Maison Ikkoku, Volume 1

by Rumiko Takahashi

Poor Yusaku Godai. He's a struggling college student and resident of the dilapidated apartment building Maison Ikkoku. What's more, he's madly in love with the new manager of Maison Ikkoku, the lovely... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1569310440
• ISBN13: 9781569310441
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

A Superb Classic Masterpiece of Romance & Comedy

"Maison Ikkoku" has been called a heartwarming romantic comedy, a brilliant soap opera, an emotional roller coaster, funny, thoughtful and moving, and screwball romantic comedy at its finest. It is all this and much more.Covering 14 volumes, "Maison Ikkoku" is a masterpiece of international literature, showing off Japanese culture and societal conventions, by telling the comic yet romantic story of a young man in love for the first time, a young woman who is learning to love again after becoming a widow, their romantic rivals, and, especially, their interfering neighbors. Although set in Japan, the story is one of universal appeal. Rumiko Takashi has had great success writing on all manner of outrageous subjects, ranging from the comically interfering aliens of "Lum*Urusei Yatsura", to the gender-bending martial arts hi-jinks of "Ranma 1/2." But in "Maison Ikkoku", the focus is on real life. Like real life, there is comedy, sadness and romance. Ms. Takahashi blends these elements quite well, although the comic elements are more strongly in the forefront in Volume 1.Maison Ikkoku is a run down boarding house in Tokyo. Student Yusaku Godai, Resident of Room 5, has had enough of the teasing he gets from his neighbors, and is threatening to move out, for the 3rd time that month.His neighbors are quite a handful: There's Mrs. Ichinose, a hard drinking, hard partying, hard gossiping mother who lives downstairs in Room 1 with her young son Kentaro. Akemi Roppongi lives next to Godai in Room 6, works nights as a bar hostess at local hangout ChaChaMaru, and goes about wearing a see-through nightie. Last, but definitely NOT least, there's Yotsuya, a man of mystery who lives in Room 4, who likes to bash through Godai's wall so that he can peep on Akemi, and so that he blackmail, steal and/or mooch food from Godai. These 3 view Godai as their personal toy, and hold their drinking parties in his room, when Godai is trying to study.Godai's thoughts of leaving slam to a stop when walks the new manager of the building, the beautiful and young Kyoko Otonashi. Godai falls head over heels for Kyoko, and our romantic comedy is off to the races.Maison Ikkoku focuses on the kind-hearted, decent and struggling student Godai, who's wishy-washy and a bit irresponsible, and Kyoko, who is beautiful, kind, and sweet, but is most definitely the jealous type. You really feel for Godai, as his love for Kyoko matures, and for Kyoko, who's coming to terms with the loss of her beloved husband, and is learning to love again. One story will have you in hysterics, while the next story might tug at your heart. Volume 1 spans the first year with Kyoko as manager of Maison Ikkoku. We meet Kyoko's dog, Mr. Soichiro. Godai discovers that Kyoko is a widow, and realizes that his quest to win the love of a woman who became a widow after only 6 months of marriage is not going to be an easy one.We meet the two main rivals for Godai and Kyoko. There's the rich, suave, handsome

Hilarious, Sweet Romantic Comedy

Maison Ikkoku is not your average boarding house. Oh, on the surface it is, but the tenants are the most insane people you'll ever meet. There's Mr. Yotsuya, who constantly breaks holes in walls to peep on other tenants; Mrs. Icinose, a constantly drunk housewife; her young (and kawaii!) son Kentaro; Akemi, a flirtatious barmaid who runs around in a see-through nightie; and Yusaku Godai, a struggling college student. When Maison Ikkoku gets a beautiful new manager, the widowed Kyoko Otonashi, Yusaku falls for her, and chaos, romantic comedy, and love triangles ensue! This is a wonderful story that no one should miss, by everyone's favorite female comic artist, Rumiko Takahashi.

My Favorite Manga

Maison Ikkoku is my favorite manga series, hands down. It is very character driven, with lots of laughs and some very touching moments. The personalities of Maison Ikkoku change over the course of the series, and are very well rounded. This is a nice change from "one-joke" characters and plots. The full story is a very rewarding read. Godai and Kyoko 's feelings are true and deep. This is by far the most honestly romantic manga I have read. This first volume introduces all of the main characters and sets up some of the running jokes. A house full of happy drunks keeps the comic from becoming too sappy, and their are plenty of romantic rivals for everyone's affections. The book takes off in full soap opera swing with wacky hijinks and misunderstood intentions. Is bumbling ronin Godai and challenge for the glinting teeth of wealthy Coach Mitaka? I sure hope so.

Yet another great work by Takahashi sensei!

Can you believe the talent of this woman? She's done it to me again! Another series for me to get addicted to *sigh*. In 'Maison Ikkoku' Takahashi uses all of her powers of characterisation to weave a marvelous story about real people. And let me tell you, some of the characters are so real it's scary. Maybe part of the reason I want Godai to be more responsible is because I want to become more responsible myself. This is Takahashi at her subtlest, which may turn some people off. You're not going to get any martial arts duels to the death, or flying aliens or demon dog-boys. As always, though, Takahashi is free with the laughs, but at times they are bittersweet. I mean, Godai can be so pathetic it's funny, but you still 'feel his pain'.I recomend this manga to all Takahashi fans. While I prefer more action oriented manga, I still liked Maison. Ranma 1/2 and Inu-Yasha remain my favorites, but there is room in my heart for this work. It's funny, poignant and satirical, and as always, we are granted Takahashi's unique insights into the human spirt. Definately worth admission.

A romantic comedy based on college life in Japan.

Rumiko Takahashi is one of the most popular manga (comic) artists in the world and she is also one of Japan's richest women. Maison Ikkoku is about Yusaku Godai, a ronin (failing college student) who falls in love with the apartment manager of Maison Ikkoku, the widowed Kyoko Otonashi. But fellow student Kozue Nanao falls in love with Yusaku, and rich tennis coach Shun Mitaka falls in love with Kyoko! When Yusaku isn't trying to figure out a way to break up with Kozue or tell Kyoko how much he loves her, his roomates, Yotsuya, Akemi, and Mrs. Ichinose, are having a party in his room--while he's studying! You'll fall instantly in love with the residents of Maison Ikkoku