Monday, July 11, 2011
Sakura Gari (Looking for Cherry Blossoms) by Yuu Watase
Sakura Gari by Yuu Watase is set during the Taisho Era, where western influence is very new and popular to follow. Women are going to school and cutting their hair short, men are wearing suits, there is the introduction of the automobile to East Asia, the train system, and all boys of varying status may go to school. However, there is the fear of too much western influence destroying Japanese traditions and whether or not the old generation can truly live in a drastically changing society. One major theme, that is very prevalent in Taisho literature as well as Sakura Gari, is the idea of one appearing western when they are of Japanese descent. This occurs in Naomi by Junichiro Tanizaki, where a young girl appearing western controls her husband. In Yuu Watase's story, the noble's heir, Souma, is the product of a Japanese man sleeping with a European woman. Souma gains his power by using his body as a sex object and therefore able to control others. Yet, he feels horrible about himself and asks the protagonist, Tagami, at their first meeting "please kill me".
Another big theme found within this novel is the idea of brotherly love. Tagami grows to love Souma like an older brother, but refuses to acknowledge western love, because he feels that it is based on lust which he finds disgusting. However, Souma loves Tagami in the western sense and finds it difficult to express this in a way that Tagami will be able to understand. Tagami also loves his biological brother, Matsushita, but they are estranged due to being sold to different families. Matsushita is cruel to his little brother, coming to Tagami's master's gate and demanding for money and beating him for refusing. Tagami is disappointed, yet he treats his little brother the same way by refusing to answer his letters and return home.
And the last themes that need to be addressed are rape and suicide. Rape was once seen as a form of live during the Heian Era of Japan and a woman's tears were considered a sign of beauty. When Tagami refuses to acknowledge Souma's love, Souma rapes him. He uses his position as master and Tagami's position as servant to keep their relationship bound together. Tagami attempts seppuku to cut the bound between them by holding the blade to his throat. I found this interesting, since Tagami tried to kill himself like a woman. A Japanese man would kill himself by slicing his belly open and pulling the blade up to his chest. And when Tagami tells Souma to go kill himself, Souma slits his wrists, which is the western version of committing suicide. This was particularly interesting to me, because it made me believe that Souma was still considering himself European rather than Japanese.
This Yaoi was fascinating to read from a literary perspective and the drawings were heart wrenching. Yuu Watase did an amazing job building up the brotherly relationship between Souma and Tagami, with Souma wanting much more. The characters were complex rather than static and I love the change that developed within Tagami at the end of the graphic novel. The ending leaves readers in tears and I can't help, but want to read it again and again and again. This has to be one of Yuu Watase's best works! The only critique that I have for it is that I'm confused how Tagami was able to forgive Souma. It wasn't sudden, like other manga I have read, but I wish I could have been in Tagami's mind a bit more. I highly recommend this Yaoi and I give it a 9.6/10.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Boy Princess by Seyoung Kim
Boy Princess begins comically when Prince Nicole is forced to pose as his sister, Princess Elena, and marry the neighboring kingdom's second prince, Jed. However he is soon sucked into the politics of his new kingdom and the brother rivalry between the crown prince and Jed. Jed and Nicole's relationship is tested and threatened by the crown prince's own desires to eliminate Jed. The story also includes the crown prince's relationship with the apothecary, Shahi, who is forced to stay in the kingdom as a hostage for his tribe's loyalty and forced into sexual acts. There is comic relief in the relationship that grows between Prince Glewhin, crown prince of the Erin Kingdom, and Princess Reiny, Jed's little sister. The story wraps up and concludes all relationships in a positive way with a one shot that shows the relationship of Jed and Nicole's reincarnations in a high school setting. Overall, the story is beautifully drawn and within the art it sucks the reader into an enjoyable fantasy realm. The pacing of the plot is well done and does not change direction so suddenly to confuse readers.
However, even though the story was drawn out well the clothes have much to be desired. An example would be a picture of Jed in a rural setting where a dress-like tunic with no pants and a slit up the side. Not a dinky slit, like he might have torn it while chopping some wood. Oh no! This is a tear that goes all the way up the thigh. What was the author thinking? I don't know. I could see this if he was trying to seduce Nicole, but at the time he was chopping wood. I am pretty positive people, let alone princes, did not chop their wood like that. Not to mention, the relationship between Jed and Nicole started off interesting, yet became very boring by the end of the story. I was more interested about the relationship between Shahi and the crown prince, the back story about Jed's mother and father, the back story about Jed's mother and Shahi's mother, the relationship between Glewhin and Reiny; basically everything but Jed and Nicole, which is not so great if the story is supposed to be about their struggle to be together.
Overall it was a good read. I would read it again, but it will take me awhile to get used to Jed's, or the author's, preference of clothes. I would rate it a 7.8/10.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Let Dai by Woon Soo-yoon
What first caught my attention about this korean love story was the contrast between the main characters Jaehee and Dai and how their love for one another almost seems like an unhealthy obsessive desire fed by the pain their relationship brings to those around them. Jaehee is a normal college-bound teenage boy who is a good friend and son. When he first meets Dai, it was not under normal circumstances. While walking home he sees a young woman, Yooneun being mugged by the Furies gang. Dai, being the leader, hits Jaehee, however they feel a force pulling them together. After their first meeting Dai forces Jaehee to become a member of their gang, but when given the chance to leave Jaehee becomes unable to. From here on out the story has the opportunity to become cliche, yet it uses Yooneun, who develops a crush on Jaehee, to force Dai and Jaehee apart. Her relationship with Jaehee makes Dai extremely jealous and pushes him to a point where Jaehee has to make a choice: be with Dai or push him away. At first he chooses the latter, yet his choice makes him extremely ill and mentally unsound. He yearns and craves to be with Dai until finally they meet once again. The story is tragic since they cannot be together in Korea. However, in a way it ends happily, because they each find their own way back to each other.
However, my biggest critique is why does Jaehee get back together with Dai, after the gangster leader tries to kill him? Wouldn't you stay away from an angry gangster leader who enjoys beating the teeth out of someone's head with a rock? And I've read the beginning at least ten times and don't understand how they go from victim and tormentor to lovers. Where does that happen? One minute Jaehee is getting his brains kicked out and the next Dai is kissing him. I don't understand! Although, my favorite character has to be Dai. His anarchy views on society and his actions, verging on sociopathic behavior, makes him an interesting character to trifle with. Not to mention, he does not care at all what people think about his relationship with Jaehee. Quite frankly I think he'd just flip them off or kick them in the face.
Let Dai was a very good read, although long. However, there are so many characters effected by Jaehee's relationship with Dai. It's nice to see the different point of views on their love. I would recommend Let Dai as a second read and if any of you understand how Dai and Jaehee suddenly became lovers tell me! I really need to know! I give this story a 7.8/10
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
50 X 50 by Kunieda Saika
Have you ever waken up in the morning, naked, laying next to someone, who is also naked, that you've despised since high school? Neither have I, which makes for a very interesting introduction to the lives of Kawanishi and Higashino in this story 50 X 50, and the denial they have for the love they share. What denial? Exactly. The story contains one shots about their lives together, discussing their issues with women and their "non-existing" attraction for one another.
One ongoing theme is the drink binging Kawanashi and Higashino partake in after they've been dumped; they get really drunk, go to one or the other apartment, and have sex. Then they wake up, freaked out, and deny the entire event. The first time it happens, is funny. The reader sees kiss marks on the characters' bodies, hinting at hickeys, and Kawanashi covers his chest like a woman trying to hide her breasts, which is very funny since he is a man.
Yet after the first few times this theme gets rather boring and the reader wishes they'd just end this silly relationship or become a couple. Seriously. By the end of the story I wanted to go sassy straight friend on them and yell "What, what, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?". They aren't moving forward. They aren't growing and become boring characters. Not to mention, what starts as a love comedy turns into a pseudo- tragedy because neither man is able to fess up to his sexual preferences. So you're inlove with your enemy. Big deal. Your in love with someone of the same sex. Who cares. This is a Yaoi for God's sake, stop denying the attraction that is there! This theme, though, is what also makes the story very interesting and the characters funny, even though by the end of the story you want to smack them.I give the story a 6.7/10. Great plot, funny characters, yet needs some more growth. Not to mention, the ending just leavers a cliff hanger. What's up with that?
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