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Princess Jellyfish 2-in-1 Omnibus #6
Princess Jellyfish 2-in-1 Omnibus, Vol. 6
LONG DISTANCES
In order to save Amamizukan, the girls decide to put up an exhibition of their work. When the Jelly Fish dresses catch the eye of Asia’s greatest fashion influencer, Kai, it’s not only the dresses that the mogul wants—it’s the designer herself. Tsukimi and the gang are about to get the massive break they need, but at what price…? Afraid that he may lose Tsukimi, Kuranosuke must come to terms with what his true purpose for starting Jelly Fish once was. Meanwhile, Shu learns of the heartbreaking history of Kuranosuke’s mother, while Chieko’s mother makes a discovery that seals the fate of Amamizukan…
In order to save Amamizukan, the girls decide to put up an exhibition of their work. When the Jelly Fish dresses catch the eye of Asia’s greatest fashion influencer, Kai, it’s not only the dresses that the mogul wants—it’s the designer herself. Tsukimi and the gang are about to get the massive break they need, but at what price…? Afraid that he may lose Tsukimi, Kuranosuke must come to terms with what his true purpose for starting Jelly Fish once was. Meanwhile, Shu learns of the heartbreaking history of Kuranosuke’s mother, while Chieko’s mother makes a discovery that seals the fate of Amamizukan…
351 pages, Paperback
First published September 26, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
December 31, 2019
I love this series. I love watching shy Tsukimi stretch her wings, both as a designer and as a human being; I love watching the Amars fight to defend their home and community against gentrification in their own imperfect ways; I love watching Kuranosuke's ambitions grow even as he struggles to understand his own feelings. I'm here for every ridiculous twist and turn!
February 20, 2020
A couple of somewhat unconvincing or too-convenient developments don't lessen the drama and fun of this story. Jelly Fish's first exhibition hall display shows the waning star of Japan's boutique-fashion industry in stark detail, and Amamamizukan and the Amars' fate is sealed... or is it? Can Tsukimi save the day? Will the price she pays be too high?
June 12, 2022
I am a bit torn about my rating because this volume is still very good. I just didn't enjoy the events that were happening.
The fashion industry is fascinating but at times really bore me.
The same goes for contemporary settings. It isn't what I enjoy.
Humour is still top notch and some of the characters are evolving.
The fashion industry is fascinating but at times really bore me.
The same goes for contemporary settings. It isn't what I enjoy.
Humour is still top notch and some of the characters are evolving.
February 17, 2025
Loved this volume, though I am sad about all the changes and problems in this volume.
I love the character growth, and Kuranosuke is my favorite.
I am worried about how this is going to end. I know how I want the series to end but am not sure it will end that way.
Still the characters are great, the story is great and I love how geeky the characters are.
I love the character growth, and Kuranosuke is my favorite.
I am worried about how this is going to end. I know how I want the series to end but am not sure it will end that way.
Still the characters are great, the story is great and I love how geeky the characters are.
August 19, 2019
Ahhh, what is happening- Tsukimi can't leave!! I've become so attached to these crazy characters and their foibles- I'm worried about Shukimi (yep, powercouple name!!) and Tsukimi's obvious lack of self-worth is so strikingly sad in this one. Next volume at the ready!
September 7, 2021
Kuranosuke is making me so, so angry.
This volume gets pretty dark; the realism kicks in hard, with Nisha turning out to be right...the Jelly Fish brand flops, hard, at a four-day fashion exhibition where they make zero sales. It's not necessarily a problem with their brand, although they did rush into it with sloppy prototypes and not enough research into the market - but the fashion industry in Japan is being hit pretty badly by the recession, and no one else in the exhibit hall is doing that well, either.
No matter how hard they all work at this, their efforts seem doomed; they can't even pull themselves out of debt yet, and there's absolutely no way they can make enough money to buy their building. Wort of all, Chieko's mother isn't even slightly swayed by their efforts or their pleas. Sure, they have dreams, but so does she...and she actually earned her chance to follow hers into wealthy retirement. Of course she's not going to have a sudden change of heart and decide not to sell, just so her daughter's friends can keep sewing away at their hastily cobbled-together project.
All seems hopeless...but there's one chance left to save the building - by selling not their dresses, but the latest six designs, and Tsukimi herself.
And here's where I got absolutely furious with Kuranosuke.
I'm not saying that he's absolutely wrong: Tsukimi doesn't have big dreams of being a fashion designer, certainly not on her own, without Kuranosuke as her muse and her friends as her colleagues and partners. Going to Singapore to study fashion (with a promise of being able to run her own brand at the end of her paid-for education, where she can hire her friends as her staff if she wants) might not be something she'd ever actually want. But she deserved to make that choice herself. To even be told that it was an option.
Kuranosuke not only makes the decision for her, withholding any information about it from all the people he's supposedly trying to help, but he once again lifts himself up by absolutely grinding Tsukimi into the dirt.
"Tsukimi's just drawing jellyfish," he says. "She doesn't even realize she's 'designing.' I'm the one who started calling Tsukimi a 'designer.' I'm the one who's been molding her to be this way. That's all it is."
This is supposed to be love? This is meant to be him falling in love with a woman and wanting to keep her by his side? No: no, it's not. He doesn't respect her. He doesn't value her. He doesn't ever actually treat her like an equal. He strips away all her creativity, all her brilliant innovation, churns it under his heel, and takes credit for it.
How like a man. Sweeping into a woman's life, showing zero design ability of his own, and still believing he's fully in the right to take credit for a woman's brilliance.
Tsukimi predicts it, in a way, by designing the latest run of dresses based on the Kuranosuke she sees in the late-night aquarium bar - a toxic jellyfish, who is beautiful and fascinating and might hurt her or even drive her crazy...and right now, she's okay with that. She'll let him ruin her.
