Sex Without Smut

15 years ago
Posts: 1354
I'm looking for a manga that has sexual content, BUT NO SMUT.
Sex in a manga can be non-smutty if its purpose is not to titillate, arouse or excite the reader in any way. Basically, it should be sex that doesn't make you "hot under the collar" or make you blush or make you giggle like a pervy kid. (Depending on your normal responses to smut, lol.) It should read just like any other part of the manga; it should be sex but not "sexual," which is to say your reactions to it shouldn't be sexual or any different from all the other non-sexual scenes. It should be easy to see that the mangaka's intentions with this sex scene were not smutty at all.
What I'm looking for:
----- there should be actual on-screen sex, not just fade-to-black, implied sex.
----- the purpose of the sex should not be to titillate.
----- the sex should add to the story or the characterization in some crucial way.
----- should go in-depth into the psychology/emotions behind the sexual encounter.
----- should NOT be: ecchi, hentai.
----- should NOT have: "Smut" as a genre.
----- otherwise, can be of any other genre.
An example of a very rare shoujo title that has sex but not smut is Say I Love You. Frankly so much of the sex in this manga is the product of messed-up human confusions and follies that it isn't smutty at all. It is moving, because it reveals a lot about the characters and their foibles, but it definitely isn't arousing or smutty in any way. Instead, the sex deals with very serious issues, such as body image, self-esteem versus self-harm, intimacy versus otherness, sympathy versus pity, etc. Consequently, the reader's reaction to these sex scenes is serious and non-smutty as well.
Examples that DO NOT count:
Midnight Secretary - yes, the sex is emotionally/psychologically backed-up and adds to the story, but it's definitely still there for the purpose of titillation. Anyway, it has "Smut" as a genre, so that should be a dead giveaway...
Silver (FUJITA Kazuko) - again, lots of interesting psychology, but there is just something in the quality of the sexual encounters that is smutty - too much focus on the physical portrayal of sexual pleasure, or something... Eh, it's just smutty.
Nothing like that, please!
So! Does anyone have any non-smutty sex to recommend? 😃
NOTE: This might initially appear similar to the sex but not as a focal point thread, but mine has slightly different requirements - not just characters having implied sex, for example, but actual on-screen sex. Plus, I'm actually okay with sex as a focal point, as long as it's not smutty. I also welcome recommendations from more genres (no preference for shoujo or josei). Right, then, let's get on with it! 😀
15 years ago
Posts: 2
Ever tried My Lovely Ghost Kana?
It's not smut, but has actual sex (in just about every chapter 😛 ) which doesn't particularly add to the story (as there is none, it's slice of life like, just that the girl's a ghost as the name implies).
It's an awefully cute manga showing a healthy (ahem) relationship.

15 years ago
Posts: 1444
uhmmm...
you might have read it..but oh well...
i think Kare First Love is like that or Kare Kano perhaps?? 🙂
oh please do click this!
The sweeter the apple, the higher the branch. The quieter the fart, the nastier the smell.
GUESS WHO??

15 years ago
Posts: 838
Haru yo, koi and Glass no megami 😉
Reading Love LuckyRecommended B Gata H Kei <3 Conveni-N XD

15 years ago
Posts: 91
Quote from diabol
Ever tried My Lovely Ghost Kana?
It's not smut, but has actual sex (in just about every chapter 😛 ) which doesn't particularly add to the story (as there is none, it's slice of life like, just that the girl's a ghost as the name implies).
It's an awefully cute manga showing a healthy (ahem) relationship.
Quote from chulian1819
Haru yo, koi and Glass no megami 😉
those 3 serie are ecchi 😉
Quote from tartufo
What I'm looking for:
----- should NOT be: ecchi, hentai.
----- should NOT have: "Smut" as a genre.
----- otherwise, can be of any other genre.
as for recomandation, Kimi kara no resume is the only one I can think right now exept those mentioned by otakuness

15 years ago
Posts: 1354
Thank you for clarifying that Darkmoore, yes I'm not looking for ecchi! Please everyone, only recommend non-ecchi. 🙂

15 years ago
Posts: 774
Wah! You're so demanding lately!
Okay, I thought of Akkan Baby... and I know they have sex but I can't remember if you actually seen them full on having sex.
Nana has the sex scenes but they really belong there.
Tramps like Us Um some nudity, and there is sex but she's usually thinking during sex.
3D Material (Oneshots)
Thats all I can really think of... all josei too...

15 years ago
Posts: 991

15 years ago
Posts: 332
Honeymoon Salad and its prequel Baby Leaf.

15 years ago
Posts: 27
15 years ago
Posts: 20
i think Kimi wa Pet would fit in the list of specifics you want. hope this helps! =)
15 years ago
Posts: 60

15 years ago
Posts: 188
Fushigi Yugi and Ceres: The Celestial Legend both by Yuu Watase. In Fushigi Yugi the sex is later on. Although it have many sexual references and attempted rape galore, when the two finally have sex it's a bit graphic (not just a blank out.) and I didn't get that pervy blush but I simply felt the emotion. It was deep. :-) And Ceres has a couple sex scenes. I don't think they were smutty, but the further into the series you go the deeper it gets. (No pun intended.) 😁
15 years ago
Posts: 170
Mars fits though it's only really the one scene
I would second Kirai and Zig Zag Don
ETA: just felt that I needed to add a <3 to Say I Love You XD
15 years ago
Posts: 307
Quote from Iphegenia
I STRONGLY second this.
I suggest Parasyte also. The sex in my opinion made the story go from "this is pretty awesome" to "holy crap this is so deep and awesome". The sex made you think about the story and the message, and then it hits you. Not smutty at all.