Boys Over Flowers

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Boys Over Flowers
Hana Yori Dango volume 06 cover
花より男子 (Hana Yori Dango)
Genre	slice of life story, romantic comedy
Manga
Author	Yoko Kamio
Publisher	Shueisha
English publisher	Viz Media
Other publishers: Glénat Panini Comics
Demographic	Shōjo
Magazine	Margaret
Original run	October 1992 – June 2008
Volumes	37
TV anime
Director	Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Studio	Toei Animation
Network	Asahi Broadcasting Corporation
Other networks: ABS-CBN, Hero
Original run	8 September 1996 – 31 August 1997
Episodes	51
Anime film
Hana Yori Dango: The Movie
Director	Shigeyasu Yamauchi
Studio	Toei Animation
Released	8 March 1997
Runtime	90 minutes
TV drama
Meteor Garden Mandarin Chinese:流星花園
Director	Tsai Yueh Hsun
Network	Chinese Television System
Original run	April 2001 – August 2001
Episodes	19
TV drama
Meteor Garden II Mandarin Chinese:流星花園 2
Director	Wang Ming Tai Jiang Feng Hong Mai Da Jie Zheng De Hua
Network	Chinese Television System
Original run	November 2002 – December 2002
Episodes	31
TV drama
Hana Yori Dango Japanese:花より男子
Director	Yasuharu Ishii
Network	Tokyo Broadcasting System
Original run	October 2005 – December 2005
Episodes	9
TV drama
Hana Yori Dango Returns Japanese:花より男子2/花より男子2(リターンズ)
Director	Yasuharu Ishii Osamu Katayama Daisuke Yamamuro
Network	Tokyo Broadcasting System
Original run	January 5, 2007 – March 2007
Episodes	11
Live-action film
Hana Yori Dango Final Japanese:花より男子〜ファイナル〜
Director	Yasuharu Ishii
Studio	Katsuharu Setoguchi,Shinichi Sanjo
Released	28 June 2008
TV drama
Kkot-boda Namja Korean:꽃보다 남자/꽃보다 男子
Director	Jun Ki Sang
Network	Korean Broadcasting System
Original run	January 5, 2009 – March 31 , 2009
Episodes	25
Anime and Manga Portal

Boys Over Flowers (花より男子, Hana Yori Dango^?) is a Japanese shōjo manga series by Yoko Kamio. It was serialized in the bi-weekly anthology magazine Margaret, which is aimed at high-school-age girls. The manga series ran continuously from October 1992 to September 2003, and was collected into 37 tankōbon volumes. In 1996, it received the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo.^[1]

Recently, the series has started to be released in a deluxe edition (larger pages and with all the color artwork from the magazine reproduced). The manga has been remade into 3 drama productions in Taiwan, Japan, and Korea (with a 4th rumored for China), along with one spin-off, 2 live action movies, 1 anime movie and also an anime series.^[2] Hana Yori Dango is the best-selling shōjo manga in Japan of all time (54 million copies in 2005.)^[3]

Contents 1 Title 2 Story 3 Manga 4 Adaptations 5 Following TV Adaptations 6 Music 7 Characters 7.1 Tsukushi Makino (牧野 つくし, Makino Tsukushi?) 7.2 Tsukasa Domyoji (道明寺 司, Dōmyōji Tsukasa?) 7.3 Rui Hanazawa (花沢 類, Hanazawa Rui?) 7.4 Sojirou Nishikado (西門 総二郎, Nishikado Sōjirō?) 7.5 Akira Mimasaka (美作 あきら, Mimasaka Akira?) 8 Friends 8.1 Enemies 8.2 Family 9 Relationships 10 References 11 External links 11.1 Official sites

[edit] Title

The title Hana yori Dango, more correctly "Boys before Flowers", is a pun on a Japanese saying, "Dumplings before Flowers" (花より団子, "Hana yori Dango" lit. "dango (rice dumplings) rather than flowers"). "Dumplings before flowers" is a well-known Japanese expression that refers to people who attend Hanami, but rather than enjoying the beauty of the flowers, head straight for the food vendor booths, preferring tangible things like food and drink to the abstract appreciation of the flowers’ beauty.^[4] The author creates the pun by changing the kanji of the title to mean "Boys over Flowers" (花より男子^?). Note that "boys" (男子^?) is normally read danshi (だんし^?), but the furigana indicates that it reads dango (だんご^?).

[edit] Story

Tsukushi Makino, a working-class girl, attends an elite escalator school called Eitoku Academy (英徳学園, Eitoku Gakuen^?), populated by children from rich, high-society families. She is the "weed" of the school, surrounded by all the rich kids, including the "Flower Four" (F4). The F4 leader and son of the wealthiest, most powerful family in Japan, Domyouji Tsukasa, takes an interest in Tsukushi, because she is the only girl at Eitoku who does not fawn over him. However, his hot-headed nature and bullying ways are originally a major turn-off for Tsukushi, who has her sights set on someone else (Hanazawa Rui).

The violinist Hanazawa Rui, Tsukasa's best friend, becomes Tsukushi's first serious romantic interest. He is a quiet and cold guy, but he has a soft spot for his close friend and Tsukushi's idol, the model Todou Shizuka, whom he harbored feelings for since childhood. His character is a bit complex, and always has changing feelings for Tsukushi, but above all cares about her in a friendly way.

The other two members of the F4 are Mimasaka Akira, the laid-back peacemaker of the group, and Nishikado Sōjirō, an unrepentant playboy. They both usually have at least one girlfriend at any one time; Akira prefers older women because the women of his household (his mother and two younger sisters) are quite silly. Sojiro is happy to be in casual relationships with many women, although we later discover that at one time he was in love with a childhood friend.

Over the course of the series, however, Tsukushi's feelings evolve, and she begins to appreciate the degree of change that occurred in Tsukasa once he fell in love with her. He becomes fiercely loyal to Tsukushi and believes in her beyond all doubt, and slowly gets her to see him in a different light. The physical obstacles and emotional challenges of their rocky high-school courtship form the basis of the story. Other themes include Tsukushi's attempt to fit in at the school, the problems of her family's lifestyle and income, and the decadent lifestyle of upper-class Japanese girls.

[edit] Manga

Recently in July 2006, a short story was released in issue 15 of Margaret magazine.

[edit] Adaptations

Due to its immense popularity, Hana Yori Dango has been adapted into TV series by Taiwan, Japan and also, most recently Korea ^[5]. Currently, there are also adaptations of the story in work by Mainland China (the show will be called Meteor Shower or Meteor Rain).

Along with its live action counterparts, an anime movie and a series were produced; the anime movie however, deviated from the plot of the actual manga as it was set in an alternate universe and characters were placed into new roles to suit the movie's new story. The anime movie is reminiscent of the American film Flashdance, Tsukushi is an aspiring dancer attempting to win a role in a large stage production.

In 2008, Hana Yori Dango Final was released in theatres on June 28, 2008 ^[6] to end the Japanese TV series, all the original actors reprised their roles. The movie focused solely on Tsukasa and Tsukushi's adventure to retrieve the precious family heirloom: a tiara called "Smile of Venus" which was stolen by a mysterious man in black. The film has proven to be a huge success in Japanese cinemas remaining at #1 at the box office for several weeks, earning over US$ 70 million. The DVD for the drama is currently the #3 Best Selling Japanese Film DVD of all time after a mere 4 weeks of entering the charts, having stayed on top of them for all 4 weeks. The DVD was also the #1 best-selling DVD that was released in 2008 ^[7]. A cameo appearance was made by Naohito Fujiki, who played Hanazawa Rui in the original first live action movie ^[8], Hana Yori Dango, which was made in 1995 starring Uchida Yuki as Makino Tsukushi.

[edit] Following TV Adaptations

• Meteor Garden (CTS Taiwan) 2001
• Hana Yori Dango (TV Series) (TBS Japan) 2005
• Boys Over Flowers (TV Series) (KBS Korea) 2009
• Meteor Shower (TV Series) (Hunan TV China) 2009
• Bunga (TV Series) (Astro Ria Malaysia) 2009

[edit] Music

Series	Opening Theme	Ending Theme	Insert Songs
Meteor Garden	"Qing Fei De Yi" (情非得已) by Harlem Yu	"Ni Yao De Ai" by Penny Tai	"Love of My Life" by Queen
Meteor Garden II	"Can't Lose You" by F4	"The Season of Fireworks" by F4	"Broken Vow" by Lara Fabian
Hana Yori Dango	"Wish" by Arashi	-	"Planetarium" by Ai Otsuka
Hana Yori Dango Returns	"Love so sweet" by Arashi	-	"Flavor of Life" by Hikaru Utada
Hana Yori Dango Final	"One Love" by Arashi	-	"Kisshug" by Aiko
Boys Over Flowers	"Paradise" by T-Max	1."내 머리가 나빠서"(Because I am stupid) by SS501 2."Making a Lover" by SS501 3."Yearning of the Heart by A`ST1	"Stand by me" by SHINee "One More Time" by Tree Bicycle "StarLight Tears" by Kim Yoo Kyung "Lucky" by Ashily

[edit] Characters

This section requires expansion.

[edit] Tsukushi Makino (牧野 つくし, Makino Tsukushi^?)

• Voiced by: Maki Mochida (Japanese), Kelly Sheridan (English)
• Drama actors: Mao Inoue (Japanese version), Barbie Xu (Taiwanese version), Koo Hye Sun (Korean version)

Tsukushi Makino is the main female character in Boys Over Flowers, and is one of the very few students at the prestigious Eitoku University to come from an 'unwealthy' family. Her family is so poor that they can barely afford to pay Makino's tuition, but her parents push her to continue at the school so she can 'seduce a rich man' and take them out of poverty.

Tsukushi is not thrilled about being stuck at Eitoku, and is determined to remain as invisible as possible until graduation. However, she sticks her neck out to defend her friend (Makiko in the manga, Sakurako in the drama), who accidentally bumps into F4 leader Tsukasa Domyoji on a staircase. The next day, a red tag is found hanging in Tsukushi's locker, the F4's "declaration of war," officially marking her for future torment from the F4 and the rest of the student body. But, unlike most of the F4's targets, Makino stands up for herself, showing how strong a 'weed' can be. She attacks Domyoji in the hallway and presents him with a red tag of her own.

In this process, she lets her fierce determination and her stubborn, hardworking ways show through, and in the end turns all of the F4 into her friends.

At first, Tsukushi hates all of the F4 except Hanazawa Rui, (whom she has romantic feelings towards). But, as Rui goes off to chase after Shizuka, Tsukushi slowly falls in love with the hotheaded leader, Domyoji.

[edit] Tsukasa Domyoji (道明寺 司, Dōmyōji Tsukasa^?)

• Voiced by: Naoki Miyashita (Japanese), Michael Adamthwaite (English)
• Drama actors: Jun Matsumoto (Japanese version), Jerry Yan (Taiwanese version), Lee Min Ho (Korean version)

Tsukasa Domyoji is the leader of the F4. At the beginning of the series, he is Tsukushi's biggest enemy, but as the story progresses, he becomes her love interest.

Tsukasa is the heir to Domyoji Enterprises, and his family is extremely rich. They own various houses around the world, including an actual island, a house in Canada, and a house in New York City where his parents live most of the year.

Domyoji spent much of his childhood on his own; his parents were always overseas, and his older sister--as loving as she could be--was always busy studying and eventually married and moved to Los Angeles. His mother, Kaede, is cold to him, and although she loves him, wants to control his life for the sake of preserving the family name. Tsukasa often calls her "the old hag" and "witch," an opinion shared by nearly all of his friends.

Tsukushi's retaliation in the hallway sparks Domyoji's interest, and he is immediately attracted to her daring and strength (the traits he used to admire in his older sister). Despite the harassment he puts her through to keep up appearances, he also constantly tries to do things to impress her - such as trying unsuccessfully to straighten his hair after she tells him that she can't stand his curly-top.

Because he has grown up in luxury and is used to always getting his way, Domyoji is initially not very good at interacting with Tsukushi. He frequently makes fun of her family's poverty and responds angrily when she refuses to do as he says. As time passes, however, he begins to mature and develop a greater understanding of how to interact positively with others.

[edit] Rui Hanazawa (花沢 類, Hanazawa Rui^?)

• Voiced by: Kouji Yamamoto (Japanese), Stephen Park (English)
• Drama actors: Shun Oguri (Japanese version), Vic Zhou (Taiwanese version), Kim Hyun Joong (Korean version)

The violinist Rui Hanazawa, Tsukasa's best friend, becomes Tsukushi's first serious romantic interest. He is generally quiet and cold, but has a soft spot for his close friend and Tsukushi's idol, the model Shizuka Todo, whom he has harbored feelings for since childhood. His character is a bit complex, and his feelings for Tsukushi are in a nearly constant state of flux (varying from annoyance to love), but above all cares about her in a friendly way. In season two of Hana Yori Dango, he grows closer with Makino, but he also claimed that he loved her and that he is the one that would make her happy, not Domyoji. They eventually become very close friends and she depends on him as a confidant. He always seems to wear or have white things in the drama.

