Author
"Title" (Publisher) Date of issue rating m/m
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A-E:
Abe Akane
"Me kara Uroko" (Biblos) Sep/2005 *** 8.5
The latest trend of yaoi, "Group Drama" at high school football club. Abe's first book. Hero changes by each episode. I think this book is favorite for fans of "Tennis no Ouji sama" who like the atmosphere where people get down and no one stand out. And I also think readers these days like such group drama. Abe's art is not so skillful for book from Biblos (I had a stereotypical image that Biblos's mangaka is not so unique but is good at drawing like Shougakukan). Abe, as her editor often caution about her indistinguishable characters, can not draw the characters apart yet. But as compared to her first stuff written in 2004, her latest stuff written in 2005 is more modern, pop and contemporary, so I expect her more progress! She has good sense/taste to describe young people these days lively and flavor of handwriting letters is so cool, I think she will be a great mangaka depending on her progress of art. Very promising mangaka! (by Slash-kun 16/Oct/2005)
Abekawa Kineko
"Rakkyou no Kawa vol.3" (Wani Books) Apr/2004 * 8.8
About volume 3, there are two different versions! A limited version with drama CD and a ordinary version without. I bought latter at a bookstore (Hourindou "Comic Plaza") at Ikebukuro due to ignorant staff. Then next day, I should buy again at another bookstore (Shosen Bookmart) at Jinbouchou!! We always have a lot of hardship to get limited version (g)...(Limited version often appreciates later. "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi vol.6" limited version with a small book of "Honoo no Renkinjutsushi" is now over 5000yen at Mandarake!! So it's naturally many people want to buy limited version but the staffs are often ignorant of it so much). About CD, the execution is so-so (Unfortunately, Magazine, "Comic GanGan" with special CD of "Hagane no Renkinjyutsushi" were sold at same time and its quality was so splendid! Because the copies of its press are overwhelmingly a lot). But the seiyuu, a voice actor, Kenyuu Horiuchi who acts as Izumi is must-listen. He is so cool! (Horiuchi acts as "Angel", a hero of american TV drama of vampire). This volume is very interesting as usual. Especially the episodes of nostalgic old animation and old great female mangaka, Tsuyako are so excellent! And her bullying of her brother, Kouji Shintera is quite delightful, too. A new character is a natural predator of Shintera, a leader girl of sci-fi club, "Boku-Onna" (who is boyish and calls herself "Boku" like a boy - resembles "T'Pol" in "Enterprise", a newest "Startrek series"). She is funny and she often shows the difference between sci-fi fans and Otaku (or yaoi fans). Other small episodes (School festival, school excursion, cherry blossom viewing, summer comiket and new popular TV series, "New Kamen Rider series" and "GUNDAM SEED" which are hated by old Otaku because these two series lick the boots of female audience too much!!) are also funny. Additionally in this volume, a transfer student from america appears. She is a great animation fan and buys the things a lot at animation stores like "animate". And the report of "Anime EXPO" at L.A. by the author also shows the interest or current status of american fans of japanese animation or yaoi manga or american slash fans, too. Only spot in the sun, the author was not guest. At next time, the organizer of EXPO should call Abekawa a guest, an authority of Otaku critics or a mangaka of "Self-mocking Otaku manga" ("Bakunou Otaku Sensei" by Yasuyuki Tokumitsu from Koudansha, "Pai" by Usamaru Furuya from Shougakukan,,,etc) next time! (by Slash-kun 10/Apr/2004)
Agawa Kouko
"Trouble Maker vol.3" (Core Magazine) Apr/2005 *** 8.55
3rd volume of very popular series of workplace romance of plural couples. The story:(Shinjyou declares hostilities against Hide Sasaki. He hauls Shinji Sakaki, his CEO in the hotel using Sasaki as an excuse / Akira Matsuzaki, an assistant of professional photographer, Ishii dwells on his one-sided love for Ishii and consults his brother, Hiro Matsuzaki / How Hide and Shinji became a couple / Ishii gets jealous of Akira who became popular by standing in for fashion model. But Akira's mother knows their relationship, then Ishii fires Akira / The sequel of the story in "Love you Only" / The sequel of "Koi no Yokan" / The story of Kenichi who is the elder brother of Shinji and a lover of Hiro Matsuzaki). Agawa's stories at workplace never fall short of my expectations and this book is interesting, too. The scene that Ishii fired Akira is so heartrending. Hiro plays outstandingly and reconcile them well. I love a brother who has strong attachment for his brother! There are many cool brothers, so if you like brothers' story, please don't miss this! (by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2005)
"Oresamana Koibito" (Biblos) Jan/2005 *** 8.59
4 short stories of office workers. All titles have same word, "Oresama" but only 2nd and 3rd stories are same series. This book is Agawa's first volume from "Biblos. I'm a little surprised because she has long career now (issued 9 volumes from non-Biblos). Agawa is a very professional mangaka and her work at Biblos is moreover professional, skillful and easy to read. Her mannish & aggressive seme is really nice! She has written so well the trouble/struggle of very sexy & adult workers at the mercy of love! 4 koma short comical manga at last is very funny, too! (by Slash-kun 27/Feb/2005)
Akai Toreno
"Bokura wa Ai wo Hajimetabakari" (Biblos) Oct/2003 *** 8.68
Short stories with a lot of idea & emotion for adult readers (A fireman spends one night with a boy but the boy was helped by the fireman when the boy was a child / A mother of a young CEO is cheated by a raider but the raider falls in love with the CEO... / A fallen elite escapes to the etranger, an island in the south. He dreams a fantasy with a native boy / The side story of "Kimi wa Boku ni Ai wo Tsukisasu - Shin shou". The days at prison of Robert Morgan, an owner of night club / Sequels of each story). Akai is indispensable great yaoi mangaka who can write loveliness & weakness of macho guys with exoticism for adult readers along with Tamaki Yura and Karan Dan. This book is her first short stories but every story is very interesting. All stories have unique situation & atmosphere and deep theme for substantial reading. Especially 2nd and 4th stories are adult ones, so they are my type. 4th story was issued as djs and the story at american prison, so very powerful and fans of "Kimi wa Boku ni..." series must read! Also recommended for OZ fans. I wish Akai to keep issuing the books of her short stories.Comment for each story: (1st: The costume of american fireman is very attractive. So well written. Very sexy and fascinating / 2nd one: I love this story. feelingless raider loves a foolish but pure son. Both of them are foolish and lovely! / 3rd one: Very atmospheric fable / 4th one: So great masterpiece! Very heartrending! Reading this, the readers will know why Robert pretends that Justinine is a brother of John though Robert knows the brother was already dead. Robert tries to return a favor which he owed John at prison. Very good story. And you will know well why John guarded his cellmate, Robert, too. Akai makes very good plot!! (by Slash-kun 02/May/2004)
Akama Hisaki
"Feather Complex vol.1" (kaiousha) Aug/2003 *** 8.5
The long series about hapless destiny of 5 people (3 boys feed to a youth prison on desert island, a new prison officer and a prison warden). "Akama Hisaki" is an alias of "Higa Sakia". The atmosphere with blood, violence and aestheticism is very unique. The tempo of the story is also unique, so it was a little difficult to know whether this story is PWP or serious&aesthetic story. But after I realize this is "a typical story of desert island with dangerous and sexy boys", this story becomes interesting as new couple is created. 3 couples: A timid officer (Juukurou Omi) & a psycho headman of prisoners (Madoka Kadoma. Most mysterious guy. I'm eager to know his future), and a warden of Feather Complex (Cool and decadent adult guy) & a nihilist prisoner who is unconcerned with real world (Banri Sera), and a pure prisoner who is blood-sucking sick (Shun Akahi) & a wild prisoner (Kou Trai). All characters are very cool, gorgeous and erotic like CHI-RAN's show business stories. All of them have problem and they are very attractive. I'm looking forward to next volume. (by Slash-kun 28/Feb/2004)
Amagi Reno
"Seishun Danshi Shugei Club" (Kaiousha) Jul/2005 *** 8.6
Long comedy series of students of handcraft club at high school. The story:(Matsuda, a transfer student who got injured and resigned the school provided athletic scholarship falls in love with a beautiful but hardhearted chief of handcraft club, Kuroe when he first sees. Through tough screening & training he can join the club and finally conquers the chief!). Amagi's art is tremendously skillful and sense of humor is outclassing. Her handwriting is so small but so hilarious. It is worth reading even if you should use magnifying glass. Kuroe's queen character and Matsuda's slave or footman character (But Matsuda is great. Especially he becomes bold at sex and takes on a new personality) is really funny! And each character of members in handcraft club is also funny. At the last, the scene that Kuroe suffers from Matsuda's big dick is so hilarious. Sexual jokes (like Matsuda's insert size is only 2 centimeters) as blue as middle aged people loves and unthinkable from pretty art is awesome. The side story of Aoi Ryu (a son of Yakuza family) is also interesting and the episode newly written of "heaps of food on naked body" is hard-core and awesome, too. Shirogane (Aoi's valet and ex-patisserie) is so cool! I'd like to try reading the stories of adult next time! (by Slash-kun 19/Sep/2005)
Araya Miki
"Kyuukandesu!" (Kaiousha) Mar/2005 *** 8.45
Comedy of a handsome doctor of university hospital and a student of the univ who are apt to invite injury. The story:(A very beautiful student, Natsuki who has been often injured falls in love with a doctor, Sakaki working at his university hospital at first sight. Natsuki feels sad because his injury gets over and tries cut himself intentionally to meet Sakaki. But Sakaki figures out Natsuki's excuse, then Sakaki resigns outpatient treatment. Being shocked, Natsuki becomes blank and is hit by a car...). Natsuki is very hilarious because he invites accidents one after another. In this story, supporting actor, Dr. Shibata is queer. I can't help feeling sympathy & yelling for Shibata more than Sakaki who is hero & ordinary handsome (But has beard) because Araya usually describes perverted hero with warm sight/view. This point may be spot in the sun. I really realize Araya's hero should be a pervert! (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2005)
Asaoka Minagi
"Parsley vol.2" (Shinshokan) Nov/2003 *** 8.68
The sequel of very popular & masterpiece of natural & casual students couple. Enokawa and Mitazono see stormy job-hunting season under the recession. The story:(Enokawa suffers from a pollen allergy and can not make love. But Mitazono puts off their trip with composure and works hard his part-time job. Enokawa envies other couples.../ Mitazono's family circumstances. His nasty sister-in-law comes. She plays a nasty trick on Enokawa.../ Enokawa and Mitazono see the job-hunting season. Enokawa loses and loses his employment exams and undergoes severe practice teaching at his old school in his home town. Mitazono also becomes depressed by experience of "member of society" through business promotion with his seniors). Asaoka is very good at writing very subtle but natural and tasteful stories. She wrote very ordinary students in natural way again in this volume. At her postscript, she wrote she aimed at "manga without flower dancing". I appreciate her spirit! I'm very glad that non-aesthetic yaoi manga recently increases and they are sincere tour de force which offer the readers pure emotion though art or characters are not so beautiful/handsome or fantastic. About this volume, especially I'm moved by Enokawa's hard experience of teaching practice. Asaoka has no experience but her description is so excellent & realistic! The ending that Enokawa and Mitazono understand and share their hardship is also very impressive! I suppose young people of today also want to become a couple who encourage each other and don't want to have elite steady. So many readers support this. Today's young people are not altogether worthless! This series completed but I place high hopes in Asaoka's next work. The comment of each story: (1st: Asaoka is so good at gather natural and familiar episodes. People tend to be hard with familiar people when they are in hot water and at same time become unusually sensitive to the coldness or kindness of his partner/boy friend becomes. Asaoka describes it really well / 2nd: Through Mitazono's sister's view, Mitazono has become very human (or foolish) by Enokawa. It means Enokawa is a vital partner for Mitazono. Very heartwarming story / 3rd: Mitazono who is always very handsome and unafraid experiences being depressed for the first time at starting his adult life. Enokawa feels the joy by seeing it (He reconfirms his significance of existence for the first time, too) and I really understand his feeling, too!! The attraction of the characters really exists in their "weakness". The theme of this epi, "people can feel joy through hardship" is wonderful). (by Slash-kun 23/May/2004)
Asou Kai & Sugano Akira
"Makeinu no Nandemoya" (Kadokawa Shoten) Apr/2005 * 8.45
3 guys who are working at unique company where employees accept any requests from customers undertake strange work... The story (To the handy company where 3 guys who have experienced setback in their past are working, a first ex-wife of an owner, Nakagawa comes and asks him to make a music for her *wife* who is 2nd ex-wife of Nakagawa. But Nakagawa refuses to make music by himself because he does not have talent and visits a handsome guy, Takahashi whose music made Nakagawa give up the music instead. But Takahashi confesses he loves and keeps waiting for Nakagawa....). Asou's first book. But her drawing is so skillful (The contrast between serious art and comical one is so excellent). The story was written by Akira Sugano, a very famous yaoi novelist who has written "Mainichi Seiten series" for radio drama at first. It became drama CD and now becomes manga. Asou drew illustration of drama CD jacket and has drawn illustration of so many & famous yaoi novels like Kaname Kifu, so it is very natural her art is skillful. Voice actors of Drama CD are very gorgeous (Toshihiko Seki as Mikihiko Nakagawa & Shuuichi Ikeda as Ryouichi Takahashi)! I'm very glad to know the miracle couple of Gundam Seed Destiny, a chairman, Durandal and Ray Burrell may come from this! Sugano's stories are always great and this has very unique setting and deep theme (how the people lives if they gave up their ambition in early life), too! But there is no explicit sex scenes, so this is not so satisfactory for yaoi readers (But Sugano could not help it because original drama is radio one and famous voice actors appeared). Listeners of CD drama can enjoy very much because they can read this manga by their voice!! If you are a listener, please try this! (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2005)
Atene
"Hatsukoi Shounen" (Houbunsha) Jun/2005 *** 8.5
Short lyrical but erotic stories of cute uke and blunt seme (Hero goes into the country by his parents' divorce. His teacher who is a local resident and has returned as a student teacher from urban college encourages hero. They fall in love.../ By the order of bully, hero is forced to molest an ace of school. But the ace saves hero.../ PWP of home tutor and his student. Students collects "action figures" but teachers does secretly vibrators / Hero, a student is loved by both a coach and a chief of his club / Very good story! Hero receives a burn by pot noodle and goes to hospital. A doctor on duty loves hero and helps hero's masturbation / An intelligent student has hired a lot of his home tutors. But he loves hero and seduces sexually / Dark story. Hero worries about his classmate who is sexually abused by his elder sister's husband. But the classmate chooses.../ Hero's subordinate is very able and lovely but recently looks tired in the morning. Hero knows the subordinate sells his body because of his parent's debt / PWP of hot spring trip of "radio control club". Hero tries to get his lovely lover drunk but he is a heavy drinker like a sieve / Sequel. Only hero gets falling-down drunk leaving his lover and hero's rival alone...). About a first story, Atene describes well the unsettling atmosphere of country and uneasy feeling of hero who comes back to Tokyo. Atene is always good at expressing insecure feeling of characters. Other some stories have a little too easy happy-ending or are a little surreal by non-serious thought. I like Atene's simple art with pathos very much, but therefore I think her stories should be complex or sophisticated. But in this book, there is Atene's forte, a dark but happy-ending story like 8th, too. I love 5th story of lewd doctor because story line and delusion's expansion are swonderful and sex scenes are very aggressive! (by Slash-kun 2/Oct/2005)
Bikke
"Shinkuu Yuusetsu" (Biblos) Mar/2005 ** 8.5
The author's first commercial book. Brisk fantasy at a fictional country where people has very unique constitution. The story:(Two students, Rael and Alexy are a supplier and a resupplier who will die if they don't give and take "their something like energy". For transfer student from abroad, the way of transferring energy from mouth to mouth is very exotic and provocative. Then he can't help making a pass at Rael and it makes Alexy get jealous...). For a wonder, this series is very lyrical and pretty fantasy for Biblos. The setup is very unique but I could accept without much resistance because the art of boys is very natural (No useless exaggerated expression or ostentatious decoration) and skillful (simplified art is very well and medieval atmosphere of school is well described). The author does not seem to a new mangaka/rookie because she is already a sort of charisma at djs market. But I think for her like Umino Chika who is already popular and charismatic at djs world, other commercial publishers than Biblos extends her talent...I'd like to note her future activity. (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
CHI-RAN
"Rare Love" (Ohkura Shuppan) Sep/2003 *** 8.55
Fantastic PWP series about a stray boy of Werewolfs and two idols of the school (Nanato Shirogane, a stray boy of Werewolfs, "Garouzoku" hides his identity and goes to high school. En Isaki and Mikado Isaki, twin sons of owner of the school & idols of the school suddenly confess their love to Nanato because they love Nanato's real face under his eye glasses. But the full moon makes Nanato transform into a wolf and Isakis know Nanato's secret. Nanato is nearly killed by Kuro, an outmost black boy of Foxes, an inveterate enemy of Werewolfs, "Youkozoku" but En saves Kuro who is bullied by white foxes and Kuro is welcomed by Isakis and Nanato, then Kuro forgives Nanato. But Kuro knows En has loved Nanato and is raped by Kuryuu Eri, a student council president who is really white fox. Kuro despairs so much) and one short story at school (Idol star boy meets again his old elder friend of same orphans' home. But his friend pretends not to know the boy...). The series of name-piece is interesting groundbreaking fantasy. So we can enjoy the story more than the sex scenes about this story. There are two couples, Nanato & Mikado, Kuro & En (Mikado and En are twins) but I think the readers will feel empathy for pitiful Kuro more (Because Nanato is loved by twins). Kuro feels so happy when he finds his own seat at table, going to school,,etc and he are welcomed as members by Nanato & twins. It's so moving because Kuro had been so lonely and miserable. But but...this story does not end in this volume!! So cliffhanger. Kuro is hurt so much at ending, so I'm worried about Kuro's future so much. I wish he will happy with En soon!! A short story is one about the romance with idol as usual but idol is very cute and small in this story. Very funny comedy. Having many boy friend at once is a sort of dream for many girls...(by Slash-kun 10/Apr/2004)
Chitose Piyoko
"Saikyou no Love Magic" (Biblos) Aug/2005 *** 8.6
Long short series of 2 students who have been good friends for long time but one forcibly rapes another in drink (Takamichi secretly loves his best friend, Tokiharu who is an excellent student. They have a drinking party during their parents' absence. Takamichi gets drunk and rapes Tokiharu in his dream. But it is not dream! / A pervert biology teacher sees their sexual intercourse at school. He threatens Tokiharu and tries to rape.../ Tokiharu becomes a home tutor of Takamichi who should take a makeup exam. Tokiharu teaches with an apron on naked body with sex and its result is...) and 2 short stories (Fantasy. Hero is a dull bullied student. He saves a boy from a traffic accident. He realizes his wish before his death / Dark short story of abnormal love. Hero tells his feeling to his classmate at graduation day but is refused. But he knows the classmate is confined by his uncle. His uncle suggests hero to help the confinement). Stories are Chitose's forte, romance with a lot of hot sex by couple with even age, height and physical size. Especially first story is very shocking because opening scene is "hard sex playing". Tension is very high from the very beginning. Chitose's sex scenes are very radical & bold but it is brisk & acceptable because lovers are very sincere and equivalent. About long short series, Tokiharu, uke is serene, intelligent and tender, so nobody hates him and feels him disagreeable. Passionate love of young people is very cheerful and heartwarming. Short fantastic story has some difficult points to understand in the plot but it's no problem because Chitose story has a reservoir of strength and energy. She brings readers into submission by force! Characters' feeling is positive and straightforward and it makes readers feel alive. So we will allow Chitose's strong-arm story. Last short story is very good, too. Dark but happy. Insane but everyone finds his happiness. Even classmate's uncle becomes happy in his way! Fine book Chitose displays her ability to the full. (by Slash-kun 2/Oct/2005)
"Shiawase Cook" (Kaiousha) Sep/2003 *** 8.5
Short stories with happy-ending including early works at commercial debut or unusual dark taste (Name-piece. A rich boy is saved by a cook. He approaches the cook under the plea of being his apprentice / A lonely son of the executive president of the student intervenes in the quarrel of a wild transfer student. The transfer student wants to challenge the son / A guy often picks up a stray dog. When he goes to the school as a teacher for the first time, he picks up a school phobic student and confines the student in his room. But the student is saved from loneliness / Hero is a gloomy otaku & collector of vibrator. His old & cheerful friend from childhood who lives next door and goes to different school now visits hero and asks to teach personal computer. He finds vibrators and suggests their trying them / A new student is marked by an excellent senior student of school committee for discipline. He is raped by the senior one but nobody believe it. He can not escape from the senior one.../ The sequel of name-piece. Hero and his lover, a cook are very busy and have no time for dating. The cook makes a lunch for hero at the restaurant when it is closed in apology. Hero returns a favor by his body as dessert). Chitose's works are usually PWP or happy comedy but this book has a little dark stories and they are unexpectedly nice for me. Every story is happy one that hero suffers from the one-sided love but finally knows it has been reciprocated and becomes happy through hot sex. So the readers will be happy, too after reading. Chitose's popularity is attributable to making the readers happy. The sex scenes are all satisfactory. Chitose expresses the sexual organs or the scene of their connection very obviously/explicitly. I like her manliness very much! And Chitose's uke is very tall as well as seme (but not too adult - young, wild and cool). The early work at her debut is by no means inferior to her latest works. I suppose she was very skillful from the start. I love 3rd story the best. Immoral but heartwarming! Good story. I love 4th (It's very happy story, the realization of hero's. Gloomy otaku is seme. It's unexpected but balanced. Fine story) and 5st (Dark, so my type. It's so nice that the chairman student is cruel but really tender) stories, too. About name-piece, the playing with white gown is very funny. I'm sure anyone can enjoy this book bar none! (by Slash-kun 27/Mar/2004)
Doppel Gangers
"Finger Stinger" (Oakla Shuppan) Feb/2005 *** 8.6
Short stories（A name piece. Comical romance between a manly but pretty bone-cracker and a brute sportsman / A middle-aged gay guy who had kept looking for his partner and his young lover / Sequel. The guy realizes reversible sex / A middle-aged guy who are tired from his work joins the journey with a truck driver / Very popular owner of the cafe died. The employee tries to make an owner's lazy son work.../ A dangerous bomber meets a blind guy but they met before. The blind guy brings bomber in to surrender and keeps waiting for his release from jail / Sequel of name piece). The first book of the authors, a very famous djska duo (Kinokawa Mutsumi & Nene), so this is *their* first *commercial* book. As they call themselves "old people", their style is very unique and many their heroes are pretty old, aged guys who are tired from their practical life with physical sex but without mental pure love. Their art is mannish and funny affected by "One-piece", famous manga written by Oda Eiichirou serialized on "Weekly Shounen JUMP". Good at drawing of tall, big-boned and muscular physical body. Long-short story about bomber is very moving! Serious & silent scenes among a lot of gag lines look very sharp and impressive! Very promising & prospective mangaka! (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2005)
Dr. Ten
"Geboku Shounenbushi vol.4" (Kousai Shobou) Nov/2004 *** 8.5
The 4th volume of occult action fantastic long series of blood relationship angst. The story:(Shinohara is abducted by Yorihito Kuga. Kuga inspires Sana's soul to Shinohara. Maid is carrying Sana's dead body but Sana sucks maid's spirit...). In addition to a lot of hot sex scenes as usual powerful action scenes like exchange of souls between Sana and Shinohara have a tremendous impact! Fear of Sana which makes people quake with fear is very funny. This turbulent & amazing volume is characteristic of "Occult Fantasy"! (by Slash-kun 19/Sep/2005)
"Geboku Shounenbushi vol.3" (Kousai Shobou) Nov/2003 *** 8.5
The 3rd volume of occult action fantastic long series of blood relationship angst. The story:（Takashi Shinohara, an illegitimate child of the king of the Kuchibas, Sana is abducted by Yorihito Kuga, a cousin of Mamoru & a following of Tadaaki Satomi who is a fiance of Sana...). The main story is very serious but side stories are comedies, so many readers can enjoy at ease. Especially episode of Mamoru, Shinohara, Tomoe and Muma (maybe an incubus) inspired by Dr. Ten's pet, cat is so hilarious! This volume has episodes of Mamoru's childhood and Shinohara's brothers. It's very interesting for fans! Of course the sex scenes of this volume are very hot as usual. (by Slash-kun 19/Sep/2005)
Emiko Yama
"Dai 7 Tengoku vol.3" (Emikoyama) Dec/2003 ** 8.6
Sweet & delightful days of various couples in residential boys high school on the mountain which is so happy, peaceful and romantic like heaven (A beautiful student in library, Kawai and a sportsman, Souda / A cheerful lower-grade boy, Nanae Makimura who adores Kawai and 4 handsome hanger-ons, Ikeyama, Sakai, Yamashita and Kamoi who are watching Makimura thrilled / Memory of the days when Makimura entered the school. He was very beautiful but twisted. But he could blend in classmates by Makimura's intercession / Otobe can not catch up the height of Mitsugishi for long time though he always keeps making advances to Mitsugishi with dogged persistence / The romance between a newly-enrolled student, Aribe who is chosen for the role of prince and a beautiful student of needlecraft club, Kataoka / The romance between an ex-student council president, Hasegawa and an in-service student council president, Katou). Anyone can become so happy after reading. The boys school with nice boys, dreamers and elegant gentle boys. Like missionary school of old days. Nostalgic and courtly. I suppose I will get turned off and say "How stupid" if Emiko would write this as girls' school. But I can enjoy the dream because this is the story of yaoi, i.e. fantasy. I wish I were a member of the school! They are very proud of being a member of it. How enviable. All stories are very interesting but I love the impressive story of needlecraft club best! Kataoka had felt inferior because he loves needlecraft though he is male. But now he is very happy because he entered the school and can dedicates himself in needlecraft! It's very nice that everyone can dedicate himself in what he likes. It's really heaven - I think it's Emiko's strong message for people. I wish this series continues forever. (by Slash-kun 09/May/2004)
Endou Risao
"Tadoritsuitara Itsumo Aozora" (Houbunsha) Aug/2005 *** 9.8
The greatest short stories like treasure (Name-piece. A child left behind by his parent in the rainy day. A single rock musician, living next door of same apartment takes in him and they start living together. The child has grown up and the musician advises him to go independent for the happiness of each other.../ Right before the graduation of high school, a hero knocked his classmate & best friend unconscious, raped him blindfolded and escaped to the city. He lives alone at the apartment but has the same problem there.../ A wild transfer student has a crush on a beautiful class president. He forces class president to be his lover without saying the reason. They talk their dream of traveling from place to place as apiarists. But since they came to Tokyo, they have gotten overwhelmed with their busy days - ex-class president at univ and a wild student at dressmaking school. Then ex-class president suddenly disappears. The wild student finds ex class president came out and was cut off by his parent / A student dubbed as "The prince of star (The Little Prince)" of the art college. The prince has an obsessive passion for cleanliness because of his mentally troubled mother. But a genius of "faculty of sculpture" boldly asks the prince to be his model.../ A son of sushi shop often visits his uncle who is a barkeeper of gay bar at Shinjuku 2 choume. His family renounced his uncle because he came out. One day sleep-fogged uncle gets laid with him in mistake for the bed buddy / A stunned-looking student on the bridge. He was deceived by his roommate and lost his shirts. A custodian of old apartment picks up him as his assistant & housekeeper / Additional stories of art student and name-piece). All are same stories that a very miserable hero has carried a torch for a guy but actually the guy also loves him but they are very moving!! Endo takes up well the loneliness, bitterness and pain everyone has. Her metaphor using classic like "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery or using familiar things like "cake" are very artful. She is very good at increasing the mood of the story using well japanese humane things like "sushi shop business" or "old apartment". The art of characters like drawing is very attractive (uke is beautiful and seme is cool) and the freehand art of scenery (without using ruler) looks like ink painting and makes the impressive atmosphere. Her jokes are very sophisticated (Nude sculpture of art college story or curious boarders in the old apartment are very hilarious!). Endo has brilliant talents! I guarantee every story makes the reader happy! Highly recommended. BTW the title of name-piece came from an old famous song of rock group, "Mops", "Tadoritsuitara Itsumo Amefuri" made by "Yoshida Takurou" in 1972. Comments for each story (1: Endo who made such a good story should be a genius! The descriptions of the sky & recollection are absolutely beautiful. Hero's foster father who is a sloppy musician but has a heart is very good character! / 2: Opening that hero knocks the classmate cold - Osoi Uke - is very shocking! But hero is too timid & shy to tell the classmate his feelings... I do not think that there is another mangaka that can write such miserable hero like Endo (except Tada Yumi). The tit-for-tat of classmate at the end is very nice!! / 3: Endo uses apiarists very well in the story. She is very great because she often adopts such rare & unique topics which many female or yaoi mangaka do not use. And she has also researched about dressmaking school and garment industry. I wonder she had the experience of them. At first I thought Endo was a mangaka of "sense" but now she is one of "effort" / 4: How wonderfully Endo quotes "The Little Prince" loved by many japanese very much! Using illustrations from this famous book bring out the mood of this story. This story is the greatest masterpiece, too! / 5: The playing of "writing letters" is very funny and sophisticated! The members of family of sushi shop are all unique and remind me of Ima Ichiko's group drama. The design of the japanese cup, "yunomi" is so wonderful! I want to buy if it is sold. Talk about the witticism of "Ludwig Mies van der Rohe", "God is in the details"! / 6: Happy romantic story like "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"! The life loved by lodger students like idol comforts hero and readers. The uncouth character of a super is also nice. Heartwarming good group drama!) (by Slash-kun 16/Apr/2006)
"Tojita Mado wo Kare ga Aketa" (Magazine Magazine) Nov/2003 *** 8.75
Short stories including BDSM taste and describing various lonely modern people (A guy has been reclusive since he was dumped by his wife. His aged housemaid dies, then her grandson suddenly becomes a self-invited maid / An ordinary wage slave guy whose only redeeming point is "diligence" encounters a dangerous guy of the night like lizard at coffee shop in the morning and is bewitched by the lizard guy somehow / Sex slave boy but sexually cold is forced to go piercing shop and has a crush on piercer. It's his first love.../ Hero's roommate since they were students suddenly starts woman's disguise / A confidence man takes in a boy who is left by his mother at deserted hotel / A hero's mother dies. He is taken in by his father who got divorced but his father spends queer life with a boy because of loneliness / The sequel of the first story, name piece. The guy visits the house of his maid boy and fits well in with maid's family). Endou's stories are always very unique and interesting and stories of this book are very happy ones like "Dream coming true" or "A fairy tale for adult readers". "Even lonely & miserable boys or queer guys can finally become happy with their lovers" is now Endou's forte, pet subject - a story of a forsaken boy and a crook or one of a maid boy and a privatistic guy,,etc. Endou's tender view point which allows loosers to live comforts readers. Reading this book, I felt heartwarming feeling. I think Endou's plot making skill also made progress and it awakens reader's human emotions. Sex scenes are really very joyful and comfortable, too. Small and gags lie everywhere. Endou's art is ennui and attractive with "habitus scrofulosus" expression as usual but in this book I found another attraction, not only "insane/mad" but also positive forward-looking one. So this is highly recommended for many readers. Especially I love 6th story at hotel (So touching! This is fairy tale for adult readers. The art that a swindler was also a deserted child as well as a boy and their images overlap each other is so impressive. The usage of fake gems is very effective and the atmosphere of deserted hotel is nice, too. After reading, I felt happy a lot! And the last newly written sequel of 1st episode is also so excellent & funny like group drama of Ichiko Ima. (by Slash-kun 30/May/2004)
Enjin Yamimaru
"Ouji no Hakobune" (Biblos) Oct/2003 ** 8.6
A long-short unique series of a prince and his attendant with sci-fi taste (A youngest son of a mail delivery family, Philip comforts Prince Louis who lives in seclusion and gets angry because he gets no reply from his lover. Prince's attendant, Arman visits to ask Louis to return because the day of prince's wedding is upcoming) and a long-short story of a brother who confines a lover of his sister, very nasty playboy for revenge and 2 short stories (2 brothers of legendary cowboy / Unique intercourse between a wannabe novelist without his right hand and a boy who is close to the end of life). All stories are unique with rich ideas, good atmosphere and excellent art though they are not so erotic. Resembles Satoru Ishihara (Wouldn't it be nice if she writes more sexy ones...). Every story has a possibility of long story, so I wanted to read more - may be not entirely satisfactory (Looks so delicious but not fully fed). Enjin is now very popular and so busy to write long stories but I prefer to read her long stories...Comment for each story: (Name piece series: I thought this story was mediaeval costume play of betrayal - inferiors overthrowing their superiors like "Kuroi Kishi" by Kai Tsurugi or "White Guardian" by DUO BRAND but is sci-fi story! Ummm. I wonder it is really necessary for Enjin to make this story as sci-fi. And ending is brusque. Very difficult intention... / a long-short story of confinement: insane & interesting story! A brother who loves his sister is very funny and lovely. Resembles Naoe of "Mirage of blaze" a little. Enjin's comedy taste is very nice / 1st short story of cowboy: The duel between half brothers! Very geeky situation. Very erotic without sex scenes. Characters and the situation are very atmospheric. I want to read sequel and wants Enjin to write this as long series / 2nd short one: A little philosophical. Resembles Satoru Ishihara. Settings - Arm is made from wood, body is covered with cuts and bruise by accident - are very atmospheric. Characters are very attractive. This story is valuable for long series!). (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2004)
Enomoto Tsubaki
"5ji kara Asa made" (Houbunsha) Oct/2003 *** 8.48
First books from Houbunsha. Including old works. Long series of a hairdresser and an idol model (A budding hairdresser - thought of as the stage immediately prior to charismatic hairdresser, Isa Kouno wins confidence of a selfish new beautiful model, Risawo Mogi. Isa encourages Risawo and Risawo also wants to respond to Isa's love. But Risawo is very slow to mature. Isa says he will wait patiently for Risawo...) and 2 short stories (Issued in 1996. Fantasy of office workers. Younger employee confesses his love to his senior employee and fails. But the senior comes to younger for nursing colds.../ Unique shota story written in 2003). Enomoto's fan must enjoy this book which has unique stories. About long series of name piece: Enomoto's family business is beauty parlor! So her stories of beauty parlor have been very persuasive. This story is also very interesting. But there is no sex scene because Isa is enough adult to keep cool & wait for Risao's spiritual preparednes. It's a spot in the sun. About 1st short story: Settings of marriage business was very novel/unique then. Fantastic factor seems unnecessary form me. I think real & social setting is more suitable for Enomoto (Her sweet taste is peppered). About 2nd short one: Younger seme (But both are boys). Enomoto herself says younger seme is very rare for her but it is very unique, groundbreaking and interesting! The process to making love is very tactful and natural. Enomoto thinks up a nice episode for boys (striping prepuce of penis)! Her sex scene is very hot, thrilling and exciting with a lot of feeling of tension. Very excellent because this was newly written (2003). Enomoto's best work is her latest one! (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2004)
Esuto Emu
"Show ga Hanetara Aimashou" (Tokyo Mangasha) Sep/2006 *** 8.78
A strong debut book, name piece short series of a dancer and an actor and 4 short stories with artistic soul! The story of name piece short series:(A son between a Russian prima donna of ballet and a Spanish choreographer, Theo Gallardo becomes a youngest premier danseur (principal) of Bolshoi Theater Ballet for his mother but leaves it later. He starts his own company in Spain. To watch it, his mother goes to Spain by airplane but is killed in a plane crash. Theo can't dance by shock and turns a Hollywood movie actor. He kisses Darren Fergus, a playboy actor playing together in a car for fun / A paparazzi photo of their kiss becomes a scandal. Darren gets serious with Theo. Theo comes back to the stage and Darren returns to be a playboy but they become real partners) + 4 short stories:(A young man who can't draw pictures and works a cafe staff member for a living happens to meet with a young owner of art gallery at a bookstore. He decides to start drawing again / A guitarist's bandmate steals proceeds from sale of advance tickets. And he is hit with a double-whammy by the news that his hero, a vocalist of legendary rock band died he drinks with a vengeance at a bar. An old man next to him at next sheet cares for him. But the old guy is a guitarist of the legendary band! A young guitarist asks the old one to perform on the stage instead of his bandmates / Young twin brothers living with an old man at a cottage. The old man dies, the peaceful days are over and twins go separate ways. They desperately try to find each other. New dwellers come and find two black cats crouch owing the floor. The sequel story. In a rainy day, twins pick up a boy. They remember the warm day when they were born.../ Gion Festival in Kyoto. An old man visits there to see his old best friend who played the japanese flute at festival together when they were young. A lifelike grandson tells him the death of his best friend last year). All newly written except one (issued as anthology). Very luxury book! Very amazing unique despite this is the author's first book!! The art is really chic. The silent atmosphere resembles Yumi Tada but Esuto Emu is more artistic because of her choice of subjects. And Esuto Emu is also good at old japanese style like a last story. Recently owing to the anthology from Tokyo Mangasha (OPERA, MARBLE COMICS,,etc), many new unique & artistic yaoi mangaka like "basso" appear one after another but Esuto Emu stands out from the rest in that cool figure painting. I love her characters very much!! Really beautiful. Even old guys! I haven't read an artistic manga like this for long time. Esuto Emu's adult characters are very realistic and beautiful. Not only the art, but her stories & themes are also realistic and persuasive! Very sophisticated mangaka. Amazing talent! Highly recommended! Comments for each stories:(short series: What beautiful images fill! Silent scenes and chic atmosphere. Text is filled with profound implication. The costume of Theo to perform a double role, Jose & Carmen is really gorgeous! The sex scenes are not explicit but erotic. Both Theo and Darren are very hawt guys / 1st short story: Good story. The author describes well the atmosphere of foreign bookstore. She also uses etymology of Latin or the knowledge of oil painting tactfully, too in the story. It's very intellectually interesting! The usage of fragrance material like oil of turpentine, coffee or cigarette is excellent / 2nd: Very moved. Touching story. A young guy and old one unite into one by a guitar. Human soul of the author makes us cry. The author's advantage is not only the art. That's the great point of this mangaka / 3rd: Poetic. stylish and fantastic sketch which tenderness is contagious to readers / 4th: The author expresses well the atmosphere of summer festival of Japan. Especially the scene of recollection is very beautiful and wistful. Esuto Emu's japanese kimono of men wearing casually is so skillful!! though she is good at drawing western costume like suit or garcon apron, too!). (by Slash-kun 27/Jan/2007)
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Fuji Tamaki
"Natsu no Nagori no Bara" (Tokuma Shoten) Apr/2004 * 8.8
Long moving series of a lonely boy with complex secret of his birth who met a violinmaker about his age and becomes a great violinist as his brother. The story:(Dater, a young apprentice violinmaker is exciting about putting his violin to the contest. Going to a lumbermill to get in the material for violin, Dater sees Ruth, a boy, playing the violin and is impressed by the sound. Ruth has just come to this village with Usher, a misanthropic guy. Ruth lost his last family, brother Maris in his childhood and Maris's old friend, Usher has fostered Ruth drifting from one place to another. Ruth's violin is an old rare great violin, "Guarneri" which Maris gave Usher. Dater and Ruth become good friends. Dater finds his own objective to make a violin and Ruth enters same art & industrial school. At the school Ruth finds favor in eyes of Byars, a genius producer and wishes to make a career as a professional violinist and repay Usher's favor. But Usher does not agree with Ruth's playing the violin. A young popular music critic, Augier also takes a kindly interest in Ruth and they get familiar. Augier confesses Ruth the Maris's tragedy. Ruth finds out that Maris was a genius violinist and Usher was also a famous one, Ashari Gedar Byars had trained. Ruth is sensationally reported on musical magazines and generates much attention but cracks under the strain by CD of Maris's highly-skilled performance, busts up with Usher and loses track of himself. But by encouragement of Dater, love from old music tape of Maris's performance like tender lullaby, Ruth gets over). There is no sex scenes but it is very touching story! It makes me cry (The scene of old music tape is so great! Maris's feeling - telling his love to Ruth by *music* moves my heart. So brother-minded!). Fuji's works are all good and especially long stories like this are always good. Pitiful stories of early adolescence are my favorite but her artists' stories (like "Private Gymnastic" - stater's story) are also awesome and in this story Fuji has come up with the wonderful & unique situation, friendship between a performer and craftsman of the instrument! Her deep knowledge of classic music and instrument are interesting and its real information adds spice to the story collaboratively with the dreaming & unrealistic art of Fuji. Characters are all attractive and well-designed. Fuji's excellent expression makes readers fell as if they really hear tender music from tape. My compliments! Such elaborate & sincere work makes my heart clean! It's not fair that the price of most new manga books are equal (g). Highly recommended for Fuji's fan and people who never read Fuji's work yet!! (by Slash-kun 10/Dec/2005)
Fujii Mitori
"Ouji sama wo Tsukamaero!" (Ohkura Shuppan) Nov/2003 *** 8.5
The long romantic series of high school junior and senior students（Iku, a student on 2nd grade of the high school is glad to know Koga who is one year younger than Iku joins same school. Koga has loved Iku like a big dog and declared he would enter same school as Iku when they were junior high school students. Iku always longs for the bright old days at junior high school and wishes to reproduce it but Koga wants to develop their relationship more...) and a short side-story (Kuroki, a classmate of Iku, who is a honor-roll student but always sits on the sidelines, changes by a very pure student teacher, Daiki Asai) and the sequel of two couples and one shota short story (A hero always quarrels with a customer who comes to meet his sister. But his sister says she will get married with another guy. Hero think she did not choose the customer because of hero and so regrets). With very simple and nice art and delightful students' atmosphere, I could read this very smoothly. A younger seme, Koga is so nice guy. Wild, cool, happy-go-lucky and endearing. I could understand why Iku loves Koga and I support Koga very much. Koga and Iku live in dormitory and Koga finds porno magazine given by senior student in Iku's room. It reminds Koga of sex and makes him nervous. But Iku fears his memory at junior high school and can not go ahead...I can understand it well. Iku's junior high school costume is so dashing & cute (Tan-ran=Short black jacket with stand collar)! About side story: Kuroki is also queer & younger uke but he is more nihilistic and lonely. A trainee teacher, Asai is very bright and he puts me at ease. About shota story: Very hot and erotic. A customer is evil and bad guy (His sexual technique is so cunning) but I love such immoral shota. The story matches with Fujii's simple art very much. I enjoyed Fujii's steady power and ability. (by Slash-kun 30/May/2004)
Fujii Sakuya
"Koibito wo Kaimashou" (Kadokawa Shoten) Apr/2005 *** 8.48
2 long-short stories, a thrilling romance between a delinquent handsome boy and a young CEO who encounter at TV program of "investment to business venture" and a romance of Prince Edward, an elder brother of hero in Fujii's previous book, "Ore-sama to Ouji-sama" (Chikara Hidaka appears in the TV show and solicits for capital investors to reestablish Chinese noodle shop of his unlucky father. Tomokazu, Kunimi, a CEO of talent agency gives him 5 million yen. But Chikara does not have such a plan and he really wants to save a sister of his bad company. Chikara tries to escape but Tomokazu takes Chikara into custody. Tomokazu trains Chikara sexually to be his pet.../ A student, Hayato Yanagi goes to Narita Airport to host a foreign student. But Hayato makes mistake and picks up Prince Edward of Kingdom, Cieria in disguise. Edward falls in love with Hayato when he first sees and enjoys the life as a student at japanese school. Edward has kept finding his marriage partner, so he asks Hayato to marry him and brings Hayato to Cieria for training for married life...). The 1st story is very exciting because Chikara who dramatically changes his hair color is so cool and his upbeat personality often has a conflict with Kunimi. A little too easy and happy ending like traditional girls manga is the author's usual habit and we have no choice...The 2nd story has a deep & elaborate expression, double meaning, Hayato loses his way in the wood and his mind also loses his way (whether he should part with Edward or not) by being bullied by Edward's fellows. Both stories are very sweet. If Fujii made more hard-core sex scenes, I could enjoy this without reservation as an adult woman...(by Slash-kun 14/May/2005)
Fujikawa Touko
"Shokugyou Tenshi" (Biblos) Oct/2003 * 8.7
Moving and fantastic 4 long-short stories issues as "Zero comics" (Liddell, a young guy is a sort of rare species who can saves living matters by expending one's life and leaves seed in the end. His parents were killed and Liddell becomes very nihilistic. But he is sheltered & protected by a strange mother and her daughter and becomes their family. One day he falls in a hole with the daughter and he determines his mind... / A hero who is a student of magic school hates the study. When he chooses his lifelong friend, he wishes a diligent one who helps hero's study. Hero's wish is answered and very strict fairy, Jess comes to Hero. But Jess will disappear when hero masters the magic.../ A boy who could not save a stray cat with illness because of his moving house returns his home after 8 years' separation. Then he wanders off into the world of ghost cats / A young guy who is nicked for speeding becomes a guinea pig of new medicine instead of paying a fine. He has wings of angle on his back and is laughed by people. But he saves a girl who rushes out into the driveway). This is the author's first book. Unbelievable! Very excellent stories though they are not so sexy/slashy (2nd and 3rd stories are a little slashy). She is very good at making nice plots. Very dramatic though it is very short. I wonder Fujikawa has long career as djska. The self-sacrifice of animals, magic creatures, plants,,etc which have a grudge against human and turn their back on the world will bravely do their best for human in the end makes me cry and feel sorry a service as advertising pitch of this book! Fujikawa's art is also excellent. Very delicate & modern art is suitable for tender stories. If she writes m/m stories, I think she will be very popular like Tamaki Fuji. But her m/f stories are enough interesting and excellent and I think she can be very major if she keeps writing m/f stories. Anyway she is a great rookie of considerable promise. Highly recommended. Comment for each story: (1st story: Liddell's determination of risking life and limb to protect his new family is very moving! The monologues at intervals are very beautiful and pregnant with meaning / 2nd one: Jess is so lovely! He is rigid and cold with eyeglasses but is indescribably cute when he gets depressed. Jess's feathers and legs are very lovely, too. Monologue is very effective again. A roost of Jess is very artistic. Fujikawa has very nice taste / 3rd one: A waiting cat and a boy with regret. This situation resembles "Suzu no Ne ga Kikoeru" by Kumiko Sasaki but this story is more natural and persuasive because hero should leave by his family reason - moving house. So Fujikawa's stories are well-designed. She uses "mystery of names" well in the story. The image of sea is very beautiful and little cats are very innocent and lovely / 4th one: The name piece. Heartwarming fable but the story of angles are a little trite in female manga / Newly written short story: Very short but very lovely and interesting!). (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2004)
Fujinari Yuuki
"Boku to Sensei to Megane" (Magazine Magazine) Jul/2005 *** 8.48
8 short stories (Hero is an intemperate single teacher. A school doctor worries about hero's health and then he visits hero to prepare a supper, stays overnight, goes to bed together and caresses hero / Hero's roommate is an enthusiast of mail-order and the room is filled up with mail-order goods. But one day hero goes mad by seeing a ton of vibrators by mail-order / Calling out for a pizza, a pizza delivery boy is a hero's classmate. Since then, hero tries to order various things to his classmate but the classmate always accepts. Getting carried away, a friend of the classmate give a warning to hero and it makes hero angry / A lover of elder brother of motherless family whose father is transferred alone to another part of the country worries about the rebellious phase of younger brother. Younger brother tries to make a pass at hero, then elder one shows their sex playing in order to tame younger one / Hero is a student of art college. When he was a high-school graduate who had failed to enter a college and was waiting for another chance was taught by an artist who lives next door at same apartment house. Hero wants to return the favor and carries a torch for the artist, so he does his best to find a missing bird of artist / Hero, a student is deeply loved by an ace of volley ball club so much. Since they were assigned into different classes, ace's sex playing becomes persistent & hard and it annoys hero. Hero thinks out a plan with his classmate.../ Hero finds previous visitor at best seat for afternoon nap, the backyard of the school. The visitor is a honor student who is very popular among girl students. Since then they get friendly and hero is kissed by the honor student during nap / A teacher who loves & collects eye glasses and his lover, a class rep with eye glasses. When the class rep tries to use contact lenses, the teacher can not recognize him... / Sequel. The teacher finds a use of his eye glasses collection). Each story is enough interesting but some early stories may be not polished enough. Maybe too short. I'm fascinated by threesome story (motherless brothers) very much! So erotic. Later student stories are atmospherical because expression of feelings is elaborate. If editor collects only stories of students, I think it may be more acceptable of young readers who loves student BL stories. (by Slash-kun 19/Sep/2005)
"Boku no Osananajimi" (Biblos) Mar/2005 *** 8.4
Short stories (A boy from the city who goes down into the country every summer and his good country friend. The friend feels jealous of classmates in the city and falls out with the boy / a pornographic novelist and a part-time editor. The novelist asks the editor to be his model in trade for his manuscript / A younger brother who likes housekeeping. He falls in love with his brother's classmate who visits his home / Fantasy. A boy is changed into a plushie of rabbit by a witch who gathers beautiful boys. The boy finds a pharmaceuticalist who can reverse him. The boy can revert for a moment and should give his sexual service to the pharmaceuticalist / A student of student council who adores a student body president like a dog. The president really wants the student to love him but the student is too faithful to his duty...). I love a 1st story and a last one about students most because missing each other of students' feeling and its reconciliation are peaceful and heartwarming. Fujinari's couples without age gap are more natural. But couple of her fantastic story has age-gap but they are very cool (Reading this book, I'm very surprised to know she could write fantasy, too!). Very unique (fantastic) world makes the couple with age-gap more acceptable. (by Slash-kun 14/May/2005)
