Natsuki Takaya has made quite a name for herself in the manga world. Sure the mangaka is know more for her series Fruits Basket, but Tsubasa: Those with Wings and Phantom Dream were also quite popular in Japan. Takaya has plenty of fans on this side of the pond as well and her latest release through Tokyopop, Songs to Make You Smile, will certain endear itself to fans.

Songs to Make You Smile, otherwise known as Because You Smile When I Sing, was originally released in Japan in 1999. It’s important to note that this release doesn’t really have anything to do with Takaya’s other works (though there’s one chapter that involves Tsubasa: Those with Wings). Instead it’s a collection of five short standalone stories that all revolve around love and music. It’s not for everyone, but fans of Takaya’s work will eat it up like it’s going out of style.

The first chapter in the book, “Songs to Make You Smile”, follows the exploits of a singer in a high school band named Atsushi Takahashi. He’s spacey and somewhat angry looking, but deep down he’s really not a bad guy; he’s just kind of different. As the band practices and his talent is exposed more a little love story develops between he and one of his classmates, Anzu. There’s a little bit of romantic drama between the two and the students around them interpret things certain ways. Ultimately the story kind of fizzles, but there are some charming moments.

The second chapter, “Ding Dong”, a girl named Chisato is introduced at the beginning as having lost her father in an accident. The story is about her reminiscing about her dad and the girl’s mother has a few surprises for her that bring some old memories to the surface. This is especially interesting because Chisato has felt all along that her father hated her, so there’s some strong emotions as well.

The book continues with “Voice of Mine”, which features a story about a pair of violinists who fall for each other. Then there’s “Double Flower”, though the best piece is saved for last. In the final chapter there’s a bonus story for fans of Tsubasa: Those with Wings. Entitled “Princess Dark Black”, this story is about a princess who has a beautiful exterior, but is a ruthless taskmaster behind the scenes. There’s yet another tale of love in this chapter, though the atmosphere is slightly more exaggerated, comical, and it includes some fanservice.

Fans of Takaya will instantly fall for the artwork included in this book. Her signature style is all over the place and there’s so much detail packed into each frame. Each story reads smoothly as well and it’s worth noting that Tokyopop even included liner comments by Takaya as well. Randomly throughout the book there will be a snippet that gives readers some insight into the artist.

Songs to Make You Smile is an endearing release with some memorable stories, but not all of the five are on equal settings. A couple of the chapters just don’t hit solid notes, but the ones that do truly stand out. Anyone who is a fan of Fruits Basket, or of Takaya’s other works, will want to pick this up just to see what else she worked on. It’s not really a title that’s for everyone, but if you find yourself in the group of those who love romance manga then you’ll fall for it.

Buy Songs to Make You Smile from Amazon.com

Songs to Make You Smile
Story
Nobody does romance manga like Natsuki Takaya. This collection of five short stories is endearing enough and will win over fans of her work.
Artwork/Translation
As always Takaya's artwork is gorgeous!

Overall
Songs to Make You Smile is a worthy investment for lovers of Takaya's style. She has a way with characters, story, and artwork that truly stands out.

Review material provided by Tokyopop. Songs to Make you Smile is rated T for Teen Ages 13+ and includes Aggression and Mild Fanservice.