I can't see why people find Ninako is annoying.
She's naive not annoying.

This is one of my favorites for a couple of reasons:

1. Ninako-
She bawls her eyes out, her strongest point is fighting spirit, she's quite plain... But here's the thing: she's a normal girl. A bit of a crybaby, but yes, a normal girl with normal emotions experiencing her first love.

2. The cliches aren't annoying. In fact, I liked when cliches came because I wanted to see how the author would put a twist on them.

3. You can see why they like each other. The author go into depth describing what makes them fall for each other.

4. Everyone has their own story to tell. Characters aren't pointlessly introduced.

... Last updated on March 29th, 2012, 2:51pm

Overall enjoyed it, sometimes it feels like it's dragging a bit. But near the end I seriously wanted to smack Ninako -__- More realistic than most mangas, the relationships develop slowly and the art is very pretty.

okay, i've started this a long time ago... i finished it last year. tbh, it took awhile before i could continue back into reading it again, but not because it was not interesting. (actually, back when i finished it, it wasn't even the translated releases, they were the raws since i couldn't wait and there were just around... 4 volumes(?) left until i'm done.)

actually, this is one of those "saving grace" shoujo mangas, it's like the diamond in the sand, that kind. i've read so many shoujo titles, from oneshots to multi-chaptered ones, i'm getting sick of the same thing over and over - which makes it hard for me to actually look for real good ones.... i get this itch whenever i read those really cliche ones to the point i want to hit myself over the head with something hard when i just can't stand what's happening...

first off, TRUE, there is a whole bunch of cliche in this. pretty much the concept at the beginning, to be precise.
BUT! as so many of you has complained about Ninako, and i absolutely don't know why. at least she actually does NOT make bad decisions in her life, and to be perfectly honest, her love sprung in such a detailed manner, that even though it's pretty much the same formula in this kind of genre, it wasn't the same annoying "i am going to confess my feelings, and maybe...i'll be able to capture his heart" but unfortunately, even after she'd confess, did you think they'll quickly get together? um, NO. it was NOT that easy.

this manga isn't just about "falling in love" and you "get together" as quickly as one volume. this title isn't like any of those. the main male's feelings doesn't develop until, prolly when you get pass more than two or three volumes, and by the way, the series is a 10-volume long series, so that's how their relationship develops.

it's a story about finding ones self too along the way. what has the shoujo mangas nowadays have, really? let's point out the same formula we see in EACH and one of them...
1. girl falls in love with guy
2. in a few chapters, he realize he's fallen for her
3. a few more chapters, the girl (or rarely, the guy) confesses her/his love for the other
4. they go out
5. problems ensues
6. bullying, since the guy is popular (lol. srsly, EVERY effing shoujo manga)
6.2. guy protects the girl and tells the bullies to stop bullying the girl "he loves" hurrrr
7.i) there are some problems in their family, which unables them to be together (this formula happens to be there too, at times)
or, 7.ii) some kind of traumatic past, or so, that prevents the pair to continue being together
7.2. but then in some kind of twist of fate, they fix all those problems, and some drama ensues and they confess their feelings again, and they're back together.
etc... (i could go on forever here. LOL)

um, tell me it ain't true - lol, if someone rebukes me on this, i swear, you better have read more than i have and show me actual proof that this kinds of formulas have NEVER actually happened in MORE than 10 titles in thousands of shoujos out there.

aside from that, it doesn't only mainly focus on the main pair. also, from the get go, even though she has no idea about "love" she wasn't just quickly thinking, "oh this guy is cool, he's so popular and is liked by everyone-! i have to like him too!" but instead, she finds out a part of him that she've never seen before when out of school (though, yes, i'm well aware how cliche that is, and she was slightly interested in him from the start) but by these simple little notions, that's how a "story" will begin.
from the start, she was even being teased by her friends that, Daiki, her childhood friend and how she's comfortable beside him, is how "love" is between them. however, it shows clearly that's not what she really feels through her expression, but how everyone tells her what it may seem. little things like this, you don't usually see in shoujo mangas often. she may be naive, and yes, quite gullible, but she listens to her mind, and not just with her heart. so even though she did think, and believed them when they said that... eventually, she'll realize that wasn't the case.
after all, NOT everyone knows what "real love" is. even those who've actually dated before haven't totally realized actual "true love," and that's where the main male's background gets into the story.

like i said before, this manga is about finding ones self. this pretty much shows "growing up" for most high schoolers. though some girls outside of Japan may not understand it - i for one, am not Japanese, however, reading, and watching manga and anime, you learn a lot of things about the Japanese culture - so that helps in understanding the feelings of every character in the story. so if you pretty much don't have the patience and empathy for the story, plot nor the characters, one will never realize the true wonder if this title.