Fujisaki Kou
"Virgin Love." (Houbunsha) Nov/2003 *** 8.68
The spin-off story of "Utsukushiki Kemonotachi". Kaoru, a secretary of Chiharu, who is always very cool is addicted to forbidden love. The story:(Kaoru Kirishima, a very beautiful & proficient secretary of a successful CEO, Chiharu is picked up by a wild & sexy guy at a night club. Chiharu escapes from the guy because their sex was too powerful but he finds the guy is Mikihisa Daigou, a young CEO of Chiharu's client company. Mikihisa also can not Kaoru and they keep their sexual & physical relationship. Kaoru indulge himself in their making love like drug, it becomes an obstacle for Kaoru's work. He feels jealous of women around Daigou and it reminds him of his mother who died by crazy jealousy. Kaoru finally decides to part with Daigou...). Again, Fujisaki's seme, Daigou is sooooo extremely ultra sexy! (super-physical hero). He is wild, big dark like western macho guy (like Tarzan or hero of Harlequin novel series). I don't like such macho guy very much but Daigou's excessive sexiness is rather manly/sportsmanlike. The story is a little too opportunism but Kaoru who is competent & sexy but lonely, cold and has unhappy background is too miserable, so Daigou's courtship is very nice for me! The word that Daigou said, "Kaoru's jealousy is very beautiful" is really moving. Their relationship may be a sort of "fantasy" or "dream" for many couples. The sex scenes are very hot (perhaps up by 200%) and big treat. Heavy usage of posterior position (emphasizing testicle) at making love is so hot & erotic! I suppose Fujisaki is now hooked on this region and position. At end, there is a sequel short story of Chiharu and Kazuki and Kazuki's natural whiz-pop is so funny. It's also funny Daigou is an only serious guy in the characters of this series! (by Slash-kun 05/Jun/2004)
Fujiyama Hyouta
"Dear Green" (Gentousha) Dec/2003 *** 8.6
Natural romance series of adult couple, a designer and a cafe's owner who have a common girl friend and start living together and 2 short stories (A hothouse high school student attaches himself to his senior co-worker of part-time job and plans his first staying out overnight in winter vacation / Hero's best friend confesses that he is homosexual. Hero tries to take an usual attitude but...). The works of this book was serialized a few years ago, so sexual expression are a little tame. Fujiyama doesn't write the imprudent, temporary and unnecessarily exciting/sexual couple, but writes one like longstanding & natural well-matched mates (e.g. sharing the housework friendly). I think Fujiyama shows here her ideal of "being couple". Usual life of Otoumi, who is not good at speaking and has an artist's temperament (poor at daily life) and Midori who is good-natured is very comfortable even if they sometime make a quarrel. I wonder ordinary hetero sexual couple try to cherish the luck, "being able to cohabit" like this? The couple in this manga express their appreciation for the luck they could meet though they feel uneasy about bias around them. Such humble feelings (Heroes sneer at themselves like "Every Jack has his Jill") is enviable for readers. About short stories (Very small event - staying out overnight but Fujiyama describes well the joy of overcome something and attraction of "being adult" / I feel sorry for a gay student but hetero student's sincere character & happy ending makes me relieved). (by Slash-kun 10/Dec/2005)
"Honki ja nee kara" (Kadokawa Shoten) Oct/2003 *** 8.7
Natural and heartwarming romance between an ordinary heterosexual photographer assistant and a homosexual student who both fall out of love. The story:(An assistant of photographer, Eiji Kurashima feels ill-will for his girlfriend because she dumped him by just a phone call and returned duplicate key to him by mail. He goes for a drive at night and finds a homosexual student, Hiroto Suginoi, standing at the parking area alone. Kurashima finds himself putting Hiroto up in his room. Hiroto was stunned there to know his classmate he loved got a girlfriend. Kurashima says he does not love a young girl and a guy but but shows Hiroto many kindnesses and hands a duplicate key to Hiroto. Then Hiroto begins to visit Kurashima's room and to attach himself to Kurashima. Hiroto feels the slightest flicker of affection toward Hiroto and tries to tempt Kurashima for a joke. But Kurashima gets his own back and it scares Hiroto into crying. Hiroto won't come to Kurashima's room. Kurashima decides to see Hiroto at his school for himself. Kurashima is enough carney to direct Hiroto to give in. When Kurashima brings Hiroto along as his assistant, they encounter ex-lover of Kurashima and it makes their mood bad. Hiroto becomes distant in his manner toward Kurashima, then Kurashima tries to seduce Hiroto in turn. Hiroto becomes close-minded and returns the duplicate key. Kurashima makes up his mind, waits for Hiroto at the station and catches him...). This series is very popular among young readers. Ordinary, natural and average characters with no outstanding advantages (The job is not unique and living standard is middling) are very likable. In this story, about sex scene, Fujiyama has done enough good work. The plot is also very tactful and I was wrapped up reading this until the end. The guys who are disappointed in love happen to meet. It's natural they become attached. Very nice introductory part. But one guy is heterosexual. In ordinary circumstances they can't be a couple. But Kurashima gradually can not refuse poor Hiroto who is apt to take a pessimistic view of anything because of his broken heart. Fujiyama describes the change of Kurashima's mind very well. The contrast between a naive, timid, good-natured, miserable and honest student who suppresses his desire and an experienced and cunning adult is very outstanding. The shoe is on the other foot halfway - Hiroto gives up everything and it irritates Kurashima, then it's very nice that Kurashima becomes poor, uncool and funny. I'm very glad that they can be a couple at last! Kakioroshi (the part newly written for this book) is also very nice. Kurashima is very naive! For me the sex scene is not entirely satisfactory but Fujiyama's natural expression far outweighs!! (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2004)
Fukai Youki
"Suna no Shita no Suimyaku" (Take Shobou) Mar/2005 *** 8.8
Very individual short stories as usual (Hero, a student turns back his hair color because of his job hunting and is gotten mixed up with someone whose voice resembles hero by his friend. Then hero finds his friend is homosexual and they insult each other. After years they meet and are finally reconciled.../ Hero, a student becomes a home tutor of a helpless underachiever. But more he has come to love his student, stupider the student is.../ A very square teacher and a mysterious guy. The guy has his twin incestuous brother and he will enjoy threesome sex.../ A poor senior student. He should part with hero because his father in the country collapses.../ A hero who has only memory of his pupil suddenly awakes to find himself a student now with his servant who was a high school student. Hero loses the intervening memory and the servant who is now an adult, a matured guy says they have been lovers...). Monologues with implied meanings are so great (A farewell word of hero who wishes his friend's happiness of 1st story is so impressive and a tremulous hand of student of 2nd story when his tutor has a bad word to say about homosexuality is very impressive) as usual. Especially the last long-short story, name-piece is so wonderful(The scene a son of rich family gets a shock to know his servant left him is so pitiful!) Hero goes backward to infant because he wanted to forget hateful family relationship of noble race but he recovers his memory and he is joined together with his love-hate servant through many obstacle. It's really a tour de force. Very few yaoi mangaka can write an extraordinary great story like this. Yes, of course, entertainment-oriented boys love stories are very interesting and they make our life happy and pleasant but if there is no tear-jerker or serious story which make readers figure out their life, I think whole world will be vain. I hope Fukai to leave controversial stories on the world. (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2005)
Fusa Juji
"Machibito wa Tooku ni Arite" (Taiyou Tosho) Mar/2005 *** 8.45
Heartwarming & unique long series, a lonely writer who had run away from his strict old-established families gets to know a rural yakuza guy by exchanging letters, falls in love each other and finally decides to choose country life together. A yakuza guy, Sagawa who is unknowingly controlled by a too pure and shy writer, Tooru is very cute. Sagawa's followerships who are devoted to Sagawa and Sagawa's father who shows partiality to Tooru are also very nice. Fusa draws well atmosphere of snowy country. This series is very peaceful with a lot of humor but one word, Tooru does reviewing about Sagawa's tenderness as "It sometimes looks like heinous because it may aim to bring me to the edge of pleasure" was so thrilling. I think Fusa has such a talent (to use sharp words), so I wish she will use her talent more. (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2005)
Fuwa Shinri
"Bokura wo Shihaisuru Kotoba" (Tokuma Shoten) Nov/2003 *** 8.55
The romance of half brothers. The story:(Half brothers whose parent got married for the second time. The parents died by accident. Since then the elder brother, Sora Mukaihara has brought up younger one, Tatsuki Mukaihara for life. Now Sora becomes a very popular mystery writer. But he can't stand being alone and spends all his time at a room of Tatsuki who is now an editor of female magazine and starts living solo. Tatsuki feels pressed because he can stop himself who loves Sora and decides solitary life. But Sora assigns his editor as Tatsuki when he is asked for interview of the magazine). I enjoyed this story very much. Agonizing romance between Tatsuki who suffers from double taboo and Sora who is coward & frustrating is very dramatic. Fuwa's art is simple and solid and her plot is not is safe, so very dangerous relationship is suitable. The play within a play written by Sora using himself as a model is tear-jerker and very effective! The scene that Sora is sinking in the bath tub is so shocking for Tatsuki and readers. Fuwa describes strongly and straight-forwardly the buildup/climax of feeling and it draws readers into the story. (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2004)
"Ohana to Chocolate" (Biblos) Sep/2003 *** 8.4
Romantic long series of Taishou era that a scion of rich family picks up an orphan boy and fosters the boy into a princekin and takes the boy over to abroad to find the boy's english father who abandoned the boy and one modern short story (Hero consults with a mysterious girl by cellphone about his one-sided love. But the girl turns out to be his one-sided lover...). The setup of the long series, name-piece is very satisfactory - Nostalgic romance of Meiji/Taishou Era, the couple with status distinctions and shota taste. Fuwa succeeds in making romantic atmosphere. At last half, there are many gorgeous adult character and Fuwa writes that many fans wanted to read about them at her postscript. That makes sense. I also love adult characters! So It's a little disappointment that I could not find nouveaute in hero, soppy & younger uke. This story is very Biblos-ish for better or for worse. About short story: It's modern story of classmates in complete contrast with name-piece. It's very interesting idea that a male classmates passes himself off as a girl by cellphone e-mail. Fuwa's usage of cellphone is very tactful and stylish! The situation that the couple who are not well-off are consulting on cellphone is really interesting. But I can't understand well why seme loves hero. Fuwa is very good at art and her stories are easy to understand, so I'd like more read her deeper story or more realistic one with more complex characters next time. (by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2004)
Gyunyu Linda
"Erotic Marchen - Kitsune to Mahoutsukai Kanzenban" (Shoubunkan) Dec/2003 *** 8.6
The reissue of "Kitsune to Mahoutsukai" which was the first serialization of Gyunyu who is now very popular mangaka among manga maniacs. Complete edition including 3 stories not-issued yet and additional new story. PWP fantasy series of animal and wizard (Surume, a pedophiliac perverted wizard is crazy about a very cute & natural child wolf, Linlin. His wise brother, Sashimi always treats Surume like a fool but Surume never gives up hitting on Linlin. But Linlin's brother, Ranran always interrupts it. Whereas Sashimi falls in love with Ranran at first sight. The love of 2 couples have always full of troubles). Costume playing with cat ears is very pretty! I feel admiration for Gyunyu's various ideas which are within the bounds of cut and dried stories like "Tom & Jerry". She may be very intelligent. All are puerile PWP but I'm very surprised by flowing drawing, witty parody of famous old nursery tales, endless comical ideas. Many fans felt her talent at her debut. 4 characters are all interesting, cute, lewd and foolish. Every story is intelligent and excellent. If you are Gyunyu fan, don't miss this book. (by Slash-kun 10/Jul/2004)
Hamada Shouko
"Maou no Keifu" (Biblos) Nov/2003 *** 8.6
Fantasy issued as "Zero Comics". Checkered destiny of a boy who is "Prince of Darkness" and his servant guy. The story:(Touya is spending his peaceful days though he was abducted & raped at his childhood and has been sexually comforted by his father who is feared as "a devil of business". Touya's father realizes his physical decline, so he hires a bodyguard, Kazuomi Kuroha for Touya and declares his retirement. The father is making a contract with the devil and tries to commandeer Touya's body. But Kuroha confesses that Touya is really "Prince of Darkness" and asks Touya to order Kuroha to obey. Touya kills his father and successes father's business. Executives who want to smack down Touya and evil spirits & incubus who want to eat Touya are targeting Touya...). This is first long series after Hamada's long child-care leave but is really going smoothly! Powerful & erotic dark fantasy. At first there was a short sex scene with father because first episode was serialized on yaoi magazine, "BE-BOY" but we could not expect it because succeeding episodes were serialized on "Zero", a fantasy magazine. But Touya and Kuroha resemble Takaya and Naoe of "Mirage of blaze", so this story is very fascinating for Mirage fans! Akatsuki (Vivle) also resembles Ayako Kadowaki and Shuuhei Chiaki (Nagahide Yasuda), too. Fans can't help feeling happy and smiling! Touya seems a little vulnerable but when he changes into Prince of Darkness, his coldness is so groovy! Touya is very attractive because he has weak point that he sometimes becomes very nymphomaniac. Kuroha refused making love with Touya and Touya seems a little pitiful. I'm eager to know why Kuroha refused it. Hamada plans to issue 2nd volume, so I'm very looking forward and want to read sequel soon. (by Slash-kun 19/Jun/2004)
Hanamura Yuu
"Trouble Star" (Frontier Works) Oct/2005 *** 8.5
2 long-short stories of students with fantastic taste (Hero is a student living with his brother alone. A price from the space suddenly comes to hero and says he is engaged to hero. Hero remembers his old memory that his mother died and he wished to go to the star in his childhood.... / Hero is loved by a ghost. The ghost shoves hero to the car, then hero suddenly becomes ghost, too. Hero's roommate can the ghost somehow and he guards hero) and 1 short story of neighborhood students with one age gap (Hero teaches his neighborhood student of one year behind him who want to enter same high school. Hero asks the younger student a kiss in return). Hanamura's first book (including debut work). Art is skillful and story is also very good with a lot of ideas, humour. Hanamura has so high potential that I can't believe this is the first book. But Hanamura's work may be too well organized (lack of breakup) though she is a rookie and I feel that something is missing because she does not devote much space to express subtleties of emotion though showy idea of sci-fi catches readers' eye. I'd like to read ordinary long romance of students next time! (by Slash-kun 10/Dec/2005)
Hashiba Rin
"TROUBLE SHOOTERS" (HILAND) Nov/2003 *** 8.58
Long criminal series of a young CEO of detective office and a beautiful & efficient employee and short story of architect & efficient planner. The story of long series:(Makoto Takayanagi successes detective office by his defunct father's will. But the office has a big debt. So Makoto starts handy man business at same time. He asks Yuuki Watase who is beautiful detective and is mainly working as a bit on the side to work as a conversation partner of old women and it makes Yuuki hate Makoto very much. Yuuki makes a grandstand and gets into hot water, but Mako saves him and ravishes his kiss). Excellent drama (or manga/animation) sometimes teach djska and Hashiba also may have come under good influence because she has written djs of "Odoru Daisousasen" for long time. Hashiba has written many djs with a good human, so she can write good original stories, too. Her description of working place of *men* is precise and detailed, so her drama is well worth reading and makes her human drama much better. I wish her to keep writing both djs and original stories. About long series: Seme (Young CEO, Makoto Takayanagi) is a man of a type rarely to be met with nowadays. Too smart, too strong, too clever. Like hero of "Abunai Deka (japanese detective TV drama with two popular stars)". Female worker is also too excellent. So this story differs from ordinary yaoi, but resembles popular detective TV drama. The feeling of Yuuki who is gradually attracted to Makoto (his ability or job performance) is understandable. Hashiba's usage of Makoto's ex-partner, Kyouichi Sugano was very nice. The scene is very impressive that Makoto is faced with the choice of Yuuki or ordinary guy and is forced into a corner, but he believes his partner can come through and gives preference to ordinary one. When versatile Makoto is is forced into a corner, he looks so sexy! Last ending manga which combines crime and romance well is so nice. About a short story with architect: I'm fond of the story of business people. Just like a female worker of the series, a gay guy in this story is a little too brave. But he is more acceptable for me because he is gay...(by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2004)
Higa Susumu
"Kajimunugatai" (Koudansha) Jul/2003 9.5
The disastrous experience of the people at the war of Okinawa just before the end of WWII. This manga was serialized on the magazine, "Morning" which sometimes adopts utter/absolute new mangaka who does not have any career as a professional like Yuuji Aoki of "Naniwa Kinyuudou". Higa is not so young and his art is simple/naive as well as Aoki but the power/impact of his works is very strong, too. Because he was born at Okinawa and has gathered a lot of historical fact there and describes them matter-of-factly, without one-sided interpretation (So his manga is not too bitter because people are tough and brave persons who can offer hopes to people will appear even under the war). In his manga, both of a japanese soldier and american one can become an enemy of the people. Higa tries to insist that the war can make easily an ordinary guy into a devil who can mercilessly kill a child or woman (and lynchs good soldiers). For helpless people of Okinawa, japanese army often became an enemy (Soldier deprived the people of their civilian shelter, food,,etc) because they were used as a shield for the people of mainland of Japan. Even after the war, they were often raped by US soldiers (and even japanese officers stood by the US army). At any war, weak people (children, women and old people) always become victim. We should read this and appeal the senselessness of all wars now or never when Iraqi war is going to turn into a morass. (by Slash-kun 28/Feb/2004)
Higashizato Kirico
"INVOKE" (Shinkousha) Sep/2003 *** 8.75
Erotic adventure sci-fi series of a hero who wins a prize of futuristic game machine and whose body and soul is stolen by a mysterious guy at game world. The story:(An ordinary guy, a service engineer, Kai.A.Cruz wins an extravagant virtual game machine in a lottery. The machine is very safe because the deadly damage will be automatically stopped by safety lock, so Kai does not read the manual well and dives into virtual world and gets into a mess. At a high school, Kai is raped by a psycho teacher in front of the students. At a medieval masquerade & promiscuous party, Kai is caught by church members and is put on the Inquisition and sexually tortured by an archbishop, a same guy as the teacher. Kai tries to ask the guy's name but virus invasion causes the system down and Kai can't. In the urban situation, Kai participates in the game of criminal investigation. He runs a savage criminal, a president of the game, the usual mysterious guy to ground and finally gets the name, Rion. S. Griffon. Then Kai becomes a mercenary to fight with elf with intent to rescue a hostage, a princess. But he is caught by the enemy, a cruel general, Rion...). Very exciting and interesting!! No matter how many times I read, I don't feel tired. It's Higashizato's very satisfactory work! Great! Excellent! This story is cyber sci-fi but easy-to-read and very erotic. The readers can enjoy various virtual worlds (Hero can experience whatever costume plays). Additionally mysterious factors do not make the readers tired. People may think the story of virtual, game world is apt to be too easy (anything goes) and not interesting, but it's wrong. This story is very exciting. Higashizato's excellent art skill is part of the reason but the real reason is that Kai suffers from love with the cruel & mysterious guy, Rion and it is never easy as real world. Rion is very sexy and attractive (Evil, cruel and mysterious but a little jealous and humane)!! So Kai has been attracted more and more. I'm also very curious about Rion! And Kai has his own justice and tries to support it. So this story does not become an easy story with no set rules or limits. In the game world, the only difference is "radical & powerful making love". So this manga cannot be boring! The sex scenes of this story are so aggressive and strong. I'm so satisfied with it. The situations of school, the Inquisition of medieval times and urban game are very enjoyable but the last one, medieval military story, a sort of parody of "Berserk" is very interesting! I wish Higashizato keeps to try various historical & sexual situation of many different period & countries! Higashizato is very good at drawing difficult & mannish scenes, explosion, battle,,etc. Like Akimi Yoshida. This story is a best subject for mannish & adult female mangaka like Higashizato! Highly recommended. The writing of sequel also holds promise very much! (by Slash-kun 27/Mar/2004)
Hiiro Reiichi
"Me wo Tojiteoideyo" (Frontier Works) Mar/2005 *** 8.68
Adventure love romance between a young boy and his adult lover who wants to educate boy and suggests him make love with other guys. The story:(A keeper of accessory company, Yuuma Sakaki, ex-lover of Bakuto Kaiya who is an international professional photographer is now a lover of Bakuto's son, Mito Kaiya. Mito gets angry because Yuuma is so busy and Mito declares he will have an affair with other guys. But Yuuma doesn't stop Mito and encourages Mito...). It's very exciting & thrilling and I can enjoy many gorgeous guys very naturally because there is necessary & enough reason for their appearance. The contrast between complex personality of adult guys around Mito and simple & pure personality of Mito is very vivid and interesting. And there are many hot sex scenes! Bakuto, a father of Mito is very cool and other guys are gorgeous, too!! (If instructors of scuba diving or ski are so gorgeous, it would be so great! It realizes the dreams of women). Superfine entertaining yaoi story for adult! (by Slash-kun 18/Jul/2005)
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Himawari Souya
"Aruku Omoi" (Houbunsha) Apr/2005 *** 8.59
Haru and Mako finally make love! I could not discriminate twins (Makoto and Minori) and Haru and Mizumo when I read 1st volume, so I could not enjoy very much. But I could do this volume! Makoto is very earnest and I could sympathize with Haru who accepts making love with Makoto. I can not like Haru who often feels embarrassment by interference of veteran couple, Mizumo and Minori but the story suddenly becomes interesting after an appearance of Haru's ex-girl-friend. The wham-bam process to first time is so hilarious! Himawari does not plan to write the sequel of this series but I regret it a little because I'm accustomed to twins...(by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2005)
"Kimi no Ondo" (Houbunsha) Sep/2003 *** 8.5
The spin-off of "Koufuku no Susume". The romance between Mizumo and Minori. Pure & angst romance. The story:(Mizumo Hiraga is providing sex for money to bring up his brothers. Otunari family have been very tender for Hiragas like parents. A younger brother of Hiraga twins finds Mizumo's dirty business and offers his payment for Mizumo's sex. Their distorted physical relationship starts in this way but they begin to love each other seriously...). For the author, both heroes are comparatively adult (high school students). And she made an effort to write at least one sex scene at one episode, so this story has become authentic yaoi story and satisfactory for me. Himawari's art of young hero's clothing, jersey knit loungewear or big T-shirt is so well written & cool (I love the pattern of Minori's T-shirt. It's so interesting! I will buy it if it really exists). If I am allowed to wish so much, setting of twin is a little confusing. I can not differentiate Minori from Makoto. I knew it already at previous volume, "Kimi no Ondo", so it was not so big problem to read this but Mizumo also resembles Haru! Save and except it, this story is very interesting because this is angst, the scene that Minori parted with Mizumo once was so sad and I could enjoy this very much! Mizumo's environment is so unhappy and comical scenes are so hilarious (Mizumo is so penny-pinching! I hope Himawari to continue challenging a little adult story like high school students. At next time, the story of non-twins or brothers who don't resemble each other, please. (by Slash-kun 05/Jun/2004)
Hirohashi Masami
"Yume miru Muses" (Tokuma Shoten) Dec/2003 ** 8.58
Three good long-short stories (Students of art class. A student of comprehensive class meets a genius, a student of art class who has loved sculpture which resembles hero / Fantasy of amnesia. A mysterious pharmacist gives hero 4 capsules which recalls memory but hero can't remember his last lover / The sequel / A student who abandoned playing the violin decides to play again by posthumous work of his master / The sequel). The settings (Artist boy realizes love for real person, The relation gradually changes as he recovers his memory, Retired violinist boy gets his master's posthumous work,,etc) are very unique. With unique setting and mood (philosophical), Hirohashi's works involve readers in her world though her art is simple. Hirohashi's postscript is also very intelligent. There is no hot sex scenes but is deep theme and atmosphere. She is powerful and good mangaka! The comment for each story:(1st: Good story of youth. Using art, the author writes about life philosophy / 2nd: Unique situation. Theme is very minimal, "Love for classmate". The gap is very nice. Good story worth reading / 3rd: I love this story very much! Theme is surprisingly deep. By loving someone hero can get consideration for other person and it makes his lover pay attention to hero. It's so great ending! Using sci-fi setting, the author writes universal truth, love in youth and growth. So wonderful / 4th: This is also wonderful. Using posthumous work of violin and humble love, the author writes universal feeling - Man will realizes his love when he feels discontented as his lover has secret though his lover loves him so much or He reflects that he did not give advice to his lover,,etc - in a strange twist. Interesting plot and good lesson. Hirohashi is a very good storyteller. I think better of her than I did before / Sequel of 1st story. Very stylish and intelligent using star). (by Slash-kun 03/Jul/2004)
Honami Yukine & Takaguchi Satosumi
"Kimi niwa Katenai! vol.3" (Houbunsha) May/2004 *** 8.65
The final volume of "boys branch school in the countryside" series. Very interesting & carefree and easy to read again! This series is very great because the story from Takaguchi's immoral and decadent ethics fits well the earnest art by Honami and they generates bigger result like "1+1=3". Miraculous combination ownz! I hadn't understood Yuuhi's attraction well but in this volume I begin to understand it! It's an amazing gap between "usual Yuuhi" and "his being in skirts"(Yuuhi with dress is so cute and its cuteness resembles "NARUTO"! When NARUTO changes into a girl, it's very hilarious and very cute somehow. Perhaps because there is some unpredictable quality when lively character changes into sexy & bewitching characters. And in this volume the relation between Yuuhi and Sango Tsutsui makes progress very much. Yuuhi becomes hoarse by sex with Sango and it's so hilarious! In this volume, Takaguchi's roughhousing as shameless middle aged woman is quite well (Tori feels threesome sex with ghost / The lecture for young wives / Apron on naked body / Costume playing with animal tail and ear or "Day of Bed jacket" or "Day of summer kimono" / Potted plays of "Alice In Wonderland" / Hayate and Kanya mess around for each event and it is so funny / Sango is unexpectedly lecherous) and I, same middle aged woman feel like I'm in paradise! But Takaguchi said this was a final volume! Oh. Too sad. Why?? I think Takaguchi does not reveal how Teacher Tori and a school president have become a couple. True, this whole series' style looks like "newly written side stories" or "djs", so Takaguchi can stop this series at any time but I have never imagined this series suddenly ends! I expected same style as "Haru wo Daiteita" by Youka Nitta, each episode is written for anthology with one subject but has consistent story as a whole. Why doesn't Takaguchi continue after she created many attractive characters! How pitiful they are! I know she and Honami are very busy and have many works to do but I wish them to write this series for ever.(by Slash-kun 9/Oct/2005)
"Kimi niwa Katenai! vol.2" (Houbunsha) Dec/2003 *** 8.59
The second volume school PWP series. The story:(During the executive members of student council have been to of the head school of Tokyo, Yuuhi, a boarding master is take away by 3 bad brothers, Riku, Umi, Sora and is nearly sexually harassed at bath room / Hayate and Kanya have a lover's spat. Umi's harassment is a factor. Yuuhi is angry and locks Hayate & Kanya up in the reflecting room / Sango suffers from Yuuhi's dream and it puts him in a flutter. Yuuhi feels the blues because Sango never kisses him. Then Hayate and Kanya plan "Blackout at meeting operation". It generates many couples / Nekota tries a research of "fetishism of Eye glasses" with Yuuhi who did not make love with Sango yet. It hurts Yuuhi and Sango comforts and they can experience a first time / Kanya becomes a monitor of "japanese style room" and it makes Hayate mad / Summer vacation episode). This is the story of students but Takaguchi makes it, so it is not only "cute & romantic". Full of devilish amusement, wit, conspiracy or playful, wicked mind (but basically carefree & stupid). I'm very surprised to know Yuuhi makes love with Sango Tsutsui lo and behold (Very bold). But it is much better than "too slow process". How much spirit of service Takaguchi, a middle aged female mangaka has (A teacher, Tori who is an elder brother of Yuuhi and may be a lover of the nasty school president has sexual bruise on his wrists and it surprises the students / Nekota is faux-naif but very curious like ear-hustler woman of british TV drama / Yuuhi treats his senior, Kanya bluntly and shoves him away - other students are surprised at Yuuhi's great insensitiveness / Hayate and Kanya are so intimate that they often canoodle in public / Sango's word, "I'm jealous because you can *play*" is so hilarious because he is a honor-roll student / Yuuhi worries that Sango does not kiss him / Blackout accidentally makes many couples / Geeky discussion of Eye glasses / Sexual *Playing* on Tatami)! At boys high school, she gets everything her own way! I love Emikoyama's boys school like utopia but Takaguchi's boys school is filled with service mind-set for female readers, opportunism and nonsense. But I don't think Takaguchi's easy entertaining school story is inferior. I'm struck with admiration by her professional spirit and good work. What many & funny episodes she thinks up like this! And the gap between Takaguchi's immoral expression and Honami's naive art makes unique & interesting atmosphere! So I can really enjoy this book with funny and erotic sex scenes by Hayate and Kanya though the plot is not so excellent. (by Slash-kun 9/Oct/2005)
Honjyou Rie
"Kagakushitsu he Douzo" (Biblos) Nov/2003 *** 8.68
First yaoi book by Honjyou. Long-short comedy series of 2 couples, an advisory teacher of chemical club at high school & his student and student's brother & student's classmate with higher brain memory deficit and 3 short stories (A student of photograph school and his model / Revenge drama to a lover of hero's father / A lonely otaku boy with eyeglasses is loved by a very cute classmate. The eyeglasses break and he looks very handsome but...). The story of name-piece:（Only 1 student, Kousuke Handa comes to a chemical club because club's advisory teacher is Shibaura who is immoral & dangerous. A best classmate of Kousuke, Kobayashi criticizes Shibaura as a cold guy but Kousuke never minds. Kousuke's brother, a member of football club, Shuri Handa is not himself and often interferes the activity of Kousuke & Shibaura. Shibaura and Kousuke are going on a date to exhibition at museum. But Kousuke knows his club will be closed though he realizes his love to Shibaura. Kousuke goes to Shibaura to appeal and Shibaura can not control himself....). All stories are very light, brisk and interesting. The art & story are very skillful like Sakuya Fujii or Yuu Takahashi. Art is refreshing & pretty like Tousuisha works, so it is natural that the author is now popular among many young fans. Seme characters are a little evil/lewd, so more I read this, more interest I find. This is her first yaoi work but I think her career of heterosexual works is very long. The comment of each story: (1st:natural younger brother and evil chemical teacher. Setting is not so unique but this couple is so interesting! Because there are 2 reasons. First - Their making love is so hot, hard and cruel though art is very lyrical. The gap is so erotic. Second - Very firm knowledge of chemistry. It helps realistic atmosphere / 2nd: same series and romance between hero's brother and hero's classmate. Classmate, Kobayashi has so serious illness. Sudden seriousness wins readers' interest. The gap between serious scene and comical one is also very exciting! / 3rd: Author makes good story elaborately using "photograph" and it makes a favorable impression on readers. The nude photograph at last scene is so impressive / 4th: I love this, too. At first I could not understand the human relations but after finding hero is a son of the father and uncle is a brother of the father's wife, I'm so moved. This story is ANGST and the energy of "hate" is so furious / 5th: This is also good & interesting. The feeling of characters is so well-expressed. And the life style of nerd/otaku is so hilarious! Very impressive PWP! Additional manga are hilarious, too. Honjyou is very good at making readers imagine). Honjyou may be a big mangaka beyond expectation. (by Slash-kun 12/Jun/2004)
Hoshino Lily
"Hanamukosan" (Houbunsha) Aug/2005 *** 8.6
The sequel of Hoshino's successful title, "Hanayomekun" (Next morning Kouichirou told his feeling to Ritsu. Ritsu is very scared of Kouichirou but Kouichirou asks Ritsu to stay with a Fusuma between them / Kouichirou's classmate girl comes to their house for a work of student committee. Seeing the laugh of Kouichirou with girl, Ritsu.../ Kiyoko, a wife of Setsu, an elder brother of Ritsu had sit their grandmother's bed at hospital but comes back. Kouichirou is shocked to know Ritsu loves Kiyoko. Ritsu apologizes for hiding it but Kouichirou declares he terminates to love Ritsu / Ritsu is shocked, too by seeing Kouichirou who is talking closely with the classmate girl. Ritsu is in another world though he is talking with Kiyoko / Ritsu realizes he loved Kiyoko but does not now. He asks Kouichirou to love him again) and 2 short stories (A womanizing student goes by his classmate's lovers' spat. He breaks contact lens of the classmate. But the classmate drops a suggestion to pay by body / The special family guarding sake brewery family. Not to fall in love, a male guard is chosen for a young successor, but). Hoshino's previous book, "Hanayomekun" (By Hoshino's cute art, heroes who are bearing off look too lovely!) was so interesting that I might expect too much. ). And this book does not contain only Hanayome series, so I might feel short on fun. Only fifth episode has sex scene and it is also a little frustrating (But some fans may say its restrained expression is more impressive!). Events between Kouichirou and Ritsu is too peaceful/quiet, too. Ritsu is too naive and arrogant. The sex scene of 5th episode is very nice because Kouichirou is very nasty like middle aged guy! If Kouichirou had been nasty (or not restrain his sexual desire), this book will be my type more. 1st short story is also very nice with Hoshino's typical uke & seme (Uke pretends to be tough but really timid and seme is nasty and lewd) and bold sex scenes (Hero scolds the womanizing student not to ejaculate inside, so his semen mists over hero's eyeglasses). 2nd short story is lovely fairy tale. Especially pattern of Kimono is so cute. The hairstyle like "students in Taisho Era" of Masaki, a young successor and his round eyeglasses are stoic and very sexy! (by Slash-kun 2/Oct/2005)
Ichiju Yuko
"Chonkin Garden" (Oakla Shuppan) Aug/2005 *** 8.5
One long-short series of crime story in Hong Kong like "Udo Shinohara" (Hero's brother is a detective. The brother should go to Hong Kong for international joint investigation. He sneaks into the mysterious organization of young people as a undercover but goes missing. Hero visits a local detective who worked with his brother. Hero resembles the ex-lover of the detective, so they fall in love. Knowing ex-lover was killed because of being undercover like his brother....) and 3 short stories (Comedy of brothers-in-law like "Brothers" by Kotetsuko Yamamoto. Hero suddenly has a half-Japanese half-Italian brother because of his parent's remarriage. But as compared to the photo, he is very tall in person / Sequel. Hero's teacher becomes rival for the brother/The romance between a pet shop staff and the customer who bought a new pet, as a replacement of his dead pet / Romance between a weak son of an owner of the school and a school doctor). The series of Hong Kong is reissue from djs. So it is very aspiring, ambitious and challenging. Usage of Cantonese makes realistic atmosphere. According to her postscript, Ichiju is a repeat traveler of Hong Kong (Twice a year!), so this reality makes sense. She originally made plot for shoujo manga but I think her decision to change it for yaoi story was really good. Short stories are modern BL ones. So they are very funny and enjoyable. But I prefer the challenging one like Hong Kong series. I wish Ichiju to try to write unique & aggressive work more and more. (by Slash-kun 10/Sep/2005)
Ike Reibun
"Koiyami Archive" (Biblos) May/2005 *** 8.59
Short stories (A cool college student whose personality is so bad loves a high-achieving student looking like nerd. The cool one is kind to the nerd one but he turns so cold as soon as the nerd confesses his love to him.../ A best friend of hero suddenly confesses his family will move. The friend recently kissed hero and waits for hero's answer. Hero intends to refuse but his friend keeps away from him / Twin brothers. Elder one had guarded hero in their childhood. So younger one becomes strong, a top cat to guard elder one now but elder one fears him. Hero is jealous of elder's friend and plays a nasty trick on the friend but the friend is homosexual and doesn't fear hero / The sequel. The elder one comes to fondle hero. But the friend aims at hero and hero is nearly raped by love drug. The elder bro saves hero and they make love... / A journalist interviews a young CEO of high-tech company. Before interview, he entertained antipathy toward the CEO but after meeting actually, the CEO is unexpectedly a nice guy.../ Childhood friend, a son of dentist says he loves hero but hero suspects the friend loves only well-arranged teeth of hero.../ Hero's friend who is an idol and has worked as an actor from childhood is very selfish and always annoys hero. The classmate girl deals hero very kindly and it puts the friend in a bad humor). Ike's first book. She can write various characters like working people or students. Art is very skillful. 1st story is about very fashionable college students. The Gothic & aesthetic atmosphere resembles Ayumi Gion and my type. With a lot of Angst factors ANGST, it moves me very much. Ike's stories of high school students are a little too young for me but the series of twins is very interesting, especially last-half story is so erotic and thrilling!! I'd like to appreciate Biblos to select this story from her djs so much!! The art of a journalist & high-tech company CEO is also very aesthetic, adult and my type. Most sex scenes are very hot and have a tremendous impact. Geeky factors prevent all stories from being predictable stories. If Ike combines fashionable & adult art and hot sex scenes, her works will be magnum. Very promising mangaka. (by Slash-kun 29/May/2005)
Ima Ichiko
"Rakuen made Ato Mou Chotto vol.2" (Houbunsha) Dec/2003 ** 8.9
The long-awaited second volume of latest yaoi long series of mangaka who would be a best painter and best story maker of genius among japanese yaoi mangaka now (very busy & popular, so she can not write much at a clip). The story:(Tsutomu Kawae has borne a load of debt of his ex-wife - Sayuri's father who managed travel agency. He invented the mountain climbing tour and it becomes very popular among yakuza. For the moment, Kawae's agency has a lot of customers and Kawae can safely refund a this month's debt to Asada of "Loans Kikuchi", a loan shark. But a big fighting suddenly occurs among yakuza and most their bookings are canceled. Kawae in a maze visits Asada who lives next door and sees Asada is proposing divorce to his boss, Kikuchi. Kawae suspects Asada is aiming for a mountain of Kawae's father, then Asada lends a stall which owner fled by night to Kawae free of charge for 4 days. Using it, Kawae starts unauthorized pub, but it also does a land-office business by Kawae's talent. Kikuchi's wife loves Asada and she proposes divorce to Kikuchi. It makes Asada decide to part with Kikuchi and resign the company. Kawae and Sayuri break down from overwork. An old friend of Kawae, an owner of a mountain lodge, Sannami visits Kawae's agency. Kawae is very handy and self-composed Kawae's ex-lover, so Asada feels pressed. Kikuchi's wife knows Kikuchi's affair with Asada and demands compensation. Knowing Asada's resignation, Kawae and Sayuri start intense recruiting to Asada. Asada's mother who married again visits Asada and bothers Asada with complaint that Asada has alienated his family. Terasawa, a yakuza asks Asada to watch a wife of gang boss and they nestle themselves in a bed naked. Seeing it, Kawae misunderstands and gets jealous. Asada can not stand Kawae's agency which gets stringent as telephone is suspended, then he decides to look after the agency for a while. A telephone calls from Sannami makes Kawae cheerful but makes Asada go out by jealousy. Kawae chases Asada by Sayuri's advice. Asada's sister runs away from home to Asada. Kawae mistakes her for Asada's girl friend. Disgruntled Kawae go our for a drink leaving his purse at agency. Asada finds his photo in Kawae's purse, remembers Sannami's word and runs after Kawae). Ima's comedy with a lot of pathos as usual calls forth admiration. And in this volume, there are a lot of excellent and delicate gag and ideas. Yuriko's mother who is brought up protected from the world and envies yakuza's villa (i.e. jail), cat and dog, Kikuchi and Kawae argue in a car and their homosexual foul talk makes a yakuza's son learn obscene words, but yakuza's father praises Kawae and Kikuchi because he is a speed freak, Yakuza loves climbing mountain, the menus of a pub at stall are very unique which many people make freely (recipe changes every time), Kikuchi's wife has a crush on Asada and knowing her husband's love affair makes her savor of the pan and she lets her mother look after her husband, Asada and Sannami feel their same preference in a blink of an eye,,,etc. So many funny episodes! How deep and sharp Ima's observation and how rich her life experience is! At this point, Ima and Chika Umino are the best two. In this volume, there are various unique supporting characters like funny yakuza, Asada's mother (unmarried mother and femme fatale). Especially an unique hillbilly, Sannami, a mighty rival of Asada (Blank, nothing that could be clearly defined, experienced and a person of integrity, but a pedophilia!) gets Asada into a fuss. Asada becomes stubborn at divorce discussion with Kikuchi, then he can not make love with Kawae easily. It complicates matters further and it makes annoying couple much more annoying! Ima's design of characters, making story are prodigious! After it, Asada is involved into a disturbance with Yakuza and boss's wife and Asada's nude makes Kawae upset and the stalemated relationship between Kawae and Asada suddenly becomes close at once. This evolution is very artful. But they did not make love in the result. They are so miserable but funny! Ima also may feel sorry, so she writes her funny narrative about climbing mountain with her father at postscript and makes Kawae cry by reading further story. She says this story will continue for a time, so I wish Kawae and Asada will develop a deep relationship at next volume! (by Slash-kun 28/Feb/2004)
Inomoto Rikako
"Body Talk" (Shoubunkan) May/2004 *** 8.73
First yaoi short stories by female talented pornographic mangaka for adult guys (Surreal scientific short sketch. Hero protected a boy of amnesia. But in fact he stole an examinee of artificial life experiment and lives together... / Brothers skip out on a restaurant bill. Angry clerk rapes elder & beautiful brother. Younger one helps clerk somehow. After they were gone, real money was left on the table... / A student asked his teacher to make love with as a memory of his graduation. After a year, they happen to meet again and go to the hotel... / Hero's lover takes care of hero of having cold. The lover tries to spoon-feed a canned peach to hero. The lover's dedicated love makes hero pleasant though hero is always very blunt / 2 students who are like oil and water are living together. One student makes love with another who pretends to sleep. Another one is too late to wake / Sketch of date in summer. A student misses the bus on the way to school. He has a dip by mineral water from a vending machine / A group of students rapes their teacher in the train. But they are ordered to do it by the teacher!). Oh. Again. A mangaka of my type appears! Inomoto's sex scenes are very hot. She draws genitals explicitly without hesitation, so I was surprised a little at first but it's very impressive because Inomoto's art is very simple (much omission may seems rather blunt), silent, surreal. And she prefers to choose the challenging situations with very brutal/immoral, scatological or S&M taste and it expresses modern, nihilistic atmosphere and feeling of emptiness well. Hard, wild, cruel and disastrous. So I think all people don't like her (But me, slash-kun loves it!) . Rough art with delicate line resembles Kahori Onozuka of "NICO SAYS". Uke character is adult and blunt, resembles the characters of Kazuya Minekura. So I love this author (Especially I love teachers!!). Very talented mangaka. Highly recommended. I hope she will keeps her activity as "yaoi frontier". Comments for each story:(1st one: Usage of artificial golden fish is very impressive. And allegory of cormorant fishing is very nice, too. The sex scene is very extreme. A lot of onomatopoeia. Lines are rough but realistic. So it makes Inomoto's art very erotic / 2nd: Very surreal / 3rd: I'm a little happy to know they really love each other. Happiness in bitter taste story is very precious! / 4th: Impressive sketch / 5th: Very poetic! like modern art. Very erotic and nice / Nice story like young people of nowadays / Unexpected ending. Scatologic story but it's no problem because hero wants it!). (by Slash-kun 9/Oct/2006)
Inumaru
"Himitsu no Koibitotachi" (Shoubunkan) Nov/2003 *** 8.6
Short stories (Nokia, a research doctor picks up a cat at death's door by hit-and-run and resuscitates it using parts for human. The cat-guy, Mao tries to prepare a meal for Nokia, workaholic but fails and keeps Nokia long. He tries to get out by Nokia's thoughtless words.../ Sequel. Mao is chummy with a cat of the neighborhood. For Mao who is often scolded, Nokia prepares operation to revert back to the cat / Sketch with hero's classmate of art school who becomes blind by mental disease / A boy who joins the circus company / A transfer student who never open his mouth sprouts horns / Two girl students of school for witches / Boys playing the secret game at abandoned building / Boys enjoy their date at distant town with female dress / Hero's friend has a tail of a dinosaur / Hero's own funeral. His classmate doesn't appear, so hero goes to meet him / Hero's lover is very tender. But ex-lover calls out hero / Sequel of first story. Nokia and Mao decide not to make love while at work. But seeing sleeping face of Mao, Nokia can't help). This is a first book. I did not read as soon as it was published because this is shota short stories. But her second book, "Shounen no Nioi ga Shiteiru" I happened to read was very interesting, so I scrambled to read this! I regret that I didn't read soon. Inumaru's avant-garde art that makes lyrical atmosphere with thin & faded lines is very impressive. She does not use screen tone, so her picture has strong contrast of white and black and it makes silent atmosphere. So the sex scenes are so hard-core but readers don't feel any guilty or sense of shame. Face with vacant eyes is so attractive and has a power to appeal. Especially the first mini series of cat-guy, "Franken" is so good! No matter how many times I read, I will cry. Chirography of letter left behind is so impressive and monologue of Nokia who is left alone is heartrending! I originally animal stories but this is really good. (by Slash-kun 11/Sep/2005)
Ishimaru Hiroko
"Ren-ai Fubunritsu" (Kousai Shobou) Feb/2005 *** 8.45
Long series at a basketball club of high school (Romance between a delinquent ace and a dietician including two other couples) and a short story (A guy who tired from urban life is saved by a boy of pasture in the country...). The dietician , a shy guy with eye glasses is very small & cute though he is elder. His lover, the younger ace is an ideal character as a younger lover, very selfish and hot-headed but very single-minded and lovely. Ishimaru comments on her couples as "foolish couple" but most readers feel happy by seeing them (after reading her stories including this book). (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2005)
"Hush!" (Biblos) Sep/2004 ** 8.43
Happy Cinderella story of orphan boy, Natsuki Tokisato who was taken in by his relatives but had a problem and left home is adopted as a housekeeper at a high salary and wins the heart of an employer, an unique whiz kid, Katsuhiro Jyoutaki. Natsuki is very good-natured, innocent and carefree like an angel (his comical art playing with dog is so cute!). So I can understand well why Katsuhiro who is a little dark, ill-natured and evil loves him. I can't believe same author described both of Uke and seme because they are very contrastive! Now there's a real pro for her. How dare she expresses both so individually! Ishimaru wrote about the love of Katsuhiro's secretary, Akira (This is happy ending, too!) in the end. This is a nice example which proves very well Ishimaru's heartwarming attraction, making readers very happy after reading! (by Slash-kun 16/Apr/2005)
"Heart Itomemasu!" (Kousai Shobou) Sep/2003 *** 8.49
Short stories of 2 student couple of twins and a short story of a teacher and his student. Ishimaru's stories are always ingenuous, dedicated and pleasant, so they impress me favorably and make me feel myself compelled to read (Like Arico Kanazawa, my favorite mangaka). I suppose Ishimaru is good at expression of uke(hero)'s agony/unhappiness. Realistic and persuasive. This book is very happy and joyful again. It's hard to imagine that this book is issued from Kousai Shobou because it is very lyrical. It's tender & happy romance which makes readers relaxed. Uke is strong-minded and has a strong inferiority complex. Seme is no on the long side of the market but is very cool. So I read this book very easily and delightfully (Hero is loved by the guy of his dreams through twists and turns and can be a couple luckily but soon the guy turns out to be very loose, then hero gets hurt but makes peace - The scene that hero tries to get out is very heartrending. Or hero can not hate his evil-minded lover and is obsessed with self-hatred - I understand its feeling well!. Or one of the couple is twin or brother! Stupid like Manga. But really funny). A short story of teacher & student is also funny with similar taste. (by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2004)
Itsuki Kaname
"Wagamama dakedo Itoshikute" (Kadokawa Shoten) Dec/2003 *** 8.6
Excellent short stories. Every story is very interesting and lovely! Seme is self-willed and a little nasty. He bullies very nice uke and will regret later and it pleases readers. Especially 4th story about bully is so lovely! His brother acts very nice role! Tame/irritating seme of name-piece is nice, too Itsuki calls such seme "Otome seme" and her editor laments that Itsuki's taste is so minor but I think her seme is very interesting and love him very much! Comments to each story:(1st&2nd: Long-short series. Neighbor's friend from childhood, Natsu is a very honor student but has been a weak and troublesome seme. Hero, Shuuji, very lively uke and Natsu will enter different high schools, so.....Tame seme & active uke, very minor couple but Itsuki's art is very major taste, so there is very good balance. Comical art is also very cute - description of cute hair is excellent and tempo is so good. Art using PC is also very effective / 3rd: Very proud singer appoints a young video artist for his video clip....Unique & a little minor profession but by major art, whole atmosphere becomes very contemporary Boys Love manga. Nice combination. Not boring. Very interesting. Not so complex. Kadokawa's BL manga walks the high road now/ 4th: Hero has kept bullied his friend since he was moved by tears of his friend who got beaten by hero at athletic festival. Hero finally absolutely bullies (rapes) his friend and regrets so much!...I cried. The tear of his friend is very lovely and face of bully seme who regrets is also very cute!! This story is just my type!! / 5th: A genius, sprinter student, an old boy comes to his athlete club of high school for training. Brothers who adores him are very excited. He orders an elder brother to be his bed buddy instead of his beautiful younger brother...Elder brother who can not express his love like younger one is very pitiful! Itsuki's uke is really manly and active / 6th additional newly written story of name piece). (by Slash-kun 16/Apr/2005)
Iwaaki Hitoshi
"Historie vol.2" (Koudansha) Oct/2004 9.0
1st and 2nd volumes were released together. In this volume, Eumenes wonders why his mother shows partiality to his inferior brother and knows the secret of his birth by in the wake of his father's murder by escaped Scythian slave. The story develops rapidly. Eumenes who seemed to be a just clever boy of the family of noble race really has serious background, comes down to be a slave after his stepfather died and experiences hardship. But Eumenes never gives up and confronts his fate and it impresses the readers very much. Iwaaki is really genius story teller! His art is not so skillful but I fully realize that interest of manga does not depend on "skillfulness of art" (but on "story"). This series is serialized on "Monthly Afternoon", so next volume will not released soon. I can hardly wait! (by Slash-kun 21/Mar/2005)
