Author
"Title" (Publisher) Date of issue rating m/m
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A-E:
Abekawa Kineko
"Nureta Houkago" (Shoubunkan) Jun/2003 *** 8.4
Hard-core shota PWP series of the perverted teacher of the elementary school who educates honor student sexually. The story:(A primary school teacher, Yoshio Tahara is very perverted and rapes innocent pupil boys. Tahara loses his passion when the pubic hair of the boy grows. He is now loving intensively Satoru Terayama, a pupil of 4th grade. Then senior pupil who was dumped by Tahara bully Satoru by harassment. But Satoru is so cute that senior pupil begins to love him. Tahara turns a cold shoulder to Satoru to regain but it works the other way. Senior pupil and Satoru become a couple...). This series was terminated by the suspension of the magazine of the serialization. So this book is published after long interval as the author also can not recall her passion at that time. Then this series is different from the author's current line. But the readers can find the indications of current taste, otaku-ish parody. In this book there are a lot of nostalgic parody of old animation or old idol young stars (The name of teacher, Yoshio Tahara comes from "Yoshio Nomura" and "Toshihiko Tahara", members of "Tanokin Trio", the young idols. The scene of applause with "Omedetou" is the last one of "Evangellion". Katou & Chousuke comes from "Drifters", the very popular comedians. "Aenai Jikan ga Ai Sodaterunosa" is lyric of the song of "Hiromi Gou", "Aishuu date" is the song of Tahara. "Popura no Eda ni naru" is a lyric of the theme song of the drama, "Ienakiko" of "Yumi Adachi" and "Ai wa merry-go-round" is a theme song of the animation, "Bug tte Honey" of "Takahashi Meijin", the game idol of Hudson). Perhaps I think the author wanted to write such parody only using shota manga because she is too shy to write hard-core shota magna. At her postscript, she says now she can not write shota but I think it is good decision for her. Because she has created her representative masterpiece & smash hit, "Rakkyou no Kawa" series after this! (by Slash-kun 16/Aug/2003)
"Rakkyou no Kawa vol.2" (Wani Books) Oct/2002 * 9.5
The sequel of very popular & funny 4 Koma manga of manga club activity at high school. The impact of the series never fades in this volume. The story:(The elder sister of Shintera will come back to djs after some interval. Takizawa is roped in to act as her assistant, a comfort boy. Takizawa sees the fearfulness of spinster djska that Shintera can not go against with his own eyes. There are some funny events: Takizawa meets biological teacher, adviser of manga club, Masayoshi Natori, aka Justice who is a Kamen rider freak and he is scolded by Justice because he knows little about rider series or Hagino finds her steady and Takizawa decides to resign manga club. But in the end, Takizawa is persuaded warmly by the members of manga club to come back again). Very hilarious as first volume. In this volume, the families of the members come on. Especially the sister of Shintera is very powerful! The author really describes the character of veteran female mangaka very well. The sister resembles Satosumi Takaguchi or Sayuri Ichijyou!! A defiant attitude, boldness, audacity, grimness, high intelligence (have a good academic background) of delo diam is too exactly expressed. Her word, "Comfort boy (Uruoi)" is very hilarious. The solidarity of female djska of mature age or loyalty of younger female djska to senior ones is very unique and sometimes a little fearful. But they are manly and lordly because they keep doing what they want and do not take any notice of men. Her relationship with Shintera is also very funny (I'm very glad to know even Shintera has a soft spot). Shintera is very nice character in this volume yet. He is very cunning, calculative, nimble and good at craft and guile. It's natural that he keeps cheating adult people since his childhood. But he likes awkward girls with spectacles and becomes mad when he forgets time-shift of TV animation. Very artistic, passionate (loves minor things) and beloved character. In this volume among many otaku hobbies, doll, rider and military hobbies are highly featured. Doll is very costly hobby and now is a hobby for guys (grin)! Now we can see the covers of many djs for male readers with a lot of frilly dress!! The cover of yaoi djs is rather macho and strong. It's reverse phenomenon. About special effects' stuff, the author explains they are divided into two groups, Tsuburaya's monster films and riders' films (like Kamen rider). Fans of two groups are quite different and not friend. The episode of Gunjin-kun's examination of japanese history (the coverage is "WWII") is so hilarious. The author is very good at parody art. She shows imitation of Kazuo Umezu in the 1st volume and shows one of Shigeru Mizuki in this volume (Look close!). The relationship between Shintera and Izumi is very erotic in this volume, too! Shintera praises Izumi's talent of game and confesses he enters this high school because Izumi enters, too. Izumi expresses the fearfulness of Shintera's sister by nice analogy that nobody, even Shintera can not resist her. In their friendship there is a firm bond of the strong confidence for their high ability. Very envious. It's the funny parody of the sport manga, passionate aces' friendship. According otaku reader, this series is very comfortable as well as "Cromartie Koukou" by Eiji Nonaka. There is no competition. Only solidarity of foolish (ordinary) students. By reading it, the negative phases of humans will be affirmed. Therefore no matter how many times we read this, we can find amusement. The episode that all members try to stop Takizawa's resignation is very common for japanese who believe absolutely the groupism. The episode of semester final examination (most manga club members lose passion after exam) is too penetrating because I was a member of manga club!! The report of Japan Sci-fi convention at the end of the book is very interesting (The author is very strong otaku!). And the self-introduction of the members is very hilarious, too!! Especially Hagino's table is so funny. Her favorite witch girl is "Snipe Sensei" of "Harry Potter" (She suspects he is uke!) and her favorite djs is Gundam Wing, Treeze uke. Say, Kouji Shintera and Izumi Yaotome may come from Kouji Nanjyou and Takuto Izumi of "Zetsuai/BRONZE" by Minami Ozaki. Maybe...! (by Slash-kun 14/Jun/2003)
"Rakkyou no Kawa vol.1" (Wani Books) Feb/2002 * 10
Comical 4 Koma manga of Manga club at high school. Otaku(nerd/geek/freak of manga/animation) oriented. The story:(Masamune Takizawa wants to end his miserable nerd life - lowest classes of young people - enters very smart coed high school and changes his appearance completely cool like the young idol star of Jenny's talents. But he is threatened by an evil president of student council, the leader of manga club, Kouji Shintera using old xerox copy djs Takizawa made to join the club. Takizawa wants to refuse it but meet good senior members, very reliable & superstar djska, Izumi Yaotome, very manly costume player, Makiko Date and very pretty but enthusiastic yaoi djska, Tsukiko Hagino and is impressed by their freakishness. Takizawa begins to realize his identity at the mercy of Shintera who is very freak of freaks. Additionally new members, a typical awkward girl with spectacles, Sasami Matsushima, aka Chamy and military freak, aka Gunjin-kun join the club later and it occurs that funny episode of Takizawa's younger sister who hates Otaku very much. Takizawa's season of discontent is really horizonless). Entirely hilarious! I never dreamt the author writes such hilarious comedy like that!! The members of manga club are so unique & distinct and cover well most patters of representative otaku. Hidden otaku/pseudo & fake disguised popular kid, Takizawa, Clever maneuverer, Shintera (Very funny! Superficially invigorating leader, excellent student but super unscrupulous wheeler-dealer), wise man, Izumi (Very funny, too! Gentleman, adult with commonsense, manly and typical "accomplished professional otaku". Unexpectedly shy and cute), yaoi djska Tsukiko (She likes hard stuffs and macho & oyaji Uke! though she looks very naive & cute), Very handsome costume player Make (She is idol of girls) and awkward teacher's pet, Chamy and military freak, Gunjin-kun. They are very common in manga club of japanese schools. The episodes that shows geekiness the members are so geeky (difficult for ordinary people). I'm very surprised to see the author knows very old and minor manga & animation very much! Nobody may be able to guess all the source of quotations/parody. But this manga may be best test, educational material to check how familiar the non-japanese reader is to japanese otaku culture. People usually abominate/dislike otaku but in this book they are described as very amiable existence. The author loves Otaku so she depicts Otaku though she is a woman. Otaku, the people who love something very earnestly is very pity, laughable and charming. The sight of author to Otaku is very warm and she even respects Otaku. As the pure people who is very dedicated & passionate for what they love. Especially Izumi who should be usually hated as fat Otaku guy in ordinary society is described as an hero who is very familiar to everything in this story. He is very brave, magnificent and not slavish in the least. In japanese society people respect crazy people who has mastered one thing though it is not popular (But I think in western society, freaks of non-macho, non-masculine things are not treated respectfully). This perhaps accounted for the fact that Otaku male readers have appreciated this series highly. Of course female readers can enjoy this as extravagant friendship story of guys. They are freaks, so their solidarity/bond is very warm. I really envy the good friendship between Shintera and Izumi because they respect their freakness and confide each other. BTW Slash-kun participated to manga club when I was a student at university, so I laughed a lot at short bulletin manga by the members at end of this book. It describes well the typical manga club bulletins. Especially Shintera's dark, weird and surrealistic manga is very nice! Intelligent students often draw such very occult mysterious stuffs because of poor painting. I think the cultural club (not sport club) is really pleasant. So the members of the clubs are completely all right though they are not popular with opposite sex. For me, this series is also very nostalgic and reminds me of good young days. (by Slash-kun 14/Jun/2003)
Agawa Kouko
"Trouble Maker vol.2" (Coa Magazine) Apr/2003 *** 8.5
The sequel of the very popular series of plural adult couples including CEO brothers. The story:(A secretary of the president of the big ad agency, Matsuzaki is hardheaded but very jealous. He feels jealous even Kenichi Sakaki, his lover, a brother of his CEO, just talks with his colleague on business pleasantly. Kenichi gets angry at too strong monopolistic desires of Matsuzaki. But his brother, Shinji Sakaki tells him Matsuzaki has loved him for over 10 years. Hearing it, Kenichi forgives Matsuzaki / Matsuzaki is jealous of new company rep of Kenichi, Shinjyou again. OTOH Shinji's awful mother brings the proposals of marriage to Shinji. Hide Sakaki, the lover of Shinji, a subordinate of Kenichi grows suspicious / Shinji makes plan to refuse his mother's proposal but Hide knows it through Kenichi's talking on the phone. To prove his innocence, Shinji gets on the phone to his parents and refuses the marriage meeting in front of Hide / TV commercial of Shinji's company leaks out. Matsuzaki suspects Shinjyou is a spy. Matsuzaki and Shinji interview Shinjyou and knows that Shinjyou does not love Kenichi but Shinji / Shinjyou encounters Shinji and Hide who are dating. Shinji intentionally tantalizes Shinjyou. Shinjyou declares love-war to Hide). Secretary, Matsuzaki is really nice as usual. Subordinate seme! He looks very polite as good secretary but actually a very cold wheeler-dealer. This volume is really gorgeous because the reader can see cool Matsuzaki goes mad by jealousy. The sex scenes Matsuzaki bullies Kenichi are very funny (The author may like "in a doghouse play", so Shinji also bullies Hide sexually and it's very exciting). I think most of japanese yaoi readers love Matsuzaki. It's natural that this series is very popular. This story is ordinary as white-collar's story but I think this drama is rather costume play of business suit than office drama. Five men are very characteristic but Hide becomes vivid because he has a rival in love, Shinjyou. In previous volume, Hide was too easy-going. The last 4 koma manga is also hilarious! I'd like to read the sequel soon because the ending is so cliff-hanging. (by Slash-kun 21/Jun/2003)
Akai Toreno
"Kimi wa Boku ni Ai wo Tsukisasu - Shinshou vol.2" (Ohkura Shuppan) Sep/2003 *** 8.73
The series of name-piece and extreme Angst short story between Leonard and Director-General of CIA, Drake（Leonard, an officer of Defense Intelligence Agency, a subordinate of his uncle-in-law, Joseph, tries to debauch Drake. But Drake has known Leonard long before this, then he beats Leonard at his own game by the past with comtesse. The biter is sometimes bit...) and short sketch about encounter of Issac and Dennis (Happy days at their college. But Issac is too perfect elite. Joseph asks Dennis to part with Issac. Leonard asks Issac to become an undercover. Then Dennis is selected as a security policeman of Joseph and meets Issac again...). The story of name piece series:(The recollection of Justinine who finds the incestuous relationship between his father and his brother, Christopher and goes mad. Morgan takes Justinine to the hiding where Dennis is confined and injected with truth drug. Justinine intentionally rapes Dennis in front of gangs and rescues Dennis. He asks Dennis's emergency treatment to Christopher, a veterinarian. Dennis confuses Justinine with Issac, then he clings on Justinine. Morgan's brother plays cat with Morgan. Raul rushes in Dennis. He gets into fistfights with Justinine. Dennis accepts Raul's intense love of jealousy. Hearing the accident of his daughter, Joseph comes to LAPD. He questions Leonard whether Leonard is lover of Drake or not). Oh. The 2nd volume is sooooo interesting!! As a matter of interesting plot, the degree of danger increases, degree of violence also becomes extreme! (Dennis is so much stabbed by knife. He is so busy because he is wanted by two guys at same time! He is a prize beyond guys' reach. Oh. Like a heroine of "Mezon Ikkoku" (g)). Super daily life. The process that Justinine who had been hostile to Dennis can not neglect Dennis and is gradually attracted to Dennis is so dramatic! And the scene that Dennis wants Justinine by the confusion is overwhelming. And complex & intertwist relations with brothers make this story more dramatic. I love brothers' stories. Morgan and his heinous brother (so dangerous), Morgan's cellmate (He saved Morgan) and Justinine who disguises himself as his brother. And the relation between Justinine's brother, Christopher and his father is also very deep (Christopher is so lovely that he is glad of Justinine who depends on him!). And Leonard who suffers from one-sided love for Joseph, a typical intelligent uke is sooooo attractive! A guy like enchantress. Leonard may upstage hero, Dennis. I love Spancer Drake because I really understand he loves Leonard so much! Many readers could not read this because this was djs. I'm so glad that I could read read many pages at one sitting. Thanks for Ohkula Shuppan! I'm so eager to read the sequel soon!! (by Slash-kun 24/Jan/2004)
"Kimi wa Boku ni Ai wo Tsukisasu - Shinshou vol.1" (Ohkura Shuppan) Aug/2003 *** 8.69
