Admittedly at first I expected this story to just be cute. Something light, something fluffy to "baw" at for a while. It is as sure as hell cute, but there is a hell of a lot more to this manga that initially meets the eye.
For one, it's PAINFUL. For all that the ending feels a little deus ex machina, there is a lot that is not idealized. Suicide, death, and loss permeate the characters' lives. There is a focus on letting go of loss, on being held back by past tragedies, and having the courage to keep living when you have to reconcile that your
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 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: Searching for the Full Moon, Ginyuu Meika, Mangetsu wo Sagashite Japanese: 満月〈フルムーン〉をさがして More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 7
Chapters: 35
Status: Finished
Published: Dec 1, 2001 to Apr 30, 2004
Demographic:
Shoujo
Serialization:
Ribon Magazine Authors:
Tanemura, Arina (Story & Art) Statistics Ranked: #6862 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #457
Members: 38,231
Favorites: 1,920 Resources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 18 / 18
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Jan 4, 2009
This is one of the best shojo manga ever. At first I thought it would be just another girl-loves-boy, happily-ever-after story, and I wasn't exactly psyched when I saw the girl was a singer (I don't like celebrity manga too much). After I started reading, though, I realized it was so much more than you typical shojo flick. This story deals with pain and loss, and at times (especially when I'm reading the lyrics that Mitsuki sings) I just want to cry. Mitsuki's love is so sad and moving, it hurts to see her put on a happy face.
The art is--what can I say? Arina ... 
May 25, 2008
This Manga is a must read! The innocent-looking cover should not trick you into thinking this is a happy story for kids. It does have plenty of sweet, romantic and happy chapters and I still wouldn't call it a dark series, but it also deals with death, Shinigami, and even suicide. If you've watched the anime; the manga still has plenty of differences and details revealed that were not mentioned in the anime.
More information is given about the Shinigami's past lives and their connection to Mitsuki. Izumi, for example, is a completely different character. In the manga Izumi was my favorite character, in the anime ... 
Mar 16, 2015
*Disclaimer: The TLDR is at the bottom.*
Not your typical magical girl transformation shojo, to say the least: 'Full Moon o Sagashite' is much more than that. It's a story about second chances and the pursuit of self-love, forgiveness and redemption. The characters are layered so wonderfully, and grow naturally as the story progresses. Arina Tanemura does a fantastic job interweaving the relationships and back-stories within Full Moon's universe; you'll find yourself falling in love with all of her characters over and over again. She masterfully and delicately handles the topic of childhood illness and young love. Somehow, she is able to keep the atmosphere of ...
Feb 2, 2012
Wow. I am not normally a big fan of supernatural works because often the scenarios are so outrageous the characters themselves become unbelievable and the story suffers. This, however, is a huge exception. I didn't really notice any "fluff" characters, even the supporting characters had their own backgrounds and seemed real. Unlike many similar works, where you have to make yourself believe everything, here you only have to believe in shiragamis. After that, everything just flows and the characters behave as, with their respective personalities, you would expect them to. I laughed. I cried. I cheered them on and at the end, felt like I
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Aug 24, 2010
This is hands down the most beautifully tragic mangas I have ever read.
It has the perfect blend of drama, romance, tragedy and a splash of humor to make it a masterpiece. The characters are each unique individuals with impactful stories. This manga, just like many others, is nearly 100% better than the anime. The plot: 12-year-old Mitsuki lives for two things singing and her childhood love Eichi. However, Eichi is off in another country. So, promised him that she would become a famous singer so that he could see her. But Mitsuki has a disease that is stealing her voice and limiting her to a whisper. ... 
Mar 28, 2018
Story: 10/10
A girl and boy promises each other to fulfil their dreams. Her dream is to become a singer, however, unfortunately, she suffers from throat cancer. But, with the help of two shinigamis, she is able to sing once again. It's a unique story, I don't think I've ever read something like this before. It was definitely a childhood favourite and WARNING! It will make you cry. Art: 8/10 Typical shoujo manga art style back in the 2000s, big eyes and quite small head. But the character designs are unique and easily remembered. Characters: 9/10 There's a lot of character development and you get to know more about ... 
Jun 26, 2016
The best way to explain Full Moon wo Sagashite to somebody is that it is overcoming loss, and moving on. The entire story encompasses the cycle of grief and acceptance beautifully, more so then any series I've ever seen before.
Each character is the main character of their own story, making it truly believable and interesting to read through. On top of that, each character is likable in their own way, and if they're not, their actions are completely understandable anyway. It's honestly brilliant. And of course, Arina Tanemura does not disappoint with her brilliant art. It's absolutely gorgeous, as always. Overall, this story fully grasps the feelings ... 
Sep 12, 2010
It's about time I rewrote this.
Full Moon wo Sagashite is the sad, yet inspiring story of a girl who has one year to live, as she found out when two shinigami visited her. Upon learning this astonishing fact, Mitsuki decides to make the best of it and try harder to achieve fame as a singer so she can reach her childhood love, Eichi-kun, who is living in America. When reading any cutesy manga where there's drama and tragedy, I like to keep a box of tissues on hand. But don't worry, you won't need to use these until the second half of the series =) Story: Now, ... 
May 26, 2009
Well, I though it was really: Funny, Sad, Touching, Cute, Sweet... and lots more! It can make you feel so many feelings at the same time!
Mitsuki's actions and emotions were sad yet touching... plus she can be really funny at times. She is really loyal to Eichi and it's funny how she always makes Takuto so jealous ^^ I think Meroko's story was quite touching too... the fact that she was so distant to everyone else... it was tragic really... but that doesn't stop her from being her! The art is WOW... the best I've probably ever seen... The characters are all really cute... but I thought ... 
Oct 3, 2015
Ah, Full Moon wo Sagashite, one of the many manga of my childhood. I discovered this manga when I was young. It was around the time when volumes 5-7 hadn't been released yet, and while I finished the entire manga, I had only seen a few episodes of the anime and never got to finish that. I really ought to. But I don't think I ever attached to the manga despite liking it. I had the first DVD once but sold it recently, knowing that the dub would never be finished. I had put the manga in a box and hadn't touched it in years.
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Mar 2, 2010
This is a great anime/manga. the plot follows around a girl who has cancer and cant sing or else she starts coughing. One day 2 shinigamis takuto and meroko arrive and they (next is not really a spoiler.it happens in first episode) transform into a very pretty 16 year old girl wtih a perfectly healthy body so she can sing but what happens next at the audition will change her life. The characters are very deep and each are different. there arent a lot of side characters to keep track of or remember so it's very easy for those with trouble with names(like me) and
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May 13, 2010
My eyes still have the beginnings of tears in them from this story. I laughed and I cried it was so good. The story is amazing and it really makes you think about certain things. A lot of the time there isn't one clear answer and thats what makes it so interesting. I really wish that I could hear the songs that she sings because they would be so rich with feelings. It ends so beautifully.
Read it.
May 31, 2013
This is shojo but not for kids under the age of nine. It could upset them easily. I mean very easily!!! It had me laughing in places and almost shredding tears in others. It is very kawaii (cute) and the shingami (death gods) are really funny!!! I am on chapter 15 and am loving the manga. It is very romantic, but not in a sexual way. Just kissing and hugging. Tanemura Arina did a great job of writing and drawing this manga. Her art is absolutely buratiful! Mitsuki is a great role model, especially if you or your child suffer from stage fright
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Feb 8, 2009
Full Moon wo Sagashite was a romantic "suspense" manga, as in every page turn it kept me suprised and frightened at the same time as of what would happen the very next page. The story isn't bad for a fantasy/romance. The fantasy could have at least been more original and more made-up. The romance part was amazing and it passes as being great. The art was very nicely drawn and it seemed like the 'always original shojo art'. The eyes are huge and the bodies all look similar. However they were able to pull it off. The characters seemed like they were not even involved
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Aug 16, 2016
You have seen 0 episodes of Full Moon wo Sagashite
Your Review: If you want something cute with a little magical twist, I would recommend this. -Story- There are times when the story of Full Moon wo Sagashite is really good and really makes you cry and there are times where it really just comes off as unrealistic and over-dramatic. Part of it is due to poor characterization and the other is due to the lose plot. The ending felt a little... unexciting. I mean, it's nice and wraps everything up in a nice little bow. But you get there and you're just like, "all right, well. That was ... 
Dec 4, 2022
7.5/10 - this reflects my personal enjoyment of the series. Full Moon was objectively Arina Tanemura's best work (although I enjoyed SDC more). This was also when her art style was the prettiest. The story tackles themes of death, love, survival and grief. It's quite a hefty attempt for something aimed at young girls, which you have to respect. Unfortunately Arina does have a tendency to write stories in a rather...simplified, fairytale sort of way, so the tone felt a little mismatched when tackling such heavy subjects. She tends to be great at premises and slightly weaker on execution, but you can tell it was
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Mar 1, 2021
Dramatic but somewhat shallow.
Mostly Full moon is the story of a 12 year old girl trying to become a singer because of a promise she made to someone she loves. However her grandma hates music. She also has throat cancer. She also never went to school. Her dad was also a top tier singer. Also 2 death reapers try to reap her soul since she is supposed to die in 1 year. But she convinces them to help her instead so she is now this model looking woman who is now an idol. Its a very fast paced story which is for the better. ... |
