Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen

A comfy, light-hearted romcom set in high school with an endearing (although admittedly generic) cast of characters, "Kaguya Wants to be Confessed to" distinguishes itself from other manga by seamlessly integrating absurd amounts of suspense and tense character situational analysis into a genre that otherwise favours drama less, slow, slice of life comedy. It stays engaging by rewarding the viewer with warm scenes of romantic development and/or comedy between the protagonists at the end of almost every chapter, both of which are magnified by the manga's art, which is spectacular when it needs to be and still fairly decent when it doesn't.

In terms of characters and their development, as I mentioned earlier, the characters backgrounds' are generic, with a middle class but insanely intelligent and hardworking male lead and a rich female lead from upper-class royalty, set in one of Japan's most prestigious high schools. Immediately, that might put a few people off, as it's a narrative very typical of the genre and many other manga use it.

But what makes these characters and their development so endearing is that the manga doesn't use thickheaded blunders and "'misunderstandings'" to develop its characters, unlike a lot of other shoujo manga; the characters by themselves are intelligent and quick-witted enough to plan out each of their romantic encounters in order to make the other confess. But upon doing this, what they find is that no matter how meticulous their planning and how careful their word choice, neither of the two will develop their relationship until they take action and remove their view of love being an inevitable power struggle.

Overall, Kaguya is a manga with generic characters and setting, but manages to be immensely enjoyable through how it combines suspenseful and comedic-drama with a genre typically lacking in these elements so perfectly, and its characters, whose relationships develop in a way that is realistic and meaningful, yet all the while satisfyingly endearing.

This is my review for Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen. I'll be referring to the characters by what they are most commonly called in the manga. Please note that this review is structured around how I personally felt about the manga: objectively, it deserves an overall rating of 10, and subjectively, I give it a 10 as well.

Story: 9/10

Quite simply, this manga revolves around the two main characters, Miyuki Shirogane and Kaguya Shinomiya trying to make the other confess their love. The way this is executed is what helps this work cement itself at the top of a bunch of other manga that have a very similar premise. Instead of the usual cliches in romances, our two main characters not only are aware of their attraction to each other, but also know that their counterpart harbours the same feelings. This is already starting off on the right foot. One thing to note here is that most chapters are episodic, although there are some instances where a certain part is stretched into more than one chapter. I like to think that this manga is split up into two parts: part 1, where the entire focus is on Miyuki and Kaguya, and part 2, where we get to see some more screen time for our other characters. Part 1 is why this manga has the psychological tag: Miyuki and Kaguya are constantly playing mind games on each other, often resulting in humourous situations. In the mix, we have the other two main characters, Chika Fujiwara and Yu Ishigami each with their own moments, as well as supporting characters such as Nagisa Kashiwagi and Miko Iino. The mangaka, Aka Akasaka is simply a genius because of his ability to come up with these unique mind games. In part 2, the psychological part settles down a little bit and the slice of life comedy tags kick in (although there are still mind games from time to time). Given that, the story is great.

Art: 8/10

Kaguya-sama is a great example of why the common saying “don’t judge a book by its cover’ is true. When first looking at the cover, I’m sure you, the reader, thought that Kaguya looked kind of scary. The artwork in the actual manga is different from what your first opinion might be. It doesn’t have absolutely gorgeous art, but it doesn’t need to as this aspect isn’t the manga’s strong point. Nothing much to say here, as the visuals compliment the writing well enough to get the job done. Each main character has their own signature facial expression, try figuring out what they are as you’re reading. Kaguya’s in particular should be very, very easy to see.

Character: 10/10

Definitely the strongest part of the whole manga. The character personalities themselves may not strike you as being the most unique, but they are all still lovable in each of their own ways: here is a quick breakdown. We have Miyuki Shirogane, president of the student council and the top of his grade. What separates him from most other male characters in romances is his lack of denseness. Given his background, it’s hard not to cheer for him as his pursues his love interest. I can see why Kaguya loves him so much, and if I were a girl, I would feel the same. Speaking of Kaguya, she’s the vice president, and second only to Miyuki, and I believe her personality is just really, really sweet. Chika is the airheaded secretary and is often the comic relief character in the series, while Ishigami is the treasurer with a mysterious past. Later on, we have a new character in Miko as well. And then there's Ai Hayasaka, valet for Kaguya. She is the master of snarking, and is an amazing and quirky character. The best part here is the fact that because of the limited cast size, each character is extremely well developed. This is especially the case with Kaguya and Ishigami. With these two, you can clearly see how Kaguya changed from being an ice princess to her current state, and how our fellow treasurer has started to come out of his shell a little. Definitely a great set of characters, so more props to Aka.

Enjoyment: 10/10

With all the praise that I gave, it’s no surprise that both my enjoyment and overall ratings for this manga were the highest possible. New chapters are released weekly, and Kaguya-sama is one of the few manga where I look forward to reading to see what happens next. It has been excellent up to this point, and I know it will be excellent all the way up to its final chapter.

That’s all I have to say. Thanks for reading!

So I've never seen the anime of this, so I'm going to rate it based on what I've read in the manga thus far (I'm at the current chapter available, 220).

Story: I give this an 8. The story isn't really too new, it's essentially a high school love story so it's not exactly anything ground breaking. I didn't give it a higher score because I found there to be a little bit too much filler for my liking, and the story can be a little slow at times (the beginning is a real testament to that). To be honest I don't think that the author had any inkling that the story would get serious, as the first many chapters, I didn't feel like this was going to be anything but a slice-of-life manga... but I'm happy it took the route it did.

Art: The art is clean, and doesn't depreciate the farther into the manga you get. It's not amazing, but it's very well done and is always of a good quality.

Character: To be honest at first I was really worried that the whole out-smarting thing was going to get old really fast (and it did), and I'm so happy that the author decided to take the route they did and develop the story and characters. Now I care what happens and can relate to them.

Enjoyment: I really enjoy this manga. It's legitimately funny and I laugh out loud reading it. Really really underrated comedy and I'm not going to spoil it, but it actually develops into a good relationship that doesn't just stay as a couple awkwardly holding hands.

Overall, I'm impressed. I give it a solid 8.

I never thought I would like manga like this, however, I was sorely mistaken. Everything about this manga is damn near perfect. The story flows through character development through episodic chapters and each one brings so much more content to the table. Though it has a focus on romance and comedy, it has so much more. The psychological development of each character is beautifully written and adds meaning to each thing they contribute. The comedy is spot-on and keeps a light-hearted tone for most of the series, which adds a depth to the serious moments scattered throughout. This manga starts with a simple premise, then builds on it and adds many interesting subplots, yet you never feel lost. Even if it's filler/fluff, each chapter gives a warm and fuzzy feeling and you can't help but to want more, and the plot never seems lost even within the lighter chapters. Everyone should give this manga a try, even if it seems like it won't interest you, as it did for me. I'm certain you won't regret it.

If you think this manga is your ordinary cliché rom/com... your in for a big surprise.

WARNING____MINOR SPOILERS BELOW!!!

First coming into this manga after I watched the first 2 seasons of the anime I didn’t expect much. The first 2 seasons were lighthearted, funny, and enjoyable. BUT besides the Ishigami arc it didn’t have the best writing, not that it needed it. So coming in I pretty much expected the same as the first 2 seasons. But man was I wrong. After the first two seasons the manga starts really moving Shirogani and Kaguya’s relationship with the school festival arc. Unlike some animangas this manga doesn’t try to stretch out the story with misunderstandings after misunderstandings preventing 2 main characters to get together. They did the confession in a VERY unique way with neither of them saying that they love each other but still able to convey their feelings to eachother. However the story goes on even after the confession, but not in a way where it feels like their stretching it out but in a way that makes the series amazing. The two are essentially trying to become worthy of each other and this is shown in my opinion the best chapter in the series, Chapter 146 “Our Masks”, this chapter was OUTSTANDING with Kaguya’s personalities arguing in her head and Shirogani over working himself, the representation and the message I feel like are too overlooked. Then after they work out their problems we move towards Ishigami and his love, which they do another amazing job with writing on.

Overall this manga is perfect combination of Comedy and Romance. It doesn’t try to hard to get you to feel something but yet you do anyways.

Rating: 10

an incredible romantic psychological comedy that will catch you.

when i started reading i didn't expect a lot, but the more i was reading, the most i was hooked.

story: 9
the premise, "to make the other declare", looks so basic and you can think the story will become boring and repetitive... but it doesn't, i love how the story develops and opening up new arguments and conflicts that our geniuses have to face.
another great point about this story, is how the author uses common situations and transform them into psychological battles that are simply incredible and very funny to read.

art: 7
well, art is not a strong point in this manga but it doesn't mean it's bad, it's just regular.

characters: 10
i simply love every character in this manga, they are full of personality and everyone has their purpose in the story.
in this series we can see characters very well structured with a real growth. besides, it's easy to feel identified with any of them.
i love you, Yu IshiGOD

enjoyment: 10
i love this manga, it's really funny and makes you want to know more and more.

overall: 9
read this manga, you wont regret doing it

My review will be quite short, since I just want to lay some thoughts down instead of writing a full fledged super objective review.

The setting is not unique. Two students have positions which make them frequently see each other and thus romantic feelings become.
The story is quite strange, not in a bad way. It's honestly quite episodic, but I could still see a clear progression in the progress of each character's character and relashionship with other characters.

The characters are likeable. They each have problems which are relatable For me, especially Ishigami Yuu.
However, the two main characters (Shinomiya and Shirogane), act painfully awkwardly, which slows down the pace so much.

