Swan (manga)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Swan


caption =
ja_name = スワン
ja_name_trans =
genre = DramaInfobox animanga/Manga
title =
author = Kyoko Ariyoshi
publisher = flagicon|Japan Akita Shoten, Shueisha
publisher_other = flagicon|United States CMX Manga
demographic = Shōjo
magazine = Margaret
first = 1976
last = 1981
volumes = 21

nihongo|"Swan"|スワン is a shōjo manga by Kyoko Ariyoshi. The shōjo magazine "Margaret" serialized the story in Japan during the seventies. 21 volumes were released. In North America the story is published by CMX. The plot mostly follows a young girl, Masumi, as she struggles to become a ballerina.

Plot

The first volume begins with Masumi sneaking backstage after a Tokyo ballet performance in order to express her admiration for the lead dancers, Sayoko and Kusakabe . However, when she meets the young stars, Masumi becomes tongue-tied and clumsily begins to dance. Sayoko graciously excuses her, and Masumi returns home slightly embarrassed. Later, Masumi receives an invitation to enter a nation-wide ballet competition. The competition is being held to discover the best ballet students in Japan, in order to invite them to an exclusive ballet school designed to improve the quality of Japanese ballet. Her impromptu dance for Sayoko and Kusakabe captured the attention of one of the contest's organizers, and so Masumi goes to Tokyo in order to compete.

Once there, Masumi encounters Sayoko and Kusakabe again - this time as competitors. However, the three become friends, along with Aoi, Kusakabe's friendly rival. Out of the eight finalists, Masumi and her three new friends are all accepted. However, Masumi is obviously the weakest of the eight. She must un-learn the bad habits she picked up at her former ballet school.

Future volumes continue Masumi's entrance into the competitive world of ballet.

Characters

Japanese team members

;Masumi Hijiri :The heroine of the manga, Masumi is a 16-year old Japanese girl whose life changes after entering a ballet competition and winning a place at an exclusive national ballet school. She grew up in rural Japan with her widowed father. She is filled with self-doubt, but passionately loves ballet.

;Sayoko Kyōgoku:An accomplished young ballerina, who fears her chance at stardom will be lost to the younger Masumi. Sayoko has been interested in ballet since she was a very small girl. Although she resents Masumi for being younger and having more opportunity to grow as a dancer, Sayoko still feels sympathy for the naive Masumi. It is her performance Masumi goes to see in Tokyo.

;Hishō Kusakabe:A talented young male dancer who has known Sayoko for a long time. They are normally partnered together. His rival and friend is Aoi, who jokes about wanting a chance to dance with Sayoko.

;Aoi Yanagi:The best friend and rival of Hisho. Aoi is a genius of ballet. He acts wildly, creatively, lively. He secretly loves Masumi but she sees no interest because she loves Hisho.

Bolshoi Ballet in the USSR

;Alexei Sergeiev :A famous dancer of Bolshoi Ballet. He became a teacher of the National Ballet School in Japan. Alexei found the talent of Masumi and trained her. Masumi's talent flowered largely and excellently. He was the former teacher of Larisa.

;Larisa Maximova :A Russian girl ballet dancer. She was highly evaluated and considered a genius dancer. Larisa was a rival of Masumi. At first, she looked down on Masumi and for her Masumi was nothing at all. However, her former teacher Alexi trained and supported Masumi.

;Liliana Maximova :A cousin of Larisa. Liliana is a graceful, tender-hearted girl. At first, she seemed to be in attendance or an onlooker of Larisa's ballet. Later, the true figure of Liliana would become clear.

References

External links

* [http://www.dccomics.com/cmx/?action=on_sale&i=2419 "Swan"] on CMX's official site