“N” is for…
Natsuyuki Rendez-vous, written and illustrated by Haruka Kawachi, currently serialized in Shodensha’s Feel Young. This supernatural romance introduces us to a flower-shop employee who’s competing with a ghost for the love of his boss. I love that cover.
Nejimaki no Niwa, written and illustrated by Shiki Kayase, originally serialized in Ichijinsha’s Comic Zero-Sum and Zero-Sum Ward, two volumes. I’ve gotten kind of picky about titles from Comic Zero-Sum, because a lot of them seem to blur together when described, but this one looks neat. It’s about a bunch of kids who explore the mysterious legends of their secluded school.
Neko no Okorumino, written and illustrated by Naomi Akimoto, originally serialized in Kodansha’s Kiss, one volume. There are several series about cats that start with the letter “N.” This one had my favorite cover of the litter.
Nemureru Mori no Binan, written and illustrated by Wakuni Akisato, originally serialized in Shogakukan’s Petit Flower, one volume. Okay, want. A young Japanese doctor moves to New York City so he can live more freely as a gay man. He meets another gay doctor and falls in love. Their mothers must be so proud!
Nurse Station, written and illustrated by Kyoko Shimazu, originally published by Shueisha, 20 volumes. A look at the working and personal lives of nurses, which is one of the professions I’d really like to see explored in manga.
Licensed josei:
- Nodame Cantabile, written and illustrated by Tomoko Ninomiya, originally serialized in Kodansha’s Kiss, partially published in English by Del Rey and in French by Pika.
What starts with “N” in your josei alphabet?
Reader recommendations and reminders:
- NUDE, written and illustrated by Fumiko Nozaki, originally serialized in Shogakukan’s Judy, three volumes.
Nemureru Mori no Binan is the prequil to / first volume of Tomoi, which is mentioned in Schodt’s Dreamland Japan. The series is a total melodrama-fest (lots of people dying tragically) and the story is kind of a klunky mess, but it gets points for being possibly the very first Japanese fiction to deal with AIDS (in a heavy-handed but semi-realistic way). I wouldn’t call it a must-read, but it’s mildly interesting from a historical standpoint.
I know most people consider it shojo (or at least, its own magazine considers it shojo), but NANA by Ai Yazawa has *2* Ns and a very special place in my heart!
That Nurse manga looks so good…
I know! If I hadn’t listed it in a previous alphabet, I would have listed it and hovered on the verge of doing so regardless.
And yes, that nurse manga? Must. Be. Mine.
NUDE by Fumiko Nozaki (Judy Comics, 3 vols.) is a very endearing read. It’s about an OL who has an illicit affair with her superior. She gets pestered by that annoying lolita living next door, who for some reason is out to make her life hell.
Actually, all of Nozaki’s stuff looks really good, though this is the only one I could get my hands on till now.
Thanks for the recommendations, Dennis! I’m particularly taken with the idea of Gal Boy! Wish I could find more information on it.
If it’s any help, you can find excerpts from both Galboy! and Nude at Sokuyomi. (along with many, many other series… for each volume too!)
http://sokuyomi.jp/product/gyarubohi_001/CO/1/