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Skip Beat! #4
Skip Beat! (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 4: Includes vols. 10, 11 & 12
When Kyoko’s heart is broken, she decides that revenge is a dish best served in the spotlight!
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he’s casting her out now that he’s famous enough! Kyoko won’t suffer in silence—she’s going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!
Kyoko’s been scouted for a role in the year’s most anticipated drama, Dark Moon! It’s a remake of the classic drama Tsukimori, and expectations from the producers are high. But disaster lurks around every corner as Kyoko and Ren struggle with their roles and costars. Can their growing friendship help them weather the storm, or will it prove to be a dramatic liability?!
Kyoko Mogami followed her true love Sho to Tokyo to support him while he made it big as an idol. But he’s casting her out now that he’s famous enough! Kyoko won’t suffer in silence—she’s going to get her sweet revenge by beating Sho in show biz!
Kyoko’s been scouted for a role in the year’s most anticipated drama, Dark Moon! It’s a remake of the classic drama Tsukimori, and expectations from the producers are high. But disaster lurks around every corner as Kyoko and Ren struggle with their roles and costars. Can their growing friendship help them weather the storm, or will it prove to be a dramatic liability?!
592 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2013
3 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Yoshiki Nakamura
134 books1,069 followersYoshiki Nakamura (仲村佳樹) is a Japanese mangaka. She was born June 17. Nakamura made her manga debut with "Yume de Auyori Suteki" in the manga magazine Hana to Yume in 1993.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 6, 2022
It's Dark Moon tiiiiiimmmeeeee! 🌛
Epic acting! Romance development!! Comedy and drama for miles!!! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
Teacher-Student romances ಠ╭╮ಠ
Volume ends on a cliffhanger Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
Epic acting! Romance development!! Comedy and drama for miles!!! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)
Teacher-Student romances ಠ╭╮ಠ
Volume ends on a cliffhanger Σ(っ °Д °;)っ
May 6, 2018
3.5 stars
February 14, 2026
Note: SPOILERS for earlier volumes! If you are just now finding out about this series, you may want to read earlier reviews first.
Quick Recap: Kyoko Mogami dropped out of school to move to Tokyo with the boy she loved, Sho Fuwa, so she could support him in his show business career. Some years later, the now moderately successful Sho finally let it slip that he did not reciprocate her feelings and was only using her as a convenient maidservant. (In fairness, their relationship had been chaste, though he had misled her as to why.)
Kyoko vows to get revenge in the one way Sho will actually care about, by becoming a bigger celebrity than him. This is going to be a difficult task as she can’t act, dance, or sing at the beginning, but her determination does get her a shot with the LME agency under ecccentric CEO Lory Takarada. He assigns her to the newly-created “Love Me” division along with Kanae “Mouko” Kotonami, a more experienced actress who also had some issues, and eventually became Kyoko’s first female friend.
During her initial odd jobs assignments, Kyoko connected with Ren Tsuruga, a very popular mixed-race actor who is secretly her childhood friend “Corn” who had to move away from Japan for…reasons and is using an assumed name. He blows hot and cold with her, but is the girl he is the closest to having ever been in love with. Which is why, despite Lory noticing he can’t portray love convincingly, Ren agrees to join the cast of Dark Moon when Kyoko is cast as scarred villainess Mio.
This part of the manga is all one big plotline so I won’t be separating out the volumes as much as usual.
Dark Moon (Tsukigomori) is a remake of a J-Drama that was extremely popular twenty years ago. The director, Hiroki Ogata nee Date, is the son of the famous director Hiroto Date, who created the first Tsukigomori. He’s attempting to create an even better version of the television show to come out of the shadow of his father. At first, he’s nervous and oversensitive about the comparisons.
This isn’t helped by the fact that Hiroko Iizuka, who played Mio in the original drama, has joined the cast as the mother of Mio and her favored older sister Misao. Mio was her first big role, and if Kyoko can’t properly play the part, Hiroko’s going to walk, as the unknown Kyoko was a specific choice by the director.