And he kinda tries.
He almost succeeds. Tsukimi doesn't know that he's keeping anything from her, but she does know he hates Kai Fish, the rich fashion world "whale" who can even swallow up the land sharks threatening their neighborhood and their little home. So because he kept a secret from her, something in her makes her realize that she needs to lie to him...and when she, on her own, strikes a deal with Fish to go to Singapore after all, it's with less information and less negotiating power than if Kuranosuke had just been honest with her to begin with.
It's infuriating and frankly it's making me hate Kuranosuke at this point. He doesn't deserve Tsukimi. I hope she does go to Singapore and discover that she's as brilliant as Fish thinks - as Shu tells her and everyone around him that she is.
See, that's another huge difference. Shu would never, ever try to take undue credit for Tsukimi's success. He supports her, quietly and steadily. He tells her she's wonderful. He brags about her to other people - Inari, his father, his uncle, even Kuranosuke's mother, whom he flies to visit in Milan, at her request - to deliver a Jelly Fish dress, and updates on her son. (And to buy an engagement ring for Tsukimi.)
Because he was out of the country on a mission he couldn't talk about, he wasn't available for Tsukimi's frantic phone calls, which seems to be leading them to that breakup I feared. I wish they'd been able to talk. He could've done so much to support and advise her, in a way Kuranosuke clearly couldn't be trusted to do. Just a couple of days away, to fulfill an important obligation and plan his future with Tsukimi...and instead, he might lose her forever.
I found this volume upsetting, but definitely engrossing. Very eager to see what comes next, and what happens with Fish & Tsukimi. Where does the plot go from here, now that their home has technically been saved? But...without Tsukimi being able to live in it anymore. Does that even count as a victory?
I have to say that once again, Hanamori stole the show in his scenes. I love him. But Kuranosuke, blowing all his daddy's money on expensive clothes and clubbing and never even going to his university classes, has some nerve criticizing what Hanamori does with the money he earns from their family by doing an actual job. It's been six volumes, and not only has he displayed none of the growth I was hoping for, he's getting worse. A bit of sad backstory with his mother really wasn't enough to counter his appalling behavior in this volume.
To be honest, once again I found Higashimura's author note a little...messed up? The first one was cute and funny, about some high school boys who were fans of her work and got roped into doing work on her manga. (It's fascinating to see the production side of the manga world, which is so different from how things function for graphic novelists in the U.S.) But the second story, where she just kinda rips apart one of her assistants for sleeping on the job...what was the point of that? She seems less angry about him not getting his work done than she does about him not listening to her super funny and interesting stories about her K-pop obsessions.
Eurgh. I like how much insight into her life we get in these author notes - something that feels like a rarity among the manga I've been consuming lately - but at certain points, it makes me like her less. She is brilliant and funny, but she also has this mean streak that comes out at various points, and I like that less. I guess there's a little bit of her in all of her characters, and that's the Kuranosuke and Inari showing up. (As those two said when they first met - they're two of a kind. I suppose it's no wonder that I have issues with both of them.)
This volume gets pretty dark; the realism kicks in hard, with Nisha turning out to be right...the Jelly Fish brand flops, hard, at a four-day fashion exhibition where they make zero sales. It's not necessarily a problem with their brand, although they did rush into it with sloppy prototypes and not enough research into the market - but the fashion industry in Japan is being hit pretty badly by the recession, and no one else in the exhibit hall is doing that well, either.
No matter how hard they all work at this, their efforts seem doomed; they can't even pull themselves out of debt yet, and there's absolutely no way they can make enough money to buy their building. Wort of all, Chieko's mother isn't even slightly swayed by their efforts or their pleas. Sure, they have dreams, but so does she...and she actually earned her chance to follow hers into wealthy retirement. Of course she's not going to have a sudden change of heart and decide not to sell, just so her daughter's friends can keep sewing away at their hastily cobbled-together project.
All seems hopeless...but there's one chance left to save the building - by selling not their dresses, but the latest six designs, and Tsukimi herself.
And here's where I got absolutely furious with Kuranosuke.
I'm not saying that he's absolutely wrong: Tsukimi doesn't have big dreams of being a fashion designer, certainly not on her own, without Kuranosuke as her muse and her friends as her colleagues and partners. Going to Singapore to study fashion (with a promise of being able to run her own brand at the end of her paid-for education, where she can hire her friends as her staff if she wants) might not be something she'd ever actually want. But she deserved to make that choice herself. To even be told that it was an option.
Kuranosuke not only makes the decision for her, withholding any information about it from all the people he's supposedly trying to help, but he once again lifts himself up by absolutely grinding Tsukimi into the dirt.
"Tsukimi's just drawing jellyfish," he says. "She doesn't even realize she's 'designing.' I'm the one who started calling Tsukimi a 'designer.' I'm the one who's been molding her to be this way. That's all it is."
This is supposed to be love? This is meant to be him falling in love with a woman and wanting to keep her by his side? No: no, it's not. He doesn't respect her. He doesn't value her. He doesn't ever actually treat her like an equal. He strips away all her creativity, all her brilliant innovation, churns it under his heel, and takes credit for it.
How like a man. Sweeping into a woman's life, showing zero design ability of his own, and still believing he's fully in the right to take credit for a woman's brilliance.
Tsukimi predicts it, in a way, by designing the latest run of dresses based on the Kuranosuke she sees in the late-night aquarium bar - a toxic jellyfish, who is beautiful and fascinating and might hurt her or even drive her crazy...and right now, she's okay with that. She'll let him ruin her.
And he kinda tries.
He almost succeeds. Tsukimi doesn't know that he's keeping anything from her, but she does know he hates Kai Fish, the rich fashion world "whale" who can even swallow up the land sharks threatening their neighborhood and their little home. So because he kept a secret from her, something in her makes her realize that she needs to lie to him...and when she, on her own, strikes a deal with Fish to go to Singapore after all, it's with less information and less negotiating power than if Kuranosuke had just been honest with her to begin with.
It's infuriating and frankly it's making me hate Kuranosuke at this point. He doesn't deserve Tsukimi. I hope she does go to Singapore and discover that she's as brilliant as Fish thinks - as Shu tells her and everyone around him that she is.
See, that's another huge difference. Shu would never, ever try to take undue credit for Tsukimi's success. He supports her, quietly and steadily. He tells her she's wonderful. He brags about her to other people - Inari, his father, his uncle, even Kuranosuke's mother, whom he flies to visit in Milan, at her request - to deliver a Jelly Fish dress, and updates on her son. (And to buy an engagement ring for Tsukimi.)
Because he was out of the country on a mission he couldn't talk about, he wasn't available for Tsukimi's frantic phone calls, which seems to be leading them to that breakup I feared. I wish they'd been able to talk. He could've done so much to support and advise her, in a way Kuranosuke clearly couldn't be trusted to do. Just a couple of days away, to fulfill an important obligation and plan his future with Tsukimi...and instead, he might lose her forever.
I found this volume upsetting, but definitely engrossing. Very eager to see what comes next, and what happens with Fish & Tsukimi. Where does the plot go from here, now that their home has technically been saved? But...without Tsukimi being able to live in it anymore. Does that even count as a victory?
I have to say that once again, Hanamori stole the show in his scenes. I love him. But Kuranosuke, blowing all his daddy's money on expensive clothes and clubbing and never even going to his university classes, has some nerve criticizing what Hanamori does with the money he earns from their family by doing an actual job. It's been six volumes, and not only has he displayed none of the growth I was hoping for, he's getting worse. A bit of sad backstory with his mother really wasn't enough to counter his appalling behavior in this volume.
To be honest, once again I found Higashimura's author note a little...messed up? The first one was cute and funny, about some high school boys who were fans of her work and got roped into doing work on her manga. (It's fascinating to see the production side of the manga world, which is so different from how things function for graphic novelists in the U.S.) But the second story, where she just kinda rips apart one of her assistants for sleeping on the job...what was the point of that? She seems less angry about him not getting his work done than she does about him not listening to her super funny and interesting stories about her K-pop obsessions.
Eurgh. I like how much insight into her life we get in these author notes - something that feels like a rarity among the manga I've been consuming lately - but at certain points, it makes me like her less. She is brilliant and funny, but she also has this mean streak that comes out at various points, and I like that less. I guess there's a little bit of her in all of her characters, and that's the Kuranosuke and Inari showing up. (As those two said when they first met - they're two of a kind. I suppose it's no wonder that I have issues with both of them.)
April 10, 2025
Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
Vol. 2 ★★★★☆
Vol. 3 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 4 ★★★★★
Vol. 5 ★★★☆☆
The exhibition arc is a drag. Since Kuranosuke is usually composed and can come up with a plan for everything, it's a nice change of pace to see him stumped for once. Still, it's depressing to get through. I don't blame the Amars for getting depressed. While that ending is such a cop out, the situation is so dire that I don't mind they're getting an easy win for a change.
If there's one thing this volume does well, it's showing off how much Tsukimi has grown. On top of that, it paints Kuranosuke in a very human light. His inability to come to terms with his feelings for Tsukimi has festered into this contemptuous possessiveness, where he looks down at her for being an otaku yet doesn't want her to leave his side either. I'm not defending him in the slightest! I'm just a fan of ugly and complicated emotions being captured in fiction.
I never commented on the bonus comics for this series, but I have to make an exception this time. The one about Higashimura enlisting those random high schoolers to be her assistants is hilarious. I desperately need an update on what they're all up to now.
Vol. 2 ★★★★☆
Vol. 3 ★★★☆☆
Vol. 4 ★★★★★
Vol. 5 ★★★☆☆
The exhibition arc is a drag. Since Kuranosuke is usually composed and can come up with a plan for everything, it's a nice change of pace to see him stumped for once. Still, it's depressing to get through. I don't blame the Amars for getting depressed. While that ending is such a cop out, the situation is so dire that I don't mind they're getting an easy win for a change.
If there's one thing this volume does well, it's showing off how much Tsukimi has grown. On top of that, it paints Kuranosuke in a very human light. His inability to come to terms with his feelings for Tsukimi has festered into this contemptuous possessiveness, where he looks down at her for being an otaku yet doesn't want her to leave his side either. I'm not defending him in the slightest! I'm just a fan of ugly and complicated emotions being captured in fiction.
I never commented on the bonus comics for this series, but I have to make an exception this time. The one about Higashimura enlisting those random high schoolers to be her assistants is hilarious. I desperately need an update on what they're all up to now.
March 7, 2018
This is the first volume that I've read following watching the drama. It's really interesting to see how condensed some aspects of the manga become in the drama version (although some of the streamlining can be justified).
Can't say that I'm a big fan of Fish and his stuff. Here's hoping for more Ama~s hijinks, Shuu clulessness, and more fun stuff in the next volume.
The bonus comics are pretty good though. Learning about the interns and the kids that just visit Akiko's studio was pretty fun.
Can't say that I'm a big fan of Fish and his stuff. Here's hoping for more Ama~s hijinks, Shuu clulessness, and more fun stuff in the next volume.
The bonus comics are pretty good though. Learning about the interns and the kids that just visit Akiko's studio was pretty fun.
March 19, 2018
This volume wasn't as good as the previous ones, and I was a little disappointed because I had enjoyed the others so much and really wanted the series to continue to go strong. That was until I got to the end. It was so sad, Tsukimi's sacrifice to save the Amars home was heartbreaking, and was enough to rescue this volume up to four stars, instead of three.
April 28, 2018
Wow does shit get real in this volume. So many instances of dundundun drama. Still really well done, with characteristic humor and delight. I am so glad I have the next one on hand to find out what's going on! Fantastic series.
January 27, 2018
Liked this better than the last volume. It was nice to actually see Lina, and I'm curious to see where things are heading next. I love these nerdy girls so much.
March 5, 2018
Of course this ends on a huge world ending plot change and I don't have the next volume! *cries*
February 19, 2019
I am really enjoying this series!! I love the combination of characters!
June 22, 2019
NO DONT GO!!! Bruh if his mom would wear the dress to like Milan or something boom she wouldn’t have to go with that creep as everyone would see it and buy it. THE SHIP MUST SAIL.
April 23, 2023
I think this is my last princess jellyfish lmfao this one was so infuriating
December 30, 2017
I love this series and all it embodies to death, but good lord are some chapters ever wordy to the point that I just skim. Unfortunately this volume has a few of those.
Overall, the drama gets knocked up a notch, and one can’t help but admire Tsukimi for stepping up to the challenge when Kuranosuke starts to falter and the fate of Amamizukan looks grim. It’s great to see a progression in Tsukimi as a character.
It’s no surprise that I’m a Shu fan, and find his naively sweet personality endearing, so it was great to see him at his best in this volume, though unfortunately unavailable when he was needed the most by Tsukimi. I mean, I know theirs will be an ill-fated love, because Kuranosuke appears to be set up as the love interest, but man do I adore Tsukimi and Shu, and I’ll enjoy it while I can.
A good read, for sure, but I hope the next volume has less lagging chunks of tiring dialogue.
Overall, the drama gets knocked up a notch, and one can’t help but admire Tsukimi for stepping up to the challenge when Kuranosuke starts to falter and the fate of Amamizukan looks grim. It’s great to see a progression in Tsukimi as a character.
It’s no surprise that I’m a Shu fan, and find his naively sweet personality endearing, so it was great to see him at his best in this volume, though unfortunately unavailable when he was needed the most by Tsukimi. I mean, I know theirs will be an ill-fated love, because Kuranosuke appears to be set up as the love interest, but man do I adore Tsukimi and Shu, and I’ll enjoy it while I can.
A good read, for sure, but I hope the next volume has less lagging chunks of tiring dialogue.
November 5, 2024
Wow, Can't believe this book. Shu Shan Love's Tsukimi that he flew to France for something special. I love how there is another designer in the story. I still dread the evil lady who keeps trying to buy her home from them. It's their home so leave it alone already lol. I am super excited to read the next book. I would recommend this book. I hope you'll will enjoy the book just as much as I did.
December 26, 2019
I look forward to reading more of this! It goes so much farther than the TV version.
November 27, 2019
Yes I read them out of order I'm very cool and good at remembering which volumes I've read
July 10, 2025
I feel a very strong connection to this story, and I'm staring to get a little too attached to Jellyfish and the Amars. Personally, I didn't like this volume as much as the rest of them, but part of it may be because I didn't love the more depressing tone of the volume and theh fact that Tsukimi may be starting to drift away from the Amars. The series has gotten to a very dramatic point and things have gotten tough for the Jelly Fish brand. The success they've gotten so far doesn't seem to be getting them any more luck as they grapple with the reality of the Japanese fasion industry. Nisha has been very blunt with Kuranosuke since the beginning, but now that reality has caught up to him she's being even more honest. However, even now I want to root for the success of a brand that, if it existed in real life, I probably wouldn't even buy from, which is ironic I guess.
I find Fish as a character to be slightly too convenient for the plot- he sweeps in to "save" things and seems to end things with the redevelopment project a bit too nicely. But even though he's by no means a villain, you still don't want to root for him because you don't want to the Amars to be seperated. It made the volume end on a bitter note, but it makes sense to keep the story moving forward. I wonder how the next volume is going to deal with splitting between Tsukimi and the rest of the gang, of course on top of the sideplots with Shu and the other more minor characters. It is certainly intruiging, and I think Fish is a funny character, but I will always put the Amars first in my house, even if they can be a bit too much at times.
In general I found the parts about the exhibit to be a bit drab and boring compared to the rest of the book. The main purpose of it was to introduce Fish to Tsukimi and Kuranosuke, and the rest of the time it was the characters moping around. I was at least hoping that something else would happen during it, but that never happened. Most of those scenes consisted of the Amars complaining as they have done for all six of the books, and it was times like this when Mayaya in particular felt less of a funny characters and more of just an annoying shtick that's been overused. She's quite explosive, and when she has her tyrants and meltdowns ever other page it does get a bit annoying. However, I did like that the exhibit caused Kuranosuke's confidence to falter, and I thought it was interesting seeing him grapple with the weight of what he's been doing while coming to understand and acknowledge the way he's keeping Tsukimi close and is being possessive and udermining her talents in order to appease himself. I appreciate how complex of a character he is and I think he has been incredibly well written in this series.
My personal favorite part of the book was when Shu went to Italy because we finally got to meet Kuranosuke's mom, Lina. I've been waiting so patiently to meet her and I really like her so far. The part where she finally got the dress was so sweet and emotional, even if it was short. I wonder what part she's going to play in the future of the series, and I hope that it circles around to Jellyfish. I wonder if through her connections and her wearing the dress it will open up opportunities to the brand, and in turn lead to Kuranosuke and Lina finally reuniting. Another part of this plot of the story I liked was the disc with the photos, even if it only had a small part. One thing I loved from the fourth volume was the little look we saw at Kuranosuke and Shu's relationship at the beginning. Although their family dynamic is a bit unconventional, it's sweet, and I would love to explore it more.