The art is clear and simple, nothing to criticize. Gladly, it doesn't overembelish stuff like in Shoujo manga.

The romance was interesting, but, the main duo's progression was excruciatingly slow as I stated earlier.
Surprisingly, I don't care much for the main romantic duo, as the way they act is slow and almost unrealistic, although I don't know how but it still seems realistic, but has the bad qualities of something unrealistic (including slow pace).
I'm much more invested in the side characters' romantic endeavors, like Ishigami, Iino and Hayasaka.

In conclusion, the characters' ways of thinking are original and sometimes relatable. It is comfortable to read. The main duo is too slow and the side characters' stories are much more interesting to me. All in all, a good read (that makes you sad after you finish the released chapters because you could've done something better with your time).

Wow. What a great manga. I didn't even expect a manga to be so good ( and less a romantic comedy) and I was really wrong. This is probably the best manga i've ever read. WOW. This gave me Clannad Chills, it's so dramatic and funny that literally will make my day if i read a volume or two. Definitely a must read manga.
I'm not sure about how this manga will evolve in the future (how will people see it in the future) But i buy it! I'm really happy that this manga has such a good Plot, Art and overall, it knows really freaking well how to engage you with the series. I do think that this manga is a masterpiece and if someone tells me wrong, I want to hear. Such a masterpiece
Overall: 10/10

Most rom-coms follow the same trend: it starts hilarious and fun, then it gets serious and cringe. It feels like rom-com authors don't assume the comedy side of things, and only use it as a bait to tell an uninspired, boring story that was told billions of times before their own version appears.

Sadly, this description fits Love is War.


STORY
This is a mind game between a boy and a girl living a love story. At least... in the beginning.
The mind game side of the story is given up after 100 chapters, and the manga becomes the usual, boring love story like there are thousands of others.

The author is clearly less and less inspired, as the characters' stories take retarded routes (a nonsensical family clan wars ; a love triangle with no consequential development ; plot twists that cancels previous plot twists ; mafiosi being defeated by teenagers).

In the end it's just a rom-com : it started with a brillant concept, but quickly gave up on it and became the usual uninspired boring love story.



ART
The manga is beautiful, nothing to complain here.



CHARACTER
The characters have nice personalities, too bad they often become transparent. Poor Chika never lives any interesting story except when she must teach Shirogane. The only chapters revolving around her are boring, repetitive fillers about ramen.

The other main characters have deeper stories, but when the chapter isn't about them, they often completely disappear.

It's too bad, because the main characters are awesome. I love Miko, she's like Azusa from K-On as she's the 5th and new member of the main characters club. I loved the dynamic of the group after she joined. But like all the other characters, she's just transparent when it's not a chapter about her.


ENJOYMENT
Love is War had an incredible potential, and it shows in the first 100 chapters. Those are brillant and hilarious.
But the next 100 chapters become boring. It tries to be way too serious, and when it tries to be funny, it's just uninspired, repetitive gags.

I only recommend reading up until chapter 130. It's not all bad after that, but it's definitely subpar compared to the first part of this manga. What a horrible waste...

The first time I saw kaguya-sama in MAL judging by the cover I thought "this manga looks like a psychological manga I don't think it's my cup of tea but I will give it a try any way",and i'm really glad that I did.in my opinion the cover of volume 1 dose't give it justice,the cover gives you the impression of a dark psychological drama kind of manga, although it's psychological to some degree, it's definitely not what I had in mind before reading.
Usually I split the review in to two parts, negatives and positives .but sense the only negative things I can say about the manga are small and irrelevant things , i will only talk about the positives.

-Positives :
1-the main two characters are absolutely amazing, both of them are such a good characters. Although at a beginning you will think that they are your typical tsundere,but as you read you will see how different and unique they are.

2-the rest of the student council members, i was surprised to how much I loved attached to them.i say this a lot that I truly think that every character in this series can get there own independent manga, each of them can carry a whole series by them self.

3-in most of the comedy episodic series some minor appears for one episode just for the comedic value and after that episode they never appear again, but not in this manga.when you see a chapter that forces on a minor or a new character be sure that you see this character again.

4-the relationship between kaguya and Miyuki (the main two characters) is truly something.both love each other to a yandare love of states but at the same time nether of them want to show that love and both are waiting for a mistake form the other person.

5-the characters are not one dimensional.what I mean about that is that the characters are't just gimmicks and there whole personalty revolve around that gimmick for example Chika ,she is't you typical cute female with large breast character, she is cute yes but she is also a liar, cheater ,hypocrite and an air head.
The way that the Authors make and develop is something I love and appreciate it.


And that's it.i can talk about more things but I feel that I will start to repeat myself.
And I know that all of my points are about the characters , but in the end this is a romantic comedy manga , this kind of manga are built and fall of how good the characters are, and luckily for kaguya-sama they are really good.