There are so many well thought out, valid and educated commentaries already about this stunning masterpiece. A few great ones to check out: Monkeyvoodoo, Littleyellowdress and Geese1's.

This quiet, poignant tale about the human condition touched me deeply as the narration flashed back and forth from significant memories to future choices. The tension was almost a living thing as the reader anticipates the two main characters' moves. The secondary characters' lives all enhance and compliment to explain the motivations of the primary.

If ever there was a manga that opens up education and university-level debate, critical thinking or discussion, this is it. The mangaka has a dramatic way of creating a thousand words with one picture. Intense. For example, when Nanoka says, 'why can't we love?' other than being moved to tears, I was also moved to think. Using genetic problems as the reason for banning laws regarding such intimate matters is lame; we don't ban women over 40 from having kids, and the risk is just as high for genetic problems...

This manga also is brilliant at educating readers regarding incest: It's called Genetic Sexual Attraction in scientific circles. Freud said that we are attracted to those we recognize as similar to ourselves --more trust worthy, prettier, get along better with because of personality traits, etc. He also said that society's taboos evolve to prevent incest. Westermarck said the opposite: we biologically evolved to not be attracted to our siblings, but only those whom we 'imprint' with from early life. He said we have no need consensual bedroom laws; social laws are mere morality exercises in control and domination. This explains incest between siblings who meet later in life if you combine the two theories. Westermarck's theory "out-Freuded Freud" because Freud may have been erotically charged toward his mother, but he had a wet-nurse, and did not imprint with his mother.

Who says manga is not informative?! North American culture downplays the significance of 'comics' as being valid and viable commentaries, equivalent to serious literature.

... Last updated on March 28th, 2010, 2:24pm

Well.. I give it a 10 without thinking twice!
I've read the manga and watched the anime, both good, but nothing compares to the original (manga).
Each character's showing a different moral aspect of the story.
I especially like Chidori-san, coz she plays well the role of "reality-check". She represents what most people in society think and say out loud about incest.
I find Nanoka a bit stupid at times. Don't confuse that with her innocence, being innocent is okay with me. I'm talking about stupidity. I think that there's a small contradiction in her character: she apparently has less shameful feelings than her brother about their relationship and she even says to Chidori "why can't siblings get married!?" and on the other hand she is keeping their relationship a secret from their parents and even from her best friend, Futaba. In my opinion the mangaka could have put some more effort into Nanoka's character's behavior. Besides that, the manga is so heart-wrenching and is delivered very well, emotionally. Not too fast nor too slow, and I like that.
I've read it for about 8 times I think in the last 6 years, since I've first read it and watched the anime version of it for like gazillion times.
I believe that a story is considered good only if you know that you'll never be able to get it out of your head.
I totally recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it yet.

A very unique manga, very subtle in the way it handles a controversial issue. I absolutely love the way the mangaka doesn't gloss things over or take the easy way out -- the brother's agony and shame and stifled desire aren't romanticized.

I frankly don't understand why people are so freaked out and sickened by the incest factor. I mean, Jesus, we read manga about murders and rapes, don't we? So how come a manga about consensual incest is somehow worse? I don't get it. To condemn a manga just because of its theme is foolish. Instead, a manga should only be condemned for poor quality -- and neither the art nor the writing in this manga deserves criticism.

Well, my only complaint is that the ending came a little too quickly; I would've liked to see how our main couple resolved the issues they'd face in the future.

Then again, that's only a sign of how deeply involved I became with the characters, and how much I came to care for them.

The brother's characterization in particular is superb. I don't think I've ever seen an anti-hero so completely explored. Wow. I feel like I can understand what he's going through, even when I'm being disturbed by his actions and emotions.

Just give this manga a chance. Don't knock it just because of the theme, okay?

I've read some of the comments on here, and while this is just my personal opinion, I think this story goes beyond "looks". Yes, the older brother was a bit too old and unattractive. The sister says so several times, but that wasn't what she saw in him. She saw past the physical to the person he was inside and that's what she fell in love with. The world is far too hung up on looks, to be honest. Many "beautiful people" are downright UGLY inside, and some who are deemed unattractive have the purest hearts.

But back to the manga, yes?

I'm a fan of incest manga. I find it entertaining when it's not real. I don't get grossed out easily, particularly when something is fake. It's a story and it's only as "nasty" as the reader makes it. My issue is that it was fairly boring. But I'll give points where they are due:

1) The mangaka did her job as far as character development and showing how this introverted, somewhat selfish, emotionally bankrupt person was able to change into the very opposite with love and patience.

2) She showed how a somewhat spoiled high schooler matured and learned to stop being two different people in front of each parent as well as come into her own as a young adult. (My gripe is that she looks 10 years old throughout the entire series, which doesn't help people get over feeling like they're reading ped/loli).

3) This story played out like a bit of a film -a long drawn out film, but cinema, nonetheless.

*MILD SPOILER ALERT*

Koi Kaze isn't a necessarily bad story. Several times it made my eyes tear because it was somewhat touching, particularly when he nearly gives up on wanting his sister's love, or another part when they are in two different places and both reach out to touch the falling snow. There's a gentle sweetness there that can't be denied.

