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MANGA: Ouji-sama no Hanryo wa Batsuichi Arafou
Ouji-sama no Hanryo wa Batsuichi Arafou – Shiramatsu
Tatsumi Yagasaki, a corporate writer who is tired of life, is forced to help Prince Nico of Rasheed Kingdom, who came to Japan to produce a guide book about it. Being dragged by the Prince everyday made Tatsumi very exhausted but he was touched by seeing Nico’s honest and innocent smile.
When he woke up the next day he realized that he and the Prince did it (they had sex). Tatsumi was afraid of the ‘death punishment’ as a consequence, but he saw Nico who was happy and embarrassed at the same time.
Because of the old custom of “spending your life with the person you gave your virginity to”, he was forced to become his “partner”!. A love story that transcends the social status and nationality of a divorced around 40 year old and a Prince!
On the one hand, The Prince’s Companion Is Batsuichi Around 40 is a cute, age-gap, forced proximity romance between a 36-year-old corporate writer, Tatsumi, and the adorable Prince Nico, the royal ambassador of the Kingdom of Rasheed.
Prince Nico immediately latched on to Tatsumi after he was rescued by the latter while wandering around the city. They then worked together on a project, a Japanese guidebook for Rasheed. Their forced proximity led to intimacy, and suddenly, the prince declared Tatsumi his partner for life.
It’s easy to be swept away by the story. It’s fun, humorous, and earnest. Tatsumi also has aspirations as a novelist, and Nico’s enthusiasm and all-out support for his writing are contagious!
However, most of these are something we have already seen many times. The Japanese concept of an exotic foreign prince usually defaults to the vaguely Arabian character design we see on the cover, and Prince Nico is yet another stereotype. However, I couldn’t help but love his joyful character.
Also, the prince did most of the heavy lifting with his energetic, sunshine personality, while Tatsumi was rather boring, IMHO. Tatsumi has issues and insecurities, bemoaning his old age (36!), divorced status, and failed writing.
Though a mixed bag, this manga is still a win. Read it for Prince Nico!
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MANGA: Joushitsu na Otoko to H
Joushitsu na Otoko to H – Sonoo Michiru
Kifumi Tsuzuki is a tax auditor and as such, people despise him. No matter, Tsuzuki loves the sight of defeated businesspeople as they reluctantly hand over their due assets. Nothing gets him more excited. Perhaps, not even sex. However, Tsuzuki might have to face the reality that maybe somebody is interested in him. That somebody being Shinichi Nakahara, the CEO of the company that Tsuzuki has just audited. What kind of man tries to court the very person who ripped away money from his arms? Oh, how the tables turn. And this time, it looks like Mr. Nakahara is after Tsuzuki and HIS assets, too
Taxes, or worse, tax penalties, are not on the list of things we expect to spark a romance. So when the words “tax auditor” jumped at me from the blurb, along with that same auditor pursued by the CEO whose company he just cleaned out, I had to investigate immediately.
This is from Sonoo Michiru, who created Dental Darling and S.O.S.? Salt or Sugar?. I loved that her works feature characters in not-commonly written about jobs.
Her story telling here, where the chapters show the events from current to how they meet, was an interesting way of showing how the relationship evolved and the various nuances of their dynamics. The characters, like in her other works, tend to speak bluntly which leads to many humorous dialogues, and are open about their sexuality.
Sex with a High-Grade Man is as it says on the tin. And so much more! The “more” is a ridiculously swoony and spicy romance that, by all accounts, should have been an intense psychological/legal battle between enemies turned lovers.
Instead, dog personality CEO, Shinichi Nakahara, happily regales their friends with how he met his boyfriend, the rabid hyena of a tax auditor, Kifumi Tsuzuki. who hit him with atrocious tax penalties. He likened the experience to paying tribute to a king, to which Kifumi smiled with regal smugness.
People tend to call Nakahara a stupid third-generation CEO. He lets them think what they like. He’s deceptively good at what he does. His laid-back, smiley personality belies a keen mind. Most of his brain power is used to plan dates he thinks Kifumi would like. Nakahara adores his Kiki and dotes on his boyfriend every chance he gets.
Kifumi is that person whose life revolves around his job. He loves taxes so much he spent his summer break checking financial papers, helping weed out crooked employees in Nakahara’s company, or New Year’s Day counting the taxes he can squeeze out of anything taxable. Nakahara saw him there and quickly roped him in.
