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This manga is actually very enjoyable. This author tends to be more romantic, but this manga has a perfect mixture of emotional and physical, if you know what I mean...

The characters are very charismatic and soon enough you'll empathize with all the boys (I can't guarantee you'll enjoy the female characters though...). There are no big "love rivals" as there are in some other mangas of the genre, so you can enjoy the flow of the plot without worrying about someone appearing in the nick of time to snatch away the protagonist you love.

But most of all, the theme of the touching thing is very ... well played, and even if they don't keep saying to each other all the time what they are feeling, their actions are clear enough to make each other (and us, readers) understand almost perfectly, not only the main couple, but all the key-characters of the plot. Overall, the manga is very enjoyable and light-hearted, so you will probably like to read it if you're in a more "need love" mood, or if you're just up for some easy-sailing cute romance, and will probably feel the desire to revisit it some other time as well.

This is one of those slow-paced stories where you just can't get enough once you start. It's not too erotic and it's especially focused on the mind of the characters, but mainly I feel this plot has a little bit of real life in it. So if you are in one of those days where you need emotional attachment to the characters you're following, start this manga, pick a side and cheer for your favourite character. But I must warn you: you'll probably hurt a little in the chest after some pages.
The way the protagonist's feelings are portraited is very much realistic, with the intensity ... of his thoughts and his fears and such. And although some of his actions are put there for the sake of him being the main character, I feel that great many people (including me) would have done or thought the exact same thing, so it ends up adding to the suspense of the climax.
Also, another good thing is that, even though the characters from the parent story are there and all, there is no need for you to read the previous manga to situate yourself in this one. It's more of a bonus to see the characters there and recognize them if you have read Yukidoke no Koi (also great, by the way).
Overall, I think this is a good manga to read with emotional commitment to the story. Even though it takes a little while to get us to some "action", it's totally rewarding on the emotional field. I couldn't recommend it more for one of those times when you want more than just the hot business.

This story is just... man, I've read through many chunks of this plot nodding like a freak because the situations were so real, although it's a pretty unrealistic setting. The behavior of people around the main characters and especially the meaning behind Keiichi wearing his skirt is a concrete concerning issue in a community where homossexualism isn't openly discussed and generally accepted, and I kind of felt more or less represented in both of those characters, which is a thing not most BL comics do. I felt a little dissappointed towards the end and if youread it you will more or less understand why, but ... overall this story is surprisingly good.

Writting this right after finishing the reading, so might regret later. Anyway...

This story is good...? I mean, the plot is actually very good, but it's slow, so don't expect any steamy hotness so soon. The one-shot at the end, though, is what throws your happiness levels through the roof.

Main story - THE PROS: the way the characters think is actually pretty realistic, and Waki, the protagonist, is the definition of persistency. Also, the characters from the other story, Chiisana Koi no Melody, appear constantly, and you get the good vibes from that story as well (if you read it, of course. If not, you'll just ... find them cute as hell). - THE CONS: the other main character is a drag, and you'll want to punch him in the face even when he's right. Also, the pacing is sooo slow, and full of obstacles, that any other normal person would have given up halfway. The feelings of the main couple seem one-sided the whole time, and it's hopes are always fed by the mixed signals the teacher sends.

Side-story - THE PROS: It's awesome. The pacing is perfect, the events are well-placed, and the characters are very relatable. At one point one would start wondering "what's happening with all this well-goingness??" but don't worry! The action and the feels are real in this one! - THE CONS: it's one-shot, so if you want something to entertain for long, you'll have to re-read it a thousand times in a row.

If I could describe this manga with three words, they would be: SO WORTH IT. I mean, everything is so well-thought and enjoyable that one can't help but fall in love with it, and I cannot recommend it more.
The plot is actually very simple, but eye-catching, for it makes you think about the nuances in the society we live in and all that crap. Also, as a linguistics student, it was just perfect to see the way he performs language-like in the original manga (in Japanese), so if you're into Languages and all that good stuff this will definitely give you a hard-on.
The characters and ... the artstyle are just the final touch. The uke is not a whiny baby and the characters are actually pretty easy to empathize with, despite one being your ordinary day-to-day office worker and the other one being a Lutah tribe chief's successor. It's very beautiful to see Qaltaqa's engagement to his beliefs and also to accompany the growth of Ryouichi to the point where he's actually compromised with his mission.
All in all, the whole plot is totally worth looking for and has all the elements for a great yaoi manga: it's super cute, hot, and makes you all fuzzly inside. And furthermore promotes to change or develop your way of thinking about the real world! What more could you ask for?

I found this manga randomly and could not be happier after reading it. The plot can be considered a side-story to the main manga Okane ga Nai, by Kousaka Tohru, but this doesn't mean it has any less plot or comedy and depth than the main thing.
It follows the story of the Okama friend of Kanou from Okane ga Nai, Someya, and a friend of Kanou's assistant (?) Kuba, Honda (ironically, he's a car mechanic). Honda falls in love with Someya, without knowing he's actually a man, and you can guess that a lot of trouble comes from there on, especially considering Honda's a yankee ... and Someya has some past behind him.
- Story - 8
Despite being relatively short in comparison with Kousaka's main work, the story is well-planned and even cute, if you may. It pleased me a lot to know a little bit better those two side-characters in specific, and the relationship yankee-okama was simply genius in my opinion. It's got the comedy it needs, the depth we want and... man, Someya's true self is simply... aaargh too much.
- Art - 10
Well, this point is actually a matter of taste, and since I'm a fan of Kousaka's artstyle, I found it pretty appealing to me.
- Character - 9
I just won't give it a ten because I expected a little more, I guess, but to know more about Someya's life, family relations and in general, how he/she sees and processes things that happen in their life, is just... ah, too good for words. Honda was a character I was genuinely surprised by, especially because of his strengh (in many ways), not to mention is not that often we meet a pairing between a those two types of characters, so it's already interesting from page one. The sensitive side to Someya breaks the heart at some points, but it's because there's a tad of reality in this manga.

Akudama is a cute little shounen-ai manga written by Yuuko Yoshida. It's relatively new to the market, and even though it's not the most original story ever made, is actually quite enjoyable if you're suited for a more slow-paced and a bit less steamy yaoi kind of style.

Story - 8
As I said before, Akudama doesn't have the most complicated of the plots: The first one is about that ordinary and perfectly normal kid, Morisaki, who suddently had a rebellious moment in front of someone, an adult called Harata. The difference? Well, this someone now is threatening this kids' reputation with some evidence of his ... acts. One can imagine how the plot goes from there on - Harata asks Morisaki for some stuff, and Morisaki ends up having a *hard* time because of that ;) (no puns intended, sorry).
Inside this Akudama volume, in chapters 4 and 5, there is a second story, revolving around the relationship of two actors, Ichinose and Fumiyo, who are involved in the project of a yaoi movie/drama (because yes), and their relationship inside/outside the project.
Though this is not the most original plot ever, it's very enjoyable, and the relationships between the protagonists from both stories are very interesting to watch. Also, everything is very smooth and life-like paced, so don't expect wild stuff to happen.

Art - 10
The serialization was made by Canna and the art was drawn by the writter itself, so I guess they match significantly. There's nothing too wild about it, but it's still very beautiful to see.

Character - 6
Because it's a fairly short story, there's not much background over the characters, only the necessary for you not to be lost in the plot. If you're into details about their families and stuff you'll be disappointed, but the main information about their lives is enough to live by.

Enjoyment - 9
Yeah, just wish it was a bit longer. Both stories are great, though. And you can always re-read it a thousand times.

In case you're wondering, this is irrelevant to the story whatsoever. Basically, they were just trying to hype it up to some second season or continuation, which unfortunately never came. They talk about some episodes and some important points of the story so far, in a more humorous kind of way. I am supposing you have already watched the main anime to search for the specials, but if you didn't, this little sum-up may actually sort of help with eventual doubts if you didn't go through the trouble of reading the manga beforehand.
I myself have quite the problem with the anime itself, because it took ... too much time with "character development" and none with the actual plot, pushing it until the very last minute to simply throw that in your faces in a not-so-smooth kind of way. The anime story follows up to the 4th volume of the manga, and the specials don't add anything, and just tease what could happen in the future (which is only reachable by the manga). The main characters even try to play a little bit with the ending the main anime took, but since not even the producers were certain about what could happen, there was really nothing they could do.
For the ones who enjoy some chill in quick episodes with Ritsuka and Soubi with a different mood and more set out to the fun, I can recommend...? Well, better watch one and see what you think. They are very short, about one minute and a half each, so by the end of all of them it will be like watching half a minute of every episode...

Junjou Romantica to me was what I call a "mood anime", which you can watch with no problems whenever the mood comes. For instance, I must have watched this first season about two or three times now, and in most of these times I spent 90% of the time laughing, and 10% of the time horny. Easy now, I will explain.

The Story - 6
The story is not exactly the best one yet, and you will come to realise most of the things that happen are soon forgotten by the own characters that took part on the actions, or simply end up happening because of... reasons. ... Although, it is very adequate to the kind of objective I assume the authors had while writing this story, so it became a sort of charm through my eyes.
Another issue that bugged me a little and I think is worth mentioning is the substance given to certain dialogues and actions. I don't think a lot of people end up minding about it, but as for me, a writer, it ended up breaking the illusion of the plot, and just made me laugh for about two thirds of the entire series. As time went by, it started having this impression that all of the characters – without exceptions – were all a bunch of grown-up kids who fight over silly things that they did without even thinking before. The conversations and motivations they end up having for themselves as the reason behind their affection towards one another are not the most visible throughout the series, so if that bugs you, you will end up having the same experience than me.
Bonus: The arguments. Oh, the arguments. Sometimes I had that strange feeling of finding myself in the middle of a very embarrassing situation among two people, and me not being involved. How to explain that? Imagine yourself walking into a couple arguing in the middle of a narrow alley, while you are stuck between the wall and them. That’s how I felt.

The Art and Sound – both 8
I won’t blab over the art style because I myself don’t bother and even find it very pleasing – and fitting for the time it was produced (2007/2008). As for the sound, the voice actors are actually very good, though through their voices you can already tell who’s gonna be who (if it is a bummer). As a matter of fact, the voice acting was one of the main ingredients, along with the art, that kept me in the illusion of the series, even when the plot was overwhelmed with questionable points. Also, I loved the first season`s ending theme.

Character – 5
This was the point that made me upset the most. The character development is zero, and this is me being kind. I am sorry for the ones who really enjoyed or understood the confusion in the characters’ minds, but God, was that an unpleasing ride. The protagonists, because of the lack of proper conversation, end up having a lot of pointless monologues, and going round and round over the same issues for many and many episodes. Also, most of them contradict themselves, saying things like “I never said that”, while obviously this was all over the place in the episode before. But, the number one complain over this topic is undoubtedly the main uke. Jesus, I mean no spoilers when I say he is capable of upsetting the strongest of minds.

Enjoyment – 8
I enjoy the yaoi genre. And it was no different with Junjou Romantica, the absolute symbol of the yaoi culture. Although it was very problematic in some points, the important moments were properly appreciated, thank you. And if you also don’t mind going through some mind trouble to get to those moments, you will also enjoy the series as a whole.