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Fish and Water
A new graphic novel from Eisner award-winning graphic novelist Gengoroh Tagame, which what if The Odd Couple were Japanese, living in the middle of COVID-19, and just might be . . . gay?
From Gengoroh Tagame, the brilliant mind behind My Brother’s Husband and Our Colors, comes Fish and Water, which follows the unlikely love story of two “straight” friends. Having met at a mutual friend’s wedding, Akira, a business sales administrator, and Koji, a freelance writer, quickly become close buddies. One day, during a visit with a farm client, Akira is offered a case of freshly picked cabbage. Since no one at his office wants it, and he is no cook, Akira decides to see if Koji (who loves to cook) might be interested. Koji accepts and invites Akira to join him. Lonely and in the midst of pandemic-related shutdowns, Akira welcomes the chance and one meal becomes many. Once they get past how to be COVID-cautious, they become quite relaxed with each other, creating an amusing but emotionally perplexing scenario. Eventually, Akira and Koji grapple with deciding if they are just friends, or something more.
Part exceptionally drawn character study, part contemporary comedy of manners, Fish and Water is a delightful love story for the modern era, considering how love and connection can find you in the strangest ways.
From Gengoroh Tagame, the brilliant mind behind My Brother’s Husband and Our Colors, comes Fish and Water, which follows the unlikely love story of two “straight” friends. Having met at a mutual friend’s wedding, Akira, a business sales administrator, and Koji, a freelance writer, quickly become close buddies. One day, during a visit with a farm client, Akira is offered a case of freshly picked cabbage. Since no one at his office wants it, and he is no cook, Akira decides to see if Koji (who loves to cook) might be interested. Koji accepts and invites Akira to join him. Lonely and in the midst of pandemic-related shutdowns, Akira welcomes the chance and one meal becomes many. Once they get past how to be COVID-cautious, they become quite relaxed with each other, creating an amusing but emotionally perplexing scenario. Eventually, Akira and Koji grapple with deciding if they are just friends, or something more.
Part exceptionally drawn character study, part contemporary comedy of manners, Fish and Water is a delightful love story for the modern era, considering how love and connection can find you in the strangest ways.
Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2026
About the author
Gengoroh Tagame
108 books594 followersGengoroh Tagame is a Japanese manga artist who specializes in gay BDSM erotic manga, many of which depict graphic violence. The men he depicts are hypermasculine, and tend to be on the bearish side.
Born into a family descended from samurai, Tagame began his career as a manga artist in 1982, while he was studying graphic design at Tama Art University (多摩美術大学). His works have been published in several Japanese gay magazines, including Sabu, G-men and SM-Z. Since 1986, he has used the pen-name Gengoroh Tagame, and since 1994 Tagame has lived off the profits of his art and writings. In recent years, Tagame has edited a two volume artbook series about the history of gay erotic art in Japan from the 1950s to the present, 日本のゲイ・エロティック・アート (Nihon no gei, erotikku āto, Gay Erotic Art in Japan) volumes 1 and 2.
All his works contain "virile males, or youths, and their apprenticeship of physical and mental submission". Works of his include: Jujitsu Kyoshi at B Product; Emono, Shirogane no Hana (3 vol.) and Pride (3 vol.) at G-Project.
His manga Gunji (軍次) was translated into French in 2005, followed by Arena in 2006 and Goku in 2009. An artbook of his works has also been published in France by H&O Editions. An exhibition of his works was held in France in May 2009. Tagame is openly gay.
Tagame has been called the most influential creator of gay manga in Japan to date, and "the most talented and most famous author of sado-masochistic gay manga". Most of his work first appeared in gay magazines and usually feature sexual abuse. Tagame's depiction of men as muscular and hairy has been cited as a catalyst for a shift in fashion amongst gay men in 1995, away from the clean-shaven and slender bishōnen stereotypes and towards a tendency for masculinity and chubbiness. Tagame's work has been criticised by notable gay manga writer Susumu Hirosegawa as "SM gekijō" (S&M theater) for its violence and lack of complex storylines.
