ALPHA'S SWEET OBSESSION

Wow, I have mixed feelings about this manga.  

If I had to describe it in one word, I’d say it’s INTENSE.  

This is not your typical yaoi manga. It has a DEEP, extremely DEEP story that really messes with your emotions.  

If you’re a reader of yaoi or shounen-ai genres, you’ll notice the difference in this one. The storyline itself is quite disturbing, but it possesses an ART that keeps you reading until the end while leaving you with an "ominous" feeling throughout.  

I recommend it if you’re an open-minded reader and not too sensitive, as this manga deals with some very sensitive issues that might shock you if you’re not prepared. LOL

This is absolutely outstanding. Likely the finest yaoi manga I've ever encountered, partly because I simply can't endure the nonsensical plots, characters, and lackluster art that many find prevalent in most yaoi manga.

The plot is intensely dramatic, delving into the darkest aspects of individuals within relationships while maintaining a coat of realism. It's a tragedy, a tale of sin and forgiveness, torture and solace. The depiction of sex isn't there for mere titillation; it's mostly heart-wrenching and deeply emotional. The storytelling is meticulously planned, direct, and seamless.

The artwork is undeniably stunning. They say it took 10 years to create. I don't read much of Watase sensei's work, but after Imadoki, Aya, Alice 19th, and Fushigi Yuugi, I might say this is her pinnacle achievement. The details are intricate yet not overwhelming. Empty panels are used effectively. Emotions are conveyed powerfully. Characters are beautifully rendered—personally, my heart melts when I see Masataka smile, a rare experience in the 2D world. Bodies are proportionate, and the fashion is lovely. Additionally, the scenery, buildings, vehicles... I could go on endlessly about how well she integrates history into her drawings.

The characters are equally intense, their dialogues rich with meaning. Their development is remarkable. Through traumatic experiences, their quest for advice and confrontation with the harsh world is truly compelling. It isn't sweet or happy; they're unfortunate, but they persevere.

Despite descriptions and reviews, this manga embodies a profound sense of romance rarely found today; if the word 'love' is present, it genuinely means it. Hard to articulate, yet strong enough to be felt. However, after reading, you might feel utterly despondent, which many wouldn't enjoy, but it's a good indication that this manga is exceptionally good. I find it nearly impossible to stop reading midway through the story since it lingers in my mind. If you're mature enough to embrace the best parts of this series (which are significant), I can't recommend it highly enough.

More importantly, I believe it's crucial to place a significant trigger warning on this manga.  

It's dark. It tackles heavy themes such as rape, self-harm, sexual violence, and more.  

The artwork is stunning, but the story itself is extremely grim and deeply unsettling. Although I haven't finished it yet, I doubt I will continue. There's no sense of comfort or relief in this yaoi. Honestly, I'm surprised Watase wrote something as intense as this.  

The characters have complex names and can be difficult to keep track of, since they're referred to by different names depending on who's speaking (e.g., their first or last name). This is a distinctly Japanese manga, which might be challenging for Western readers to fully understand. It would benefit from extensive translation notes and cultural context.  

To be honest, I wouldn't recommend this manga.

Bro, this is by far the most depressing Yaoi I've ever come across. There's just an overwhelming amount of tragedy, rape, murder, and violence in this manga. The only reason I'm rating it highly is because the storytelling is incredibly immersive—it grabs you and doesn't let go. It really plays with your mind, no joke. Especially with the step-sister constantly going after Tagami; it highlights just how unhinged they are towards nearly everyone who visits the mansion. You can't help but feel sympathy for Youya given how they were treated by their family, yet at the same time, it's terrifying to see them lash out at Tagami and Souma. This manga is truly unsettling while reading it, if you ask me.<p>

So... I stumbled upon this on TVTropes and decided to dive into it on a whim. Let’s be honest here—if you're looking for a sweet, fluffy shoujo romp brimming with heartwarming moments and warm fuzzies, this manga isn't your cup of tea. It's dark as hell. Coming from Yuu Watase, the mastermind behind Fushigi Yuugi and Ceres: Celestial Legend, this was honestly quite surprising. Typically, I’m not a fan of yaoi or shounen-ai because most I’ve encountered tend to be overly melodramatic, absurdly silly, carry weird notions about romance, or worse, lack any semblance of plot beyond gratuitous sex scenes. Thankfully, Sakura Gari sidesteps that last pitfall, delivering instead a gripping, layered, complex story filled with mysteries beneath its beautiful veneer. To put it bluntly—it's absolutely insane.

