Cherry Juice (manga)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Cherry Juice


caption = Cherry Juice, Volume 1 (Tokyopop U.S. edition)
ja_name = チェリージュース
ja_name_trans = Cherī Jūsu
genre = Comedy, Romance,DramaInfobox animanga/Manga
title = Cherry Juice
author = Haruka Fukushima
publisher = flagicon|Japan Kodansha
flagicon|United States flagicon|Germany Tokyopop
flagicon|Finland Egmont

publisher_other =
demographic = Shōjo
magazine = Nakayoshi
first = 2004
last = 2006
volumes = 4

nihongo|"Cherry Juice"|チェリージュース|Cherī Jūsu is a romantic comedy manga series created by Haruka Fukushima, centered around a growing romance between stepsiblings Minami and Otome. "Cherry Juice" was originally serialized in "Nakayoshi", and was published by Kodansha in 2004. The first volume of the series was released in America by Tokyopop in September 2007.

Plot

Minami and Otome have been step siblings for five years. Their grandmother is staying with them, taking up Minami's room while she recovers from surgery. This results in Minami having to bunk in his sister's room. They have divided the room with a sheet hanging from the ceiling between the bed where Otome sleeps and a futon on the floor where Minami is sleeping. This often results in Otome either falling half-dressed out of her bed and onto Minami or Minami knocking down the sheet while Otome isn't there and rifling through her things. Shortly afterterwards, a boy named Amane kisses Otome and they begin to date. This sparks emotions in Minami, forcing him to realize that he may feel more for Otome than brotherly love. As Minami begins to express this inner struggle through teasing, harsh words, and awkward romantic gestures, Otome comes to feel the same things.

Characters

Main Characters

;nihongo|Otome Hasaki|羽崎 乙女|Hasaki Otome: Cheerful, cute but a little clumsy, Otome at first seems oblivious to Minami's growing feelings for her. She has a crush on Amane, the captain of the kendo team and Minami's friend, but also finds that she's heartbroken at the thought of Minami transferring to another high school next year. Otome wants both boys in her life – but is that just a childish dream?

;nihongo|Minami Hasaki|羽崎 南|Hasaki Minami:Minami is a happy-go-lucky guy. He's popular with the girls and he knows it. Minami flirts confidently with almost every girl in school, and even turns his interest in baking into a strategy to charm the opposite sex. As Otome starts showing interest in other boys, Minami is surprised to find that this bugs him to have rivals for his sister's attention.

Other Characters

;nihongo|Amane Noda|野田 周|Noda Amane:Serious and athletic, Amane is the captain of the school kendo team. He used to love Otome and confessed his feelings to her and they began to go out. He likes to brag about dating Otome so that Minami will be jealous. After a while though, he realizes that Otome loves Minami more, and finally gets dumped by her. He then, begins to go out with one of her friends; Naru.

;nihongo|Naru Uehara|上原 なる|Uehara Naru:Naru is Otome's close friend. She is a cool girl who is solemn and speaks bluntly, and she seems to never react with surprise, no matter the situation. She is observant, realizing Minami and Otome's changing feeling toward each other before they do. She pokes around Otome's personal life, trying to get her to admit the truth of her love. She is currently dating Otome's ex-boyfriend Amane.

;Kasumi:Kasumi is one year younger than Minami and is also a member of the cooking club. When Minami first began flirting with Kasumi, she was mildly offended and embarrassed, reacting defensively. Eventually she allows herself to get closer to him. Though it seems like she and Minami have begun a legitimate relationship, she easily spots his affection for Otome and is frustrated by it. She is very interested in Minami and tries to get him to return her feelings and give her more attention.Later on, she finally gives up and realizes that it's impossible for Minami to return her feelings because he's in love with Otome.

;Granny:She acts as a loving grandmother to both of the siblings, and was the person who got them to get along when they first became a family by having them both over at her house during summer break. Granny is a busybody, gossiping and spying on Minami when he is alone in his room with Kasumi. She made matching yukata for Minami and Otome. When Otome ran away she went to Granny's empty house and lounged in the plastic kiddy pool Granny had used to bring Minami and Otome together years before.

;nihongo|Hokuto Imai|今井 北斗|Imai Hokuto:The younger biological brother of Minami that likes to tease Otome. He is a very sadistic and mean boy that has qualities that are very similar to Minami. At first he is very rude to Otome and Minami, but later on develops a small soft spot for Otome and threatens to take Otome away from Minami. In the last chapter in Volume 4, he kisses Otome in front of Minami.

Media

Originally published by Kodansha and serialized by Nakayoshi in Japan, Cherry Juice was first released in America by Tokyopop in 2007. [cite web |url=http://www.tokyopop.com/shop/1876/CherryJuice/1.html |title=Cherry Juice - TOKYOPOP |publisher=Tokyopop |accessdate=2008-03-26 |language=English ] The series ran for four volumes [cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=7877 |title=Cherry Juice - Anime News Network |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2008-03-26 |language=English ] , from December 2004 until April 2006 [cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=7877&page=28 |title=Cherry Juice - Japanese Release Dates |publisher=Anime News Network |accessdate=2008-03-26 |language=English ] . In America, the series has three volumes out with one to be released in August. The fourth volume's release date is not known as of now. In Germany, it was first released in July 2006 and the final volume released in February 2007. [cite web |url=http://tokyopop.de/buecher/manga/cherry_juice/index.php |title=Cherry Juice - TOKYOPOP (German)|publisher=Tokyopop |accessdate=2008-03-26 |language=German ] The manga was never released in an animated format.

Graphic novel list/header
OneLanguage = noGraphic novel list
OneLanguage = no
VolumeNumber = 01
LicensedRelDate = September, 2007
LicensedISBN = 1-4278-0286-6
Summary = Graphic novel list
OneLanguage = no
VolumeNumber = 02
LicensedRelDate = January, 2008
LicensedISBN = 1-4278-0287-4
Summary = Graphic novel list
OneLanguage = no
VolumeNumber = 03
LicensedRelDate = May, 2008
LicensedISBN = 1-4278-0288-2
Summary = Graphic novel list
OneLanguage = no
VolumeNumber = 04
LicensedRelDate = August 12, 2008
LicensedISBN = 1-4278-0289-0
Summary =

References