I've read a tons of shoujo mangas and romances, from popular to unpopular, from mangas to Chinese novels. (... kinda embarrassing, but I still wanna say 😀)
And what I can say is, 'Tokyo Crazy Paradise' is special.
First, Tsukasa is strongest heroine I've ever seen, literally. She is so strong that I, at some points, find it ridiculous when she is always the person to rescue the main male lead (Ryuju). Tsukasa always fight by her self (most of the time). She doesn't need a man to save her. That's cool. (Not until chap 95 or so Ryu has a chance to protect her). Yes, she proved her self, to the gang, to the entire world.
Compares to the other normal romances, the heroines are usually protected and rescued by their men, which are so clinche and makes me feel 'argh..' and disgustingly irritated.
Second, ok, 'Tokyo Crazy Paradise' gives me a feeling of reading a Shounen. Yep, it has those action and Yakuza plot (which I skipped sometime due to my heavy romance need), it actually gives us the nerves, the tension, the stress feelings as we read, especially those thorny, dramatic parts.
But it also knows how to make us relieve at the same time, with those 'HAHAha' comedy. (Look at the chibi annoying Ryuji and you'll can't help but laughing)
This is a plus.
Third, the most important (well, for me), it has crazily heavy jealousyyy (Yay!!). Ok, so Ryuji is the craziest jelly monster I've ever known. Haha, he gets jealous so easily, even with those strangers.
Ah, I just write this in order to read those parts again someday.
Jealousy corners for pervs like me
Let's see, he got jealous when
- a male teacher talked so closely to Tsukasa (haha, he's just a little little side character, yet he still gets jelly) (even asked 'why were you so close w the teacher?)
- she cares so much about the Abasa or whatever kun
- over a policeman, ah yep, Akira-san.
I really 'haizzz'ed when Akira is the only man who truly loves her but does not receive enough attention...
and hey, when Ryuju is 'hand in hand' with Asago (maybe in chap 15 to 40), Tsukasa and this policeman get on so well together, yet Ryuju will never know about this (imagine if someone tells him about this). Tsukasa like, has held his hand, kissed him on the cheek, said 'I'll always be by your side' and even let him meet her family (to tutor her). Akira even thinks that he will meet her family approaching to a marriage :>...
Come to think that it's not Ryuju but Akira to be the first man she kissed makes me feel sastified (look what you have done, Ryuju, hugs and kissed and intimated with another woman in front of her). Hmph, he deserves it (say it both for Ryu and Aki)
-over the sexy long black man.
Haha, he even hugged and ripped off her clothes and left hickeys on her body and Ryuju will never see it. (Common, you had left her you badstard Ryu)
Okay, I can feel the 'ehehe' perv excitation in me whenever i see those jealousy .. wish i could describe it to you guys.
The only problem is,
their AGEs! Ha, 14😕😕? What shit is this...? But it's manga so I guess we shouldn't really care about the age problem, LOOK is everything.
And I don't really mind the art style. Their clothes may look a bit old-fashioned. But it's better and better than millions of other latest mangas and manhuas and manhwas and romances out there.
The plot (and the jelly) have covered everything.
All I can say is, it's not exaggerating to say, this is a masterpiece.
PS: Compares this to Skip Beat and Please Save My Earth, in the category of 'old' and 'longs' series, I right now prefer this. This is my bias.
I think, moreover, the author has put her heart and soul in to this work. It just doesn't feel like those cheap stories out there. It is the product of hard work and grey matter. It is worth to be praised and appreciated! This is what true manga, true art is.
What to say more, the sensitive scences are just suitably enough.
The side characters like Asago and Kamo-san also have their own touching satisfying stories.