Set during the Taisho era (1912-1926), Sakura Gari follows Masataka Tagami, a young high school boy and the eldest son of a librarian from a small village, who heads to Tokyo seeking his place in life. While trying to secure a job to fund his university entrance exams, he stumbles upon an opportunity when he meets Souma Saiki, who offers him lodging in exchange for work as a house servant. Initially thrilled at securing steady income to support his education, Masataka soon finds himself entangled in the Saiki household’s dark, disturbing secrets—a situation that spirals further out of control when Souma's own shadowy past comes to light.

Yuu Watase is renowned for her vibrant, cheerful shoujo art style, complete with sparkly-eyed heroines, youthful expressions, and whimsical chibi transformations. Her most famous work, Fushigi Yuugi, epitomizes this aesthetic. However, comparing the art styles between Fushigi Yuugi and Sakura Gari reveals stark contrasts akin to night and day. In Sakura Gari, Watase employs clean linework, softer shading, meticulously detailed backgrounds that perfectly capture the era and setting, and characters rendered far more realistically, devoid of exaggerated features. The result is less cartoony and infinitely more refined. If anything deserves the label "beautiful," Sakura Gari fits the bill effortlessly. Some argue this represents her finest artistic achievement, and I’d agree wholeheartedly.

That said, the characters are something of a mixed bag. Allow me one observation upfront—I adore complex characters who possess depth beyond surface impressions, balancing strengths and flaws that render them fully human. Yet, when a character’s flaws overshadow their virtues, it becomes challenging to empathize, especially if they perpetrate genuinely heinous acts. Enter Souma (the one with the ponytail). At first glance, Souma appears to be a decent person who cares for Masataka in his peculiar way. But once Masataka uncovers his dark secrets and attempts escape, Souma crosses lines no one should ever cross, engaging in truly horrific behavior. For those familiar with standard yaoi tropes, Souma embodies the classic “rapist seme,” subjecting poor Masataka to both sexual and psychological abuse. There’s no denying that rape constitutes a despicable act, regardless of mitigating circumstances. Watase frequently imbues her villains or troubled abusers with sympathetic backstories to contextualize their actions, which occasionally works but often doesn’t—think Nakago, anyone? Effective villain sympathy requires nuance, avoiding justification or handwaving reprehensible deeds. Characters like Dilandau Albatou from Vision of Escaflowne and Claude Frollo from Disney’s adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame exemplify this balance. Interestingly, the manga acknowledges these complexities. Souma is acutely aware of the harm he has inflicted on Masataka and the gravity of his actions. He expresses genuine remorse, particularly after learning his backstory, and makes efforts to reconcile with Masataka, albeit through unhealthy means. The narrative doesn’t shy away from recognizing Souma’s transgressions while also exploring how his toxic environment shaped him, implicating those around him who enabled or contributed to his destructive behavior. Still, the ending might leave a bitter taste, depending on whether you root for Masataka and Souma to end up together—a tall order given the repeated rapes committed by Souma.

Wow, that was quite the lengthy discourse on just one character. Onward to others! Every individual tied to the Saikis boasts their own compelling narrative, ranging from the doctor aiding Souma and his father to an unnamed maid making only fleeting appearances before disappearing entirely. Even outright malevolent figures have motivations driving their monstrous actions, though some remain underdeveloped. Despite occasional lapses into gratuitous angst or sanity loss, the intricate, twisting nature of the series kept me eagerly anticipating each character’s next move. Moreover, rest assured, Masataka defies expectations of being yet another Miaka clone or stereotypical uke archetype. Far from helpless or spineless, he exhibits kindness and resilience when warranted, yet possesses clear boundaries, unafraid to confront others when pushed too far. He harbors flaws, struggles with familial relationships, grapples with insecurities, experiences anger and sadness, endeavors to escape his dire predicament (albeit unsuccessfully), and actively strives to protect loved ones and endure adversity. Most crucially, he fights back—an attribute elevating him above countless yaoi uke stereotypes.

The story itself may prove divisive, and I understand why certain aspects could provoke criticism, particularly regarding its content. This manga operates as a colossal soap opera, leveraging sensitive topics such as rape, murder, child abuse, and sexual exploitation as frequent plot devices, almost excessively so. Virtually none of the characters qualify as purely good or relatable except Masataka, leaving little room for levity or respite amidst the relentless chaos. Some view this as the manga’s strength—constant action, minimal filler, and relentless forward momentum facilitated by its brevity (nine chapters across three volumes). It’s a quick read, albeit an incredibly harrowing one. Conversely, others will undoubtedly object to Sakura Gari’s handling of sensitive issues, which is understandable. Certain elements struck me as excessively over-the-top even within context, and some sequences could have benefited from more delicate treatment. Additionally, there’s no shortage of graphic nudity, though Watase curiously refrains from explicit genital depiction. Reading through, I couldn’t help but wonder if she intended to push further into pornography territory but held back, perhaps due to executive constraints or a desire to maintain subtlety, trusting readers to infer events without overt depictions. Regardless, I’d choose this over Fushigi Yuugi any day.

In conclusion, if you seek a profound, intricate, and utterly deranged yaoi experience, give this a try—but proceed with caution. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted.

It is well-crafted with some truly exceptional shounen-ai poses and scenarios. However, be warned—it's not cutesy. If you're looking for Fushigi Yuugi, this is definitely NOT it. Instead, it is intensely serious and graphic. While you won't see explicit private parts, you'll get as close as possible, and it's not the kind of love-making that's entirely happy or sweet. It's raw, bitter rather than sugary. This manga is all about high drama.

In terms of background, it's set in what appears to be early-to-mid 1900s Japan. You'll encounter very traditional relationships and architecture. I truly admire how Yuu Watase embraces a serious art style here, and the result is breathtaking.

Despite its darkness, if you can overlook your discomfort, you'll find yourself eager to know what happens next. That's what keeps me hooked on this series: how will the characters evolve? What will the main character ultimately feel about the world and his past?

I believe the ideal reader for Sakura Gari is someone who appreciates great art and intense characters and doesn't mind scenes involving blood, sex, etc.

With that said, I hope this helps you decide whether you want to read it. If you think my review should include anything else, let me know so I can refine it further!

I'm sorry. Yuu Watase wrote what? That's right. She wrote yaoi. A shoujo yaoi. How does that work? (To be honest, I was confused.)  

Story: Sakura Gari is truly a gem. It's the first yaoi I've come across in a very long time that wasn't absurdly oversexed with no discernible plot and characters who scream "No! Please stop!" during sex but secretly want it (because apparently, no means yes). Here, there was an actual story that had me reading until the early hours of the morning, leaving me to ponder its twisted nature for most of its duration, only to be unexpectedly moved to tears by the end. We live in a world of forgiveness, where humans demonstrate their capacity to love and let go.  

It's clear from that brief paragraph that if you're seeking steamy, sweat-drenched encounters between men who can't resist each other and engage in such acts in every chapter due to a lack of plot, this manga isn't for you. I've read many of Watase-san's other works and was genuinely surprised to discover she had released a new piece that was mysterious and twisted—but yaoi! All I knew about her previous works was that they were primarily shoujo, often involving magical girls.  

Nevertheless, this story was captivating yet somewhat graphic. I don't wish to deter anyone, but I feel a warning might be necessary. Does anyone care to mention that there is recurring rape, abuse, and torture throughout the volumes? Even when these acts are merely discussed, they may be too much for some readers to handle. However, they contribute to the story's harsh beauty, reflecting the realities people often choose to ignore. These elements serve the plot, and if you can endure them—brief as they are—you'll likely find yourself racing through the pages to uncover the deeply moving conclusion.  

Art: If you've read Yuu Watase's work before, there's nothing new here to explain. Her art style hasn't changed, and while I've never been particularly fond of it, there's nothing wrong with it either. It remains clean in my opinion.  

Characters: I genuinely enjoyed the characters. Development primarily occurs between the two main protagonists, which is expected since they are the focal point of this short series. Tagami is a likable character whose situation is undeniably difficult, sad, and moving. Soma, on the other hand, is challenging to connect with initially but equally compelling and heart-wrenching. By the end, I truly grew to love both of them.  

Enjoyment: Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this manga. I stayed up for four hours one night just to finish it because I needed to know how it would conclude. In the end, I was deeply emotional. Throughout, I kept thinking this was nothing like Watase-san's usual work—absolutely nothing like it. Where on earth did this come from? But I continued reading, believing something good must emerge from the pain and sorrow. People are forgiving beings, and I had forgotten that.  

I will never regret reading this manga, and I highly recommend it.

The story has a lot of potential and I absolutely love it. HOWEVER, as the story progresses, the author made a lot of mistakes along the way: plot holes, a strange naming sense, poor world-building (lacks originality), arcs that drag on because the MC needs to collect his Pokémon (females), and obviously dubious and unsettling romance.

There are many things I strongly disagree with, especially the Harem— (In fact, it would give more personality to the character if he only ended up with one person, but that's just me and my strong desire to ship Camus with Vikir.) However, most of you will probably agree that the author should have stick with just two female leads, because when Dolores and Sinclaire were introduced, the first two, Camus and Aiyen, got less screen time. This is disappointing since we had already built a strong attachment to them but the author basically forgot about them.