Neighborhood Story, Vol. 3

ご近所物語 [Gokinjō Monogatari] #3

by Ai Yazawa, Andria McKnight (Translator)

Mikako aims to take the world of fashion by storm but stumbles when love comes into season in this coming-of-age tale from the creator of Nana !

Welcome to Happy Berry! No, this isn’t a fruit stand, but the label dreamed up by aspiring fashion designer Mikako Koda. In her quest to make a name for herself in the fashion world, Mikako enters Yazawa Arts Academy, a prestigious art school, alongside her strictly platonic childhood friend Tsutomu. But there’s one problem—Tsutomu’s uncanny resemblance to a rock star skyrockets him to popularity and leads him to date the prettiest girl in school. Now Mikako can’t help but wonder if what she feels is jealousy.

The members of Akindo decide to spend their summer break at Mariko’s villa. When Mariko’s first love, Shu, unexpectedly appears in the villa next door, Mariko finds herself torn between her past life with him and her present one with Yusuke. In a daring move, Mariko rushes to confront Shu in the midst of a raging typhoon. Yusuke, fueled by jealousy, charges into the storm after her, with Ayumi hot on his heels. Meanwhile, Mikako throws herself into the preparations for Yaza Arts Academy’s annual school festival. Her relationship with Tsutomu takes a tumultuous turn as he struggles to find a path in life. With sparks flying, their arguments escalate when Tsutomu can’t contain his jealousy over Mikako’s mom’s charming new assistant. As their love teeters on the brink, an extraordinary opportunity arises, forcing Mikako to confront her deepest desires and make a life-altering decision.

Genres: Manga, Romance, Shojo, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Fiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2005

About the author

Ai Yazawa (Japanese: 矢沢あい, Yazawa Ai) is a Japanese manga author and illustrator. Her pen name comes from singer Eikichi Yazawa, of whom she is a fan.
Yazawa started her comics career in 1985. She specialises in shojo manga (girls' comics). Most of her works have been serialised in the magazines 'Ribon', 'Cookie' and 'Zipper'.
Yazawa's stories focus on young, often rebellious women and their relationships. The characters are always very stylish, and Yazawa herself is known for her sense of fashion. (She even attended a fashion school for some time after high school.)
Among her most famous manga are Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I'm No Angel, 1992–1995), Neighborhood Story (1995-1998), Paradise Kiss (1999-2004), and Nana (2000-2009), the latter awarded a Shogakukan Manga Award in 2003. Some of these works have been adapted into anime and live action movies.

Reviews

[୨୧ Vi’s library ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

NO ONE CAN COMPARE TO AI YAZAWA HER WORKS ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING OMG

[Margaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mais que dire ??? J’aime tellement cette série
Ce tome m’a tellement parlé

Ce tome parle de la passion, celle qui surpasse tout le reste, il parle de cette petite flamme qui brille à l’intérieur. Mais aussi du questionnement au quel on peut faire fasse, pour réussir à se trouver, au milieu de gens qui suivent tous leur chemin.
Et bien évidemment il parle d’amour!

C’était génial! J’aime toujours autant les dessins et le stylisme

Si je devais juste trouver un bémol à cette série, c’est les 2-3 réflexions un peu dépassées sur les relations hommes-femmes qui sont bof bof
Après la série date des années 90, c’était pas la même époque tout ça tout ça

Mais à part ça, c’est EXCELLENT

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, wow. This was actually really, really good. Like, I'd say it's been the best volume in the series so far. There was a lot of drama, and a lot of serious issues were treated. The main topic I find that appears in all of Yazawa's works is desire -what we dream of, what we want to become in life. Dreams make you grow, define you, make you strong and ultimately drive all human actions, and may even destruct you in the end.

Here we get to know Mikako's deepest thoughts about how important becoming a fashion desinger is to her, contrasting with Mariko's or Tsutomu's lack of this (Tsutomu's biggest ambition is being by Mikako's side so far, and Mariko doesn't even know hwat she wants to do with her life). Also, the special chapter about the student representative who actually wanted to be a writer really moved me. So that's the issue: desire and how you manage to accomplish it, how you fight for it or how you even realize what your main goal in life is, the way to fulfill yourself as a human being, and I think this is also very present in Parakiss os NANA.

Then the next conflict. Now Miwako has won the contest (she really deserved, that wedding gown was simply amazing), what will she do? Will so go off to London in that scholarship to become a fashion designer or will she stay by her lover and lifetime-friend's side? I'm looking forward to reading the next (and last!) volume. Definitely, to be one of the earliest works by Yazawa, it does have all the ingredients of her latest works; it's just great.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's the penultimate volume, so it's time to put relationships through the wringer, introduce some useless new characters, and hit some standard manga tropes: summer break trips, typhoons, school festivals, love triangles.

Even Ai Yazawa's quirky art cannot hold my interest in the face of so many weepy and angsty teens.


