Shiiku Gakari Rika

So I just finished reading “Shiiku Gakari Rika” which is the main story of “Tetsu x Rika”. It is unfinished and sad to say the mangaka herself listed it that way. I am really disappointed and I really wished for the mangaka to continue it but that’s impossible now. The readers such as me would be left with nothing but imagining any possible ending of this beautifully crafted story. I have always adored Modoru Motoni-sensei’s so much more when I had read TetsuXRika. I always had a change of mind everytime I tried to read Rika the Breeder because of TetsuXRika. That manga left me in awe, of sadistic joy and at the same time sorrow of why things had to end that way.

                The story is left unfinished but it was a good read. People might despise Rika but he has his reasons and I don’t hate him for what he has become. However you look at it, Rika’s main goal is to destroy the system—for the “salon” that robbed him of his days of tranquillity to cease to exist and Hotarou is the proof of that. As what Hiro made Rika to confess, Rika hates to have sex. I think he only loved sex when it was with Tetsu but because Tetsu was haunted by his mother’s rape and death, he wasn’t able to understand Rika’s feelings. But maybe, if after Hiro hears from Anji what really happened to his brother, then he might or might not protect Rika as how Rika wanted it to be.

I want to know what will happen next and how will things between Hiro and Rika end! I want Rika to destroy that system that took his and Tetsu's heart apart and completely destroy their lives. I want Rika have his peace of mind again this time with Hiro in place of Tetsu. Rika only loved Tetsu and wanted him to look at Rika not as someone desired by everyone or like Tetsu's mother but as Rika because he is Rika. 

                Now I’m wondering, had Rika let Tetsu diminish his title as the “President” because he couldn’t have him or was it because of the torture he experienced under Tetsu? I believe that he only wanted Tetsu to quit and go out of that school because he was starting to break. And since Hiro isn’t a dumb kid, I think he will understand the situation. He himself knew the nature of his brother and what his brother can possibly do. Either way, it was the psychological trauma that they are suffering that lead them to what they have become.

                After everything what I can only say is that it was beautiful. The twistedness of the story, the intense feelings of hatred, vengeance, love and suffering. Both prequel and sequel are worthy of praise and worth reading.

Summary from mangaupdates:

Shiiku Gakari Rika-New boy Natsume Hiro comes to a boarding school unlike any other school in existence to solve/resolve something that happened in his past- but even that fact takes a while to emerge.
The school is a hotbed of bullying and rape kept slightly in check by a feudal organization called the Salon. The Salon protects its members from random abuse by specifying who can/must rape whom (yeah, there are must rapes here) under what circumstances, and punishing those who rape/abuse without proper permission. All this to be decided at the whim of the Salon head.
Sex at the school is both an overwhelming obsession, as befits an all-male society where there are no other outlets for stress, and a matter of down-and-dirty power politics, not unlike an American jail.
When you throw in the Byzantine institution of the Salon, you have a scenario reminiscent of the surrealistic, closed, hothouse world of British boys' schools. But the Rika world is even more bizarre than that.

Genre: Adult, Drama, mystery, psychological, school life, tragedy, yaoi

Let Dai by Woon Soo-yeon -- a review

It’s been a while since I’ve written a review for a manga that I’ve read. This time, it’s for a manhwa entitled “Let Dai” by Woon Soo-yeon. Manhwas really amaze me for the deepness of their stories and how they tell beautiful and sorrowful tales that could drive you into it. It was like you are a bystander witnessing the events of the lives of people and you just couldn’t help but get drawn to every phrases and scenes in it. This manhwa is really something that caught my feelings and thoughts into a whirlpool of emotions and I just love how the manhwaka created the story of these people involve. Especially the two persons who imprisoned my heart with their love so pure and true. I love how they fought with each of their own weakness and beliefs to set things right but at the same time trying to protect the love they have for each other. The events in their lives might have been very painful and confusing as well as tricky and injustice into their eyes but they strived hard to protect what they want to treasure and cherish. As the manga continues and I was reading it, I couldn’t help but feel sad and sorrowful for the life lost and for the pain they felt. These youngsters are just like us in our teens, trying to figure out life and love but at the same time finding out how cruel the world can be.

