Maison Ikkoku, Vol. 7, Volume 7: Intensive Care

by Rumiko Takahashi and Eleanor Catton

From the creator of RANMA 1/2 and INUYASHA comes one of Rumiko Takahashi's most beloved series, the romantic (sort of) comedy MAISON IKKOKU, re-presented in a second edition in its original episodic order, with a missing episode Take a trip down memory lane back into Japan's nuttiest apartment house and meet its volatile inhabitants: Kyoko, the beautiful and mysterious new apartment manager; Yusaku, the exam-addled college student; Mrs. Ichinose,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591164850
• ISBN13: 9781591164852
• Release Date: November 2004
• Publisher: Viz Media
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

YUSAKU GETS HIS WISH

Yusaku is still laid up in the hospital recovering from a leg injury he incurred saving Kyoko from falling off the Ikkoku roof. He's finally getting rid of his cousin, who has been nursing him all this time and is now getting his real wish because Kyoko will be taking care of him. But you didn't think that his rival, Mitaka, was going to stand still for this, and let Godai and Kyoko have all that alone time together, did you? Mitaka actually goes and intentionally hurts himself and requests treatment at the same hospital where Yusaku is, and is placed in the bed next to him! Even if Yusaku finds a way to get closer to Kyoko, she still continues to think about her dead husband, especially on this, the 4th anniversary since his death. I love this series. Rumiko Takahashi to me is the greatest living manga creator and Masion Ikkoku illustrates why. First of all, the characters are fun, real, and simply designed. The panels flow and never jump and are never confusing. Takahashi's storytelling abilities are second to none, even in a slice-of-life manga like this. Inventiveness is what I like about her the most. Even though its been a long time coming, it seems as though the relationship between Yusaku and Kyoko is definitely turning a corner in this seventh volume. There's just a sense of joy and wisdom that pervades anything this lady creates. Classic.

Intensively

Things get even more complex in the seventh "Maison Ikkoku" volume, where Yusaku Godai finds himself dealing with new problems -- especially with his platonic girlfriend, his rival, and the woman he not-so-secretly yearns for. Here the hapless college student both encounters new obstacles... and finds that he is starting to warm Kyoko's heart. Yusaku's inability to break up with platonic girlfriend Kozue starts a horrible fight between himself and Kyoko. But when Kyoko almost falls from a rooftop, Yusaku rescues he -- and he's the one who falls off instead, breaking his leg. When Yusaku is in the hospital, Kyoko is wracked with guilt, and decides that she is going to repress her jealousy ("withdraw from the race"), because they aren't even a couple. But Kyoko is having a tough time keeping her promise, especially when Yusaku's cute -- and very cuddle-prone -- cousin arrives. Fortunately, the cousin is engaged to another guy, and needs the help of the Maison Ikkoku gang to elope -- except the elopement injures Yusaku further. He and Kyoko start to grow closer and closer... until hunky rival Mitaka also breaks his leg, and ends up in the hospital bed next to Yusaku's. Romancing an older woman would be tough enough for a struggling college student. But what about an older woman who is still in love with her late husband? As daunting as that is, Yusaku makes some serious progress with Kyoko in this volume, except for the constant interruptions from their respective rivals. The first few stories in this collection are relatively lightweight, focusing on a three-legged race and getting rid of Grandma Godai. But then the heavier relationship stuff starts. Author Rumiko Takahashi mixes light comedy and heavy romance, without letting the love rectangle get stale or silly. As Takahashi always does, her characters are changing slowly -- Kyoko is obviously starting to let go of her dead husband, and Godai is starting to get a wee bit more mature (although he still cries like a baby when he thinks she doesn't care about him). And this volume also introduces the mysterious Mr. Ichinose, who serves as a warning to the romantically timid. (Read: A warning to Mr. I-can't-break-up-with-a-girl Yusaku) Rumiko Takahashi's "Maison Ikkoku" is still going strong in its seventh volume, and promises more comedy and romantic misunderstandings to come. A charming read.

Renew yourself at Maison Ikkoku!

Every time I read any of the Maison Ikkoku books I feel better. It's funny, but I just can't help it. When I've lost my faith in men, I turn to this volume. When I'm sad, or I'm angry, or I feel like I need a laugh, it almost seems like the whole gang from Maison Ikkoku is there, trying to cheer me up. Try this series; you might like it!

The magic of page 27

Another great graphic novel by Rumiko Takahashi. The wall that Kyoko built around her heart to protect the love of her deceased husband begins to crumble in this book. No, that does not of course mean that she is starting to care less for Soichiro, but it means that her love for Godai is starting to show. This happens on page 27. Kyoko feeling guilty for being the reason that Godai broke his leg takes care of him in the hospital, and on one of their walks, Godai drops a crutch and he falls into Kyoko's arms such a moving scene. Sadly, this scene is interupted when a Mitaka arrives at the hospital. He has broken his leg as well, so the love triangle moves into the hospital for a bit. A very good book with some very funny chapters, but I believe the chapters that will stick with the reader more are those that shows Kyoko's love for Godai begin to bloom. Man, I'm becoming sappy in my old age. hehe

Smile Again!

Have you ever read one of those books that just makes you hug yourself and chirp with glee? Well, this is one of them! For those of you who have been going through the series, I can tell you that this book has one of the most wonderful moments thus far. It makes you smile and say to no one in particular "Yeah. Its all going to be all right now. I know it."