Kawada. Japanese Volume 6 Cover Art, Blooming Love, Shueisha.
Blooming Love – Information
Author of Story: Daichi Kawada
Chapter Count: 58 chapters
Status: Completed
Content Warnings
These content warnings do not reflect the contents of the review below; only the literary work itself.
- Light nudity
Spoiler Disclaimer
This recommendation post may contain small plot spoilers for review purposes. Any major spoilers are hidden by default and are able to be revealed via click or tap.
Blooming Love – Plot Summary
Shintaro Ibuki is a third year high school student studying art. He’s a member of the art club, and stays after school to do some sketching. However, another student who isn’t part of the art club also stays after to draw…
Her name is Kyoko Sugisaki, a stern-looking girl who’s interested in art because she thinks it’ll improve her craftsman skills! Poor Kyoko struggles with art, but the kindhearted (yet nervous) Ibuki tries to help her out. This simple connection starts a relationship that is sure to bloom!
Why You Should Read Blooming Love
Plot:
This lovely and youthful manga showcases a super cute romance between an artistic, shy boy, and a capable, stern-looking girl. It’s a very relaxed slice of life that simply follows two young adults as they build their careers and romance. Although Blooming Love starts off with the characters in high school, I didn’t label this story with a “high school romance” tag as it quickly skips into their college lives.
This manga has such a lovely slice of life plot that just feels realistic and relatable. There’s not one main plot focus or conflict, but that’s part of what makes this story so lovely and refreshing. No frills, no crazy drama, no annoying tropes, just sweetness and a realistic romance.
The romance gets started quickly, but develops slowly! It really captures the sweetness of a first relationship; the nervousness, small interactions, first experiences…ahh! It’s all very sweet and is sure to warm your heart. I really loved how this manga portrayed a realistic romance without all the extra pizazz that a lot of romance series try to throw in. It’s simple, and that made it a very relatable and easy read.
The romance is also incredibly cute. It’s so soft and heartwarming, you’ll constantly grin from ear to ear over their interactions and romantic growth.
Kawada. Japanese Volume 5 Cover Art, Blooming Love, Shueisha.
I also like that the story includes a focus on the creation of Japanese drums (Kyoko’s craftsmanship job). While the focus isn’t always on this topic, the occasional attention it does get is very interesting to me and super cool. The artist doesn’t necessarily go into super detailed explanations, but often illustrates the process of drum creation and even use, which I found really unique and a nice touch to this simple romance.
Lastly, I wanted to mention that although Blooming Love is advertised as a romcom, the humor isn’t super crazy, and is mostly lighthearted fun with some goofy expressions and unique character personalities. This style of humor is mostly silliness and less joke-focused, but I think that is very appropriate for the style of this manga’s plot and the romance.
Characters:
These characters have such normal, cute personalities. Firstly we have Shintaro, who is a nervous wreck in a lot of cases, but also has a passion for his art and acts as a good boyfriend. I like his more relatable personality, and how he is a less athletic guy simply trying his best. His attitude and design surprisingly match the female lead very well, as she is a capable, reliable, and strong-willed craftsman.
I appreciate that her capabilities and stern face aren’t used as a gimmick for the series. Kyoko and Shintaro are just the way they are, and it’s treated as completely normal. It’s nice to see characters with “flaws” or talents that aren’t super exaggerated. These characters still have normal personalities throughout the series, and that sort of helps maintain the natural feel of the story and romance.
Art:
Just like the story, the art is simple and clean. Some parts of the environment get a little extra detail here and there, but for the most part this manga is easy to look at and is uncomplicated. I like the character designs too, particularly Shintaro’s wavy hair and Kyoko’s thick eyebrows!
Kawada. Japanese Volume 3 Cover Art, Blooming Love, Shueisha.
Any Cons?
I really enjoyed Blooming Love, but if you’re looking for something packed with plot, this story may not be a good choice. It’s a slice of life, so there isn’t a big conflict or main plot driving the story. It follows small life events that encourage either character development or romantic development. So if you’re currently looking for something more exciting or involved, maybe skip this one!
Final Thoughts
This series is an easy read with a simple, soft romance and a relaxed plot. I think it’s a great choice for anyone looking for an uncomplicated romance without too much drama or many annoying tropes. It’s the kind of story that’s great to relax with and will surely put you in a great mood! 🙂
Disclaimer: Any images used for this blog are for illustrative purposes only, are not owned by me, and are under ownership of the artist or publisher.
Images Credit: Kawada, Daichi. Blooming Love, Shueisha, 2023.
