Kodocha: Sana's Stage

Publisher
Tokyopop
Writer
Miho Obana
Artist
Miho Obana
Country of origin
Japan
Length
10 volumes
Year
1994

Kodocha-Sana's Stage GN 1 & 2

By David Rasmussen
2nd Dec 04

Original Title : Kodomo no Omocha, or Child's Toy
Studio - TOKYOPOP
Age - T for Teen (13+)
By Miho Obana
TOKYOPOP Staff
Translator -
Lettering & Retouch - Yukio Ichimura
English Adaptation by Sarah Dryer
Retouch and Lettering by Kyle Plummer
Senior Editor - Julie Taylor

KODOCHA (Child's Toy)
Graphic Novel 1
It's kind of hard to even dream of a world of peace and happiness when your dreams are haunted by the classmate you've dubbed a "demon child", but that is the situation facing 6th grader Sana Kurata.
Child star, she seems to live an ideal life... EXCEPT where school is concerned.

In her class nothing is learned because it is ruled by the aforementioned "demon child" Akito Hayama. Seems he has issues with the world at large, and that attitude has spread to the boys he "commands" which has turned Sana's class into a warzone.

However eventually she will have had all that she can stand, and will not stand it no more.
And that day is ... now.
She ends up thrown into a personal struggle against the "demon" Hayama, and at first she ends up being on the short end of the stick losing to him, that is until she learns that he's been blackmailing the teachers and takes a page from Hayama's own "book" to turn the tide and regain supremacy.

However once she has defeated the "demon" Hayama she may learn more about her personal "demon" than she may have wanted to know... like for instance the "demon" is an all too human person with lots of pain and personal problems of which she wants to be a part of, even if he doesn't want her help.

Pretty good for a girl whose manager (Rei) is her "lover" (not), and whose mom has a squirrel living in her hair... complete with mini house set into her hair and everything.

Graphic Novel 2
At first she called Hayama a "demon", but now it seems he's inspiring her.
After working on a project that seems to mirror the pain in Hayama's life it seems that she couldn't possibly get any closer to him... unless of course she finds out that the one she has a major romantic crush on (her older manager Rei) has no interest in her (in a loving sense) and ends up quite devastated (especially since he has someone else his own age with whom he has feelings for).

Maybe the former demon and his rival might end up being closer...
Seems that, as this book begins, that might already be in the works, and might even grow as the book progresses... that is if tons of things and events doesn't conspire to block their way... or push them closer together... one or the other. That's that. Breakdown time.

Kodocha Breakdown the 1st & 2nd
What's Hot? - It's a good read. Abit weird, and kind of wonky, it's also solidly done and something you should consider for your collection. I don't know yet what happens after this point, I admit I have to play catch up and buy the rest of the series, but from what I've read I have good words to say about it.

For a comedy series with a tinkling of little romantic intent I think it's a good read and something you should consider for that collection of yours.

What's Not? - Nothing. It's all good.

Moments to Remember? It all centers around the star, Sana, and her interactions with everyone.
That is the thing about this book that is the memorable thing, at least for me.

What to Ignore? Uh... sooooo the entire school office is out to permanent lunch? Ditto with the parents of all these kids? You're telling me that this classroom is practically a war zone (for a time during the two books) and nobody notices? Even when the incidents become almost violent nobody takes note?

Uh... I have a hard time grasping that this kind of insanity went unnoticed and unhindered for so long, but then again I have a feeling this might be a statement in truth that such things could occur.
Ah. I better ignore it before I lose all faith in the education system.

Overall? Quirky and fun little title that demands your attention. Check it out, and see what you think as Sana takes the "Stage" and shows you her "world" that she lives in. You might like it.

-- David Rasmussen 2nd Dec 04