It has been quite a challenge for me to compile a list of Sakai-sensei's works. She has a huge body of manga to her name, and it has all been published and reprinted several times, by different publishers, with different covers, and under different names. I have done my best to sort out her works and present them to you in a coherent fashion. I don't own all of these titles yet, but I am working on it! I've probably missed some of her titles in this list, so please check back here often. I will probably be adding to this page and making changes and corrections :)
Here are brief descriptions of her individual series. Sakai-sensei also has published several "Best of" collections, a listing of which can be found *HERE*
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Title:Happy Trouble Wedding
Originally Published: 2005
Publisher(s):
Queens Comics
# of Volumes: 2
Summary:
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Title:HR de Tsukamaete
Originally Published: 2005
Publisher(s):
Queens Comics
# of Volumes: 2
Summary:
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Title:Majime Otoko ni Goyoujin!
Originally Published: 2005
Publisher(s):
Queens Comics
# of Volumes: 2
Summary:
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Title:Daite Daite Darling
Originally Published: 2000 - present
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (HLC Silky Presents)
# of Volumes: 7 (HLC Silky Version), 11 (Hana to Yume version)
Summary: Sakai-sensei sure does like relationships involving big age differences and teachers! This time the heroine is Yuuka FUJITA. As far as I can tell, she is 18 years old, and a high school graduate. However she has not gone on to college like her high school classmates. Instead, her parents are trying to marry her off, sending her to way too many omiai meetings. An omiai is like a formal introduction between a man and woman who are taking part in an arranged marriage. This story begins with Yuuka refusing to go to another omiai. In her anger and haste, she literally knocks down her latest potential marriage partner. He is a really cool guy! His name is Ryo KUSURU, and he is a college science professor. He is a whopping 36 years old! Their omiai meeting goes well enough (it isn't a total disaster) however it doesn't look like much is settled at their first meeting. They need to get to know each other better. Yuuka's normal personality is very cute and vivacious, but when it comes to being intimate with a guy, she gets a bit nervous due to a scary event in her past. She does think Ryo is very handsome, despite his being an 'old man.' Ryo seems to like Yuuka well enough also, even though she is so much younger than himself. Meanwhile, Yuuka's parents keep sending her to more omiais with more men. Will she choose Ryo? Can two strangers make a happy couple? Will Yuuka's past be too much of a stumbling block for them? This is a cute story, even though it has so many similar themes as some of Sakai-sensei's previous works. I don't know how she does it. but she can use the same concept, and create many different, equally interesting versions of it :D
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Title: Billion Girl
Originally Published: 1999-present
Publisher(s): Vol 1: Hakusensha (Hana to Yume) Vol 1-6: Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 6 (still running)
Summary: For heroine Kanoko OOBA, life is not much fun. Her family runs a small restaurant, but they are poor. She has two older sisters who treat her horribly, and two parents and a grand parent who also mistreat her. (Not to mention the fact that she is sometimes called 'Obaka no ko', a pun on her first and last names that also means 'stupid child' or girl) Poor Kanoko cooks, cleans, and takes the blame for problems. However her life takes an unusual turn when her family suddenly loses what little money they had, and everything they own is about to be reposessed. But along comes a ragged looking tall stranger with an interesting situation. In the natural course of shoujo manga events, Kanako finds herself married to this stranger, saving her family from ruin. She volunteered to help her family, but that doesn't mean she isn't worried. She doesn't know much about this stranger she married, not even his name! It is an understatement to say that she was surprised to find out that despite his ragged appearanc, he is extremely rich and lives in a HUGE mansion. Kanoko's new husband is named Taiga Houjo. He is quite a strange guy! I think he might actually be an erotic fiction novelist. Meanwhile, a couple of Kanoko's classmates are very worried about her. They both like her too, and would not be happy to find that their girl is now married!
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Title: Naisho x Boy
Originally Published: 2000
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (HLC Silky Presents)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: 27 year old Airi is on the verge of a career change. She has just inherited an all-boys school! I think it used to be run by her grandfather, and now Airi is in charge. Right before she starts her new job, Airi meets a cute young surfer at the beach. After accidentially injuring him and taking him to a love hotel by mistake (^_^;;;) he makes a pass at her, but she resists and they part. She is really attracted to him though! Then she starts her new job at the boys school, and discovers that her surfer boy is a student there! He is 17 year old Ryuusei. Airi and Ryuusei are attracted to each other, but there is such an age difference, not to mention he is a student at a school she runs. Gee, sense a familar theme here? This is a funny and cute story though. Airi is a bit of a bubble-head at times, but I like her. And Ryuusei is pretty suave most of the time...
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Title:Eien no Labyrinth
Originally Published: 2000
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (HLC Silky Presents)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: The main story in this tankoubon takes up half of the book. The first time Misaki met Eiji NIRESAKI, she was 17 years old, and he was visiting her father as part of some sort of study group. I believe Misaki's father is a university professor or a scientist. There is some chemistry between Eiji and Misaki right away, and before you know it, Eiji announces his intention to marry her. They get married after she graduates from high school, but their romance does not last for long. Eiji begins acting strange, and after only a few months, he leaves Misaki. What is going on with Eiji? It looks like he is involved with some serious things that Misaki has no idea about, things that are keeping him away from her. Meanwhile, Misaki is alone and pregnant... The other two stories in this are about a married couple with a child, and a stylish office lady who has a relationship with a coworker.
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Title: Koisuru Melody Musume
Originally Published: 1999
Publisher(s):
Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
Hakusensha (Hana to Yume)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: Several romance stories, this time featuring high-school aged heroines. One story is about a extremely cutesy cutesy girl and her unlikely love-interest- a delivery guy who happens to be in a rock band. The next story is yet another student teacher romance. This time our heroine is a high school girl suffering unwanted abuse from a guy at her school. The school's handome music teacher comes to her rescue, and they make creative use of a piano chair... Another heroine finds love with a cool club DJ. Finally we have a heroine with the most amazing obsession with food.. ^_^ The Hakusensha cover features the school girl who has a relationship with the music teacher, while the newer Kadokawa uses a picture of the cutesy girl (though she looks a little more loli-goth in that picture) with her rock musician boyfriend.
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Title: Shimokitazawa de Ura Urara
Originally Published: 1999
Publisher(s):
Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
Hakusensha (Hana to Yume) under the name Shimokitazawa de Rocket Punch
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: The romantic misadventures of two single girls who share an apartment. Yui SUZUKI and Mai OOHARA are both 23 and looking for love. This one-shot volume follows them as they have adventures dating different guys, help a young boy, and eventually find love in unusual places. A cute volume!
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Title:Alice no Hanamichi
Originally Published: 1998
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(Hana to Yume Comics)
Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 2
Summary:
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Title: Mama wa Yashino Miwari
Originally Published: 1998
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (HLC)
# of Volumes: 3
Summary: Here is the unusual story of Sakura, a 21 year old mother raising her toddler daughter alone. She is a widow, her husband having drowned at sea while rescuing others. Sakura is having trouble making ends meet and raising her daughter by herself. Fortunately for her, things get interesting when she meets a new arrival- Go. Go is the brother of Sakura's husband. Sakura had never met him before, and his appearance is startling. He is a big, muscular guy with shoulder-length wavy hair. Not at all the same type as her late husband. Go has recently returned to Japan from America, where he worked as a Pro Wrestler. Now that he is back in Japan, he plans on continuing his unusual career. Sakura's daughter Momoko has a strong liking for Go, and soon enough the three of them are living together in an unusual, yet functional family. This is a cute, fun story!
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Title: Atashi ni Yarasena!
Originally Published: 1997
Publisher(s): Kadokawa (YR Comics) Kadokawa (Asuka Comics) Reprinted as STJ (Scandalous Teacher Juri)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: 24 year old Juri IKEUCHI is quite the scandalous teacher. She races around in a red convertible, she smokes at school, and she dresses with daring style definitely not suitable for a teacher. Almost immediatley after her arrival at school, she clashes with 17 year old student Tadashi KAKEI. He is Juri's opposite. He is an extremely straightlaced, by-the-books, intelligent student. He doesn't think much of IKEUCHI-sensei's flaunting of the rules. Of course, once IKEUCHI-sensei realizes how cute KAKEI is without his glasses, well, the hunt is on!
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Title: Namida no Kajitsu
Originally Published: 1997
Publisher(s): Kadokawa (YR Comics)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: Even though some of the themes are the same, this volume is considerably more angsty and serious than some of Sakai-sensei's other works.
Once again we have a student-teacher relationship going on. This time the teacher is a woman named Mayuko TSUTSUMI. Mayuko is not a very good teacher. Her students talk back to her a lot, and she has a hard time controlling her class. Sho HASUDA is one of her students. He is a troubled guy who drinks too much and mixes alcohol with pills. He is bitter and has a lot of issues relating to a bad childhood. Mayuko tries to help him, and they end up in a forbidden relationship. A much more serious take on the teacher-student relationship story.
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Title:Kare to kanojo no ieie
Originally Published: 1996
Publisher(s): Kadokawa (YR Comics) Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title: Fuufu wa Tenka no Mawarimono
Originally Published: 1994
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (HLC)
# of Volumes: 5
Summary: A very amusing story about a 23 year old OL named Rumiko. Her parents have been pressuring her into letting them set up an omiai, or a meeting for an arranged marriage. They have several possible candidates she could choose from. Rumiko is not interested. She has her sights set on a guy at her work. However, when her romantic dreams with her coworker do not turn out as she planned, she agrees to meet whoever her parents choose for the omiai. They introduce her to Kenya OOTSUKI. He is handsome and friendly, but their meeting doesn't go very well, and Rumiko refuses to marry him. Imagine her surprise at work when she is introduced to her new co-worker- Kenya! He has been hired at her company and is a successful employee. Rumiko and Kenya are thrown together more often, and a relationship starts to grow. But will a relationship based on an arranged meeting last? There is a random one-shot story about phone sex at the end of the volume. o.o
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Title: Cafe de Kimagure Beach
Originally Published: 1994
Publisher(s): Hakusensha (YR) Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title: Okusama wa 28 sai
Originally Published: 1994
Publisher(s): Hakusensha (HLC Comics)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title: 101 kai me no Torabaayu
Originally Published: 1993
Publisher(s): Hakusensha (HLC) Hakusensha (HLC Silky Presents)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Karaoke e Ikou
Originally Published: 1992
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
Hakusensha
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Hotel e Ikou
Originally Published: 1991
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
Hakusensha
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Konya mo Nemurenai
Originally Published: 1991
Publisher(s):
Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: An amusing romantic story about a college student girl and a man who is a famous fashion designer. Thanks to the antics of his very unique cat, the girl and the designer are thrown together, and sparks fly! Again, there is a large age difference between the hero and heroine. His name is Hanada Renichi, and he is 38 years old. Her name is Saigou Kaori, and she is only 18. Their age difference is an issue in there relationship. He is interested in her, but tries to resist because he thinks he is too old, and she is a virgin. But even though Kaori likes to tease him by caling him 'ojisan' ('gramps') she doesn't care about his age, and is perfectly willing to let him relieve her of the second objection he has about her. This is a very cute romantic comedy ^_^
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Title:Sono Otoko Wagamama nitsuki
Originally Published: 1990
Publisher(s):
Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 10 + 5 Reprint: 5?
2003 Reprint also by Kadokawa, compiling 2 old volumes into each new volume.
Summary: Ahh, this is my favorite series by Sakai-sensei! It's just so fluffy! The story begins with a high school senior named Shiina sneaking into an ultra-hip club/restaurant on her 17th birthday with her friends. At the club they meet Makoto, the extremely sexy and suave owner of the club. He is hip, cool, wears dark shades, and is interested in the girls. However when Shiina lets it slip that it is her 17th birthday, he kicks them out, because his club is for 18 and up. He is still interested in her though, and asks for her info (home number, etc.) so he can look her up when she's older. When she gives him her name, he gets a very strange expression on his face that Shiina doesn't understand. Things are soon explained at school the next day when Shiina notices that the polka-dot band-aid that her geeky science teacher is wearing on his index finger matches exactly with the band-aid the nightclub owner was wearing. Shiina realizes her teacher's big secret. By day he is nerdy, flustered Uno-sensei, the science teacher. By night he is Makoto, the very very rich nightclub owner. Shiina knows his secret, and this brings them closer. Shiina develops a crush on Uno-sensei, and he tries to resist his interest in her. And so begins an unusual relationship between 17 year old Shiina and 25 year old Makoto. Not only is it a teacher-student relationship series, there is the fact that the teacher has a double-identity as a low-paid teacher and as a wealthy nightclub owner. Lots of secrets to keep!
This series spans 10 volumes as well as a 4-volume sequel and a 5th volume called "Amigo Bambino" that stars Shiina's son!. The sequel is caled "Sono Otoko Wagamama Nitsuki +Alpha" In 2003, Kadokawa has started releasing this series in collected volumes. Volume 1 contains original tankoubon 1 and 2. Volume 2 contains original volumes 3 and 4, and so on.
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Title: Watashi no Hana wa Ten yori Takai
Originally Published: 1990
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (HLC)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: Another collection of short, romantic stories. One is about a woman who is a television newscaster. There is another story that I think was the prototype for her later series, 'Sono Otoko Wagamama nitsuki' These stories are the type that appear win ladies comics. They feature professional working women and their hectic love lives.
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Title: Sukisa Sukisa Sukisa
Originally Published: 1989
Publisher(s):
Kadokawa (Asuka Comics)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: A collection of short, romantic stories. The first is about the unlikely romance between a rich, elegant young girl and a scruffy, rough, not-so-rich guy. The story that fills the largest portion of this volume is set in the roaring 20's, and is about the romance between a boxer and a flapper girl. The mob is involved. Lots of drama and excitement!
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Title:Bad Girl
Originally Published: 1989
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Obocchama nice desune
Originally Published: 1989
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
Hakusensha
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Dekichatta
Originally Published: 1988
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
Hakusensha
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Kekkon wo 2 bai tanoshimu houhou
Originally Published: 1988
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
Hakusensha
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title:Miss Telephone, Mrs. Telephone
Originally Published: 1988
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha(HLC)
Hakusensha
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title: Tachigare no mori
Originally Published: 1985
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha HLC (Misty Series)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: This volume is quite a bit different from Sakai-sensei's other works. This volume contains two main stories, bith of them from the horror genre. The first story has all the trappings of a good gothic story- huge castle with dark twisty corridors, angsty tormented fanged hero, innocent blonde heroine, angry villagers with torches, etc. The second story is a more modern tale, filled with ghosts and demons and some vampires. Both stories manage to have an element of romance in them, but because of the horror aspects of the stories, the romances lean towards the tragic side. A very interesting tankoubon.
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Title: Hanayome wa Fukurettsura
Originally Published: 1986
Publisher(s):Hana to Yume
# of Volumes: 1
Summary:
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Title: Manhattan Sunset
Originally Published: 1984
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (Hana to Yume)
# of Volumes: 1
Summary: An action adventure story about a 17 year old girl and a young police officer who share a tragic and horrific past. There is mystery, romance, danger and action. The art style is very retro and late 70's - early 80's looking ^_^
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Title: Sailor Blue no Seishun
Originally Published: 1980
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha (Hana to Yume)
# of Volumes: 6
Summary:
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Title: Milk Time ni Sasayaite
Originally Published: 1978
Publisher(s):
Hakusensha HLC
# of Volumes: 9
Summary: The romantic relationship between Mimi, a 17 year old high school student, and Shuusei, a 29 year old artist. Mimi is cute and a bit clutzy, and has wildly curly hair. Shuusei is cool, but somewhat shy, and is half caucasian. They come from different worlds. Can they ever make their relationship work? A very funny and zany story! This title 'Milk Time ni Sasayaite' is a renaming of the original series. (I swear, They do all this renaming just to confuse me and make me multiple copies of the same thing without realizing it ^_^;;) Shuusei and Mimi's adventures can also be found under the name of "Ano ko ni osekkai" and "Mou ichido Aishite!" I think the entire saga was printed as follows: First came "Ano ko ni osekkai" then "Mou ichido Aishite!" then "Milk Time ni Sasayaite" 1-2+. Then when the series was reprinted, it was all bundled together under the Milk Time name.
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