First thing I'm going to say is to take the opportunity to read the first couple chapters of this series or even watch the first episode of the anime that's currently airing. Make the judgement for yourself to see whether the series is a great light-hearted comedy or a huge male-chauvinistic piece of work. These comments contain some SPOILERS so read at your own discretion.

I will state that yes this is a guy's opinion, but more importantly, a manga lover's opinion. Some of my favorite series include Hana Yori Dango, Sailor Moon, Kimi ni Todoke, and 14-sai no Koi.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read Textualpoacher and yamaken-dono's review of the series. While I understand that they're entitled to their own opinions, it seems like their disapproving comments are more about how Ore Monogatari is a terrible shoujo series rather than evaluating the work for itself. Their statements imply that no girls would be interested in getting into this because the females are portrayed as characters that care too much about looks and are "subservient". This is a blatant exaggeration, and the only reason I would agree with not recommending this series is if you're expecting the primary character to be a girl, in which case you'll probably be disappointed as the narrative follows Takeo, a kind, gorilla-like man.

Let me comment on some of their arguments.

1) [The women in the series don't like Takeo because he's an ugly dude. That's sexist and boo-hoo for Takeo, no reader should care]. It's true most of the females don't like Takeo because of his looks, and you know what, if I were in their shoes I would do the same. Takeo simply doesn't make the best first impression while Suna (the good looking friend) does. HOWEVER, the series clearly shows that the females that spend more time with Takeo begin to accept and be friends with him. Heck, he has multiple girls that like him! I feel that this is pretty realistic, and if you look at the supporting male characters in the series, they all are idiots that take every opportunity to fawn over cute girls, but hey this stereotype/trope isn't a problem. Additionally, Takeo is a great guy that NEVER ONCE complains about being ugly. He accepts that most women don't want to give him a chance, but still tries his best in both pursing love and being a good person. He has an awesome personality.

2) [This is a story catered to guys because Takeo's not a catch while Yamada is.] While I can understand this sentiment, it's kind of like saying no guy should read the Hunger Games because it's about a girl and she's in a love triangle with two guys. It's true, but that's not what the series is about. The emphasis is placed on how love can happen for people who wouldn't traditionally be considered a great match (similar to one of the author's other works Tomodachi no Hanashi), and the comedy from everyone trying to accept this fact. You get the same great flowery shoujo art style and feel-good storylines despite having a male protagonist.

3) [Every female, especially, Yamato has to pass all these "tests" like being pretty and being able to bake to be a "proper" girl]. This is just BS. First of all, you'll see characters like Suna's sister who is very independent and strong-willed, and Takeo's mom who is not pretty, but awesome for her not giving a shit attitude including doing heavy lifting while being pregnant. Is Yamato cute? Yes. Should Yamato be ugly because hey ugly people should only date other ugly people? No. Can Yamato bake? Yes. Should Yamato not be able to bake because hey that's the only character quality she has and that's sexist? No, because Yamato is a lot more than a baker. She tries her best to protect Takeo from mortal danger, she stands up for her boyfriend in front of all of her friends, and doesn't give up. She's a good person and instead of recognizing her as such, it seems to be a lot easier to tear down her character to being unrealistic instead of accepting that girls can be like her.

In the end, what I want to say is I do understand if female readers don't want to read the series because it's not their thing. But I don't think it's right to justify not reading the series because the series is "bad" or "chauvinistic". The characters are easier to relate for guys yes, but the story stands out for defying tropes, providing genuine laughs, and having great pacing. I can assure you that if you give the series a chance and keep an open mind, you'll see how great Ore Monogatari can be.

I completely agree with Textualpoacher. I haven't read a manga that hates its own demographic more than Ore Monogatari. Each arc is another of the innumerable dos and don'ts Yamato must strictly adhere to or be vilified like her friends, or Suna's sister, or all those faceless girls who like Suna – in other words, the real demographic who have real emotions and are affected by petty things like social conventions. Not to mention, many of which conventions are straw man, because as Textualpoacher said, girls' appearances are judged much more harshly. What results is a puritanical denunciation of everything a typical girl actually wants.

Here's the thing, I sympathize with the desire to root for Yamato to pass the tests lest she be labeled the s-word – not so much the self-righteous nods of approval from the “never-read-another-shoujo-in-my-life” crowd though. I also recognize and appreciate the places where the manga flirts with slightly more positive and helpful depictions of girls, like when Yamato lifts the steel beam. Ultimately though, I'm not impressed that it is compelling for the wrong reasons, and a bit of special treatment for Yamato does not begin to balance out the hate directed at every other female character.

As a final note, the mangaka carries a hammer and uses it indiscriminately. That is, the narration likes to tell you exactly what you're supposed to take away from an event before showing it in the most awkward, transparent, and repetitive manner possible. Seriously, most of the time the takeaway is “Suna is more popular with girls than me wah wah,” cue girls A, B, C, D, E, F etc. saying – in one case no less than 12 times in 2 pages – that one is handsome while the other is ugly. Not to mention, almost every single arc I've read boils down to the what must Yamato prove this time? shtick, and it gets old real fast.

