Boys Over Flowers

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Boys Over Flowers
Hana Yori Dango volume 13 cover
花より男子
(Hana Yori Dango)
Genre shōjo, slice of life,
romance, comedy, drama
Manga
Authored by Yoko Kamio
Publisher JapanShueisha
United States Canada Viz Media

France Glénat
Serialized in Margaret
Original run October 1992 – September 2003
No. of volumes 36
TV anime
Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Studio Toei Animation
Network Japan TV Asahi
Original run 8 September 1996 – 31 August 1997
No. of episodes 51
Movie
Directed by
Studio Toei Animation
Released 8 March 1997
Runtime 30 minutes
TV drama
Directed by Yasuharu Ishii
Studio
Network Japan TBS
Original run October 2005 – December 2005
No. of episodes 9

Boys Over Flowers (In Japanese known as Hana Yori Dango 花より男子) is a Japanese manga series written by Yoko Kamio.

It was serialized in the bi-weekly anthology magazine, Margaret, which is aimed at high-school-age girls. The manga series ran continuously from October 1992 to September 2003, and has been collected into 36 volumes. There are 20 translated to English so far.

Recently, the series has started to be released in a deluxe edition (larger pages and with all the color artwork from the magazine reproduced).

As of this writing, the story has been adapted in Japan into an anime TV series, a live-action television drama, an animated movie set in a parallel universe, and a live-action movie. It has also served as the basis for a live-action drama TV series from Taiwan called Meteor Garden, which has spawned off an idol-singer group, F4. Also, an all-new Japanese live-action drama series premiered on October 2005 on TBS. The live-action drama ended in December 2005, spanning 9 forty-minute episodes (with an hour-long final episode special).

By Summer 2003, both the manga and anime TV series were available in English in the United States and Canada from VIZ Media under the title, Boys Over Flowers.

In July of 2006 a Yomikiri was released in issue 15 of Margaret magazine.

Contents

[edit] Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Tsukushi Makino (牧野つくし Makino Tsukushi), a working-class girl, attends an elite elevator school called Eitoku Academy, populated by children from rich, high-society families. She is the "weed" of the school surrounded by all the rich kids including the "Flower" Four (F4). The F4 leader and son of the wealthiest, most powerful family in Japan, Tsukasa Domyoji (道明寺　司 Dōmyōji Tsukasa), takes an interest in Tsukushi, because she is the only girl at Eitoku who doesn't fawn over him. However, his hot-headed nature and bullying ways are originally a major turn-off for Tsukushi, who has her sights set on someone else.

The violinist Rui Hanazawa, Tsukasa's best friend, becomes Tsukushi's first serious romantic interest. He is a quiet and cold guy, but he has a soft spot for his close friend and Tsukushi's idol, the model Shizuka Todou, whom he harbored feelings for since childhood. His character is a bit complex, and always has changing feelings for Tsukushi, but above all cares about her in a friendly way.

The other two members of the F4 are Akira Mimasaka, the laidback peace-maker of the group, and Sojiro Nishikado, an unrepentant playboy. They both usually have at least one girlfriend at any one time; Akira prefers older women because the women of his household (his mother and two younger sisters) are quite silly. Sojiro is happy to be in casual relationships with many women, although we later discover that at one time he was in love with a childhood friend.

Over the course of the series, however, Tsukushi's feelings evolve, and she begins to appreciate the degree of change that occurred in Tsukasa once he fell in love with her. He becomes fiercely loyal to Tsukushi and believes in her beyond all doubt, and slowly gets her to see him in a different light. The physical obstacles and emotional challenges of their rocky high-school courtship form the basis of the story. Other themes include Tsukushi's attempt to fit in at the school, the problems of her family's lifestyle and income, and the decadent lifestyle of upper-class Japanese girls.

