Staff Picks: Queer Manga

At thirty, Shou Arai realized he didn’t have a gender; he found himself navigating living and aging as a queer person in Japanese society. This collection of comics explores these themes, mixing his own experiences with questions from readers.

Readers looking for stories about navigating presentation while aging as an older queer person will want to pick this up.

Nudity; frank discussion of sex

Megan Rupe

Taichi Ichinose is just trying to get through his third year of high school as uneventfully as possible, but he ends up in the same class as shy and klutzzy Futaba Kuze. She admits to him that she has a crush on star athlete Toma Mita, with whom Taichi was friendly with in elementary school. She asks for his help in winning over Toma, and even though he's pretty sure she doesn't stand a chance, he helps her. The more they hang out trying to get Toma to notice her, the more Taichi starts to see her in a different light. Meanwhile, Toma has a secret crush on his oldest friend, Taichi, and the only person in their school who seems to have figured it out is Futaba's best friend, because she is in the same situation as Futaba.

Fans of slice-of-life series with high levels of interpersonal and romantic drama will devour this series.

Mild sexual themes.

Tayla Cardillo

One day at Toshimitsu's real estate company, his assistant suggests advertising the company as LGBTQ+ friendly. This puts Toshi in a tight spot because he's gay, but not out at work. In the evenings, he discusses the dilemma with his boyfriend, Gonta, while they enjoy Toshi's homemade treats, trying to decide how to navigate celebrating their identity while maintaining safety.

In many ways, this series is like a more lighthearted version of What Did You Eat Yesterday? with a couple much earlier in their relationship. There's also the appeal of seeing a gay couple in a slice of life series, much like Our Not-So-Lonely Planet Travel Guide. While the series does discuss being out or outed, the overall mood is one of humorous or quiet moments in their lives.

Shannan Prukop

Set in 1900s England, Hanako travels from Japan to meet her favorite author, but the publisher has been given explicit instructions to keep the author's whereabouts private. At this publishing house, she meets the upper-class Lady Alice, who hires her on the spot to be her maid, to help her learn how to navigate English culture. Soon after Hanako arrives at Lady Alice's home, she discovers that rumors are circulating through high society, suggesting that Lady Alice prefers the company of women over men. With Lady Alice's quick attachment to Hanako not only as a maid but also as a companion, she must decide whether to do the noble thing for her family and marry a wealthy man, or give in to her true feelings, including her growing affection for Hanako.

Both girls' love enthusiasts and historical fiction lovers will find something to love in this short manga series.

Time period typical homophobia and xenophobia, Minor mentions of suicide, and significant mentions of planning one's death.

Tayla Cardillo

Yuriko is an asexual woman who loves boys' love stories, but doesn’t fall in love. Gakurouta is a closeted gay man who has an unrequited crush on his childhood friend. During a matchmaker meeting, each finds an empathetic listener in the other, and they eventually decide to get married. Can these two virtual strangers form a meaningful relationship despite the pressures from society and their families?

With a sweet, platonic relationship at its center and a tender, and at times, intense plot, I Want to Be a Wall is an excellent exploration of what a relationship and marriage mean, especially for those whose identities are not accepted. Older teen and adult readers seeking stories about platonic or atypical relationships should pick up I Want to Be A Wall.

Some violence; anti-LGBTQ attitudes both directed at characters and internalized; alcohol consumption; and some heavy mental health moments

Megan Rupe

Though many new experiences come with starting college, for Chika, one of those is not romance. At this point, she's pretty sure there's something wrong with her, as it's just never worked out or felt right for her. Then she learns the terms aromantic and asexual from new acquaintances, and finally, it feels like the puzzle pieces slide into place. Although the manga concludes with Chika still on her journey of self-discovery, the reader can see her transition from lost to more confident throughout the volume.

Although this manga lacks magical elements, it shares a similar mood with Our Dreams at Dusk, and readers of I Want to Be a Wall will appreciate another manga featuring asexual representation. The fact that Chika is a young adult sorting out life with relative strangers and figuring out relationships in general makes for a generally relatable read.

Attempted sexual assault

Shannan Prukop

Mogumo, who wears a girls' uniform and keeps their hair in pigtails, doesn't have many friends and is nervous about making them, so when Tetsu suggests they try working at a café called Question!, Mogumo isn't sure it'll work out but decides to give it a try. What Mogumo finds through their work at Question! is a community of friends across the gender spectrum, along with the support they need to address issues at home related to their identity.

Readers of series like To Strip the Flesh or Boys Run the Riot, who were hoping for more representation of people whose gender falls somewhere between the binary, and a cast of mostly individuals still figuring it all out, will appreciate this series. There are some complex topics here, but they're handled well, especially considering how few manga cover this ground.

Parental physical and mental abuse of children, depictions of self harm, transphobia

Shannan Prukop

Saki Kindaichi was walking to her piano lesson when she bumped into a girl with long black hair on the street. This girl helps her put herself back together, even offering her a band-aid for her cut hand, and then leaves without saying a word. The next day, she enters her high school class for the first day of school, and the girl from the night before is seated next to her. She discovers that her name is Kanon Oikawa and that she's hard of hearing. Their teacher is worried about Kanon needing extra support because of her disability, but Kanon wants everyone to leave her alone. Despite Kanon making it clear she doesn't want to make friends, Saki still tries to make her feel included. Will Kanon continue to push Saki away, or learn that making new friends might not be so bad?

Readers who love a sapphic romance that begins slowly, rooted in deep friendship, will enjoy this series.

Ableism

Tayla Cardillo

There is no gay marriage in Japan, so Yuta Yagi and his partner Kyota decide that Kyota should adopt Yagi. Drawn in adorable chibi style, Why I Adopted my Husband tells their relationship’s story, the decision, and the adoption process.

Readers seeking stories about LGBTQ individuals in other countries will find "Why I Adopted My Husband" an engaging read. Additionally, Yagi and Kyota’s love for each other is clear as day, making this enjoyable for a reader looking for a sweet queer love story.

Brief discussions and portrayal of smoking and drinking; outing

Megan Rupe