BL manga

End of April 2026 Update: Rainy Weekend Watches + Reads

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This is the start of a series of miscellaneous updates that will similarly all begin: “What even happened in X month?”

Because really, what even happened in April?

Not a lot of blogging, that’s for sure. But let’s see what’s been occupying my time instead of writing.

2026 Blog Goals Reflection

1. Make it to the end of the year with all 12 monthly updates posted. We are 4 for 4 and ready for more.

2. Finish a few projects I had started/continued in 2025. I STILL think I’ll try to put out one big post with the rest of my Japan 2025 trip adventures instead of doing individual day posts. I D K WHY I’M HOLDING OFF ON IT. Probably the fatigue of going through photos and writing up descriptions for things. I’m notoriously bad about not going through my photos. In more productive news, it’s likely that I’ll pick up the Sailor Moon “Themes, Motifs, and Symbols” analysis series, starting where we left off with the third story arc. I’ve been feeling an itch to return to the Moon Kingdom.

3. Watch my entire physical backlog of anime. Once more, I bought some Blu-rays but then watched them immediately, which is VERY RARE for me. Read further to see which ones!

4. Write a reflection post for at least one anime each month. I ended up writing about Samurai Champloo for some reason this past month. The post is “Samurai Champloo: Serving Stir-Fry Style Entertainment 20 Years Later.” I would link it, but my WordPress is somehow broken and won’t let me hyperlink things anymore. ;__; Love Through a Prism is still in drafts, but I DID make some progress. Chihayafuru 3 Blu-ray arrived in the mail (yay!) so we’ll do the little Chihaya post once I’ve had time to watch the third season.

5. Watch at last 26 anime released from 2021 to 2025 (not including films). We’re up to TEN with the additions of several newer titles: Heaven Official’s Blessing Season 2, DAN DA DAN Season 2, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and Super Cub.

Recently Watching

Samurai Champloo – Will be adding to my collection someday. In the meantime, read all about it in my latest post!

Samurai Champloo: Serving Stir-Fry Style Entertainment 20 Years Later

Heaven Official’s Blessing Season 2 – A boosted version of everything the first season stood for, TGCF 2 adapts the exciting journey into Hua Chang’s underworld playground of novel volume 2. It speeds through some of the events chronicling Xie Lian’s past life as a State Precept and the bloody affairs he got caught up in, but it remains a highly enjoyable watch. Despite his misfortunate attraction to trouble, I adore how much the Heavenly Emperor coddles Xianle. We also got the raunchy, ill-tempered Qi Rong, one of the Four Calamities––green lantern something-or-other. THIS DIVA IS SO DRAMATIC. It’s a bit confusing how the donghua handles his family/historical ties to Xie Lian. At least, the book leaves with little questioning. I’m heartbroken by the present lack of a third season, but that’s what the original novels are for, right? :’)

DAN DA DAN Season 2 – My experience of this season spans allll the way back to last summer where GKIDS premiered the first 3-4 episodes as the Evil Eye theatrical feature. Then, my sister and I didn’t get around to finishing it until this spring, oops. Ngl, I love Jiji to pieces, but I was getting a bit tired of the “taming Evil Eye” part of the story––which ended up being a majority of season 2!! Thankfully, the last little story arc introduces not only a new character but a new sub-genre for this sci-fi/fantasy action comedy series about aliens and the occult: tokusatsu. Hells yeah. It was just the climactic pick-me-up I’d been craving, and Science Sara doesn’t skimp out on the wild animation to be had with its goofy new supporting character. Super stoked for season 3, and I will be adding the Blu-ray to my collection to join S1 as soon as it releases this summer!

