What do you think?
Rate this book
Sugar Milk
Rare book
178 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2008
32 people want to read
About the author
Dokuro Jaryuu
9 books8 followersJARYUU Dokuro: 蛇龍どくろ
Doujinshi Circle: Masaichi
Likes camels, blue/green, Yankees, western boots, 5KA
Lives between Kyoto and Tokyo
Doujinshi Circle: Masaichi
Likes camels, blue/green, Yankees, western boots, 5KA
Lives between Kyoto and Tokyo
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 25, 2025
Well. What can I say. It didn’t age well 🤷♀️
May 2, 2008
Sugar Milk
is a collection of short stories by Jaryu Dokuro. For a first manga, Dokuro does very well and the stories are sweet and mostly about high school love.
"What's Your Name?" is about Yamada, who was recently dumped by his girlfriend. His girlfriend told him that she fell in love with someone else on first sight but Yamada thinks that love at first sight is a myth. But while he's moping at work one day, a customer catches his eye and he falls in love.
This first story sets the mood and tone for the rest of the book. As hard as it would be to believe for a book about high school romances, Sugar Milk doesn't pile on the angst. None of the stories are depressing or full of PMS-ing male characters. It feels very refreshing.
"Fifteen" is a story about Shunsuke who falls in love with a basketball player. The first story was about love at first sight, and this one is about a first kiss.
"The Lingering Scent of a Rainbow" failed for me because it was too cliché. Furuya, a school teacher is in love with one of his students. But the student is very bright and cuts class often because he's not being challenged enough. The principal suggests that the student be moved to another school that can better fit him academically.
Why was it cliché? The student gives Furuya a special rock. He also takes Furuya to a field of sunflowers and spouts the most trite expressions ever. "When the sunflowers are in full bloom... I'll come back to see you." That amount of sappiness just killed my enjoyment. Luckily this was the only story that disappointed in this anthology.
In "Milk," Taichi and Sho's friendship feels strained. That's because they've been recently reunited. But one night when Taichi gets drunk, something happens that explains why things have been feeling so forced between them.
"Sugar" is about Taich and Sho's past, and ties up the loose ends left in "Milk."
"Waiting for Winter" is about Nakamura who picks up a stray named Yoichi. Nakamura is a freelance photographer and finding Yoichi was something unexpected for him. Yoichi made the perfect model and he hasn't used anyone else since. But soon Nakamura feels like he can no longer capture the man Yoichi's become on film and stops shooting him.
"New Year's Eve" is a little look into Taichi and Sho's present life.
All in all, the stories were beautifully written and Dokuro's first attempt at manga is successful. Another thing I was grateful for was the font size in this book. The bubbles and spaces for narration were large so the font size was larger to compliment that. It was much easier on the eyes and made for a very smooth read.
The art's also nothing to complain about. Dokuro's chibis might not be anything special, but her regular characters are attractive. They have big eyes and really full lips and usually shaggy or mussed up hair.
I had fun reading the stories and definitely recommend Sugar Milk .
Review first posted at Lincoln Heights Literary Society
PURCHASE LINK
"What's Your Name?" is about Yamada, who was recently dumped by his girlfriend. His girlfriend told him that she fell in love with someone else on first sight but Yamada thinks that love at first sight is a myth. But while he's moping at work one day, a customer catches his eye and he falls in love.
This first story sets the mood and tone for the rest of the book. As hard as it would be to believe for a book about high school romances, Sugar Milk doesn't pile on the angst. None of the stories are depressing or full of PMS-ing male characters. It feels very refreshing.
"Fifteen" is a story about Shunsuke who falls in love with a basketball player. The first story was about love at first sight, and this one is about a first kiss.
"The Lingering Scent of a Rainbow" failed for me because it was too cliché. Furuya, a school teacher is in love with one of his students. But the student is very bright and cuts class often because he's not being challenged enough. The principal suggests that the student be moved to another school that can better fit him academically.
Why was it cliché? The student gives Furuya a special rock. He also takes Furuya to a field of sunflowers and spouts the most trite expressions ever. "When the sunflowers are in full bloom... I'll come back to see you." That amount of sappiness just killed my enjoyment. Luckily this was the only story that disappointed in this anthology.
In "Milk," Taichi and Sho's friendship feels strained. That's because they've been recently reunited. But one night when Taichi gets drunk, something happens that explains why things have been feeling so forced between them.
"Sugar" is about Taich and Sho's past, and ties up the loose ends left in "Milk."
"Waiting for Winter" is about Nakamura who picks up a stray named Yoichi. Nakamura is a freelance photographer and finding Yoichi was something unexpected for him. Yoichi made the perfect model and he hasn't used anyone else since. But soon Nakamura feels like he can no longer capture the man Yoichi's become on film and stops shooting him.
"New Year's Eve" is a little look into Taichi and Sho's present life.
All in all, the stories were beautifully written and Dokuro's first attempt at manga is successful. Another thing I was grateful for was the font size in this book. The bubbles and spaces for narration were large so the font size was larger to compliment that. It was much easier on the eyes and made for a very smooth read.
The art's also nothing to complain about. Dokuro's chibis might not be anything special, but her regular characters are attractive. They have big eyes and really full lips and usually shaggy or mussed up hair.
I had fun reading the stories and definitely recommend Sugar Milk .
Review first posted at Lincoln Heights Literary Society
PURCHASE LINK
August 7, 2017
This was everything I'd hoped it'd be and more!
Multiple stores inside, with one central one and two or three short ones. I loved them all! They were all sweet!
I'd expand but to write a full and properly engaging review would require more time than I have!
Multiple stores inside, with one central one and two or three short ones. I loved them all! They were all sweet!
I'd expand but to write a full and properly engaging review would require more time than I have!
November 15, 2021
I can not give this June Manga enough stars. It's So Fluffy I'm going to die!!!!
February 17, 2011
I found this description on-line and it's pretty accurate. A series of mostly shounen-ai one-shots, with two stories and a special focusing on childhood friends Sho and Taichi. Taichi always thought they would stay together forever, until Sho decides to up and move away without telling him about it. They run into each other again when Taichi's in university and they end up working at the same diner. This time, Taichi is determined to make it work out. Even if Sho's bisexual. Moral of the story: alcohol can only make things better. I actually found this rather boring, well, I didn't mind the Sho/Taichi story but I found myself just wanting it to be over. Plus this is not the manga style that I generally enjoy. And there was hardly any sex. Hey, if it's going to be a boring story at least make it hot.
June 18, 2013
For a collection of short stories, this was a good one. Knowing that it would be going into it made it easier to read and not demand more of the characters, though the characters from Milk and Sugar do show up a few times. Which is good, because I did like them. Each of the stories could have been continued on, though, because they were good. I enjoyed the art and the story for each one. What's Your Name? ended perfectly, and while I wanted more, I could see that there was a happy, hopeful ending just by the expression on the character's face.
Very nice addition to my collection!
Very nice addition to my collection!
October 14, 2008
I enjoyed the stories in this they where all very cute. The first one with the guy walking his dog and the way the dog acted towards the kid in the shop made me laugh. Especially with the way the dog would jus sit on him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2012
some of the stories I didn't really care for...but "What's Your Name" and "Sugar Milk" were pretty good and cute in a gay way...literally...lol!!! I'm not sure if yaoi is really my thing but I don't hate it.....I think I'd prefer yuri.
June 18, 2010
A cute collection of stories. I'm inclined to agree with the postscript, though, that Milk and Sugar (and by association, New Year's Eve) were the standout best.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews