I can’t believe people here give bad review about Dakaretai Otoko Ichi (its official abbrevation is Dakaichi, so I will use it here) while this franchise is really HUGE among BL/yaoi lovers in Japan, sold more than 3 million copies just from 6 volumes, and sit on no 1 best selling BL manga for several years in various bookstore in Japan! Because of those huge success, they adapted the series into drama cd, anime and real stage play that held in Tokyo, Japan. Not to mention they also released sooo much merchandise such as bluetooth earphone, action figure, dolls, bag, necklace, coin wallet even soap and handcream!
From my observation, I think the bad review may be because there is a difference between yaoi culture in worldwide vs BL in Japan. BL lovers in Japan really aware that we should separate reality and fantasy, therefore they expect smutty content to satisfy their fantasy needs and most of them didn't mind rape - soon to love - theme in most BL manga, and it happen in Dakaichi (actually in Dakaichi it's not rape and it's consent instead, I explained below). These issue sometimes turned off many readers in the rest of the world, or at least for people who bothered with those issue and leave bad review about it on internet. But statistic can't lie, those smutty content IS what make people attracted with Dakaichi. As for rape scene, some may be bothered and it makes the anime producer change the story in first episode and the rape didn't happen there.
I found myself reading other BL manga and haven’t find such good, funny, heartwarming, but also keep my heart beat with very good sex scene, unique characters, and good storyline other than Dakaichi! Here’s I would explain why it’s become so popular
there is possible spoilers in my review, so keep reading if you interested.
- The plot is light, but could enlighten your moods in few minutes.
The main story is just love between 2 most popular actor in Japan’s entertainment industry. But what makes unique is the writer could make the personality of the characters is really interesting and how the author bring the story enjoyable to read.
It’s slice of life type of manga that you could make you escape from reality a bit, and not spending too much time drawning to the story. it’s so light read that I can read over and over again. If I only have some minutes to spend, I just open some random chapter and find myself refreshed in minutes.
- Whole new unique characters personality and humor
If you read comments on sensei’s twitter @SakurabiHashigo (just use google translate) you will people really love the couple Chuntaka because of how the author put a strong character of Junta/Chunta (seme) and Takato (Uke) and humor to make it really adorable. You also could find many review of how people love Chuntaka in review section of Japanese bookstore website in Japan.
Azumaya Junta is successful newcomer actor that madly in love with Takato, have a cheerful personality and dazzling angelic aura and seems cute and harmless. He potrayed as perfect boyfriend that have various skill including cooking and take care of his partner. But deep down he is a carnivorous animal that desires Takato like a beast in heat. Junta somehow potray how Japanese woman wanted his partner to be: a perfect boyfriend with successful career, good domestic skill that love to pamper his partner, good personality, but could be turn into alpha male that desire his partner.
And for the Uke, how the author potray him also really good. He is a typical tsundere uke with high pride as he is a veteran actor, but only in front of Junta, he could turn into a very very veryyyyy lewd and passionate lover, while doing his best to not his partner know that he desire Junta so much. You should read how the author draw how lewd he is while trying his best to hide it, it’s something that you cannot find in other BL manga.
Again, this also relate to Japanese culture, which woman considered cute when she could hold herself back when desiring her partner, while she is quite lustful to his partner. If you have read BL or straight love manga you will understand what I mean.
The interaction between those two characters making the story interesting. The author effortlessly put good humor and make they both adorable.
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Perfect combination of all aspect
Like I said before, I never found other series with perfect combination of strong characters, good storyline, good humor. Sometimes the story could get serious but the author always ended it with nice and heartwarming story.
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Creative sex scene
The author is the most creative sex scene storyteller and drawer in BL niche I have encounter so far. There are lots of sex scene in Dakaichi but you will never get bored reading it!
You will find the couple doing sex in car, in changing room using stage play’s custom, using classroom rental studio, even doing sex in street when they in overseas!
oh, not to mention the character’s expression is so adorable during the sex. Junta always so lustful like a beast while Takato is looked really lewd. The author sometimes managed to put humor during sex, which I rarely found in other manga. But other time, she make the characters serious during sex when there is conflict or tension between couple, which is surprisingly good too, especially when paired with good storyline that make them behave in certain situation. I personally never found any other good sex scene in BL manga that as good as Dakaichi
- Note about rape in chapter 1 *SPOILER
If you have read many BL manga you would encounter many form of rape. But from my opinion after reading tons of other BL manga it’s not really a rape in my opinion.
Takato said he would granted any wish to make Junta delete embarassing video of him. Then Junta ask if he could have sex with Takato. Takato surprised and run away at first, but Junta reminded that Takato said that he would grant any wish, and then they have sex. In later chapter when it focused on flashback when those two meets, it’s clear that both of them has interested each other. Compared to other series that obviously it’s rape, I personally think it’s much better. And in later chapters, you would find how Junta actually treasure Takato, and how Takato become lonely when he wasn’t around with Junta
What Make you turn off with the Dakaichi
If you hate smutty or rape turned to be love theme in BL manga, this series is not for you
BUT even for me, what I HATE the most is side stories (other couple, not related to the series) Natotare TRIPLE. Originally, there were couple then one of their best friend interested with his lover and then they become triple instead.There is real rape (not turned into love but turned into pleasure instead) which turned off most people, including me. However, because Netotare triple isn't related to the series, I still give Dakaichi 10/10
Bottom Line
It’s a very good recommendation of BL manga in my opinion. 3 million of book sales in small BL niche cult can’t be wrong!!
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