However, it shouldn't be rated 'mature' by any means. The physical intimacy, if one is looking for that, is non-existent, and the artwork is awful. The story, for me, drags unnecessarily and the ending, well, what ending?

IMO, Koi Kaze had the potential to be more than what it was. The development and pace was too slow and unexciting when it could have held my attention a bit more.

Terrible? No.

Great? No.

But it's a decent read if you're not doing anything else at the moment.

... Last updated on March 17th, 2011, 11:03pm

i think everyone is getting the wrong idea. the incest is'nt supposed to be incidental to the story. it IS the story. and though i find it disturbing, it moved me (note, i applaud any demographic that can move me emotionaly, whether in terms of hating an evil character or crying when the heroine dies). (though on aside, the age gap i believe is also to show the brother/sister relationship more obviously.)

the concept of siblings... falling in...whatever (replace 'whatever with the right word-forgive me for being squeemish) is'nt an original one. but the way the mangaka addresses the idea is.as i mentioned before, the incest isnt meant to be incidental-say, as a 'romantic spicer'-rather, its what the manga is all about. while kissxsis for example, is a funny romance that involves ('semi') incest-koi kaze is supposed to be a poignant look into what we, as the reader, view as 'love'.
case in point. two orphanes in my community were brought together by mutual friends-and fell in love. it was only after (i think it was...) 2 weeks into their engagement that it turned out that they were full brother and sister (and no they did'nt get married).
in a similar vein, koi kaze brings out the idea of no control over whom you fall in love with. if you logicaly think about it, you'll understand that sibling relationships, age gaps, whats 'right and wrong' are'nt what determines our emotions. rather, they're merely brakes and controls to our thoughts and even our preconceptions. but even as 'love at first sight' is accepted, the idea that that love might not always be whats 'right' is understood as well.
I dont mean to defend the mangaka (on the contrary, had he presumed to force the readers view to follow a specific train of thought- i would have stopped reading immediately). instead, i'm merely trying to say over what i felt the mangaka was trying to convey to the reader.
the concept of falling in love with a sibling is a disturbing one, granted- but the mangaka unveils the story in such a way that despite the disturbing feellings it brought out in me- i was still moved to applaud him.

As an avid shoujo reader that has yet to grown out of silly shoujo mangas, this manga is totally the type I would never read. Because of my love for incest (Flowers of Evil started this), well, I gave it a try. I must say so myself, this is the best incest manga, honestly, it's so touching and it made me cry (I never cry for mangas). At first I was iffy about the art and the age gap, but, the emotions, etc, etc must made me want to read more. This is not just incest, this is romance, an awesome one at that. Like some people say, the ending felt, I dunno... I think it needs more closure, but nevertheless, it's okay I guess that it was left the way it was and sad at the same time (this should have an ending like in this other incest manga I read). Please read if you like bittersweet romance and that you can tolerate non-shoujo art and the age gap.

I like it when Koshiro is not a good looking "prince" and that Nanoka is not as bratty as I thought she would be. One thing that bugs me is Koshiro's size... I know he's big sized but why did the author make him "that" big... and the other thing that bugs me is that they're blood related. Well anyways, I liked the story, I usually hate incest but this was good - I liked this as much as usagi drop!

Surprisingly moving and sad. I imagine this is what it was like for some homophobic readers coming across "taboo" material back then and even perhaps now. And in spite of my own )confused_ feelings/views, I found this to be touching. So... I've concluded that consensual incest is none of my business.

as others have said before me, this is a fantastic series. with the way that the characters and story develop, you feel like you are watching the story unfold instead of just reading another manga. when i first started reading this manga i thought the incest would bug me a lot. i found myself, however, not being bothered by it and actually rooting for them (im not going to lie, that kinda creeps me out in retrospect.) my only complaint about this series, is that it didn't show you everything that was happening like (SPOILER ALERT!!!) in the last chapter when nanoka tells her brother to stop deciding on his own and uses him talking about proposing with his mother. it was hard to tell if they didn't show you something and nanoka was getting married to him, or if she was just talking about him saying he wasn't ever getting married. over all this was a great series though, and i recommend it.

This manga tackles the taboo subject of incest (brother/sister) in a serious, realistic way. It doesn't pull its blows and as such it might not be for everyone. But if you can get past the idea itself, then I urge you to give this amazing work a try. With a rather short 5 volumes it can be read in a couple of days, but will stay with you for a long time.
Like other posters, I too was a bit revolted at first (I downloaded it not knowing what it was about). But I kept on reading and was rewarded with one of the most touching endings ever. Without spoiling this for you, just know that the characters face a horribly tough situation, and they make accordingly tough choices. No matter what you think about the whole thing, by the end of this tale you'll probably find yourself desperately hoping for Koshiro and Nanoka to choose... well, exactly what you'll want them to choose is up to you. I'll just say that I never expected to feel this way about this particular subject, or to be so moved by a fictional tale of characters dealing with it.
Definitely one of my favorite mangas ever. Top marks for it.