Boys over Flowers

AUTHOR: Kamio, Yoko

ARTIST: Yoko Kamio (illustrator)

PUBLISHER: Shueisha (Japanese); VIZ Media (English)

FIRST SERIAL PUBLICATION:Hana yori dango, 1992-2003

FIRST BOOK PUBLICATION: English translation, 2003-2009

Publication History

Yoko Kamio started Boys over Flowers in 1992. The title is a Japanese pun: Hana yori dango means “food over flowers,” referring to those who attend flower-viewing parties but only care about the food; however, the kanji used to write “food” means “boys” in this context. The series was an instant success, winning the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1995, and continued until 2003, through five different editors.

The final chapter appeared in the September, 2003, issue of Margaret. An epilogue chapter set one year after the finale was printed in 2006, and two more epilogue chapters, dealing with the character Rui, were printed in 2008. English-language volumes were released in the United States beginning in 2003.

Plot

Boys over Flowers has a soap opera plot with improbable coincidences and sudden reversals of fortune that stand in the way of the characters’ happiness. The protagonist is Tsukushi Makino, a sensible, lower-class girl attending Eitoku Academy. Her fellow students are upper-class and rich, and Tsukushi despises them. Eitoku is ruled by the “flowery four,” or “F4,” a group of four extremely wealthy and handsome boys. When Tsukushi crosses them, the F4 mark her with the “red slip,” a piece of red paper that signals the entire school to terrorize her. Undaunted, Tsukushi marks the F4 with red slips of their own.

Tsukushi finds a surprising ally in her defiance: Rui Hanazawa, the cool, unflappable member of the F4. However, after seeing Rui’s clear attraction to a childhood friend, Tsukushi gives up on her interest in him and finds herself instead drawn to the F4’s leader, Tsukasa Domyoji. Alternately attracted to his sensitive moments, amused by his buffoonery, and repulsed by his jealous fits of rage, Tsukushi falls into a strange love-hate relationship with Tsukasa.

As the series progresses, Tsukasa is forced to face the consequences of his hedonistic lifestyle and his domineering mother Kaede, who has arranged and paid for his life so far. She decides Tsukushi is unfit for Tsukasa and tries to arrange his marriage to an upper-class girl.

Tsukushi’s family is forced to move away; Tsukushi moves into the Domyoji mansion and becomes Tsukasa’s personal maid. She and Tsukasa grow closer. When Kaede returns, however, Tsukushi is blackmailed into cutting ties with the Domyoji family and breaking up with Tsukasa. Tsukushi leaves to live with her family in a remote village. She eventually returns, but she does not reconcile with Tsukasa immediately.

Later, Kaede attempts to break up Tsukushi and her son once more by hiring a Tsukasa look-alike to seduce Tsukushi, but this plan fails when even the impostor is charmed by Tsukushi. Finally, with much prodding from the other members of the F4, Tsukushi admits her love for Tsukasa, and the two begin an official relationship. This is the last straw for Kaede. She brings Tsukasa to New York City, and Tsukushi follows. With help from her friends, Tsukushi goes to confront Kaede in her mansion only to be met by Tsukasa, who breaks up with her. Deeply depressed, Tsukushi is comforted by Rui. But when Tsukushi unwittingly facilitates a major business deal for the Domyoji family, Kaede offers her a gift: Tsukasa can do whatever he wants for one year, after which she will “take him back.”

Shortly after Tsukushi and Tsukasa are reunited they are kidnapped and wind up on an island as part of their friends’ plan. When they return to Japan, Tsukasa is stabbed by the son of a businessman ruined by the Domyoji family and is rushed to the hospital. As a result of blood loss and brief brain death, he develops a case of amnesia, forgetting Tsukushi. He briefly falls in love with a girl at the hospital; however, his memory is jogged by the taste of Tsukushi’s cooking and he returns to normal.

Just before prom, when all the F4 are about to leave for college, Tsukasa proposes to Tsukushi. But he reveals that he will have to take over the company sooner than he thought, and Tsukushi will have to wait four years for him. In the end, Tsukushi says she will wait for him as long as it takes; Tsukasa leaves for New York City.