A small amount of Tagame's work has been licensed in English; a short story, "Standing Ovations", was included in the third issue of the erotic comics anthology Thickness, and in July 2012, Picturebox announced a short story collection, The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame, for 2013 release, which will be the first completely bara work published in English in a print format. The book will collect short works spanning 15 years of Tagame's career, including a new story commissioned especially for the book by book designer Chip Kidd.
(notes : everything else can be read on wikipedia)
Born into a family descended from samurai, Tagame began his career as a manga artist in 1982, while he was studying graphic design at Tama Art University (多摩美術大学). His works have been published in several Japanese gay magazines, including Sabu, G-men and SM-Z. Since 1986, he has used the pen-name Gengoroh Tagame, and since 1994 Tagame has lived off the profits of his art and writings. In recent years, Tagame has edited a two volume artbook series about the history of gay erotic art in Japan from the 1950s to the present, 日本のゲイ・エロティック・アート (Nihon no gei, erotikku āto, Gay Erotic Art in Japan) volumes 1 and 2.
All his works contain "virile males, or youths, and their apprenticeship of physical and mental submission". Works of his include: Jujitsu Kyoshi at B Product; Emono, Shirogane no Hana (3 vol.) and Pride (3 vol.) at G-Project.
His manga Gunji (軍次) was translated into French in 2005, followed by Arena in 2006 and Goku in 2009. An artbook of his works has also been published in France by H&O Editions. An exhibition of his works was held in France in May 2009. Tagame is openly gay.
Tagame has been called the most influential creator of gay manga in Japan to date, and "the most talented and most famous author of sado-masochistic gay manga". Most of his work first appeared in gay magazines and usually feature sexual abuse. Tagame's depiction of men as muscular and hairy has been cited as a catalyst for a shift in fashion amongst gay men in 1995, away from the clean-shaven and slender bishōnen stereotypes and towards a tendency for masculinity and chubbiness. Tagame's work has been criticised by notable gay manga writer Susumu Hirosegawa as "SM gekijō" (S&M theater) for its violence and lack of complex storylines.
A small amount of Tagame's work has been licensed in English; a short story, "Standing Ovations", was included in the third issue of the erotic comics anthology Thickness, and in July 2012, Picturebox announced a short story collection, The Passion of Gengoroh Tagame, for 2013 release, which will be the first completely bara work published in English in a print format. The book will collect short works spanning 15 years of Tagame's career, including a new story commissioned especially for the book by book designer Chip Kidd.
(notes : everything else can be read on wikipedia)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
October 1, 2026
Two obviously gay guys who are single but aren’t together and are also besties make lots of delicious meals together - but will they/won’t they? Duuuuh whaaa?
Gengoroh Tagame’s latest, but far from greatest, manga is Fish and Water, a book that, unlike the wonderful meals the characters make, feels very insubstantial in content and utterly baffling from a story perspective.
Koji and Akira start out the book as close friends who behave like they’ve been a couple for years - but for no reason aren’t. They’re both ripped dudes with no interest in women, who can’t get enough of each other’s company, and who must know that they’re both gay; and yet they’re not together?! I won’t pretend I know anything about gay culture, especially in Japan, but are gay dudes really this inhibited, especially behind closed doors? I’m not buying it.
That’s the only semblance of a story to this book. It’s not really a gay romance manga but more of a food manga, which makes sense as it started life as a commission for a foodie edition of a magazine. So every chapter is about a series of elaborate and delicious meals that Koji makes for Akira, usually centred around a specific ingredient like cabbage or okra.
Besides his mainstream books like this, Tagame is known for gay erotic manga, which bleeds over in some scenes in Fish and Water. There are a few gratuitous shower scenes of Akira and suggestive moments like when Koji asks Akira to massage a sack of salad, and there’s a whole chapter on eggplants.
It’s also set during the pandemic, although this doesn’t really have any relevance to the story. They complain about wearing masks (even though I know from my own experience that face masks were commonplace in Japan pre-pandemic and continue to be post-pandemic), and it gets brought up here and there - having to use hand sanitizer when they enter a house, a business closes down from the public restrictions, etc.