The movie, known as Hana Yori Dango: The Movie, changes things considerably by recasting all of the characters in new roles and is effectively set in an alternate universe. This movie, which is only slightly longer than the average anime episode, casts Tsukushi as an aspiring dancer that lives in a small trailer attempting to win a role in a large stage production. The other characters take on similar roles such as performers and stage crew. The film is reminiscent of the American film Flashdance which similarly features a blue-collar woman attempting to work her way into an upscale dancing school.

[edit] Yomikiri Plot Update

The Yomikiri, set roughly a year after the series ended, focuses on the continued adventures of Makino Tsukushi and the F4.

The story opens with a very lost Tsukushi in France. She's looking for a specific church, but there are so many around her that she becomes confused. It is then revealed that Tsukushi is late for a ceremony and, in her haste, spots an alley that she thinks might get her there quicker. As usual she is not paying attention and ends up bumping into someone while in the alley. This causes her to fall to the ground and drop her purse, and as she looks up in shock at who she bumped into it cuts to a flashback of three days ago.

Back in Tokyo, Tsukushi is celebrating a new job with Soujirou, Akira, Kazuya, and Sakurako. During the celebration they discuss the relationship she has with Doumyouji and her college plans. As for the relationship, Tsukushi is far more comfortable with her feelings and is able to talk about them. This is a big improvement from the original series and shows that she has matured. The group also discusses her plans for college. She's decided that, because of her family's situation, college is essentially out of the question especially after this new job. Tsukushi has to make dinner, so she leaves the group to go home. After she leaves Akira, Soujirou, and Sakurako continue to discuss Tsukushi while Kazuya laments the college years he was going to spend with Tsukushi.

When she gets home she finds her father playing cards with Rui. Tsukushi no longer calls him by his full name and has finally become comfortable with using something as personal as his first name. This is a significant change for Tsukushi because it shows that she no longer sees him as an idol, and instead a regular man. Tsukushi is surprised that he's visiting, but only because Rui's been there so often. Rui has been there so much in fact that he now refers to Tsukushi's father as Papa. She asks Rui if he will be staying for dinner and he says yes. Rui seems happier.

While cooking dinner Tsukushi has some time to reflect upon her relationship with Doumyouji, specifically their correspondence during the last year. Doumyouji had sent her a TV phone, so that's how they communicate, but because of the time difference and their schedules they usually talk during the middle of the night. Rui snaps her out of her reverie by asking about the food she is making. This forces Tsukushi to notice how Rui has always really known when she needed him.

They all watch television during dinner and towards the end a news story about a serial killer stalking the streets of Paris comes up. This triggers something in Rui, who remembers that he has something to give to Tsukushi. Unfortunately for him, this is also when Doumyouji decides to call. When Tsukushi realizes that Doumyouji would be able to see Rui in the background, she pushes him aside while getting closer to the camera and answers the call. The two chat for a bit before Doumyouji gets down to the reason for his call, Shizuka's wedding.

Tsukushi becomes confused because this is the first time she's heard of the wedding. Rui can explain this because, while still in the room for their conversation, he has her invitation. He lets her know that he has it, and steps into view on the camera, which alerts Doumyouji to Rui's presence. Tsukushi turns her attention to Rui, both for her invitation and for further explanation. Doumyouji freaks out about Rui being there while Rui tries to chat with him. In an effort to diffuse the situation Tsukushi pulls the camera away, accidentally unplugging the cord and ending the call.

After that, Rui hands Tsukushi the rest of the invitation package which included plane tickets to fly out in two days. With his job now finished, Rui decided to go home but not before promising to come back and play cards with Papa again. He leaves quickly and forgets something at her house. A few minutes later her cell phone rings and she answers, believing it to be Rui. The person on the other line happens to be Doumyouji, who has also noticed that she has taken to calling Rui by his first name. A small fight ensues and Doumyouji ends the conversation by hanging up. Tsukushi tries to call him back repeatedly, but he does not answer. Defeated and exhausted, Tsukushi decides to get some rest.

