AKB49: Renai Kinshi Jourei

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

Story: (9)
The story center around a high school boy, Minoru Urayama, joining the Japanese idol group AKB48 in order to support his crush, Hiroko Yoshinaga. He enters the group under the name Minori Urakawa and tried his best to survive in the whole female idol group. During this mess he became more and more involved with the group as he also slowly began to change.
This isn't a classical gender swap or harem story as the plot rarely goes into that direction. Instead it focuses its romance as something more of a motivation and should be classified as more of a shounen trope filled with struggles ... in the idol world.
Art: (9)
I would like to give it a 10 if it wasn't for the early art style. Reiji Miyamura is an example of the evolution of a mangaka as time goes on. His early art style makes it difficult to tell each character from one another, but later on his art improved to a whole another level. The art is by far one of the best in a more modern manga art style and the later art is simply just a breathtaking. His incorporation of some of the chibi art style was perfect in providing comic relief within the story. His detail to the character needs to also be mentioned as there are many references to real life AKB48 members and he capture them perfectly.
Character: (10)
Minoru and Hiroko are the main protagonists of the story. They are very well developed as each of their motivations and dreams are clearly presented throughout the story. As the story progress they began to change and simply grew into characters that the fans love. There are many side characters that could use more development, but for a large cast of an idol group it is enough. The necessary characters are well developed for the story to progress and also for us to feel for them. The characters from the real life AKB48 also had their characteristics be flushed out in the story.
Enjoyment:(10)
I read chapter 200 something on Weekly Shonen Magazine and I was immediately hooked by the story. I had no idea of what AKB48 was but I immediately went on to check out the first chapter. I finished the 200 or so chapters within 2 days and longed each week for the new chapters. Each week I would even search for the raw version and translate them myself just to catch up to the story. (I read the chinese translations after the raw was translated)
Overall: (9)
This is by far not the perfect manga, but its enjoyment level is off the roof. Despite its early art being not the best, it transformed itself as the story progress. All in all, I would say that you don't need to be an AKB48 to enjoy this story. It is after you read the story that you will truly appreciate the idol group as we learn about the true hardship behind the spotlight.

I don't write any reviews for most of the content I read and watch, but AKB49: Renai Kinshi Jourei has struck me very deeply. It has provided me with a new perspective of not only the idol scene in general, but towards life as well. I'll try my best to not spoil the story.

This story's protaganist is Urayama Minoru, who cross dresses as Urayama Minori. This is a start of a exhilarating story that shows the pure, raw effort that idols put everyday to their craft. Humble beginnings, modesty, rivalry, courage, determination, and the most important of all - dedication towards fans and members is ... presented in dynamic art and exciting pacing.
The art style is quite similar to Bakuman.

I initially did not care much about Idols, and what they were. I did not understand the fan battlions that wore robes and waved light sticks to the beat. Love Live and IdolM@ster, they did not mean anything to me other than something mediocore. But that all changed once I saw this manga.

There are a total of 263 (1 side story episode) chapters in this masterpiece, with a few major arcs in between. The pacing is very fast, and each and every main character is given sufficient character development. Each and every episode keeps me on my heels as tension is always sky high.

As I write this review, I am currently on fire after completed reading this work. My thoughts are still jumbled as I try to slowly compress my excited feelings down. I highly recommend you to read this manga, even after AKB48's golden era has ended. URAYAMA MINORI! The fire never dies, as long as there are fans, who love that idol - it will never die. 10/10.

When you love someone, you want to give the best effort to help her fulfill her dreams, especially in the entertainment world. If it's an all-female group, you might want to crossdress and help her, even if it means compromising your career with one wrong move. This is what Urayama Minoru did for his crush, Hiroko Yoshinaga.

Story (7)
• The story starts straightforward, bringing readers inside the world of AKB48, its members, then through processes, and later, characters forging their paths, and sacrificing even the best of friends along the way. Definitely a total meaning of being an idol in real life. Throughout the story, as ... they forge paths, they also develop as well, making the story not so stale and instead dynamic and interesting.

The ending might give mixed feelings, so read at your own risk.

Art (8)
• The art was really good, especially for a cute girl like Hiroko and a shounen/shoujo Minoru. For the real life people in the manga (Maeda Atsuko, Oshima Yuko, etc), most of them had been designed the way they style in real life (even had to research their photos for comparison!). Well done art, really love it, and carried it over to Kanojo, Okarishimasu.

Character (8)
• Character development was completely well-established, even though there were some liberties and extremities that cannot be done in real life. The favorite character style ofine was Hiroko, initially very shy and innocently cute, then becomes fiercely cute yet confident. Conflicts were also good to follow through as the characters face new enemies and friends on the way.

Enjoyment (9):
• If you are a fan of 48G and its members, you'll definitely enjoy this. If not, well, you'll still enjoy this, but prepare your search engines, as the real AKB48 and sister groups is very interesting. The storyline and the universe they created are very interesting that you'll be able to witness how they change AKB48 from 2010 onwards. For love comedy, you'd definitely enter plot holes and stuff, but still, overall enjoyed the entire manga.