Boys Over Flowers

Name: Boys Over Flowers
Rating: 4.3 (89 reviews)
Author: Yoko Kamio

4.3

Author: Yoko Kamio

Publisher: Shueisha

Magazine: Margaret

Volumes: 37

Release Date: 1992-10-25

Age Rating: All Ages

Synopsis

Boys Over Flowers is a romantic comedy about Tsukushi Makino, an ordinary high school girl from a working-class family, who enters Eitoku Academy—a prestigious school filled with the children of the wealthy elite—and encounters the powerful group of four boys known as the “F4.” At first, Tsukushi becomes the target of bullying and discrimination through the infamous “red tag” system, but she bravely stands up for herself with her strong sense of justice. She constantly clashes with the hot-tempered F4 leader, Tsukasa Domyoji, but over time, their relationship evolves into mutual attraction. Along the way, Tsukushi also develops connections with the other F4 members—Rui Hanazawa, Sojiro Nishikado, and Akira Mimasaka—leading to bonds of friendship and love. Despite numerous obstacles, including the fierce opposition of Domyoji’s mother, Kaede, various temptations, family troubles, and the harsh reality of their social class differences, Tsukushi’s resilience and unwavering spirit allow her to overcome adversity. In the end, she and Domyoji find their way to each other, completing a modern-day Cinderella love story. With its mix of dramatic reversals, youthful passion, and heartfelt romance, Boys Over Flowers stands as one of the definitive classics of the high school rom-com genre.

Rating Metrics

Story

4.6

Characters

4.6

Artwork

3.6

World Building

4.1

Themes

4.2

Pacing

4.4

Editorial Reviews

The Original Manga Behind Asia’s Hit Drama

Today, I want to introduce Boys Over Flowers, the legendary shōjo manga that was adapted into blockbuster dramas and movies. It’s no exaggeration to say that Boys Over Flowers shaped the foundation of modern shōjo manga. The love story between the arrogant rich boy, Tsukasa Domyoji, and the spirited but poor heroine, Tsukushi Makino, has become a template used in countless later works such as Honey and Clover. The core appeal of Boys Over Flowers lies in the drama born from class differences—the clash of values, conflicts, and struggles between wealth and poverty. In a way, it’s the classic love story of Romeo and Juliet, reimagined for a high school setting. One of the main obstacles in the story is Domyoji’s mother, who fiercely opposes his relationship with a “poor girl” like Tsukushi. Yet the way Tsukushi and Domyoji overcome these obstacles and gradually grow closer captivates readers again and again. Of course, the manga itself was already hugely popular, but its influence skyrocketed thanks to its TV drama adaptation. The Japanese live-action drama became a cultural phenomenon—at the time, nearly every Japanese teenage girl was watching it. Its popularity even spread to Korea, leading to the production of a hit Korean version of Boys Over Flowers. The drama only covered part of the manga’s story, so if you want the full experience, I highly recommend reading the original series. If you’re a fan of romance manga, Boys Over Flowers is absolutely essential!

October 1, 2025