Princess Jellyfish // soft platonic romance

Jellyfish was an utterly cute series, and I wish it never ended. I was drawn into it by a personal connection.

My dad is the person who taught me how to walk in heels and keep a dress from getting in my way, using his own experience from his teen years during which he wore heels, dresses and eyeliner.

At the time, we’d been raised to laugh at such things. I didn’t think it was weird or abnormal or anything, and in my adulthood, I wish that alter had not responded with a laugh, but by saying, “That’s really cool,” instead.

I appreciate straight men who cross-dress, in public. They have a lot of privilege, yes — that’s not it, though. Rather, it’s the fact that they feel comfortable enough in their identity that their masculinity will not be at risk if they wear clothes associated with femininity. I appreciate, and respect, that.

I enjoy hanging out with those types of men.

I used to think I could marry one of those types of men, but it turns out I’m just a lesbian.

Book review + thoughts

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 1

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 1Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 1 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #1
Published by Kodansha on 13 March, 2009
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Contemporary, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 376
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★

Tsukimi Kurashita has a strange fascination with jellyfish. She’s loved them from a young age and has carried that love with her to her new life in the big city of Tokyo. There, she resides in Amamizukan, a safe-haven for girl geeks who regularly gush over a range of things from trains to Japanese dolls. However, a chance meeting at a pet shop has Tsukimi crossing paths with one of the things that the residents of Amamizukan have been desperately trying to avoid—a beautiful and fashionable woman! But there’s much more to this woman than her trendy clothes! This odd encounter is only the beginning of a new and unexpected path for Tsukimi and her friends.

  • Being a “Stylish” is essentially a metaphor for trendiness/popularity/going with the status quo, so I can see how it threatening upgrading their style feels to the Amars, the otaku living in Amamizukan.
  • Main character Tsukimi was relatable and, oddly, likeable. She seems most comfortable in her “After Tsukimi” style, out of everyone else.
  • Kuranosuke, the cross-dressing straight man, has a style sense and compassion towards the Amars. I’m not sure exactly why he took an interest in Tsukimi so much, beyond her living so close to his mansion and him not wanting to be home all that much. I’d like to say that he liked her since he found out she’s a virgin, him being a guy and all, but just didn’t realize it — but I don’t know.
  • Kuranosuke’s brother, Shuu Koibuchi, has such a typical guy reaction to After Tsukimi versus Before Tsukimi. Reminded me why I’m a lesbian.
  • Overall, I absolutely love this story, and josei is not something we collectively care for.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 2

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 2Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 2 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #2
Published by Kodansha on 28 June, 2016
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Contemporary, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 396
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★

With the geeky paradise of Amamizu-kan threatened by redevelopment plans, Tsukimi and the Amars must spring into action. Buy the wily Inari and her hold on Shu forces Kuranosuke to pull out all the stops: money, blackmail, and...fashion?! Though Amamizu-kan still struggles with Kuranosuke's stylish ways, the neighborhood fashionista has too much to lose, whether it's a hidden identity or priceless friendships. Tsukimi gets the chance to make her jellyfish dreams into a glamorous reality, but that means breaking out of her bubble! Can these misfit princesses save their castle?

  • nice character dev
  • I liked how the plot wasn’t driven by romance
  • I admired the selflessness portrayed by Kuranosuke, but other reviews called him selfish, sooo let’s blame different neurotypes.
  • I don’t care so much for author side comics, and I feel like there is going to be two in each English volume of this series
  • The chauffeur gives autistic vibes, though he’s not entirely loyal in the case of threats against his special interest (Benz vehicles)

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 3

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 3Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 3 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #3
Published by Kodansha on 8 November, 2016
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Contemporary, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 352
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★

Inari, the aggressive vixen of redevelopment, ramps up her efforts to buy out Amamizu-kan, where Tsukimi and her friends live. But Kuranosuke has a fabulous plan of attack--turn Tsukimi's jellyfish designs into a reality! Will becoming real fashion designers be more than Amars can handle? Meanwhile, Shu's interest in Tsukimi drives Kuranosuke to confront some feelings he's never dealt with before...