His cat personality has an aversion to touch and has as many moles on his face as I do. He’s lonely but would rather eat 100-yen pennies than admit it. Nakahara latched on to Kifumi and pursued him with the jolly kindness of a Labrador.
Together, this unlikely power couple has the healthiest, most supportive, and most affectionate relationship I’ve seen, especially among workaholic characters with high-pressure jobs. The implicit trust and the open communication are giving me life, especially knowing they were, in a way, on “opposing sides”. The gentle face touches hit me in the kokoro every time!
Overall, this manga is definitely a top pick for this year. Nakahara is the best BL boyfriend!!! Our Kiki is one lucky cat!
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MANGA: Dental Darling
Dental Darling – Sonoo Michiru
Sensei Hani is the director of a dental clinic that looks like it’s going to collapse at any moment, despite his good skills.
Morisawa, a surly and handsome doctor, is forced onto him by his teacher from university!?
Dental Darling is a deceptively charming story of socially awkward people, blunt in speech and dorks all around. It’s also an interesting peek into the secret lives of dental professionals.
Hani is a dentist at a barely surviving dental clinic. He was forced to take in an apprentice despite being unable to afford the salary. Morisawa is a tall, good-looking man whose direct speech can be off-putting. Later, it was revealed that he’s actually nervous about interacting with people.
At first, the conversations between the dentist and assistant cycled from how broke Hani is, persuading Morisawa to quit, to bemoaning that the clinic might close soon. Later, Morisawa started enticing Hani to eat via stockholder tickets for free meals and encouraging him to think of ways to keep the clinic going.
I loved how the story crept up on me, and before I realized it, I was completely invested in these two dorks and their efforts to keep the clinic in business. Similarly, I initially found their conversations repetitive. Then, I was laughing out loud at ridiculous antics.
Things became even more hilarious when a third person joined them. Saijo is a big, muscular man they hired as the dental hygienist. Hani wanted to hire a big-breasted woman because he thought the male patients might like it. Morisawa, who handled the hiring, went with Saijo because he had the biggest chest.
This musclehead became their biggest cheerleader, shipping Morisawa with Hani, because he noticed Morisawa’s interest. The scenes where Saijo jumped to conclusions or his spectacularly obvious *wink*wink *nudge*nudge signals were a riot!
I didn’t expect to like this manga as much as I did but I loved how funny and lovable these awkward doofuses are. Each character is a play of contrasts, the gap between appearances and personalities creating a refreshing dynamics between the three MCs. Together, they turned the clinic from struggling to thriving!
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MANGA: Koi Tokidoki, Yakisaba Teishoku
Koi Tokidoki, Yakisaba Teishoku – Oshima Kamome
Contains three short stories: Love Is Sometimes a Grilled Fish Set Meal, Memorable Memory Reunion and The Reason Kuro Became Human.
Love Is Sometimes a Grilled Fish Set Meal is a tale of the cocky investment manager setting out to woo the aloof restaurant owner, who wouldn’t give him the time of day no matter how shamelessly he flirted.
Nagase is openly gay and openly pursuing Ishizuka right in front of Ishizuka’s father and customers. The nosy old geezers took a vested interest in their relationship and cheered them on, blatantly asking for the sordid details. Nagase, the narcissist, was eager to regale them.
This is a play on the indoor/outdoor faces people have. Nagase wants to project coolness with every move but gets flustered by Ishizuka’s reactions. Only when he realizes Ishizuka is only interested in his real self that the dork devolves into the dork that he is.
I love the subtle reactions that explode into heartfelt declarations. I’m a huge fan of food-centric BL manga, and out of the three stories, this takes the cake!
Memorable Memory Reunion is a gap-moe romance between two recently reunited childhood friends. This is also a take on that trope where the bullied kid grew taller than his protector.
Rihito and Masami used to play near the graveyard as kids. Rihito protects the then-smaller Masami from bullies. One day, they found a porn mag and started wondering about kissing. Then, they did kiss and found they enjoyed it. The next day, it was as if nothing happened.
Fast forward to the present, Rihito returns to his hometown for a funeral and finds that his old friend Masami is now a monk. A smoking, drinking monk who slyly stole another kiss from him.
