What do you think about this manga?
| It's my turn once again to contribute to the special read reviews! This time I have picked one of my favourite series, Ren'ai Sousa (aka Love Control) by Hasukawa Ai. When Okumura Takashi a chairman for the JIRI Company decides to hire an interior designer to redesign one of their many chains of restaurants he is surprised by his instant attraction. Yamashiro Kei is one of the best of his trade, an interior designer who has great taste and high standards in the work place, when he first meets Okumura Takashi he is surprised by his instant annoyance. The only way to quell both of their own desire to take the lead in their relationship is to play the game of love control.  If you enjoy reading Yaoi about businessmen—manly adult men; then this is a must read! I can’t recommend this title enough and it is one of my personal favourites in this particular genre of Yaoi. The main storyline follows interior designer, Yamashiro Kei and his client, Okumura Takashi. Okumura, chairman the JIRI group which owns chains of restaurants and bars, first meets Yamashiro when he hired him to redesign their latest project. When they meet for the first time sparks fly, but not in a good way as Okumura soon finds out when he makes a first bad impression on the interior designer, who is a total egoist! In order to make up for the mistakes Okumura made the first time he met the interior designer, he decides to invite Yamashiro to a high-end membership club to talk about a new design project where he himself wastes no time at all flirting with Yamashiro (which only irritates him further). Later Okumura also employs Yamashiro to redesign his own home. Of course things never go according to plan, as poor Okumura tries everything in order to seduce Yamashiro once again, but the other man has other ideas... "Have you ever imagined it? Letting a man take your tie off... let me show you. The throat is one of man’s weaknesses... don’t you think it’s somewhat erotic, being touched here?" (Okumura, Vol 1) Yamashiro thinks Okumura is only toying with him and decides to turn the tables in order to get the other man to fall for him instead. They are both stubborn and strong, so of course the cat and mouse game they play soon turns into a battle of wills to take control. "Just slide a finger into the knot, and pull... slowly. The pull of the fabric warms the back of your neck, but is it really just friction? ... And the moment the tie is gone... you make that face that says you want to be kissed" (Okumura, Vol1)  Yamashiro Kei is feisty, strong willed, highly intelligent, and stubborn. He is a man of business and doesn’t take to kindly to overbearing or pushy clients, which is where he draws a line. Especially if said overbearing and pushy client is one Okumura Takashi who is over confident, equally strong willed, intelligent and stubborn! Yamashiro harbours a deep fear of commitment or allowing himself to open up to someone else, so his feelings for Okumura are overshadowed by the fact he thinks it shows weakness and that the other man will think less of him because of that. Okumura on the other hand does not see Yamashiro as a weak man, it is quite the opposite he sees him as his equal and therefore worthy of his love and total devotion. "I feel pretty proud, being the one you came here to see. Makes me want to try kissing you." (Okumura) "Having no reason to accept a kiss from you, I’ll pass. ...And if you suggest it again, I’ll stomp all over those Gatto shoes of yours." (Yamashiro) "A small price, to get a kiss from you." (Okumura) Will they ever work things out and admit their feelings? Only when our third wheel is introduced do negative feelings turn into something positive. Sasatani Nagi, an arrogant young bartender and new employee of Okumura, who can make special cocktails and goes on to take a keen interest (borderline obsessed is more like it!) in Yamashiro. The fear in Yamashiro’s heart once again rears its ugly head and Okumura finds himself being pushed away (again). Third wheel decides to sabotage the couple’s relationship by playing upon Yamashiro’s fears and a breakdown in communication ensures.  I always find it frustrating when I read an overused plot devise, but I found myself really enjoying this. I liked all the characters - even the ‘third wheel’; I didn’t find any that were annoying. I actually wanted to see Sasatani get himself a perfect man to help him get over the loss of Yamashiro and I wasn’t disappointed! Welcome newcomer, Ichinose Kei a shy and rather naive guy who doesn’t handle his drink very well. He falls for Sasatani at first sight, which soon becomes hero worship after Sasatani saves Ichinose from a pervert client looking for a quickie in the gents. Their story is kind of bittersweet, especially when Ichinose finds out that Sasatani is actually in love with Yamashiro—but he is willing to fight for a place in Sasatani’s heart no matter the cost of his own self-worth and so begins a tale of desperate love. Okay, at first glance there isn’t anything special or unique about the storyline and the characters seem reminiscent of your standard cliché seme/uke pairing. But what makes this title stand out for me, is the characters and how they develop throughout—especially Yamashiro, as he works through his own insecurities and inner turmoil when faced with loving someone else. Plus the mix of romance and sex only gets better as the series progresses! Hasukawa Ai’s art is very much recognisable, I love her style and how her characters are well drawn and easy to tell apart, which really appeals to me because many mangaka make the mistake of drawing different characters similar and it becomes hard to tell who is who. And it was actually the beautiful art that first attracted me to read this title. I think this series (and spin-off) deserve a place on our list of recommendations. It is still a story of (manly) men in-love and in an adult relationship with well done character development and lots of romance and sex!  End Notes: Ren'ai Sousa (Love Control) is licensed in English by Juné. Anata no Tonari ni Suwarasete is a spin-off and loosely connected as the characters cross paths in both titles. There is also a third volume to the Love Control series, this time focussing on Sasatani and Ichinose relationship with snippets of Yamashiro and Okumura. It has yet to be published in English. There is also currently 4 BL drama CDs, 1 mini-drama (Lovers Chair) and spin-off (Anata no Tonari ni Sawarasete) available and I highly recommended giving them a listen! My personal favourite is drama cd 2 & 4. Manga Classification: Average Yaoi, Equal relationship Original story and artwork by Hasukawa Ai. Licensed in English by Juné. Review by Angie, beta-ed by Geisha_X. Graphics edited by Angie |
AngieJan 28, 2012 9:59 AM
| I really liked the dynamics on this manga, you are right, it's a pretty common plot about some rivalry but it was worked up nicely. I didn't like the third wheel as a promoter for their relationship, but well...It was good even with that. |
| I might check it out soon! I hope it's available locally here .__. /crosses fingers |
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| I might check it out soon! I hope it's available locally here .__. /crosses fingers |
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| It's very good. (your vote) i liked the two couples featured in this manga.. :) |
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