~ RECS ~ YAOI MANGA ~ H-M ~

HARU WO DAITE ITA

a.k.a : [He Hagged A Hooker]
author : Nitta Youka
details : hard yaoi | NC-17 | romance, acting
summary : Story revolves around two AV (porn) actors/rivals, Iwaki and Katou, who cross paths when they both audition for roles in a gay movie. One thing leads to another, with the two men falling in love and developing into both true actors and lovers despite a ton of misgivings and too much attention from the rest of the industry/media.

comments : High on sex and romance, HwD is one my most favourite yaoi manga around. To be honest, HwD doesn't sound impressive (porn actors, huh?) enough to be taken seriouly at first, but then you read, and you just get SO hooked. There's a reason why Katou/Iwaki is one of the most popular canon yaoi couples around. They simply are so good together. Their appearances are beautifully complementary, and so are their personalities. The best thing about this manga is following their relationship - with all the sex (had to be said), the fights, the angst, and then later, the steadfast love and the genuine happiness. The entertainment-industry factor is also refreshing, and there are times I enjoy the whole shebang about acting and roles and studios by themselves.

HONKI JA NEE KARA

mangaka : Fujiyama Hyouta
details : yaoi | R | angst, romance
summary : Having just been dumped by his girlfriend, photographer Kurejima Eiji decides to go take a drive to sort out his head when he chances upon a high-school kid near his car. Somehow that chance encounter ends up with Kure inviting the youngster back to his home after reassuring him that 'men and brats aren't within his range'. As the two started spending more and more time together, the kid Hiroto starts to fall in love for real, while Kure, who is firmly heterosexual, begins to doubt his own sexuality. Faced with so many obstacles, Kure and Hiroto must now struggle to reconcile their feelings for each other.

comments : Lovely, lovely work by Fujiyama-sensei. Sometimes when you read yaoi manga, you come across those that really strike a chord with you. These are the ones which take pains with characterisation and plot development. This manga is a good example. The growing attraction and dilemma between the two characters are palpable and convincing. In fact, I can almost see this romance played out in real life - not something that can be said for many yaoi manga.

HYBRID CHILD

mangaka : Nakamura Shungiku
details : yaoi | PG-13 | angst, romance
summary : A collection of three co-related stories that evolve around the Hybrid Child theme. A hybrid child (HC) is neither a machine or a doll, but a sort of human-looking thing that reflects its master's emotions/feelings and translates those feelings into growth. So how much and how well the HC grows would depend on the depth of the emotions that the master projects onto it. The first story is about a spoilt young man Kotarou, whose only merit is his steadfast devotion to the HC he picked up as a child. The HC, called Hazuki, is now his butler (or slave, rather, lol). All goes well until Hazuki's body begins to break down. The second story is of a troubled man, Seya, and his HC, Yuzu. Seya is a kind master, but Yuzu can't ever seem to grow bigger, and it has to do with Seya's pained past that he would not share with anyone. The third story is of the creator of the HC, Kuroda, and his childhood friendship with Seya and Tsukishima. Kuroda and Tsukishima shared a love-hate friendship that ended in a lot of pain. Kuroda then created the HC, and it looked so much like Tsukishima...

comments : Now and then you will come across a manga that just makes you sit up and FEEL, and this manga is one of those. The concept in itself is noteworthy. Naturally, the master/toy idea is not original, but this HC creature is. What makes the all three stories so remarkable is how the mangaka portrays the very, very intricate relationship the three HC owners have with their HCs. It is when the humanity in a hybrid child becomes so pronounced, that the line blurs between object and person, and master and possession. Also, the art is very lovely and uncomplicated, all the more accentuated by the bittersweetness of the stories.

INTENSE RAIN

mangaka : Fuwa Shinri
details : yaoi | PG-13/mild-R | angst, romance
summary : Baba, an arrogant and smarmy 3rd-year college student, meets and has a one-night stand with a sweet, naive college junior Ryuuji. Although in love, Baba refuses to stop his womanising ways, and a heartbroken Ryuuji leaves him. Five years later, Ryuuji is now a high-school teacher. And guess what, one of his colleagues turns out to be, yes, THE ex-boyfriend. However, much to Ryuuji's confusion, Baba seems to be a changed man...

comments : This kinda break-up-and-meet-some-years-later is hardly original. What makes this manga stand out is the portrayal of the characters (great characterisation), the various plot devices and symbolism (keys, kittens, even a fever), the pacing (not rushed, but not draggy either), and of course, the pretty art. Personally, I'm not the greatest fan of angsty romances, but in this case, I am charmed from the start. There's something about the story that is very endearing, and I feel that the emotional rollercoaster the men go through is well-depicted.

IT

mangaka : Kyogoku Kaoru
details : yaoi | R | surfing, high-school boys, juvenile violence, humour
summary : A free-spirited and flamboyant high-school surfer, Yuuto, is best friends and best enemies with his 'second-in-command' Iusagi. Together with Aminato and Satori, they form a tight, happy-go-lucky clique. Well, until Yuuto discovers, to his bewilderment, that not only is Iusagi gay, but that Iusagi is into HIM! Of course, all it takes is a little encouragement from Iusagi, and timely interfering from the other two nosy sidekicks for Yuuto to see the 'light'. ^.^

comments : A moderately-long one-shot manga that I just fell in love with from the start. It is light-hearted, refreshing, and just so unrepentantly crazy you HAVE to like it. The humour is infectious and exuberant (remember, we're talking about a bunch of surfer dudes here), and the boys themselves are great to watch (even if they can get rather crude at times ^^;;). The main couple is also a hoot, with beautiful but aggressive Iusagi and roguishly-handsome but utterly thick-headed Yuuto! The artwork is pretty, IMO, but not too conventional (the shading is darker and while the character design for the guys is fine, the girls are real...ugly. ^_^'). But the style in general, is bold and well...I like it! LOL.

JUNJYOU KAREN

mangaka : Koide Mieko
details : yaoi | PG-13/R | teacher-student, love triangle
summary : Shirasaka, a high-school teacher, is trapped in an unwilling relationship with Iogi, his former school senior. Just when his life seems to lose all hope, Shirasaka finds his solace in Tamiya, a student who is bright in spirit and pure in emotion. Teacher and student then begin a fragile relationship that is threatened by not only by their backgrounds, but also by Iogi's presence.

comments : Love triangles are funny things. You either come to love them, or hate them. More often than not, love triangles in yaoi manga are mere plot devices to get more than two bishounen entangled together. ~.~ In this case however, I came to really appreciate this manga because the characters are convincing. Whichever role it is, from loveable Tamiya all the way to the vengeful Iogi, you empathise with their circumstances. Even Shirasaka, as the fought-over uke, comes across as *someone* and not just some toy. As for the art, it is not the greatest I've seen and looks rather raw at times, but the mangaka does capture some really good emotional moments with the simplest of actions.

KAWAII GATTE

mangaka : Hoshino Lily
details : yaoi | NC-17 | cat-boys, shota
summary : The latest trend in town is owning a cat. This isn't your normal house kitty, but an actual human-looking boy/girl complete with cat ears and tails. These cats guarantee absolute faithfulness to their human owners, and a hell lot of lovin'.

comments : The shota factor is rather unavoidable, since the 'cats' are essentially pets, so they're small, cute and cuddly. And really, the manga's very indulgent with the pet theme. Just imagine. A pet that will love and serve you, and you alone. Yep, now you know what I mean. All right, the shota factor aside, there're no few sappy/lemony/fluffy moments throughout the manga. The sex is graphic and rather gleeful (^^;;), and the art is sweet. If you can stomach shota and you love neko-boys, you HAVE to read this manga!

KOKORO KIKAI

mangaka : Sumomo Yumeka
details : shounen-ai | PG | schoolboys, fluffiness
summary : Shinobu is your typical schoolboy, except for one thing. He cannot shake the growing emptiness in himself. As he grows more and more bored with life, he suddenly realises that he is not alone in his predicament. Enter Nishino, another schoolboy who feels the same way about life as Shinobu. Now not so lonely anymore, the two boys tentatively forms a friendship.

comments : What draws me to this manga is that it's like whipped cream. Very light, but sweet too, you know? There isn't much plot, and not much of content either, but something about the way the two main characters interact is very cute. It's in the little things they do - playing jan-ken-pon to decide on the place to have dinner, practising ear-piercing on each other, innocent kisses, etc. It's all very subtle but tender.

LOVE HUSTLER

mangaka : Reiichi Hiiro
details : yaoi | R | sea-faring, treasure hunters, magicians
summary : Kei is working as a magician on a ship, when he chances across a dashing but shady dealer, Nagisa. Things take a sudden turn when Nagisa turns out to be a treasure-hunter on the trail of the precious orichalcum, and Kei, tired of his aimless life, decides to tag along. Along the way, Nagisa's greatest rival - 'Shachi' - shows up together with his sidekick/lover Saki.

comments : The storyline is refreshing. I mean, sexy treasure hunters! As with Reiichi-sensei's stories, there are multiple pairings abound to keep you entertained. The romances are rather predictable, to be honest, and not exactly mind-blowing. But, the couplings are sweet and fun, and I like them anyway. The mangaka has a way of portraying pairings that you will find yourself rooting for eventually, if not from the start. The art is consistent, clean and very pretty. All in all, this manga is much like its theme - a fun romp through adventures and likeable yaoi-ness!

LOVE MODE

author : Shimizu Yuki
details : semi-hard yaoi | heavy R | social escort, clubs, shady men
summary : We follow the love lives of the men who work at Blue Boy, a men's host club that offers professional services for homosexual men, and is also one of the most exclusive around. The main couple is Reiji (club owner) and Naoya, the boy Reiji takes in, but different couples are featured in different chapters/volumes.

comments : This is an 11-volume long series, and I guarantee it will keep you hooked from start to finish. The art style is rather sketchy, but pretty. The humour is understated and sweet. What's the most engaging about this series are its couples. As you follow the ups and downs of their relationships, you just *cannot* stop reading! The plot itself is rather non-existent. What keeps it going is the dynamics between the men, and of course, their stories.

LOVEHOLIC

mangaka : Touko Kawai
details : yaoi | R | photography, salarymen
summary : Nishioka is a brilliant photographer and often collaborates with the cool, handsome Matsukawa, who is a successful businessman at an advertising company. In the trials and tribulations of the working world, both men find themselves facing challenges not only at work, but also in their growing love-hate relationship with each other.

comments : Another lovely manga from Touko-sensei, this time featuring two working adults. Expect great characterisation and lovely art from this manga, and also a very grounded feel to the story. Both men not only have to deal with their feelings for each other, but also office politics.

LOVER'S NAME

mangaka : Yamakami Riyu
details : yaoi | mild R | mention of rape, mental disorder, angst, romance
summary : One night, 18 yr-old Ariga You is hit on by an arrogant young man. They part ways rather unceremoniously, and Ariga returns home and gets his first assignment. So it turns out he also doubles as a private investigator. When he finally meets his client, Ryouichirou, Ariga is shocked to find that Ryouichirou looks exactly like the same asshole who tried to pick him up! However, on the contrary, Ryouichirou is as gentle and quiet as Shigeaki (the jerk) is volatile. So, how exactly are Ryouichirou and Shigeaki related? Are they two persons, or are they one and the same? And things become even more complicated when Ariga starts to fall in love.

comments : An excellent manga, and possibly my favourite from Yamakami-sensei. The plot is good and clearly well-thought-out. I love the story from the introduction, and all the way to the ending (especially the ending!). The dynamics between the 3 main characters keep the manga intriguing as it is. There's Ariga and his tentative, shy and sweet friendship-which-could-be-more with Ryouichirou. And on the other hand, there's the unpredictable, pained and fiery connection between Ariga and Shigeaki. Most significantly, there's the fragile bond between Shigeaki and Ryouichirou. Read it for the story, I'm sure you will be completely hooked. The art style is standard Yamakami-sensei stuff. It's rather sketchy, but steady and her men are pretty.

LOVER'S POSITION

mangaka : Masara Minase
details : yaoi | R | angst, romance
summary : Sweet, gentle Jun has been in love with the hunky Hayato ever since their highschool days. One day, Hayato shows up at Jun's workplace and ends up drunk. Upon helping Hayato home, one thing leads to another and they start sleeping together. With everything going so well, Jun should be happy, except for the persistent presence of Hayato's beloved childhood friend Motoki, who always seems to be the most important to Hayato.

comments : Anyone familiar with yaoi manga should know Masara Minase. Her art is absolutely beautiful, especially her bishounen's faces with their amazingly expressive features. As such, it's always easy to overlook story plot when you're distracted by such pretty art, and sometimes I do feel that her stories can be a little monotonous. However, in this case, this manga has definitely got a good thing going. Right from the start, the couple's dynamics are fascinating. You will feel for Jun, who's so devoted yet torn by his own uncertain standing in his lover's heart. You might get irritated by Hayato's insensitivity, yet be charmed by his awkward but genuine affection for Jun. Even the beautiful yet mysterious Motoki will get you wondering about him.

MESAI TENGOKU

mangaka : Takashi Kanzaki
details : yaoi | NC-17 | army, humour
summary : Fujisaki enrolled himself into the army, not knowing the kind of hell he's landing himself in. Not only does he have to content with the rigorous training, he suddenly finds himself facing the amorous attentions from his squad-leader Muromi, and the infatuation from his fellow squad-mate Takatori. It also doesn't help that Fujisaki is completely dense, completely heterosexual (in his mind) and also completely horny from being celibate for so long! LOL.

comments : This manga really made me laugh. Fujisaki, our main character, is lovably goofy but also hunky at the same time. And vying for Fujisaki's attention are Muromi and Takatori. Muromi is pretty but devilish, and is not above pulling rank to get what he wants. Takatori provides a light distraction with his shy, sweet liking for Fujisaki. All in all, the dynamics between the three men - especially Fujisaki and Muromi - are very funny and engaging.

MIDARE SOMENISHI

author : Kazuma Kodaka
details : hard yaoi | NC-17 | period drama, angst, romance, ncs
summary : Brash, crimson-haired Shirou and his little brother Fujimaru are captured by bandits. The leader, Sougetsu, is captivated by Shirou and forces the latter to stay by using both seduction and threats to Fujimaru's safety. Years later, things are far from rosy. An evil Renka (whose place was usurped by Shirou) is looking to strike, Shirou is trying to come to terms with his love-hate and passionate relationship with Sougetsu, and Fujimaru - who has grown up to be a beautiful young man - is barely able to endure continuous rapes until he finds his solace in Saizou, his young, kind-hearted warden.

comments : I think this is one of Kazuma-sensei's best works ever. The period setting is nicely-rendered, the plot solid and the characters very well fleshed-out. And because this is a one-shot type of story, the pace is brisk without any draggy bits, just the way I like it. The highlight of this story is the explosive and devastatingly sexy romance between Sougetsu and Shirou. Their loathing and attraction to each other is just so palpable! Fujimaru and Saizou are also a very sweet counterpoint with their hesitant, tender budding romance. In the midst of it, there is another side-story involving Shirou and a sweet young man called Chihiro. Their connection is fleeting, but leaves a striking impression as well. Now you know why I like this manga so much. You WON'T forget it after reading it!

~ recs ~

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