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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Looks weird and ridiculous at first but I ended up loving it.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am so surprised how much I liked this manga. It's kind of a ridiculous premise, and if you don't already know that deodorant isn't a big thing in Japan you may be even more weirded out by it. But in addition to being steamy, this story is also really sweet. It talks a lot about the idea of being accepted for who you really are, and not judged for things you can't control. The female main character also isn't 100% submissive, which is a nice change. She ultimately asks for what she wants and her sexuality isn't seen as morally wrong or anything. She's allowed to want more from her boyfriend and the manga never judges her for it. I'll definitely be continuing the series. Such a pleasant surprise.
1.5⭐
i don't know. it had an... interesting premise, and it was a quick read - i can give it that, but i didn't really care for the any of the characters, their relationship or the overall plot as a whole.
will i be continuing this? maybe. it was quite easy to get through, and maybe i'll get more invested if i proceed, who's to say.
i don't know. it had an... interesting premise, and it was a quick read - i can give it that, but i didn't really care for the any of the characters, their relationship or the overall plot as a whole.
will i be continuing this? maybe. it was quite easy to get through, and maybe i'll get more invested if i proceed, who's to say.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, this was undeniably weird, but also… so charming?
4.5/5 stars
Sweat and Soap follows a woman named Asako who works for a toiletry maker. She has a perspiration problem, and because of this she's always putting on copious amounts of her company's products. The lead product developer at the company, Koutarou, catches a whiff of her scent and finds it inspiring. He asks if he can smell her every day and a romantic relationship soon develops between the two.
If you find the premise of this manga off-putting, fair, because initially I did too. I get pretty uncomfortable with novels that have very sweaty characters, but Sweat and Soap manages to make it work. That Asako is so endearing, and so aware of and insecure about her problem, to the point where she is always doing her best to deal with it, really makes you sympathize with her more than anything else. Asako’s soft and sweet demeanour also somehow provides a distraction to her problem and I often find myself taking Koutaro’s point-of-view on things and end up feeling like Asako is being overly self-conscious. As for Koutarou’s obsession with smells, I still think it’s pretty weird, but that he’s so caring and that he tries his best to respect boundaries really helps with the matter.
In regards to the more mature matter of the manga, I’m always a bit reluctant to pick up shounen or seinen romance because fan service is usually such a prominent aspect. I don’t think fan service is inherently bad, but rather that these demographics tend to over exaggerate aspects of it, to the point where it becomes a distraction more than anything else. That being said, if all manga went about fan service the way Sweat and Soap does, I’d probably feel a lot differently about it. The fan service always feels well-placed and mature, and adds to the story rather than distracting from it, so if you’re looking for something steamy and tasteful I think this is a great option.
As for characters, Asako is extremely charming, and because she is so sweet I find myself rooting for her and hoping her confidence will grow. I also like that Koutarou is incredibly patient with Asako when it comes to her confidence, and I’m looking forward to when they eventually publicize their relationship. Koutarou is a great love interest for Asako, his outgoing personality and easy confidence complement Asako well, and will hopefully help her get out of her shell. That Koutarou sometimes overthinks things is also really relatable, and can lead to misunderstandings, but the two are mature enough that they’re able to talk about their problems.
As fun as it can be to watch two individuals slowly develop feelings for each other and then work up the nerve to try and take things further, I always welcome a story where the couple establishes their relationship right away. What makes matters even better is that a lot of the conflicts Asako and Koutarou face are incredibly relatable and not overly dramatic. To provide some examples, initially Asako's new relationship is something she can't stop thinking about, especially when she is trying to work, something I'm sure a lot of new couples or people with budding crushes can speak to. As well, Asako gets jealous when she sees Koutarou with a woman she’s unfamiliar with, but she tries her best to work through her feelings on her own, as she knows Koutarou has done nothing wrong. When Koutarou realizes something is off with Asako, he tries to get her to open up to him, and I really like how quick the two are to talk about any problems they’re having, it reflects well on their communication skills.
Also, I really like the dynamic with Asako and her boss, Okura. I really get the sense that he’s trying to look out for her and it’s very sweet.
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Sweat and Soap follows a woman named Asako who works for a toiletry maker. She has a perspiration problem, and because of this she's always putting on copious amounts of her company's products. The lead product developer at the company, Koutarou, catches a whiff of her scent and finds it inspiring. He asks if he can smell her every day and a romantic relationship soon develops between the two.
If you find the premise of this manga off-putting, fair, because initially I did too. I get pretty uncomfortable with novels that have very sweaty characters, but Sweat and Soap manages to make it work. That Asako is so endearing, and so aware of and insecure about her problem, to the point where she is always doing her best to deal with it, really makes you sympathize with her more than anything else. Asako’s soft and sweet demeanour also somehow provides a distraction to her problem and I often find myself taking Koutaro’s point-of-view on things and end up feeling like Asako is being overly self-conscious. As for Koutarou’s obsession with smells, I still think it’s pretty weird, but that he’s so caring and that he tries his best to respect boundaries really helps with the matter.
In regards to the more mature matter of the manga, I’m always a bit reluctant to pick up shounen or seinen romance because fan service is usually such a prominent aspect. I don’t think fan service is inherently bad, but rather that these demographics tend to over exaggerate aspects of it, to the point where it becomes a distraction more than anything else. That being said, if all manga went about fan service the way Sweat and Soap does, I’d probably feel a lot differently about it. The fan service always feels well-placed and mature, and adds to the story rather than distracting from it, so if you’re looking for something steamy and tasteful I think this is a great option.
As for characters, Asako is extremely charming, and because she is so sweet I find myself rooting for her and hoping her confidence will grow. I also like that Koutarou is incredibly patient with Asako when it comes to her confidence, and I’m looking forward to when they eventually publicize their relationship. Koutarou is a great love interest for Asako, his outgoing personality and easy confidence complement Asako well, and will hopefully help her get out of her shell. That Koutarou sometimes overthinks things is also really relatable, and can lead to misunderstandings, but the two are mature enough that they’re able to talk about their problems.
As fun as it can be to watch two individuals slowly develop feelings for each other and then work up the nerve to try and take things further, I always welcome a story where the couple establishes their relationship right away. What makes matters even better is that a lot of the conflicts Asako and Koutarou face are incredibly relatable and not overly dramatic. To provide some examples, initially Asako's new relationship is something she can't stop thinking about, especially when she is trying to work, something I'm sure a lot of new couples or people with budding crushes can speak to. As well, Asako gets jealous when she sees Koutarou with a woman she’s unfamiliar with, but she tries her best to work through her feelings on her own, as she knows Koutarou has done nothing wrong. When Koutarou realizes something is off with Asako, he tries to get her to open up to him, and I really like how quick the two are to talk about any problems they’re having, it reflects well on their communication skills.
Also, I really like the dynamic with Asako and her boss, Okura. I really get the sense that he’s trying to look out for her and it’s very sweet.
Blog | Instagram (main account) | Instagram (manga account) | Twitter