I love this story. Many yaoi readers do as well. Blue Morning was read by many readers. What is preventing this from being available? Is there any hope it will ever be available? I have seen the scanlated copy so I know that it was published in Japan years ago.

It took me 3 separate tries to get into this manga because it started off so slow, and I was severely lacking in patience at the time. But because I was on a yaoi binge recently, I decided to just power through that first volume. And boy, am I glad I did that. Once the romance starts kicking, it gets really intense. And it's the deep, passionate kind of romance that gives you that sweet achy, butterfly feeling in your stomach. When a romance can do that for you, you know it's because the characters and their feelings are well-conveyed. So yeah, this manga is awesome. Totally deserves the high ratings. I recommend it.

... Last updated on July 19th, 2018, 6:31pm

It's okay, I guess? Tho I understand the reason why everyone who loved this manga were fussing over this. It certainly shows support between the two main lead. I also liked the fact that over the course of nearly 40 chaps, it only focused on one problem. It feels like nothing "big" really happened, but you can certainly see the change that happened to each of the characters. I love the fact that everyone in the manga matured until the end. A good read. Not even a roller coaster ride, but a mellow carousel ride that would remind you of serenity.

I've been looking for a slow-burning romance or anything that progresses at reasonable pace, but this manga disappointed me when it jumped into romance so quickly. I cannot understand some of the characters' actions...


Also, if someone is so easily aroused by another person, and acts so easily on impulse... that's terrible. It shouldn't be glorified.

... Last updated on May 8th, 2016, 5:52pm

Wonderfully paced, and so dreamy. The motif of nature and plants throughout the manga was exquisitely integrated into Sakurai's feelings. Hidaka doesn't leave much room for ambiguity, so there is less significance in body language that the reader has to catch themselves. However, the beauty of the art and its subtlety still stand out in key scenes. Intimacy between Sakurai and Youichi is always a means to an end, and not something inserted for the sake of it (which is, unfortunately, a method a lot of yaoi seem to operate on). It feels like all events in this manga actually serve a purpose in the story rather than merely occurring for no reason, and that's one mark of good work to me.

The manga treads on delicate ground - there are a lot of "first times" for Youichi, and I found myself wondering: given the age gap, could Sakurai be depriving him of his youth? The manga tackles these questions very indirectly; they're rarely confronted head-on, but the reader remains aware of their presence like the elephant in the room. The beauty of it is that the reader is guided towards their own conclusion through the eyes of the characters, and I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed.

The characters are fleshed-out, given depth and their own unique pasts that they all have to acknowledge. Also characters are not thrown in the mix at random just to create additional obstacles in the developing romance. I even ended up liking Fujimoto. Sakurai was my favourite character, even though Youichi was charming in his own way. No one's flat like a cardboard, everyone's motivations are clearly drawn out where possible, and we are occasionally granted different points of view to create a layered universe where a few people live and coexist in their ecosystem, in a place of friendship and harmony. Ooooooh, it's good alright.

It would have been a 10 if only everyone was given full closure. The author seems to have deliberately left it open-ended with an optimistic outlook for all of the characters, but I have this nagging feeling that it could've been more comprehensive, nonetheless.



9/10 would recommend. It's one manga I won't forget for a long time.

Easily one of the best stories I've read. A pleasant, insightful, sentimental slow burn of a romance between characters that feel genuine and multi-dimensional. This mangaka is an excellent writer - and this is among their best works. Very few stories captured my attention this way this one did; I'm still as in love with it as I ever was, even after multiple readings.

Something I respect about this mangaka is that they're not prone to relying on old BL tropes to get the story moving. Sure, there are a few things I can do without (an uncomfortable love triangle, for one) but it's not sprinkled with tacky cartoonish gags, the characters don't stumble into sudden non-con to 'prove' anything, there's a lot of healthy communication between the characters so we're not running around confused for pages and pages, and neither character feels like a stereotype. There are a few familiar tropes in the mix, but they're used lightly and intelligently.

The artwork in this book is stunning. It's downright beautiful; the covers do not do it justice. I'd frame some of these panels; there's such skill in everything this mangaka draws.

The only downside to this story (and it's kind of a big one) is that it's been licensed recently, and those releases are moving along slowlyyyy. Tracking down translated versions of this story is a bit more difficult now, because of that. But if you have some patience, it's absolutely worth the effort.

At first i was reluctant to read this because it is kinda old but i still give it a try and this is One of the best! A slow paced yet passionate romance at it's finest! The manga that equals my love for Abe Miyuki's works! I've kinda forgotten the feelings of being fascinated by reading, but this manga brings back that feeling. It is so good i love all the characters! I love the house, i love their relationship. All feelings are in this, sadness, happiness, passion just all of it! Their Love is just truly perfect! Every scene od f them makes my heart beats it was as if i'm inside the story, i'm drawn into it. When the end came i feel like crying, i'm very satisfied. The story seems real, the characters is perfect. I love this so much!

... Last updated on December 11th, 2015, 7:08am

Honestly, I've been looking for realistic slow-paced development romance stories for the longest time where you can SEE the transition, and I'm so pleased I've found it here. It's difficult to find that sort of thing in manga, especially in the genre of BL, but there's so much care put into the dynamic that I can't help but love it. The story is dealt with such a mature way, and reads like a casual story that might (?) happen. The problems that rear up to challenge their relationship are realistic ones--and it's not tropey at all; or at least if it is, it's done in such a very great way.

I also love Sakurai's personality: Sakurai's adult way of looking at things is such a good change and a breath of air from regular age-difference relationships--it's not just about age; it's about how you treat a situation or react to one. Youichi too is stellar; he's not held as this ideal "other person" to get, and he struggles in his own way with personal demons, and with the relationship that Youichi does.

EDIT: I realize someone below mentioned they found Sakurai boring, but I actually really liked him! If anything, it was more or less Youichi who I was more 8/ about until we learned more about him, and the manga changed into his POV.

I love also that the story doesn't focus primarily on their relationship (as in, it's not the only thing). Sakurai has his work, Youichi has his school--and the story also brings in a breath of fresh air of the dynamics of the secondary characters (which is so good honestly, Shouta's relationship with his father, Youichi's two caretakers worrying about him, etc). It's so well done.

This is such a great manga? You literally couldn't replace these characters with anyone except themselves and still get the same story. Love it, love it, love it. Just not sure how I feel about the jump from the second last chapter to the epilogue chapter:

... Last updated on November 28th, 2015, 5:37am

I love its slow pace. I enjoy watching the chemistry between Sakurai-san and Youichi. They met, got to know and loved each other. It's marvellous, really!
And the characters' apperances. I read too many mangas that their characters seemed similar. It's hard to distinguish one from another. And I can't tell one's age just by the look of him. So I'm satisfied with the characters' looks in Hana wa Saku ka. The age gap between Sakurai-san and Youichi is noticeable lol
One word comment: awesome!!!

... Last updated on November 25th, 2015, 7:31pm

This was good but kind of tedious. I loved Youichi a lot, quite a special character but I find Sakurai kinda boring or simple. Anyway, I liked it. First time reading Hidaka Shoko, I like her style, I'mma be reading her more.

... Last updated on October 8th, 2015, 3:38am