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IS (Pronounced Aiesu in Japanese) is not your everyday manga. This manga strictly deals with cases of intersexuality. IS stands for Inter Sexuality.
This manga deals with very serious issues concerning intersexual people. The pain they go through, the troubles they confront, and ultimately their inability to reproduce and even find a partner who will accept them as they are - It's all there in a form of manga.
The series is consisted of cases, each dealing with different people - although some cases are much longer and more dramatic than others.
This manga deals with very serious issues concerning intersexual people. The pain they go through, the troubles they confront, and ultimately their inability to reproduce and even find a partner who will accept them as they are - It's all there in a form of manga.
The series is consisted of cases, each dealing with different people - although some cases are much longer and more dramatic than others.
First published January 1, 2003
2 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Chiyo Rokuhana
13 books14 followersName (in native language) : 六花チヨ
Birth date : August 25
Zodiac : Virgo
Blood type : B
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 19, 2019
5 stars!
The 1st Volume of this manga tells the stories of Hiromi and Ryoma, who are Intersex (IS).
Hiromi and Ryoma were born with both Genders. They have some Female AND Male characteristics (and DNA), So they Aren't Either (fully) Male or Female.
This manga shows the struggles Intersex people and their families go through... To live in a world divided by Genders; to get Acceptance and Understanding; to find Love, Hope and Strength to carry on.
Sometimes one of the Genders is "chosen" for the Intersex baby (generally female) and a surgery is done, but that does not change the fact that that person is Intersex. The person's mind and body will have both Genders in it... And sometimes the person will lean more towards one of the Genders, or Not.
Overall, it's a very confusing situation to be in, but it is a Reality that some people live in - 1 in every 2000 people - it is how they were/are born and how they are.
This manga depicts these people's hardships, struggles and conquests perfectly! It's a full of feels read! I definitely felt a Lot for Hiromi and Ryoma and even teared up at some of their struggles, while reading.
And I think It is very noble that this manga brings light to the topic of Intersex, which isn't very known or talked about (it's kind of a tabu still).
So, this is a manga I think Everyone should read!
Not only is this a very enjoyable and entertaining read, due to the MCs' stories; but it will teach you and educate you about the reality of Intersex, wich is always a good thing.
The 1st Volume of this manga tells the stories of Hiromi and Ryoma, who are Intersex (IS).
Hiromi and Ryoma were born with both Genders. They have some Female AND Male characteristics (and DNA), So they Aren't Either (fully) Male or Female.
This manga shows the struggles Intersex people and their families go through... To live in a world divided by Genders; to get Acceptance and Understanding; to find Love, Hope and Strength to carry on.
Sometimes one of the Genders is "chosen" for the Intersex baby (generally female) and a surgery is done, but that does not change the fact that that person is Intersex. The person's mind and body will have both Genders in it... And sometimes the person will lean more towards one of the Genders, or Not.
Overall, it's a very confusing situation to be in, but it is a Reality that some people live in - 1 in every 2000 people - it is how they were/are born and how they are.
This manga depicts these people's hardships, struggles and conquests perfectly! It's a full of feels read! I definitely felt a Lot for Hiromi and Ryoma and even teared up at some of their struggles, while reading.
And I think It is very noble that this manga brings light to the topic of Intersex, which isn't very known or talked about (it's kind of a tabu still).
So, this is a manga I think Everyone should read!
Not only is this a very enjoyable and entertaining read, due to the MCs' stories; but it will teach you and educate you about the reality of Intersex, wich is always a good thing.
July 6, 2021
“Why are there just two ways of living: man or woman?”
Intense. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Amazing.
These manga have done more than perhaps anything else to re-commit me to the idea that the gender binary has to go, that it does more harm than good, and forces all kinds of people into boxes that prevent them from being their true selves, scaring them into grabbing hold of seemingly safe social conventions.
Another Goodreads reviewer says it all:
“It only took five chapters for me to cry like a kid, and I'm amazed by the beauty and the delicacy that is shown in this manga.” (Goodreads user: Drfoolish).
Some might be thrown off by the old school look of the art, but try not to let this distract you. The drawing style might not have the same look or polish that contemporary comics and manga have, but that doesn’t mean it’s less effective. The pacing of the narrative, what the artist chooses to show, and how certain visual elements are highlighted in the artwork are deeply moving, often having the feel of experiences taken straight from life. Indeed, I recall reading that the two short stories in Volume 1, and then the multi-volume story arc that starts in Volume 2, draw on the mangaka’s extensive research for the series, inching interviews with people who are intersex and their families.
I don’t usually quote other reviewers, but in this case I’ve found a number of other people have captured my reactions so perfectly that it makes sense to quote them:
“I have to admit I was moved more than once because of how Rokuhana deals with this rather sensitive topic. Her portrayals of Hiromi and Ryoma [in Volume 1] are nuanced and sympathetic. She shows us not only how they come to accept themselves for who they are, but how they come to be proud of who they are and how they negotiate walking a middle sex path when the world around them is so sharply divided into man or woman. And so much of this is during adolescence, so you don’t have to be intersex to relate to their worries, their anxiety about their bodies. In many ways, it’s what so many of us go through, but taken to an extreme.