There are two epilogues. The first, set a year after the conclusion of the original series, shows Tsukushi and Tsukasa renewing their commitment to one another after meeting in Paris for a friend’s wedding. The second shows how Rui has accepted his role in the lives of his friends.

Volumes

• Boys over Flowers,Volume 1 (2003). Collects chapters 1-5 and the unconnected short story “The End of the Century.” Tsukushi challenges the F4.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 2 (2003). Collects chapters 6-11. Tsukushi continues her struggle with the F4.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 3 (2003). Collects chapters 12-17. Tsukasa tells people that Tsukushi is in love with him but becomes distraught when he finds she is attracted to Rui.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 4 (2004). Collects chapters 18-24. Tsukushi is tricked into thinking she has been date-raped.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 5 (2004). Collects chapters 25-30. The tension mounts between Tsukushi and Tsukasa.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 6 (2004). Collects chapters 31-37. Rui returns from France. Tsukushi has ambivalent feelings toward Tsukasa.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 7 (2004). Collects chapters 38-44. Tsukasa is jealous because he finds Rui and Tsukushi together.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 8 (2004). Collects chapters 45-51. Despite their moment together, Rui admits to Tsukushi that he cannot forget about his former love.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 9 (2004). Collects chapters 52-58. Tsukasa leaves for New York. Tsukushi’s family has money problems.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 10 (2005). Collects chapters 59-65. To pay off her father’s debt, Tsukushi enters the Miss Teen Japan competition.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 11 (2005). Collects chapters 66-71. Tsukushi trains for the Miss Teen Japan competition.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 12 (2005). Collects chapters 72-77. Tsukushi goes on a date with Tsukasa.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 13 (2005). Collects chapters 78-83. The group goes to Canada for winter break, where Tsukasa saves Tsukushi’s life in a snowstorm.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 14 (2005). Collects chapters 84-90. By coincidence, Tsukushi gets a modeling job and appears on the cover of a magazine.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 15 (2005). Collects chapters 91-97. Tsukushi attends Tsukasa’s eighteenth birthday party and meets his domineering mother Kaede.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 16 (2006). Collects chapters 98-104. Kaede attempts to bribe Tsukushi and her family to give up Tsukasa. Next, she tries to arrange a marriage for Tsukasa.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 17 (2006). Collects chapters 105-111. Tsukasa reveals that he is in love with Tsukushi, but she is unsure about how she feels about him.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 18 (2006). Collects chapters 112-118. Tsukushi is forced to work as Tsukasa’s maid.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 19 (2006). Collects chapters 119-125. Tsukushi becomes a maid in the Domyoji mansion.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 20 (2006). Collects chapters 126-132. Tsukushi and Tsukasa become girlfriend and boyfriend, but on a temporary basis.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 21 (2006). Collects chapters 133-139. Tsukasa’s mother returns and kicks Tsukushi out of the mansion. To save her friends from Kaede’s wrath, Tsukushi agrees to sever all ties with the Domyojis.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 22 (2007). Collects chapters 140-146. Tsukushi leaves Tokyo and goes to live with her parents in a seaside village.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 23 (2007). Collects chapters 147-153. Tsukushi meets Kiyonaga, who resembles Tsukasa and claims to be his cousin.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 24 (2007). Collects chapters 154-160. Kiyonaga reveals he was hired by Tsukasa’s mother to seduce Tsukushi.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 25 (2007). Collects chapters 161-167. The drama continues between Tsukushi and the Domyojis.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 26 (2007). Collects chapters 168-174. Tsukushi and Tsukasa’s relationship becomes more complicated as it grows.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 27 (2007). Collects chapters 175-181. Tsukushi finally admits she loves Tsukasa. Tsukushi moves into a small apartment, and Tsukasa moves in next door.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 28 (2008). Collects chapters 182-188 and the extra chapter “Story of an Encounter.”

