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.