Taiyou no Ie

House of the Sun... man, this brings me back to High School. I remember reading this online on my crappy PC at home when I should've been doing homework. I'm happy this series ended on the good note.

Story; You follow Mao Motomiya in her every day life. She's takes everything head first, whether it's her family, school or her few friends. When everything begins to look grim at home, her childhood friend and long standing crush Hiro Nakamura saves her by letting her stay at his house. A completely empty house, family issues left right and center and love coming from every direction. Just the kind of rom-com any high schooler (or almost mid-twenties girl) would love <3 I must admit, I did enjoy this a bit more in high school, which isn't shocking to me at all. I found the story a bit slow at times and the characters a little awkward... but that's also what makes this manga so good at the same time :)

I love how the series ended, and the high school girl inside of me is very satisfied (^3^)

“I no longer have a home. I no longer have a place to return to. Nobody is waiting for me anyway. There’s nobody who needs me.”

Mao is a teenage girl who doesn't know the warmth of family. Her mother ran away with another man, and her father actively distances himself from her. Her only happy memories were with Hiro, Daiki, and Hina Nakamura, but even those days were numbered, as the neighboring Nakamuras split apart after the parents died in an accident. Years later, after Mao runs away from her father’s new family, Hiro invites Mao to stay with him in the now-empty Nakamura household. What follows is an engaging and heartwarming tale of friendship, reconciliation, mutual understanding, and love.

Throughout the story, Mao struggles primarily with her sense of belonging. She can't face her uninvolved father, her stepmother, and her stepsister who seemingly “took her place” in their household. She often turns to Hiro for solace, but even in the Nakamura household, she feels like she's imposing on Hiro. Part of Mao’s journey is realizing that she’s not deadweight; that she’s kind, supportive, and especially important to those who love her. Development is taken step-by-step, and guided by Hiro's reassuring support, Mao strives to gather the courage to confront her father, who is still scarred by her mother's betrayal. On the other hand, Hiro seeks to reunite with his younger brother and sister, who were adopted by relatives after an accident took away their parents. Personal insecurities and doubts prevented them from reuniting in the past, but after inviting Mao over, Hiro resolves to break down the barriers of time and trauma that had separated them for so long.

Often easier said than done, expressing one’s true feelings is the central theme of the story. The characters all have their reasons for hesitating in confiding with others, whether it’d be the fear of hurting someone else’s feelings or having little self-confidence. However, it’s often what’s left unsaid that leads to the most regret and pain, and the story gives us plenty of reason to cheer on the characters as they struggle to find the courage to say what they need to say. This theme also contributes to what's particularly striking about Taiyou no Ie: how endearing the characters are. Even when the emotions and relationships can get a bit convoluted, the characters are always trying their damned hardest to confront them and move on. It's hard to hate on the messier romantic elements when you have such an earnest cast, and this quality is exactly why Taiyou no Ie distinguishes itself from the typically frustrating romance shoujo manga.

Each characters’ internal conflicts and doubts are shown meticulously. They may not be who they initially seem, and many develop as they confront their most important issues. Interactions are natural, relationships are developed steadily, and the balance between drama and slice-of-life is just right. Should you read Taiyou no Ie? If you’re looking for a mature romance with heart-warming family themes, potent character development, and poignant drama, Taiyou no Ie might just be it.

The story is about seperated siblings that try to get together after their parents pass away but it’s not that easy because they’ve been living in different places for years. So it is not much in the romance part and centers mostly on the family concept, meaning this was more slice of life than romance. I’m going to be real and not influence myself from other reviews. The truth is, I didn’t enjoy this as much as other people did. Mostly because it was too slow and I felt that the story is stagnant at times. The character development was well done since they showed the families get closer step by step. Expressing their feelings and facing one’s fears make a huge part of the story. The characters run away from their problems so the problems don’t get solved for a very long time. Everyone blamed themselves, they just can’t solve problems by talking it out so I couldn’t help but feel frustrated by this manga a lot. I dropped it two times before finishing it just because of the miscommunication and the stagnant, unprogressive storyline. It is also full of love triangles and makes drama out of it. It constantly gives the narrative of the character being a good-hearted person and would be good for them. I honestly couldn’t care less about the drama caused by the love triangles.

