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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Unfortunately not as good as the first family friendly series written by Gengoroh Tagame. The first one is one of the top series I’ve ever read, but this one felt a bit like a general highlight reel of emotions tied to coming out and beingn gay. The portions dealing with regret and other people’s feelings were good, and the artwork was phenomenal too. The whole old man and young boy kissing part didn’t sit too well with me. But ultimately this felt like a story that the author wanted to write to help him make sense of his own feelings. I will say it was fun seeing things that I went through put on the page, like having a crush on a presumed straight friend, or trying to blend in as liking girls.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
this definitely succeeded at what it set out to do, showing the journey of coming out as a young man with no gay community, and the care and love of friends and family. it was - for me - kind of boring, straightforward, and a little too convenient and sweet. but it was good, and i enjoy tagame's style! i want to read some of his erotic stuff but not sure how to acquire it. loved my brother's husband, too!
Was very excited to give this a definite 5 star rating and then that choice near the end. Such a misstep. Absolute fuel for the book banners who love to say that queer people are 'groomers' and it just personally icked me.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Teenage artist Sora Itoda is in love with his classmate, a big ol' crude doofus, and can't say a thing because "that's gay" and he's pretty sure doofus classmate is probably not gay at all. Sora's best friend from childhood, Nao Nakamura, has the idea planted in her head that maybe Sora likes her and when she goes to find out, she finds him coming out, instead, to an older gay man who runs an eclectic café. Growth, art, and friendships ensue.
I don't think there are enough stories like this one, stories that showcase the importance of creating relationships with people who can and want to help you get through the ups and downs of life, especially teen life. More importantly, it highlights both opposite-sex friendships and intergenerational friendships.
While it always makes me sad that platonic opposite-sex friendships are typically only portrayed between people amongst whom at least one has a solid reason not to have the hots for the other (as opposed to just not feeling that kind of feeling), I'll take it because it's important to see people who are expected to feel some sort of physical attraction toward one another have a meaningful, loving friendship without there being any romance involved.
On a personal note, I was a little creeped out by an older man making declarations at a sleeping high schooler because of "you reminded me of someone I loved so long ago..." but, like with [b:My Brother's Husband, Volumes 1 & 2|45754737|My Brother's Husband, Volumes 1 & 2 (Otouto no Otto, #1-4)|Gengoroh Tagame|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657572756l/45754737._SX50_.jpg|70699169], I think some of my distaste is cultural and some temporal. Had I read this 30 years ago, it probably wouldn't have bothered me because that had always been a relatively acceptable portrayal of older men and I hadn't become jaded by old-man lecherousness yet.
Regardless, the point of Mr. Amamiya is to show that it's important to have friends who are outside your age range and that people with more life experience can mentor those who are just beginning but that younger people have a lot to teach older generations, too.
Mostly, though, this is a sweet, thoughtful coming out and coming of age + finding your people story.
I'm sure it will be stunning if it's ever released in full-color.
I don't think there are enough stories like this one, stories that showcase the importance of creating relationships with people who can and want to help you get through the ups and downs of life, especially teen life. More importantly, it highlights both opposite-sex friendships and intergenerational friendships.
While it always makes me sad that platonic opposite-sex friendships are typically only portrayed between people amongst whom at least one has a solid reason not to have the hots for the other (as opposed to just not feeling that kind of feeling), I'll take it because it's important to see people who are expected to feel some sort of physical attraction toward one another have a meaningful, loving friendship without there being any romance involved.
On a personal note, I was a little creeped out by an older man making declarations at a sleeping high schooler because of "you reminded me of someone I loved so long ago..." but, like with [b:My Brother's Husband, Volumes 1 & 2|45754737|My Brother's Husband, Volumes 1 & 2 (Otouto no Otto, #1-4)|Gengoroh Tagame|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1657572756l/45754737._SX50_.jpg|70699169], I think some of my distaste is cultural and some temporal. Had I read this 30 years ago, it probably wouldn't have bothered me because that had always been a relatively acceptable portrayal of older men and I hadn't become jaded by old-man lecherousness yet.
Regardless, the point of Mr. Amamiya is to show that it's important to have friends who are outside your age range and that people with more life experience can mentor those who are just beginning but that younger people have a lot to teach older generations, too.
Mostly, though, this is a sweet, thoughtful coming out and coming of age + finding your people story.
I'm sure it will be stunning if it's ever released in full-color.
I’m thrilled to see that many Japanese artists are starting to speak up about their queerness, hopefully society will follow and then laws to protect LGBTQ rights in Japan will follow as well.
However, in my own eyes these stories are old news on an international level. This manga would’ve been grand to find 15 years ago on the bookshelves. It’s getting tiresome to appeal to the compassion of straight people, I don’t want compassion and certainly I don’t need their understanding. I want human rights and I want to be respected as a human being, bare minimum.
The story was moving and it made me think of my own adolescence. You could tell this was a personal work and I am happy for the author to finally be able to tell his story for whoever needs it. Unfortunately, I found the ending a bit unsettling. I understand that as a cultural point of view Japan has a different view about teenagers dating adults, but after a whole book of friendship and respect… I don’t know, I was bummed.
However, in my own eyes these stories are old news on an international level. This manga would’ve been grand to find 15 years ago on the bookshelves. It’s getting tiresome to appeal to the compassion of straight people, I don’t want compassion and certainly I don’t need their understanding. I want human rights and I want to be respected as a human being, bare minimum.
The story was moving and it made me think of my own adolescence. You could tell this was a personal work and I am happy for the author to finally be able to tell his story for whoever needs it. Unfortunately, I found the ending a bit unsettling. I understand that as a cultural point of view Japan has a different view about teenagers dating adults, but after a whole book of friendship and respect… I don’t know, I was bummed.
Tagame created something fantastic, as per usual. There is specific scene at the end did make me uncomfortable , and honestly it felt out of nowhere and unnecessary. Everything before that was phenomenal, though.
Spoiler
Sora asking Amamiya to kiss him, and Amamiya actually doing it??
What a heartwarming story about coming out in a country that’s still very conservative and about what the experience can look like for 2 men of different generations. It was lovely to feel Gengoroh’s own experience in this story.
Yes it’s a very long manga where not much happens but it’s all about feelings. It’s not action based it’s about getting through life, what to do with your secrets,…
I also love the illustrations we get towards the beginning, in such a different art style. For a mangaka famously known for his very raunchy stories I love to see the range of his creativity. He can do emotional and personal stories like this one and My brother’s husband and very intense bara manga.
Age wise I’d recommend it from high school as there’s no sexual content at all. There’s one kiss and some mention of the older man having sex with guys but no details. I think it could be an interesting way to discuss coming out with a younger reader.
Yes it’s a very long manga where not much happens but it’s all about feelings. It’s not action based it’s about getting through life, what to do with your secrets,…
I also love the illustrations we get towards the beginning, in such a different art style. For a mangaka famously known for his very raunchy stories I love to see the range of his creativity. He can do emotional and personal stories like this one and My brother’s husband and very intense bara manga.
Age wise I’d recommend it from high school as there’s no sexual content at all. There’s one kiss and some mention of the older man having sex with guys but no details. I think it could be an interesting way to discuss coming out with a younger reader.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated