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MANGA: Drama Mitai na Koi Janakute mo
Drama Mitai na Koi Janakute mo – Suzuki Hako
Despite his popularity with guys, Sudou Ginji, a gay writer never had a serious partner and only has had ONSs and FWBs.Now that he is almost 30, he’s determined to retire from his playboy lifestyle and find someone to have a serious relationship. However, one night, his roommate Minamoto Chihiro, whom he thought to be straight asked advice on how to be skilled in gay s**?! Things should’ve gone well if he just gave what the other person expected from him, but somehow it didn’t go that smoothly.
A writer who wants to stop being a playboy x the older roommate who would like to give away his virginity. An awkward love story of a guy in his 30s with no skills when it comes to romance!
You know how sometimes an MM romance novel borrows from BL manga? Well, this BL manga felt a lot like a contemporary MM romance book.
Even If It’s Not a Dramatic Love is a younger seme, older uke, first-time gay romance between roommates Ginji, a writer, and the older Chihiro, currently on unpaid leave. After learning that Ginji is gay, Chihiro asked the more experienced younger man to teach him gay sex.
As these things usually go, the more they practice, the more their feelings start to become apparent. And so their relationship went from purely physical to complicated to desperate.
In keeping with the title, this manga is deeply rooted in everyday life. The vibe is serious, peppered with humor and derpy expressions. We see the usual BL tropes and stereotypical characters, but the execution felt somewhat realistic.
For one, Ginji is openly gay, and the opening scene is him in bed with one of his FWB. Then we see him pensively going about his life, tired of hookups and wanting a lasting relationship. He’s described by the mangaka as serious but flirty.
Chihiro is excitable and earnest, an older man who wants to explore his sexuality, but his initial forays were disasters. As a result, sex was a sensitive topic for him, so it was a relief to find an experienced partner patient enough to teach him.
The MCs talked about what sex and intimacy mean to them until miscommunication throws a wedge between them. We’re not without drama because we get a fabulous confession scene at the bar!
This is a story of two people figuring out what they want. It’s simple and low-key; its charm lies in the MCs’ dynamics, and the endearing way their connection evolved from practice to absolutely feeling it!
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MANGA: Susumu x Minoru
Susumu x Minoru – Mochino Kome
Unsuccessful in getting his work serialized in a shounen magazine, struggling manga artist Susumu is advised by his editor to try drawing BL instead. He feels disheartened, thinking he is finally being ”designated for assignment,” when his junior Minoru comes forward with a suggestion to start dating for the sake of research. What starts as purely research becomes something more, as Susumu finds himself captivated by Minoru’s sincerity…
Susumu x Minoru is a BL manga about a mangaka creating BL while slowly falling into a BL relationship himself. How meta can you get?
Susumu is the mangaka about to venture into BL. He was going to give up when his friend Minoru encouraged him to give it a try by making him read BL. Since most BL mangaka are female, Minoru also boldly proposed that Susumu do what only he can do, being a male BL mangaka, gain a first-hand experience of his stories, a.k.a. date him.
The first time I read this, I couldn’t finish. Second time’s the charm because this time, the pairing clicked!
Before, I was bored with Susumu’s denseness, but now I find his cluelessness and internal dialogues amusing. Some people needed a push in the right direction, and bless Minoru’s soul, the boy knows his friend occasionally needed an extra shove or two.
Minoru loves cooking for his food-loving, kitchen-useless friend. While he enjoys doing things for Susumu and is clearly in love with him, I’m glad that he’s not a doormat, and it’s a relationship of equals. He gets justifiably angry when Susumu is being an idiot, and the dork had to grovel a bit, especially when he realized he’s in love with Minoru.
It wouldn’t be a manga about BL without the fujoshi. One was a coworker, the other was the editor in charge of Susumu, who would both have derpy expressions when discussing their favorite topic. His description of the “mad dog” look was hilarious! We fujin can all relate to the urge to rave about our ships, but we had to keep our mouths shut when in the presence of the uninitiated.
Overall, the romance is cute, and the transition from friends to lovers is fun and well-executed. It’s not anything groundbreaking, but it’s a cheeky take on life imitating art imitating life.
