Saezuru is basically a story about two very different, broken people who find in each other something precious. They're both slowly fixing the other (and not through rough sex, as usually happens in yaoi). It's full of melancholy and sadness (especially if you include Yashiro's prequel), but out of all that filth and tainted emotion shines the purity of Doumeki and Yashiro's relationship. Doumeki would literally do anything for Yashiro, and sincerely, truly accepts and APPRECIATES Yashiro for who is. The masochist, the "public toilet," the yakuza boss, and, most of all, the kind, broken person underneath all of that, who has suffered so much--all of the facets of Yashiro are precious to Doumeki. It's so touching it nearly moves me to tears, because isn't that what we all want? Someone who loves us unconditionally, despite all of our issues.

Yashiro himself has got to be one of my favorite manga characters ever. His dark humor and unexpected tenderness (especially toward Doumeki), the depth of his heart (), despite all of the horrific crap that he's been through--that's real strength of character. He never whines, complains, or cowers, even though basically anyone else would in his place. Unlike 99.9% of all the main characters in yaoi, the reader actually feels like he deserves the unfailing devotion (and more!) he receives.

Doumeki's presence in Yashiro's life is also slowly changing Yashiro. The scene when Yashiro comes back to Doumeki in the movie theater--argh. I'm never sappy about yaoi, but I have to admit that my heart throbbed in my chest. Yashiro opens up to Doumeki in a way that he obviously has never been able to before, and it makes you truly hopeful that one day, he will be happy. For someone whose whole life revolves around pain and sex, to meet the one person who would rather kill himself than cause you pain, and with whom you can't use sex as a barrier or a defense...man. They're made for each other.

I don't understand how people can say that this isn't a complex, psychological story. It is. It is incredibly touching, deep, and in my opinion, heartbreakingly sweet and tender, in an unexpected but profound way. I've never described a yaoi manga (or any manga at all) using that sort of language, but this one popped out of nowhere and smacked me hard in the face with its depth. I was truly moved by the relationship, and while I usually despise unrealistic happily ever after's, I find myself hoping that Yashiro and Doumeki get one.

If you disregard the yaoi content, you can really see a very dark, heartbreaking, and lovely romance. This manga also has a very original, beautiful plot. This is the first manga to literally move me with their illustrations. Combining the words and pictures together you can feel a clusters of mixed emotions. I practically cried every time i reread this story, maybe because this story felt so real.
The protagonist, Yashiro, is an interesting guy which we don't normally have as the main character. His sorrows and personality constantly stirred me. His poker face really drew my attention. I don't know if I envy his strong heart as his fights through each obstacle he faces, or pity his misfortune to be born into that kind of life. I guess this is why Domeki truly respects him.
I love the pairing between Domeki and Yashiro. They just look so cute together. Domeki's denseness and undying love is very adorable. I highly recommend this manga, as long you're a person who can disregard the yaoi content, if you find them disturbing.

... Last updated on January 5th, 2014, 12:24am

A very strange manga but it gets you hooked. As in all yaois, everyone is basically gay (literally this time!), and although I wasn't expecting much from a yakuza manga...wow, it blew my mind. Although it's easy to call Yashiro desperate or shameless, there's something deeper and complicated in him, and I love his genteel persona. Yashiro is the center of this manga, and I think that's why I'm giving it 9/10 (-1 for his sexiness, since really it does creep me out a little but I grow to understand it). I also subtracted 1 because of the whole thing with nearly everyone having a crappy, rape-filled past.

Yashiro is a super interesting character. You sometimes wonder how far corruption can go, and how it can appear, and Yashiro is literally the embodiment of that twisted side of human nature to its peak (being a gay nympho). I love mangas that get me feeling intensely, and I always find myself mixed between admiration or pity in regards to Yashiro (which I guess is Doumeki and Kageyama). I like how the "triangle/quadrilateral" love relationships are set up as well. It's ecstatic and very original.

SO WHERE'S THE NEXT CHAPTER HMPH HMPH HMPH

... Last updated on December 6th, 2013, 9:57pm

Though I like Yaoi so much, I have never brought any series or their drama CDs
But this one is different. After reading it for 2 days in a row, I noticed that the CD has been released already, then I found it and listen to it until I decided I need to actually buy those.
This series is just so addictive, I don't know how to write my feelings down, but all the details are so real that I couldn't cry. Though I have never experienced anything that each characters have been through, I understand the loneliness that they are suffering. Like one of you said, people need to at least, try to understand others rather than simply accept what is on the surface.
While reading this, I realized that in the darkest place, although it is very tiny, there is still hope.
I didn't notice that this is one of Yoneda-sensei's work, and I didn't notice that she also written Doushitemo Furetakunai.

