Saturday, May 5, 2012

Bokura ga ita Manga review


English: We Were There
Type: Manga
Volumes: 16
Chapters: 70
Status: Finished
Published: Apr 13, 2002 to Feb 13, 2012
Genres: Drama, Romance, Shoujo, Slice of Life
Authors: Obata, Yuuki (Story & Art)
Serialization: Betsucomi
check out anime review HERE

Anime left us right in the middle of a very bad ending. But yeah, its not the ending cause you will receive the ending you are most awaited in the manga.
I just couldn't let myself be with just watching anime... I really wanted to know what happens to  the favourite couple.


"If you were on a boat with two people and that boat were about to sink, who would you save? The one you like more? The one who's prettier? Or the one who's nicer?” 
If someone ask you that question, who’s your going to choose between the one you love or the one who needed you so badly?

This question lies within the shoujo manga entitled Bokura Ga Ita which literally means ‘We were there’ in English. It’s a romance manga written and illustrated by Yuki Obata. It was seriealized in Betsucomi, with the first Tankoon volume released on October 26, 2002. The series had been on hiatus in early 2008 and resumed publication in June 2009. It was later on adapted into an anime series which was aired from July 3 to December 25, 2006. In 2005, the manga won the shogakukan manga award for shoujo category. The manga is now licensed under by Viz Media.

Bokura Ga Ita tells the bitter-sweet love story between a highschool student girl named Nanami Takahashi and the most popular guy in their school, Yano Motoharu. Their sorta budding relationship turns into a serious type one though it’s not easily maintainable. Yano’s past and the complex emotion they bring up makes it difficult for the two to be completely honest about how their feelings for each other. Nanami and Yano must face challenges including jealousy, distance, secrets, third parties, insecurities and many more obstacles before they lead in to supposedly happy ending.


As the story goes on with a light-hearted theme it grows and continues with a difficult plot and turns of events. At first the story seems like simple, cliché and just like the other shoujo manga that ends up with the two main characters being in love with each other but no ,not at all. Bokura Ga Ita has a full loads of heart breaking and and tear-jerking events. There’s something about the manga which makes you feel warm inside and keeps you to read it more until you reach the end. The realistic roller coaster love where the characters emotions portrayed very well in each chapters. The manga shows perfectly how two different people fall in love, it’s a bitter-sweet story that readers can’t afford to miss. The pacing and it’s focus between Nanami and Yanos is outstanding! It points out what really happens between Yano and Nanami and the characters who supports them throughout the story.


The artwork is not really outstanding and fantastic though it can still be considered as adorable and cute. However, the manga covers are definitely captivating, creating a refreshing and seemingly simple feel akin to it. 

You will love the whole ambiance of the manga for sure. The atmosphere, the words and the phrases that the author uses are really powerful, wonderful and very memorable. Maybe no matter how many times you read it , it will definitely touch your heart no matter what and will surely leaves you with an overwhelming emotions. It shows what love is about and how hard yet precious love is.

Anime review is HERE

"Y:We were all indeed here. We lived here...
N: I came to love him...
Y: I loved her...
N: Receiving so many beginnins... and countless number of feelings...
Y: Learning each other's strengths and weaknesses...
N: Yes... indeed... We... Were here..."