Hoshino, Promotional Art, Tiger and Dragon, Margaret Comics, Shueisha.
Tiger and Dragon – Information
Author of Story: Mizuki Hoshino
Chapter Count: 4 volumes, 25 Chapters
Status: Completed
Content Warnings
These content warnings do not reflect the contents of the review below; only the literary work itself.
- Mentions death of loved ones
- Some nonconsensual advances
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.
Tiger and Dragon – Plot Summary
Tiger and Dragon follows the 15 year old heroine Usa Konomi and her daily school life. She frequently walks to school together with her friend and neighbor Amase Tatsuomi (who she calls Mikkun). Because of this, her girl friends at school become interested and ask if the two are dating.
Usa denies it and says she is dedicated to her first love and childhood friend, Kagetora Kouzuki (a.k.a. “Tora”); who unfortunately moved away at the age of 5. She believes they are destined for each other and will meet again, even though they are not even in contact!
Her friends are sort of put off by this very overly-positive thinking, and tell Usa she probably should just give up that dream and instead enjoy school life.
Then, if that wasn’t enough to set her off, she overhears a crazy rumor from Tatsuomi’s mom that her childhood friend has already had a baby! Upset, Ura decides to give up and try dating others instead.
That’s when Tatsuomi suggests she try dating him! So, they try a date, have a nice day, and then part ways. When Usa returns home, she runs into the new neighbor, who actually turns out to be Tora! Who will Usa choose between these two, tiger (Tora) or dragon (Tatsu)?
When starting Tiger and Dragon, you should expect more rom-com manga vibes and mostly humor (as the title of this review says). There are romantic aspects of course, but within the 25 chapters available, the romance in the Tiger and Dragon manga series doesn’t go too far.
Overall, this manga is very lighthearted and has just a bit of a humorous “who will she choose?” sort of plot.
Hoshino, Volume 1 Cover Art, Tiger and Dragon, Margaret Comics, Shueisha.
Why I Enjoyed Tiger and Dragon
First off, even though Tiger and Dragon is very cute and fluffy as shoujos usually are, it is also hilarious. Rom-com is definitely the proper tag for this one, as it had me cracking up while reading it.
Not only is Usa such a funny character, but the author draws her facial expressions to perfectly match her eccentric personality. Her friends also are so funny in their reactions to Usa’s situation!
I also thought, because of the title Tiger and Dragon, that this story’s male leads would both be the pushy, bad-boy personality type. However, they are pleasantly different and actually very cute. They are even friends! So, the title mostly pulls from their names.
However, their appearances do actually match the vibe. Tora gives off that sharper, sort of mischievous look and Tatsuomi is a bit more mature and reliable.
They also both have unexpected sides to them. Tora seems sort of timid in some ways and is a bit clumsy, and Tatsuomi seems to have a few secret sides to him that is either kind of aggressive or extremely cute.
This manga has such a silly vibe even if it is written in a slice of life style. Our characters say very out-of-pocket things without hesitation, it makes it feel unlike a typical shoujo.
Yet at the same time, there are some moments when the characters are acting so cute or shy that it’ll bring you back to the usual heart-throbbing shoujo atmosphere. The characters are very eccentric, and are the most interesting part of this manga.
Most of the story throughout Tiger and Dragon is just a goofy love triangle that makes you crack up while you wonder who the heroine will end up choosing. She’s so hilarious and takes pretty much the whole manga to make her choice. Because of this, you’ll probably get a heavy case of second lead syndrome.
Also, it’s best to read this story very lightheartedly. It’s a romcom through and through. Even when the special moments or dramatic moments start, they will always end in humor, as opposed to keeping a romantic flow.
If you are wanting a more romance-focused shoujo, check out The More You Chew, The Sweeter It Gets instead! However, Tiger and Dragon is still a very fun read with interesting (and pretty) male leads.
Any Cons?
The biggest con for Tiger and Dragon is that the ending is pretty rushed and unsatisfying; and overall the romance in this story is wishy-washy.
That sort of seems to be the point of the plot, as though it is meant to be humorous, but I feel like the author could have given us a little more development towards the end for closure. I think if the story was longer, we could’ve had more explanations and romantic progress.
Definitely read this manga lightheartedly and just enjoy the humor and pretty characters!
Another con is that if you’re an impatient reader or you don’t like love triangles, the Tiger and Dragon manga series probably isn’t the best pick for you. The entire story revolves around the main three characters and waiting on the heroine to choose.
Also, the heroine is a good person, but is so easily swayed. She is practically dragged around by these two boys. Her two friends are the most sensible characters in this manga; so at least they are there to occasionally knock some sense into her.
Hoshino, Volume 3 Cover Art, Tiger and Dragon, Margaret Comics, Shueisha.
This heroine is indecisive, so if you aren’t a fan of the ditsy type, maybe beware. She takes a long time to choose, but at least she is aware of it and sort of tortured by it.
Although the side characters in Tiger and Dragon (Usa’s friends) seem the most sensible, there is still that weird trope where the characters seem to expect more from a relationship than what is really necessary for a high school shoujo romance.
Thankfully there isn’t any mature content in this story, but the characters definitely like to talk about it. These characters are super young, so I’m glad it didn’t go in that direction.
Lastly, this story takes advantage of “shoujo magic.” Many things that happen in the Tiger and Dragon manga aren’t explained or are justified “just because.” It’s fine since this story is short and very humor-focused, but you should still know what to expect before reading.
Final Thoughts
The Tiger and Dragon manga is a slice of life rom-com shoujo that is definitely leaning more on the comedy side plot-wise. It’s an easy, short read if you’re looking for a shoujo with attractive characters and a humorous plot.
For readers who want a laid-back story and a good laugh, this story is a good pick. Even though the plot turned out to be very different than what I expected, it was still a fun read regardless!
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: Hoshino, Mizuki. Tiger and Dragon, Margaret Comics, Shueisha, 2022.