This one is okay. It’s enjoyable but not my favorite. There’s the illicit thrill of debauchery with a monk, but overall, it’s a standard childhood friends-to-lovers story.
The Reason Kuro Became Human is why we don’t deserve dogs.
One day, Tohru opened his bedroom door to find a naked man putting on his clothes. A man with dog ears and tail claiming he is Kuro, Tohru’s dog.
Kuro said he wanted to help Tohru with his fish shop because sales have been low a.k.a. Tohru is grumpy and scares off customers. Seeing Kuro’s boundless good cheer that’s winning his customers’ hearts, he lets him assist in the shop.
Until one day, Kuro revealed the real reason why he turned human
A bit iffy in a way. I mean, it’s his dog. Tohru had to process, but eventually, our boy realized he got good things going. Kuro won my heart from the get-go, because how could you hate this ray of sunshine?! He’s just too adorable.!!
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MANGA: Itooshiki Hibi
Itooshiki Hibi – Sono.N
A 50sX60s BL. We met when we were 18 and 28, from that time… until now, I’ve always loved you.
“I’ll wait no matter how long, even 10 years or 20 years. Even when we’ve become old men.”
Following the life path of two people from different generations – This is a tender life story. Akihiko, an employee in his 50s and Makoto, who’s 10 years older than him, are lovers, sons and family. From when we meet as tutor and pupil, things that have changed, and things that are unchanged…
Old men yaoi with plenty of old men sex? The ultimate relationship goals!
Our Lovely Days is one of the most heartwarming portraits of a happy couple’s lifetime of love and togetherness. The story opens with the two men in cozy domesticity. Makoto is in his 60s, already retired, and bored puttering inside the house alone. Akihiko is in his 50s, already keen to retire and putt around the house with Makoto, but still has 10 years to go.
The two are still as lovey-dovey as they were young, still active in bed, though with their age, admittedly need magic pills to get going. And boy, do they keep going, even well into their 70s and 80s.
The chapters flash back to the decades they were together. They first met when Akihiko was a senior high schooler struggling with his entrance exams, and Makoto, then 28 became his tutor. Soon feelings developed, Makoto as the adult, tried to step back but Akihiko was determined, using his crush as the motivation to ace his exams.
The succeeding chapters were about their lives as working adults, later becoming a family, up until the inevitable ending that one makes peace with. This is a couple who are not only husbands but also each other’s best friends. They communicate their feelings openly, talk about each other’s hobbies, and affectionately notice how the other has changed throughout the years.
One interesting thing in Japan where same-sex marriage is not allowed, is that gay couples use adoption as a way to become legally recognized as a family. In this case, Makoto adopted Akihiko as his “son” and with that, they were essentially husbands. Akihiko takes Makoto’s last name.
In the mangaka’s note, they said they set out to write a straightforward happy ending. It is the simplest plot there is yet rarely written. We do love our plot twists, angst, and conflicts. But here the mangaka created the most basic story and they went HARD! Read this and I dare you not to bawl!
It’s one of the most emotional, uplifting manga I’ve read!
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MANGA: Sugar Dog Life
Sugar Dog Life – Yoriko
Isumi Sakuraba, a university student with a short stature and baby-faced complex, is mistaken for a minor and is guided home by police officer Amasawa. Although he was a real student who showed his student ID, he later met Amasawa again at a convenience store where he worked part-time. Amasawa, who works at a police box nearby, became a regular customer and asked Isumi for a recommended dinner every time they met. Though Isumi felt awkward, he was worried about Amasawa’s eating habits, uttered, “Why don’t I make food for you?”
Hands down, the cutest gremlin uke!
Sugar Dog Life is a grumpy/sunshine romance between a smol, fangy university student and the friendly neighborhood police officer. Isumi and Amasawa meet when Isumi is walking alone in the dark streets, looking like a young kid, and the officer tries to escort him home.
Isumi belongs to the cooking club and works part-time at the convenience store. Upon learning Amasawa always eats convenience store food, he volunteers to cook for the officer.
I loved the character designs! Isumi’s grumpy face is super adorbs, and being chibi size and feisty, he’s the floofiest thing I’ve ever seen!!! I loved how Amasawa, with his chill, sunshiney vibe, and tall physique, is a wonderful foil to Izumi’s character.
