Kirylin’s Voice

My students are funny people. When they find out I read manga or watch anime, they immediately tell me I have to watch or read something. That’s actually how I discovered I didn’t care Tsubasa, and how I came across the series I’m currently reading- W Juliet. (Actually, both were in the same list given to me by the same student.)I’m only four volumes in (out of fourteen, so far), and I like it.

The story centers around high school drama club students Ito Miura and Makoto Amano. Ito is a rather boyish-looking girl who is cast as the male lead in many of the drama club’s productions. Because her father works at a karate school, she’s a trained martial artist who isn’t afraid to defend herself. She also happens to be a poor student, and she’s the target of many people’s affections (including a drama club alum, and the drama club’s female diva). The only person’s affections she wants, though, are those of transfer student Makoto Amano. Makoto has just transferred to Ito’s school because of a challenge her father issued to her- to keep her secret until she graduates from high school. If Makoto succeeds, she gets to pursue her dream of acting rather than taking over the family’s dojo.

Ito and Makoto keep getting cast opposite each other in drama club productions, and Ito quickly discovers that the effeminate Makoto is actually a guy. She promises to keep Makoto’s secret, and spends most of her time fighting to protect Makoto from being found out. Makoto, so touched by Ito’s loyalty and kindness, falls head over heels for her. It leads to several variations on the idea of switching genders and perceptions, and these two certainly have their share of obstacles to overcome, but Emura is able to pull off each one so well that it really doesn’t feel stale.

W Juliet is charming and amusing, and Makoto is just cool. I’ll be sad when I run out of volumes to read.