I read this manga about a week ago now, and I'm still thinking about it to the point where I'm already reading it again. I began thinking it'd be just another silly pervy manga, and came out of it in tears man, I cried for days. Best thing I've ever read. The ending really hit me hard, especially after I realized exactly what happened, since it is a little confusing. It's done in a good way however. I feel like if it were more obvious, it wouldn't have had half the effect on me. It's incredibly depressing, but at the same time very heartwarming as well.

There are still some things I don't quite understand, like why Kurumi did this whole thing in the first place, about her past, etc.. But I guess that's the beauty of it, keeps you thinking. Like magnum44 said, it puts you in a place similar to Hideo where you just have to trust and follow her, and makes the whole thing so much better.

Definitely recommend this manga, especially for those interested in fetishism, but not limited to. If anything, it's a good way to warm up to it. Half-way through you'll forget you're reading it for the explicit content as it becomes a tragic tale between these two lovers, and the fetishism turns into something that really emphasises their love instead of their pervertedness.

Couldn't have asked for a better manga, it really is a wonder. I don't think I'll ever be the same after reading it.

I was sexy, funny, romantic, and tragic, with unending character growth and adventure. I gotta say this has to be THE most moving manga I've read. The s&m element isn't dirty or shit from a porno; it's colored with the childhood innocence and 'love.' The main character and his club friends aren't typically people you'd find yourself rooting for, but they become sort of like family in the end and their bond of friendship show clear.
I had a great time with their adventures, and the ending leaves a scar (and lotsa tears).

I was confused about the ending, but it makes sense to me now. The ending is a bit vague, but one interpretation (http://www.mangaupdates.com/showtopic.php?tid=10311&page=2) allows the entire manga to be wrapped up as one whole story.
(^...which isn't that easy, as there are many mangas out there whose plots and story lines kinda meander throughout and/or are cut short by rushed sloppy endings; although, maybe Sundome had the advantage of a foreshadowed ending.)
Sundome was very nicely paced/executed IMO and it left me anxious and on the edge of my seat the entire way through, bracing myself for the revealing 'truths' and the ending (which was well worth it, if I do say so..).

READ IT and you'll most likely not be disappointed!

PS: try not to read it as a silly s&m high school manga. It's too deep (visually as well) for mere quick superficial read. The mangaka has put so much into the execution of this manga for it to be one of those frivolous reads (although i'm sure you COULD just read it for the sexy bits, but why not just go to hentai for that?). I feel it calls for a manga-lover or a 'hardcore fan' type of reader to appreciate without silly remarks about drawing style, the characters physique, s&m preferences, etc etc.

... Last updated on May 21st, 2011, 10:43pm

Well that was quite something. It was quite an unusual series for sure, so much H content and silliness combined with a rather serious, somber and touching romance.

To those confused about the ending, I believe it's supposed to be up for interpretation. I think the meaning of the manga title is your hint as to what happened.

As for the exact details I bet it is supposed to be ambiguous, so the reader can decide on how to see Kurumi and Hideo's conclusion.

i really dont see what so confusing about the ending pretty self explanatory what happened

it was a great manga, extremely pervy at times, but still good... as others have said before me, the ending is extremely confusing... i have no idea what happened ... i still recommend it to all though

The ending of sundome could be stronger, it is sad but it does not move me to tears. All the story long i thought the end of this manga will be great it will make me cry but...

... Last updated on January 4th, 2011, 12:46am

There's a lot going on in this manga. Plenty of hilarious comedy (if often scatological in nature), for starters, and loads and loads of kinky, sexy, dirty moments, that might however turn off some people.

And yet this is only the surface. The gold here is in the relationship between the main "couple" - best described as a burgeoning master-servant par - and in the close view we get of main character Hideo's psychology. I admit I'm not familiar with this sort of worldview, but that makes it all the more fascinating to me. I wouldn't know if Hideo's progress is realistic, but it feels like it could be. At the very least, I approve of his evolution from his beginning as "wimpy, spineless kid" so often seen as the main character in manga.

Kurumi is more of a cipher though, as we see her mostly from Hideo's POW. We are never sure of the reasons behind her actions, and we don't really know what her true feelings are. We don't know her past except through precious clues strewn about the story, and although we can infer that things are probably going to end in tears, we don't know for sure, and we don't know why. In this sense, the author has cunningly put us in a place not unlike Hideo's; we blindly follow Kurumi/Sundome, never knowing where she will take us next, savouring the moments we get to enjoy together, but never getting all we want, and always fearing the end we know is coming.

I'd like to mention the gratifying surprise that was Kyouko's character growth. See, aside from the main couple, everybody else in this story is there just to slightly nudge the plot along, or, more likely, to create comic situations. As such, they don't really have complex personalities and they can be described in one-sentences, for example "scaredy doll-loving nerd". But Kyouko, who starts out like that ("dumb, popular slut"), is rather startlingly shown to have a fragile heart underneath that outwards appearance. So I'm cheering for her now.

The art deserves a note: it's really simplistic for most of the characters and for most situations, but it's really good at other times, such in every ecchi or moody scene. So it's really an aesthetic choice, and not lack of skill on the artist's part.

In closing, Sundome definitely isn't for everyone, but there's a lot of to love in this story, so I'll go ahead and recommend it to anyone old enough to be reading it.

As the headline said, if you're some kind of bornagainrighteusSOB this isn't your coup of tea, but if your not you can look forward to one of the greatest manga ever translated to english.
This is tragedy, comedy, sexy, perverted and probably one av the best thing ever written about being a teenager.

... Last updated on September 11th, 2010, 8:26pm