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Maison Ikkoku Collector's Edition, Vol. 1

(Maison Ikkoku Collector's Edition #1)

Rumiko Takahashi

4.19 · Rating details · 297 ratings · 63 reviews

Acclaimed author Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding your path in life.

Yusaku Godai didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams. But living in a dilapidated building full of eccentric and noisy tenants is making it hard for him to achieve his goals. Now that a beautiful woman has moved in to become t ...more

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Paperback, 344 pages

Published September 15th 2020 by VIZ Media LLC (first published September 1st 1992)

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· 297 ratings · 63 reviews

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Oct 17, 2020 Geoff rated it really liked it

Shelves: comics, arc, net-galley, read-2020, reread

A classic light romance manga. This and Takahashi's classic Ranma 1/2 (a martial arts romance farce) were the two first manga I read, borrowed from my college roommate way back at the dawn of the digital age. Because of that, any rating will be inexorably affected by affectionate nostalgia, but while the art is rounder and more cartoonish than the current manga style and the romance plot is verrrrrry stretched out, it's still a sweet, fun, and even funny story.

**Thanks to the artist, publisher, ...more

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Sep 20, 2020 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: manga

I was really happy to see that this edition has a new English translation. The older version was inconsistent between the beginning and ending, as styles of translation changed along the way. This one is more readable, and feels more accurate to its source material culturally, with the odd exception of changing values in yen to dollars.

This has been a favorite of mine for decades, but I could easily see some parts of it not sitting well with modern readers. It mellows out quite a bit and ditches ...more

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Jul 25, 2020 Lou (Lou and Life) rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, read-2020, shojo, manga, ebooks, arc

Advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Maison Ikkoku Collector's Edition comes out on the 21st October 2020.

I requested this book because I was intrigued by the cover. I had no idea what the manga was about when I started reading it, but I started to enjoy it after the first chapter. I did find it difficult to get into the manga in the beginning, but that was overcome quickly after I made time to read the manga, and I ended up reading ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Shae rated it really liked it

This was a really fun title!

I think a lot of people will end up relating to various characters throughout the story, especially Godai and Kyoko. They both have their own struggles within the story, and you see them trying to move forward. One is stuck in their past, and the other is stuck under the pressures of others.
I love the art as always from this mangaka. It has a particular charm that is a product of its time, and I mean that as a compliment. You see nods to some very classic shoujo art w ...more

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Aug 06, 2020 Kathreadya rated it it was amazing

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most prolific mangaka’s of all time, and another of her manga’s was my very first. So the artwork felt like coming home from the first page. Open and expressive, the artwork seamlessly blends together to take you to a place you’ll swear you’ve been before.

Maison Ikkoku is a comedy manga, and the outrageous situations the characters constantly find themselves in are at times ridiculous, but the characters are so ernest that you are still swept away in a sweet, slow ...more

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May 15, 2020 Teresa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley, VIZ Media, and Rumiko Takahashi for the opportunity to read Maison Ikkoku Collector's Edition Volume 1 in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of Takahashi's Inu-Yasha in my teens, I tried to explore with some of her other works and couldn't quite get into them the same way. Now that I am older and have more experience with life, trying Maison Ikkoku again was more than enjoyable. This volume is a wonderful revamp of the original VIZ print run.

This manga is a bit date ...more

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May 14, 2020 beth {hiatus} F. rated it really liked it

Shelves: manga, netgalley

This was pretty funny.

The story is a slice of life romance. It's enjoyable and flows well, although slow. I can see the characters as people in real life in a show or something. They're all funny but also relatable.

