What do you think?
Rate this book
ご近所物語 [Gokinjō Monogatari] #1
Historia de un Vecindario
To celebrate the highly anticipated series debut of Neighborhood Story manga from the creator of Nana, we are excited to collaborate with VIZ Media to bring forth a Kinokuniya variant cover of volume 1 of Neighborhood Story! Get your copy today and follow Mikako’s journey to make a name for herself in the fashion world!
Peppy and creative teenager Mikako wants nothing more than to make it as a fashion designer. But when she enters art school alongside her lifelong friend Tsutomu, she finds herself distracted by his sudden popularity and subsequent love life.
Peppy and creative teenager Mikako wants nothing more than to make it as a fashion designer. But when she enters art school alongside her lifelong friend Tsutomu, she finds herself distracted by his sudden popularity and subsequent love life.
312 pages, kanzenban
First published September 21, 2005
128 people are currently reading
1751 people want to read
About the author
Ai Yazawa
301 books3,227 followersAi Yazawa (Japanese: 矢沢あい, Yazawa Ai) is a Japanese manga author and illustrator. Her pen name comes from singer Eikichi Yazawa, of whom she is a fan.
Yazawa started her comics career in 1985. She specialises in shojo manga (girls' comics). Most of her works have been serialised in the magazines 'Ribon', 'Cookie' and 'Zipper'.
Yazawa's stories focus on young, often rebellious women and their relationships. The characters are always very stylish, and Yazawa herself is known for her sense of fashion. (She even attended a fashion school for some time after high school.)
Among her most famous manga are Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I'm No Angel, 1992–1995), Neighborhood Story (1995-1998), Paradise Kiss (1999-2004), and Nana (2000-2009), the latter awarded a Shogakukan Manga Award in 2003. Some of these works have been adapted into anime and live action movies.
Yazawa started her comics career in 1985. She specialises in shojo manga (girls' comics). Most of her works have been serialised in the magazines 'Ribon', 'Cookie' and 'Zipper'.
Yazawa's stories focus on young, often rebellious women and their relationships. The characters are always very stylish, and Yazawa herself is known for her sense of fashion. (She even attended a fashion school for some time after high school.)
Among her most famous manga are Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai (I'm No Angel, 1992–1995), Neighborhood Story (1995-1998), Paradise Kiss (1999-2004), and Nana (2000-2009), the latter awarded a Shogakukan Manga Award in 2003. Some of these works have been adapted into anime and live action movies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
November 22, 2023
At long, long last, this is available in English. (Or will be on December 5th.) Why is that such a triumph? Apart from the fact that it's one of Ai Yazawa's best titles in my opinion, it's also the story that comes directly before Paradise Kiss, so if you like that one, you need to read this one to get a fuller picture of where those characters come from. But mostly this is just one of those titles that gets it - what it's like to be someone who chooses to be deliberately weird to cope with what life throws at you, how scary change can be, and how to come to terms with your own emotions, even when that's the scariest thing of all.
There's a lot more to say here, and that I'll have to say when I formulate my longer review. The character of Mariko/Nice Body-ko is worth talking about, as is the way that Mikako learns to see beyond the surface everyone projects. But the most important thing about this series is its edge-of-tears grasp of teen girl emotions. Last Quarter may be my favorite Yazawa manga and the one that made me cry, but this one comes very, very close. Now someone just needs to license the anime adaptation, and not just because I had the insert song playing in my head the entire time I was reading this. Even if you didn't care for Paradise Kiss or Nana (and I didn't, to be honest), this one is worth your time.
There's a lot more to say here, and that I'll have to say when I formulate my longer review. The character of Mariko/Nice Body-ko is worth talking about, as is the way that Mikako learns to see beyond the surface everyone projects. But the most important thing about this series is its edge-of-tears grasp of teen girl emotions. Last Quarter may be my favorite Yazawa manga and the one that made me cry, but this one comes very, very close. Now someone just needs to license the anime adaptation, and not just because I had the insert song playing in my head the entire time I was reading this. Even if you didn't care for Paradise Kiss or Nana (and I didn't, to be honest), this one is worth your time.
January 26, 2023
❀ blog ❀ thestorygraph ❀ letterboxd ❀ tumblr ❀ ko-fi ❀
this is a fun work that exhibits many classic yazawa trademarks (from the clothes and character designs to the themes and relationships). the younger cast of characters gives the story more levity than other works by yazawa, as this has more of a high school coming-of-age kind of vibe to it. there is some angst, some miscommunication, and even some character growth. given that this was published originally in the mid-90s it does have some lines that have not aged so well but because i believe in ai yazawa supremacy i could overlook such instances. the fashion & aesthetics at play here are fantastic and i found the characters to be flawed in a compelling way.
this is a fun work that exhibits many classic yazawa trademarks (from the clothes and character designs to the themes and relationships). the younger cast of characters gives the story more levity than other works by yazawa, as this has more of a high school coming-of-age kind of vibe to it. there is some angst, some miscommunication, and even some character growth. given that this was published originally in the mid-90s it does have some lines that have not aged so well but because i believe in ai yazawa supremacy i could overlook such instances. the fashion & aesthetics at play here are fantastic and i found the characters to be flawed in a compelling way.
May 11, 2024
Rating: 4.5 stars
Such a cute story, can’t wait to read more!!
Such a cute story, can’t wait to read more!!
January 28, 2023
Todo lo de Ai Yazawa me gusta. La ropa de los personajes es lo mejor <3
December 27, 2023
This was such a super fun read!
This was my first time reading any of Ai Yazawa's work and I can totally see the hype for her stories now because I'm officially joining the hype train after reading this!
Mikako is such a wonderful heroine and deeply loved her subtle character growth/development when it came to not only her feelings for "Monkey," but also when it came to friendship. Even with the way she just grew as an individual was satisfying and beautiful! She may have a "grump face," but she has a heart of gold and deeply loves those around her. While she may have times when she herself is sad, I was touched by how she always tried to encourage herself even if some people might have not felt it was the healthiest of ways she tried to make herself happier. Also, I loved how when running she would yell "warp" because it was so much fun! LOL!
Tsutomu is equally a wonderful hero and very much loved this character as well! The way he cared for Mikako was really touching and deeply adored how respectful he is of her and other young women. While his friends were like you need to get with Body-Ko physically, he didn't view his time with her in that way or was looking to be physically intimate with her. He really is a great guy!
The art was incredible! I really loved the fashion, expressions, and really just everything. It's fun, bubbly, and pretty all at the same time!
I am VERY excited for the second volume and bummed I'll have to wait to read it because this is one I was shocked at how fast the time went by when reading because I was so invested in the story! So much fun and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy slowburn childhood friends-to-lovers, focus on fashion, and gorgeous art that makes the story come to life!
This was my first time reading any of Ai Yazawa's work and I can totally see the hype for her stories now because I'm officially joining the hype train after reading this!
Mikako is such a wonderful heroine and deeply loved her subtle character growth/development when it came to not only her feelings for "Monkey," but also when it came to friendship. Even with the way she just grew as an individual was satisfying and beautiful! She may have a "grump face," but she has a heart of gold and deeply loves those around her. While she may have times when she herself is sad, I was touched by how she always tried to encourage herself even if some people might have not felt it was the healthiest of ways she tried to make herself happier. Also, I loved how when running she would yell "warp" because it was so much fun! LOL!
Tsutomu is equally a wonderful hero and very much loved this character as well! The way he cared for Mikako was really touching and deeply adored how respectful he is of her and other young women. While his friends were like you need to get with Body-Ko physically, he didn't view his time with her in that way or was looking to be physically intimate with her. He really is a great guy!
The art was incredible! I really loved the fashion, expressions, and really just everything. It's fun, bubbly, and pretty all at the same time!
I am VERY excited for the second volume and bummed I'll have to wait to read it because this is one I was shocked at how fast the time went by when reading because I was so invested in the story! So much fun and would definitely recommend it if you enjoy slowburn childhood friends-to-lovers, focus on fashion, and gorgeous art that makes the story come to life!
July 27, 2024
The art is amazing, some of the best shojo art out there. I enjoyed this straightforward story of an aspiring fashion designer and her eclectic group of friends. If you have any passing interest in fashion or shojo comics this is a must have.
May 19, 2024
Very stylish cute story....a lot happens....from the creator of NANA..one of the first Manga I ever read..of I remember correctly.
The extraordinary art really compliments the multi layered characters..loved this.
The extraordinary art really compliments the multi layered characters..loved this.
October 14, 2024
This is my first Ai Yazawa. So far, I'm enjoying it. While the story has a larger cast than I anticipated, the characters are nuanced and their struggles feel genuine. Not to mention how funny it is: Ai Yazawa frequently breaks the fourth wall with her asides. She even makes herself the principal of the school in the story, which is so silly and I absolutely love it. On top of that, I appreciate the strong emphasis on fashion. The characters are always wearing the coolest outfits. That said, I have a hard time seeing Mikako and Tsutomu as more than friends. They're so much like siblings that I can't imagine them dating.
April 2, 2024
This was such a fun read! I really love how the creator writes characters; they all feel real. They also have a good balance of drama and comedy. If you like Nana and Paradise Kiss, you owe it to yourself to read Neighborhood Story. It's charming.
April 17, 2020
Paradise kiss es uno de mis mangas favoritos y sabiendo que tienen personajes en común llevaba mucho tiempo tras este manga.
Sin embargo, ha sido bastante decepción. Demasiado infantil para mi gustó, muy cliché, sin nada especial. Los tomos pasan y parece que casi no avanza la trama.
Sin embargo, ha sido bastante decepción. Demasiado infantil para mi gustó, muy cliché, sin nada especial. Los tomos pasan y parece que casi no avanza la trama.
January 5, 2025
2025 trend: manga lezen!!! Deze serie uit de 90’s heeft een super mooie tekenstijl, doet me denken aan Mihona Fujii’s stijl, die mn favoriete reeks ‘Gals!’ maakte. De kledingstijl is suuuper cool inspirerend en leuk van iedereen, alle karakters hebben steeds weer een heel eigen en passend outfit aan, je ziet dat daar de grootste focus heen gaat (omdat Ai Yazawa zelf ook fashion heeft gedaan) want het verhaal zelf: totaal niet boeiend hahahaha. Het verhaal volgt een groep fashion studenten en ze hebben crushes op elkaar enzo. Elk minuscuul probleempje of gevoel wordt enorm uitgerekt en is totaal overdreven. Risa is echt het coolste karakter (goth meisje) en de rest komt over alsof ze 12 zijn
August 20, 2024
So, this is the prequel to ParaKiss. I love the art, as usual with Yazawa, and the characters are pretty interesting.
This was wrotten in the heyday of Tsundere, and it kinda shows, but overall cute.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!
This was wrotten in the heyday of Tsundere, and it kinda shows, but overall cute.
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!
July 20, 2020
What do we do when our attention span is at a striking all-time low??? We read manga.
I love Ai Yazawa. Gokinjo Monogatori’s storytelling carries little of the depth found in NANA, but that makes sense considering this is one of her first series. What I am here for though, is the gorgeous illustration (the outfits!!!!!!!!) and the fun tone. It’s also delightful seeing where Yazawa first started developing ideas for characters that we finally get to see in a more 3-dimensional fashion in NANA (like punk Risa and her rockstar boyfriend, both of whom look strikingly similar to Nana O and Ren, and no doubt were the blueprint).
I love Ai Yazawa. Gokinjo Monogatori’s storytelling carries little of the depth found in NANA, but that makes sense considering this is one of her first series. What I am here for though, is the gorgeous illustration (the outfits!!!!!!!!) and the fun tone. It’s also delightful seeing where Yazawa first started developing ideas for characters that we finally get to see in a more 3-dimensional fashion in NANA (like punk Risa and her rockstar boyfriend, both of whom look strikingly similar to Nana O and Ren, and no doubt were the blueprint).
December 20, 2023
Ai Yazawa tugs at my heartstrings in a way that no other manga-ka can. I love her humour and bittersweet love stories full of longing and loss. This is an engaging start to the series with absolutely gorgeous coloured illustrations; I can't wait until April for the next volume to come out! What a great birthday gift to myself this first installment was. ❤️
September 28, 2017
Ça faisait tellement longtemps que je n'avais pas lu de manga ! C'est avec joie que je retrouve le talent d'Ai Yazawa <3
August 7, 2024
i’m so glad they reissued this ! reading ai yazawa doesn’t feel like reading any other shojo! no one did it like she did
January 7, 2025
J'ai adoré!!!! Hâte de la suite vraiment
May 21, 2025
amo gokinjo monogatari
August 1, 2025
Monísimos todos los personales ✨️ Me está gustando mucho la historia
November 19, 2025
I wanted to try reading manga and was recommended this one. Loved it! So sweet and simple, and the illustrations are gorgeous. I felt like I made my younger self happy reading it. I’m excited to read the other volumes ^~^
October 10, 2025
Ai Yazawa nunca decepciona. Me encanta esta historia, te lo juro. Me encanta lo delulu que es Mikako y la buena pareja que hace con Tsutomu, a ver q sucede entre ellos en el próximo tomo xddd. Mi personaje favorito es Risa de momento, me ha encantado el momento de sinceracion que tiene con Mikako al final del tomo. Vale muchísimo la pena leerlo es súper fresco. Encima los outfits son un locurote
September 12, 2022
Cómo extrañaba el manga shojo, por favor ❤️
Lo amé con todo mi corazón.
Lo amé con todo mi corazón.
December 13, 2023
Neighborhood Story Vol. 1 by Ai Yazawa is a spiritual prequal to "Paradise Kiss", one of Yazawa's most beloved series. Mikako attends a prestigious arts academy and is enrolled in the fashion department, and attends with her childhood best friend Tsutomu, whom she has a crush on. Tsutomu becomes popular with the opposite sex as he resembles a famous celebrity and Mikako has a difficult time processing her feelings of jealousy. Mikako doesn't realize, however, that Tsutomu also has a crush on Mikako, but still chooses to date other women. We also experience some of the lives of the colorful side characters as well.
This volume was a miss for me as this feels extremely dated. It came out in 2005 and the fashion, art style, storyline, jokes, and characterizations all match the mid 2000's, and not in the most attractive way. The characters have super thin eyebrows, lanky silhouettes, Britany Spears style fashion choices (as well as a few characters dressing alternatively), and Mikako also dyes her hair bleach blonde. I realize that Paradise Kiss was released by Viz a few years ago, but this series isn't as paramount as Paradise Kiss was (and I believe when Viz released it it was a rerelease) and I think this is the first time this series has been published to an English-speaking audience, but it definitely lacks in the themes of acceptance and self-discovery that is found in Paradise Kiss. The premise of this series feels so basic as it is all about a group of teenagers not communicating properly and developing crushes on each other, often times unrequited.
As this was difficult for me to finish, I will not be continuing with reading this series, but look forward to future Viz releases!
Thank you to NetGalley and Viz for an advanced reader copy of this volume in exchange for an honest review!
This volume was a miss for me as this feels extremely dated. It came out in 2005 and the fashion, art style, storyline, jokes, and characterizations all match the mid 2000's, and not in the most attractive way. The characters have super thin eyebrows, lanky silhouettes, Britany Spears style fashion choices (as well as a few characters dressing alternatively), and Mikako also dyes her hair bleach blonde. I realize that Paradise Kiss was released by Viz a few years ago, but this series isn't as paramount as Paradise Kiss was (and I believe when Viz released it it was a rerelease) and I think this is the first time this series has been published to an English-speaking audience, but it definitely lacks in the themes of acceptance and self-discovery that is found in Paradise Kiss. The premise of this series feels so basic as it is all about a group of teenagers not communicating properly and developing crushes on each other, often times unrequited.
As this was difficult for me to finish, I will not be continuing with reading this series, but look forward to future Viz releases!
Thank you to NetGalley and Viz for an advanced reader copy of this volume in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
June 15, 2022
January 14, 2024
Technically a reread because I first read fan-translations of this over a decade ago. Known in Japanese as, “Gokinjo Monogatari,” this story from Yazawa Ai is from the 1990s. Viz is clearly aware fans have been waiting decades because they put out a beautiful edition - scalloped interior flaps with hearts cut out, many color pages of images printed in magazines, everything I could have wanted, tbh.
This cast is a bit younger than those in NANA or Paradise Kiss, but a lot of the same beats are there. Melodramatic soap opera but you are still right with each character for every heartbreaking moment. The more femme girls make me really want to be better about accessorizing and trying with outfits, lol.
You can see precursors to characters and themes in NANA and ParaKiss both, but everyone still fits.
The plot itself revolves around childhood friends who don’t realize they’re in love with one another, even though everyone around them does. Creative kids attending art school, part of what’s fun is seeing everything they create and their passion for it. Mikako taking care of her hopeless manga-ka mother (who I read as a self-insert for Yazawa) by cooking her meals, taking care of the house, is kind of a fjn dynamic.
I wish Yazawa were healthy again and could finally finish NANA - but I appreciate that she has a rich backlog too, and I’m so glad we’re finally getting more of it I’m English.
This cast is a bit younger than those in NANA or Paradise Kiss, but a lot of the same beats are there. Melodramatic soap opera but you are still right with each character for every heartbreaking moment. The more femme girls make me really want to be better about accessorizing and trying with outfits, lol.
You can see precursors to characters and themes in NANA and ParaKiss both, but everyone still fits.
The plot itself revolves around childhood friends who don’t realize they’re in love with one another, even though everyone around them does. Creative kids attending art school, part of what’s fun is seeing everything they create and their passion for it. Mikako taking care of her hopeless manga-ka mother (who I read as a self-insert for Yazawa) by cooking her meals, taking care of the house, is kind of a fjn dynamic.
I wish Yazawa were healthy again and could finally finish NANA - but I appreciate that she has a rich backlog too, and I’m so glad we’re finally getting more of it I’m English.
December 6, 2022
Review of whole series
Ai Yazawa has always succeeded in writing strong characters rather than strong narratives. And Gokinjo Monogatari is one of those examples of character and relationship-driven stories. While far less tame than NANA or ParaKiss, the manga holds her familiar flavour of conflicted characters navigating into adulthood. Of what it means to love and what it means to be happy. And how many sacrifices one has to make for these fleeting moments. While Mikako is my least favourite Yazawa protagonist, I truly resonate with her strong sense of ambition and her ceaseless struggle to achieve her dream. If anything, I think the manga improves far more in the second half as the characters mature and the drama is less highschool shoujo-esque. The various fashion styles and character art are definitely some of the highlights!
Definitely worth checking out if you're a long-time Yazawa fan. But I'd still recommend readingNANA for peak Ai Yazawa art and writing.
3.25/5
Ai Yazawa has always succeeded in writing strong characters rather than strong narratives. And Gokinjo Monogatari is one of those examples of character and relationship-driven stories. While far less tame than NANA or ParaKiss, the manga holds her familiar flavour of conflicted characters navigating into adulthood. Of what it means to love and what it means to be happy. And how many sacrifices one has to make for these fleeting moments. While Mikako is my least favourite Yazawa protagonist, I truly resonate with her strong sense of ambition and her ceaseless struggle to achieve her dream. If anything, I think the manga improves far more in the second half as the characters mature and the drama is less highschool shoujo-esque. The various fashion styles and character art are definitely some of the highlights!
Definitely worth checking out if you're a long-time Yazawa fan. But I'd still recommend readingNANA for peak Ai Yazawa art and writing.
3.25/5
June 27, 2016
Serie I Cortili del cuore n.1
Vedevo a volte il cartone, che mi piaceva molto, così in attesa di Nana, ho deciso di leggere questo.
Carinissimo davvero!!!! Loro due amici d'infanzia, e forse non solo, mi piacciono molto. Lei fuori come un balcone..e lui così freddo,ma poi cosi dolce. Che dire è la classica storiella scolastica : vanno a scuola insieme e vivono uno di fronte all'altro, classici equivoci, primi amori e compagnia di scalamanti, ma a scrivere tutto questo è Ai Yazawa che io adoro, e anche se è uno dei primi manga..si sente già il suo stile.
Disegni particolari ed essendo i protagonisti di una scuola di moda abbigliamento e look curato nei dettagli.
Edizione deluxe bella cicciotta che raggruppa più volumi sottiletta. Pagine alcune a colori e a chiudere il tutto ormai l'immancabile lettura alla giapponese.
Che dire di più? Lettura veloce, piacevole, divertente e romantica. Un bel mix. Consigliato alle amanti degli shojo classici.
Vedevo a volte il cartone, che mi piaceva molto, così in attesa di Nana, ho deciso di leggere questo.
Carinissimo davvero!!!! Loro due amici d'infanzia, e forse non solo, mi piacciono molto. Lei fuori come un balcone..e lui così freddo,ma poi cosi dolce. Che dire è la classica storiella scolastica : vanno a scuola insieme e vivono uno di fronte all'altro, classici equivoci, primi amori e compagnia di scalamanti, ma a scrivere tutto questo è Ai Yazawa che io adoro, e anche se è uno dei primi manga..si sente già il suo stile.
Disegni particolari ed essendo i protagonisti di una scuola di moda abbigliamento e look curato nei dettagli.
Edizione deluxe bella cicciotta che raggruppa più volumi sottiletta. Pagine alcune a colori e a chiudere il tutto ormai l'immancabile lettura alla giapponese.
Che dire di più? Lettura veloce, piacevole, divertente e romantica. Un bel mix. Consigliato alle amanti degli shojo classici.
January 31, 2025
if Ai Yazawa has one million fans i’m one of them
if she has 1 fan, then i am that fan
if she has no fans i’m dead 😔
i fell in love with Ai Yazawa’s writing and art style after watching Nana and will continue to do so.
This story is completely different from Nana though as it’s more lighthearted and bubbly 💞💞
I personally love the style of this series as the late 90s - early 2000s have always been my favorite as it brings so much nostalgia, But i know this “outdated” sense of style and humor isn’t for everyone 🤷♀️
i cant wait for the next volume to be released!!! 😁
if she has 1 fan, then i am that fan
if she has no fans i’m dead 😔
i fell in love with Ai Yazawa’s writing and art style after watching Nana and will continue to do so.
This story is completely different from Nana though as it’s more lighthearted and bubbly 💞💞
I personally love the style of this series as the late 90s - early 2000s have always been my favorite as it brings so much nostalgia, But i know this “outdated” sense of style and humor isn’t for everyone 🤷♀️
i cant wait for the next volume to be released!!! 😁
July 9, 2024
What is it about Ai Yazawa's work that just always makes such an impact on me and makes me want to tattoo her name on my damn forehead??
I'm already obsessed with these characters and I just LOVE the way Ai Yazawa shows the complexities of relationships (friendships, family, romantic, etc). I will be jumping into volume 2 asap bc I need more of Mika and the gang
I'm already obsessed with these characters and I just LOVE the way Ai Yazawa shows the complexities of relationships (friendships, family, romantic, etc). I will be jumping into volume 2 asap bc I need more of Mika and the gang
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews