The story had a slow beginning as characters were introduced, but it gradually developed into something truly heartwarming. The plot idea is highly original; you probably haven't encountered anything quite like this before. However, I felt the story could have benefited from a bit more plot development. If you're looking for overly romantic scenes, you won't find them here, but you will get genuinely heartwarming moments which are just as satisfying.
The characters are unique, and what made me fall in love with this manga was the character development, especially in the later parts. The main male character discovers and embraces his true self through various experiences with friends and other characters. Every character's development feels balanced—not too dragged out, yet sufficient for understanding their actions and growth. Side characters receive attention alongside the main ones, allowing you to see relationships deepen over time.
The art is stunning. Just look at it. Enough said.
If you have some time and patience (to get through the initial background information and slow build-up), please give this manga a chance. I promise you won't regret it. Honestly, I put this manga down for a while because of its slow start, but when I picked it up again, I deeply regretted dropping it. So if you ever feel bored, set it aside and return to it later.
P.S. It’s quite funny here and there, especially with how "manly" Ryo is and how Asuka can suddenly break into sparkling-eyed excitement (he’s so cute!!)
I've only read the first book of this series, and it was pretty awful. The story revolves around a boy who secretly enjoys "feminine" things but feels compelled to hide that side and instead act overly masculine. For some reason, his friend is a secret manga artist creating a manga based on the main character.
While I support breaking gender roles and stereotypes, this book seemed to reinforce those very stereotypes more than anything else. It felt quite binary and barely progressive, even though there was potential for it to be much more.
Besides, the characters are rather one-dimensional and remained underdeveloped throughout the entire book. I understand it's just the first book in a series, but there was ample opportunity to make the characters more three-dimensional and less shallow.
Otomen is quite an outstanding shojo manga. It's clever, cute, and in my opinion, very original.
It's not your average shojo manga in many different ways. For starters, the story itself revolves around the feelings of a guy rather than a girl. I find it refreshing to read a romance from the guy's point of view because honestly, as a girl, I already have a pretty good idea of how girls think when they like someone, and it's just intriguing to see how a guy might think in the same situation (even if he is an otomen).
Asuka is also such an adorable guy; just seeing his otomen ways makes me wish I had an otomen for myself (he's just so darn cute).
Story 8/10
Remember reading the summary before diving into the manga, and it really caught my attention. So I thought, "Why not give it a shot?" It turned out to be a good decision, though it was hard to find initially. I really like the concept of a handsome guy indulging in what one might call "girly hobbies" and seeing him try to conceal it. I haven't come across anything quite like this so far (in my personal opinion). I didn't give it a perfect score because I'd love a bit more comedy; that would be a fantastic addition. Also, some plot points are somewhat predictable, but it's still worth giving it a chance.
Art 9/10
The art is very balanced, looking both like shoujo and at the same time unique. I found the characters beautiful and well-designed. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but that's expected from a shoujo manga. I'll admit this is one of my favorites when it comes to art. There's just something about the characters' appearances that impresses me. They're just so well designed.
Character 8/10
I appreciate their roles and love how the main character is more feminine while the heroine is more muscular (in a good way, not overly buff). Their roles have been slightly reversed. Then there's Tachibana, a mangaka who gets his ideas for his manga from these two. He's funny and not your typical character. However, I'd like to see some character development.
Enjoyment 9/10
I enjoy reading the manga just as much as the first time. It's unusual and unique in its own way, which some might find weird, but that's what makes it more enjoyable.
Overall 9/10
It was a tough choice, and I was hesitant at first because I don't usually rate manga/anime this high unless they're truly exceptional and fun to read. So this means, according to me, this is a rare gem and pretty unique when it first came out. I'd recommend this to any fan of the romantic genre who is open-minded and doesn't mind that it doesn't follow the traditional path.
One of the lesser-known treasures in the Shoujo manga genre, this story leans more towards Shounen due to its male protagonist and another male character who exhibits traits typically associated with males, along with a female lead whose characteristics mirror those of a guy.
This manga revolves around Masamune Asuka, a top kendo athlete known for his masculine demeanor. He embodies everything desirable: tall, wealthy, cool, not a playboy, and dignified. However, he secretly enjoys feminine hobbies like collecting and crafting dolls, embroidery, cooking, decorating, and housekeeping. During his youth, Asuka's father abandoned the family to transition into a woman. His mother, feeling betrayed, vowed never to let Asuka follow in his father’s footsteps. Fortunately, she is a successful businesswoman frequently traveling, allowing Asuka freedom to indulge in his hobbies when she is away.
The second character, Tachibana Juuta, is the school’s playboy but hides a secret—he is a shoujo manga artist under a pseudonym. Dating numerous women, he seeks inspiration for his work, longing to find the perfect feminine muse. Upon discovering Asuka’s secret, Juuta realizes that no one embodies femininity better than the feared Kendo captain. Additionally, Juuta struggles to keep his identity hidden to maintain a normal life and support his large family.
Miyakozuka Ryo, the female lead, grew up under her tough policeman father after losing her mother. Raised in a strict, street-fighting style with a strong sense of justice, Ryo's unique upbringing leads to humorous moments, such as when a teacher visits her home only to find her room resembling a dojo rather than a typical girl’s room.
The romantic subplot forms a triangle: Asuka is attracted to Ryo, while Juuta develops feelings for Asuka—not romantically, but admiring his nurturing qualities like making bento boxes, stitching buttons, and crafting teddy bears. Juuta respects Asuka deeply and supports the budding romance between him and Ryo.
The central message of the manga is clear: embrace your true self without fear. Everyone faces challenges in expressing their authentic selves, so be proud of who you are inside.
While browsing through the manga section at the library, I stumbled upon a peculiar manga. Initially, it struck me as silly, but remembering not to judge a book by its cover, I decided to borrow it for some light entertainment. To my surprise, it turned out to be the funniest manga I've ever come across!
Story: 8/10
It follows a fairly standard love story, but with an interesting twist - a feminine male lead and a masculine female counterpart. While there are a few dramatic moments, overall, it's a cheerful and easy-going narrative.
Art: 7/10
Personally, I wasn't overly fond of the artwork because it felt too "girly" for my taste. However, considering it's a shoujo manga, the style does fit well with the story.
Characters: 8/10
I absolutely adore these characters! Each one is incredibly endearing. They all have their flaws, but none so off-putting that they become irritating. Naturally, they also possess admirable qualities. Many of the male characters exhibit a charming 'otomen' side. Additionally, there's noticeable character development throughout the series, which adds to the enjoyment as you see certain relationships evolve.
Enjoyment: 9/10
As mentioned earlier, this manga had me laughing out loud, something that rarely happens. Besides the humor, it also provides those heartwarming moments that leave you feeling good inside.
If you're looking for a hilarious, lighthearted read, then this manga is definitely worth your time. :3
I felt that Otomen needed more reviews because it's such a unique manga to start with. Definitely not your typical shojo manga.
Story: 7/10
The story isn't particularly heavy, at least not so far. It's a simple concept where Asuka (the male lead) adores cute and comfortable things in life like sewing, knitting, cute items, and reading his favorite shojo manga. Unfortunately, after his father left the family due to his hidden desire to be a woman, Asuka's mother banned all feminine things from her son, fearing he might want to become a woman too. So, Asuka lives as an 'otomen' (a man who likes cute things but is still a man) in secret and shows off that he is strong, brave, willful, and most importantly... MANLY.
It's an excellent concept and is well executed. The chapter-by-chapter plots haven't been particularly dramatic or stressful, giving the manga a calm and sweet air most of the time. But when there are pressing moments (that aren't laced with bizarre comedy), it has the potential to be interesting. There hasn't been any deeply dramatic moment yet, so I'm curious how real drama will be handled. I am confident it'll be done well.
Art: 9/10
The artist's style is beautiful. It's clean but well-done and doesn't morph much between the three volumes I've read so far. Her art is quite pleasing to look at. All her manga seem to share this quality—excellent art that is easy on the eyes. Particularly, Asuka is drawn very well, fitting the appearance of a strong-male type character accurately. In her skill, she manages to pull off his 'otomen' side excellently without him seeming childish or comical. When he shifts to his true personality, it's not jarring and doesn't detract from the manga.
Character: 8/10
The characters are excellent, especially the two male leads. Asuka is brilliantly written, and both sides of him are portrayed perfectly—the strong male and the cute-loving otomen. This is hard to do. Her mastery of art helps bring the concept across without being distracting.
The side characters are also interesting enough, many leading double lives or having another aspect not entirely obvious at first meeting. Or they strongly follow whatever trait about them that's laid out (like a cute-loving 'princess' we meet later). While they are one-time characters so far, they aren't annoying and don't seem shallow, which is good.
Enjoyment: 9/10
This manga is easy to enjoy. Good characters, interesting plot, awesome drawings. It's great for just sitting down and reading. It isn't your typical manga, and things are done slightly differently from the norm. That's what makes it original and awesome to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
Overall: 8/10
A good manga worth trying. Not for everyone and not for those looking for predictability or typical outcomes seen in usual manga. But that's exactly what brings its charm.
Otomen is steadily becoming popular and is available in English up to volume 5 in bookstores (or soon to be). So you decide if you think the manga is worth the read and enjoy Otomen!
If loving flowers is sinful, then perhaps committing such a sin can be immorally beautiful.
What do men think about? That's what most girls want to know, and heck, most guys too. Otomen, however, answers this question without hesitation: Guys think about girly things.
Asuka Masamune enjoys pretty, shiny objects, the color pink, and even stuffed animals. Not to mention shoujo manga. Sounds normal enough, right? Well, it’s not if you're a boy. At least not for Asuka, who's supposed to maintain a "manly" image at all times and not shame his family with his fondness for girly items. To him, walking around with a sewing kit and a stuffed bunny doesn't help keep his reputation intact. After his father left his mom to become a woman, devastating her, she made her only son promise to be the manliest of men.
The story is sweet, and I have yet to see more character development from Asuka in accepting himself as he is, but there are still more volumes to go. It just shows that some men struggle with their own stereotypes too. It’s not one of those stories that keeps you up turning page after page because you NEED to know what happens next, but it’s still the one you read and remember for its charm. It would have been more interesting to me if instead of his girly inner persona, he had to deal with questioning his sexuality as a whole. But I fear that would have given this manga a serious edge versus a cute, fluffy one, which doesn’t seem to be the mangaka's intention. Underneath it all, Asuka is still a guy, and his journey into winning the heart of the girl won't be all cakes and rainbows, which makes it all the more interesting.
Which brings me to the characters themselves.
Asuka is a different sort of character who hides who he truly is to maintain the illusion of what people think he is, including his own mother. Known for being the prince-like figure in his school due to his fighting abilities and overall serious demeanor, he has his secret lifestyle under control until the day he saves a girl from being bullied and starts crushing on her. Everything goes more or less on the shoujo path until Juta, a classmate who’s always been watching him, confronts him about the girl and his secret.
Juta was a great addition to this manga where all characters seem to have a closet persona. In his case, he’s the creator of Asuka’s favorite manga. He starts off like a fairy godmother, and though sometimes his intentions aren’t clear—meaning whose gain he serves—he still gets things done through his meddling (at first). He keeps the fact that he’s a shoujo mangaka a secret from everyone at school to maintain his promiscuous guy image, or maybe because of it. Overall, he does a lot with unclear intentions but is definitely a complex and deeply layered character.
Ryo has her own secrets and proves that not all girls are, well, girly. Raised only by her father, he wanted to make sure he raised a daughter who could take care of herself like a man would. Together this unlikely trio will, in a weird way, be each other's anchors and comfort in finding their true selves and hopefully find the courage to come out of their shells.
There are many more characters; some jump in and add to the story but only for a short time while Asuka and friends help them deal with their issues and hope they don’t discover his secret while moving on their way. This feels like the recurring theme with new characters. Drop in, cause confusion, get things settled by doing something involving cake batter, flowers, or pink (or all), and then everyone is happy. Other characters stick around and become more involved, turning out to be enjoyable side characters that make the manga more fun and unpredictable.
I would like to say that all the embroidery and cakes don’t feel repetitive after the first three volumes, but that’s not the case. It dies down a little, and we get to see more sides to Asuka, his boyish charm and chivalry everyone seems to love.
The art is pretty (yes, pretty); I could swear I can see pink everywhere even though it’s in black and white. I blame the way Asuka blushes and lights up every time he sees something "cute." There were no disproportions, and the kendo and martial arts sections, though short, were nicely drawn. Asuka is the main change in the manga; when he’s being manly or his regular stoic self, he looks the part, but when he starts changing into his true self, the one that likes to sew, his aura completely changes, making him look more delicate. Very nicely done.
Otomen or not, the message is clear: Be yourself. Whether you think you’ll be accepted or whether people will ever really understand you, in order to become truly happy and succeed, you have to be yourself.
