Rica 'tte Kanji!?

Rica 'tte Kanji!? (Japanese: リカって感じ!?) is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Rica Takashima. The series was first serialized in the Japanese manga magazine Phryne in 1995, and then moved to Anise in 1996. The manga was later licensed by ALC Publishing for release in English,[1] with the first volume being released on June 19, 2003.[2] Additional Rica 'tte Kanji! stories have been published in ALC Publishing's annual anthology Yuri Monogatari. Rica Takashima has stated in interviews that one of the reasons she created Rica 'tte Kanji!? was to have a yuri manga that was happy and about everyday life, unlike most yuri of the time, which typically ended in tragedy or were in a sci-fi setting.[3]

Rica 'tte Kanji!?
Cover of a bilingual edition (Japanese and English) of Rica 'tte Kanji!? released by Anise
リカって感じ!?
GenreRomance, Slice of life, Yuri
Manga
Written byRica Takashima
Published byAnise
English publisher
MagazinePhryne
Anise
Original run1995 – 1996
Volumes1

Plot

Rica 'tte Kanji!? story revolves around the main character Rica, a new student at a Women's Junior College in Tokyo. Having never met another openly lesbian individual before, Rica visits Shinjuku Ni-chōme, Tokyo's gay and lesbian district. On her first night there, she makes several new friends, including Miho, a fine arts college student who eventually becomes Rica's girlfriend. Each chapter presents a slice of Rica's life, such as going on dates, preparing for Christmas, or doing college work.

Characters
Rica Takashima
The main character of Rica 'tte Kanji!? Rica is a cheerful girl who moved to Tokyo to attend a Women's College to study early child development. Rica can occasionally be a little naïve at times, but her sunny enthusiasm is infectious. Though she was first viewed as fresh meat on the dating scene, her new Ni-chōme friends are quickly won over by her sweetness and innocence.
Miho
Miho is a fine arts student who is studying textiles. She is one of the first friends Rica makes in Tokyo, and Rica turns to Miho for dating advice and platonic companionship. However, Miho's feelings for Rica deepen beyond friendship, and the pair later start dating.

Reception

Rica 'tte Kanji!? was given positive reviews from such sources as Animerica, a popular anime and manga magazine. The review praises Takashima's art style for matching the type of story she is telling, and states that the manga series' happy outlook makes it worth reading.[4] In a review at Comic World News, David Welsh commented that "[Takashima's] work is like a less accomplished version of Bryan Lee O'Malley's (Lost At Sea, Scott Pilgrim)", adding that the manga series is "an admirable and endearing attempt to put some fun into yuri manga."[5] Dillon Font from Anime Fringe complimented Rica 'tte Kanji!? for being "fun and enjoyable", adding, "[t]his comic work is beautiful, but lacks any real meat or troubles that would give the reader a more complete and fulfilling story."[3]

In 2006, Professor Kerridwen Luis of Brandeis University chose Rica 'tte Kanji!? as course material for her Anthropology 166B course.[6][7] The book was added to permanent collection of Kyoto International Manga Museum in 2011.[8] Italian version was released by RenBooks, Bologna, Italy in 2011,[9] E-book version was released as titled TOKYO LOVE Rica ‘tte Kanji!?, and named one of Best Manga 2013 by San Diego Comic-Con International 2013,[10] and Otaku USA.

References
  1. "ALC Publishing enters manga market". Anime News Network. July 1, 2003. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  2. Friedman, Erica (June 19, 2003). "Yuricon News and new Yuri Manga!". Okazu. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  3. "Pro Amateur Comics - Yuri Doujinshi Rica 'tte Kanji!?". Anime Fringe. July 2003. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  4. Davis, Julie (November 2003). "Animerica / Best of the West Manga Browser/ Rica 'tte Kanji!?". Animerica. Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2009. Alt URL
  5. Welsh, David (July 7, 2007). "New Girls in Town". Comic World News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2007. Retrieved September 6, 2009.
  6. "Yuri Manga in Anthropology Course". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  7. Luis, Kerridwen (December 20, 2005). "Syllabus Draft" (PDF). Unbounded Desires: A Cross-Cultural Look at Non-Heteronormative Sexualities Anth 166B. Brandeis University. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2008. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
  8. Manry, Gia (2011-03-11). "Kyoto International Manga Museum Adds U.S. Yuri Works". AnimeNewsNetWork. AnimeNewsNetWork. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  9. Giordano, Nino (2011-08-31). "La tragicità dello Yuri". RENBOOKS. Renstudio snc. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  10. Rowe, Peter (2013-07-20). "5 best -- and 5 worst -- manga of the year". The San Diego Union-Tribute. The San Diego Union-Tribute LLC.
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