Covers volumes 1–8 of Hana-Kimi by Hisaya Nakajo.

We're throwing back and throwing down with a big-time, gender-bending shojo classic: Hana-Kimi, aka, the precursor to Ouran High School Host Club. Mizuki Ashiya moves all the way from America to Japan, in high school, without express permission from her parents, just to be with her favorite high-jumper, Izumi Sano, a boy she's never met. Even better: She has to disguise that she's a girl so she can attend Sano's all-boys school. Who approved this premise? We don't know, but we do know it is full of good boys. Come listen if you love hijinks and dogs and stereotypes about gender (and America, too).

REFERENCES

• Hana-Kimi is available from Viz Media
• This series is the precursor to Ouran
• Other series referenced:
  • Naruto
  • My Hero Academia
  • Fruits Basket
  • Boys Run the Riot
• It would be nice if Hana-Kimi was retranslated by transgender translators like Rachel Thorn
• “Queering” Heteronormativity: Biological essentialism in genderbending manga discusses Hana-Kimi a lot [Anime Feminist article]
• Back when Titanic premiered, people in Tokyo were meh about it
• Free Online Gender Quiz
• Outro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by Danosongs

CONTACT US

• Ashley Hawkins' website: Manga Librarian
• Ashley Hawkins' Twitter:  @manga_librarian
• Shojo & Tell on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram
• Host Ashley on Twitter: @AshMcD00