Gokinjo Monogatari (ご近所物語 Neighborhood Story) is the prequel to Paradise Kiss - one of the most popular manga by Ai Yazawa, a popular mangaka in Japan. It was published from 1995 to 1998 in Ribon, which is a manga magazine for girls around 5-12 years old published by Shueisha. It was later made into a 50 episode anime series from Toei Animation that aired on TV Asahi from September 10, 1995 to September 1, 1996. Starting on September 19, 2005, Gokinjo Monogatari has started being republished in a deluxe edition. A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Ai Yazawa (矢沢あい Yazawa Ai) (born March 7, 1967) is a popular girls manga author in Japan. ... Mangaka (漫画家) is the Japanese word for a comic artist. ... 1995 (MCMXCV in Roman) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ribon Magazine is a Japanese manga magazine for young girls aged from grade school to beginning high school. ... Shueisha (集英社 ShÅ«eisha) is a major publisher in Japan. ... Anime (アニメ) is a style of cartoon animation originating in Japan. ... Toei Animation (東映アニメーション Tōei AnimÄ“shon) is a Japanese Animation (anime) studio owned by the Toei Company. ... TV Asahi building in Roppongi Hills TV Asahi Corporation (EX, 株式会社 テレビ朝日, Kabushiki Gaisha Terebi Asahi) TYO: 9409 is a television network operating in Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan. ... September 10 is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years). ... 1995 (MCMXCV in Roman) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Plot of the story

The main character of the story is Mikako Koda (幸田実果子 Kōda Mikako), who is a high school girl that goes to a special school of art Yazawa Gakuen (aka Yazagaku), and dreams to become a fashion designer in the future. Tsutomu Yamaguchi (山口ツトム Yamaguchi Tsutomu), her friend from her early childhood who lives next door, also goes to Yazagaku. The story flows by drawing those two and the surrounding characters' routine at Yazagaku.

Analysis

Gokinjo Monogatari is a manga about dreams, fashion and love. The author draws an attractive world for young girls. Many teenage girls yearn for spending high school period in such routine. And at the same time, they get influenced into the monologues of the main character. Ai Yazawa draws life-sized feelings of actual teenage girls. Ai Yazawa (矢沢あい Yazawa Ai) (born March 7, 1967) is a popular girls manga author in Japan. ...