Wandering Son, Vol. 2

Wandering Son #2

by Shimura Takako, Matt Thorn (Translator)

In the second volume of Shimura Takako's superb coming-of-age story, our transgender protagonists, Shuichi and Yoshino, have entered the sixth grade. Shuichi spends a precious gift of cash from his grandmother on a special present for himself, a purchase that triggers a chain of events in which his sister Maho learns his secret, and Shuichi inadvertently steals the heart of a boy Maho in interested in.


The transgender woman who showed so much interest in Yoshino (when she was wearing a boy’s school uniform) in volume one reappears with her boyfriend, and becomes a mentor and friend to the two children. And the kids go on a class trip that is a rite of passage Shuichi would rather pass up. Shuichi is called a “faggot” by another boy, and the dramatic nature in which Saori comes to Shuichi’s defense leads the two to discover a shared fondness for Anne of Green Gables. But despite his propensity to cry (a propensity noted repeatedly by his more outgoing sister), Shuichi finds strength and courage he didn’t know he had.


A sophisticated work translated with sophistication by veteran translator and comics scholar Matt Thorn.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, LGBT, Young Adult, Queer, Fiction

228 pages, Hardcover

First published March 16, 2004

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was going so well. And most of what was good in the first volume is every bit as good in this. The art is nice (and, I think, even better in this volume) and I feel like the writer is making an honest effort at portraying the feelings of transgender children like the main characters. Bonus Anne of Green Gables references! There's also a really good, albeit short, essay at the end of the book by Matt Thorn, explaining how Japanese society (well, average, middle age, middle class Japanese, at least) view LGBT issues, which is indeed rather different than the American perspective if not really that much more welcoming on average.

But then there's Yuki-san and... Urgh. Much as I might have liked the idea of Shuichi and Yoshino having an "it gets better" example, Yuki is not it. Her behavior towards the kids is inappropriate, to say the least. I understand that they're flattered to have the attention of a cool adult, but she gives me major, major warning signals. Just yuck. This book could do so much better.

[Cole Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

The format of the manga presented by Fantagraphics Book is beautiful. It is a high-quality presentation of a well-illustrated manga. That said, it will be distinctly uncomfortable for many trans readers. For example, the introduction biography of Yuki-san, a trans woman, is pretty offensive and inappropriate. Here is the entire introduction to her (as translated): "Yuki-san: The lovely young woman who hits on Takatsuki-san (dressed as a boy) and befriended the two children. Wait. 'Young woman'...?" (Wandering Son Volume 2). Yoshino and Shuichi are consistently referred to using pronouns that are questionable in relation to their identities, there are some offensive terms used to refer to both trans and gay people in the text, and the portrayal of Yuki-san and her boyfriend is pretty problematic. If hearing of trans people being called "it" and "that" bother you then skip this (translation) manga.

At the end of this volume is an essay by the translator--Matt Thorn--called, "Transgendered in Japan." Aside from his obnoxious usage of "transgendered" instead of "transgender," it was a fairly interesting piece about the understanding of queer and trans people in Japan. I know about Matt Thorn because he is well known for his cultural anthropological work on manga and his translation work. That said, I'm not sure why he was the go-to person to write about transgender issues in Japan. I suppose it is better to include this short essay rather than not include it with the text.

[Dov Zeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked it, but I find it pretty hard to follow, so I'm not sure. There are some problematic language situations around trans stuff and it's hard to tell where it's coming from. And I just don't know what's going on half the time.

Here is an interesting review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am sure there are others. I was looking for another one to link here. But I can't read anymore because people are writing about the characters' "gender identity disorders" and calling transgender folks "transgendered."

There is no such thing as transgendered. And "gender identity disorders" almost made me cry. WTF.

So, will I get the next volume out of the library? Not sure. Hmmmmaybe. Will I look at the GR reviews to help me make a decision? Not so much.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Wonderful volume! I'm so invested into the life and happiness of Nitori, Takatsuki and their friends!

I love the development of relationship between Nitori and Maho, they are siblings and they aren't always on best terms but I believe it's realistic portrayal, with ups and downs, and ultimately Maho being on Nitori's side is what mattered.