FOR REFERENCE:

Contents: Chapter 18. Summer Break -- Chapter 19. A Stormy Night -- Chapter 20. A Stormy Night, Part 2 -- Special Chapter: Colorful -- Chapter 21. Sparkly Alien -- Chapter 22. The Girl's Fire Up -- Chapter 23. That Thing Called Life -- Chapter 24. School Festival -- Chapter 25. That Thing Called Happiness -- Neighborhood Illustration Gallery

[tifani ♡]

i need mikako’s wardrobe

[Ona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este tomo tiene de todo. Las vacaciones de verano son un desastre, pero al final todo acaba saliendo más o menos bien. La verdad es que pienso que Mariko está traumatizada porque sus padres no le dieron atención y le compensaban con objetos y cosas caras, por eso ahora anda confundida sobre con quien quiere estar y elige a uno de los 2 chicos basándose en quien le da la mejor atención y más input positivo. Pero el hermano pequeño de ella es muy mono y no tiene indicios de trauma (de momento). Yusuke es un masoca que todo el rato va detrás de Mariko para solucionar los problemas y siempre todo desemboca en pelea y se pasa el día amargado. No están hechos el uno para el otro, sus personalidades no son compatibles y no lo quieren admitir. Ojalá Yusuke se dé cuenta de lo bien que se lo pasa con Ayumi y del cariño que le tiene ella.
Por otra parte me gusta la relación que tienen Mikako y Tsutomu, es bastante adulta para la edad que tienen (17) obviamente hay algún pequeño problema de comunicación, pero lo solucionan relativamente bien. Me ha hecho mucha gracia cuando viene el estudiante de peluquería a casa de Mikako como asistente de su madre y Tsutomu se pone celoso jajajajaj.
Bua y que decir del Atelier tan chulo que se montan. Aunque en este capítulo pasan poco tiempo porque se tiran mucho rato preparando el festival de la escuela. Me ha encantado el festival, por cierto. El vestido que confecciona Mikako escuela hermosísimo y le queda precioso, me he tirado un buen rato observando todos los detalles que tenía.
A ver qué pasa en el siguiente tomo, porque se viene conflicto tocho…

[Sungyena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Akindo changes: flea market opening, move from Mariko’s apt to Ayumi’s loft. Mikako learns valuable life lessons. The stairway hideaway (big in Paradise Kiss)! Love triangle! Ah that feeling when you’re young and an older person is trying to teach you and it all seems so muddled but you’re trying to figure it out! Youth!!!

[jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆Rating: 4.5☆

[sofs · Rating 5 out of 5]

LONDRES?? (con la voz de hinata gritando "japan!")

[♡ zuly ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great volume of this manga! This volume mostly covered Mikako and friends through their summer break and fall fashion show. Similar to the other volumes, the main focus was on their aspirations and relationships with one another. As with the last two volumes, I think the author did a great job at making each character really fleshed out and authentically teenagers. I continue to enjoy reading this and am positively surprised at least once each volume, this is a really fresh shoujo which is interesting considering it's a much older title. I look forward to seeing how this series wraps up and would definitely recommend it to a friend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Viz Media for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[sus ‧₊˚✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ai yazawa me hace tan feliz que quiero llorar

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much to unpack in volume three of "Neighborhood Story". The first half of this volume our beloved group of friends go on a mini vacation. As expected, drama was on a high. I think it is safe to say that Mariko is my least favorite character from this series. She is very selfish, and I don't see much character development happening with her. Now, the second half of this volume was so good. I felt like I was watching some of our characters grow more into themselves while also coming to realizations about their life and the people who are in them. By the time I got to the end I was a bit sad that it was over. I want to know what happens next!

This digital ARC was obtainable via NetGalley for an honest review.

[marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vol. 1 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 2 ★★★★☆

This is an okay volume. However, I've grown attached to Mariko so I'm frustrated by her storyline. It's as if Ai Yazawa got sick of the character and needs her out of the story pronto.

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much 😭

[Ligia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You can’t just let things happen to you. Happiness is something you have to seize for yourself”

[Dieudonné Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

non je vais pleurer, le tome était adorable.

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most stylish little neighborhood, how I love y’all so.
Nakasu … on thin ice >:( so cruel of her to keep Tashiro strung along, only for her to just leave back to Yokohama with Shu!! What the hell!?
Anyway, back to the other kiddos, so proud of all the hard work they’ve put into the arts festival! Mikako is so determined and so hard working that it’s so amazing to see her finally get rewarded! So excited to see what happens in volume 4, and hoping there’s some development not only with her fashion career, but also her blossoming love with Tsutomu.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not be reading the third volume of Neighborhood Story if all it had going for it was its technicolor end-of-the-bubble-era (but they don't know it) slice of life story centered around kids in a high school for the arts. I won't give this quote context because then it would be a spoiler, but this line in the third volume sums up what makes Neighborhood Story great: "Students at this school have their own dreams and goals and they act like it's the most natural thing in the world even though it's incredibly rare to know what you want to do at our age. Do you have any idea what it's like to be surrounded by people like that when you've lost your way and are terrified of being left behind? Do you understand the desperation of wanting to catch up to everyone else?" (I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)

[The Book Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The group is getting ready for a summer vacation where every member of Akindo goes to Mariko’s mansion (because that’s…normal?) for some fun. Only for Mariko to run off to hang with Shu (her neighbor/crush) despite her current boyfriend Tashiro being right there. Meanwhile, Ayumi is sitting there pinning for Tashiro.

