hi. i post stuff about manga. check out my recommendations at #ysr
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Since it’s Pride Month, I thought it would be fitting to recommend one of my favourite manga of all time, Our Dreams at Dusk (or Shimanami Tasogare) which is a wonderfully wholesome, evocative and grounded LGBTQ manga.
The series is set in modern Japan and revolves around a discussion lounge filled with LGBTQ folks from various walks of life and Tasuku Kaname, a closeted gay teenager who despairs that he may have been involuntarily outed.
Now, some notable points about the series!
The art is absolutely gorgeous. This series is filled with well-placed metaphors that are often full-spread and always breathtakingly illustrated. The art style works well with these beautifully dreamy scenes.
Diverse representation. The cast are all various ages from various parts of the LGBTQ+ spectrum. We get to see the interpersonal relationships between not only different parts of the LGBTQ community but also between different generations.
Incredibly well-written. I can’t really overstate how well-written this series is but you should know that the author is non-binary. Our Dreams at Dusk doesn’t so much as tackle the issues that the LGBTQ community in Japan face, rather it gives us a glimpse into the experiences of this community, in a raw and realistic way. It’s subtle but with deep meaning and it’s clear that the author has drawn on their own experiences.
Pacing and balance. The series generally maintains a good pacing, aside from the ending which did seem a bit abrupt. The balance between the profound realism and the dreamy metaphors are extremely well done.
Would I recommend Our Dreams at Dusk?
Absolutely. Most manga featuring LGBTQ characters tend to be either sexualized or vapid or both. I can only name a handful of series which fall outside this category and none of them come close to matching the beautiful and refreshing storytelling of Our Dreams at Dusk. It’s nuanced. It’s deep. It’s respectful.
If you’re part of the LGBTQ community, I guarantee some part of this series will resonate with you and if you’re not, it’s still an absolute read. Either way, you won’t forget about this series for a long long time.
Yuureitou. Oh, sweet, sweet Yuureitou. What kind of person would I be if this blog’s first post wasn’t about this hidden gem of a series?
Yuureitou is a mystery-horror manga set in the 1950s. It follows the two leading characters, Amano and Tetsuo, on their search for a mysterious treasure that’s been linked to a haunted clock tower and a gruesome murder.
Without further ado, here’s some notable points about the series!
It has a very strong trans lead and several other main characters with ambiguous sexual/gender identities. It brings these things up several times throughout the series and addresses them surprisingly well, especially the trans character.
It’s actually really fucking good. The plot is gripping and fast-paced and despite the social commentary being pretty significant, it’s never the focal point. While it’s definitely all serious and murder-y, there’s several goofy and comical scenes which help break up the tense atmosphere.
The characters. I’m not going to lie, almost all of the main characters have issues. Not writing-wise! Writing-wise, they’re very well done. But as people, they’re not the greatest. One of them is manipulative, one of them is, er, very much a sexual deviant and one of them... well, one of them is Marube. That doesn’t necessarily make them bad people but they’re certainly not the flawless role models you might hope they are.
The art is pretty great. Clothing seems slightly stiff and the realistic style can sometimes look a little ugly but boy, does it make up for it in expressions. Art style is subjective obviously but Yuureitou’s art is fairly unique and very appropriate for its genre.
Those damned covers. The bane of my existence and possibly the reason why this manga is so overlooked. There are multiple sexualised cover pages of a certain character that blatantly seems like an attempt to pressure the author into fan service. Do not be fooled and certainly don’t let it put you off reading the series.
Would I recommend Yuureitou?
Yuureitou was not what I expected at all. If you’re not into seinen/horror, I’d be hesitant because there’s a fair amount of explicit content and spooks but I’d still recommend you give the series a try. Not only is it extremely well-written and engaging but it’s the only manga I’ve read that has a trans lead and presents sexuality and gender identity the way it does.
Ultimately, yes, I do absolutely recommend Yuureitou. It’s not without its flaws (some of which I’ve mentioned, some of which I haven’t) but you’ll be hard pressed to find anything quite like it.
