Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (花ざかりの君たちへ “For You in Full Blossom”), in America shortened to Hana Kimi, is a manga series by writer and artist Hisaya Nakajo. I fell head over heels for this manga when it was starting to be released in the US in 2004, eagerly waiting for translations to be done and the next volume released. I haven’t read it in over a decade. My ten year old has read it at least twice and is on a third read through. So I’m reading it along with her. Manga are so short, I won’t be reviewing each volume so much as summarizing. Come join me as I read Hana Kimi.
Volume 1: Mizuki Ashiya is a Japanese American girl obsessed with Japanese high school student, high jump star, Izumi Sano. She dreams of watching him jump live. Izumi happens to attend Osaka High, an all boys school in Tokyo. Mizuki convinces her parents to let her attend the school, omitting that it’s an all male academy. A late flight has Mizuki scrambling to get to school on time. In her haste she runs into a student before bursting into the classroom. The student she bumped into walks in behind her, it’s her idol, Izumi Sano! And extra embarrassing is that Izumi has the bookbag she dropped during the “incident”. Izumi’s first impression of Mizuki is her soft hands. Mizuki is over eager and full of energy. Izumi is decidedly reserved and distant. When she learns he has quit the high jump, she is stunned and refuses to accept this setback. For maximum drama, the pair are roommates.
Mizuki quickly makes the acquaintance of Shuichi Nakatsu. Shuichi is sporty, a little ribald, and immediately drawn to how cute Mizuki is. This causes instant angst as he naturally assumes Mizuki is male and has never considered himself gay. When Shuichi accidentally knocks Mizuki unconscious with a soccer ball, Izumi caries her to the doctor’s office. That’s when Izumi realizes, it’s not just a suspicion, Mizuki is a girl!
Hijinks ensue! The school doctor, Umeda, quickly figures out Mizuki’s secret but doesn’t turn her in. A sneaky, fellow student photographer takes incriminating pictures of Mizuki. Mizuki thinks a girl Izumi is chatting with is his girlfriend and is instantly jealous. Mizuki sets a blazing record in the 200 meter dash and suddenly all the clubs want her to join them.
Volume 2: Izumi has declared that he will re-join track and high jump again, much to Mizuki’s delight. Izumi doesn’t want her to watch him practice but she can’t help but do little things (like set out a fresh towel and water bottle for him to find after practice). Both feel stymied, not sure how to talk to one another. Mizuki because she doesn’t know how to talk to boys. Izumi because A) he doesn’t know how to talk to girls and B) he’s hiding the fact that he know’s Mizuki’s gender. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner so the guys in the dorm go to sporting events at other high schools to meet girls. While supporting Shuichi’s soccer game, they run into Kagurazaka, one of Izumi’s former high jump rivals, who starts trash talking. Mizuki bristles at Kagurazaka’s needling and immediately jumps to Izumi’s defense.
Mizuki spends more time at Umeda’s doctor’s office. A combination of him being an adult who is in on her secret and him being gay, has led to her often going to Umeda for advice on sorting out her feelings. Her life gets instantly complicated when an airmail letter arrives from her older brother, Shizuki, informing that he is arriving the next day. Mizuki doesn’t have any girl cloths and rushes to Umeda for help. Fortunately, he has a younger sister willing to lend an outfit to keep up her deception. Shizuki quickly uncovers that Osaka High is a boys only school and insists that Mizuki come home. When she refuses, he makes a deal with her, if Izumi can successfully make a high jump in the up coming track meet she can stay.
Romance ensues! Izumi overhears Mizuki talking to the dorm mascot dog, Yujiro. Telling the dog about why she has come to Japan and her feelings toward Izumi. During a sake drinking, dorm room party, Izumi drunkenly kisses Mizuki and then passes out. He doesn’t remember kissing her in the morning. Mizuki is appalled that was her first kiss! The two are slowly building a caring relationship as they look out for each other.
Volume 3: The summer break volume! Mizuki, Izumi, and Shuichi’s dorm is getting construction over the summer break and they will have to go home for two weeks. Mizuki is crushed, she just convinced her brother to let her stay. The last thing she wants to do is go home! Shuichi and Izumi offer for her to stay with their families over break but a different opportunity presents itself. Dr. Umeda’s older sister, Io, runs a seaside hotel and is always in need of summer help. Mizuki jumps at the opportunity. Izumi instantly expresses interest. Ostensibly to earn money but really to watch over Mizuki. Shuichi joins in, not wanting to be far from Mizuki.
Makita is a regular summer worker and known for being a ‘ladies’ man. He instantly is attracted to Mizuki’s innocence and decides to ‘have’ her before the summer is over. Makita assumes that Mizuki is female based on appearance, unaware that they attend a boys school. Makita consistently works the friend angle, worming his way into Mizuki’s graces. Izumi grows ever alarmed but innocent Mizuki obstinately doesn’t see the danger.
Drama Ensues! Kagurazaka and his younger sisters are visiting the resort. Mizuki has to navigate being a female at a seaside resort. Io finds out and becomes a co-conspirator in keeping Mizuki’s gender a secret. Makita and Izumi knock heads over Mizuki. Izumi’s fist intercepts Makita’s face. Shuichi is tortured by thoughts of Mizuki, frequently breaking out in bloody noses as his attraction grows.
Volume 4: This volume is the start of the three day, school cultural festival storyline. Not only is it a festival, it’s also a competition between the three dorms of Osaka High School over the course of the festival. It’s a combination of track and field sporting along with other events. One of which is Miss Osaka High where the guys dress as girls to win a beauty pageant! Each class is also responsible for running an ‘attraction’ during the festival. Mizuki’s tries her best to avoid Miss Osaka but gets roped into it regardless. But avoiding girls clothing is in vain as her class puts on a tea room run by fairytale characters and she portrays Alice in Wonderland. Complicating matters is that Mizuki has been targeted by some of the guys in dorm one, as they perceive her to be a threat in Miss Osaka and the track events. She gets deliberately knocked unconscious in a chicken fight competition and a flower pot nearly lands on her head.
Mizuki and Izumi are slowly coming around to how they feel for each other. Mizuki is a bit dense but has come to realize that her obssesion for Izumi is more than admiration, it’s a genuine desire to be close to him. Dr. Umeda gently teases Mizuki just being near each other may not be enough as time goes on. Mizuki catches her dorm Resident Adviser Minami in a tender moment with an ex-girlfriend. They have a moment of closeness as Mizuki listens to Minami’s about his heartbreak. Izumi gets jealous thinking Mizuki and Minami had an intimate moment.
Cross Dressing Craziness! All the boys of Mizuki’s class are cross dressing for parts of the festival and it has confused feelings all around. Shuichi can barely keep his eyes off of Mizuki dressed as Alice. Mizuki is embarrassed at how attracted she is to Izumi dressed as a Chinese princess. Izumi constantly worries about Mizuki’s secret being found out.
Volume 5: The last day of the school cultural festival is here! Mizuki has a nightmare and Izumi invites her to sleep in his bed for the rest of the night. Shuichi finds them in the morning and is deeply jealous. As the Miss Osaka pageant is under way, Mizuki is lured away and kidnapped by dorm one. On the way to her rescue, Izumi has the realization that he wants to always be at her side. He and Shuichi get to Mizuki in time. Once again she narrowly escapes discovery. Izumi melts with relief when it’s all over and Mizuki notices the difference in him.
The competition has come down to the final event, the 2000m relay. Shuichi has hurt his ankle in rescuing Mizuki and R.A. Minami takes his place. Mizuki is the anchor and the dorm’s secret weapon. Winning the relay secures the win for dorm two in the competition.
And for some reason the author/artist decides to do a backstory for Mizuki that has no bearing on what is happening at Osaka High. Previously, while still in America, Mizuki decides to run away. She ends up meeting a boy named Gil who happens to have a heart problem. The problem prevents Gil from fulfilling his dream of being a mountain climber but the surgery has a low percentage rate of success. After time spent with Mizuki, Gil decides to have the surgery and recovers. Note: Ah hah! I have fallen so far behind in reviews that as I am editing this I read a later volume where this short story becomes relevant.
Complications! Mizuki has difficulties dealing with her period. A sports reporter that is an Izumi superfan is starting to sniff around the school. As Mizuki initially received all her information about Izumi from the female reporter’s articles, she is jealous about how much Karasuma knows. Shuichi finds a girlfriend! Komari has admired Shuichi’s soccer playing and finds the courage to ask him out.
