Our Dreams at Dusk
Our Dreams at Dusk, Volume 1
iPhone 13 mini photo
I had read reviews and high praise for Our Dreams at Dusk (Shimanami Tasogare). Last November I purchased this series at a Kinokuniya sale, and it has waited two months for my attention. I knew there was some heavyweight issues involved, so I put off this manga until the very end. And it’s true - this is a serious, oftentimes intense drama and coming-of-age series. But it is also really well-written and true-to-life. I loved all the characters, and I was compelled to find out what happens. Thursday morning before work I had read volume 1 - and by the middle of Thursday evening, I had finished the entire series. Erica Friedman of Okazu calls it a “masterwork,” and it’s hard to argue with that assessment. A search at Okazu for Shimanami Tasogare will pull reviews of the Japanese books and the translated English books.
The main character, Tasuku, is struggling with his sexual identity - and by happenstance stumbles upon an out-of-the-way drop-in center that hosts a number of very interesting characters - all of them LGBTQ in one fashion or another. We don’t know this up front, and each character’s story is revealed in the chapters of the series. This manga provides broad representation, including gay, lesbian, trans, ace, and questioning characters.
In one respect, it’s pretty convenient that a nice but unlikely mix of queer folk congregate at a single location; this makes the story threading compact. On the other hand, one might question how genuine the characters are. But it turns out, they do seem very real. The mangaka, Yuhki Kamatani, is asexual and genderqueer, so authentic viewpoints and experiences are conveyed.
I will say, as I began reading about all the characters and activities in the drop-in center, I was immediately reminded of my many years of volunteering at SMYRC - where our mix of youth represented an even broader spectrum than shown in this manga. And with that, the drop-in center in Our Dreams at Dusk felt very real. I would list my favorite characters - but I liked all of them. I do think my favorites were Haru-chan and Utsumi-kun. And while I understood but didn’t like Misora-san’s abrupt moodiness, I do have a special soft spot for Misora-san.
The characters are great. The writing is great. The art is really good - but the style is all over the board... sometimes small and simple and routine... sometimes grand... sometimes surreal... sometimes a little dull. The mix is unpredictable - but pleasant.
Our Dreams at Dusk, Volume 1
iPhone 13 mini photo
There is drama and anguish. But at the final volume there is a happy ending. And for such a serious tome, a happy ending is much appreciated. I liked the series a lot, and it will always remind me of all the drop-in youth at SMYRC.
You're welcome to comment on LJ, but I'd rather you leave a comment on the original post at Dreamwidth. The current comment count is
.