The much-awaited sequel series of great long series of tragic security policeman who loves a son of President of the United States of America! The story:(Dennis who was a SP is now working as a detective of LAPD. Scolding grandstand play of a new detective, a cowboy, Justinine, Dennis finds the image of his defunct lover, Issac in Justinine. Dennis visits a grave of Issac at Arlington and meets Issac's father, Joseph there. Joseph gives Issac's memento to Dennis. Owing to too painful memory, Dennis collapses in front of the Raul's house. Raul comforts Dennis in the bed. Next morning, Dennis goes for breakfast but Raul runs away with the idea that Dennis escapes from him. Raul makes a bolt for airport. At Raul's house, Dennis tears and throws away a unfinished note for Raul alone... / Tossing the gang's house, Dennis and his colleagues find many counterfeit cards. Raul comes for backup as a law enforcement official of "Department of the Treasury". Director-General of CIA, Drake tells ex-CIA officer, a nephew-in-law of Joseph, Leonard that Joseph may run as a candidate for the presidency. He orders Leonard to be a double spy. Recollection of Leonard: The romance between Leonard's sister and her husband, Joseph started... Raul makes a pass at Dennis. Executive officers of Democratic Party come to persuade Joseph but Joseph refuses it. Seeing it, Joseph's daughter, Carroll comes to angry words with him. Dennis makes a quarrel with Justinine, then he is kissed by Justinine. Carroll finds a photo of Dennis and Issac, then she leaves home for LAPD alone. Justinine becomes an undercover and pretends a brother of John who was a cellmate of Morgan, a manager of night club of gangs. Carroll goes to the night club alone and is involved into clash with riot police. Dennis saves her but he is kidnapped by gangs). The reissue of sequel djs series of same title books from Biblos. This series is now a sort of Akai's lifework, so it's so interesting & dramatic! I'm very glad that I can read her commercial book because Akai is one of very few talent who can write mannish & hard detective action-oriented drama like Karan Dan, the author of "Hardline series" (US Navy Seal yaoi manga). Dennis who is broken by Issac's death, can not recover himself (Very woebegone uke character like Capt. Loy of "Hardline"), is devoted to his work and never reflect on himself is so painful! But loverly. And he is a man of great physical strength. Raul who comforts Dennis is really a nice guy! Without misunderstanding at Washington, I wonder they could be couple now...It's very an ironic fate. Of course, the funny mood of young & reckless wild subordinate officer, Justinine and his colleagues relieves me very much. I wonder Dennis's emotional damage would heal between 2 handsome guys? Oh. I'm looking forward to next volume. Issac's father, Joseph is also very gorgeous guy!! So I also understand Leonard's agony and want him to be happy. Akai has a great knowledge of western culture or scenery and customs, so I think Akai has watched so many western detective TV drama or movies on a regular basis. Her pen name comes from a beloved vehicle of detective from old american TV drama (David Michael Michael. Red Ford Grand Torino with white line. But Akai hates the japanese letter, "Tori", so she changes the sound "Torino" into "Toreno". So her name did not come from japanese car, Toreno! I reconfirmed at Akai's site and she surprised people with her great indulgence for american TV drama!). I'm very satisfied with this hard-core mannish story! BTW on this book Ohkula shuppan holds conjoint sale campaign with Outou Shobou. Ohkula shuppan seems to buy a novel brand (Eclipse) from Outou Shobou. But Gentousha started new novel brand, "Links" for Eclipse from Outou Shuppan. Umm. It's very strange and confusing...(by Slash-kun 24/Jan/2004)
Akana Meiko (& Kadomatsu Wahei)
"Mitsumeru Hitomi" (Shoubunkan) Feb/2003 *** 8.4
Various short stories (Very popular student who often makes his girlfriends more attractive like prof Higgins in "My fair lady" tries to change his old friend whose father just died. Old friend keeps hiding his beautiful face because his father hated it which resembled his bitch mother / Hero is asked to buy sanitary goods by his sister with wearing female clothes. He hits with a very handsome delinquent student and date together / The hero who suffers from the death of his cat falls in love with a student who resembles his cat very much. But the student is very violent like stray cat / After parents' death, the hero is taken in by a kind acquaintance who has been familiar with hero's father. But a son of the acquaintance rapes the hero to inflict a revenge. Heroes mother had been a lover of the acquaintance / The guy saves the self-abandoned boy at the night park. But the boy kills his father who has abused him.../ The teacher of the art school teaches very talented boy and they will love each other / Very hopeful student confesses his love to the colleague of the teacher of previous story. He studies art very hard to attract the interest of the teacher). Some stories are comedy and others are dark angst ones. Many of them are students' stories. Maybe because this book was written by two authors (Akana drew art and Kadomatsu made plot), both art and story are surprisingly skillful considering that this is the first book. The discussion at the postscript between Akana and Kadomatsu is also very interesting and I think such nice pairs seem to have great possibility for making good yaoi books. The art is very atmospheric and composed like "Suzuhara Shino" (but this art may be prettier like "shota manga" of Kousai Shobou). I'm very looking forward to this pair! (by Slash-kun 08/Mar/2003)
Akiba Jiro
"Hysteric Queen vol.2" (Taiyou Tosho) Feb/2003 *** 8.4
The sequel of the title series of the funny romance between typical "queen uke" and "unsophisticated sevak seme" and some old short works (Very beautiful idol student has disguised himself as weak boy for his lover. But the lover should face the challenge of very mighty foe / A cute student loves his classmate's father. They overcome the difference of their age / The private tutor loves his student. But the student can not forget his dead father and often compares with tutor / The student realizes the importance of his lover who patched his romantic wounds of his previous love affair). The story of the sequel:(A young student Togawa who has a spite against Iori Nishizawa tries to entice Yamane who is a lover of Iori. But Iori entices Yamane much sexier.../ Yamane and Iori are going to enter different univ after graduation. Yamane tries to change the school of his choice..). This book is author's 11th book, so she is considerable veteran yaoi manga. As compared to her previous book from Magazine Magazine, I could read this favorably because the author seemed to write freely & favorably (From an objective perspective, her book from Magazine Magazine was most excellent but the it was written by editor's intention - aiming at the entertainment for readers - not by author's free imagination). In this book, there are some natural scenes where I'm moved or feel sympathy. I have become acutely aware that persuasive & dramatic plot is fundamental to "sexual excitement of yaoi" (The yaoi reader can not become sexually excited without enough catharsis from "characters' emotional conflict and reconcilement"). I hope this author will make technical progress by editor's advice and at same time she will keep writing what she wants to express honestly. (by Slash-kun 08/Mar/2003)
"Shatter Chance" (Magazine Magazine) Dec/2002 *** 8.4
Various short stories with a lot of explicit & hard sexual expression (Very popular talented photographer has recently gotten into a groove but has a crush on the beautiful insurance salesman. He asks salesman to be his nude model and remembers what state of mind he was in at first / A vulnerable heir of yakuza group should become a bedmate of a cadre member of yakuza though the cadre member to survive. But he finally become able to control whole the group by his sexual attraction.../ A young homosexual & timid novelist has a crush on a beautiful student of same apartment. They encounter the accident of elevator and are locked in it together. But the student turns out to be cruel seme.../ Hero demands the shy father of his friend for the debt repayment of playing mahjong for money / At architect studio, two design engineer groups always compete each other and try to find sexual scandals each other. The employee who loves his supervisor can not endure such futile competition.../ Hero goes to the psychic treatment internal medicine and confesses his old trauma. He can finally admit he felt the sexual pleasure when he was raped at childhood... / The student wonders that his attractive private tutor also teaches other student by sexual ways... / Young politician is involved in the conspiracy of the ambitious secretary of the rival politician). The author's tenth book. The first book from Magazine Magazine. I always expect the first publication from Magazine Magazine for mangaka who never issued from it because the policy of editors of it is very strict. I think this author really broke a leg (At her postscript, she confesses she makes effort & research by comparing her works with other mangaka's works on the magazines). So sex scenes are very exciting and the stories are enough interesting. Especially the confession story at mental hospital has a good theme and her "pure middle aged guys of uke" are unique for me! I'd like to read the story with more complex/difficulties or deeper theme next time. (by Slash-kun 22/Feb/2003)
Amano Moe
"Makeruna BABY" (Houbunsha) May/2003 *** 8.43
The author's first book. Various short stories (The two good friends suffer from the rumor at the school that they are homosexual. Hero denies it but his friend says he can not keep being friend.../ Hero who has an ambition to be a lover of the rich girl and realizes it but can not accept the fact the classmate who keeps yearning hero and part-time working decides to start sugar daddy business / The funny fantasy that "Kaguya hime" is a boy! / Hero breaks the expensive dish of his rich friend and becomes a housekeeper of the friend. But for his mother's operative treatment, he decides sugar daddy business / The boy is kidnapped by a gang. The gang cherishes hero but hero can not allow it. Then gang makes hero free but.../ The hero goes to the school instead of his twin sister. But the senior student who was her lover demands hero to be his substitutional lover, too). All the short stories with smiles and tears are interesting! Art and the stories are not so unique but the view point is "from seme", so her stories seem unique(the emotional expression of seme who is attracted by uke's single-minded actions). The author is good at making the stories and adopts the folk tales well. And her sincere and single-hearted characters move the readers. I like 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th stories. The unbendable word of uke is very powerful. I'm very touched by the agony of seme in a dilemma. The 3rd and 5th stories are unique AU fantasy. The author is very brave though she is a new mangaka. The stubborn couples of 4th and 5th stories are good and very heartrending. The downhearted gang of 5th story is also pitiful & delightful. The scene that the saucy senior student of 5th story suddenly shamefast is very interesting. The author is very good at expression of characters' emotion. Therefore her plot is not boring though it is a little common. She has a knack for moving the readers. Seems like professional though this is first book. So it is to be a little regretted that sex scenes are not so natural and joint(penetration) part is too much emphasized. At end note, the author confesses she is not accustomed to write sex scenes, so I think she need not to push. But I believe she will overcome her few defect soon after writing many works, so I'm very looking forward to her promising future.(by Slash-kun 05/Jul/2003)
Amow Yuuki
"Happy Place vol.3" (MOVIC) May/2003 *** 8.5
The last volume of the series. The story:(A student fashion model, Takachi Matsuoka and a student, Sou Takemasa can be finally couple. Takachi confesses his childhood to Sou for the first time. Takachi's parents died early, then Takachi has survived alone with a great effort. Takachi makes a business visit to america and decides to visit old lover of his grandmother who already died and withdrew from forbidden love. But the airplane crashes accidentally. Takachi escapes death but suffers a memory loss. Takachi is picked up by good family and now becomes a member of the family. Sou tries to step away if Takachi is happy...). Very good and elaborated plot! The nice combination of amnesia and the competing of severe memory of childhood is appropriate to last volume of the series. Very sweet but a lot of thrill and tension makes readers involved in the story. Until 2 volumes, Takachi has loved Sou so much at a one-sided but in this volume their relation turns the tables. Their love is tested. I can see very well how much Sou loves Takachi who never give up his severe life and keeps smiling. The climax scene that Sou nearly leaves Takachi, then Takachi recovers his memory is so overwhelming! It really makes me relieved. Amou's art is very lovely and tender but her sex scene of "Kakioroshi (newly written for this book)" is very erotic and it's my delightful surprise. I think better of her than I did before. The last volume with happy ending Takachi appreciates the good people around him despite of his unhappy childhood is very satisficing! (by Slash-kun 22/Nov/2003)
Anthology
"Daze vol.3" (Sanwa Shuppan) Mar/2002 *** 8.4
The writers are: Sadahiro Mika (Swordfish kills very cruelly the prison inmates who raped Sen but Sen can not refuses Swordfish's love and harbors him. But the warden finds the proof of Sword's murder...), Honjoh Rie (A garcon has an upset with his colleague's irresponsible extracurricular activity), Endoh Risawo (Very impressive & dramatic story! The relationship of very popular mangaka duo who have worked since they were students faces a crisis because one mangaka finally loses his virgin by the woman who is working at sex trade shop), Hamada Mikae (Funny & unique short story. A poor boy thinks the good & unique birthday gift for his rich patron), Shiranagi Yurika (Hero can not abandon a poor boy like "stray cat" even if his girl friend leaves him), Mihashi An (The long series story. The fifth & final episode. Yoshiki finally takes Shintarou who has been confined in Makio's room...) & Suzuhara Shino (Yuugo knows Shirou's dirty family business. Then Yuugo can not help but rape Shirou on the roof of their school. Shirou goes to the shamisen contest in Tokyo and Yuugo is involved in the motorcycle accident on the way of the send-off...). The serialization works are enough good but some short stories are unsatisfactory. It's a pity such rough stories cause the readers disappointment because other short stories are very interesting! (Especially I'm really moved by the story of Risawo Endoh!). I really want the editors of this anthology to control the quality more strictly...(by Slash-kun 01/Feb/2002)
Aoi Futaba & Kurenai Mitsuba
"Shiyouyo" (Biblos) Jul/2003 *** 8.45
