Anata ga Shite Kurenakutemo
Even If You Don't Do It

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Note: This is a preliminary review based off on the first 3.5 volumes on the series. The review/rating is subject to change depending on how the series progresses.

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This is an unusual manga given the theme that it tackles – namely dead bedrooms. For those of who are unaware – a dead bedroom is one in which a couple (usually married) have drifted apart to such an extent that despite cohabiting the same bed, they have lost all intimacy with one another. There is little emotional intimacy and zero physical intimacy between the couple. The lack of intimacy is usually the result of one person having ... either lower sexual libido or no longer finding their spouse attractive/exciting enough to arouse the feelings of intimacy/love that was present at the inception of the relationship. Needless to say, such relationships can often be stressful for both partners and often result in the couple either breaking up or indulging in extramarital affairs.

Anata ga Shite Kurenakutemo is the story of two couples – Michi (the girl) and Makoto (the man) are colleagues who are married to different spouses. While both of them are deeply committed to their spouses and desire physical intimacy from their partners, they are habitually spurned by them. As a result of a chance confession by Michi, they reveal their problems to one another and start encouraging each other on how to reignite their relationships.

The series is quite well done. In the 3.5 volumes (17 chapters) translated so far, the series has continued to become more tense as it has proceeded and is delicately navigating the line between drama, romance and melancholy. The main characters are walking an emotional tight-rope trying to remain faithful to their spouses but at the same time unable to restore their lost intimacy. The two main characters – Michi and Makoto are given sufficient depth and proper back-stories to remain believable. For instance, Makoto chooses to marry a working woman because he experienced his own mother, a housewife, being taken for granted by his father. He felt sorry for his mom and didn’t want to enter a relationship in which he would treat his spouse the same way his father treated his mother. But lo and behold, while he avoided that problem – his wife is so committed to her work that she doesn’t have any time for him! From one extreme to another…

In its home country, the manga has created quite a stir with its realistic portrayal of relationships in modern Japan – especially amongst women in their 20s and 30s who have praised the manga’s portrayal of relationships. As for me, it has far exceeded my expectations. Given how most recent manga focus on high-schoolers who are either teasing each other or finding themselves reincarnated as superheroes in magical worlds, this series has been a bout of fresh air. Since only 17 chapters have come out, it remains to be seen how this series progresses. It could become a melodramatic dumpster-fire in a train-wreck that explodes in the reader’s faces or it could actually turn out to be a genuine well thought out drama that chronicles the strange and melancholy nature of adult relationships in the 21st century.

Do I recommend this? If you are a fellow who enjoys the typical shonen/shoujo stuff relating to fluffy romances, sugoi-dekai girlfriends or ideal waifu like characters – no. Stay away from this. This is not the manga that depicts “ideal pure” relationships where characters blush when experiencing an indirect kiss from sharing a can of diet-coke. This is realistic stuff and real life gets messy. If you are the type of person who is OK with reading a realistic take on adult romance – give it a shot.

(contains some spoilers)

This could be retitled Misery: the manga. And I don't necessarily mean it in a bad way at all, it's just that it's quite the miserable story. I read it in 2 days, I couldn't get away from it. I love K-dramas so I guess this is my dominion. If you like K-dramas too, I guess you'd enjoy this.

Like I said in my first paragraph, the story is pretty grim and realistic. Two couples are struggling to keep their marriages intact. They're not having sex with their spouses and their intimacy is lacking in all ways. There's quite a bit of cheating, lying ... and a lot of heartache. I'm curious to see where the story will go from now (I read all the available 57 chapters), and I hope it's not to a happy ending because these things cannot possibly end well so far the sake of keeping up with realism, this story shouldn't either.

Most of the characters are relatable, albeit they are very flawed and will do your head in at times. The art is ok, very shoujo like and a bit generic but it's pleasant to the eye.

I give it a 7 overall. Am I actually enjoying it? It's complicated. And I probably need to read something lighter after this experience, nevertheless I would recommend.

This is about two married couples who are suffering in their marriage (because they aren't satisfied or happy). Both leads are married to different people and one day console each other about their worries in which they become more close.

They continuously meet, and console each other about their problems. Obviously, as colleagues. While you are reading, you will understand why the leads are upset with their partners and why they arent happy in their marriage. It's pretty realistic but in a good way.

While consoling each other several times, they both realize they have a lot in common and eventually fall in love. ...

I'll be honest but the partners of the leads will annoy you because of their behavior. But other than that, I like the leads since they actually attempt to fix and enjoy their marriage. They don't give up on their marriage. But because of the lack of communication between them and their partners, it eventually falls apart. Slowly but eventually.

By the end, I hope the leads end up together