Advertise on podcast: Shojo & Tell: A Manga Podcast

Red River by Chie Shinohara has finally gotten an anime adaptation, so, just as everyone else is talking about it right now, we, too, are entering the fray of the ancient Hittite Empire. Shojo & Tell host Ashley is persuaded by her husband, Asher, that he's the guy fit for discussing this iconic series, because his rabbinic studies give him an informational edge. The Ashes debate what the relentlessness of sexual assault against Yuri culturally signifies, wonder at the limits of historical fiction, and get wistful about isekai of yore. On sillier notes, Ashley fawns over Yuri and praises Prince Kail for being so corny. This episode covers the first third of the series. REFERENCES Red River is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line The Red River anime is streaming on Crunchyroll Other anime/manga series mentioned The Vision of Escaflowne Fushigi Yugi Sword Art Online Sailor Moon Snow White with the Red Hair Hot Gimmick  Fruits Basket Mars The Prince of Egypt is the source of all truth Books mentioned: Horse by Geraldine Brooks The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness Songs mentioned: "A Horse with No Name" by America "Yuri the Only One for Me" by LeetStreet Boys Ishtar Syrian civil war Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

We pick up right where we left off, and... It's not what you expect. At all. Rin is up to Rin machinations. Shion did exactly what you thought he did. Jinpachi is suddenly kinda sinister. Alice is struggling with her memories, in more ways than one. Daisuke exists. Tamura is still the best (Mikuro is a close second). Shojo & Tell host Ashley and special guest Autumn talk their overall thoughts on the ending of this slow-burn mystery/drama, delve into the worldbuilding presented by Mokuren's past (so you DID have cool flying spaceship jawns!), poke gentle fun at some new back-half characters, and of course, wonder "WHY?" about a slew of ridiculous ships. REFERENCES Please Save My Earth is available digitally from Viz Media Other anime/manga series mentioned Sailor Moon Red River Hana-Kimi Boys Over Flowers From Far Away The Vision of Escaflowne A Sign of Affection Fushigi Yugi Hot Gimmick  Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Autumn's blog: https://notanotakunao.blogspot.com/ Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

It's 1980s Japan. Saki Hiwatari is telling a story set in the extremely near future, in 1990s Tokyo (now nostalgic past). A group of teens start to meet up because they all have dreams of a past life where they were people who were the size of human pinkies and they lived on the moon. Why do they have these dreams? What happened in their past life? It's an epic drama and drawn-out science fiction mystery for the times! Shojo & Tell host Ashley and shojo manga superfan Autumn get into themes of fate and cyclical wrongs with this singular series. The discussion mostly centers around how punchable Rin/Shion is, but hey, we swear there's other fun stuff packed in here, too.  REFERENCES Please Save My Earth is available digitally from Viz Media Other anime/manga series mentioned Saint Seiya Tokyo Babylon The Vision of Escaflowne Banana Fish A Sign of Affection X/1999 Fushigi Yugi Paradise Kiss Legend of the Galactic Heroes Devilman Maid-Sama Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle Hot Gimmick  Black Jack Hunter x Hunter YuYu Hakusho Rocky is rated PG when it probably shouldn't be (it should be PG-13) "This is a work of fiction" disclaimer history: Started in the 1930s in novels as a result of a defamation lawsuit Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Autumn's blog: https://notanotakunao.blogspot.com/  Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

There are few authors more synonymous with "shojo" than Arina Tanemura. We've done Tanemura works before. But Full Moon is peak Tanemura. Which is not to say it's a masterwork.  For those who don't idolize Tanemura and are wondering what Full Moon is about, the series follows a 12-year-old girl named Mitsuki who wants to be a singer so she can reconnect with her childhood crush, whom she met when they both lived at an orphanage, but she can't become a singer because she has throat cancer that, if left untreated, will kill her. Some shinigami show up telling her she only has one year left to live, and she somehow convinces the shinigami to turn her into a 16-year-old so she can become the idol of her dreams before she dies. Are you keeping up? Tanemura fan Laura Spicer joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley once again to go through the whirlwind of a manga to, first, figure out what even all happened here, and second, to determine what the good emotional beats are. REFERENCES Full Moon is available digitally from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line The Full Moon anime is available on blu-ray Tanemura's other projects Phantom Thief Jeanne Idol Dreams idolish7 The Gentlemen's Alliance Sakura Hime Time Stranger Kyoko Music mentioned +44 Linkin Park Evanescence Within Temptation t.A.T.u. Maaya Sakamoto Yui Horie AKB48 Morning Musume Ayumi Hamasaki Other anime/manga series mentioned Fruits Basket Sailor Moon Cardcaptor Sakura Ouran High School Host Club Yona of the Dawn Hana-Kimi A Condition Called Love Not Your Idol Oshi no Ko The Vision of Escaflowne Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT Laura on Bluesky, Instagram Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Hanayu wants to be a sushi chef, but her father expects her to take over the family pastry shop. Hayato wants to be a pastry chef, but is expected to take over his family's sushi restaurant. Uh, you can see where this is going, right? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher discuss this romantic comedy series in which these 15 year old children place the weight of the world on their shoulders. Mixed Vegetables may be a mixed bag, but hey, maybe that's your cup of tea (to mix metaphors). REFERENCES Read Mixed Vegetables digitally on the Viz Media app Other manga/anime mentioned Maid-Sama Kimi ni Todoke Full Moon o Sagashite Yuu Watase Locations in Japan mentioned Kagoshima Okinawa Hokkaido How Japan’s Female Sushi Chefs Are Claiming a Seat at the Counter (Conde Nast Traveler 2022) Koseki Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogue CONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter Ashley on Bluesky

Caitlin and Ashley are back to discuss the second half of Horimiya, aka, all the bits that don't matter. Like, it's a miracle this episode is over an hour long, because the two spend most of the time talking about *checks notes*: Sawada, Iura, and Watabe. And they're definitely the most interesting characters in this whole series, right? Especially Iura. Jokes aside, Caitlin and Ashley spend time going over the chapters they did like (and some they really didn't), plus there's a shipping corner with an 11th hour bombshell dropped. Just like the second season of the Horimiya anime, this episode isn't boring, but it might also not be necessary. Tune in to hear for yourself. REFERENCES Horimiya is published by Yen PressOther manga/anime mentionedMaid-Sama!Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogueCONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterCaitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News NetworkCaitlin on BlueskyAshley on Bluesky

Finally, we're here to talk about the shonen elephant in the shojo room: Horimiya. Look at almost any list of "best shojo anime," and you're bound to see Horimiya near the top of it. But, just so we're all clear: Horimiya isn't a shojo series. It is, however, a very good shonen romance series. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Anime News Network and Anime Feminist writer Caitlin dig into why people often mistake Horimiya for a shojo series and how the series lovingly subverts a lot of stereotypical romance tropes through the main couple, Hori and Miyamura, and many of the B couples, especially Remi and Sengoku. There's a lot of gushing over how relatable Hori is (seriously, so relatable). But most importantly (regrettably?): Ashley and Caitlin delve into what makes the sex scene so touching and how nice it is to see an authentic teenage exploration of kink. REFERENCES Buy Horimiya from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)Horimiya is published by Yen PressOther manga/anime mentionedFushigi Yuugi: Genbu KaidenMillennium SnowAttack on TitanSword Art OnlineBlack BirdHot GimmickMonthly Girls' Nozaki-kunFushigi YuugiBoys Over FlowersKodochaMarmalade BoyFull MoonOutro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogueCONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterCaitlin's writings at Anime Feminist and Anime News NetworkCaitlin on BlueskyAshley on Bluesky