I can't believe I'm two-thirds of the way through the series already! I still feel like there's so much left to happen in this series and so little time, but I can't wait to see what happens in the third act. I'm trying not to set my expectations too high for the last volumes, but it is really hard not to. Whatever happens at this point I know I will enjoy thoroughly. The characters are all lovely, albeit wacky, and they're a hard-working group who will do anything to help each other and their home. Even if this specific volume may be my least favorite so far, I am not deterred, and I can't wait to keep reading.
I find Fish as a character to be slightly too convenient for the plot- he sweeps in to "save" things and seems to end things with the redevelopment project a bit too nicely. But even though he's by no means a villain, you still don't want to root for him because you don't want to the Amars to be seperated. It made the volume end on a bitter note, but it makes sense to keep the story moving forward. I wonder how the next volume is going to deal with splitting between Tsukimi and the rest of the gang, of course on top of the sideplots with Shu and the other more minor characters. It is certainly intruiging, and I think Fish is a funny character, but I will always put the Amars first in my house, even if they can be a bit too much at times.
In general I found the parts about the exhibit to be a bit drab and boring compared to the rest of the book. The main purpose of it was to introduce Fish to Tsukimi and Kuranosuke, and the rest of the time it was the characters moping around. I was at least hoping that something else would happen during it, but that never happened. Most of those scenes consisted of the Amars complaining as they have done for all six of the books, and it was times like this when Mayaya in particular felt less of a funny characters and more of just an annoying shtick that's been overused. She's quite explosive, and when she has her tyrants and meltdowns ever other page it does get a bit annoying. However, I did like that the exhibit caused Kuranosuke's confidence to falter, and I thought it was interesting seeing him grapple with the weight of what he's been doing while coming to understand and acknowledge the way he's keeping Tsukimi close and is being possessive and udermining her talents in order to appease himself. I appreciate how complex of a character he is and I think he has been incredibly well written in this series.
My personal favorite part of the book was when Shu went to Italy because we finally got to meet Kuranosuke's mom, Lina. I've been waiting so patiently to meet her and I really like her so far. The part where she finally got the dress was so sweet and emotional, even if it was short. I wonder what part she's going to play in the future of the series, and I hope that it circles around to Jellyfish. I wonder if through her connections and her wearing the dress it will open up opportunities to the brand, and in turn lead to Kuranosuke and Lina finally reuniting. Another part of this plot of the story I liked was the disc with the photos, even if it only had a small part. One thing I loved from the fourth volume was the little look we saw at Kuranosuke and Shu's relationship at the beginning. Although their family dynamic is a bit unconventional, it's sweet, and I would love to explore it more.
I can't believe I'm two-thirds of the way through the series already! I still feel like there's so much left to happen in this series and so little time, but I can't wait to see what happens in the third act. I'm trying not to set my expectations too high for the last volumes, but it is really hard not to. Whatever happens at this point I know I will enjoy thoroughly. The characters are all lovely, albeit wacky, and they're a hard-working group who will do anything to help each other and their home. Even if this specific volume may be my least favorite so far, I am not deterred, and I can't wait to keep reading.
August 3, 2018
"So, basically, the shark at the jelly . . . and then that shark got swallowed up by a whale?"
The life of a jelly is quite challenging these days, is it not? Somehow, in some way, the women of Amars are on the path to success with their fashion brand . . . almost. On the presumption they can locate a few buyers at the next exhibition off of Harajuku Street? On the presumption they can carve out a niche for themselves in a depressed regional market? And on the presumption they won't work themselves to death after having sacrificed so much for so very little? Yes, these twenty-first century nuns are on the path to success!
Notable in this volume of PRINCESS JELLYFISH, Chieko's mother returns from South Korea (bad news), Kuranosuke slowly loses hope (worse news), a hot-shot designer from Singapore shows up (big news), and most intriguing of all, readers get their first genuine look at Lina -- Kuranosuke's biological mother (awesome news). It's a rollercoaster ride with multiple twists and turns. One moment, readers will want to strangle these idiot characters for their childish antics, while only a few pages later, readers might well be bawling their eyes out upon seeing characters, who were once desperate, suddenly regain their composure upon discovering a new source of hope.
Narratively speaking, the big news is the chance arrival of Kai Fish, the CEO of a multinational fashion conglomerate. Tall, thin, and with shaggy hair, the multi-lingual man with an eye for the stylish puts in his bid for Tsukimi's services. But it's anyone's guess as to whether he'll get what he wants. Does the foreign businessman truly "get" the Jellyfish brand? Much less Tsukimi's eccentricities? What will happen if a jellyfish otaku is spirited away to South Asia for a crash course in the dynamics of owning a modern design business? Kuranosuke knows, or at least thinks he does, and the young man is doing everything in his power to keep Tsukimi safe from outside predators.
On a more emotional note, Shu-san and Lina-san's meet-up is for the ages. Shu, forever promising and only now delivering on his word to transport a jellyfish dress to Italy, now serves as author-analog by introducing Lina as a sensitive, frail, but impossibly resolute woman who learned her lessons in life always a few beats too late. PRINCESS JELLYFISH, no doubt, is best defined as a story about young women who seize life after most would claim it was way too late for them to do so. Just as Kuranosuke and Tsukimi are charging full steam into a world of fashion and business, despite everyone telling them not to, so also is Lina giving her youthful ambition one more look in the eye as she stares down an opportunity to revive her career as a vocalist, if only through the simple pleasure of sharing a dress (and a memory) while doing so.