Next we see Tsukushi aboard a plane talking to Akira, Soujirou, and Rui. It turns out that she is not the only one Doumyouji is ignoring, and nobody really knows if he will show up for Shizuka’s wedding. After they’ve landed and dressed for the wedding, they walk to the chapel. Tsukushi has never been to Paris, so it’s easy for her to become distracted by her surroundings. So much so in fact, that she drags Akira off to take pictures of her posing with statues. While they’re away Soujirou asks Rui if he is okay with his first love getting married. Rui seems pretty nonchalant about the whole thing, which shows considerable growth from when the series first started. Tsukushi, who has found a bronze statue to pose with, is anxiously yelling at Akira to hurry up and take the picture when her camera beeps, indicating that she has used all the film.

Because it is about time for the wedding to start and Tsukushi wanted to take pictures, she decides to run and buy more film. The group is already outside the chapel, and they think the whole idea is rather silly. Akira asks if she will be all right by herself, and she says yes. With still no sign of Doumyouji, the rest of the F4 enter the chapel and find Shizuka. They find her at the front of the chapel working on a divorce case set to go to hearing the next day. For the most part Akira and Soujirou engage her in light conversation, and Soujirou seems interested in meeting the groom. Shizuka says that he will be along soon and then turns around to find Rui. The pair express pleasantries and the topic is brought back to Tsukushi, and exactly how long it will take her to buy more film. This conversation ends quickly by the familiar shadow of Doumyouji entering the chapel.

Now we go back to the beginning right after Tsukushi falls to the ground in the alley. She’s dazed, and in the process of everything has lost a shoe and to make matters worse is being dragged along the ground by her collar. The man she bumped into is standing over her, and when she starts to talk realizes that they don’t speak the same language. The man says something to her that she can’t understand and then flashes a knife at her. Obviously freaked out, she begins to scream only to have his hand cover her mouth. Back at the chapel, Doumyouji is waiting outside for Tsukushi to arrive when he spots a film canister lying on the ground near an alley. He picks it up and begins processing what it could mean.

With this man now holding Tsukushi down on the ground, he raises his knife high and, just before he could use it, receives a kick from behind which knocks him down. After another kick the man is completely taken down, and the hero is revealed to be Doumyouji. The police are called, and the man Doumyouji took down happened to be the serial killer mentioned earlier in the story. Tsukushi, still quite shaken, explains about what happened earlier and how she ended up in that position, only Doumyouji seems quite disinterested and starts to walk away before she can finish. This of course is not the truth, as he is very interested, but this is one of the ways he expresses worry.

The pair has one of their fights on the way back to the chapel. Doumyouji accidentally lightens the moment by using his trademark vocabulary, much to his chagrin. Once at the chapel, Tsukushi thinks that the ceremony has already started and that it would be rude to interrupt when Doumyouji tells her to just follow him. He leads her to a staircase leading down into another room in the same church. This room is much smaller than the main chapel but still pretty. Doumyouji, happy that she likes her surroundings, says that they should start their vows. Confused, Tsukushi asks what he meant by that and Tsukasa responds by saying that he can’t trust her. This angers Tsukushi and she asks if he just wants to start a fight. Doumyouji seems frustrated, and says that she’s never able to relax. Redeeming himself, he goes on to say that nothing can be done about that though because he is madly in love with her.

This is the moment all fans have been waiting for. Not THE moment, but a moment so perfect that it will last another three years.

Tsukushi realizes that if she doesn’t say what’s in her heart now that she probably never will. She tells him that she didn’t think she would be this lonely, and that every day seems so long. Tsukushi thought the four years would have gone by faster, but it was just the opposite and so far it had only been one. Becoming more nervous, she steels herself and stands taller, holding onto his jacket. She tells him that she’s always been in love with him, and then they kiss. Tsukushi, wearing the Saturn necklace Doumyouji gave her, reflects to herself that their relationship is a lot like this necklace. Whenever lost, it would always come back, and that that was how their relationship was and would always be.

