Kurayami ni Strobe

Description

This sweet coming-of-age BL story follows Arata as he admires his childhood friend, Shotaro, from behind his camera lens. As friendship blossoms into something more, Arata and his camera seek to capture the fleeting joys and beauty of youth.

Arata, a member of the photography club, and Shotaro, a member of the basketball club, are childhood friends. The photos of Shotaro that Arata takes are very popular with girls. While Shotaro continues to turn down confessions almost every day, Arata continues to hide his own feelings for Shotaro. Then one day, Shotaro tells Arata that there's someone he likes... and their lifelong friendship changes forever.

(Source: Tokyopop)

Original Japanese

Official English Translation

Type

Manga

Related Series

Utsusemi ni Akari (Spin-Off)

Kurayami no Shutter Speed (Sequel)

Imamade Korekara (Side Story)

Associated Names

A Strobe in the Darkness

Blitzlicht in der Dunkelheit

Strobe in the Dark

Une lumière dans la pénombre

Ánh Đèn Trong Đêm

Światło w ciemności (Polish)

くらやみにストロボ

新装版くらやみにストロボ

黑暗中的閃光燈

黑暗中的闪光灯

Groups Scanlating

Acme

Latest Release(s)

v.1 c.Extras (end) by acme 12 years ago

v.1 c.Extra Story 2 by acme 12 years ago

v.1 c.5 + Extra Story 1 by acme 12 years ago

Search for all releases of this series

Status in Country of Origin

1 Volume (Complete)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

N/A

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

0 topics, 0 posts

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User Rating

Average: 8.5 / 10.0 (424 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.36 / 10.0

32%

20%

22%

15%

Last Updated

November 22nd, 2025 3:26am PST - 5 days ago

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Genre

Drama Romance School Life Shounen Ai Slice of Life
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

After School Recipe

Tonari ni Iru no ni, Tooi

Nibiiro no Hako no Naka de

Abarenbou Darling

Ouji-sama wa Hitori de Dekinai

Recommendations

N/A

Author(s)

HAYAKAWA Nojiko

Artist(s)

HAYAKAWA Nojiko

Year

2011

Original Publisher

Shu Cream (2024)

Tokyo Mangasha

Serialized In (magazine)

Cab (Tokyo Mangasha)

from RED (Shu Cream)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

Tokyopop (June 2026)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #739

(-26)

Monthly Pos #1724 (No change)

3 Month Pos #3233

(-723)

6 Month Pos #4147

(-1300)

Year Pos #7330

(+359)

List Stats

On 343 reading lists

On 248 wish lists

On 1290 completed lists

On 18 unfinished lists

On 423 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Boring

by Fati1367
4 years ago

Rating: 5.0 / 10.0

It's the same boring cliche
The only good thing about it is side couple, they are funny 🤣

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Aa this is amazing

by Miachann
5 years ago

Rating: N/A

Last time i read this almost a year ago but i still remember the plot clearly and i love this manga so much

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Hayakawa Nojiko Never Fails

by toastmuncher
9 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Once again Hayakawa Nojiko-sensei produces a master piece. Honestly from my experience, I don't expect this much thought and care to be put into a manga about high-school love. And best of all the use of the trope of the camera maybe be considered cliched in some circles but over here it's not just the camera but the whole process of taking a picture which is explored that lends this manga it's depth.

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Enjoyable

by OmNom
10 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

For a story about innocent schoolboys' first love, the author has been nothing short of a master at portraying the characters' raw emotions in a very authentic way, and readers can't help but feel attached to the boys even if their stories might have been told lots of times before. I particularly love the balance in the pacing and development here; it cohesively glues every details together with the plot, constructing a well-executed picture. Definitely one of the mangaka's highlights in her high profile repertoire.

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Heartwarming

by haruny
11 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Cute, touching, lovely and gorgeous <3 I loved how Hayakawa-sensei portrayed Arata's anxious attitude as opposed to Shoutarou's carefree personality
It has the same concept most shounen ai's have: the uneasy feelings the protagonist has for falling in love with another guy. It was realistic and the mangaka did an excellent job at portraying and expressing Arata's emotions. And god I love Shoutarou dlasdçlka I wish there were more Shounen ai/Yaoi out there that has characters similar to him ;;

He is not afraid of what other people will think about their relationship, nor does he hesitate at expressing his love for Arata. Of course, Arata's uneasiness are totally understandable, but that's why Shoutarou is there to reassure him that his feelings aren't wrong :D

I became a fan of Hayakawa Nojiko-sensei after reading this one. She always portrays very well the characters emotions, and her plots are very unique. Plus, her art is just omg so beautiful and gorgeous ;A;

... Last updated 7 years ago

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Captivatingly Realistic

by Roaku
12 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

The worries depicted here are beautiful, and this is the main reason why I gave this manga such a high rating. The story is ** relatable ** regardless of * gender*. Its also a very good insight into what fears one holds when one falls in love with their own gender.

I agree with MirayAllen that Arata's character somehow falls apart after the confession. The calm exterior he depicts shatters abruptly, which feels synthetic, but not so displeasing. The author probably wanted to have Arata as a tsundere, although with the amount of shouting, he comes of as a loudere (I also do not see how everyone wouldn't hear what they are talking about, hence the whole school would know the couple are a couple).

Despite this, I believe the story is magnificently executed (with the 4 chapters I've been graced with). Each chapter is elegantly approached, and the previous chapters qualms are touched upon. The flow is fantastic and very rarely does a manga of this genre have such a natural easiness, without the feeling that things are merely "thought" up by the author.

A refreshing read and highly recommended to those who enjoy the emotional and psychological aspect that lacks lackluster roller-coasters and cheap gimmicks. Its also very toned down on the sexual side, but that may be due to it only being 4 chapters.

... Last updated 12 years ago

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Cute but...

by MirayAllen
13 years ago

Rating: 6.5 / 10.0

There were some aspects of it that really held me back a little, like the shouting. I understand this is a "coming out" kind of story, plus it's the school years, the first love confessions, the anxiety, the drama, the perfect set for all the tsunderes of the world... still, from the moment Miyamoto confesses, Arata's character goes down hill entirely, and so goes the plot. I would say the very beginning is quite compelling -- and towards the end I like when they first hold hands or when Miya asks Arata to listen to his heart, but even then there was just too much shouting bubbles. I hate it.

The art is somewhat sketchy but still very enjoyable, so that's another pro to it. All in all, I think a six and a half is more than proper. There should definitely be a more compassed, moderate version of those finals chapters, more in sync with the first part of the manga.

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be still my heart

by gwkimmy
13 years ago

Rating: N/A

it's super sweet bl's like this that really get to me. their feelings are so pure and the plot is so simple, you celebrate even the slightest interaction between the two mains. it's been awhile since such innocence has gotten me so riled up, lol. itccchiiinnnggg for more! ;_;

edit: i do want to defend arata a bit. i don't feel like arata "suddenly" became this brash and loud tsundere like suggested, but that he's been holding back since the beginning. previously he needed to play off his feelings for shoutarou cooly in order to conceal them, but once reciprocated he can no longer hold them back and they burst out in full force. i think his shouting and occasional punching of shoutarou is his attempt at still keeping his feelings under wraps and trying to play it cool, but the energy escapes anyways. in other words, he's full of uncontrollable feels, lol. it's such a common tsundere tactic, but i think it works well for his character as he's so concerned with how others perceive them. don't worry arata! i am full of the feels as well! ;_;

... Last updated 12 years ago

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This one is AMAZING!!!

by fisukisuki
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I fall for it... (•˘__˘) ♥ It's really Amazing!!! The feeling from both the protagonist is so deep! They really thinking too much! And of course it's hurt! And that's why this one is Amazing!!! So touching! So much love! ♥
Definitely RECOMMENDED!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

... Last updated 12 years ago

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Brilliant.

by Tentacle
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I love this. Hayakawa really manages to make something amazing this time too! I'm so glad this was continued. The poetic feeling and the relationship and the character and the art.. it is all just plainly beautiful and I would really recommend it!

... Last updated 12 years ago

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