Kamisama Hajimemashita is one of the best newer shoujo manga out there. It presents a unique plot, romance handled the right way, and good characters who are more than their first impression. It is a short, yet fun and endearing read that will leave you feeling happy.
Story- 9
“Nanami, a young girl whose father skips town due to his debts is led to a shrine and is crowned as the goddess there. However she has to deal with a load of new responsibilities and a shrine familiar, Tomoe who doesn’t accept her immediately.”
The story of Kamisama Hajimemashita is interesting and unique. It deals with how Nanami deals with her new status as a God of Matchmaking, and her relationship with her shrine familiar, Tomoe, and how she works to earn his respect and trust. It consists of lighthearted comedy and romance, which progresses slowly and well. It also deals with situations from the past and present, and when you read the story, you’ll realise that nothing is as straightforward as it seems.
Art- 6
I’m not an art critic, so unless terrible, I don’t usually let art affect my opinion about a manga. Kamisama Hajimemashita’s art starts off a bit rough and stiff, but the mangaka improves a lot over the course of eight years.
Characters- 8
The characters of Kamisama Hajimemashita are great. All of them aren’t as simple as they look, and when you look into their past, you’ll see that they’ve actually faced a lot and struggled to be the way they are now. None of them are one-dimensional and that’s a very good thing.
The female protagonist, Momozono Nanami is a really good character. Having been poor all her life, she is not spoiled and independent. She may be incompetent as a god(she’s a normal human being) but she is persistent and always finds a way even in tough situations.
Tomoe, Nanami’s shrine familiar is somewhat a Male tsundere character.He is mean, and brash, however changes greatly when he meets Nanami. He’s also that one ideal guy who’s somehow good at everything and is loved by all the girls. However, there’s a lot more to him than what meets the eye, and it has to do with his past.
The other characters include- Mizuki, Nanami’s second familiar from another shrine, I always felt like he deserved better and was neglected throughout and Kurama, a tengu who lives in the human world, who serves as comic relief.
Enjoyment-10
I personally enjoyed this manga a lot, it would be better to read it slowly since it takes place over the course of 2-3 years.