Ugh, I have two huge problems with this series.

1, It's a fact, okay, that it's women, not men, who are overwhelmingly affected by body image issues. I am not interested in a body issue manga about a guy. A body issue manga about a guy is probably the least compelling and least necessary story to tell in the world. And Takeo doesn't even look ugly. He looks "manly" for whatever that's worth and he doesn't have a girlfriend despite being such a nice guy? Allow me to fetch the smallest violin.

2, This is basically a shoujo series that's acceptable to guys, and I can't tell you how much I care about being acceptable to guys. The manga doesn't speak at all to female desires and experiences and in doing so doesn't challenge men at all. It's not that a shoujo manga has to do that, it's that a manga, period, can't just engage in all of these very gendered tropes without having at least considered the female perspective.

The sensibilities of it all are so incredibly male. Making Takeo "manly" is just opening a can of worms about what "manly" means and frankly, I think the question is worthless in the first place. The manga seems to be making a case for "manly" as a blend of the traditional whole nine yards of muscles and clumsy bluster, sprinkled with the occasional heroics and being kind, which is the sort of thoroughly unexciting, conventional thinking that I roll my eyes at. The girl what's-her-name is being tested by the story at every step: does she fall the the handsome friend instead?--even though she has every right to--and watching her try to pass becomes the tension of the story. Takeo doesn't expect her to date him just because he saved her, but the story does. If she falls for the friend, she fails, and becomes just another one of the flaky background girls who the friend what's-his-name constantly dismisses. Note how the friend approves of her, which signals to us that she's not one of those other girls. See, this one is special because a guy approved of her.

And saving the girl from a groper on a train? How original and not condescending.

And then she bakes them pastries. What a good little wife.

Ugh, you can always tell which perspective the story is from by who is being tested and what fantasy is being fulfilled. The guy can be ugly and blustering. The girl has to be pretty and a good cook. The guy makes badly observed assumptions. The girl has to recognize the hidden depth in the guy.

Look, it's nice that you guys like the manga, but it's utterly BS that you think this is better than the "typical shoujo" fare because it just means that you don't read shoujo at all. It's absolutely depressing when I see stuff like "I was skeptical as always being a guy and it being a shoujo manga" and "Looking for palatable shoujo?" (UGH) because it just means you went looking for shoujo so watered down and sterilized that your world views are not challenged and that you are not made to sympathize with--God forbid--a teenage girl. You looked for shoujo that's not about girls at all and that's what you found so congratulations, I guess.

Looking for palatable shoujo? Want to broaden your reading horizons but generally find shoujo trite and ethically repellent?
Well look no further than Ore Monogatari!! It's sweet, side-splittingly funny, and clever. A true gem.

Kazune´s previous manga are nothing special but this one is a HIT on all fronts as everything works.
The art is beautiful and has impeccable comedic timing. I actually smiled while reading and that is rare.
All characters are further lovable and the romance is just too cute. Best of all it really goes somewhere over time and there is a (back)story and character development for all cast members. Even the drama feels heartfelt.
The very strong critical and award winning reception the manga got is very well deserved and i am looking forward to more volumes. What a find! Go on the read the similar and even better Angel Densetsu (10/10) from the 90s if you aren´t familiar with it and the recent Last Game (9/10) next which has a slower paced romance.
The Madhouse anime is a well done adaptation btw. so watch that version too.

... Last updated on April 28th, 2015, 11:47am

This is a great manga. I was skeptical as always being a guy and it being a shoujo manga. I've given a lot of high rated shoujo manga a chance before and it has not ended well(except for Gokusen and even that is a josei) but boy am I glad I started this one.

The main characters are all great. The humor is awesome especially the facial expressions of Takeo which leave me laughing so hard most of the time that I get a stomach ache. The story is simple yet still fulfilling. The plot is going on at a slow pace to be fair but it never seems like it.

All in all a great read but its a shame that the scanlators don't seem to have translated anything in quite some time. But its recently been announced that an anime adaptation is in the works so either I'll watch that or the manga might start getting translated again. Who knows? Anyway highly recommended for everyone out there.

Takeo is the best character in the world. Bara buff guy you normally wouldn't see as a love interest and his relationship with his girlfriend and his best friend who normally all the girls fall after. Super cute and wins my love forever!

This is probably the cutest shoujo manga I've read! There's no real plot or character development, but the main character is so far from the typical male lead. The best thing in my opinion isn't even the romance, however, it is the friendship between the two guys. It's the truest form of "broship" I've seen in shoujo.

Really cute and sweet, almost no serious drama, and funny, Ore Monogatari!! is a nice little gem amongst a heap of rocks.

... Last updated on June 21st, 2014, 6:56pm

It feels so bad that there aren't many chapters available ;_; this manga is so darn sweet.

I think what attracted me to this one is the unusual MC, he ain't no prince that's for sure. I think, most of us in real life have once been in Takeo's position.



That said, we need moar!

i dont really read shoujo manga since everything looks the same for me but this is kinda unique it has a male protagonist and whats more is he isnt that good looking he looks like the big guy from slam dunk