  • Not feeling the side romance story between Shu and the landshark woman. This is honestly what I dislike about josei, i.e. every romance uses an attractive woman as a plot device to drive the romance/create jealousy/etc. — perpetuating this patriarchal feud between women
  • Ugh, but I’d have slapped that bitch, too.
  • This volume had a lot more fashion in it than I’d like.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 4

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 4Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 4 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #4
Published by Kodansha on 11 April, 2017
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Contemporary, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 352
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★

The night of the fashion show for Tsukimi and Kuranosuke’s Jelly Fish brand has finally arrived. They pulled out all the stops to make Amamizu-kan into an enchanting wonderland–even Mayaya has transformed into a chic model! The show brings some much-needed attention to the retro building, but will the exposure be enough to save the Amars and their home? When their fashion line becomes a hit success, the girls scramble to satisfy their customers. With the help of their new colleague Nisha, a savvy Indian expat who knows all about the textile industry, they just might make it work!…But is Tsukimi ready to leave her quiet life behind for good?

  • Lots more character dev, plot dev
  • Still doing the jealous/bitchy side chick shit
  • Another love interest is finally coming to light more/better
  • I appreciate how romance doesn’t keep the plot moving along, but wish there was more romance. These volumes contain almost 400 pages each — I feel like more romance should have hit by now, but nothing.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 5

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 5Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 5 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #5
Published by Kodansha on 18 June, 2017
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 352
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★

With the help of Amars and their savvy new ally Nisha, Tsukimi’s jellyfish designs are slowly taking shape as a real clothing line. There’s no time to waste if the group wants to save Amamizukan and make a splash in the fashion world, and that means churning out new dresses—and fast! As if Tsukimi weren’t already overwhelmed, Shu makes it clear that he’s ready to make a romantic commitment to her. For a geek girl who’s never even had a boyfriend, these advances may be too much to handle. And Tsukimi isn’t the only one struggling—with his brother’s feelings out in the open, Kuranosuke must figure out how he fits into Tsukimi’s life.

  • Romance is moving wayyy too slow.
  • At this point, I’m committed for the romance.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 6

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 6Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 6 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #6
Published by Kodansha on 26 September, 2019
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 344
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★

In order to save Amamizukan, the girls decide to put up an exhibition of their work. When the Jelly Fish dresses catch the eye of Asia's greatest fashion influencer, Kai, it's not only the dresses that the mogul wants -- it's the designer herself. Tsukimi and the gang are about to get the massive break they need, but at what price...? Afraid that he may lose Tsukimi, Kuranosuke must come to terms with what his true purpose for starting Jelly Fish once was. Meanwhile, Shu learns of the heartbreaking history of Kuranosuke's mother, while Chieko's mother makes a discovery that seals the fate of Amamizukan.

  • The cliche male antagonist love interest has stepped into the chat
  • This one has a lot of backstabbing and drama — it would have been dramatic enough without the additional dude. Where the story is now headed feels unnaturally paced.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 7

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 7Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 7 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #7
Published by Kodansha on 12 December, 2017
Genre: Adult fiction, Comedy, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance
# pages: 344
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★

In order to save Amamizukan, Tsukimi makes the ultimate sacrifice: She goes to Singapore to work as a designer for Kai’s fashion company. While Amars seems to accept Tsukimi’s departure and the end of Jelly Fish, Kuranosuke refuses to give her up without a fight! As she floats further and further away from home, Tsukimi struggles to learn the ins and outs of the fashion industry, as well as decipher the motives of the enigmatic Kai.

  • The drama in this volume reminds me of that song where the old woman swallowed a horse — she swallowed the cow to catch the goat, to catch the dog, to catch the cat…
  • Like, this can’t be legal?? The plot from Volume 6 is basically human trafficking and using a hostage situation for comedy and to drive the plot.
  • There was also a lack of consent from a man who saw [character] as a child, whom he seeks to use for financial gain.
  • I’m honestly tired of Tsukimi’s naivete/lack of understanding that she is being taken advantage of, to the point that it’s irritating. I understand her overall story is essentially coming-of-age, but this is Twilight Saga commitment in hopes that the main character is going to do a total 360 on her character.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 8

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 8Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 8 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #8
Published by Kodansha on 3 April, 2018
Genre: Comedy, Contemporary, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance, Young adult
# pages: 328
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★

As this modern fairy tale of otaku girls bum-rushing the fashion industry hits its penultimate volume, Kuranosuke charges onwards for Tsukimi’s retrieval mission! Hanamori-san also makes his way to Singapore, for less noble reasons, but the biggest showstopper is Shu, who decides to propose…for real this time! Meanwhile, the Jelly Fish line may not be dead yet, but who’s crazy enough to take its reins?

  • I hesitated to buy the last two volumes of Princess Jellyfish, as they were not available for free with comiXology, and I could have just read the ending on a free manga site. I wanted to support the author, however, so I did ultimately buy them (close to $30 after tax), but I do admit that I still read a lot of manga on those sites because English versions are not always easy to find. Some manga never gets an English version, which sucks.
  • The plot is starting to feel extremely rushed, like the author was given a specific time frame to finish the series. I suspect the live-action drama series was the cause, because what better promotion tool than a TV show to encourage people to buy the books???
  • Shu keeps doing shit on his own. If he’s 30 while she’s supposed to be 19, why is he so gung-ho about turning her into a politician’s wife?? SHE HAS NOT EVEN LIVED HER LIFE YET, AND HE IS ABOUT TO SQUASH IT ALL. He also doesn’t recognize her in her plain clothes and/or all dolled up, based off what he’s expecting. So gross. This is the woman he supposedly LOVES. Like, WHAT THE ACTUAL F?!
  • The real hero is the one who actually went out and found Tsukimi.
  • The side story at the end explained why Kuranosuke started wearing dresses and other feminine clothes, and I quite appreciated it.

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 9

Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 9Princess Jellyfish, Vol. 9 by Akiko Higashimura
Series: Princess Jellyfish #9
Published by Kodansha on 5 June, 2018
Genre: Comedy, Contemporary, Fiction, Graphic novels, Josei, Manga, Romance, Young adult
# pages: 240
Source: Amazon
Goodreads
Rating: ★★★★★

As a brand, Jelly Fish comes to the conclusion that their dresses are for Amars, by Amars. After embracing the fact that they make clothes for weirdos, Tsukimi and the crew must figure out how to sell their styles! In true Amars fashion, these beloved otaku girls and eccentric boys struggle and fumble their way to their happy endings!

  • THIS WAS SO CUTE.
  • I wish the story had continued. I understand female empowerment and all that, but there was so much potential regarding their romance that I would have at least loved a time jump or something because I expected ROMANCE.
  • The last chapter ends at 56 percent, leaving the rest of the volume to the author and about 10 percent for side stories. I didn’t like that too much.

Overall thoughts

  • character development: in regard to style, many characters did a 180º, while a few did a 360º. I know not everyone is going to change; some people remain stagnant for long periods of time or forever — but it would have been great to see some key characters offer support a little better or change in a way that was more beneficial to a certain main character. Tsukimi’s naivete remains through the entirety of the series, and I just feel like 2000+ pages is more than enough for some better character dev.
  • plot development: we don’t get to see what happens to some characters, as if they only existed to serve as side pieces/jealousy sources, which left me feeling sour. I’m not into characters who exist only to serve as plot devices (to provoke action, or add drama to romance, etc.); they remind me of human props in dance recitals, where a dancer just stands there the whole time and doesn’t really do anything but add to the number for “group” dances.
  • romance: lacking; I understand the point was to keep it on the back burner, but…this could have easily been a story about two friends falling in love, as opposed to a love triangle-esque story ft. one older political dude who can’t recognize the woman he supposedly loves when she’s all dolled up vs. in regular clothes.

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