Popcorn Romance 1992 CPM Press   Buy It Now

Due to the wide acceptance of Japanese manga by Western audiences, and the adoration of Tomoko Taniguchi's works in particular, much of her older works are now seeing re-release.  Often thought of as shoujo manga at its pinnacle, Tomoko's books have been held close to many a young female heart in Japan, and now, as manga is sweeping the U.S., readers are no doubt going to find the same love of her innocent tales.

Tomoko's success on both sides of the ocean can be attributed to two things: First, the fact that her tales come from her heart and life experiences; and as such are identifiable with any young girl and the trials of growing up.  Second, the fact that she spent some time schooling here in the U.S. and has carried a little part of American culture (such as her fervor for the onetime teen heart-throb Lief Garrett) with her. 

But not all of Tomoko's subject matter will be immediately digestible by American audiences.  Take for instance the young lady on the cover of Popcorn Romance.  Her blond hair, held in perfect pigtails by pink, pom-pommed berets; her lithe form reclined on soft meadow grass; animals gathered around her like some sort of punk-rock Snow White.  While nothing at first seems amiss, you find that this is no girl at all...instead it is Zenta, one of the two young men around whom this story revolves. 

While at first this may seem strange, it is only because American readers may not be familiar with the Japanese Visual-kei bands, or bishonen (beautiful boy) style.  In these groups, the members attempt to dress up to the level of their music, and often, the male musicians will dress as females or simply capture the essence of androgyny.  You may be familiar with the artists Malice Mizer (sadly a group no more), Luna Sea, or Dir en Grey.  The main characters here, Zenta and Ryouta Yamazaki, are both members of a visual-kei band, but are seriously doubting their ability to continue playing when Zenta collapses on stage from the stresses and toils of a performing musician.  This, I believe is based on the visual-kei punk band known as X-Japan, whose drummer suffered a similar fate resulting in the splitting of the group.

It is decided that to get Zenta back into a healthy state, the pair must take some time off, and what better place to do so than in the countryside of Hokkaido (one of the few places left in Japan where there is still some untouched natural landscape), where the boys grandfather still runs a farm.  Being their only living relative (their mother and father tragically perished in an auto accident), it will be nice to visit with the gruff old man with a soft heart, and perhaps help him run the farm, all while relishing in some badly needed rest and relaxation.  

However, nothing is ever as easy as it seems it will be!  There is the matter of Ryouta's girlfriend who he will be leaving behind in the city...will their relationship be able to last through such a long distance; especially when Ryouta gives such a strange and passionless goodbye?

And on another front is the matter of their grandfather's farm.  It seems that a land developer has been hastily planning to buy up the entire area and turn it into a golf course and tourist destination.  This will forever effect the delicate balance of nature and will displace not only the boy's only surviving family member but also an uncountable amount of wildlife.  But what can an old man, a heart-broken young musician and his sickly younger brother do to stop the progress of a corporate giant?

The musicians will have to decide whether to abandon their musical careers entirely and throw away their dreams of stardom and fame, enabling them to become farmers and keep the land that belongs in their family; or to turn their backs on the land and return to the adoring crowds who love their music.  A hard decision to be sure, but one that cannot be avoided...or can it?

Once again, the events in this Taniguchi manga are based on the real life tales of her life.  Tomoko herself grew up in Hokkaido, on a farm, that was to be developed into a golf course, thereby losing a connection with her childhood forever.  I won't tell you what happened to that real life plot of land, so that I do not spoil the ending of this tale, but the memories of the event have lent a certain credence to this story.  That combined with the gentle and far-too-innocent to be believed emotions of each Taniguchi character, make for a tale that young fans of shoujo will be entranced by. 

Boys, and manga fans over a certain age, are not going to find too much here to relate with, but they are not the audience that this manga is targeted for.  At the new price of around $10, this is a book that is both affordable and relevant to younger female readers, but would also make a great gift for those younger daughters and sisters out there.

As are all of Tomoko's works, Popcorn Romance is peppered with personal thoughts and doodles of the artist; and as an added bonus, this book also includes a bonus tale entitled, "The Magic Of Love".  A story of young love, confusion, rejection, and most of all, bad complexions, this is yet another fable easily loved by young women. 

Shoujo or bishonen fans?  This one is for you. 

-aaron-
 

Genre: Shoujo   Written By:: Tomoko Taniguchi   Art By: Tomoko Taniguchi   Pages: 192