Popular Reviews
"I love waiting for the batter to bake. I think of the smiles and the pleased looks of the people who eat it. When I do that...it warms my heart"
Story: 9/10
Art: 10/10
Character: 10/10
Enjoyment: 9/10
Overall: 10/10
The story had a slow beginning as characters were introduced, but it gradually developed into something truly heartwarming. The plot idea is highly original; you probably haven't encountered anything quite like this before. However, I felt the story could have benefited from a bit more plot development. If you're looking for overly romantic scenes, you won't find them here, but you will get genuinely heartwarming moments which are just as satisfying.
The characters are unique, and what made me fall in love with this manga was the character development, especially in the later parts. The main male character discovers and embraces his true self through various experiences with friends and other characters. Every character's development feels balanced—not too dragged out, yet sufficient for understanding their actions and growth. Side characters receive attention alongside the main ones, allowing you to see relationships deepen over time.
The art is stunning. Just look at it. Enough said.
If you have some time and patience (to get through the initial background information and slow build-up), please give this manga a chance. I promise you won't regret it. Honestly, I put this manga down for a while because of its slow start, but when I picked it up again, I deeply regretted dropping it. So if you ever feel bored, set it aside and return to it later.
P.S. It’s quite funny here and there, especially with how "manly" Ryo is and how Asuka can suddenly break into sparkling-eyed excitement (he’s so cute!!)
I've only read the first book of this series, and it was pretty awful. The story revolves around a boy who secretly enjoys "feminine" things but feels compelled to hide that side and instead act overly masculine. For some reason, his friend is a secret manga artist creating a manga based on the main character.
While I support breaking gender roles and stereotypes, this book seemed to reinforce those very stereotypes more than anything else. It felt quite binary and barely progressive, even though there was potential for it to be much more.
Besides, the characters are rather one-dimensional and remained underdeveloped throughout the entire book. I understand it's just the first book in a series, but there was ample opportunity to make the characters more three-dimensional and less shallow.
I don't think I'll continue with this series.
No review on this yet? Aww... such a shame.
Story 8/10
Remember reading the summary before diving into the manga, and it really caught my attention. So I thought, "Why not give it a shot?" It turned out to be a good decision, though it was hard to find initially. I really like the concept of a handsome guy indulging in what one might call "girly hobbies" and seeing him try to conceal it. I haven't come across anything quite like this so far (in my personal opinion). I didn't give it a perfect score because I'd love a bit more comedy; that would be a fantastic addition. Also, some plot points are somewhat predictable, but it's still worth giving it a chance.
Art 9/10
The art is very balanced, looking both like shoujo and at the same time unique. I found the characters beautiful and well-designed. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but that's expected from a shoujo manga. I'll admit this is one of my favorites when it comes to art. There's just something about the characters' appearances that impresses me. They're just so well designed.
Character 8/10
I appreciate their roles and love how the main character is more feminine while the heroine is more muscular (in a good way, not overly buff). Their roles have been slightly reversed. Then there's Tachibana, a mangaka who gets his ideas for his manga from these two. He's funny and not your typical character. However, I'd like to see some character development.
Enjoyment 9/10
I enjoy reading the manga just as much as the first time. It's unusual and unique in its own way, which some might find weird, but that's what makes it more enjoyable.
Overall 9/10
It was a tough choice, and I was hesitant at first because I don't usually rate manga/anime this high unless they're truly exceptional and fun to read. So this means, according to me, this is a rare gem and pretty unique when it first came out. I'd recommend this to any fan of the romantic genre who is open-minded and doesn't mind that it doesn't follow the traditional path.
Let me know whether you liked my review.
One of the lesser-known treasures in the Shoujo manga genre, this story leans more towards Shounen due to its male protagonist and another male character who exhibits traits typically associated with males, along with a female lead whose characteristics mirror those of a guy.
This manga revolves around Masamune Asuka, a top kendo athlete known for his masculine demeanor. He embodies everything desirable: tall, wealthy, cool, not a playboy, and dignified. However, he secretly enjoys feminine hobbies like collecting and crafting dolls, embroidery, cooking, decorating, and housekeeping. During his youth, Asuka's father abandoned the family to transition into a woman. His mother, feeling betrayed, vowed never to let Asuka follow in his father’s footsteps. Fortunately, she is a successful businesswoman frequently traveling, allowing Asuka freedom to indulge in his hobbies when she is away.
The second character, Tachibana Juuta, is the school’s playboy but hides a secret—he is a shoujo manga artist under a pseudonym. Dating numerous women, he seeks inspiration for his work, longing to find the perfect feminine muse. Upon discovering Asuka’s secret, Juuta realizes that no one embodies femininity better than the feared Kendo captain. Additionally, Juuta struggles to keep his identity hidden to maintain a normal life and support his large family.
Miyakozuka Ryo, the female lead, grew up under her tough policeman father after losing her mother. Raised in a strict, street-fighting style with a strong sense of justice, Ryo's unique upbringing leads to humorous moments, such as when a teacher visits her home only to find her room resembling a dojo rather than a typical girl’s room.
The romantic subplot forms a triangle: Asuka is attracted to Ryo, while Juuta develops feelings for Asuka—not romantically, but admiring his nurturing qualities like making bento boxes, stitching buttons, and crafting teddy bears. Juuta respects Asuka deeply and supports the budding romance between him and Ryo.
The central message of the manga is clear: embrace your true self without fear. Everyone faces challenges in expressing their authentic selves, so be proud of who you are inside.
While browsing through the manga section at the library, I stumbled upon a peculiar manga. Initially, it struck me as silly, but remembering not to judge a book by its cover, I decided to borrow it for some light entertainment. To my surprise, it turned out to be the funniest manga I've ever come across!
Story: 8/10
It follows a fairly standard love story, but with an interesting twist - a feminine male lead and a masculine female counterpart. While there are a few dramatic moments, overall, it's a cheerful and easy-going narrative.
Art: 7/10
Personally, I wasn't overly fond of the artwork because it felt too "girly" for my taste. However, considering it's a shoujo manga, the style does fit well with the story.
Characters: 8/10
I absolutely adore these characters! Each one is incredibly endearing. They all have their flaws, but none so off-putting that they become irritating. Naturally, they also possess admirable qualities. Many of the male characters exhibit a charming 'otomen' side. Additionally, there's noticeable character development throughout the series, which adds to the enjoyment as you see certain relationships evolve.
Enjoyment: 9/10
As mentioned earlier, this manga had me laughing out loud, something that rarely happens. Besides the humor, it also provides those heartwarming moments that leave you feeling good inside.
If you're looking for a hilarious, lighthearted read, then this manga is definitely worth your time. :3
I felt that Otomen needed more reviews because it's such a unique manga to start with. Definitely not your typical shojo manga.
Story: 7/10
The story isn't particularly heavy, at least not so far. It's a simple concept where Asuka (the male lead) adores cute and comfortable things in life like sewing, knitting, cute items, and reading his favorite shojo manga. Unfortunately, after his father left the family due to his hidden desire to be a woman, Asuka's mother banned all feminine things from her son, fearing he might want to become a woman too. So, Asuka lives as an 'otomen' (a man who likes cute things but is still a man) in secret and shows off that he is strong, brave, willful, and most importantly... MANLY.
It's an excellent concept and is well executed. The chapter-by-chapter plots haven't been particularly dramatic or stressful, giving the manga a calm and sweet air most of the time. But when there are pressing moments (that aren't laced with bizarre comedy), it has the potential to be interesting. There hasn't been any deeply dramatic moment yet, so I'm curious how real drama will be handled. I am confident it'll be done well.
Art: 9/10
The artist's style is beautiful. It's clean but well-done and doesn't morph much between the three volumes I've read so far. Her art is quite pleasing to look at. All her manga seem to share this quality—excellent art that is easy on the eyes. Particularly, Asuka is drawn very well, fitting the appearance of a strong-male type character accurately. In her skill, she manages to pull off his 'otomen' side excellently without him seeming childish or comical. When he shifts to his true personality, it's not jarring and doesn't detract from the manga.
Character: 8/10
The characters are excellent, especially the two male leads. Asuka is brilliantly written, and both sides of him are portrayed perfectly—the strong male and the cute-loving otomen. This is hard to do. Her mastery of art helps bring the concept across without being distracting.
The side characters are also interesting enough, many leading double lives or having another aspect not entirely obvious at first meeting. Or they strongly follow whatever trait about them that's laid out (like a cute-loving 'princess' we meet later). While they are one-time characters so far, they aren't annoying and don't seem shallow, which is good.
Enjoyment: 9/10
This manga is easy to enjoy. Good characters, interesting plot, awesome drawings. It's great for just sitting down and reading. It isn't your typical manga, and things are done slightly differently from the norm. That's what makes it original and awesome to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it myself.
Overall: 8/10
A good manga worth trying. Not for everyone and not for those looking for predictability or typical outcomes seen in usual manga. But that's exactly what brings its charm.
Otomen is steadily becoming popular and is available in English up to volume 5 in bookstores (or soon to be). So you decide if you think the manga is worth the read and enjoy Otomen!
If loving flowers is sinful, then perhaps committing such a sin can be immorally beautiful.
What do men think about? That's what most girls want to know, and heck, most guys too. Otomen, however, answers this question without hesitation: Guys think about girly things.
Asuka Masamune enjoys pretty, shiny objects, the color pink, and even stuffed animals. Not to mention shoujo manga. Sounds normal enough, right? Well, it’s not if you're a boy. At least not for Asuka, who's supposed to maintain a "manly" image at all times and not shame his family with his fondness for girly items. To him, walking around with a sewing kit and a stuffed bunny doesn't help keep his reputation intact. After his father left his mom to become a woman, devastating her, she made her only son promise to be the manliest of men.
The story is sweet, and I have yet to see more character development from Asuka in accepting himself as he is, but there are still more volumes to go. It just shows that some men struggle with their own stereotypes too. It’s not one of those stories that keeps you up turning page after page because you NEED to know what happens next, but it’s still the one you read and remember for its charm. It would have been more interesting to me if instead of his girly inner persona, he had to deal with questioning his sexuality as a whole. But I fear that would have given this manga a serious edge versus a cute, fluffy one, which doesn’t seem to be the mangaka's intention. Underneath it all, Asuka is still a guy, and his journey into winning the heart of the girl won't be all cakes and rainbows, which makes it all the more interesting.
Which brings me to the characters themselves.
Asuka is a different sort of character who hides who he truly is to maintain the illusion of what people think he is, including his own mother. Known for being the prince-like figure in his school due to his fighting abilities and overall serious demeanor, he has his secret lifestyle under control until the day he saves a girl from being bullied and starts crushing on her. Everything goes more or less on the shoujo path until Juta, a classmate who’s always been watching him, confronts him about the girl and his secret.
Juta was a great addition to this manga where all characters seem to have a closet persona. In his case, he’s the creator of Asuka’s favorite manga. He starts off like a fairy godmother, and though sometimes his intentions aren’t clear—meaning whose gain he serves—he still gets things done through his meddling (at first). He keeps the fact that he’s a shoujo mangaka a secret from everyone at school to maintain his promiscuous guy image, or maybe because of it. Overall, he does a lot with unclear intentions but is definitely a complex and deeply layered character.
Ryo has her own secrets and proves that not all girls are, well, girly. Raised only by her father, he wanted to make sure he raised a daughter who could take care of herself like a man would. Together this unlikely trio will, in a weird way, be each other's anchors and comfort in finding their true selves and hopefully find the courage to come out of their shells.
There are many more characters; some jump in and add to the story but only for a short time while Asuka and friends help them deal with their issues and hope they don’t discover his secret while moving on their way. This feels like the recurring theme with new characters. Drop in, cause confusion, get things settled by doing something involving cake batter, flowers, or pink (or all), and then everyone is happy. Other characters stick around and become more involved, turning out to be enjoyable side characters that make the manga more fun and unpredictable.
I would like to say that all the embroidery and cakes don’t feel repetitive after the first three volumes, but that’s not the case. It dies down a little, and we get to see more sides to Asuka, his boyish charm and chivalry everyone seems to love.
The art is pretty (yes, pretty); I could swear I can see pink everywhere even though it’s in black and white. I blame the way Asuka blushes and lights up every time he sees something "cute." There were no disproportions, and the kendo and martial arts sections, though short, were nicely drawn. Asuka is the main change in the manga; when he’s being manly or his regular stoic self, he looks the part, but when he starts changing into his true self, the one that likes to sew, his aura completely changes, making him look more delicate. Very nicely done.
Otomen or not, the message is clear: Be yourself. Whether you think you’ll be accepted or whether people will ever really understand you, in order to become truly happy and succeed, you have to be yourself.