Chiba and Sasa's friendship is developing and I'm happy to see it. All four of the kids (Nitori, Chiba, Takatsuki and Sasa) are great friends. They are in the sixth grade so about 11 years old now.

I appreciate how often periods are mentioned, it's a natural part of life but for general lack of it in media, I'm always surprised when there're casual mentions of them. Kids discuss it and it's totally seen as normal. Good job, Takako Shimura.

On other news, eleven year old boys are not good, must they tease Nitori?!...and must they use 'gay' as an insult?
Chiba is the best, she stood up to the bully and she was a big badass and I'm proud of her. And then Nitori stood up against the bully! I'm proud of my kids. They are growing into strong beautiful people.

I am concerned about Yuuki, an adult befriending Nitori and Takatsuki. Yuuki is transgender woman, she knows that the kids are trans too, but she's acting very inappropriate with them. An adult befriending kids and inviting them home, I'm worried. She insisted on several occasions that Takatsuki should come to her home alone. Her boyfriend (?) is worse. He touched Takatsuki between legs to confirm shit.
Nitori and Takatsuki keep seeing them. I am worried and I don't like it.

The illustrations are charming and filled with love. I love character design and all the details in setting and background.

Can't wait to read next volume!

TW: assault (ch.12), bullying at school

[Eva B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the first volume more. Found this one a bit hard to follow at points. Yoshino being groped randomly definitely put a sour taste in my mouth for the rest of the volume, especially since the man who gropes him is then presented in a positive light throughout.

[Alena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The one thing that bothered me about this part were the 'grown up friends'. Not only did I find them annoying, I found them to be downright creepy. And that's just not a good thing.

Again, this may have to do with me being new to the medium, but it just didn't sit right with me. It didn't sit right with the parents and teachers in the book either, which is a comfort to me.

The rest again was almost brilliant. The bullying, the figuring out stuff, the fear when out and about cross-dressing. Achingly beautiful.

The pictures seemed more grey and less black and white. I'm sure one can analyze that to death.

The book itself again was beautifully crafted. I keep finding myself in front of my bookcases, trying to figure out how to rearrange stuff so I find a nice place for them.

[Jyanx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really excellent follow up to volume one. The characters continue to grow, and explore their identity, and what that might mean for them as they grow older. It's nice to see they have an adult that they can confide in. I was especially proud of Saori’s actions when she sees Shuichi being bullies. I love how Anne of Green Gables figures into the plot in different way for different characters. I also was incredibly proud of Shuichi, and how he handles the aftermath of the boys hateful words.

The pace of the story continues to be slow, and easy, and the soft, almost dreamy artwork works really nice with that sort of pacing. I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

[Ty Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overall, but . . . so far at least I am NOT a fan of either of the "adult friends" of the main characters- frankly, both are a bit creepy and behave inappropriately around minors- if not for those two characters and the subplots involving them, I would definitely have given this volume 5 stars.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will say I think the reviews saying things like 'inaccurate language' and 'misgendering' are... pretty naive about the state of things in Japan; at this point in the story, Shuichi absolutely does view herself as a 'boy who wants to be a girl', and Yoshino definitely sees himself as a 'girl who wants to be a boy'. Obviously I'm using my funky correct American pronouns, but the point is that there are trans people who feel that way pre-transition and it's... not transphobic to reflect that. The writer of the manga is almost definitely a trans woman, folks. I definitely had moments where I was 'uncomfortable' with the language, but that's life. I'm uncomfortable with the language I hear every day re:trans people; I don't think it's transphobic to mention real transphobia that people go through.

With that said! I don't know if it was the translation or Shimura-sensei or what, but the phrasing of Yuki 'hitting on' Yoshino is... very uncomfortable? He's an elementary school student. She's an adult. Given that she has a boyfriend, I feel like it's probably meant to be much more joking and there just wasn't a close enough translation in English (similarly, there's a point where they just... refused to translate the word 'hai'??? Are you serious?? 'Yes ma'am' wouldn't have been just as funny, if not funnier because people would have been able to understand it?), but still. It's repeated more than once, so it makes for a rather uncomfortable dynamic, especially given that Yuki is referred to as their 'grown-up friend'.

