Ranked #1052

Kaze Hikaru (Manga)

I got to say, other than the lack of characters screen time this is one hell of an amazing manga. I give Kaze Hikaru a very high recommendation for those who enjoy the crossdressing/samurai/history genres. The female lead, Tominaga Sei also known as Seizaburo Kamiya in disguise, has a well-rounded personality; even though her stubbornness gets her into alot of trouble. Okita is a handsome swordsman and has a bright disposition who is quite protective of Sei and her secret. All the characters have genuine personalities which make the story, oh, so more enjoyable.
Since I'm a huge history nerd I tend to go for the stories which are pretty accurate on events. Obviously, Watanabe wanted to add some of her own ideas, but her knowledge on the late Edo period helped her and her readers visualize what really went on during the reign of the Shinsengumi with her own storyline.
Even though it isn't like Vagabond with panels of amazing sword action, it still has its moments. The dialog is pretty comedic at times which helps ease the tension in some situations. The romance isn't over the top so don't expect an epic romance. This is what I really enjoy about this manga, it has a pieces of everything mashed together.
This is my first review, but I hope those who read it try to get some interest from the reviews. I hope you enjoy Kaze Hikaru~ read more

This is honestly one of the top manga on my list (and I've read a LOT). I can't recommend it enough and I hope the rating will increase because it really does deserve a higher one.

But don't pick it up expecting fluffiness and sugary love-doveyness galore. The 'history' part of the manga plays an important role in directing the plot but it's not THAT heavy that it overshadows the relationships that form the core of the story (battles/fighting is kept to a minimum, not like in Rurouni Kenshin). It's a gender bender that stems from something more than just trying to win the heart of the hot guy who the girl saw on TV or on a billboard.

For those who don't enjoy the story of the Shinsengumi very much, this manga might seem unappealing but the author really does a beautiful job of developing likable, lovable, and interesting characters that are multi-faceted (silly but skilled, gentle but strong, etc). I've really come to care about the three-dimensional characters and I really think that you will too if you give this manga a chance.

The characters are met with the gray aspects of life, make mistakes and grow from them. And they learn from and about each other and it's just a pleasure to see the relationship grow between the two main protagonists as well as between the members of the Shinsengumi. The story is just a great mixture of humor, history, friendship, drama, and romance.

I understand why this series wouldn't be everyone's (especially younger readers') cup of tea since it isn't as 'girly' as, say, Vampire Knights (which I also like). It's storytelling style is subtle and thoughtful, where the comedy isn't as exaggerated as in Skip Beat and the romance less direct than in something like Fruits Basket. The artwork is really great (detailed backgrounds, consistent) but the characters aren't the usual prettiness you find in something by CLAMP (that took some getting used to for me, but now I simply love it! -- and for the most part they are distinguishable from one another unlike in many other manga).

Sorry for the writing such a long review but I really hope you'll give it a read. Please message me with any comments, especially if you're a Kaze Hikaru fan! read more