Haru wo Daiteita
Embracing Love

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Well, it is my first review about any manga but after reading this one i really thought that i need to, to appreciate it. Because I really love it. After reading summary I thought it is not a good one and after reading it I changed my opinion to the opposite.

Story: Firstly I read lots of manga (both shoujo and yaoi). And most of them have lots of drama (I meant real drama with lots of teardrops). Haru wo Daiteita contains drama as well but not to the point of nonsense. I am really glad to see their faith in them.

Graphics: There are looooots ... of nude scenes. If you are sensetive about nudity think again before reading it. But if you are OK with that you will be delighted :)

I can write lots of things but i don't want to give spoilers but in conclusion if you are looking for a yaoi with faith, sweet love and sex, you must read this manga!

I had seen the OVAs then went back to find the manga. As you can see, it ended almost 10 yrs ago and it debut another 10 yrs before that. The drawing might be dated, but the art is still beautiful. Someone once said this is a gloriously porntastic, and I cannot help but agree. The story line move along beautifully, you get to see the maturity of the characters, Iwaka and Katou grow over time and their love for each other. There are tons of comedic moment, so it's not all intense. But it also shows flaws in ... people and how they come back from it. The art work is beautiful, I do look forward to the color pages, they're so nicely done. I am now going to see if I can find the Winter Cicada OVAs, just to make the story whole. That's also a very beautiful story that is a subplot of Embracing Love, more importantly, that was the goal of the two main characters focus of work. So glad they made OVAs for this. Sensei did a beautiful job, love the characters.

Next time you hear someone complaining about yaoi being filled with nothing but effeminate whiny boys, please, as a personal favor to me, introduce them to Embracing Love (Haru wo Daiteita).

I've been around the yaoi block over the years of my obsession and I've seen it all. The good, the bad, the doujinshis, the one-shots. And this series is one of the best. It combines everything that we love in yaoi; beautiful men, drama, romance and sex. More importantly, it does it does it all masterfully.

The only way I can accurately describe Embracing Love is to call it a Yaoi Soap Opera. And I mean ... that in the best way. There isn't one main driving plot such as 'hero must find sword and defeat badguy', instead it's more of a slice of life, episodic series. The driving force behind it all would be the romance between our boys and their professional lives. The series deals with issues ranging from petty jealousies and insecurities to dealing with homophobic relatives and struggling to get a job in a tough industry. I'm under no illusions as to it's realism, obviously things are going to be sugar-coated, but all in all it is one of the most honest, realistic yaoi manga I have ever had the pleasure to read. It's dramamtic without being dark and funny without being too light and carefree.

It all comes down to our leading men; Iwaki and Katou. To be honest there aren't many other shining performances besides the two guys, the other characters are a bit bland. But does this matter? Not at all, because these two are more than egotistic and explosive enough to keep your interest for a full 14 volumes of drama and lover's tiffs.

Those familiar with the genre will be surprised to hear that there are no assigned 'roles' to these boys. Iwaki, older, serious and professional is normally the uke of the pair, but only where sex is concerned. He's no pushover, he can be surprisingly cold and harsh. Deep down he's sensitive and even insecure. Katou on the other hand, is bright, flamboyant and impulsive. He's normally the seme (yes, I did say normally twice, the boys occasionally switch roles) and is characteristically jealous and over-the-top. It's Katou who initiates and pursues the relationship in the beginning.

What makes it all work is how Iwaki and Katou are men. Undeniably, unquestionably men. They look and act like guys. (Well, you know, romanticized fictional guys, but still!) Iwaki struggles with being the 'wife' of the relationship despite having a dominant personality. Katou struggles with insecurity and jealousy. They are in the same industry, sometimes competing for the same roles, sometimes not even able to meet each other for days despite living in the same house. They squabble, argue, fight and yell constantly. And then they work it all out and make-up. With great sex! The drama never ends.

The artwork is absolute top notch. I am a huge fan of Youka Nitta now, the way she draws men is just too much. I honestly don't know how she can make these guys looks completely manly and yet totally beautiful at the same time. Please don't be turned off by the cover artwork, or even the first volume or so. Give it a chance, the art work may seem a bit dated by today's standards, but a few volumes in and I'm sure you'll love it. Her grasp of anatomy, of complex expressions, the pacing and paneling, it's all beautiful. I've never seen art quite like it before. It's different, it's unique, it's perfect for the story.

Now, the only problem I have with the series is this: sometimes the characters just don't shut up. Youka Nitta has a great sense of drama; her artwork and paneling reflects it. So every once in a while I wish the boys would just hug or cry...in silence. Their thoughts are analyzed and they really just go on and on. Which isn't bad, because it gives great insight into their minds and characters. But no one really talks like that. A grand speech or apology once in a while is great, but silence is great also. You can say so much with a look. Youka Nitta sometimes achieves this affect to great success during their sex scenes when they finally stop talking and she lets the artwork talk and the emotion show through body language and facial expression. Her sex scenes are stunning.

Speaking of which, Embracing Love is fairly graphic with the sex. There's no cutting to black once they start kissing. But it's very tastefully done, in my opinion. It's certainly not pornographic. The guy's manly bits are drawn in screentone normally, or with the faintest detail, just hinted at or sometimes not shown at all. There are kissing scenes, cuddling scenes, and pretty much every position imaginable. Youka Nitta keeps it fresh, ranging from hot quick sex to romantic, wordy sex. There is a fair amount; sex normally features during the climax of each episode, once their fight is resolved, or if they're reunited after a long separation. All in all, not too much, not too little for me, but for someone else it may be a bit overwhelming.

Embracing Love is a classic of the yaoi genre and for good reason. It's well-paced, smart, always fresh and the chemistry between the lead couple is one-of-a-kind. The artwork is beautiful and a manga where a gay couple get married and face real life issues is a rarity. It's forgiving, loving and optimistic. Embracing Love truly is a manga about just thatl embracing love. Because it's worht it. The series iis well worth a look. You won't be disappointed!