The long-delayed race-against-time vibe that this manga has shielded from view has finally pushed its way to the fore, and it's all readers can do but to gasp and wonder if (and how) these clumsy, hopeless romantics will find their way home.
The life of a jelly is quite challenging these days, is it not? Somehow, in some way, the women of Amars are on the path to success with their fashion brand . . . almost. On the presumption they can locate a few buyers at the next exhibition off of Harajuku Street? On the presumption they can carve out a niche for themselves in a depressed regional market? And on the presumption they won't work themselves to death after having sacrificed so much for so very little? Yes, these twenty-first century nuns are on the path to success!
Notable in this volume of PRINCESS JELLYFISH, Chieko's mother returns from South Korea (bad news), Kuranosuke slowly loses hope (worse news), a hot-shot designer from Singapore shows up (big news), and most intriguing of all, readers get their first genuine look at Lina -- Kuranosuke's biological mother (awesome news). It's a rollercoaster ride with multiple twists and turns. One moment, readers will want to strangle these idiot characters for their childish antics, while only a few pages later, readers might well be bawling their eyes out upon seeing characters, who were once desperate, suddenly regain their composure upon discovering a new source of hope.
Narratively speaking, the big news is the chance arrival of Kai Fish, the CEO of a multinational fashion conglomerate. Tall, thin, and with shaggy hair, the multi-lingual man with an eye for the stylish puts in his bid for Tsukimi's services. But it's anyone's guess as to whether he'll get what he wants. Does the foreign businessman truly "get" the Jellyfish brand? Much less Tsukimi's eccentricities? What will happen if a jellyfish otaku is spirited away to South Asia for a crash course in the dynamics of owning a modern design business? Kuranosuke knows, or at least thinks he does, and the young man is doing everything in his power to keep Tsukimi safe from outside predators.
On a more emotional note, Shu-san and Lina-san's meet-up is for the ages. Shu, forever promising and only now delivering on his word to transport a jellyfish dress to Italy, now serves as author-analog by introducing Lina as a sensitive, frail, but impossibly resolute woman who learned her lessons in life always a few beats too late. PRINCESS JELLYFISH, no doubt, is best defined as a story about young women who seize life after most would claim it was way too late for them to do so. Just as Kuranosuke and Tsukimi are charging full steam into a world of fashion and business, despite everyone telling them not to, so also is Lina giving her youthful ambition one more look in the eye as she stares down an opportunity to revive her career as a vocalist, if only through the simple pleasure of sharing a dress (and a memory) while doing so.
The long-delayed race-against-time vibe that this manga has shielded from view has finally pushed its way to the fore, and it's all readers can do but to gasp and wonder if (and how) these clumsy, hopeless romantics will find their way home.
February 22, 2019
So much happened in this volume! Kurano was so sad - he's so used to things just going right for him that this might be the first time he's truly struggled, and he's not sure how to deal with that. He's also still trying to figure out how he feels about Tsukimi, and her relationship with his brother. Add in Mr. Fish, who has somehow succeeded in securing Tsukimi despite Kurano trying to block it, and he's in trouble.
I feel so much for Tsukimi in this situation. She's constantly battling her own inclinations and learning and growing. She cares so much for her friends that's she willing to sacrifice herself for their continued way of life. She doesn't even realize that Mr. Fish wants to nurture her talent and train her as a designer! Honestly, what Mr. Fish has planned might be really great for Tsukimi. Yes, in essence, the Jelly Fish brand is over, and she won't be with her friends everyday anymore, but that doesn't mean they won't still be friends. Maybe it's the pragmatist in me but there's no way things can stay the same, so maybe this isn't terrible?
Shu is definitely going to be disappointed, not that Tsukimi might be able to be trained, to learn and grow, but that he wasn't able to take her call and help her when she needed it most. I'm not sue what exactly he could have done, but he would have wanted to try. I just don't get why he didn't immediately return her calls once he had landed.
I'm so glad that we finally met Kurano's mom! Knowing more of her story, I get why she left, but I still feel like she could reach out to Kurano now and try to build some sort of relationship.
I think I only have a few more volumes left to read! I think I'm so surprised to see things moving so quickly because I'm more used to on-going series, where it seems like things move so slowly. I love it though.
I feel so much for Tsukimi in this situation. She's constantly battling her own inclinations and learning and growing. She cares so much for her friends that's she willing to sacrifice herself for their continued way of life. She doesn't even realize that Mr. Fish wants to nurture her talent and train her as a designer! Honestly, what Mr. Fish has planned might be really great for Tsukimi. Yes, in essence, the Jelly Fish brand is over, and she won't be with her friends everyday anymore, but that doesn't mean they won't still be friends. Maybe it's the pragmatist in me but there's no way things can stay the same, so maybe this isn't terrible?
Shu is definitely going to be disappointed, not that Tsukimi might be able to be trained, to learn and grow, but that he wasn't able to take her call and help her when she needed it most. I'm not sue what exactly he could have done, but he would have wanted to try. I just don't get why he didn't immediately return her calls once he had landed.
I'm so glad that we finally met Kurano's mom! Knowing more of her story, I get why she left, but I still feel like she could reach out to Kurano now and try to build some sort of relationship.
I think I only have a few more volumes left to read! I think I'm so surprised to see things moving so quickly because I'm more used to on-going series, where it seems like things move so slowly. I love it though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2018
New plot developments! That was refreshing, the series has been in a lull but now a new player enters to the race for Amamizukan and brings new kind of problems for Amars and Kuranosuke.
The Amars try to sell Jelly Fish dresses at an exhibition and while there, get noticed by a foreign fashion mogul. But he wants to hire only Tsukimi to design dresses for his boutiques. Kuranosuke is strongly against this. In the end Tsukimi takes the matters to her own hand though but we are left to wait if that works or not.
