Lovely readers of RentaBLog, have I got a treat for you today.
If you’ve been following the blog for a while (in which case, thank you! ), you may have come to expect BL manga reviews, informative culture articles, and overall insightful thoughts about BL as a genre — all hosted in one cozy spot.
Well, let me assure you, here at RentaBLog, we aim to post plenty of that, but we also strive to make this blog a safe space for…
DEGENERACY.
That’s right. It’s time to take off my “lover of all things fluffy and vanilla bean” hat for a minute so that I can talk to you all about a game that’s consumed my mind ever since I first learned of its existence… one that involves juicy ass, sexy music, and one very pretty mean boy.
Japanese title: 愛玩男子ラブグロウアップ Aigan Danshi Love Grow Up
Love is in bloom in over 200 pages of in-your-face beefy man action! The manga follows the many antics of Midori Sasaki, a young man running a greenery store. In addition to selling plants from his small shop, he also delivers to various offices. His business isn’t faring well (understandable, in this economy), so his side gig is offering special “escort services” to rich businessmen to supplement his income.
Things suddenly take an unexpected turn for Midori when his top client, an I.T. CEO named Eiichi Iwasaki, asks him to date his younger brother, Mizuki! Apparently, their parents are pressuring him to date, but none of those dates have been fruitful. Midori’s first encounter with Mizuki leaves much to be desired, with Mizuki insulting his job, life choices and lack of money, but still sleeps with him. Not to spoil too much but the more you read, the more gets revealed about their backgrounds, personalities and how money and social status has shaped each of their views on relationships and intimacy. While I felt like the two clashed like oil and water because of their differing views at first, seeing them eventually develop a close relationship and Ikuyasu’s gorgeous art made it a truly enjoyable story! Ikuyasu is very skilled at drawing buff men, and combined with the characters’ expressive faces, fluid poses, and steamy sex scenes, you are in for a real treat!
Part two follows Yuuma Shiroyama and his budding relationship with Eiichi from part one. Yuuma makes deliveries for his family’s boxed lunch shop. Though diligent and hard-working, his family is in dire straights due to his father’s medical bills. He catches Eiichi’s eye by chance when making a delivery to Eiichi’s office, who immediately accosts him for sex. To Eiichi’s surprise, Yuuma instantly agrees, and without spoiling too much, that initial encounter leads to a truckload of assumptions, misunderstandings and not the happiest of conclusions… at first! They do eventually end up as a couple, but it’s quite the hurdle for them both to overcome.
Another delightful part of this comic is all the little side stories included. Again, I don’t want to spoil the fun, but there’s a lot of six degrees of separation going on, and later you get to find out more about Yuuma’s and Eiichi’s families! Highly recommended if you like a mix of humor, drama, fluff and naughtiness! The characters are the true driving force behind this story and is a testament to how you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Midori seems like a money-hungry, morally grey sex addict, but he has a gentle streak, truly cares for the plants he sells, and struggles with forming meaningful relationships outside of sex. I thought Mizuki would be just another dime-a-dozen rich snob type, but despite his gruffness and extreme lack of tact, his love runs deep.
Eiichi struggles with balancing societal expectations as the eldest son of a prominent family and CEO of his own company, along with being naïve, as he’s lived his entire life never knowing what it’s like to have financial troubles. Yuuma, despite giving off strong innocent and shy vibes, is fiercely independent and stubborn. There are also a few allusions to flowers and plants in describing some of the characters, befitting of the title. I hope you’ll give this a read; it’s well worth your time!
They say young love is the purest. I firmly believe it’s also the dumbest, silliest, and most awkward, and nothing captures that truly absurd “first love” feeling to me quite like Jimi Fumikawa’s I Seriously Can’t Believe You… with all its cuteness, cringe, and yearning.
The manga starts out with a ridiculous and innocent, but nonetheless cruel, joke that truly highlights how dumb and young these teenage boys are, with them not even considering the consequences of their actions until they’re already happening. Kon, our adorable main character, and his friends are wondering why the incredibly hot and popular Iida rejects every girl that confesses to him.