Strobe Edge really isn't a typical shoujo manga. it's like getting to know a person, you may judge them by their outer appearance, and get acquainted with them...but if you don't open up the deepest feelings in their hearts, you will never find the real them hidden beneath the person you think they are.
take time and get to know them, you never know what you might notice by doing so.

anyways... here comes an actual review. lol
art style is great. not the best out there, however it's beautiful, and keeps you wanting for more.
it's easy to read and understand, but the depth of every character and the story is magical. the relationships become complicated as you go deeper into the story, but of course, seeing as this is shoujo, don't worry, there's a happy ending there.
and aside from that, its "Reread Value" is mighty HIGH on my book.
not to mention how i'm actually pretty picky when it comes to my favourites, but this made it into my top 10. ^ u^b

PS. lol, this was pretty much the catalyst manga for me to start loving Sakisaka-sensei's works. coz unlike most shoujo mangas, her characters have depth in them.
PPS. by the way, i TOTALLY agree with TheAlmighty, actually, her style of defending the series and especially Ninako in a paragraph is quite admirable. though i SRSLY had to point EVERY DETAIL to every single one of you who dissed the manga even before you could get to the good parts. (or maybe i just can't stand your kinds, that's why i did this. btw, i'm stupid so i don't care if this may be pointless. LOL)

... Last updated on March 19th, 2012, 7:40pm

People who diss this manga need to understand that the whole point of the main girl being stupid and shoujo-y at first because the rest of the series focuses on her character development. If you're one of those impatient ones who gives up easily on the first few chapters then don't even start. Her stupidity in the beginning sets her up for heart break, but she's admirable in the sense that she's not stupid about it. She's actually very realistic. Yes, she gets rejected, and no one can say that you can get over a guy the minute he rejects you (unless he's a douche, but Ren isn't), so the fact that she is still in love with him after she was rejected is not surprising. But unlike a typical shoujo girl, she LEARNS and ADAPTS and thank the lords, is not annoy about it at all.

The whole point of the manga is the development of an idiot into someone who know how to think for herself and grow up. There can't be any development of any character if they're prefect to begin with.

... Last updated on March 16th, 2012, 8:21pm

@AddicTed to ManGas, i agree with you man this is just crappy boring manga i hate these type where the female lead is dumb stupid loser!
i like to try and read realistic stuff but reading the 2nd chapter i got sleepy, i mean OH WOW! nice covers but the drawing the rest of the manga is not that great i know when the art is really nice i like to read the series but even if its not that grate, as long as the story is fun and keeps the reader energetic we can keep reading! but if the art isn't that good, beautiful, or anything special one loses the energy to even read these type of manga!

this manga drains my energy i dont know why some of the readers are liking it! i mean by low energy/drained is like the day it rains and of us like cats can't stand that day thats how im feeling while reading this manga i think i wont finish it after volume 2-3 if i still feel down while reading this manga.

the worst i hate is wen the main lead female is just totally dumb, stupid, idiot, and like a new born baby, i mean come on, really u dont know what love is and when her friends point out and push her to her childhood friend she just thinks that so this is love really now, and the friends seem to want to make 1 less rival in there crazieness of the Ren-kun.

... Last updated on March 15th, 2015, 5:23pm

I don't understand the fuss over this series. I remember reading the first few chapters, got super annoyed with the heroine, can't get the hype over Ren and when she fell in love with him even though he has a girlfriend, I just lose interest. Then Aoharaido came out and I read that which I really like and thought I will give Strobe Edge another chance but meh, it just doesn't work for me. If only Ren was given more opportunities to shine or something instead of just being described as someone cold but kind, then yeah maybe I will feel a slight affection to this series. Ninako becomes less annoying as the series goes on, I was more interested with the side story involving Sayuri and Andou serves as a good opponent against Ren.

Overall this series is not something which I want to re-read again. Don't like this but love Aoharaido though =)

Not the best manga I've read, I feel like the main girl is too naive, and the two guys who like her... predictably fall for her, lol. However, having that said, I give the author kudos for starting the story from an interesting point of painful unrequited love & having to look at the person you like with his gf again & again D: I can sympathize with the characters at least. But I dunno how long this love polygon chasing around would go on for... (>_>; )

... Last updated on January 24th, 2012, 12:52am

Seriously a sweet story. I liked it more than anticipated. In fact, I actually finished this a while ago but recently reread it (which I dont do to many stories). Perhaps behind its basic cliched exterior I found it a little different than others somehow. Things felt more realistic and I liked that the behavior behind the main characters (or nearly all characters) felt genuine. Yes, the story was not extraordinary or that unexpecting but it was a good romance read if that's what you're looking for.
Overall when I look back at everything I'd say the story was a above average-good. It wasn't something extremely memorable but I still really liked it. The ending was cute

... Last updated on January 16th, 2012, 4:55pm

I see a lot of negative reviews and I could SLIGHTLY see why but I find it really hard to hate this.
As I read the first few chapters I found and thought Ninako was stupid and naive - your typical lead but that changed especailly after she become strong. The other characters were likable and each had their own stroy to tell like Sayuri.
I found the art very stunning it was so pretty that my eyes didn't burn everytime I read.
The plot was interesting and you might cliche every now and again but it was written perfectly so all of the pieces of the puzzle fit.
I found it stunning and I absolutely loved it but it isn't a masterpiece. - TO ALL OF YOU HATERS

Okay, i am one of those who said 'sigh, shoujos again!' but because of it's good reviews, i gave it a try... and now i regret doing that

The girl! i mean, Ninako! She is plain stupid! not realistic and weak! A mary-sue! I read till chapter 12 i think and Ninako is still as stupid as ever! Crying about small things! she is your typical shoujo female character

And as some said, there is nothing great in this manga! It's boring! all these chapters for nothing! Only explaining about how Ninako and Ren fall in love!

Ren is the so called 'bishie' in the manga! to tell the truth, there is nothing special and attractive about him!

Overall: 3/10