Paradise Kiss

Paradise Kiss is another work by Ai Yazawa. It was released about the same time as Nana with only five volumes. The manga was showcased on the magazine Zipper and ran from April 2000 to March 2004. Para Kiss(for short) was also adapted into an anime by Aniplex and Studio Madhouse with twelve episodes and aired on October 13, 2005 through December 29 of that same year. Due to its success in Japan, the manga is being translated into nine different languages, from Spanish to Chinese and now English. Tokyopop has currently licenced it in N. America.

Story:

The plot is relatively simple with a complicated set of characters. Yukari is an ordinary high school student who's only hope is to satisfy her mother's wish(sounds familiar?) As she was walking down the street one sunny day, a tall "woman" stops her claiming her to be Caroline. After she knew what was going on it was too late. She was dragged into a tavern like place with people who are out of the ordinary. Pins and needles sticking out of someones face, a girl cute enough to be a doll, the tall mysterious "woman", and a man that calls himself "an equal opportunity lover." After hearing their story, she found out that they were students at a local fashion school and are in dire need of a model. It follows the story of Yukari who struggles to be the "perfect" daughter, through this quest she learns to walk on her own feet and finally becomes satisfied with her life.

Suggestion:
Its a good read, especially if you like shojo and slice of life kind of thing. The chapters are pretty short and its worth the time you spend on it. After all, the manga has a theme that can relate to most of us, that is.... the struggle we go through to find who we are and the pain and suffering that defines our future.