Dai is someone who was trying to live his life according to his own understanding and judgement, that’s when he meet Jaehee who swept him away. The meeting wasn’t something that special but it was the beginning for them. The start of an endless trials and overwhelming emotions, the start of their love for each other. The story left a very deep impression on me especially how the author put such deep and meaningful words. I avoided reading this manga for quite a long time since it was labelled as tragedy and oh boy how tragic could this manhwa be? For me, the tragedies happened deep in the characters hearts as they strive to continue life with the will to grasp what they want the most—and for Jaehee and Dai, it was to stay together forever. The words uttered by the characters are so moving that I couldn’t help but feel every words spoken.

 

The art is very good that it gives every scene real beauty and emotions. I have always adored manhwa style arts and this one is one of them. Just like the rest of the mangas I made a review, “Let Dai” is a struggle for both these young males to view love as something that isn’t defined by gender. I just love how they showed each other how they love one another simply because they love each other and that’s it. They wanted to be together despite all the obstacle ahead of them—because they feel love. And for them that is the most important thing. I couldn’t stop but wish for a love the same as this, yet I feel like I wouldn’t be able to endure the hardship the same as them.

The friendship borne are real despite the distasteful events that happened. This manhwa teaches readers a lot of things such as the importance of life, the sorrow of those who are left behind, the struggle of those who wished to be heard, the pain of those who longed for happiness, and that love will always find a way. For quite some time, I have given up on the word “love” but now I am able to believe in it again. Not just because I know I’ve already matured a little, but because of the stories that I get to read just like this manhwa.

In the end, without giving up, they will always find a way of achieving happiness in life. The road might not be that easy but they will get through as long as they believe. The ending of the story shows hope—hope to oneself and for others, and of course, that Jaehee will find happiness together with Dai wherever he is.

Summary from NetComics:

Set in a soulless neo-Seoul ruled by young punks and pleasure seekers, an amoral teenager named Dai is the living embodiment of the city's beauty and cruelty.

As the leader of the vicious Furies gang, Dai seduces everyone who lays eyes on him, only to blind them to his own barbaric nature. When an honest schoolboy named Jaehee rescues a beautiful girl from being mugged by the Furies, he can't possibly realize how this brief encounter will plunge him into a downward spiral of unbridled passion and unfathomable pain.

From his brutal gang initiation to an unspeakable act committed against his girlfriend, Jaehee wavers uncomfortably between revulsion and fascination. And in Dai he finds a tender, caring friend one moment and a heartless sociopath the next, awakening strange and unhealthy desires in Jaehee that he could never before have imagined.

Genre: Drama, Mature, Psychological, School Life, Shoujo, Shounen-Ai, Slice of Life, Tragedy  

Shisei no Otoko

By Aniya Yuiji

There are many forms of love and a lot of ways to show it. We often have to choose which is which, to do your duty or to escape from reality. In this manga, Shisei no otoko, the story of love was portrayed in different form. A love that chose to save it by doing the rightful duty and a love that was cornered and was left with no choice but to run away. It pains to know love that doesn't always have a happy conclusion. There are a lot of trials that would go right through it and ruin the fragile thing into pieces. Shisei no otoko by Aniya Yuiji-sensei depicted the inevitable tragedies that hinders the love between people who were so trapped into the reality of their role. A cop and a yakuza, a master and a faithful dog, living in a world with full of unwanted veracity.

Upon reading this manga, at first you wouldn't notice how deep the story is. With its beautiful, artistic strokes distinct in its own style, you would have thought that all is well. But then as the story progresses, and you get halfway confused and halfway amused, the revelation would sink in painfully in your mind. I felt very sorry for all four of them. One was left to dream of happy expectations and lovely feelings while the other one has to live with a heavy burden upon him. It was really a very beautifully sad love for the four of them but the feeling it brought down my throat to my chest was like peaceful melancholy. It didn’t made me cry but the the heartfelt emotion was there. i really like the story and even though I had hoped for a happy ending, love isn’t just as easy as that.  