To the worst offender! Putting this under a spoiler because it's the kind of thing that I have to mark with a pedophilia warning. Yeah, this was bad. Yuki's boyfriend grabs Yoshino's crotch while they and Shuichi are standing in an elevator. It's ostensibly to determine his sex ('oh, so you're a girl'), but that doesn't make it any more excusable, and it's clearly frightening and upsetting to Yoshino. In fact, I thought this was going to be a genuinely good discussion of this, because Yoshino is clearly distraught, and rightfully so, but he doesn't bring it up ever-- even to Shuichi-- and the topic is dropped for the rest of the book while Yuki goes on a vacation with said boyfriend whose name I forget because I don't like him. Obviously.

Now, that said, it's possible this is meant to be a reflection of the power dynamic-- realistically, I don't expect Yoshino to confront a grown adult (cis) man about the fact that he just assaulted him. It's scary, and that's also clear from the text. The problem is that, by the very nature of manga, Shimura-sensei is forced to work in 'episodes' that each introduce entirely new content etc etc, so she... doesn't bring it up again. And keeps the boyfriend as this comedic pseudo-protag even though he just assaulted a child. So I feel as though, with this one, Shimura-sensei did not clearly paint this action as thoroughly disgusting-- in comparison with, for example, Shuichi's bullies-- because it doesn't change anything about the boyfriend's character or how Yoshino views him.

Enough of that! Other than those very specific things I wanted to address, I did like this book, and it hasn't stopped me from wanting to read the rest of the series. I did want to mention the Spoilery Thing because it is a big deal, and I find it shocking that nobody else brought it up-- it's the kind of thing I think people might want to be warned about, because it certainly goes further than language and it's kind of excused. I don't know. Overall, still enjoyed, and like I said, I'll keep reading...

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the artwork and themes presented in this manga. However, it's lacking quite a lot of depth. I find it's very hard hard to keep my interest in this last volume and am uncertain if I will continue this manga.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant manga is brilliant. I love how Takako is making the secondary cast shine and form their own personalities that aren't wholly reliant on the protagonists. Everything about this manga makes me happy and emotionally fulfilled and makes me wish I had volume three in my grabby little hands already.

[M Aghazarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why was it necessary for the adult male to grope the 5th grader.
Other than that the second volume was fine. I am not a fan of the way the "grown up friends" are interacting with the children. They are not acting as support system or role model-- but what are they doing???

[Hitzuji · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me incomoda mucho la dinámica que hay con los adultos esos :<

[Eliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wandering Son Vol 2
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.42/10 overall

Characters - 6

Atmosphere - 7

Writing - 6

Plot - 6

Intrigue - 7

Logic - 7

Enjoyment - 6

[Remxo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful introduction by Rachel Thorn who talks about the difference between Western and Japanese homophobia, the term 'okama' (new to me), the issues with the representation of LGBTQ characters and themes in shôjo and BL manga, and why Wandering Son is not a shôjo manga but aimed at an adult demographic.

[Minna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this second time, and still one of my my favourite manga series ❤️Recommend to all who want to read manga that reflects the reality of growing up as a trans kid in Japan. I love that the series doesn't romantize LGBTQ-topics but more likely it aims for creating a heart-warming and touching story, in which readers can become empathetic and more understanding for transgender kids' life and struggles.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had the same issues with this one as I did with the first volume (namely, terrible transitions), but I do feel like I'm getting more invested in the characters.

I found myself thinking at one point how everyone in Nitori's and Takatsuki's lives are really sweet and supportive of their interests, and how that seems maybe a little unrealistic, but right then I got to a part where Nitori is totally being bullied on a school trip and I found it just...completely shocking. And I think maybe that's deliberate--Shimura lures you into this false sense of security and then rips it away, which sort of forces you to feel what her characters are feeling. It's actually done really well. I love Chiba's reaction to one particular incident--full-on Anne Shirley! Anyway, I also have a feeling Nitori's and Takatsuki's families might not be quite so understanding once they really get it.