Fish and Water is a pleasant slice-of-life manga - two agreeable characters live a domesticated life and eat delicious food and conflict/drama is nary in sight. It’s well-drawn and easy to read. But it’s very repetitive, I couldn’t buy into the conceit that they wouldn’t already be a couple or have at least talked about it, and I needed more than two guys eating meals to justify an entire book. Tagame’s created some fantastic manga in the past like My Brother’s Husband but Fish and Water is a very forgettable, inane and trivial effort.
Gengoroh Tagame’s latest, but far from greatest, manga is Fish and Water, a book that, unlike the wonderful meals the characters make, feels very insubstantial in content and utterly baffling from a story perspective.
Koji and Akira start out the book as close friends who behave like they’ve been a couple for years - but for no reason aren’t. They’re both ripped dudes with no interest in women, who can’t get enough of each other’s company, and who must know that they’re both gay; and yet they’re not together?! I won’t pretend I know anything about gay culture, especially in Japan, but are gay dudes really this inhibited, especially behind closed doors? I’m not buying it.
That’s the only semblance of a story to this book. It’s not really a gay romance manga but more of a food manga, which makes sense as it started life as a commission for a foodie edition of a magazine. So every chapter is about a series of elaborate and delicious meals that Koji makes for Akira, usually centred around a specific ingredient like cabbage or okra.
Besides his mainstream books like this, Tagame is known for gay erotic manga, which bleeds over in some scenes in Fish and Water. There are a few gratuitous shower scenes of Akira and suggestive moments like when Koji asks Akira to massage a sack of salad, and there’s a whole chapter on eggplants.
It’s also set during the pandemic, although this doesn’t really have any relevance to the story. They complain about wearing masks (even though I know from my own experience that face masks were commonplace in Japan pre-pandemic and continue to be post-pandemic), and it gets brought up here and there - having to use hand sanitizer when they enter a house, a business closes down from the public restrictions, etc.
Fish and Water is a pleasant slice-of-life manga - two agreeable characters live a domesticated life and eat delicious food and conflict/drama is nary in sight. It’s well-drawn and easy to read. But it’s very repetitive, I couldn’t buy into the conceit that they wouldn’t already be a couple or have at least talked about it, and I needed more than two guys eating meals to justify an entire book. Tagame’s created some fantastic manga in the past like My Brother’s Husband but Fish and Water is a very forgettable, inane and trivial effort.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
'Fish and Water' is exactly what it's advertised to be, a sweet romance between a man who loves to eat and occasionally works with farmers, and a man who loves to cook. They're both lonely and decide to make a routine of sharing meals together and that's how they begin to fall in love.
It was a quick and sweet read. The translation flowed smoothly and I loved it so so much.
It was a quick and sweet read. The translation flowed smoothly and I loved it so so much.
August 24, 2026
Translated from the Japanese by Anne M. Ishii.
I've really loved some of the manga by this author but this one didn't work as well. It's the story of two men - one who loves to cook and one who loves to eat - and the very slow burn of maybe a romance. Very slice of life with lots of panels of food prep and meals which made me quite hungry. While I wish the guys all the best I wasn't invested in this tale.
Rating for Gengoroh Tagame books:
My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 (Books 1 & 2) - 5
My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 (Books 3 & 4) - 4
Our Colors - 3
Fish and Water - 2
I've really loved some of the manga by this author but this one didn't work as well. It's the story of two men - one who loves to cook and one who loves to eat - and the very slow burn of maybe a romance. Very slice of life with lots of panels of food prep and meals which made me quite hungry. While I wish the guys all the best I wasn't invested in this tale.
Rating for Gengoroh Tagame books:
My Brother's Husband, Volume 1 (Books 1 & 2) - 5
My Brother's Husband, Volume 2 (Books 3 & 4) - 4
Our Colors - 3
Fish and Water - 2
June 24, 2026
3.5 close to 4. Honestly could read a bunch more of these two. Chapters were like slices of life with lots of food.
November 24, 2025
An utter delight.
September 13, 2026
I *love* what happens when a guy who mainly draws niche bara pornography does feel-good stuff like this. It’s so fun. One page you’ve got a guy dicing cabbage and on the next there’s a cartoonishly muscular hairy bear showering. It’s so awesome. Thank you, Tagame.
