Gokuraku Cafe

Description

Yuto works as a waiter at the Rainbow Forest Cafe. One day he sees a guy who looked like he wants to throw himself from a bridge. Yuto tries to save him and finds out he's none other than the famous former baseball player, Esaki.

Type

Manga

Related Series

Yakyuu Tengoku (Side Story)

Associated Names

Caffè Paradiso

Caffé Paradise

极乐咖啡

極楽カフェ

Groups Scanlating

Forever More

Latest Release(s)

v.2 c.9 by Forever More 20 years ago

v.2 c.Extra by Forever More 20 years ago

v.2 c.8 by Forever More 20 years ago

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Status in Country of Origin

2 Volumes (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: 7.5 / 10.0 (165 votes)

Bayesian Average: 7.31 / 10.0

16%

26%

21%

Last Updated

June 19th, 2020 4:43am PDT - 5 years ago

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Genre

Comedy Drama Shounen Ai Slice of Life
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Houkago Dorei Club +1

Junsei Honey Boy?

Saigo no Koi o Ore to Shiteyo

Ikemen Paradise

Tenshi no Agent

Recommendations

N/A

Author(s)

MAMAHARA Ellie

Artist(s)

MAMAHARA Ellie

Year

2002

Original Publisher

Tokuma Shoten

Serialized In (magazine)

Chara (Tokuma Shoten)

Licensed (in English)

English Publisher

N/A

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #770

(-28)

Monthly Pos #1751

(-147)

3 Month Pos #2306

(-1139)

6 Month Pos #4724

(-290)

Year Pos #5722

(-1522)

List Stats

On 74 reading lists

On 110 wish lists

On 723 completed lists

On 9 unfinished lists

On 147 custom lists

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User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Good

by Chcz
1 year ago

Rating: N/A

2014-12-13 04:29
I loved the story! Especially the ending 🙂

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Onesided

by mlat26
13 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

Well although it says it's Shounen-Ai it is all one sided since from what I read Yuto is straight and doesn't budge an inch soooo, maybe the BL aspect could have been left out and it would've left the same impression, the ends seems a bit incomplete since there's no closure of any kind in respect to Yuto's love life. I kept wishing he would end up with the Master <3 he somehow reminded me of Sean Connery XD Overall is a nice story 🙂

... Last updated 13 years ago

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Um...it's okay, I guess. I expected more.

by sofistree
14 years ago

Rating: 6.9 / 10.0

Overall conclusion: it didn't draw me in and I lost interest pretty darn fast. But interesting-sounding plot and pretty art.

The plot was interesting at first, but in execution it was kind of wishy-washy. I didn't really get attached to any of the characters (except the Cafe owner - he was cool). I really liked the art most times, but I think the author has a little trouble conveying more potent emotions. The shots that are just stills of people are my favorites of hers. Action, not so much.

I did enjoy the overall story line. I just wish it had pulled me in a bit more. Oh well. Having a sports player openly say he's bisexual was cool.

Also, the translation wasn't very good. I've seen way worse, but this wasn't very close to natural English.

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Frustrating Ending

by Sasageru
14 years ago

Rating: N/A

I am not satisfied at all with that ending god dammit. xD This is really really good, very cute, but so inconclusive. It was a cute ending i guess but i was hoping Yuto would get together with Esuki... but nope, nada. Poor Esuki, i wonder how long he can take being abused by Yuto... dammit. Frustrating xD

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A sweet BL story to read!

by HanaTenshiHimeko
14 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

So sweet!! Omg, I haven't read a good BL story without all the stupid intense drama of love triangle or stuff like that. I think there is a mini love triangle, although I'm not sure 'cause a lot more people like him as you read on, lol.

Story focuses on Yuto, who thought a person was going to jump off the bridge, but was mistaken and took that person to dry off his clothings. As we read along, we learn that this person, Esaki, is a famous baseball player who was injured and wasn't playing for the season. Not going to spoil anymore, and so we learn how Yuto encourages Esaki to do the right thing and we all pretty much predict that Esaki have a crush on Yuto after that.

Towards the end of Volume 1, there is a past story before Yuto became a waiter at Rainbow Cafe and how he met the owner of the cafe. There is also a story of Yuto's childhood (I laughed at the ending).

