Earlier today Tanbishugi tweeted that Miku Sakamoto’s Toraware Gokko (published as Stolen Hearts by CMX before they were shuttered) would be ending in January at six volumes.
Six volumes, you say? That’s pretty short! And in terms of publishing biz risk, it’s pretty low. Six volumes could easily be fit into 2-3 omnibuses if a publisher really wanted to. Even more of a decreased risk!
Why should manga publishers even bother? Because Stolen Hearts is one of the most charming shoujo manga on the market right now and it needs a home. Only two volumes were published by CMX right before DC canceled the imprint. Here’s what I had to say in a previous review about the series’ first volume:
I have to say that this manga has one of the cutest couple-getting-together scenes I have ever EVER seen. It might be a little too contrived for real life, but you can really tell how Koguma feels about Shinobu as well as what Shinobu’s feelings are leading up to this scene. In that sense, it feels very very real. It definitely goes down in my book as one of my favorite shojo manga scenes ever.
The rest of the book progresses nicely with the couple going about their usual business and getting involved with Grandma’s schemes. I find it so adorable that they are just happy to spend most of their time together outside of school that they don’t even noticed they haven’t been on a proper date yet. I also enjoy Shinobu’s little schemes to show her friends how charming Koguma can be, which is something I think every girlfriend who is really in love with her boyfriend kind of does automatically. Fujiko, the grandmother, is also a treat as she is fiesty and a little bit of a slavedriver/obstacle, but is still considerate of the young lovers. I really hope to see her get fleshed out more in the next volume.
What I liked best about this story is how it used common cliches (a grand scheme to push the main couple together, school festivals, first date mishaps, etc.) but didn’t make a big fuss about them unlike some shojo manga. (ahem, ahem Love*Com) I also enjoyed the fact that it didn’t take Shinobu and Koguma very long to get together. I have to say I am starting to get a little bit sick of shojo that takes forever for the leads to hook up! Hopefully this will not make their romance go through one big cliched hurdle after another or that, at least, those hurdles will seem more original.
Another fun part of the story is the emphasis on kimonos, and kitsuke, the process of dressing oneself in kimono. It was great fun to see all the inventive ways you can wear kimono, especially since most shojo heroines don’t bother with kimono save for a yukata during a summer festival. While the manga is definitely a romance, it’s great to get a little bit of cultural education in the same package.
Anyway, I feel like this manga would be a perfect fit for a publisher like TOKYOPOP*, that has a small collection of super-charming shoujo manga going, or DMP, that has a successful shoujo manga in omnibus format already (Itazura Na Kiss. Not to mention Stolen Hearts seems to have a slightly older style too, so it’d fit best with that title’s audience.) With their bookstore penetration being much better than CMX’s ever was, either company could bring the title to more readers than when it was previously published. And, even better, it’s not been scanlated so publishers would have a captive audience that isn’t being pulled away by free chapters online.
So what do you say, publishers? Pretty please?
Perhaps I should stick a copy under TOKYOPOP senior editor Lillian Diaz-Przybyl’s nose. I know she likes kitsuke..**
*Just so you know, I only mention TOKYOPOP here because I think it’d be a good fit for them and I don’t get to sit in on licensing meetings as a freelancer. Thus I feel like I can request they license something when I have little impact on whether or not they do.
**OK, that’s a sneaky tactic that goes against my previous statement, but there’s a lot of pluses to knowing someone who could get the ball rolling for a manga I love so much!
Heck, just look at that cover. Who wouldn’t want to have lovely colors and cute facial expressions like that nestled in with their other books? It’s like publisher jewelry!
It certainly makes work easier for the designers. Want to amp up the cuteness? Half the job is already done for you!
Ooh, Stolen Hearts is the cutest. I want to read the rest of the series too! I would not think any less of you for using sneaky tactics to bring it to a Tokyopop editor’s attention 😀
Haha, glad to hear that. ^_^ I will have to see how I can somehow sneak it into a conversation.
Oh man, if you could get her to publish this I guarantee I’ll be buying a copy. I *loved* this manga & was truly heartbroken to see that the rest wasn’t going to be released.
I would, but now she’s no longer at the company. I’m sad that I won’t get to read more too. ;_;