5
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50007-8

HanaKimi Volume 8

HanaKimi Volume 9

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-12859-1
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50138-4

HanaKimi Volume 9

HanaKimi Volume 10

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-12860-5
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50264-X

HanaKimi Volume 10

HanaKimi Volume 11

Japanese Version: ISBN4-592-17661-8
English Version: ISBN1-4215-0394-8

This volume starts off with an eerie mood as the gang encounters a ghost! Nakatsu is posessed by a ghost and enters Mizuki's room at night, giving her a good scare! Taiki explains about the ghosts that are nearby, and Mizuki ends up helping them. Then comes the main storyline for this volume- the dance! The boys dorm is carted off to the girls school and are forced to lake dancing lessons for an upcoming ball. And of course, guess who ends up having to dress up like a girl? Yeah, Mizuki is stuck once again worrying that her 'female' looks may be a bit too convincing, especially when she is forced to remove her binding denim vests that hold in her chest in order to wear the strapless ballgown! There is lots of fun to be had here, as Masao (exuse me, *Oscar M Himejima!* meets his female equivalent at the girls school, and Nakatsu sees Mizuki in a short skirt. There is also a wonderful moment of tension between Sano and Mizuki when he sees her in her short skirt as well, hehehe! He actually gets a nosebleed! This volume introduces Umeda-sensei's very young-looking parents!

HanaKimi Volume 12

Japanese Version: ISBN4-592-17661-8
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50542-8

This volume continues the dance storyline from volume 11. Now that all the dancing lessons are over, it's time for the big competition night. Mizuki is in her beautiful ballgown, and everyone is ready to dance. Nakatsu actually gets to dance with Mizuki first, and in true Nakatsu fashion, he actually passes out from the excitement. ^_^;;; After an unfortunate 'accident' with her dress, Mizuki gets to dance with Sano, and they make a gorgeous couple! They dancetogether naturally and look like they are having so much fun! It also happens to be Christmas Eve, and is Sano's birthday. Mizuki wishes him Happy Birthday as they watch the snow fall. His expression is so wonderful! The next main story arc in this volume begins when Mizuki receives an urgent message from her brother, telling her to come home! This means Mizuki travels back to America, and we get to meet her family! Her father runs a vetrinary clinic in San Francisco while her mother is a dance instructor. They make such an adorable couple! Julia also makes another appearance, and Mizuki once again encounters someone she has not seen in a long time-- her first 'crush' Gilbert! Things get even better when none of thean Sano and Nakatsu run into Mizuki in America! Sano meeting Gilbert is NOT a happy situation, and the sparks (and testosterone) fly between them as they realize they are rivals for Mizuki!

HanaKimi Volume 13

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-17663-4
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50543-6

HanaKimi Volume 13

HanaKimi Volume 14

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-17664-2
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50544-4

HanaKimi Volume 14

HanaKimi Volume 15

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-17665-0
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50545-2

HanaKimi Volume 15

HanaKimi Volume 16

Japanese Version: ISBN#: 4-592-17262-0
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50991-1

HanaKimi Volume 16

HanaKimi Volume 17

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17263-9
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50992-X

HanaKimi Volume 17

HanaKimi Volume 18

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17264-7
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50993-8

HanaKimi Volume 18

HanaKimi Volume 19

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17265-5
English Version: ISBN# 1-421-50994-6

HanaKimi Volume 19

HanaKimi Volume 20

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17266-3
English Version: ISBN#978-1421509952

HanaKimi Volume 20

HanaKimi Volume 21

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17267-1
English Version: ISBN#978-1421509969

HanaKimi Volume 21

HanaKimi Volume 22

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17877-7
English Version: ISBN#

HanaKimi Volume 22

HanaKimi Volume 23

Japanese Version: ISBN 4-592-17878-5
English Version: ISBN#

HanaKimi Volume 23