Flower Stories
Whenever I wake up in the morning and don’t find myself repelled by the thought of leaving the house and dragging myself to work, I know spring has begun. Commonly perceived as a time of rebirth and renewal, spring means green grass, budding flowers, T-shirts and jeans, and lots of runny noses. Here at Kotonoha, it means the beginning of a new romance: Sweet Blue Flowers (Japanese title: Aoi hana) is our second joint with the wonderful people from Lililicious, and as coincidence has it, the charming and light-hearted (love) story just seems like the ideal lecture for this time of the year.
I was going to write up a neat introduction to this manga, but Erica Friedman from Okazu already beat me to it. As she pointed out, Sweet Blue Flowers is a nice little series that is likely to appeal to people who appreciate subtle, deliberately paced character dramas. I know what the majority of you think after reading the summary, but before you dismiss this title as “chick stuff,” you should know that it’s running in no other publication than Manga Erotics F, the same magazine that brought us Uncivilized Planet and Keep on Vibrating. Obviously, the line-up is meant to target readers of both sexes.
Mind you, reading Sweet Blue Flowers is a completely different experience from those aforementioned series. That isn’t to say that the story is not captivating or exciting. It is, just in a different way. SBF’s strength is clearly its characters—a wonderfully rounded cast of girls whose interpersonal dynamics make each chapter a pleasing read despite its “slow” tempo. Actually, I think it’s the plot’s unforced pace that allows the story to come across as natural and realistic. Everything in SBF is well-balanced. The story is sweet, but never cloying. It’s easy to read, yet never trivial or monochrome. Typical of a work by Takako Shimura, all main characters are portrayed in an extremely positive and sympathetic way (it’s my personal belief that Shimura is unable of creating an unlikable character ;)). However, they still retain enough realism (e.g. their vulnerability) for us to genuinely care about them—the best proof that we’re dealing with a good story.
I just finished reading the two SBF chapters and it is really interesting. I get the feeling that it’s going to be really good (like the majority of your manga). I’m glad I found this site and started branching out–there’s more than shoujo out there, haha.
Keep up the great work!
Oh, for html downloads, you should consider: http://www.filelodge.com if you haven’t already. You can direct link and you get unlimited bandwidth, but you only get 500MB. It’s a great site though.
Once again, thank you for your hard work!
Kim April 3, 2006 @ 3:00 am
Seems like a nice relaxing read, and a cute story too. Look foward to more.
SA April 3, 2006 @ 9:24 am
Just read 3 chapters of KoV and I do agree that KoV has a few gems (through explicitly graphic). Is KoV going to be on http anytime soon? I can’t download from BT.
Niam April 4, 2006 @ 4:37 pm
I was going to try the series out anyway, but your description convinced me even more to read it. *_* The art looks light and cute, too~ I can’t wait to try it!
It’s nice to see that you guys are updating regularly again!
badtzmaru April 4, 2006 @ 5:27 pm
I forgot Wordpress doesn’t allow the direct input of “<”. =_=
The rest of my comment that got cut off: <3 (I meant that genuinely, and not to pressure you guys or anything. @_@)
badtzmaru April 4, 2006 @ 5:30 pm
Sounds like fun! Your site always scanlates the neatest manga, so I’m gonna give it a try
Marina April 5, 2006 @ 5:56 am
The real gems in KoV are the 4th and 5th stories, in my opinion. But it might just be me. ^^
zzled April 5, 2006 @ 7:49 am
[Sweet Blue Flowers]
I’m glad about the positive response. After Yamaji Ebine, I wanted to pick up something with a more cheerful and light-hearted approach to the “yuri” topic* (you know, to reel in the Marimite crowd ;)). SBF seems like the ideal candidate and I like it quite a bit. Too bad Manga Erotics F is a bi-monthly magazine, which means the second volume might not be published until next year. T_T
* Speaking of which, look forward to another sweet yuri work very soon. It’s a bit more serious and melancholic than SBF, but the story is excellent.
[Keep on Vibrating]
@zzled: Haha, yeah. Those gas mask children rock!! I want to see a series with them.
@Niam: I will put a zip of the complete series on http very soon (this weekend?).
Nomad Soul April 5, 2006 @ 11:34 am
Nomad,
You guys just were linked by the blog Boing Boing regarding your work on YAMAMOTO’S EAR CLEANING SHOP.
Boing Boing story: http://www.boingboing.net/2006/04/04/ear_cleaning_manga.html
Congrats
Zyph April 5, 2006 @ 6:33 pm
Wow, thanks for the link, Zyph. I’m sure Meganeguard will be pleased to hear this. ^^
Nomad Soul April 6, 2006 @ 10:28 am
“Keep on Vibrating” is now available on Sendspace:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/igwd1d
Nomad Soul April 10, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
Soon, i will soon be back to host kotonoha stuff. Take a look in the forums to see tha latest updates: forum.myran-san.com
myran-san April 10, 2006 @ 2:59 pm
Thank you for translating Aoi Hana with Lililicious (n_n). I first got this link through Lilicious. I enjoy reading shoujo-ai and yuri stories, but I also take some time to download and read manga this group has to offer.
Keep it up 
Sei's lover April 12, 2006 @ 6:07 am
Aoi Hana disappointed me. By the desripction, I thought I was getting a cute yuri manga, but instead it ended up like so many other series, with an ugly, masculine girl pairing up with the lead girl. There’s no explanation for it either, other than superficial attraction. Considering the fact that both girls have much closer relationship with other girls, it only serves to make it seem even more shallow.
SicknTired April 18, 2006 @ 4:09 am
Yasuko, the captain of the basketball team? I’ll personally assert for her not being ugly. And, her quiet and casual self-confidence, what you can see in the way she bears herself and in her face, is very sexy. She has sheer weight of personality, enough that the first time I saw her, I could’ve gasped. >.> Instead, I just quietly went “Wow” to myself.
Plus, she treats Fumi very well.
And it’s very good character drama. The romance does feel realistic, too.
Honestly, a lot of relationships start with “superficial attraction”. It’s only later that they become more meaningful (if they do, some remain on the same level and some break up). Not all of them, mind. It in itself isn’t a horrible basis to start a relationship, it’s the other factors that determine whether it’ll be a good relationship in the long run.
Sarah Wolfie April 25, 2006 @ 1:41 pm