The romance was surprisingly laidback. The two didn’t dive headfirst into a relationship. They took a step back and waited to see how they truly felt. Nobody had a hissy fit. It was all very level-headed and mature. Even our grumpy boy Isumi, who reminds Amasawa he’s an adult too.
It made the manga’s pacing off for a bit but the delayed gratification led to a satisfying conclusion. The romance itself is pretty standard, but the play of opposites, the height difference, the contrasting personalities, and even the age gap, were deployed to maximum adorableness, elevating the entire story to another level.
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MANGA: Tokyo Hikari Auction
Tokyo Hikari Auction – Tokiha Kanenari
In the district of desire, Tokyo, there is an auction hall that once shone bright, bringing in huge amounts of money with black market dealings. Now, after being hit by the recession, it’s set to fade away without a hint of its former glory. At that run-down black market auction hall, a gambler, Sengoku, who’s covered in debt is being sold. Not wanting to be left with leftover stock, the auction master, Tsubame, decided to buy him for two yen only to free him afterwards. Because of that, Sengoku took an interest in his new owner, and even offered some “special services…?!”
The cover intrigued me to no end. Here you have a fully-clothed eye-patch guy I would typically peg as a dominant villain type, being manhandled by a shirtless, muscled guy in chains. With the title Tokyo Hikari Auction and the scattered money, plus the gavel in the eye-patch guy’s hands, we could assume someone, the guy in chains most likely, was sold.
So, how did they end up like this?
This humorous, psychological tale of a happy slave and his reluctant master is one of loneliness, aimlessness in life, and gambling addiction told with the infectious good cheer of Sengoku. This man signed himself up to be sold to a slave auction and waited for his fate to be decided with such genki spirit you’d think he’s the one offered slaves at his beck and call.
Scarred and dour auction master Tsubame was irritated and annoyed by the cavalier attitude and how Sengoku was starting to get under his skin. A series of events led Tsubame to free the other man, who then promptly offered himself to be Tsubame’s slave.
It was the start of a deceptively toxic relationship where Tsubame tried devious tactics to get rid of the devoted Sengoku, only for them to backfire, and he ended up with warm fuzzies. My favorite part is watching Tsubame feeling his feels despite trying really, really hard not to feel them.
Because who wouldn’t when our boy Sengoku is always eager to please and hellbent on doting on the sad solitary Tsubame who put his life on the line for an aimless stranger like Sengoku twice? Our boy is holding on to his man tightly and employing his nifty tricks to thwart smiley psycho slave masters from stealing Tsubame away.
The smut is plenty and hella sizzling to complement the endearing, slow-burn romance. Overall, deep and passionate and yeah, maybe a little fucked up.
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MANGA: Issho ni Itadakimasu
Issho ni Itadakimasu – Mike Nako
Ryo runs a small bento shop in the shopping district. One day, a hungry young man went down at the storefront and collapsed from hunger. His name is Kotaro, a fledgling novelist who speaks inaudibly quietly with unkempt glasses on his unkempt head. It seems that Kotaro couldn’t write his debut novel, and has been running away from his responsibilities. Up to the point that he can’t get a normal job to pay bills and his electricity, gas and water were cut-off. “Ryo-san’s bento tastes like a family.” He grew up in an orphanage and was happy to eat while saying that he had never had a meal with his family.
I was looking at the cover and had to go grab a bite because it made me hungry. That soy tofu is a fave of mine.
Let’s Eat Together is a mellow story of comfort food and following your dreams.
It started when Ryo, struggling to keep his father’s bento shop open, found a stranger passed out from hunger. He promptly housed and fed the man and asked about his circumstances.
Kotaro’s tale of woe was a series of unfortunate events the likes of which are only found in soap operas. Starting with his attempts to write a novel that went nowhere…
The two agreed to cohabitate. Kotaro helped with the chores, and Ryo fed and cheered on Kotaro while the aspiring novelist tried to finish his work. Kotaro then used his wordsmith skills to help the bento shop get a much-needed boost.
Of course, they ate scrumptious meals I wished I could snatch off the page.
It was almost a dream-like idyll. The only fly in the rice bowl is the jumping-the-gun scene that created unnecessary conflict.