This is drawn in Takahashi's iconic style. It actually is more cartoony looking than her later popular works, such as InuYasha and Ranma 1/2. I found it enjoyable and saw the basis of many of her later characters.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed any of her works! ...more

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Oct 21, 2020 Anna rated it really liked it

Shelves: manga

Listen, this is just another shining example of ALL OF THE THINGS Rumiko-sensei does so well: large cast of unique characters, many obnoxious personalities and quirks, 1-sided crushes and a full flowchart of ridiculous likes/dislikes love triangles etc...
Every chapter works as stand-alone goof episode, and combines with other chapters into a full story

Its like any of her other ensemble series, but minus the supernatural element
_____________
sure some things haven't aged well (romcom staples usual ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Vincent rated it really liked it

Charming late 1980's rom-com from Rumiko Takahashi.

Some of the humour, especially regarding sexual harassment, consent, and gender roles, will appear dated and potentially offensive to modern readers, especially those younger than Gen X.

The story moves much faster than I remember. In this volume we are introduced to all the main characters who live at Maison Ikkoku, we have the resolution of ronin plot line, and the introduction of romantic rivals Mitaka-san and Kozue-chan. The stage is now set ...more

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Mar 30, 2020 Andréa marked it as to-read

Shelves: young-adult, netgalley-edelweiss, sequential-art, digital, arc

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

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Sep 23, 2020 Ruthsic rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, comedy, new-adult, manga-graphicnovel, translated, arcs, historical, romance, first-read

Warnings: nudity, implied pedophilia, grief over death of loved one

A comedy series focusing on a building of eccentric residents and its new manager, Maison Ikkoku primarily is about the relationship between a university student, Godai, and Kyoko, the beautiful new manager. Godai has a huge crush on Kyoko, but Kyoko sees him mainly as a childish man, who has to be taken care for; meanwhile Godai's neighbors are having a lot of fun teasing him and goading Kyoko. The tone is slice of life, with a ...more

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Sep 20, 2020 T. rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels, ebook, manga, arc, 2020

A good classic and I'm glad it's back in print. ...more

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Sep 17, 2020 Carrie rated it really liked it

Review: ‘Maison Ikkoku’ Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 is Rom-Com Goodness!

Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding your path in life back in print!

But here’s the thing: Maison Ikkoku is magical. In its own way. It’s rom-com goodness and I’m so grateful to be able to start reading the series now and appreciate it for what it is. It is a story of a run-down building of people all eccentric and noisy tenants and the new landlady, Kyoko Otonashi who is young, beautiful, and technicall Review: ‘Maison Ikkoku’ Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 is Rom-Com Goodness!

Rumiko Takahashi’s classic romantic comedy about finding your path in life back in print!

But here’s the thing: Maison Ikkoku is magical. In its own way. It’s rom-com goodness and I’m so grateful to be able to start reading the series now and appreciate it for what it is. It is a story of a run-down building of people all eccentric and noisy tenants and the new landlady, Kyoko Otonashi who is young, beautiful, and technically single and who brings new life to the party. One of the tenants that has a bigger spotlight is Yusaku Godai who didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams.

But living in a dilapidated building full of folks who nickname him “Ronin”–poking fun at his status of being a failed student who just hasn’t gotten enough purpose of footing in life–he finds it hard to study in peace and gets the results he wants. Now that a beautiful woman has moved in to become the new resident manager, Godai is driven to distraction and so is the rest of the house.

This manga is funny, light-hearted, and a slow-paced read. Very much slice of life–as there aren’t huge stakes like saving your kid sister from becoming a monster or saving the earth as we know if from menaces from outer space–the true conflicts come from the everyday lives of the folks living there like Akemi the young lady who works at a bar and often walks about at home in her nightgowns and underwear, usually hungover from a night’s work. There’s Hanae, the middle-aged married woman with a young son, who is the biggest gossip in town. Yotsuya is another resident of the shared building who is perhaps the biggest pest and mysterious one–not much is known about him.

BUT he’s always catching Godai in the strangest situations like peeping through an actual crack in the wall in their room and pushing dirty magazines in when the struggling student is expecting guests. Like I said there are personalities for days and with Kiyoko, the young, unmarried woman who is the new landlord–she finds that she’d fodder for the gossip mill, and someone new to be entangled in their lives. It is all jokes and silliness and then as I read on I found a really, endearing portrait of the different types of relationships present in the world, defining what the world family means and most importantly: figuring out your own path in life. Whether you’re considering what next to do career wise or considering starting a new romantic relationship with someone.

