Strawberry 100%

Although it's a bit of an older manga, today I'd like to introduce "Strawberry 100%". Nowadays in Japan, there are numerous manga and anime in the "harem" genre, where a single male protagonist is surrounded by multiple attractive heroines who all fall in love with him. It's no exaggeration to say that Strawberry 100% was instrumental in popularizing this genre. Let's delve a bit deeper into the harem romance manga genre. Before Strawberry 100%, harem manga typically featured protagonists who were handsome and naturally popular with girls. However, after Strawberry 100%, it became common for protagonists to be average-looking, often lacking obvious qualities that would normally make them popular. Manga like "Nisekoi" and "The Quintessential Quintuplets" follow in the footsteps of Strawberry 100%. However, some readers dislike the harem genre precisely because the male protagonists often come across as indecisive or passive. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of the harem genre and haven't read Strawberry 100% yet, it's highly recommended!

July 14, 2025

In Strawberry 100%, several heroines fall for the protagonist, Manaka. My personal favorites include Tsukasa Nishino, Aya Toujou, Satsuki Kitaoji, and Yui Minamito. One of the best parts of harem manga is the ability to choose your favorite heroine. Of course, the ending might not always align with your preferred heroine, but each character has her own unique charm, which draws in readers. The characters embody various popular tropes, such as the tsundere type, younger girls, tomboyish personalities, and gentle, refined types, which is a hallmark of Strawberry 100% and the harem genre as a whole. Due to these appealing aspects, harem manga tend to be easily adapted into anime, contributing to global popularity for series like Nisekoi and The Quintessential Quintuplets.

July 14, 2025