Summary:

From Nakama:

Three men bearing tattoos are Peony Katagi, Buttercup Mutou, and Mad Shark Nogami. They are all involved in some way with mystery man Kubota. Is there salvation for these men who live on the underside of society?

In the final part of the tattoo series, "Everyone's Song," forty-two pages drawn specifically for the occasion, all the stories come to a conclusion.

Two extra stories are included in this collection. In ‘Spring Love’, the object of a man's one-sided love turns into a vengeful spirit every night and visits him. "Dream's Guidance" has also been added to this special collection.

Genre(s) : Drama, Mature, Supernatural, Tragedy, Yaoi

New York New York manga

Okay, let me just say this first. This contains some spoiler so be warned and if you don’t want to be spoiled, just read the first paragraph. The plot of the story was really good, it showed the point of view of the society of how Taboo homosexuality was during the early days, as well as the characters involved and their inner private point of view of themselves. In this manga, “New York New York” by Marimo Nagawa-sensei, Kain was a closet gay and was afraid of being discovered because of circumstances like bigotry, which we couldn’t deny that is still present at this modern period. His struggles and indecisiveness was shown descriptively and the changes afterwards after meeting Mel took a great part in reforming his beliefs and feelings towards himself. I believe that his strong emotions led him to weigh which was more important to him and made him the person he became. Sensei made a very nice elaboration expressing the step by step actions the character made in reaching the person who could proudly say and admit his sexuality. The art was good and I was really satisfied with it because I believe that it fit perfectly to the setting and the characters. I strongly recommend that you read it guys.

It’s been a long time since I’ve written something about the mangas that I’m reading. There’s been a lot that happened and I’ve been very busy but anyway. At first I didn’t thought I would come to write something about the manga I’ve just finished reading. The title is “New York New York”. When I had put it into my bookmarks or let’s say when I found it and saw that it was labeled as tragedy I got the feeling that I didn’t want to read it for a while so it took me a little more time to have the courage to read it. I’m really easily drawn to angst but even though it’s like that, I still avoid reading them sometimes but I always ended up reading them anyway. While reading NYNY, I thought “ah—I have to prepare myself. I need not to attach myself to the character too much because this manga has a tragic end”. But then while reading it, I just couldn’t stop myself feeling affection towards the characters. The feelings they have for each other and the strong desire and hope during the trials they were passing through was really great that I always thought that it was such a waste for it to have a tragic end. I had already braced myself for the tragic end but then as I continued to read the story and got out of that particular dangerous and scary scene, I thought, “Maybe it was labeled as tragedy because there were a lot of killings”. I was really happy that there weren’t something like Kain dying or Mel dying in that traumatic events. When I was reaching the end, the story took turn and it made me happy of the development of it. They were very happy despite the traumatic past that had happened. But what really moved me was the great love they had for each other; that despite what they had been through, they were able to stay together and be truthful to each other. I love the character of Kain, strong and willful. I love Mel’s gentleness and the way he looked the future with a smile and was able to cope up with everything. Really, but what moved me to tears was the end of the story where, at their old age, they were still as lovely as the newlyweds they were, loving and tender to each other, that despite one leaving, one was able to accept and continue life. I love it so much. Especially the last scene where they were both reunited, I couldn’t control my emotions I cried so much because I was sad yet happy at the same time. Now I’m really happy that I read New York New York. It was an amazing experience and it has been a long time since the last time I cried over a manga (a few days ago, I cried over a novel tho it wasn’t as bad as this time). So anybody out there, I’d recommend your read New York New York as well and witness such an amazing story about homosexuality, murder, acceptance, hope and specially, a love so strong it could  conquer even as dangerous as life and death. 

summary from mangatraders:

Kain Walker is an admired and appreciated policeman of New York of all his colleagues. By fright at disappointing his fellows and also being discovered, Kain hides that he is gay and refrains from any coherent relation... until the day when his way crosses that of Mel Frederics, a calm and soft young man at the dark past. A meeting which is going to confuse their life.

Genre: Action, Drama, Psychological, Slice of Life, Tragedy, Yaoi

Love Mode Manga

 It’s been a while since the last time I made a manga review or more like manga spoiler (lol). But of course, it’s not because I stopped reading but I’m just lazy (laughs). This time I’ve read another amazing manga and I feel that I really want to write something about it. It was a long read however it was really worth it.

The title of the manga is Love Mode by Shimizu Yuki-sensei, an eleven volume manga of boys love, suffering, friendship, brotherhood, happiness and sadness. It was really fun reading it because of the good plot and flow of the story. You wouldn’t expect the things that you would read. In the first volume, a comedy romance of Izumi and Takamiya was fun to read. And I didn’t even think that the story would go from those two to the best friend Aoe-san. I was really laughing on how Izumi and Takamiya’s relationship developed. Yuki-sensei did a great job making the story start as enjoyable and comedic.

Reiji and Naoya

Aoe and Takamiya

The second volume came Aoe Reiji and Naoya’s fated meeting. A meeting that caused them both to be together. This volume was fun to read because I totally liked Reiji despite his personality (lol). Their relationship didn’t develop quickly however, as the story continues, the next scenes became more interesting. There were a lot of mysteries behind each character, and would think that Naoya was someone very important? Of course, me! XD I mean, well, they’ve been a lot of the same story like your relatives died and someone was there to get you after all the year blah blah..but still, it was good to make Reiji pressured so he could be more honest with his feelings (laughs).

Izumi the host of B&B’s story was good as well, however, I wasn’t that attached to him since he first appeared but well, he and Arashi were lucky to have one book for themselves!! The side story that I loved the most was Seiichi and Tomoki’s!!( omg ) would you believed that after Izumi left the 1^st spot of being a host, Seiichi, the one who succeeded the spot had sex with a 14-year old brat!! At first when I still haven’t known his age I didn’t thought he could be that young! But well, Tomoki’s really cute and I really liked him but (sobs) I really wished that they ended up being together for a long time. It was a beautiful yet sad story.

Now now..I shouldn’t forget about the guy who has never left the scene! I mean, he was always there in the sideline and I’ve only found it out later that he had really an interesting past!! What I’m talking about is Kiichi, Reiji’s older brother. Who would think he has a past like that, moreover a father like that. Yes, Aoe-papa was someone I don’t know if readers would love but for me I liked him (yeah am I an idiot or what?). But let’s talk about Aoe-papa later; I want to talk about Kiichi. Kiichi is such a good man. When I was reading the manga, the story was really fun especially because of Kiichi. He was always there bugging Reiiji and even a side character when Reiji’s story started (he really love his young bro). And as a lover, Haroumi’s such an understanding person! I like Haroumi too and then this and that happen. There appeared a guy who looked like Haroumi and I was like “omg who the fuck is this guy?” because he was talking like “it’s been ten years since the last time I heard you voice”. ;A; and he said that to Kiichi! I was really curious who he was and then BAM! Wahhhwahhh someone shut my mouth I really feel like telling it! This review of mine’s a spoiler already! Hahahaha XD okay so yeah, he was someone who was so close to Haroumi when they were young. Their story was in the volume 8, and omg it was really interesting I was controlling my screams because I was reading love mode past 12 am already!

Aoe-papa came to the scene and everything became like “WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HIM?”. He was really a cruel person yet despite that I found myself liking him (even though he was really a hateful character). He treated his sons like toys and crushed everyone he didn’t like. It was really hard for Kiichi and Reiji and Haroumi as well. Especially Kiichi since he was treated as a mere tool by his own father. But you see, Aoe-papa san was like that because he only valued one person. Yes Aoe-papa was really in love with Nishiki, I can conclude that. He was ready to do everything for the sake of Nishiki yet he was not honest enough to express it gently and treated him like a hole. But however you see it, he loved Nishiki too much to even care about anything but him. This is the reason why I like Aoe-papa. Stupid but romantic wasn’t he?

aoe-papa <333

he's actually attractive XD

And then, the last volume. During the previous volumes, with Reii and Takamiya having a birthday celebration in the past, there was this long-haired guy who came to the picture for a small number of times. Yet the curiosity in me was so much that I was dying to know who he was. His name was Shiki. And the last volume was his moments of glory. He was someone who was very special to Rieji. It was Reiji’s happy and comfortable times when he was with Shiki and Takamiya but odds weren’t in their favor and they ended up losing Shiki. It was really saddening but still, Reiji ended up with Naoya so it was still happy ending right? In this volume, Aoe-papa finally gave Reiji the life he didn’t wanted by passing away with an aircraft crash but since the only body that was found was the pilot’s, I concluded that Aoe-papa wanted to escape his current life and live with Nishiki somewhere so he fabricated it and went away (he’s really selfish).  He only wanted an heir so he could pass his properties because that was what Nishiki wanted but I don’t think Nishiki was a bad person. Well, well, the only explanation is because it was love. Yes love made them that way and as a whole, the story was very good as well as the art.

There were also a few more characters like Jin-san and Katsuki and Ian and Rin but I’m sorry for not saying something about them. hehehe…my mind’s too caught up with the Aoe family. XD well, I like jin-san coz he’s a hot oldy!(lol)

I know I’m really an idiot for only knowing about love mode now because it started years and years ago I’m sorry I only became interested with yaoi last 2011 and now I’m using a list when I choose a manga to read. It’s in alphabetical order of managaka names and currently I’m in the S part so I was able to read Shimizu Yuki-sensei’s works just now. And I really love it! Ahh I really am lucky for discovering and loving the yaoi genre.. 

For those who haven’t read love mode (thought maybe almost everyone already have read it. OTL) please please..if you want to read a manga that would interest and capture you and at the same time make you smile and laugh, read LOVE MODE!! It was a really amazing read, I will rate it 10/10 (hahaha). Thank you for reading my blog! And oh- the epilogue was really nice. It’s was so heartwarming ^^

SUMMARY from mangatraders:


Mistaken identities, bizarre accidents and pratfalls, tragic pasts and plenty of broken hearts, and that is just for starters! Love Mode tells the story of the lives of the men involved with the classy male escort service, Blue Boy. Love lines intertwine and cross, friendships are made and broken in this boy's love classic!

Sakashita Izumi, your typical straight high school student, gets into a sticky situation with a gay translator, Takamiya Katsura, when he gets mistaken for Izumi - an escort from B&B (Blue Boy)! The two go on a date, Takamiya goes all the way with the young Izumi, and now the older man's in love with him. Tiny Problem: Izumi is slightly homophobe. Will he eventually convert in that which he fears?

Reiji, owner of B&B and other sleazy clubs (and seemingly not gay) finds out his girlfriend had been cheating on him - just after dumping her. He bumps into a young, family-less, money-less, trustless high school named Naoya who at that moment gets knocked out by a pot that Reiji's vengeful ex-lover drops on his head. Reiji accompanies the young boy, feeling bad that this is partly his doing, only to find that now Naoya is homeless since his apartment burned down and finally ends up taking in this "stray cat".

This serie contains more stories than just these couples. 

Lover's Mode Extra:
Businessman Aoe is trying to leave so his student lover can study. But that is proving to be difficult. 

Love Mode Unlimited:
A look into the future with Naoya and Izumi grown up

Kinpeibai Kinden Honoo no Kuchizuke by Mizukami Shin

Heyahh! So here I am again bringing everyone a review of a manga I just read. I was supposed to continue typing my story but ended up reading yaoi manga despite the self-control I've been implementing. Now, I want to share this story by Mizukami Shin entitled “Kinpeibai Kinden Honoo no Kuchizuke”. From what the translator said, it came from a Chinese famous erotica written during the Ming Dynasty in 7^th century (pretty old huh). The story circled about political power, prostitution and of course, BL! As I was reading the first few pages, I felt sad for the character Kinren but at the same time the story became interesting and I was so eager to find out what would happen next.

Kinren’s (Kinnen) character portrays beauty and his survival instinct was strong despite the fact that the way his life led was really wrong. In this manga there was a lot of orgy and sex with old men (damn it! Only Kinren looks good when he’s doing it with those ugly politicians). Those who have weak stomach and don’t like violent and too graphical sex shouldn't read this (just a warring) though writing a review about it means I still recommends the manga.

The story portrayed how political power ruled over the poor people as well. Kinren, being a son of a prostitute didn’t have the ability to resist that was why he ended up as a prostitute for a long time until he grown to a beautiful man. The other character, who he was in love with was Bu shou, didn't have enough ability to save Kinren from his path to darkness and then everything came down to another character entering the scene. Simon, a womanizer and playboy hindered both of them to be together too.

I really liked the story and how emotional it got. The mangaka drew Kinren pretty good. I thought everything would end up to a tragic end since many things happened along the story. In the end, despite Simon’s cruelty, I still felt pity for him. Overall, it was a good read and the art was fine even with such detailed drawings. I’m not a fan of most of Shin-sensei’s works but I do have favorites among them, like aigan-shounen, Ushirokara Dakishimete (this one’s so funny) and of course this one. Anyway, here’s a summary of the story. Enjoy it if ever you want to check it out!

summary:

Kinnen is the son of a famous prostitute, when his mother becomes sick, he sees no other way to survive than to become the sex toy of a rich Chinese nobleman, despite the protests from Bushou, who loves him. Years pass; Bushou has not forgotten about Kinnen…

In These Words vol. 1 lovely feels! XD

Yesterday, when I arrived at my classroom, my classmate who I’ve trusted to receive my packages unexpectedly held me a different envelop than usual, it was a brown one, not the common white one I usually receive. It was the package from Guilt pleasure, a book that I got so curious about and ended up buying a copy of it online. I let her open it and I totally freaked out when I saw that it has a notepad accompanying the book itself. “Oh my god! A freebie!” I cried aloud without even minding my classmates around me. I was so happy and I felt so giddy. I couldn’t keep myself from freaking out because of the excitement I felt inside. I didn’t even care that I’m gathering all their attention and happily celebrating the arrival of the book. Kyaaaaah! XD I really love having the real thing in my hands!

The book that I’ve bought from DP was the suspense story “In these words”. I just love the cover of the book! It made me think of how amazing the content would be! Then I also love the DP card with the book and the notepad! So sexy! I could feel the invisible *fojushi drool* crawling out of my mouth! Then my friends asked me to give them one sheet of the notepad and I couldn’t say no. So, they were having fun tearing one sheet each knowing that it would make me freak out more. Yes. I was screaming while they took the time tearing sheets each for themselves. They’re such a sadist! They knew so well that it would affect me. DX

Everyone might be wondering why I’m reacting openly like that even with my classmates around. Well, it’s because I’m a proud and shameless fojushi and it’s hard for me to control my emotions even with a lot of people around especially when it concerns my hobbies. And on top of these reasons, almost everyone of my classmates already knew that I love yaoi. Yes, they so fucking knew my homosexual fetish!

And so when it comes down to the book. OMG! I’m so amazed with the drawing I couldn’t even. . .Damn! I love love love it! The colored prints are so beautiful, wonderful, lovely, exquisite, and seductive, it made my heart goes doki doki and my mind was so in cloud9 when I saw them! Gosh! I like Katsuya and his character. The events in his nightmares were so sexy and so sadistic that I’ve had a boner down there even though it’s just imaginary! LOL. Also, he looks more handsome and ukeish with his hair down. Ahhhh! I just like seeing him getting fucked like that! Yeah. . I’m a sadist too that’s why I really love the concept of this book!

I love what he said here! XD Kyaaaahh!

Katsuya is so sexy! DX

so cute!!

The mysterious and childish air around Keiji is what I love the most. His eyes are so fierce and strong. Aaaaaah! Keiji! He’s so sadistic I love him so much! His every word feels so real when he speaks to Katsuya. I want to know more about him and I can’t wait to read the second volume! The end of the volume one’s so fucking cliffhanger I was screaming when I reached that part last night!  I wonder when’s the next release would be. I’ll surely get a copy of it no matter what! My butt’s getting giddy just thinking of the possible events ahead between Katsuya and Keiji!

The guilt pleasure logo is so wow! I like it a lot! and that sexy guy there! OMG! so hot!

Katsuya's chibi version! SO CUTE! XD

TogaQ and KuchikuNeko-san, thank you so much for creating such thrilling and exciting story. Moreover, the sex scenes are so beautifully and explicitly illustrated that I couldn’t help rereading it repeatedly. That stranger’s cock is so big. Whoever he is I know Katsuya felt good having it up his ass. LOL. And oh! The ITW chibi version’s quite funny! I couldn’t agree more of what the fojushis did on those scenes. Hahaha! Buying this book rather cost me a lot but I regret nothing. In contrary, I’m now saving up for the next volume of it. Cheers to Guilt pleasure, TogaQ & KichikuNeko, and DMP for such a wonderful manga! :>

1999 SHANGHAI by Mizushiro Setona

A forbidden feeling that wells up between two opposing gang protégées, a fated encounter that brings both of them fall into the trap of love. How far will they go for the uncontrollable emotion they have for each other? A strong yet dangerous desire devouring their hearts to the point of no return. A love so pure yet unacceptable. Who would have thought that such powerful feelings would tie a member of Toulon, the strongest gang, and a member of Xianglongji, the smartest and most clever gang, which both rule the shanghai area, together  in a relationship that would test their loyalties? A battle of territories, power, dignity and love that would risk not just their lives but their hearts as well. So which will prevail? Their love for each other or their loyalties to their brothers?

1999 Shanghai v01 c03 - 148

1999 Shanghai v01 c04 - 15

1999 Shanghai v01 c04 - 202

1999 Shanghai v01 c04 - 204

One of Mizushiro-sensei’s great works, 1999 Shanghai is a very wonderful yet tragic tale of love between two people under opposing gangs. It is a story that will make one smile of happiness witnessing the passionate love of Dawu and Xiaoxue and cry the moment after, realizing that these feelings will soon crumble to their feet. Despite of the risky situation, both of them love each other so much that they have to choose the path they should take next. They knew so well that any time they have to point the gun to each other and pull the trigger yet the love blossoming between them never ceased. Until they couldn’t hide their relationship anymore and they have to decide which is which.  With the important persons in their lives and the gangs involved, it was just a matter of time for them to end up killing each other. 

1999 Shanghai v02 c05 - 052

1999 Shanghai v02 c07 - 140

A beautiful love story in the slum world of Shanghai brought to light the consequences, the sufferings, and most of all the desire to love and be loved despite the spaces between them. They’ve struggled to save their feelings for each other yet it should have never been there from the start. And later on the cruel reality hit them hard. They have to obey the rules. They have to stand under their respective position. They have to bury their hearts.

1999 Shanghai v03 c09 - 033

1999 Shanghai v03 c10 - 085

1999 Shanghai v03 c12 - 148

1999 Shanghai v03 c12 - 149

1999 Shanghai v03 c12 - 155

“Let the two of us go through heaven until hell”

“In the face of love, falling like a meteor, we are so helpless”

“He’s just one of 6 billion on this earth, but he means so much to me.”

1999 Shanghai v04 c13 - 022

1999 Shanghai v04 c16 - 109

1999 Shanghai v04 c17 - 185

1999 Shanghai v04 c17 - 188

This manga is a masterpiece. A striking representation of forbidden love just like the famous Romeo and Juliet of William Shakespear. A love so chaste yet dangerous, a desire so strong yet poisonous. I knew so well that it has a tragic ending yet I couldn’t resist myself from reading it. And I would have regretted if I hadn’t read such a wonderful and painful story that made me cry buckets of tears. It was exquisite! The feelings and the emotions the manga gave me stirred me so much. I’m so grateful that I was able to witness their love until the very end. This manga will always be in my heart and the love that Dawu and Xiaoxue shared will always be in my memories. I love everything about it including the beautiful smiles, the painful cries and the fearful bloodsheds. I’m a tragedy manga lover despite the sorrow and the melancholy it gives me.  1999 Shanghai is one of the best ever mangas I’ve read.

Witness the love of Dawu and Xiaoxue and experience the feelings of the prohibited love they have. Moreover, another unacceptable emotion from one of each opposing gangs developed on the sideline.

THEY WERE VERY HAPPY UNTIL THE VERY END.