The other thing that I find a little strange is the two main characters' friendship with Yuki and her boyfriend. Sometimes the interactions they have with these two adults feel creepy and wrong, but at the same time, I like that they have a similar story and sort of act a little as role models for the kids. I guess a lot of the feeling I'm getting from this story though is that maybe Shimura didn't always know quite where she was going with certain characters when she first started writing them, so their personalities don't always feel consistent.

Anywaaaaaay, overall, I think Nitori's and Takatsuki's stories are handled with sensitivity and a healthy sense of real life, and I'm definitely going to read further.

[Sean O'Hara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed Book One, it wasn't without some major drawbacks -- the character designs were kinda generic and it was hard to tell characters apart; scenes changed without warning in the middle of the page; and the story was all over the place with no through-line. The concept and characters were great, but it was definitely a flawed work. Book Two fixes most of these problems. The art improves significantly, especially in the later chapters so I no longer have to flip back to the character page to determine which character is in a particular scene, and the story flows much more smoothly.

In this volume, Nitori and Takatsuki continue their experiments in cross-dressing, going out together more often. But in doing so, they increase the risk of being discovered. They start to realize the issues they'll face as transgenders, such as one of Maho's friends getting a crush on Nitori. But they also make friends with an adult transgendered woman and her boyfriend who gives them advice.

There's no great melodrama in this series so far, just a subdued and realistic portrayal of a couple of kids coming to terms with their gender identity disorders. And that in itself makes it so much more interesting than most other takes on the subject, where by now we'd have had pages upon pages of histrionics and fretful revelations by now.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not until this second book that I realized how important this manga is: a story featuring transgendered middle schoolers. I've never heard of anything even remotely similar, and this story could provide some answers for questioning youths. I'm so glad the library carries this series!

The manga is beautifully and delicately drawn, which perfectly matches Nitori and Takatsuki's story. Nitori is shy and just coming into her own, whereas Takatsuki is out going and more sure of himself as a boy.

There are so many lovely aspects of the story: Nitori and Takatsuki's growing friendship, as Takatsuki slowly helps Nitori become more comfortable with herself; Chiba's undivided support for Nitori, giving her her own clothes to help her realize her feelings, and standing up for her against a homophobic bully; Yuki's support and guidance as an older transgendered woman. I also liked the childhood aspects: Chiba's sadness at being in a different class to her best friends, when a boy Maho (Nitori's older sister likes) falls for Nitori as a girl and Maho finds out. I'm really hoping Maho can be more supportive of Nitori in the next books.

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a lot to finally get this book. Both volumes two and three are now out of print, and by luck they were on eBay just when I wanted to read them. But then there was postage stress and drama and I thought I wouldn't get it. BUT I DID - I TRIUMPHED.

I didn't like volume #2 quite as much as I liked volume #1. I think because it created a new relationship with two adult characters, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about them. I know that I love the two main characters, and I hate the fact that Shuichi gets bullied, and I want to hiss at those kids and scare them away.

I do love the friendships in this series, and I'm super excited to see them grow as the kids start to get a bit older. And I ship it. They're like 12, and I ship it.

trigger warning: bullying, and sexual assault in this novel. please note, however, that these are not complete trigger warnings as i did not take note of the trigger warnings in this book because i was not intending to review it at the time i read it. i apologise

[Bek (MoonyReadsByStarlight)]

I’m really not sure of a star rating. The first volume, I adored. And this had so many of those elements. It’s pretty adorable but also goes into realistic problems that closeted trans kids would face (and just children in general). If I could take out the sections that were problematic, it’d be a 4.5. However, the problematic parts are REALLY problematic if they aren’t addressed later on. This is a pretty mild spoiler I think but the friendship between the adult and children had the potential to be good (a role model sort of situation) but it turned into something creepy and really not okay. I was really excited about this series and I don’t want to DNF it. The parts that are good make it really great. So I really hope this negative part gets resolved.

[Laura]

My discomfort just grows and I’m not sure I wanna read volume 3, last one my library has. I really don’t think I’d recommend this to other trans readers... There’s use of f-slur, a preteen being grabbed at the crotch to verify their “gender,” boys attempting to unclothe another to verify their gender, and other things that just make me uncomfortable in my skin... Plus use of the word “transgendered,” especially in the afterword where it is used repeatedly.

