Hourou Musuko

Description

Fifth grade. The threshold of puberty, and the beginning of the end of childhood innocence. Nitori Shuichi and his new friend Takatsuki Yoshino enjoy happy homes and loving families, and are well-liked by their classmates. But they share a secret that further complicates a time of life that is awkward for anyone: Shuichi is a boy who wants to be a girl, and Yoshino is a girl who wants to be a boy...

Type

Manga

Related Series

Boku wa, Onnanoko (Side Story)

Associated Names

Hōrō Musuko

The Transient Son

Wandering Child

Wandering Son

放浪息子

放浪男孩

Groups Scanlating

Broken Time Scanlations

Hourou Musume

Kotonoha

Latest Release(s)

c.122-123 (end) by Hourou Musume 12 years ago

c.120-121 by Hourou Musume 12 years ago

c.119 by Hourou Musume 12 years ago

Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin

15 Volumes (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 5, Chap 34

Ends at Vol 10, Chap 82

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

8 topics, 32 posts

Click here to view the forum

User Rating

Average: 8.4 / 10.0 (751 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.32 / 10.0

32%

23%

22%

13%

Last Updated

July 16th, 2024 9:51pm PDT - 9 months ago

Image [Report Inappropriate Content]

Genre

Drama Gender Bender Psychological Romance School Life Seinen Slice of Life
Search for series of same genre(s)

Categories

Log in to vote! Show all (some hidden)

Category Recommendations

Bokura no Hentai

Dusk Howler (Novel)

Stop!! Hibari-kun!

Gaishutsu Jishuku no Sei de Josou dekinai Josou Danshi-tachi

Recommendations

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Enterbrain

Serialized In (magazine)

Comic Beam (Enterbrain)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

Fantagraphics (8 Volumes - Dropped)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #746

(-3)

Monthly Pos #1446

(-282)

3 Month Pos #2411

(+95)

6 Month Pos #2847

(-206)

Year Pos #3565

(-306)

List Stats

On 1796 reading lists

On 1443 wish lists

On 1049 completed lists

On 121 unfinished lists

On 583 custom lists

Note: You must be logged in to update information on this page.

Forum Posts Click to view the forum

Hourou Musuko to End in July

12 years ago

Does Hourou Musuko spoil the Rose of Verailles

14 years ago

Anime start and end

14 years ago

hourou musuko how much romance??

15 years ago

Hourou Musuko Anime in development

15 years ago

User Comments [ Order by time added ]

An Artistic Triumph of Realism

by Crenshinibon
16 years ago

Rating: 7.9 / 10.0

Hourou Musuko is really quite interesting in a lot of ways, but rather than write a whole analysis here, I think I'll keep it short for once. What we have here is a work with realistic characters, reaistic pacing, and realistic outcomes. In fact, it almost feels as though these events may have occurred to the author or someone close to them at some point. The characters are developed with meticulous timing and accuracy, and hardly deviate from their acceptable courses of action based on this development. This, while quite amazing, will probably be lacking in terms of entertainment for many readers. This isn't an escapist work, and as a result, the audience it attracts will probably be smaller.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Wonderful

by Akillarian
17 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I really love this manga for its simplicity that can be very touching at time. No need for extreme scenarios to deliver a wonderful story. I can relate a bit to Shûichi and Takatsuki to how they feel.

... Last updated 17 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

More realistic than others, but...

by pikku
17 years ago

Rating: N/A

This is one of the few manga that portray transgendered people in a way that isn't for gag/comedy purposes. It approaches it in a more serious fashion. Also, this is the first manga I've ever read that has an FTM in it, as most have only MTFs.
The drama is a bit annoying sometimes, though, and it is a bit confusing because it often switches focus and time lapses aren't clear.
The art is pretty, though, and it's a good read.

... Last updated 17 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

Interesting

by GreyDeath
18 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Topicwise, this isn't the normal sort of manga I'd pick up. However, it has proved very interesting. Someone should really jump on this and get this licensed in the US. It is a must read for open-minded folks and may help understand folks that are different from the mainstream better. To someone that is not so libertarian-minded, this may seem very creepy. To the bigot, this would be propaganda. To me, real people with very real problems.

Was this comment useful? Yes

My favorite manga

by AriannaAine
15 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

This is probably a bit biased, what with knowing many people, including myself, who are LGBT.

But this is pretty much my favorite manga ever. Shuuichi and Takano are portrayed especially realistically, especially for manga, an industry which has a rather bad track record with LGBT topics. Most of the characters I absolutely adore or absolutely hate, and I love how each of their motivations are only subtly revealed. The minimalist style only helps enforce how painful everyday existence is for Shuuichi and Takano, especially when Shuuichi is confronted with the mind-numbing horror that is

her first nocturnal emission (if that pronoun use is confusing you, you aren't paying attention) , which was one of the most beautifully horrific moments in any work ever, in my opinion.