One line in particular killed me. Ryoma is telling his best friend that he is intersex, and cries out, “男と女、どうして生きかたは二つしかないのかな？” (Why are there just two ways of living: man or woman?) And yeah, it sounds cheesy, but it just rang so true while reading it. Because really, why are we so invested in this binary system when so many people don’t fit in it (one in two thousand according to IS)?”
(Quote is from: https://brainvsbook.wordpress.com/201...).
Several months before reading this series, I had the good fortune to meet the producers of an excellent documentary on Intersex people (see below). These documentarians had the good sense to simple get out of the way and let real people tell their stories directly to the camera. It affected me deeply, and I highly recommend it for everyone. As the video makes clear, the most important things we as allies can do is talk about intersexuality - to raise awareness and call attention to the ways that members of our various communities are being treated unjustly, often with serious consequences for their physical and emotional well-being.
Intersexion Documentary
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QQdOp3C...
Please note that these seem to be out of print or at least hard to come by new; I ordered used copies from CDJapan, hoping some revenue finds its way back to the series’ creator, and read an online translation of the original Japanese. We need an official English release of this gorgeous manga!
Intense. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Amazing.
These manga have done more than perhaps anything else to re-commit me to the idea that the gender binary has to go, that it does more harm than good, and forces all kinds of people into boxes that prevent them from being their true selves, scaring them into grabbing hold of seemingly safe social conventions.
Another Goodreads reviewer says it all:
“It only took five chapters for me to cry like a kid, and I'm amazed by the beauty and the delicacy that is shown in this manga.” (Goodreads user: Drfoolish).
Some might be thrown off by the old school look of the art, but try not to let this distract you. The drawing style might not have the same look or polish that contemporary comics and manga have, but that doesn’t mean it’s less effective. The pacing of the narrative, what the artist chooses to show, and how certain visual elements are highlighted in the artwork are deeply moving, often having the feel of experiences taken straight from life. Indeed, I recall reading that the two short stories in Volume 1, and then the multi-volume story arc that starts in Volume 2, draw on the mangaka’s extensive research for the series, inching interviews with people who are intersex and their families.
I don’t usually quote other reviewers, but in this case I’ve found a number of other people have captured my reactions so perfectly that it makes sense to quote them:
“I have to admit I was moved more than once because of how Rokuhana deals with this rather sensitive topic. Her portrayals of Hiromi and Ryoma [in Volume 1] are nuanced and sympathetic. She shows us not only how they come to accept themselves for who they are, but how they come to be proud of who they are and how they negotiate walking a middle sex path when the world around them is so sharply divided into man or woman. And so much of this is during adolescence, so you don’t have to be intersex to relate to their worries, their anxiety about their bodies. In many ways, it’s what so many of us go through, but taken to an extreme.
One line in particular killed me. Ryoma is telling his best friend that he is intersex, and cries out, “男と女、どうして生きかたは二つしかないのかな？” (Why are there just two ways of living: man or woman?) And yeah, it sounds cheesy, but it just rang so true while reading it. Because really, why are we so invested in this binary system when so many people don’t fit in it (one in two thousand according to IS)?”
(Quote is from: https://brainvsbook.wordpress.com/201...).
Several months before reading this series, I had the good fortune to meet the producers of an excellent documentary on Intersex people (see below). These documentarians had the good sense to simple get out of the way and let real people tell their stories directly to the camera. It affected me deeply, and I highly recommend it for everyone. As the video makes clear, the most important things we as allies can do is talk about intersexuality - to raise awareness and call attention to the ways that members of our various communities are being treated unjustly, often with serious consequences for their physical and emotional well-being.
Intersexion Documentary
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QQdOp3C...
Please note that these seem to be out of print or at least hard to come by new; I ordered used copies from CDJapan, hoping some revenue finds its way back to the series’ creator, and read an online translation of the original Japanese. We need an official English release of this gorgeous manga!
October 15, 2016
IS, or intersexuality, is a where a person is born neither a male or female, physically and mentally. The norm of society defines us either or, not both. The pain that people go through is very real, and complicated. This manga is a great way to start introducing people to this concept as it's very rare. Only 1 of 2000 people are born this way.
I'm a sucker for these kinds of manga. I'm glad that this touches on issues like these. It's very real and heartwarming. Above all, it's very eye opening to not only these people but how our society can work to understand. Definitely a must read.
I'm a sucker for these kinds of manga. I'm glad that this touches on issues like these. It's very real and heartwarming. Above all, it's very eye opening to not only these people but how our society can work to understand. Definitely a must read.
February 20, 2016
I haven't really updated Goodreads on all the manga I've read in the last couple of months (honestly, there were way too many, and way too much yaoi), but this one deserves a rating on my "proper" reading database.
It only took five chapters for me to cry like a kid, and I'm amazed by the beauty and the delicacy that is shown in this manga. I hope I will learn a lot about intersexuality from this series.
It only took five chapters for me to cry like a kid, and I'm amazed by the beauty and the delicacy that is shown in this manga. I hope I will learn a lot about intersexuality from this series.
