After a while of not checking Chuang Yi which publishes English versions of some shoujo manga I'm following (or would like to start reading), I found out that the company released the following titles in the last quarter of 2006.
*scribbles furiously to edit her To Buy list*
Included among the upcoming titles is volume 21 of Takaya Natsuki-sensei's Fruits Basket (I will provide the street date when it becomes available).
I'm actually of two minds over continuing Furuba, what with all the negativity when the manga ended, but... *draws a deep, deep breath* having started and become so invested in the characters, I will continue until the – hopefully not bitter – end. (As someone once sed, Hope springs infernal.
)
The non-shoujo CY manga coming soon (Fullmetal Alchemist 10 and Wild Adapter 1) get their own post.
Recent Chuang Yi English manga
Released October, November, December 2006; blurbs are by Chuang Yi
My Fair Lady AKA The Wallflower or Perfect Girl Evolution (Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge) by Hayakawa Tomoko Volume 11
ISBN: 981-269-359-9
Upset with what happened in the last volume, Kyohei goes gallivanting on his own, while the others worry excessively about him and his crazy ways. Even Sunako is wrecked with guilt while she mulls over what she said to him. The three remaining guys come up with a plan to persuade Kyohei to come home, and Sunako makes an unexpected move! Will they succeed?
Hayakawa-sensei is queued up to join other manga-kas in getting her own backlist once I've done my research; all I know is that she's written Yamanade and Kireina Otoko, a one-shot released in Indonesia under the title Beautiful Boy.
Ouran High Host Club (Ouran Koukou Host Club) by Hatori Bisco Volume 9
ISBN: 981-269-536-2
For the first 14 years of their lives, Hikaru and Kaoru held the rest of the world in disdain... until the day Tamaki barged into their world and invited them to join the Host Club! But the twins weren't about to let him in without a challenge! A European Princess descends on Ouran and proceeds to piss off every single member of the Host Club... except Tamaki. What hold does she have over the resident 'Highness'?
This means Chuang Yi is up to speed with the Japanese tankoubon. And as I indicated in Hatori-sensei's backlist, I plan to list Ouran High School Host Club English (Chuang Yi and VIZ Shojo Beat) and Indonesian (HanaLala serialization) releases—similar to what I've done for Hana-Kimi.
Sensual Phrase (Kaikan Phrase) by Shinjo Mayu Volume 1
ISBN: 981-269-487-70
As a budding poet and lyricist, Aine is determined to make it big in show business. One day, she almost gets hit by a car. This actually turned out well, as the car driver happens to be Sakuya, the fabulously handsome lead singer for a band called Lucifer. Later, the band composes a song using Aine's lyrics. The tune proves to be popular, and Sakuya decides he wants a professional - and personal - relationship with Aine. But is Aine just another sexual conquest for Sakuya? And has Aine truly struck gold in the world of pop music?
VIZ concludes, Chuang Yi starts.
Blaue Rosen by Shinjo Mayu Volume 2
ISBN: 981-269-587-7
Akira's sudden appearance catches Mizuki completely off guard! What's a girl to do when the truth is finally shoved in her face?! Long used to being fawned over by other girls, this ardent wooing by a guy throws her off balance, but Akira sees through her true feelings and seals it with a kiss! With his usual brazen flair, he then proceeds to crash Saint Nobara's annual get-together. Parties, flirtations, hot springs... Will the single thorn hidden among the roses accidentally reveal himself?!
Another Shinjo Mayu-sensei title available through Chuang Yi that you might have come across as 愛を歌うより俺に溺れろ！ Ai wo Utau yori Ore ni Oborero!
(Should I finally admit that I find Shinjo-sensei's works a guilty pleasure? *sweatdrop*)
Vampire Knight by Hino Matsuri Volume 4
Released but no blurb
In a reverse of Sensual Phrase, Chuang Yi is way ahead of VIZ which publishes this series for the North American market.
Vampire Knight which stars Zero and Yuuki (I ship!) is prolly only the third undead story I'm capable of finishing, the first two being Black Blood Brothers and Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian.
~nik who will now use up what's left of the weekend to catch up on the shoujo manga in Indonesian (Ghost Hunt 9!) that's in her TBR pile
花木兰
disclaimer
Fruits Basket is © Takaya Natsuki. Ouran Koukou Host Club is © Hatori Bisco. Vampire Knight is © Hino Matsuri. First published in Japan by Hakusensha. Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is © Hayakawa Tomoko. First published in Japan by Kodansha. Kaikan Phrase, Ai wo Utau yori Ore ni Oborero! are © Shinjo Mayu. First published in Japan by Shogakukan.
All the above titles published in English in Singapore by Chuang Yi Pte Ltd. No infringement intended.