Manga Planet’s October 2023 Title Picks
For our October 2023 monthly recommendations, we’ve picked one seinen title, one BL title, one josei title, and one shonen title. Look out for more recommendations in the months to come!
1. What Did You Eat Yesterday?
Author: Fumi Yoshinaga
Publisher: Kodansha Ltd.
Genre: Shonen/Seinen
Status: Ongoing (currently 19 volumes on Manga Planet)
Access Options:
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
From award-winning author Fumi Yoshinaga comes a casual romance between two middle-aged men and the many meals they share together.
A hard-working middle-aged gay couple in Tokyo come to enjoy the finer moments of life through food. After long days at work, either in the law firm or the hair salon, Shiro and Kenji will always have down time together by the dinner table, where they can discuss their troubles, hash out their feelings and enjoy delicately prepared home cooked meals!
(Synopsis from Kodansha Ltd.)
Why we recommend What Did You Eat Yesterday?:
What Did You Eat Yesterday? has captivated audiences across Japan, with new volumes of the manga often making bookstore rankings of top-selling titles for weeks or even months, and the live-action series — of which Season 2 is currently airing, as of this writing — being a hit. And it’s not hard to see why: it’s a heartwarming series with a sweet couple, and it features delicious food!
Kenji and Shiro are both quite likeable in their own right and as a couple, and you can’t help but become invested in their relationship, which progresses throughout the series — that’s right; the characters don’t just remain at an unspecified age. At the beginning, the couple are in their early 40s, entering their 50s later on. Reading through this series filled with soft domestic fluff will make you feel like you’re growing with Kenji and Shiro too, as you witness their ups and downs and share their joys at the dinner table.
Fun fact: What Did You Eat Yesterday? is first and foremost a seinen manga in Japan; its reputation as an queer and/or BL manga manga mainly comes from English-speaking audiences. It’s more of a slice-of-life series whose protagonists happen to be a gay couple.
In depicting a gay couple without explicitly drawing too much attention to the protagonists’ sexual orientation — while still not shying away from depicting issues common to queer couples in Japan, the series normalizes queer relationships in such a way that even those who aren’t used to seeing queer characters or relationships in their media aren’t very likely to get culture shock while reading.
At the same time, those seeking queer representation will still get their fill, even despite What Did You Eat Yesterday? not being purposely written to be or marketed as queer-oriented.
For those who like food and/or cooking, the recipes in each chapter and the mouthwateringly illustrated ingredients and dishes will surely delight you! If you’re ever short on ideas for what dish to make, this series will give you plenty of inspiration. The post-chapter tips and notes are quite helpful, too. This author has certainly tried their hand at recreating some of the recipes; if you’re up for the challenge, give them a try!
2. Psychedelia
Author: Hidebu Takahashi
Publisher: Home-Sha Inc.
Genre: Boys’ Love (BL)
Status: Completed (1 volume)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
Mizoshiri, a junior detective, just can’t help but fantasize about his senior Hino, a handsome and serious man of few words. When Hino is transported to the hospital unconscious and in critical condition after being shot, Mizoshiri, who was Hino’s partner during the stakeout, is put on house arrest while the investigation moves forward without him.
Guilty over failing to look out for Hino, worried over what will happen to his senior, and regretful over never getting to have a meal with him, Mizoshiri goes home with mixed feelings on his troubled mind. At his place, he’s greeted by Hino — who seems to be very nonchalant about his torso being covered in blood and claims to be having an out-of-body experience. If this is just another one of Mizoshiri’s fantasies, why is this version of Hino able to talk back to him?
Why we recommend Psychedelia:
Having read Hidebu Takahashi’s other available titles on Manga Planet’s library, this author was looking forward to reading Psychedelia as well, and sure enough, it did not disappoint. Considering the premises that Hidebu Takahashi came up with for Stigmata and Yuki and Matsu, it’s safe to say that they certainly have a uniquely creative imagination, which makes Psychedelia such a fun read.
Although this title is only a few chapters long, it’s no less of an entertaining read. Not to mention, Takahashi-sensei’s art style is quite the visual treat, which adds to this title’s appeal. A panel or two depicting Mizoshiri’s naughty fantasies about Hino are drawn very fancifully, giving the series a touch of surrealism and whimsy.
What exactly is the apparition of Hino in Mizoshiri’s apartment: a manifestation of Hino’s consciousness (which would make Hino’s claim of having an out-of-body experience true), a hallucination, a figment of Mizoshiri’s overactive imagination, or something else? Finding out whether or not the next events that play out are just a very vivid dream is part of the fun, so we won’t spoil. Go read Psychedelia yourself to find out!
