Simply the best manga out there - complicated, great characters, intricate plot, the love so delicate and terrifying at the same time... combined with best art style which i've seen in manga = the masterpiece. Read it. You will not regret it.

... Last updated on April 12th, 2020, 9:28am

If definitely had to grow on me. I read a chapter or two one week, then the rest of the volume and it just snowballed from there until I ran out of pages to read.
It seemed dry at first, and I definitely prefer the way the characters developed to what they started as. Same with the plot: dry at first but eventually it bore such sweet juice.
It's not hard-core porn, if that's what you're looking for, but it's actual plot and good plot at that. If the premise interests you the least bit, stick with it. It'll get better.

I don't understand the low ratings for this.
One, if it's because of the

Two, if it's because of the "annoying" characters

Three, if it's because of the over-complicated plot/setting
what else do you expect? "Historical" genre label. "Taisho Era" category. And the over-complicated plot? I don't think it's over-complicated at all. True, there are many different characters and interactions, but it's one simple plot line that it focuses on and it's really not at all hard to manage. It was only hard for me because I started reading from Chapter 10 thinking it was Chapter 1, but other than that, the story is not difficult to follow. True, you may have to read it a bit slower to process the information and remember which Katsuragi did this and who this guy is and that, but I honestly think that makes it all more exciting- kind of like reading a novel that you want to thoroughly digest.

Other than that, if you can't stomach what I've said, then it's probably not the manga's fault but rather your personal tastes.

Just gotta say though, I love this manga to pieces (wasn't a big fan at first, but hey, it takes some getting into) and the art is gorgeous. The characters are in no way perfect (and sometimes I tend to read & like manga with more perfect characters which made me liking this a bit strange) but that's what's great about it. Definitely recommended.

What can I say? This is a fantastic yaoi, one of the best I've read. The story is intriguing and definitely confusing if you skim over the dialogue (which is very full). If you're a reader who likes a lot of steam but light plot and dialogue, then this might not be for you. But if you like deep yaoi with steam AND substance, then this will satisfy you, I promise.

Yuuutsu na Asa = worth a read. Great art, setting, and story rich in emotion, struggle, and PASSION.

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.

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.

The story might somehow be typical, but the way she tell it still excites me. The only thing I want her to improve is her characters' facial expression, it looks a bit stiff. And since I'm generous (lol) I still give it 10 points.

... Last updated on December 8th, 2018, 12:47am

Being an avid reader of Hidaka-sensei's work, I can't say this is anywhere near my favourites of hers so far. The art, as expected, is magnificent and both main characters are perfectly lovable in their own way, no matter how misunderstood they come across like more often than not. My main concern is, I think, with the plot. It drags in an overly complicated- arguably unnecessary- way, so much so I caught myself squinting and scrolling more times than I would like to. The historical and political intrigue, coupled with the issue of the problematic social status, goes on and on forever in a way that is neither stimulating - artistically or culturally speaking - or easy to follow and assimilate: and the larger the conversation, the worse it is, I reckon.

I don't mean to say this is a bad manga. Not at all, it has some pretty valuable points rooting for it: interesting and compelling characters developed to the needed extent, lovely intimate moments between the main couple (great smex by the way), plus an intricate storyline that goes far beyond the formulaic BL out there, even though it remains, for the most part, a Master-Servant relationship. However, a few chapters down the road, I did question how well executed the plot was, as I was getting less and less from it. There's too much babbling on seemingly important subjects that lead nowhere except when they do but you can't tell they do because you've forgotten all about it

It's not just a matter of being "complicated" but that it's complicated in a very iffy way.

Some of Hidaka Shoko's works are, and always will be, in my Top 10 --- or make it 5. But this one, so far, I say, is not impressive. Of course I'll keep on reading it, so long as chapters are out. We'll see.

This is a very well written series with beautiful art and these things I cannot deny. However for me, it's a bit dry. There is endless babbling about complicated political relationships and I just don't find that interesting on the level in which it is presented. I also don't really appreciate the rape factor, but I guess I get it here. I don't think this could wind up being a really strong romance and if it does, it would lose some points with me for it given the origins of the relationship. I can definitely see how someone could absolutely love this, but I often have to force myself to keep reading as I'm honestly quite bored. I also find the whole thing rather stressful to read because there is just so much going on and it's all pretty negative and miserable. That's respectable too in a way, but it doesn't make me want to keep reading, especially with such an overall tiresome plot.

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