Was the word came to mind when I completed the whole series. It was a great josei, considering for such a long time I had not came across one. And it was exemplary for those prolonged works to look at. But (of course there was a "but") maybe it was too concise that it lost the dramatic touches giving you nothing such as thrills or suspensions. What even less favourable were some of the scenes and plots you could completely predict, and it did not have that depth.

Still, I would recommend it as it was a wonderful manga about wonderful, good, honest, and capable people that sometimes seemed an awful lot unrealistic, not a bad "unrealistic" here I meant.

... Last updated on January 25th, 2013, 10:23pm

just beautiful

i cant say it's the same for the whole manga, but some chapters are really good. i really liked that chapter

Not much I can say, this one was enjoyable from start to end. There aren't much shoujo manga like this around. Also refreshing to have a theatre manga focus on someone who isn't actually an actor/actress, but a playwright/director; and she isn't portrayed as an amazing genius from page one as is often used to stew the plot forward, at the start she's a horrible actress, all that saves her is her powerful imagination. It's great storytelling.
At first I thought it would get old quickly, but it was excellently executed. The romance was obviously, but slowly and sweetly build-up. I couldn't put it away! A definite recommended read.

So I read this manga since there's so many positive comments. At first, it was interesting, the plot and all. But sometimes, the main protagonist is overly...I don't know what to say, she's just too much sometimes. However, I do enjoy reading the part all about the stage play. It sounds so fun and nice! It's like it's making me wanna join some stage play now. Although it's a nice read, I won't re-read this. Mainly because...I never re-read warm and fuzzy stuffs. I can read it once to feel how it is, but the 2nd time I read it, I won't feel as excited as before. I like Cat Street much better though. Cat Street's main protagonist can be seen that she grows a lot throughout the manga but this one...I just feel like the heroine is positive right from the start, so I don't see her development at all. Maybe there wasn't a need even, since she's strong from the beginning.

This is one of the best mangas I have ever read (alongside with Cat Street, Tokyo Crazy Paradise, & Beauty Pop).

The characters have strong personalities and the plot is considerably great! I just finished reading the manga (it's 3:10am here). The only negative thing I can say about the manga is the art, but considering the year it was published, one could care less about it... and for a manga that was made two years after my birth (I'm 18) I'd say the drawing was very finely done. The most important thing is the story. Readers must definitely not judge it by the art, if one would decide not to read it just because of how things were drawn, he/she would be missing one awesome and delightful story! <3

that's all you need to know, so pick up this manga and start cracking! i read it straight from start to finish without pause, it is too incredible! the plot is very interesting and we really want to know the next time a show will be produced. the main character is very likable, a strong willed girl who forge her own path in this world, whose dream is higher than just another guy. the love interest is typical cool guy but his passion for his craft make him evenly match with the girl. all the other characters are likable, interesting fellows, even the bitchy girls in the end have something good about them.
a must read!

Honestly, this manga had me enraptured from the first chapter. Yuu is such a beautiful character inside and outside. I thought the story had wonderful pacing and the entire cast played an integral role in shaping Yuu and helping her make her dreams come true (the same can be reversed as well) .

I highly suggest reading this manga.

First of all, IMHO, the only reason a manga-fan would not read this (at least once) besides personal prejudice would be the art. The art improves as the series progresses, but it is still 1996 josei art and thus crude. But I find that as you read it, the art bothers you less and less and eventually you come to appreciate the simplicity.

That said, the characters here are wonderful. Their interactions are what drives the plot, and each of them is unique in his or her way. The main character especially evolves so much... from a naive college student to a girl who is ready to grasp what she wants, all while keeping what makes her who she is inside. I have to admit, the brilliance of the entire manga is based on the subtle/unsubtle development of the main character, who is quite likeable.

NOTE: To those that say she is unrealistic in that she doesn't "fail" anything, I would have to disagree. First of all, she is talented, so she has some groundwork. But more than anything, I think what the author is saying is that if you really put your heart into something like Yuu does, nothing will feel like a failure. It just becomes a step on the staircase toward your dream. So yes, it's kind of cheesy, but not overly so, at least, for a manga of this length.

The side characters as well are well-developed. You get the sense that they each have their own dreams and goals, or if they don't, they develop them, rather than just being decorations for the plot to seem more full. Each character has their own motives and even reasons for lack of motivation, and the way the author weaves them into her plot is very slice-of-life. While the empathy will probably always lie within the main character in this one, the realism of all the characters will hold you for a long time. This manga is one of those mangas that, without the help of an episodic plot or and event-driven plot, defines itself as a character-driven slice-of-life, which is quite amazing.

The plot is just... good. There is nothing bad to say about it, nor is there any extraordinary about it. The premise of the story itself seems simple. A country girl is exposed to how life really is and struggles to find her dream. It is realistic, however, being that is driven by realistic characters.

Overall, I would probably read this manga again if I had the time. It's one of those mangas that sticks in my mind amongst the 1000+ manga I have read (yes, that includes oneshots), and every once in a while, I just have to go back and read it. It's a classic. It seems so simple, but the ideas beneath it are profound.

Read it. Preferably in one go or else you'll find yourself strangely uneasy. There are no filler chapters, you see.

It seems like it has a lot of shoujo undertones, but I don't really believe that is the case. It's more of the natural optimism that you need to face life and do the best that you can. But shoujo fans, don't be discouraged. If you're open to try new things, just try it.

... Last updated on June 28th, 2012, 10:10am

In the vein of other great works like Cat Street and Mars, Ashita no Ousama is a subtle, slow-paced story of a small-town girl striving for her dreams. Pit against all sorts of insurmountable odds, Yuu's unsinkable spirit and steel nerve eventually (I'll spoil it for you) pave the way to success. I think what I loved most about this manga - about any josei manga, really - is the absence of whiny, overpowering romance. Like many other things in this manga I really have to applaud the mangaka's skilled use of undertone and her delicacy with structure; not too much tragedy, not too much humour, not too much heaviness that cumulatively makes for a light yet thought-provoking read. It starts off slow, and remains so at a steady but consistent pace. This is a story that stays with you.

... Last updated on October 31st, 2011, 7:53am

I don't get what some people were talking about this being very far-fetched. I enjoyed that the "failures" she had were not as low as they could have been in real life, it would have been too depressing otherwise. The drama was also well balanced, and maybe it's due to my like for theater and TV dramas, but it was almost like watching a play within a play? If that makes any sense....

Had to read all the volumes in one sitting; it was just that gripping for me. The romance is not paramount like most Josei stories, which may not appeal to some. I personally thought the fact the romance was secondary made the story better.

... Last updated on October 29th, 2011, 8:01pm