September 1, 2015
Short stories that tell us more about intersexual people and the day to day problems they have to face in a binary Japanese society. I liked it.
November 12, 2025
I loved this book so much. Gives an amazing view on the hardships that intersex people have to face:
1. Shame of their body and not "fitting" in.
2. Unable to find anyone who could love you because of your body and always being afraid what your partner would say.
3. Being forced and coerced into surgery and HRT for life (even having the risk to be assigned the "wrong" sex at birth).
4. Being sexualized all the time and seen as a fetish.
And many more...
Truly amazing manga. I recommend it to everyone.
1. Shame of their body and not "fitting" in.
2. Unable to find anyone who could love you because of your body and always being afraid what your partner would say.
3. Being forced and coerced into surgery and HRT for life (even having the risk to be assigned the "wrong" sex at birth).
4. Being sexualized all the time and seen as a fetish.
And many more...
Truly amazing manga. I recommend it to everyone.
January 19, 2020
This was short emotional stories of people who are intersex, how they chose to live their lives, how they are excepted (or rather, not expected) in society. Strong and impacktful.
June 25, 2020
I think everyone should read this book, its very informative and brings to light of how we as a society need to stop labeling people and be more accepting of others no matter their sexual identity
June 7, 2023
3.5 ✨
Creo que expone de forma sensible a personajes intersexuales. Ya envejeciendo un poco-muy binarista, aún así es de importante representación
Creo que expone de forma sensible a personajes intersexuales. Ya envejeciendo un poco-muy binarista, aún así es de importante representación
November 20, 2025
A volume with short stories that are not connected
I had a great time reading.
I had a great time reading.
October 22, 2020
I'll do a more detailed review when I will have read the rest of the series. From what I understood, this first book is an introduction, and we follow 2 different intersex characters.
Since until now I mostly read intersex characters from an occidental perspective, it was interesting to see how it plays out in Japan.
To be honest, I wasn't really invested in the story. I'm really not accustomed to that kind of drawings and narration, and I feel that my main problems with the book come from the genre itself (all the dramatic declarations, for example, and romance used as a tool to estimate people's value...).
I can't really judge the quality of the representation, but it seemed respectful? It was very detailed and maybe intrusive though, but I think the intent is that none of this details should be shameful or taboo, and therefore are given openly.
Summary :
IS (Pronounced Aiesu in Japanese) is not your everyday manga. This manga strictly deals with cases of intersexuality. IS stands for Inter Sexuality.
This manga deals with very serious issues concerning intersexual people. The pain they go through, the troubles they confront, and ultimately their inability to reproduce and even find a partner who will accept them as they are - It's all there in a form of manga.
The series is consisted of cases, each dealing with different people - although some cases are much longer and more dramatic than others.
Since until now I mostly read intersex characters from an occidental perspective, it was interesting to see how it plays out in Japan.
To be honest, I wasn't really invested in the story. I'm really not accustomed to that kind of drawings and narration, and I feel that my main problems with the book come from the genre itself (all the dramatic declarations, for example, and romance used as a tool to estimate people's value...).
I can't really judge the quality of the representation, but it seemed respectful? It was very detailed and maybe intrusive though, but I think the intent is that none of this details should be shameful or taboo, and therefore are given openly.
Summary :
IS (Pronounced Aiesu in Japanese) is not your everyday manga. This manga strictly deals with cases of intersexuality. IS stands for Inter Sexuality.
This manga deals with very serious issues concerning intersexual people. The pain they go through, the troubles they confront, and ultimately their inability to reproduce and even find a partner who will accept them as they are - It's all there in a form of manga.
The series is consisted of cases, each dealing with different people - although some cases are much longer and more dramatic than others.
April 9, 2015
Kenapakenapakenapakenapakenapaaaaaa saya baru baca manga sebagus ini sekaraaaaaaaaaang???
Uuuuh... ini bikin saya nangis-nangis sampe ingusan Q______Q
Manis dan lembut dan "uwoooooh" gitu deh!
.
Saya nemu ini gegara lagi searching soal intersexuality karena saya punya tokoh intersexual dan saya kurang pengetahuan soal ini. Dan mulailah saya baca. Dan cerita pertama soal Hiromi dan Dai itu bener-bener sweet banget <333
Uuuuh... ini bikin saya nangis-nangis sampe ingusan Q______Q
Manis dan lembut dan "uwoooooh" gitu deh!
.
Saya nemu ini gegara lagi searching soal intersexuality karena saya punya tokoh intersexual dan saya kurang pengetahuan soal ini. Dan mulailah saya baca. Dan cerita pertama soal Hiromi dan Dai itu bener-bener sweet banget <333
March 25, 2013
Should be obligatory read in grade school instead of all those dull "national identity building classics" (which in Finland happen to include a novel about illiterate white trash opposing civilization and a war novel where almost nothing happens beside shooting and trivial chitchat). The world just could be a tad more openminded place then.
January 8, 2012
a must read manga about identity search, unconditional love, and self-acceptance
December 20, 2012
Eye-opening!
June 22, 2014
Interesting, despite the subpar graphic style and the naive narrative.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews