Where to begin? The most classic shoujos of all times….

Ever wonder which ones are the “best”/ “most classic” shoujos of all times?

Ever wonder where to start, as you become interested in reading an “old-school” shoujo all of a sudden?

Below were the “best classic shoujos of all times” of various genres, chosen by a selected number of editors (and readers) in Japan – perhaps it can be used a good starting point?…. Just be prepared to see a VERY long reading list below : )

“編集会議” Editors Review(?), April 2003. (Note the question mark ^^)

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Note: Besides nostalgic reasons, this section really means something special to me, for the lists below somehow inspired me into creating [Manga Talk]!

But… meh~! Despite my “many” pathetic attempts, I have now run out of ideas of how to make this page looking more presentable (i.e. easy-reading at least). The best I could do was to throw in some images and story descriptions, which only proved to be unproductive since info could be found elsewhere anywhere…

So if anyone has any great idea on the page layout for this entry….PLEASE drop me a note – I will be SO glad to hear from anyone for this matter ^^ Aligato!!!!

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GENRES:

1. ACTION (from right to left, top to bottom)

• Earthian by KOUGA Yun (アーシアン by 高河ゆん)

• Iga no Kabamaru by AZUKI Yu (伊賀野カバ丸 by 亜月裕)

• From Eroica with Love by AOIKE Yasuko (エロイカより愛をこめて by 青池保子 )

• Glass no Kamen by MIUCHI Suzue (玻璃假面 by 美内すずえ)

• Shoujo Kakumei Utena by Saitou Chiho (少女革命ウテナ by 齋藤千穗 さいとうちほ)

• BASARA by TAMURA Yumi (田村由美)

• Toyko Babylon (東京BABYLON) by CLAMP

• Patalliro! by MAYA Mineo (パタリロ by 魔夜峰央)

• BANANA FISH by YOSHIDA Akimi (吉田秋生)

• Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon by TAKEUCHI Naoko (美少女戰士 by 武内直子)

2. SCHOOL

• NARITA Minako – ALEXANDRITE (アレクザンドライト)

Story: This story is a spinoff from Narita Minako-sensei’s own series “Cipher” where Siva’s friend Alex Levine is now the main character. Ever since Alex was young, he has harbored a complex about his extremely pretty face. People are always comparing him to a girl, so to combat this image, he has thrown himself into practicing martial arts. One day, though, he is scouted by someone to become a fashion model and thus begins Alex’s tale of growth and romance!

• TAKEMIYA Keiko – Kaze to Ki no Uta (風と木の詩)

Story: Serge Battour is the son of a French viscount and a Romani prostitute, and despite his kind nature and academic talent, is shunned by his family and his peers due to the color of his skin. He begins to attend Lacombrade Academy, his father’s alma mater, in the hopes that there he will find a place to belong. Gilbert Cocteau is, like Serge, the orphaned son of a wealthy family, and is infamous at Lacombrade for his beautiful and delicate appearance, lack of dedication to schoolwork, and habit of prostituting himself to other students. He has no intention to connect with any of his classmates, instead devoting himself to his uncle Auguste. Due to a shortage of living space, Serge and Gilbert become roommates even though Gilbert’s antisocial nature has in the past made it impossible for him to room with anybody. Serge, being sociable and idealistic, is determined to be friends with Gilbert; Gilbert is only interested in either being able to manipulate Serge or push him away entirely. To the surprise of both of the boys, however, the two eventually form a deep, albeit generally dismal, bond that leads to a romantic connection. In 1979, this series was awarded the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award for shounen/shoujo manga

• NASU Yukie – Koko wa Greenwood (ここはグリーン・ウッド)

It seems like 15-year-old Kazuya Hasukawa’s life can’t get much worse. Not only did his older brother marry Kazuya’s first love, he brought his bride home to live with the family! Leaving his own home, Kazuya enters an exclusive all-male boarding school, Ryokuto Academy. Unfortunately, a prestigious education is little compensation for getting stuck with the cross-dressing roommate from Hell…

• OBANA Miho – Kodomo no Omocha (こどものおもちゃ)

Sana Kurata, a child actress, faces many problems in her classroom, including a major one – her bullying classmate, Akito Hayama. Sana’s outgoing and friendly nature leads her to work towards correcting all of the problems around her. Her ‘meddling’ irritates Hayama but at the same time captivates him, just as Hayama’s gloomy nature irritates Sana and compels her to change him. As these two opposites attract each other, they face many hardships which bring them closer to a mutual understanding. This manga won the 1998 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo.

• SHOUJI Youko – Seito Shokun! (生徒諸君)

Seito Shokun follows the life of Kitashiro Naoko, nicknamed Nakki, as she plows through life with her friends and family. Faced with hardships and struggle, happiness, sadness, love and tragedy… Nakki paces forth! A manga classic!

• MATSUNAE Akemi – Junjou Crazy Fruit (純情クレイジーフルーツ)

Also known as Passion Crazy Fruits.

丸の内女学園という女子校に通う四人の女生徒を軸に、恋愛や友情・高校生活などを当時の少女の本音丸出しで過激に描いている。1988年、第12回講談社漫画賞少女部門を受賞した作品。

• YAMAZAKI Takako – Ppoi! (っポイ!)

Amano Taira is your average junior high student who has a problem with his height. Join him and his friends as they journey to many places and experience many hardships during their teenage years. This is a heartfelt school drama with a little bit of everything.

• MAKINO Kazuko/ Gotou Yukio – HIGHTEEN BOOGIE (ハイティーン・ブギ)

Momoko is one of the brightest students at school, but the school is a bit overrun by delinquents from a motorcycle gang. In fact, the person who has the next desk has never come to class. Then one day she gets the upper hand on one of these bikers and they actually strike up a bit of a friendship, with the potential for more. Of course, it turns out that he’s the leader of the bike gang, and the student in the next seat who has been missing this entire year…

• UMINO Chica – Hachimitsu to Clover (ハチミツとクローバー)

Takemoto lives in a run-down student apartment, where his greatest worry is when he’ll next be able to afford to eat meat and whether he’ll get to class on time. Although he’s away from home and living on his own, Takemoto is far from finished growing up. Along with his crazy cast of friends, Morita, Mayama, Yamada, and Hagumi, Takemoto sets out to discover life and his true self. Was adapted into a live action film in 2006 and a live action tv series. In 2003, this manga won the 27th Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo.

• KAMIO Youko – Hana yori Dango (花より男子)

Although Tsukushi Makino is from a poor family, she attends an elite school for the super rich, where her life has become intertwined with the “F4,” the ruling boys of the school, in a whirlwind of love and confusion! In 1996 Hana yori Dango received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo, and it was the best selling shoujo manga in history.

• TSUMUGI Taku – HOT ROAD (ホットロード)

Kazuki always felt a barrier between her and her mother, because her father, who died when she was still a child, was someone her mother hated. She wasn’t a child born out of love. One day, Kazuki is persuaded by a friend to meet Hiroko-san, the girlfriend of the head of the motorcycle gang “NIGHTS”. And there, she meets Haruyama…

• KIHARA Toshie – Mari to Shingo (摩利と新吾)

• ICHIJO Yukari – Yukan Kurabu (有閑俱樂部)

Shochikubai Miroku is the son of a police commissioner (father) and also a traveller (mother). Miroku has lots of connections and is a very good fighter. His interest is his motorcycle. Kikumasamune Seishiro is the rich son of a large hospital. He also fights as well as Miroku. He is a good fighter with smarts. Bido Granmarie is the son of a Swedish ambassador. He’s also a playboy, dating many girls at once. Granmarie can’t see himself going steady because he thinks the world can’t handle it. Kenbishi Yuri is the rich daughter of a world-renowned president of the Kenbishi Business. She loves to indulge on eating. She’s also a good fighter, but can never beat Seishiro. Hakushika Noriko is the daughter of a famous japanese painter (father) and her mother is from a tradition tea ceremony family. Her only hate is men and can get very violent when they touch her. Kizakura Karen lives with her mother, a rich jewel dealer. Her dream is to marry into a rich family using her attractive body and style. Together, they formed the Yukan Club, solving mysteries to pass time. It won the Kodansha Manga Award for Shojo in 1986