June 17, 2024
manly man, a mlm romance made by a man for men. i appreciate it!!
they were actually absolutely adorable, and i loved how the main focus were the local products and how to prepare them.
a development to their romance (bonus short story or second volume) with more recipes and their relationship could have been such a nice addition. but this was already so good !
they were actually absolutely adorable, and i loved how the main focus were the local products and how to prepare them.
a development to their romance (bonus short story or second volume) with more recipes and their relationship could have been such a nice addition. but this was already so good !
October 11, 2026
Not a "bad" two stars by any means, just bland. I don't think the characters have much of any personality or chemistry. I think this is an okay time capsule for the uncertainty of living in the pandemic; it definitely brought me back to that time. However, the romance is very secondary, and I never quite bought it from these two.
Of course, I respect, appreciate, and even love: Tagame's style, his inclusion of bears which you don't normally see in manga, and his cheeky & charming innuendos. But I think this was probably the weakest book I've read from him yet.
Of course, I respect, appreciate, and even love: Tagame's style, his inclusion of bears which you don't normally see in manga, and his cheeky & charming innuendos. But I think this was probably the weakest book I've read from him yet.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Certainly not as deep as My Brother's Husband, but a sweet little love story easily consumed in an afternoon. And as always with Tagame, the men are easy on the eyes :P
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy!
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy!
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July 22, 2026Sweet love story. The aftermath of the Pandemic is featured. Food making is a big part of the love language.
January 28, 2025
Troisième mangas de romance alimentaire gai/lesbien que je lis après She Loves to Cook, and She Loves to Eat, Vol. 1 et What Did You Eat Yesterday?, Volume 1. Ça n'innove pas la recette narrative: les ingrédients sont un peu les mêmes (c'est même très similaire à celui de Sakaomi Yuzaki que j'adore):
- Une personne qui adore cuisiner et qui trouve encore plus de bonheur à cuisiner pour un deuxième personnage qui adore, compliment et apprécie à fond sa cuisine.
- Une certaine idée d'une complémentarité entre les personnages, une personne qui cuisine, l'autre qui va aider d'une autre manière.
- Une romance qui cuit lentement au fil des rencontres, qui permet de faire des introspections.
- Des recettes détaillées dont on voit souvent la préparation et le résultat final bien identifié et toujours bien apprécié par la personne qui est invitée.
- Pas vraiment de drame entre les deux personnages sauf la crainte d'être perçu comme quelque qui s'impose. Ça veut rester cozy (bien que des éléments extérieurs peuvent affecter les personnages de manière plus significative ou traumatique, mais dans celui de Tagame, ça reste toujours très calme)
Le manga de Gengoroh Tagame nous sert deux hommes gais bien en chair dans son style narratif et ses dessins tout public qu'on lui connaît depuis Le mari de mon frère, Tome 1. On a seulement droit à quelques doubles entendre et plusieurs torses nus pour le "piquant". C'est un manga agréable, je suis content d'avoir un manga qui est bien contenu dans un seul volume, on aurait pu étirer la sauce, mais on a finit par nous le servir en une seule portion (pour les gens qui n'ont pas suivi la série en feuilleton).
Dans l'ensemble, une bonne romance, quelques bons plats (et recettes), une narration simple, deux personnages attachants. Une bonne recette bien exécutée.
- Une personne qui adore cuisiner et qui trouve encore plus de bonheur à cuisiner pour un deuxième personnage qui adore, compliment et apprécie à fond sa cuisine.
- Une certaine idée d'une complémentarité entre les personnages, une personne qui cuisine, l'autre qui va aider d'une autre manière.
- Une romance qui cuit lentement au fil des rencontres, qui permet de faire des introspections.
- Des recettes détaillées dont on voit souvent la préparation et le résultat final bien identifié et toujours bien apprécié par la personne qui est invitée.
