Smells Like Green Spirit

by Saburo Nagai

Enemies-turned-friends open Pandora’s Box together and search for a place where they can live their truth in this complete-in-one omnibus coming-of-age manga

A must-read for older teens and adult fans of seinen and LGBTQ+ series like Welcome Back Alice, The Flowers of Evil, and Boys Run the Riot

Peeking in Pandora’s box is not for the faint of heart.

Viciously bullied for being gay, junior high schooler Mishima struggles to belong in his hopelessly rural hometown. In fact, the only time he really feels alive is when he dolls himself up with a stolen tube of his single-mother’s lipstick. But that pocket of joy is forever changed when he loses the lipstick, only to find soccer team ace Kirino, one of Mishima’s worst tormenters, trying it on in secret on their school roof. So begins a bittersweet summer of searching for a place where the two can be their true selves, but Pandora’s box is not always so easily opened…

Genres: Manga, LGBT, Comics, Queer, Graphic Novels

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 21, 2026

About the author

Associated names :
NAGAI Saburo
NAGAI Saburoh
S. Nagai

Name (in native language) : 永井三郎

Hobbies : cooking

"She's actually a woman. She just presents herself as a male in her profile pic and author notes. ;-) I had to confirm with Japan myself. :-D " - Jennifer LeBlanc, SuBLime editor

Reviews

[Kristina Butke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m familiar with this manga first through a dubious scanlation, then when I lived in Japan I sought out the original copies (which are two volumes) and bought them, and then when I found out Kodansha was coming out with an English translation in a single edition, I was overjoyed, because this is one of my top BLs. Even though I received a digital review copy of this work, I will be buying a hard copy when it releases.

Due to some sadistic bullying and a demented, pedophiliac teacher, this book is heavy, and not everyone will like it or be able to stomach it. But if you can make it through the darkness, you’ll find an emotional story of young boys learning to define themselves and live as they really are, and the pressures that come with being “out.” It’s filled with young love (though it comes about in a really twisted way, which may turn some readers off) and deep friendships, and the ending is bittersweet when you see how each character’s lives turned out in the end when they are adults. Sometimes there are consequences to living as you really are, so not everybody does. That’s what makes this manga both enjoyable and sad.

Mishima starts out in the manga with beautiful long hair that many of his classmates find to be feminine and disturbing. He is teased about it relentlessly by classmates Yumeno and Kirino, although Kirino tends to stay in the background a bit more while Yumeno leads the sadistic teasing.

One day, Yumeno, Kirino, and some other classmates kidnap Mishima and start cutting his hair off. The job is messy and ugly until Kirino decides that more hair needs to come off…and it ends up looking really, really cute on Mishima, to his surprise. Mishima wonders if Kirino helped him out, despite the nasty things Kirino said to him.

Mishima starts to pay attention to Kirino a little bit more, like randomly observing him at soccer practice, and he notes that Kirino is “dead behind the eyes.”

One day, Mishima puts on his mother’s lipstick (he accidentally left it in his pocket) and is walking down the road when he is hit on by a car full of young men who mistake him for being a lady. Mishima is overjoyed but it quickly becomes dangerous when the men harass Mishima for “just a drive.” Kirino happens to be there on his bike and recognizes the danger (although he outs Mishima as “him”) and has Mishima hop on his bike to flee the scene.

Mishima thanks Kirino for saving him, and Kirino seems cool for a moment, even complimenting Mishima on his lipstick, before turning around and shouting, “Don’t get the wrong idea!” and hurling insults at Mishima. Mishima goes home feeling awful about himself and notices the lipstick is missing from his pocket.

Later Mishima spies Kirino on the school roof. Kirino secretly puts the lipstick on himself. Mishima realizes Kirino is a kindred spirit, and even Kirino admits “we’re the same.”

Thus begins the strange but budding friendship between Mishima and Kirino. Even Mishima’s biggest bully of all, Yumeno, starts to treat Mishima better one Kirino says he’s tired of bullying and wants to stop. (Kirino tells Mishima that he’s pretty sure Yumeno likes him–as in, romantically).

While all of this is happening, a dark figure looms over everything–the absolutely disgusting Yanagida-sensei. He’s gay (which is not disgusting) but he likes young boys (which is). He is predatory and manipulative, hiding under the facade of a handsome, kind, and caring teacher even as he narrows his sights on Mishima. His disturbing thoughts are rendered as dark, scribbling lines floating above his head, and they appear a lot when he’s looking at or thinking of Mishima.

We see some backstory with his character, where he used to be married but his wife found a porn DVD of young boys. They quickly divorced. Yanagida-sensei remarks in the manga that he can’t help what he is. I don’t know how I feel about this. I don’t think you can help if you’re gay, but is he saying he can’t help being a pedophile, too? That’s kind of disturbing. I don’t know how to work that out in my mind. Anyway, Yanagida-sensei has his sights set on Mishima and won’t let up.

The manga features scenes where Kirino and Mishima get even closer, and Kirino starts expressing his femininity more, feeling more comfortable about his gender and sexuality. Even Yumeno slowly starts “warming up” to Mishima and dealing with his unrequited feelings.

A lot of stuff happens, but the big culmination is when Yanagida-sensei takes Mishima into his car and tries to rape him, but Yumeno and Kirino save Mishima and drive Yanagida-sensei off, who escapes and disappears from the rest of the manga.

The trio (Mishima, Kirino, and Yumeno) have solidified their friendship, and Yumeno even tries to be romantic with Mishima, although there are some conflicting thoughts there. Kirino has to deal with his mother finding out about his sexuality, and it’s a horrific reaction. Kirino loves his mother, so he vows not to be true to his identity, and to grow up, get married, and have kids.

There is a time jump where we get to see how each of the three have chosen to live their lives, and there’s a happily ever after and a “happy enough” that comes from sacrifice. It’s a bittersweet ending.

This manga is an emotional rollercoaster that really affected me while reading it. It covers some really difficult topics and the depiction of bullying and sexual assault is harrowing, so this manga might not be for everyone. There’s a lot to endure here, but the story is worth it. Highly recommended.

[Lanie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mishima is a student living in the countryside in Japan who has been mercilessly tormented by his classmates for his highly feminine traits including his long hair and girlish looks. One afternoon after a particularly harsh beating that included his tormentors cutting off his long hair, he decides to head to the rooftop just to escape. There he finds Kirino the instigator of all his abuse trying on lipstick of all things! Unfortunately, Kirino hears Mishima and immediately begins his usual tirade of abuse. However, Mishima realizes that maybe Kirino is hurting Mishima because he can't hurt himself.

Trigger Warnings: This book and the review will discuss sexual assault of a minor and bullying that includes physical violence. Please keep this in mind.

Alright so this was actually a tough one to give a star rating to as there are some scenes that when I first read it my knee jerk reaction was to say "Nah, that's just not okay." However, as I am writing this, I realize that not okay or not I've still seen it happen IRL so for me to give this any less than five stars simply because I didn't like it or it made me uncomfortable would be the equivalent of disregarding my friends and family's real life. I'm not going to do that.

The first scene I had an issue with was how quickly Mishima seems to forgive Kirino's bullying. At first this seems like a combination of Mishima being desperate for someone who he can relate too and the author's need to keep resolve the issue quickly. I realize though that both of these were not correct. With the latter I mean I've seen this, hell, I've been that person. I forgave my elementary and into middle school bullies more times than I cared to count. Because if I didn't, I'd have no friends at all. As an adult I can look back on this objectively and know for a fact I would have been better off. As a nine to 12 yr old, not so much. Yes, I can already hear someone say that Mishima was older than that! Yes, but Mishima is a gay kiddo living in rural Jp who finally found someone he can talk to regarding all of these feelings he has from gender identity to sexuality. It would take a kid with a ridiculously high self-esteem to walk away from that. However, it's not just that Mishima actually talks to Kirino and later Yumeno about their bullying. It's not like he just lets it go.

The other portion of the first half that I found I had issues with was the way Mishima attempts to deal with the teacher who sexually assaults him. But also the reason why his teacher became the way he is. The teacher flat out says he's basically a repressed homosexual man who after being caught with a boy in his teens, he now is only attracted to young boys. Like being caught stunted his growth in terms of sexual desires. I once again had to remind myself that I have literally heard this from the man who molested my own brother. It's literally how he got away with it for years. So whether I agreed with it or not unfortunately, again it happens in real life. What I still don't agree with and why this ultimately is receiving four stars from me is I felt like even though Kirino tells Mishima that no matter what happened to their teacher it gave him no right to assault Mishima, the author still includes the teacher's story as like a bonus short. I am not really sure why they did this, it was a choice that I would not have made.

