There are three ongoing manga/anime series that are so popular among both teenagers and adults in Japan. They are about love, about social phenomenons, about an experience that most people have had. They resonate with the majority of the audience so well, so well that it breaks their hearts to watch, that it reminds them of something they don’t want to remember.
In short, they are truly disturbingly realistic.
1. Masamune-kun’s Revenge（政宗くんのリベンジ）
Masamune-kun’s Revenge is a manga series written by Hazuki Takeoka（葉月竹岡）. It’s a typical teenage love story where two teenagers are actually each other’s crush but kind of wrap up their feelings by being irritating towards each other. Masamune and Aki are exactly in this relationship. They are childhood friends and each other’s crush, but everything is ruined when Masamune, who is a chubby boy, gets rejected by Aki for being fat like a piggy. When both of them reach 16, a muscular and handsome Masamune transfers to Aki’s school just to get his revenge by making her fall for him then brutally rejecting her. Aki can’t seem to recognise this brand new Masamune and being the tsundere she is, doesn’t treat him nicely despite falling for him actually. At the same time Masamune’s sick plan seems to be falling apart as he can’t help but falling for Aki again.
What makes it heartbroken is not how they never admit their feelings for each other. It’s how all this denying lead to more misunderstandings, and meanwhile the presence of other of their pursuers tear them apart even more. This is not a tear jerking piece of work like Makoto Shinkai’s, but it is still one that reminds many of us of the relationships we never get to have in those good old school days.
2. Scum’s Wish（クズの本懐）
Scum’s Wish is a manga series illustrated and written by Mengo Yokoyari（横槍メンゴ）. Sad is not the right word to describe the characters in this series. They are pathetic, freaking masochists and more importantly, some kind of scums like the title suggests. Hanabi is a high school girl in love with her teacher, and Mugi is a high school boy in love with his teacher as well. Their love is deep and yet unrequited. All these lead to them agreeing to be a contract couple. Together they seek physical and emotional comfort. When it’s not enough, they seek comfort from others as well.
There are characters who push their sexual and emotional limits. There are characters who are looking for comfort. There are characters who are obsessed with feeling loved. There are characters who is willing to give everything away for the ones who never love them back. There are characters who hurts. There are characters who are hurt. There are scums. There are masochists. Oh wait, are these characters from the manga, or are these characters actually us?
Scum’s Wish is a melancholy, brutal yet honest depiction of relationships and values in modern society. It pains the audience, and so there is no denying that the real scum is this manga. It must be.
3. Tokyo Tarareba Musume（東京タラレバ娘）
Tokyo Tarareba Musume is a manga series written and illustrated by Akiko Higashimura（東村アキコ）. Kaori, Rinko, and Koyuki are three single girl friends who are in their 30s. Kaori broke up with her previous boyfriend whom she thought would be unable to make a living, but is now a successful musician with a model girlfriend. Rinko rejected a co-worker for his plain look, but he has become a successful producer who ends up being with a young girlfriend. Koyiku never takes much interest in dating, but is now softened up by a married guy who confesses to her. The women would meet up from time to time to complain about guys, and ask the “if he/I had done that” question.
Tokyo Tarareba Musume accurately describes the situation of many Japanese single women at their thirties. They are eager to get married. They regret wasting their youth on being too picky. They persuade themselves to live a completely independent life but still wish to have a company to spend their lives with. The fact they dwell on failed relationships and ask “what if it didn’t turn out like this” does not get them any further. This is a sarcastic yet heartwarming reminder to women, a reminder to encourage them to go forward and never look back, a reminder to open up their hearts to any possibility, a reminder to help them look past career and look when it comes to relationships.
Tokyo Tarareba Musume gets a live-action drama series instead of an anime adaption.