Tokyo Shinjuu

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I am moved once again by BL manga with strong characters. As any good story should go, if it isn't plot driven then it better be character driven (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) and part of that character driven magic is making sure the characters are interesting. The BL genre is over run with lackluster characters, boring and cliche "plots", and has little to no substance. Tokyo Shinjuu by Totempole has blown me away with its fun and dynamic characters. The manga is about Miyasaka, a listless guy with no real goal in life, happens to apply for a job as an ... assistant director and a movie otaku, Yano. There isn't much else to say about this manga plot wise but the interactions between the two main characters as they book end each other, personality-wise, truly puts the romantic and comedy parts of "romcom".
The simplistic art style mixed with the occasional over-exaggerated actions and expressions, makes this manga feel less like other BL manga and more like a comedy manga. Through the use of all of these tools, the manga effectively captures and portrays Miyasaka's goofy personality and his hopelessness towards Yano and Yano's blunt attitude.

Moving on to something other than characters, I felt the nail that really hit home with this is as a reader, I felt myself learning to enjoy and appreciate the work that goes into films behind the scene along side Miyasaka and I even got some information about the behind the scene of Japanese television.

The only complaint I have about this manga is how Miyasaka treated his girlfriend in the beginning of the manga...


All I really did was rant about the characters but this manga is definitely worth reading. And if you enjoyed this one, I highly recommend you read the sequels!! Those are good (if not better).