Manga Review: Princess Jellyfish Volume 02 by Akiko Higashimura
Quick recap: Amamizu-kan is a women-only apartment building inhabited by the Amars, a group of socially awkward women who fear socially-skilled people, who they call “the stylish.” Jellyfish-obsessed artist Tsukimi accidentally befriends the “princess” Kuranosuke, who turns out to be a young man with a penchant for wearing women’s clothing. Kuranosuke adopts the Amars as friends, and hijinks ensue. But the fun may end soon, as the real estate developers represented by the wicked Inari want to bulldoze Amamizu-ken. Can our ragtag band of misfits raise the cash to save their home?
Most of the story in this volume is taken up with early attempts to raise some money. One of the first steps is finding something to sell. There’s some nice things in the attic abandoned by previous tenants, but the item that really catches attention at the yard sale is Tsukimi’s handmade Clara jellyfish dolls. Kuranosuke gets a higher appreciation of Tsukimi’s design skills, and asks Tsukimi to make a jellyfish-themed dress for him.
As it happens, none of the people present actually know how to turn a design into an actual modern dress (Chieko is some help, but is only skilled at sewing kimono.) After a lot of struggle and the repurposing of one of Kuranosuke’s favorite keepsakes of his mother, a passable dress is made, but it’s clear they’re going to need more help.
Meanwhile, Inari has tricked Shuu into believing he had sex with her while blackout drunk. The consequences of that play out as she tries to leverage this into a closer relationship. This plotline may be more uncomfortable for some readers, as several characters make light of Shuu’s supposed indiscretion. Inari can be partially excused on the grounds that a) she’s the villain, b) she knows perfectly well no sex happened and c) Inari is not privy to the backstory of why this is so traumatic for Shuu. Shuu’s father and uncle, on the other hand, should know better, but treat it as “you lucky dog.”
Kuranosuke, at least, has a much better understanding of his half-brother’s personality, and is pretty sure this is a frame-up. Amusingly, Inari fails to catch on to the connection between Kuranosuke’s male and female personas, despite being perceptive enough to realize that “Kurako” uses heavy makeup and falsies to look conventionally attractive.
Also kind of hilarious is a few moments where Jiji (who fancies older men) and Kuranosuke’s father hit it off. Let the shipping commence!
Also in this volume we get a bit more backstory as to why Kuranosuke began crossdressing.
The art continues to be good, and the characters funny.
Recommended to those who liked the first volume or the anime.
Speaking of the anime, let’s have the opening theme!