That all being said, that rest of this was just really wonderful. There are some portions that are difficult to read especially after all three boys are outed to their parent's and yet, I find that by Nagai's handling of how each of their parents reacted was well done. Not because they are just all automatically accepted by their parents but because they are not. This is a depressing fact of life and Nagai balanced this extremely well in terms of being able to celebrate and commiserate with the boys. Until we live in a world where parents accept their children unconditionally this has to be a part of the story. Not always, but enough for us to remember that Queer kids are dealing with stuff that most of us cannot possibly begin to understand no matter what our relationship with our parents looks like.

At the end of the day I do have to highly recommend this one, for teens especially, however, based on the sexual assault as well as several other scenes I have to say that this is one that probably needs a parent to look at first for younger teens at least.

As always thanks to Kodansha and Netgalley for the eArc!

[❄ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I've actually read this before (it's licensed in spanish) and this is my third time doing it. I don't tend to reread stuff, but I chose this ARC because I wanted a refresher, despite knowing the story very well. As a note, I also watched the japanese drama adaptation and while I thought it was decent, the original work is more compelling by miles and a masterpiece for me. One of my favorite manga of all time and genres.

This author is very particular in the way they tell their stories, something I noticed after looking through their catalogue. It reminds me a bit of Harada, mixing humour with disturbing topics, but there's much more to them than what there is on the surface. Their works usually have sinister panels in a way I haven't seen other authors draw, which is a big thing considering this isn't even horror.

Now onto the story. This isn't a manga for people that can't handle heavy themes and I'm serious. There's bullying, homophobia, transphobia, sexual assault and more. It's also a bittersweet manga, something to keep in mind for those that prefer a fairytale type of ending.

I absolutely loved the main cast of boys. It's easy to expect something simple from each but it's incredible how the story develops in a way that makes the reader realize not everything is at it seems. Mishima is an amazing protagonist that goes through a lot of difficult events, but ends up being very resiliant. Kirino was another one I loved, someone who is much more than a simple bully and the 'jock' stereotype. Then there's Yumeno, another one that brings many surprises.

I think Mishima's and Kirino's relationship was the highlight of this manga and my heart broke for them many times. They're just kids, trying to discover themselves in an judgemental enviroment. I liked how the story explores themes of identity and acceptance, not only coming from the boys themselves but some of their parents too.

I also loved the bully x bullied storyline. I'm not sorry, it's one of the tropes in fiction I like and what I enjoyed the most was how compelling they were together and that things between them had a slow development. I felt the way they came to be themselves was realistic, since not every gay kid has the same type of realization about their sexuality.

Now I'll touch onto the heaviest topic of them all: the teacher and everything he represents. It might be controversial, but I don't think his character was unnecessary, nor that the author did anything wrong with his inclusion. I don't think the message was to equate what he is to the boys' sexualities, since Kirino had some lines about that later into the story plus the author was very clear that what he did wasn't good at all. I think it's a shame that some people that took it like that and cannot read pass what is literally in a text, needing to be told in bold letters what it wants to convey.

Lastly, the ending was one of the most memorable ones I've ever read. I saw it for the first time years ago and never forgot. It is that impactful. Without spoilers, I'll just say that I was torn between feeling happy and sad. I think I felt like both. I can't help but think about the what if's and remember this is what many queer people face, which doesn't mean is a good thing but it does make sense to me that the author went down that route. Part of me is glad that it didn't suddenly become the fairytale type, although the other desperately wanted better.

Anyway, my rambling was extra long, I just really love this manga. I could talk about it for hours. I don't think I'd ever forget these characters and everything they went through.

-I received a copy of this book for free through NetGalley and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

Tags: manga, single volume, queer themes, highschool, homophobia, transphobia, bullying, pedophilia, sexual assault, sexuality discovery, queer friendship, bully x bullied.

[jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 || adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

| used to only ever crack open my pandora’s box at night, alone. But we each had our boxes, and up on the roof, we let the other see what was inside.