So the first big crisis is Kyoko trying to find a way to play “her” Mio. Naturally, she manages to do so in an extremely dramatic way, digging deeply into her own feelings and trying to understand why Mio hates her adoptive sister Mizuki, the heroine of the story. She manages to impress Hiroko enough to stay, and bring the director out of his initial funk.
Meanwhile, there’s a short interval where Sho finds out Kyoko is co-starring in Dark Moon with Ren, who he considers his biggest rival, and feels a pang of…something. He’s not enough in touch with honesty to figure out quite what.
This also convinces Ren that he must create a Katsuki that surpasses the original. To dig into the plot of Dark Moon a bit, Katsuki is the teacher of Mio and Mizuki, and the fiancé of Mio’s sister Misao. This is part of an elaborate revenge plot due to the death of his family. Despite both this motivation and the fact that teacher-student romantic relationships are forbidden, Katsuki and Mizuki fall in love.
Unfortunately, Ren has never truly loved a girl or woman before, and he can’t rely on his usual shallow tricks because this tormented romance is central to his character’s arc. This causes him to have creative block, which is affecting his performance.
Kyoko uses her other job as Bo, the chicken-suited mascot character of a variety show, to try to draw out from Ren what’s going on. It doesn’t entirely work, but does cause Ren to realize that there are some parallels in his relationship with Kyoko, who he has buried feelings for but for…reasons can never act on them.
Lory forces a showdown. Either Ren will be ready to act by the day after tomorrow, or he’s off the show and will be replaced with a better-prepared actor, forcing expensive reshoots. Ren’s agent, Yukihito Yashiro, arranges a meeting between Kyoko and Ren at Ren’s apartment so that they can improvise a scene between Mizuki and Katsuki.
This is a crash course in improvisation for Kyoko as she has to figure out what Mizuki would do in a situation that isn’t in the script and correctly play against Ren’s interpretation of Katsuki. They come very close to realizations about their feelings for each other, but more importantly in the moment Ren makes a breakthrough about how to act out Katsuki in the script.
So it’s time for Ren to prove himself by playing opposite Mizuki’s actual actress Itsumi Momose. Will he be able to perform?
This section of the manga is a bit more on the serious drama side, though we still get comedic moments when Kyoko’s dressed up as Bo. We dig deep into the concept of trying to remake a classic updated to the modern era but still faithful to the heart of the original material, and also somehow better. Each of our main characters in this arc has to learn to connect with the character they’re playing to understand how best to perform them.
It also goes heavy on the romantic drama, deepening the relationship between Ren and Kyoko while making sure we understand why neither of them is progressing in their understanding that it’s a romantic relationship.
This is some good stuff, though I am hoping for more comedic antics soon.
Still recommended for romance fans who like their female lead to have serious personality flaws.
Quick Recap: Kyoko Mogami dropped out of school to move to Tokyo with the boy she loved, Sho Fuwa, so she could support him in his show business career. Some years later, the now moderately successful Sho finally let it slip that he did not reciprocate her feelings and was only using her as a convenient maidservant. (In fairness, their relationship had been chaste, though he had misled her as to why.)
Kyoko vows to get revenge in the one way Sho will actually care about, by becoming a bigger celebrity than him. This is going to be a difficult task as she can’t act, dance, or sing at the beginning, but her determination does get her a shot with the LME agency under ecccentric CEO Lory Takarada. He assigns her to the newly-created “Love Me” division along with Kanae “Mouko” Kotonami, a more experienced actress who also had some issues, and eventually became Kyoko’s first female friend.
During her initial odd jobs assignments, Kyoko connected with Ren Tsuruga, a very popular mixed-race actor who is secretly her childhood friend “Corn” who had to move away from Japan for…reasons and is using an assumed name. He blows hot and cold with her, but is the girl he is the closest to having ever been in love with. Which is why, despite Lory noticing he can’t portray love convincingly, Ren agrees to join the cast of Dark Moon when Kyoko is cast as scarred villainess Mio.
This part of the manga is all one big plotline so I won’t be separating out the volumes as much as usual.