Then things get even more complicated between Tashiro and Mariko, but somehow Mamiko and Tsutomo end up fighting too (after Mamiko’s mom hits a pretty assistant).

And the relationship drama is kinda where I check out because I personally wouldn’t stand for this BS. But I get the stress and anxiety that comes from feeling like your falling further and further behind where you think you ought to be in life. That’s all too real for me.

This omnibus contains volumes 5-6.
This series has 7 volumes.

[Kiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Another great volume in this series! Mikako is still juggling school and romance, but her brand has been put on hold for summer break and for an upcoming school festival. The romantic rival fights/misunderstandings have amped up, which I'm not a fan of. It's a lot of miscommunication and pettiness, which I guess is typical for high schoolers. I really enjoyed the chapter on Mikako's middle school experience and how she's grown since then. I'm interested in the next volume, but if the romance keeps up with the misunderstandings I may not enjoy the story as much in the future.

[Heather’s Reading Bubble · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more I dive into this series the more I like it. Once again I need to rave about the art. It’s absolutely stunning and I don’t just mean the color pages at the end. Mikako and Tsutomu continue to be endearing characters,I am a bit annoyed with the constant miscommunication but remind myself they are teens. What brought this volume down for me was Mariko and Yusukes drama. I’m glad the slut shaming stopped but I’ve had enough of them. It’s a distraction from the main story and a completely unneeded one. I’m hoping her exit stays as one because I’ve had enough of them. Back to the positive I really appreciated the side story of Mikako in middle school and her friendship with the class president. I am excited to see how this ends.

[Casey Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Viz Media for this arc!

5/5 stars!

This was a fantastic next installment in Neighborhood Story. Ai Yazawa is so, so good at capturing messy and heartwrenching love. The characters in her stories feel so much more real and relatable than most manga I've read. I'm so excited for what's happening for Mikako with how this one ends, but I'm also nervous foe the decisions she's going to have to make and the conversations she needs to have in the future. I hope she and Tsutomu can really figure things out. I'm really really looking forward to the next volume!!

[Nausicaa °.*･｡ﾟ · Rating 5 out of 5]

J'ai adoré !!!

Mais par contre y'a des choses qui me dérangent beaucoup (le manga date de 95 mais bon...) comme le sous entendu qu'une femme doit quelque chose aux hommes... sexuellement notamment. Personne n'a à se forcer à avoir des rapports sexuels !!! Ça m'a vraiment saoulé le comportement de Tsutomu, puis que Risa (ma chère Risa!!!) insiste aussi en disant "fais le au moins pour lui" pitié non??? Imaginons ici, que Mikako ne veuille jamais avoir de rapport avec quiconque, bah c'est complètement ok !

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Students at this school have their dreams and goals. And they act like it's the most natural thing in the world. Even though it's incredibly rare to know what you want to do at our age.

As usual, a teenager sounds rather wiser than you'd expect from a high school student. Maybe it's the author reassuring her pre-teen and teen audience that it's okay to feel unmoored, for now.

[Rlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ai Yazawa can capture heartache, joy, pain, loneliness and hope so clearly all on simple page. I don't know how she does it but her artwork and storytelling completely pull the reader into the minds and thoughts of the characters. I feel pain in my heart that I haven't felt since I was a teenager.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank god they broke up. I feel like the immature back and forth with these characters doesn't have the same charm that the relationships in other Ai Yazawa's books have. I hate to compare because they're different series, but I don't think any of Ai Yazawa's works have or will hit for me as good as Nana did.

[Tori Seiko · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is quite possibly my favorite of ai yazawa's works and that says a lot!! this series feels extremely relatable to me ~through mikako's passion for designing clothes, the interpersonal relationships between all the characters, and literally just everything!! i love this manga so much!!! it's so dear to my heart!!!<3

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff, although I may need magnifiers for some of the small print. It's predictable in the sense that I know complications are coming in somebody's relationships, but not predictable in who the somebody is and what the complications are.

[Anna Tramma · Rating 5 out of 5]

finalmente si inizia a parlare di moda e tornano pagine dedicate agli abiti, io adoro come vengono disegnati dalla yazawa...
unica nota negativa, la devo trovare sempre, il personaggio di Mariko, se non sa cosa fare della propria vita, perché trascinare nell'oblio anche gli altri? madonna mia.

[nessa ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

a work of ARTTTT god i seriously love this manga so much it has everything i love. It has coming of age, art, romance, childhood lovers, nostalgia EVERYTHING it's perfect i can't wait to read the last volume 🥹