Contrastive two long short stories. The two stories:（An ace sprinter of athletic club at high school loves his beautiful manager very much. They are third-year students, so they are going to retire the club soon. But the manager wants the ace to win the match, so he trains the ace very strictly. The ace offers terms to it. If he wins, the manager should kiss him. The manager gets panicky and nearly tumble the goalpost of football. The ace gets injured to save the manager. Then ace loses the match but the manager performs a promise. The manager wants to enter the same university as the ace. He studies hard and has no time for making love with the ace. Then the ace invites the manager to his house / Hero who is asked to research the extramarital affair happens to see the homosexual murder. The client of the research, hero's friend also engages in illegal sale of drug and is abducted by yakuza. Hero goes to rescue his friend but the homosexual assassin exposes hero's real character which he single-mindedly kept hiding...). The first story of the school resembles Yuu Asagiri or Yoshiki Aya. The plot is not so complex and seme's passion is very strong and cheerful. The characters are attractive and sex scenes are satisfactory but it is little off-center. The 2nd story of the assassin is mysterious, unusual, dark, serious and a lot of violence. It is very unique and has something attractive and different from SF fantasy like "WEST END". The sex scenes are both very hard. The setup is very exciting! Hero who manages to pretend that he is an ordinary guy vs dark and psycho assassin who tries to expose hero's desire. The process the hero begins to show his evil personality is so cool! The author describes the story very suggestively (Not open all), so the impression after reading is so strong! This story is not likely to Biblos but I prefer 2nd story very much. This book will show the contrastive attracion of the author to the readers.(by Slash-kun 13/Sep/2003)
Aoki Sou
"Sonna Kimi to Boku dakara" (Take Shobou) Feb/2003 *** 8.58
Various short stories (Hero comes to Tokyo and finally finds a good friend who has same taste - being homosexual - at his univ but he becomes unable to be content with his stance as a just good friend / The guy asks his best friend, an up-and-coming novelist to take him to the awards banquet. There he is regarded as a partner. He happens to listen in the argument the lover of novelist and his real lover and knows the novelist loved him when they were students.../ The sequel. Hero & his girl friend and the novelist and his partner plan double date. The novelist meets a guy with whom he spent very good time together when he suffered from severe love for his best but straight friend / heartwarming PWP. Two students can become homosexual couple after their graduation of the school without any difficulty. But hero suspects his partner accepted his proposal against the will / Sentimental happy PWP. Hero accepts fake date with his friend who is pursued by a nasty girl. They go to the hotel and try the sex there.../ Hilarious PWP. Fairy of penis who appears when hero's penis will be rubbed more than 666 times saves hero's lover!). Author's first book from Takeshobou. First some stories are serious and sincere (Young heroes who have kept hiding his homosexuality encounter other gay guy for the first time, then open up, experience first sex and finally find their happiness) and last some ones are comical happy stories of young couple or splatter fantasy. I enjoyed both PWP (very funny and tactful - full of ideas - not stupid & not boring) and serious stories very much but I think serious ones are greater works because they express the puzzlement, shyness and awkwardness of adolescence very well, elaborately, meticulously and freshly!! Especially the third story is very impressive! The universal theme - any bitter memories of youth will be changed into sweet ones as time go on - is well-described. It reminds me of the lyric of the japanese famous song, "Seishunjidai". The second story is a little bitter for adult readers. At first story, the author expresses the comfortless atmosphere "bachelor apartment" well and uses small tools like "Udon - Japanese wheat noodle (Local specialty in Shikoku. It means the hero came from Shikoku - rural area in japan)" very effectively. When I read the author before, I did not think this author was great mangaka but after reading this book, I should give her more credit (Aoki has great talent of making stories!). I finally find the reason other yaoi fans are making much of this author. The author makes readers remember the nostalgic good days of youth when they really spent severely and felt crushed. Such feeling is universal impression for the readers at any age. So Aoki's serious & sincere works have broad support from readers. I'd like to appreciate Take Shobou that makes me find it. (by Slash-kun 15/Mar/2003)
Araya Miki
"Violence na Kimi ga Suki" (Outou Shobou) Oct/2003 *** 8.48
The author's forte, splatter (violence) comedy. The story:(A stupid & tall student as a post, Myouenji loves small but cool & delinquent student, Kuroda at first sight. Myouenji keeps stalking Kuroda though he knows Kuroda adores Masaki, a very cool guy and how much Kuroda takes a punch at him. But soon after Kuroda falls down the stairs, he kisses Myouenji in mistake for Masaki...). Very hilarious as usual. Myouenji, uncool seme with his black hair, black-framed glasses is very attractive! He is awkward and cries very much and his action is so funny. But his face is very handsome, so the readers can enjoy without reserve Myouenji's being beaten by small but mighty, Kuroda. And sudden change of Myouenji (into very handsome guy) is very funny, too. Araya's new trial, using bold type (not hand writing letters) for "Tsukkomi (Critical explanation)" is unique and fresh for me. It makes the atmosphere comedy manga for male readers. By the appearance of mysterious guy, Masaki (Too cool though he is a father!), Myouenji suddenly kidnaps & rapes Kuroda. The blowed-away plot is so hilarious as usual. The heavy usage of the sound, "Kiraaan" is very effective. Entertaining in every sense of the word. BTW this book is issued from Outou Shobou and its selling agency is Ohkula Shuppan. I wonder how Kaiousha and Ohkula Shuppan acquire Outou Shobou's line up...(by Slash-kun 06/Dec/2003)
"Secret!" (Kaiousha) Jul/2003 *** 8.4
The long PWP series of a high school teacher and his student & lover who has strange proclivities. The story:(A newly appointed teacher, Shuuji Niou and his honor student, Yuu Takayama fall in love together and become a couple. But Yuu turns out to be a transvestite & somnambulist. He enters boys' high school to break away from transvestism but the reaction backfires on him. Shuuji suffers from the bad rumor that female ghost often wanders in the school at night. Yuu has not slept for three days to save the situation, but worse comes to worst as a reaction / Shuuji gets a hate mail. A student, Yamamoto who adores Yuu, has it in for Shuuji. Then Yuu has a date with Shuuji who has his tail down at a lewd house. But Yamamoto takes a photo of them / Even during summer vacation, Yuu wants to stick with Shuuji, so he comes to the home town of Shuuji. When Yuu meets Hada, a childhood friend of Shuuji, they somehow create a strange atmosphere / Shuuji becomes a jury president of "Wearing female dress contest" at school festival. Yuu gets hurt by Shuuji's light jest and makes effort too much to win the grand prize). The author always makes the readers laugh with hero's ridiculous pose and ridiculous comedy with good tempo/pace. Very pretty & small girl will come to mind when people hear "wearing female dress". But in this author's case, very sturdy, tall and handsome and serious seme wears it. It's very funny because he is typical seme! Looks like "beauty in male attire" or *real* drag queen (ill-matched dress with macho body)". The sense/taste that the author dares to choose it is very unique. It's also very funny, the teacher of hero, Shuuji's unlucky tendency that attracts more and more transvestites (Yamada wears the female dress in the end)! And I'm often moved by his deep reflection that he regrets his lack of consideration as a teacher. So this story is not only splatter comedy but also touching human drama. The readers will feel warm by the author's tender point of view for queer seme with fatal fault (But without fault, hero is so perfect and handsome) ! (by Slash-kun 30/Aug/2003)
Asagiri Yuu
"Kin no Kain" (Biblos) Mar/2003 *** 8.55
The unique long story that the younger brother with inferiority complex will be enchanted by his brother's overwhelming lover. The story:(Shun goes to the secret night club with his bad friends. He nearly becomes a victim of a satan of S&M show but is saved by a mysterious fashion model. The model is Kain, Shun's brother's lover. Shun hates himself by the guilty feeling of his brother's accident but Kain lets Shun forget it by powerful making love. Shun returns to his school but meets again with Kain who is a transfer student from Viet Nam. Shun is really hurt by his tragic memory with his brother and abuse by his mother then Kain comforts Shun by sex. Shun has been threatened by satan group but can not confesses it to Kain because Kain's fame will be damaged if Kain tries to revenge. Shun thinks his brother and Kain love each other by brother's last letter and goes to satan for his punishment...). Very decadent and eccentric because Kain comes from "Nuoc Cong Hoa" (Viet Nam), mentally threesome sex story (very hard-core sex scenes like works from Houbunsha), not school story and there is no preachments or moral lessons. The author is middle-aged woman, so she can write such decadent stories (In Asagiri's postscript there is a lot of something convincing)! Especally last additional story is very interesting!! I love Shun's brother (who has dark desire) very much. Asagiri's sex scenes are always very exciting (uke's face at sex is so pleasant) and in this story, the exposure of only anal with half-wearing underwear is very unique!! (In Japan, the exposure anal is unregulated -not obscenity- but I think it is very strange....) Anyway I can really enjoy this book. (by Slash-kun 15/Mar/2003)
Asaoka Minagi
"Parsley vol.1" (Shinshokan) Dec/2002 *** 8.65
Very natural long series of the student couple who attend same college (literature department) and whose proper circle is also same. The story:(Enokawa and Mitazono are students who lives at same apartment. They happen to make love together on the day when they are too drunk. Enokawa is afraid it would impair their good friendship and regrets very much. But Mitazono keeps his usual attitude / Mitazono feels ambiguous disquietude because he does not have sex with Enokawa since their virgin night. When they are getting on a streetcar, Enokawa is sexually molested. Taking advantage of it, Mitazono can escape from "their dead center" and get laid with Enokawa / Very impressive episode! Timid Enokawa is often traumatized by manlike Mitazono. Enokawa can not abandon competitive spirit for Mitazono because he is also *guy*. They borrow old masterpiece movie at rental video shop. Enokawa weeps so much and remembers his traumatic & clunky memory with his girl friend. But he is relieved to see that Mitazono also weeps a lot / Enokawa realizes his love by seeing Mitazono's deep-inside tenderness and Mitazono also realizes by seeing Enokawa often talks of "the truth of life" unexpected & honestly / Enokawa feels unexpected because Mitazono's ex-girl friend comes back / Mitazono wonders why he loves Enokawa by comparing his ex-girl friend who is just right for him.../ The virgin night from Mitazono's POV. Mitazono is puzzled by Enokawa's unique attitude and wonders where their boundary of "friendship and love" is with happy feeling). The author already issues two books (one long fantasy series), so I thought she is a sort of "fantasy mangaka". But this book is very realistic & meat-and-potatoes romance (blurring the boundary between "friendship" and "love"!) like works by "Tomo Ootake" or "Keiko Konno"(The author also often uses "monologue" like them and it provides this whole story very deep & meaningful atmosphere)! And I'd like to specially mention that author describes very vivid/colorful "intellectual & funny conversation between two college students" with her realistic college experience (She uses effectively many intellectual words like "algorithm", "Albert Camus", "Mother goose", "deductive method", "proposition/thesis", "casuistry/philosophism","matador",,etc). The author makes good, interesting, persuasive & stylish stories well by her small, daily and ordinary experience!! I really realize that good student stories are still interesting for adult readers like me. Two characters are very attractive & contrasting (Enokawa is natural "space out" guy and Mitazono is very logical & nihilistic) and it's very interesting that the author writes each episode from each POV by turn (Hero counterchanges but not reversible). Some slash writers write similar POV stories (Trial of writing same stories from each POV), so I think some slash fans and yaoi fans want to enjoy identifying with both characters (uke & seme) at same time like me!! (by Slash-kun 4/Jan/2003)
Atene
"Yappa Ai desho!?" (Oakla Shuppan) Mar/2003 *** 8.45
9(so many!) short stories (Hero returns his home town after a long time and enters the high school. There he encounters his old friend, a brilliant student council president but was very sooky in his memory. He approaches his old friend in a familiar way in public but is given a cold shoulder. But in private old friend shows his strong passionate love to him... / The too tender seme watches S&M video and tries it to his lover. He has always lost ground for his too aggressive lover. Uke may not look it, but he is really impressed with seme's new trial / Undersized student reluctantly becomes couple with very tall classmate by too pressing courtship of classmate. But seeing the tall guy who is very popular among girls at mixer, undersized boy feels jealous and realizes his lover for tall guy / The heartwarming romance between a jobless & lazy lodger and a very clever son of the apartment landlord. The son encourages press to lodger to find the job. But lodger actually starts working hard, the son feels lonely and remembers the old days when he was separated by moving and preparation of entrance exam. When the lodger has a flu and the son looks after him, the son suddenly finds the red-mark on his birthday at the calender / The manneristic couple tries to appear on the adult video. But after shooting video, a video staff deceives uke and tries to shoot video of promiscuous sex / Hero has his brother-in-law of 7 years younger by their parents' remarriage. Younger brother is very nasty boy, so hero tries to bully him but feels sexual desire and becomes couple unexpectedly... / The sequel. The younger brother feels unsatisfaction because elder one does not court him. But their parents will not be at home for a day by short trip. After supper, the younger brother grumpily goes to the bed soon but is waiting for his brother at his brother's bed.../ Hero encounters his classmate who is going to buy adult porno magazine at convenience store. They turn out to be neighborhoods and stay at one's home during one's parents absent and experience the sex / The honor student and the teacher of chemistry have been a couple. But the student goes sullen to know the bad rumour between the teacher and his female colleague. The teacher blames his suspicious lover with test-tubes). The art of characters is very attractive and natural! Uke is very cute and seme is very cool! The author's simple art is very easy to read. And in every story, sex scenes are very aggressive and hot! I wonder the many readers can not decide this author's works are pretty or erotic. But I think "the mysteries of it" is her attraction. But all the stories are so short that the impression of the story may be too simple (feel enough dramatic movings are a little missing or end too early). But but I feels this author may have some possibility/potential to write good drama in future because the stories of brothers-in-law are very interesting. If the author will challenge longer story, I think she can do much better. Next time, I'd like to read longer stories! (by Slash-kun 05/Apr/2003)
