Manga Reviews (2010-2019): Love in Focus vol. 1 (a Neo-Tokyo 2099 Manga Review)

Nogiri Yoko’s latest manga is a delightful series to read, even though this first volume is primarily about introduction of the characters and establishing Mako and the others, I look forward to reading more of “Love in Focus”. If you love teenage love stories, then definitely give this manga series a try!

MANGA TITLE: Love in Focus vol. 1

MANGA CREATED: 2017

BY: Nogiri Yoko

PUBLISHED IN USA BY: Kodansha Comics

RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2019

Mako’s always had a passion for photography. When she loses someone dear to her, she clings onto her art as a relic of the close relationship she once had…Luckily, her childhood best friend Kei encourages her to come to his high school and join their prestigious photo club. With nothing to lose, Mako grabs her camera and a fresh take on life – plus a mysterious new muse – and everything begins to come into focus!

Nogiri Yoko, the creator of the manga series “That Wolf-Boy is Mine!” returned with short manga series titled “Love in Focus” (known in Japan as “Renzu-sou no Sankaku”) which will now be released in English courtesy of Kodansha Comics.

The manga series revolves around Mochizuki Mako, a talented photographer who learned about photography from her grandfather, who helped raise her, while her parents were busy working.

With her grandfather deceased, she is asked by her childhood friend Kei, a young man who grew up learning photography under Mako’s grandfather, to come to live in the mountain region (where Kei now lives in a boarding house) that has a prestigious photography club.

Mako is a hardcore photographer and loves to take photos of anything that moves her heart.

When she gets to the mountainous area, she is to meetup with Kei but runs into a guy walking his dog. She snaps a photo of him and the dog without permission and the young man is angered by it.

As Mako runs off, she runs into Kei who takes her to the boarding house and introduces her to everyone. And sure enough, living in that same boarding house is the young man that was upset with her.

Mako tries to be kind with the young man, Amemura-kun, but he gets angered and tells her that he doesn’t like pictures and he doesn’t like his face.

When she pleads with Amemura, Kei walks in on her pulling on his shirt and wonders what’s going on.

Amemura on the other hand tends to see Mako and Kei close together and wonders if they are going out.

Meanwhile, things may have gotten off to a bad start between Mako and Amemura, so she does all she can to make peace with him but also find ways she can take his photo.

But will she be able to?

For the most part, judging by the cover and how the story is playing out, you kind of get a feeling that you expect a love triangle as both Kei and Amemura may fall for Mako. While Mako is a bit oblivious to love, all she knows is she likes taking picturest of what moves her heart. And right now, there is something about Amemura that she wants to keep taking his photo.

While I don’t want to reveal anything else, the cover pretty much gives you an idea of what the manga will be about, but it will be interesting to see if these guys (and there is also another guy living in the boarding house who likes to hit on anyone female) do end up fighting over Mako’s affection.

But one thing’s for sure, Nogiri Yoko’s latest manga is a delightful series to read, even though this first volume is primarily about introduction of the characters and establishing Mako and the others, I look forward to reading more of “Love in Focus”!

If you love teenage love stories, then definitely give this manga series a try!

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