This manga was considered the gold standard and one of the OGs for serious portrayal of this topic during the decade it was published. However, it is now underwhelming for today's standards

I read this around one decade and half ago, when everyone acclaimed it. It was novel at the time, and introduced some ideas I wasn't aware about. Cool, I found it interesting.

But under modern lens and standards, revisiting it now feels more or less like a husk. It feels directionless. As if the author is unsure themselves as to what they are trying to achieve.

It's like, yeah, here's some characters with gender identity issues, and things happen.

The author's good at portraying the events, but there's no theme or general message going on. Like, r/pointlessstories happens. The end.

... Last updated on February 17th, 2024, 1:04pm

I, myself, am ftm. As an mtf story, I don't have problems with it, but as an ftm story, it drops the ball sharply and painfully. It breathes life into the old stereotypes of "you're not really a man, you're just a confused woman who hasn't found the right dress yet!" I would avoid this as trans masc at all costs, there are far FAR better ftm manga out there now and this needs to stop being held up as a gold standard for trans manga.

I have to say, as a transfemme person, a lot of the MC's struggles and desires would have felt very familiar to a young me. There's a lot to like here, even if it wouldn't line up to everyone's experiences. The art is fantastic, the characters are all endearing and realistic. And when you consider the story was written more than 20 years ago, the subject matter is handled very well. I would very much recommend this.

note: i ended up making an account to leave this comment) as a trans person myself, i felt excited to read a manga specifically talking about growing up trans from both the perspective of both a trans girl and trans boy. but in the end, i felt like i had wasted some of my time reading a love triangle manga that sometimes remembers it’s about being trans. most of the story didn’t even feel like it was talking about trans issues, just “look at main character they’re crossdressing!” without really paying attention to the psychological effects being forced in the closet can have. i was also disappointed with the way they treated takatsuki, this huge lead up then to completely back down on it. i think the art is beautiful, but as a trans person it didn’t live up to the standards i had heard about.

... Last updated on December 23rd, 2021, 10:21am

Not good at being a realistic transgender story. It seems more like a ''feminine/masculine'' thing, so you know, CROSSDRESSING, rather than a ''gender dysphoria'' thing. It's all about gender roles and gender stereotypes, not being trans much.

If it wasn't paraded as a good trans story it might be enjoyable, but the author clearly has NO idea what being trans entails.
Pandering lots, realism not.

As a crossdressing story, I'd say it's 5-ish, but as a trans story, it's def closer to a 1-2.

Source: Being trans myself.

... Last updated on May 24th, 2020, 4:33pm

This is an issue only some can relate too. This wraps the transgender topic beautifully, for unsure people. Some like Nitorin WANT to be a girl so bad that they are willing to do many things. Tsubaki-chan she was unsure about being a boy. This wraps the issue of, "Do I really want this" Some think "NO THIS ISNT HOW TRANSGENDERS ACT" As I saw on other things. This, actually wraps it perfectly, for people who are too scared, or unsure. It may be boring for others but, it's too real to be true. This is what people feel. Its a great manga, but its not for everyone.

This manga is sooooo amazing. The author wrapped the gender manga issue so beautifully. And yep, somehow it's unpredictable, just like life itself. As it's a seinen, some sexual issues are included here, but, well... that's kinda added more spices to this manga? I don't dislike it. It's just fit there.
A boy who wanted to be a girl, and the girl who wanted to be a boy. How they dealt with their emotional complexes, how the plot was flowing uncontrollable (as I said before, unpredictable like a life itself), and how the author chose the -somehow, bittersweet ending. Of course there were some flaw here and there, because of the slow paced, and runabout thinking. But I think that's what make the story seems more realistic. Highly recommended.

I'm only on the 3rd volume but it's a MUST-READ!!! Totally emotional and realistic. No bs complete knowledge about one's gender or 100% acceptance from others. I love it and think everyone should.

I love how these two characters (japanese names are hard to remember) taka something and nitori started as opposites and I love even more how one still wanted to become a girl and the other just "grew out of it". It's realistic and I've seen it happen in real life.

It's not for everyone. It relies heavily on trans* themes and is very slow paced. It spends the first four volumes in elementary, spends a large chunk on middle school, then high school passes in less than 40 chapters. It's a very realistic, soft paced manga. No mecha, magic, or goofy school antics here.

The protagonist of the manga is Nitori Shuichi, an elementary aged trans girl who transfers to a new school mid-semester. She has a temperamental sister one year older than her and two nice parents. On her first day of school she meets the secondary protagonist, Takatsuki Yoshino, who is a trans boy. The two quickly become friends and eventually learn their mutual interest to live as the opposite sex. Thus the story begins.

The manga conveys many emotions. It delicately discusses everything from bullying to dissolving friendships.
It's themed around puberty and those awkward teenage years. Changing bodies, friendship changes, romance, sexuality.. All while the two protagonists are transgender kids in 2000s Japan, which adds fuel to the fire.

The art style is decent at first but will eventually evolve into Shimura's signature style. I just love her art, especially when it's colored in watercolor.

The last dozen chapters are controversial and I see why. Everything goes by incredibly swift and a dozen plot points are never filled.