Azumi Moka
"DESTINES CROSS vol.2" (Shinkousha) May/2003 *** 8.5
The sequel of the rock band's long series. The pleasure and anxiety of Kazune who can sing with Sakyou together. The story:(Sakyou joins the band of Kazune and all members lodge together. But Tamaki, a guitarist tangles with Sakyou and shows his displeasure at Kazune because Tamaki knows homosexual relationship between Kazune and Sakyou. Mizuki comes to drop across the camp and Sakyou fights with Kazune about his cross / At a club, BREATH, Kazune encounters Masago, the classmate of his high school. They performed as DUO singers. Masago comes to listen to the street performance of Masago and sings together. They escape from the crowd in a hurry and Masago kisses Kazune at deserted place. It reminds Kazune of his trauma, then Kazune runs away. Kazune confesses his past to Sakyou / Sakyou is too busy to meet with Kazune. Kazune also gets into a slump. By the advice of Mizuki, Kazune and Sakyou make love in the studio but Sakyou breaks down from overwork / Kazune visits a grave of Sakyou's mother together. They also meet Sakyou's brother, a resident priest. Kazune knows the complex family circumstances of Sakyou and appreciates Sakyou's grand parents who has brought up Sakyou / The disturbance of bomb at concert. Kazune wonders he really has talent because someone gave up becoming musician by listening Kazune's singing. But Sakyou respects Kazune's talent with earnest admiration). This volume resembles the atmosphere of djs or fan's book. This volume resembles djs or fan book, so fans of Kazune & Sakyou will enjoy their various episodes (The high school days of Kazune, Kazune's severe trauma, Sakyou's family,,etc) very much! (But the author says her djs of this story is very dark and hard. I want to read very much!!). I think the author loves Kazune and Sakyou so much that she can help cherishing them. In this volume, the author expresses well Kazune's exceptional talent (he does not realizes but very tough like the typical heroine of shoujo manga) and how deeply Sakyou loves it though Kazune sometimes resists Sakyou. Actually, they loves their talent each other!! The author's art is very beautiful as usual and its sensitive lines reminds me of "Hoshi no Tokei no Liddell" by Yoshimi Uchida. The full-length portrait of Sakyou and his leather wear are very cool! The author often goes to rock concert and is very familiar with playing piano. Her knowledge contributes to this series well. (by Slash-kun 24/May/2003)
Benisako Harumi
"Taboo no Ori" (Kousai Shobou) Feb/2003 *** 8.6
Very extreme erotic, dark & incest long angst series and one short hilarious comedy between cool widower and a beautiful childminder of his son. The story of long series:(The CEO of financial company, Kazumune takes charge of his nephew, Miyuki who only survives the car-accident with his parents in the heavy snow. Kazumune had hardly interacted with his sister, Miyuki's mother for long time. Then Miyuki thinks Kazumune hated her and hates him, too. But Miyuki enjoys new high school and has a good friend, Shigenari. At night when Miyuki suffers from a nightmare of the car-accident, Kazumune comes to comfort Miyuki. Miyuki gathers the nerve to ask Kazumune about his mother, but Kazumune suddenly rapes Miyuki in a glow of anger. The secretary & the partner of Kazumune, Masaki Oomori visits to inquire after Miyuki and tells the secret of Kazumune. Kazumune loved his sister! But for Miyuki, the fact Masaki is a lover of Kazumune is more serious & shocking. Miyuki runs away from home and crashes in Shigenari's house. Seeing anxious Kazumune, Masaki feels jealous and kidnaps Miyuki and makes his subordinates rape Miyuki. Owing Shigenari's information, Kazumune saves Miyuki. Kazumune has a fixation for Miyuki and they make love together everyday. Miyuki feels happy but at once feels uneasy because he has serious secret. Shigenari begins to feel sexual desire for Miyuki and invites Miyuki in his room. Shigenari knows Miyuki's forbidden relation with his uncle, then tries to rape Miyuki. Miyuki recalls car-accident and is thrown into a panic. Kazumune comes to save Miyuki again and Miyuki finally confesses his crime. Kazumune allows Miyuki and they become a complete couple in contraindicated relationship). This book is the author's first yaoi book. I'm very glad to meet a new talent thanks to Kousai Shobou's effort. The author's sex scenes are very aggressive & radical!! (I have a good impression for her expression because she does not shy away from describing boldly the butts of seme from behind. The art of "overlapping testicles of two guys at sex" is very fresh for me, too!). The story is very sincere as well as her art (The author may always dedicate all her strength for writing manga). The characters' motives are persuasive and natural (Both Miyuki and Kazumune have feeling of guilt equally, so the readers will feel greatly relieved when they can be couple though it is immoral). And last two short manga to saving soul of "Masaki and Shigenari" are very welcome consideration (I sometimes discontent for dumped/jilted heavy parts, so I feel very happy for these compassionate stories)! BTW Reading this series, I feel some intelligence of the author. So I'd like to read the stories of adult guys who are working at big companies or adopting intelligent professions (The author's art of adult characters is so cool, gorgeous & sexy like "Naoe" of "Blaze of Mirage"! - The son of her short story resembles "the child written by Kou Fujisaki", so this author may be djska of Mirage)!! Anyway I'd appreciate the author's writing mangaka of my type!! (by Slash-kun 01/Mar/2003)
Chayamachi Suguro
"Aza vol.2" (Shoukakkan) Feb/2003 * 8.48
After the Ryouma's death, the japanese society has mercilessly changed leaving Oryou who is wandering alone. The story:(The assault at Oumi-ya occurs. Nakaoka dies under the benevolent watch of his close friends. But dead body of Ryouma can not be found. Oryou is walking around the town and looking high and low for Ryouma. The recollection of assault. Ryouma cannot draw a sword. Ryouma and Nakaoka collapse. The assassin guy rushes in but is cut by Tosa fellows. A mistress of Tosa's lord, Kayo picks up the assassin who is lying with Ryouma's dead body. 4 fellows of Tosa who assaulted Ryouma are killed and the Tosa lord issues an official notice that the killer of Ryouma is just a masterless samurai who is a traitor against Tosa domain, the assassin guy. Kayo gives shelter to the assassin but is nearly raped by the fellow of Tosa, then Kayo kills him. Oryou meets the assassin. He shows the dead body of Ryouma to her and tells a lie that he killed Ryouma. Oryou never believe the death of Ryouma and the assassin's action. The Tosa lord puts off the official notice plate and makes a hero of Ryouma or other's revolutionist who dropped out Tosa domain. Kayo is attacked by wild dogs. Tosa fellows shoot the dog but throw away Kayo into the river. Oryou is also nearly shot but the assassin guy kills the fellows. He also kills Kayo who loves him. The recollection of the assassin. He kills the people because he was really starved. Oryou keeps wandering...). The author expresses the pathos of the assassin who has lived killing the dogs, the unhappiness of the woman who keeps waiting and the misery of the fellows who have to cling to old society, organization with impressive art. Beautiful like art book. OTOH there are many suggestive expression that leave it to reader's interpretation as possible and it is very difficult to read & understand. The revolutionist for a woman who does not understand th e politics and history. The stupidity & unreason of the men who die for ideology, old society or organization. They stands out at the turning point like end of Edo Period. I think the author may symbolize it with dog. This story may be a little difficult for the readers who don't know the japanese history but may be rather easier to understand the stupidity of such religionists. The art is very wonderful, so it is very worthy of reading this. (by Slash-kun 07/Jun/2003)
"Aza vol.1" (Shoukakkan) Jan/2002 * 8.45
The artistic experimental work that describes the love and death of a real person in history, Ryouma Sakamoto, a supporter of a noble cause (revolutionist) at the end of Edo Period who died at 32 years of age. Ambitious challenging trial to carve out only private personal imagined scenery during his stormy two years from "just before the assault at Terada-ya" until "shortly after his death at Oumi-ya" except political & historical phases. The story:(Oryou, a geisha girl, a common-law wife of Ryouma has a cold. To nourish her Ryouma goes to buy a gamecock. Oryou goes out to find Ryouma and picks up the young man who seems to be Ryouma's guest. But he turns out to be an an assassin of Ryouma. Ryouma is enough lucky to avoid his crisis. "The assault at Terada-ya" occurs. Ryouma and Oryou escape and Oryou is saved by Ryouma's assassin. The assassin tries to kill Shintarou Nakaoka and Nakaoka persuades him but he leaves. The recollection of background of the assassin. Poor childhood. He has survived by killing dogs. Ryouma and Oryou go on a honeymoon to Kyuushuu. Ryouma leaves behind Oryou at Nagasaki. Tokugawa Shogunate collapses. At Kyoto, Ryouma and Nakaoka are attacked by Tosa domain fellows). The author has written a lot of yaoi manga but basically its sexual degree is not so hard/intense. She made a lot of illustration work for yaoi novels, so I thought she was in the same position as Keiko Nishi. But recently she has done a great illustration work for very popular & controversial yaoi novel series, "Uozumi-kun series", challenged artistic work beyond ordinary yaoi mangaka. This trial may be one of her challenges, too. This series has been serialized on the unisex magazine, "IKKI" (Big Comic Special Issue) from Shougakukan and it is not yaoi. Therefore the author adopts famous japanese historical hero as popular subject for male readers. The author's art of old japanese costume (Kimono) is splendid! The art with sharp contrast of black and white, light and shade like Cutting art, shadowgraph is very impressive and effective to interpret this overused & trite historical fact as unique story. Very silent world with few words. Elaborate picture composition is overwhelming. The author limits the characters to only 4 (Ryouma, Oryou, Nakaoka, Assassin) because the author aims at very personal viewpoint from Oryou who dedicates her life to only one guy, her lover. Some female readers may be able to sympathize with Oryou who is powerless, can not live together with Ryouma like Nakaoka, only envies Nakaoka, lives for only her love when feudal system begins to weaken. The author is yaoi mangaka, so she can make female readers have such feeling. Therefore the weird expression of samurai who target Ryouma and believe old structure is really clear and sharp (to the point). (by Slash-kun 07/Jun/2003)
CHI-RAN
"Tennen Tenshi" (Houbunsha) Jul/2003 *** 8.4
The sequel of the very popular & slapstick comedy series about the talent agency, "Bunnies". Some talents appear (The sequel of "Kakeru & Ren series" - Ren is angry at Kakeru who is adoring Sakae, then Ren teaches Kakeru "how to sex". But when Kakeru actually makes love with Sakae, he is scared of Sakae and realizes he loves Ren / "Taiki and new talent, Nanaka" - Bitch new talent, Nanaka gives many senior talents the come-on. He seduces Taiki of CARAT, his favourite but Taiki punishes Nanaka and makes Nanaka cry for forgiveness / "Shizuru and the king of alternative world" - fantasy. During making the video clip at the island, Shizuru trips into world apart and meets mysterious & gorgeous king. The king says Shizuru is an apostle of God / The king comes to find Shizuru but Shizuru can not keep his mind on his work. Shizuru makes the king return...). Silly but stylish/sophisticated short stories by adult yaoi mangaka who goes in for hobbies without hesitation. So this book brims with the passion of the author who loves "young idol stars"! The 1st story of two young idols is very funny because Kakeru is very childish & innocent and impudent Ren is in trouble! It's so delightful that clever Nanaka is revenged. Taiki(unexpectedly lewd & dirty guy!) is very nice! Time trip fantasy of Shizuru is very eccentric and unique. The single-minded king is very impressive. In this series there are a lot of dreams & adoration for the brilliant world of the popular idol stars. The readers can enjoy the illusion to be a member of this dreamy team!! (by Slash-kun 12/Jul/2003)
"LOVE>RUSH" (Magazine Magazine) Apr/2003 *** 8.4
Various short stories including the sequels of "Sei-ai no Susume" & "Sensei no Ayamachi" series (Hero is approached by both his lover and his ex-lover at same time / Hero is played by two idols / PWP of a master of sexual massage. Two sequel of "Sei-ai no Susume" / The twin brother of colleague teacher / Hero meets again with his childhood friend as his home tutor after long interval / Hero meets again with his rival after 10 years interval. The rival breaks hero's everyday life). CHI-RAN's 20th book! What many books she issued! Very great. All stories are very interesting. Erotic, funny and gorgeous (especially in case of showbiz world). Her sex scenes are very hot but never dirty (never repulsive). If I'm allowed to wish so much, I'd like to read the sequel with only same series (Though the sequel is very attractive for fans). Last two angst are very good for me because they are very dark, passionate and nihilistic (And they are not shota. Heroes are same generation). CHI-RAN like to use cute and small hero but I want her to write the stories of adult and equal couple once in a while. (by Slash-kun 17/Jan/2004)
"Kimi ga Boku wo Hoshigaru Wake." (Houbunsha) Jan/2003 *** 8.4
The short stories of cute bunny which is well worth bullying, enjoying, teasing (New cute member joins idol group, CARAT. But he is very "out of place", so old members bully him. He shows his strong cute attraction like bunny and makes them accept him / The CEO of the talent agency of charismatic idol, Rei is very young & second-generation of the tycoon. The young CEO scouts Rei at the risk of his life, so Rei bullies CEO by all conceivable erotic means because Rei loves CEO! / Next the hero is impudent like a hare! Kakeru is called from Kansai branch of talent agency to form a new unit with genius young talent, Ren of Kantou branch. The manager orders them to study by CARAT. They are cat-and-dog but can debut by the instrumentation of Sakae of CARAT. But young talents who can not debut envy Kakeru and makes Kakeru go to a bad producer. Sakae saves Kakeru. But Ren suddenly says he resigns the unit. Kakeru gets angry and makes quarrel with Ren. Ren takes Kakeru to CARAT and declares that Kakeru is his lover). The author's intention is very simple, "He is very cute, so he should be bullied". The simplicity, pursuit of her interest with all her heart is rather manly. She defiantly declares that she loves it!. It's very stylish that set-up of all stories is same agency, Bunnys (Of course Bunnys comes from "Berneys " and "Jannys" which are real japanese talent agencies. The author adopts well actual scandal that CEO of the agency has sexual relationship with the young talents and it makes fans fun. In this book there are full of the author's love & admiration for young talents! (by Slash-kun 17/Mar/2003)
"Himitsuna BODY 21 vol.2" (Sanwa Shuppan) Nov/2002 *** 8.43