3. ROMANCE (戀愛 – 溫馨, etc)

• ASAGIRI Yuu – Aitsu ga Hero! (あいつがHERO)

いつか理想の王子様が現れることを夢見る若菜に、突然“婚約者”ができちゃった！？で、その婚約者はというと、バンカラで乱暴で若菜の理想とはまるで正反対。パパが勝手に決めたこととはいえ、これじゃああんまり……。そんなとき、若菜が幼い頃から大切にしてきた童話「ライラックの王子さま」の主人公そっくりの男の子が現れ、ビックリ！そう、その男の子こそ、若菜の理想の王子様だったのです。

• YOSHIDA Mayumi – Idol wo Sagase (アイドルを探せ)

大学生になった主人公の女性が、二人の異なるタイプの男性の間で気持ちを揺り動かされながら、一つ一つ大人の階段を登っていく……。

• SATONAKA Machiko – Aries no Otometachi (アリエスの乙女たち)

Adapted to JDrama, 南野陽子主演?

• MAEHARA Shigeko – Anzu & Kage: Koibito Jidai (杏&影恋人時代)

杏和影，由 歲邁向 歲，正站在成人世界的入口處。兩人有著青梅竹馬的情誼，在流逝的時光中，小心翼翼地呵護著不知何時萌芽的愛…由滋子老師繪製給您，閃爍耀眼的青春手冊！

• TADA Kaoru – Itazura na Kiss (イタズラなKiss)

High school senior Aihara Kotoko has had a crush on Irie Naoki since freshman year. But she’s been discouraged from confessing to him by a few things: he’s a member of “Class A,” the top ranking class in school, whereas she’s in “Class F”; he gets the top score on every exam; and he’s so smart, popular, and handsome that he’s been class president every year. When Kotoki finally musters up the courage to present him with a love letter, though, Naoki outright refuses it, telling her point blank–with a look of disgust and boredom–that he doesn’t like “stupid girls.” Poor Kotoko’s worst nightmare! Her heart is broken, but then a change in circumstance forces Naoki and Kotoko to be together every day…!? Its anime adaptation portrayed the author’s planned ending.

• OUSAKA Mieko – Eien no Nohara (永遠の野原)

高校生から大学生へと成長する主人公を中心に、登場人物の友情や家族への思い、恋愛を描いた作品。作者が学生時代を過ごした阪急宝塚線沿線が主な舞台。 高校2年生の二太郎は、姉の一姫と子犬のみかんと共に暮らしている。一姫の恋人である柳に反発しながら、同級生の太や野沢と学生生活を送っていた。やがて二太郎は、女友達の野沢を恋愛対象として意識するが、彼女は太に思いを寄せていることを知る。さらに自分の野沢への気持ちが太にも知られていたことで傷つく。二太郎は、通学の電車で知り合った女子学生・マリコと付き合うようになるが、マリコも太に次第に魅かれていく。その気持ちを知った二太郎は、自らマリコに別れを告げる。一姫は集栄賞を受賞し、柳と婚約する。二太郎はマリコに、野沢は太に思いを寄せたまま大学に進学。太は調理師学校へとそれぞれの道を進む。ある日、二太郎はマリコと再会。自分がまだマリコに思いを寄せていることに気づく。

古屋 二太郎（ふるや にたろう）高校2年生。姉の一姫と2人暮らし。女友達である野沢に思いを寄せるが実らず、その後、通学の電車で知り合ったマリコに告白し付き合うが、マリコが太に思いを寄せていることを知り、自ら別れを告げる。一姫の恋人である柳には反発。吹田市立大学に進学し、マリコと再会。古屋 一姫（ふるや いちひめ）二太郎の姉。少女向けSFホモ小説家。自らの原稿料で二太郎を養っている。「永遠の恋人」で集栄賞を受賞。*** 野沢 ひとみ（のざわ ひとみ）, 柳 良次（やなぎ りょうじ）….

• IKUEMI Ryou – Engage (エンゲージ)

高3の千絵は隣に住む正雄に5年間も恋しているが、可愛い妹の様にしか思ってもらえない。一方、正雄の弟・良雄は密かに千絵の事を想っていた。そんなある日、正雄の突然の結婚宣言によって3人の微妙なバランスが崩れ始め…。

• TSUDA Masami – Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou (彼氏彼女の事情)

Yukino Miyazawa is the perfect model student. Pretty, kind, good at sports, always at the top of her class. But she’s not all that she seems. It’s all an act of deception; she is really the self-confessed ‘queen of vanity,’ and her only goal in life is winning the praise and admiration of everyone around her.

When she enters high school, she finally meets her match: Soichiro Arima, a handsome, athletic, popular, and very intelligent young boy. Ever since he stole the top seat in the class from her, Yukino has hated him, and has been plotting on how to take back her former place as the object of all other students’ admiration.

What she wasn’t expecting, however, was that Soichiro, the very boy she hated, would confess his love for her. Or that he would find out about her deception – and use it to blackmail her!

Together, they discover that they have more in common than they knew, and they slowly begin to bring out each other’s inner selves.

• IGARASHI Yumiko/ MIZUKI Kyoko – Candy Candy (キャンディ・キャンディ)

• YOSHIMURA Akemi – Kirinkan Graffiti (麒麟館グラフィティー)

Tae is a manager of the ‘Kirinkan’ boarding house. She found a girl wandering in the middle of a road at night. The girl is called Kikuko, an abused wife escaping from her husband. Tae is surprised because Kikuko’s husband is the person Tae had a crush on for a long time. Tae let Kikuko stay in the boarding house, and becomes Kikuko’s protector.

• SHIOMORI Keiko – Kirinkan Tooru (希林館通り)

舞台設定は花梨の実家である希林館を中心にしており、古き良き時代の典型的な下宿屋物と言える（年代の近い下宿屋物としては高橋留美子の『めぞん一刻』、川原由美子の『前略・ミルクハウス』などがある）。物語は全体としてはシリアスで、主人公の花梨を軸に展開する。画風は当時の作者としては完成の域に達しているが、花梨を中心に、次々と恋のライバルが現れるパターンや、糸崎の好男子ぶりは少女漫画としてやや類型的の感を免れない。しかし時折登場人物の口から語られる人生論は鋭い洞察に満ちており、作者の以降の作品の充実の基が窺える。

下宿屋「希林館」の次女・花梨は、通っている高校の教師・糸崎に密かに憧れを抱いていたが、ある日突然、糸崎から花梨と結婚したいと告げられ動揺する。同じく花梨を好いている下宿人・高広との確執を経ながら、花梨は結婚を承諾するが、糸崎は生徒との交際が問題となり、学校を退職して、大学院に入るために京都に行ってしまう。一方花梨は卒業後、家の経済的事情もあり、東京に残って出版社で働き始めるが、会社の上司・朝倉から強引に迫られる。恋のピンチは高広の助け船によって切り抜けられる。

• MORITA Yuko – Koi no Kiseki (恋の奇跡)

一位同年遠房親戚的造訪，改變了塚本妙子原本平靜的生活。身形壯碩而略嫌臃腫的她，隨著這位天使容貌的家庭新成員的介入，無形中逐漸滋長了長期壓抑的自卑心理，竟也慢慢發現這位看似乖巧可人的同齡姊妹，暗中正進行著一連串駭人的致命陰謀，一步步將塚本家推向破滅的深淵……。被逼上絕路的妙子，意外地邂逅了扭轉她往後人生的整型醫師，外貌的轉變也使得她得以重拾自信，背負起為雙親洗雪冤情的使命。一次偶然的契機，一場霎似巧合的風雲際會，塚本彩子與倉田雪乃這對宿敵，再度重逢於聲色犬馬的演藝舞臺……。妙子將如何揭穿雪乃魔鬼般歹毒的心機，突破眼前極其不利的困境!?十足震撼的劇情，終極冷血的陰謀，絕對超乎您的想像!!

• NAKAJI Yuki – Koyamasou no Kiraware Mono (小山荘のきらわれ者)

• MUTSU A-ko – Konpei Sou no Francois (こんぺい荘のフランソワ)

絵本作家を目指す楽子は、いつも前向き。夢の為なら極貧生活も苦にならない。恋にも縁遠い彼女だけれど、最近気になる人が現れた…？　表題作他、色とりどりの大人のメルヘン5編を収録。同時収録／黒茶色ろまんす　ため息の行方　人参夫人とパセリ氏　ステキなことばかり　黄咲町ラプソディ

西村しのぶ (西村忍) – Third Girl (三人新世界)
*小椋冬美 – さよならなんていえない (不要說再見/ 无言的永别?)
*吉野朔實(実) – 少年は荒野をめざす (少年荒野)
鈴木由美子 – 白鳥麗子でございます!
川原由美子 – 前略・ミルクハウス (Zenryaku Milk House)++
秋里和国 – それでも地球は回ってる (花心俏女郎)
*山下和美 – ダンディーとわたし (明星主夫)
北川美幸 (北川みゆき) – 罪に濡れたふたり (禁忌的戀人/烈愛罪人)
*しらいしあい (Ai Shiraishi) – 東京あかマンマ (Tokyo Akamanma)
上田美和 – ピーチガール (蜜桃女孩)
*田渕由美子 – フランス窓便り
岩館真理子 – まるでシャボン
吉田秋生 – ラヴァーズ・キス (LOVER’S KISS /情人的吻)
*宮川匡代 – ONE -愛になりたい- (只愛你一個, One – Aini Nari Tai)

4. SPORT
*浦野千賀子 – アタックNo.1 (排球甜心)
山本鈴美香 – エースをねらえ (網球爭霸戰/ 網球嬌娃/ 網球女將)
川原泉 – 甲子園の空に笑え! (甲子園上空的微笑)
羅川真里茂 – しゃにむにGO (藍天下的網球場)
*かわみなみ (Kawami Nami) – シャンペン・シャワー (Champagne Shower.)
槇村怜 (槇村さとる) – 白のファルーカ (白色之舞)
有吉京子 – SWAN-白鳥- (芭蕾群英)
*本田恵子 – 月の夜星の朝 (月之夜 星之朝)++
惣領冬實(実) – ボーイフレンド (神采飛揚)
山岸凉子 – 舞姫 テレプシコーラ
上原希美子 (上原きみ子) – 舞子の詩 (舞者之詩)

5. FAMILY
羅川真里茂 – 赤ちゃんと僕 (天才寶貝)
*よしまさこ (吉匡子 Masako Yoshi) – うてなの結婚
(中譯: “愛的小天堂＝婚前必讀的18篇愛情故事” ???)
吉永史 (よしながふみ) – こどもの体温 (半熟青春的体温)
小(沢)澤真理 – 世界でいちばん優しい音楽 (單親樂章)
倉持芙紗子 (くらもちふさこ) – 天然コケッコー (天然子結構)
*篠有紀子 – 花きゃべつひよこまめ (一家三口)
太刀掛秀子 – 花ぶらんこゆれて (花鞦韆之戀)
渡辺多恵子 – FAMILY
榛野奈奈惠 (榛野なな恵) – Papa told me
高屋奈月 – フルーツバスケット (水果篮子/ 魔法水果篮/ 幻影天使)
*深見惇 (深見じゅん) – ぽっかぽかレモン
*入江紀子 – なんぎな奥さん (茶包小倆口)
*安孫子三和 – みかん・絵日記 (橘夢日記 )

6. PERIOD (歷史政治類)
細川智栄子 – 王家の紋章
岡野玲子・梦枕貘 – 陰陽師
河惣益巳 – サラディナーサ (公主冒險記)
岩崎陽子 – 王都妖奇譚
神坂智子 – T・E・ロレンス (T.E. Lawrence)
山内直実 – なんて素敵にジャパネスク (公主新娘/ 瑠璃公主大冒險)
大和和紀 – はいからさんが通る (窈窕淑女)
山岸凉子 – 日出処の天子 (日出处天子)
市川ジュン – 陽の末裔
佐伯佳代乃 (佐伯かよの) – 緋の稜線 (緋紅稜線)
曾彌雅子 (曽祢まさこ) – 不思議の国の千一夜 (一千零一夜/ 美麗公主)
池田理代子 – ベルサイユのばら (凡爾賽玫瑰)

7. SF (奇幻冒險)
*萩岩睦美 – 銀曜日のおとぎばなし
*水樹和佳 – 樹魔・伝説
和田慎二 – 超少女明日香
由貴香織里 – 天使禁猟区 (天使禁獵區)
池野恋 – ときめきトゥナイト (我們一家都是鬼/ 心跳在今夜/ 魔界傳説)
赤石路代 – 永遠かもしれない (迷幻戀曲/ 永遠守護你)
山口美由紀 – フィーメンニンは謳う (魔法花園)++
(++続編: タッジー・マッジー 魔法妖精)
萩尾望都 – ポーの一族 (波族傳奇)
内田善美 – 星の時計の Liddell
*めるへんめーかー (Marchenmaker) – 星降る森のリトル魔女
日渡早紀 – ぼくの地球を守って (地球守護靈/ 守護我的地球)
樹夏實 (樹なつみ) – 八雲立つ (出雲傳奇)
竹宮惠(恵)子 – 私を月まで連れてって! (帶我飛向月之彼端吧!)

8. MUSIC (exc. 藝能類)
麻原いつみ – 愛の歌になりたい (盜版譯: 麻原~愛之歌)
くらもちふさこ (倉持芙紗子) – いつもポケットにショパン (肖邦常伴左右)
*藤田貴美 – EXIT (EXIT-音樂拍檔)
*森脇真末味 – おんなのこ物語
新條真由 – 快感フレーズ (快感指令)
*原智惠(恵)子 (原ちえこ) – 風のソナタ (風的奏鳴曲/ 玉女琴聲)
齋藤千穗 (さいとうちほ) – 花音
尾崎南 – 絕愛-1989-
二ノ宮知子 – のだめカンタービレ (交響情人夢)
*石塚夢見 – ピアニシモでささやいて (紫色玫瑰)++
++ピアニシモでささやいて第二楽章 = 輕歌情夢
*佐伯佳代乃 (佐伯かよの) – 星恋華
*小野弥夢 – DIVA (金嗓公主)
*水野英子 – ファイヤー! (FIRE!)

9. CAREER (職場類)
谷地恵美子 – 明日の王様 (明日之王)
槇村さとる – おいしい関係 (美味關係)
吉永史 (よしながふみ) – 西洋骨董洋果子店
*一條由香莉 (一条ゆかり) – デザイナー (Designer)
*岡野玲子 – ファンシィダンス (Fancy Dance)
*深見惇 (深見じゅん) – 惡女
etc…..

9. CHARACTER/ 社會現象─我行我素(自我意識)＆暴走族
*南Q太 – かみさまお願い
*楠本まき – KISSXXXX
*やまだないと (山田朝子) – 恋に似ている
矢澤愛 (矢沢あい) – NANA
*GEORGE 朝倉 (ジョージ朝倉) – ハートを打ちのめせ!
*安野モヨコ (安野夢洋子) – ハッピーマニア (中譯: “HAPPY MANIA 恋爱暴走族”????)
岡崎京子 – pink
*西村しのぶ – ライン LINE
etc….