Paradise Kiss

 Title: Paradise Kiss
 Creator(s): Ai Yazawa
 Publisher(s): Shodensha, Inc., Tokyopop
 Year: 2000
 Genre(s): Josei, drama, romance, comedy
 Length: 5 Volumes
 Reviewed by: Yukari on June 15, 2009

Synopsis

Yukari Hayasaka is a studious high school girl who has lived all her life trying to please her mother. She might have spent all her life with her head buried in books, until one fateful encounter with two Yazawa art students changes everything. Noticing her height and exceptional beauty, they ask her to model for their clothing line, "Paradise Kiss" at their school fashion show. She refuses at first. Then she meets their designer, George Koizumi and quickly finds herself increasingly drawn to the world of... Paradise Kiss.

Review

Yazawa can never go wrong in my book because her characters always have substance. She didn't become a best-selling manga artist based on "fluff." Every character in "Paradise Kiss" is filled with flaws, but every character is also lovable. There's Arashi Nagase who has a taste for punk style, Isabella Yamamoto, a hardcore crossdresser assuming the mother figure role, Miwako Sakurada, a sweet and petite pink-haired girl, and George, an eccentric but charismatic guy with extraordinary talent for designing clothes.

"Paradise Kiss" is very realistic in regard to human emotions and relationships, but the same cannot be said for the plot. When you're a high school girl going through the same old routine everyday, life gets boring. It's every girl's fantasy to be swept into the world of ParaKiss - to join a bunch of crazy and ridiculously talented young individuals in their pursuit of making beautiful clothes, modeling, and meeting a guy like George.

It is entirely possible that your first love is "the one," but what are the chances of that? In most cases, people aren't so lucky. The series is realistic not because Yukari didn't end up with her dream guy, it was realistic because they decided to break it off when things weren't working out. In most manga, couples don't stay together for the majority of the series only to break it off in the last volume. There would be no point...or, at least that's what I thought when I first read this series. However, something important did come as a result of Yukari and George's relationship together. In the beginning of "Paradise Kiss," Yukari was a dull, close-minded girl who lived life without convictions. She merely focused on pleasing her mother and living up to social expectations. All of this changed after meeting George. She was able to realize her dreams. Their relationship helped her grow a person. It was enjoyable to watch her change through the experiences she had with everyone at ParaKiss.

I first read "Paradise Kiss" when I was younger and didn't like it because I wasn't satisfied with the ending. Upon a second reading, I saw just how powerful this short five-volume series is. Although the characters are in high school, categorizing this as "shoujo," the story is written for more mature readers. I also think that older readers will be able to better understand and appreciate the series more. This series is also for those into fashion and if you're not, this series may spark a new interest for you. I cannot imagine anyone reading this without developing an urge to shop. The realistic human attributes and fantasy plot creates an incredible combination that is sure to sweep any reader off their feet!

Overall Rating: 5/5