The four-volume series, set in the late modern period, tells the intertwined stories of Hanashiro, Hirose, Arihara, and Sawa—four individuals bound together by an unfinished letter written and sent by Arihara. Among them, only Hirose grew up with a relatively normal life, while the other three carry shadows of a painful and troubled past. Each character bears their own sorrows and secrets. The author skillfully weaves glimpses of their past into the story through brief scenes and the perspectives of other characters. Though brief, these glimpses give readers a sense of empathy and hope that each will eventually find peace.
In Kusama Sakae’s works, the male characters may be handsome or have ordinary appearances, but they are far from the usual "bishounen" or the overly delicate types often seen in BL manga. They are not self-sacrificing saints; while they refrain from morally questionable acts, they each have their own motivations and schemes for personal gain. They’re not virgins, nor do they concern themselves with their partners' romantic histories. Their actions feel grounded and exude a natural masculinity.
Since the author took a full decade to complete this series, the art style also shows a clear evolution across the volumes. The first two chapters of The Match Seller reflect a rougher drawing style from the early stages of the author's career (though it’s noticeably more refined than in her debut). In the later sections of Lost Letters, her lines become softer and more bold. A noteworthy plus is the author's commitment to detailed backgrounds, never leaving them blank, which adds a sense of depth and vibrancy to each page.
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One more thing I love in Kusama Sakae sensei's works is that there is mostly no sign of the typical confession "I love you". Sawa instead said a life commitment to Arihara, and I think it's cute.
"If you died or something, I'd get horribly bored again. The days are too long when I'm just looking after myself. So you see...That is... I think you're worth spending all my spare time on...for the rest of my life."
While Hanashiro and Hirose stuck a sign of "Matches Sold Out" in the tunnel where they first met each other. I think this weighs better than an "I love you".