Still, this has such a chill vibe full of cozy, domestic scenes and two men caring and supporting each other selflessly. Savor this comfort food for the soul!
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MANGA: Matte, Suki.
Matte, Suki. – Omayu
“Because when we’re together, you make me feel like the most loved person in the world.”
Haruto, a hairdresser, is dating Aoi Kuga, an actor who is rapidly gaining popularity.
Aoi, being the doting lover he is, comes to see Haruto even if he only has 5 minutes of free time. Haruto likewise spoils him everyday with mutual love.
When Aoi receives an offer to star in a movie, Haruto is also assigned to the same site as a hair and makeup artist…
Can they keep their love from being found out!?
Wait, I love you. A righteous love that will endure!Oooh, an established couple, everyone!!!!
Very rare it is to get an established couple in an original story and not a sequel. And gorgeous character designs too!
Wait, I Love You is the sweetest, most wholesome relationship I’ve seen for a while. Hairstylist Haruto is quietly supporting his boyfriend, up and coming actor, Aoi, because they had to keep their relationship a secret. It might negatively affect Aoi’s rising popularity.
Haruto was the one who helped Aoi get his big break after the hairstylist gave the then-college student a free make-over. Aoi knows a treasure when he sees one and promptly grabs the talented hairstylist. With each one in high demand in their respective careers, they barely saw each other. Still, Aoi is holding tight to his adorable boyfriend, always making time out of his busy schedule to see him.
After all these years, Aoi and Haruto are still madly in love and can’t get enough of each other. They had a chance to work together in a movie shoot and the dorks had to force themselves not to make heart eyes at each other. These two are giving me life!!!
While the boyfriends remain a solid unit, most of the conflict, barely there as it is, comes from the effort of keeping it on the down low and pot stirring by Aoi’s co-star, a former child actor and current It Boy.
I loved how the title captures the spirit of the story. Hastily uttered words of affection amidst crazy busy work schedules of men who know how to keep their careers safe and their boyfriends close. Goals!
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MANGA: Shikabane to Hanayome
Shikabane to Hanayome – Akagawa Sagan
They were the only two brothers in a sprawling family mansion. At the end of a gruesome battle for succession, the younger brother, now head of the family, held a solemn wedding. The bride’s face remained hidden from everyone behind a thick veil, and she became rumored as “the faceless wife.” But in the bridal chamber on their wedding night, the face revealed is that of his elder brother, who was supposed to be dead.
From the mangaka who brought us the bitterest bittersweet space-age romance, Hate no Kouya de Vacances Wo, Akagawa Sagan presents another deeply angsty and hella thrilling psychological forbidden romance of the brotherly kind.
Content warnings: incest, violence, zombie sex
The Corpse and the Bride is a tragic tale of a family torn apart when two half-brothers are pitted against each other by a father who prefers his beloved mistress’s son, the younger brother Jin, and a mother protecting her legitimate son, Lee, who should have been the rightful heir.
Unknown to the parental units, the two brothers bonded and became each other’s close confidant. When it was time for them to marry, they put off choosing a bride for as long as they can. Until one day, the younger brother Jin is set to marry a woman. On the day of the wedding, a tragedy occurs that wipes out the opposing faction, including Lee, and leaves the bride with hideous scars.
Then, a year later, Jin and his mysterious bride, a veil covering her face, were finally married. The lady of the house never showed her face, nor did she speak.
I had my heart in my throat the entire time I read this. The setting is China, and it is a horror story involving necromancy and Chinese zombies. I had no clue where the story was going. I would have sunk into a pit of despair at some intense scenes had I not cheated and read reviews looking for clues that this ends, if not happily, would at least not reduce me into a bawling mess.
At its core, it is about love between two brothers, a possessive, obsessive love that defies even death. Many tried to keep them apart. They were forbidden to interact since they should be enemies. Then, they were forced to marry other people, only to be betrayed by an unlikely character.
The manga started with mystery, and just as we were getting a clearer picture, it exploded into kick-in-the-gut moments. Then, as if to make up for all the drama, the mood gradually lightened, even became humorous, and I breathed a sigh of relief. If the wacky shaman is making jokes, things are definitely looking up for Jin and Lee.
Overall, dark, passionate, and fucked up yet so…right?
P.S.
Strictly FICTIONAL brotherly love only.
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