After all the sterling reviews, I thought for sure I'd love this. The setting is great and I do not deny that the plot is well written in the sense that the historical aspects are believable and the sociological layers quite interesting. So far so good, right?

However, for me it became a case of "come for the BL, stay for the taisho" because I just couldn't get into the so called romance. Neither of the main characters are likeable. Akihito is an unmanly whiner and serial rapist and Katsuragi just a cold bastard (though I do applaud the fact that he wasn't a typical crybaby.) I couldn't relate to either, and because I really couldn't see any love between them, I didn't give a damn whether they got together or not. The only character I liked was Ishizaki.

As for the rape, though I sometimes forgive these things due to circumstances, I didn't think there were any mitigating factors in this story. Pretty bad imo. I get that, considering the times they live in, they can't be openly affectionate, but there really is no displays of affection at all, hidden or otherwise...

Other than that, the art is good, but not great. The character development is slow but the last few scanlated chapters show some improvement. Still, for there to be so little indication of Katsuragi's feelings until the very end of the second volume, it's progressing very slowly...

... Last updated on March 26th, 2013, 2:49am

My favourite work from Hidaka Shoko. This manga captures perfectly the tug-of-war between heart, mind and circumstance. The story's plot is well-thought out and has great build up and tension—every chapter I'm kept with baited breath waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop. Also one of the best taisho era mangas I've read as well. Everything is believable and the political drama sweeps you up.

One of my favourite things about her works is that the relationships are built up. They aren't pulled out of no where. The attraction between characters isn't pulled up out of thin air; you get a good sense of why they want/love each other, the struggles in the relationship and you're there from square one. One of my pet peeves is when characters (in any manga, not just a shounen-ai/yaoi) have an instant attraction to each other without much care about the *why.* Usually mangas can get away with instant attraction without much back story because the characters are well-drawn/good looking so the reader doesn't really mind, but in Shoko's works the foundation for their attractions are deliciously written.

Recommended. You will not be disappointed.

more chapters can't come out soon enough!

but really the history and political intrigue in this is spot on and super realistic, in turn making the angst and star-crossed-ness of the romantic angle even more poignant and gripping. at the same time i love how the barrier between the two characters is not, in fact, their difference in rank itself. it's their own selves and how each of them deal with their difference in rank that separates them. akihito in all his desperation seems to be willing now to burn and build every bridge necessary to get to katsuragi, and you can feel katsuragi's trepidation in watching akihito act so directly in the midst of all the politics around them and not being able to do much about it. it's a careful, dangerous, and very sexy dance they make.

hidaka shouko, you've done it again.

The plot is really gripping. Serious drama... It's so tense at times, and the role of social status is played out well. It actually makes me anxious about how things are going to play out when the confines of rank are so stringent (dare I say it's realistic?) This is a great historical manga, and the flow of the story is so addictive... not to mention the yaoi part. Haha, add that in, and it's like, ten times better XD Akihito and Katsuragai are great characters- I want to read more about them! I wish more chapters were scanlated, I would read them in a heartbeat.

... Last updated on August 21st, 2012, 5:48pm

More than a classic, actually. A masterpiece would be the better term. Hidaka Shoko's work never disappoints me, but Yuutsu Na Asa is something special. Hidaka's always been very subtle with feelings and emotions, and that just makes sudden outbursts so much more powerful. It's got my heart throbbing from the beginning to the end. This is real angst, not your typically jealousy blushy high school drama. Great plot, excellent characterization, fantastical art, highly recommended.

Gosh, I think I found another good Edo periodic romance yaoi story. This can very well rival Sakura-gari. I simply adore the tensions between love and loyalties between the two main characters in this story. I do think this is Hidaka Shoko's best work so far.

really... i'm so captive by Hidaka-sensei's work. I'm hunting all her works and read it straight way. Instanly,,and can't be helped, I'm in love with the this story flowing. I know what's Kuze feeling... is choking me and kill me slowly...

Very good works for people who search a good manga.

Dont you just want to kill a baby waiting for a next scanlated chapter? It's right, this is DRAMA, and not exaggerated, teen drama of an uke wondering how the seme feels for him while picking flower petals. It's MEN. Men's conversation. Men's thinking. Men's shape. Pretty, but no the-uke-looks-like-a girl-with-dick type of pretty. If you've gone bored with your whiny uke blushed miserably whenever his seme played basketball (or something like that), and cried dramatically while he was humped in the bed, then try this.
But again if you basically want to read porn with simple plot, don't read this.


anyway, mangatraders have it till vol 8 the last time I saw

... Last updated on September 10th, 2011, 8:10am

WOW now THIS is DRAMA!!!! And not in the conventional, over the top sense, but more of a psychological drama than anything else. The master/servant relationship is played out excellently and the status structure that comes with such a relationship used to full advantage. Indeed, much of the drama comes through in the intensity of the dialogues they have with one another, so when reading the raws even you only get half the sense of what is going on... although just by looking at their faces, the intensity of their gazes, the vibes of intensity will just suck you in!!!

From reading the 2 scanlated chapters, and the raws, I can say that perhaps this is one of, if not the, best yaoi master-butler up to date. The way it flows are like the usual Hidaka Shouko; not exactly melodramatic, a little bit tight and choking, and her men are one of the most pleasant, balanced men seen in yaoi, as far as body shapes are concerned. And again, she likes breaking seme-uke expectation..