The sequel and final volume. Ayu and Konoe finally become a couple through a lot of hardship (confinement and sexual training) including threesome sex with Konoe's friend. The story:(Ayu is nearly left alone in the lecture room with shameful posture. Konoe promises he will forgive Ayu if Ayu obey Konoe completely. Konoe satisfies his dark & one-sided sexual desires with Ayu. Ayu loses himself with tremendous sexual pleasure. On the day after, Konoe invites Ayu to their new room. Konoe confines Ayu there by his fanatic monopolistic desire. Konoe tortures Ayu sexually and Ayu asks why Konoe does such awful action. Konoe wants Ayu to understand he has dark sexual desire to Ayu. Then Konoe's good old friend, Masaki suddenly appears. This very frank guy teases Ayu and keeps Ayu hanging by not releasing Ayu's sexual desire until Ayu really wants Konoe. Ayu suffers from threesome sex with Masaki but gets a greater shock by seeing Konoe's kiss with Masaki. During Konoe leaves for university, Masaki explains how long and how strong Konoe loves Ayu. Ayu fells sorry that he totally forgot the memory when he met Konoe when they were children. After eating Konoe's delicious cordial meal, Ayu finally confesses his love to Konoe...). "The psychotoxic & savage sex by Konoe who tries to destroy Ayu's pride" is very powerful & dramatic and have a tremendous impact. But the readers will sympathize with Konoe who finally cries by Ayu's declaration of love and love Konoe very much. Konoe is so *cute* seme!! Konoe's friend, Masaki is very nice guy, so I'd like to read his episode with Konoe earlier. The author has written many books and all the quality is not same but this long series is very orthodox (shows her true worth well) among her stories (hard-core but dramatic) and has romantic impression with "sensitive & serious anguished seme and cheerful foolish uke". (by Slash-kun 18/Jan/2003)
Chitose Piyoko
"S** Friend" (Biblos) Apr/2003 *** 8.44
One long short story about young efficient CEO but impotent and boy working at host club and other three short stories (The coach of football club put handcuffs on two member of the club who has kept fighting like cat and dog since their childhood for punishment / The hero can not commute to school by train because he has strong trauma by rapist at his childhood. But he recovers his guts by his british cousin's encouragement / Two doctors, good friends since they were students reach their turning point and finally become a couple). The story of the long short story:(Very genius of management & young CEO, Kurou Inamori has suffered from impotence since he went abroad to study and heard his girlfriend said he was very poor at sex. Inamori's only oasis of soul is Nana who is working at host club. Inamori makes Nana drink sustaining medicine by mistake. He stabs a bottle into Nana who is very aching - sexually exciting and escapes. Hearing Nana will resign the host club, Inamori is shocked. But Nana comes Inamori's house as a housekeeper. Inamori manages to deepen their relationship but Inamori holds the suspicion that Nana may be an industrial spy...). Every sex scene is very hot, explicit and exciting. The bodies of seme & uke are both solidly built, so their sex seems to be powerful. The sex scene of long short story through underwear before a backdrop of nightscape is wonderful, the sex with chains of 1st short story is also impressive and masturbation each other in the train is very daring. But the long short story lacks of reality as a corporate drama though this is challenging trial for the author. It lacks of surreality (like her debut book). The idea of impotence is funny. And the surname of CEO is same as japanese big company (Kyoucera)'s CEO! Short stories are very natural and interesting. Especially I like 1st one because angst hard sex of cat-and-dog football club members is so exciting & effective!! (by Slash-kun 14/Jun/2003)
CJ Michalski
"Usotsuki" (Take shobou) Jul/2003 *** 8.68
6 hard-core short stories for yaoi freaks（Hero has been inseparably bound up with his selfish friend from his child. He is called and comforts his friend whenever his friend parts from his lover. His friend confesses his love to hero only after they fall over the cliff and is going to die / An urban delinquent student should transfer to local school by his parents' order. There he is stalked by a rude but pure local student / A supervisor and his subordinate love each other. Returning from business tour of 3 months, the beautiful subordinate has become fat / A new recruit keeps working overtime with his wish to be admitted by his supervisor. But his colleague puts the blame on him and the supervisor gets him mixed up with an industrial spy. The supervisor tortures him / Many people have tried to persuade a surgeon of genius to reactivate in vain. The surgeon keeps living in seclusion because he failed the operation of his lover's brain cancer and has a lapse of confidence. One boy starts working as his live-in housekeeper but the boy is his ex-patient of the surgeon and doesn't have much time../ A boy loves his pet, an android. But the android returns sweet nothings to the boy because the android has no feeling. A fire occurs. The android takes his life upon saving the boy. Decrypting the microchip of the android in the cold ashes, plenty words of love are displayed on the full screen). The author has established a great new genre of yaoi, modern PWP, very illusion-promoting (It's very hilarious that too passionate or insane hero scares the people) but pure romance which attracts the readers very much with Kai Nanase. This book has a variety, contains challenging works as well as ones of typical PWP of her forte, old standby. The 2nd story of country student is so hilarious! A rude & antediluvian character, Kurogane is so nice and unique. He is rugged but so innocent. The author uses many nostalgic & funny things or dead languages (Nameneko - funny photograph of kitty with delinquent fashion, leaf in the corner of the mouth instead of cigarette & breaking brim of a hat - typical old fashion of old students, Avec - old word of "lovers/couple"!) very effectively. It makes me so glad (I wonder why so many yaoi mangaka including Nasa Yamato recently have adopted nostalgic gag lines. Because mangaka and their readers get old?). I felt a little embarrassment by reading the ending of "Maria" by Kazuo Kamimura (too old type guy, a fisherman) but the comical case of old guy like Kurogane, a student of old-education-system high school is totally welcome. Hero (whom Kurogane loves) is also nice because he is not a small/weak uke. Very wild and stylish urban student. If uke is not vulnerable, I think the readers are more moved because the taboo/resistance of homosexual increases. The last two stories of surgeon and android are very serious and heartrending! The author is so excellent & professional that she can write such stories intentionally & surely, too! I feel the editor's enthusiasm of challenging from the placement/arrangement, putting Sci-fi story at the end and using a name piece. Very nice ending by knowing the nuts and bolts of many android stories. Reading her post script, I wonder the author worried about her editor who dared adopt her Sci-fi story as a name piece though the author could write so excellent Sci-fi story. I suppose there has been a so strongly-rooted taboo of writing Sci-fi stories in yaoi (especially commercial yaoi) world. I feel sorry for yaoi mangaka who love Sci-fi. The business story of this book is very interesting, too. The story of the office love affair is really geeky (hard-core) because the author pursues the concept, "Debu-sen" (Unique preference of loving fat people). The author has in common with Nasa Yamato and they often adopt unfeminine & hard-core gag lines (obscene jokes for middle-aged guys). It's so hilarious! The story of "industrial spy is so hilarious because the misunderstanding of the supervisor goes out of control. The readers will know the rich talent of this author by this book. Very satisfying & artistic book!(by Slash-kun 27/Sep/2003)
"Suki ni Naccha Ikenai Hito" (Biblos) Dec/2002 *** 8.4
Very illusion-promoting short 4 PWPs (Hero is very surprised to see his sister's fiance, a young CEO of her company. Because the fiance is his one-night stand lover when he dropped the money for "house rent". Hero really loves the CEO but also wishes his sister's happiness because she has brought up him instead their parent who died by accident. Hero asks CEO to hide their relationship but CEO offers very unacceptable condition to the hero.../ Hero, an employee of the big construction company, goes to the mountain to persuade a mountain's owner who refuses eviction. Hero tumbles from a cliff and is saved by a strange hillbilly and falls in love. Owing to the hillbilly, hero realizes the importance of the nature.../ Elite but tired trading company employee is cast away on the small uncivilized island. He get married with a boy there and finds his human & natural life.../ Sequel. The mass media plays up employee's news as a miracle, so he should return once to Japan. He takes his lover, islander boy together but the boy gets ill by japanese environment with pollution...). All the stories are very hilarious and end happy!! The set-ups are very strange and nonsense, but the author's tactful plots never make the readers feel suspicious. She suggests a lot of sarcasm for "japanese society made up of company slaves/soldiers" but most readers are not aware of it obviously but just laugh (unconsciously). Perhaps it is because the author is really intelligent (At her postscript essay about shota, she refers to her experience of working as a lecturer at prep school). I think she is a good professional story teller and has a great talent of construct good emotional stories. Therefore she can describe very geeky stories & adopt unique set-ups! Of course her characters are very attractive, too. Especially the young CEO of the 1st story is soooooo cool!! The author is really good at drawing japanese def executive/office-worker with "business suit"!! And you should not miss reading her short essay gem about "Pith of the shota-pleasure", too. The author is enough brave to reveal her great passion for shota and sneer at herself!! I break up her comments, "How charming the british decent students of private prestige school are!" & "The great difference of body frame between adult and child will accelerate shota's pleasure"!! I'd like to read her witty essay more!! (by Slash-kun 25/Jan/2003)
Dr. Ten
"Aijin Ichiman-en" (Kousai Shobou) Mar/2003 *** 8.49
Desperate hero who was a professional sprinter but now retired because of his fatal injury and eats by prostitution, is picked up by novelist and is loved like a pet and finally regain the will to live. The story:(Hero was working at the company as a professional athlete, but was fired by his leg's injury. He joins the ranks of the homeless and manages to get by as a male prostitute. At one night, a mysterious guy appears and says he wants to "kau (buy)" the hero. But he means he wants to "kau (keep a pet)". Being washed at bath, hero fears and wonders whether this guy will train me sexually? or he is a very dangerous psycho guy? But the mysterious guy has a cold by washing hero and is confined to his bed with declaring that he will keep the hero forever / The mysterious guy does not recently make a sexual advance to hero. Hero wonders the guy is already tired with him and becomes nervous. The mysterious guy suddenly says he will sell the hero. Hero gives up his destiny but after hard S&M playing, the guy starts to devote himself to writing pornographic novel. Hero knows the guy is a novelist and he had been suffering from long slump! / The brother of novelist visits writer's room. He nearly rapes the hero if writer would not hold it. The brother is very surprised to know the writer's pet is one that writer cherishes so much that he wants to keep in confinement forever though the writer had been strong apanthropia. The brother declares he will live together / Hero feels sexual frustration again but the writer has a cold again. Then brother tries to tempt the hero. But the writer holds his brother and says he has managed to refrain from making love during writing the novel but now he can't. The writer and his brother enjoy threesome sex with the hero. Then all of them are down with the cold / On the rainy day, hero feels feverish during sex. Hero says it comes from old sores of his leg. The writer is greatly shocked to hear the hero's word, "But to entertain my master sexually is my job" and the writer rapes hero so cruelly beside himself. The hero confesses he does not mind because he despairs of his life. Then the brother declare "If you do, I will own your body and soul" / Hero enjoy the sex with novelist without hesitation then the writer gets a scent of hero's determination - hero will leave. The writer scolds hero very much and asks hero with tears not to do though hero does not love him. The writer says he will keep picking up hero if he leaves. Hero changed his mind). I enjoy this story because this is not typical fantasy but modern confinement story the author meets seriously head-on with. I expect many reader can read this very smoothly because the story is very natural and persuasive. Though it is hard core pornographic story (including threesome sex) but very quiet, heart-to-heart, sincere story. The process that hero with hurt feeling hurt & human distrust is comforted by the reticent novelist and his delinquent brother who is good underneath, is very skillfully depicted. The author also expresses well hero's agony. There are enough climax scenes in each chapter and they form natural whole story together. She becomes very good at making the story. The emotional scenes are very dramatic! She is burgeoning and now looks like more than just pornographic writer. Her art of naked body like japanese classic art also attain to perfection. Sweet but hurt sex scenes are overwhelming. Of course, her characters are attractive. Hero who is a kill-joy but wants to behave like a spoilt child and fears premonition of unhappiness is very cute (He stimulus his owner's gut). The brother of the writer is also very nice guy! (i.e. like Dr. McCoy of TOS). The author is keeping a cat and she uses her life with the cat very tactfully. The author deals with human drama with only expression of human emotions bravely and does not use fantastic or fictional setting up. I realize the author is unexpectedly diligent. I think she will keep being a good writer. (by Slash-kun 26/Apr/2003)
"Geboku Shounenbushi vol.2" (Kousai Shobou) Dec/2002 *** 8.4
The long occult action drama series of "mysterious noble family with magical power". The sidestory of "Tokyo Yaban no Chizu series". The story:(Mamoru Mitsugi tries to make Tomoe Kuchiba, his following, decide whether Tomoe betrays Mamoru and keeps finding a child of Sana who escaped from "Mitsugi family" or keeps being faithful following by sexual torture. Tomoe can't refuse Mamoru's temptation. Tomoe is called to take back his comrade, Hotaru by Kagehisa, a son of Kaoruko who is a wife of the eldest brother of Mamoru. Hotaru is falling down in a faint by severe torture. Kagehisa uses his following "Shadow" - tentacular specter - to Tomoe and tacks Tomoe sexually. But Takashi Shinohara suddenly appears to save Tomoe. He is raped by Kagehisa but absorbs energy of Kagehisa and controls Shadow. Kaoruko is greatly surprised to see Shinohara because Shinohara resembles Sana. Mamoru asks Tomoe who ordered Tomoe to find a child of Sana by hard sex....). The battle scenes are very vigorous and strong and sex scenes are very erotic (The author's face of uke with tears is really cute and sexy) as usual. The story is very exciting! The author's art is very vivid and boyish like "Saiyuuki" by Kazuya Minekura (contemporary popular animation for both male & female audience), so I think this author should be major and her challenge of long series will be a great success (This volume is not final one, so this series becomes her longest series for now). (by Slash-kun 01/Mar/2003)
DUO BRAND.
"White Guardian" (Kousai Shobou) Aug/2003 *** 8.75
Romantic fantasy of a prince and a director-general of the Guards in medieval kingdom. The story:(On the ship of Landa, a kingdom of the Middle Ages. Attacked by the enemy, but a debauched General, Sei orders a retreat in the early part of the battle. A young soldier saved by Sei gets laid by Sei in return. But the soldier turns out to be Prince Lins and he has adored Sei since childhood. Lins orders Sei to be a director of his Guards in expiation / Sei left the Court once because he hated its dirty power game. So his ex-lover, a local lord, Toory is cross at Sei's comeback. Toory rapes Prince Lins from spite but Lins appoints Toory as a prime minister / When Lins goes incognito to downtown for pleasure, he finds suspicious-looking man. He pursues. At enemy's hiding-place, Lins finds a court of Landa's Secretary of Treasury is intriguing with the enemy. Lins is caught by the enemy and forced to drink truth & aphrodisiac drug. Sei comes to save Lins but he kills all important witness). Written by duo mangaka of "Haruka Akatsuki" and "Nobuyoshi Watanabe". They have long career as djska, so they have great ability but I never imagined this series were so hard-core & professional work! So great! The art is very skillful like topflight art of heroic fantasy (The author is very good at drawing of military uniform, the medieval costumes like the prince's costumery, sword,,etc. She draws djs of "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi", so her drawing of the military is so excellent!). The art of characters is very cool like "Takashi Kanzaki", "Sakufu Ajimine" or "Kazusa Takashima (of "Wild Rock"). I'm surprised that Kousai Shobou issues such medieval historical fantasy. The plot & setups are very well polished/elaborated. Especially characterization is so interesting! Sei, a knight who should guard a prince is an errant & dirty middle-aged guy (But he was an national hero, a great general once). His heavy beard is so atmospheric. Lins, a pretty prince but is very spirited, a person of character. He is so noble and has so strong sense of justice that Sei often loses what to do. But Lins is also very cunning. It's thrilling a dirty guy gets laid with a prince (Well, Lins entices Sei? with conspiracy? - Leading Uke). And Sei's ex-lover, Toory is also very cool and beautiful (Perhaps he is most handsome guy in this story), so Sei is involved in love triangle with Lins and Toory (Sei is uke for Toory). And Toory rapes Lins for spite and keeps going after Sei ever since. And he is also cunning maneuverer. Threesome stories are not so unique now but this series is very exciting and well-balanced. A sort of "fantasy for adult readers". I'm so eager to read the sequel! (This book does not complete. The sequel will be issued). (by Slash-kun 24/Jan/2004)
Ebihara Yuri
"Uchi ni Oideyo." (Biblos) Feb/2003 *** 8.4
Short stories (The ordinary student of the establish school for rich students is encouraged by the unique blue collar worker / The unknown new actor who act as an android of the fantasy drama of the TV falls in love with the geeky owner of the android / The senior system engineer somehow feels jealous of the person in charge of client whom his puisne engineer loves. The senior hates his puisne one because puisne is always loved by other people without any effort...) including one series of the fashion model and his scout & manager. The series story:(Takao, the scout of model agency finds a very talented student, Natori on the street. But Natori wants Takao's body in return for his being a model / Takao and Natori become a good couple but they often feel jealous at their working time. Natori misunderstands Takao's awkward action in fear of their scandal). Very unique art because uke's faces at comedy scenes are very funny (resembles Toribito's rough art) but serious or best faces of seme are so sexy! (especially her lips are very erotic). All the stories are interesting (The geeky set-up of the 3rd story reminds me of "Nase Yamato" and too smooth office worker of 4th story is very well described! I also wonder which guy is bottom? ) and the characters are attractive! (The manager of the 1st series story is unsophisticated & wet foot then he looks so pretty! The rich guy of the 2nd story has very unique hair style - Afro - and his naked body at public bathhouse is so gorgeous!). One thing I regret a little is that there is little "hard-core explicit sex scenes" in this book. Why? Though the art is so gorgeous and there are a lot of erotic suggestion of sex!! I want the author to try to write for the books of "Magazine Magazine" next time...(by Slash-kun 08/Mar/2003)
Eiki Eiki
"Yuigon" (Shinshokan) Jan/2003 *** 8.42
The dramatic serious prequel and comical sequel attack comedy of "Shinseiki Prime Minister" (Ryouichi Makita, the security police of Kanata Kamijyou, a prime minister is shot by the gun to guard the Kanata. Ryouichi can not die without confession of his love to Kanata. He remembers his and Kanata's delight school days at the boy's dormitory and their sad memory of separation because of "their rape trauma syndrome" / Aya Kamijyou Faulkner lives in the room of Akane Matsumoto, a beat reporter of the newspaper for Kanata, together and wastes his brilliant career. Akane hesitates to accept Aya's too straight love and can not stop Aya to go to USA. Aya runs away and is working at gay bar...). The readers can enjoy this if they have not read "Shinseiki..."! I like a little tragic former story like "Complex" by Ringo Manda but to tell the truth I wanted them to be a happy couple (Makita and Kanata keep their platonic love...)! After serious first story, I am a little bewildered by reading 2nd funny story, but for the fans, the variety of this book may be rather service-minded...(by Slash-kun 08/Feb/2003)
Emikoyama
"Pearl White vol.3" (Shinshokan) Jul/2003 *** 8.69
The pulse-pounding final volume of the long series about the romance between a junior student and a senior & beautiful student with broken mind and one short story(Boys' high school. Delinquent students make a bet on the ticket and hero starts fake & romantic relation with his senior student. Hero feels difficulty and rapes the senior but they know they have adored each other for long time...). he story of name piece series:(Takara guards Shirogane from Kitano's knife and is transferred to hospital. Shirogane runs away because of his guilty feeling. Takara escapes death but his brother never tells Shirogane's disappearance. Takara desperately recovers and tries to find Shirogane. A strange old woman buys sandals for Shirogane who is wandering with bare feet around town. Knowing people's kindness, Shirogane goes to the jail to meet & apologize Kitano and leaves for the sea alone. Takara finally finds Shirogane but Shirogane pretends he hates Takara...). This story is unusual for Emikoyama whose works are usually very tender and mild/calm. Due to Shirogane, Takara sustains serious injuries, so I thought Shirogane would despair more but Shirogane is actually & surprisingly serene because he is completely broken. It makes the readers horrendous all the more (The author says her aim was "light/cheerful hardships/pain"). Even so Shirogane gradually changes (He appreciates a strange woman who gives sandals, knows there are kind people even if they are not family and anyone can survive, understands Kitano's angry, apologizes Kitano and tells a lie to Takara). Shirogane's upgrowth makes me cry. And Takara's single-track love without the hope of getting something in return is so touching! His brother finally gives in and Takara and Shirogane can be happy in the end. I feel great satisfaction! Supporting characters are very nice, too. Tachikawa - a female friend of Takara comments on a sudden shower during the date like "We are lucky because it cools down". Katsura, a boy friend of Tachikawa flatters himself that he has good taste to choose a girl friend. Katsura who sees through a lie and challenges Takara's brother makes Tachikawa say "I have an eye for choose a nice boy friend". It's the essence of "loving someone". The author's observation is very sharp! A short story is tender Angst, her forte, and good happy-ending story! Seme who is not honest and whose malevolence is no more than a pose is very cute and uke who accepts everything like Maria is awe-inspiring. Highly recommended series! (by Slash-kun 10/Jan/2004)
"Gokufutsuu no Koi vol.2" (Shinshokan) Dec/2002 *** 8.9
Very impressive but sweet romance of longstanding & humble couple with precious wisdom though there is no explicit hard sex scenes. The story:(Makoto Kashima, a high school-educated, poor and lowly employee and Eiji Mizuki, a tiny subcontractor of dressmaking have been couple for 10 years and lived together for 9 years since they were students of same high school. Mizuki has loved Kashima very deeply but has been too shy to express his love honestly and often punches or goes getting hot at Kashima since their first & worst encounter. At long distance phone call from Kashima's business trip, Mizuki can not speak to Kashima in a tender manner though he is always thinking about Kashima. Kashima always has a hunger for Mizuki's love and feels delight whatever Mizuki does for him. So he is not willing to sleep apart even when Mizuki has a heavy cold - they have never slept apart for 8 years! What is a Mizuki's annual birthday gift to Kashima? It's "Mizuki's being tender, not getting angry for Kashima during only Kashima's birthday"! But it is also the excuse for Mizuki to be tender completely for Kashima without hesitation. They are very poor but conscientiously save money for their old age. So they stake their life on reusing expired food in refrigerator but they are enough lucky to keep surviving. One day Kashima wins a prize in the public lottery but he gives it to his supervisor whose daughter needs to have an overseas surgical operation because Kashima does not want to lose his current small luck. When they should give a gratuity for his friend's marriage, to Kashima's delight, they save money by sleeping in same futon without space heating. They make much of seasonal events like Bean-Throwing Festival though they seldom throw the beans out of doors. When Kashima is very busy and misses the chance of cherry-blossom viewing party, they go to the part in early morning with lunch box and rice dumpling of convenience store. They keep even the empty paper cups of "fast food shop" for their playing of "movie theater" at their relaxation as couch potato. In summer, Kashima is too young to take a long vacation, but his best amusement is "just midday nap by Mizuki" after working hard with sweat! In autumn they go to the park for viewing autumnal leaves with canteen of red wine. On Christmas, they go to the bathhouse and enjoy the humble dinner at open-air stall with carry-on wine. Kashima wants Mizuki to cut even his hair for thrift. But their all saving action come from their deep "affection"...). I'm very moved by reading this! I have loved this author's works but I think this volume is very special one, achieves a certain breakthrough as compared to her other tender & soft stories where I feel relieved & relaxed by enjoying to see the sweet & happy couples maintaining their good relationship by various events. Reading this book, I have felt very strong message/appeal - "The thing we can not buy by the money is really precious". Through their saving life, Kashima and Mizuki try to keep cherishing their feeling of being gratified any kinds of trivial/small/little things or make effort to find something small but cordial in their daily life to please each other. Then they refuse to be too greedy and even refuse too much luck like "win of the lottery". I'm really overwhelmed by the author's silent but strong philosophy, "we can be happy even if (or because) we are lacking material affluence or wealth". It reminds me of a young poor but happy couple's short story of "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. Of course author's other delicate (fully prepared) techniques (using soft but wild Kansai-accent - the dialect of western area, the repetition of sweet & agonizing recollection of their young & awkward passion during their school days and making happy atmosphere with various delicious food/dishes like Fumi Yoshinaga - but more thrifty recipe!). I'd like to recommend this for the present-day young girls who believe easily only the money will/can make them happy or for the couples who want their married life better!! (by Slash-kun 08/Feb/2003)
"Pearl White vol.2" (Shinshokan) Aug/2002 *** 8.6
Tragic but sweet romance series of the young student who loves his senior, beautiful but unsound student with all his heart and soul. Shirogane & Takara's happy period passes and "the phantoms of the past" will creep up on. The story:(Takara Sanada invites Mamoru Shirogane to his house and introduce to his brother, Chikara. Chikara is very surprised to see Shirogane because Chikara saw Shirogane once. Behind Takara's back, Chikara warns Shirogane that Shirogane will hurt his brother and to remember where and when they met. Takara offers homely hospitality to Shirogane very cordially and they spend very pleasant time superficially. But Chikara visited Shirogane's room soon and says he knows Shirogane did not refuse gang-bang sex there. Chikara realizes Shirogane doesn't intends to deceive Takara but he really wants Shirogane to part with his brother because Shirogane is never attached with anybody and Shirogane now just only accepts Takara as well as ex-lover, Kitano. Takara invites Shirogane into Double-date with Takara's friend's couple. Shirogane enjoys his first experience at amusement park very much thanks to quick-thinking of a very kind girl friend of Takara's friend. Chikara begins to collect the information about Kitano. Kitano should be serving time because he was indicted of injury to guys who raped his bitch lover. Now Chikara wonders Kitano's lover, Shirogane is really bitch. After double-date, Takara takes Shirogane to Shirogane's room but there Kitano is waiting with knife...). This volume is extremely dramatic! New character, the elder brother of Takara, Chikara comes on. He is very nice (loose/wanton/dark/evil but affectionate to his brother). He knows the dirty past of Shirogane and demands Shirogane to separate with his brother because Shirogane definitely makes Takara unhappy. "The way/degree of destruction of Shirogane who has been brought up on without the enough love by his parents" is so awful. The author expresses it very well with a lot of neat & horrendous episodes (Shirogane marvels at the salute before eating with family, "Chow down" like "school trip", he has no albums of his childhood, he doesn't know the way of enjoying at amusement part and he keeps his countenance though he is covered with blood of the guys who rapes him). The author's art is very simple, tender and not too graphical/realistic but so "necessary and sufficient" that we, readers can enjoy the lingering emotion and imagination very much. The facial expression of dazed-looking Shirogane who is condemned by Chikara with the word, "You never understand my brother's feeling because you don't refuse anyone's love!" is soooo impressive. And I can not read without tears this story that Takara will meets with a misfortune though he devotes heart and soul to Shirogane. And second fiddles are also very nice. Kitano, though he is an enemy of Takara, touches a pitiful chord in readers. And female character, Tachikawa, a lover of Takara's friend also very nice and she really has a pleasant disposition as well as the author. Then in author's works, there is no utter bad characters. The ending is very cliff-hanging. I hardly wait to read the next volume! (by Slash-kun 19/Apr/2003)
