How I Met My Soulmate Volume 1 introduces us to another shojo romance by Anashin, known for the popular Waiting for Spring. While Waiting for Spring didn’t break new ground, it still found a loyal audience. Now, with How I Met My Soulmate, Anashin returns with a fresh series. But does this new manga offer something unique? Let’s explore.
Plot Summary: Yuuki’s Search for Love in Tokyo
The story follows Yuuki, a 20-year-old college student who moves from the countryside to Tokyo with dreams of finding her soulmate. Despite living in the city for over a year, Yuuki is still alone, without a boyfriend or even close friends—aside from Sanae, another girl from a rural area. Sanae, however, quickly adapts to city life, leaving Yuuki feeling even more isolated.
Determined to change her luck, Yuuki decides to embrace city life and engage in more social activities. Sanae suggests they go clubbing, thinking it will help them meet new people. Yuuki, unfamiliar with the club scene, feels overwhelmed by the chaos. Her night worsens when she encounters Iori, a drunk man with bleached hair and an intimidating presence. Since Sanae bonds with Iori’s friend, Yuuki can’t leave and ends up caring for Iori all night.
An Unlikely Friendship Forms
Despite the disastrous night, Sanae informs Yuuki that Iori wants to apologize and thank her for looking after him. Hesitant, Yuuki agrees to meet him, and what follows is the start of an unexpected friendship. Iori even offers to help Yuuki find her soulmate. However, could Iori himself be the one she’s been searching for all along?
Comparison to Virgin Love
From the beginning, it’s clear to readers that Iori might be Yuuki’s soulmate. While Virgin Love, another shojo manga, rushed its couple into a relationship, How I Met My Soulmate takes a more gradual approach. This slower pace feels more fitting for Yuuki’s character.
Yuuki is naive and dismisses Iori as a romantic interest because of his rough, straightforward personality. On the other hand, Iori believes Yuuki is still attached to her first crush, a high school boy she made bentos for daily. Despite the growing bond between Yuuki and Iori, just as Iori is ready to confess his feelings, Yuuki’s high school crush reappears. Convinced this is fate, Yuuki ignores the warning signs, but Iori steps in to intervene.
Characters: A Mix of Familiar Tropes
Anashin’s work often follows common shojo tropes, and How I Met My Soulmate is no different. Yuuki’s oblivious, airheaded personality is a staple of the genre. Having an older cast of characters (20-year-olds) doesn’t fully fit the level of drama portrayed in the story, which feels more suited to a high school setting. Despite this, Iori’s character helps balance the narrative and keeps readers engaged.
Art and Presentation
One of the highlights of How I Met My Soulmate Volume 1 is the artwork. Anashin’s polished style beautifully conveys the emotions between Yuuki and Iori without needing dialogue. While some of the backgrounds lack detail, the character designs more than make up for it. Each male character, especially Iori and Yuuki’s first crush, is distinct in appearance, making it easy to follow the cast.
Translation and Release
How I Met My Soulmate Volume 1 has been translated into English by Sawa Matsueda Savage, with lettering by Lys Blakeslee. The translation reads smoothly, and there are no major issues to note. The volume includes translation notes at the end and features a color spread at the beginning, showing the main characters. Although, readers might not immediately recognize Iori due to a change in his hair color.
The series is currently ongoing in Japan with four volumes released. In the West, Kodansha has scheduled Volume 2 for March, followed by Volume 3 in June and Volume 4 in September. Unlike many other Kodansha releases, How I Met My Soulmate hasn’t been released digitally before print, so fans will need to wait for the physical copies.
Conclusion: A Solid Shojo Romance
Overall, How I Met My Soulmate Volume 1 follows a familiar shojo formula, but it still manages to be an enjoyable read. Some readers may appreciate the older characters, while others might be drawn to Anashin’s polished storytelling and artwork. While it may not be the most groundbreaking romance manga out there, it’s a welcome addition for fans of the genre. With a solid setup and charming characters, it leaves readers eager to see what happens next.
