Shoujo Tsubaki (Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show)

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Midori, Camelia Girl

Japanese: 少女椿

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Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 1

Chapters: 8

Status: Finished

Published: Sep 13, 1984

Genre: Horror

Serialization: None

Authors: Maruo, Suehiro (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 5.91¹ (scored by 5,949 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #21075²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #1615

Members: 14,231

Favorites: 211

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Wikipedia

5.91

Ranked #21075Popularity #1615Members 14,231

MangaMaruo, Suehiro (Story & Art)

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Volumes: /1

Chapters: /8

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Synopsis

The series is about an orphan girl named Midori, whom is taken in (enslaved) by a traveling freak show. The freak show includes such unsavory characters as a mummyman, a snake woman, and a drooling man with no limbs. The owner of the freak show, the eponymous Mr. Arashi, is a strict man who allows his freaks very little freedom or joy in life. He is especially cruel to Midori. Midori works, not as a freak since she is normal, but as a sort of caretaker of the freaks.

(Source: everything2)

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Background

Shoujo Tsubaki was published in English as Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show by Blast Books on January 14, 1993.

The manga was adapted into a Japanese live-action film directed by TORICO that was screened on May 21, 2016.

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Characters

Midori

Main

Wonder Masamitsu

Main

Tokkuriji, Muchisute

Supporting

Kanabun

Supporting

Snake Woman

Supporting

Midori's Mother

Supporting

Jirou

Supporting

Reviews

Jul 24, 2024

irisflr

Recommended

Shoujo Tsubaki is Suehiro Maruo’s nightmarish version of the popular character “Camellia Girl”, but here what actually plays out is a display of hell. Midori is a young orphan girl who’s kidnapped and forced to work in a circus freak show. There, she goes through all kinds of abuse and trauma.

Even though it features heavy themes, Maruo’s drawings are delicate, artistic and beautiful, which causes a grotesque, yet impressive contrast. Maruo is a true artist, a painter (it’s not a surprise that he won a prize for Panorama Toukitan). There are panels like the one in the sunflower field that are just so pretty that ... it is difficult to take your eyes off.

Well, now, about the story, I understand those who doesn’t like it for it’s grotesque nature, but I disagree that this manga is only about pure shocking value. Maruo is an intellectual, who can write horrendous stories, but with purpose, reflection, even poetry. I’m not saying that it’s not for shocking value – because it is! –, but it’s way more than that. And it’s important to mention that there are heavy triggers here that can really disturb the readers. I don’t wanna give spoilers, but it’s not an exaggeration when I say that Midori goes through all kinds of pain. The story shows no mercy and goes far beyond any boundaries.

About the characters, there’s not much to say. Usually, Maruo’s characters are one-dimensional, because the focus is not really their development. They are more like assets to explore the themes that Maruo wants to present. In Shoujo Tsubaki, the characters are just cruel, without many relevant motivations. They are seen as freaks who are not allowed in society and live miserable lives, so they somehow embrace the hell they are living in and become part of it, dragging poor and innocent Midori into it. By the way, Midori herself is a character that impressed me. I was expecting the common scared and naïve little girl, but she shows a lot of attitude, despite her situation, at the same time that she is, indeed, very childish and sweet. She’s one of the keys for the story to work so well.

Shoujo Tsubaki, just like other pieces of eroguro, presents the worst in human nature so we can reflect about it. It’s a study of how far can a person go when there’s nothing much left in life. The story doesn’t endorses or try to justify these attitudes, it only shades a light into the absolute darkness that lurks in the human nature. If we're gonna talk about manga that are written only for shocking value, that only relies in gore, we have Pumpkin Night for example. And if we’re talking about manga that sexualize abuse and violence, with cheap motivation to justify those actions, when the truth is that’s all about feeding perverts, there’s Kaifuku. Suehiro Maruo is not about this. His works have meaning, art, reflection, they are well thought and crafted. It is purposely not for everybody, but it’s definitely needed.

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Aug 9, 2025

dy10120911

Mixed Feelings

What I like most about the manga is its presentation of the story. It feels is like a roller coaster, not because of the plot, which remains consistently dark, but because of the dramatic mood change. The protagonist Midori is pure, innocent, pitiful throughout the story. Suehiro Maruo captures this qualities really well in several scenes, such as sunflower field when Midori falls in love or the moonlit night when she wishes for someone to rescue her. These moments, without diverting from the manga's distinctive art style, are just so calm and breathtaking. Yet, within just a few pages, the tone shift drastically, the surrealistic ...

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Jul 25, 2024

luriamv

Not Recommended

I was traumatized by the time wasted reading this shit

I saw everyone saying it was a traumatic manga, etc., I only saw grotesque and meaningless images with a negligible story. I wasted my time reading this shit, I hope you all die.

This shit is just wrong, like why did someone made this?? It's unnatural

This crap just exist to be hatable and pointless
What's the plot about this? Every chapter has an r*pe scene or some p*dophille act with the main character
She is just a little girl, leave little girls alone!!!!

(pls set fire on this manga, if you'll see this on the shelve of someone, set ...

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Poll: Shoujo Tsubaki Chapter 8 Discussion Mon_Diamond - May 14, 2012	13 replies	by fuzzypickles »» Jun 9, 11:19 PM
Poll: Shoujo Tsubaki Chapter 5 Discussion Mon_Diamond - May 14, 2012	1 replies	by emivenus »» Mar 27, 4:28 AM
Poll: Shoujo Tsubaki Chapter 4 Discussion Mon_Diamond - May 14, 2012	1 replies	by emivenus »» Mar 26, 1:55 AM
Poll: Shoujo Tsubaki Chapter 3 Discussion Mon_Diamond - May 14, 2012	1 replies	by emivenus »» Mar 25, 8:58 PM
Poll: Shoujo Tsubaki Chapter 2 Discussion Mon_Diamond - May 14, 2012	2 replies	by emivenus »» Mar 24, 10:45 PM

Shoujo Tsubaki
Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show
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