Endo Risao
"Romantic Risk" (Tiyou Tosho) Feb/2003 *** 8.9
Short stories (Very tantalizing romance between unique two guys. A cool but shy boy falls in love with the guy like hermit! But they can't believe easily that they love each other / The sequel of 1st story. The boy feels sad by comparing him with a homeless cay of the guy like a self-less monk. He can not still be content to their just friendship / Insane & immoral but happy-ending unique story. The nihilistic but fantasist adult guy who often loses his passion soon, now dumps his wife and child and has a crush on a beautiful but unhappy boy with a sickly mother. He rapes the boy and the boy stabs him. But they run away together.../ Very surrealistic unique story of two adult guys whose married life break down and who love watching sophisticated movies at theatre. They often make love in the darkness in the hotels but realize their love does not disappear like movie. Beautiful metaphor! / The strange dependency relation between a crazy kidnapper guy and his poor victim boy who lost his memory.../ The excellent & must-read perfect short story included into "Hageshikute Hen vol.2", the experimental anthology from Kousai Shobou / The boy whose parent died by accident is taken in by his kind uncle. He loves his uncle but the uncle never responds. Then he decides to live on his own by his classmate's comfort / Small psychodrama of two guys who are listening the street poet - not unique plot but unique mood! / Again not unique set-up but unique mood story. The very popular but selfish vocalist of rock group meets with a genius photographer of skinhead and finds his new talent... ) after long interval. All the stories are very unique, suggestive and meaningful (with deep theme or impressive atmosphere that make the readers enjoy the aftertaste). The author's contemporary, silent, dry but stylish art (the lines are thin and strengthless) without sweetness is very characteristic! The art of bleak winter park is so impressive, her clunky cat seems to be sage like Master Yoda and the art of cold & beautiful human bodies with elaborate screen-tone work like photograph is so cool! The inorganic & empty gaze reminds me of the art of "Tamaki Yura". Some artistic set-ups remind me of BELNE who often write manga about charismatic rock stars. The vacant space with monologue reminds me of the sluggish atmosphere of "Yumi Tada". These old & artistic yaoi writers often write the deceit & fraud of hetero-sexual people (They often lose their own personality by being good couple) and are very honest and don't adulate the readers too much (are not too feminine and don't escape into easy happy ending or facile comedy or excessive entertainment)! I love this author with precious taste and wish her to keep her own way!! If you are boring with recent all-too-common/clonish yaoi stuffs, please try to read this book!! Highly recommended! (by Slash-kun 15/Feb/2003)
Enjin Yamimaru
"Voice or Noise vol.1" (Tokuma Shoten) Aug/2003 * 8.68
Animal fantasy of "more than friendship under love" between a professor who can understand animal's language and the boy who has same ability. The story:(A boy, Shinichirou Fukuouji visits an adjunct professor of physical sciences, Naruaki Narusawa. Shinichirou asks Narusawa to read the mind of his dog which barks too much. Shinichirou has gotten the information of Narusawa from his personal animal doctor, Ikegami. Narusawa shows Shinichirou the door but Shinichirou is guided to Narusawa's house by his dog. Shinichirou hears Narusawa's cat, Aft is speaking like human. Owing to Narusawa, Shinichirou's dog becomes calm and it makes Shinichirou decide to become Narusawa's pupil / Shinichirou calls on Narusawa everyday but Narusawa refuses to deal with him. Narusawa examines a sick bird of Shinichirou's friend but he warns Shinichirou not to pry into the affairs of others. Shinichirou feels animals are observing him and starts to get scared, then he stops to visit Narusawa. Narusawa becomes irritated. Knowing the fact, Shinichirou get a shock. Aft is involved in a traffic accident and can not speak human language in front of Shinichirou and Narusawa...). Long-awaited first book of Enjin! She has been already famous for illustration of yaoi novels or djs, so many readers have been waiting so long. I thought this is typical story of a special doctor of animal (like Dr. Dolittle stories) because heroes can speak with animals (Enjin herself also thought so at first). But it is shota (sorry/vulnerable adult seme). Very surprising! Most babyish character is Narusawa, and it is the best shota style for me! How nice the characters' balance is! Enjin's skill of art is perfect 10. Especially her way of making space or the contrast of light and dark are so excellent! And in this book, her animals are very humorous. They are not cute literally (because they are crows or black cat), but such black animals are so lovely for me! They act on even ground with human. Rather sarcastically. It resembles Ichiko Ima. Enjin's words are also very witty & intelligent like Ima. It provides enough reality to Narusawa who is a professor of college. Therefore the loneliness and sadness of Narusawa, person of intelligent class (This book's theme. Isolation from others - normal humans) is very persuasive. And the sexual expressions are tame as well as Ima. But therefore the delicate relation with nervousness between Shinichirou and Narusawa is very thrilling and interesting! (The process that pig-headed Narusawa has been gradually moved by Shinichirou is so dramatic). I'm very looking forward to next volume! (by Slash-kun 10/Jan/2004)
Enomoto Nariko
"Enomoto Nariko + Nobi Nobita vol.3" (Futabasha) Jun/2002 *** 8.45
The last book of the author's reissue series from Futabasha. Most are "original june works - not parody stories of yaoi" (The guy happens to meet again with an old friend who was always bullied by other children, weeping and saved by him. The friend is very glad but the guy feels shame because the guy is now a mean & miserable prostitute.../ The calculating guy catches pickpocket boy. The boy begs for forgiveness and sells his body in return. After sex, the guy realizes his life of "marriage de convenance" also seems prostitution. He finds the boy lying on the street with the disease and starts living together and loving the boy. The boy is gone because he also loves the guy and guy continues to find him.../ Hero always acts as a pierrot in his class but has a crush on a very beautiful transfer student who lives alone in the very big mansion like "a lonely queen".../ Very small boy enters the junior high school and has a friend who is smaller but very active and brave. They enter the football club together. Hero wants to be grown up and can not refuse the sexual demand by the senior ace member.../ Very elite student who has very lewd desire for little girls tries to tempt his private student girl. But she asked stand-in to her twin brother.../ Hetero-remake of "SM-28" of 2nd reissue book. Very unimpassioned biologist meets a "Zashiki warashi" girl - fairy who lives in the house. He loves her but she always has lost his lovers because she lives forever. He goes to america to make android to live with her for long time.../ Reissue of "Dakishimete Kurerunara" from Biblos). At her postscript, the author writes about her puzzlement of writing original yaoi stories because she started to write manga by parody djs. I suppose many other yaoi djska/mangaka will feel same. So the some stories of this book are a little inferior for me than ones in second book (Yuyu Hakusho djs series). But I think this author has the great talent as a good story teller and makes the stories very skillfully like "Yumiko Ooshima". Many heroes of the stories of this book are very miserable boys who are not basking in love, spend unhappy childhood. The author says she could not find the reality for her in writing yaoi stories and she hated writing such unrealistic stories. But I think the readers really hate too realistic severe stories with heroines but they also want the severe experience for getting catharsis. So they want to read the unhappy stories of the miserable boys. So The author should choose "miserable heroes" subconsciously. The author says she feels shame at using "existing typical yaoi story style" here but I'm definitely moving by reading some stories of this book. Now the author is dedicating herself to writing hetero-sexual stories for male readers and her works have achieve great popularity but it is also the fact that certain female readers complain for them (difficulty in reading them). It's pity that this author hates writing yaoi though she has a real talent of making good yaoi stories but never recognize it...(by Slash-kun 01/Feb/2003)
Enomoto Tsubaki
"Heart no Kankei" (Taitosha) Aug/2003 *** 8.4
Reissue of the commercial short stories with same title the author issued in her teens (The office worker picks up the drunk student on the street and offers a night's lodging. But the student says the worker once saved him from sexual molestation. The worker has a crush on him twice and breaks off with his fiancee / Hero suffers from his best & childhood friend's sexual harassment. Hero's brother advises him and hero brings his friend to the wood of "being spirited off". But hero suddenly regrets.../ The idol of the school suddenly makes his proposal to hero. Hero refuses it but begins to love the idol by knowing the idol rejected the scout to the professional team for hero) and recent short sketch (The one-night-stand love of the guy who lives only for the pleasure of the moment). I could unexpectedly enjoy fully though this is old works. Enomoto now writes skillful & stylish-easy romance but she was naive at one time. Her pure, sincere and straight-forward stories are nice, too.The plots have been well-made and there are many ideas (The insertion's way of recollection is tactful and the usage of mark in "name-piece" is stylish. Female characters of the last, cool vamp-ish are funny). I re-realize Enomoto has had a talent to be a popular mangaka since her debut. About last story, recent one, her art has made much progress and the story becomes very adult & ennui/decadent. This story suggests the sequel, so we can expect it. (by Slash-kun 08/Nov/2003)
"Main Dish vol.3" (MOVIC) May/2003 *** 8.42
The third volume of very popular series of an easy college students couple (A s senior member and junior one of tennis club of same college, Souji Tokiwa and Munehisa Hamada are couple. But Munehisa suddenly gives Souji the go-by because Munehisa has a pain in the chest at making love. Their awkwardness worries Munehisa's junior member, Setsu Miura. Munehisa works hard to buy a sweater for Souji's birthday present but is scooped by Setsu. But Souji says Munehisa himself is the best gift for him, so Munehisa decides to live together. Souji restrains himself patiently. Munehisa realizes sexless life is more severe and gives up his abstinence / They go to tennis camp. Setsu cuts the whipcord of racket and another junior member, very sexy guy, Tetsuya Saijyou tries to seduce Munehisa but Souji and Munehisa overcome various obstacles with love). The author describes well the peaceful & irresponsible atmosphere of the tennis circle/club which is inevitable accompaniment to japanese university! She expresses vividly today's couples through easy & blatant/straightforward students (who demand his partner a lot at making love). This series is long, so it shows the goodness of long couple which is very ennui (peaceful, easy and comfortable). No strange unique event occurs in this drama but very casual drama expressing well day-to-dayness which many female readers can accept. And author's free conversation (postscript between stories) is very interesting to show her daily life (Her parents badgers her to have marriage meeting / Couple warns her when she enjoys driving alone at midnight / She is absorbed in "Tennis no Ouji sama" now - she seems to read regularly Weekly Shounen JUMP - so Munehisa and Souji go to tennis training camp / She is angry at sudden suspension of the serialization of manga - maybe "Hikaru no GO" and wrote a questionnaire letter for the first time for protest). She has a talent to find and express something from everyday life and this book makes the best use of it. (by Slash-kun 25/Oct/2003)
"Dai 1 kyuu Jun-ai zai" (Biblos) Apr/2003 *** 8.49
Very high-level various long short 3 stories (Hero, a salesmen of "the materials for beauty parlor" is very glad to hear the gossip that his rival salesman has very poor, small penis. The female colleague spreads it because rival dumped her. Hero sympathizes a little and treats his rival friendly, then the rival shows a great pleasure and they start to work outside together. Hero finds the sincerity of his rival which he never has and begins to love the rival. Knowing his rival is cherry, hero also begins to part with his sexual companions / The new employee is assigned to the secretary's office of underclothes company though he graduated from art school. Very strict manager bullies the hero but manager confesses his love to hero. But hearing the rumor that manager will get married with female secretary and hates incompetent hero, hero is shocked.../ A working student of transport company rapes the boy when he delivers the baggage to the mansion. Afterwards he knows the boy was a sneak thief and thief did not steal anything for hero. Hero thinks the boy should be a Man of Destiny and decides to find). About 1st story: Hero is very familiar for me because he is stingy, exoteric and bitchy. Therefore I can really understand why hero has a crush on his straight, pure rival. Everyone loves someone who has good points he never has. The author researches well very special business like company for beauty salon's supplies material and uses the difference of hero's family and rival's one very effectively. Very tactful setups to detail and it's no wonder that this story continues now. About 2nd story: The couple of able supervisor and new employee (pure, awkward but has great guts) is not unique but it's very interesting that supervisor hurts unexpectedly severely by the attack of new employee. The cunning sexual tactics of supervisor is also very funny. The usage of female employee with a lot of debt is nice, too. About 3rd story: Very unique mystery for the author. The ending is very stylish and adult. (by Slash-kun 31/May/2003)
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F-J:
Fuji Tamaki
"Kakumo Nagaki Fuzai" (djs) Dec/2003 *** 8.5
(circle name, genre, couple)=<"CHEAP HIPS", "Original", Tei x Chiri - Hero and his relative> The number of pages is 44. The first story:(Chiri was an android or robot made by Tei but Tei goes to far place to get the battery for Chiri. When Chiri wakes up, he finds himself lying on the bed of the hospital with a doctor and loses his memory. Chiri gradually remembers he refuses the doctor's help and keeps waiting for Tei...). Second story: (Hero remembers his old days of childhood that he always enjoyed his summer vacation at his rural house with his relative from urban town). First story is a little difficult to understand but suggestive and impressive. Second story is very nostalgic and cheerful (It reminds the readers of their old memory of childhood). Both are tender and not so erotic. (by Slash-kun 17/Jan/2004)
"Private Gymnastic vol.3 - complete" (Shinshokan) Sep/2003 *** 10
The final volume of moving long series of romance and growing of the boys who put their heart into skating. Kanna who can not allow himself who keeps denying a sexual relationship with Sera in public finally decides to part with Sera.... The story:(Sera is injured in his exercise and enters hospital. His coach, Andy finds condom in Sera's room and corners Sera about his sexual relationship with Sera. But Kanna keeps evading Andy's questions and gets onto worst terms with Andy. Sera and Andy go to Canada and stay in Louis's B&B for rehabilitation exercise, so Sera become unable to see Sera again. Kanna also goes to Canada with his coach, Tachiki and his partner skater, Wako for short overseas training but he also misses Sera there. Louis talks about his past to Kanna. Towards that end of overseas training, Kanna is injured. He tangles with Andy in Andy's car and feels crushed severely. But he happens to meet Sera and is comforted by Sera. At the funeral ceremony of Kanna's grandmother, Kanna feels guilty about his relation with Sera for his mother. He tries to forget it by the sex with Sera. Sera is hurt by only physical relation with Kanna. Sera shows Kanna the motion picture of Kanna's father from life but it makes Kanna feel guilty and cry. It also depresses Sera. Tachiki decides to go to Canada for his professional training for coach. But Kanna is reluctant to accompany. Tachiki happens to see Kanna's kiss with Sera, but Kanna tells a lie and says good-bye to Sera. Sera accepts it because he does not want to Kanna to cry. Sera is in top form and sends his prize medal to Kanna. Kanna enjoys his college life as such though he indulges in drinking. After 2 years, when Kanna has been accustomed to coaching children on the side, he hears a rumor that Sera is in a slump and can not keep up with any girl friends. Andy comes to ask Kanna to talk Sera out of giving up his skating. Then Kanna goes to Canada where Sera buys his own house. But Kanna receives a cold welcome by Sera. Kanna tries to go back but he is caught in a heavy snowstorm. Kanna heads back and falls down on at the front door of Sera's house. Sera finds him by the skin of his teeth. They drink too much and realize they keep loving each other yet. Kanna declares his determination to Tachiki. Kanna challenges to get in the tournament of singles again...). The volume of 3rd is about twice thicker than 2nd as we have been waiting more than one year. And it is very moving! I can cry without reservation. And I can cry no matter how many times I read. Sera who accepts his separation with Kanna who is rapidly breaking down is so pitiful! And Kanna who falls down at the entrance of Sera's house in heavy snowfall is also pitiful & painful. But differently from "Horizon", this story is great because it ends happily. Louis, June, their friends and acquaintances are very warm and kind, too. The art is wonderful as usual. Fragility/evanescence and harshness/severity of snow which falling in northland, at the night drawn by Fuji symbolizes weak status of fragile boys who can not see their future (It likely melts into northland's landscape) and it is very impressive! Even a car, through Fuji's expression, it likely melt into the scenery. Fuji's silent, holly, blank, white, vacant drawing of the space, scenery, cityscape and feeling of Kanna and Sera is so excellent & super. And her plot and expression of the feelings from cover to cover is very skillful and overwhelming. At first, Andy finds their sexual relationship and the term between Kanna and Andy rapidly becomes stormy. Both Kanna and readers are also rapidly & psychologically pushed. Their uncertainty increases by Sera's been to Canada and their lack of contact except cell phone stirs up their anxiety all the more. Kanna's problem of pairing occurs, too. So the warmth of June is borne in on Kanna and puts readers' mind at ease. Louis who often acts the knave is also nice character. Fuji's technique, Louis's talking about prehistory of Andy, Tachiki, June and Sera is so artistic! The agony of Kanna in last half story is so severe, heavy, deep and painful! Every word of Kanna's monologue is very keen, grave and crucial. The process that glassy Kanna is torn between the sex with Sera like sweet poison and deference/appearance for surrounding people is so pitiful. And genius & pure Sera is also rapidly hurt. They are so sad. Even so Sera desperately tries to keep their relation. So the scene of their separation is so heartrending. I will cry however often I may read this scene. How miserable Kanna is. Two years after their separation is very sad and the scene of soulless Kanna receives a medal from Sera makes me weep copiously. After it, Sera is collapsing in turn. Sera, a boy in Kanna's dream is also very poor. I'm really relieved when Sera is saved by Kanna who comes to see him alone though Andy asked it. It doesn't come to a tragic end like "Horizon" (Hero decides but comes to grief)! This story may be revenge of it. The scene of their encounter, their memory overflows from their touching fingers, is so overwhelming! The confession of Kanna who makes up his mind to Tachiki is very mild and serene like calm. It symbolizes that bloom of youth like storm ends and Kanna grows up into a man. The peaceful and soft ending like this author is really good. Must-read yaoi great masterpiece. (by Slash-kun 07/Feb/2004)
"Geshi" (djs) Aug/2002 *** 8.6
(circle name, genre, couple)=<"CHEAP HIPS", "Original", Torahan x Naseru> The number of pages is 44. The story:(Asian resort. 4 rich & childhood friends of Orientals. Too pure Naseru feels embarrassment because his friendship for Torahan begins to change into love. He goes to Europe to study for short period, knows he is too inexperienced about sex and tries desperately not to lose Torahan's love by sexual technique...). Fuji describes well the unique atmosphere of asian resort as well as glare of summer sunshine and uncertainty of sex for boys. The scene Torahan fumes at Naseru for his learning various sexual knowledge at Europe makes me smile. Of course Fuji's expression of Naseru's nervous feeling is very excellent. The sex scene is hot, too. Very satisfactory story and worth reading. I suppose many publishers/editors have offered Fuji to reissue her original djs as commercial book. But owing to her postscript of djs, she continues reprinting her djs for many times, so there may be no possibility that her djs out of print will be issued as commercial book. And she does not sell her djs at her site or djs stores (like KAC, Tora no Ana,,etc) because she has no clerical accuracy to sell it well. So her fan should get her djs at only Events like Comiket. For overseas fans, it may be difficult to get them. I hope Fuji to start selling them through consignment distributors at the very least....(by Slash-kun 10/Jan/2004)
"LAYERED" (djs) Dec/2001 *** 8.55
(circle name, genre, couple)=<"CHEAP HIPS", "Original", Kyouji x Shiho> The number of pages is 52. The story:(A scholar of linguistics, Kyouji is living with Shiho who is poor and unmeritorious. Shiho finds new twiner and is devoted to grow it. Kyouji dislikes Shiho's giving his mind to plant because Shiho can not stand being alone and always wants Kyouji. Kyouji gets angry and orders Shiho to dump the plant). Fuji describes well fantastic uniqueness of the plant which can read human's emotion and the young people's strong desire or their cruelness of love (They can not control monopolistic desires and hurts their lovers). The scene that Shiho who has nothing finally decide to dump plant not to lose his only property, Kyouji is so heartrending!! Jealous guy, Kyouji is also so lovely. This short story expresses very well Fuji's forte, "Desperation of lowest young boy (makes gifted guy give in)". Very good story though the sex scene is a little tame.(by Slash-kun 10/Jan/2004)
"Foot Loose" (djs) Aug/2000 *** 8.5
(circle name, genre, couple)=<"CHEAP HIPS", "Original", Lucia x Linn> The number of pages is 40. The story:(Linn was picked up & confined by Lucia, but now he has grown up, knows the work and has good neighborly companionship. Neighborhood people recommend Linn to become independent from Lucia but Linn keeps concerning Lucia, looser with sex and wine. But Linn's meddling makes Lucia feel gloomy, then Linn decides to separate from Lucia once...). This is a sequel of "Ginrin" and "Abnormal" (old djs). Shota, Fuji's forte (soapy guy is saved by innocent boy). In this djs, a boy has grown up and makes new relationship with guy which enables equal and free love affair through painful & tough separation. Linn who tries to keep supporting indolent Lucia despite of bad reputation of Lucia is so moving. Stupid activity of Lucia is also lovely. And I'm very moved by the last scene. I must try to read the prequel, too. (by Slash-kun 17/Jan/2004)
"Kokoni Izumi ari" (djs) Aug/1999 *** 8.6
(circle name, genre, couple)=<"CHEAP HIPS", "Original", Peal x Tess> The number of pages is 34. The story:(A lonely boy, Tess remembers his home by the light of a pearl in the show window, then he decides to become a apprentice of a pig-headed pearl farmer, Peyre. By and by Tess begins to love Peyre, cheats Peyre into teaching making love, is addicted to sex, forgets to take care of pearl and is excommunicated by Peyre. At town, hearing rumor that Peyre is living lonely, Tess comes back to Peyre...). The episode of making pearl is so elaborate, delicate and fantastic! Like alchemy. And the ending that compares making love with pearl farming is very excellent! The sex scenes are hot, too. Fuji adopts two essential factors of her forte, "corruption and tears" into this story, though it is very short. This djs is an ideal short example to see Fuji's virtue/value! (by Slash-kun 10/Jan/2004)
Fujii Mitori
"Original Love" (Ohkura Shuppan) Sep/2003 *** 8.59
The shota sci-fi series about a man who takes in a clone boy who resembles man's defunct lover and a short story written in 1999(A guy does good to a younger guy who is dumped by his lover, then the younger guards the guy from stalker...). The story of shota sci-fi series:(Yuuki has kept his live no better than dead-man since his lover, Takaaki died. But he recovers his wish to live from the day he takes in Kou, a clone of Takaaki. Kou's clone friend asks Kou why Kou won't go to junior high school. Kou answers that it is his own intention and because Kou will feel lonely / Yuuki recommends Kou to go to school. But Kou's friend suspects it and comes to Yuuki's house to see what they are going on. Then he sees they are making love. He informs to a counselor. But Kou desperately asks the counselor, then the counselor overlooks it / Yuuki mistakes Kou for Takaaki, doughy with sleep. Kou gets sulky and says he won't make love until Yuuki explains about Takaaki. Then Yuuki shows his old album to Kou / Yuuki feels jealous of Kou's friend of the school / Kou gets nervous because Yuuki is very popular at school interview with teacher / After all these years, Kou's mother who dumped Kou comes to meet Kou but Kou refuses her. Yuuki is afraid he will die earlier but Kou tells him their life span is same). I'm surprised to know the author writes sci-fi story! The idea the man keeps and dotes on the clone who resembles his defunct lover is very interesting! The clone feels jealous of the original, but the original was really very nasty guy... Nice idea. The author has researched Sci-fi very much (She knows telomere). The quiet atmosphere is very good. The combination that Yuuki who is older seme but helpless and Kou who is younger uke but manly, strong-minded, get-tough and broad-minded is very good, too (Kou is very tough though he is a child. He looks like parent of Yuuki! Yuuki often weeps. But Yuuki is very nice because he sometimes becomes very evil). So the readers enjoy their hot sex play without guilty feeling. Sci-fi drama with the theme of "human's desire and android" like "Kaguya series" by Mina Nomori is interesting as was expected! I wish the author to challenge Sci-fi again. A short story is good and erotic, too. As compared with an old short story, Fujii's art has made progress very much. (by Slash-kun 14/Feb/2003)
"Shitsuren Mania" (Kaiousha) Jul/2003 *** 8.48
Old ex-lover suddenly appears and leaves his young lover with hero and hero wreaks his anger to a customer. The stylish sketch of 4 guys' romance including a boy. The story:(A corporate racketeer, Nagura suddenly appears in front of hero, Atsuya, a young owner of the bar. Nagura, an ex-lover of Atsuya is involved into very dangerous problem, so he wants Atsuya to give shelter to a boy, Satoshi. Nagura was so cold and twisted that he could not believe love with Atsuya. Nagura bullied Atsuya and often made Atsuya cry. He could confirm their love by only Atsuya's tears. Atsuya was so tired that he ran away from Nagura and stole Nagura's money as consolation money. So Atsuya can not refuse Nagura's request. Satoshi looks very miserable and resembles old Atsuya. Satoshi does not take a liking for Atsuya but Atsuya can not leave Satoshi alone. A regular customer of the bar, Yamazaki comforts Atsuya. Satoshi has heard nothing from Nagura since, then Satoshi tries to visit Nagura but is kidnapped. Satoshi escapes for dear life and calls Atsuya for help. Atsuya refuses to hand over Satoshi to Nagura, but Nagura says it depends on Satoshi. Satoshi has gone with Nagura. Atsuya is disappointed and comforted by Yamazaki who is very tender and enough adult. But Yamazaki does not make love with Atsuya. Atsuya feels abandoned and pays footsie with many women but Yamazaki does not mind. Yamazaki finally asks Atsuya for a date but Atsuya is afraid that he is too serious and he runs away from Yamazaki. Atsuya tries to escape to woman but she cuts off him. Atsuya returns to Yamazaki). Hero keeps a spite against his unhappiness of his past but he finds it's his fault. Then hero finds the real happiness at his elbow. Casual story but I gradually realize the deep theme by reading over and over. The art is simple but story is philosophical! Unimpassioned go-getter, the corporate racketeer, Nagura who can not believe love. Lonely and blunt boy, Satoshi who keep believing Nagura. Affable guy, Atsuya who is too frazzled by believing love. Seemingly obliging & tender adult, Yamazaki. Very unique 4 guys are intricately-intertwined each other. The agony & hesitation of Atsuya is well written in first half. Nagura is not bad buy in grain, so the story becomes more interesting. The latter half that Atsuya yields to Yamazaki is very stylish and atmospheric like love lesson of urban. At first Atsuya resembles Satoshi who is hungry for love but I think Atsuya resembles more Nagura who can not believe love. Yamazaki who changes into nasty & clever adult guy is very cool! The usage of cell phone at last scene is very stylish, too. If the art is more baroque (rough/avant-garde), this story will be more unique and attractive. (by Slash-kun 06/Sep/2003)
Fujii Sakuya
"Yogoto Nayamashii Niwa de" (Biblos) May/2003 *** 8.35
Two long-short stories (Mysterious PWP that a gardener & phantom thief steals lonely and rich boy's heart / a little dark story about a host and a beautiful male prostitute). 1st story is the author's specialty, mysterious funny & rooting-tooting comical romance like manga of magazine, "Ribon" with gorgeous characters (Her guys really remind me of ones of "Mirage of Blaze" as usual!) and setups. I think many shoujo manga fans will enjoy this story but ending is a little too easy or expression of feelings is a little too tame for adult yaoi fans. I wish the author to challenge collaboration with yaoi novelists. 2nd story is dark, erotic and unique for the author and it shows her another talent. But her art is a little too clear-cut for the stories of strong desire, so I wish her to grope more running/rough style. Fujii is very good at art, so she should proceed to the second stage now. (by Slash-kun 01/Nov/2003)
Fujimaki Hisarofu
"Lover SOUL" (Taiyou Tosho) Jul/2003 *** 8.48
The long & fantas