3. Miyako’s Night Tales
Author: Yumi Sudo
Publisher: SHODENSHA Publishing Co.,Ltd.
Genre: Shojo/Josei
Status: Ongoing (currently 1 volume)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (all currently available volumes)
- Points (all currently available volumes)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
Twenty-six-year-old Keiichi just got out of his dreadful former job, so it’s no surprise that the sight of his abusive ex-boss still makes him run for the hills — and right into a strangely horror-themed bar. There, he meets Miyako, a kimono-clad beauty who lets him air out his grievances, and her quiet charm and love for horror stories has Keiichi so smitten that he wishes he can meet her again.
But will Keiichi still want to be around Miyako even after finding out the real reason behind her kindness that night?
Why we recommend Miyako’s Night Tales:
For those who aren’t into outright horror — jumpscares, chills down your spine, and all — rest assured that you’ll be able to enjoy Miyako’s Night Tales, too! There is one chapter in which you’ll encounter a terrifying, monstrous face, but despite our co-protagonist Miyako’s love for horror stories, this series is more like a collection of stories with supernatural elements, with frequent allusions to yokai such as tsukumogami (objects that have gained sentience) and unsettling Japanese dolls.
The tales, several of which end on a vaguely bittersweet note, are all fascinating to read, and readers will also no doubt appreciate author Yumi Sudo’s attention to detail, as seen in her illustrations of elaborate kimono patterns, natural scenery, and Kyoto’s streetscapes. You may also pick up a thing or two about traditional Japanese culture, thanks to the translation notes that shed more light on certain bits of dialogue.
Miyako’s Night Tales has a lot of potential going for it, and we can’t wait to see what further tales Sudo-sensei will come up with — though it bears noting that the series hasn’t had a new chapter or volume since 2017. As this title is semi-episodic, Volume 1’s final chapter doesn’t particularly end on a cliffhanger, so those who dislike cliffhangers need not strike this series off their reading list. But you still can’t help but want to read more, and we sure hope Miyako’s Night Tales hasn’t been permanently put on hold!
4. The Caged King
Author: Ochi-R
Publisher: COMPASS Inc.
Genre: Shonen/Seinen
Status: Completed (3 volumes)
Access Options:
- Manga Planet Pass (readable in full)
- Points (readable in full)
- Free preview of Chapter 1
Synopsis
In the distant future, in a world where the chess-like board game shogi is an international sensation, tomboyish Ayumu dreams of becoming as great as shogi prodigy Tamaki Oshiro, whom she has admired for the longest time. Ayumu may not be on her idol’s level, but she’s determined to get there.
Now that Tamaki has transferred from Tokyo to Ayumu’s school in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture and is recruiting a team to go for the gold at the national championships, maybe Ayumu’s big dreams might become a reality, after all.
Why we recommend The Caged King:
Although there are a number of sports manga (and anime) with a male team as the leads — and they’re quite enjoyable! — it’s refreshing to read a sports-themed series featuring an all-female team, as these titles are relatively less common.
The five girls of Matsuyama High’s ambitious and determined shogi team each have distinct personalities and represent different character archetypes: Ayumu is the plucky newcomer, Tamaki is the brash and confident ace, Kaori is the quiet and refined dark-haired beauty, Sayoko is nerdy but energetic, and Nana is flirtatious and seemingly unfazed by anything.
They all have different playing styles — and different motivations and reasons for playing shogi, too, as you’ll find out. The Caged King may only be 10 chapters long, it’s still able to show, even briefly, each character’s backstory.
Additionally, as a bonus for those who are into yuri/GL, it’s worth noting that while this title isn’t being marketed as a yuri manga, it does have sapphic undertones. This shouldn’t be too surprising considering its majority-female cast — even when it comes to background or minor characters, you’ll hardly ever see any male characters. Characters randomly declare that they have a fangirl crush on such-and-such character, and some of the girls can be quite flirtatious with other girls.
If sports manga and shonen manga tropes like the power of friendship and amateur underdogs striving to be the very best they can be are your thing, The Caged King will be right up your alley! Who knew that shogi matches could be depicted as such over-the-top, high-stakes battles?
And who knows: you might find yourself doing more reading about shogi! The helpful translator’s notes sprinkled throughout the manga certainly provided a lot of handy context, but they might still leave you curious to know more. Thanks to this manga, this writer can say that they now know a bit more about shogi than before.
