And here we are for another TOC for you all, delivering for the first time the TOC of one of the most important shoujo magazines in the market today. Yes, I’m bringing the much-requested Hana to Yume!
TOC – Hana to Yume #23 (2024)
01 – Ookami Ouji no Usotsuki na Kekkon (Lead Color Page)
02 – Akatsuki no Yona c264 (Cover)
03 – Haru no Arashi to Monster c39
04 – Hito no Yomei de Seishun suru na c05 (Color Page)
05 – Oni no Hanayome wa Taberaretai c58.1
06 – Oshi ni Amagami c35
07 – Kami-sama Gakkou no Ochikobore c52
08 – Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!? c55 (Color Page)
09 – Pizzicato no Nemuru Mori c23
10 – Yamada no Gakkyuu Nisshi c05
11 – Hikikomori Hime to Dokuzetsu Kishi-Sama c28
Penguin Cafe e Youkoso
12 – Demon Kind & Punk Kid (One Shot, 22 Pages)
13 – Namaiki Bocchan to Warawanai Maid (One-Shot, 40 Pages)
Neko Mane!
After some analysis, I’m bringing a restructured version of the TOCs starting this November: The TOC from Ribon, while interesting for some, wasn’t getting many views. I believe this is due to two reasons: The magazine is more geared towards pre-teen girls, and its titles, except for Honey Lemon Soda, aren’t very well-known. So, I decided to replace Ribon with Hana to Yume, and maybe later with Margaret. Along with Hana to Yume, I’ll be covering other magazines: Jump SQ, V-Jump, Ultra Jump, GFantasy, and Young Animal, covering various demographics. If any of these magazines don’t work out and we see low views, I’ll replace them with others.
Anyway, Hana to Yume is a shoujo magazine from Hakusensha, one of the top publishers, released bi-weekly in Japan. With almost 39,000 copies in circulation, it’s a major name in launching works for the female audience. In this edition, I’ll comment on all thirteen manga featured, introducing them to you. Starting with the next edition, I’ll focus more on presenting the commercial performance of each one.
First up, with the opening color page, we have Ookami Ouji no Usotsuki na Kekkon, a new series launched this year, with its first volume coming out on November 20th. The story follows Aylin, a 17-year-old princess who marries Ruslan, the third prince of the empire, to save her small homeland from financial crisis, even though she has never met him. Ruslan is always kind and polite to Aylin, who, despite having a good heart, is always making mistakes. However, the kind prince holds a big secret.
The series has a distinct shoujo art style and focuses on courtly drama and intrigue. Unfortunately, since there aren’t any chapters translated even on MangaDex, you can only read it if you know Japanese. But who knows, with strong sales of the first volume, maybe things will change. Let’s wait and see.
Akatsuki no Yona Chapter’s 239
Second, we have the magazine cover, Akatsuki no Yona, one of the main titles in the publication. The story is about a princess who, after her father’s murder, must hide and find a way to save her kingdom from the usurper who took her family’s throne. For those unfamiliar, Akatsuki no Yona is one of the best-selling shoujo series, surpassing 100,000 copies sold per volume. That’s right, Akatsuki no Yona currently sells more than series like Akane Banashi, Dandadan (soon to be surpassed), Hajime no Ippo, and many other notable shonen works.
Since its debut in 2009, Akatsuki no Yona has become legendary for its incredible longevity, even with an anime adaptation (produced by Pierrot in 2014) that only had 24 episodes. Very few series, even without an anime in the last ten years, manage to sell over 100,000 copies, and Akatsuki no Yona is one of them. No wonder they made it the COVER of the magazine. I highly recommend reading the manga; it’s a high-quality work with stunning art and panel layouts.
Third, we have Haru no Arashi to Monster, also known as Spring Storm and Monster, which already has 39 chapters and 6 volumes out. The series, licensed in some countries, tells the story of Ranko, a girl whose life changes due to her troubled, half-monster stepbrother, Kaya. The story blends a toxic relationship with romance, initially gaining a lot of attention, but here in the West, I’ve started seeing complaints about the direction it’s taking – some even accuse it of being an apologia for abuse.
Haru no Arashi to Monster is a popular series, stable in the magazine, but there’s no denying it has sparked heated discussions among its readers, who tend to be women or members of the LGBTQ community. We’ll have to see where the story goes from here, given it’s only 39 chapters (2 years of publication), and how the evolving relationship between Ranko and Kaya will impact the story, which still delights many readers of Hana to Yume.
Hito no Yomei de Seishun suru na (Color Page)
Fourth, we have the new series Hito no Yomei de Seishun suru na, which released its fifth chapter and announced its first volume for December 20th. The manga, which doesn’t have an English title yet, tells the story of Noe, an actress who has just entered one of Japan’s top acting schools. With stunning art (the author excels at drawing expressions) and a strong sense of aesthetics and fashion, the series delivers attractive and well-dressed characters, which I believe is one of its best visual elements.
The question is: With romance and drama intertwined, does Hito no Yomei have enough to survive in Hana to Yume? I hope so, but we’ll only know for sure when its first volume hits the shelves on December 20th.
Fifth, we have Chapter 58.5 of Oni no Hanayome wa Taberaretai (also known as The Demon’s Bride Wants to Be Eaten), a romance series about Mashiro, a girl saved by an Oni who was supposed to eat her when she turned 17. However, the Oni becomes fond of Mashiro and can’t bring himself to eat her, even though it’s his duty. The story centers on their relationship, and this week featured a simple extra chapter (hence the 58.5). Running in the magazine since 2020, it’s one of the most stable series in Hana to Yume and already has 20 chapters translated into English by fans.
Oshi ni Amagami (Chapter 35)Sixth, we have the romantic comedy Oshi ni Amagami, about Hina, a vampire otaku who transfers to Japan and meets Amanatsu, a boy who resembles her favorite character. Unlike Ribon, Hana to Yume is a highly diverse magazine with many different manga styles, and I believe Amagami is a series that could even appeal to shonen readers. It features a cute and charismatic female lead and mixes romantic elements with great humor.
The art of Oshi ni Amagami is also impressive, as the author skillfully combines traditional shoujo designs with modern elements, making it appealing to both older and younger readers. Only four chapters have been translated (by fans), but I recommend checking it out to encourage more translations.
Seventh, we have Kami-sama Gakkou no Ochikobore, which tells the story of Nagi, a girl living in a world with gods and miracles called “Himiko.” Nagi’s life changes when her grandmother, a temple owner and one of the world’s deities, dies, leaving Nagi to take care of the temple and attend a school for deities. This fantasy shoujo brings even more variety to the magazine. The author’s (or artist’s) visuals are fantastic, offering beautiful panels and incredible color pages. If it gets a good anime adaptation, it could gain more global recognition.
Tamon-Kun ima Docchi!? (Color Page)
Eighth, we have Tamon-kun Ima Docchi!? (also known as Tamon’s B-Side), the magazine’s next big bet. The manga follows Utage, a girl who becomes the “Housekeeper” for her idol, a boy band singer. The series blends “Idol” elements with romantic comedy, creating a captivating story that has won over the magazine’s readers. Tamon-Kun reached 1 million copies in circulation by its sixth volume, averaging 167,000 copies per volume, and has an anime adaptation announced. That’s right, Tamon-kun will get an anime next year produced by J.C. STAFF.
Shoujo series rarely get anime adaptations, as they typically receive live-action versions, which don’t boost manga sales as much. So, getting an anime after three years of publication is spectacular for Tamon-kun. The studio may not be top-tier, and I’m sure many in the West will overlook it due to biases against shoujo, but Tamon-kun is undeniably one of Hana to Yume’s main prospects.
Ninth, we have Pizzicato no Nemuru Mori, a more traditional shoujo in both narrative and visuals. The story follows Emilie, a girl who moves to her great-great-grandfather’s countryside house, where she meets a handsome boy and various magical and mysterious creatures. It’s a tale combining mystery, magic, and an enchanting atmosphere reminiscent of stories from the 60s and 70s. It’s another series that adds rich variety to the magazine’s settings and dynamics.
Tenth, we have Yamada no Gakkyuu Nisshi, about a serious girl deemed “boring” by her classmates at an all-boys school. Her life changes when she must help a boy named Murata. The series is new, with only five chapters, and follows a typical shoujo formula. Whether it succeeds depends more on the author’s storytelling than the premise. We’ll know more about its reception once the first volume is out.
Volume 1 – Penguin Cafe & Youkoso
Finally, in eleventh place, we have Hikikomori Hime to Dokuzetsu Kishi-Sama, a classic shoujo with princes, knights, and a princess that appeals to Hana to Yume’s discerning audience. The story skillfully combines sensuality and romance, with characters seducing the protagonist, featuring semi-steamy scenes that satisfy readers who enjoy more “intense” shoujos.
Still, the manga isn’t just about seduction and romance; it also develops various secondary characters in the kingdom, making it an interesting read overall, not just for the romantic dynamics. The series has 13 translated chapters, and if you enjoy classic shoujos with these themes, I recommend checking it out.
The last two spots went to two one-shots. The magazine also includes some gag manga, like Penguin Cafe & Youkoso, which are short comedies (4-5 pages) meant to add humor for readers (these are placed in a separate section in the TOC) and thus aren’t ranked.
