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Five stars for its sheer scale and vision. Even if its execution is imperfect, where it works, it works very well. Recommended if you're hankering for a story set in the afterlife with great worldbuilding, lovely art, and a story where the romance is adequate but everything else is so much more.
Exquisitely illustrated, mature shorts that respect the reader's intelligence. The visual storytelling and the spare, carefully chosen dialogue work in concert to give shape to the lives of the characters with complex inner lives. This mangaka is one of the finest BL writers, an author who is completely unconstrained by the rigid formula of the genre and makes stories that are for anyone who loves subtlety and nuance, anyone who is willing to read a manga that doesn't hold their hand.
A beautifully written story about the fear of being left behind, treated with nuance and intricacy. I recommend picking this criminally underrated manga up if you want a well-constructed reencounter story that is both understated and deep, that explores ties to a community that are not so easily severed and fragile feelings of love that are just beginning to blossom.
This is an unambitious manga in the best possible way: it has distinctive characters, a simple but compelling backstory, and, best of all, knows to not overstay its welcome. I recommend this if you're in the mood for a quick read that only takes as much time as it needs to tell its relatively simple story, a story that manages to escape genre cliches by virtue of its somewhat atypical characters.
A sedate, mature story that remains small in scale, restrained, and understated - mercifully free of a lot of BL excess. The relationship between Hanjou and Kippei is meticulously developed against the backdrop of both of them having been heartbroken. While I think the restraint of the manga backfires a little and shortchanges the characters a bit, it remains worth reading as a refreshing antidote to more mediocre saccharine stories.
The setup may seem hackneyed, but the development of their feelings goes beyond the gimmicky ill-fated initial meeting. This is one of those manga that illustrate how a trite premise can produce a solid story provided it gets the basics right: good development, tight pacing, and likeable characters. I recommend this to anyone who wants a well-constructed rom-com type BL featuring unexpectedly excellent storytelling.
A tender love story about a haughty young man and a gifted older tailor. Its virtue is its simplicity: at its core, it's a story about characters learning how to reciprocate care. A joy to read for its soothing atmosphere (all tea and antique furniture and exquisitely crafted suits) and Beriko's charming art. While it definitely follows some BL formulae, it has some atypical elements: the older character is a uke, and it never devolves into silly melodrama. Smooth sailing from first to last.
A story about an almost willfully naive character freeing a reclusive but empathetic man from him from his dark past. It's a lovely exploration of what it takes to move forward, to forgive one's self and others. A solid, well-paced, character centric story told in boldly stylized art (lots of strong inked lines and dark space - not quite your typical BL manga style) with depth and a well-earned happy ending.
A feel-good story that touches on some heavy themes (being closeted, suicide) which are handled peripherally but with an unusual degree of sensitivity. The art is lovely and the characters are genuinely good human beings. The emphasis is definitely on the development of a relationship, and it's all the better for it. Highly recommended if you want what is at bottom a sweet love story that brushes against some darker scenarios without devolving into anything grim or melodramatic.
Straightforward and drama-free BL. While the main love interest is bland and underdeveloped, it doesn't matter, since this is a character study more than a romance. The MC's love of food develops out of his mother's encouragement and his expression of affection becomes inextricable from his cooking. A sweet study of an ordinary life, that, while on the dull side, is ameliorated by dynamic art and an interesting setup. Recommend if you want something unchallenging, calm, and heartwarming.
Hengoku no Calendula