Bâan: The Boundary of Adulthood – Hey look, it’s Gigguk’s 18-min anime short film that premiered on YouTube. I really enjoyed Bâan for what it offered. The idea of characters crossing into each other’s world might not be new, but the whole vibe surrounding this theme of leaving + returning home is fresh and healing. I know it released last fall, but I’m so glad I watched it now for the first time because spring, as a season of rebirth, pairs remarkably well with a narrative about leaving the nest, only to realize that home is also a wonderful place to be, too. I don’t give this remark lightly, but if you like Makoto Shinkai works, you might take away similar energy from Bâan. My two favorite elements, though, have got to be the Southeast Asian mythology rep and the original score by KEVIN PENKIN. Since watching, I’ve been listening through the OST each morning as I get ready to face the day’s challenges.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End – There is no way I could encapsulate everything I could say about Frieren in a breezy reflection post like this that A) isn’t a rehash of what’s already been said, and B) isn’t a severe truncation of my true feelings. Because it’s Frieren––of course it’s just as incredible as everyone’s been telling me it is. Why did I wait so long? No good explanation, really. I’m not someone who steers away from shows just because they’re popular or trendy; I’ll watch whatever I want, whenever, as long as I’m in the mood. I guess this spring I’d been searching for a journey to embark on, and Frieren gave me just that. If I had one reflection I noted about myself while watching that I’m willing to share, it’s that I definitely didn’t cry my eyes out like some people have for this series. I don’t think I shed a single tear, actually. But that’s neither a measure of its shortcomings nor my fondness for it––I smiled a lot while watching Frieren. Even parts where our semi-immortal elf happened upon old acquaintances after 50 or 80 years had me in a good mood, not a sad or overly emotional one. Perhaps it’s as the trite saying goes: Rather than cry because it’s over, I smiled because it happened. I watched Frieren subbed on Blu-ray, so I’m not sure if I’ll wait for the S2 discs or watch it online. But I adore everything about the series. Don’t even start me on the music. Yorushika’s “Sunny” was in my regular playlist LONG before I realized that it was from Frieren, and Evan Call is a wizard. CDs will need to be ordered, aye.

Cosmic Princess Kaguya! – The latest from Studio Colorido is a Netflix-produced anime original reimagining of The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter remixed for a near-future setting where idols can hold concerts in VR spaces and encourage premium level escapism. Mythology, idols, and Studio Colorido? OF COURSE I LOVED IT. What, did you think I wouldn’t? Hell, I was hyped when I saw concept art of this thing floating around awhile back. One thing I wasn’t expecting was for it to be SO high energy and comedy-centered. It’s honestly moe overload. There’s a splashy reaction to literally everything line of dialogue, and while it’s sometimes a bit much (idk how Natsuyoshi Yuuko handled all the squealing and screaming, my god), the film is too busy being a bundle of positive energy to care about moderation. Production-wise, it’s stupid how good the movie looks. Even the CG game world parts feel very in-character for the genre. Story wise, it got hit with the “Born to be a 12-episode series, forced to be a 2.5-hour film” label on Twitter, and while that may be true if it wanted to expand on more of its subplots and fascinating setting design, I’m 100% sure it’d be forgotten about as “just another loli musical idol anime” even a year or two down the line. Making it a theatrical feature retains the sharp focus about Kaguya and Iroha navigating their rising stardom as streamers while adhering to the boundaries and expectations of this being a Princess Kaguya story. I was able to somewhat predict how the ending would come together (iykyk), but in all it’s a pretty spectacular hit for Japan, especially after the raving success of K-Pop Demon Hunters. My only complaint is the present lack of any physical release license.

Penguin Highway – After having Penguin Highway on my shelf for at least 5 years and the novel for a few as well, I’d been looking for an opportune time to read and then watch. This comes TOTALLY by coincidence, as both films were animated by Studio Colorido! I’m thinking I’d like to do a short reflection post for this one . . . Until then, I’ll confidently state that this film has made my all-time favorites list. Maybe that’s the book-high feeding into my enjoyment, but what I like ever so slightly more about Penguin Highway than Cosmic Princess Kaguya! is the former’s take on how growing up can be an exciting experience. By the time we meet Kaguya‘s Iroha, she’s already committed to playing the fake perfect high school student while living an exhausting personal life in her crammed, one-room Tokyo apartment. Penguin Highway‘s Aoyama, meanwhile, is an eager-to-learn grade school kid with a bright future ahead of him, and it’s refreshing to see the boy genius trope retain its purity throughout the entire story. But I’m comparing apples and oranges here, because both films are tons of fun and highly imaginative!