The art is cute. The scribble style in the characters’ eyes are unique. The body proportions were not my favorite since the face seemed bigger than the body. It also caught my attention that the art seemed to use 3/4 profile so much that in some parts it bothered me. Mao is supposed to be a 17 year old but the art made her look like 13 next to Hiro. Still, the art was great and suitable for the manga, the tones made a great contrast.

I recommend this if you don’t mind reading are very slow paced story which is mostly slice of life. I also don’t recommend it if you aren’t a fan of miscommunication or shoujo genre. Other than those, this might be the one for you if you want to see family bonds.

First of all, let me define what i mean when I say cliche shoujo manga. It is where there is an unpopular girl and popular boy who fell in love eventually.

This is the first time I've read a none cliche shoujo manga. Anyway, I'm very much into shounen manga. I read few shoujo mangas and I barely finish them or sometimes I just dropped it coz I know where this is going.

The story captured me like no other shoujo manga did because I was able to relate to it. I've always thought about how to live if you're parents passed away or have divorced and how would life be like if it happened. This manga showed how the situation looks like but I never expect the girl to live with her childhood friend. But, that just how the story goes and it will eventually get better as long as the author does not make it cliche like most shoujo mangas I've read ( Barojou no kiss, shoujo chara, Maid sama, watashi xx shinasai, etc).

As far as I have read, the way the characters express their feelings are so real. Not so superficial or fake but it is so natural in the flow of the story. I mean like the reaction of Nakamura when **** confessed is just so perfect. I've experience it myself. The art helps a lot in conveying the character feelings too.

I've enjoyed it a lot coz it is very relatable nowadays. In our country where no divorce is allowed but annulment is fine ( but it cost greatly), I could finally relate to those people who have divorced parents.
Overall It's worth reading while waiting for an update of some other manga I'm reading. However, I've finished all the chapters that was updated in mangahere.com.
Coz I just couldn't stop reading it.

Reading it is like a trap because it will capture your heart and touch it.

A lot of people must've already reviewed this, and I'm probably late on this, but heck I really love this manga and this is the first time I'm reviewing a manga.

most people might like how this is a shoujo manga with an age gap, I personally don't like that, but why did I give it a 10 score? because other than the romance, the overall story is a masterpiece, at first I thought this was just gonna be a rom-com of this 2 age gapped protagonist, but then as I read it more, I realized it's more than that.

the story of how Hiro wants to rebuild his broken family, and how Mao just wants to be accepted in her family is really sad and heartwarming, most of the good manga I read doesn't really stick with me, but this one does, most of the character is fully fleshed out, not all of them sadly, but it's good enough,

Also, the title House of the sun really caught me off guard, I thought it was pointing out on how Mao finally finds a home in Hiro's house (maybe it is, I'm not so sure lmao), but what I think is that it's pointing out on how Mao wants to find the sun in her real family and how Hiro wants to create the sun in his (This is just my guess but my bet it's something like that)
The overall story is 10/10, I really want to see more stories like this.

--Slight spoilers ahead--

Taiyou no Ie leaves you with a fuzzy feeling of something that may be shunned in society; relationships with a large age difference. Sure, this is common, but Taamo approaches it in a different way. It starts with a small girl, Mao, who seems independent and strong, but really isn't on the inside. This also goes for Hiro, her childhood friend, who eventually accepts her into his house later on in the years because of Mao's family issues. You may be wondering, wouldn't this be your typical shoujo? I'm not sure myself, but this has left a strong impression on me.

No one truly has an iron heart. This is evident within the characters in Taiyou no Ie. You will meet Daiki, Hiro's brother, Mao's father, and Mao's mother, who seem cruel and brutal in decision making, but really aren't. Everyone has a hidden reason, but it all depends on how one conveys it. The characters in this manga all have unique personalities, sometimes aggravating. But this is the beauty of the manga, things turn unexpected, and the plot develops, questioning the characters of their true desires.