- Pas vraiment de drame entre les deux personnages sauf la crainte d'être perçu comme quelque qui s'impose. Ça veut rester cozy (bien que des éléments extérieurs peuvent affecter les personnages de manière plus significative ou traumatique, mais dans celui de Tagame, ça reste toujours très calme)
Le manga de Gengoroh Tagame nous sert deux hommes gais bien en chair dans son style narratif et ses dessins tout public qu'on lui connaît depuis Le mari de mon frère, Tome 1. On a seulement droit à quelques doubles entendre et plusieurs torses nus pour le "piquant". C'est un manga agréable, je suis content d'avoir un manga qui est bien contenu dans un seul volume, on aurait pu étirer la sauce, mais on a finit par nous le servir en une seule portion (pour les gens qui n'ont pas suivi la série en feuilleton).
Dans l'ensemble, une bonne romance, quelques bons plats (et recettes), une narration simple, deux personnages attachants. Une bonne recette bien exécutée.
June 27, 2026
No notes. Just a quick appreciation post here for Gengoroh Tagame and Fish and Water (thanks for Pantheon for sending me a copy too).
While this deals with pandemic/covid times, it manages to be light and uplifting. Little vignettes of time spent between two friends, Koji and Akira. Tons of food referencing, which I looove. Fun cheeky references here and there as well. A few will they/wont they moments. This could go on and on and I'd keep reading.
I've read My Brother's Husband and Our Colors, and Fish and Water gave me the same feelings. Hope, happiness and a glimpse into a world that feels like I want to spend more time in it.
While this deals with pandemic/covid times, it manages to be light and uplifting. Little vignettes of time spent between two friends, Koji and Akira. Tons of food referencing, which I looove. Fun cheeky references here and there as well. A few will they/wont they moments. This could go on and on and I'd keep reading.
I've read My Brother's Husband and Our Colors, and Fish and Water gave me the same feelings. Hope, happiness and a glimpse into a world that feels like I want to spend more time in it.
August 12, 2026
Very slow burn, no spice, friends to lovers.
This was such a sweet slice of life story, and all the food looked absolutely delicious. I was actively eating my lunch as I read the manga and it still made me hungry! lol
This was such a sweet slice of life story, and all the food looked absolutely delicious. I was actively eating my lunch as I read the manga and it still made me hungry! lol
June 14, 2024
Super mignon, un manga en un tome qui se passe pendant la pandémie Covid. Akira est commercial et les clients lui offrent souvent de la nourriture, qu’il ramène chez son ami Koji qui lui travaille à domicile et adore cuisiner. On suit leurs petites soirées cuisine, Netflix & chill et on voit doucement les deux hommes se rapprocher petit à petit et apprécier de passer du temps ensemble ! Tout simplement adorable, une lecture super cosy 🩵
August 24, 2026
"Nos rendez-vous gourmands" en français. Une bromance post covid entre deux amis qui s'invitent à manger de plus en plus régulièrement, jusqu'à ce que...
Comme d'habitude je suis in love du travail de Tagame, voir naître l'amour de manière aussi mignonne et bien écrite entre deux hommes adultes c'est tellement rafraîchissant en manga.
Comme d'habitude je suis in love du travail de Tagame, voir naître l'amour de manière aussi mignonne et bien écrite entre deux hommes adultes c'est tellement rafraîchissant en manga.
June 24, 2026
quite different then most graphic novels i read (also more on the manga side of things, which i haven’t read many of) but i enjoyed! very slice of life, loved all of the food stuff. kinda reminded me of haley and i LOL even tho this turned romantic. cute
August 16, 2026
3.5
Otto saw me reading this and towards the end asked me to read it out loud to him, so we're going to be grateful this was a sweet rather than spicy Tagame work!
Otto's verdict: "Are they both grown ups? Oh, so they can get married! ... That was a happy ending!"
Otto saw me reading this and towards the end asked me to read it out loud to him, so we're going to be grateful this was a sweet rather than spicy Tagame work!
Otto's verdict: "Are they both grown ups? Oh, so they can get married! ... That was a happy ending!"
July 27, 2024
Sympa car de belles recettes (moins détaillées que dans What did you eat par contre) et une romance progressive. J'ai été contrarié par la représentation négative en Bonus d'un mec gay efféminé.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2024
J'ai préféré son autre série "Le mari de mon frère". C'est une histoire soft sur les relations durant la pandémie.