“Is he gay?” “Wanna look into it?” “What? How?” “There’s only one way.”
Next thing Kon knows, he’s been suckered by his friends into confessing to Iida just to see how the other boy reacts. However, rather than accepting him—but still not offended or rude about it—Iida replies that he supports Kon’s inclination toward men but can’t return his feelings.
We all have our preferences regarding the type of characters we like. For instance, sadistic seme characters have been a mainstay in BL for a long time, presumably because they’re popular. So have tsundere uke characters, or super shy, virginal, naïve uke. You might like sweet boys or soft boys or badass boys or buff boys. But one character type I find enduringly wonderful in BL is simply: incredibly dumb boys.
And thankfully, there’s a wealth of them.
While chatting it over with the rest of the BL team, we decided on five categories of Dumb Boys (TM): dick for brains, beefcakes, naïve boys, school boys, and guys who’re just… really stupid. I put together some recommendations in each category, so if you, too, are a connoisseur of Dumb Boys (TM), please read on.
It’s officially (almost) fall, and you know what that means — time to whip out the comfy sweaters, don the snazzy scarves, and (if you’re anything like me) inject pumpkin spice latte directly into your veins!
…That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway, in my feeble attempt to convince myself that summer is truly behind us despite the enduring heat and humidity here in Tokyo.
Regardless of the climate you currently find yourself in, the period between the height of summer and Spooky Season™ is a great time to relax with some comforting BL.
In the spirit of flavorful fall-themed drinks, today I’ve got a sweet manga recommendation for you involving a pure-hearted coffee shop owner, a hot guy in a suit, and a pinch of commentary on the effects of gentrification. And, unlike the tragically short limited-time run of the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks Japan, this offering’s available year-round!
“Don’t Google yourself.” It’s common knowledge among celebrities, big and small, that it’s not a good idea to go searching for other people’s opinions of you or your work—especially not on the internet, where people can be particularly brutal behind the veil of anonymity. However, what if you googled yourself, and rather than finding criticism or bashing, you found something else? Say, for instance, art and stories of you getting pounded by your coworker?
Smalltime idols Homeroom—or H.R., with the H standing for Hibiki and the R standing for Rui—are two school friends who tried out to become idols in high school, and for five years they’ve grown into entertainers who’re tied together in both their personal and professional lives. This is a fact that hasn’t gone over the fans’ heads—in fact, there’s a whole faction of their fanbase (a majority of it, really) that’s quite keen on just how close the two are.
Hibiki isn’t sure what to expect when one of his drama costars Haruna tells him, “Hey! I searched ‘hibirui’ and found something interesting! Look it up with Rui♥” Rui tries to make him stop, terrified by the mean people on the internet, and initially he’s proven right when they stumble on a password-locked site with the description “concerned parties do not look.” The passwords are easy for the two to get past, considering it’s trivia about their entire career, but rather than a hate site shitting on them… it’s a fan-art site… filled with illustrations of them having sex…?
I’m sure everyone else has them, too: artists we would ride or die for. If someone insults them, we will defend them with our dying breath. We gaze lovingly at their art as if it’s a masterpiece in the Louvre, taking in every single detail from all angles. We follow and purchase every single thing they release, read every social media post by or about them, and have read every book multiple times. Well, that’s how I feel about Sakana Tojo.
Sakana Tojo specializes in very fluffy, sweet, intense smut. A majority of her BL are released through Junet, a publishing line that caters to the more ero rather than story oriented side of the genre. She started out as an ero manga artist, and still does illustrations for various types of manga, light novels, etc.
When our campaign team decided to hold a fan-letter campaign in honor of HANASAWA NAMIO’s “The Foxy Mouse’s Romance”, I read it to find out more—and then I threw a curse on my colleague that’s been blessed with preparing it for our website, because damn, do I wish I had his luck.