At more than 300 pages, the first volume is a two in one, perfect for long time fans and new fans alike. The Viz website notes that the rating is “Teen+”. Manga published by them in that category usually is more suitable for older teens and adults. For example, may contain intense and/or gory violence, sexual content, frequent strong language, alcohol, tobacco and/or other substance use. While there isn’t BERSERK level of gore and violence there’s a spot of nudity and lots of slapstick humor and situations that lean more towards adult humor. Certain humorous situations did not age well due to the slapstick comedic effect of male characters being slapped for their lecherous words and actions. Remember how exasperated you felt reading and watching Inuyasha‘s Miroku? YEAH. You’ll feel a bit of that exasperation here too.

A romantic comedy that blends in a little bit everything by Legendary manga creator Rumiko Takahashi, who was finally honored with an induction into the Eisner Hall of Fame back in 2018 means manga fans today get a taste of this veteran’s brilliance. Who is this manga for? The rom-com lovers, the “vintage” manga lovers and most certainly fans of Rumiko Takahashi.

Read more of my review here: https://blacknerdproblems.com/review-... ...more

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Oct 05, 2020 TheOASG rated it it was amazing

Yusaku Godai, also known as Ronin in the Maison Ikkoku boarding house, didn’t pass his college exams. Blaming his eccentric tenants for his struggles, he aims to move out — until a beautiful woman named Kyoko Otonashi arrives. She says she’s the new manager, and that prompts Yusaku to change his tune.

However, Kyoko will now learn that these residents have some quirks to them…a lot of quirks actually.

The first 1/3 of the Maison Ikkoku Collector’s Edition essentially eases us into the cast of char Yusaku Godai, also known as Ronin in the Maison Ikkoku boarding house, didn’t pass his college exams. Blaming his eccentric tenants for his struggles, he aims to move out — until a beautiful woman named Kyoko Otonashi arrives. She says she’s the new manager, and that prompts Yusaku to change his tune.

However, Kyoko will now learn that these residents have some quirks to them…a lot of quirks actually.

The first 1/3 of the Maison Ikkoku Collector’s Edition essentially eases us into the cast of characters and their personalities, but with Rumiko Takahashi’s creative trademark humor. Yusaku’s your typical college student that acts overly dramatic at times; Mr. Yotsuya somehow says everything, dirty or not, in the most understated manner possible; Akemi Roppongi is free-spirited in her words and what she wears in the building; and Mrs. Ichinose knows all and yet manages to start many misunderstandings in this first volume. All in all, factor in their names (there’s an amusing translation note about the names of the characters) and how they act, it’s a cast of tenants whose routines get shaken up now that Kyoko and her dog Soichiro are here.

And obviously Yusaku’s routine will change since he’s the main male romantic lead in this romcom.

There are aspects that show its age, but between its pace and great art style, Takahashi’s humor still works. The moments where everyone was talking on the stairwell despite the obvious “Quiet in the stairwell” sign was highly amusing. Could be wrong, but something tells me some key moments in this series happen on that stairwell. The jokes that involve a bit of Yusaku’s ronin status or his sordid dreams, whenever anyone interacts with the dog — this will eventually include one of Yusaku’s rivals later on, and that rival is not a dog fan — and Mrs. Ichinose’s son (yes, to be a real man you have to have a big house before marrying a woman), they’re quite hilarious. It’s all somehow simple, yet for the characters, it’s all complex.

While humor is its calling card, one of Maison Ikkoku’s storylines is Kyoko’s past, and how Yusaku handles it. From naming the dog Soichiro (and her insistence that the dog remember this, one time to amusing effect) to what she would say to certain characters, it becomes clear she’s dealing with a significant loss and needs time to heal. Whether that’s managing clashing personalities and handling responsibilities as expected of a manager, the manga offers a reasonable take on dealing with what she’s going through. From there, while we see how she recovers from it, it’ll next come down to how Yusaku handles it. I don’t know if he handles it well at the start, but as you can figure, he’ll get to learn.