I love Yoneda-sensei's art. For me, it's gorgeous. When I was rating her other works, I found out that I loved all of them (unfortunately, even those that are incomplete). She's is my number one mangaka. After she came back from hiatus, I thought, that she'd complete some of her previous works, but she came with Saezuru... and it didn't disapoint me at all. It's as heartbreaking, sad and realistic as ever.

... Last updated on August 17th, 2013, 11:15am

Yoneda Kou is one of my favorite shounen ai/yaoi authors, if not THE favorite author. Her way of storytelling is extremly touching, lots of angst, but not the cheesy angst, but real angst, sadness, cruelity, despair. It's realistic, it's mature. And her art style is beyond awsome.
Yoshiro is a great character, he appeard also in her other works, but I wonder if this ongoing series was really necessary. She could have told his story in one volume, I would have been completely satisfied. It's just pointlessly dragging out. I will return to this series if it ever comes to an end, but at the moment I feel that I know everything necessary about the characters. I have no idea what Yoneda-Sensei could add to impress me. This one is just not for me. Maybe she didn't ended it earlier because of the success. I think she does better with short series.

... Last updated on May 16th, 2013, 7:58am

This manga reminds me a little of Sarai-ya Goyou/House of Five Leaves, which is a work very close to my heart. Especially Yashiro's likeness to Yaichi, and the chemistry between the two odd couples. Just watching them makes me happy, although heart wrenching at times, and I only wish the best for them. As that is the least they deserve. Yashiro deserves to be happy. It pains me. Their interaction warms my heart like a bowl of hot soup prepared by your most beloved person.

I usually give nines to even great manga because I want the mangaka to remain humble and modest, but this work is just so beautiful and heartbreaking I had to give a 10. Her artwork is something to behold and the story line leaves you more addicted that if you were a user of crystal meth.

It's been a long time since I read a manga like this. I feel it, sharp pain, sweet love, everything without them saying a word in the manga.

For those manga with lovely story, or hot love and sex, etc., you can find every where and they all repeat the same thing, but it's different for this manga. The two main characters haven't had sex, never sweet talked to each other. The moment they spent without saying a word or just non-romantic talk, make me love it so much. They didn't say it, we feel it.

And the sufferings, I'm a sadist and used to be abused (but not as much as him) so I can understand that. Yashiro's personality is described well. Even though I can't understand all of their sufferings, I can feel their pain, thanks to our dear mangaka.

The atmosphere of a mafia world is very close to those seinen manga I read (for example, Ichi the Killer ?), it's not the same atmosphere, but similar. To me, who haven't experienced in mafia world, this atmosphere just feel 'right'.

(In case you read) I think you remember the face Yashiro made in the car after meeting Kageyama. That's my favorite moment. It tells you a lot ♥

It's a deep manga, typical but not typical. It's not suitable for people who love manga with smooth, sweet story, or simply don't understand, can't feel it, or just not their types. It'll be a pity you can't read it anyway

*Stop my boring comment*

... Last updated on March 26th, 2013, 9:42pm

I'm drawn to this manga because Yashiro reminds me of myself so much. I never experienced sexual abuse like he did, but I'm no stranger to other forms of abuse and neglect. I've also never indulged in or wanted pity and in the past have resorted to sex to cope cause it was a better option than drugs. : )
I can say that people who have been abused often have quirks and a twisted way of expressing their feelings. We also tend to shy away from relationships even if we're lonely. It's always easier to not show your feelings and take a humorous view of life.
Getting angry never really helps and survivors are mostly occupied by trying to make their lives work with their various social inadequacies. I always think that it would be nice if people would seriously try to understand others rather than just accepting surface appearances, since despite my cold exterior and sometimes blase attitude, I really care about the people around me a lot. It often takes a long time for people to realize that.
For instance, a former co-worker and acquaintance of mine died recently and I was mostly unable to react. It took a concerted effort for me to hug his widow and tell her to "hang in there." Most people would consider that a half-assed condolence, but from me it's alot.
Anyway, I don't want to drag on, but for those that dislike Yashiro's character I can say that he's not nearly as bad a person as a lot of people in RL that have experienced that same level of abuse. It changes you. So really, being a socially retarded asshole isn't bad considering and I'm looking forward to watching him grow as a character. : )