There are few authors more synonymous with "shojo" than Arina Tanemura. We've done Tanemura works before. But Full Moon is peak Tanemura. Which is not to say it's a masterwork. 

For those who don't idolize Tanemura and are wondering what Full Moon is about, the series follows a 12-year-old girl named Mitsuki who wants to be a singer so she can reconnect with her childhood crush, whom she met when they both lived at an orphanage, but she can't become a singer because she has throat cancer that, if left untreated, will kill her. Some shinigami show up telling her she only has one year left to live, and she somehow convinces the shinigami to turn her into a 16-year-old so she can become the idol of her dreams before she dies. Are you keeping up? Tanemura fan Laura Spicer joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley once again to go through the whirlwind of a manga to, first, figure out what even all happened here, and second, to determine what the good emotional beats are.

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Hanayu wants to be a sushi chef, but her father expects her to take over the family pastry shop. Hayato wants to be a pastry chef, but is expected to take over his family's sushi restaurant. Uh, you can see where this is going, right? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher discuss this romantic comedy series in which these 15 year old children place the weight of the world on their shoulders. Mixed Vegetables may be a mixed bag, but hey, maybe that's your cup of tea (to mix metaphors).

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Caitlin and Ashley are back to discuss the second half of Horimiya, aka, all the bits that don't matter. Like, it's a miracle this episode is over an hour long, because the two spend most of the time talking about *checks notes*: Sawada, Iura, and Watabe. And they're definitely the most interesting characters in this whole series, right? Especially Iura.

Jokes aside, Caitlin and Ashley spend time going over the chapters they did like (and some they really didn't), plus there's a shipping corner with an 11th hour bombshell dropped. Just like the second season of the Horimiya anime, this episode isn't boring, but it might also not be necessary. Tune in to hear for yourself.

REFERENCES

• Horimiya is published by Yen Press
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • Maid-Sama!
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue

CONTACT US

• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Caitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News Network
• Caitlin on Bluesky
• Ashley on Bluesky

Finally, we're here to talk about the shonen elephant in the shojo room: Horimiya. Look at almost any list of "best shojo anime," and you're bound to see Horimiya near the top of it. But, just so we're all clear: Horimiya isn't a shojo series. It is, however, a very good shonen romance series.

Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anime News Network and Anime Feminist writer Caitlin dig into why people often mistake Horimiya for a shojo series and how the series lovingly subverts a lot of stereotypical romance tropes through the main couple, Hori and Miyamura, and many of the B couples, especially Remi and Sengoku. There's a lot of gushing over how relatable Hori is (seriously, so relatable). But most importantly (regrettably?): Ashley and Caitlin delve into what makes the sex scene so touching and how nice it is to see an authentic teenage exploration of kink.

REFERENCES

• Buy Horimiya from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Horimiya is published by Yen Press
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • Fushigi Yuugi: Genbu Kaiden
  • Millennium Snow
  • Attack on Titan
  • Sword Art Online
  • Black Bird
  • Hot Gimmick
  • Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun
  • Fushigi Yuugi
  • Boys Over Flowers
  • Kodocha
  • Marmalade Boy
  • Full Moon
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue

CONTACT US

• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Caitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News Network
• Caitlin on Bluesky
• Ashley on Bluesky

Get ready to go to the beach in this emotionally affecting, short josei series. Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand by Yoko Komori follows Tokiko, a sixth grader whose parents are recently separated; as a result, she moves with her dad from Tokyo to the small beach town where her mother grew up where legends of merfolk are still honored. As she grapples with her new normal, Tokiko is also looking for a particular merman for saving her from drowning. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher dive deep into Tokiko's family dynamics, whether or not one citizen of the town is actually real, and the consequences of pathological lying. 

REFERENCES

• Buy Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand is published by Viz Media's Signature line
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • Horimiya
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue

CONTACT US

• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Ashley on Bluesky

Ashley and Asher are back to discuss volumes 11 through 20 of Snow White with the Red Hair, and they have a lot more to say this time (most of it is still some variation of "they're so cute!"). The Ashes talk about new characters (Hisame, the Bergat brothers, Lilias folks), the overarching plots (Izana's coronation, Lilias part 2, Sereg assassination plots, Kiki's marriage machinations), the official character poll (lol Mitsuhide), and of course, all the ships (yes, Zen and Shirayuki are cute, but why not Kiki and Shirayuki?). Let the fangirling and fanboying commence.