Many events pop up in this volume, starting from Kyoko’s introduction to Yusaku getting his exam results back (with his grandma also showing up) to a number of girls calling the house (and Kyoko becoming displeased!), so there’s a lot to find funny throughout the read. I was very much looking forward to checking this particular Takahashi manga out, and I’m glad to say I didn’t come close to being disappointed. If you’ve been wanting to give one of her many works a try, Maison Ikkoku — and in this nice collector’s edition — is definitely worth checking out.

- Justin ...more

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Jul 11, 2020 Megan Lavey-Heaton rated it it was amazing

I have a very special love of Maison Ikkoku. I first fully read the series in my mid-20s when Viz put out the second edition of the manga. It was a series I didn't quite get when I was a teenager, but I fell in love with it as a recent college graduate living on my own. Now as a married woman in my early 40s, this series has grown even richer and more meaningful.

Maison Ikkoku chronicles the love story between aspiring college student Yusaku Godai and his new apartment manager, Kyoko Otonashi, Th I have a very special love of Maison Ikkoku. I first fully read the series in my mid-20s when Viz put out the second edition of the manga. It was a series I didn't quite get when I was a teenager, but I fell in love with it as a recent college graduate living on my own. Now as a married woman in my early 40s, this series has grown even richer and more meaningful.

Maison Ikkoku chronicles the love story between aspiring college student Yusaku Godai and his new apartment manager, Kyoko Otonashi, There is chaos, joy and sadness as this volume has the first 16 chapters of the series (the original vol. 1 and half of vol. 2) and introduces most of the characters and love triangles. Supporting them all is an exasperating but strangely lovable cast of residents. You can see the echoes of this series decades later in manga such as "Princess Jellyfish."

The new translation is fantastic with one caveat. The 2003 translation heavily relied on American slang and obscured some of the jokes. Godai in the original comes off like a rural stereotype, and the use of given names instead of family names removed the impact of some later scenes. The 2020 edition corrects Godai's status as a ronin starting in chapter 1 whereas the 2003 edition had him first in college then out of college. THe translation re-establishes the original timeline, so the reader knows the story starts in late 1980 and progresses from there. Some scenes are radically different because of the literal translation. The big one that leaped out is in chapter 3, when at the Christmas party, Kentaro starts yelling at Godai about the size of certain parts needed to make a wife happy. This better explains the shocked looked on everyone's faces rather than in the 2003 edition, where the joke is almost wiped entirely. The language is tighter and the characters are richer and better for it.

But then there is the caveat. There is some subtle removal of some Japanese culture, which is very odd considering that the bulk of the translation aligns with the original Japanese so much better. In chapter 3 of the 2020 edition, Akemi talks about the Christmas party at Chachamaru and says that tickets are $20. When you zoom in, you see the tickets have been changed to American dollars instead of the original 2,000 yen in the 2003 edition. Part of Maison Ikkoku's charm is that it how it captures life in early 1980s Japan. While contemporary when Rumiko Takahashi drew the manga, it is a lovely look back at life 40 years ago in Tokyo. It's a bit disappointing to have it somewhat Americanized.

But that doesn't take away from the overall sheer joy of this story and being able to read it the way Takahashi intended it to be read, which is why I give it a full five stars. I love Maison Ikkoku every bit as much today as I did in 2003, and I love how Viz has treated the series in the collector's edition. I cannot wait to hold the physical product in my hands.

This ARC was provided by VIZ through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 05, 2020 Michelle Louise rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley2020, problematic-tropes, netgalley, poc, no-sex, neighbors-to-lovers, secret-admirer, new-adult-romance, manga, graphic-novel

Maison Ikkoku is a blast of Manga nostalgia.

