This new manga by Irono was published for the first time, between 2018 and 2021 in Japan, in the magazine PFantapy. Belonging to the Shōjo category, manga focused on various love stories“The taste of strawberries” includes four volumes.
This rural idyll will delight fans of the genre! The first part will be released in France on February 8 by Kurokawa, while the second is scheduled for April. Between its humor, its endearing characters and its bucolic, gourmet setting, “The Taste of Strawberries” manga has no shortage of resources to convince. The proof, with three good reasons to dive into it.
For fans of romantic comedies
While it is in the midst of the Valentine’s Day period, “Il Gusto delle Fragole” has the good taste of telling us a contrasted love story, between two characters who everything seems to oppose. We follow the story of Sarah, a student full of humor and enthusiasm, who comes to help her ailing grandfather run his strawberry growing business. There she meets Minori, a rather grumpy and mysterious man, who works as a strawberry producer with her grandfather. Minori will teach the young girl the rudiments.
The two protagonists develop a mutual attraction. In this first volume, they do everything they can to resist this budding romance, the main obstacle being the age difference – Sarah is 20 and Minori is 33 – but also some communication problems that give rise to many misunderstandings! Romance and humor are extremely well balanced in this manga that will make you want to (re)fall in love!
Mouth watering
Sarah and Minori are the heroines of “Taste of Strawberries,” but they would almost be eclipsed by the fruit around them! Their love story actually takes place among the strawberries, and it’s a superb idea. She grew up tasting sweet foods. The gruff Minori shows a completely different side of Sarah when the two find themselves eating a parfait and sipping on a “strawberry pumpkin”! Minori is, in fact, addicted to all things strawberries, and is obviously super cute. The romantic hero reveals a softer side through his sweet passion.
The title of the manga indicates it: this love story is placed under the sign of gluttony. Culinary encounters are multiplying and allow them to really get to know each other, through their relationship with food, a very important theme in Japan (and in France!). During their first date, Sarah admits to herself: “I am totally fascinated by this sullen-looking man covering himself in cream while eating his dessert.”
To discover the pencil strokes of the mangaka Irono
Irono was born in Omuta in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. After discovering the manga “Inuyasha” in elementary school, she decided to become a manga artist, with her parents’ blessing. A few years later, the young girl graduated from Seika University in Kyoto, in the “manga with scenario” section. Her work was immediately noticed during a talent competition, which she won.
Although she now lives in Tokyo, Irono is not unknown in France, where she went in 2017 during the Japan Expo, to promote her first manga, “The Grim Reaper,” which belongs to the dark fantasy genre. With “The Taste of Strawberries”, the mangaka develops the psychology of her adorable characters and a very pleasant humorous tone, which is also reflected in her lively illustrations. Irono is therefore a talent to follow, capable of imagining very different universes and satisfying both Shōnen and Shōjo fans.
Very present in Shōjo, a manga category aimed at a young audience
feminine, the trope ofAge difference usually features a character
male, adult and with an imposing build, and a more feminine character
young or younger, kind and fragile.
Many manga include illicit romance between a high school girl and her teacher. This type of representation, which is fictional, can prove problematic in her message.
These stories tend to perpetuate gender stereotypes, promote controlling relationships, and ignore female consent. Linked to our patriarchal society, the theme of age difference in pop culture is anchored in Asian, but also Western, culture. Successes like Dusk, pretty Little Liars OR House of the Dragon They are based on novels.”Age difference”.
In this type of romance it is therefore even more important to have a healthy relationship, based on respect and the absence of domination between the characters. Which many manga do very well!
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