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MANGA: Flip Flip Slowly
Flip Flip Slowly – Ohtako Mame
In this new BL one-shot manga, an older city man looking to find solace in a small country library and a curious young librarian who can’t help falling for him. A simple, moving story about two men finding common ground despite their overt differences, and the way love can sneak up on you when you least expect it…
In a rural country town where nothing exciting ever happens, a new face suddenly appears at the library: a former city man who starts to show up every week without fail. With each visit, the librarian, Hagiwara, can’t help but notice little things about this new regular, Yabumi–his punctuality, his demeanor, his strangely methodical approach to reading every single book by a single author… Slowly, without realizing it, that simple observation blooms into a deeper interest that draws Hagiwara in, until he can’t help it! He wants to get to know Yabumi better. But how will he bridge the distance, when there’s no talking in the libraryFlip Flip Slowly is a library meet-cute, but really, a hurt-comfort for a traumatized older man by a determined younger man who likes to spoil him to bits.
Yabumi, a 34-year-old anthropology professor from Tokyo, returns to his hometown after his estranged father passed. He has unpleasant memories of his town after a bitter experience in high school. The man needed some TLCs as Hagiwara soon discovered.
Hagiwara is the 23-year-old librarian who was attracted to Yabumi and longs to close the distance between them. He invites the older man for a drive to the sea, where they spend the day reading in his car. It became their routine until feelings were made known but rejected. To Hagiwara’s relief, they remained friends and continued their long drives.
Hagiwara and Yabumi are two people who genuinely enjoyed each other’s company so much that multiple rejections and blunt words didn’t even make a dent in their connection. It only drew them closer and helped Yabumi find closure.
Love ourselves some library romance, and this one is an angsty slow burn on tippy toes, catching you right in the kokoro just when you thought it would be nothing but long drives and the sea. This isn’t a romance of seduction and sweet nothings, but one built on friendship, companionable silence, and hard truths.
Not to say this isn’t without passion and burning desire, because lord, it’s pretty obvious our poor boy Hagiwara is holding himself back! So that breathtaking seaside scene drawn in a full-page single panel dropped my jaw to the floor!
This is a beautiful manga that celebrates the solace of a library, the pleasure of long drives, and the thrill of closing the distance.
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MANGA: Vampire Itadakimasu
Vampire Itadakimasu – Abuku
Momoichi Kuroda just wants to become stronger. He may have won all the fistfights he’s ever fought, but he just can’t help but think there’s a way to be even stronger than this. When he sees his classmate Shirato in a compromising position, he gets to witness his deepest, darkest secret – and the rare kind of “strength” Kuroda could only dream of having. So the question now is, will Shirato turn him into a vampire already!?
Let’s Eat Vampire is a story of a delinquent who desperately wanted to be a vampire that he bit one.
Momoichi is your typical shounen anime hero who wants to be the strongest and discovers his vampire classmate Rui is stronger, hence the above. Momo values strength above all. Even when he gets his ass handed to him, he speaks with glowing admiration of his opponent’s strength.
Momo pursues Rui with the dogged determination and boundless energy of a labrador retriever, never, ever taking no, and shamelessly throwing himself on the very reluctant and very grumpy vampire seme after Momo’s bite suddenly caused the delinquent to feel very hot and bothered. Rinse and repeat in empty classrooms all over school.
I didn’t expect to like this, but I ended up loving this manga because it was pure chaos and mayhem! The dialogues are manic, with Momo’s hyperactive speeches always delivered at the top of his voice.
Momo is such a fun character! I want more stories about him and Rui. I love how he’s so comfortable in his own skin and speaks with direct honesty. He goes after what he wants, and no vampire harem is going to stop him!
Rui was swept away by this unstoppable force. Despite his best efforts to stay away, found he couldn’t let go of the loud, annoying boy, especially not when his pot-stirring older brother Rio just got handsy with the punk, and therefore earned a kick in the nuts.
The scene that followed is where Rui simply stopped resisting, and it was pure BL magic! I died squeeing!
With their cat/dog dynamics, Rui and Momo eternally squabble, getting horny while doing so. It’s ridiculously silly, and cute, and adorbs, and swoony and I can’t get enough of these two idiots!!
Japanese men are the best at styling their hair, and I have a moe for this. The bonus scene of Rui and Momo styling their hair is the cherry on top!
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MANGA: Mukou no Hito
Mukou no Hito – Ueno Potato
Sano, who can’t seem to connect with anyone at all – not his family, not his coworkers – turns to SNS instead. One day, he decides to finally meet up with one of his mutual followers, “S.” His Internet friend turns out to be Narumi, a handsome young actor whose popularity recently shot through the roof! Although Narumi’s behavior seems to hint at something bubbling beneath the surface, Sano can’t shake off the feeling that he’s probably being toyed around with… An emotional, heart-piercing BL between a handsome actor and a salaryman who doesn’t do communication.
The Man on the Other Side is a story of two awkward loners awkwardly dancing around each other.
When Sano’s online friend turned out to be the famous actor Narumi, he didn’t know what to do with him, but he was also desperate to be his friend. Narumi, sensing a kindred soul in the very average salaryman, befriended him and soon found himself strongly attracted to Sano.
However, Sano is confused with Narumi’s hot/cold approach so how to convince him?
This is a dialogue-heavy manga, with big talky balloons alternating with thoughts of insecurity, confusion, and tentative hopes. The two have more realistic personalities that don’t fall neatly into the usual trope-y categories.
Sano is introverted but also blunt, occasionally hot-tempered and tongue-tied, then blurts out long dialogues. Narumi is cool and direct, sometimes flirty and then aloof but also needy.
He initiates a kiss and then drives a wedge between him and Sano. The two dorks wait for each other to call first until months pass with no communication, just stalking each other’s social media accounts.
The best part is Narumi’s interview on TV that lit a fire under Sano’s ass to finally do something because it’s about damn time!
The blurb called this “An emotional, heart-piercing BL.” I could see the emotions, but they didn’t pierce my heart. I didn’t squee, maybe because the execution is clumsy. Still, I’m rooting for the two dorks because they went about their romance so earnestly it was hella endearing!
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MANGA: Yukue Fumei
Yukue Fumei – Kanipan
“Now, both of us are murderers!”
Kaede, who works as an unassuming janitor, and Ryo, who leads a decadent life as a kept man, were once childhood friends. They share a secret neither of them dare reveal to anyone else. After eight years, they reunite. Kaede, having killed someone for Ryo, desperately runs away with him, caught up by their passionately desire for each another. As they flee, Ryo’s past sins begin to surface. Bound by a deep love for each other, but both stained by blood. Will their journey lead them to salvation, or will it be their downfall?
(Source: J-Publishing, translated)
Missing is about two estranged childhood friends-turned-lovers, Ryo and Kaede, on the run from the police and mostly from their guilty consciences after Kaede stabbed the woman who attacked Ryo.
Their time on the road is spent reconnecting and fucking, because Ryo is an insatiable horndog when it comes to Kaede. The plot alternates from flashbacks to the present day. Their past were days of intimate friendship and escaping abuse by an alcoholic father. Their present are hours of driving and desperate coupling to make up for lost time and ease hurts.
The scenes are full of pining and longing, especially with the boys separated for 8 years before that fateful day of their reunion and the murder. Ryo is the more confident but also the more clingy. Kaede is more tormented by guilt and insecurity, with self-sacrificing tendencies that could lead to rash decisions had Ryo not held on tight.
There’s an undercurrent of fear and a reckoning on the horizon. When it comes, it’s both painful and freeing, and it hits the boys hard. Equal parts smutty and angsty, this manga takes you on an emotional ride of love, lust, and atonement.
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MANGA: Omamori-kun
Omamori-kun – Tacocasi
A collection of stories about relationships in transition…
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“Yokoi’s Calligraphy Catastrophe”: If Yokoi were a doctor, he wouldn’t have to be so self-conscious… After another incident of his boss double-checking the contents of a note from Yokoi, he decides to do something about his poor penmanship. Perhaps calligraphy classes can rescue his chicken scratch writing… But what if the teacher makes his hands tremble even more!?“Licky’s Dogma”: For Shinobu, it was love at first sight. But Kiichi was too preoccupied with his dog Licky… Will Shinobu ever be able to live up to man’s best friend?