Set in a rural town in the middle of nowhere, where everyone knows everyone, we follow three high school boys and their journeys in coming to terms with themselves and what all that entails.

This is a heavy read even from the very first page you could see that the author was heavy handed with the brutal reality of kids growing up "different" were treated in the countryside, especially in such a conservative country as Japan. The "humor" is sharp and piercing, slapstick at best, a futile attempt to lighten things up. When secrets are revealed and their world unravel, we see the choices they make and how to live with themselves upon choosing it.

The manga is not infallible, as it still has outdated views especially with how it handled the aftermath of Yanagida and his disappearance. He simply left and his departure was met with grief from the public who adored his facade, blind to his own wickedness. The three boys are left to deal with the aftermath, and I feel like the conversation afterward was too light and neutral. However, I don't think the manga ever made it look like Yanagida was a victim. In their conversation, Kirino emphasizes that even though Yanagida had his own pandora's box and suppressed his, what he did was never okay - that no context nor backstory can justify what he did to his student, to another human being. The extra story did very little in bringing Yanagida to a better light, it felt like being there as a mirror that the same homophobic environment that Mishima and the others were subjected to were not limited to the outskirts, and was just as prevalent even in the city. It gave him depth, showed what he had been before, yet it did not erase his wicked actions either.

Reading this as an adult with its official English release made a lot of pent up trauma resurface, and I'm really glad this can be more accessible to a wider audience now. The ending was bittersweet, so much grief and so much loss shared between friends and the life they could have had - and the life that they chose. Just so painful, yet also very realistic.

Honestly, I would cautiously recommend this to anyone who stumbles through it - queer or not, young adult finding their footing or hardened and jaded adult making the most of life. Just please please heed the content warnings.

Big thanks to the author and publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. All quotes are taken from the uncorrected proof. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Outing

[Lyss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley

This was a highly anticipated read for me so I was ecstatic to have the chance to read an advance copy. I thought I knew what I was getting into at the start but I was quite shocked by a few plot points.

The story follows Mishima, a closeted middle school boy who spends his days being relentlessly bullied by his classmates and his nights secretly getting dolled up with a tube of his mother’s lipstick.

In a shocking turn of events, Mishima comes across one of his tormentors putting on lipstick and from there a truce is formed. From enemies to friends, the two confide in one another about their struggles of being queer in a small town.

Trigger warnings: this review will include topics such as pedophilia, homophobia and physical violence. Please keep your best interest in mind.

At first I was uncertain if I would end up enjoying this. The first few chapters were hard to get through and I was concerned it was going to be full of senseless violence and homophobia with no real plot but I was happily mistaken.

My first main concern comes from how quickly Mishima and Kirino became friends after the relentless bullying Mishima endures at the hands of Kirino and his friends. This isn’t light bullying either, at one point there’s a scene where Mishima is being drowned by his classmates and another scene where one classmate suggests sexually assaulting him with a marker.

My second concern is the way in which pedophilia was handled in the story. The teacher who sexually assaults Mishima explains that he’s always been a repressed homosexual and after being caught with a boy while he was a teenager he is now only attracted to young boys. This issue is further pushed when Mishima likens the teacher’s “Pandora’s box” to that of him and Kirino’s. The queer community has gotten a lot of hate and push back because of people painting the narrative that they’re predators and should be carefully watched around children so seeing someone’s queer identity be compared to that of someone’s pedophilia really rubbed me the wrong way. As a member of the queer community it left a bad taste in my mouth and I contemplated DNFing it at this point.

I pushed ahead and I’m glad I did. This is a coming-of-age story about finding your place in the world, navigating your sexuality and gender identity in a place that shames you for who you are and the sacrifices many queer people feel the need to make in order to fit into society.

The last quarter of the story absolutely shattered me and I was left sitting in silence for a long while before I was able to organize my thoughts. The harsh reality that’s shown at the end of the series is gut wrenching and I couldn’t help but think of all the people who choose the same path as one of our main characters for the sake of other people’s happiness.

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha for the e-Arc!

[Dana | Rainbow Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75★

Smells Like Green Spirit is a coming-of-age story that tackles a host of heavy topics, including queer identity, small town homophobia, and repeating cycles of abuse and prejudice.