Volume 2 focuses more on the owner and his son's relationship and how Yuto tries to bring them together.

The ending, I think we know who Yuto ends up with. Or it's just me 'cause I like Esaki. =D

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Haven't a clue why more people haven't given this a 10...

by tartufo
16 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

...Because I think it deserves a 10.

It's really sweet and yes, innocent - but that's rare enough in BL these days. And there ARE people as innocent as Yuto out there... He's been through tough times but they haven't broken him - they've built him. Frankly I prefer reading about characters like this than those that are perpetually angsting or weepy or trying to excuse their horrible actions (eg. rape) by referring to their tortured pasts. Those characters occur too often in yaoi and it's good to finally see a BL character actually take his past and fashion something lovely out of it. 🙂 Plus, puppets! Cute hedgehog puppets! AWW. <333333

I think it's GOOD that there isn't sex. This is the kind of gateway BL manga that I could feel comfortable recommending to a hesitant friend or even to a young teen asking questions about sexuality - I mean, we need some PG-rated gay-themed manga, you know? It can't all be porn, not that there's any wrong with that (lol!), but I sometimes enjoy a good, sweet story where characterization is the main point. And the characterization here is GREAT. That's really what this story is about, not sex, so of course sex isn't the focus. Instead it's a slice-of-life character-driven drama-comedy (lotsa hyphens lol!) where the people are refreshingly ordinary and no one's angst OR happiness is blown out of proportion into some huge melodramatic deal. It's just a bunch of decent people from different lines of work trying to do their best and get along with life, to resolve their issues and to find mundane happiness etc. Finally, NORMAL protagonists in manga. Lol.

Anyone basically looking for a sexual payoff will inevitably be disappointed. But if you want a character-rich story where hope and strength and creativity are emphasized, then you should read this manga. I first read it years ago - really, years! - and it's stuck with me ever since. Obviously it must've been good, right? 🙂

... Last updated 16 years ago

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...

by Harusohma
17 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

It would be perfect if there were smex scenes or at least a concret ending... amazing plot... aaaaaaa really I just want one sex scene with yuuto and baseballboy!!

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Sweet Innocent Story

by MightyMaeve
17 years ago

Rating: 7.0 / 10.0

This one is far too sexless, has far too little terrible angst and far too many PG-styled anti-climaxes for my tastes, but it is still a sweet story. Even a corrupt, terribly sadistic/masochistic (ha) person such as myself, can't help but fall in love with Yuuto and his desire to bring happiness to people. Born out of his own loneliness and pain is something beautiful that he brings to all around him.

The story line is simple enough. The first half introduces us to the main character, who seems to have issues with men hitting on his innocent naive little self. And sometimes these men have issues. Serious ones. (Professor lunging with a knife any one? THAT picked up the story for me. Alas, again.) The second half focuses on the relationship of the man who has become very important to Yuuto and this man's son. They have not speaking to each other for years due to missed moments in key communication. Simple it may be, but the mangaka kept the story fresh with her lively, likeable and imperfect characters. Even with minimal scene time, the secondary character Souhei was delightfully engaging. He was so cute in his protection of his best friend.

Her drawings are very long and angular. They were interesting to look at and succesful at conveying and emphasizing the emotions to accompany the words. Again, not my preference, but well done.

I got excited when Yuuto was so desperate to bring these two men together once again that he agreed to Jack's demands! Alas, I crashed and burned.

SO, if you want a sweet, excessively PG book, do this one up!

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my review

by naokiii
17 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

blueseeker, it seems to me that yuto DID end up with a partner. i don't want to spoil anything but at the very end, it seems him and that person forms a relationship but it is unclear. i think the mangaka wanted us to choose a partner for him ourselves, perhaps? i actually like the fact that there was really no pairing up, and that yuto wasn't one-mindedly set on finding a lover, but instead truly helping people out. and there were many suitors for him, which was cute and different from many shounen ai

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not fair

by blueseeker
17 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

interesting story, yes; great art, yes. But what is up with the couples, yes i understand it's shounen ai so other than kissing there will be anything or nothing at all but at least give me a couple. Along the story Yuuto meets interesting possible partnerts but why is it that nothing happens in the end?!

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