Iwaaki Hitoshi
"Historie vol.1" (Koudansha) Oct/2004 8.9
Latest long series of historical real person by mangaka who wrote very popular SCI-FI series, "Kiseijyuu". Lifetime of Eumenes, a scholar, a close adviser of Alexander. This, first volume depicts young Eumenes helps a party of Aristotle, a person wanted by the law escapes to escape from Assos of Persia to Kardia, the colonial city of Athens, Eumenes' home, manages to slip in Kardia which tightly locks the castle gate under pressure of the Macedonian army and remembers his childhood in front of his home. Iwaaki is very good at using a lot of savage/cruel scenes and humorous ones as usual and his unique primitive & funny art is very meaningful and unwearying. There are so many intellectual and historical episodes and Iwaaki has chosen very good subject to take advantage of his intelligence. Intellectual hero is very likable! This series is very exciting seinen manga for me for the first time in many years and I feel in my bones that it becomes so great masterpiece! (by Slash-kun 21/Mar/2005)
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K-O:
KAEN
"Pink Butterfly" (Magazine Magazine) Feb/2005 *** 8.43
6 short stories (A body painter meets up again with his old childhood friend and paints to patch romantic wound../ Hero answers an advertisement of part-time worker at seaside clubhouse and is ordered to gather the stuff of snowcone.../ twin brothers. A younger bro decides to study abroad leaving serious elder brother who succeeds their family / Romance between a physical-education teacher and mathematics teacher / Couple of con men. They try to expel evil spirits and make love with customers but they simply enjoy sex.../ Hero who suffers from old ancestral rule decides to escape with his waiting man / An office worker picks up a boy like a stray dog. But the boy is a son of CEO and gets laid off). KAEN excites readers as usual with a lot of explicit & radical sex scenes with a little SM taste and gorgeous, beautiful and tall characters. Subjects are various. In this volume, there are more brighter, more comical, happier stories than usual. So more entertaining. But details are hard-core/geeky (Mathematics teacher makes dildo with his mathematical knowledge, White sneak joins the activity of expelling evil spirit,,etc) as usual and pleases her fans very much! (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
Kajimoto Jun
"Kimi to Dinner" (Magazine Magazine) Dec/2003 *** 8.53
Comedy series of food company workers' romance and 3 short stories (A little dark serious short story. Hero tries to make love in fun with a guy who suffers from one-sided love for his good friend who is going to get married soon. But hero begins to love the guy seriously.../ Good story of youth. Undercover novelist who has pretended a girl and an illustrator meet for the first time. But they have been deeply related since they were student / Very short nonsense PWP. 2 office workers who have been good friends for 3 years. But one finally cross the Rubicon...). The name piece series is interesting though it is PWP because it's a story of a company. The idea that hero, Wakamiya has ED (erectile dysfunction) problem and his puisne employee gives his service of remedy to hero is very nice. Puisne employee is too able & reliable, so I can not empathize with him so much but his character that usually shows proper respect for Wakamiya and adores like a dog but sometimes becomes nasty makes Wakamiya cry (Especially at making love, he becomes sadistic in complete contrast. Very erotic) is very interesting. The contrast of serious face at work and erotic one at sex is also very sexy! The punch line of "slow food" of the end is very hilarious! The comment for each short story:(Sketch of two guys who have relations for money alone but tries to get what they can't. Quiet taste! Nice adult story. Kajimoto said modestly at her postscript that this story was halfway and she didn't finish writing but I like suggestive story like this / The story of reunion. Hero happens to meet on business with his puisne student to whom he made sexual approaches by force. He is revenged. Angst with BDSM taste, so it's my type! Kajimoto's tender human drama is nice but I love short, impressive & strong stories, too / Interesting but I prefer 4 koma comedy manga about Kajimoto's husband. Perhaps Kajimoto's excellent art is too wasteful for short nonsense comedy...). (by Slash-kun 10/Jul/2004)
"HAPPY RING" (Kousai Shobou) Sep/2003 *** 8.6
6 short stories written about 2 years ago (The love beyond taboo of a couple with age gap which is likened to flower blooming out of season and unhatched egg / A cake eater escapes into next door, a room of a high school student preparing for an exam. He tries to teach "joy of life" to the student but is taught vice versa / Two contemporary office workers. They were friendly when they entered company but now their rank is established and they are on cat-and-dog terms. Hero feels sick from drinking while entertaining customers.../ Hero who lives with his sister should live with his old friend instead because she will get married. There is a sour past between hero and his friend but his friend is willing to avoid hero somehow.../ The name piece. Hero tries to revenge his senior lover who is good at sex but no good at speaking at his birthday / A young guy who is tired from urban life is loved by a deaf-and-dumb & rural boy and recovers his healthy mind). Every story is interesting, has deep theme or strong message, is very human and is well worth reading though it is very erotic. Especially 3rd story of office workers is really interesting for me. I love rival stuffs! I can understand uke who is moved by seeing disgraceful figure of superior guy. In this story, Kajimoto really draws well the quality of real & vivid penis. And in 2nd story, a droopy penis of a high school student is so well drawn, too. Very realistic and detailed. That's like married woman! So excellent. This student is very bold and cool though he is younger than hero. His school uniform is so sexy! 2nd and 3rd stories were written in 2001 and Kajimoto's sex scenes of this period was very aggressive and hot. Her uke was not so tender and the power balance between seme and uke is nearly equal, so I can enjoy their romance without disquietingly mixed emotions. Now Kajimoto's work may aim at human line/style and it is not entirely satisfactory for me. I could enjoy her old work (lack of literariness) without any need for convincing. Sorry for my greed. Well I'd like Kajimoto to develop both taste for her fan because both have respective goodness. Last of all, about 5th story, name-piece. I can understand well why this story is name-piece. It's a small discontent and settlement in daily life. Even heterosexual ordinary couples have similar experience. For people, a small happiness is really valuable. Seme who regrets what he has done is so lovely! (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2004)
Kamei Yogorouta
"Kitsune no Tamayobai" (Shoubunkan) Feb/2004 *** 8.78
Shota fantasy of fox's marriage like japanese old folklore. The story:(This is the year a lord of foxes will marry. The village people hide their daughters. Yuyu, a misfit boy poorly treated at home is nominated for a victim. A staff fox of the lord, Shuro persuades Yuyu to be a bride, then Yuyu opens his heart. But knowing Shuro is not bridegroom but just a staff, Yuyu was so shocked / Shuro has been married with Yuyu, so Shirotae, a soppy half brother of Shuro become lonelier. Kuroha, a crow actually loves Shirotae but can't help teasing Shirotae. A next lord of foxes, Tsugomori comes to punish Shuro and tries to kidnap Shirotae instead. Kuroha tries to save but is nearly killed by the followings of Tsugomori...). Kamei's first commercial book. Reissue of her djs. The art resembles Kumiko Sasaki and very skillful. Characters are very cute and old japanese country scenery, small animals and Kimono (japanese old clothes) are fantastic and beautiful. Shirotae of last half story is really lovely (Especially his ears!). Shota is basically cute and pitiful and much more animals' story. Kamei's story telling is so skillful because she keeps fundamentals of folklore (containing unhappy, cruel and mysterious factors and ending is happy). Her characters are also very attractive (Nasty Kuroha is very lovely. The scene that he nearly dies and Shirotae cries is so heartrending!). A lot of heart ache and loveliness. And sex scene of shota taste is steadily hot. I'm so glad to read such a great work through at one go by commercial reissue of her long djs series. I'd like to praise Kamei's effort to keep so long djs series and appreciate Shoubunkan to discover a new great mangaka of fantastic animal shota story!!(by Slash-kun 22/May/2005)
Kamuro Akira & Takao Hiroi
"Himitsu no Kuchiduke" (Magazine Magazine) Nov/2004 *** 8.85
Hard-core short stories for adult readers so like Magazine Magazine (Romance between a professor and a sales rep of office automation equipment. They become finally lovers but the professor seems to hide something.../ Romance between teachers. One teacher calls delivery service of prostitute but he is his colleague! They love each other but he can't stand because his colleague keeps thinking of his whoredom as part of his job / A new cabin attendant of sleeping Express car and his supervisor who aims at him. On the day of his first boarding, the supervisor thinks out a plan and asks his senior associate to pretend to be a selfish customer. They will enjoy threesome sex / Young couple of just a year since they met. They visit a hot-spring resort to celebrate their anniversary but quarrel over least favorite food. Another couple of meddle aged guests who get tired of their sex life tries to step in as a mediator. They enjoy foursome sex! / A guy who never goes ahead happens to know his supervisor who often takes down him is really a sex pervert. He makes the supervisor his sexual slave. Another young colleague wonders their abnormal relation and tries to find the reason. He is involved in their insane threesome sex.../ An ex-genius singer who lost both of his career and his parents by the murder. Now he is working as a pianist at bar and also as a prostitute and keeps murders for revenge. A detective who has kept pursuing this case finally hunts down a criminal). This is a first book of the authors!! How amazing! The stories are authentic and art is so excellent! (Very beautiful naked bodies or faces with sexual and dark shadow and accurate drawing. Real description with thin lines and dirt like "Gekiga" - manga for guys. Well-proportioned naked body, strained beautiful muscles, good usage of screen tone, fine posture, beautiful bones - everything is wonderful! Even wrinkle of clothing. Especially art of middle aged guys with dark expression of their faces, masculine & thick eyelash & eyebrow and stubble is very awesome & sexy!). Characters are adult and their sexual intercourse is very hot. 3 stories contain gorgeous threesome sex (Third story of cable crew alone is worth buying! Try to buy it, just for the heck of it!). I love such mangaka like this. I think last 2 dark stories are author's forte but such dark stories add spice to 3rd or 4th comical erotic ones as a result. Author's dark art fits well with hardcore PWP. Most powerful combination. So I want the author to write comedy just once in a while! This book is the author's debut one but I could enjoy their various talent. Highly recommended. Comment for each stories:(1: I busted a gut laughing at foot fixation. The scene at shower is very beautiful / 3: Awesome. The senior associate is so cool! / 4: Foursome sex scene is overwhelming! / 5: Scene sexually humiliated with business suit is very sexy. Supervisor's S&M costume is great, too! / 6: Pathos of guys is very touching). (by Slash-kun 22/Oct/2006)
Kanbe Akira
"Cool Down" (Kaiousha) Dec/2003 *** 8.4
Shota romance of a selfish boy, the son of CEO and his father's secretary who is very cool but a little strict and cold. The story :(A junior high school student and a son of big company's CEO, Makoto Aizawa is not quite satisfied with his father's secretary Shunsuke Hirai who was very tender but now is too strict. Makoto shadows Hirai to hold Hirai's weak point. Makoto sees Hirai meets with a woman at hotel and misunderstands it is secret rendezvous. Hirai finds Makoto's shadow and tries to rape to muzzle. Makoto gets a shock and consults with Kaibara who is an employee of his father's company. But Kaibara uses it and Hirai is nearly fired by suspicion of spy). Subordinate uke story and very easy to read. The art is skillful and beautiful and the story is tactful, accomplished and steady as a nice professional work. Hirai is very cool and attractive. But I could not understand very well why he loves Makoto (Because he becomes attached to Makoto by spending long time together?). There have been so many similar situations/setting in yaoi manga world, so I wish Kanbe to add something new or unique, not but that no failure is enough for many readers (too envious dilemma). At the end, a grown-up Makoto appears and it's very sexy! I wanted to read much about it!! (by Slash-kun 09/May/2004)
Kanzaki Takeshi
"Jun-ai Seichouki" (Magazine Magazine) Mar/2005 *** 8.6
Comedy of best friends-couple between whom their parents have come. The story:(Kazuya and Nozomi are so intimate that they enjoy jacking off each other. Kazuya has been hesitate to be uke but on the day he finally decides to accept Nozomi, Kazuya's square father sees the making love of Kazuya and Nozomi. Kazuya's father makes his son enter the residential high school which president is Sakuragi who was a junior member at rugby club when Kazuya's father was a high school student. Eiichi, a roommate of Kazuya, a very loyal sevak of Sakuragi & Osoi-uke trains sexually Kazuya to be "a good seme"...). I'm very glad because Kanzaki wrote very geeky story (just like Kanzaki) after a long time. But for Slash-kun, a middle-aged woman, the mischief is that I prefer adult couple, Kazuya's father and Sakuragi to younger couple, heroes. Kazuya's father is also a little unsatisfactory because he is a little hesitating to accept homosexual relationship with Sakuragi. If he completely gives in to Sakuragi, my rating will exponentially rise! I wish this was a little more geeky.... Kanzaki or editor's hesitation is regrettable... (by Slash-kun 29/Apr/2005)
"Saikyou Lover" (Magazine Magazine) Mar/2004 *** 8.55
Long series of bodyguard couple of security company who love & hate each other and 2 short stories (Romance between guys with age gap, a son of declining japanese hotel and a successor of big hotel chain who was friend like his brother / Hero has rendered his service of masturbation to guard his cute best friend from a nasty chairman of school committee for discipline who is affable in public but hero finds he really has annoyed his friend). The story of long series:(Saji and his puisne co-worker, Ryousuke Takeuchi who work at security company are roommates of company dormitory. Ryousuke is handsome but his personality is very bad. He should guard a son of a councilor who has been harassed by his opponents with Saji. Facing Saji's crisis, Ryousuke leaves his client and attacks enemy, so they have their pay curtailed...). Series of name-piece: Saji, seme has funny face (both handsome and fun-loving). So I think some fans like his offbeat attraction and others not. Ryousuke, uke, a bad loser has bad personality and cute! Kanzaki has researched well bodyguard business, and nice terms, costumes, properties and action scenes have made this story very real. 2nd short story: My just favorite setup! Nasty chairman of school committee for discipline is intelligent model student but evil-minded uke! Similar as a senior SDF personnel of "Meisai Tengoku". Power balance between seme and uke is equal and it's my favorite. I want this to be long series. Seeing reference, this 2nd short story is oldest (written in 2001). Others were during 2002 and 2003. As the author referred, all stories were published on the magazine of Biblos. I'm afraid Biblos may intend to let Kanzaki write young and cute uke and her style will be going to get away from my preference. Umm. I really wish Kanzaki to come back to the style like 2nd short story!! So much. (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2005)
"Hishoshitsu no Himitsu" (Take Shobou) Dec/2003 *** 8.6
Short stories of working guys (A head of detective agency should leave office for overseas business trip. His son, Nori stands in for him. But Nori is always tossed by gay & lewd staff, Aoi who was working at police and is very proficient, disportionate to small agency ex-public detective / Aoi's friend, young CEO, Yukari Miyasako is very proficient but gay and lewd, too. He makes a pass at young employees indiscriminately. His serious and honest secret, Usami has often gotten angry. One day Usami is headhunted and it makes him get paranoid to master Miyasako. Usami confesses his feeling to Miyasako honestly and is rejected. Miyasako thinks he can't hold Usami up and gives the classified information to Usami for gift of job-changing / A fervent young teacher of PE sees a school doctor gives naughty medical treatment to boy student at the 3rd storage. But knowing the past of school doctor and true figure of treatment,,,/ An employees who joined the company in the same year of hero and superior to hero in all points except experience with women suddenly breaks in hero's project and should work together though he has his own job. The employee says he did because of hero). I expected so much because this book was first one by Kanzaki from Take Shobou of "Magazine Reijin". But the 1st story was not so unique and sex scene was average among Kanzaki's works. But other stories were very good. Both uke and seme are tall adult guys. Especially nasty CEO, Yukari is just my type! If Yukari was uke, he would be better like "Meisai Tengoku", Kanzaki's masterwork of SDF! Lewd school doctor may be almost my ideal. Inviting uke. I may like proficient uke who is good at conspiracy. The order of stories were regrettable. Comment for each story (1: The face of seme, Aoi is a little funny, so I could not have a lot of romantic feeling. Uke, Nori was too cute, too / 2: Very good and geeky! Usami is cool and intelligent secretary in spectacles! Seme-oriented Usami conflicts with Miyasako head-on. Usami who suffers from wild fancies to master strong men is so funny! Miyasako, CEO is also nice because he is a very bad buy. I wish Miyasako occasionally becomes uke for Usami. I want to read sequel, Usami's revenge! / 3: Very nice & happy couple! I'm very glad to know a school doctor - So fascinating attacking uke - was really nice guy. The story has charade element and is very thrilling. I love the story of solving their problem hand in hand / 4: I love this story, too! I love without condition the story of rival workers who entered the company at same time. Especially I like this because hero loves work behavior or competence of his rival who does double work!). (by Slash-kun 29/May/2005)
"HH Remix" (Daitosha) Oct/2003 *** 8.55
The reissue of "HH" issued from Biblos. The erotic fantastic series of threesome sex (A demon, Lay and an angel, Luca come to earth in the disguise of students. They lodge at the house of a japanese high school student, Hazumi. They are fighting for a proxy war using earth between devildom and upper region but they fall in love with Hazumi at once...) and very good & dark short S&M story of the school (Soft S&M story. Strange relationship between a very pretty but devilish & sadistic student and a honor-roll housemaster but masochistic student) and another short story of teacher & student (Compensated dating between a school doctor and a student will become into real true love) and newly written story of "HH". The reissue of works written in 1998 - 1999 but a lot of re-written, so it compares favorably with latest works. Very rich in variety and challenging (fantasy, S&M,,etc) though they are not superior to Kanzaki's great masterpiece, "Meisai Tengoku". The art has been very excellent since her early works and evaluation for Kanzaki's art has been very high (But her uke face of early works was too pretty). About long series: Kanzaki calls this "pseudo-fantasy" with humility but it's quite OK as "yaoi/Boy's love" stuffs. It's very funny that the hair of angel is black (and is very lewd) and one of demon is white (acts an honor-roll character)! Luca's teacher, Ashel, a middle aged & bad guy is also funny! Kanzaki's art, especially marvelous feathers are excellent. Her art skill is so great. And sex scenes are very aggressive and hot. I prefer Lay who is modest & a little sullen/quiet, so I wish he will be happy next time. And I'd like to read threesome sex scenes more. About 1st short story: Very geeky & hard-core. This work is not new but I may prefer this minor taste. About 2nd short one: Very moving & dramatic! I'm very surprised to know the name is brother's. How pitiful the teacher was. Very well-written human story. It is to be regretted the sex scenes are not so satisfied for that. (by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2004)
Kasaki Takao
"Nijiiro no Umi ni Utsuru Tsuki" (Shoubunkan) Feb/2005 *** 8.45
Short stories（A prince and his education official. The prince makes an unreasonable demand on the official to attract attention but the official breaks down from overwork / The sequel. A king suggests the official for the offer of marriage... / Hero is shocked to know his best friend will enter the univ in Osaka / While saving his classmate who is forced to have sexual intercourse with their teacher, hero falls in love with his classmate / A student council president and his loyal secretary. The president asks the secretary to accompany and guard from his stalker. But the president tells a lie..... / The sequel. Next president sees their intercourse at school and they are blackmailed...). I thought Kasaki's major popularity should be just "prettiness of her art" but Kasaki is really fond of "vulnerable seme" and her seme are very nice because they are somehow sensitive (or foolish). Especially the secretary with eyeglasses in last story is very unique and nice. Kasaki has recently issued her books one after another and that's the way it goes. She is a noteworthy mangaka.(by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2005)
"Trouble Honey Days" (Oakla Shuppan) Aug/2004 *** 8.5
Stories of students. One short story (Hero's parents shoot the moon in debt. Hero left alone can't help being a slave of his classmate) and 2 long-short series (Hero becomes a trial horse for his heterosexual friend to make love with a girl friend but hero can't disguise his feeling / A student of occult club loves a hungry vampire guy). Kasaki's first yaoi book. Typical nowaday BL works. Fine (refreshing) and cute art. Very skillful. Expression of feeling is delicate/elaborate and sex scenes are hot. Characters (Strong-minded uke and absent-minded & lustful seme) are very attractive. (by Slash-kun 10/Sep/2005)
Kataru Cisco
"Empty Heart" (Shoubunkan) Apr/2004 *** 8.8
2 old short series published on commercial magazines in the period of 1994 through 1997 (The girl friend of heart-throb senior of hero becomes pregnant. Hero makes money for abortion by prostitution.... / Love romance like "Akagi" & "Mitsui" of "Slam Dunk". A boy who nearly drops out by a bad ex-lover is saved by his old friend) and short stories (Sequel of latter series. The bad ex-lover clings to hero... / Hero, a timid boy desperately tries to guard his childhood friend & lover, a vamp guy, "Micchi" (like "Mitsui") from his delinquent elder brother). Reissue gathering precious old works. A must buy for Kataru's fans! Every story is interesting and powerful. Especially the art of this period containing African-American culture was cooler than current work. Kataru's early works have a lot of immature power and fervor and it makes me feel good/nostalgic but shameful youthful days. Comments for each story (1st long-short story: At first I couldn't enjoy a lot because the story was too dark, but at last I've been moved. So I think the editor had better not make this story as first one. This story was written very early 1994-95, but it already shows a sample of Kataru's genius. She wrote "losers" very well! Hero should part with his senior and the story is helpless/hope. But its hopelessness is so touching. Hero becomes natty in vain after he takes part in prostitution club and it makes hero even more miserable. Hero's word, "My gilt comes off" is very impressive!! / 2nd long-short one: The costume of young punks hanging out at the bar is very fashionable and modern! The art like baroque is very wild and cool / 1st short story: I love this one very much!! Readers will be healed/appeased by the helplessness of losers. They remind me of the losers of "Tada Yumi", a famous mangaka who often writes losers' stories. Kataru's ones are more brutal and her stories containing comedy may be more modern. I feel "beat", "energy", "chaos", "power" or "dirtiness" in Kataru's works. I love dirty art because it is very suitable to draw the *guys* realistically/wildly (Dirty art of women found in "adult pornographic manga" is just dirty/lustful...). Too beautiful art can't express real or ordinary people well. Oh. I'm really happy to be a woman who can enjoy (dirty) yaoi very much! The scene that hero feels heartache by accusing the mother of the bat ex-lover is really good. I understand many boys who are dumped by their mothers will lose their some parts of mind / 2nd short story: I love this, too! Kataru describes well the atmosphere of young punks who often commit theft or rape）(by Slash-kun 5/Mar/2006)
"Yuuenchi wa Nenjyuu Mukyuu" (Shoubunkan) Mar/2004 *** 9.5
Precious reissue as a book form of Kataru's early tour de force of youth about Mako and his ex-lover, Masaru and Masaru's younger brother, Turbo written during from 1994 to 1998 on anthology from various different publishers. The story:(A high school student, Mako Taguchi is seduced by Turbo, a junior high school student, a younger brother of Masaru Kageyama, a very popular & cool surfer who dumped Mako. Mako neglects Turbo at first because Turbo is younger and a brother of ex-lover. But he gives in and becomes couple because of Turbo's single-track passion. Knowing it, Masaru presses Mako to come back. But Mako chooses Turbo because of Masaru's undiminished dishonesty. Then Masaru tells Mako that Turbo is a professional-level football player and is now discovered by prestigious university of Shizuoka. Mako persuades Turbo to part with him and go to Shizuoka. But Turbo misunderstands and thinks Mako changed his mind and now loves Masaru...). Reading this, I can't think this was written years ago because "real & everlasting youth" is described. Everyone can meet their young & glorious days when they read this book. The exploding power of youth, volant soul is greatly expressed. Any mangaka, novelists are fresh & powerful at their debut and the art of early Kataru is very pop & unique under the influence of Jamaican reggae. Usage of pattern or contrast is very fashionable and innovative. Ugly face of Turbo is so individual. I may prefer her art of this period (Especially thick and manly eyebrow of Uke is nice). Now Kataru's art may become ordinary affected by other popular boy's love mangaka and it is a little regrettable. There may be no other way of being commercial yaoi mangaka than to change her art as popular way...The reason boys life in this book like goods in the room, music and fashion is so real, I think Kataru was enough young to remember adolescent boy around her so vividly. So the adoration for future partner is very strong, too. Hero(uke), Mako's superficially-contradictory & uncompromised action expresses the strength sensibility of typical girls at adolescence and it reminds me of my youth. It's very real that more lonely Mako feels, more he makes love or dishonesty of Masaru who is so popular (He often tells a tender but quick-fix lie and Kataru's expression is so excellent!). The youthful days - repetition of quarrel and reconciliation. Ah, sweet memories! And pureness of Turbo is so lovely, too. Lover's spat around Mako by brothers or senior&younger students is also real & nice. I could sympathize with Mako who is an only ordinary character and often bother himself about many things because his sympathize may be nostalgic & funny like a heroine of old drama (who often shouts like "Don't quarrel for me!"). Monologues is very elaborate and poetic. Each part makes this story into eternal masterpiece! I felt Kataru was so genius & was standing out from all the others mangaka when I read Kataru's work at first (I read one episode of this book at Biblos's anthology, I was so surprised and moved. Little did I dream that I could whole series!! How happy I am. Thanks Shoubunkan so much!!) and now my impression does not change. For Kataru's fan this is not only must-read early great work but also for people this is a precious work that will go down in the history of yaoi!! (by Slash-kun 01/May/2005)
Kayama Yumi
"Replicant no Yoru" (Taiyou Tosho) Nov/2004 *** 8.6
Angst dark but happy ending story. The story:(Hero goes to the wedding ceremony of his senior whom he loved. There a younger brother of the senior threatens him, "I will tell your feeling to my brother if you refuse my love"). Younger seme with angst is my type and I enjoyed a lot. Dark story and hard sexual intercourse (with a little SM taste) but happy ending, so many people can enjoy, too. A little younger brother when hero was much younger is sooooo cute (Younger brother often tries to push in hero and elder one)!! At the postscript there is a hard episode of her surgery for breast cancer and I'm very surprised. She has been through a lot. Owing to her hardship, I could read this book. I wish her to keep good health. But she died in July 2005(In Kayama's official site, we can read her diary of 2 years struggle with disease - http://diary2.cgiboy.com/2/yumixxx/index.cgi?y=2005&m=7#29). I have too many stories I want to read the sequel! However I wish, I can never read them. May her soul rest in peace.(by Slash-kun 24/Sep/2005)
"Mendou Michauyo" (Jitsugyounonihonsha) Jul/2004 *** 8.57
Two long-short stories. The story of rugby club at high school(A college student who is a rugby player comes for training of members in rugby club of his high school. An ace member is very skillful but frivolous. He misunderstands the college student and rapes...) and poor sales rep takes care of his relatives who suffers from a stalker. She now suspends her popular series of Katsuhiko because Magazine, "MYBOY" was suspended. But this new stories are equally interesting, too. The couple of the first story about rugby club is very unique (An ace student of rugby club at high school and a college student who graduated from it). And Senior uke (younger seme) of my favorite. The story is very thrilling (each time younger hurts his senior, my heart wrenches) and very tactful. The senior student may be misfortune but readers feels happiness. During her writing 2nd story, she underwent an operation of breast cancer. She has been through a lot. I really hope she keeps writing her manga for long time. (by Slash-kun 05/Mar/2005)
Kayuma Mimu
"And, Love!" (Biblos) Jul/2005 *** 8.73
Extreme erotic manga series of students (Many episodes! because one episode is very short) like pornographic comic for adult male readers. The stories:(Student couple, Oonishi, a very serious A-student but an uncommunicative lech and Yuuki, a meek one. Yuuki eats guarana chocolate his classmate, Itou gave. On a crowded train he gets the horn on his way back.../ Summer night festival. Oonishi and Yuuki take a short cut. Along the way Yuuki's sandal thong breaks. Oonishi tries to fix it but feels like giving Yuuki a blow job, then they enjoy outside sex with Yukata / They play legs of horse in a school play. They are absorbed in enjoying sexual pleasure with stocking and ping-pong ball and lose track of time. The real stage starts and Yuuki can't pull out the ball and reaches a climax on the stage / Yuuki thinks Sugi, his popular junior in school is very cool because Sugi seems to have no obsession with sexual desire. Then Yuuki pretends to be unconcerned about Oonishi not to be bored by Oonishi. Oonishi who has a touch of cold gets angry by seeing Yuuki acting cozy with Sugi having a reputation as a sex pervert. Oonishi gets cold medicine (but really love magic) from Sugi and gives Yuuki punishment in the sickbay / Yuuki gets jealous to see Oonishi teased by female classmates for being a stuffed shirt and kissed. But Oonishi plays Yuuki by making love / Oonishi sleeps over at Yuuki's house for the first time. Yuuki shows shame but Oonishi intentionally acts like spoiled child and asks for petting. Seeing Oonishi's gap between usual solemn attitude and sweet & spoilt one like a baby now, Yuuki is proud that Oonishi has changed by Yuuki's influence / Romantic series between Kamichika, a senior at school and Sugi. Kamichika gets heavily drunk at party. Sugi lets Kamichika stay at Sugi's home and changes Kamichika's underwear with women's one. Next day, Kamichika doesn't notice it and is threatened by Sugi at school with wearing it and photographed / Oonishi feels jealous to see Yuuki who enjoys dirty jokes about first masturbation with Sugi. He orders Yuuki to show it / Kamichika's family leaves home for trip. Then Sugi comes to stay for a week instead. Sugi promises that he never hits on Kamichika's younger brother and demands Kamichika to compensate it. Kamichika is cultivated sexually and he can reach the climax by only caress on his nipples / Summer vacation is over. Yuuki is surprised to see Oonishi has gotten dramatically taller. Yuuki who is small in stature feels inferior complex and fear and keeps ignoring Oonishi even during school excursion / By Sugi's scheme Kamichika is brought to Sugi's cottage in Hawaii with Oonishi and Yuuki. Kamichika keeps refusing Sugi's lovemaking and Sugi nearly loses his temper. But seeing carryings-on by Oonishi and Yuuki, Sugi realizes what ordinary dating of lovers is / At the end of the year, Yuuki gets hopelessly drunk by a bad friend of Yuuki's brother. Yuuki tells his friend the cancellation of new year's visit to a shrine by phone but Oonishi mistakenly thinks that Yuuki cheats on Oonishi with other. Oonishi declares he will make love with Yuuki 107 times / Sugi is absent from school and Kamichika goes and comfort Sugi. Sugi is down with the flu and says he will recover if Kamichika kisses him. Kamichika sympathizes with and kisses Sugi because Sugi won't touch Kamichika not to be disliked. Sugi is allowed to tough Kamichika and they rub their penises each other / School frisking. Yuuki should hide Sugi's vibrator into his body / People can see Kamichika's nipple through his wet clothes by rain. Sugi hides Kamichika by curtain and brings him to sickbay. To conceal his embarrassment, Kamichika refers to Sugi's word and it angers Sugi. Sugi bullies Kamichika by nipple S&M play / Recollection of first time between Oonishi and Yuuki. Their date even without kiss. Yuuki was anxious to make love but when it came down to it, Yuuki shrank away. Oonishi got out and Yuuki followed him. Yuuki mistakenly thought Oonishi was sexually molested by Sugi though they happened to meet and went shopping together). The author, Kayuma is a djska of "Tenipri (Tennis no Oujisama - a very popular manga of tennis club of high school)" but this is her first commercial book. The fresh art resembles Kulo Kotoeri (Comical art resembles Tamaki Fuji) and its pen stroke is very flowing. But sex scenes are extremely erotic (Full of onomatopoeia)! So I'm really surprised at the gap. Each story is very short but most of the scenes are "sexual intercourse"! It's really admirable(Her editor demands 80% should be...)! And they keep me interested with various ideas (Sex with stocking is really fascinating!). I can't believe this is first book. Anyway we shouldn't miss Kayuma's great expression of the characters feeling which makes her sex scenes very powerful. I especially love the character of Oonishi who is really an honor student. He is very letch and becomes selfish like a baby only in front of Yuuki. And I also loves Yuuki's rapt expression. And another couple (Kamichika and Sugi) is very nice, too! The process strait-laced Kamichika is seduced by Sugi is very tactful. It reminds me of Kaori Monchi's excitement. Sugi is very nice, too. He is diabolic/cruel (He puts woman's underwear on Kamichika and enjoys giving wedgies or ties Kamichika's nipple up with thread) or becomes such a baby. No matter what he says he thinks Kamichika is dearer than his life (In this book, Sugi did not actually penetrate Kamichika but I really long for it and the sequel!!). A big & precious new mangaka who can draw very touching and erotic sex scenes has emerged! (by Slash-kun 21/Mar/2007)
Kihara Toshie
"Tsue to Tsubasa vol.4" (Shougakukan) Nov/2003 * 8.6
Adel makes love to Ryuu but Germene squeals on Adel, then she is put in jail...The story:(Revolutionary government starts in-depth crackdown of counterrevolutionary to suppress citizen's discontent by external pressure and poverty and put over revolution. Nobles are sent to the guillotine and people involved are also thrown in prison, then Saint-Matin Press becomes dangerous, too. Adel is disappointed by cold Saint Just, then she gets laid with Ryuu. Saint Just beats off Prussian army at northern Strasbourg. Germene, Fabre's sister has loved Ryuu, then she hates Adel and tells her that Ryuu sacrificed a child of village people and survived. But Adel does not give up. Germene denounces Adel to the authorities and Adel goes to prison). Oh! I enjoyed this volume again! Initial part, a short summary of setback from the start is very kind and understandable. It's good professional work with thoughtful consideration. Among reign of terror, happy Adel who was joined with Ryuu is a little invidious for readers but knowing it, how Saint Just is chagrined is quite delightful. And Germene's jealousy has too lucky Adel in a mire. But Adel never gives up and her courage, manliness and toughness are so great that we can not help but support her. So the scene of making love with Ryuu does not become so disagreeable. How tactful and wonderful Kihara's talent as a storyteller is. Adel's backs are against the wall but I believe she will definitely get through. For fans, thrill like this is also fun. I can hardly wait next volume and I'm really moved by Kihara's skill. Kihara's expression of characters is also very excellent. Her description of Saint Just and Robespierre is very interesting!! Duo, Ryuu and Fabre is really nice, too (A little slashy). Kihara uses well other supporting characters, Ryuu's father, his relatives, beau-pere, Oranpe (Ryuu's supporter), Barentin (weak but intelligent guy),,etc in historical story. And Kihara's historical description of Saint Just who cut deeply into corrupt syndic and pulled army's morale together is also marvelous. Kihara's ability is summed up in the single word, "Wonderful". She is a real veteran. She and Ryouko Yamagishi should be the two greatest female mangaka who keep their hand in Japan. (by Slash-kun 03/Jul/2004)
Kirigakure Takaya
"Immoral Kids" (Ohkula Shuppan) Oct/2003 *** 8.4
PWP stories with shota taste and with a lot of explicit sex scene as if adult male mangaka's shota manga. The long hilarious series of elementary school (later, junior high school) with a very lewd pupil (A transfer pupil, Masato Tonegawa is raped by Yoshimasa Tsuda whose family engage in porno business. Yoshimasa has sexual relationship with all pupils. A new pupil, Pierre, an russian, who is a friend of Masato at survival game convention joins the school and they hit the fan) and 2 short stories (A gamer, nephew stays shortly the house of his uncle, a gamer creator. The creator feels his saucy nephew very cute... / 2 boys enjoy their m/m sex though both of them have girl friends. They feels vague uncertainty for future). About first long series, author's effort to incorporate many comical scenes (funny expressions) (though they are very minute) is rather touching. The comicality is very simple, stupid like the taste of "Drifters"(japanese famous old comedian group. Very simple and hilarious), "worn-out joke" or same comicality of "Koro Koro Comics (or Bonbon Comics)" (manga magazines for children). Among the many gags, the gag about russians or Kurione (A japanese rare sea animal) is unique, geeky and so hilarious for me. The part of junior high school becomes unexpectedly very interesting because the author uses many parody of elementary school part (The long train of many men's sex or sunbath of Kurione or Kurione's brother,,etc). Kirigakure has a good comical talent! So if first part of this book or story is more emotional, yaoi fans may be more interested in this book. I love the adult couple, Kurione's brother and a teacher! About first short story: Very natural. But I feel that something is a little missing. Nonsense gag is more suitable for this author. The punch-line, a nephew has m/m experience was geeky... About next short story: The expression of mind/feeling is very impressive and moving. As if it is pure, normal "Boys Love" story! Oh. Surprising. The art is too comical but I love this last short story. (by Slash-kun 30/May/2004)
Kita Matose
"Katakoi x Renjyou" (Oakla Shuppan) Aug/2005 *** 8.58
Kita's 2nd book. Short stories (An ace host of host club winds up crashing at second fiddle host's place like a dog and they start living together. Second host hated the ace but can't bear to be parted from the ace / Sequel. Point of ace's view / The couple of paper wedding. Hero is waiting his partner's return with homemade dish but a lustful sales rep comes... / The couple of high school student who are going to graduate. Hero will enter local college but his partner decides to go to univ at Tokyo.../ Unsuccessful sales rep of underwear is scolded by his supervisor. He finds a kind customer but the customer orders him to fit the underwear on / Very rigorous supervisor. Hero rapes the supervisor by exploiting supervisor's acrophobia and their power relationship turns back. To bully the supervisor hero tries to date with female worker but he is shocked to know the supervisor decides to resign / A teacher and his student decide to part on the occasion of the graduation. But the student can't give up and finds the secret of the teacher / Hero sees the sexual intercourse of his teacher and another student through the rock of "legend" which brings the partner to viewer. Then hero is involved into threesome sex...). This book is not so radical as previous, debut one (Perhaps there are not so much conflict or are just much consensual carrying-on scenes). But some stories involve me. Especially the story of supervisor and his subordinate or threesome sex story. The sex scenes are hot and aggressive, so if Kita would challenge the stories with more taboo or conflict, her work will be so excellent. (by Slash-kun 19/Sep/2005)
Kitasato Senju
"Ryu no Yuigon vol.7" (Jitsugyounonihonsha) Apr/2004 *** 8.6
Asagi's raising children comedy and 2 short side stories. The story:(Asagi is very bold and sexy for Tenran if they are alone but in public Asagi always stands on ceremony. Asagi also refuses Tenran's courtship. But Asagi should take care of a baby of Kodama, Hakuou and he becomes busier and it makes Tenran more nervous. Just at that moment a warped child of too busy site worker appears and bullies Hakuou.../ A twin brother of Asagi, Moegi suddenly grows very old and disappears. He does not eat his mother's heart which gives perennial youth and long life but deprives the special power from Moegi. Moegi holds a grudge against Asagi who had thought Moegi most important and comes to revenge. But Asagi says he has now more important lover than Moegi / The story of childhood of Ejiru. He is put out to nurse at human's family. There he knows unreasonable feeling of humans who are not almighty). The specialty of this volume is "making love of Asagi and Tenran for the first time". It takes so long time! In this volume we can see Tenran's funny discontent for too shy Asagi as usual. Kitasato is very good at using fantastic animal, Kodama! She is very familiar with fantastic literature & culture. Asagi as a mother is very lovely (carrying Hakuou piggyback, Not knowing what to do for Hakuou's accident,,etc). I don't like so much nursing story of yaoi characters but Asagi is very acceptable for me. The episode of bullying child is touching. The warm reaction of Asagi for the child is very nice and we can not help loving Asagi as well as Tenran can't. Asagi who makes effort for Tenran at library is also very lovely. This volume offers very good & much service for fans. Additional side short stories are very unique (have different mood) and interesting, too. At 1st short story, Asagi who declares his dearest lover is Tenran is very manly! And there is no baddie again and the story ends happy. It should come from the good personality of the author. Next short story is also very interesting! Child Ejiru is very cute and impressive. Kitasato is really good at making the story. She knows well the essence of fantasy. I'd like to read Ejiru's stories a lot! (by Slash-kun 17/Apr/2004)
"Ryu no Yuigon vol.6" (Jitsugyounonihonsha) Nov/2003 ** 8.65
In complete contrast to previous volume, this volume is very sweet & funny romantic comedy! The story:(The peace returns to Tenran and Asagi. No one will interfere with their love but Asagi tries to escape owing to his shyness. Just at that moment, a rival of Asagi appears. Suihou who inherits the blood of "flying dragon with jade green" volunteer for Tenran's entourage and the palace is in utter confusion. But Suihou gradually realizes the beauty of Asagi's mind...). Really good story. Asagi shows his real ability, the power of healing the people. His jealousy is also very lovely, too! He comes as a fresh reminder that his charm is his pleasant disposition. It's natural that Tenran loves Asagi again. Suihou who is moved with Asagi is also a very nice boy. And I'm very happy to know Marsha becomes happy, too. I feel the goodness of the author (She has a heart of gold because every 7 character can be happy & satisfactory with no baddie). Tenran who is fed to death with Asagi who is too shy & dreads Tenran to make love easily is hilarious, too. This volume, sweet & romantic comedy makes me really relieved (can read very smoothly). The story of this kind is more suitable for the peaceful & tender art like Kitasato and fans want to read. Very satisfactory and no problem. I prefer it, too. (by Slash-kun 17/Apr/2004)
"Ryu no Yuigon vol.5" (Jitsugyounonihonsha) Sep/2003 ** 8.6
A king of Darkness which has been sealed in Asagi arises and Tenran fights it at the risk of his life. The story:(Tenran feels weird over Asagi's recent change, so he orders Oboro to investigate Asagi's father in reverse gear. Coincidentally people begin to be annoyed with the appearance of "a family and relations of Darkness". Then kings holds the meeting at "The island of Tadanaka". They realize that a king of island who is a "sealing dragon" which has sealed "a king of Darkness" lives on borrowed time and "a stone of memory" which decides a successor has been missing since a big earthquake of 20 years ago. Asagi is possessed by the king of Darkness and he nearly kills even Marcia. Asagi escapes into his home. Tenran pursues Asagi and swears to find the stone of memory without fail. A son of the king of island, Haman thinks Asagi should be killed with the king of Darkness and he finally goes to kill Asagi because he knows a successor does not appear in fact. But he loses by Asagi who is controlled by the king of Darkness. Tenran comes to save Asagi but Asagi disappears. The king of Darkness makes love with his subordinate, Kouran and switches with Asagi halfway and beats up Asagi mentally. OTOH a southern king, Ejiru goes to meet a mother of Tenran and asks her to make him possess the almost lifeless king, the sealing dragon in order to investigate the origin of an affair. Tenran confronts the king of Darkness. He tells Asagi that no successor has appeared and they go to "the crevice of time and space". The king of Tadanaka tells his will to Ejiru. Oboro just comes back and stops Tenran & Asagi and hands the stone of memory to Asagi. Oboro went back in time and accepted the request from Asagi's father. Asagi's father had been attacked by "a family and relations of Darkness" and parted into 2 souls to protect his gravid wife. One became the king of Darkness and was whisked by "a family and relations of Darkness" and another became the sealing dragon and possessed his baby. Now the time has come for 2 souls to become united in Asagi). The biggest climax of the series. The enigma of Asagi's birth will be disclosed in conjunction with the battle of the kind of Darkness vs the sealing dragon. The big battle involves the southern king, Ejiru and Tenran's mother, too. This series has been usually hilarious but this volume is very serious. Many, great and hard trials attack Asagi and Tenran but they always overcome with their love power. It's very moving. Kitasato describes well the basic structure of conflict in fantasy (Evil vs justice but they comes from same place) with authentic/traditional and excellent ways. I realize that she has a great knowledge of fantasy. But the story/events may be a little complex for the readers who are not familiar with fantasy, so I try to longer and more detailed explain of the story than usual. (by Slash-kun 17/Apr/2004)
Kotobuki Sakura
"Aka to Kuro no Kairitsu" (Kaiousha) Oct/2003 *** 8.58
Dangerous short stories with provocative genre/setting (a superior officer and subordinate one of Nazi / A hero has a crush on a senior, beautiful and violent guy at a rally of biker gangs. Challenging for many times, he can become a couple withe senior / Hero from childhood confesses his love to his best friend from childhood but is refused. He can not keep their friendship anymore.../ Obtaining employment through his parent's connection, hero is going to enjoy his "last vacation as a student" at southern island, Okinawa. He becomes familiar with a native boy but the time to part comes..../ Romance between half-brother / The prequel of 1st story. POV from subordinate). First book. 1st story of Nazi is so awesome! Geeky and subordinate seme. Taboo atmosphere is so fascinating. The art of costume is also very excellent. I want this serialization! And 4th story, Okinawa with dialect is also great & unique! The usage of dialect is so impressive. I have a weakness for dialect, so I'm very moved and cry. A native boy is so manly & touching - he is not vulnerable & not feminine. Blunt hero is also nice. Comments for other stories:(2nd: Very geeky, too. A senior biker gang is seme! though he is so beautiful like a woman. Hero is very lively & delinquent boy but uke / 3rd: The way of solution - showing masturbation - is unique! / 5th: The deep agony of younger brother is so pitiful & cute). Settings are very geeky (hard-core) and interesting for expert yaoi readers. I suppose Kotobuki should have unique talent and interest/taste/preference. Her sex scenes are very hot. But this is her first book. She is very promising! (by Slash-kun 16/May/2004)
Kotobuki Tarako
"SEX PISTOLS vol.2" (Biblos) Jun/2004 *** 10.0
2nd volume of very popular & greatest animal school fantasy series. Last episode of "class president & Yonekuni series" and another story of *breeding* between a senior student, Kumakashi and american elite at stud. story:(Yonekuni once refused his class president, Shiro Fujiwara but suffers from his delusion of Shiro so many times. He falls in a faint by cold shower and wakes at Shiro's room with his brother Yonekuni who comes to pick up. Yonekuni realizes this is not first case and accuses Shiro of hiding it. He tries to forget by sexual intercourse with a dog-girl but can't. Shiro resists going to school, too and he manages to come to school but Yonekuni's ex-friend, a dog-boy lower-class student insults Shiro. But Kunimasa encourages Shiro by saying, "Yonekuni is head over heels in love with you". Oushou challenges Yonekuni to a duel by "swimming" and Shiro tries to stop it and says "I will stop loving you any more" to Yonekuni. Yonekuni goes mad by misplaced anger, then takes Shiro to his room, makes love with Shiro and the mystery of his first love is solved. Shiro wakes up and finds himself being a white wolf unburdened by his parents' suggestion / A senior student, Teruo Kumakashi who was rejected by Kunio Tsuburaya has no choice but to accept *copulation* with an american grizzly bear, Joshua, a super elite stud son of "The McBears" by conspiracy of Teruo's mother and grandmother. Even if Teruo is a man but if he inserts a "Kaichuu" in his anal, it will prepare "temporary womb". Teruo desperately asks Norio to tell a lie and pretends to be his lover. But Joshua gets wild with rage and rapes Teruo by force). No female mangaka can integrate sci-fi and eroticism admirably like this!! Kotobuki seems to bring her technique to completion or reach the very top of similar genre at last. It may be no exaggeration to say that she is the greatest mangaka among yaoi sci-fi manga! Now we, Homo sapiens are equal and scarcely has status distinctions but in animal kingdom there is inexorably "being purebred or not" or "with pedigree or without". This fact offers "agony of love (like classic stories)" to this modern story. Kotobuki struck on a great idea! A class president, Shiro who has been convinced of being a monkey by his parents and a grizzly bear student, Joshua treated as a VIP at breeding business world. Both characters are made by using this "animal setup" to the full. Really interesting story. It should be the best title in 2004. And Kotobuki's art is really fascinating (She has researched well a gesture, pose, posture and bone structure of sexy handsome guys) and erotic, so her works never get vulgar/earthy. At same time, her works are not too highbrow and she is willing to pursue eroticism for us (So Yonekuni and Joshua can't stop their passionate action when they find their partner and start making love with them with outpouring of sweat. Comment for each story:(Very interesting contrastive characters. A tame and tender class president, Shiro and a spiteful, self-willed and arrogant, Yonekuni. Character like Yonekuni is now very popular as "Tsundere (At first very cold but at making love very passionate). I love Shiro because he is so caring and humble. He never hold a grudge against Yonekuni and keeps expressing his appreciation to Yonekuni who is extreme heck of a man. But when Shiro finally gives up keeping loving, Yonekuni gets panicky....Oh. What a tactful story line! Yonekuni's monologue at sex scene is wonderful, too. It's so nice situation that Shiro doesn't know what he really is! What a nice story Kotobuki made! Too great!! / The story of last half, of big bears is very interesting, too! A grizzly guy, Joshua is an elite stud and very tall but mentally very childish younger guy and it's so irresistibly attractive & unique!! The punch line / capper is unexpected. I like the stories of seme/seme of macho/macho (seemingly) very much. So I'm very happy to read this. Anyway I'm surprised that Kotobuki knows grizzly and could use it very well in the yaoi story. As you know by reading postscript of this book, Kotobuki has a detailed knowledge about "animals". She may often watch "Natural Geographic" TV on a routine basis. May be "science type". But her description of deep feeling is "art type". She is so great because she has both type advantage ("Ogre with an iron club"). So I never get tired of reading this! Really interesting story. Oh. I will give it 100 point, a perfect score. It should be the best title in 2004!!! (by Slash-kun 21/Jan/2006)
"SEX PISTOLS vol.1" (Biblos) Jan/2004 *** 10.0
The school drama with unique situation that there are two human beings, one evolved from monkey and another evolved from other animals. This first volume is the romance of two couples with semes are brothers. The story:(By motorcycle accident, Norio Tsuburaya, a high school student is suddenly reverted. People look to him as *animals* and he gets a lot of attention from them. The student of same school, Kunimasa Madarame, one of precious madara heavy (duplicated) species, suddenly approaches to knock up Norio and showers his sperm to Norio's face. Norio is cared for by Kunimasa's brother, Yonekuni and Yonekuni teaches him how to guard himself. Norio can not allow Kunimasa's sleazing, then he is dumped by Kunimasa. Yonekuni tries to get Norio instead.../ When Yonekuni was a junior high school student, he was a genius swimmer. Fujiwara Shiro who fell in love with Yonekuni at first sight then, enters same high school. Fujiwara becomes Yonekuni's fake friend because Yonekuni hates any men but he wants to hide it, so Fujiwara wants Yonekuni to obey Fujiwara's order once a day. Fujiwara has been satisfied with his small happiness but seeing Yonekuni's treating Norio tenderly, he is very shocked. Yonekuni who also recently sees Fujiwara in his dream somehow feels strong jealousy by seeing Oushou, a swimming club student cherishing Fujiwara. Yonekuni and Oushou's quarrel gets Oushou's coach mad and the coach cuts Yonekuni's long hair. Air conditioner gets out of order and Yonekuni becomes absolutely frozen. Kunimasa brings him to the sickbay. Fujiwara rushes there anxiously but Yonekuni declares he won't be a friend of Fujiwara...). I think this series is the best among Sci-fi yaoi stories. Not only it may be no exaggeration to say that this series is the best of all yaoi manga at the present moment! When I read this s for the first time, I was so knocked over by incredible & extraordinary great amusement and I have felt same sensation whatever I read. Outstanding unique setup, sexy and skillful art (especially seme's body and face), attractive characters description (seme who irritated about himself & sweet uke who agonize himself),,etc excellent at all points of yaoi expressions. To express this manga's goodness by words is very impatient/difficult but especially "setup" is so wonderful. I'm not good at enjoy sci-fi stories because I'm not good at understanding uninteresting and complex *rules* sci-fi stories' world but if the rule is so tactful, sci-fi story becomes really interesting!! I realize such stories make me exciting. By Kotobuki's comparison of characters to animals, readers can easily accept impossible romance between super attractive seme and desperately vulnerable uke because seme can not refuse uke by primitive desire of reproduction, *imprinting* even if seme is so diabolic or so sexy with a lot of pheromone. Kotobuki makes good use of readers' common sense for animal kingdom more than enough. In this story there is a drama of "power reverse" (uke and seme) like classic old & long shoujo manga series, "Ouke no Monshou" by Chieko Hosokawa (Weak heroine dominates strong kings). It makes readers feel better. Totobuki's rendition pushes every seme & uke to extreme antagonism is so thrilling. I like Kotobuki's not-fixed hero (Hero changes by episodes), too (I love semes are brothers in this volume!) What a great system Kotobuki thought of! Absolutely recommended! (by Slash-kun 15/Jan/2006)
Kouga Youichiro
"Ookami ga Kuruzo!?" (Oakla Shuppan) May/2005 *** 8.45
Stories of young couples. 1 long story and 1 short story (twins story. Hero can not be honest because his twin brother is homosexual and many guys have tries to make sexual advances to hero). The story of long story:(Oda, a very popular student for girls. He always refuses girls and says he loves Tamaki, so many girls hold a grudge against Tamaki. Finally Tamaki goes straight to Oda but gets angry because Oda makes an amorous approach to Tamaki. But Tamaki comes across Oda's being confessed by a girl. Tamaki is moved as if Oda proposes him). Very interesting book arranging well quotation of the story of the boy who cried wolf, wolf costume play sex and a wanton brother of Oda who owns goods of "wolf costume play". It's very erotic that Tamaki (uke) puts the tail of wolf into Oda (seme) and it makes Oda more aroused and Tamaki is fucked so much. Heroes are young, so stories of this book are today's kind of boys love. I realize Kouga has various talent and can write non-Oyaji (middle aged guys) story, too! (by Slash-kun 02/May/2005)
Koujima Naduki
"Bokura no Oukoku vol.3" (Biblos) Nov/2003 ** 8.5
Latest volume of very popular series of humble illegitimate boy and legitimate heir of rich family among young readers. The story:(Ray and Akira are admitted to prestige school together. Akira is very glad because he can play with many other student of same age and Ray is in a bad temper. But seeing Tamaki, a leader student proves himself a good match with Ray, Akira has dark feeling somehow..). Koujima's characters are so attractive (pretty or cool) as usual! I'm surprised to see Akira's action because I thought Ray one-sided loves Akira. But the story will become more dramatic when both characters love equally each other! I suppose Akira's aggressive behavior should knock down Ray! Akira in this volume is really lovely. He feels jealous of Tamaki who is rival of Ray and it flatters Ray very much. In former volumes, Ray are a little pitiful because he loves Akira too much but his effort has paid off! Koujima's comical art is so cute. I really feel admiration for it. In this volume a new character, Hiyori who resembles Akira appears, so we can enjoy double pretty characters but Koujima's characters are a little samey. It's only regrettable point in this great series...(by Slash-kun 03/Jul/2004)
Kousaka Tohru
"Okane ga Nai vol.4" (Gentousha) Mar/2005 *** 8.5
Ayase who always flurrs pheromone to surroundings arouses an uproar because of his too much attraction but Kanou saves him as usual. The story:(Ayase worries about Iida who attacks him and tries to go to Iida with Tokita. Ayase decides to get Kanou's approval previously this time around but Tokita captures Ayase because Tokita has been a stalker of Ayase...). Stock story but this book has very hilarious comical part in which Kanou goes back to his old days and tries to start their encounter with Ayase afresh because novels are newly re-issued from Gentousha. Kanou aims at consensual sex with Ayase but he rapes Ayase again after all. How lovely Kanou is (Because he loves Ayase too much) ! Of course violent scene of Kanou's saving Ayase is kick ass, too. I hope this series continues everlastingly. (by Slash-kun 15/May/2005)
Kujyo AOI
"Mada Shiranai Oretachi" (Biblos) Nov/2003 *** 8.59
3 long-short stories (A nasty classmate who had strong sister-complex feeling and did not remember hero well when they were high school students moves to same apartment house. Hero uses him to separate his persistent lover and it reduces the distance between them / Students couple. Hero feels ill-will for his lover who is very popular among girls and very busy with part-time job even on Valentine day, then he goes to alcoholic party at his friend's room and spends a night there. But hero could not sleep by uncomfortable feeling from different bed. But hero found his lover was busy to start venture company and met women to return their chocolates. Then they are reconciled / Hero confesses his love to his best friend who is heterosexual. But the friend is freaked out. Hero tries to stay out of his friend. But the friend says that seeing the tears of hero, he finds his love to hero now). All stories are lovely, lyrical and easy to read. There are many romantic & tender factors for female readers. Kujyo realizes well the dream women want to try such fascinating romance with small happiness. The sincerity of characters are also likable. About art, Kujyo has made progress in drawing "naked body" and her characters have become more attractive (Using more adult character is better for me, too). Especially wrinkles of shirts or sheet are very excellent! Feeling after reading is so fresh and really happy. My comments for each story:(1st: The process they realize their love each other is very erotic and nice! "Worst encounter at first changes into good one" is always interesting! / 2nd: The punch line is "they find they are both uneasy". Kujyo uses well natural & ordinary day-to-day episode. The wrinkles of clothes are very gorgeous. The 2 scenes that hero tries to get out in a glow of anger are so heartrending and tactful. Kujyo is very good at usage of dramatic conflict of feelings. Characters are so cool, too / 3rd: The friend is upset by seeing hero being comforted by senior student. This scene is very piquant. Why are we so glad to see seme's regret! / Additional-newly written sequels: All are the series characters of all stories are relaxing at bed. Very stylish!).(by Slash-kun 19/Jun/2004)
Kurekoshi Sakuya
"Little Dog Liar Cat" (Oakla Shuppan) Aug/2005 *** 8.59
5 short stories written in 1996 - 1997 (Comedy. A ailurophobe college student. He begins to suspect his good friend-cum-partner is really a cat monster / Near-future sci-fi story. Earth has been polluted. Love begins to grow between a boy born by genetic manipulation and his researcher / Tragedy. An athlete whose future was deprived because of his heart problem. He gets one-night-love with his good friend in exchange for his life from big clams in the sea / A classmate encourages shy hero who is scouted as a model and can not say "No" / There is a rumor that a very beautiful classmate whose face looks like a girl killed & buried a bully. Hero finds the truth and the classmate decides to surrender himself to the police by hero's love) and short story written in 2003（Hero's pretty friend from childhood who was very obedient like a footman is now taller than hero. Hero can't stop his friend's part by his parents' transfer because of longtime bullying habit) and a short one newly written for this book. Old stories are serious like "classic yaoi stories" and rewarding/readable. New, latest stories are funny like "modern/contemporary/nowaday BL". Kurekoshi is enough great to adapt herself to suit the changes of the times well. But I also hope her not to lose the aggressive & challenging mind like classic yaoi mangaka with pioneer spirit. I wish her to try writing long and strong story next time.(by Slash-kun 3/Sep/2005/2005)
Kusaka Takaaki
"Kagerou no Mori" (Core Magazine) Nov/2003 *** 8.45
Mysterious romance between a young guy who is attracted to japanese drawing and its artist. The story:(Minori Kasai, a student loses his heart over a japanese-style painting and send a letter to the artist, Youko Kitagawa. The invitation card from Youko takes Minori to rural art gallery of Youko's private exhibition. But he is raped by Youkou Furukawa who is same person as Youko and he loses consciousness. Youkou's friends look after Minori but they confine and sexually train Minori by sleeping pill...). I thought this should be mysterious & hot series and I expected very much. But settings/situation (rape, confinement, sexual training and suspicion of forged painting,,etc) were not so inevitable (I could not understand why Youko suddenly raped Minori until the end though he suffers his secret, hiding the fact of collaboration with his father and Minori is a first fan of the painting by himself. And sexual training with Hide and Masayuki was also sudden and excessive for me), the story changes into tender romance in the end and it made me feel that it is pointless. Seme character, Youko is very cool and supporting characters are also nice, so if only setting were inevitable, I think this story should be very great chef d'oeuvre. It's regretful. Well the gap between tender art and hot & dangerous sex scene was very interesting. Owing to author's postscript, she made double-long plot and had a tough time, so I suppose she might not complete to polish it. Her art is very excellent, so I expect her next challenge.(by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2004)
Kyuusyuu Danzi
"Kachou no Koi" (Biblos) Oct/2003 *** 8.69
The opus magnum comedy which caused a great sensation on Magazine BexBoy. The romance of an eccentric manager who hasn't realized his own homosexuality and an innocent new employee who does not know homosexual. The story:(A manager of a company,"I.O.", Kazuhiko Ootakara kept pure intercourse with his classmate when he was a student. But a strange guy of "Kyuushu" deprived Ootakara's lover physically. Since this severe & bitter experience, Ootakara's character has become twisted - His behavior obviously seems gay but he himself twisted denies it. But a new & pure staff, Ryuu Harada declares his love for Ootakara and they openly become a happy couple. But Ootakara can not debut as seme from his trauma...It's a robot of squirrel-type, failure sexaroid, Chappy that saves this couple...). Character setting is the key of good comedy. On that point, this author, Kyuushuu is topnotch. Her success was seconds away from being promised when she devised 2 heroes, Ootakara & Harada. Innocent Harada is very hilarious! Everyone (if not Ootakara) will feel comfort by Harada. This series was interesting at serialization but it is more interesting when I read this book from beginning to end because each character has deep background and relationship. Since the appearance of butler, Dominic of England, the place of honeymoon, the story suddenly has become more interesting and much more after the appearance of Chappy (Usage of various animals reminds of me "Cromartie Koukou"). Kyuushuu realizes the recovery of Ootakara's impotence as seme by Chappy! Secondary characters gradually has brought up to scratch. A doctor, Mr. Company and Madam of Gay bar,,etc. Kyuushuu's characters setting is so excellent and she describes them very vividly. And her mob scenes (Surroundings, employees in office or reaction of customers at gay bar,,etc) are so hilarious, too. Like Ichiko Ima! And another thing, there are so many & funny topics about Kyuushuu district or japanese historical or traditional particularity! (The name of boat - postfix, Maru - means boy's name in Japan but in western countries, it is the name of woman,,etc). Her usage of dialect (like "Sekarashika" when one feels disgusting). Kyuushuu lives in Kyuushuu, a mecca of gay in Japan (Kyuushuu resembles Canada or Texas - very macho area. So joke of Kyuushuu is quite delightful), so she is very familiar with japanese old homosexual culture and has an sharp observant eye of comparison with western culture. Comedy needs intelligence and this series indicates/proves it well. In fact Kyuushuu is another pen name of "Hanako Matsuyama", very famous mangaka of "Nobunaga x Ranmaru" stories, japanese historical RPS comedy. It's natural Kyuushuu has deep knowledge about japanese history. Resume of characters between episodes is also witty and intellectual. More and More I read, I feel admiration for the deep content of this series. Highly recommended. Especially for people who has interest about Kyuushuu in Japan or japanese old gay culture! (by Slash-kun 03/Apr/2004)
Machiko Madoka
"Hoikuen he Irasshai" (Biblos) Apr/2005 *** 8.6
Long series about unique nursery school a daughter of yakuza manages and a short fantastic story (Fateful rival, 2 students who are possessed by the ghosts of a warrior & his enemy, Oni decide to make love to let them attain Buddhahood). The background of every childminder of each episode (An ex-host worked at host club who had too much sympathy with his customers and is hunted by yakuza, A ex-singer of popular rock band but has great debt by his agency's bankruptcy and disguises himself as a woman, A victim of child abuse and now a vamp for middle-aged guys, A nice childminder but his former nursery school was bankrupt) was made so elaborately that characters are very vivid and individual. Every story is very skillful (like model for good series) and well-polished. Machiko may be a dyed-in-the-wool good story teller. Her art of children is also very lovely (Especially their tears are so cute!). Art itself resembles Shihan Ichinomiya or Keiko Nishi, sharp, lyrical and skillful. If a director of nursery school were a guy, this story became much more interesting. (by Slash-kun 22/May/2005)
Maeda Tomo
"Me niwa Sayaka ni Mienedomo" (Shinshokan) Aug/2003 ** 8.4
The long-short story that a blunt student is followed around by a ghost of a defunct classmate and gradually loves the classmate and 2 short stories (The puzzlement of bright student who is suddenly kissed by a transfer student who does not have a presence / Hero wants to see his friend's smile, so she challenges making sweets but he fails many times. He tries to recall why he starts making confection..). Every story is tender, mild and gentle students story, Shinshokan-ish Boy's love one. Maeda's second book. First yaoi one. So differently from ordinary yaoi stories, her stories are soft, heartwarming fantasy of friendship. Her art is very cute, delicate, skillful and atmospheric. She draws full of subtle ambiguities & minute "scenery with feeling" by modern art (which is popular among young readers of today - like "Lala Takemiya") well. If she will master the making drama with deeper theme, she may be "ogre with an iron club"! But for me, middle aged women, her taste is a little too tame. And in case of "book", it's a little too bad that her handwriting letter is too small to read. About long-short story, the scene that Yuzuru Takayama nearly disappears and Mizuno gets a shock is very touching. Maeda's way of "dropping an advance hint" is also skillful. About 1st short story: The scene hero mistakes his friend's lying in the hospital by anaplastic anemia for being dead is heartrending. About 2nd short story: The scene that hero makes "instant pudding" for his friend who lost his mother is very impressive! This book is very recommendable for the fans who like shoujo manga with yaoi taste.(by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2004)
Maruya Kae
"Koi wa Keiyaku no Atode" (Tokuma Shoten) Jun/2005 *** 8.55
2 long-short stories (short series) and one short story. The stories:(The factory of hero's father becomes bankrupt. The father collapses and hero, Kazuto should abandons his college. Kazuto easily gets drunk and wakes up and finds himself lying in the raw with a stranger in the bed together. The stranger, Takasugi is a young CEO and he said he bought hero for a month by one million yen before his arranged marriage / The sequel. Newly written for this book. Owing to Takasugi's support, Kazuto can come back to his college but feels anxiety because Takasugi hasn't taken him since their first night. In despair Kazuto joins in a mixer / Mutsuki Yuasa, a very dependable & diligent "student council vice-president" has loved Gaku Tougou, his childhood friend next door who was very soppy. Mutsuki comforted Gaku by charm, kisses but now Gaku is taller than him and very popular among girls. Gaku is very busy dating with them and bosses about Mutsuki. But Mutsuki is only disappointed because he does not need to encourage Mutsuki by his kiss. Seeing them, a president, Shigeyoshi confesses his love to Mutsuki... / The sequel. Mutsuki is surprised at the hot approach of Gaku who is very experienced. Mutsuki's refusal angers Gaku / Hero, a crier, Fumiya lost his parents when he was a child. He was taken in by his relatives who had a son of same age, Eiji. Fumiya has a complaint about Eiji's treating him as an infant). Maruya's first book (The 3rd story of this book is her prizewinner for rookey! So skillful). But the art is so skillful that she can hardly be expected to be a rookey. The story is also very good. Especially sex scenes are very fascinating and beautiful. Seme, look in his eyes looks villainous/cruel, cool and attractive! So I can enjoy every story with a lot of thrill. Very promising mangaka! (by Slash-kun 29/May/2005)
Masaki Souko
"BISEXUAL" (Koudansha) Sep/2003 *** 8.5
Homosexual romance of boy students serialized on the magazine, "Dessert" for girls. The story:(Shichiri Shikishima, a pupil in first grade of elementary school was severely defeated by a pupil in 3rd grade, Kitsuma Meitou whose father is a good friend of Shichiri's father at Game of Kendou - Japanese art of fencing. Shichiri enters a junior high school of Kitsuma but Kitsuma is a delinquent student and scarcely shows up at Kendou club now. Kitsuma is bisexual and loves Shichiri at first sight. Shichiri is very Electra complex, so refuses Kitsuma's love. But Shichiri hurts his hand and accepts the condition to be Kitsuma's lover if Kitsuma gets in the game....). It's interesting & unique because it is quite different from ordinary usual yaoi manga. Most critical difference is "it does not make the readers feel erotic by using cute and funny half-size characters" though there are a lot of explicit things like "sex without condoms", "reversible homosexual sex", "lesbian relationship", "artificial insemination",,etc. The limitation as Shoujo manga is so severe. I think Koudansha should issue yaoi magazines or start yaoi books line-up because there are mangaka and readers who want yaoi. The corporate culture of Koudansha is really old (It's a company of patrimonial management and now CEO is a woman who does not like yaoi and executives are male-dominated). So sex scenes are obscure as possible. If you are an ordinary yaoi readers, you may be struck dumb with astonishment. The critical pic is very cool and sexy, so the gap between tame sex scenes and cool pic is so shocking. A lot of redundant episodes, Shichiri is twin bro or Kitsuma had ex-male lover,,etc peculiar to shoujo manga are a little nuisance for adult readers like me. But I enjoyed such cultural shock, too. The episode that Fathers of Kitsuma and Shichiri loved each other is promised/anticipated & sweet expression for yaoi fans! (by Slash-kun 02/May/2004)
Matsumoto Inaki
"Shunshou Nawa Geshou" (Kousai Shobou) Nov/2003 *** 8.75
SM bondage series of Taishou era serialized on anthology magazine, "Zettai Reido" (A painter of bondage, Saitou adopts a cartman boy of moderate wage as his model. The boy undertook the job for money but he gradually throws away his pride by Saitou's spurs / To Saitou, a most popular female impersonator visits to ask painting his picture. Saitou doesn't want and let the actor know Saitou's painting is not high art but only pornography / A master asks Saitou to paint his chinese sexual slave boy to bequeath boy's tattoo on his back, called "Oshiroi-bori" made by a defunct master-hand. Seeing the soul of artist on double picture on boy's back, Saitou is inspired very much as a same artist / Saitou is asked to make a boy confess by torture. The boy stole drug from gang and sold through illegal channels for his poor & young family. But Saitou knows the boy will be killed in the end / The sequel of chinese boy. The side-story of crazy love between master and slave / Keiichirou, an ex-model of Saitou visits Saitou to renew their love because of his lovers' quarrel with his patron. Moroto, an assistant of Saitou is watching them on tenterhooks) and two modern short stories (Hero loves his father's lover. After father's death, the lover commits suicide immediately and hero pays a macho guy who resembles the lover for sex../ A classmate of younger brother summons hero to save the brother. The classmate rapes hero but it is evil plot by younger bro). "Bondage man and his assistant" is very unique setting! Matsumoto is a great benefactor because he invited Tsukasa Matsuzaki to macho anthology, "Kinniku Otoko", so Matsumoto's macho guys with mustache are very powerful!! He tended to be reserved a little to express macho guys because the serialized magazine was yaoi one ("Zettai Reido") for female readers, but more I read this, the more I was fascinated with the beauty of japanese art, especially traditional old art (of Meiji or Taisho era). The scene that Keiichirou's penis is hanging out of him who is bound with kimono is deserving of special mention. It's so sexy! It's worth seeing). Short stories are also very good. His originality was so fresh and powerful for me because most boy's love stuffs are not so unique. My comment for each story:(1st story of the series: Moroto, the assistant is very nice and mysterious. Matsumoto expressed boy's puzzlement very well / 2nd: I love this story! The combination of "Fundoshi" - japanese classic underwear and soft and well-rounded testicle showing its head is so erotic! Very fascinating / 3rd: I love this, too. Surprised by very deep theme. I'm moved to see Matsumoto's spirit! / 4th: I love this, too. Wow, how sad. The poor boy gives in to his pleasure though he loves his younger brothers and sisters! Saitou's distress as a bondage master is so pitiful. Moroto who understands it well and comforts Saitou is very lovely, too / 6th: I could not understand why Keiichirou got angry at what Saitou asked Keiichirou. Matsumoto did not describe it clearly, so there may be a sense of grievance. It's regretful because this episode shows Moroto's sadistic tendency / 1st short story: Very bitter and nice story! / 2nd: So nice. Hero is very strong macho guy but *uke*! His younger brother is evil. I love such bitter angst brother-incestuous story!!) (by Slash-kun 19/Jun/2004)
Matsumoto Temari
"Sensei no Jijyou" (Biblos) Jun/2005 *** 8.6
Matsumoto's forte short stories, lyrical but erotic ones (Name piece. A student who is fond of eye glasses tells his tender teacher his feeling. The teacher kisses him but he is a little unsatisfactory because the teacher takes the eye glasses off when they kiss / Hero, a strange student loves a teacher, a blunder of whom students make light. Bad students try to annoy the teacher by porno video but the teacher thinks hero brought it / Hero enters the company with his friend whom he has loved since his childhood. Knowing their supervisor aims at the friend, hero finally tie the friend up after alcoholic party / The sequel of "Shinobu Kokoro wa". Senior ninja, Asagi and junior ninja, Hiiragi. Hiiragi did not fully accept the order, separate action from Asagi and is thrown into jail. Asagi takes advice from his chief / A son of lord and his guard & teacher of martial art. The son who feels the teacher takes a sexual joke too far challenges the teacher at the risk of himself / A scholar teacher of Mountain palace country which is dominated by Sea palace country. He escorts a spy boy of Sea palace country who is bullied to his home. But a master of the boy says he can have sex with the boy / Additional manga, the sequel of name piece, the sequel of Asagi & Hiiragi). Fantastic art like "Tousuisha style" and typical happy stories of "blunt and lustful seme" and "strong-minded, shy but also amorous uke" always make readers happy. I'm very pleased with this book as usual! (by Slash-kun 25/Sep/2005)
"Bokura no Unsei" (Kadokawa Shoten) Oct/2003 *** 8.5
The name piece, long-short story about the immoral romance between a lewd teacher who manages fortune-telling club at school and his pitiful and pure student and 3 short stories (A hero is living in privacy with refinement of toys as his regular vocation. He has become a misanthropy and haphephobia because of his old trauma. He was nearly raped by his good friend who had very dextrous hands and he praised it. Hero's sister provides rehabilitation android for hero. Hero simulates his past experience again with android but android is his real old good friend in fact.../A school doctor who is addicted to "Gakuran - japanese school costume" and his student are hot couple. But in town, the teacher is peculiarly cold for the student who wears casual dress / 2 student of the school, a student council president, Aoyama and a vice president, Akabane are thought as a couple. Then they try to realize it). Matsumoto is now at the zenith of her power as a very popular character designer of the animation for teenage girls. Her lovely art is very suitable for sweet and hot/erotic romance. The setting of a name piece, long-short story, a teacher has a past and he has been an acquaintance with the student since his childhood seems to be patchwork, a little unreasonable, so it may lack in persuasiveness why the teacher shows his peculiar favoritism towardt he student. But 1st short story is very good & moving story. I love the romance of "love same person again". Many people have a wish to recover the past failure. The idea of real person's pretending as android is very stylish. The romantic and impressive art is also good. 2nd short story is also very fine PWP. The teacher is very pitiful when he is neglected by his student for days though the teacher is very bad guy as a devil! I really feel relieved very much when the student knows his misunderstanding for the teacher at last. 3rd short story became long series later. So I wanted the editor/publisher to issue this episode with other ones as a same book. Aoyama who plays innocent with saying "It was unexpectedly good" is very nice and evil. Accordingly I prefer short stories. Though the teacher of fortune telling club is my type... Matsumoto issues another book (with novelist) at same month, so I'd like to read it, too. (by Slash-kun 17/Apr/2004)
Matsumoto Temari & Hodaka Barugo
"Paradise he Oideyo!" (Kadokawa Shoten) Oct/2003 *** 8.65
Unique trial written by two mangaka by turns about 2 couples, customers and clerk of game shop (First love between a timid clerk of game shop, Saizou Tenryuuji though he is very tall seme & Ninja freak and a best customer, a college student, Nao Suzuki / First love between customers, a office worker, Reiji Kamiya and a high school student, Yuuki Sakura / Nao happens to know Saizou is really a champion of game and loses self-confidence. Nao does not put in an appearance at shop and trains alone specially behind the scenes / Yuuki does not understand why Reiji loves him and becomes nervous / Saizou makes an unfair conjecture about Nao who won't invite Saizou to Nao's room. But Saizou does not want to use Ninjutsu / Reiji is often too busy to meet Yuuki. But in this time it is because Reiji has a cold / Nao begins to work part-time job at shop. Saizou gets too frisky / Yuuki tries to keep Reiji dangling by studying intentionally but it is futile resistance...). Situation of people around a game shop and collaboration by 2 mangaka are very nice and unique idea! The art of Matsumoto and Hodaka are a little different but I never felt odd (Temari's sex scenes are a little hotter. Matsumoto issued 2 books from Kadokawa in same month! How energetic). It may be because their characters are so attractive (Saizou is so lovely. His preference for ninja is so hilarious. And a saucy student, Yuuki and nasty adult, Reiji who takes advantage of Yuuki's stubbornness are so nice couple! The relationship of 2 couples is also very funny and Saizou's losing his cool when he looks Reiji's love affair or his love affair is seen by Reiji is also so funny). Really good jobs. In n last half book, feeling more familiarity with the characters, I feel more interesting! I wish this series will continue more. The art is very pretty & modern but the sex scenes are so hot and brutal & immoral (Maybe because both of couple have age-gaps. Nao's masturbation scene is so erotic and I think Matsumoto really has a talent!). Its contrast is so vivid. Each story is all-too-common or trivial small trouble but very interesting & worthy of reading (But great problems for heroes. It's so interesting for readers). Good expression of feeling and professional work to hit the right nail on the head as yaoi mind (Standard stories but very steady) are admirable and remarkable. Foolish comical taste like "Conbini he Ikou" by Aranami Nihonkai is also very hilarious and makes readers happy, too. This work is funny, pretty and modern, so it is really Kadokawa-ish! (by Slash-kun 16/May/2004)
Matsuyama Makoto
"Aoi Boku no Amai Koi" (Shoubunkan) Oct/2003 *** 8.55
First book since the author changed her name from "Zunko Matsuyama". Short stories (Living together with a classmate of college. Hero can be honest for his wheedling partner because he is very shy. His partner decides to take a love drug by his friend's advice../ A member of Karate club. He hides his injury to spread himself around for his teacher.../ Two detectives. Hero feels inferior to his colleague & lover who is strong and fast worker.../ Sci-fi fantasy. Very busy popular actor. He is tired with his work and takes his place with robot. Coming back, he finds he has a lover, a new actor / Hero's lover always needs company though hero is so busy. Then hero plans mock stalker incident / Hero is very small but very good at Judo, Japanese art of self-defense. He deceives himself and behaves as a weak small animal in front of his lover / Impressive sketch of two who are timid and can not be honest at only dogsleep). Matsuyama's comeback has been long-waited, so this book is great pleasure for her fans. Most stories are young boys' romance except one fantasy and one shota. Matsuyama works have been very nice and bright (make readers refreshed). "Vivid Boys' love like shoujo manga" may be latest trend like Hinako Takanaga. The time may catch up with Matsuyama. I wish her keep manga activity for long time. The comment of each story: (3rd story: Very interesting! It shows Matsuyama's goodness very well. Nice dedicated & vivid young boys who make effort with prettiness like shoujo manga. The ending is very happy that hero and his lover find their goodness each other. Feel refreshed / 4th story: A new actor is shocked to know hero lost his memory but he swears to start again from the beginning and it encourage hero to be more positive toward his job. It's a little surprising that Matsuyama appeals deep theme for life in sci-fi story! Short but excellent story / 5th one: Very empathetic. That happens in our life. This is very sharp story to describe our daily life very well / 6th one: I love this, too. Like Nase Yamato. Very vivid shota. Oh. Hinako Takanaga, Nase Yamato and Matsuyama have in common! A child like a beaver is so cute. I suppose every female reader feel same as hero - mind to deceive her ability and pretends inferior to be loved by boys & guys. Matsuyama expresses such feeling so well).(by Slash-kun 16/May/2004)
Matsuzaki Tsukasa
"Beast Tamer" (Kousai Shobou) Jun/2004 ** 8.75
Matsuzaki's 2nd book of short stories with humor and pathos written for the anthology magazine "Kinniku Otoko" (Ex player of fighting sport plays the title role in a detective movie with a dog. To conquer dog-phobia, he decides to participate in the sexual training camp with the dog and its dog trainer / A young awkward but macho broadcaster of TV station suffers from sexual harassment from a very popular & sexy TV chef. The chef said to the broadcaster, "If you win the cup on TV sport game, you can resign the our program" / The spin-off of "Bunshin Bojyou" of Matsuzaki's first book, "Bespoke". Bitter tragic romance. The detective has come back to his work, then the tatoo artist has a broken heart and lives a promiscuous life. A high school students hears a rumor that anyone can get a tattoo free of charge if you make love with him and visits the artist. But he really falls in love with the artist.../ The secret romance between a professional baseball player from Cuba and a middle aged managing chef of Cuban restaurant / A hunky delivery man is kept in captivity). Guys have nice bodies! So gorgeous!! They are macho but their faces attract the attention of women, so I can enjoy very much. Uke is young, handsome and macho, so the couple are well balanced and they seem more natural (realistic) than "Oyaji uke" in yaoi manga for me. Matsuzaki's middle aged guys have good pathos and it makes readers heartwarming. Matsuzaki has written freely only what he loves or things that suits his taste freely and its setups are various and unique. Not stereotyped like BL(boys love) these days. Matsuzaki is now a great main mangaka of "Kinniku Otoko" and crucial one! I'm very glad that "Kinniku Otoko" also continues for long time (11 volumes are issued by December 2004. Matsuzaki wrote in his postscript that recently gay magazine, "G-men" asked him to write for "G-men". It is honored like "Reimporting from yaoi to gay". Comment for each story:(1:The story of buggery! Oh. "Blow job by dog" is my first experience of yaoi manga. How geeky! And Matsuzaki's postscript of this episode is so interesting!! He talks about western web site of buggery and I think it proves Matsuzaki's intelligence. I love the geeks' comments with a lot of knowledge even if I don't have same preference. Perhaps their single-minded passion encourages me. I don't understand well the feeling of many people who hate geeks and call them "Kimoi - abbreviation of Kimochi Warui (feel disgusting/weird)" / 2: Awesome! Great! Chef's sexual harassment is so hilarious and when he loses his confidence, he looks so cute!! And I love to see a macho big guy like this broadcaster being fucked by another guy if he is *my type*. Matsuzaki is a male mangaka, so his art of penis is very realistic (with exact structure) and fascinating / 3: I was moved by this poetic story so much though this is only 16 pages story! The guy with broken heart is so cool! I want to read this sequel!! / 4: This is also great!! I love the romance with middle aged guy and with age gap! A baseball player is uke! Very surprising but Matsuzaki's choice is right! Sometimes very touching and I think even ordinary BL fans can enjoy this! This postscript is funny, too. I wonder who veteran mangaka helped Matsuzaki's manga and who is the model of the player? / 5: A guy with eye glasses is spooky and so cool!). First episode is too geeky, so I think the editor of this book had better put this first story backward for female readers. Anyway highly recommended! (by Slash-kun 15/Oct/2005)
Meiji Kanako
"Utsushimi no Te - Real 1/2 vol.2" (Kousai Shobou) Mar/2004 *** 8.78
The final series with a lot of SM taste describing the love and conflict between homosexual elder brother and a neat paranoiac & sleepwalker younger brother at loveless home and 3 short stories (discovering his love too late by a ghost of his lover who was only treated cruelly / Childhood friends. One confessed his love to other but broke a bone in his foot and entered the hospital. Hesitating a reply, patient escapes from hospital and barges into hero's room / Hero has become a homophobia because he saw his father's love affair with a guy and his family broke down when he was a child. He often enjoy playing video game with his friend at part-time job but one day, he found a homosexual DVD hidden at friend's room. Their friendship becomes soured). The story of long series:（Riku Ichikawa became a neat paranoiac after seeing his mother's extramarital love affair. Too serious neat paranoiac often makes him sleepwalk. During sleepwalking, he always wants to make love with his elder brother, Ushio. Oshio's senior at college, Taniguchi exploits their secret and imposes threesome playing to Ushio. Ushio tried to turn Taniguchi over his knee but the wrong way around was humiliated. Waiting for Ushio's return, Riku fights against his mother and declares that he will leave home if he passes a high school entrance examination. Ushio is very surprised to be told by his father about the separation and know Riku's knowing their parents' bad blood. Ushio dreams of being saved by Riku. He begins to live with Riku alone and is glad to see Riku's bon appetit). It's so good because bright, promising and happy ending! And I found it was Ushio who was really weaker. Riku was never beaten by his mother. He conquers his mental illness and recovers his appetite. I was moved to see growth of Riku who shows off his big hands and tries to guard Ushio. I'm sure that Riku will be brilliant seme in the future! Meiji's ability of the expression of uneasy mental scenery by surreal and symbolic art is so great. The scene in Ushio's dream that Riku breaks the chain of Ushio in a house of paper is so impressive! And Ushio as uke who is puzzled by Riku's being strong is lovely and sexy, too. Taniguchi is also nice as a baddie. His sex scene with Ushio (keeping on his underwear) is so fascinating! Other short stories are "non-shota (equal relationship)", interesting and human like "Yugi Yamada" and Meiji seems to strike a new chord. Comments for short stories:(I cried so much! Hero becomes alone and falls apart but he is so stupid that he can't admit his lover's death. His lover always smile like Virgin Mary. His good memory makes hero regret. So touching & great story! / Very lovely. The comfort story of adolescence like this between serious stories is nice, too / Very heartrending but happy ending! They get hurt each other, regret and become numbed for many times. Emotion with full of ups and downs makes me so moved. Expression of mental scenery is so skillful. Suggestive ending is nice,too). (by Slash-kun 29/May/2005)
Minami Haruka
"Hanairo Virgin Soil" (Biblos) Mar/2005 *** 8.59
The long series of a second son who kept turing his back on his old family of flower arrangement and honored elder brother but is discovered as a image model of TV spots, educated sexually by an advertising designer and develops his gift and 2 other short stories (A naive short story of a student couple who recently get to go together. They try to take an opportunity of their family trip and leave alone at home for first making love / Hero meets again the ex-friend of cram school for high school entrance. He goes to his friend's house but the brother of his friend is hero's senior lewd student who touched his nipple at physical examination at high school....). The long series was a little human and serious, so Minami's usual devilish amusement was refrained a little (Hero spends his time naked during his sexual training and from halfway he is allowed to put only see-through cloth around his waist. It's so erotic! Nerd appeal very much!). So the 2nd short story is very devilishly hilarious and erotic all the more! (by Slash-kun 16/Apr/2005)
Mishima Kazuhiko
"Oyaji Hiroimashita." (Kadokawa Shoten) Apr/2005 *** 8.5
Hilarious comical & geeky series of 2 couples of a middle aged guy and a student. The story:(A son of very rich family, a high school student, Ryuunosuke Mibu picks up a middle aged guy, an office worker, Ryouji Saeki who falls on the street from overwork. Ryouji is forced to be a mistress of Mibu. Ryouji hesitates at first but begins to be moved by Mibu's enthusiasm even though Mibu's servant, Nakaya often says disagreeable things to him. And Nakaya is also made a pass by Mibu's classmate, Mashita...). Mishima brought this plot to various publishers but everyone refused it. Even now japanese boys love world is small-minded and it is not easy to express/publish "Oyaji love" (love with middle-aged guys) on commercial magazines and Mishima experienced hardship. But only editor of Kadokawa is exception and this book is very pleasant because Mishima exerts her preference to the full (Both oyaji are uke!). It seems very happy-go-lucky but sad scenes are very tearjerker (Mashita is so pitiful when Mibu caught a cold and Nakaya neglected Mashita and never left bedside of Mibu). Comical art is very cute, too and tempo is very speedy and hot. Very interesting book without any need for convincing. (by Slash-kun 04/May/2005)
Misugi Karin
"Love Letter" (Ohkula Shuppan) Jan/2004 *** 8.8
Tragic romance between college students. Their relationship begins from sexual intercourse and their characters are very contrasting but they become to love each other before they know... The story:(To Kyouhei Shima, an airmail of 2 years ago is transferred. It is a letter from his best friend and partner, Daisuke Doumeki who died of ice climbing. Kyouhei remembers their tumultuous days - Kyouhei, a poor student of literature department spends his time doing part-time work. He is forced to chip in by Daisuke, a student movement activist who is opposite to tuition increase. But afterward Daisuke returns money to Kyouhei because Daisuke just forgot to take his purse then and picks up Kyouhei by force. Daisuke is very aggressive and wants to change the society. He belongs to Mountain climbing club, a den of activists and often gets injured, works hard to get money for climbing and is very popular among girls students because of his jovial character. It makes Kyouhei feel nervous but Daisuke also pleases Kyouhei because he earns money to have a new wide room to live together. Daisuke goes for a climb of foreign mountain but it will be his last journey...Years have passed since Daisuke died. Kyouhei can never find his eternal partner. He picks up a troubled boy of 17 yrs old and the boy finally makes Kyouhei give up attachment to Kyouhei). This series is very moving, sincere and impressive all the more because Misugi had written this series as djs for so long time. The feeling of Kyouhei (a sulky inverted guy) who feels crushed at the mercy of his aggressive partner but also feels very happy is well described (Daisuke is straightforward, positive, cheerful and pugnacious. Kyouhei is serious & reflective but human because he often feels jealous of girls who gather around Daisuke. I suppose Kyouhei experienced summer/storm of love in his life by Daisuke and he became captivated forever. I can understand it well and am touched). Kyouhei who lost his heart over the memory of those 2 years like storm is very poor and I sympathize deeply but he is saved by new encounter and becomes happy (Kyouhei thinks he never love anyone and becomes very cynical but "Gaj" is a nice boy, too! As a very lovely younger lover. Oh! How wonderful the life is! We can keep starting fresh. The scene that Kyouhei cries at last makes me cry, too! Very happy ending). The art is a little old taste like old Sadahiro work as compared to latest BL manga but old style matches this nostalgic story very much. Because Daisuke and Kyouhei are retrospective students, a poor student worker and campus activist (maybe extinct species in japanese campus in these days). Very unique character setting. So their first sexual intercourse is very frank. I have never seen the sexual intercourse like this. Very interesting. And Misugi describes details very minutely and naturally. Her expression of "lecture of literature class" is very realistic! like one of law by Fumi Yoshinaga. Daisuke is a student of economics and it is very persuasive. He wants to change the world like Ryuuma Sakamoto. Heroes like them are very unique for me. I never imagine that I can read such wonderful drama of youth (like novels by Youjirou Ishizaka or the movies, "The Strawberry Statement" or "The Graduate") in BL manga. I'd like to accept sincerely Misugi's message as a jolt to nonpolitical & apathetic generation of nowadays. (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
Miyamoto Kano
"Kare no Niwa ni Saku Hana" (Magazine Magazine) Mar/2005 *** 8.58
The sequel of "Moony", the series at men's dormitory of regional university (Hero is asked to bring love letter to an unsociable student major to botany. But seeing the student's drawing a bow, he falls in love with the student. He knows the student is unamiable because of his suffering from leukemia. He consults his friend, Suwa and it causes trouble between them but they become couple. The student shows hero rare kind of plant on the border of the lake. The student's leukemia takes a turn for the worse and he enters the hospital but escapes from sick bay and goes missing / Mysterious and unhappy romance between Suwa and an assistant professor of English literature whose divorce discussing turns sour) and 3 short stories (Lodgers of next door each other in same apartment. One, a student feels embarrassment because he had severe experience of past and can not leap at lighthearted temptation by an another lodger, a gay guy / Hero finds a boy who lost his parents at childhood, has been sexually abused by his uncle and escapes into drugs at club and makes the boy declare a comeback / A guy who is fired by his homosexuality confines a boy who is dumped by parents because he is homosexual and it saves the boy in the event). Every story is interesting and art is skillful but I fell that something is missing a little. It may be because many stories are a little dark (little humor and salvation). Short stories were originally written during 2001 to 2002 (Of course, they are readjusted), but seem to aspire for "the pleasure of the moment" more than recent Miyamoto's works. Any Miyamoto's books maintain high level, this book is a latest one and we may expect too much, so this book may be disadvantageous. About 1st story of the series, I'm afraid Miyamoto packs too many impressive factors (Japanese art of archery, leukemia and botany) in one story. About 2nd story of the series, the poem of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe is very effective. But it's a tale of tragic love, so Suwa is very pitiful. 1st short story is Miyamoto's first challenge of yaoi. I love it the most because there are salvations. 2nd short story is about "club", Miyamoto's favorite. It resembles works of Ayumi Gion and costume of young people is very fashionable. But I think Miyamoto's original characteristic is "humble or dirty students in Moony", so these short stories may be her early works of the process of trial and error in (She may try to describe too literarily. By contraries, now she writes freely and it is very comfortable). About the last short story, the image of bird is very impressive. Miyamoto is very good at using birds. For Miyamoto's fans this book is precious work to understand her history & background well. (by Slash-kun 18/Jul/2005)
Miyamoto Kano
"Moony" (Magazine Magazine) Oct/2003 *** 8.79
Sweet and wistful days of students in the dormitory of the rural college. The story:(Dirty men's dormitory of regional university. Yuusuke Satou, a son of motherless family and his father was transferred alone to another part of the country should spend his spring holidays at dormitory alone with Moriya who is excellent but unamiable. Yuusuke is surprised to find Moriya lying with blood in the night. Moriya says he can not see well in the night. Taking care of Moriya, Yuusuke falls in love with Moriya. He can't help kissing Moriya and it makes Moriya hate him. But Moriya can see nothing and calls Yuusuke for help / Yuusuke consults a gay student, Suwa about Moriya. But Suwa comforts Yuusuke sexually. Feeling guilt, Yuusuke begins to avoid Moriya, but he can not but hide his love affair with Suwa. Yuusuke and Moriya take on an ugly mood again.../ Suwa's first sexual experience. Suwa gets falling-down drunk in front of an interested senior student, Nozomi. Being cared by Nozomi, Suwa makes love with him. Suwa sympathizes with Nozomi because Nozomi's childhood was so miserable but can't put up with their just bed buddy relationship, then he says good-bye / Mamoru, a sophomore sees Suwa's kissing with boy student and realizes his own homosexuality. Suwa tempts him to be Suwa's bed buddy / Abe moves to a haunted corner room. He makes nicey-nice with Matsuura, a junior student who visits him through the window / The sequel of Mamoru & Suwa's romance. Mamoru consoles Suwa's breaking heart by Yuusuke and they make love...). Oh. It's so interesting! I think Miyamoto is one of yaoi mangakas who come under the tremendous spotlight now. She already has issued 5 books! Her old, nostalgic and rude but sophisticated atmosphere of this book resembles one of "Kama Ken Series" by Fuyuki Katou or "Neko no iru Niwa series" written by Yumiko Kawai with illustration by Ichiko Ima and it makes us to keep enjoying this world for ever. Her pen stroke like handwriting forming a harmonious whole with characters and scenery matches with her stories very much. The comments for each story:(1: The reality of men's dormitory of regional university is so well-expressed! Though Miyamoto is a female mangaka! In her stories, there is no usage of symbolic flowers which is unrealistic. I love Miyamoto's mannish expression very much. Living easily, untidily, sloppily and self-indulgently like a guy. There are a lot of adoration for such life in dirty rooms in old dormitory. Episode of Moriya's night blindness is very good. Yuusuke's helter-skelter and shy personality is also nice. He is very honest and simple. Suwa is a little pitiful / 2: Suwa is so poor. His senior student, Nozomi is nasty and perverse but very lovely therefore. All in all some nasty guys are impossible to hate. I wish Suwa's happiness / 3: The mental intercourse between Suwa and Mamoru, a peeping student who suffer from one-sided love. A little bitter story / The last story: I'm very glad to know Suwa becomes happy!! Suwa's hardship paid off!). (by Slash-kun 18/Jul/2005)
Miyazawa Yura
"Sweetish Happiness" (Core Magazine) May/2005 *** 8.55
Romantic comedy of brothers who have strong attachment for each other through cell-phone. The story:(Atsushi Sakagami, a high school student falls in love with Kaname Sagara, an office worker by hearing a very beautiful voice of Kaname who dialled a wrong number. Atsushi disguises his age and starts date by cell-phone. But Kaname is a man for whom Atsushi's elder brother, Suguru Sakagami, an insurance agent. Suguru sets himself up as Atsushi and has a date with Kaname.../ Atsushi and Kaname can become a couple. But knowing Suguru has loved Atsushi, Kaname feels pressed. He moves to next door but Suguru often interferes in them / Atsushi's classmate, a very beautiful student, a chairman of planning committee of school festival, Maito Watanabe receives a wound in his foot by hitting with Suguru who comes to the festival for Atsushi. Maito falls in love with Suguru at first sight. He approaches Atsushi by Kaname's strong encouragement...). Her art is very skillful as usual (as her first debut book)! Two brothers, Atsushi and Suguru are so cool! At first, Suguru seemed to love Kaname, so I was a little confused because Suguru actually loved Atsushi. But the description that Suguru interferes Kaname is so detailed and interesting! The episode of "album of Atsushi" is so nice. As Miyazawa mentioned at her postscript, this story seemed very serious at first but gradually shifts comical like Hinako Takanaga. So I feel Miyazawa has a talent of making comedy. Last 4 koma manga is very hilarious, too! (by Slash-kun 29/May/2005)
"LOVE GAME" (Core Magazine) Mar/2004 *** 8.45
Miyazawa's first book. A series of "a model, a photographer and a boss of talent agency" (A student whose future is forced by his physician father & who forgets his smile is asked to be a model by a photographer and regains his identity / The photographer has also a miserable past to lose his smile when he was a student / How a boss of talent agency, ex-makeup artist who is a classmate of the photographer and lives with him even now becomes a partner of an editor) including debut short story (Hero, a student who stays with his sister has a crush on a novelist living next door. Hero substitutes his sister, a cocktail waitress but the novelist suddenly visit the bar...). The series is worth reading because it is very gorgeous / colorful and delicate (dealing the mental issue of adolescence). Miyazawa's art is so skillful (very modern like "Shimazaki Tokiya") that she doesn't not seem to be a fresh mangaka. Every way to use screen tone, to draw the hair or to insert comical scenes is professional and on a high level. But the development of the stories, expression of the characters' feelings or punch line are a little understrength and after reading the stories, I felt small lack of organization. If Miyazawa makes the reader understand why heroes come to love each other better, the stories will be much more interesting. It's too bad that sex scenes are not so explicit, too. I hope her next challenge. (by Slash-kun 5/Mar/2006)
Mizukami Shin
"Rikara" (Biblos) Nov/2003 *** 8.68
3 fantastic story of Old China (A prince of sidewind loves a captive but proudful prince with brown skin and recovers his pride / Square & prudish judge who suffers from fruitless love with his superior is taught about "sex play" by a criminal in jail / The love with status distinctions between a price and a son of tribal chief of different ethnic group) and 2 short modern story of students of sport club (PWP. Members of football club. They finished school and starts living together but old members often interfere their sweet life... / A baseball boy and graduate from rich school. Boy's home run ball falls into plate glass...The boy becomes a maid to apologize). The stories of both chinese stories and modern ones are very skillful and tactful. Especially chinese ones, author's forte are so authentic and powerful as well as the works by Megumu Minami who is now a giant of foreign fantastic yaoi. Mizukami never gets bored with her forte genre and keeps pursuing & writing more and more. I love it. It's really her strong point! Now there are so yaoi manga, so it's important for yaoi mangaka to capitalize on their strengths as possible. Comment for each story: (1st: Exotic skin color is so erotic! / 2nd: So tactful story! I love this judge who is very square but so weak for his desire!! / 3rd: Hero tried to rush in to a prince but he fell into cliff and the prince who became into a ghost by war stands by the hero's bed...I cry at sad romance!! / 4th: Modern stories are also well and the sex scenes are very hot! Mizukami has now a reservoir of strength and energy, so any kind of her stories including this casual story should be very interesting / 5th: All-too-common shota setting with age gap but story is really interesting!). The postscript is interesting, too! Mizukami was absorbed in "Sanguozhi - old chinese literature, long novel" when she was a junior high school student and she went to memorial hall. She also likes western TV dramas and asian cinemas. I suppose she should receive various hints/influence from them! (by Slash-kun 12/Jun/2004)
Mizuki Kana
"Usagi no Oujisama." (Biblos) May/2005 *** 8.48
Long fantastic series of the school. The story:(A prince, Lux is mutated to be a stuffed toy of rabbit for hundreds of years by a witch in the wood to escape from unwanted wedding. Aki, a student, a son of padre picks up the toy dumped in front of the church for fear of the curse. Aki can somehow see Lux's true figure. Lux is always controlled by Aki who is very handsome & affable in public but really evil-minded but truthfully very tender). Mizuki's first debut book though this is fantastic long series. So Mizuki's ability is great and her idea is good, too. Comical scenes are very funny and steadily-written and she can describe both cute character and cool ones very well. The process Lux and Aki are gradually attracted each other is very natural and climax scene is very dramatic. Well-balanced but lacks destructive power or unpredictable quality a little. I wish to read Mizuki's next more challenging & experimental work. (by Slash-kun 10/Jul/2005)
Mizuna Mai
"Aitsu no Heart ni Hi wo Tsukero!" (Ohkura Shuppan) Nov/2003 *** 8.49
First book of Mizuna. And whole of book was newly written. The romance of off-the-wall couple, a prince of traditional performing art, a high school student and a CEO of talent agency. The story:(Haruto Kouduki, a heir of important family of "Gagaku", Japanese traditional music and dance can not forget the pleasure of rock band which he performed at his high school festival. But his father prohibits his band activity, then he runs away from home. A CEO of talent agency, Keigo Amamiya finds & picks up Haruto falling in the rain. Reading weekly magazine in the office, Keigo knows Haruto is a prince of traditional performing art and loses his cool. But Haruto tells a lie to Keigo and says his parents allow his action, working at Keigo's office as a temporary worker and living with Keigo during summer vacation. Haruto happens to stand in for a vocal of the popular rock band, Priest who loafed on rehearsal. A member of band sends Haruto a rush love call and he and Keigo war over Haruto but Haruto's parents suddenly appear...). I(m very surprised at high-quality of this book which is hard to imagine to be first one. Ohkura Shuppan is enough good & bold publisher to trust a new mangaka to issue a book newly written. The idea that a prince of traditional art runs away and lives together with a CEO of talent agency who happens to pick up him is very nice! In these days, young heirs of japanese traditional art are very popular among young women, so I suppose Mizuna used it well and its trial was very successful and I enjoyed it very much! For an ordinary high school student, living as a heir of traditional art family is very severe. I think he has a lot he wants to do. But such stoic life of boy is so erotic for yaoi readers like me and costume of traditional art is so sexy! And the relationship between Haruto and Keigo with age-gal (Adult and boy underage) is so thrilling! Keigo is attractive (he is wild, cool and a little bad) as well as Haruto (he is very dedicated & single-hearted). The story is well worth reading, too. This is rock band story but not self-righteous. The story about hero's growth. The art is easy to read, too. Pen comments are interesting, too. I'm very looking forward to next work! (by Slash-kun 23/May/2004)
Momo Hachigo
"Heart wo Neratte 0 ni Shiro!" (Outou Shobou) Dec/2003 *** 8.53
Short stories(Angst story. An ex-champion of darts, Haruki Kasahara who is now a manager of darts bar hires a new young champion, Makoto Hirose as a self-appointed part-time staff / Romance between a boy who left home to enter university and a landlord of his cousin who takes in the boy / 1st couple of moving company. Hero's partner hates kissing somehow / another couple of moving company / reconciliation with a wanton ex-lover / A boy who left home to be a talent and lands on his uncle's room. The uncle doesn't know what to do the old romantic feeling with the boy's father / Hero somehow loves his classmate with bad rumor and gradually walks into the trap of classmate / Additional story of name-piece newly written for this book. The ex-champion sees the young staff talking with a woman with delight and gets jealous). Every story is interesting but a name-piece story of darts players is really very interesting! This story expresses a sort of aesthetics of "All glories must fade" through an ex-champion who gets beaten by a young champion. The ex-champion has the strong pride not to lose but is enchanted by the young one at same time. Thrilling relationship between two equal men is described very interesting. The young champion who is impudent but sometimes behaves like a spoilt child and often gets jealous is very lovely and tension-filled darts game is very cool. Comments for other stories (3: Romance of movers is nice because the episodes are very detailed. The punch line using cavity is very funny. Self-willed seme of 2nd couple is nice, too! /5: Written in 1998, so art is a little old but does not bring discomfort. Shota story but I'm impressed with uncle and father (They are brothers)!! Laugh /6: Dark nice story. The story is not so unique but the sex scene is so hot that I could enjoy very much). Momo could draw so nice, cool and adult couple. Her characters are very attractive. I hope her keep up writing such adult & cool couple are so cool adult couple! (by Slash-kun 15/May/2005)
Monchi Kaori
"Seitokaichou ni Chuukoku vol.1" (Shinshokan) Oct/2005 *** 8.8
Maybe Monchi's best yaoi work though this is not published from Biblos (Thank you, an editor of Shinshokan!). A comedy series at boys' school. The story:(Kokusai, a student council president & a member of the 2nd grade at Judo club suddenly selects Chiga, a cool & ace member of 1st grade at Judo club as a "vice-president". Chiga happens to see Kokusai sexually molested at morning train on the way to school. Kokusai is too timid to resist. Chiga declares that he will pick up Kokusai every morning. Knowing Kokusai has a unique charm (pheromone?) and attracts many men though Kokusai looks superficially very sluggish and uncool, Chiga manages to shakes men off from Kokusai and he is gradually attracted to Kokusai, too. Chiga gets more deeply involved with Kokusai only physically without telling his feeling to Kokusai...). This series has been serialized on "Magazine Dear+" (Shinshokan) bit by bit and I have been frustrated because I could read only a few pages at one time. So I'm very happy to read a lot of pages by this book! Monchi's art is not real and is a little rough but very effective & impressive for yaoi sex scene by young boys. Outline by multiple thin lines seems unskillful but fresh at same time may matches well(miraculously) with young and naive characters and delicate situation. I realize it by this work! Very precious talent. And the design of situation and characters is awesome. Kokusai is uncool but his personality is very good and he is highly vulnerable to sexual desire. Chiga has all-round ability, is successful with girls and his personality is worst (He hates himself). So Chiga often feels very relieved by Kokusai's pure mind. Chiga finds Kokusai's charm (Monchi's expression is extraordinary! So every reader can share Chiga's embarrassment) and it's very funny Chiga desperately tries to deny at first (though Chiga is very experienced student and sexually aggressive). Kokusai doesn't refuse Chiga's pass though Chiga is elder because Chiga has a susceptibility to his sexual desire! What a lovely situation and couple are! I'm very looking forward to next volume!! (by Slash-kun 17/Jul/2006)
Motohashi Keiko
"House Boy Wataru-kun" (Take Shobou) Mar/2004 *** 8.6
PWP that an android-housekeeper, Wataru plays Cupid at each house where he is dispatched. Wataru, himself won't be happy or find his eternal partner, so this story may not be appropriate for people who love "pure love". This story may be rather Marchen, a fairy tale for adult readers. Motohashi is so veteran mangaka that she can write freely (neglect completely common moral), the story is decadent and the housekeeper do whatever from service-mind! He is very obedient but very bold at making love. Its gap is very hilarious. Each sex scene is very erotic (Posing of making love is very bold, aesthetic and fascinating). Owing to nice setups (Hero is android-housekeeper and wishes his master's happiness), the author can write threesome sexual play without hesitation (or she might adopt this setups because she wanted to write)! I enjoyed a lot but I wanted to read Wataru's background, too. So I hope Motohashi will write the sequel. And I wanted to read her post-script, too. (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2005)
Mube Ryouko
"Kokoro yori Kotoba yori" (Outou Shobou) Sep/2003 *** 8.49
The series stories of 2 couples, one with elder brother and another with younger brother (A genius young man of next door who has been loved by brothers loved like their real brother could not play the piano the serious injury of hands in a foreign country. Then the man of next door becomes totally different man, delinquent guy. The younger brother gets a great shock...) and a long-short story of two best friends who will part by their parents circumstance ( Two friends of childhood who have grown up and become estranged for a while, become friendly again at the chance of hero's part-time job, doing his friend's dog. But they will part soon because their parents' transfer). Both stories resembles, dramas that hero becomes too aware of his friend when he becomes adolescent and then they become estranged, but they get reconciled again and deepen their relationship. The series of 2 brothers' couple is funny (Elder bro, queen uke is very nice!) & dramatic and long-short story is quiet, impressive and moving one. About brothers' series, the word of pianist guy, "I have kept watching & comparing two brothers" and his behavior are very meaningful, sexy, cool and adult. Mube is very nice to make the readers feel uneasy (by the forefeel of love). I like the story of an honor student who has been really evil. Of course I love arrogant & manly elder brother, queen uke, too. Both stories of younger brother and elder one are very thrilling, especially the confrontational scene of their feeling. The long-short story is very quiet and calm (At postscript, Mube herself says she wrote this story easily because this story is not BL-ish) and Mube avoids intentionally melodramatic climax. Especially the ending scene which Mube newly touches up is wonderful. Hero hands his album to his friend and says goodbye. Very avant-garde ending and Mube leaves to readers' own interpretation. Writing newly (additionally) makes the manga so good! Mube is very professional mangaka! I'm moved by her spirit which she keeps her works better to the last minute! (by Slash-kun 03/Apr/2004)
Murakami Sachi
"Ore no Ki mo Shiranaide" (Biblos) Dec/2003 *** 8.59
2 long-short stories of 2 couples working at a fashionable cafe where many gays and lesbians gather and 1 short story of a high school uke student mixed with seme. The stories:(A hero, a student of a music college who resigned a host club by quarrel starts part-time work at a cafe at Shinjuku 2 Choume which customers are all gay and lesbian. A nihilistic staff working as a patisserie teases the student but they become familiar because the student's family business is a patisserie. The preference of the staff is pretty uke but is actually opposite / a leader staff and a cutest staff are bed buddies. The leader one aspires to become a childminder and despise homosexual / A high school uke student has been mixed with seme by his classmates. His partner student is a sort of idol for them and actually a seme but they think he should be uke and envy the hero. Hero talks tough in front of them and asks his partner to be uke). Very tactful stories. Typical modern boys love story for young girls of nowadays. Every story is tender, fashionable and interesting. The art is also skillful. About first 2 long-short stories: Both partner of 2 couple think they enjoy their love for fun but really want to love seriously - one is a misanthropic nihilist and the other is a wise & prematurely developed man - Their characters' unpredictable quality attracts my interest. The structure of series is very sophisticated. The painful part steadily moves the readers, whole atmosphere is romantic and characters are very human and likable. The last short story is interesting, too. The art is simple but the theme is deep. Adult monologue is very impressive. More than half of this book was newly written, so it is well worth reading. Everyone can enjoy very much. I can expect Murakami will keep writing better & many works in the future.(by Slash-kun 22/May/2005)
Nakamura Rumi
"No Rule" (Biblos) Dec/2003 *** 8.58
Short stories with a lot of hot sex scenes serialized on magazines of "Magazine Magazine" (Gay mangaka who ran away from home. A guy of motorbike messenger comes to him. The guy is a heterosexual guy whom he one-sided loved when they were students / Mangaka and his assistant who also offers original story / A staff of laboratory and CEO's selfish son who is an old friend separated by moving house / A patisserie and selfish, young and lustful owner of Cafe / A beautiful unscrupulous teacher and his delinquent student / Sequel). Each story is interesting with strong passion. In this book there are various unique settings like Mangaka, corporate laboratory man or patisserie and I realize Nakamura's new talent. Patisserie yaoi stories are very popular for japanese female readers now but at Nakamura's hand, it becomes very decadent story like this! How awesome! For me, last long-short story with ordinary setting is *my type*! The scene that a student, Yamazaki copes with (however he get hurt - forced to participate in threesome sex with another teacher, Mitsui) his nihilistic, lustful and bitch teacher, Kurokawa is very touching! But Yamazaki is enough mentally adult (tries to understand Kurokawa as possible) to be the best partner for Kurokawa who is sinuous and childish. So happy ending! At the end readers find that Kurokawa is really shy and madly in love with a single-minded & stupid Yamazaki. How cute Kurokawa is! Nakamura is really good at the frantic stories like this! (by Slash-kun 25/Sep/2005)
Nakamura Shungiku
"Junjyou Romantica vol.2" (Kadokawa Shoten) Dec/2003 *** 8.68
The story of main couple of Usami and Misaki is one fourth of whole volume. Other three fourths are story about Hiro Kamijou and Nowaki Kusama. The stories:(A student, Usami gets jealous of Usami's beautiful female editor. Usami becomes depressed desperately.../ Nowaki left to America to study medicine without comment and has never contacted a university lecturer, Kamijou. But after only one year, people say he will come back. Kamijou can not forgive Nowaki. Nowaki barges into Kamijou's room but knowing Kamijou becomes an assistant professor, he suddenly gets out. Senior & divorced professor, You Miyagi comforts Kamijou. Kamijou changes his address without remark and sends Nowaki a card saying only "I will part". Nowaki visits univ but Kamijou wouldn't give him the time of day. Kamijou says "I will be waiting at 7 this evening". But Nowaki's professor asks him to pick up their former professor at Narita Airport but the plane delays. Being stood up, Kamijou gets soaked in the rain and returns to his univ alone. Meeting with Miyagi and nearly giving in, Nowaki appears). Very heartrending and interesting! Nakamura describes well busy couple's frustration and the emotion of hero who is so obsessed by many things alone. Kamijou is very childish but lovely. The comments of each story:(1: Very interesting and erotic! I want to read more sequel /2-4: I can really understand Kamijou who gets the sulks can not ask Nowaki the reason by pride and right of seniority! Prof. Miyagi is a so nice guy, best supporting character! Nakamura provides many obstacles between Kamijou and Nowaki. It's so tactful! Very excited. Kamijou's story is much more interesting and touching! I can also understand Kamijou says he can live for 150 years with only love letters which Nowaki could not send / 5: PWP of othello by Misaki and Usami. Very hilarious!). At this book, there are a lot of hot sex scenes. Nakamura did a good job! (by Slash-kun 07/May/2005)
Nanahoshi Akimi
"100 nen no Koi Kamoshirenai" (Gentousha) Dec/2003 ** 8.65
The long story of brothers-in-law by their parents remarriage and a unique short story of "A member of Schutzstaffel and an american journalist". The story of long one:(An awkward high school student, Mahiro Takaoka is always scolded by his brother-in-law, Junichirou Takaoka who is too bright and goes to same high school. There, Kouhei Sugimoto who was classmate in junior high school is transferred. Kouhei has loved Mahiro and persuades him to stand apart from Junichirou who has too strong attachment for him. But Mahiro speaks for Junichirou that Junichirou has felt great responsibility for his hand's injury and just therefore Junichirou tries to take care of him". One day Mahiro knows a neighbor-cum-a girl friend from childhood, Mika has loved Junichirou. And at school festival he hears Junichirou's talking with his friend, "I know I'm not a real brother of Mahiro and I'm really tired from being a good brother". Then he naturally begins standing apart from Junichirou and being intimate with Kouhei...). Wow! This long story is wholly newly written at once. Of course a younger brother (Junichirou) is taller and his hair is black! Junichirou always worries about his injuring Mahiro and tries to do anything for Mahiro and it's so lovely!! I sympathize with both brothers. Both are so pitiful & lovely. Too excellent younger brother is nice (Very nasty and takes a dark attitude for others except Mahiro) and single-minded Mahiro（Awkward but always wish Junichiou's happiness and does not sulk, envy anyone and always goes his own way) who loves Junichirou deeply is very my *type*! I really understand why Kouhei has come back to Mahiro. Junichirou who feels jealous of Kouhei is so lovely and compelling! Nanahoshi's art is very simple (a little too white) and there is no explicit sex scenes but a lot of touching scenes (Nanahoshi describes well the feeling of brothers-in-law! Her plot is also very skillful and her way to insert good episodes - their childhood, especially "trial to runaway"). So I'm satisfied with this tear-milking story very much! It's really good story. About a short story: It's forbidden relationship of enemies each other! This is reissue of djs, so it's very challenging and geeky. This story seems to become interesting more and more but Nanahoshi gives up continuing. So we can't read the sequel. It's a shame! If Nanahoshi continues, I'm sure this will be a great historical work like one of Naoko Ootake! Anyway, this is a very readable book! (by Slash-kun 16/Oct/2005)
Narazaki Souta
"Ai ni Kidukeyo" (Shinshokan) Oct/2003 *** 8.6
5 short love stories of lively students (Hero pals around with a handsome classmate casually because their seats are side-by-side. But hero knows his classmate is a vocal of idol rock band and begins to feel complex by people's reputation.../ Name piece. Younger seme. Hero has a physical relationship with his junior student. But hero begins to feel it severe because he really loves junior. Then hero intentionally gives the junior the go-by / A western boy who is not good at japanese declares his love to hero but it was failure because hero knows he was a boy, too. Without being told the truth, the western boy returns to Japan after years and begins to find his first crush / PWP at japanese art of archery club. A new member of the club is a stalker of a hero. He declared passionately his love for the hero at the Game of junior students. But his ability of archery is superior to the hero.../ A poor student enters the art department of education of the public univ which was safety school insurance against failure. He gets angry because he thought he was loved and made a fool by a genius student who entered same univ with refusing Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music). The stories are puerile at first glance but enjoy reading because of a lot of lively & cute characters. Art is very plane and skillful like Naduki Koujima. Easy to read and critical pic is very cool. The stories have really deep theme and situation is geeky and interesting. One-page comedy at the end of the stories is also funny. The comment of each story: (1st story: The drama is powerful in proportion as plain art and is well worth reading. I suppose Narazaki is good at expressing the change of the feelings / 2nd one : Good story. As well as 1st, the story of hero who begins to be aware of his friend and gives him the go-by. The embarrassment, anger and sadness of the friend is so agonizing. I can not help feeling that hero's agony and reflection is my problem. It's very interesting. The passionate attitude proves the strength of love. Single-track mind of junior student makes me feel purified / 3rd one: Very cute story. Hero who thought the lover of western boy was his sister and tortures himself is very lovely and altruistic! / 4th one: Very interesting. The passion of younger is straight and strong. The readers may want to be a fearless guy like his new mighty member. Comical art is also very funny / 5th one: Similar story as 4th but art student is a little geeky. Narazaki uses well the point that nobody hides his real feeling in painting a picture though his character is bad. The description of the process that a hero begins to love a genius one is very excellent). (by Slash-kun 02/May/2004)
Narumi Mamoru
"Raspberry romance" (Kaiousha) Nov/2003 ** 8.45
Very touching works because Narumi's plain & very cute art matches up with heartrending emotional entanglement. 2 short stories and one long story (A cousin as good as brother enters different high school. Hero hears the cousin talks behind his back that he is too childish to cousin's schoolmate / Hero is often bullied by an elder brother of his friend. Hero thinks the brother is overfond of his younger brother but finally realizes the brother really loves hero / Wataru keeps paying attention to Kikuchi, a very beautiful boy who resembles cat and does not like people. Their relationship seesaws but Kikuchi's cousin cuts into them...). First 2 short stories are brothers stories which are my type! So they are interesting. Last long one, a name-piece is work-up. Wataru who keeps bearing hardship and trying is so passionate and pitiful. If Narumi wrote more sexual scenes, this story will be all the better. I expect she will at next work. (by Slash-kun 01/May/2005)
Nekota Yonezou
"Kamisama no Ude no Naka vol.2" (Biblos) Mar/2005 *** 8.75
The sequel of the very popular series of residential Catholic school in the Middle Ages (The sequel of forbidden romance between Emilio, a son of rich blue blood family and the priest / Memory of Guerlain who spends with his senior & strangest student, Basil who are going to graduate after a few glorious days at same room / Long story accounts for approximately half of this book. Launcelot, a son of the Merediths, Europe's top well-heeled family and his servant, Etta who is permitted to enter school together have become a couple through a lot of hardships). Every episode of 2nd volume is well worth reading. At postscript of 1 st volume, Nekota regretted that she did not write enough sex scenes, so her revenge may be achieved. Nekota wrote the sequel of Emilio and the priest because Kazuma Kodaka requested her! I'd like to express my big gratitude for Kodaka. The scene Emilio passes the priest is so painful! But I'm very satisfied with this ending! (I'm unhappy with the nihilistic ending of 1st volume)! Emilio was always scolded by Wong like a spoiled child but in this episode he is very cool and grown-up. I prefer cool Emilio of this volume. The story of Basil and Guerlain is a little nihilistic. I can enjoy it because it is very short sketch. Nekota uses very pretty properties effectively in this episode. About last long story, I'm so moved!! Etta is sooooooooooo lovely (Especially his smile hiding tears is so touching. I can understand why Launcelot can't help loving him). Headstrong Launcelot and Emilio who teases him are so hilarious. Wong is cool & fascinating as 1st volume. I don't understand the attraction of Shio but he seldom appears in this volume, so there is no problem for me! (by Slash-kun 30/Oct/2005)
Kamisama no Ude no Naka" (Biblos) Jun/2004 *** 8.65
2nd book by now most up-and-coming & drooly young yaoi mangaka. Romance of various couples at residential prestigious Catholic school in a foreign country (perhaps medieval Europe) (Entertain strict Catholic public school. A student, Marius whose mother, a Muslim died is hated and forced to enter this school by his father, a Catholic. He is isolated in the school, too because of prejudice against heretics. He buys a handmade drug from Ginger, an one-year older delinquent student. a 2-years younger student, Uran sees it. Drug problem emerges and they launch a manhunt in the school. Uran accuses Marius but for poor Marius who is shocked by his father's remarriage, only Ginger can comfort him / In order to punish wrongful acts, a prodigal son of rich family, Emilio is put into this school by his father. Wong, a chinese student who was sold by his mother to Emilio's family also enters the school and helps to relieve Emilio's sexual desire. But Wong is lover by a younger & insomniac student, Shio who has stigmata. People have thought Shio has horrible power and they have made a wide circle around him. A housemaster who cautioned Shio gets injured and Wong is also involved. It makes Shio decide not to pay frequent visits to Wong...). Nekota has been very good at drawing since she was a djska, so I expected so much her 2nd commercial book . And the atmosphere of this book is so awesome! Using many screen tone, the art with shade and shadow is so beautiful! She describes well the venerable & grave mood of the venerable & prestigious Catholic school by wonderful art of "building, costumes,,etc". Her enhancing contrast and finding a good schema are perfect. But this is school story and many characters appear (heroes change by each episode), so the story often ends before the story enters critical stage and it's a little shame. So you may be disappointed to read the first story (may think Nekota just only want to draw the boys with costume). But 2nd & longest episode about a delinquent student, Emilio who seduces a priest and Emilio's servant, Wong and a stigmatist, Shio is very interesting!! Shio is so cute. The speedy tempo of Nekota's comical scene is also great. The scene that nihilistic Wong can't control his sexual urges to Shio is so sexy! Nekota issued only 2 commercial books, so mechanism of cases is not very understandable or wimpy but Nekota's very attractive characters outweigh some faults. Shio and Wong become a happy couple and it gives me full satisfaction. But I'm very curious about the result of the triangle relationship of 1st ep and Emilio and the priest! Serialization has continued, so I'm looking forward to 2nd volume! (by Slash-kun 30/Oct/2005)
Nihonkai no Aranami
"Ryuusen Echo" (Taiyou Tosho) Jun/2005 *** 8.58
Romantic & aspiring sci-fi long series. The story:(The future world is divided into 2 parts, east and west. In west, civilized world, strange disease goes around. In east, necessitous area, many people-traffickers wonder for organic trade. An orphan, Shin dumped in the dust hole in east town meets with a mysterious guy, Kai. They love each other, escape from the town and leave for new world but the guy who was a trafficker was chased by followings of trafficker). I'm very surprised. I only know Nihonkai as the author of "Conveni he Ikou" series, so I don't imagine she writes serious sci-fi series (but with comedy and hot sex) like Suzuki Tanaka or Aoi Futaba & Kurenai Mitsuba of "West End" series. Only ambitious publisher, Taiyou Tosho could realize it. Very acceptable challenge. To find various talent of mangaka, it is necessary to provide opportunity (publisher's leeway or guts for anticipatory investment) for them to try their ideas (learn by mistake). For hard-core sci-fi readers, this may be unsatisfactory but for BL readers who are tired of old, usual and corny yaoi manga, this is very unique and fresh. Characters are modern and cool young guys and there are many exciting motifs stirring readers imagination. When the motifs will make organic links, Nihonkai's sci-fi will be much more interesting. So I wish her to keep up new trial. (by Slash-kun 25/Jun/2005)
"Convini he Ikou! vol.8" (Kousai Shobou) Jul/2003 *** 8.5
A trouble of Minami that he may resign the convenient store (in fact he goes for long trip. After his return, Hasebe suffers partial impotence. On valentine day, Hasebe decides big operation for Minami) and participation of a new couple who suffers from big debt. This volume is very cheerful and rootin'-tootin as usual. Minami who is always cold but has a weakness for sex and Hasebe who is foolish but passionate and is often brutal at making love (The pet subject that sorehead Minami always becomes a victim to Hasebe's pass has been always very interesting) are so funny. Nihonkai uses well various convenient store cultures like "the training of new staff about door-to-door delivery service", "frugality using discarded box lunch", "very cheep chocolate(Tyrol Choco is only 10 yen)",,etc. At her postscript she shows off deep & interesting knowledge / accomplishment about game and pet. I realize Nihonkai is really present-day children (child of the age).(by Slash-kun 27/Mar/2004)
Nishimura Syuko
"Midnight Career" (Core Magazine) Dec/2003 *** 8.9
Very unique and masterpiece of long-distance truck drivers. The story:(Youji, a driver of "Diana", a long-distance truck of "Hinode Unsou" has been loved by his puisne colleague, Iku and now they are a good couple. Their rival company, "Benten Unsou" advances into their market and challenges speed competition to Hinode Unsou. Youji can't reject his boss's request and Iku has a weakness for Youji, so they accept its challenge and win the race. But Reiji, a young CEO of Benten Unsou is Iku's old company in fact. Benten sends "Ura Dragon", very mighty group of speed maniac drivers to Hinode Unsou. But Youji never gives up. Because his brother had a match with "King", an ace driver of Ura Dragon and sustained serious injuries. Reiji who partnered with Iku at Ura Dragon, formed "Royal Heart" together and had a title of "Knight" tries to bring back Iku who was "King" and kidnaps Youji. The race among Reiji, Iku and Youji finally starts). I listed this story as "my best 5 of 2003". I think it is Nishimura's best, too. Some mangaka often surprise me because they have suddenly made progress by some triggers or unexpectedly wrote a great masterpiece. So I can not stop reading yaoi manga. This story has a comical good tempo, a lot of usage of technical jargon as trucking business, very sexy adult characters (Both of uke and seme), very nice supporting characters, excellent originality, a lot of very hot sex scenes and a good naming sense ("Diana" for truck or very funny nickname of drives). All factors are mostly full marks. Among them, especially unique setting makes me most. "A story of truck drivers"!! How geeky! I'm very moved to know yaoi manga has become so masculine like this! As might be expected of the story about truck drivers, the mechanical art is so skillful and the attraction of truck itself are described fully! So wonderful and so beautiful. I had never seen such erotic art of truck like this in female manga. And Nishimura surely expressed the aesthetics/spirits of truck guys (Their humanity and justice - they cooperate for their race, love their own Decotora - decorative trucks of all things, can not refuse their boss's favor and have great professional ethics as truck drivers), thrill of speed race and pathos of small and medium-sized enterprises. Each factor is worth reading. And it is unique that a lover of hero, Iku is senior colleague, Youji and uke (In most cases, Iku should be uke because Iku is junior and pretty)! But Iku is genius (called as "King") and has higher ability than Youji, so he can be seme and loves Youji much more. Very nice & perfect couple! Iku of comical art is very cute, too. His disappointment or self-examination is very lovely. Youji's brother resembles Rogan of "Dark Angel" (American TV drama) very much and so funny! (I'm very happy because he can find his partner and becomes happy, too). Rival characters are very odd and funny! I really enjoyed this book. Anyway this is miracle work. This setting and characters are too nice for one book. I want Nishimura to make this story into long series! Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 12/Jun/2004)
Nitta Youka
"Irokoi vol.3" (Houbunsha) Nov/2003 *** 8.7
Takaaki comes back to his old haunts, Kabukichou and confesses his love to Shinkawa, then they become a couple. The story:(Takaaki returns to his home town and is encouraged by his mother. Then he comes back to Shinjuku and says good-bye to Iwaki. Iwaki explains Takaaki's action - Takaaki was scared of being dumped by his job and his love, then he escaped from Kabukichou and Shinkawa because of Takaaki's chickenshit pride. But Iwaki also admits he made Takaaki cowardly. Iwaki encourages Takaaki by saying that what men can leave is "himself who keeps outstriping others", so keep making effort and be tough! Takaaki decides to succeed the host club from a club owner. Shinkawa finally gives in Kenzaki who is very self-devoted and keeps visiting Shinkawa's room and he begins to become attached to Kenzaki. But Takaaki visits them. Kenzaki is shocked. Takaaki confesses his honest feeling to Shinkawa but realizes it's too late. Takaaki is about to get out but Shinkawa stops him with saying "You are not fair". Kenzaki admits his defeat and leaves alone. Shinkawa becomes mad with joy and thinks it may be dream. Takaaki succeeds the host club and Shinkawa says Iwaki that he will resign from Iwaki's club and have his own club. Shinkawa feels jealous by seeing Takaaki's washing Ishii's hair. Then Shinkawa shows sex play with Takaaki to Ishii and it amazes Ishii so much. Shinkawa visits alone Kenzaki's room where Kenzaki leads a wild life. As compared to Kenzaki, Shinkawa can not help but feel Takaaki's attachment to Shinkawa is not enough...). This series proceeds by Nitta's allowing her characters go out of her control and fans' feedback. We can't take our eyes off from thrilling story like Latin or Korean TV soap opera. Such dramas often lose the theme but Nitta is so great veteran that she moves readers by characters' serious confrontation with situation or characters' great word & speech. Nitta's ability of rendition is so great! Takaaki's thought or his word changes so often that Shinkawa is always at the mercy of it. But Takaaki is so persuasive. I think human is also changeable and "change" is precisely his "growth". And changeable man is rather human. Nitta made a lot of excuse to reach 3 big decisions that Takaaki returns to Shinjuku, succeed a host club and comes back to Shinkawa and her feat of strength arises my admiration as usual. Takaaki is ordered by Iwaki not to jag his popularity and to keep his desire for improvement. It's interesting to note that I feel Takaaki and Nitta herself overlap very much. Shinkawa often complains about Takaaki to Kenzaki and I can understand him. Takaaki is really difficult to understand! though he is very attractive (g)! Nitta is so good at making the stories interesting! I'm very curious about Shinkawa's movement because he does not forget Kenzaki (I didn't like Shinkawa because he had narrow eyes as well as Kazuna Uchida's recent wild hero. But when Shinkawa gets Takaaki and goes into raptures and he shows his jealousy to Ishii, he looks very cute (Shinkawa finally becomes happy after no end of trouble)! Iwaki also seems not to give up Takaaki. In this volume, Kenzaki is too pitiful. Many fans feel pity for him. I'm looking forward to next volume very much! (by Slash-kun 05/Jun/2004)
Nomori Mina
"Te no Naka no Tsuki -Kaguya-" (Hiland) Nov/2003 *** 8.78
The sequel of "Kaguya series", not included in 1st volume - newest episodes or newly written one and early episodes written in 1998 (Shii, a excellent heir but a sidewind who has kept stifling his own desires is comforted by tomboyish Kaguya / An owner loves his Kaguya instead of his defunct younger brother and Kaguya stops his growth. But in front of the owner, the real brother appears and its shock makes Kaguya become adult / A son whose father ruined by A-life kidnaps A-life of a rascal CEO who sent A-life to his father. But CEO dumps his A-life... / A-life child is abused by his owner, a foster father who ruined by A-life. A street gang boy feels sorry for him and delivered him out of his owner / The sequel. A-life who betrayed his owner can not believe himself and consults with similar A-life who was kidnapped from the owner). As compared to 1st volume which plot and setting are so perfect/tactful, 2nd volume is not so unique or lost a little goodness as sci-fi (A-life sometimes goes against his owner). But 2nd volume has good, rewarding and human stories which focus on "agony of growing up" or "severe relationship with parent",,etc! This volume shows how much Nomori's expression of character's mentality has made progress in these years. This volume is also highly recommended! The comment of each story: (1st: Very touching! I'm moved by the scene that a child, Shii goes against Kaguya on which his father forced and Kaguya nearly died. Then Shii understood their circumstances are same and they become good partners. I have a weakness for "miserable children"! I'd like to clap and cheer the last scene that Shii counters his father and shows his guts . Yeah. Very good story / 2nd: This is interesting, too. A-life is very pitiful because he wants really to grow up contrary to his owner. How much he was shocked by the appearance of owner's real brother!! Very pitiful. Why does A-life's sad story comfort the readers so much? / 3rd: I love this, too. Very nihilistic and bitter story. The setting, a kidnap A-life from cold owner is so interesting. The owner, broken middle aged guy is very nice & lovely! / 4th: I like this, too. Characters & setting are common as 4th. The setting, a victim of domestic violence is very persuasive. Nomori asserts that A-life should not always give in his owner. This is not unforgivable as sci-fi but it is OK as yaoi / 5th: Sequel. Nomori covers contradictious setting of 4th epi here. She is a professional mangaka! Kaguya who is puzzled by his first jealousy is so cute. As Nomori said, fellow feeling, camaraderie is unique and good). (by Slash-kun 23/May/2004)
Obata Ken & Ooba Tsugumi
"Death Note vol.1" (Shuueisha) Apr/2003 8.65
Occult crime drama with mystery novel taste. The story:(A clear-headed high school student, Light Yagami picks up the notebook of Grim Reaper, Luecke. The notebook is called "Death Note" and the people whose name is written on the note should die. Light kills brutal criminals continuously from heart failure and tries to restrain the crimes. But an international genius investigator, "L" condemns Light as a killer, then their one-on-one fight starts...). The idea of "notebook of Death" and the character, a intelligent student who can make full use of it are very interesting! Like other mangas with original writer on "Weekly Shounen JUMP", the setting of this story is also very well & elaborately made/designed. Many heroes of other JUMP manga are ordinary boys but in this story, the readers will empathize with Death, Luecke who is a little stupid and drops his notebook to human world just to kill time. It's very unique that Death who should be cruel is often surprised by a hero, Light's being calculating and cold and can drive away his boredom and appreciates Light and even has friendship with Light! And many people die in this story though this is shounen manga. The agents of FBI are not bad guys. The 2nd volume in which such innocent people die like flies is black, surrealistic and adult considering this is shounen manga. This story is not an ordinary popular shounen manga which popularity provoked by readers' sympathy but very exciting and thrilling one that readers wonder if Light's ambition will completely come true or not, if he is beaten by "L" with same intelligence or not,,,etc. I can understand why this manga is now so popular among boys. I want to watch the ability of the author and how the author can make Light become a character loved by readers at further volumes. (by Slash-kun 05/Jun/2004)
Ochi Chifumi
"Motto Shitai" (Biblos) Oct/2003 *** 8.4
PWP series of unsavory ties with younger cousin (A high school student, Naoki Kaji has been loved so much by his younger cousin, an elementary school pupil, Yoshiaki Imai. Yoshiaki's pass recently becomes so serious and obvious and scares Naoki. And Yoshiaki often plays a nasty trick on Oota who is an idol of the high school and loves Naoki...But Naoki decides to take an examination of long-distance college at Hokkaidou). I could enjoy with a light heart. Yoshiaki is very pure, earnest and brave. Really eager beaver. Without giving up. His attitude is so funny but his desperation is a little pitiful and poor. I wished Ochi to make Yoshiaki happier. But Yoshiaki is unexpectedly forward child. The scene that Naoki tries to part with Yoshiaki is so heartrending. Female rival, Oota is a little psycho, so she is a little weak for the rival in yaoi story though she is so funny. The process that Yoshiaki grows up is interesting, so I wanted to read adult Yoshiaki more.(by Slash-kun 24/Apr/2004)
Odagiri Hotaru
"Toumei Shounen vol.1" (Tokuma Shoten) Jun/2005 ** 8.59
Heartwarming and delightful life of school where many beautiful students of student council help a hero with family problem. The story:(Somehow Nagi Tokieda, a student of prestige boarding high school, Ouka Gakkan is loved by Yuushi Kitou, a prefect beautiful and excellent sophomore, chosen as a president of school council though he is still in 2nd grade. A lonely boy, Nagi dumped by his real parents since childhood is always very sensitive about people's affection to him. Yuushi plans Nagi's birthday party to encourage him. But hearing the news Nagi's father will come home, he suspends the party. But the father did not return. From shock Nagi follows strange students of other school without any definite purpose and gets into danger. Then Yuushi decides to challenge a very hard votive trial for Nagi / Student council goes to town for equipment procurement. They encounter Yuuji's cousin, Seiji. Seiji is a very cool fashion model but has had an inferiority complex for Yuuji for long time and it made him have a Jekyll and Hide personality. People has thought Seiji is very creepy but students of Ouka Gakkan student council, especially Nagi receives him warmly, so Seiji is deeply moved). Odagiri's long-absent original story (She had written manga for novel for long time). Many beautiful students encourage warmly and delightfully pathetic hero...The world of this book is a sort of the ideal world for readers. Fantastic world or Utopia. The realization of our dream. So if you are fond of BL game, "Meineliebe", you must love this series! As is customary with school drama, there are many characters and readers will be puzzled a little first. But all of them are cool, so you can enjoy. Odagiri described dark past of Seiji fully and I could sympathize with him naturally. I'm very curios about Reito, a younger brother of Yuushi. It's too bad there are no sex scenes. I just can't wait for next volume! (by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2005)
Ode Natsumi
"Gyuttenaruno Gyutte." (Oakla Shuppan) Mar/2005 *** 8.6
1 unique series of 3 gus (An office worker who gets bored with his partner and his partner move close by his unique supervisor - living in rickety apartment house at old down town, being very casual & frank and the complete opposite of square attitude at office - and find true love) and short story of business venture (A young guy loves a fast food staff who is smiling at first sight and starts his own restaurant and hires the staff. The business goes well but he gets jealous because the staff shows his smile only to customers) and 3 reissues from her djs (short sketches of student life). The author is very unique and this book is very unique above all. The face of Akikawa as a supervisor of hero, assistant manager and face as a local inhabitant are so different (both are very cool!) and amazing! Especially face of local inhabitant is very real and scenery of local shopping street (old women at shopping streets or goldfish scooping at street fair) is very nostalgic. About business venture story, the description of two guys' working is very realistic and I have favorable impression. Ode is still young and her expression may be a little confusing but has a sure eye and her topics/setups are so unique that I could read with excitement. I wish Ode not to choose easy subject and to write a lot of interesting works and become a good mangaka! (by Slash-kun 07/May/2005)
Ogasawara Uki
"Urakatana Kami no Ki vol.2" (Kousai Shobou) Dec/2003 *** 8.9
Compelling final series of metempsychosis fantasy of two childhood friends & traditional rivals over magical sword and additional anecdote of birth of "Kaneyori". The story:(Shinkai Sumida, a ninja of Level 1 invades the mansion of Tsunaie Hirasaka, his childhood friend, Boss character and now the head of flower arrangement school to regain Kaneyori, a magical sword given by his grandparents. But Shinkai's trial fails and he is raped by Tsunaie. Tsunaie leaves Kaneyori in his apprentice's trust and brings Shinkai to the snowy mountain. Tsunaie tries to force Shinkai to admit his love to Tsunaie. But owing to Shiba's meddling, Shinkai succeeds in killing Tsunaie which has been his long-cherished object. But remembering his old memory with Ryoutarou, childhood name of Tsunaie, Shinkai realizes he wanted legitimate reason to being raped by Tsunaie and he can admit he has been really happy for 400 years. Shiba buries Shinkai and Tsunaie under the snow. Shiba appears in front of a knife grinder and regains the sword. Amaraka and his fellows are very surprised. Before long the spring coming, Shiba goes to the mountain to wake up Shinkai and Tsunaie. Shinkai suggests contract bloody mistress to Tsunaie to pay Shiba's debt of search and rescue in snowy mountain. Tsunaie rides a horse with Shinkai on a moonlit night, goes to wood and swears never leave behind). The power of art is overwhelming! Ogasawara is genius, bar none! Her art is so great (She graduated from art college). She is also good at drawing old japanese things. And her sex scenes may be best among current all yaoi mangaka. I suppose her posture is excellent/exact or powerful. The depiction of the penis is very realistic and powerful. Personally I like Ogasawara's shape the best! I may have same taste/preference. Comical scenes Ogasawara sometimes puts between serious scenes are also very meaningful. And love that heroes show is very deep and passionate and it makes me very satisfactory. This volume is worth while to wait for long time. Subject, level 1 character vs strongest boss character of video game is very unique. And genre, Sci-fi, very fashionable one adopting mythical factors like india Shiva of Hindooism well is interesting, too. Another new talent, ranking with Tarako Kotobuki in fantastic sci-fi yaoi comes into the world!! I'm very glad. Oh. I can enjoy reading more over 10 times because I will find something each time I read. The last episode, "contract of mistress" is very cool. One Thai yaoi fan asked me about this story and I analysed this series in detail. So I could enjoy much more fully than usual. Thank you. 4 koma comical of alternate universe is also very hilarious! The story of Tsukitoshi and Armaraka, Kaneyori who made Shiba is good, too with rich imagination. If you read this series, you can also understand Ogasawara is genius! (by Slash-kun 21/Mar/2005)
Okuda Nanao
"Honey/Chocolate" (Core Magazine) Dec/2004 * 8.7
First half is the sequel of her debut book, "Dareka wo Sukina Hito", romance between seniors and juniors of basketball club. The art like "Tennis no Oujisama" matches well with the story. The way of college slang (Like "Lock-on Sareteiru") is very lively. It is a pity that Asada changes his hair style so often each time he is disappointed in love that the readers can not identify him and can not sympathize him easily (But hair style setup may be inevitable for ending...). The daughter of owner of Asada's apartment is a little provoking, so Okuda has very sharp observant eye. Last half is a lyric romance between a student and a beautiful but helpless teacher of his sister. The teacher loved hero's father, so I could enjoy a middle aged guy at same time. The teacher is very lovely though he is elder than hero. Detailed episodes (like hero and the teacher love cake!) are very elaborate and interesting. Hero's sister is also very nice. There are little sex scenes in both stories but art and story are so skillful, comical expression is very hilarious and speedy and characters are very cool. Very high level work. (by Slash-kun 20/Feb/2005)
"Dareka wo Sukina Hito" (Core Magazine) Dec/2003 *** 8.75
Plural romance of the members of college basket ball club. The story:(At basketball game, a freshman of junior high school, Hiroki Wakamiya adored Wataru Anzai, a third-grade boy, a basket ball club ace of big-time sport school, Kanan Junior high school. After 5 years, Wakamiya is scouted by Kanan University and is shocked to know Anzai can't play by serious injury any more. But Anzai has been waiting for Wakamiya's join and they become a couple / Wakamiya struggles for his position with Atsuya Myoujin / Wakamiya are not willing to go home to his parents / Ichii, ex-lover of Anzai who goes to different univ harasses Wakamiya / Hino who often changes his image every time he gets dumped falls in love with the smile of a pure junior member, Asada at first sight. Hino seduces Asada too much and regrets it. He changes his image again.../ The past episode of 3 senior members. Anzai, Suwanai, Myoujin entered basketball club of junior high school. Myoujin loves Suwanai but he can not join too intimate duo, Anzai and Suwanai, good friends from childhood. Suwanai suffers from one-sided love to Anzai and it irritates Myoujin and makes him kiss Suwanai. Myoujin makes much of Suwanai in despair and Suwanai begins to shake off a mental barrier). Trendy group drama, main couple with other couples. According to Okuda's postscript, she has written djs for long time but this is her first original story. But her stories are well & steadily written like veteran. Her art is very skillful. Very thin & delicate lines makes her art very brisk and cool. Especially naked bodies, wears and hair style are fashionable. Okuda is a djs of "Tennis no Oujisama", so her art of sportswear is so awesome! Each image makeover of Tetsuo Hio is really smart. Okuda's comical art is funny, too. Her conversation is youthful & witty. I'm very glad that a great new talent with comedy sense like Tomoko Ninomiya & fine art like Etsumi Ninomiya appears! And Okuda's characters are very attractive, too. I'm so happy if Okuda's characters really exist! Senior trio, Suwanai, Myoujin, Anzai is so cool. It's so pleasant to see cool young idols people's close relationship. Their easy conversation with a lot of college slang is funny, too. Biting off more than Wakamiya can chew is very smile-inducing scene. A reliable & manly junior member who is a lovely for senior. Teasing juniors by seniors is so hilarious! Especially Myoujin's jokes to Wakamiya are always funny!! Last episode of buying shoes is also very smile-provoking. Asada's pure attitude is lovely, too. Last episode of Suwanai and Myoujin is very serious and touching. Delicate character of Suwanai who looks nice in eye glasses is pitiful and lovely. I love him very much! Suwanai in last additional managa is so sexy! If you like delight, fashionable school stories or ones of sports clubs or like story of delicate spiritual exchange, this book is irresistible must-read book!. Thank you Core Magazine for finding this new talent to me! Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 2/Oct/2005)
Ootake Naoko
"Shiro no Shijima" (Take shobou) Jul/2004 *** 9.0
Amazing 3 long-short stories! Very beautiful, classic and magnificent yaoi stories written by veteran mangaka but this is her first yaoi work. The stories:(At Military Academy school before WWII, excellent two students, Nobuo Kirishima and Yuuichirou Takahashi are fighting for top honors. Their backgrounds, a son of geisha girl and one of a secretary of Administrative Vice-Minister for Finance, are quite different, but they are good friends and are aiming at being officers. But seeing Nobuo's being raped by senior students, Yuuichirou realizes his hots for Nobuo. Yuuichirou's father breaks down, then Yuuichirou begins to debate whether to be an officer or not. He pretends not to see Nobuo's being fucked by military leaders and they part company / The prequel. The episode of Nobuo's early years. Asakusa before WWII. Nobuo has grown at the geisha house where his mother is working has adored his uncle, a military man, Kyoutarou but Nobuo contracts TB and has a severe operation. After returning Siberian assault, Kyoutarou changed into someone else. Kyoutarou's lover asks Nobuo to persuade Kyoutarou to wake from decadence but Nobuo is raped by Kyoutarou / When a boy, Hiroki is catching locust in forest, he is raped by a medical officer taking holidays. He can't forget its sweet experience and can't love women. By student mobilization of WWII, in deadly combat at southern island, he meets the officer again in field hospital / The sequel. After war, the medical officer becomes a practitioner, children's doctor. Hiroki becomes his assistant, too. Hiroki knows the doctor's old molestation to him, so he feels uneasy / Tragedy. The memory of in early years of "Miyamoto no Yoshitsune". He saves a fugitive young man of "the Heike family" who comes to meet his lover, a girl of noble family. They become friends but Yoshitsune knows the man was raped by his fellows..). Very aesthetic like classic yaoi manga of early "Magazine JUNE" (a pioneer magazine of yaoi). Ootake aims at the style of "Yukio Mishima", so tragic, squaresville and unreasonable stories are very painful and touching. So for young readers, this book (aesthetic, tragic and historical) may be very fresh, unique and for old readers (reader of early JUNE magazine), it may be nostalgic. But differently from just classic stories, this book has many explicit/bold hard-core sex scenes and deep expression of breaking a taboo. And no beautiful boys of western style (like students of Gymnasium in Germany or public school in England). Ootake is a veteran mangaka who had not written yaoi stories before this book and I'm very glad to know such non-yaoi able mangaka makes her way into yaoi world! Some non-yaoi mangakas made great debut works of yaoi before but this book stands out from all the others. The art is so excellent adopting the taste of "romanticism of Taishou Era" like "Ayumi Kasai" and it reminds me of traditional "beautiful boys' art" before WWII like Kashou Takashima or Gouto Ishihara, famous "Bishounen Gaka" (draws illustration of beautiful boys for juvenile novels). Comments for each story:(1st WWII series: Name piece. Ootake expresses well and scrupulously the dark atmosphere in the period when Japan had trended toward militarism and the tragedy of 2 young men was separated by the tide of the times. It's so impressive and touching. I cried after all this time. And I was overwhelmed by Ootake's reality (She researched this period very well!). For the first time, I understand why Japan chose militarism by "Incident of 226 (military coup by young officers on February 26th 1936) and have some pity for them. So even young readers may be able to enjoy reading this. About a prequel episode, it's so wonderful that Ootake expresses the dark folkways - poor women should work as prostitutes - well. Ootake's description of "lung disease" is so sexy. At that time, lung disease was irrecoverable disease, so it is an expression of brush with death and erotic / Wonderful series of a pervert medical officer and his victim boy: A first episode is bizarre & series happy ending fantasy but a second one is modern comedy. So I can relax and enjoy reading this. Ootake has so wide & various talent! I love the first episode because it is so precious happy fantasy which is totally impossible dream in tragic period with fascism & militarism. I love the second one, too because Ootake has the spirit of "joke". Many old yaoi mangaka who wrote for early JUNE magazine were so serious and sometimes had no sense of humor. Ootake has an enough large heart to overdose on her preference! I really love " so-what attitude (It can't be helped because I love it") of veteran yaoi mangaka. I think the present age is good for me / Historical tragic romance series of "The Heike Family and The Genji Family": Anyone will cry with Yoshitsune for the death of Atsumori (The nephew of "Taira no Kiyomori"). The usage of "Ume: japanese plum" is very beautiful. The classic costume, armor, Noh wig, kimono is so fantastic. Very very aesthetic & fascinating. Yoshitsune's face with tears at last scene is very heartrending!). For fans of period drama, fans of war stories or military fans, fans of Meiji-Taishou era, JUNE fans of classic aesthetic tragic yaoi, this is a must-read masterpiece! I place this in the top 3 in 2004. Highly recommended.(by Slash-kun 10/Sep/2005)
Ooya Kazumi & Gotou Shinobu
"Bibou no Detail - Takumi-kun series 5" (Kadokawa Shoten) Dec/2004 ** 8.6