“Mr. Good Luck Charm”: Futoshi Ono has been held back a year. He frequently misses school and often has an injury, usually on his face. Everybody thinks he’s your typical delinquent who skips classes and gets into fights. But in reality, Futoshi is getting beat up… by spirits! Amulets and talismans only go so far. What Futoshi really needs is a good luck charm…!
Tacocasi is the mangaka of some of the most fluffiest, most squee-tastic, wholesomest of wholesome manga. I’m busting out the superlatives because Nidaime Jiguko Brothers and Ushimitsu Dokidoki Koshotentan were sooo good!
Mr. Good Luck Charm is a collection of stories, two of which are interrelated. More superlatives below:
Yokoi’s Calligraphy Catastrophe – The adorkable Yokoi wanted to improve his atrocious penmanship through a calligraphy class. He was extremely flustered to discover his teacher is the unbelieveably gorgeous, hella charming, infinitely patient Izumi, a touchy-feely fella in a genuinely kind way.
There’s no defense for this kind of attack!
The way they slow-burned toward each other was ridiculously cute!!! Stolen kisses, adorable blushes, a misunderstanding, one bold strike by Izumi, and it was death by squee for me…
Licky’s Dogma – Shinobu is so in love with his friend Kiichi that when Kiichi’s beloved dog dies, Shinobu proposes to be his dog just to be close to Kiichi. He’s hesitant to confess because it might ruin their friendship, but then suddenly he does!
A bit iffy premise, but Shinobu is the sunshinest Labrador retriever to ever shine! And boy, did the mangaka outdo themselves in drawing the fluffiest ball of energy. Kiichi’s rather dour and his misguided intentions put a damper on things, but he redeemed himself by doing what Shinobu asked for all along: let the sunshine in.
Mr. Good Luck Charm – Futoshi is vulnerable to the supernatural and is frequently attacked by bad spirits. One day, he discovered his schoolmate Mamoru had the ability to ward off ghosts, and the two started hanging out together until Mamoru suddenly confessed.
Mamoru has so much good vibes, he positively sparkles!
Futoshi is friends with Shinobu, his biggest cheerleader in his slow-burn bi-awakening. Futoshi is chill and mature, and Mamoru is all heart-eyes. The vibe is lower-key than the first two stories but so wonderfully pure and wholesome! Look at them on the cover! They warm my heart and cleanse my soul!!
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MANGA: Bocchan to Wakagashira-san
Bocchan to Wakagashira-san – Shimaji
High schooler Minorikawa Narumi becomes an orphan after losing his mother. One day, his grandfather who he never knew comes to offer incense and shares he’d like Narumi to take over the company he is managing. However the company he’s talking about ends up being a yakuza organization..!? Suddenly addressed as “Bocchan,” the once lonely Narumi begins to gradually open his heart up to the kind Wakagashira, Ioroi, who is in charge of his daily needs. In fact, as they spend every day close together, Narumi becomes obsessed with the “charm of an adult man,” that he awakens to for the first time in his life. Every day, he strives to appeal to Ioroi, but—!?
Content warning: There’s a 20-year age gap, and a 36-year-old man is paired with a 16-year-old boy.
Bo-chan and Wakagashira-san is about a recently orphaned high-schooler, Minorikawa, who finds himself living in his estranged grandfather’s home. His grandfather turns out to be the big boss of a yakuza clan. To his surprise, the members treated him warmly and considered him family, and he felt more at home.
Minorikawa was placed under the care of the clan’s Wakagashira, Ioroi, the second in command. Ioroi is dedicated to his job and would take a bullet for his young master. The man oozes cool with fab tattoos and sharp suits.
The high schooler began crushing hard on his bodyguard/caretaker, and with helpful tips from his school friend, tried very awkwardly to make Ioroi treat him as an adult.
Minorikawa is naive but earnest and hella persistent. In fairness to Ioroi, the man did his damnedest to resist. It’s amusing to see the scenes where he internally commands himself to “do nothing,” especially with the boy plastered to him in his futon and the grandfather, a.k.a. big boss, just a paper wall away (they live in a traditional Japanese house).
Because to make things more complicated for Ioroi, Minorikawa developed a habit of sleeping in Ioroi’s room every night. It started innocently enough when the boy was grieving, needed comfort and couldn’t sleep. But then puberty hit, and with Minorikawa crushing on him, well … the boy requested a helping hand (ordered really, since he’s the young master).
Soon, sleeping together was sleeping together.
The two MCs have fantastic stoic bodyguard/bratty boy dynamics. The most fun part is how Ioroi puts Minorikawa on a pedestal and treasures him while said boy wreaks havoc on his bodyguard’s self-control, all cute and blushy, asking to be sullied.
Despite Minorikawa being a pervy brat and a damsel in distress, this is an endearing and nuanced exploration of a boy’s coming-of-age and first love. I would love a sequel with an adult and still pervy Minorikawa and not-holding-back-anymore Ioroi, now the big boss (since Minorikawa is not yakuza material).
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MANGA: Koibito Keiyaku Chuu ni Tsuki
Koibito Keiyaku Chuu ni Tsuki – Matsuda Io
Yanaka is troubled by the frequent advances made by the women around him and one day, he ended up lying that he’s in a relationship with his friend and colleague, Moriyama.In exchange for pretending to be Yanaka’s lover, Moriyama has some conditions set out and they are…?
During A Lover Contract is a fake boyfriend salarymen romance between two long-time friends.
Yanaka is being pursued by a very determined woman, and to get her off his back, he declares he’s dating his co-worker Moriyama. Moriyama agreed with the scheme in exchange for something that was way out of the straight Yanaka’s comfort zone.
The manga is mostly from Yanaka’s POV. He’s a bit clueless, sweet, and always willing to lend a hand, which is what got him into trouble in the first place. The more time he spent with Moriyama, the more he’s pushed out of his comfort zone and found that he’s enjoying it.
The vibe is light-hearted. Had we had Moriyama’s POV, we’d be drowning neck-deep in angst and longing. Because you guessed it, our boy has unrequited feelings for his clueless friend.
My favorite part is how Yanaka finally returning his feelings impacted Moriyama, which made the shift to his POV so damn moving. The way the mangaka drew the confession scene was a devastating shot to the kokoro, devastating in the best way. Also the part where Moriyama had to take a moment, incredibly overwhelmed and half-believing it’s all a dream, I felt that too.
Overall, a poignant tale of indecent proposals, pure motives, and a dream come true.
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MANGA: Musubime wo Hodoitara
Musubime wo Hodoitara – Ichi Bom
While drunk at a pub he was forced to go to by a fellow seminar member, Nishina reunites with Hase Ryosuke, a tea ceremony practitioner who captivated him with his beautiful manners at tea ceremonies when he was a child.When he gets drunk and asks for love advice, Hase presses him, saying, “Well, why don’t you try it with me?” Behind his carefree facade, Ryosuke is tied to the traditional family business and his family, and Yuzuru faces him honestly despite being pushed around – the path of first love that is forged by the tea ceremony.
Source: MU
Once You Loosen the Knot opens with a tea ceremony, a drunken rambling, and a proposition.
University student Yuzuru and tea ceremony practitioner Ryosuke began exploring their connection after meeting in a pub. Yuzuru recalled admiring Ryosuke as a child while watching him perform a tea ceremony. Now both adults, Ryosuke confessed to being bisexual after a spectaularly drunk Yuzuru revealed his curiosity about falling in love.
As a tea ceremony master, Ryosuke cuts a poised, zen-like figure, especially in a kimono. This sedate image belies a surprisingly forward and passionate nature, especially when Yuzuru is involved.
Yuzuru is discovering the joys of his first time everything and occasionally lapses into moments of insecurity regarding his relationship with the more experienced Ryosuke.
The manga’s vibe is wholesome and angst-free, with Ryosuke and Yuzuru smoothing any wrinkles through open communication like sensible adults. It’s a healthy relationship that’s total goals. Admittedly, the execution was somewhat blah, but overall, it’s a sweet story about first love.
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