One of the great Rumiko Takahashi's earlier works, it first ran from 1980 to 1987 with an anime series adaptation running from 1986 to 1988. It's a gentle romantic comedy with a strong slice of life vibe -- even in-between the comedic shenanigans.

Maison Ikkoku follows Godai, a ronin (which means person studying to take the super difficult university admissions test) who lives in a boarding house style of apartment. He's surrounded by annoying and ram Maison Ikkoku is a blast of Manga nostalgia.

One of the great Rumiko Takahashi's earlier works, it first ran from 1980 to 1987 with an anime series adaptation running from 1986 to 1988. It's a gentle romantic comedy with a strong slice of life vibe -- even in-between the comedic shenanigans.

Maison Ikkoku follows Godai, a ronin (which means person studying to take the super difficult university admissions test) who lives in a boarding house style of apartment. He's surrounded by annoying and rambunctious neighbors. After their antics caused the previous apartment manager to quit, a new and massively attractive apartment manager shows up. Her name is Kyoko and Godai immediately falls head over heels in love with her.

The other apartment residents also take a shining to her, much to Godai's chagrin. And thus starts the long-running romantic comedy.

---

This manga collection is pure nostalgia glasses for me. I discovered Takahashi's work early in my anime/manga journey as I suspect many people did considering she's known for such titles as Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, InuYasha, and Rin-ne. I've liked several of her other titles but had never actually read Maison Ikkoku (or seen the anime for that matter).. This was such a blast from the past.

First off, this is not Japan as we know it today. This is the Japan of forty years ago. That means that social mores are different. And things like smoking are common. Also the technology and expectations are different. It's sort of fascinating to read, honestly. One thing that I had to keep reminding myself is that this manga was written specifically to appeal to a male audience. It was one of the flagship manga in the still running Big Comic Spirits serial. So the jokes and gaze is meant for young men and not women, and it does show.. The comedy is very slapstick and some of the antics didn't always land for me. It may be because I'm not Japanese, it may be because I am reading this in 2020 and not in 1980, or it may be because I'm a woman. Who knows?

One thing Takahashi is known for is creating memorable characters, and Maison Ikkoku is no exception. Godai is an interesting character, relatable to a lot of young men even today. And Kyoko is an interesting Takahashi character. She's more reminiscent of Kasumi from Ranma 1/2 than any other of her heroines. And there's an adorable dog, Soichiro. (who no lie is my favorite character LOL)

The art is a little rough, and that might be in part that this is early in Takahashi's career or because of the technological limitations of the time. At times I had trouble telling some of the characters apart, which is part of the reason why this doesn't get five stars from me. In a visual medium, identifiablity is important.

I think this would be definitely something someone who likes Takahashi's other works would love to own. I also feel that people who like slapstick heavy romantic comedies would also really enjoy this.

As for me, I give this:

Four stars

Thank you to VIZ MEDIA and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. ...more

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Oct 10, 2020 More Bedside Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

Created when Eisner Hall of Famer Takahashi Rumiko was in her twenties, Maison Ikkoku is a dear 1980s rom-com that extends into segments of real depth as well and is counted among some of the most memorable and beloved comics. The series follows Godai Yûsaku, a young man still pursuing getting into college after failing admission, who becomes smitten with Otanashi Kyoko the new apartment manager, while surrounded by lively other tenants. Though an earlier work, Maison Ikkoku still shows Takahash Created when Eisner Hall of Famer Takahashi Rumiko was in her twenties, Maison Ikkoku is a dear 1980s rom-com that extends into segments of real depth as well and is counted among some of the most memorable and beloved comics. The series follows Godai Yûsaku, a young man still pursuing getting into college after failing admission, who becomes smitten with Otanashi Kyoko the new apartment manager, while surrounded by lively other tenants. Though an earlier work, Maison Ikkoku still shows Takahashi’s attuned sense of timing and comedic panel expression. Further one of her major titles to have also received an animated adaptation that would fit with the best of sitcoms, the comic has likewise been translated to several languages over the years.

