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The first English volume of Junjo Romantica as released by BLU.
純情ロマンチカ
(Junjō Romanchika)
Genre
Romance, Yaoi, Comedy
Manga
Author
Shungiku Nakamura
Demographic
Shōjo
Magazine
Asuka CIEL
Original run
2002 – ongoing
Volumes
10
TV anime
Director
Chiaki Kon
Studio
Studio DEEN
Original run
April 2008 – TBA
Episodes
24 (1st season lasted for 12 episodes from April 2008 until June 2008, while the 2nd season is said to begin this October 2008)
Junjou Romantica (純情ロマンチカ, Junjō Romanchika?, lit. “Pure Romance”) is a yaoi series by Shungiku Nakamura. It focuses on not only a main couple but two other male couples. It has expanded into several cd-dramas, a manga series with a spin-off running in Asuka CIEL, a light novel series running in The Ruby with a spin-off and a 24-episode anime series.
Contents
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Plotline
Misaki is suddenly having some unexpected and odd problems. What started as a need for some college entrance exam tutoring has somehow led him to being romanced by a suave older man who also happens to be his big brother’s best friend.
Confused by all of his brand new emotions, Misaki struggles to deal with his suddenly very odd life. And if that wasn’t enough, his suitor, Usami, has plenty of issues of his own. A man-child who decorates his room with giant teddy bears and toys, Usami is a famous novelist who also writes steamy boys’ love novels on the side.
Junjou Romantica focuses on three different sets of lovers, each with their own compelling stories, these other two couples are introduced in Egoist and Terrorist. There is also another mini series called, ‘Junjou Minimum’, which is also in the CD dramas.
Characters
Junjou Romantica
Misaki Takahashi (高橋美咲, Takahashi Misaki?)
18 yrs, 19 yrs in episode 8: The protagonist, younger brother of Takahiro. At the start of the series, Misaki is about to sit for his college entrance examinations. His dream is to go to M University since that was the college his brother dropped out of so that he could begin taking care of Misaki after their parents died. Although seemingly childish and brash, Misaki is later revealed to be a person who is simply adamant on insisting against doing anything that might not be beneficial to anyone else.
Voiced by: Takahiro Sakurai
Akihiko Usami (宇佐見秋彦, Usami Akihiko?)
28 yrs: A popular author of non-fiction and erotic boys love novels, and the youngest recipient of the distinguished Naomori Award. His nickname is “Usagi”, which means “rabbit” in Japanese. Usagi is Misaki’s tutor for the upcoming entrance exams, and a very close friend of Takahiro (he, in fact, harbored an unrequited love for Takahiro for a long time).
Voiced by: Hikaru Hanada
Haruhiko Usami (宇佐見春彦, Usami Haruhiko?)
Akihiko’s older half brother (they have different mothers). He is generally cold and disapproving towards his brother, though no one really knows why. After a brief apearance by him in the middle of the series he begins proclaiming that he ‘loves’ Misaki, but that was only after he found out how close him and Usagi were. When he begins sending Misaki flowers and saying he would take Misaki as his own, Usagi claims that Haruhiko was, ‘always trying to take things.’
Takahiro Takahashi (高橋孝浩, Takahashi Takahiro?)
Misaki’s older brother, and Akihiko’s long-time friend. He was the subject of Akihiko’s love interest for a long time, but never noticed Akihiko’s feelings due to him being naive and having a somewhat air-headed personality. He is extremely caring towards his brother, even dropping out of school to support Misaki’s studies after their parents died.
Voiced by: Kishô Taniyama
Junjou Egoist
Hiroki Kamijo (上條弘樹, Kamijo Hiroki?)
28 yrs : A long-time friend of Akihiko’s, who is an associate professor at the college Misaki studies at. He is a bit of a loner and is extremely passionate about classical Japanese literature, apparently having graduated at the top of his class. Hiroki was initially in love with Akihiko. He has a bad temper and is feared among his students, though he is actually shy and gets flustered easily.
Voiced by: Kentarou Itou
Nowaki Kusama (草間野分, Kusama Nowaki?)
24 yrs : Orphaned without a name as an infant, he was named “Nowaki” (“typhoon” in Japanese) by the head of the orphanage because he was found in a heavy rain storm. Nowaki first meets Hiroki 6 years ago, when he is crying about his fruitless relationship with Akihiko, and goes on to insist that Hiroki become his tutor. He is currently studying to become a pediatrician.
Voiced by: Nobutoshi Canna
Junjou Terrorist
You Miyagi (宮城庸, Miyagi You?)
35 yrs: A Literature Professor at M University and a co-worker of Kamijo Hiroki. He was once married, but is now divorced most likely due to his indifference to feelings and emotions. His love interest is surprisingly enough – his ex-wife’s younger brother!
Voiced by: Kazuhiko Inoue
Shinobu Takatsuki (高槻忍, Takatsuki Shinobu?)
18 yrs : A young high school student (and the son of M University’s dean of literature and also Miyagi’s boss) who believes it to be fate that he is in love with his ex-brother-in-law, Miyagi Yu. Would very much like Miyagi to take responsibility for Shinobu falling in love with him.
Voiced by: Daisuke Kishio
Anime Adaptation
The series began airing April 10, 2008. As of now, the first season, which has 12 episodes have been released, and the second season which has 12 episodes will be shown this coming October 2008. According to ORICON and dvd sales data from Animesuki, the first DVD was released on July 25th, 2008 and it became a hit, selling 8,406 copies in its first week. It is currently the fourth best selling debut DVD for an anime series of 2008, just after Gundam 00, Macross Frontier, and Aria the origination. It continued to do well on the ORICON anime DVD charts for the second week charting on the top 5 with total sales for the first DVD at 10,986 copies. With those sales, it is currently ranked at number 1 for the shojo category on DVD sales for the year 2008. According to ORICON sales for the past 5 years, it is the best selling BL (Boys Love) anime so far and has performed the best on the charts.
References
External links
- Official Site: http://www.suzukisan.info/
- BLUmanga, the official site for the English version’s publisher: Junjo Romantica
- Anime News Network’s encyclopedia entry for Shungiku Nakamura
Retrieved from “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junjou_Romantica”
Categories: Manga series | Anime series | Anime of 2008 | LGBT-related television programs | Manga of the 2000s | Romance anime and manga | Shōjo | Yaoi