Tsukimi has grown slowly but steadily as a character and here we actually see her go beyond her comfort zone more than before. But she's still inexperienced and naïve and awkward too. She's relatable. Only thing I would like her to review again is her relationship with Shu. I can't root for them because they are in it only because that's all they've ever had.
But Kuranosuke doesn't help either, he so clearly has a crush on Tsukimi but cannot even admit it to himself. He's learned to accept the Amars and their otakuness (mostly) but still has prejudice against truly liking one of them. I want to smack him! (Gently, I'm rooting for him.)
Mr. Fish, the fashion mogul, is slippery like his name but he's a fresh addition to the cast because now not only Chieko's mother and Inari-san are the threat.
The drama is good, comedy was good (sometimes it goes over the top but in this volume there was a nice balance) and the story evolved too. Good volume! I've grown to like the art more and more too, I've liked it alright from the start but sometimes it feels a bit hurried (which it probably is because Higashimura has been juggling many series simultaneously) but I feel like I'm enjoying it more nowdays.
There's also colour pages which is always nice extra.
The Amars try to sell Jelly Fish dresses at an exhibition and while there, get noticed by a foreign fashion mogul. But he wants to hire only Tsukimi to design dresses for his boutiques. Kuranosuke is strongly against this. In the end Tsukimi takes the matters to her own hand though but we are left to wait if that works or not.
Tsukimi has grown slowly but steadily as a character and here we actually see her go beyond her comfort zone more than before. But she's still inexperienced and naïve and awkward too. She's relatable. Only thing I would like her to review again is her relationship with Shu. I can't root for them because they are in it only because that's all they've ever had.
But Kuranosuke doesn't help either, he so clearly has a crush on Tsukimi but cannot even admit it to himself. He's learned to accept the Amars and their otakuness (mostly) but still has prejudice against truly liking one of them. I want to smack him! (Gently, I'm rooting for him.)
Mr. Fish, the fashion mogul, is slippery like his name but he's a fresh addition to the cast because now not only Chieko's mother and Inari-san are the threat.
The drama is good, comedy was good (sometimes it goes over the top but in this volume there was a nice balance) and the story evolved too. Good volume! I've grown to like the art more and more too, I've liked it alright from the start but sometimes it feels a bit hurried (which it probably is because Higashimura has been juggling many series simultaneously) but I feel like I'm enjoying it more nowdays.
There's also colour pages which is always nice extra.
October 29, 2019
So for sure spoilers because I don't have the next book and this one ends pretty dramatically.
Okay I really liked this one. I'm finally in it. The character's personalities are starting to take shape and they are all trying to get their motivations clearer, especially in the love triangle now maybe more than two 'love' interests? I'm a bit weirded out by the 'Chinese'? guy? I mean is he supposed to be a creeper? I feel like they are trying to make it seem like he might be (with the 'buying' of Tsukimi and his sleeping? with one of his other models) but he could be not as we are only getting a bit more.
But we don't really know fully what his motivations are or who he is. I do look forward to seeing how the brothers are going to react to the fact that Tsukimi has been 'bought' and going to be whisked off to another country. I mean she clearly has no idea what it means to date/be engaged to someone; you can't really sell yourself off and do an intense move like that without maybe mentioning it (she does try but gives up and thinks she is bothering him). And there was that scene where they all go out to dinner and Tsukimi is looking more at Kuranosuke as a princess she wants to dress? And Shu-san is off doing his own thing without talking to Kuranosuke or Tsukimi so he is in Italy when this is all hitting the fan.
I don't have the next book from the library but I really want to peek on the internet and find out what happens....but I won't. (Pretty sure it's clear how the brother situation is going to play out and I want to read how the Fish guy situation plays out). lol.
Okay I really liked this one. I'm finally in it. The character's personalities are starting to take shape and they are all trying to get their motivations clearer, especially in the love triangle now maybe more than two 'love' interests? I'm a bit weirded out by the 'Chinese'? guy? I mean is he supposed to be a creeper? I feel like they are trying to make it seem like he might be (with the 'buying' of Tsukimi and his sleeping? with one of his other models) but he could be not as we are only getting a bit more.
But we don't really know fully what his motivations are or who he is. I do look forward to seeing how the brothers are going to react to the fact that Tsukimi has been 'bought' and going to be whisked off to another country. I mean she clearly has no idea what it means to date/be engaged to someone; you can't really sell yourself off and do an intense move like that without maybe mentioning it (she does try but gives up and thinks she is bothering him). And there was that scene where they all go out to dinner and Tsukimi is looking more at Kuranosuke as a princess she wants to dress? And Shu-san is off doing his own thing without talking to Kuranosuke or Tsukimi so he is in Italy when this is all hitting the fan.
I don't have the next book from the library but I really want to peek on the internet and find out what happens....but I won't. (Pretty sure it's clear how the brother situation is going to play out and I want to read how the Fish guy situation plays out). lol.
Read
January 4, 2021I didn't realize that the last time I picked up this series was over a year ago. It doesn't quite hold my interest as it did when I first read it, but I'm still vaguely interested to know what happens.
In this volume we see the Amars struggle to sell clothes and advance in fashion. They (only Tsukimi really) get scouted by a big name dude, but Kuranosuke I think is too selfish and doesn't relay the offer to her. She does end up calling him in the end though. I think it's a good deal, but for Tsukimi, she'll probably fare better in a small business since I can't see her networking or playing in the big leagues. I can't believe Shu and her are engaged. Like they can't even speak to each other casually. And he only likes her when she's 'transformed'.