In English the 1990s brought Maison Ikkoku first presented in Viz Select comic formats, Animerica Extra magazine and by the turn of the millennia a VIZ Graphic Novel collected edition (being flipped and not complete). Though it was 2003 before English speaking fans had a right-to-left Editor’s Choice edition which would also present the full 15 volume series. Gollancz in the UK similarly offering an English edition in 2006. Now marking 40 years in 2020 is an omnibus release of 10 volumes over coming months. And the new English localization is a significant draw. This oversized VIZ Signature Edition features a sophisticated treatment, French flaps, with a few colour pages, adding a brand-new translation plus notes by Matt Treyvaud, as well edited by Nancy Thistlethwaite an industry veteran and personal fan of the series, and touch up/lettering by Inori Fukuka Trant. You can feel the hard work and love that went into a presentation like this.

But it’s not just that the series has been OOP in English for some time providing an opportunity for revising. Though I do dislike mentioning it, the old localizations present an unfortunate issue that required redress. Back in the day a whole team of familiar names comparably contributed to bringing Maison Ikkoku to new audiences in English. However, one of those individuals, who additionally worked on many of VIZ’s big titles, is as I write this in prison. So taking books with the influence on the translation and name of Gerard Jones off my shelf to replace with copies of a new fresh English edition was one the few happy things to happen this year. And I only hope more such titles will likewise follow in getting new editions.

North American publisher VIZ has always seemed to have a particular knack for selecting some exceptional artists and their works out of the bevy up for their consideration. It was a title by Takahashi Rumiko which was my very first introduction to comics from Japan in fact. Now this classic work is again on offer and hopefully embraced by a new group of readers. On the surface some things have undoubtedly changed in the past 40 years, including Takahashi’s art style but, human emotions run much the same. ...more

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Apr 03, 2020 Online Eccentric Librarian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, historical, manga

More reviews at the Online Eccentric Librarian http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

Rumiko Takahashi's second foray into a long-running series (after Urusei Yatsura) is a wonderful and amusing adult-oriented story about a group of oddballs at an apartment house. Although written in 1980 (and with some very 1970s funky looks going on in there!) it is still wonderfully relevant today. I am not sure what makes this a collector's edition but I'm not going to complain seeing this in print again. It always ...more

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Nov 10, 2020 Moriah Venable rated it it was amazing

I have been a big fan of Inuyasha since I was little. I read the manga a few years ago and currently reading Rin-ne. This mangaka has started to become my favorite with me wanting to read all their works, so when I heard about this, I couldn't wait to read it.

The title comes from the name of the boarding house in which the manga generally is set, showcase a vast amount of different characters.

It mainly focuses on Godai, who at the start of the manga has failed his college entrance exams and is ...more

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Feb 08, 2021 Sonia rated it it was ok

Shelves: fiction, other

Recently I went to Barnes & Noble and while I was there, the beautiful cover of this edition of "Maison Ikkoku" stuck out to me. Admittedly, I was not familiar with Rumiko Takahashi's work and had no idea what "Maison Ikkoku" was about, but I ended up buying it anyway. I was excited to read it because I assumed it was going to be a cute story. Boy, was I naive to think that. Though this story is technically a slice-of-life romance, I think it's more accurate to say that it's a fast-paced, slapst ...more

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Sep 04, 2020 Halley rated it liked it

Shelves: comics-manga, netgalley-arc-s

Maison Ikkoku is a boarding house FULL of quirky tenants. From the mother/son duo who are in everyone's business, to the young man who frequently pokes holes in walls, to the ronin who's attempting (and mostly failing) to get into some/ANY college. It brought to mind memories of reading Love Hina in high school, and incidentally I think high school would have been the ideal time for me to be reading this manga. I LOVED combos of personalities like this, and I was a big fan of Takahashi's Ranma 1 ...more

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Sep 17, 2020 Joseph Whitt rated it it was amazing

