Wakayama is a delicious ‘snack wonderland’! The author, a native of the area, wants to tell you about it! Ten excellent retro snacks.
Primary school student Naoki has to live with his grandfather in Wakayama because his parents have been transferred abroad. In order to bring a smile to the sad-looking Naoki, his grandparents prepare a series of nostalgic and gentle-tasting snacks, all of which are new to the city-bred Naoki…! The exciting country life starts in the beautiful nature surrounded by mountains and the sea, full of local famous sweets and homemade snacks! Includes recipes for snacks and an essay about life in the countryside. (DeepL)
Content Warnings
A young child is separated from his parents = small person being sad…
Reason(s) for nominating: This looks like an adorable story of a young boy bonding with his grandparents and learning about regional snacks. The art looks very cute and it seems like it’ll be a really wholesome story. It’s also fairly short, at only one volume of less than 120 pages.
Momose left his previous job due to his boss’s harassment. Fearing his new boss, Shirosaki, will be just as terrible, he begins his first day feeling anxious. But when they finally meet, Shirosaki is unexpectedly a total airhead who loves goofing off.
(Amazon Prime for the anime)
Content Warnings
Mentions of workplace harassment/bullying
Reason(s) for nominating: It was my favourite anime last year! The story is about Momose who quit his former job for workplace harassment (パワハラ).
The characters are adorable and loveable, the story is very light-hearted and healing. It’s not really BL since nothing in the sort is explicitly happening, but very cute interactions and one character is openly bi (without it being thematized in detail).
A few select chapters are also available for free on Pixiv and Mangacross (the publisher’s site). The chapters are loosely tied together (I would have to check that), so maybe it could be personal choice to read the full version or just the free chapters.
Hmmm. I actually do have a nom in mind, an LN I read the first volume of in English and just super enjoyed the quiet vibes. There are some elements to it that do get a little intense, but I’m thinking I may just note those down as a warning and let the voting public decide.
The worst―and last―day of his life! Masamichi Adachi left his hometown in the country to study agriculture at university. He prepared diligently for the exam, got his own apartment, and landed a part-time job to pay rent and support himself. He’s doing everything right, so why is it all going horribly wrong?! He’s failed the entrance exam twice, lost his job, and to top it all off, a hit-and-run leaves him a lonely, bloody mess on a dark road. Just as he accepts his fate and goes toward the light, an unlikely savior approaches, drawn by the smell of his blood. A contract with this stranger could give him a second chance at life, but will he agree to terms that include being eaten alive?
Content Warnings
Early on there is a fairly graphic description of Masamichi’s injuries after being run over, and later there is discussion of rape.
Reason(s) for nominating: I picked this up in English and read it while on vacation, and maybe it was just right time/right place, but I absolutely loved the quiet vibes this book has. It starts off melancholy, and we get to see our protagonist getting a new lease on life. It just really felt like 癒やし系 to me at the time; some parts felt almost meditative.
And because readers may be curious, here’s the author’s thoughts on whether this should be considered a BL title or not (taken from the English edition):
The Specter and Servant series was published by a label specializing in yaoi, where the basic theme is Boys Love or love between males. But I have never categorized my work as such, and like my other work, this is a story about someone developing feelings for another during their daily lives and nurturing a strong mutual bond.
I like that you can go back and look at previous lists - maybe not all that useful for newer clubs, but it might be interesting/useful in the future, especially for eliminated titles). And I also worry that I’ll accidentally delete things.
It doesn’t take any longer than editing, since I just copy/paste, anyway.
ふらいんぐうぃっち 1
事情を知らない転校生がグイグイくる。1