I find parts funny, but not as much as before. What really makes me speed read is any mention of history by Mayaya. My eyes just glaze over, but thats the point. Maybe it'll be another year before I read the next volume hah. Or I'll cave and just read the wiki. I wouldn't put it past me.
In this volume we see the Amars struggle to sell clothes and advance in fashion. They (only Tsukimi really) get scouted by a big name dude, but Kuranosuke I think is too selfish and doesn't relay the offer to her. She does end up calling him in the end though. I think it's a good deal, but for Tsukimi, she'll probably fare better in a small business since I can't see her networking or playing in the big leagues. I can't believe Shu and her are engaged. Like they can't even speak to each other casually. And he only likes her when she's 'transformed'.
I find parts funny, but not as much as before. What really makes me speed read is any mention of history by Mayaya. My eyes just glaze over, but thats the point. Maybe it'll be another year before I read the next volume hah. Or I'll cave and just read the wiki. I wouldn't put it past me.
October 26, 2025
*4.5*
This was a painful one! So, so many things went wrong for the Jelly Fish team. It was truly heartbreaking to even see Kuranosuke give up hope and lose confidence.
I think it's really interesting to end it on Tsukimi selling herself as a designer to Mr. Fish just to save her friends, though. I know this series has to have a happy ending, with everyone celebrating success at Amamizukan and running a boutique or something (if it doesn't?? Then I riot!!!), but it's gotta be an uphill battle to get there.
And man, I know Banba and Mayaya are meant to be especially silly and funny, but... the really pissed me off in that final chapter. It just felt like they didn't care about the others the way the others care about them. I thought they had grown a bit more selfless since then. It seems as though they have more growing to do, though.
This was a painful one! So, so many things went wrong for the Jelly Fish team. It was truly heartbreaking to even see Kuranosuke give up hope and lose confidence.
I think it's really interesting to end it on Tsukimi selling herself as a designer to Mr. Fish just to save her friends, though. I know this series has to have a happy ending, with everyone celebrating success at Amamizukan and running a boutique or something (if it doesn't?? Then I riot!!!), but it's gotta be an uphill battle to get there.
And man, I know Banba and Mayaya are meant to be especially silly and funny, but... the really pissed me off in that final chapter. It just felt like they didn't care about the others the way the others care about them. I thought they had grown a bit more selfless since then. It seems as though they have more growing to do, though.
May 1, 2025
4 stars.
Welp, shit has really hit the fan. I don't like the Fish CEO one bit. He gives me the creeps and I think he is taking advantage of Amamizukan. I do hate that Kuranosuke didn't tell Tsukimi about the offer Fish made. I don't like that these men are making decisions about her future, while she doesn't even get to have a say for herself about what she wants. I'm not shocked that she called but I hate that she made a deal with Fish without knowing all the details or what exactly she's agreeing to.
Seeing everyone feel so defeated, including Kuranosuke, made me sad. It was nice meeting Kuranosuke's mother and getting a small glimpse into her personality. I still dislike Shu and my dislike grows with each volume. I hope Tsukimi doesn't say yes when he proposes.
Welp, shit has really hit the fan. I don't like the Fish CEO one bit. He gives me the creeps and I think he is taking advantage of Amamizukan. I do hate that Kuranosuke didn't tell Tsukimi about the offer Fish made. I don't like that these men are making decisions about her future, while she doesn't even get to have a say for herself about what she wants. I'm not shocked that she called but I hate that she made a deal with Fish without knowing all the details or what exactly she's agreeing to.
Seeing everyone feel so defeated, including Kuranosuke, made me sad. It was nice meeting Kuranosuke's mother and getting a small glimpse into her personality. I still dislike Shu and my dislike grows with each volume. I hope Tsukimi doesn't say yes when he proposes.
November 26, 2017
Probably the most fashion industry explanation heavy volume, it delves deeper into what Amars is going to have to do to save their home and their brand. Things are looking tense as an Asian fashion king takes an interest in Tsukimi's designs and wants her to design for him. Kuranosuke still hasn't totally dealt with his feelings for her, and Shu is off to Italy to see Lina, deliver her Jellyfish dress, and find an engagement ring. And lots of insanity ensues.
The art is charming as always, the clothes fabulous, and the characters continue to be the best things ever. I will be sad when this series finishes, and it seems to be winding down.
Kurakimi forever.
The art is charming as always, the clothes fabulous, and the characters continue to be the best things ever. I will be sad when this series finishes, and it seems to be winding down.
Kurakimi forever.
August 10, 2021
This manga is a joy to read one after another because they do really pick up from the last volume so being able to read them back to back is great as the story flows.
This one starts with Kuranosuke setting up Jelly Fish into an exhibition much to the fear of the Amars as it means talking to fashionable people but it leads the story into uncharted territory as more characters are introduced and some them being set up to be an interest to the story as the story is opening up outside of the Amars and the Amamizukan.
Not to mention this volume shows more backstory on Kuranoske and his family dynamic which was also great to read.
This one starts with Kuranosuke setting up Jelly Fish into an exhibition much to the fear of the Amars as it means talking to fashionable people but it leads the story into uncharted territory as more characters are introduced and some them being set up to be an interest to the story as the story is opening up outside of the Amars and the Amamizukan.
Not to mention this volume shows more backstory on Kuranoske and his family dynamic which was also great to read.
August 6, 2023
The struggles in breaking through the fashion industry continue for them. The series' recent shift in focus towards this complication has finally begun, by this volume's end, to converge and rupture onto the state of affairs between our key characters. Akiko Higashimura allows moments of pondering the significance and meaning behind her characters' decisions, giving reflective thought that fed our hunger for insight and development. Given the manner in which this omnibus volume concluded, I expect shake-ups to later occur that would challenge important relationships and reset the dramatic momentum, perhaps as it treads towards its finale.
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