REFERENCES

• Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • Bleach
  • Fushigi Yugi
  • Fushigi Yugi: Genbu Kaiden
  • Jesse and James from Pokemon
• WHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic"
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue

CONTACT US

• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Ashley on Bluesky

Welcome to the special collaboration episode between Ashley of Shojo & Tell and Chika and Giana of Shoujo Sundae (hereby dubbed the "shojo trio"). In this episode, we talk everything Josee, the Tiger and the Fish: the animated movie version (amazing!), the manga (basically the same as the movie but taking things at your own pace can be helpful!), the live-action movie (oh no!), and the original short story (very Japanese!). Josee, the Tiger and the Fish follows Josee, a sheltered, curmudgeonly wheelchair user, and Tsuneo, a try-hard college boy who loves diving, as they both come out of their shells to meet each other and the sometimes scary, sometimes harsh, occasionally beautiful outside world. Let's dive!

REFERENCES

• You can watch the animated movie on Crunchyroll
• You can read the manga version, published by Yen Press
• You can read the original short story, also published by Yen Press
• You can watch the live-action version on RetroCrush

STAY IN TOUCH

• Find Shoujo Sundae on: Bluesky, Instagram, X
• Find Chika on: Bluesky, Instagram
• Find Giana on: Bluesky, Instagram, Personal Website
• Find Shojo & Tell on: Bluesky, Instagram, Tumblr
• Find Ashley on: Bluesky

There are few contemporary shojo manga that are more popular and beloved that Sorata Akizuki's wholesome fairy-tale-inspired story Snow White with the Red Hair. The protagonist, Shirayuki, has apple-red hair that attracts attention from unsavory characters and noble princes alike, and the story follows her as she becomes a court herbalist and a worthy bride-to-be for Prince Zen Wisteria. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher delve into why this story is so special, while walking through the highs (and the lows) of the first 10 volumes. Asher expresses his undying love for Obi, while Ashley pledges allegiance to Prince Izana. But in the end, it's all about the best ZenYuki moments.

REFERENCES

• Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)
• Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat line
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • Waiting for Spring
  • Maid-Sama!
  • Shortcake Cake
• WHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic"
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue

CONTACT US

• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses all 9 volumes of the My Love Mix-Up!  manga by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko, and contains comparisons between it and the Japanese live-action adaptation.

My Love Mix-Up! (not to be mixed up with Aruko's other work, My Love Story!! .... deep sigh) tells the story of Sota Aoki, a seemingly happy-go-lucky boy who has a crush on a female classmate, Mio Hashimoto, but winds up in a relationship with male classmate Kōsuke Ida. It sure is all mixed up, and it's a pure delight. Romance novelist Megan Frampton joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley to discuss what makes the series so funny, how that does or does not translate to the Japanese live-action screen adaptation, and the surprising amount of character growth the main cast goes through. Jump into the fluff and feels with us!

REFERENCES

• My Love Mix-Up! is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line 
• Watch the My Love Mix-Up! Japanese live-action version on Viki
• There is also a My Love Mix-Up! Thai live-action version
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • MARS
  • My Love Story!!
  • Maid-Sama
  • Kimi ni Todoke
    • Kimi ni Todoke live action
    • Kimi ni Todoke anime
  • Live-action Bleach movie
  • Kaguya-Sama: Love is War
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue

CONTACT US

• Find Megan on BlueSky and Instagram
• Check out Megan's books https://www.meganframpton.com/ 
• Subscribe to Megan's Substack
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Ashley on Bluesky

This episode discusses MARS volumes 9-15 and the prequel story, "Horse with No Name"

How many suicide attempts can happen close to Kira and Rei? How many car crashes and motorcycle accidents? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and CLAMPcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy are back to discuss the second half of the melodrama MARS by Fuyumi Soryo, and their biggest question is about whether the series accurately portrays the way trauma stacks (both Ashley and Lucy lean toward no). Ashley and Lucy share their thoughts about Kira seeming to give up her dreams to be with Rei, and so Rei can pursue his, what they wish "Horse with No Name" had been about instead, how they're glad Tatsuya made it out unscathed, and more.

REFERENCES

• MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitally
• Listen to Ashley's MARS DJ set!
• Read Robin's book! 
• Other manga/anime mentioned
  • RG Veda
  • Kimi ni Todoke
  • Marmalade Boy
  • My Love Mix-Up!
  • Snow White with the Red Hair
• Songs mentioned:
  • "A Horse with No Name" by America
• Misc. mentions:
  • Grey's Anatomy
  • The Last Unicorn
• Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogue

CONTACT US

• Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
• Find Lucy on Threads, Instagram, and BlueSky
• Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter
• Ashley on Bluesky