My favorite Takahashi work, retranslated and now finally reading right to left. She’s firing on all cylinders with this one. We got a great balance of gags and drama, all tied together with some solid focus and brevity. I think this series clocks in around 16 volumes, a rarity for Takahashi as her series tend to famously go on forever, with Inuyasha, Ranma 1/2, and Urusei Yatsura as the chief offenders. Obviously each of those series is great and charming in their own right, but most of the char ...more

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Jan 19, 2021 The Georgia Book Belle rated it really liked it

So I have some forewarnings before you go into Maison Ikkoku. I adore Rumiko Takahashi. Inuyasha was my first big anime that got me into the genre in middle school as well as some of the first manga I ever got. I remember hearing about her other titles. When these collector’s editions of Maison came out, I couldn’t say no.

Maison is about a boarding house where the widow Kyoko becomes the manager. The cast of characters including the “ronin” Godai is great. However, Maison is set in the 80s and ...more

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Jul 05, 2020 Wayne McCoy rated it really liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels

'Maison Ikkoku Collector's Edition, Vol. 1' with story and art by Rumiko Takahashi is a romantic comedy set in a shared apartment building.

Student Yusaku Godai lives in a building with some very eccentric people. The beautiful young woman who runs the house has caught Godai's eye, but there is something going on in her life that makes her not interested. The stories here show a series of comedy of error missteps in their attempt to have a relationship.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters ...more

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Sep 15, 2020 Kim Kuhne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, contemporary, graphic-novel-manga

I love this series so much!! I have both read it and watched the entire anime series, and have show memorabilia signed my the Japanese voice actress on our living room wall.

The boarding house way of living is so different what modern Americans can imagine! Trough sinks in the hallways for sharing, 1 toilet room to share, and bathing was done at the public bath house down the street. I feel both for the young widow that starts managing the house in volume 1 AND the young man that continues to fa ...more

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Feb 05, 2021 Chelsea rated it really liked it

Shelves: manga

Taking a small break from re-reading Love Hina to try one of Takahashi's most renowned romcoms from the 80s. This boarding house full of unique and quirky characters draws many parallels to the more modern Love Hina. Although its gender cast is more mixed, it is chalked full of misunderstandings, jealousy, plotted accidents, and perverted humour (why that is such a central theme in Japanese comedy I will never know, but every successful manga/anime has at least one character obsessed with the ob ...more

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Dec 12, 2020 Mercedez rated it liked it

Shelves: manga-and-light-novel-challenge-20, 25-days-of-manga-2020

(3.5 out of 5)

Maison Ikkoku Vol. 1 has a lot of potential, but often gets caught up in pervy gags and comedy instead of letting its characters’ personalities shine through. While it’s a beloved title, it’s hard for me to understand that: I personally couldn’t find a lot of the “jokes” funny. Yusaku Godai also isn’t the most… likable protagonist, though I look forward to seeing him (hopefully) grow into a more full-formed character and adult. Ultimately, I plan on picking up volume two so I can g ...more

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Jul 17, 2020 Gretchen rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, graphic-novel, young-adult, realistic-fiction, arcs, giveaways

This book was on my list to read because I enjoyed Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma 1/2 series. This is the story of Kyoko, a widowed apartment manager, and her residents. One of which, Godai, has a huge crush on Kyoko, but has trouble expressing it and/or being believed when he does express it. The story was easy to follow and fairly interesting. I especially like the meddling residents. The artwork was good and not overdone. #NetGalley #MaisonIkkokuCollectorsEditionVol1 ...more

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Sep 15, 2020 Kristine rated it liked it

Shelves: amazon-reviewed

Maison Ikkoku, Vol. 1 by Rumiko Takahashi is a free NetGalley e-comicbook that I read in late May.

The dialogue reads short and loud, i.e. a dialogue between three people might go like this: “The sky is blue.” “Whoa. Yeah!” “How about that?” There’s obviously nothing wrong with that, but it feels like an experimental one-act play about home ownership, DIY housekeeping, and awkward human interactions.

