-
MY TOP BL MANGA OF 2020
-
MANGA: Hige to Suzu to Shabondama
Hige to Suzu to Shabondama – YMZ
Daily life of Santa and Rintarou…
Beards, Bells and Bubbles is the super fluffy and adorably wholesome slice of life manga about an established gay couple going about their daily lives. It has a nice laid-back vibe that’s makes you think of easy summer afternoons.
Santa is the serious, hardworking one who takes care of all the household chores. He likes to spoil Rintarou. He was disowned by his family.
Rintarou is the carefree, lazy one who is completely hopeless at household chores. He likes being pampered. He has a big family who loves Santa. The running gag of the manga is that everybody thinks he is a good for nothing and that Santa is too good for him. Nobody expected they would last for 3 days.
They’re still together after 5 years.
The manga started in spring when these two dorks went to the park to view the flowers only to have it raining when they got there. Some parts of the story flash back to how it all started. Most of the chapters showed short and simple scenes illustrating the couple’s affection for each other.
Like in the opening chapter, Santa comments he’ll never see the flowers as long as they’re together. To which Rintarou replies, then you’ll never see them. Santa shrugs his shoulders and says it’s okay. They go home and eat soup.
The dialogues are funny, mostly due to Rintarou’s over reaction to things. He has a jealous streak that extends to members of his family. Santa going shopping for laptops with his father and twin brother had him in tantrums, the idiot.
My favorite part was Kiyoshi, Santa’s ex, who for some reason or another hangs around Rintarou hilariously comparing notes about Santa. He’s an overconfident businessman who unexpectedly had a boyfriend who was okay with his weird habit. There’s a twist here that I really liked and I hope the mangaka gives Kiyoshi and his man their own spinoff.
Anyway, the following year, it rained. They didn’t see the flowers. Again.
-
Keyring Lock – YMZ
The freeter, Yui, found a stranger in a tattered state along the road. His name is Toshiki, a man with a strange appeal. Yui couldn’t leave him alone, and so, he accompanied the stranger back to his house. Upon getting there, Toshiki revealed to be wilful, and Yui decided to go along with him. The next morning, however, he found that he has been trapped inside Toshiki’s house.
So unique and gentle. More strange, platonic co-habitation stories, please.
-
Labradorescence- YMZ
Shunji Fujishiro, a photographer, wakes up one morning in a hospital bed, where he was transported after losing consciousness during a fall on a staircase. He is immediately surprised and irritated by the casual attitude of the physician who looks after him, Mutsumi Higa. Nevertheless,their meeting gives Shunji the motivation and inspiration he needed for his photography projects. As for Mutsumi, he is intrigued by Shunji, whose honest and impulsive character is diametrically opposed to his…
YMZ’s watercolor artwork perfectly captures that the laid-back mood, the gentle atmosphere, the relaxed pacing as Shunji and Mutsumi slipped into an easy, organic relationship.
-
Labradorescence- YMZ
Shunji Fujishiro, a photographer, wakes up one morning in a hospital bed, where he was transported after losing consciousness during a fall on a staircase. He is immediately surprised and irritated by the casual attitude of the physician who looks after him, Mutsumi Higa. Nevertheless,their meeting gives Shunji the motivation and inspiration he needed for his photography projects. As for Mutsumi, he is intrigued by Shunji, whose honest and impulsive character is diametrically opposed to his…
YMZ’s watercolor artwork perfectly captures that the laid-back mood, the gentle atmosphere, the relaxed pacing as Shunji and Mutsumi slipped into an easy, organic relationship.
-
Labradorescence- YMZ
Shunji Fujishiro, a photographer, wakes up one morning in a hospital bed, where he was transported after losing consciousness during a fall on a staircase. He is immediately surprised and irritated by the casual attitude of the physician who looks after him, Mutsumi Higa. Nevertheless,their meeting gives Shunji the motivation and inspiration he needed for his photography projects. As for Mutsumi, he is intrigued by Shunji, whose honest and impulsive character is diametrically opposed to his…
YMZ’s watercolor artwork perfectly captures that the laid-back mood, the gentle atmosphere, the relaxed pacing as Shunji and Mutsumi slipped into an easy, organic relationship.
-
Happy Birthday – YMZ
Sakuto, a company employee. Kousuke, a bar manager. Yuutarou, a shop manager. The three of them met in college and have been close friends ever since. Although they each have different sexualities, jobs, and personalities, the three friends have each lost his own grip on life, friendships, and love. Even then, they believe in themselves and move forward.
Took its own sweet time resolving feelings but wasn’t shy about shouting them in public.
-
Happy Birthday – YMZ
Sakuto, a company employee. Kousuke, a bar manager. Yuutarou, a shop manager. The three of them met in college and have been close friends ever since. Although they each have different sexualities, jobs, and personalities, the three friends have each lost his own grip on life, friendships, and love. Even then, they believe in themselves and move forward.
Took its own sweet time resolving feelings but wasn’t shy about shouting them in public.
-
Happy Birthday – YMZ
Sakuto, a company employee. Kousuke, a bar manager. Yuutarou, a shop manager. The three of them met in college and have been close friends ever since. Although they each have different sexualities, jobs, and personalities, the three friends have each lost his own grip on life, friendships, and love. Even then, they believe in themselves and move forward.
Took its own sweet time resolving feelings but wasn’t shy about shouting them in public.
-
Happy Birthday – YMZ
Sakuto, a company employee. Kousuke, a bar manager. Yuutarou, a shop manager. The three of them met in college and have been close friends ever since. Although they each have different sexualities, jobs, and personalities, the three friends have each lost his own grip on life, friendships, and love. Even then, they believe in themselves and move forward.
Took its own sweet time resolving feelings but wasn’t shy about shouting them in public.