Get ready to go to the beach in this emotionally affecting, short josei series. Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand by Yoko Komori follows Tokiko, a sixth grader whose parents are recently separated; as a result, she moves with her dad from Tokyo to the small beach town where her mother grew up where legends of merfolk are still honored. As she grapples with her new normal, Tokiko is also looking for a particular merman for saving her from drowning. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher dive deep into Tokiko's family dynamics, whether or not one citizen of the town is actually real, and the consequences of pathological lying.  REFERENCES Buy Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)Mermaid Scales and the Town of Sand is published by Viz Media's Signature lineOther manga/anime mentionedHorimiyaOutro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode 3 dialogueCONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky

Ashley and Asher are back to discuss volumes 11 through 20 of Snow White with the Red Hair, and they have a lot more to say this time (most of it is still some variation of "they're so cute!"). The Ashes talk about new characters (Hisame, the Bergat brothers, Lilias folks), the overarching plots (Izana's coronation, Lilias part 2, Sereg assassination plots, Kiki's marriage machinations), the official character poll (lol Mitsuhide), and of course, all the ships (yes, Zen and Shirayuki are cute, but why not Kiki and Shirayuki?). Let the fangirling and fanboying commence. REFERENCES Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat lineOther manga/anime mentionedBleachFushigi YugiFushigi Yugi: Genbu KaidenJesse and James from PokemonWHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic"Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky

Welcome to the special collaboration episode between Ashley of Shojo & Tell and Chika and Giana of Shoujo Sundae (hereby dubbed the "shojo trio"). In this episode, we talk everything Josee, the Tiger and the Fish: the animated movie version (amazing!), the manga (basically the same as the movie but taking things at your own pace can be helpful!), the live-action movie (oh no!), and the original short story (very Japanese!). Josee, the Tiger and the Fish follows Josee, a sheltered, curmudgeonly wheelchair user, and Tsuneo, a try-hard college boy who loves diving, as they both come out of their shells to meet each other and the sometimes scary, sometimes harsh, occasionally beautiful outside world. Let's dive! REFERENCES You can watch the animated movie on CrunchyrollYou can read the manga version, published by Yen PressYou can read the original short story, also published by Yen PressYou can watch the live-action version on RetroCrushSTAY IN TOUCH Find Shoujo Sundae on: Bluesky, Instagram, XFind Chika on: Bluesky, InstagramFind Giana on: Bluesky, Instagram, Personal WebsiteFind Shojo & Tell on: Bluesky, Instagram, TumblrFind Ashley on: Bluesky

There are few contemporary shojo manga that are more popular and beloved that Sorata Akizuki's wholesome fairy-tale-inspired story Snow White with the Red Hair. The protagonist, Shirayuki, has apple-red hair that attracts attention from unsavory characters and noble princes alike, and the story follows her as she becomes a court herbalist and a worthy bride-to-be for Prince Zen Wisteria. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and her husband Asher delve into why this story is so special, while walking through the highs (and the lows) of the first 10 volumes. Asher expresses his undying love for Obi, while Ashley pledges allegiance to Prince Izana. But in the end, it's all about the best ZenYuki moments. REFERENCES Buy Snow White with the Red Hair from MangaMart, a family-run manga store offering some of the most competitive prices around (affiliate link)Snow White with the Red Hair is published by Viz Media's Shojo Beat lineOther manga/anime mentionedWaiting for SpringMaid-Sama!Shortcake CakeWHYY: "How experiments with gila monster venom led to blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic"Outro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US Shojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky

This episode discusses all 9 volumes of the My Love Mix-Up!  manga by Wataru Hinekure and Aruko, and contains comparisons between it and the Japanese live-action adaptation. My Love Mix-Up! (not to be mixed up with Aruko's other work, My Love Story!! .... deep sigh) tells the story of Sota Aoki, a seemingly happy-go-lucky boy who has a crush on a female classmate, Mio Hashimoto, but winds up in a relationship with male classmate Kōsuke Ida. It sure is all mixed up, and it's a pure delight. Romance novelist Megan Frampton joins Shojo & Tell host Ashley to discuss what makes the series so funny, how that does or does not translate to the Japanese live-action screen adaptation, and the surprising amount of character growth the main cast goes through. Jump into the fluff and feels with us! REFERENCES My Love Mix-Up! is available from Viz Media's Shojo Beat line Watch the My Love Mix-Up! Japanese live-action version on VikiThere is also a My Love Mix-Up! Thai live-action versionOther manga/anime mentionedMARSMy Love Story!!Maid-SamaKimi ni TodokeKimi ni Todoke live actionKimi ni Todoke animeLive-action Bleach movieKaguya-Sama: Love is WarOutro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US Find Megan on BlueSky and InstagramCheck out Megan's books https://www.meganframpton.com/ Subscribe to Megan's SubstackShojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky

This episode discusses MARS volumes 9-15 and the prequel story, "Horse with No Name" How many suicide attempts can happen close to Kira and Rei? How many car crashes and motorcycle accidents? Shojo & Tell host Ashley and CLAMPcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy are back to discuss the second half of the melodrama MARS by Fuyumi Soryo, and their biggest question is about whether the series accurately portrays the way trauma stacks (both Ashley and Lucy lean toward no). Ashley and Lucy share their thoughts about Kira seeming to give up her dreams to be with Rei, and so Rei can pursue his, what they wish "Horse with No Name" had been about instead, how they're glad Tatsuya made it out unscathed, and more. REFERENCES MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitallyListen to Ashley's MARS DJ set!Read Robin's book! Other manga/anime mentionedRG VedaKimi ni TodokeMarmalade BoyMy Love Mix-Up!Snow White with the Red HairSongs mentioned:"A Horse with No Name" by AmericaMisc. mentions:Grey's AnatomyThe Last UnicornOutro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookFind Lucy on Threads, Instagram, and BlueSkyShojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky

This episode discusses volumes 1-8 of MARS by Fuyumi Soryo. We continue our melodrama mood with the late 1990s/early 2000s series, MARS. Kira Aso is a quiet girl who loves to paint. Rei is a bad boy who loves to race motorcycles. Naturally they fall in love, and all the dark secrets come out about them both. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Clampcast in Wonderland co-host Lucy discuss what makes this series so gripping despite it being over the top, how iconic the art is, the portrayal of America, how cute Rei and Kira are, and much more. REFERENCES MARS is available from Kodansha Comics digitallyColleen's MARS retrospective videoOther manga/anime mentionedHot GimmickFruits BasketHana-KimiThe Vision of Escaflowne (Dilandau)LoveComMarmalade BoyCloverCardcaptor SakuraSongs mentioned:"Safe with Me" by Gryffin"Ride or Die" by The KnocksOutro: "Tokimeki no Doukasen" (Fushigi Yuugi ending theme) + Fruits Basket (2019) episode three dialogueCONTACT US Find CLAMPcast on BlueSky, Twitter, Instagram, and FacebookShojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky

This episode discusses the second half (volumes 7–12) of Hot Gimmick by Miki Aihara. Oh, so you thought the first half of Hot Gimmick contained the worst of the problematic hot trash? Think again. Shojo & Tell host Ashley and Naja of Blerdy Otome are back to talk about this wild, wild ending to a wild, wild series where all the content warnings apply. Who does Hatsumi end up with in her triangle of horrible choices? Why are Tachibanas like this? What are you doing, Shinogu? Who is THE worst character in the entire series (on a scale of constant abuse and gang rape to actually why the heck isn't this series about cuties Subaru and Akane?)? What are the most popular ships on Ao3/FF.net for this series, and do the people writing it know they're wrong? All that and more is touched on in this podcast episode. You've been warned. REFERENCES Hot Gimmick is available from Viz Media in EnglishHot Gimmick S is a reimagining of the endingOther anime/manga mentionsGundamMy Hero AcademiaArchive of Our OwnFanFiction.netMisc. media mentions"We Found Love" by Rihanna and Calvin HarrisOtome game: In Your Arms TonightOutro song: "The Streatham Hill Gods" by DanosongsCONTACT US Find Naja's work on her website, Twitch, Twitter, and BlueSkyShojo & Tell on Bluesky, Tumblr, Instagram, and TwitterAshley on Bluesky