It's commonly mistranslated that he had autism as a child. However one cannot outgrow autism, and the 'when I was a child' is actually a mistranslation 'since I was a child.' He has Asperger's syndrome which explains why Rui holds grudges for many years, and often extracts his revenge after everyone involved has forgotten about it. He prefers sleeping at least 10 hours a day, has trouble socializing and can't recognize facial expressions (example in being trying to draw Tsukasa, he drew an expressionless egg with curly hair). These are all typical autistic personality traits he still holds.

[edit] Sojirou Nishikado (西門 総二郎, Nishikado Sōjirō^?)

• Voiced by: Yoshihiko Akaida (Japanese), Andrew Francis (English)
• Drama actors: Shota Matsuda (Japanese version), Ken Chu (Taiwanese version), Kim Bum (Korean version)
• Another member of F4, Sojirou is quiet and very interested in the tea ceremony, which is his family's business. For the most part, he and Mimasaka usually work to keep the peace within the group and following Domyoji. In season two, he reunites with his first love, whom he had believed had only loved his brother. Later he learns that she had truly loved him, but the relationship is unsalvageable (in the manga they both recognize that they missed their one chance to be together, and in the drama she has become engaged to someone else). Makino's close friend, Yuuki has feelings for him and it is uncertain whether he feels the same way. He is also one of the two playboys in the F4.

[edit] Akira Mimasaka (美作 あきら, Mimasaka Akira^?)

• Voiced by: Yuuta Mochizuki (Japanese), Alistair Abell (English)
• Drama actors: Tsuyoshi Abe (Japanese version), Vanness Wu (Taiwanese version), Kim Joon (Korean version)

Mimasaka is arguably the kindest and most mature member of F4. His family is very powerful in the Japanese underground (in the manga they own a large trading company). He keeps his cool and rarely loses his temper, although when he does, even Domyoji has to run for the hills. Akira is the other of the group's two playboys. His tastes tend towards older women, mainly because of his mother's childish ways. He has two younger sisters who are twins. He is also the one F4 member who like to and only uses cash. It was revealed in a special chapter that he actually had romantic feelings for Tsukushi, as she sees him as the man that he is, and sincerely appreciates him for it. Tsukushi also makes him realize that since he helps balance F4 out, a supporter if you will, that if he ever leaves them, then F4 will fall apart. However, he keeps his feelings to himself, due to the fact he cherishes his friendship with Tsukasa.

He also often joins Sojirou in teasing Tsukasa about being a virgin.

[edit] Friends

[edit] Enemies

[edit] Family

[edit] Relationships

Domyouji and Tsukushi's relationship has varied from the start. In the beginning it was one of hatred and physical violence, due to the fact he waged war against her all the time. However as Domyouji got to know her, he slowly falls in love with her though he has always held a cold heart. Due to this, he attempts to make advances on Makino, but always ends up fighting with her. In the manga they go through many hardships to be together. His stubborn mother, Makino's friendship with Rui, Makino's constantly changing feelings, and also Domyoji's frequent angry outbursts (as wells as many other problems) are always keeping them apart. In the end, their love wins out. Towards the end Domyoji makes an announcement to the media to go to New York for 4 years in order to take over his father's company. During this announcement period, Makino is troubled but later says that she will not go with him and that when he comes back she'll be waiting for him and will make him a happy man. The story ends with Domyoji going to New York and Makino watch his plane leave in the sky.

• In the short story published after the series had concluded, Domyoji and company goes to Paris along with Makino to go to Shizuka's wedding with a French lawyer. Domyoji told Makino that he already paid for her four years of university to keep an eye on her. They agree to wait until Domyoji was done in three more years.

• During the countless times that they break up, Domyoji goes crazy and returns to his "evil" and violent ways. However, when he is with Makino he is tamed and kind. Because of this, everyone around them is always saying that he is no good without Makino.

• It is also hinted that at the end of the 4 years spent apart, they will get married.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] Official sites

• Official Movie Website (Japanese)
• Official TV Drama Website from TBS (Japanese)
• Official TV Drama 2 Website from TBS (Japanese)
• Toei's Hana Yori Dango website (Japanese)
• Official Viz site here you can sample the manga online (English)
• Boys Over Flowers (manga) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• [1]

v • d • e Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio Franchise Chapters • Films (Hana Yori Dango · Hana Yori Dango Final) Adaptations Japan (Hana Yori Dango · Hana Yori Dango Returns) • South Korea (Boys Over Flowers) • China (Meteor Shower) • Taiwan (Meteor Garden · Meteor Garden II · Meteor Rain)