Maison Ikkoku by Rumiko Takahashi

Disclaimer: This review is for volume 1 in the series.

SYNOPSIS:

Yusaku Godai didn’t get accepted into college on the first try, so he’s studying to retake the entrance exams. But living in a dilapidated building full of eccentric and noisy tenants is making it hard for him to achieve his goals. Now that a beautiful woman has moved in to become the new resident manager, Godai is driven to distraction!

REVIEW:

A cute, quirky, and classic tale of boy meets girl with a twist. While the underlining plot of this story is a romance, it is unclear whether or not it is reciprocated or even acknowledged by the main love interest. The main plot follows a group of tenants who are strange and eccentric as they navigate the world and their lives as it intermingles. There are a few creepy fanboy moments, but overall the story stays true to a slice-of-life romance with the lead male experiencing personal and academic struggles as he tries to find balance.

Comedic moments are frequent, some are blunt, and others are lost on non-Japanese readers or those familiar with cultural significance, history, and religion. However, the author does an excellent job of providing clues for the reader to connect the dots. Overall, volume one does an outstanding job of setting up the story and creating a craving in its readers for more storytelling.

INTERESTING FACT:

Rumiko Takahashi is a prolific author who has authored several stories, including Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2, and Inuyasha.