this was one of his first stories, the others are much better because he has gained some more experience in writing, this is the worst book of all 3, you should read the others they're much better.
One of the reasons I enjoy reading yaoi is that I seldom encounter a female manga or anime character who resonates with me. Often, these characters either lack personality, embody negative or stereotypical traits, or are simply poorly written. In contrast, yaoi characters usually have more depth (hehe, pun not intended), and if they are poorly developed, it’s unrelated to their gender.
When a mangaka introduces a female character into a yaoi narrative, they tread on precarious ground, as the story often becomes an example of the Smurfette Principle—one woman amidst a group of men—making every aspect of her character stand out. This is precisely what Sakuragi sensei attempted in this manga, and unfortunately, she failed spectacularly. The first chapter was tolerable, albeit a bit silly, but I found the implication that a bride's sole role is cooking for her partner unsettling.
The second chapter pushed the boundaries further by giving Shibata, the "bride," an eating disorder. I turned to yaoi to escape gender discrimination and misogynistic ideas, yet the purpose feels defeated when the mangaka essentially portrays the protagonist as a "woman with a penis" while simultaneously piling on every conceivable female stereotype. Moreover, the handling of the eating disorder was woefully inadequate. Anorexia nervosa, which Shibata seemed to suffer from, is the deadliest psychological disorder. Studies indicate that anorexia is four times more lethal than clinical depression, three times deadlier than bipolar disorder, and twice as deadly as schizophrenia. Individuals with anorexia face a six-fold increased risk of death compared to healthy individuals. This means anorexia is roughly three times more fatal than other eating disorders. People with anorexia experience outcomes similar to starvation, where prolonged nutrient deprivation leads to organ failure due to extensive malnutrition. Additionally, one in five anorexia-related deaths results from suicide.
Despite its gravity, this manga trivializes anorexia, treating it as a joke.
But it seems the mangaka wasn't satisfied merely stereotyping women through an effeminate male character. In Chapter 3, Sakuragi sensei introduces an actual female character, Hiiragi, Shibata's senpai, to add to the mix. Hiiragi excels in nearly everything—she's intelligent, skilled in martial arts, and finds Shibata's "cuteness" (I assume?) appealing, claiming she wants to protect him. However, despite her abilities, she cannot protect Shibata. Why? Not because of arrogance, lack of awareness, or a simple oversight. No, the reason is solely because she is a woman. Or, as Yogi puts it:
"Even if he looks unreliable, fundamentally, he's still a guy. If something happens and he can't protect you, isn't that just unacceptable? Although you've always been strong, when confronted with a dangerous situation, you're as helpless as any girl."
Thank you, Sakuragi sensei, for confirming my suspicions. I wasn't sure if I was overanalyzing the story, but now I know I was correct. I've enjoyed many of sensei's other works, so I was genuinely disappointed by this one.
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Arewa
When a mangaka introduces a female character into a yaoi narrative, they tread on precarious ground, as the story often becomes an example of the Smurfette Principle—one woman amidst a group of men—making every aspect of her character stand out. This is precisely what Sakuragi sensei attempted in this manga, and unfortunately, she failed spectacularly. The first chapter was tolerable, albeit a bit silly, but I found the implication that a bride's sole role is cooking for her partner unsettling.
The second chapter pushed the boundaries further by giving Shibata, the "bride," an eating disorder. I turned to yaoi to escape gender discrimination and misogynistic ideas, yet the purpose feels defeated when the mangaka essentially portrays the protagonist as a "woman with a penis" while simultaneously piling on every conceivable female stereotype. Moreover, the handling of the eating disorder was woefully inadequate. Anorexia nervosa, which Shibata seemed to suffer from, is the deadliest psychological disorder. Studies indicate that anorexia is four times more lethal than clinical depression, three times deadlier than bipolar disorder, and twice as deadly as schizophrenia. Individuals with anorexia face a six-fold increased risk of death compared to healthy individuals. This means anorexia is roughly three times more fatal than other eating disorders. People with anorexia experience outcomes similar to starvation, where prolonged nutrient deprivation leads to organ failure due to extensive malnutrition. Additionally, one in five anorexia-related deaths results from suicide.
Despite its gravity, this manga trivializes anorexia, treating it as a joke.
But it seems the mangaka wasn't satisfied merely stereotyping women through an effeminate male character. In Chapter 3, Sakuragi sensei introduces an actual female character, Hiiragi, Shibata's senpai, to add to the mix. Hiiragi excels in nearly everything—she's intelligent, skilled in martial arts, and finds Shibata's "cuteness" (I assume?) appealing, claiming she wants to protect him. However, despite her abilities, she cannot protect Shibata. Why? Not because of arrogance, lack of awareness, or a simple oversight. No, the reason is solely because she is a woman. Or, as Yogi puts it:
"Even if he looks unreliable, fundamentally, he's still a guy. If something happens and he can't protect you, isn't that just unacceptable? Although you've always been strong, when confronted with a dangerous situation, you're as helpless as any girl."
Thank you, Sakuragi sensei, for confirming my suspicions. I wasn't sure if I was overanalyzing the story, but now I know I was correct. I've enjoyed many of sensei's other works, so I was genuinely disappointed by this one.