24-25.10.2020
The story of how the traditional medicine doctor found a half-dead yakuza hitman in the snow, and took him home and patched him up. Thus begins a love triangle between the doctor (Matsuo), the hitman/former kaitama (Tatsuo, kaitama means male prostitute) and the second in command of the yakuza gang (only called Aniiki or ”big brother”). The story goes all the way up to when Tatsuo/now Yuki and Matsuo are both old men, proving how they stayed together their whole lives.
As a historical depiction of possible pre-Meiji era male lovers (before 1870) and all the possible drama they could encounter, I think it’s fairly accurate. Tea house brothels, people’s lives being mostly about how to get food on the table, farming, ”crude” medicine and class segregation. Oh mai gawd, does Yuki and Matsuo’s relationship revolve around them sitting and eating together. And talking, and misunderstanding, and having both stupid and important fights, and realizing how much they’ve fallen for one another. Their love is both raw, forgiving and a bit comedic.
There’s also two other couples depicted: a farmer and his lady love, and the Aniiki and his lover Ruyo.
The art starts out depicting things very shounen ai, but then evolves gradually into more yaoi.
Yuki to Matsu