The art in Taiyou no Ie is refreshing, cute, simple, yet very detailed when it comes to the facial expressions. The main characters are quite easy to read, but honestly, everyone in the manga was easy to read. They just weren't very good at expressing themselves.

I enjoyed Taiyou no Ie... a lot. It Although some parts were left unanswered, they won't do much harm. Taiyou no Ie's a pure addiction for those who love romcom/shoujo.

A little something I wanted to say:
> To those who were pretty pissed about Hirunaka no Ryuusei's extra chapter, there are many of those in Taiyou no Ie in between the main story, and they're short and sweet.
> Sometime around the middle of the manga you may be thinking, "Isn't this just like Hirunaka no Ryuusei..." It's not. You'll find out if you read it, but both are good; HnR for the suspense, and Taiyou no Ie for a cozy, warm aftertaste.

Taiyou no Ie is a must for those who are seeking some hidden shoujo/romcom out there. I've been having trouble looking for some myself, but here I am, happily sitting on my chair, with the urge to type a review for a manga that's not Horimiya, haha.

What would a little girl do if she feels she isn't welcomed and needed in her own home?

I'm sure that many of us (not all of course) don't pay attention/care when our parents or relatives welcome you home because it is normal. Taiyou no Ie makes its readers know how important it is for some people to be told a simple greeting 'Welcome Home'.

The story (which is already written in synopsis) is very unique and is, alongside the character development, the strongest point of this manga. It is realistic, lighthearted,one of the most enjoyable and it just warms someone's heart. Taamo, the author and the artist, managed to throw everything which is clichè in every shoujo manga out of the window. It has a slow pacing which was advantageous to the plot. I even read a discussion in mangafox where the thread maker said he/she stopped at some point because the romance of this manga is REALLY slow. I think it is because the main priority is both of the main characters family and not the romance (one of the said thrown out clichès in shoujo).

The art is very pleasant and original. It fits really well for showing the characters' emotions. The character designs are lovable. In every panel, the scenes, characters, and places are drawn in a particular way, atleast for me. In a way that the fundamental objects, people, building etc. which symbolizes the dialog/narration are most of the time drawn alone. Thus, you can see the importance of that particular object while you feel sometimes bad, sometimes happy or both for that thing. (I'm sorry for that, I can't explain that part properly)

As I said earlier, the other main point of this manga is the character development. Most of the readers who has finished this has only 1 if not 0 characters they hate, because every single one of them will just grow on you, some are better, some are not that influential but that is an another matter. The idiom 'Slowly but surely' applies to Taiyou no ie perfectly -that's exactly how the story and character development went. Plus, depending on the situation, the point of view changes from time to time, because of that method you can understand why that person did that sort of thing, the reason why is he like that etc.
Even though the heroine is quite a crybaby, I didn't hate her (most of the time I do hate crybaby female chars if not always) because I could understand her and her position because Taamo did an excellent job depicting it.
The main male is 7 years older than the girl. Probably because of that, he is responsible and had always thought the consequences before he does something. He isn't that kind of main who is popular, got chased by girls lalalala then gets together with the mc. He guides and helps Mao as an adult and as a friend and viceversa which eventually makes them have an unbreakable bond.

Taiyou no Ie is just one of the best shoujo out there because of the reasons I mentioned and I did not, cuz you know, spoilers heh. Though for me, this is still the best shoujo I've ever read. I don't consider myself as a fan of this genre but I read them even though I can guess what will happen next, unlike psychological-horror and mystery genres. But this is different, a manga of that genre in which the mcs helping each other to build their families back is where their love came from, unlike boy (famous) and girl (not popular) or viceversa meet then one of them falls in love, some plot twist but in the end they're still together. Maybe I'm a bit biased giving it a 10, but it's worth atleast 9 or 9.5. I really reallllyyy enjoyed and loved this manga. It even made me think, if this how my older sister (mother side) felt for me. I think someday i'll just ask her ^^. First time, I read a shoujo prioritizing families and trusting others and that's what made this manga so warm and fun to read. First time, that there is no beach/pool scene at summer too xD

Such a nice manga! Honestly, there`s very little i would change in this story. Very, very good shoujo manga (also worth noting that this was my first completed shoujo too!) from beginning to the end. Ain`t gonna lie, my first impression was quite bad, mainly because of the art and the fact that the heroine looked way too young and i didn`t like the age gap between the two main characters at all. That and the fact that i was kinda tired back then of annoying love triangles and shoujo/shounen romance tropes (still am), so i really didn`t feel like reading it based on my flawed initial impression, which led me to drop it instantly.

Luckily, a few days ago, i decided to give it another try and i`m honestly quite happy i did it, because i had a blast reading it! A very good and compelling story about family and love that has way more to it than what meets the eye.

If i had to summarize Taiyou no Ie in a single word, it would be "genuine". It`s a really genuine manga, with very genuine characters dealing with very genuine issues, both romantic and familiar. The drama never feels forced, it never felt too light nor to dark either. Just right. The character drama here also feels amazingly cliché-free, and the way it tackled the usual shoujo tropes was truly refreshing without never being annoying. The last arc with the heroine`s mother (little spoiler here, i`m sorry) was also extremely powerful, imo. The way the author handled the whole deal was superbly done and even a bit surprising given how realistic and deeply emotive it was. It was also the ultimate "puzzle piece" in Mao`s development as a character and in her relationship with both her family and Hiro, and it finally gave, in my opinion, the necessary balance and impulse that the story needed to be more than just good. To become special and all the more worthy. With such a great final arc, not only it gave a fantastic sense of completeness to the development of pretty much every single character in the cast, but also made the overall theme and even the main duo`s dynamics all the more significant and poignant. At the end of its run, it managed to turn into something great and clearly one of the best romance manga i`ve read.

You know, I always feel like the best stories, the ones that really leave a mark on you are those that end up being greater than the sum of its parts. The ones who manage to be consistent from start to finish, especially with their characters. The ones who get progressively better and whose incessant narrative crescendo results in a giant, virtuous, compelling bang. A lot of stories manage to achieve amazing climaxes throughout their run but somehow end up lacking the consistency (perhaps even talent) to always deliver and make the whole thing as satisfying as it promised to us readers, consequently falling short of making a definite impact at the end.

And i gotta say that Taiyou no Ie was truly a wholesome experience, with some of the finest writing i`ve seen in a while. Sure, it may not be groundbreaking, but not only was able to deliver a truly powerful message, but also did pretty much everything right, in a very genuine way that only a few manga can. And i think that`s the biggest praise i can possibly give it.

I do not usually read shoujo manga; I tend to assume that they're probably not my cup of tea. I do read josei on occasion, but i just can't really imagine most manga meant for young girls would appeal to me. Taiyou no Ie has taught me that these kinds of stories can still be reasonably compelling in their own right.

Taiyou no Ie is a story fundamentally about people moving forward and finding where they belong. It is especially noticeable since this is what Mao's entire personal journey is about, but it is also quite prominent in pretty much every character in the story, from Sugimoto dealing with her crush on Hiro, Daiki returning home and dealing with his conflicting feelings towards Mao, Hiro trying to get his family back together so he won't be lonely anymore, etc.

Speaking of which, TnI's characters, while manga-esque in most typical ways, actually do feel reasonably human and well-crafted and have compelling backstories and motivations. Even Mao's father, who looks like the biggest asshole in the series, eventually turned out to be one of my favorite characters once we found out the circumstances behind Mao's mother leaving. Without giving too much away it completely changes your perspective on him and makes him a much more sympathetic character with understandable flaws. Bottom line being that there are no "villains" in this story, just people who may do things that aren't very kind to one another because they are weak or lonely. By the end of the story pretty much every character is in a different (and pretty much universally better) place than where they began, so in that sense it has pretty decent development for the cast.

Taiyou No Ie's plot works well because while the tone is usually pretty light and fluffy it has at least some content with teeth in it, notably the tragedy that splits the Nakamura household apart and the relationship between Mao's parents. This content is not presented in an excessively dark or gratuitous fashion, and is welcome because it makes the story feel more genuine and relatable. Even when it becomes a bit of a love polygon it never really becomes overly dark or dramatic, which I would consider a good thing since it was never that type of story to begin with.

The artwork in this series is pretty decent, having a delightful cutesy look common to shoujo manga that perfectly fits the story. it does suffer from some common comic book problems of certain characters overall looking too similar to each other, but it's generally pleasant to look at anyway and it isn't such a huge issue that will impede your enjoyment of the work itself.

I wish I had more to say about this manga in comparison to other reviews I've done but to be honest, Taiyou no Ie is honestly not that complex of a work. It had a simple goal of telling a good shoujo story with decent characters and accomplished that pretty comfortably. It is pretty much the ideal shoujo, delightfully sweet with just the tiniest bitter aftertaste. Consider giving this a read if you like shoujo stories, it was worth my time to check this out.

This manga is very cute and a good read for anyone who likes just sitting down and enjoying the shoujo genre. It's not the most mind blowing series out there, but the characters are very lovable and the series has a lot that makes it great. There's a lot of focus on home and family and that plays a huge role with how the characters interact, since the idea and issues of family and belonging somewhere are pretty well explored. It's an 8 because while it's got good character development and interaction and a stable storyline, there isn't too much that makes it stand out.

House of the Sun is a manga that seems unassuming at first--it initially feels as though it is a typical shoujo-romance work, only to hit you in the gut with some of the most powerful messages of love, friendship, and family.

Though the romance between Hiro and Mao is the main driver of the story, House of the Sun's many side characters and subplots really makes it stand out. As the relationship between the two deepen, Mao will gradually discover what is ultimately important to her; although Hiro is the principle interest of the manga, he is far from Mao's only focus. This manga never shies away from the many friendships and relationships the main protagonist has with other people, and the way Taamo, the author, explores these relationships is masterful. The themes of love and family become increasingly apparent as the narrative progresses and she interacts with more people--these themes grow with Mao. She learns the importance of family and what it means to love them. She learns that having loving friendships will give her a sense of fulfillment she was missing. Mao's development throughout the story is one of, if not the strongest aspect of this manga. Through Mao's growth, the importance of family and love are portrayed beautifully.

Taamo's artwork is also one of the best things about this piece. It is probably safe to say that the art displayed in House of the Sun is some of the cutest shit that I have ever seen. The character's expressions (especially the female characters) are vivid and animated, all despite the rather deceptively simple art.

The one gripe I would have with this manga is that the ending felt a little rushed. Hina and Daiki could've used a bit more development during the last few volumes--it's a shame because I really like both of these characters. That is not to say, Mao's conclusion to her character arc was nearly perfectly executed. I just wish that the other characters' arcs were as nearly developed.

With its diabetes-inducing art, excellent character development, and resonating themes of family, friendship, and love, House of the Sun is a great short read for not only shoujo enthusiasts, but also for those looking for meaningful themes and excellent character-driven narratives.

**Review contains spoilers**

Story (9/10):

This is one of the sweetest manga I've ever read. It's lighthearted, funny, and entertaining. I never felt bored while reading it. It was not the best that I've ever seen, but it was definitely worth reading.

While the story progresses slowly and steadily, Taiyou no Ie leaves nothing unsatisfactory. Even the ending was good (and this is rare! Most mangakas rush the ending and as a result ruin the story).

I fell in love with every one in Taiyou no Ie. I wonder how I am going to let them go.

Character (9/10):

First of all, each character in this manga is unique. There's Mao, a high school girl who sucks at cooking and is hesitant to opening her heart. There's Hiro, a dense and child-like man who cares so much about others that he often forgets to take care of himself. There's Daiki, a seemingly cold brother who is actually stronger than the average boy...the list goes on.

Furthermore, I love how the characters are realistic. Taiyou no Ie doesn't really follow that cliche storyline where one day an evil woman comes to separate the main couple. Rather, there is Sugimoto (Radical), who is sweet and mature (unlike most other shoujo characters, who are very selfish).

The characters are also hilarious. I love how clueless and dense a lot of them are.

Art (8/10):
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I actually really liked the art! It is one-of-a-kind. I mean, I've never seen any other manga with this kind of style.