Writing this review to introduce more and more people to the sheer beauty that is this manga, I’m seriously struggling. There are just no words to describe how perfect it is. All I can think to write is an endless string of squealing. It’s that good.
Omegaverse meets the Food Chain
For the uninitiated, ‘omegaverse’ revolves around the idea of a ‘secondary genre’—omega, alpha, beta—based on as-of-now debunked animal behaviors around mating. Betas are the ordinary majority; alphas are bold, aggressive and at the apex of social hierarchy, while the rare omegas suffer through a phenomenon called ‘heat’ that causes them to exude pheromones that make them sexually irresistible to alphas.
Now, throw humans originating from various animal species that retain predatorial/prey dynamics into that mix and you’ve got HANASAWA-sensei’s “The Foxy Mouse’s Romance.”
It follows the story of Sachio, a mouse omega working as a manga artist in a young men’s magazine, and Ukano, a fox alpha and his editor. The dangers implicit in a mouse omega and a fox alpha having to work together are not lost on either of them, especially Sachio who’s painfully conscious of his place in the bottom of the social ladder—and the food chain. Not only is he a sexual target for the alphas around him, but also actual food for predators—especially to Ukano, as mice constitute a fox’s main meal.
But, while Sachio may have his guard up against his editor, Ukano seems unyieldingly determined to pursue Sachio for love rather than for his stomach.
But first, let’s rant about that world-building
I cannot—cannot—overstate that it’s HANASAWA NAMIO-sensei’s world that stole my heart above all else. There are elements familiar to any reader of omegaverse (pheromone blockers, neck guards, secondary-gender clinics, the concepts of a ‘heat’ and a ‘rut’, etc.) but sensei’s animal-kingdom spin on it elevates everything to a different level.
Laws govern peoples’ animalistic, voracious tendencies. Omega-only spaces offer a safe night out. When someone is in their animal form, humans can understand their words only if their own animal ears are out—and, there are even little cards that state, “I have my ears out because I’m looking after someone, thank you for your understanding” to be worn in public in such cases. Grooming salons cater to one’s animal-form fur. Cab drivers must state their species and secondary gender on an ID card for the safety of their passengers. Diseases and phenomena surrounding the animal families or one’s secondary gender also exist, as do various intricacies surrounding sex between predator and prey.
All of it is proof that this universe exists beyond our two characters. HANASAWA-sensei could easily write other stories featuring this same world; and, on this point, the characters that surround our two protagonists are interesting on their own, too. The treacherous civet could have an extra tidbit, Sachio’s two mangaka friends, Tomo and Momoi, could have their own side-stories; I’m personally intrigued by the head editor of the publishing house.
That’s the beauty of this world; every detail that jumps out of the pages amuses and intrigues, and every panel serves the purpose of delving deeper into it all. Which also brings me to the matter of the art—besides being GORGEOUS, it’s also masterfully used to the utmost to tell this story. The paneling is on point. The expressions are fantastic as it is, but it’s the attention to detail that makes this world and the characters come alive, such as Ukano’s eyes dilating when he gets turned on. Anytime Sachio is hand-held in mouse form, you can almost feel the weight of his tiny, pudgy body in your own palm. The art accompanies the writing and dialogue perfectly, which is what makes this world so believable and the characters so relatable and easy to understand.
From (natural) enemies to lovers
Have you ever tried to sleep, only to end up staring at the ceiling with bloodshot eyes, wondering why the Hell you said x-y-z that one time? Then you’re bound to somewhat relate to our mouse protagonist. Who hasn’t wallowed in negativity at least once?
Though cynical at first glance, Sachio’s core is kindness. Despite a traumatic situation with his college friend Tomo, Sachio had always been willing to forgive him. Similarly, he comes to love Ukano, so even when a dire misunderstanding occurs in ch.4, Sachio is ready not only to forgive him, but also to get closer to him. His negative mind twists everything to take others’ mistakes onto himself, not just because he’s self-deprecating to a fault, but also due to his love for others.