Like, I am so upset I’m crying... I expected cute slice-of-life with friendships, but it’s all trans antagonism and adults coming onto preteens and microaggressions....

[Jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seriously, CWs for everything under the sun!! Discrimination, sexual harassment, dysphoria triggers, etc.

--

Oof. While the art and transitions have definitely improved in volume two, several problems I noticed in the first entry have gotten worse. Specifically, "Transgendered Yuki," Yoshino and Shuichi's "grownup friend," is the worst kind of caricature; she's overtly sexual and alarmingly predatory. Her boyfriend (who frankly bewilders me) is also problematic. (Who the hell thinks it's okay to grab a kid's junk to verify their gender??)

And these issues are particularly disappointing given how sensitively Shimura handled discrimination in this volume! Shuichi's newfound resolve in the face of his bully was so hopeful! Still, any empowering themes were undercut by the author's insistence on returning to tired tropes: a sexualized trans woman, her pimp-like boyfriend, and a disconcerting fascination with Yoshino's (extremely regular) menstrual cycle.

I'm going to give the third volume a go with due reservation. Hopefully, these problems will be resolved--otherwise, it might be time to set the series down.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the way the story moves is kind of messy and the characters all look very similar so it's hard to tell who is who. But, the story overall feels very realistic. The way the children act and feel seem irrational in a way only children present. It's pretty great how realistic and true the story feels.

The relationship with Yuki is a little strange, but I understand her purpose in the story. I love Shu a lot and I just want to give them a huge. Poor baby.

I also like that they included a little bit at the end to compare being trans in the west vs being trans in Japan. It even touched on the romanticism of lgbt people in some manga and how that can also be harmful. I feel like we tend to view things through our own lens of how things should be, so we tend to ignore/forget that other cultures deal with things differently.

[Miri Gifford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to give this four stars, but the new character Yuki is problematic, and I hope she won't continue to be portrayed this way. She's a transgender woman who becomes an adult mentor to the kids—which is a great idea, except she's also kind of predatory. Why is an adult woman hitting on a sixth-grader, even playfully? And why did she not punch her boyfriend in the face for sexually assaulting said sixth grader right in front of her? How is it that Takako Shimura writes transgender children so sensitively, but not adults? Again, I'm really hoping this character will develop in a better way.

[Josée · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the main cast, and the story surrounding them is still really great. In fact, I find the art and the voices of the characters have improved... But then there's Yuki and her boyfriend. I really dislike the adult friends here, what with the whole flirting with someone who is basically in elementary school. The whole grabbing situation with Shii was too much as well. I realize that there are cultural differences, but Yuki is pretty much predatory, and is taking too much of the story. I'll try the third one because the rest is good, but I was really turned off with those two older characters.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this so much that I read it almost two times in one sitting. I really love these characters! There is the inclusion of two new characters that play a main role in the story in this volume. These two characters are not the ideal perfect role models for our main protagonists...but I’m sure that’s exactly how Takako intended them to be.

Also, I just adore the artwork.

Like the first volume, this volume is also out of print! That’s a shame as this series would of been extremely helpful to my 11 year old self.

I was able to check out the other volumes from various libraries so I am very excited to read the next volume and curious to see what happens.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some things in this volume that bother me (I'm not up for an adult groping a child to see if they are a boy or girl) and a bit of a cultural difference with young children hanging out with adults (without the parents knowing -and yes, I get why it's necessary to the narrative and the main characters as they can be themselves this way and again this is in part a difference in culture). Overall, I still think this is an important slice-of-life dealing with transgender issues.

[KappaBooks]

I hate the inclusion of the adult "friends" cause I can't tell if the woman is just being friendly or weird, and the boyfriend CLEARLY fucking groped Yoshino with no repercussions. I also wasn't a fan of the sister in this book either, just using her sibling's photo for a model jobso I'm at a loss how to rate this one. I'll read the third one cause it's the last one my library has, but thats it

[Rob McMonigal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing my re-read. This time, more people learn the secrets of our two main characters, and we have an adult character that I believe is also trans who serves as a positive model--but also could reveal more than they wish.

The art gets a little stronger here, but it's still very rudimentary. I am still having trouble keeping the characters apart,but it was better this time.