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Oct 09, 2020 April Gray rated it really liked it

Shelves: popsugar

Cute, funny, kinda sweet slice-of-life touch of romance manga from the 80s. Some bits haven't aged well, but overall, this was good. There's a lot of awkward crushing going on, and tons of sitcom misunderstandings and crossed wires. The characters are well-rounded and relatable, and it's almost guaranteed you know someone that's like at least one of them. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

#MaisonIkkokuCollectorsEditionVol1 #NetGalley ...more

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About Rumiko Takahashi

Rumiko Takahashi

1,399 followers

Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United Rumiko Takahashi (高橋留美子) was born in Niigata, Japan. She is not only one of the richest women in Japan but also one of the top paid manga artists. She is also the most successful female comic artist in history. She has been writing manga non-stop for 31 years.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the wealthiest women in Japan. The manga she creates (and its anime adaptations) are very popular in the United States and Europe where they have been released as both manga and anime in English translation. Her works are relatively famous worldwide, and many of her series were some of the forerunners of early English language manga to be released in the nineties. Takahashi is also the best selling female comics artist in history; well over 100 million copies of her various works have been sold.

Though she was said to occasionally doodle in the margins of her papers while attending Niigata Chūō High School, Takahashi's interest in manga did not come until later. During her college years, she enrolled in Gekiga Sonjuku, a manga school founded by Kazuo Koike, mangaka of Crying Freeman and Lone Wolf and Cub. Under his guidance Rumiko Takahashi began to publish her first doujinshi creations in 1975, such as Bye-Bye Road and Star of Futile Dust. Kozue Koike often urged his students to create well-thought out, interesting characters, and this influence would greatly impact Rumiko Takahashi's works throughout her career.

Career and major works:

Takahashi's professional career began in 1978. Her first published story was Those Selfish Aliens, a comedic science fiction story. During the same year, she published Time Warp Trouble, Shake Your Buddha, and the Golden Gods of Poverty in Shōnen Sunday, which would remain the home to most of her major works for the next twenty years. Later that year, Rumiko attempted her first full-length series, Urusei Yatsura. Though it had a rocky start due to publishing difficulties, Urusei Yatsura would become one of the most beloved anime and manga comedies in Japan.

In 1980, Rumiko Takahashi found her niche and began to publish with regularity. At this time she started her second major series, Maison Ikkoku, in Big Comic Spirits. Written for an older audience, Maison Ikkoku is often considered to be one of the all-time best romance manga. Takahashi managed to work on Maison Ikkoku on and off simultaneously with Urusei Yatsura. She concluded both series in 1987, with Urusei Yatsura ending at 34 volumes, and Maison Ikkoku being 15.

During the 1980s, Takahashi became a prolific writer of short story manga, which is surprising considering the massive lengths of most of her works. Her stories The Laughing Target, Maris the Chojo, and Fire Tripper all were adapted into original video animations (OVAs). In 1984, after the end of Urusei Yatsura and Maison Ikkoku, Takahashi took a different approach to storytelling and began the dark, macabre Mermaid Saga. This series of short segments was published sporadically until 1994, with the final story being Mermaid's Mask. Many fans contend that this work remains unfinished by Takahashi, since the final story does not end on a conclusive note.

Another short work left untouched is One-Pound Gospel, which, like Mermaid Saga, was published erratically. The last story to be drawn was published in 2001, however just recently she wrote one final chapter concluding the series

Later in 1987, Takahashi began her third major series, Ranma ½. Following the late 80s and early 90s trend of shōnen martial arts manga, Ranma ½ features a gender-bending twist. The series continued for nearly a decade until 1996, when it ended at 38 volumes. Ranma ½ is one of Rumiko Takahashi's most popular series with the Western world.

During the later half of the 1990s, Rumiko Takahashi continued with short stories and her installments of Mermaid Saga and One-Pound Gospel until beginning her fourth major work, InuYasha. While Ran ...more