March 26, 2025
J'ai vraiment préféré Le mari de mon frère et Our Colorful Days, mais ça reste un manga mignon en un tome qui tourne autour de la nourriture tout en se déroulant durant la pandémie.
July 1, 2026
There's a lot of cooking and eating in this. It's like a gender flipped version of "She likes to cook and she likes to eat". It's lighthearted, but the fact that it takes place during the covid pandemic dows give it a grounded element.
July 24, 2026
A sweet gay love story and delicious-looking food?! This book was perfect for me!
July 1, 2026
The world needs more sweet stories like this. Delightful
July 1, 2026
A wholesome and quick read. It’s very slice of life with delicious looking recipes. My only complaint is that I wish it had a little more plot to it.
January 19, 2026
Fish and Water was my first full manga read, and I have Gengoroh Tagame and the team at NetGalley to thank for that introduction. I was immediately drawn in by the cover and the synopsis, and the story absolutely lived up to that first impression.
This was such a cute, warm, and genuinely enjoyable read. I especially loved how much of the story centers around food and the way it becomes a quiet but meaningful bridge between the two main characters, helping to shape their connection in a really tender, human way.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read that left a lasting impression. I would happily pick it up again and revisit this story.
This was such a cute, warm, and genuinely enjoyable read. I especially loved how much of the story centers around food and the way it becomes a quiet but meaningful bridge between the two main characters, helping to shape their connection in a really tender, human way.
Overall, this was a fun and quick read that left a lasting impression. I would happily pick it up again and revisit this story.
September 23, 2026
Massage this sack!!
January 9, 2025
Ik leerde Gengoroh Tagame kennen via zijn Japanse pornostrips. Google de naam en je vindt wel een en andere met zijn signatuur, met potige kerels in en uit maatpakken en uniformen, waarbij het niet ongebruikelijk is dat er één ingepakt is in touwen en er gepenetreerd wordt op fantasierijke wijze, geween en tandengeknars inbegrepen. Tagame heeft inmiddels ook al enkele reeksen waarbij de personages doorgaans hun kleren aanhouden. Bij ons recent uitstapje naar Parijs, in de heerlijke LGBT-boekhandel Les Mots à la Bouche, ontdekte ik een nieuwe Tagame: 'Nos rendez-vous gourmands' (2023). Kôji is bezeten door voedsel en koken, Akira door eten. De twee vinden mekaar toevallig en Akira loop Kôji's deur plat om er te eten. Vrijwel alle actie speelt zich binnenskamers af, buiten heerst corona, en de actie beperkt grotendeels zich tot voedsel kopen, bereiden en opeten. Niet echt verheffend, tenzij wat betreft buiken, maar in de blikken en onder de woorden kan je voelen dat er wat groeit tussen de twee. Zal dat gebeuren? Wordt dit een nieuwe reeks van Tagame? Wordt misschien vervolgd.
(Ook een aanrader van Tagame is de reeks 'Le mari de mon frère' (2014, ook verkrijgbaar in Engels), over een man, zijn kleine zusje en zijn echtgenoot/haar schoonbroer.)
(Ook een aanrader van Tagame is de reeks 'Le mari de mon frère' (2014, ook verkrijgbaar in Engels), over een man, zijn kleine zusje en zijn echtgenoot/haar schoonbroer.)
November 20, 2025
Covid destroyed a lot: lives, relationships, how we interact with the world, and so much more. This story is about two guys, Akira and Koji, getting to know each other despite the obstacles that COVID threw at them. They bond over food and fill in one another’s shortcomings. It was an enjoyable experience to watch these two.
#ThxNetGalley #GengorohTagame #FishandWater
#ThxNetGalley #GengorohTagame #FishandWater
January 29, 2025
Super adorable and such positive vibes. Brings your focus back to appreciating the moment your in. I felt the romance was lacking though.. and the story was a bit confusing.
However, I absolutely adored the food segments, I feel like getting back into the kitchen and trying something new!
However, I absolutely adored the food segments, I feel like getting back into the kitchen and trying something new!
January 10, 2026
I love Tagame's slice of life mangas. this is no exception. it's so simple and pure. Just two (muscular) friends realizing they might like to be more than friends. and there are several food layouts and a few easy recipes
Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews