FeyFujoshi's criticisms are all on the mark, so I won't focus on those. Instead, I want to talk about how the tone is a mess.

The secondary characters are fun to follow, but the story gravitates around Toshiaki, Ikuro and Jun, and the attraction that may or may not be happening between them. Jun was the most unfortunate, as he is written as the cliché "gay playboy who casually kisses everyone" stereotype that plagued 2000s BL. Toshiaki had some family drama going on in the background, and spent 90% of the story either gawking at Jun and arguing with Ikuro until they fall for each other. Ikuro, by comparison, was given slightly more to work with, though he doesn't leave much of an impression.

In spite of the two volumes, there's still a lot to be desired because Yamada Yugi introduces some pretty significant subplots without giving them much depth or resolution. Don't get me wrong — I love her stories, but I can't shake the feeling that most of this one was wasting time without getting anywhere. The film research club activities were fun, but the relationship between Toshiaki and Ikuro feels lackluster considering that it's supposed to be the link between their university days and the present. Toshiaki's relationship with his family and his disillusionment about filmmaking are also not given much attention despite being genuinely interesting points, and Ikuro has basically no past and it's unclear why he keeps breaking up with Toshiaki and running away.

The oneshot at the end of the second volume, Hirotte Kudasai, was cute and funny.

In short, the premise is good but the execution is lacking and unfocused. It had a lot of potential, but, to me, ended up being one of Yamada Yugi's mediocre works where she just dragged along some arguments and plot points without really resolving them.

... Last updated on February 6th, 2024, 11:43am

The sheer excess of casually kissing non-consensually (sexual assault) and preying on a 13 year-old kid (licking his tears and groping his dick) is really making me uncomfortable with this. Some would say that this is only a small part of the story, and indeed it is a small part, however in its occurrences, and especially reoccurrences, there is a buildup of toxicity that I cannot bite down on. And then, making Makoto (the 13 year old) watch the whole soft-porn video of his cousin, thereafter getting Makoto to drink alcohol and kissing him until he’s passed out. WOW!
Also, just from a narrative perspective, screening a soft-porno of Ikuro and Kaji making out to the university festival and then using the, “Kaji’s family found out about us that’s why we must break-up” line at the end is just weak. What happened to all the people who saw the movie? What were the repercussions? It’s just that the manga takes itself way too much seriously for its own good. So much so, that these minor flaws, that is situations that break the readers suspension of disbelief, become quite glaring issues rather than charming and laughable little sequesters.
The story telling style and raucous cast are interesting as always though. I won’t say that I don’t like the manner in which the story is told, the shift from the present to the past and back and forth, but overall this manga just made me feel uncomfortable because it is SO GOOD! I really like the whole film setting as well since I have a soft-spot for it.
The omake was also interesting and plagued by the same problem of sexual assault. *Sigh* why must yaoi manga be like this?

Yamada Yugi has never written anything I haven't loved, I'm pretty sure. Even if I'm determined not to adore it (I fail every single time). This is no different. Her story and art are just so lovely. It's like watching an indie movie (a really good one - not a soap opera filmed on a potato).

It's pretty old (apparently they didn't have voice and image recorders when this came out? I didn't know that was a thing...), but it's still awesome.

The main couple was great, and I loved the straight couple, too! They were all great characters!

The side story at the end was a little brief. It seemed fairly cute, though...

... Last updated on September 23rd, 2016, 4:08pm

If you read the first few pages getting bored thinking "so where's the yaoi, there's only a little kid and an old guy!" keep on reading!!!
Also, if you happen to dislike her art, still read her works!
It's so worth reading Yamada Yugi's works!!! She is one of those yaoi artists who have great talent conveying realistic, good, interesting plots that have everything a fan could hope for!
This is funny, dramatic, interesting, everything!
I love how the story builds up and the whole manga is just one big flashback! The storytelling here is absolutely flawless!

This is definitely worth reading! Especially if you are looking for something with substance and not just plot-less porn, this will capture you, make you laugh out loud and feel with the characters!

Ore wa Warukunai (published as Don't Blame Me in English, by Juné IIRC) is the best of Yamada Yugi's work that I have read so far. I was introduced to Yamada-sensei while browsing through one stall's manga section at an anime con--I was intensely curious for the first time about Boys' Love--and one of the staff told me how accessible this book was, how it was about a film club, and so on and so forth. At first it didn't seem too interesting, like it would focus a lot on film-otaku banter and maybe some BL here and there.

Boy was I wrong.

This is a beautiful manga about growing up & thinking differently about friendship and love. It is a series that, even though it has only two volumes, should not be taken lightly--at all. That said, throughout there's still a wonderful humour, slapstick at times (Jun!) and subtle on the other (fighting in the school hallway, argh). You can have fun reading this. You should, because it's obvious that much love went into each page of this manga--it is easy to fall in love with the depth and the clarity of this world of filmmaking, college, part-time work, and failed sexual overtures.

These various threads of the plot are all given their own weight and presence, so that no one detracts from the other. Like one reviewer already mentioned, there are depictions of different types of relationships--queer or not--and each satisfies. Yamada here is amazingly able as a storyteller, flashing back, flashing forward, and switching lenses, keeping the suspense, all while introducing each character properly so you can really remember their name crystal clear! Plus, there are references to movie tropes, to gay-love-fandom-in-general (in the form of Miki), and even to the pettiness of the 'norm' of our homophobic, rich bourgeoisie.

And as for the sex? When the rest of the story is so very well-balanced, well-told, and well-drawn, the steamy parts get even more engrossing.

If you're thinking about it, just pick this manga up as soon as possible and see for yourself!!

Are you fed up with banal yaoi manga (sex → problem → sex → problem solved & sex → happy ending)? Then you might have found the yaoi for you! I at least did. Ore wa warukunai is a funny, cheerful and pleasant manga. It deals with more than just two characters, although not so many that you won't remember them. They're all well developed and they got me carried away with their stories, their problems and their eccentric everyday lives. Their stories aren't narrated separately, but form a flow that carries the plot forward. Yamada-sensei was able to perfectly mix them together, creating a sense of continuity. This was something I really appreciated. I was also very happy to read a manga focused on a cinema club, which was a new and kind of unexpected background. Successfull comic gags, nice art and original details were a nice add. Definitely a must read, both among Yamada-sensei's works and yaoi manga in general.

... Last updated on July 2nd, 2017, 2:24pm

I loved it and enjoyed it soooo much- it made me laugh out loud so many times. I love that it's not your usual Yaoi- I love that the story takes you through several stages in the characters' lives as they chase their dreams. Fantastic.

This is one of my faves. I've re-read it a thousand times and it never seems to bore me. It's just a really really great story :}

It's not the typical yaoi. Very realistic. I wasn't really expecting anything when I dl'ed it, but it surprised me big time.
-Definitely something I would buy for my manga collection

Regarding the main story: I particularly enjoyed the way Yamada Yugi blended in the scenes and story from 2 different time periods, thus making it seem like a movie. In other words, it was like viewing a movie about a movie except the former had been recorded on paper. The characters were rather interesting and the scenes were tight.

About the side story: it was kinda sweet, cute and funny. Not too shoddy for ending a manga.

... Last updated on May 7th, 2008, 10:41am

Yamada-sensei's works are always so amazingly great. Her plots aren't cliche and the characters in this one and in every work that she does shows exactly how they feel. This one is very heart gripping! I love the main pair <3