fluff – rentaBLog

Artist Spotlight: Toworu Miyata’s Soothing BL Series

Links:
Renta! Author tag
Author’s Twitter

We’re in the heart of winter here in Tokyo, and the days are cold and… wet, with little snow but plenty of rain . What with the cloudy skies and frigid air, I think it’s the perfect weather to snuggle up inside with a cup of hot cocoa (or your beverage of choice) and some good BL. My BL tastes lean towards the feel-good and fuzzy-inducing, so anything on the fluffy side would probably be my go-to for days like these.

One BL artist in particular that comes to mind when I think of soft, comforting, and heartwarming BL is Toworu Miyata — a quickly rising star in the BL manga world, some of whose works have just recently become available in English through Animate International. I couldn’t be happier about this, as I’ve been a fan of theirs for a while myself, and I’m sure there are plenty of readers across the world who will adore Miyata-sensei’s cute and touching manga.

Today I’d like to spotlight two of their works — plus a fun bonus chapter — which are now available in English. Hopefully by the end you’ll understand why I think reading Miyata-sensei’s manga feels like drinking a nice, warm cup of cocoa on a cold day. If fluff is your game, you’re in for a treat!

Reunion & Inspiration: Sorato’s “Fill in Color”

Read it on Renta!:
Fill in Color by Sorato

Japanese Title:
フィルイン・カラー

Links
Sorato Twitter (author)
Sorato Pixiv
comic picn Twitter (publisher)

Next up in our series of reviews spotlighting some of the manga included in our “Stunning Art Sale” is a manga that’s all about art and finding the beauty in life.

Sorato’s Fill in Color is a nice blend of cute and awkward boys, fun dramatic irony, and steamy goodness all wrapped up in some gorgeous art.

Our story opens with Saki (the blonde dude on the cover there), a young man working as a freelance designer, trying to drink his woes away after a disappointing meeting with his latest client. Anyone who’s worked in a creative field where your own personal vision is constantly at the mercy of the demons of capitalism should be able to relate to his struggle

On his way home, he runs into a beautiful young man with stunning red hair — stopping him right in his tracks.

Read on to find out how the spontaneous romance between these two develops into something beautiful and meaningful — just like a work of art.

Zombies, Delinquents, and More: The World(s) of Yuo Yodogawa

Available on Renta!: Works by Yuo Yodogawa

Author’s Twitter: 淀川ゆお (@yuo_zero)

Author’s Pixiv: 淀川ゆお

When I first heard whispers that the next Renta! fan letter campaign would center around THE Yuo Yodogawa, I could hardly contain my excitement. My company would be serving as a bridge between international fans and one of my favorite BL mangaka in the game today?? Heck yeah!

In case you’re unfamiliar with the wildly popular Yodogawa-sensei, I’ll quickly share how I became a fan. Have you ever fallen in love at first sight with an art style? I believe that’s what I experienced upon laying eyes on Yuo Yodogawa’s art for the first time. Little did I know when I stumbled upon a chapter in the middle of a random manga and thought, “Huh, that art looks really nice!” that I would quickly be sucked into the Yodogawaverse — and I couldn’t be happier.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of experiencing a Yodogawa manga, I suppose the best way to describe their body of work would be as sexy, funny, and cute — but that doesn’t do it nearly enough justice, so I’ll just use this space to gush about a few of my favorite series from Yodogawa-sensei!

I hope you’ll join me in the Yodogawaverse, and discover some BL series that are both awe-inspiring and “aww”-worthy!

Romance Brewing in Io Amaki’s “The Coffee Shop Owner Knows Nothing About Love”

Read on Renta!:
The Coffee Shop Owner Knows Nothing About Love

Japanese title:
マスターは恋を知らない
Master Ha Koi wo shiranai

Author:
Io Amaki (Twitter:@io_amaki)

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!