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 29 (2008). Collects chapters 189-195. Tsukasa’s funds are cut off. His mother brings him to New York City.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 30 (2008). Collects chapters 196-202. Tsukushi is seemingly rejected by Tsukasa. She saves a business deal for Kaede. Tsukasa escapes to Japan with Tsukushi.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 31 (2008). Collects chapters 203-207. Tsukasa decides to leave the Domyoji family but is stabbed and has to go to the hospital.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 32 (2008). Collects chapters 208-214. Tsukasa develops amnesia and forgets about Tsukushi.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 33 (2008). Collects chapters 215-221. Tsukasa believes that another patient is his forgotten girlfriend, but he eventually remembers Tsukushi.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 34 (2009). Collects chapters 222-228. Focuses on the relationship between Yuki and Sojiro.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 35 (2009). Collects chapters 229-235. Tsukasa proposes to Tsukushi, but he reveals he may not be free for four years.

• Boys over Flowers, Volume 36 (2009). Collects chapters 236-240 and the special “Night of the Crescent Moon.” Tsukushi considers leaving Eitoku for her last year but decides against it. This volume includes prom and graduation.

• Boys over Flowers: Jewelry Box (2009). Collects one untitled story, the chapters “Shall I Talk About Myself” parts 1 and 2, an interview with Kamio, a summary and time line of the series, and short pieces about the main characters.

Characters

• Tsukushi Makino, the protagonist, is a straight-haired sixteen-year-old girl with large, expressive eyes. Naturally stubborn and protective of others, she is initially the only student who dares to stand up against the F4. Her plain-spoken and independent demeanor does not make her popular, but her few friends are fiercely loyal.

• Tsukasa Domyoji, Tsukushi’s romantic interest for most of the series, is a curly-haired student at Eitoku, the leader of the F4, and heir to the Domyoji corporation. He is slow on the uptake, prone to malapropisms, and occasionally has violent fits of anger.

• Rui Hanazawa, light-haired with pensive eyes, is a member of the F4 and Tsukasa’s occasional competitor for Tsukushi’s affection. He seems cool and unemotional but is actually withdrawn and has difficulty connecting with others. Rui was originally intended to be Tsukushi’s love interest, but Tsukasa proved more popular with readers.

• Sojiro Nishikado is a member of the F4; he has straight black hair and cool, untroubled looks. He is heir to a famous tea school and is a playboy. Late in the series, he has a subplot with Yuki, revealing some of his background; the two spend a night together but mutually decide not to have a relationship.

• Yuki Matsuoka, a young woman with midlength wavy hair and bright, innocent eyes, is Tsukushi’s closest friend. Also poor, she does not attend Eitoku; the two work together in a sweet shop. She provides stability and a sympathetic ear to Tsukushi.

• Shizuka Todo, a tall, strikingly beautiful young woman, is a childhood friend of the F4, particularly Rui. She is the one person able to draw Rui out of his shell. Despite being born into a wealthy family, she chooses to become a lawyer for the poor.

• Kaede Domyoji, a tall, domineering woman with light hair usually worn in a bun, is Tsukasa’s mother and head of the Domyoji group. Although Kaede is severe and unfeeling, focused on making Tsukasa into a proper heir, Tsukushi manages to find a deeply buried compassion inside her.

Artistic Style

Boys over Flowers has a fairly classic shojo look. Characters’ faces are rendered in high detail, with particularly large eyes, though in comedic moments they become more cartoony and simplified. Backgrounds tend to disappear during conversations to be replaced by screentone patterns or images representative of a character’s mood. Most shots are medium- or close-range and focused on the characters, with few long shots or landscapes. Kamio’s art improves noticeably over the course of the series. Her faces become more realistic, and backgrounds are drawn more often and with more detail. For some of the more “exotic” locations in the series (Paris, New York City, Tuscany), Kamio used photographic references.

Her layouts tend to be dynamic, using odd angles and filling the page to emphasize characters’ motions. However, Kamio also uses emptiness to good effect, reflecting the loneliness or inner turmoil of a character by surrounding them with blankness.

Characters’ clothing is given careful attention, generally to highlight the difference between the working-class Tsukushi and the upper-class students of Eitoku. Tsukushi usually wears her school uniform, but the untouchable F4 come to school wearing whatever they please, usually designer clothing in the latest styles. Kamio shows an understanding of and appreciation for fashion.

Themes

Because Boys over Flowers is a romance, the emphasis of the series is the relationship between Tsukushi and Tsukasa, including their initial mutual dislike, their slow understanding of each other, and the obstacles they encounter on the road to love. The emphasis of the series is their struggle to be together, and the strength and patience they need. The two are an unlikely couple, constantly butting heads and arguing, but this is how they express affection for each other.

There is a strong thread of class consciousness in the series. Tsukushi is looked down on by the rich students of Eitoku, but her poor upbringing has helped her develop a strong sense of independence and justice. Conversely, those characters born into privilege are often spoiled, self-centered, and have no sense of responsibility or consequence. However, the series is not a blanket condemnation of the wealthy; some of the major characters born into wealth are moral, upstanding individuals. Kamio’s target is not the wealthy but the privileged: those who lack common sense and empathy.

Tsukushi is praised by others for her resilience and strong sense of justice; she cannot abide underhandedness or dirty tricks. She often compares herself to a weed (tsukushi is the name of a species of weed in Japanese), in contrast to the flowery four. She is also proud, refusing to take anything she has not earned. The series is often credited with bringing attention to bullying in Japanese schools, which became a national problem in the 1990’s. Tsukushi’s cruel treatment at the hands of her classmates prompted many readers to write in with stories of similar experiences, and her fortitude was an inspiration to others.

Impact

Boys over Flowers is one of the most famous shojo series ever published, and one of the best-selling. The series is certainly not the first shojo romance title, nor probably the best, but it is undoubtedly among the most famous. It is not a transformative or revolutionary series in any way; its story will be familiar to most shojo readers and many of its elements are common in the genre. Its success lies not in its originality or novelty but its perfection of a formula that had already proven highly popular.

The series is one of the most adapted, having been made into eight live-action and animated series in three different countries, and into three separate films. (The actors portraying the F4 in the Chinese television series later formed a popular music group called F4, renamed JVKV, which was also quite popular.) The manga series has also spawned several prose novels, a number of video games, and assorted ancillary merchandise.

Films

Hana yori dango. Directed by Yasuyuki Kusuda. Fuji Television Network, 1995. This live-action film stars Yuki Uchida as Tsukushi and Shosuke Tanihara as Tsukasa. The film moves the setting from high school to university and compresses the events considerably. The actor playing Rui, Naohito Fujiki, had a cameo appearance in the 2008 live-action film.

Hana yori dango: Final. Directed by Yasuharu Ishii. Toho Company/Tokyo Broadcasting System, 2008. The film starred Mao Inoue and Jun Matsumoto and was written by Yoko Kamio.

Television Series

Hana yori dango. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi. Toei Animation, 1996-1997. This animated series stars Maki Mochida as Tsukushi and Naoki Miyashita as Tsukasa. This fifty-one-episode series is faithful to the look of the manga series, and it follows the story closely up to the introduction of the character of Shigeru. However, since it was completed before the manga finished, its ending was an original creation.

Hana yori dango. Directed by Yasuharu Ishii. TBS, 2005. This live-action series stars Mai Inoue as Tsukushi and Jun Matsumoto as Domyoji. This nine-episode series rearranges some of the events of the manga and emphasizes some characters over others but is otherwise faithful to the manga’s plot. A sequel series of eleven episodes and a “finale” movie in 2008 were made with the same cast.

Further Reading

Hatori, Bisco. Ouran High School Host Club (2005- ).

Takaya, Natsuki. Fruits Basket (2004-2009).

Yazawa, Ai. Nana (2005-2010).

Bibliography

Mockett, Marie Matsuki. “Head over Heels for Boys over Flowers.” National Public Radio, April 15, 2011. http://www.npr.org/2011/04/15/134563204/head-over-heels-for-boys-over-flowers.

Thorn, Matt. “Shojo Manga—Something for the Girls.” The Japan Quarterly 48, no. 3 (July-September, 2001).