Haru wo Daiteita
Encyclopedia
is a yaoi
manga
by Youka Nitta
, about two male pornographic actors who fall in love as they attempt to break into mainstream acting. It is published in English by Be Beautiful Manga. In addition to the manga, a drama CD and OVA have been released. Nitta chose to use the pornography industry as a backdrop because she felt it had potential, and she felt there was a parallel between how the pornography industry is marginalised in Japan and how boys love manga is marginalised within the manga industry.
in the OVA.
Youji Katou - He is a blonde, bold, outgoing, up-and-coming actor. His openness has brought him both good fortune and trouble. His relentless pursuit ultimately wins him Iwaki's love. He comes from a very open and understanding family that comes to accept his choices and homosexual relationship. Voiced by Shinichiro Miki
in the OVA.
Nagisa Sawa - The author of the novel
"Haru wo Daiteita", who used to be a policeman from a conservative and controlling family but now dresses in female clothing. Voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue
in the OVA.
Yukihito Sawa - Sawa Nagisa's younger cousin and lover. He witnessed his mother's death at the hands of his father when he was 13 falling in a severe state of shock that rendered him mute. Only Sawa's affections managed to pull him out of it but he's still shy and introverted. Voiced by Chihiro Suzuki
in the OVA.
Kazunari Urushizaki - Katou's stalker who looks like a younger Iwaki, he becomes a reporter to better follow Katou. Voiced by Kentarou Itou in the OVA.
Katsuya Kikuchi - An actor who some years ago had a same-sex relationship scandal, he is jealous of the positive public reaction to Iwaki and Katou's relationship. Voiced by Ken Narita
in the OVA.
. Haru wo Daiteita was published in English by Central Park Media
under its label Be Beautiful, in an agreement with Biblos, as Embracing Love. In 2007 following Biblos' bankruptcy, Libre published an open letter on their website which said that English-language publishers had to renegotiate publishing rights for Biblos' former series with Libre, specifically naming CPM's releases as "illegal".
In July 2008, Youka Nitta traced a magazine ad and used the drawing as the cover for chapter 49 of Haru wo Daiteita, as a result the series was pulled from the next issue of BeXBoy Gold, Nitta declined to attend Yaoi-Con
, and Libre removed mentions of her and her work from their website, Nitta saying that she will quit manga work. The ad company who created the ad that was traced released a statement saying that they consider Nitta's tracing of their ad to be "a tribute".
In June 2009, Libre announced that Nitta had finished drawing Haru wo Daiteita and that the fourteenth and final volume would be released in autumn. It was released in November 2009, selling 24,078 copies in the first week. The final volume is available on Amazon Kindle
.
An artbook was published by CPM in English, the production values were praised, and the English edition was described as an "absolutely worthy substitute" for the original Japanese artbook.
The structuring of the OVA episodes has been criticised, as "it's not exactly clear what time period we're watching." The OVA episodes have been said to be "quite tame", as no genitalia are visible.
Yaoi
In careful Japanese enunciation, all three vowels are pronounced separately, for a three-mora word, . The English equivalent is . also known as Boys' Love, is a Japanese popular term for female-oriented fictional media that focus on homoerotic or homoromantic male relationships, usually created by...
manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
by Youka Nitta
Youka Nitta
is a Japanese yaoi manga artist. Although Nitta was already a fan of manga, she was introduced to yaoi manga when she was in grade five, by an older girl who was her neighbour. Her first manga story, "GROUPIE", was published by Biblos in 1997...
, about two male pornographic actors who fall in love as they attempt to break into mainstream acting. It is published in English by Be Beautiful Manga. In addition to the manga, a drama CD and OVA have been released. Nitta chose to use the pornography industry as a backdrop because she felt it had potential, and she felt there was a parallel between how the pornography industry is marginalised in Japan and how boys love manga is marginalised within the manga industry.
Plot
Life reflects art for Iwaki and Katou, two adult film stars who are considering retirement from their sordid careers. However, when they're invited to audition for a new erotic film, they realize that this may be their last chance to achieve mainstream success. Unfortunately, things sour quickly when the director asks them to make love to each other and determine who will get the lead role. What follows next is romance, and passionate sex that will alter their careers.Characters
Kyousuke Iwaki - A reserved man who has put his work before his personal life. He has a strained relationship with his conservative family due to his adult film career and struggles to have a relationship with Katou. Voiced by Toshiyuki MorikawaToshiyuki Morikawa
is a prolific Japanese male voice actor from Yokohama, Kanagawa, was affiliated with Arts Vision. Lately, however, he has become the head of that a voice actor company he founded in Apr 2011. His name is also sometimes mistranslated as Tomoyuki...
in the OVA.
Youji Katou - He is a blonde, bold, outgoing, up-and-coming actor. His openness has brought him both good fortune and trouble. His relentless pursuit ultimately wins him Iwaki's love. He comes from a very open and understanding family that comes to accept his choices and homosexual relationship. Voiced by Shinichiro Miki
Shinichiro Miki
is a Japanese voice actor. He is a member of 81 Produce.Miki is most known for the roles of Kojiro , Takumi Fujiwara , Kisuke Urahara , Akira Yuki , Lockon Stratos , and Roy Mustang .According to the Anime News Network, as of Spring 2007, Miki is...
in the OVA.
Nagisa Sawa - The author of the novel
Story within a story
A story within a story, also rendered story-within-a-story, is a literary device in which one narrative is presented during the action of another narrative. Mise en abyme is the French term for a similar literary device...
"Haru wo Daiteita", who used to be a policeman from a conservative and controlling family but now dresses in female clothing. Voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue
Kazuhiko Inoue
is a veteran voice actor from Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.-Biography:Since his debut in 1973, Kazuhiko Inoue has become one of Japan's most well established voice actors. His early roles from the 1970s include Anthony in Candy Candy, and later as Joe in the 1979 remake of Cyborg 009...
in the OVA.
Yukihito Sawa - Sawa Nagisa's younger cousin and lover. He witnessed his mother's death at the hands of his father when he was 13 falling in a severe state of shock that rendered him mute. Only Sawa's affections managed to pull him out of it but he's still shy and introverted. Voiced by Chihiro Suzuki
Chihiro Suzuki
is a Japanese voice actor. He made his debut role as Soichiro Arima in Kare Kano. He is currently a free agent and his nickname is "Chi-chan".-Anime:*Inazuma Eleven *Amaenaideyo!! *Angel Heart...
in the OVA.
Kazunari Urushizaki - Katou's stalker who looks like a younger Iwaki, he becomes a reporter to better follow Katou. Voiced by Kentarou Itou in the OVA.
Katsuya Kikuchi - An actor who some years ago had a same-sex relationship scandal, he is jealous of the positive public reaction to Iwaki and Katou's relationship. Voiced by Ken Narita
Ken Narita
' is a Japanese seiyū and actor from Saitama Prefecture. His real name is '. He is currently a freelancer.He is best known for his roles in Chō Tokkyū Hikarian , InuYasha , the Angelique series , Code Geass , Le Chevalier D'Eon , and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strikers ' (May 18, 1964 - ) is a...
in the OVA.
Publication
Haru wo Daiteita was published in Japan by Biblos until its bankruptcy in 2006, when the series was picked up by Libre PublishingLibre Publishing
Libre Publishing is a Japanese boys love manga publishing company. It was founded on May 8, 2006, and is the successor to Biblos , which folded due to the failure of its parent company....
. Haru wo Daiteita was published in English by Central Park Media
Central Park Media
Central Park Media was an American multimedia entertainment company based in New York City, New York, that was active in the distribution of East Asian cinema, television series, anime, manga and manhwa titles in North America prior to its bankruptcy in 2009...
under its label Be Beautiful, in an agreement with Biblos, as Embracing Love. In 2007 following Biblos' bankruptcy, Libre published an open letter on their website which said that English-language publishers had to renegotiate publishing rights for Biblos' former series with Libre, specifically naming CPM's releases as "illegal".
In July 2008, Youka Nitta traced a magazine ad and used the drawing as the cover for chapter 49 of Haru wo Daiteita, as a result the series was pulled from the next issue of BeXBoy Gold, Nitta declined to attend Yaoi-Con
Yaoi-Con
Yaoi-Con is an annual three-day anime convention for fans with an interest in yaoi-related anime, manga, and other aspects of Asian culture. It was founded in 2001 and typically takes place during the month of October in or near San Francisco. It is known mostly for its unique events that use...
, and Libre removed mentions of her and her work from their website, Nitta saying that she will quit manga work. The ad company who created the ad that was traced released a statement saying that they consider Nitta's tracing of their ad to be "a tribute".
In June 2009, Libre announced that Nitta had finished drawing Haru wo Daiteita and that the fourteenth and final volume would be released in autumn. It was released in November 2009, selling 24,078 copies in the first week. The final volume is available on Amazon Kindle
Amazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 which uses wireless connectivity to enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media...
.
OVA
The OVA Haru Wo Daite, otherwise known as 'Embracing Love', has two episodes (30 minutes long).Reception
The refreshing "reversible" nature of the couple has been praised, and it is thought that this is the first series to be published in English which has a reversible couple. The conceit of both characters being pornographic actors has been described as being unusual in yaoi. The interspersion of humour and everyday life in the series has been praised, as has the "honesty of the emotions" in the work. Iwaki's continuing refusal to have sex with men has been seen as odd, given his profession. By volume 3, the art style has "softened", described as being reflective of the softening of the characters. Julie Rosato has criticised the production values of CPM's release of volume 4. The series has been called "gloriously porntastic".An artbook was published by CPM in English, the production values were praised, and the English edition was described as an "absolutely worthy substitute" for the original Japanese artbook.
The structuring of the OVA episodes has been criticised, as "it's not exactly clear what time period we're watching." The OVA episodes have been said to be "quite tame", as no genitalia are visible.
External links
- Official Trinet website
- Be Beautiful site (on Archive.org)
- Boys on Boys on Film
- AarinFantasy Website {Aarinfantasy}