I am eagerly awaiting the rest of this series, although I'm a bit anxious about the anime. I don't predict it to be adapted well.

... Last updated 15 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

Beautiful take on gender issues

by ForbiddenAngel
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

My introduction to Shimura Takako's works began with Aoi Hana, which was a very light and charming take on LGBT. Captured by sensei's pacing and storytelling style, I've decided to give Hourou Musuko a shot. As expected of Shimura Takako, the storytelling and depiction of the characters are so believable and realistic in what may appear to be a surrealistic environment. However, it has to be understood that transgender issues do exist in large numbers, and like Shuuichi and Takano, many transgenders also choose to hide their real selves in fear of rejection.

The issues and insecurities our protagonists come across evidently present themselves in real life. All the characters have their own personalities and problems, and their perspectives of the world is different. There is no doubt Shimura Takako understands how to depict the world through the eyes of believable, unique characters. Aside from the conceivable characters, the pacing of the story compliments the theme as well.

The deliberate setting of the manga to begin from the age of ten all the way to high school (and beyond), really shows how the mangaka comprehends the growth of sexuality. Where before and during puberty, individuals with "differing" sexualities will gain many doubts about themselves and worry of the world around them. This is exceptionally sensitive in a nation with a conservative culture like Japan, where homosexuals, transsexuals, and transgenders do not gain the same type of acceptance as some Western communities. The slower-than-usual pacing of this extraordinary story carefully accentuates all the different issues which may present themselves to Shuuichi, Takano, and all the other characters. As a slice-of-life depicting the real world issue which is both exterior and interior acceptance of one's sexuality, the pacing carefully draws out all the different problems an individual may step on through the sensitive period of puberty.

Hourou Musuko is a masterpiece which contains earthly, believable characters with their own realistic quirks, handling a delicate topic(in Japan, especially) with the most suitable pacing. Of course, the art is very fitting for this manga. Simple, yet beautifully so. Well done Shimura-sensei.

... Last updated 13 years ago

Was this comment useful? Yes

Gender Issue

by lemonsile
15 years ago

Rating: 9.8 / 10.0

I found this series very interesting. The only down parts, if I could say, is the pace which is so slow. But the fact that the whole series progresses realistically following the characters profile mades up with that evenly.

The part which I found interesting obviously the gender issue here. I'm just studying feminism recently. I know there's no slight relation of this series and feminism but there I also study gender stereotyping. On what was supposed for male, biologically, and what was supposes for female, biologically. The two protagonists of the series are against them, and specifically some of Nitori's inner thought are what really interests me, I also found on some Takatsuki's though. Even though their problem or thoughts were mostly personal and somewhat selfish that's the thing that made the series for me. Also you can realize it with ease that Nitori himself was criticizing the misogynist social construct. There's not much feminism but I would say this series is pretty interesting if we were to talk about gender related issue. I sure hope that the author has something in her mind when writing this series.

Also to mention the artist's art are surprisingly plain but beautiful. The simplistic story were in par with its simplistic art style. The most powerful part of the artist's I would say is the cover where she did so well with the, if I'm not mistaken, water color. I've read her other work, Aoi Hana, where she did it well too with the water color and the whole artwork of the series.

I would highly recommend this series. But I also found the issue is rather sensitive, well at least here in my place. Concerning the genre, I don't really know what makes up 'seinen' cause this series just had too much drama with it and its not the kind of drama you would normally found on 'male-oriented' works even though the crossdress might counts and the cute characters maybe. Its just simple 'mature (readers)-oriented' work for me, as the issue here should be handled unseriously but its quite serious. The gender-bender, LGBT, crossdress is not for fun but it's part of the theme brought by the story, it's the issue, the problem.

p.s. pardon me if I sound a bit arrogant or cocky or anything. I haven't read so much manga and I'm also a bit picky on choosing what manga I would read. If there's any disturbing argument with my comments, I apologize, Also pardon if there's many grammatical error, considering English is not my mother tongue and I'm not really on studying it. 😛

Was this comment useful? Yes

I highly recommend this

by OrangeBlossom
11 years ago

Rating: N/A

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.

The manga also ends on a very ambiguous note for Takatsuki. He's a model and apparently cis identified but Shimura has said it's up for the readers to figure out the genders of the protagonists. Nitori ends with a very Shimura meta "I am a girl" making it obvious where she stands but Takasuki can go a dozen ways depending on the interpretation. Mako, another trans girl Nitori's age, has plot threads created but glossed over. Maybe Shimura didn't want to spend 6+ years on the already decade old series

Was this comment useful? Yes

This is the best... :)

by Tyranasaurus
16 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

This IS my favorite manga. I love the pace and how it's unlikely, but realistic. The characters are really interesting and you love and hate them at times (like Chiba). Not only that, but the art is cool, too. Overall, this is the best!!!

Was this comment useful? Yes

Why most people wont like it.

by Akrii
9 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

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.

Was this comment useful? Yes

Pages (5) [ 1 2 3 4 5 ]