The Magic Touch (manga)

The Magic Touch (親指からロマンス, Oyayubi kara Romance) is a Japanese shōjo manga written and illustrated by Izumi Tsubaki. It was seralised in Hana to Yume magazine and collected into nine bound volume by Hakusensha between 2004 and 2007.[2][3] It is licensed in North America by Viz Media, which released the first volume of the manga on February 3, 2009 and the final volume on August 3, 2010.[4][5] It is licensed in French by Akata, which is releasing the manga as Sweet Relax.[6]

The Magic Touch
親指からロマンス
(Oyayubi kara Romance)
GenreComedy, romance[1]
Manga
Written byIzumi Tsubaki
Published byHakusensha
English publisher
MagazineHana to Yume
DemographicShōjo
Original run2004 – 2007
Volumes9

Plot

Chiaki Togu is a shy first year high school student who is the star of her high school's Massage Research Society club. She falls in love at the sight of the back of Yosuke, who is considered the most attractive boy at her school. Although Yosuke seems out of Chiaki's league, she would do anything to give him a massage. The two eventually strike up a deal in which she will be allowed to touch his back if she can make him fall in love with her.[1]

Media

Manga
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 January 19, 2004[7]4592178092February 3, 2009[8]9781421516714
2 May 19, 2004[7]4592173236June 2, 2009[9]9781421516721
3 September 17, 2004[7]4592173244August 4, 2009[10]9781421516738
4 April 19, 2005[7]459217268XOctober 6, 2009[11]978-1421521657
5 December 16, 2005[7]4592172698December 1, 2009[12]978-1421521664
6 May 19, 2006[7]4592172701February 2, 2010[13]978-1421521671
7 November 17, 2006[7]459218257XApril 6, 2010[14]978-1421521688
8 March 19, 2007[7]9784592182580June 1, 2010[15]978-1421521695
9 May 18, 2007[7]9784592182597August 3, 2010[16]978-1421521701

Reception

Casey Brienza, writing for Anime News Network, described the manga as "the single worst concept and the single worst execution of a shōjo manga serial that this reviewer can recall seeing since the start of her reviewing career".[17] Melinda Beasi, reviewing the first volume, noted that the plot complications were resolved too easily.[18] Jennifer Dunbar felt that the fourth volume was full of "shōjo stereotypes", and noted that it was unusual that the fifth volume's primary focus was on massage. Dunbar enjoyed the portrayal of the massage school.[19] Katherine Dacey felt the story was "bland".[20] Ysabet Reinhardt MacFarlane felt that Chiaki's evil twin sister was "cringe-worthy".[21] Jason Thompson, writing for the appendix to Manga The Complete Guide, felt the manga was extremely unrealistic, and "too dumb to even be a guilty pleasure".[22]

References
  1. "The Official Website for The Magic Touch". Viz Media. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  2. 親指からロマンス 1. s-book.net Library Service (in Japanese). Hakusensha Inc. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  3. 親指からロマンス 9. s-book.net Library Service (in Japanese). Hakusensha Inc. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  4. "The Magic Touch, Volume 1". VIZ Media. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  5. "The Magic Touch, Volume 9". VIZ Media. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  6. "TSUBAKI Izumi". Akata (in French). Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  7. http://www.s-book.net/plsql/slib_writer?isbn=9784592185314
  8. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-1/6960
  9. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-2/6961
  10. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-3/6962
  11. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-4/7518
  12. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-5/7519
  13. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-6/7520
  14. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-7/7521
  15. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-8/7522
  16. http://www.viz.com/manga/print/magic-touch-volume-9/7523
  17. Brienza, Casey (12 July 2009). "The Magic Touch GN 1-3". Anime News Network. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  18. Beasi, Melinda (17 February 2009). "On the Shojo Beat: The Magic Touch and More: The Magic Touch, Vol. 1". Pop Culture Shock. Archived from the original on 4 July 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2011.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  19. Dunbar, Jennifer (11 January 2010). "Manga Minis, 1/11/10: The Magic Touch, Vol. 5". Pop Culture Shock. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2011.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  20. Dacey, Katherine (2 July 2009). "Short Takes: The Big Adventures of Majoko, The Magic Touch and The Manzai Comics". The Manga Critic. Retrieved 15 December 2011.
  21. MacFarlane, Ysabet Reinhardt (March 2009). "The Magic Touch v1". Manga Life. Silver Bullet Comics. Archived from the original on 6 October 2009.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. Thompson, Jason (8 July 2010). "365 Days of Manga, Day 282: The Magic Touch". Unbound Worlds. Penguin Random House. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
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