I'm looking for a new manga, obviously. So I recently read some old school shoujo and I'd like to read more of that.
SO:
Old school (80's/70's), Shoujo/Josei, a bit of drama/tragedy, comedy and romance, slice of life/school life (no time travelling or fantasy). I'd like it to have a strong female lead and a big cast and preferable a plot that involves a career or showbiz.

I've been reading Glass Mask and Red, which both had the feeling I'm looking for. I like the dark-past thingy. For the lead I'd like a female, I'm okay with age-gaps and I wouldn't mind a love triangle.
Now I would consider shoujo must-reads too, but I've probably read them already.
I've also read Skip Beat!, Tokyo Crazy Paradise and Ashita no Ousama, so anything similar to that would be great too.

Lastly, I want something that's either regularly translated. Ongoing or complete doesn't matter. The length isn't important either, but I'd prefer a longer read.

Thank you in advance.

Dunno why but i've generally liked old school shoujo's more thn the newer ones, so ive been looking for some aswell but i've not really found many 80's manga tht are translated ... these are the ones i can remember but they are from teh 90s so i guess they r also kinda old school?
Boyfriend (SOURYO Fuyumi) is a good one and from teh 80's aswell
And you really shud read Mars it is one of my favourite shoujos


OK so i ran a search and found some more 80s manga
Handsome na Kanojo
Cipher
Slow Step

Last edited by hman69 at 1:42 pm, Aug 4 2013

I've read a lot of them, but some come on the top of my head:

Seito Shokun!
Akuma no Hanayome
The Rose of Versailles

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I read so much mangas, I'm too lazy to watch anime!

Manga I'm loving ATM: Heart no Kuni no Alice

Thank you~ I really like Boyfriend and Cipher, I haven't tried out the rest yet.

If you like Ashita no Ousama, then try Pii Natsu ga Ippai. It's older work from same mangaka.

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Suna no Shiro maybe? Full of tragedy... The main chara is so very weak, but... hmmm, dunno, I do not feel she's annoying... because the reason she's like that is the man is too oblivious... I think...
It's completed.

and maybe...

Giniro no Kami no Arisa
completed

and

Swan
scanlated only first chap
well I know it since it's published a long time ago in my country



second all of them, but the first two's scanlation isn't regular, even hiatus...
Rose of versailles is completed though

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Chizumi & Fujiomi is a classic in every sense of the word. Not a strong female lead, lol, but one of my favorite mangaka (did Kanata Kara, perhaps the best fantasy/shoujo manga in existence).

You might like these ones. They were all made in the 90's
Kodomo no Omocha
Paradise Kiss
Kareshi Kanojo no Jijou
Narration in Seventeen

these are older ones that might fit what you're looking for.
Cipher
Hoshi o Tsumu Donna
Pii Natsu ga Ippai

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The word 'studying' was made up of two words originally - 'students dying'.

This. HIKAWA Kyouko, take a bow, one of the best classic shoujo mangaka ever lived imo. So yeah I pretty much recommend all her manga. Although not all the female leads are strong but still, worth a try.

Hmm what else..
The Duck of Mr. Fredward, the lead is male though, but it's really good :")

That's all I can think of right now. Hope it helps

Last edited by jaqenhghar at 3:17 pm, Aug 5 2013

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I don't have many series from the 80s to suggest but some of my favourites are from the 90s. So if you're fine with that, I can recommend you some.

Starting off with the 80s, there are Honoka ni Purple by SAITOU Chiho and The Change! by HIMURO Saeko/ YAMAUCHI Naomi. The first one is pretty generic, and the second one relies heavily on the gender-bendering drama. They weren't really my cup of tea but you could give them a try.

Shiawase no Kanzume by KAWAHARA Kazune, the mangaka of Sensei!, is a nice collection of short stories from the 80s. Read it if you're short on time and you crave something warm and sweet.

Now to the 90s. I consider MATSUMOTO Tomo's Kiss one of the finest, if not the finest Shoujo romance I've ever read. It stays low-key most of the time, it can be straight forward on occasion, but whatever happens it never loses its romantic touch. There is also a bit of well-played drama, nothing over the top, to emphasise the progression of the main couple's relationship. I like especially how believably their age gap is depicted.
The art is old school and subtle; and the music pieces are well-chosen and contribute a lot to the classy, vintage atmosphere that runs through the whole manga. All in all, MATSUMOTO Tomo-sensei did a brilliant job.

For Josei, have a taste of OKAZAKI Mari's early works (Shutter Love, BX). They are all rich in atmosphere and allow you to glimpse the beginnings of her peculiar artistic perspective.

I also stumbled upon IKUEMI Ryou's I Love Her recently. Since you've read her works before, I don't have much to say about it. It's a well-crafted and realistic romance.

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"Stories are what death thinks he puts an end to.
He can't understand that they end in him, but they don't end with him."
- Ursula K. Le Guin, Gifts

To be savoured:
- Blood Alone by TAKANO Masayuki
- Otoyomegatari by MORI Kaoru
- Gangsta. by Kohske
- Seishun Kouryakuhon by AKIZUKI Sorata

Candy Candy
Ano Koro ni Aitai
Shiroi Mado no Mukougawa
Georgie!

Last edited by Sphear at 2:43 am, Aug 6 2013

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19 Days
Gangsta