Finally, the long-awaited artbook of one of my all-time favourite coming-of-age BL mangas.
Title: Sotsugyou Album ~ Doukyuusei Sotsugyousei Official Fan Book
(卒業アルバム （「同級生」「卒業生」公式ファンブック）)
Author/mangaka: Nakamura Asumiko 中村明日美子
Price: 2,400 Yen (w/tax)
Release date: 10 Sep 2011
Rating: I’ll update again when I receive the book :)
First press edition includes: Paper doll sticker of Sajou and Kusakabe
Information:
Official fan book of Doukyuusei 「同級生」(Classmates) and Sotsugyousei 「卒業生」 (Graduates).
The fan book will be filled with rich content and first-press edition includes a paper doll sticker of Sajou Rihito 佐条利人 and Kusakabe Hikaru 草壁光! (初回限定分には佐条と草壁の着せ替えステッカー付き)
Nakamura-sensei has also proposed to donate a portion of the proceeds to Red Cross Japan earthquake relief. 中村先生からのご提案により、この本の売上金の一部は、この度の東北地方太平洋沖地震により被災された方々の救済や、被災地の復興に役立てていただくため、義援金として日本赤十字社へ送らせていただきます。.
Content Index:
1. Complete collection of all illustrations 全イラストコンプリート
2. Special illustrations for different occasions 描き下ろしイラスト
3. Sajo and Kusakabe’s chronology 佐条＆草壁年表
4. Making of colour illustration カラーイラストメイキング
5. Making of monochrome manuscript モノクロ原稿メイキング
6. Introduction of working space 仕事場紹介
7. Colour manga (And then Kyoto) カラー漫画『そして京都』
8. Mini Travelogue Kyoto 京都小旅行記
9. Complete items and goods introduction アイテムコンプリート（全グッズ紹介）
10. Special occasion manga 描き下ろし漫画
This is an artbook of one of the sweetest boy’s love, shounen-ai manga I’ve read. Ah~ the bittersweet moments of young love…
Although Nakamura-sensei’s art-style takes some getting used to at first, you’ll quickly find yourself drawn into it along with her engaging plot and realistic character portrayals. Her characters are incredibly expressive and very, very endearing. As the relationship between the couple develops, you’ll also be surprised how sexy her style can be.
The manga has also been dramatised and the couple voiced by two of my favourite seiyuus Kamiya Hiroshi x Nojima Kenji (神谷浩史x野島健児) which I highly recommend.
Anyway, I’ll post a review of this artbook when I receive it :D
Note: In stock now! although preorders have sold out at CDJapan, you can try other stores like Comi comi and Amazon Japan.
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Pleasant surprise was that I saw this fan book being displayed out in the front of Kinokuniya beside T&B fan book. :D
Well, since it’s general, there’s nothing wrong right? :3
@Liru: It’s PG (kissing, bishis holding hands). Nothing 18+ inside :D Grab it if you love this couple! It is a very beautiful artbook!
aww to bad it sold out ;_;
@sigma: it’s restocked! <3
I ordered this book from Kinokuniya, and I’m biting my fingers already. It was a rather impromptu order, especially since at that point it wasn’t “in stock.” Right now though it is! Worth the $44.50. =) If you live in the US and want that book, I suggest you order it ASAP.
@ponytale If you’re curious on the rest of her works, I really suggest “Anata no tame nara Doko made mo,” as well as the prequel to her twisted series “J no Subete”–“Barairo no Hoo no Koro.” There’s also the one-shot “Adorute to Adarute” which is a nice twist on “The Prince and the Pauper.”
@AzureKitsune: thanks for the recommendations :D I’ll definitely check them out!
I’m sure you’ll get the first press of the artbook! I should receive mine this week <3
@Ponytale: Every September, there is a Circus wich comes to my town. I really love it: Circus art is awesome. These artists have generally a perfect talent to use their body to transform a simple move in fantasy spectacle. I knew someone who entered a Circus art school in Paris. I wish I could see her again someday.
“I don’t read as much manga as I would like nowadays :3 too many distractions (include life and work”
Eww yeah, I know this feeling…
About Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume wo Miru by Mizushiro Setona, yes, I’ve already read it. It’s published in France (like others Mizushiro Setona’s titles) by Taifu Comics under the name “Le jeu du chat et de la souris”, the game of the cat and the mouse. A good title. That’s mainly this kind of story I really enjoy in BL.
Doukyuusei is on my “what’s next!” list and I think I’m gonna take a look at all Nakamura Asumiko’s titles, maybe Copernic is not her only France themed manga. Did you have read other works of her?
@KOKURAN: I only have a vague memory of seeing a live circus when I was a young child. I couldn’t see or remember much except for a motorcycle act where the riders performed inside a spherical metal ball cos it was very noisy ^^;; other acts like the trapeze and clowns, etc I’m not sure if it was my real memory of the circus I saw or they were of the ones I saw on TV.
Maybe you can email your friend? You might be pleasantly surprised.
For Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume series, I also highly recommend the drama cds :)
I’ve only read her Doukyuusei series so I’m not much help here. Maybe there are doujinshis?
Mmh, I only know Asumiko Nakamura with her title La Respiration de Copernic, wich is a wonderful Circus themed BL. I love Circus art. And It’s actually one of my favorites BL titles. I really enjoy depictions of France with japanese’s eyes (Kotobuki Tarako is pretty good too with that). And her art is so beautiful. Maybe I should give a look at her other works.
After Copernic, what do you recommend mademoiselle Ponytale? :)
@KOKURAN: That’s truly a wonderful title… Thanks for the recommendation! *adds to wishlist* :D I’m attracted to circus themes too. Mmm do read her Dokyuusei series :) I love it. Would love to recommend but I don’t read as much manga as I would like nowadays :3 too many distractions (include life and work ^^;;) Have you read Kyuuso wa Cheese no Yume wo Miru by Mizushiro Setona? Not circus theme tho.
I’d like to try ordering from comicomi at some point since they include extras with the order right? EMS is killer though. Shipping is about $25 if I got the book from them. Makes me wanna cry. Really wish they had SAL. Sooo much more reasonable. Maybe someday…
I ended up ordering from yesasia. Free shipping at least though they do jack up the price a bit :/ Still cheaper than comicomi though overall. Happy I’m going to get a copy :D
@waijuu: yeah so it’s like paying for the extras. EMS is more convenient for them and has tracking. I read that to send SAL they have to bring the package to the post office personally. Their international orders probably doesn’t have enough volume to justify the extra work.
Great that you can get a copy too!
I am really glad you were able to get something you wanted, ponytail!!! You have helped me with obsession of Prince of Tennis.
Looks really cute!! Can’t wait for the review.
@Tasukihoneybunny thanks dear! XD looking forward to it too!
Nooo why is it sold out TT-TT I really like her work. And it looks like such a fantastic book too. Wish I knew about it earlier. Guess I’ll need to scour the internet for places that still have it…..
@waijuu: comicomi still has it but the shipping is EMS only. Good luck securing the first press!
How wonderful! I’m a huge fan of hers. I wish they’d license her works overseas, because I love her art and storytelling so incredibly much!
@Saffronsugar: it takes time I guess. Be patient! I wish they made an anime of this :)
i’m actually not a fan of her work x.x
her stories aint my style
@Shirokaze: Ah~ this is one of my fav stories and couple ever and I’m looking forward to the artbook very much XD