Super Cub – Amidst all of these exciting journeys and coming-of-age adventures, Super Cub has been my rock. This slice-of-life iyashikei series about a reserved high school girl who gets a cub to help accelerate her life in the country is just what my brain needs between all the spring hustle and bustle that comes with working in academics. I’m normally not drawn to these kinds of shows that seem to aimlessly follow cute girls around, but Super Cub is different because it’s structured with goals for each episode and satisfying payoff when they’re accomplished. To specify further, Koguma faces a new challenge each episode that calls for an installment, repair, or maintenance to her cub and/or riding gear, and I feel like I’ve learned more about motorcycles by watching Koguma celebrate each little win in her own little way. Her fellow cub-riding classmate, Reiko, is the outgoing senpai figure who draws Koguma into not only the bike world but the broader social context as well. And this is why you watch shows like this: to sit back, relax, and watch how far the open road––and the super cubs––will take our girls. Whether measuring by miles or social bonding, you’re always left wondering “Where to next?” once the credits roll.

Catching Up with the Shelves

Spring Anime Haul

Last update, I shared a haul video from my YouTube channel, and since the spring season has brought with it another batch of anime to add to my shelves, I figured I’d share the haul here as well.

Going Through the Stacks (BL Edition)

I revived my bookstagram account @ takutoreads on IG to continue cataloging my reads. It’s not a review platform, but I like sharing pretty pictures of books that I’m reading. For the first time in YEARS, we’ve actually had April showers. So for the past couple weekends, I’ve been through my BL manga that’s accumulated over time. One title, My Androgynous Boyfriend, is not BL, but the rest are: works by the great Nagisa Furuya (Long Period), Machi Suehiro (Fox-Colored Jealousy), Quaila (I Ship My Rival x Me), Edako Mofumofu (There Are Things I Can’t Tell You), and the manga adaptation of Until I Met My Husband plus a BL First Crush Anthology to boot. Follow my bookstagram for more updates!

Reading Land of the Lustrous

My Japan import of Haruko Ishikawa’s second Land of the Lustrous (Houseki no Kuni) art book recently arrived, which reminded me that I still needed to finish reading the manga! I only had the last two volumes left, but with the reading bug propelling me through my BL stacks, I opted to commit to an entire series reread. As of writing this post, I’m on volume 11 of 13. I already can’t wait to hit that Chapter 108 and achieve pure, blissful enlightenment. I’ll always champion Lustrous as the greatest manga of all time. It’s too smart, soulful, and wisely constructed to believe otherwise. Once I’m done, I’ll give the anime a rewatch too, if only just to feel something (and manifest that sequel, c’mon Studio Orange let’s Wake. Up.).

I guess I’ve been reading and watching a lot more than I thought this April. Now, my eyes are set on summer. Let me know in the comments if you have thoughts about any of these titles. ‘Til next time!

– Takuto

Long Overdue 2022 Fall/Winter Manga Haul

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THIS VID IS SO OVERDUE ;__;

Hey guys, here’s all the manga I accumulated over the last few months of 2022! Let me know if you’re reading any of these titles. I hope to get back into reading as soon as I graduate!! 😣

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Thanks for watching~!

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RePlay: A Sweet Single-Volume Baseball BL || Review

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A brief spoiler-free review of the single-volume BL manga “RePlay,” story and art by Saki Tsukahara, published in 2020 by TOKYOPOP.

Out of the Game

Although Yuta and Ritsu have been playing baseball together since they were children, a devastating defeat in a local tournament the summer before their senior year results in the “married couple’s” retirement from the high school team so that they can focus on university entrance exams. Yuta still yearns to play baseball again, but even when he’s given the chance, the game just doesn’t have the same appeal without Ritsu. Whenever Yuta brings up the sport, however, Ritsu seems to distance himself further.

What does baseball mean to Yuta, and why should it matter whether Ritsu is there or not? As the boys begin ask themselves these questions, feelings that have always been present are realized, and the bond between teammates develops into something far more affectionate and intimate.

This has got to be one of the most satisfying BL manga I’ve ever read. To Saki Tsukahara—where can I read your other works??? I had so much fun getting to know the history of this couple, as well as watching Yuta and Ritsu realize their feelings for each other. A surprising amount of character depth is crammed into this book, and the ending beautifully rounds out this story of compassionate love and fresh starts. The final pages (following our one sex scene, of course) left me happily content and hopeful about their future. Older audiences may also appreciate the high-school-to-college shift—along with the “separation angst” of changing friendships—that Tsukahara tries to capture.

Teammates to Something More . . .

Since we mainly take in the story from Yuta’s perspective, let’s talk about him first. Yuta Mizuhara is your typical loudmouth, food-snatching, panic gay who can’t seem to understand that others may actually like him. A lot. Defs the jumpy uke type. Still, he’s got a really cute face and them ATHLETE ABS THO, and most readers will enjoy him if even just for that. Compared to Ritsu, Yuta has to try a lot harder in his studies, especially if he’s wanting to attend the same university as Ritsu. I’m glad that his studying habits (or lack thereof) play a prominent role in the plot.

As for Ritsu Mashino, the dude’s RIPPED and ready for college life. The smart, quiet, handsome-type seme. Because he can get into practically any university, he spends a lot of his time going behind Yuta’s back to prep “surprises” for him. (If I say anything more it’s spoiler territory, so my lips are zipped.) Anyway, he’s also got a cute hairstyle and face to match, and I simply can’t express enough how PERFECT Saki Tsukahara’s characters look! The whole manga is just plain pretty. (And for my friends wanting something steamier, RePlay is fairly tame, save for the occasional shirtless scene and the last couple pages . . . )

The only part of the manga I found a bit cringe was how Yuta and Ritsu’s fellow teammates and classmates would keep calling them the “married couple.” They’d even refer to themselves in this way, and it’s such a weird term, even for manga. Like, when you’re this adamant on calling each other the school’s married couple, you’re not even queer-bating at this point—they both might as well just come out to each other already. At first, it’s a cute label, but it becomes harder to take even as a joke with each repetition.

A Satisfying Single-Volume BL

RePlay explores the attraction between two high-school seniors who are trying to sort out their long-withheld (or unrealized) feelings for one another while also preparing for university life. Since both boys have graduated from club activities, the sports element mainly serves as a backdrop to the soft and sweet story about the fear of growing apart. The volume reads like a sports anime fanfic, yet also has a sense of completeness that is rare for this kind of manga.

Saki Tsukahara’s lovely art remains consistently light and gorgeous, and their character designs match my tastes to a T. If you’re a fan of childhood-friends-to-lovers romance and are looking for a BL that looks fondly back on high school life as its characters make plans for college, I highly recommend RePlay as one of my new favorite single-volume BL manga!

“On the field, we understood every facet about each other, but now . . . “

Yuta Mizuhara

Afterword

This was such a great read, my goodness. Thank you to all who recommended this manga to me! If my enjoyment wasn’t obvious enough in this post, RePlay is a certified “Caffe Mocha” manga here at the cafe, a rating reserved for my favorite reads and watches! I’ve got a growing list of TOKYOPOP single-volume BL manga that I plan to pick up soon, so hey, if you liked this post, I’ve got more on the way! Drop your thoughts on this manga review (or your BL single-volume recommendations) down in the comments! Thanks for reading, and ‘til next time!

– Takuto

BL Metamorphosis: A Blossoming Relationship || Manga First Impressions

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First impressions for volumes 1 of Kaori Tsurutani’s manga series “BL Metamorphosis,” published in 2020 by Seven Seas.

The Start of Something New

After the sad discovery that the coffee shop Ichinoi used to frequent with her late husband has closed down, the 75-year-old calligraphy teacher decides to cool off from the heat in a local bookstore. It’s been at least a year since she was last here, and while searching for the since-relocated cookbook section, an unsuspecting volume of BL catches the old lady’s eye.

The high school girl who rings up Ichinoi’s order at the register knows this BL series well. From this initial encounter, the two go on to form an unlikely yet endearing friendship. BL binds them, but is there a deeper lesson to be learned?

I’m going to keep this post short if only for the fact that it’ll quickly turn into a fanboy ramble about this sweet friendship. I totally see parts of myself in young Urara’s groggy eyes. She loves boys love manga, yet is ashamed to let anyone know—and I get it. There’s no worse feeling than being judged for liking something. Thankfully, Ichinoi is there to shine a light on the joys of living without shame.

And let’s talk about Ichinoi. Y’ALL, I love this lady. She doesn’t really understand BL, but she’s rooting for the boys anyway, and that’s all you need to say to win my heart! She’s also really kind, warm-hearted, and observant of others’ feelings. Sure, her approach is a little dated (like when she buys fruit for Urara as a thank-you gift, or how she decides to call when late to an email). But, the sentiment is always well-meant, and I wish there were more people like her in the world!

Living Vicariously through Manga

When you think about it, Ichinoi and Urara are living the dream. Two friends, both passionate about the same book genre, are making their way though the increasingly large and foreign world of BL and its collective fandom. They won’t need to hide anything entirely anymore because they have each other to gush over their favorite books and characters. I’m envious of their budding friendship just as I am happy they found each other! ;_;

Like how I find myself living vicariously though Ichinoi’s awakening to BL, I’m also noticing how Ichinoi is recalling her own life’s experiences through her friendship with Urara and the manga they read together. At the end of this first volume, Ichinoi faces the intense crowds of a comiket-like event. The last time she was here was when the building was built, some 30 or 40 years ago. She refused to ride the “world’s fasted elevator” here with her husband, saying that she didn’t want to wait for the line. Time caught up to both of them, and the “someday” she promised him slipped before her eyes.

It’ll be moments like this that make the manga worth reading. At face value, yes, the mutual fangirling is lots of fun, and it will keep me all warm and fuzzy until the final page. But, I hope BL Metamorphosis continues to reflect on Ichinoi’s life like this. Naturally, there’s a lot in this manga that you’ll want to pluck off the page and tuck away in your pocket for safekeeping.

In For a Penny . . .

So far, BL Metamorphosis is just as cute and endearing as everyone was telling me it’d be! I love Ichinoi so much, and I’m excited to see her catch her “second wind” in life with BL. ❤

While I’m hoping that subsequent volumes don’t go down the ~sad~ lane (if you know, you know), I do look forward to further exploring how this newfound friendship changes Ichinoi and Urara for the better. They’re like two peas in a pod, wandering souls in need of a friend like the other. I’m so glad they met.

Yes, I will be picking up all of this manga. And YES, you should read it! You don’t even have to necessarily like yaoi manga to appreciate the story that Kaori Tsurutani is trying to tell—though, a dash of BL and bittersweetness certainly makes the experience all the more exciting!

“Urara-san . . . Let’s get in that line!”

Ichinoi

Afterword

So yeah, read BL Metamorphosis. It’s a lovely manga. Thank you to all those who recommended this manga to me—I’m enjoying it immensely, and I hope to pick up the rest of it in my next Seven Seas haul and binge it in one sitting. Oh! That reminds me, I probably need to make sure I add them to my cart!

I’ll try to get out an update post here in a couple days. Same for more manga posts. School’s been slowly killing me, but hey, only one month left! Thanks for reading, and ‘til next time!

– Takuto