Although I called this a romance manga, perhaps “Genre: Fashion” would be more appropriate. Paradise Kiss is not just about taking you inside the world of couture; much like apparel, the manga involves change, is often beautiful, may make you emotional, can be comforting, and sometimes, things don’t always work out the way you expect.
Paradise Kiss (nicknamed ParaKiss) is actually a sequel manga to a series called Gokinjo Monogatari (Neighborhood Story). Unfortunately, for whatever reason, while this is the third time Paradise Kiss has been made available to English audiences, the original series, which was popular enough to spawn an anime and lots of merchandise, is still MIA. Boo!
While there are strong connections between the two manga, Paradise Kiss stars a heroine unrelated to the previous series. Yukari is a moody, stressed-out teen dealing with her upcoming college entrance exams. She doesn’t have time to deal with some randos from a local fashion school who suddenly ask her to model for them. Arashi, whom Yukari was scared of because of all his piercings, takes offense to her rude rejection, but the kind Miwako says she understands and welcomes Yukari back anytime. Rounding out this group is the motherly — and suspiciously tall — Isabella and George, their leader, who manages to use Yukari’s lost student ID (which also has a picture of her crush, Tokumori) as leverage to invite her out.
And thus begins Yukari’s days at this atelier called Paradise Kiss.
This is not your typical coming-of-age or Cinderella story. Except for the xxxHolic-style trendiness, it certainly seems so: unfashionable Yukari finds herself wearing beautiful clothes, entering the world of modeling, and developing a relationship with a handsome, gifted designer who is a bit of a tease. But as she gets a physical makeover (haircut, dressing up), she also has to transform internally. Yukari is attending a prestigious high school, but she doesn’t have any dreams or interests. In fact, most of her early personality is established by (verbally or mentally) bringing others down rather than building herself up. George and the others may act silly, but they also have talent and drive — things Yukari lacks and admires.
But changing is not a simple thing, especially at a time these young adults prepare to graduate into the real world. Much of Paradise Kiss deals with characters being pulled in multiple directions. When she starts to want to spend more time at ParaKiss, her grades and her relationship with her mother suffers. And although Yukari might have found people to rely on, George makes it clear he prefers independent girls. Even the established couple (Miwako and Arashi) we learn are not really established. The story may not be slice-of-life in the strictest sense (the manga breaks the fourth wall repeatedly — probably the weakest part of the manga for me), but the emotions are gripping and oh-so-real as they face crossroads between their careers, stability, and romantic relationships. Without going into detail, the happy days of hanging out at ParaKiss and stealing kisses don’t go on forever, but we can tell from Yukari’s narration that they will always remain in her heart.
Also, this manga may be 20 years old, but it’s quite progressive for its age. George is bisexual and has some kinks, Isabella identifies as female, and Miwako admits to just enjoying sleeping with Arashi despite not knowing if she is in love with him. There is some humor involved in all of these elements, like Arashi calling George a homo. It’s still a good reminder that, regardless of whether you agree with them having physical relationships or not, it’s okay to embrace your sexuality. There is one revelation that is…well, uncomfortable to say the least, and may color your impressions of a character, but their dark side was hinted throughout the manga and will likely be a conversation starter for readers.
I never checked out Vertical’s previous release of Paradise Kiss, but solely based on an image from Manga Bookshelf, the translation may have been slightly tweaked. I’ve provided an image from this release which to compare. But I have no idea whether lines were frequently altered or if this is one of the rare changes. I do own TOKYOPOP’s version though. It’s less accurate to the original script, but it also has a lot more personality. Arashi, who loves punks and piercings, is given a British accent.
The biggest downside is that something billed as a “20th Anniversary Edition” sounds impressive, like a big celebration that should include a lot of bells and whistles. The cover is gorgeous, and the omnibus features the covers of the Japanese rerelease of Paradise Kiss (and the back covers?). But that’s still only four front-and-back color pages. That’s it except for a four-page bonus gag manga from the original first volume of Paradise Kiss and a few translation notes. Don’t get me wrong; the colored art pieces are absolutely gorgeous to the point I’m sorely tempted to rip them out and frame them. But the release still needed something big — a hardcover release perhaps? I can see some people wanting to upgrade their TOKYOPOP versions if their volumes are becoming really yellowed or want a more faithful script. The extra page height also allows readers to really take in Yazawa’s art and her amazing clothing designs. But it’s hardly necessary. It’s also a 5-in-1 release, and while the binding appears to be really strong, this release definitely is bulky and going to be a turn off for some readers who might want to track down the three-volume version instead from Vertical.
But if you haven’t yet owned this beautiful work and don’t mind holding this heavy volume, it’s time to pick this up. Paradise Kiss: 20th Anniversary Edition is the sort of dazzling, artistic work that will leave a lasting impact on readers thanks to its fairy tale setup crossed with the bittersweetness of life.