Now is the part where I will do my best to describe Ukano without rambling incomprehensibly. I’ve written in other posts that dark stories and vaguely yandere characters are my forte, and, let me tell you, Ukano strikes a perfect balance between being a normal, loving boyfriend but also having this menacing, darker side to him. His loving devotion to Sachio doesn’t override his ‘foxiness’. The art itself often reminds us of his more devious nature via a grey shadow over his eyes. Sachio, at the start, is constantly on his toes around him, and we see that even others get an uncanny feeling from the wily fox.
But, it’s when we see Ukano’s perspective that we get, in my biased opinion, some of the greatest gems in this story. In a scene that explores what it’s like being a predator in this world, Ukano recalls a time that Sachio, too exhausted to keep his guard up, transformed into a mouse in front of him. Ukano transports him home in a bed made of his handkerchief (so. cute.) and that’s when we get this beautiful internal monologue: “Life is sacred, and I was holding someone’s whole life in my hands. That’s how humbled I felt. At the same time… I thought about how I could crush him easily if I wanted to. The sadist in me reared its ugly head. ‘I want to eat him.’ ‘I want to protect him.’”
Compare this to the time that Tomo surrendered to his wolfish instincts and you’ll see how Ukano shines: he’s deeply aware of his nature, but he understands it’s in his own hand to curb his urges. Just like a quote from a certain anime I love goes, “Taking responsibility for oneself is the basic qualification for being human” and truer words have not been spoken when it comes to this universe of beings teetering between human and animal. The line that divides the two is exactly this capacity for taking responsibility, and Ukano’s always on top of that. Contrariwise, when Tomo and Sachio reunite for the first time, Tomo literally runs away from his responsibilities, forcing Sachio to shoulder the blame for everything instead. Ukano could and would never.
Darkness, more darkness, and fluff
Whether or not I realized it at first, perhaps the thing that personally drew me to this story is that it hits that perfect sweet spot between tooth-rotting sweetness and grim darkness. The art is adorable, the interactions hilarious, the romance is great and the love between our two characters is true, but it all coexists with the bleak implications of an omegaverse world and the danger that one could lose control and literally eat their loved one. And, perhaps the best/realest thing about it is that those dangers don’t magically disappear after Sachio and Ukano become a couple; even if it’s through humor, the reader is constantly reminded of that possibility, just as Sachio and Ukano themselves are.
From the first few pages, the manga doesn’t pull any punches. Starting with a kid-friendly show explaining animal families and secondary genders in a squeaky-clean manner, the story soon contradicts this cheaply manufactured narrative with Sachio’s mother calling to tell him that his mouse omega sister got fired from her part-time job for getting into heat in front of an alpha customer and almost getting assaulted/eaten. Our mouse protagonist himself works as a mangaka because it allows him to stay cooped up at home (mostly), away from danger. And the story continues with various examples of how perilous, inconvenient, and downright unfair it is to be born as a mouse and as an omega.
Nowhere does it get more obvious than in the juxtaposition between our two main characters, not just in their obvious difference in status, but also in their thinking. When Ukano stands up for Sachio and the latter thanks him, Ukano thinks anyone would have done the same, but Sachio corrects him that no one would. ‘Foxiness’ aside, Ukano’s mindset is positive, proactive, that of someone who’s strong and therefore able to act for others without weighing any consequences first; Sachio, on the other hand, has had no other choice but to see the world—and his place in it—in the most negative light, existing as literal prey.
Due to his trauma and negative worldview, Sachio takes the blame and compromises on everything, out of love and the idea that it’s his justifiable place to act that way. While that mindset might seem odd to a lot of readers, it makes sense for Sachio as a character to think so, and it’s very pleasingly contrasted with Ukano’s worldview. “The onus is on me as an alpha.” he tells Tomo, his most direct foil in the narrative. While Sachio surrenders to the possibility that he could be devoured at any given moment (and it would be his fault, according to him), Ukano actively takes steps to ensure that he’d never hurt the one he loves, to embrace that danger and then boldly defy it.
At this point it’s rather obvious that I’m rambling, but I can’t help it because there’s so much I could say about “The Foxy Mouse’s Romance”, even going into every single scene I adore (the horrible misunderstanding in ch.4? The jump in ch.5? the hand-holding heavy with implications in ch.7?? The fur-grooming session in ch.8???). If you enjoy elaborate worlds and multifaceted characters, if you fancy a dose of angst in your fluff, if you love stories about (dangers aside) wholesome couples, please give “The Foxy Mouse’s Romance” a chance. And, while we’re at it, why not show HANASAWA NAMIO-sensei your love through Renta!’s fan-letter campaign? All you need to do is either fill in the form here or tweet using the hashtag #SqueaksForSensei. I’m deliberating on sending something too (after I find out a way to convey my admiration in fewer words than this long blog post).
If you’ve read “The Foxy Mouse’s Romance”, what do you love most about it? What are your thoughts? Favorite character? Join me in rambling about it in the comments!
This title was one I was fortunate enough to encounter when I first started working at Renta!, and I’m glad I did! The art is flat-out gorgeous, for starters. Omoinakaba tends to draw her men extremely fit, and I am very much on board with this choice! This one has left a strong impression on me, and I am excited to share my thoughts with you.
Enter Tokio, an unassuming bellhop at an upscale Tokyo hotel. One day, he and his coworkers get a sudden briefing from their boss about the arrival of a rich oil tycoon, Azam. While Tokio is contemplating the somewhat bizarre instructions on how none of the staff are allowed to be alone with him in closed spaces, Azam and Tokio meet by chance at the hotel’s entrance, where Azam abruptly declares that Tokio will be his “bride!”
The story has a light-hearted and humorous introduction but goes dark very quickly. A warning that it contains scenes of sexual abuse against a child and attempted murder and is not for the faint of heart.
As the story progresses, you discover that Tokio and Azam knew each other as children. Tokio spent part of his youth in an unnamed Middle Eastern country due to his father’s job, where he met and got to know Azam. The scenes with them as children are plain adorable and its heart-breaking as darker events are revealed. Many years have passed, and while Azam clearly remembers their brief time together and is eager to reunite, Tokio has forgotten, causing more tension between them.
One thing I like about Omoinakaba’s works are that her ukes are very much power bottoms, power capital P. You’d think meek looking Tokio would be bottoming here, but it’s the brusque, aloof Azam taking it up the bum! He’s no pushover in bed, though he shies away from kissing early on. Tokio’s no cold fish in bed, either! He’s eager to please and have Azam moaning and writhing in pleasure.
Whereas I generally prefer the softer, fluffier side of BL, this story is just the perfect mix of gorgeous art, humor, drama, intrigue, eroticism and the complications of human emotions. It’s not as simple and clean as “childhood friends reunited as lovers, a few hijinks, happily ever after.” There’s a reason why Azam is so eager to reconnect with Tokio, and why Tokio forgot about their time together (and it’s not because he got amnesia from a head injury). This delves into the more twisted parts of relationships, though the two have very strong chemistry and it’s a delight whenever they’re on the page together.
More eagle-eyed readers might pick up on some quirks, such as Azam’s headdress being slightly off from a traditional ghutra and Azam being drawn holding glasses of champagne. While the story never flat-out states where Azam is from, it’s implied to be Saudi Arabia, due to the style of clothes he wears and his status as an oil tycoon. I chalk it up to typical perceived depictions of Middle Eastern countries in Japanese media and it does not detract from the story. If you’re looking for some BL that tosses most common tropes out the window, look no further! Give this one a try! It’s short but will have you glued to your screen til the end!
Have you ever fallen in love with a fictional character? Chances are, if you’re reading this blog, it’s not so foreign of an idea (I would hope). Hotaru Dies Tomorrow tells the story of a high school student, Saneatsu Asada, whose parents give him a novel he becomes engrossed with; it’s a dreamlike Murakami-esque book about a girl, Hotaru, who could be straight out of a Sylvia Plath novel.
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