Dark Moon (Tsukigomori) is a remake of a J-Drama that was extremely popular twenty years ago. The director, Hiroki Ogata nee Date, is the son of the famous director Hiroto Date, who created the first Tsukigomori. He’s attempting to create an even better version of the television show to come out of the shadow of his father. At first, he’s nervous and oversensitive about the comparisons.
This isn’t helped by the fact that Hiroko Iizuka, who played Mio in the original drama, has joined the cast as the mother of Mio and her favored older sister Misao. Mio was her first big role, and if Kyoko can’t properly play the part, Hiroko’s going to walk, as the unknown Kyoko was a specific choice by the director.
So the first big crisis is Kyoko trying to find a way to play “her” Mio. Naturally, she manages to do so in an extremely dramatic way, digging deeply into her own feelings and trying to understand why Mio hates her adoptive sister Mizuki, the heroine of the story. She manages to impress Hiroko enough to stay, and bring the director out of his initial funk.
Meanwhile, there’s a short interval where Sho finds out Kyoko is co-starring in Dark Moon with Ren, who he considers his biggest rival, and feels a pang of…something. He’s not enough in touch with honesty to figure out quite what.
This also convinces Ren that he must create a Katsuki that surpasses the original. To dig into the plot of Dark Moon a bit, Katsuki is the teacher of Mio and Mizuki, and the fiancé of Mio’s sister Misao. This is part of an elaborate revenge plot due to the death of his family. Despite both this motivation and the fact that teacher-student romantic relationships are forbidden, Katsuki and Mizuki fall in love.
Unfortunately, Ren has never truly loved a girl or woman before, and he can’t rely on his usual shallow tricks because this tormented romance is central to his character’s arc. This causes him to have creative block, which is affecting his performance.
Kyoko uses her other job as Bo, the chicken-suited mascot character of a variety show, to try to draw out from Ren what’s going on. It doesn’t entirely work, but does cause Ren to realize that there are some parallels in his relationship with Kyoko, who he has buried feelings for but for…reasons can never act on them.
Lory forces a showdown. Either Ren will be ready to act by the day after tomorrow, or he’s off the show and will be replaced with a better-prepared actor, forcing expensive reshoots. Ren’s agent, Yukihito Yashiro, arranges a meeting between Kyoko and Ren at Ren’s apartment so that they can improvise a scene between Mizuki and Katsuki.
This is a crash course in improvisation for Kyoko as she has to figure out what Mizuki would do in a situation that isn’t in the script and correctly play against Ren’s interpretation of Katsuki. They come very close to realizations about their feelings for each other, but more importantly in the moment Ren makes a breakthrough about how to act out Katsuki in the script.
So it’s time for Ren to prove himself by playing opposite Mizuki’s actual actress Itsumi Momose. Will he be able to perform?
This section of the manga is a bit more on the serious drama side, though we still get comedic moments when Kyoko’s dressed up as Bo. We dig deep into the concept of trying to remake a classic updated to the modern era but still faithful to the heart of the original material, and also somehow better. Each of our main characters in this arc has to learn to connect with the character they’re playing to understand how best to perform them.
It also goes heavy on the romantic drama, deepening the relationship between Ren and Kyoko while making sure we understand why neither of them is progressing in their understanding that it’s a romantic relationship.
This is some good stuff, though I am hoping for more comedic antics soon.
Still recommended for romance fans who like their female lead to have serious personality flaws.
April 8, 2019
We are coming to the end of Ren's struggles with Tsukigomori. If the fact that I finished this in a day (a little over 4 hours total) doesn't tell you anything I don't know what will. Just trying the series because I think it's amazing!!
October 30, 2013
I love the budding friendship between Ren and Kyoko. Let's just hope it blossoms into something more before Sho can stop it!
January 29, 2021
Another re-read. Still love it ❤️
------------------
Original:
Reread.
I just can't get enough of binge reading this series.
------------------
Original:
Reread.
I just can't get enough of binge reading this series.
March 7, 2020
OMG THIS SERIES IS SO GOOD. I've already spent £55, and I'm contemplating spending some more before payday to get the rest of the series and binge read them. This series is so good and I can't believe I actually was hesitant to start this series. Now all I want to do is read all of the books. I'm so glad that I got into the series now and not when it first started because of the fact that it has 43 books and counting and I don't think that I would have been able to survive the wait...
This 3 in 1 volume marks the start of Ren and Kyoko working in a drama together and that dynamic is to die for because they both are working through obstacles to make the drama a hit. It also marks the start of Ren acknowledging his romantic feelings! But I know nothing will happen yet so I am sad but waiting in eager anticipation.
I can't wait to read the next volume I have, and I'll probably buy the rest of the series when I get the chance because I have to know what will happen next!
This 3 in 1 volume marks the start of Ren and Kyoko working in a drama together and that dynamic is to die for because they both are working through obstacles to make the drama a hit. It also marks the start of Ren acknowledging his romantic feelings! But I know nothing will happen yet so I am sad but waiting in eager anticipation.
I can't wait to read the next volume I have, and I'll probably buy the rest of the series when I get the chance because I have to know what will happen next!
February 25, 2025
Pros: Strong FMC, Intriguing Plot focused on the Acting Industry, A Taste of Romance
Cons: N/A
We begin a new arc of Kyoko's journey to being the best actress ever, the Tsukigomori (i.e. Dark Moon) Arc.
In volume 10, I loved witnessing Kyoko create her own Mio, a dark character consumed with hatred, and while she doesn't love her character she soon realises and embodies her new role.
In volume, 11 and 12 we switch to witnessing the breakdown of Ren as he struggles to find his own twist on his character in Dark Moon. I loved watching the ways that those around Ren helped him out, including my favourite persona of our Kyoko, Bo the chicken!
The ending leaves you wanting to go immediately into the next volume!
Cons: N/A
We begin a new arc of Kyoko's journey to being the best actress ever, the Tsukigomori (i.e. Dark Moon) Arc.
In volume 10, I loved witnessing Kyoko create her own Mio, a dark character consumed with hatred, and while she doesn't love her character she soon realises and embodies her new role.
In volume, 11 and 12 we switch to witnessing the breakdown of Ren as he struggles to find his own twist on his character in Dark Moon. I loved watching the ways that those around Ren helped him out, including my favourite persona of our Kyoko, Bo the chicken!
The ending leaves you wanting to go immediately into the next volume!
July 8, 2018
Filming for the biggest drama of the year has begun. Kyoko at first is at lost on how to play her part. She manages come into her own while bring her character alive in a way no one expected. In the end it is not Kyoko but Ren who cannot connect with with his charger. The anime stops after the first few chapters of volume 12. I still recommend reading because stuff was left out the anime.
August 26, 2020
Massive *squee* over this omnibus. I'm so glad I had these three volumes together, and didn't have to wait for the next volume to see how things progressed!
I didn't expect such developments on Ren's part! My, oh, my, this omnibus was a delight. ^_^
I didn't expect such developments on Ren's part! My, oh, my, this omnibus was a delight. ^_^
November 28, 2018
Ah, yes, "pretending"
January 27, 2019
El dorama en el cual aparecen Ren y Kyoko, Dark Moon, se comienza a filmar. Pero sucede lo que Lori había predicho: Ren tiene un bloqueo por no tener bastante experiencia en el amor.
March 18, 2019
Ren's King of the night is so great.
September 22, 2020
Swoon ~~(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)~~ Best volume yet. Safe to say I'm a Ren fan.
August 8, 2021
Ren is one of my favorite characters and I am glad that we get to see more of him now! I am very intrigued to see what is going to happen next!
February 7, 2023
3.5 stars
February 10, 2023
I love seeing Ren’s feelings for Kyoko develop! Can’t wait to read more.
July 8, 2023
***Vrijdag 7 juli***
⭐3.5 rounded up
Some big emotions but the enjoyment for me was found in the hilarious drawings that came with them.
⭐3.5 rounded up
Some big emotions but the enjoyment for me was found in the hilarious drawings that came with them.
November 7, 2023
Ren & Kyoko... 💘👍👊
4,25/5
4,25/5
July 24, 2024
Ahhhhh I loved this one, especially because of volume 12! Kyokoooo?!?!?!??! Ren?!?!?!?!? Play time!? Haha.
October 24, 2024
Missed this series so much! Not read it since I was a teen! 😍🙌
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March 23, 2017
Need more. Asap.
September 5, 2015
I'd like to explain a little of the journey I had before starting this book.
First of all, there's a clear eventual romantic connection between getting-into-show-biz Kyoko and already-a-star-actor Ren. Volume 9 ends on chapter 54 with Ren ever so slightly beginning to realize his attachment. The author has already provided some mystery in that Ren remembers Kyoko from childhood but she does not recall him.
After finishing Ch. 54, I decided to look up the Skip Beat tag on Tumblr, and the very first set of results are all about Ch 224 with things coming out into the open between Ren and Kyoko, including her finding out that she knew him back when. And I had to think: wait... Chapter 224... when I just finished 54... there's still another **170** chapters to go before this pair figures things out?
But I'm set on the journey now, which brings me to this 3-in-1 volume. It was just what was needed because, while the readers already know that Kyoko has some character growth to go through, we're shown that Ren does, too. Not only that, but we're reminded of something we'd forgotten that had only been hint-dropped here and there. Ren has a past he's hiding that we've yet to encounter, which includes an entirely suppressed aspect of his personality that briefly comes out for Kyoko in this set. That's why the journey is still going to be so long, because it's not just two-dimensional characters realizing their feelings for each other. Both Kyoko and Ren have a lot of layers yet unexplored and its promising that once we see them, we'll feel why Ren and Kyoko fit each other. So lead on, next 152 chapters, because I'm ready for the long haul.
Also, I loved the author's sidebar notes about how much she had anticipated being at this arc of the story and it was a relief to finally be there. She's got plans. In another sidebar she discovered something cute that she might or might not bring back later. She writes organically, too. This author is awesome.
First of all, there's a clear eventual romantic connection between getting-into-show-biz Kyoko and already-a-star-actor Ren. Volume 9 ends on chapter 54 with Ren ever so slightly beginning to realize his attachment. The author has already provided some mystery in that Ren remembers Kyoko from childhood but she does not recall him.
After finishing Ch. 54, I decided to look up the Skip Beat tag on Tumblr, and the very first set of results are all about Ch 224 with things coming out into the open between Ren and Kyoko, including her finding out that she knew him back when. And I had to think: wait... Chapter 224... when I just finished 54... there's still another **170** chapters to go before this pair figures things out?
But I'm set on the journey now, which brings me to this 3-in-1 volume. It was just what was needed because, while the readers already know that Kyoko has some character growth to go through, we're shown that Ren does, too. Not only that, but we're reminded of something we'd forgotten that had only been hint-dropped here and there. Ren has a past he's hiding that we've yet to encounter, which includes an entirely suppressed aspect of his personality that briefly comes out for Kyoko in this set. That's why the journey is still going to be so long, because it's not just two-dimensional characters realizing their feelings for each other. Both Kyoko and Ren have a lot of layers yet unexplored and its promising that once we see them, we'll feel why Ren and Kyoko fit each other. So lead on, next 152 chapters, because I'm ready for the long haul.
Also, I loved the author's sidebar notes about how much she had anticipated being at this arc of the story and it was a relief to finally be there. She's got plans. In another sidebar she discovered something cute that she might or might not bring back later. She writes organically, too. This author is awesome.
May 8, 2016
SERIES REVIEW:
(Side note - I have read more than what's official by reading translated online scans, as such my view may be a bit biased based on further plot developments.)
Skip Beat is possibly the best shoujo I have ever read! While the art style may throw newer readers off as it is very 90's/early 2000's do NOT let it keep you from giving this manga a try! The characters and plot more than make up for any lacking art. Kyoko is my favorite protagonist I have ever read - book or manga. This is not your typical shoujo by any means. It has romance but focuses more on Kyoko's growth as an individual as well as her determination to find herself. The other characters are not left behind either. They are also constantly growing and changing in different ways giving off such a vibrant and realistic vibe (well mostly realistic-if you have read it you know what I mean) If you are looking for romance, comedy, a shoujo with depth this is the one. While at times the slower romance pace is frustrating the pay offs make it worth it. Instead of a cheap fix so many shoujo manga are doing this is a slow burning master piece. I really cannot give this series enough praise and everyone - shoujo fan or not, manga fan or not - needs to give it a try!
(Side note - I have read more than what's official by reading translated online scans, as such my view may be a bit biased based on further plot developments.)
Skip Beat is possibly the best shoujo I have ever read! While the art style may throw newer readers off as it is very 90's/early 2000's do NOT let it keep you from giving this manga a try! The characters and plot more than make up for any lacking art. Kyoko is my favorite protagonist I have ever read - book or manga. This is not your typical shoujo by any means. It has romance but focuses more on Kyoko's growth as an individual as well as her determination to find herself. The other characters are not left behind either. They are also constantly growing and changing in different ways giving off such a vibrant and realistic vibe (well mostly realistic-if you have read it you know what I mean) If you are looking for romance, comedy, a shoujo with depth this is the one. While at times the slower romance pace is frustrating the pay offs make it worth it. Instead of a cheap fix so many shoujo manga are doing this is a slow burning master piece. I really cannot give this series enough praise and everyone - shoujo fan or not, manga fan or not - needs to give it a try!
February 13, 2017
[5/5 stars]
August 7, 2015
Okay, Skip Beat 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 3 and 4 finally arrived, and I finished both of them last night! It was so addicting that I couldn't put it down! Now I'm debating if I should borrow Vol. 12 from the library since 3-in-1 Edition Vol. 5 won't be out until July 02, 2013 on Barnes and Nobles! Yet, I want to own the whole set of Skip Beat in omnibus version. I'm not of a re-reading type of person so.. Oh well, I'll see to it. Hope all of you enjoyed this manga as much as I did! I truly think that if people want the season 2 of Skip Beat anime to come out, buying the mangas instead of reading online (which I refuse to), will truly support the author and Skip Beat!!
August 26, 2018
5 stars
Skip Beat is always at its best when examining the behind the scenes realities of the entertainment industry. This whole story arc is devoted to Kyoko and Ren filming a reboot of a famous drama series. Nakamura has a tendency to make a joke when things have gotten too serious in previous volumes, not really letting us see the vulnerabilities of her characters thus turning them into caricatures. Now she finally lets go and allows us to see them as real people and it's glorious. It's rare when a series gets better and better as it progresses, and I'm loving it.
Skip Beat is always at its best when examining the behind the scenes realities of the entertainment industry. This whole story arc is devoted to Kyoko and Ren filming a reboot of a famous drama series. Nakamura has a tendency to make a joke when things have gotten too serious in previous volumes, not really letting us see the vulnerabilities of her characters thus turning them into caricatures. Now she finally lets go and allows us to see them as real people and it's glorious. It's rare when a series gets better and better as it progresses, and I'm loving it.
February 7, 2017
Love! Love! LOVE!!!!! This series so much that it is almost crazy, and oh how I wish they would continue the anime series. I don't care if they have to do it all over again, I want it!!! This series brings out so much feels within me that most mangas don't, and that's another thing that is crazy!! Cannot wait to dig more into this series. I have serious love for most of the characters...except THAT GUY. He can go to hell for all I care. He's so annoying! Ren is my dream guy! He makes me swoon.
March 22, 2013
This volume encapsulates Kyoko's professional development and Ren's emotional and professional development during the Dark Moon story arc. And we're only half way through this arc.
Please see my reviews of Vol. 10, 11, 12 for more in-depth reviews.
Please see my reviews of Vol. 10, 11, 12 for more in-depth reviews.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews