Ranked #4555

Buyuden (Manga)

I'm not sure if starting a manga about boxing in these times is a really good idea from Takuya Mitsuda. This sport clearly lost the glory it had before, same for its popularity. If it had begun it in the '80s or '90s, maybe this manga would have encountered a very different destiny. Since almost no one cares about boxing anymore, it's obvious that no one will care of a new manga about boxing. (Besides the fan of Major I suppose.) But against all expectations, the fact that no one cares about it doesn't mean it's shit at all. If you don't want to believe me, it's your choice, but this manga is worth it.

The best thing that makes you able to criticize a sports manga, is that you practice or have practiced yourself the sport illustrated in the series, otherwise it would simply make no sense. I'm myself a big fan of boxing, since when I was younger the only gym of my small town was a boxing gym, so it forced me to discover the sport, gradually. It was years ago, but my passion for this sport is still growing, and lately, I combined my passions when I started reading some famous boxing manga, like the almost legendary Ashita no Joe and the well known Hajime no Ippo. And then I discovered Buyuden, a very young manga with less than a year of existence. I was amazed to find a manga about boxing this recent and my curiosity took the control and sincerely, I'm not disappointed that I did, even though the series wasn't popular at all. And then, let me explain you why I enjoy this manga so far.

For a lot of readers, probably the most important thing. The story. It would be an outrageous exaggeration to say that the scenario of Buyuden is extremely good. But I found that the storyline was something refreshing in the way the main character decides to start boxing. He doesn't want to be strong or he doesn't want to be able to kick some asses. He wants to get closer to a girl. His love for a girl will make him start boxing. Said like that, it may sounds wrong but at least it's something I never saw in any other sports manga, even I know it's totally not worthy of a genius. But it's precisely what could bother some readers, the story is strongly romance oriented and that's the very reason why it differs so much from classic sports manga. Besides, must still say that the manga takes some recurring concept from the world of sports manga that you will easily discern, even some elements of the story is taken from Takuya Mistuda's previous work, Major. And if you want to know if I found something wrong about the story, yes it is. Even if it's almost nothing, the fact the protagonist's parents sent him to a public school in order to make him learn about life in society sounds really lame. I thought that in Japan parents always wanted the best for their children when it comes to studies. But yeah, I know, he couldn't demonstrated as much his superiority in the other instance, but I would have liked a more intelligent reason.

Then we thus arrive at the section which I find the most interesting, the characters. Let's start with with the protagonist, Isamu Take. The assumptive perfect and pretentious guy. Looking down on the normal people and thinking he is better than anyone. The type of person the typical reader will see as a complete asshole. But the caracters devellopement early in the story will make those readers happy. He will encounter someone who willl make him suppress his pride, while being humiliated. His reactions through the events that will follow will be quite interresting making of him a character almost endearing. I simply love that type of caracter devellopement, not in the way that I like to see someone being humiliated, but it's always good to see the detestable character back on the right path. And the second most important person, Moka Kaname, a pretty unusual presence in the world of sports manga, a serious elemetary student girl with mad skills at boxing. Seriously I find this caracter very original, and it's not difficult to any readers to start to like her, especially after what she did to the protagonist. The only downside is her background story, I found it a bit cliché, I even suspect the author of being too inspired by the life and events surrounding Ichiro Miyata. And it's pretty much the same for the rest of the main cast. Watari, the prodigy who will become a rival. The usual old trainer that think the protagonist is a weakling until he realizes his true potential et cetera. It's still the highlight of the manga in my opinion.

Then now about the art. There's no really things to say, it's not bad but it's nothing extraordinary, just the typical Takuya Mitsuda's graphics. But it's probably just my imagination but at some moments I found that Moka had visual resemblance with Joe Yabuki, especially in her hair style, like they have the same hair fringe. But anyway, it's probably not intentional.

This isn't a revolutionnary manga but at least I really enjoyed it for what I read so far. Not a single second I was bored of it and I'm looking forward for the next chapters. I especially hope this manga to become more popular in a near future. Buyuden is clearly a sports manga with a lot of potential, and I hope it will deliver even more. read more

I have never felt atractted to any boxing theme mangas. However Buyuden was different. The story begins in a simple way (boy meet girl and later he follow the girl's doing beacause he likes her and admires her), but it catchs you with his graphics and the story development.

The first thing I like is the graphics, they are nice, a good example of shounen manga. What I like about the graphics is that not all the characters look like an Hercules, with muscles in every inch of their bodies. I know is obvious they're not like that because many of their characters are children. But even so, when they focus adults boxer characters, they are not awfully muscular either. I don't like realistic faces, and many of boxing theme manga characters have them. To be sincere, I was not very interested in boxing theme mangas until I read Buyuden. When I read Buyuden, I saw another face of boxing. I never thought boxing was so awesome!

Another thing I like about Buyuden is the characters. I like Isamu, he is so arrogant but after he meets Moka, he gradually changes, even though he doesn't realize this fact. Also, Moka is a very interesting character. I like this kind of characters, strong and not the typical lady-like girls.

The story is simple, but I like it. It's the cliche story in sports shounen manga, the main character discover the sport, starts to pratice it and then he wants to be the best of the best player, competitors of this sports, but there are many difficulties the character has to face in order to improve. But even if the sequences of the story are similar in many other sport mangas, Buyuden focus very well the boxing moves, the punchs and you don't get lose with the quick movements (this happens in some mangas). Also, they explain you many of the boxing terms, so you understand what the disadvantage and advantage in each characters.

As a conclusion, if you really like this kind of story, the character build up to a top competitor mixed with comedy and nice boxing scenes, you would like to read this manga. read more