The latest volume of manga series based on very popular long yaoi novel about boys' high school. This manga series is longer among similar manga series based on novels. So this fact proves that this trial is very popular and successful. I suppose many young (not peculiar to japanese) girls are fond of royal atmosphere of rich boys' high school or "prince"-ish of tremendous-rich boy, Guy. The short story of year-end and new year is very sweet and interesting. In complete contrast, long-short series of Takumi's spring tour at NY where he lost memory is very thrilling, powerful and well worth reading (Guy was seriously disappointed and it is very miserable and cute!). The last scene of whale at 1st floor in "Museum of natural history" of NY is really overwhelming! The art is so wonderful. The name-piece, the episode of Guy's being assigned as a head of the floor is very cliff-hunger ending. I can't wait next volume. This volume was very interesting for non-fans of this series, wasn't it? (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2005)
Ougi Yuzuha
"Star na Koi" (Magazine Magazine) Jul/2004 *** 8.8
Happy, sexy & pure romantic slapstick PWP series of a happy-go-lucky uke student loved by a blunt but super-handsome student like "Rukawa of Slamdunk" (An idol model & a high school student, Rihito Sakura was snowed in on a mountain and barely escaped death. He rapes his classmate & a member of swimming club, Michiru Nakamura and tries to commit suicide. Michiru stops Rihito and Rihito forces himself to be a Michiru's lover!) and 1 long-short story（A "Homme fatale" was stabbed with a knife by his bed buddy owing to "foolish passion entanglements" and fell on the street in the rain. A doctor finds and save him. Taking advantage of doctor's affection of the homme fatale, he forces the doctor to have the sexual intercourse and to be his lover because he get a lot of pleasure. But the doctor coldly pushes him out after recovery) and 1 short story (A powerful & rich politician loves baseball game and forces his son, Shizuka Saotome to enter the famous high school for powerful baseball club. But Shizuka has no talent of baseball player. He bullies sexually Jindai Sakaki, a very poor but talented ace student with sport scholarship by taking advantage of the position of his father's extensive contribution. Shizuka intentionally gets injured by Jindai's play and makes Jindai his slave. But graft and corruption of his father coming out, Shizuka disappears. Before long Jindai becomes a major leaguer in USA...). I felt outpouring of Ougi's passion So awesome. There are 2 favorite types of character in mangaka from djska of "Slamdunk" and 1st is "Genius or very handsome boy like Rukawa loves an ordinary guy with a little advantage so much like a stalker that he confuses the ordinary one" and 2nd is "A boy with talent who makes effort very much loves a genius but refreshingly frank boy with normal thought indecisively so much and he suffers from the love". Name piece is 1st type. Slash-kun prefers 2nd one but the passion of Rihito, seme of this name piece is so tremendously far out and great! His desperation is so lovely though his personality is so bad (resembles Rukawa that Ougi has written in her djs very much). Rihito has no boastfulness as a typical idol star because he loves Michiru too much and it's funny and sometimes pitiful. Ougi made very nice setup. Michiru who resembles Hanamichi of Slamdunk is uke though he has a nice body because of swimming. It's unique setup, too. So the scenes Michiru is raped/taken are really provocative/sensual. Michiru's balls look heavy and yummy! Ways of making love are very unique, various and elaborate! Ougi made one idea after another. Especially the scene that Michiru is bound by a stalker of swimming club and Michiru's swimming pants cut with scissors (to show only anal) is so amazing!! Must-see. Ougi likes to tear/peel the tight clothing (g). Way of using "letter"(onomatopoeia) like "Suuuu, Suuuu" is also awesome! Facial expression of Michiru & Rihito is very nice, too. Oh. All is terrific! Ougi is a queen of comical & erotic yaoi manga! Not only sexy & funny attraction, but also dangerous love and tear-milking scenes. So wonderful story! About another long-short story of a doctor : Very interesting! Situation alone is very exciting. The doctor is a genius but he is so stupid that he doesn't understand his true feeling and thinks the hero is an evil angel - Ougi has very good sense of balance! It may come from her djs ("Slamdunk" Rukawa x Hanamichi). The sex scene of this story is very sexy and good! Last short story of baseball club: Super great story!! Superb! Rulez! Very touching! Heroes are 2nd type of Slamdunk (Shizuka Saotome made effort but has no talent, then he becomes very twisted/ill-natured. Jindai Sakaki has talent but he is too good and normal). I prefer 2nd type. Ougi said at her postscript, she loves skin head though many young readers may hate but I think such a skin head (seems humble, honest and single-minded like a monk) *is* very sexy in this story! Jindai's earnest passion makes twisted Shizuka happy. Impressive usage of frames (Koma), art of big frame. It intensifies readers' feeling. Very effective expression. Wonderful happy ending! I can't stop crying. Even this short story alone is worth buying! Don't miss it. Must-read! (by Slash-kun 8/Oct/2006)
Oumi
"Lion nante Kowakunai!" (Houbunsha) Nov/2004 *** 8.5
Short stories (A slow boy whose elder brother is excellent and a vice-president of student council. He is chosen as a clerical but repeats blunders. He becomes a target of a president whose nickname is "lion" and realizes why people chose him - to dodge the attack from the president - / A very lovely manager of swimming club. He has sexual obsession with an intimidating ace of club but it nearly comes out / A beautiful accountant of student council. He loves a friend of an owner of night club where he is working part-time / Romance between a teacher and his nasty student of school committee for discipline / A senior office worker and junior one. The junior rocks senior's world by beautiful voice and animation lines / A working student is picked up by an editor in chief. Hearing the rumor of first love and offer of marriage, he is shocked. And the editor orders him to resign / The sequel of 1st story. School festival. Hero tries to participate in customary costume play. He does his best against interference). Oumi's forte, contrastive characters, "very timid and slow uke" vs "terribly blunt, outrageous and grouchy seme" are very attractive and interesting as usual. And this book has bright & comical taste, so I found new talent of Oumi (Owing to her previous book, "Long version"'s strong & dark impression, I'm very surprised to read this). The name of office worker with beautiful voice is "Ikeda"! Of course it comes from "Shuuichi Ikeda", who acts as "Shah" of "First Gundam". At the postscript, Oumi wrote about her disease. This perhaps accounts for the fact that Oumi's release may recently decreased a little. I expect she has recovered now and wish her to keep up good job....But she died in March 2005(Publisher's news page - http://www.taiyo-pub.co.jp/b_garden/sakuraumioshirase.html). 2 books including her posthumous writings were issued on summer of 2005. May her soul rest in peace. (by Slash-kun 24/Sep/2005)
"Long Version vol.2" (Taiyou Tosho) Nov/2003 *** 8.55
The last half of super-angst students romance series. Shiina keeps loving Fukase, a savage delinquent student though Fukase always hurts Shiina. But Fukase finally dumps Shiina....The story:(A teacher, Hayama tells Fukase that he knows his strange relationship with Shiina. Then Fukase suddenly declares he will stop bullying Shiina. Shiina never refuses it. A new puisne student, Sakaguchi appears and he flirts with Fukase. It hurts Shiina and Hayama comforts Shiina. Shiina's smile for tender people makes Fukase unpleasant. But Sakaguchi finally loses interest in cold Fukase. Fukase intervenes drinkers at bar and is stabbed by knife. Shiina visits Fukase with concern but Fukase makes an unfair conjecture, an affair between Shiina & Hayama, then he does final spiteful things and rapes Shiina. Shiina is nearly attacked by a neurotic stalker student. Fukase searches for Shiina by a tact of his friend, Saga. Fukase can prevent stalker's attack to Shiina but provokes stalker to cut Fukase. To save Fukase, Shiina suffers serious injury instead. Fukase brings Shiina to hospital. Shiina says Fukase is one and only for him and Fukase finally yields). I love this story because very silent atmosphere matches well with the cruel & cold angst story. This last part is very moving!! There is scarcely conversation (It's difficult for female mangaka to restrain it). Oumi tells the story by only her art (Shiina's eyes like glass speak eloquently. More and more Fukase bullies him, more and more his eyes pierce Fukase) and it increases tension, stirs up readers' anxiety and makes good drama! So powerful! In this book, Fukase was really self-willed and hurt Shiina so much. And Shiina is so great that he keeps just bearing (But he can't stop loving Fukase. He has so nasty fate...). It makes readers cry. Fukase who can not escape from Shiina's tenacity of purpose somehow gradually looks so pitiful for readers, too. Fukase also has a nasty fate. I love such heartrending angst story! I'd like to appreciate author's effort of completing this series!(by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2004)
Oumi Shinano
"Hisho no Territory" (Biblos) Mar/2005 *** 8.58
A supporting role character of Oumi's previous book, "4 Jyouhan Sweet Home" becomes a hero in this side story. The story:（A cool and beautiful general manager of secretary's office of "Yaegashi Kensetsu", Yuu Shinohara has carried a torch for CEO for long time. But CEO finds his lover, Mizuho. A scriptwriter and old friend since their junior high school, Daishi Kakinuma has kept comforting afflicted Shinohara instead of CEO. But Shinohara suddenly says he doesn't need Daishi's support as of today / Daishi prepares sumptuous meals because today is his birthday. Shinohara forgets it and feel apologetic for it. But what Daishi demands for compensation is.../ Daishi saves Shinohara's subordinate. Daishi wants making love at office with him. But Shinohara finds later Daishi used it as the episode of his drama.../ On honeymoon, they go missing on the mountain. Knowing Daishi intentionally lost his way to gather material for his drama, Shinohara gets angry) and short stories (A student of climbing club loves his senior student whose lover was killed in a mountaineering accident. Hero follows senior's climbing in secret / At publisher. A supervisor can't help but be stern with his subordinate who is very bumbling but has very lovely smile. The subordinate commits a blunder and a major writer demands his sexual service to make it up. The supervisor makes outrageous remarks to his subordinate by his jealousy). The adult & voluptuous sex scenes are very erotic and nice! Every story is very high level (made steadily) and easy to read without indistinct points. But there is little geeky challenge or thrilling confusion. But it may be my too much greed...g! (by Slash-kun 2/Jul/2005)
"Defense Line - Returns" (Biblos) Dec/2003 *** 8.65
Unique & great story with a lot of manly spirit (by middle aged guys)! 3 couples at security service office (Sanjyou x Aduma: They worked at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department. Aduma follows Sanjyou who resign Tokyo police and enters Shibata's security service office. Sanjyou is so daredevil that he always keeps Aduma in suspense. And Aduma finds a dog, Jive is his rival, too / Musashi x Kazuki tour to Spa / Minagawa x Shibata: A mysterious staff, Kei Minagawa keeps seducing his chief, Munekazu Shibata for 2 years but Shibata never gives in. A big-shot politician, Youjirou Hatano announces his retirement at party conference after 2 weeks. Hatano's longtime foe, a terrorist has sought his life. Hatano asks Shibata's office his protection. But Shibata is not willing because he was once asked and could not protect Hatano's son, Yousuke because he loved Yousuke. Yousuke was killed and another son Keita received a serious wound in his back. To kamikaze terrorist, Minagawa shows his back's injury...) and one short story (battlefield photographer and CEO controlled by patron-cum-master). I was so moved unexpectedly! Especially last episode of Minagawa and Shibata, a chief (uke!) is so impressive!! Way to insert reflection scene is so tactful!! Minagawa's secret is very exquisite setup!! Last short story also has deep & serious theme (war reporting or adultery) and I changed Oumi's evaluation! It comes up. About first episode of Sanjyou and Aduma, I don't like Sanjyou so much, so at first this book does not seem to be my type. But last episode and last short story knock out me!! Oumi is a great mangaka of "sexy middle aged guys"!! Sorry for my overestimating. Oumi says her taste may be minor but I want her to keep her own way! I wish this book to be Oumi's turning point and I'm very glad if she will decides to write stories for adult readers! (by Slash-kun 16/Oct/2005)
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Ryuudou NENE
"Nekoga JUN - Doujinsakka Collection vol.8" (Fusion Product) May/2001 *** 8.4
Reissue of djs written by Nekoga JUN (circle name is VANP), now Ryuudou NENE from 1996 to 2000. Genre is ONE-PIECE, HUNTERxHUNTER, NARUTO and Wing Gandum. It's so unique that Zero is uke in her ONE-PIECE. Hero Zoro is very cute (Sharp face but childish, shota face). There are many erotic sex scenes and comical scenes but lyrical scenes may be a little less. In the original story, Zoro is very strong and fierce character, so I can understand the author wants to make him uke character (maybe by desire for conquest or bully) and enjoy reading. Naruto couple is "KakashixSasuke" and "ZamuzaxHaku". Very hilarious but is not so high level because there are so many tour de force in NARUTO djs world. Her djs of Wing GUNDAM brings back memories! 1 x 2 (Hiro x Duo). Ryuudou is very good at adopting very popular character at the time, so I want to know what character she is now drawing. (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
Sadahiro Mika
"Under Ground/Grand Hotel Extra Dx" (djs) Dec/2005 *** 8.7
Ultimate UGH djs including reissue of most UGH djs or commercial episode not included into books (Escape story:"UNDER Ground/Grand Hotel" djs December 2001 / Wedding story:"Hallelujah" djs Summer 2004 / Honeymoon at conjugal visit room:"honeymoon" djs February 2003 / Sen and Sword dressed up as "Blues Brothers" are dancing at show at UGH:"Backstage" in commercial magazine of 2003), 2 episode newly written and small book of 16 pages manuscript not included into books which is supposed to be very attractive for UGH fans. The stories of new episode (Norman Hayes and Hayes O'Brien, aka William Cross, an undercover of FBI. William comes to meet Norman in five months because he was seriously injured by investigation. He seeks Norman's hand in marriage and makes love at a room of "conjugal visit" / After UGH vol.3. Using an alias at the town by the sea, Sen is working at fish market and Sword is working as a lifesaver...). I love Norman and Hayes, so I'm very satisfied with their happy story!! This djs should be a must-read one for UGH fans. BTW I can't believe UGH vol.1 is already out of print now! I'm afraid this hard-core series was not commercially so successful The enthusiasm of fan letters has been hotter than in the past. (by Slash-kun 4/Feb/2006)
"Hai to Diamond" (djs) Aug/2005 *** 8.8
The partly reissue (2 important episodes/typo is corrected) of "Hai to Diamond" for new Sadahiro's fan because original commercial version (issued in 1995 - 1997) is already out of publisher. The story(Encounter of Otoji and Joe. Otoji comes to "Dobuita Street" of Yokosuka to find his brother who went missing. He finds his own saxophone which his brother ran away with is sold there..../Joe loses his backer-up, Nedu who is yakuza. A young man, Tooru Tokiwa who is the 4th heir-to-be of "Tokiwa gumi", yakuza group suddenly approaches Joe. Otoji comes back and falls in love with Joe and decides to live in this town. Joe also begins to love Otoji...). Historical & important yaoi masterpiece which is already out of print and it's a shame. After this series written, there have been the growing number of yaoi works written from masculine & active/aggressive view point. For new Sadahiro's fans, this djs is a must book! Comment for each episode (About 1st episode: Sadahiro describes the atmosphere of Yokosuka, a japanese town of "American base" with "many americans", "jazz", "violence" and "sex" very well. It was so rare & innovative in those days that a female mangaka expressed manlike situations like this. As may be expected of living Yokohama, she is very acquainted with Yokohama/Yokosuka culture! I was really touched by Sadahiro's strong & epoch-making spirit (She protests against the old concept that "people of getting laid (many women)" is a sort of "victim" and asserts that "people of getting laid" is equal or "seizing the initiative") at the scene that Otoji was overwhelmed by the pride of Joe who maintained that he was a winner who conquered (brought off) his customers by his body though he sold his body. The poster of an old & famous japanese movie is effectively used and it gives off the nostalgia for the early postwar period. About 2nd episode: The scene that Otoji knows Nedu is Joe's father and realizes Joe's loneliness from his heart is really overwhelming. Therefore I can understand the closeness of Otoji and Joe very much. The picture, portrait of family enjoying at the beach is also very impressive). (by Slash-kun 4/Feb/2006)
"Salty Kiss" (djs) Dec/2004 *** 8.68
Prototype story of the episodes, "Samenai Kuchibiru" & "Nigai Mitsu, Amai Toge" written for the magazine, "It's Boy's Love". The stories:(Reissue published on the other magazine. A high school student, Honami reminisces about his bitter days when he was a junior high school student of 8th grade to his classmate & lover, Shouji. Honami enjoyed masturbation with his best friend, Terumi Ichimiya, aka Teru together every days. But Teru found his girl friend and then they became estranged. Listening to the story, Shouji gets jealous. He notices motorcycle of motorcycle gang seeking them and goes to the meeting of the gang. He accepts entry ritual (punched by group). Shouji knows Teru keeps loving Honami and feels a sense of guilt by realizing his love for Teru.../ Newly written episode of name piece. To forget Teru, Shouji spends his summer vacation in Australia in the name of learning english with Honami. He returns but can't forget Teru...). Sadahiro says she rediscovered her feelings by young boys in a long time! Teru parted with Honami because he didn't have the heart to be homosexual and had a girl friend but when he finally realizes he loves Honami, Shouji accepts to be Honami's lover from his best friend; Teru is scooped by Shouji....It's the kind of thing that happens all the time. Sadahiro describes well such a sad truth of our lives. Furthermore, Sadahiro makes Shouji love Teru (Maybe because Teru is too pitiful). How tender she is! Eternal fruitless love triangle. I can't recommend this for readers who like just sweet & happy stories but can do for ones who like adult & better/incisive stories. (by Slash-kun 4/Feb//2006)
"XI" (Magazine Magazine) Aug/2004 *** 8.78
The sequel of the series about 2 detectives, Haru & Kiichi (including djs reissue) and the sophisticated series about 3 guys of love triangle - Shishimaru who carries on jack-at-all-trades, Karito who is Shishimaru's childhood friend & lover and young CEO and Zebra (Ryuuma) who is a henchman of Shishimaru. Very gorgeous works because crossover of two my favorite series. The couple of Haru and Kiichi is very realistic. And I love 3 guys of latter series. Each character is very nice and attractive, especially Shishimaru is very stylish (He lacks a sense of morality and becomes fierce j uke for Kiichi at Bachelor Party. It's hilarious)!. He is service-minded though he is irresponsible. What a nice guy he is! And each story is very adult, stylish and well worth reading, so I'm very satisfied. Sadahiro has recently achieved strong growth and is going to be the best of my types but this book may be her landmark work, macho and adult work (But for female readers, her characters are very sexy. Haru and Kiichi is long-term couple - Haru is divorced and has a daughter and Shishimaru and Karito keep adult love game & outwitting each other)! It's so wonderful. I'm really happy to be present at mangaka's growth. Many mangaka can write manga only when they are young and a few mangaka keep their activity when they become aged, so Sadahiro's achievement may be a sort of miracle. The sex scenes of this book are also very aggressive. At postscript, Sadahiro mentions about definition of "reversible" and I'm moved by this, too. How deeply she is thinking!! Reading manga like this, we can feel we are right about being adult!! (by Slash-kun 08/May/2005)
Sakura Ashika
"Nemureru Kimi no Barairo no Kuchibiru" (Magazine Magazine) Jul/2005 *** 8.58
Short stories including ones with same characters (Students' story. Hero's best friend was dumped by a bad pedophilia teacher and gets to love strange guys and repeats lost love. Hero often comforts his best friend by perverted play but he really wants to love each other normally / A turned-off gay student is saved by a serious office worker and begins to love the worker. Finding a guy who asked the worker to be a guarantor but escaped & left a debt for the worker, the student burns with anger for the first time / An editor introduces a nowhere novelist to a hero, a designer. The novelist is so cute and just a type of the designer, so the designer forces to make love to the novelist. The novelist also loves the designer and gets up the nerve to go out to deliver a magnetooptic disc which the designer left behind / The editor of previous story. The man who he loved when they were high school students and became his lover but suddenly disappeared shows up after an interval of 15 years. The editor finally understand the reason his disappearance... / The series of "nowhere novelist". The designer loves the novelist again when he heard the novelist went to the convenience store for the first time and got the beer for him / Hero, an office worker is treated as a princess and comes off overtime at the company where only women work and no other guy works. He feels lonely because his lover has a wife and a kid. Hero shows the white feather, then his lover has abandoned his family, lands on hero and asks hero to feed / The series of "nowhere novelist". The novelist challenges getting on a train to stay at his lover for the first time). Healing stories like a happy episode that nowhere kid begins to go out by his boy friend, relieved one that a guy with strong complex is understood for the first time in years are impressive. The view of Sakura who loves social misfits like perverts or nowhere kids is very warm. When I read her stories, I feel very relieved and heartwarming. Sakura's usage of same character in the series of nowhere novelist and the series of editor is stylish and makes me very happy! (by Slash-kun 19/Sep/2005)
Sakura Ayumi
"Katate Omoi" (Sanwa Shuppan) May/2005 *** 8.45
Short stories（The split-up with a fickle-minded lover. Hero masturbates with sculpture-hand the lover made / A sluttish guy who enjoys philandering with adult woman picks up a boy at town. But the boy is underdeveloped man and used false name because he is a son of the adult woman. After years hero sees the man but can not call him true name... / Hero loses his job because of restructuring. His junior colleague visits hero to encourage. Getting drunk, hero finds the colleague is gay and bullies him... / A good-natured friend teaches hero snowboard. When hero gets tired, the friend suddenly changes into a wolf / A temporary worker of an environmental research company. Getting tired of many altering data, hero tries to make it public & resign but his senior colleague stops him / Hero decides promptly his new apartment house of a very beautiful landlord whom he saw at house agent. But at next door, there is his ex-lover and he makes love to hero to warn / Hero's parents at dirty divorce. Hero gets to know a single-guy at convenience store and he comforts hero. But the guy is a toy boy of hero's mother and his approach to her is just a part of his long tricky tactics to aim for hero / The brothers who have been incestuos relationship. The elder one tries to take advantage of an opportunity, his getting job and decides to live solo & break off their relationship...). The author's first book. A little classic elaborate artwork and dark stories match very much. Especially 2nd (The ending is good and painful), 7th (Like 2nd story, good and cold/cruel), 8th story (The rainy scene younger brother visits elder one desperately is so good) are so impressive. Sakura should have a talent and is promising.(by Slash-kun 29/Apr/2005)
Sakura Denbu
"HEY! BAD BOY" (Sanwa Shuppan) Dec/2003 *** 8.65
Unique shota PWP short stories (Yoshinari, a voluntary student who loves kids has a roving eye because a very cute kid, Hiroyuki Neme has recently moved in. Then Kenta, a boss of the kids of the neighborhood becomes more rebellious. But Yoshinari finds Kenta wants to be concerned because he is a child of lonely family / Sequel. 2 couples, Yoshinari & Kenta and Hiroyuki & his brother-in-law, Toshihiko go for a bathe together. Toshihiko feels jealous of strong Yoshinari and makes love with Hiroyuki. Kenta walks by there and they enjoy threesome sex / Hero's elder brother is a foolish delinquent youngster, so hero goes to a different school, a private one. He finds a nice elegant friend for making love there. But friend's brother is also delinquent and kidnaps hero for revenge / A very beautiful student transfers to Sumou Club in rural elementary school. But the student is very strong, precocious and warped / A journey of Kappa - japanese mythical animal - and a middle aged guy who has broken heart. They change Zashiki Warashi - a japanese specter living in a house - into human / Hero suffers from lewd fancies with too tender adopted father. A new sponger with mask joins there and hero becomes friendly with him). Sakura is so skillful that I can't believe this is her first book. Her shota stories contain both of "shota among kids" and "shota between kid & adult guy". Adult guy is very cool. The bold and explicit sexual expression resembles works by male shota mangaka but Sakura's sex scenes are more elaborate and erotic (Strong and tons of pages but make substantial reading and have a wit like veteran mangaka), so I think female readers can enjoy more. The stories have variety (including fantastic stories with sci-fi taste) and unwearying. Sakura's fashionable art of "tiger" is very sexy and traditional story of "wolf" is also skillful. I wonder what Sakura has been doing till now. New big & unmoral shota mangaka of my type! Comment for each story(1:Nice & tactful story. saucy kid is very lovely, especially his face with tears. His word, "Please hit me!" is also very funny. Hiroyuki's brother-in-law, Toshihiko is a dangerous & dark pervert and attractive! I wonder why perverted guys in yaoi stories are lovely / 2: This story is also funny and very unmoral threesome scene is magnificent / 3: The expression of delinquent youngsters is very skillful. The author may love manga for male readers / 4: Hero reminds me of "Tohya" of "Hikaru no go". The author adopts very unique setting, province, Sumou,,etc / 5: Ultra fantasy! Oh. The author has various talent! / 6: Fantasy, again. Wolf figure is very nice. Powerful subject / 7: very weird but I appreciate author's unique challenge).(by Slash-kun 10/Jul/2004)
Sakura Ryo
"Doctor's Rule" (Ohkula Shuppan) May/2004 *** 8.8
Long-short series of doctors' angst romance (To the emergency hospital where a doctor, Kurata is working, an another elite surgeon, Nakajima is called for backup. Kurata had a bitter experience when he was a high school student. Kurata and Nakajima, 1 year Kurata's senior were lovers but Nakajima unilaterally forced a rule on Kurata not to eye contact and he finally ran away from Kurata. On the other hand Nakajima realizes his dispeace in mind never disappears and keeps Kurata away...) and 4 short stories (2 students of acting school are working part-time in Kurata's hospital. One aims at getting a wealthy man and Kurata give him a ticket of a mixer where adult guys who like young boys will gather..../ Rival attorneys. Because of ego battle, they should play a game that a loser must be a slave.../ Angst between an elite career inspector and a detective under jurisdiction). A little bitter love romance of working guys (doctors, attorneys or detectives,,etc) with "power game". I love this book very much!! The art is a little rough but important pictures of critical scenes are very cool & adult (Art resembles Mako Toyama or Yoshiki Tokumaru. Very tall guys with a long face) and the story is really interesting. Seemingly angst taste but really sweet. Nasty seme (Being treated kindly by such seme, uke feels embarrassment. Very lovely!) and cold uke are very attractive!! Term of works is very specialistic. I can't believe this is Sakura's first book! I'm very glad to meet a new talented yaoi mangaka of my taste! About Long-short series of doctors is very attractive because it has two good points (Sweet-sour love between a junior and senior / Very specialistic doctors' story). I enjoyed very much because the situation resembles "Netsujyou" by Hisako Takaku, a great healing manga of "teacher and student" that a senior character is more timid and is often so hard on junior but is finally overpowered & forgiven by junior's passion. About 2 short stories, I like last two stories very much because it is the angst stories about adult elite workers. (by Slash-kun 05/Feb/2006)
Sakuragawa Sonoko
"Hana mo Arashi mo" (Kaiousha) Dec/2004 ** 8.45
A high school student, a master of sword (though he has very pretty face) happens to meet illegitimate son of his benefactor, his father's friend and finally loves the son through many obstacle like motion of CEO dismissal. At first personal relationship of characters (hero, hero's father,,etc) was complex and a little difficult to understand but I could enjoy a lot because the character of illegitimate son, Ryouma Fudou is so powerful/impressive and sword play by cute Hagane Kujyou is so cool. Ryouma and Hagane did not teeter over the edge but their sexual foreplay is very sexy. In this story, Hagane manages to serve Ryouma because Hagane really loved Ryouma's father, Akimitsu Mishima but Ryouma refuses Hagane saying that Hagane can not guard Ryouma (Hagane is not necessary for Ryouma) and it is very unique among Sakuragawa's works. This story does not end and I'm very curious about Hagane's brother who seems to opposite to their intercourse. I want to read next volume very much! (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
"Oresama Tengoku!" (Kaiousha) Sep/2003 *** 8.5
Comical series of animal fantasy (A young CEO, Nagase saves a big & savage Great Dane for breeding, Ray which is nearly slaughter. The ferocious dog, Ray who has been hurt and could not believe humans takes kindly to Nagase and becomes human to return a favor...) and 2 short story (An hardheaded and lady-killer manager of hotel grooms a new bellboy to be an admirable hotelkeeper / 2 middle-aged popular actors who debuted at same time but now are playing active roles at different genre, modern drama and samurai drama, happen to play together and clash). About a name-piece series: The setting (An animal changes into human and returns a favor) is all-too-common but this series is unique & great because dog's character is so attractive and natural! Ray is very wild and dangerous dog but pardonable/allowable because he is very pure. Dangerous seme who can not control himself is really very sexy. Ideal seme in a certain sense. Sakuragawa invents very good setting. It's very funny that he is very popular among women though he changes into human because he was a dog for breeding. Sakuragawa uses well the nature of the dog (Ray is often dejected when he is scold by Nagase,,etc). She actually keeps dogs, so she knows about dogs very much. The manga in which the author uses her experience is always very interesting! The information at postscript about dog training is also very interesting! There are various ways of training and dogs often try mounting with their keepers' legs! Sakuragawa has an observant eye! It's very important quality for good mangaka. About last short story of actors is also very good & dramatic. I love it. The story of rivals and characters are middle-aged. Sakuragawa's editor wants sequel, so I do, too! This adult uke (oyaji uke) like this is challenging trial for Sakuragawa but I want her to get going on it. I always want to read *new* and *challenging* works. About 1st short story of a new bellboy is usual line, so it is only so-so. BTW the episode at postscript about her surgical operation at hospital is also very interesting (I want to read her fight manga against disease)! While she was sick, she re-wrote or additionally wrote so much for this book!! Great. She is a paragon of professional mangaka.(by Slash-kun 03/Apr/2004)
Sakuragi Yaya
"Koicha no Osahou vol.3" (Kadokawa Shoten) Feb/2005 *** 8.6
The 3rd volume of high school tea ceremony club series. The story:(Tokumaru has trouble trying to determine his future though Hasune already fixed it. Tokumaru's teacher suggests Sport Science University to him. Then Tokumaru takes a remedial summer class or Hasune personally teaches Tokumaru, too. But hard training camp of Karate school and Hasune's coming down from exhaustion interfere with Tokumaru). Characters are very attractive! Design of characters has been originally good like a miracle (Character of uke and seme is opposite - Uke is very active and happy-go-lucky but seme is thoughtful and a little negative. Both are tall), so interesting story makes their characters more attractive! In this volume, Tokumaru who has been always carefree is struggling & scrabbling to be a equal partner of Hasune who has a consciousness of being a great tea master since he is a student, and it is so nice! And Hasune of this volume is very sexy to show his weakness (He hates summer or being separated by camp) to Tokumaru. At the end Tokumaru finds his talent, education of children and its new story line is very interesting! I'm glad to know Tokumaru can decide his future, too! Sakuragi's description of children is so vivid. The tempo of comedy is very neat & excellent as usual. Especially Tokumaru's fashionable hair style (using hairpin or color rubber band) is very cool! (by Slash-kun 25/Sep/2005)
"Koicha no Osahou vol.2" (Kadokawa Shoten) Dec/2003 *** 8.5
The sequel of unique school series at high school tea ceremony club. The story:(Tokumaru and Hasune have become a lovey-dovey couple but Tokumaru does not understand his own homosexuality well and feels guilty for tempting Hasune, a honorable successor of a grant tea master into homosexual relationship. Then Tokumaru's senior friend, Gou who went to southern island and got marriage and have a child there has returned home temporarily for graduation & preparation for the future. Gou suggests to come together if Tokumaru does not determine his own future...). Hasune is so pitiful because Tokumaru is not willing to be uke and irritates Hasune. And Tokumaru spreads too much pheromone to Gou,,etc. So Hasune often gets jealous. Anyway such poor Hasune is very lovely. At the same time, comical face of Tokumaru is so pretty and his face when he is penetrated by Hasune is so sexy that this series is supposed to be very attractive for fans of "Rukawa x Hanamichi" of "Slamdunk". Both Tokumaru and Hasune are tall, too. Sakuragi keeps writing this series for 3rd volume now and I'm very looking forward to read. It's a little regrettable that sex scenes are not as hot as 1st volume that I could not believe this was serialized on "CIEL". A senior student, Gou is very cool and wild but too nice guy and it does not thrill me so much. And I can not sympathize with Tokumaru because he did not enough agonize over his future. Hasune also shows his weakness too much (controlled by Tokumaru) and it may decrease Hasune's arrogant attraction. Art is skillful, comedy sense is excellent and characters are attractive but in this volume Sakuragi may stick the plot too much. I hope her retrieval next time.(by Slash-kun 25/Sep/2005)
Sakuragi Yaya & Kazumi Maki
"Ren-ai Kyoutei - Nukegake Nashi!" (Tokuma Shoten) Aug/2005 *** 8.59
Long series of students. Love triangle. The story:(A childish student, Shirou carries a torch for his teacher. Masami, a good friend of Shirou who has cherished Shirou like his brother is guessed by Ryuuji that Masami really loves Shirou. Ryuuji really loves Masami but pretends to love Shirou, too. Masami and Ryuuji conclude a gentleman's agreement not to hit on Shirou each other. Ryuuji orders Masami to substitute and take care of his sexual desire instead of Shirou). Kazumi Maki is a veteran yaoi novelist, so the story has no defect and is well worth reading. But it is regrettable that the setup/situation is a little too common and lacks the element of surprise. Nonetheless Ryuuji is very lovely & pitiful (He regrets his cheating Masami to get him but he also feels happy to make love with him). So I hate Shirou all the more. The sex scenes are not so hot/radical because Masami is a honors student. They said they made love 5 times before they become a true couple, so if the author expresses their sexual intercourse more realistic or stringently, this story may become more unique. I can't help wanting crash/downfall to too balanced story. (by Slash-kun 3/Sep/2005/2005)
Sakurai Shushushu
"Moeyo! Takara Corporation" (Magazine Magazine) Aug/2003 *** 8.69
The sequel of very popular PWP of company soldiers （The parody of hollywood adventure movies, "Indiana Jones" or "THE MUMMY": Fujishima, Okazaki and Nitta go to the rarely visited regions of Amazon by their company order to find legendary "sex stone". Being attacked by native tribe, Fujishima is captured by a tribal chief who looks close Okazaki.../ The account of the pains Nitta and Okazaki have taken at entrepreneurial days - They were very poor students / Hilarious report of dubbing drama CD / A foolish Fujishima invites a rancor of otaku researcher under the cloud...) and short story of gamer (An employee of game company monitors new game. In real world, he finds a guy who looks close game character. Then he starts to make a strong pass). The author always entertains the readers with devilish amusement (Even men may feel embarrassed. But her art is very cool and orthodox, so female readers can enjoy). And her criticism of the culture of male-dominated society is so excellent as usual (But Sakurai's nature is very blithe and gay, so her sarcastic does not seem malicious. She may be a person of virtue. She is so intelligent but she does not show off it and her sex scenes are very hot/radical and her service earns full marks. She is a paragon of professional mangaka!). But the criticism for company soldiers gets fewer and Sakurai tries to entertain the readers by focusing on parody of Hollywood adventure movies (I suppose she wanted to realize very much!) or making a burlesque of old-type male friendship (now less common) in return. The last episode about a researcher out of luck is the only one parody drama of company. It's very interesting with sci-fi style story and fanciful setup! About short story, the idea, debug of "male version" is unique and interesting. I'm fond of this kind of story, like Marchen for adult readers. Sakurai uses the game very well into good drama. And the report of CD after-recording is so awesome/hilarious! I wonder why report of dubbing by mangaka is always so interesting! (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2004)
Sasaki Kumiko
"Suzu no Ne ga Kikoeru" (Gentousha) Sep/2003 *** 8.7
The fantastic long series of animal, a ghost of stray cat which hero could not keep and let die when hero was a child, now becomes a human and comes to see hero who is an animal doctor and a non-yaoi short fantasy of interact between alien family and human child (Hero feels jealous of his newborn sister, then meets little alien family whose space ship got out of order). The story of long series:(An animal doctor, Atsushi Kirishima meets a cat-guy with tail, cat-ear and injured eye when he is searching his runaway patient animal. Atsushi can not leave the cat-guy and takes the guy to his animal hospital with him. But the guy gets angry at Atsushi who did not remember the guy and tries to go out. Atsushi suddenly remembers when he was a child he picked up a kitty with injured eye, Jyuuzou but his mother did not permit his keeping, then Atsushi belled Jyuuzou, promised to meet again definitely and cast off Jyuuzou in tears.../ Jyuuzou's recollection. He kept hovering around Atsushi even though he died and became a ghost. But living cats bullied Jyuuzou. Now Jyuuzou becomes a human but cats still keep hating him. Jyuuzou tries to run away but Atsushi finds him and insists that Atsushi can not live without Jyuuzou / Hattori, an apprentice of Atsushi's defunct father, Kenzou finds a ghost dog of Kenzou, Kohaku in a mountain and brings back by car. Kohaku changes into a girl on the way. Atsushi feels embarrassment for Jyuuzou who experiences estrus for the first time. Atsushi finds the dog which is lying at the door and looks after it. The dog changes into a girl and suddenly clings on Jyuuzou and cries out a name as "Kenzou!" / Kohaku is a human girl who changed from a ghost dog as well as Jyuuzou. Kohaku asks Jyuuzou to sleep together and it makes Atsushi jealous. Taking advantage of it, Jyuuzou succeeds in making love with Atsushi. Hattori comes to take in Kohaku / Kohaku often attacks Jyuuzou because she misunderstands Jyuuzou's making love with Atsushi as bullying Atsushi. Kohaku asks Hattori to take in Jyuuzou, too. Then Hattori goes to check and see their making love.../ Atsushi is very busy in working and Jyuuzou is also busy to learn in order to human. They often miss each other. Jyuuzou finally force to get laid with Atsushi. It makes Atsushi upset and Atsushi says he will fix - castrate Jyuuzou...). It's hard to imagine that this chef-d'oeuvre is the author's first book! This book enjoys popularity & appreciation among yaoi readers because of unique and tender sense. Sasaki's art, story and mood are very atmospheric and impressive. At that pathetique like sophisticated literature! To stretch a point, it resembles "Tamaki Fuji". Sasaki's art is a little more designed (Sasaki is very good at designing the cat). First of all very selfish and foolish Jyuuzou is so cute & lovely! He is a stray & one-eyed cat. It makes readers feel pity by itself. And Jyuuzou is doglike. Oh! (But I wonder why he did not have a spite against Atsushi. And why didn't Atsushi come to check Jyuuzou everyday? I always have too many question because I'm a science-oriented type. It's troublesome in reading manga). The cat image of Jyuuzou is very cute! The scene that a ghost-Jyuuzou gets the cold shoulder by cats is really pitiful. But I'm relieved when Atsushi shows favoritism toward Jyuuzou. I really realize the love is "illegitimate favor". Jyuuzou is sometimes enough brute & pushy and it's so sexy! Sasaki's sex scenes are very erotic considering this is fantasy and the art is pretty. It's delightful surprise. Jyuuzou is also foolish (in an endless quest to making love with Atsushi - The episode of castration is so funny) and it's so lovely! But Jyuuzou is very admirable to study hard to master a life-style of human. The episode of Kohaku (a female dog of Atsushi's father) is not yaoi-ish, but owing to her Jyuuzou could make love with Atsushi for the first time, so everything is just fine as it is. Jyuuzou who is misunderstood and scolded by Kohaku is also very lovely because his eyes become "Eyes of Mokubaza's horse (big and vacant)". The last fantastic short story is enough interesting but I only regret that it is not yaoi. At the postscript, there are author's tenderness for living matters and her spirit which respect their life and they are very moved & touched! Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2004)
Shima Asahi
"Hitomi no Kotoba" (Houbunsha) Oct/2004 *** 8.59
A long, dangerous and sexual series at office (A square but proficient employee is relegated to a flippant supervisor who joined the company in the same year. As report has it, the supervisor has risen in rank using his body...) and one short story (A boy whose mother was dead is abused by his stepfather. A stranger keeps seeing the boy but the boy finally collapses by dreaming using cigar lighter he picked up). The series is well worth reading with a lot of obstacles (Soon after happy scene, tough trial will come). Hero's enemy, a manager is also very sexy guy (but very nasty) and it makes this story more interesting! The sex scenes are very hot because both uke and seme are very passionate. The art is so powerful & speedy that the readers do not have time to breathe. The short story, a parody of "The Little Match Girl" by Hans Christian Andersen is very sad, heartrending and tearjerker (but after all happy ending!). (by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2005)
Shimada Hisami
"Desert Moon" (Core Magazine) Oct/2003 *** 8.58
Sci-fi fantastic & heroic action comedy series. Unique PWP of the boy who transforms himself to super hero by semen. The story:(Sagetsu is only one successor of the family of "Super-angel", a beautiful hero for justice. He masks his identity and pretends to be an ordinary high school student, but one day a news photographer, Yousuke Zama takes a picture of his figure as Super-angel. When Sagetsu encounters Zama at school, he is call-out Super-angle. Then he sucks Zama's penis by pheromonal-mode but Zama ravishes a kiss from Sagetsu. Afterwards Zama makes Sagetsu help to find Super-angel at school and tells Sagetsu the old story that he was helped by Super-angel, fell in love with her at first sight and has kept finding her since then. When Sagetsu saves Zama who is involved in gas explosion, Zama knows Sagetsu is Super-angel. Sagetsu becomes Zama's lover under the condition of Zama's keeping secret But Sagetsu can not transform because of the pressure that Sagetsu conceals how to transform and shock of knowing that Zama's first crush is Sagetsu's mother. Then Sakaki, a Cabinet Research Officer, visits Zama and asks Zama's determination of being Sagetsu's life partner). Oh. Very interesting! The setting is not so unique - a hero student like "Saishuu Heiki Kanojo" under the aegis of government agency like FBI or CIA, but the key of transform is semen. It's so hilarious! Aging comical taste (Only middle-aged people say such a silly obscene jokes) like "Chintsubu" by Nase Yamato is very nice! And the art is so cute. The gap between them is very funny. What Shimada originally wants to write has been action sci-fi, so whole this drama was very lively/picturesque/vivid! Easy to read with very good tempo, comical funny art and so cute critical pic. The scene that Sagetsu determines to part with Zama for his mission is very heartrending and the characters of his mother and Sakaki are unique and funny. The mood after Zama marries into the family of Sagetsu is so hilarious! It's only regrettable that Sakaki was a little miserable because he also loves Sagetsu. Sakaki is my type, so I wish his happiness in some day. This story is sci-fi, so sex scenes are less and sci-fi setting is a little slack as compared with authentic sci-fi stories but this is fine work as yaoi sci-fi stories. I wish Shimada to keep challenge sci-fi yaoi. (by Slash-kun 02/May/2004)
Shimogaya Pix & Mirai Modoru
"TENNEN CHERRY" (Magazine Magazine) Oct/2003 *** 8.4
Various short stories with hot sex scenes (Immoral & ridiculous PWP. Hero who comes to urban college from rural district is deceived by a nasty student who has a voluptuous sister / Sequel. Involved in threesome sex with ex-lover of the nasty student / A lover boy of Yakuza has a crush on a security guard who has a strong sense of justice. The boy sticks like glue to the guard.../ At funeral of hero's father who had been estranged since divorce, hero encounters a guy who bills himself as his uncle. The guy wheedles hero's legacy. Hero protests but becomes a lover of the guy.../ Hero should kill a lover of his uncle who shoulders school expenses of hero. But hero and the lover love each other.../ At graduates' meeting, hero meets again with his old friend who bullied hero)。The author is very skillful but charmingly naive emotion may a little lack. Sex scenes are very hot, hard-core and satisfactory but a little too practical like "Hentai manga (porno manga for guys)", and delicate sentiment as "boys love" or emotional feeling are not enough. It may be because the author (Shimogaya and Mirai) write hentai manga, too. Above all stories, I prefer 4th story of father's funeral (Comical and nihilistic like Ichiko Ima. And stylish and dream-inspiring) and last story of reunion at class meeting (I originally like "reunion story". This author doesn't write ordinary story and status of two men seems to be inverted, a bully becomes cute like a girl and a bullied child becomes very tall guy. But it doesn't change in fact and a bully acts like a queen of SM play. It was so hilarious!) (by Slash-kun 23/May/2004)
Shimotsuki Kairi
"MADNESS vol.2" (Gentousha) Jul/2004 *** 8.75
The latter half volume of the series, serialization on "Magazine LYNX" from 2003 to 2004 and newly written episodes for this book. Isaiah who knows his brother's invention was used for the cult's conspiracy will counter the cult with Kyo. The story:(A doctor, Kai saves moribund Miyabi and finds the embedded chip of murder. He tells the fact to madness members. They decide not to take Isaiah together but Isaiah has already realized his love to Kyo and determines to accompany them. The cult group of hunting Madness abducts Isaiah. He is reunited with his brother who was threatened and confined by the cult. He finally finds the cult group is an another murder-action one of the cult which officially prohibits the murder and Isaiah bros have believed. The murder-action group was devised by the cult itself to save the people from Madness's horror and increase their loyalty to the cult. His brother was forced to develop the chip. Kyo and the members of madness venture into the desperate confrontation to save Isaiah bros). Shimotsuki doesn't have long enough commercial career yet, so it's a pity that I sometime could not find what had happened at action fast & violent scenes (For example when Fake joins the group at the last). But I think it comes from too much passion which her pen could not catch up with and it may continue its serialization on LYNX for long time by fans' good reaction. 1st and 2nd volumes are very thick and they are equivalent to ordinary 3 volumes. Comical expression is very nice as former volume but hilarious tones decrease a little and more serious ones increase. Description of bloody action violence scenes is very professional, full-scale and skillful (hard to imagine a female mangaka drew this) and unique, erotic and violent&psycho world like "Alias" is very wonderful!! Isaiah is a priest, so the relationship with Kyo does not make progress fast but I'm very relieved to know they finally make love together. There are some episodes Shimotsuki did not write yet like "Miyabi and Isaiah's brother", so I want to read many sequel of this series! By the way, Oboro who admires Kyo like a dog is very cute somehow. So please write the sequel of Oboro, too! (by Slash-kun 20/Jan/2007)
"MADNESS vol.1" (Gentousha) Jul/2004 ** 8.8
Violent action & occult fantasy of a young priest who captures a leader of murderers group is involved in conspiracy by a leader of the cult. The story:(Isaiah keeps sheltering "Kyo", a leader of murderers group, "Madness" whom Isaiah brother captured and confined to the basement of the church. Isaiah made Kyo recover his real heart. But the group who wants to kill Madness tries to attack the church with village people. Worrying about the pressure to Kyo as stormy petrel, Isaiah leaves there with Kyo. Along the way, they meet companions of Madness, "Oboro", a well-informed man and "Miyabi" who is now a prostitute. They are attacked by a mysterious group of "Madness hunter"). Oh. It's so awesome! So interesting & amazing!! Publication of this book was put off because it was serialized on the yaoi novel magazine, "Eclipse" which was suspended (The publisher, "Outou Shobou" was so great that it allowed yaoi writers to write very geeky stuffs and produced many great writers. It was a shame Outou sold yaoi branch), so volume 1 and volume 2 are released at same time. It's an excessive loss that very great manga like this had not been released for 1 or 2 years! I'm relieved to know "Gentousha" succeeds the tradition of the yaoi novel branch of Outou Shobou now. Shimotsuki's art is excellent out and away (Very elaborate, realistic/exact and fine and thin - it's contemporary like DUO-BRAND, Ayano Yamane or Yamimaru Enjin,,etc. Such delicate art matches up with fantastic story very much) and sexy (But she does not indulge herself in her own aesthetic art) her imagination is wonderful! Different from just sweet Boys Love manga. Her expression of violence is also amazing (Art of weapon like "sword" or violence scenes are tremendously skillful) but Shimotsuki never forgets comical factors, so violent expression and comical one really look much better. Each character including female one and a priest is very attractive and individual. Miyabi is very nice though she is a female character. In Boys Love stories, it is very unusual. A hero, the priest Isaiah is very funny, too because he is too pure and naive. Kyo's split personality is also interesting. He often find it difficult to deal with his human emotion and it's very lovely. Oh. This work is faultless (Art and story are perfect!). I also enjoy her new work, a manga of great hit video game, "Sengoku BASARA". Shimotsuki is really good mangaka! (by Slash-kun 26/Nov/2006)
"Inferior Doll" (Gentousha) Oct/2003 *** 8.75
Tour de force Sci-fi PWP of hilarious sexaroid! The story:(A student of technical school, Crowe falls in love with Deep, a sexaroid of beautiful & glamour girl in show window at first sight. He gets it through harsh after-school job but Deep wakes up as "macho guy sexaroid" by malfunction by Crowe's cat. Crowe tries to reset it but Deep craves him not to do it, so Crowe is beaten down. With very lewd & radical sexaroid, Deep - because his old owner was SM freak), spending funny days, Crowe becomes impossible to hate Deep...) and one short story (When a student from Japan, a bird of passage is traveling around america, he encounters a bullied boy. He keeps his Odyssey with guarding the boy & doing some part-time work. The boy feels inferior because he is a sort of a burden of hero. But the boy knows people bully him because he is cute and becomes able to be sure of himself). Oh! Super! Awesome! The art is so aesthetic but very humorous. The combination is so unique. The atmosphere resembles Uki Ogasawara, Modoru Motoni or Kamon but more easy & understandable. And her sci-fi taste may resemble Satoru Ishihara but more hilarious, fashionable and erotic. Deep's costume of each episode, bondage-gothic-Lolita fashion is sooooo cool! So marvelous! The students of tech school are also very fashionable! - like Ai Yazawa. Most sci-fi mangaka are not so good at fashionable drawing but Shimotsuki's sense is so excellent and her comedy sense is also amazing. Additionally very sexy. She is so unimpeachable. Especially Deep is so attractive. Very tall, aesthetic (Looks like "IZAM", a queer japanese rock singer or drag queen), devotional, fooling and lewd. So pretty. The setup, secondhand android (owned by SM freak) is also very nice. I love this mangaka so much. I'm dying to read her next work!(by Slash-kun 16/May/2004)
Shinohara Udoh
"Hitman" (Tokuma Shoten) Dec/2003 *** 8.65
Yakuza's antagonism at Hong Kong. The story ("Sanfei-Fu", a mafia of Hong Kong could avoided the crisis of being split when their group name was "Fei-Fu", their boss was killed and they fell into disorder at 1997, restitution to China. They asked Ray Ganhou, a father of Senjai to mediate and "Roharon", a mafia of China backed up. Afterward "Roharon" becomes tied up by internal disputes and now Ray Ganhou has fell from power. Taking occasion to this, a beautiful hitman, Dagar is sent to crush Sanfei-fu. Wangou guards Senjai from Dagar. But Dagar can not kill Wangou on each occasion somehow. Dagar was an adopted child, dying for love of Roharon's bloodless boss and only Wangou felt pity for him because Wangou abandoned his sister to her fate). Udoh's forte, Hong Kong Noir (The story of Hong Kong Mafia). Stoic and severe solidarity of guys is very hot and pitiful (Hero or hero's partner always dies at the end). In this book, a little hesitative Wangou is very pensive and lovely. Udoh used too much Cantonese & too many characters (Their names are indiscriminate and kana at side is too small), so readers may feel difficult if they seldom read Udoh's works. But more I read, more I felt sorry for Dagar. I wish he could be happy with Wangou! But hero of this series is Senjai, so we have no choice. I want to read this whole series at once when this series will be completed. (by Slash-kun 03/May/2005)
Shiozu Shuri
"Kimi yo Yuuwakusuru koto nakare" (Shinshokan) Jul/2004 ** 8.48
A long comical story of family and a short story (A son of ashram and an apprentice). The story of long series: (Hero boy, Tomoaki who is an only heterosexual member manages to guard a beautiful housekeeper, Fujiwara from other families who are all homosexuals (father, 3 brothers). It's not long before that Tomoaki and Fujiwara begin to love...). Very girlish boys love stories (for readers who have read girlish manga and written by mangaka who has kept written it), so the art is very pretty and skillful and tempo of comical scenes are very speedy but sex scenes are not enough. . Shiozu is good at making agonizing missing each other scene like traditional girlish manga (Tomoaki waffles and is reluctant to do anything). Shiozu's characters are very attractive (Tomoaki is very lively and strong-minded and Fujiwara is very dandy - ). Tomoaki's assuming a woman's disguise is very cute, too (Nice clothes!!). The disappointment of Fujiwara who gets the freeze from Tomoaki is very delightful because Fujiwara is so perfect. 3 other flippant brothers' foreseeable act/behavior is also very funny. Shiozu proceeds the story according to rules of girlish manga, so for readers of girlish manga this book is very comfortable and easy to read. But for readers like me, slash-kun who have read many hard-core yaoi manga, this may lack a little challenging or avant-garde trials or natural expression. (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2005)
Shiranagi Yukari
"Boku no Jintai Jikken" (Sanwa Shuppan) Aug/2005 *** 8.5
Various short stories: happy stories which make readers positive (2 stories of students / florist shop staff and customer / climbing gear shop owner and part-time job student / hero becomes a lover of the father of his friend) and dark story (A senior office worker is doggedly stalked by a junior one) and challenging comedy (Name piece: pervert teacher of biology and his student). I'm very glad because Shiranagi has improved her ability more and more. In the story of florist shop, Shiranagi uses "the language of flowers" very tactfully. And I love beard of a middle aged guy at climbing gear shop. The short story of the fear of an office worker who is stalked by his junior one is also very impressive. The last story of human phantom is very funny. Shiranagi elaborates each story, so all stories are rewarding. (by Slash-kun 11/Sep/2005)
Shiranagi Yuri
"Love Love" (Shoubunkan) Aug/2003 *** 8.5
Very challenging (as usual) and various short 8 stories (The struggle and reconcilement of a very popular but blunt surfer and an ordinary guy who would-be a professional photographer / The intercourse between a happy-go-lucky japanese working student and a diligent young chinese migrant worker who are working at chinese restaurant / Insane co-dependency between an idol star and a charismatic stylist / The unique couple of a survivor of twins and a railwayman. They make love in front of sister's tomb / A runaway boy who creeps into truck bed is picked up by a guy of heterosexual couple. But the guy can not abandon the boy / The battle of wills between a cunning hedger and a guy who won't say "I love you". A hero knows double booking of his lover who has a fiancee, then he gambles at Christmas / The friendship and love between a member of baseball club of high school and an ace player who is injured. The member has kept adoring and gets apprehensive about the ace / A bitter short sketch. A old friend is called by his classmate who is now a teacher. The friend finds the same name at test paper which his classmate is marking and knows the reason he is called). Every story is individual, unique, psycho and geeky. Shiranagi's sex scenes are very passionate & ambitious but her stories are also very interesting. Especially I love 2nd story (Shiranagi also wrote the mixed couple, an american soldier and a japanese office worker in her previous book. She always researches well. She uses a lot of chinese language and makes unique situation into good and stylish drama!) and 6th one (Oh. I love the story of this type! I love a bad guy and I enjoy such guy's getting angry, flustered and shocked. Bad guy in a hole is very cute and comforts me. I love the situation that a hedger seemingly looks unfaithful but really sincere. Very good drama. Shiranagi may be very good at making office workers' drama! I want to read again)! About other stories, 1st story: When a photographer boy is drown, Shiranagi's expression of surfer's losing his cool is very excellent. It's very touching!, 3rd one: A hero misunderstands and his energy of anger is so furious and sexy! Good story, 5th one: Something mysterious. Challenging work, 7th one: The scenery of cliff is very excellent. So the scene that hero tries to dive is so powerful, 8th one: Very short but poetic and impressive. A little nihilistic. This is a challenging work, too. I hope Shiranagi to devote herself to various & ambitious new yaoi works! (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2004)
Shouoto Aya
"Himitsu de, Hanazono." (Biblos) Oct/2005 *** 8.5
Stories of first half are modern students' one (Minato is an only & last son of the Tenryouins, poor ex-aristocrat family. His classmates are daunted in front of Minato but an only student, Ryou Minami becomes his friend. Minato invites him to his house but 3 brothers of Minato's stewards interfere with them.../ The eldest brother of stewards, Konoe has become Minato's lover and Ryou who has a broken heart goes to town and has a fight with delinquents. He breaks a very expensive vase of customer of the host club where 2nd brother, Sakura is working. Then he should work as a maid at Minato's house. He and Sakura love each other / Romance between youngest brother and a student of agricultural college who borrows the garden from brother) and one of last half is serious, surreal one about an international race for successor with a lot of suspense like Sakia Higa (Haruto Takazawa, a student of high school lives with her mother who has a mental breakdown. Haruto is stalked by a guy who seems a model scout. The news that a leader of a certain country died is broadcast on TV. A hostess who has taken care of Haruto's family is killed. And the guy is also mortally injured. Haruto sees his funeral is held at his house). First half contrast sharply with last one. Each is good in their own ways. Shouoto has long career as djska (and famous illustrator of "DR series" by Kaname Itsuki, very popular & interesting yaoi novel of doctors), so she is very dexterous and talented mangaka. BTW her pen name was written in "Kanji" but now in Hiragana. (by Slash-kun 30/Oct/2005)
Stay Tasuko
"LOVE SEX, KISS" (Shoubunkan) Mar/2004 *** 8.75
One long series about a senior member,Michirou and a junior one, Machizou of basketball club written from 1995 to 2002 (Slamdunk parody series. Michirou Endou comes from a character of Slamdunk, Mitsui and Machizou Machida comes from Ryouta. Lovely & foolish couple story) and 3 musician short stories (human events by disbandment or member change):(A capricious genius vocalist falls in love with a tender but obscure guitarist and stalks him / Cinderella boy story. Hero, a guitarist is suddenly loved by a star vocalist of famous rock band. But the vocalist has many boy friends for sex / Good story. A guitarist is loved by a slow and lewd boy. He finds that the abuse of boy's parent made the boy's character and decides to cherish the boy). I really empathize Stay's twisted heroes! They can not believe their lover and can not be honest even though they are loved by their lover so much. Such tiny pride of hero makes me cry. Aesthetic art fits afflicted hero, too. About first series: It's very happy and peaceful story and I love. Even a small quarrel is sweet. Machizou is shorter junior student but loves so much Michirou, his taller senior, arrogant uke like queen (Luckily Machizou can be a lover of Michirou and makes love together), so Machizou allows everything of Michirou and gives way. Machizou often sulks but is basically adult. Michirou is high-hat and never gives way (even if he cries). He looks pitiful to me. He can not be honest easily, has a sharp mouth and is jealous person. It makes Machizou uneasy or make a quarrel with. But Machizou is weak in Michirou's tear and Michirou is enough tender to buy a ring for Machizou. They are best couple! About musicians short stories:(I love the episodes of music business which has no direct relation with music like this. Stay is very good at making stories of entangled human relation / Very dreamy story! / Another bitch story. I love bitch uke!). I think Stay's story is "Horseplay of glittering youth" and it moves me very much. At postscript, very funny conversation with her best friend, Kataru Cisco is must-read (A book of Kataru is published at same time from Shoubunkan). Their wild and mannish friendship is so good and I suppose it has encouraged their creativity very much. BTW they loved "WHAM" then...(by Slash-kun 8/Oct/2005)
Suzukake Shuuji
"Bakusou Sentimental" (Sanwa Shuppan) Jun/2005 *** 8.58
Short stories (A bearded middle-aged guy living with a pedophilic young guy has never dreamt the young guy feels sexual desire for him. But... / The sequel. The younger brother of the bearded guy's best friend suddenly visits them and finds they had sexual relations. Then the brother wants to have it, too / A student of cram school makes a pass at his tutor. The tutor visits his student's house because the student has been absent since then / A musician. He calls to his young stalker in jest and robs the boy of his virginity / A staff working at the cafe helps prevent a middle-aged man from committing suicide / A teacher whose partner died young. He is taken by his student and waiting for only his death like mere shell of a man / A guy loved his best friend. He gave up his friend because the friend got married but friend's sons love him. He can not refuse their making love / A homosexual middle-aged guy who tried to commit a suicide in ocean of foliage is saved by another middle-aged buy who lost his wife and children by cigarette before he goes to bed and mute boy and joins their pseudo family life / A lonely middle-aged guy who lives with 2 sons of cyborg enjoy cherry blossom viewing party). Suzukake's first book. The art is plain and masculine like gay manga (resembles art of middle-aged guys of "One Piece"), so it is my type. First 2 stories are geeky because bearded middle-aged guy is loved by 2 young men as a uke and I enjoyed it so much. Some stories are too short to estimate the author highly but stories toward the end are very surreal, aspiring and unique and they improved my rating. The magazines or date placed at first were not written and it is a little disappointment because we can't judge the author's direction. If Suzukake will write more lyrical, emotional and more geeky, unique works, we can expect she will be a great mangaka in future. (by Slash-kun 22/May/2005)
Takagi Ryou
"Kire Papa." (Core Magazine) Sep/2003 *** 8.6
PWP of a super-hilarious father and his son's friend. The story:(A new novelist, a beautiful but iracund father, Senri Takashi lives with his pretty son, Rijyu alone after divorce with his wife. To guard Rijyu, Senri does all kinds of spiteful things to Rijyu's classmates who aim for Rijyu but he can not get rid of only one student, Rijyu's best & cool friend, Shunsuke Sakaki. The editor of Senri, Funaba gives the draft, manuscript note of Shunka Saki, Senri's idol mystery novelist. But Shunsuke thinks Senri received a love letter from Funaba and presses Senri hard. Senri was raped by his senior student whom Senri liked so much. Senri says Shunsuke that he does not want to make Rijyu have same problem. But Shunsuke says please stop worrying because he already has someone in mind. Senri realizes Shunsuke is Shunka Saki from Shunsuke's handwriting when Senri returns Shunsuke's note which Rijyu borrowed on the way to Shunsuke's house. Shunsuke's father comes home. Senri knows Shunsuke's father is Kanzaki, the senior student who raped him and goes mad. Shunsuke tries to force sexual relationship with Senri but Senri refuses it because Shunsuke's activity is same with Kanzaki. Senri keeps refusing Shunsuke but Funaba says Shunka Saki terminates his activity as mystery novelist...). The situation is too nice! The father who desperately guards his dearest son is really a target of his son's best friend! This book is worthy of reading by only this situation setting. Shunsuke is very lovely because he is very nihilistic but easy to get depressed. Senri is also nice because he is middle-aged uke! And the situation is more complex because Shunsuke is younger but more famous as a novelist than Senri (Senri respects Shunka Saki who is really Shunsuke). Senri also goes crackers about Rijyu's lover, an actor, Shou Nijyou who appears in a mystery drama written by Saki Shunka, so the situation becomes more complex! Senri's overdrive is overwhelmingly screwball. Takagi's hilarious low-fi art matches with the story. And the heartrending scenes make the readers moved steadily! Oh. Very good mangaka. (by Slash-kun 03/Apr/2004)
Takaguchi Satosumi
"SEVEN" (Houbunsha) Aug/2003 ** 8.58
The parody work by Takaguchi, herself of "Shoubu wa Toki no Un daro!?" which story Takaguchi offered to Yukine Honami. The story:(A handicapped student, Kiyoshi Kurusu likes watching sport games, so he enters a school noted for sports activity. But he regrets soon because he can not participate in any sport club. Kurusu is asked to be a manager of basket ball club by a captain of the club, Nana Akahori with a kiss. Kurusu accepts it and has a crush on Akahori. A fan of Akahori, Isa Imaichi feels unpleasant. Akahori visits a coach of the club, Dan Saegusa who loses himself in liquor and abandons the club activity, then he and Saegusa create an sexual atmosphere each other. Ex-manager, Hokuto Natsume is afraid that Kurusu's love for Akahori would be an obstacle of club activity and consults with Saegusa. Saegusa raps Akahori's knuckles in subtle ways...). First half of the stories was placed on commercial magazines. Latter half is re-issue of djs. When I read this for the second time knowing already there was no sex scenes, I can enjoy reading very much! Every high school student drawn by Takaguchi is cool including coach! Sakaguchi did not declare "I will keep unwholesome mood" for nothing. There are a lot of devilish amusement and erotic jokes. I feel like reading "Shoubu wa Toki no Un daro!? 2nd Chapter", too. Please enjoy the subtle relationship between Akahori and Saegusa (Both of them are foxy)! (by Slash-kun 28/Feb/2004)
Takahashi Itsumi
"Dendou Darling" (Biblos) Apr/2005 *** 8.4
Comical short stories of students (Hero's father is a robotics researcher. The father devotes himself to researching robot and often forgets his son, so the father makes housemaid robot for his son during his business journey / A new transfer student tries to have a conversation with a classmate who had seldom talked / Good friends couple. They quarrel about which one play as seme or uke / The couple try their first sleepover. But one gets jealous of his lover's hamster / Challenging anal sex but being nervous about Bacillus coli / Hero has bad feeling because his lover praised only hero's face / Hero's lover is very obedient like a dog but has too strong monopolistic desires. Hero orders "wait(obedience training)" to his lover). Takahashi's first book. Her uke is very cute, lively and self-willed/get-tough. Her seme looks lunchbox but very cool. Uke and seme quarrel but always come out in the wash. Happy and funny stories. Characters are very attractive but her stories don't have deep theme yet (maybe most stories are about "first sexual experience"). Her postscript is very unique, so I think she can write more challenging unique stories. I'm looking forward to her next work. (by Slash-kun 25/Jun/2005)
Takahashi Mako
"Donut Tsuushin" (Kaiousha) May/2005 ** 8.58
Very lovely short stories (Good friends. They know they have loved each other and become a couple. But being tired from accommodating himself to other, they return into good friends again... / 2 students who enjoy singing in the street. One student, a lyric writer suffers from one-way love. Another student, a composer comforts and ask to love him instead / Hero has longed for life at dormitory. But a very beautiful roommate can't clean up his room / A mysterious student with the rumor that he killed and interred a woman under cherry tree. But hero finds he buries hero's favorite things which hero wrote in graduation writings... / Love triangle of students who love a son of public bathhouse / Name piece. Watching video, 2 boys feel sexual desire. On next day, one student puts the blame on another and makes him misunderstand badly...). Now Takahashi is very popular. Her cute art and tender atmosphere attract many fans. But in this book there are not so many "hot sex scenes", so I could not enjoy the gap between her cute art and radial sexual expression very much as usual...(by Slash-kun 25/Jun/2005)
Takahashi Yuu
"LOVE BROTHERS!" (Gentousha) Oct/2003 *** 8.8
The comedy of the family, three brothers at the mercy of a vampish home tutor. The story:(Santa, a youngest of three brothers of the Satous has had inferiority complex for long years because only he is less able and looks uncool. His mother worries about it, then she hires a home tutor of Tokyo univ student, Manabu Momose for Santa. But Manabu is an ex-lover of an eldest son, Yuuichi and second son , Shuuji! Though they dumped Manabu because of their unfaithfulness, they show strong lingering affection to Manabu and indifferent Manabu pleases Santa very much. Manabu says a mysterious word, "I don't hate your honesty of purpose which resembles your father" to Yuuichi who tries to make advances to Manabu. Santa has been bullied by a student council president, Kasugano but Kasugano really loves Santa. Yuuichi confronts Manabu about the relationship with his father. Manabu says he loves Yuuichi's father and the father is same as his life. A father of the Satous returns from abroad and it raises a stink. Manabu confesses to Santa that Santa's father saved Manabu who nearly commit suicide distressed by being homosexual. It makes Santa cry. Hearing it, Yuuichi decides to step aside. But Manabu feels a regret somehow...). Oh! I laugh my head off! This is tour de force! The setup/situation is so hilarious and tactful. Ex-lover of excellent elder brothers encourages inferior youngest brother to revenge (A home tutor of Santa, Manabu is a vampish guy and is press to come back by elder brothers but Manabu loves their father!). The flounder of elder brothers is quite delightful. The youngest brother, Santa is clunky (Only he is a figure of fun, resembles a younger brother of a short sci-fi story in "Taiyou ni Nurete" written by Asami Tohjoh. A squirt beneath Boys Love stories. But he acts so nice!) but very cute. His big eyes with tiny irises are so nice! Like an unsophisticated rural/country boy. And only he is sensible. His being ordinary is very lovely. Like an hero of the magazine, "Weekly JUMP". The readers easily empathize with him or want to cheer. His intercourse with elder brothers is also very funny and pretty. Santa often cries by bullying of elder brothers. He is often flurried at family extremity. Santa's unconsciousness for a student council president, Kasugano is also very hilarious. The story seems to keep comical at first but begins to show hidden deep theme from Manabu's word, "Bisexual conflicts with homosexual" and the appearance of the father of the Satous has readers in tears. I'm very surprised! And the relationship between Yuuichi and Manabu becomes serious. The reaction of Santa for them keeps very innocent and it makes me laugh a lot. Father of the Satous is very nice guy! In the excellent plot like urban stage play, every character is so vivid & lively. Great story. I'm overwhelmed by Takahashi's great talent. The best work of her! Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 28/Feb/2004)
Takaku Shoko & Gotou Shinobu
"Netsujou vol.2" (Tokuma Shoten) Sep/2003 *** 8.75
The last compelling volume of the series. Shima and Hikaru are enjoying a hot year but Shima decides parting after Hikaru's graduation. The story:（A teacher,Shima and his student, Hikaru Umino are making believe that they are a couple until the graduation. Hikaru copes with a tough studying for exam and Shima offers his body like reward. Productive days have passed. Hikaru wins admission into univ of choice but since then Shima has refused him and even phone call. Hikaru tries to get past as he has known Shima's action at first. Hikaru receives Shima's watch as a keepsake. Hikaru gets a girlfriend at univ and takes her to a festival of his high school. When Hikaru is indulging in reminiscences at a classroom alone, his cell phone suddenly rings, then Shima comes in to warn. To Heartless Shima who is referring to Hikaru's girlfriend, Hikaru returns the watch and gets out. After a while Hikaru is reminded of his cell phone he left at a classroom, then he returns for it. In a dark classroom he finds Shima who has been sitting on the floor with tears alone). The volume's heartrendingness is up 200%. Oh. What painful scenes succeed! That's Shinobu Gotou all over. Like the great yaoi novelist that she can make an all-too-common romance between a teacher and his student into great moving story like this! I read this with no expectation because I thought this story was very orthodox (forbidden romance between a teacher and his student with a time limit, until the graduation) and not so unique. But it was totally wrong. The moving story by Gotou and very impressive art work by Takaku make me feel a lump in my throat. I can not help crying. Effective interpretation/expression is really important for manga. The characters are well/meticulously made. The purity and passion of Hikaru is well & painfully expressed. And Shima's nihilistic action is also painful. In spite of a nihilist, Shima is enough sensitive and good to buy a car for Hikaru and Hikaru's innocent & desperate reaction also move the readers to tear. But Hikaru sometimes shows unexpected capacity and maturity! It's natural that Shima can not but love Hikaru. The scene that Hikaru gets a watch from Shima and they part after Hikaru's pass is really heartrending though I can predict the story. Besides the scene that Hikaru visits his high school's festival and becomes cruel for Shima draws my sympathy for Shima so much! What a nice plot Gotou made! Ex-lover of Shima, Amamiya is also nice character and acts effectively in the story. Gotou also uses a cell-phone very well! She researches young people of today very much though she is a veteran. The impression after reading is unprecedentedly fine! Recommended for the people who want to be touched by fair means or foul! (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2004)
Takanaga Hinako
"LOVE ROUND!!" (Frontier Works) Sep/2003 *** 8.55
Romantic comedy of a cute student who looks like a girl but gives a strong blow when he gets angry and an ace student of boxing club. The story:(A first-year student of high school, Kaoru Komatsuna who has an inferiority complex for his feminine face and cute name drops his notebook. A senior student, Junya Kubo picks up it. But Komatsuna gets angry and knocks down Kubo because Kubo murmurs "It's a strange name". Kubo is an ace of boxing club, so he desperately tries to recruit Komatsuna who laid him flat. Komatsuna finds himself loving Kubo who never give up Komatsuna's resistance). Takanaga's art is very vivid and animated. Especially the boxing scenes are very excellent! Takanaga did not write many djs of "Ashita no Joe" for nothing. Besides she has the goodness of shoujo manga (cute, delightful, funny, lyrical and colorful), so the mixture of them brings popularity to this series. I have a good feeling for the point that Kubo loves Komatsuna's vitality and strong spirit which are not feminine (At the scene that Komatsuna is nearly attacked by bad guys). But Komatsuna's punch scenes when Kubo tries to make a pass at Komatsuna are funny at first but after around 10 times, they are a little boring. I think Takanaga should decrease funny punch scenes and pursue the romantic, serious & emotional relationship between Komatsuna and Kubo more (or cool Kubo) after they realize that they love each other. I expected this was ANGST boxing story before reading because Takanaga wrote serious boxing djs, but I could enjoy simply this in itself as romantic comedy with shoujo manga style (So there is not so much erotic & hot sex scene). Takanaga is recently very popular (Her old stuffs are very expensive now), so her goodness may be reevaluated. It's very great. BTW did MOVIC change the name into "Frontier Works"? (by Slash-kun 13/Mar/2004)
Takazawa Taeko
"Yappari Kimi wo Suki ni Naru" (Core Magazine) Nov/2003 *** 8.4
The long-short sweet comedy of a natural, naive and cute art teacher and wild trainee teacher（A trainee teacher, Nogi loves Ishibashi, a teacher of art by at first sight. Nogi undertakes being Ishibashi's model for a picture by mere chance but is embarrassed a lot. On the last day of his term, Nogi confesses his love to Ishibashi as a leap in the dark but Ishibashi does not take it seriously) and one sequel short story of "Ren-ai Plus Alpha"(A high school student, Kyouya Koga becomes a commercial model to help his father who is an advertising director. In return for it, Kyouya demands a dating tour with his teacher, Hikaru Matsukawa at Kobe. But Matsukawa is too late for wait time for his urgent alternation of being charge of quarters). I could enjoy a lot because the characters are very vivid and cheerful. Easy to read because the story with good tempo and speedy gags/jokes is very comfortable. The comical art is very cute and female character is very manly and nice. The portion of sensitive and thrilling scenes and comical funny scenes are adequate and Takazawa makes each drama very elaborately. The sex scenes are also very aggressive. The expression of Ishibashi's painting a picture or the scene of filming Kyouya's commercial are very powerful and dazzling in readers. I'm sure Takazawa has grown up to be a good mangaka! (by Slash-kun 09/May/2004)
Tateno Makoto
"Yellow vol.3" (Biblos) Apr/2004 *** 8.78
Foster parents of Taki appears. The story has changed from non-serial story like volume 1 & 2 into long serial & serious story. So story suddenly becomes very interesting! The story:(Taki meets a very beautiful woman at cafe. Gou gets jealous. Taki and Gou finds dead body and accepts mysterious message at doctor's house by the request of police. In front of them, Tatsurou appears and he identifies himself as a Taki's foster father. Tatsurou tells that the woman at cafe is Mizuki and he had a sex change and will regain Taki. Taki escapes. He is assured of Mizuki's determination to recapture at all costs. A owner of bar also asks to find Sandfish but Taki refuses it. The photograph of Sandfish also arrives at Gou and Gou gets into a dangerous situation one after another. Taki gives up. Recollection of old days. Taki knows the owner's wife and daughter were killed by Sandfish. And Taki believes he killed owner's daughter by himself and disappears on the morning when he and Gou get together at last). Taki and Gou finally make love! I'm so glad. It took so long time (Gou's word is so great & real though he is seme. "Please make me your man". Tateno came up with so good word!). I have different catharsis from frustrating/tantalizing amusement of 1 or 2 volume! The scene that Taki knows Gou's childhood is very impressive. But nevertheless Taki's determination is inflexible & grim. Seeing Gou who is desperately chasing Taki and Taki who is watching it, I feel like my heart's going to explode. Taki's foster mother is so horrible. I wish Taki will liquidate her at all costs and come back to Gou. In this volume Tateno shows her intelligence by store of information like "40R" and excellent & vigorous action scenes. After reading final, 4th volume, I tried to read this volume again and I was impressed to know Tateno dropped a lot of advance hints and created careful framework. When I read "Night Head series" from Kadokawa, I never dreamt Tateno could write a great work like this. This volume is the best book in this series. (by Slash-kun 03/May/2005)
"YELLOW vol.2" (Biblos) Jul/2003 ** 8.68
The sequel of very popular series of unique couple of spoilers, a heterosexual and homosexual, who are involved in thrilling crimes. The story:(Spoilers, Taki and Gou are asked to find & steal drug by Kanji, a son of madam of "psycho cafe" where she offers hospitality with heroin to customers. Taking advantage of career as bartender, Taki finds a job at the bar. He get a hint from TV news about drift ice made from iceberg of south pole and finds where heroin is hidden / By a request from police, Taki and Gou try to recover pistols. Gou pretends a customer and approaches an ex-actor, rent boy, Kazuki. Meanwhile Taki is searching Kazuki's room but he has a little trouble because of jealousy and is shot in his leg by a director who drops in. Gou comes to the defense of Taki and is shot in his chest. Taki carries Gou piggyback, escape with bare life and confesses his love to Gou / Taki and Gou struggle to break a code of memorandum in order to find drug hidden by yakuza. Then an ex-partner of Gou, Kei appears. He makes a fervent pass at Gou to renew their love though he got new boyfriend, dumped Gou and escaped with Gou's money. Taki is not himself...). In this volume, Tateno charms readers with outstanding thrilling & frustrating couple again! Gou and Taki are more frustrating, their relation will become more sexy. At this volume their (or Gou's) patience reaches critical limit and I feel the extreme excitement. In this volume, their past often come into the open and their deeper feelings are described. Whenever they take advantage of their previous career for their job, they are very concerned about their past. And Taki who feels uneasy for Taki's ex-partner is very lovely. I'm surprised to know Gou was a nihilist before he met Taki. I suppose Taki changed Gou by his love power (g)! Additionally comical art of this volume is very excellent & hilarious! The gap between comical scene and serious one is so nice (like american popular TV drama, "The Shield")! A supporting character, Kanji whose voice is so big, acts nice role! And ex-partner of Gou, Kei, too. I wonder Kei knows something of Taki's secret (Taki may have the reason that he can't anyone), so I'm addicted to next volume. Tateno describes well every incident itself and uses her knowledge well, too (Analogy of penguin at south pole and white bear at north pole / a term of filming, "Magic hour" / Hebrew word). Superexcellent entertainment story! (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2004)
Taki Hajime
"Tadashii Shijuukankei" (Biblos) May/2005 *** 8.58
The sequel of boys school comedy series, "Aisubeki Dokusaisha". The story:(Misfortune of a new comer of photograph club, Ayase who falls in love with Yuuichi Sumita, a son of SM photographer when he first sees / A vice leader of photograph club, Iwasaki who had kept loving Yuuichi intervenes Ayase and Yuuichi / The romance between Iwasaki and Sumita's father, Mamoru / AU. The leader of Japanese chess club, Shuuji wanders off into "Wonderland" by accidental ingestion of love drug...) and short stories - newly written or reissue of djs (3 roommate-students just before their graduation. Hero who is a little foolish and unconsciously attracts men wishes to be a teacher and average happy marriage. Other 2 who love hero feel pressed, then form a united front / The sequel. 2 roommates barge into the school where hero works / The student couple who belongs to different classes. They plan to be alone at school excursion but their attempt is discovered and ordered to be confined to hotel during the time of free action). Taki's 2nd book. Very lovely and delightful school days. But sex scenes are very aggressive and hot (Especially Sumita is very lewd & nice)! Satisfied very much. Reading postscript, I know Taki wanted to write more serious stories. Mostly trial of this book might be right because Taki's art is suitable for bright and pleasant stories. But as Taki said, I also think "tentacle" is too unexpected and can't under stand editor's taste (And same as ordinary many readers). I hope Taki to write manga at other publisher as she wants at least. (by Slash-kun 25/Jun/2005)
"Aisubeki Dokusaisha" (Biblos) Oct/2004 *** 8.53
Romantic comedy series at boys school (The series of Mitsugu Takamura, a student council president and his childhood friend, a leader of Japanese chess club, Shuuji Manaka and angst romance between a vice president, Takeda and school doctor, Shibazaki) and short stories of students (Mysterious romance of doctor who tries to save a boy from being raped by a ghost after the death of his father who doted on him so much / The ad-lib sex a senior student who is excited by porno video of cat-ear and his junior student / Before wedding, hero's friend at school confesses "his love after 7 year" to hero). This is Taki's 1st book! Unbelievable. Very skillful stories and attractive, lovely and lively art. I suppose her contemporary art like "Tennis no Ouji sama" is very popular among readers of nowadays. Tempo of comedy is very nice and speedy, stories are interesting and sex scenes are very aggressive. I could enjoy very much. Especially the last short story of "love again" is very heartrending and good. (by Slash-kun 25/Jun/2005)
Techno Samata
"Kusa no Kanmuri Hoshi no Kanmuri vol.2" (Gentousha) Sep/2004 ** 8.78
2 long-short stories about plant (Old couple who has nursed old plum tree growing in the room finally died. The house is called "Haunted House" by people. But an outlaw novelist makes his lodgings there only during winter. He conflicts with a fairy of the plum tree and hurts the fairy by words but in the end they are reconciled. They part without seeing flower.../ A boy with cat allergy finds thuberg spirea at trash box of the hospital and plants a cutting with a vase. The boy's parents suspend payments and should relocate, so the boy plants the thuberg spirea at the garden. The thuberg spirea tries to say goodbye...). Both stories are so good! I thought 1st story was tragedy but the ending is very happy! The novelist is not human, neither and it's very unique setup. The description at that time when old couple had nursed plum tree is so wonderful. Pretty and fantastic. So great story beyond expression. I was so moved by 2nd story, too. The idea of using plant suggestive "cat" is so wonderful. Recollection of hero's childhood is soooo lovely!! The episode of misunderstanding & spoofing (Hero was pulled away from cat because of allergy by his parents) is very effective. The scene describing hero's feeling with screen tone and well-designed onomatopoeia are also very excellent. The scene that the hero remembers thuberg spirea and picks out to bring with him is overwhelming! I was moved to the point of tears. Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 15/May/2005)
Tennohji Mio
"Tsumibukaku Aishiteyo" (Shinkousha) Jun/2005 *** 8.5
Long-short series of "tour de force" (Hero becomes a substitute of a prince who is going to exile himself. But hero has a crush on a bodyguard of the prince) and 2 short stories (A single politician keeps donation to a young but poor Father somehow / The company where hero works goes out of business. Hero comes back to his country and meets again with his friend of junior high school at haunted house). At postscript, Tennohji said she started to write her original stories for "Magazine Guilty" by phone call from an editor of Shinkousha who read Tennohji's djs. Lately such djska-turned-professional mangakas (or side mangaka) have appeared more and more. So her art is so skillful that I thought her veteran with long career though this is her 2nd commercial book. The story and art are very lyrical but sex scenes are hot & bold. So I love Tennohji very much! (by Slash-kun 23/Sep/2005)
Tenzen Momoko
"Chao Chao Banbino" (Core Magazine) Feb/2005 *** 8.5
Romance of couples, a student & his teacher of cram school and students who have relation each other. The story:(Kaname Imai, a college student and a teacher of cram school as a part time worker happens to save a beautiful boy, Yuuta Fujimoto from a molester at park. Yuuta is a student of Kaname's cram school, so Yuuta gets to love Kaname very much. But after only 2 years, Yuuta becomes higher than Kaname / Kei is a best friend of Yuuta and a mate of same cram school. His parents tell him to quit the cram school and it makes Mako Furusawa, another best friend of Kei rush into confess his love to Kei. But Kei misunderstands.../ A private tutor, Satoru Nakahara loves his student, Kanae and Kanae loves Nakahara, too. Kanae is very popular among girls but he tells he refused girl's proposal when he brings Nakahara's notebook. Then they make love each other. Being warned by the friend, they decide to part once, but...). Tenzen has been very good at expressing rise and fall of delicate and minute emotions and this book is no exception. I'm very involved in the story because Kaname's embarrassment and excitement for Fujimoto's strong growth and timid Nakahara's feeling saved by Kanae's single-track mind & strength are described very well. The tender art using light screen tones matches with the story and makes sweet atmosphere. (by Slash-kun 03/May/2005)
Tojo Asami
"Chouhatsu vol.2 - Denkou Sekka Boys" (Houbunsha) Jun/2005 *** 8.9
Very popular series of students idol group and 2 short stories (Prostitute boy finds his true lover / A detective who guards a son of politician was raped by a mysterious guy. But the guy is the son...). In this volume, Kodaka and Ritsu finally succeed in making love! The story:(For fear of eavesdropping & spy photos, Kodaka keeps refusing making love with Ritsu. Ritsu loses his self-control at last and takes an expensive suit room at hotel to get them alone. But Kodaka keeps misunderstands Ritsu's serious feeling, so Ritsu calls a prostitute boy who resembles Kodaka...). They finally make love! Oh. It took so long with a total of previous series from Tokuma (Chara comics). Moved from Chara, Tojo may get a boost. In this series, the delicate relationship between Kodaka and Ritsu has been selling point but explicit/direct sexual intercourse in this volume is most exciting/satisfactory after all. Wow! That's full-on. Ritsu's artful play using Kodaka's prepuce!! I saw "prepuce play" at yaoi manga for the first time and it's really fascinating! BTW an episode of this series in this volume was written for "Hanaoto magazine publication 10th anniversary". This year is also the 10th anniversary for "Reijin magazine" of Take Shobou. I think these 10 years have passed happily for yaoi good progression. Tojo always keeps standing at the forefront. I take off my hat to her pioneer spirit! In this volume, Ritsu of patience is very touching again! Though he is usually very cool and has the luxury, in this volume he keeps shouting "I'll kill you" to Kodaka(g). It's so lucky & eye-pleasing to see cute Ritsu who is twisted around Kodaka's little finger! Kodaka's playing dumb (Grabbing Ritsu's erect penis instead of channel changer / sitting down on Ritsu's erect penis / Peeling an apple using a knife handed by Ritsu to guard Kodaka from his rape / Comparing "calling themselves by their first names" to brothers' action) is very funny in this volume because I know they can make love (If they would fail making love, I will get angry!). Short stories are also very interesting. Especially the story of detective is so impressive. The son is very selfish but very lovely. I wish this story to become long series. So this book may be the best one in this year for me. Tojo has matured and comical & erotic skill have progressed now, so she is one of my favorite yaoi veteran mangaka as well as Satosumi Takaguchi. (by Slash-kun 3/Sep/2005)
"Chouhatsu vol.1 - Denkou Sekka Boys" (Houbunsha) Jul/2004 ** 8.7
The renewed first volume of very popular series of students idol group which was serialized on "Chara magazine" and now is on "Hanaoto magazine". The story:(An ordinary student, Kodaka Natsui and a son of very big company, Ritsu Yasaka were spy shot and the photo of their sexual intercourse was released on the magazine. The CEO of their agency ordered them give up their intercourse to keep their show business activity. To Ritsu in a rotten mood, Kodaka declares to do his best to be a better and honorable talent to work together with Ritsu / Ritsu's company, Nanao whose family is very poor decides to take part in the contest of "Yukata". Shigure kisses him to make him more beautiful but it makes Nanao angry. After Nanao's victory, he follows after a group of local delinquents). The removal of serialization to the other magazine of different publisher is very rare case and it proves this series's great popularity. I'm also very glad because this series has become more and more interesting for me! There are 2 young & sexy couples of idol group and veteran yaoi mangaka, Tojo can take a `so-what' attitude and get everything her own way by lust to them like Satosumi Takaguchi! In this volume, Kodaka and Ritsu did not explicit making love again but their *almost* sexual playing is the same as "making love (penetration)" and is very dangerous, exciting & thrilling! Especially Ritsu is so lovely (He is very pitiful because he should endure his furious sexual desire's explosing so many times like "a dog begging for a treat" before Kodaka who has so powerful weapon, *tear* and "natural purity". Kodaka is a very pretty & vamp cat, so even Ritsu's instructor, Kirihara falls into Kodaka's clutches). So I feel like cheering for Ritsu though he is almost perfect. Anyway I love Tojo and her way of yaoi sexual expression very much. Highly recommended this series! (by Slash-kun 3/Sep/2005)
Tokugawa Ayako
"Wagamama ni Suki shite" (Houbunsha) May/2005 *** 8.59
Very aggressive and unique short stories for hard-core readers (A poor student who often picks up injured dog & cats brings it to animal doctor but a veterinarian who is sexy and affable in public wants student to pay by sex / A newly-recruited employee of apparel company unusually hired as a high school graduate is assigned to the shop of underwear for men. During his supervisor's absence, he should wait on a VIP customer / An office worker should learn english conversation at private class of English school because he should have a business talk with english people. He is loved by a very popular teacher but he thinks it is only for the sake of business / A very popular fashion model should accept his private report by media. His agent asks him to move to gorgeous mansion but he can not separate from living at poor apartment house with his friend from childhood / A hero receives patronage of elite boarding master student but he finds pornographic magazines at master's room. He tries to come to the defense of master desperately.../ Short comedy series of a delinquent student loved by a handsome and excellent student who loves cats). Characters are so sexy! Both uke and seme. Her seme is very sexy & dangerous with a plethora of pheromone and her uke takes a tough stand but seems to vamp or tempt men. So whatever they do will be so exciting and interesting! Motifs/Setups are also very various and ideas are very geeky. The sexy underwear (triangle style) of 2nd story is soooo nice (g)! The last comical short series of student like a cat is so hilarious, too. This book shows Tokugawa's various talent very well with delightful surprise. (by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2005)
Tomoe Nanako
"Aoi Haru de sho!" (Magazine Magazine) Aug/2004 *** 8.7
The author's first book. Short stories (1: Hero tries to kiss his classmate whom he always rapes in his dream. But the classmate agrees to make love because he thinks hero misconstrues him as a only bed buddy / A captain of Kendo club has a bad look in his eyes. He secretly loves a captain of basket club but the captain seems to be intimate with sub-captain / A little younger brother of hero's lover often interrupts their dating but the lover thinks hero as a sort of a bed buddy / Hero hates a fortune-teller whom other family members loves. By some freak coincidence the fortune-teller reads hero's future / A part-time job at the pastry shop. A lewd owner of the shop toys with him and offers him as a cake to a yearning & square pastry chef / A wanton office worker. His lover, a tender doctor like an angle finally goes mad.../ A student whose parent couldn't send money because of sudden illness tries to earn money by adult chat of internet and becomes intimate with a regular client. But the student is nearly raped by another client of an office worker who pretending the regular client). At first time of my reading, I did not think this is very interesting but at next time, I corrected my rating! I wonder what I saw at first time. The art is very skillful. Especially sex scenes are very hot (Very bold expression puts a professional to shame)! Why are her scenes so erotic? Because of Tomoe's round & plump naked bodies or bold sexual intercourse positions or explicit & bald depiction of genitals or real picture of genitals? or dark atmosphere using a lot of black color like horror manga? or a "tense or enraptured" look of uke (a little classic and cute) ? Every story is very interesting. The setups/situations (fortune-teller or pastry chef or adult chat live,,etc) are unique. Either of uke or seme (Especially uke) is a beautiful boy, but the author loves ugly guy in fact from her postscript. I also loves a fierce-looking seme of Kendo club. Tempo of the story is nice and comical art is very cute, too. Anyway I loves this book very much! (by Slash-kun 23/Nov/2006)
Tony Takezaki
"Tony Takezaki no GUNDAM manga" (Kadokawa Shoten) Mar/2004 8.7
The comical parody of GUNDAM (first) series which has been serialized on Magazine, "GUNDAM Ace" and "Shounen Ace". So this is officially authorized by SUNRISE. The art including mechanical stuffs is so excellent and there are a lot of knowledge of "sci-fi of science" or "old masterpiece of manga, animation,,etc" because the author wrote comical sci-fi masterpiece, "Kishiwada Hakase no Kagakuteki Aijyou" series. The story is so silly & ludicrous comedy (But filled with love and respect for GUNDAM series), so interesting all the more (Especially the episodes about Shah is so hilarious. A man who plays the martyr is very popular and we often enjoy his agony). The parody of authority like this or "Shinbatsu" by Keiichi Tanaka, the parody of Osamu Tezuka have been recently admitted among people. I suppose they have become enough mature and have to spare to allow it (Some japanese people of the past never allow the parody of the works by authority or great men). It's good tendency. I'd like to read the sequel!! (by Slash-kun 10/Apr/2004)
Toramaru
"Kibun Shidai de Semete ii" (Oakla Shuppan) Jul/2005 *** 8.7
Reissue of her old djs. Angst of students. The story:(An elite high school student, Masaya Nakadai is somehow very kind for Naoyuki Fujimori who is junkie for girls. Because Masaya really loves Naoyuki. But his pride is too high to confess his love to Naoyuki. And then Naoyuki belongs to university laboratory. He accepts deal, being Masaya's lover for an only limited time, one week to manage to raise the expense of his research tour. But Masaya can't stand for Naoyuki's irreverent attitude and tries to behave like a cruel sadist). Title comes from the old japanese famous hit tune, "Kibun Shidai de Semenaide" by Southern All Stars. It's so interesting to see agony of Masaya and Naoyuki (They are very stubborn each other and then become anxious, though they love each other in fact). This series was written as djs and it has SM taste, so sex scenes are many and hot(without reserve). A little old work but has a reservoir of strength and energy. Every story is very impressive ("Wagahai wa Ie dearu(=I'm a house: Parody of "Wagahai wa Neko dearu" written by Souseki Natsume)" is so hilarious!! Personalization of house is so hilarious! A great personalization ranking with futon by Kunieda Saika. The story of Naoyuki's coming back by Masaya's traffic accident though Naoyuki decided to part with Masaya whose jealousy is so furious is also very moving!), but especially in the last episode, Naoyuki's self-questioning (Masaya loses his passion to hit Naoyuki because Masaya is amazed at Naoyuki's faithlessness) is so heartrending. A rainy little cat is nice property, too. shtick/jokes are not too much. Enough and effective like nice spice. A supporting character, Ichijyou, a senior student is also very nice and rascal to make Masaya get jealous. Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 2/Jul/2005)
Tori Maia
"Doreitachi no Jyouken" (Kousai Shobou) Oct/2003 *** 8.7
The author's representative long series completes at last! The story:(Yuuki leaves a Dietman, Nanasaka and becomes an owner of Airenrou. He exposes "Hoshi no Yakata" using the police. The owner, Sakurai tries the other fellow traders to accept his staffs by all means. Nanasaka is thrown into crisis of downfall and goes to "Hoshi no Yakata" to revenge Sumito because Nanasaka thinks Sumito deprives Yuuki. Sakurai turns Nanasaka's fire on himself but he is saved by Sumito and Hirofumi. Yuuki welcomes Nanasaka, then he becomes Nanasaka's master and declares that he won't leave Nanasaka again). More I read, more I find new pleasure. This final episode is the crisis of "Hoshi no Yakata", raid by police, so the drama becomes very dramatic! The book is very thick and the size is big, so it's powerful and very rewarding. As might be expected of final volume, Tori completes expressing admirably the pathos, love and feeling of various many characters of "Hoshi no Yakata" and Airenrou. I'd like to say to the author, "You did a splendid job!". The deep consideration for staffs by Sakurai proves the reason that he is the owner. And I'm very satisfied to see human point of Miyanaga and Nanasaka who have been black hats. I feel Tori's compassion. Her ideas of new sexual plays, techniques or tools (Tearing leather pants,,etc) is wonderful as usual. Especially the half-brothers' conjunct sex play of Feifa and Feiie is so erotic! Nanasaka's severe attack to Sakurai at end of the story is also touching & overwhelming. This is magnificent final volume befitting "fantasy series for adult". (by Slash-kun 03/Apr/2004)
Toribito Hiromi
"Seisouken no Tomoshibi & Jyouzetsu na Shichakushitsu" (djs) Aug/2005 ** 8.69
(circle name, genre, couple)=<"Tobae", "Original", Ei x Tohru & Riku x Kiichi - 2 couples of 2 different stories, "Seisouken no Tomoshibi" & "Jyouzetsu na Shichakushitsu"> The story:(Kiichi, a friend of Ei invites Ei and Tohru to Kiichi's house because Kiichi got a new young boy friend, Riku. Riku's frustrating reaches a peak because he worries about Ei who is just a type of Kiichi and Tohru doesn't hide his reservations that a young guy, Riku does well with an experienced one, Kiichi....). The explicit conversation among gay couples is very funny. There is no sex scenes but is a lot of adult, sophisticated, intelligent and dangerous conversations and the swirl of words will intoxicate the readers as if in a trance. The scenes Ei and Kiichi, Tohru and Riku get jealous each other are very impressive and interesting. There is definitely a sort of chemistry between Ukes and Semes! (Maybe because it is unique). Very funny djs with playful spirit for fans! (by Slash-kun 17/Jul/2006)
Tsuda Mikiyo
"Princess Princess vol.3" (Shinshokan) Mar/2004 * 8.5
Very popular series of residential boys high school with bizarre tradition (queen selection). Recently even men enjoy this series. This volume has a lot of funny events as usual. Book with full of spirit of good service. The problem of Tohru's sister-in-law was settled but his father-in-law presses clamorously him to come back and he feels himself weakening. Tohru's friends try desperately to make him stay and their friendship is very moving. Tohru realizes this school is the place for him to stay and he can live by his own values. Happy ending. At last of the book, there is collaboration with "Train Train" by Eiki Eiki and it's so hilarious! (by Slash-kun 27/Feb/2005)
Tsunoda Ryoku
"Honyasan de GO!" (Magazine Magazine) Nov/2003 ** 8.68
Long comedy series of office workers which is unusual for Magazine Magazine to make mangaka keep long serialization though it is not so erotic and one short story (Fantasy. A japanese football player who was fired from overseas professional team because of injury returns home and meets his rival boy at his childhood). The story of the series of name-piece (A sales rep of a publisher, PPC, Kazuya Takahashi is always at beck and call of Shou Satou, a manager of a big book store who is so arrogant and imperative. But Takahashi can not refuse Satou's unreasonable order because Takahashi loves Satou. Satou is so cold and blunt but gradually loves Takahashi who is so passionate and doglike. Nevertheless the interruption by Satou's twin brother, Kagari who is so amiable or Takahashi's job transfer to Touhoku district, Takahashi and Satou have nurtured their love...). I'm very surprise that yaoi mangaka adopts so minor genre like a sales rep of publisher! I could really enjoy this because Tsunoda researched bookstore business very well! The sex scenes are not so hot and not much but full knowledge about "bookstore & sales rep of publisher" complements fully. There are so many persuasive points and I'm so impressed by Tsunoda's effort of good research. I suppose many yaoi manga fans who loves reading books support this series. So even Magazine Magazine allowed long serialization without hot sex scenes. I also suppose Tsunoda has affected by Shoubu Hanakawado who is an author of "Honyasan series", very popular and excellent yaoi novel series issued from Futami Shobou, about two staffs of bookstores because Tsunoda has drawn an illustration of this novel series. An excellent yaoi novelist often exert good influence on yaoi mangaka who drew its illustration. In this story, Tsunoda made so nice characters, too. Satou, very proud, blunt but beautiful uke is so lovely. A straight-forward, younger seme, Takahashi is very simple, too. These best couple brought a big success to this series! I really enjoy Satou's bullying and Takahashi's being bullied! Tsunoda's art and comedy sense is a little classic but her story is very sincere, human and passionate. So this has become so long serialization. Tsunoda keeps this series at another magazine. I'm looking forward to the sequel!! (by Slash-kun 30/May/2004)
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Uchida Kaoru
"Anata wo Hitorijime" (Takeshobou) Sep/2004 *** 8.8
Short stories to realize Uchida's heart's desire, "Authentic Oyaji Uke" (A student who is successful with girls somehow loves a middle aged once-divorced teacher & boarding master. Seeing ex-wife visited the teacher to inform her remarriage, the student misunderstands and rapes the teacher with anger / An another student of same school also loves the middle aged nurse guy and he often skips the lecture and comes to nurse office. He knows his friend and his teacher go together and unintentionally leaked it to the nurse... / Sequel. The student and the nurse can't make love easily. They consult with their seniors each other / A widower. Out of the next door of his apartment, a young lover boy is kicked and he tumbles into the widower's lap. During the lover boy repeats visiting for a few days and absence for a few days, the widower loves him but they make a quarrel over ex-wife / A middle aged construction worker is sexually molested by a junior high school student in a train. He misunderstands that the student has been abused at home and has pity for the student. The student seizes on the compassion and successfully makes love / A middle aged construction worker left by his wife and children. He loves a young new worker so much and palms the pretty cigar lighter which the young worker threw out. But the young worker finds it because the lighter was made by hand... / A construction worker hurt his hand at work. Finding a new shop for construction workers and a nice and reasonable protective shoes there, he tries it and is helped by the shop owner. He falls in love with the owner (his big buttocks). While he often visits the the shop, he is treated and tumbles into the owner's lap / A son of a buffet. At each delivery, he tells his feeling to the middle aged and single detective in dreary room. One day during finding the wallet to pay, the son feels sexual desire by the smell of detective buttocks and the detective prepares to meet their fate / At the school festival. A smaller student should wear a costume of maid for cafe and hero feels displeasure. But seeing his lover student who tries to stop bad students touching maids' bodies, the small student plasters the bad ones with maid costume. The love student can't stop making love by seeing small student's underwear...). Uchida recently & officially claims around she loves shaggy elder guy as uke (with massive muscle and big buttocks) who attracts younger seme. And this book expresses her taste very exactly. I have same preference, so I entirely enjoyed and was moved very much. It's a really great publisher, Takashobou to allow Uchida to write this (second last story of buffet was first one allowed by the editor. So at only this story, the hero did not penetrate the middle aged guy. It's a shame). There is nothing that makes readers more pleasant than mangaka writes what she wants to do. Middle-aged guys are all pretty (a little pitiful like losing their wives or suffering from one-sided love to young boy or being chicken-hearted) though their bodies are very big covered with thick body hair（Not only beard, mustache、but also short and curlies) and muscles. And elders are always uke. Uchida explains the reason by the word of the young boy, "Prettier one should be uke". I see. That makes sense. It makes Uchida's yaoi manga different from ordinary gay "Hige Kuma Manga" (like bear with a lot of beard) written by real gay mangaka. The expression of middle-aged guy's face is overwhelmingly pretty! lovely! Impudence, cruelty or selfishness of seme has strong persuasiveness as "younger lover". Uchida's comical art of faintness is also awesome. For Uchida fans, it may be one of her best works!! (by Slash-kun 29/Jul/2006)
Umetarou
"Yorimitsukun Gomen" (Shinshokan) Nov/2005 *** 8.6
A high school teacher (Natsuki) who can't forget his ex-high school classmate (Sakaki) falls in love with a high school student (Yorimitsu) whose family manages convenience store. Umetarou is so good at writing lyric stories that all her works should be interesting and emotional but I can't help empathizing with Sakaki who was dumped by Natsuki when they were high school student (now is yakuza and so cool & melancholy) and can not love a young & efficient student, Yorimitsu without reservation. Natsuki is too lucky (He can get a young new lover!). I can understand the reason Natsuki parted with Sakaki but I think Sakaki could or should support Sakaki then, so I can not satisfied with Sakaki's decision. I prefer Umetarou's usual story like "lowermost hero finds small happiness", so this new taste challenge is not a little unsatisfactory for me. But anyway 3 guys (Natsuki, Sakaki and Yorimitsu) are so handsome sexy guys and I could enjoy this story very much! (by Slash-kun 22/Jan/2006)
Umezawa Hana
"Ai to Yokubou wa Gakuen de vol.2" (Core Magazine) Jul/2005 *** 8.58
The 2nd volume of very popular series of a special training school,"Shiritsu Fullbloom Gakuen" for students who will make a career by sex. The story:(A failure student of "Abnormal class" who is returned from his owner though he has enough sexual technique. A president of the school teaches him a hearty sex through real sex with his lover-secret / Genius ex-chef of expensive restaurant becomes a chef of the school to make money for training in France. 2 chosen elite students of "immense virility group" come to scout him with the proviso that he gets high wages. But one of students really loves him.../ A poor orphan boy is sold to a brutal guy in trade for grants-in-aid to poor foster home. The guy brings the boy in the school for training. The boy is very excellent and becomes a president of student council but has no experience with males. So the president of the school assigns a school doctor who was ex-researcher of laboratory as his "sex partner" / Sequel. The brutal guy takes back the president student and confines him at a laboratory in his father's company. The guy made the student a guinea pig and squeezes semen from him. By the aid of the school president, the school doctor drives the guy into the corner and saves the student). As compared with 1st volume, this book may be a little tamer. Every setup (President and his lover teach *love* to a returned student as a failure pet / School chef / School doctor) is unique & tactful with nice ideas but stories are a little too well-arranged. First volume was more daring & wild. This series may be too major now. I may expect too much because 1st volume is too unique great one. But every story is so excellent and enough good as "hit series". Every story is happy ending (Hero can be happy) and it will make you happy, too! (by Slash-kun 10/Oct/2005)
Umino Chika
"Hachimitsu to Clover vol.5" (Shuueisha) Aug/2003 8.68
Delightful days of students have changed by their growth and they themselves also have changed dramatically at turning point in their life. The story:(By school festival, job hunting and execution for graduation,,etc, art college students have been so busy. Takemoto can not find the job and breaks down from overwork. By encouragement of his stepfather, he decides to stay in school another year. The design office where Mayama is working ramifies from quarrel of gay twins owners, into Tokyo branch and Tottori one. Mayama who was assigned to Tottori team resigns the office and comes To Rika's office uninvited and starts working. Yamada is proposed marriage by her childhood friends and can understand Mayama's feeling for the first time. But she can not give up Mayama and makes Mamiya, a senior designer of Mayama angry. Morita who had been USA gets a big prize like Oscar by his work of special effects in sci-fi movie and becomes rich. He returns to Japan and wild fluctuations on quotations are expected...). Umino's picture composition of this volume is so wonderful as usual. And I realize her hand writing letters are always very scrutable. I know Umino is a professional designer but she really knows well about the microcopy degree of handwriting in book! I hope many mangaka to learn by watching it (Many books have too small and unreadable handwritting letters). In this volume there has been so many minute gag and real episodes as usual! Oh. Awesome (Peaceful & easy dog in the design office, A son of Sushi shop of third generation in Yamada's block club gets married with a second daughter of devilish matrilineal family and her eyes sometimes blink, A teacher, Hanamoto is good at naming the stuffs of Takemoto, Miwako is absorbed in massaging chair or mail-order like middle-aged housewives, The funny name of Takemoto's stepfather - Kazuo, a man of top grosser, same as "Kazuo Matsui", a professional baseball player,,etc). I'm moved by the impressive scene that Ayu Yamada realized Mayama's feeling for the first time by the courtship from a group of 3rd generation. People really do not know about themselves. And the issue of Takemoto's job hunting and anxiety about the future is so touching as I remember my youth. Takemoto is loved by old people very much but it has no relationship with his job hunting...But it's reality. Anyway the author's heart is very wonderful. It's so impressive that Yamada is praying the god for the peace selling christmas cakes. Japanese people is not so religious but I can understand we want to express our appreciation of happiness to something like god. And the episode of graduation is very moving. The episodes about aged men are nice, too. As compared to Takemoto who repeats a year, Morita was too bright (he succeeded in Hollywood very much) and I felt a little frustrated with him. But his return as returnee makes me very glad. At end, the scene that Yamada has regrets about Mayama and it makes Mamiya also disgusted me. Well I may hate a girl like this (who can not see herself through rose-colored glasses and thinks herself very lovely). Such girls never learn from their experience. I wish her to put behind the regret for Mayama at next volume. (by Slash-kun 05/Jun/2004)
Wada Mayuko
"Oyasumi Darling" (Biblos) Oct/2005 *** 8.4
Short stories (Name piece. A detective takes a high school student who can't stand his too strict family and is missing from home into custody. The student crashes in detective's house. The detective has suffered from insomnia after divorce.../ A debauched high school student who can't find his true lover is loved by younger boy when he first sees. But the boy is a pupil of elementary school!! / The sequel. The boy's father is a doctor. The doctor and his sturdy secretary love each other but the doctor is desperaterly loved by a rich mother and her daughter. The nasty doctor tries to bully his secretary in distress..../ Hero's father is snatched by yakuza because he was a bond for his friend. Under the will of hero's mother, hero should guard his family as an eldest son and goes to yakuza to say he will do anything if they return his father / One of the twins was sold to whorehouse. The other swears for coming to save. But he is wanted by police... / Newly written sequel of name piece). Wada's first commercial book. She debut from "Magabee Manga School (Magazine Biblos manga school)" 2 years ago. I read with little expectation because first name piece is not so interesting (Perhaps detective, seme is too common-sense and it is difficult to sympathize with uke's too passionate feeling) for me. But other stories are interesting (Author's hot passion fits in the stories. Especially a boy of the fifth grade is very cool, sometimes very childish and so sexy guy! His father is very nasty and bad guy but his secretary who desperately struggles to guard him is so cute! Next yakuza story is good, too and hero's classmate, a son of yakuza is very cool. Wada writes well the single-minded love of clumsy guys. Serious story of whorehouse is challenging, too. So order of the stories in this book may be a flop. Fine book showing the author's enthusiasm well! (by Slash-kun 10/Dec/2005)
Wasabi Maguro
"Invader wa Ai wo Daku" (Biblos) Jun/2005 *** 8.48
3 long-short stories (Romance between an ace student of football club of the school and a lewd bone-setter. The bone-setter orders the ace student who sprains his leg to take a complete rest. But the student neglects it. The bone-setter gives the student "love-punishment" and orders to be "a good guy" to the student who falls head over heels in love with him / The unique fantastic story of an erotic prince and a naive animal. The animal boy becomes attached to the prince of "light". But the animal is shocked to know so many people receive the blessing of the light from the prince / The romance of stand-up comedian duo, ex-classmates of high school, a lively senior student and an unwilled whiz-pop junior one. The senior student said to the junior one at his graduation, "I will come to get you after a year" and they become the professional comedian duo. But the senior one suddenly has a consciousness of being "male" for the junior one...). Wasabi's first book. Her art is skillful and has a reservoir of strength and energy. The sex scenes are hot and satisfactory. Wasabi has a various talent and can describe school drama, fantasy, show business,,etc. Very good at expressing the feeling of the heroes who are controlled by a little nasty & evil lover. Traditional Biblos's boys love stories for young readers. (by Slash-kun 10/Jul/2005)
Yamada Mutsuki
"Mizu to Utsuwa vol.2" (Shinshokan) Oct/2003 * 8.75
The last volume of the fantastic period drama series of a doll craftworker & an exorcist monk. There are 3 stories and the past of monk becomes clear in last 3rd story. The story of the last episode:(The case that someone puts a child around 10 yrs old to the edge of the sword happens. A monk asks a craftsman to make a doll. But the craftsman refuses it. The monk too readily backs down, then the craftsman regrets. The craftsman tries to find the monk but can't because the monk keeps investigating the case. He consults with a common friend, Hiko. Hiko suggests making peace soon. The craftsman hears the rumor that a criminal is on the lam.. - Recollection of the criminal who is possessed by Sousuke, an elder brother of the monk. Sousuke is put through the mill by his strict father. His brother, the monk tries to find Sousuke - The craftsman is caught by the criminal who is falling over on the ground, but the craftsman hands out a rice ball to the criminal. -The family of Sousuke is brought to ruin by the failure of power struggle. Sousuke's father is hard on Sousuke. The monk cares about Sousuke anxiously - The monk happens to be about the craftsman and the criminal. The criminal utters the name of "Tadatsugu", a real name of the monk and runs away. The monk chases it. But the craftsman sprains his foot and they should put up at the cottage. The monk talks about prehistory. He says latest dolls of the craftsman may have a power to make the ghosts attain Buddhahood, then the craftsman decides to make a doll of Sousuke when he was a child. - Sousuke is involved in quarrel over succession provided that his family will be resuscitated. He kills a little illegitimate child but Tadatsugu happens to be there. Sousuke is also killed, then Tadatsugu escapes from his province and chases Sousuke's ghost - The dolls of Sousuke & Tadatsugu are suddenly possessed by ghost and Tadatsugu himself. They are thrown into a river and Sousuke attains Buddhahood...). Very good story. Great masterpiece! Anyway Yamada's art is excellent. The art of period drama (Kimono, old hairstyle, old houses,,etc) and her child (very cute and manly!) are so skillful. Her comical art is also very funny. The combination of the craftsman and the monk is superexcellent, too. I'd like to prolong this series more. About each story: 1st story (A drama about a craftsman of Buddha statue. Yamada's art technique, the combination of handwritten shadow and screen-tone expresses well japanese atmosphere. Her relaxed comical expression is very tasteful and humorous. Yamada is really good at drawing the things in the Japanese style. She draws them with a light hand). 2nd story (The drama between an exile yakuza and an illegitimate daughter of his boss. Again I realize Yamada is very good at drawing! The art of "daughter's childhood" and the yakuza who takes charge of her is so skillful and definite. The chirpy tempo of the daughter, a hoydenish townsgirl is also very fine. In this story, the ghost who possesses the doll can attain Buddhahood. It makes the reader feel a foreboding of the craftsman's change. It works together well with last episode!). 3rd story (Great grand finale because the identity and past of the monk become clear and the monk himself is released from long-standing burden of his brother, too. At first, the episode that the craftsman gets onto bad terms with the monk and he regrets it is very painful and Yamada's story-telling is so skillful! This final episode makes me understand all ever episodes much better. The craftsman has grown up in the long run and it satisfies me, too. I'd like to give full marks! Though there are less m/m scenes but their relationship (Through a lot of emotional clash, struggle, they realize they are essential partners each other and become peaceful) is very dramatic! Their intercourses have been very nice. They often speak badly each other but really trust each other. Very good couple. The idea that the child soul of a living guy, the monk possesses the doll is good, too. Very lovely, manly and sorrowful story).(by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2004)
Yamada Yoshihiro
"Hyouge Mono vol.1" (Koudansha) Dec/2005 * 8.78
The japanese historical story of "Warring States Period" by the view point of "Sasuke Furuta" - a feudatory who has unique fetish & talent for fine arts & serves Oda, Toyotomi and Tokugawa and later becomes a famous master of ceremonial tea, "Oribe Furuta" next to "Sen no Rikyuu". Serialized on Magazine "Morning". I read this because many critics praise it. True to its high reputation, I can enjoy very much this unique story. Recently there are so many manga/novels of feudal warlords by the influence of video game ("Sangoku Musou", "Sengoku Musou" and "Sengoku BASARA",,etc) that ordinary stories with ordinary setup can't differentiate itself now. So the new view point of "rare good" "progressive fashion" or "love of possession" is very modern to describe "historical turning point" (Young people have a weakness for "rare/limited/special goods" and slash-kun isn't exception) and distinguishes humanity of important characters in history like "Nobunaga Oda", "Hideyoshi Toyotomi" or "Sen no Rikyuu",,etc. Even the only relationship between them and "fine arts" is very interesting enough (The title of each episode is the parody of famous popular song of Bob Marley, LED ZEPPELIN, Bee Gees,etc and it is very sophisticated!). Yamada finds really good subject!! (by Slash-kun 22/Jan/2006)
Yamada Yugi
"Dare ga Omae wo Sukidato Itta" (Take Shobou) Aug/2005 *** 8.7
Gem of short stories of wistful adult guys (A TV drama scriptwriter, a degenerate ex-actor has prolonged his answer to a marriage proposal by posing a challenge since he was loved by a younger brother of a neighborhood classmate. But he regrets as soon as he knows the brother, now an elite employee of trading company accepted marriage meeting.../ At graduates' meeting, an hero, a divorcee meets his ex-classmate whom he gave the cold shoulder during their junior high school days. Knowing the classmate is also three-times-divorced guy, hero accepts classmate's proposal to live together to save money for solatium. But a son of the classmate tries to freeload together, nearly rapes hero and solatium becomes unnecessary because of remarriage of hero's ex-wife, so hero decides to move away from the classmate's room.../ A chief of section suddenly resigns. A new man assigned as a replacement visits the ex-chief to takeover. He is so surprised because the chief is frumpy and quite unlike his old image of "up-and-coming chief". But knowing the reason he resigned is "illicit affair" with a son of CEO, he.../ The sequel. The ex-chief sometimes visits the new man but he does not allow a next chance of making love. The new man loses courage just because he is not enough attractive for ex-chief. The ex-chief takes the new man to a sex trade shop. The new man expresses the true feelings and they make sure of it at hotel / A workaholic manager of a shop with a wife and children often scolds a part-timer student with some reasons because the student is late to his own funeral. The manager is transferred to work in another shop but he can't forget the student. When he visits the student, he sees the student fights with a stranger. The student also finds a sock of the manager has a hole / The sequel. The manager should educate a prodigal son of CEO and he is unable to control the son. The student finds another lover to forget the manager but hearing the news that the manager breaks down from overwork.../ Two office workers whose companies are different but in same building happen to have sexual intercourse. Hero regrets having mistaken time to quit because his lover has wife and children. So hero proposes breaking up. Hero is loved by a lodger of next door who supports his friend, a detective who listens in..). About a first story, a name-piece, the brother is so cool!! The scene that he gets angry and his tone becomes rough though he always kept behaving humbly is very erotic and fascinating!! Yamada's wat to use the tatty trendy TV drama is very witty & good. About 2nd story of 2 divorced ex-classmates, the jealousy of three-time-divorced guy to his son is so lovely!! About 3rd story, the gap between squalor of the ex-chief and his excellent ability of work is so cool! About 4th story of a part-timer and a manager, the hole of sock reminds me of Kuniko Mukouda, a great japanese scriptwriter and novelist who is so good at expressing the subtlety of daily life. About final story of illicit affair, it's so happy ending that a hero, Haru who always gives up his happiness finally achieve it. This book does not have great unforgettable chef doeuvre with extreme impact but as usual every story is fine and has subtlety of "lives of adult guys". (by Slash-kun 18/Jul/2005)
"Saigo no Door wo Shimero! vol.2" (Biblos) Jun/2004 *** 8.8
The sequel series of very popular one about Honda brothers (Featuring delicate love triangle of Kenzou, a youngest brother of Honda family and Nagai, a prince of personnel section and his subordinate, Saitou) and short series of ex-classmate of college, an editor and a translator of Chechoslovak who manages an antiquarian bookshop. Both series are interesting. About first series, I basically like the story of "upset and reconciliation after confession, making love for the first time and being couple" but Kenzou is too lovely for me to review this series objectively! He is very sexy, cool and dangerous but young and a little selfish. He is sometimes very cute but often gets on his high horse. All come from his being "youngest brother" (He sulks because Nagai fondles Saitou, and then his penis doesn't erect and becomes wrinkly by Nagai's long-time blow job / making love with anger / Nagai scolds him because he doesn't assist other brothers to do kitchen work, but very good at behaving like a spoilt child). And Kenzou is so cool, sexy and lewd that Nagai is not in it with him. In this series, Kenzou gets mad and Nagai gets himself into a fix and is moved to tears a lot. But at the end Kenzou gives in and they become happy. Nagai's muscular but slender naked body is very sexy. Yamada's art of uke (Nagai) who desperately glazes over with tear is very good. Especially the scene that Kenzou persuades Nagai not to forget that his penis is Nagai's. Kenzou's word, "This is yours" knocks me down. Fascinating. "Declare to be owned" is typical pleasure of reading yaoi stuffs. Especially in case of nice seme. Terrific! Kenzou's costume of baseball player is also very cool. I really understand Nagai falls in love with Kenzou again. Last-half long-short story about a translator and an editor is a little quiet/mild but very intelligent and stylish fine work. It's unique an editor is be well set up and an active guy. A translator who feels inferior to his being cruel is very pitiful and the contrast with editor's simple machismo is very impressive. Various setups like "antique books", Czechoslovakian writer or animations,,etc. Yamada can describe well both type of "uncouth couple in first-half series" and "very fashionable story like last-half". Her coverage is very wide. Whatever she writes, they are always chef doeuvre! (by Slash-kun 2/Jul/2005)
Yamagata Satomi
"Fake Fur" (Houbunsha) Nov/2004 *** 8.78
The prequel and side stories of "Three Quarter", Yamagata's debut book. The stories:(Junior high school days of "Yamashita". Yamashita loved his classmate & best friend, Kubo. Yamashita realized his homosexuality but Kubo was completely heterosexual. Then Yamashita reconciled himself to take a taste of the cooking of Kubo who aspired to becoming a chef. On Valentine Day, a colleague guy of rental video store gave a chocolate to Yamashita and Yamashita told Kubo about it. Next day Yamashita knew that Kubo took an entrance exam of the college at Hokkaidou / Spring vacation. Yamashita and Kubo stayed Yamashita's uncle's house. They met two guys who were students and kissed at Yamashita's father's atelier when Yamashita was a child. Even now they keep good friendship and it encourages Yamashita and Kubo very much / Yamashita's first sexual experience. Kubo left for Hokkaidou and Yamashita felt so lonely that he was picked up by a stranger, Reni. At Reni's room, Yamashita met Reni's roommate, Maki. Reni said Maki was a just parasite. But in the morning of the day Yamashita made love with Reni, Maki ran away / Encounter of Reni and Maki / College days of "Yamashita & Fukazawa". Yamashita was relieved by Fukazawa who allowed friendship with sexual intercourse. Fukazawa thought they were not lovers but knowing Yamashita would visit for pleasure to Hokkaidou by Kubo's letter, Fukazawa suspected Yamashita's chastity and bruised Yamashita). Very touching because every story is elaborate and the change of characters' feeling is well described. Reading first, I felt a little sad because Yamashita could not be a lover of Kubo. But seeing eternal good friendship of artists, I can image ideal of Yamashita & Kubo and I feel relieved. And I was so moved by the side story of "Reni & Maki" somehow. It's very rare that non-hero-couple makes an impact to hero, but it is very realistic (We often change our action by seeing other people's act). So this book is very unique. I got the urge to read "Three Quarter" again. The art is rather simple and contemporary, so reader can read Yamagata's work easily and may think the story is light, too. But it is very profound and depth of theme and serious monologue (Yamagata's simple art adds spice to the words) often strike me. Especially ton of monologue when Yamashita met Reni was thought-provoking & awesome! At manga, word is also very important factor. Particularly at love stories. Yamagata also uses "Large size lettering" very effectively. Yamashita's monologue of despair at spat with Fukazawa is heartrending, too! I also think that finding a partner again from scratch is so touch & hard. Anyway Yamagata appeals that every people (Yamashita & Maki) can be happy by recovering themselves from past love and finding new partners. So readers can find hope in life. Very precious book. Highly recommended. BTW reading Yamagata's post script, I know she become a mother of 2 kids. I think she are very busy now but want her to keep up good work! (by Slash-kun 23/Sep/2005)
Yamaji Ebine
"Sweet Lovin' baby" (Shodensha) May/2003 8.5
The latest work of Yamaji who has attained the positions as a mangaka of lesbian stories (The story of three women. A heroine, a girl who met her ideal lesbian couple and has adored them feels sorrow for their sudden separation - This reminds me of japanese popular song, "22 sai no Wakare", a song of separation of the couple of college students at their graduation. There are people who can not determine that they are lesbian or not. Especially in case of the people who are acquisitive & curious about the life or experience like writers. Yamaji does not criticize and does not admire such people. She describes it matter-of-factly through third-party view. Quiet drama) and short stories including old heterosexual stories (Two lesbians meet in rain / A lesbian girl and a heterosexual guy who are dumped by their lovers meet and talk together / Written in 1993. The expectation of achievement of lesbian love with a woman whom a heroine has just seen from distance - I love the art of this period, too. Very aesthetic, gothic-lolita-ish and very fashionable. Resembles recent art of Yumiko Ooshima or Kazumi Yamashita, Maki Kusumoto / Ennui time with ambient artistic guy / The small happiness of a couple who meet occasionally / A heroine who has a little uncomfortable feeling for her lover accepts being a model of a mysterious guy. She feels expectation that something will change by two request from the guy / Happy and artistic daily life of new husband and wife and a kid). The latest one has deep theme, of course. But other short stories are also very natural and interesting (atmospheric and suggestive). Seeing the young people who live naturally & comfortably is comfortable for readers, too. At first glance, these short stories seems uncoordinated but they are very important because Yamaji got a hint for lesbian stories from them. (by Slash-kun 27/Mar/2004)
Yamakami Riyu
"Anatadake wo Matteru" (Kaiousha) Dec/2004 *** 8.59
Short stories(Her forte, romance between a single-minded student and a twisted teacher - student is taller / unique romance between a good-natured fellow who is forced to be a leader of youth organization of a village and a whiz kid of IT industry / unique romance between a gay office worker and a young bitchy guy who lives next door in same apartment / mysterious romance between a beautiful guy who lives in a haunted mansion and a student who tried shoplifting and got the threats by the guy). Every story is very skillful and interesting. Every character is so attractive (especially nasty uke) that I could read this very easily and enjoy a lot. (by Slash-kun 20/Feb/2005)
"Anata wa Boku dake no Hana" (Frontier Works) Nov/2003 *** 8.5
4 short stories (Hero abandons himself to despair by broken heart and finds himself going about a guy who confessed his love to hero. The guy spoils hero but her can not fawn upon the guy and can not say "I love you". Hero buys apron for the guy but begins to suspect the guy is seeing someone else because the guy keeps mysterious absence and hero's ex-lover presumes him / As hero is giving the eye to his classmate who is very handsome like a prince, the classmate suddenly pays his court to hero. But the classmate irritates hero because classmate is reluctant to want hero sexually. But hero knows the reason that he idolized the classmate too much / Hero separated with his classmate with emotional damage when they were junior high school students. He enters univ and meets ex-classmate again at concert through common friend. Knowing classmate's having girl friend, hero parts with ex-classmate in anger again. But they confess their longstanding love to common friend at same time in secret.../ The king of getting dumped. He is comforted by his childhood friend and naturally begins to live together. But he still wants to get married with woman and tries to have a date with a woman. Getting chewed out by friend, hero finds his love). Yamakami recently becomes a little mainstream, so I could not like her stories so much but this book was very interesting. Especially 3nd story of reunion is very moving and touching. The love without trouble/problem, humorous romance or natural/casual story are a little too unsatisfied for yamakami's pretty art. Cold-blooded beast angst story or displeased seme are ultimately best for her. The comment of each story:(1st: Tender boy friend is good for hero but a little unsatisfied for readers / 2nd: Hero who had homosexual experience is so lucky that classmate like price happens to love hero. Happy story without hardship is easy to read. Classmate is very funny because he bleeds at the nose and confesses he attempts to be prince too much. But this story is also a little tame / 3rd: Very moving. We often experience that we happen to meet again with ex-boy friend who has same taste or hobby. And we can not love him again. Having same preference but unable to be lover. It's sad but interesting to read. I think serious drama with angst taste is cut out for Yamakami / 4th: A little resembles 1st one. A convenient friend becomes a boy friend. He spoils hero so much...But there is one angst scene they part, so it is more interesting).(by Slash-kun 19/Jun/2004)
Yamamoto Kotetsuko
"Koi wa GOGO!" (Kaiousha) Feb/2005 *** 8.59
Happy short stories with a lot of moving emotions(A homosexual boy goes crackers about a guy of next-door in same apartment. He tries to walk out with his homosexual ex-classmate but... / The sequel. Hero and the guy of next-door can not go ahead, make love easily. On their precious birthday, their friends arrange mixer... / Homosexual guy who was dumped finds himself in the bed with his puisne co-worker of his part-time job on the following morning they went out for a drink after work.../ Hero adores and follows his senior student who has become a talent at Tokyo after graduation. He visits the talent agency to become an attendant / Hero becomes a home tutor of his childhood friend of next door work / The sequel. Hero looks forward to making love after examination of his student but has a cold...). There are little sexual scenes but each story touches readers' heart with a lot of small impression. All various factors including picture composition & tempo are so skillful. Good stories with high quality. (by Slash-kun 06/Mar/2005)
Yoshiike Masuko
"Delicate ni Kiss shite" (Take Shobou) Apr/2004 *** 8.78
Short stories by a mangaka with unique art like "Higashi Nishida" and stories with a lot of pathos (A hero, Son who transferred into the dormitory of boys' high school likes somehow Inujima, a boss of comprehensive class who is feared by everyone. So they are always together. Son is kidnapped by henchman students of Tatsumasa, a student of industrial class / Sequel. Tatsumasa tries to tell Son about Inujima's past. Inujima sees Son is kissed by Tatsumasa and the relationship between Son and Inujima becomes worst.... / A student who is sexually harassed by his teacher. A girl student tells him her feeling and he reports it to the teacher. But the teacher never minds. Then the student gets angry and returns the duplicate key to the teacher.../ A very bad student with a lot of trouble. His teacher always takes care of him but his grade advances and the teacher puts other students in charge. Losing the excuse, the student and the teacher become alienated each other.../ Very short sketch. A student whose brother is very bad loves a class officer student. He invites the class officer to his room but his brother comes back, too.... / Hero's father suddenly dies leaving a debt, then hero succeeds the small restaurant of his father and tries to manage it. A silent man comes to the restaurant by seeing the poster recruiting a new staff. They become to love each other but hero finds the man is a son of yakuza which forced his father repay / Hero is loved very much by his classmate whose character is so bad. Hero gradually begins to love the classmate...). First book of the author. I did not expect very much before reading because the author is new mangaka and her art seemed a little primitive and too simple. But it's very nice and great! I want to appreciate Take Shobou to find such a good mangaka! Take Shobou is like "Magazine Morning" at yaoi world. It's unexpected mangaka with art like this draws BL (Boys Love) but the story is very touching and impressive!! I never expected there is such a great new yaoi manga! Yoshiike is very good at drawing of delinquent students (Especially their black school uniform - Gakuran- is very sexy!!). In the end I think her art is very nice and rich/pleasant. And her some stories made me cry at climax (Especially teachers' stories are very touching. In both case of Uke & Seme! ). I think Magazine, Reijin producing such a great mangaka is really great!! Thank you from my heart! (by Slash-kun 9/Oct/2006)
Yoshiki Aya
"Aisuru Usotsuki" (Houbunsha) Feb/2005 *** 8.59
Short stories (A very square student has a crush on a delinquent student. At night club, he tries to seduce the delinquent student by disguising himself as a playboy / A novelist and his editor. The novelist invites the editor with only apron on his naked body because the editor did not allow making love / A childhood friend whom hero has kept cherishing suddenly adores a senior member of their volleyball club.../ A yakuza dives to a closed laundry. A keeper of laundry washes bloodstained shirt of yakuza and is forced to have sexual intercourse to tie his mouth. The keeper has serious bury injury on his body.../ Hero has loved his friend but gives up because his twin brothers loves him, too. An another friend confesses his love to hero... / The sequel of name-piece. The delinquent student orders the square student to take off the eyeglasses but many boy students make a pass at him...). Many happy stories (Dumped or miserable hero finds his friend has loved/cherished him or A guy suddenly appears and loves or saves hero) and I become happy after reading! Of course there are many interesting geeky setups like "Seme with apron on naked body", "Burn injury on body",,etc as usual! (by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2005)
"Koisuru Choukyoushi" (Houbunsha) Nov/2004 *** 8.59
Short stories (A jockey of horse race and horse trainer / Ice skaters / Students who belonged to juvenile drama group / A senior and junior of volleyball club / DJ of radio and a popular scriptwriter). Yoshiki's unique and geeky setup as usual is very interesting! About a name piece, horse who loves hero is very interesting! My favorite story is romance between DJ and scriptwriter. The sexual play by foot of the scriptwriter who is called a guest to recording booth is so funny (He plays with DJ's penis). Yoshiki really knows well what geeky readers will want! (by Slash-kun 20/Feb/2005)
"Zettai Shujuu Kankei" (Houbunsha) Nov/2003 *** 8.65
The story of "Maritime Self-Defense Forces (MSDF)" Yoshiki always challenges geeky genres and I take my hat off to her. And again she did! MSDF! And working in submarine! Full of technical terms (jargons) and full of machines. White uniform is very brilliant and sexy! The wrinkle of uniform is so beautiful. The episode of red underwear which uses white uniform is so hilarious!! It's old joke but I love Yoshiki's `so-what' attitude. Making love with wearing underwear is ultra sexy! Whole story is not so unique but this episode knocks me out. The characters are so attractive. Tomoya Shimizu, beautiful and conscientious executive officer is so innocent and self-devoted! His desperate effort moves readers. I'd like to encourage him. The captain, seme, Shigeru Ubukata is excellent & able but selfish, king of the castle (little lion), lewd, nasty, jealous and quick-tempered but impossible to hate. Episodes are very various (Recollection of their school days, harassment from an officer who entered MSDF with Shigeru at same time, jealousy from Tomoya's colleague, retirement of Shigeru and his promotion to Director-General of the Defense Agency!,,etc). Yoshiki never gets readers bored. Fan of uniform should not miss reading this! (by Slash-kun 12/Jun/2004)
Yoshihara Yuuka
"Body Check" (Oakla Shuppan) Mar/2004 *** 8.78
Short stories including reissue of long-short djs written in 2001 (A student, Inoue feels anxious because his best friend & classmate, Yano accepts a love letter. Inoue sends his uninscribed love letter to Yano.../ Hero who was dumped by a bad photographer is comforted by an assistant the photographer and they become a couple. But ex-lover comes back.../ A college student who can not be honest easily is lived off and seduced by a broad & unguarded traveler / Hero is often scolded by his lover, a responsible member of society who is strict about self-care. Hero is given a magical watch at an antique shop and suddenly becomes a kid again and makes his lover think over / The idol stars who are homosexual couple. One of them wants his partner to put a ring given from their TV program... / Name piece. A bullied student is forced to resign the Kendou club which chief is his idol and service delinquent students. Seeing the bruise of hero, the chief goes into a wild rage and starts body check of hero / Sequel. The chief often shows his partiality to hero but Hero appeals the chief to treat him as a full-fledged member / At dormitory. Hero makes delinquent students rape him because he wants to attract his idol's attention but / The sequel of 1st story. Yano spares Inoue's feelings and ejaculates outside anus. Inoue gets angry and asks the reason...). Yoshihara's 2nd book. I was fond of Yoshihara's debut book but this exceeds my expectation! Her works are just *my type*.Yoshihara's sex scenes are perfectly sexy and her attractive characters accentuate it. First, Yoshihara's couple is same age. I love shota story of young boy and senior guy but prefer Yoshihara's stories because Yoshihara's characters are equal, tall, enough adult and cool like couple of "Kouun Danshi, Lucky-kun" by Satosumi Takaguchi. And secondly, Yoshihara's school uniform, blazer with emblem on pocket is so fascinating! A homosexual preppy from a good family who wears Shibuya casual style is very cool and sexy! Please see the cover picture! And next, Yoshihara's character has some stoic attraction which classic hero has. It may come from long eyelash or thick lip (like classic beautiful boys picture at japanese boys novels) or steady character of few words or contrasting lustful & nasty sex play. Yoshihara's uke was a little vulnerable at her early works but now her latest uke is adult and my type.Perfect. I wish Yoshihara keeps her way of describing the characters with no change. I love Yoshihara's way of drawing the penis (very real) and sex play (very bold & erotic). Especially the scenes that Inoue hides his groin ashamedly or hero feels sexual desire when he sees the assistant of photographer bends down to pick up the fallen object or flaccid penis of the chief of Kendou club or the scene that Inoue and Yano laugh each other because of Yano's ejaculation on face. All are unique and wonderful! And some stories touch a string in my heart and make me cry. In Yoshihara's favorite story, "Surekkarashi no Koi no Hanashi", there is a great word, "A delinquent is very sensitive for mental pain of people". Yoshihara is so great that she can write words like this! She knows the life well.At her postscript she said she wanted to write sequel. And I wouldn't mind! (by Slash-kun 17/Sep/2005)
Yoshimoto Mocha
"Koi no Aji, Mitsu no Aji" (Shoubunkan) Dec/2003 *** 8.5
Various short stories of mainly young characters including shota with age-gap or shota with same ages (Taking shelter from the rain. Hero suggests to enter his room and it starts their love affair / A cat turns into a boy for only one night and confesses his love to an owner of flower shop / A boy gets the sulks because his mother recently bore his sister. Then he tries to go to a guy next door to behave like a spoilt child / Hero gets angry at his best friend who will enter different school. He forces his friend to put an uniform of school and tries to rape him / Hero runs away from home because his parent scolded him for bad performance of exam. A kind neighbor puts him up for a night / Hero is in the mood because his best friend kisses him too often / At a mixer on a day when his best friend, a college student is absent from school, hero can not forgive his girlfriend / Hero makes love with his friend who will move because of his illness but his new address is in the neighborhood). First book. Very pretty & natural short stories. refreshing and a little heartrending. Every story is impressive and fantastic. Pretty taste like girlish manga or picture book (The drawing of hands and fingers is very modern, pop and fashionable). Very pretty & easy to read though this is immoral, shota because art is lyrical & fantastic. The story line is also very feminine, deals pain, loneliness or loveliness in daily life. So the story does not become like adult pornographic manga and makes much of precious love. Severe parting in our life like getting away from home, moving house, getting a girlfriend or graduation and solace of them. Yoshino's theme are all almost alike but I think her talent to churn out stories with similar motif is great. 'I'm very surprised this is her first book! (by Slash-kun 10/Jul/2004)
Yoshino Luca
"Kimi no Seide Boku wa" (Houbunsha) Jul/2004 *** 8.79
Short stories. I think Yoshino is the most talented yaoi mangaka rookie in 2004! Her each story is very adept. Seme who can't help spites uke contrary to his mind and stick-to-itive Uke who keeps loving seme tearfully are very touching! Yoshino's stories are so skillful (Expression of the feeling is very minute, especially expression of seme's agony/distress is so impressive!) but her usage of gadget/gimmick (dialect of Hiroshima, goldfish,,etc) or accumulation of good episodes is very realistic and great. The art is not so sexy or aesthetic but the words and feeling expression are very rich and sexy. All the more reason, I love the simple art like Yoshino. Nonetheless she will improve her art more and more in no distant future like Yugi Yamada. I'm very looking forward to her next works! About each story:(1&2: colleagues of travel agency. Ume is a crybaby but not nasty guy and his weeping emotionally expresses his agony and feeling very much. The word of seme, Takatou, "Very cute one sleeps in my bed" is very nice!! His lovely word strikes home to my hearts / 3: The story of a part-time worker who adores an owner & chef of cafe. The scene that chef knows he kept thinking all night long by the sound of morning newspaper's dropping through the door is so realistic and delicate! In this story, feelings of uke and seme are described well and minutely again. I'm very moved with admiration. Good expression of both feeling is very difficult but Yoshino can do it / 4: Hero's supervisor suddenly kissed hero just before transfer...Usage of Hiroshima dialect is so awesome! / 5: Usage of goldfish is so impressive!! This story is incest between brothers but very fine / 6: A pierce maniacs/fixation lover escalates. Hero blames his lover for loving only pierce but... Very many yaoi manga of pierce have been written but this one is very good. The brilliant pierce at the surface of the river is very impressive / 8: The story of landlord and a new renter. Yoshino expresses well very amusing companions. The word of landlord, "Kanbenshitekure (Please forgive me)" is very mistakable but good japanese phrases! Yoshino is a really good story teller / 9: Hero student gets to love his bed buddy (JGF) seriously...Yoshino is good at student stories, too. Bad seme gradually gets around to look very cute somehow. The subject is not so unique but not too easy and not too dark. Yoshino expresses well seme who is pushed into a corner). (by Slash-kun 16/Apr/2005)
Yukimura
"Dame na Otoko hodo Itoshii" (Shoubunkan) Feb/2004 *** 8.78
Delicate, tender and relaxed 6 short stories (Heartwarming romance between deliveryman and manufacturer's office worker who loves sweets / Younger cousin suddenly crashes in a room of a divorced guy / A teacher of a son of motherless family loves a busy father, a professional drummer / A woodentop suffers from a sense of dejection because his one-sided lover got married. He enjoys one-night stand love with a guy who resembles the lover. Next day, the guy of last night brings a stray dog to a police box as a lost and found item / A childminder stops an office worker who falls a victim to temptation and shoplifts / Very silly love between a tall but good-for-nothing young subordinate employee and an efficient but severe manager). As the book's title, there are many middle-aged guys with small faults (but they are lovely because of their faults) who can be satisfied with small happiness with their lovers and make readers happy, too. Yukimura is known as a great & unique mangaka of fantasy but I'm very surprised that I'm very moved by her stories the moment she changes her characters into middle-aged guys! Though there is no hot sex scenes. In the end, I'm satisfied with the whatever story of middle-aged guys? Maybe it's right. About each story: (1st story: The combination that seemingly vulnerable but really tough uke and seemingly uncouth but timorous seme is very interesting. Yukimura's aspect of characters is pleiotypic and she understands well the complexity of human. So Yukimura's works are all interesting. The comparison with "Mary had a little lamb/Wolf and seven little goats" is very nice (a pet expression of Yukimura), 2nd story: The situation that hero should look after his cousin because cousin is a son of his head family is good and persuasive/real. And this cousin is very nice, too because he is seemingly childish but really a foxy man, 3rd story: The child whose parents are busy often runs a fever. Sounds familiar. The son is very smart and funny!, 4th story: So excellent story! Yukimura has a great talent to make good stories! Hero compares himself with a dog and gets sulky! What a wonderful plot! He moreover takes offense at a can! Yukimura has a awesome talent of metaphor. This couple is not cool but very lovely all the more, 5th story: This is also nice work. The readers may think there is a childminder again! But Yukimura does not depend on the cute children easily. The reason that the guy becomes a childminder (shameful feeling and expiation for disobedience to his parents) makes this story realistic, 6th story: This is a nice story, again. More I read this, more I can enjoy it. A manager is very lovely and these couple is also lovely because they think themselves very lovely each though they are very ordinary guys. It makes me feel peaceful). The stories of last half are better (Perhaps because the guys of last half are more ordinary - never get ahead), so I think the editor should reverse the order. BTW the bookstore gave me Yukimura's zerox book (the short sequel of this book)! Feel very lucky. Yukimura is a sort of wunderkind in fantasy manga world but in yaoi manga world she is an unique mangaka of lyrical, relaxed and tasteful works. She is not so radical but heartwarming yaoi mangaka. I believe her considerable promise. (by Slash-kun 20/Mar/2004)
"Yewcroth Monogatari" (Biblos) Nov/2003 ** 8.65
Short fantastic tender-romantic stories re-issued from djs (Romance between wizard and his assistant / Romance between King of Dragon and elf-boy / Romance between knight and armor-smith / Romance between lonely pharmacist who lost his brother and his assistant, half-cat who had been bullied). A manga who has attracted a great deal of yaoi fans' attention now. Her tasteful expression is so magnificent. I'm very surprised to know this is Yukimura's first book! But I could get it because this is re-issue from her djs. Now is good time because anyone can issue her stuffs easily (with low cost) as djs even as she like if they are original. It owes "ton of parody djs". Yukimura's stories have very skillful plot like "Shokugyou Tenshi" by Fujikawa Touko and are very pretty & romantic (Fantastic , touching, moving, heartwarming and misterious/mystical) but explicitly homosexual (But no obvious hot sex scenes because this is "Zero Comics"). Fujikawa made elaborated stories well using traditional concept of fantastic literature like Dragon or King,,etc. I suppose she has deep knowledge of fantastic literature. Very intelligent and wonderful. All stories happen in same kingdom, so they have relationship each other. It's stylish! Yukimura has a great talent of making story, so I expect she will be a great mangaka. I appreciate Biblos who adopted this djs for commercial publication. I should read Yukimura's other book (more explicit yaoi) issued from other publisher. Comment for each story:(1st story: Tear-jerker. The loneliness or weak heart of wizard are heartrending. Monologue is very impressive / 2nd: Very nice, mysterious and heartwarming story! / 3rd: the sequel of 2nd. It's so stylish of Yukimura to use litchee which means the eye of dragon / 4th: Nice merchen makes readers' hearts happy and warm / 5th: My favorite. Both characters never get ahead but very nice. The story is nice, too. What a great plot Yukimura could make! I realized I have loved big dropping ears like this very much!/ 6th: the sequel of 5th. Both characters who want making love are very lovely. Pharmacist with eyeglasses is bold - Osoi Uke- and cute!). (by Slash-kun 26/Jun/2004)
Yuuya
"HOUR - Houkago Jikan" (Hakusensha) Jul/2005 *** 8.59
May and December love between a middle aged & divorced teacher and his student prostitute. The story:(Kazushi Ino, a teacher who is training as a hotel worker encounters a student prostitute, Naohito Aoi is tangling with his customer at hotel. Aoi puts a abandoned kitten into Ino's hands. Starting for his new post, Ino encounters Aoi again at his class and can't help letting Aoi alone. They begin to love each other with 18-years age gap...). Yuuya is so skillful mangaka that anyone can read this easily but there is a little gap between pop and modern atmosphere of first-half and sincere mood of latter-half, so my impression is a little confused. It's very rare/unique case that teachers train as hotel workers, so I expected Yuuya will use this setup later but it was used for only Ino's encountering Aoi or saving Aoi from customer. And Aoi had ad-hoc & decadent atmosphere at first but his family is quite ordinary. So I can't understand why he becomes a prostitute. On the contrary, Ino becomes a bold and lewd middle aged guy and Aoi behaves like a baby in latter-half and it looks a little too sudden. An aid side story of Ino's colleague teacher, Izumi and Aoi's best friend, Oozeki rejected by Aoi is more natural and more responsive. But I enjoyed Ino's sudden change into an old lewd guy and such a bold seme has been Yuuya's best character. Ino was stoic but after being couple, he changes into very sexy and nice! (by Slash-kun 10/Oct/2005)
"Bokutachi no Sotsugyou - Himitsu no Futari 2nd Etsurou & Minoru series vol.6" (Kaiousha) Nov/2003 *** 8.58
Minoru and Etsurou enter an era of graduation but their entrance examination raises a disturbance...The story:(Etsurou starts working secretly to get car-license. It makes Minoru uneasy / Kidahashi and Hirose start living together. Kidahashi works as a private teacher and Hirose works at restaurant. They are involved in struggle of Kidahashi's student and Hirose's colleague who are brothers. They overcome and try first making love / Christmas day. Minoru and Etsurou stay at a hotel. Minoru's father who keeps waiting his son collapses and enter a hospital with cancer. Minoru does his best but falls in entrance examination / Shocked Minoru vents his anger on too excellent Etsurou and wants to part with Etsurou. Etsurou says he will boycott the entrance exam...). 1st, 2nd and 3rd episodes are peaceful & seasonal romance of plural couples as usual. But final episode after Minoru's failure is so furious. Very serious. Severe tug-of-war between Minoru and Etsurou is heartrending. Minoru failed in entrance exam though his father collapsed by cancer=>Minoru stopped sleepover or plan of living together with Etsurou after graduation because he thought his failure was a result of punishment by Heaven=>Minoru realized the gap of ability between Etsurou, was mean to Etsurou from misery and broached parting with Etsurou...Yuuya describes very well Minoru's vexation! People often treat cruelly their lover who is superior. I can understand it very well. Yaoi stories are very nice because readers can enjoy honestly such realistic & ugly feeling like jealousy for lover's talent. I'm moved very much. The process Minoru has gradually accepted what he did not want to accept is also described realistically and it touches me. The outcome (failure or success) of entrance exam often divides couple (I saw many cases around me). How well Yuuya remembered her youth and how realistic she described (Students who failed are very kind for same student, Too excellent student like Etsurou is treated coldly by them,,etc). I think good mangaka observes her environment very carefully on a routine basis. I also felt pitiful for Etsurou who got depressed by Minoru's taking out. And Etsurou who is very fearful when he lost himself was so cool! Love's true value is always tested at trials. Last sexual scene is so powerful and satisfactory! This long series is very good story because it could survive through serialized magazine changed from GUST to GUSH. Highly recommended. (by Slash-kun 03/Jul/2004)
Yuzuki Ichi & Akizuki Koh
"Ouchou Haruyoi Romance vol.2" (Tokuma Shoten) Nov/2004 *** 8.8
In this volume the intelligence of Senjyu shines out! To read an activity of a bright boy is really fun. Senjyu's acrobatics are also very nice. Yuzuki is very good at describing characters' motion. I'm surprised at high ability of Yuzuki's art again. Senjyu is very cute and noblemen, Moroe and Narihira are so cool. The art of their old costumes (Dark and light coloring of black and white drawing is so great) and scenery of Heian period are so skillful and fascinating. She was not chosen as Akizuki's mangaka for nothing though she is a rookie. And in this volume, Senjyu and Moroe make love for the first time! Until seeing this, I never realized this series was shota because plot development so far has been very natural and I had no unpleasant sensation. The readers were tantalized for long time till this first sexual experience but they can enjoy it all the more. Moroe is very funny because he seems very gentle but pulls no punches at making love with Senjyu (with a lot of apology). Akizuki's interest (aesthetic feeling - A serious guy falls in love, realizes his desire and cruelty, get a shock and agonizes) is well-written. Agonized Moroe is so sexy! The savage scene that Senjyu id pursued by bad priests is also very thrilling. Highly recommended! (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
"Ouchou Haruyoi Romance vol.1" (Tokuma Shoten) Mar/2004 *** 8.78
Mangalization of very popular novel of Heian Period by popular veteran yaoi novelist who wrote "Fujimi Orchestra series". Adventure roman that an orphan, Senjyu with birth secret brought up at temple is saved by a nobleman, Fujiwara no Moroe. This series is period/costume drama and very authentic. I thought manga of this novel will be interesting whoever draws it but Yuzuki should be the best! She originally loves things of Heian period and has so often drawn on a routine basis, so her kimono (old japanese clothes) or building of Heian period are really good and natural! Especially art of comical Senjyu (two-head figure, small) is very artful and no matter how small Yuzuki draws Senjyu, her Senjyu has a presence and is very cute (like Ayunosuke Odagou of animation "Jyuubei-chan2" by Akitarou Daichi). It is precious talent. Because no matter how casual/trivial panel of art is worth reading. And Moroe is so cool! But of his adult appearance, he is very no-nonsense and as opposed to Narihira, a superstud nobleman. So readers have a good feeling toward Moroe. In this volume there are few sex scenes but you can enjoy this very much! The age gap between Senjyu and Moroe is very large, so their relationship looks guilty and it puts readers in a flutter. I think Akizuki's novels have something guilty and its sense of guilt is enjoyable. Other descriptions are nearly perfect, so its guilty feeling becomes stimulating all the more. I'm very looking forward to next volume very much! (by Slash-kun 02/Apr/2005)
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