What the pair did not know was that this room had a balcony where the rest of the F4 was standing, watching this unfold. Soujirou and Akira reflect that the next wedding they go to will probably be theirs, Rui just smiles. With his arms still around Tsukushi, Doumyouji tells her that he wants her to quit her job and go to college. She says that there is no way she can when he cuts her off and tells her that he’s bought the real estate office and has prepaid four years at Eitoku. Tsukushi freaks out for many reasons, but one of them is having to go back to Eitoku. Doumyouji responds by saying that he can’t trust her and wants her to be somewhere where he can keep an eye on her.

Tsukasa, turning out to be not so oblivious about the balcony, yells to Rui saying that things better not happen while he is gone. Rui smiles again. Suddenly Shizuka yells to Tsukushi to catch the bouquet, which she does.

Back at Eitoku, Yuriko and her friends are horrified to learn that Tsukushi will be returning, which is just how Tsukushi likes it. Only three more years until he returns.

[edit] Setting

Modern-day Tokyo, Japan is the main setting, with a focus on its current social flaws and economic problems. Atami, Japan; Paris, France; New York, New York, United States; and Canada are also featured in the story. All of the characters are normal humans, and most of the main cast are high-school students in the 10th to 12th grades (ages 16 to 18).

[edit] Characters

Tsukushi Makino (牧野 つくし?)

Voiced by: Maki Mochida

Tsukasa Domyoji (道明寺 司?)

Voiced by: Naoki Miyashita

Rui Hanazawa (花沢 類?)

Voiced by: Kouji Yamamoto

Sojiro Nishikado (西門 総二郎?)

Voiced by: Yoshihiko Akaida

Akira Mimasaka (美作 あきら?)

Voiced by: Yuuta Mochizuki

Yuuki Matsuoka (松岡 優紀?)

Voiced by: Kanako Tobimatsu

Kazuya Aoike (?)

Voiced by: Ietomi Yoji

Shizuka Toudou (藤堂 静?)

Voiced by: Keiko Imamura

Makiko Endou (?)

Voiced by: Fuuko Misaki

Sakurako Sanjyo (三条 桜子?)

Voiced by: Mikako Sakurada

Tsubaki Domyoji (道明寺 椿?)

Voiced by: Chiho Ohkawa

Kaede Domyoji (道明寺 楓?)

Voiced by: Mika Doi

Haruo Makino (牧野 晴男?)

Voiced by:

Chieko Makino (牧野 千恵子?)

Voiced by: Rumi Watabe

Susumu Makino (牧野 進?)

Voiced by: Takayuki Inoue

Yasukichi Makino (?)

Voiced by: Nobuaki Suzuki

Yuriko Asai (浅井 百合子?)

Voiced by: Yoshiko Shimizu

Minako Yamano (山野 美奈子?)

Voiced by: Nami Sato

Erika Ayuhara (鮎原 えりか?)

Voiced by:

Sachiyo Sengoku (千石 幸代?)

Voiced by:

[edit] References

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen has been cited by fans as a possible inspiration because of the similar central story of two headstrong people in love separated by class differences and clashing personalities.

The series' title, Hana Yori Dango (literally "Boys before Flowers"), is a pun on a Japanese saying, "Food before Flowers" (花より団子, more exactly "dumplings rather than flowers", see Dango "団子"). "Food before Flowers" refers to the fact that food, being more practical and more necessary to survival, should be chosen over flowers, something pretty but not essential to life (and the real reason most people today attend Hanami). The author furthers the pun by changing the kanji of the title to mean "Boys over Flowers" (花より男子?), implying that boys, like food, maybe are a necessity to life rather than a luxury like flowers. Note that "Boys" (男子?) is normally read danshi (だんし?), but the furigana force the reading "Dango" (だんご?)

[edit] External links

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