The story follows Mishima, a young gay teen who is relentlessly bullied because of his androgynous appearance and long hair. As the manga progresses, we learn that two of the characters who hurt him the most are struggling with their own queer identities. This is probably the main aspect of the story that didn’t work for me, as it was a very abrupt shift from bullies to best friends, and even to a romance. Considering the heinous things we’d seen them do (and almost do), I found it jarring how little accountability there was and how differently these characters were suddenly behaving. The first half of the manga also feels quite messy in general, jumping between different ideas and storylines while trying to tackle a lot all at once, so it could have used better pacing.

However, I really enjoyed the second half of the story. As it progresses, the manga spends more time exploring what kind of lives the characters want to live and whether they’re willing to sacrifice their families, social acceptance, and the lives they’ve always known in order to be themselves. I really liked these character arcs, and the mixture of hope and tragedy I felt reading them. Considering the original manga was published in 2012, I think it does a good job of reflecting some of the struggles queer teenagers face in rural and deeply homophobic environments.

Having said that, I didn’t like the comparison between being closeted as a gay person and being closeted as a paedophile. I understand the point the mangaka may have been trying to make about social stigma and secrecy, but the comparison felt misguided, especially given the long history queer people have of being falsely accused of being sexual predators.

I did really like the artwork throughout the manga. The style is expressive and very dynamic, with some panels almost feeling like they’re pulled from a horror manga, and they do a great job of conveying fear, shame, and distress when needed. My kid caught a glimpse of the teacher over my shoulder and that was enough to make him run away, which I think says a lot!

Overall, I enjoyed this story and I was invested in the outcome of the characters’ journeys. It’s definitely messy in places, and there were some themes and relationships that I don’t think were handled very well, but it still had me hooked.

*Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an ARC*

[Meagan McGee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha Comics for giving me the opportunity to read this manga for an honest review!

Viciously bullied for being gay, junior high schooler Mishima struggles to belong in his hopelessly rural hometown. The only time he really feels alive is when he dolls himself up with a stolen tube of his single mother’s lipstick.

And can I say one thing, I loved his long hair in the beginning. And I literally lost it, literally set my phone down and stared off into space when the bullies chopped it all off.

That pocket of joy is forever changed when he loses the lipstick, only to find soccer team ace Kirino, one of Mishima’s worst tormenters, trying it on in secret on their school roof.
Which I didn't expect at all!!!

And so begins a bittersweet summer of searching for a place where Kirino and Mishima can be their true selves, but Pandora’s box is not always so easily opened.

The teacher gave me creepy vibes from the very beginning and the way my jaw DROPPED when that scene happened (iykyk)
I am so happy for what happened afterwords, that Yumeno and Kirino helped him out and was there for Mishima.

I was torn between feeling happy and sad at the end. I can't help but think about the what if's and remember this is what many queer people face on a daily basis. Part of me is glad that it didn't suddenly become the fairytale type, although the other part of me desperately wanted that fairytale ending of happily ever after. And to some maybe it is.

One of the things I wasn't a fan of was how fast Mishima forgave the bullies so easily, especially after everything he was put through especially by Yumeno and Kirino. They did a lot of messed up things.

But Overall, this was such a good read. Just read with caution, trigger warnings: topics such as pedophilia, homophobia and physical violence. But also there is coming of age, and discovery.

[TheRedBookBox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smells Like Green Spirit by Saburo Nagai (manga) - I was thrilled to see that this manga was finally getting an official English adaption in one complete volume! I read it about 10 years ago and was stunned by how real and raw it was. Originally published between 2011 to 2013, the author doesn’t shy away from any of the difficult aspects of being a 13 year old queer kid in Japan. The two main characters, Mishima and Kirino, start meeting for lunch on the roof of the school and talk bluntly about their issues. They discuss so much, but throughout all of it is the neverending pressure their families and the general community are putting on them to be “normal” and how much easier their lives would be if they could just do that. I feel like all readers could see themselves in the boys at those moments, even if they aren’t queer themselves.

The series is quite dark. Mishima has to endure extreme bullying and multiple sexual assaults, while Kirino lives in terror of what would happen if his very conservative family finds out his secrets. Additionally the entire town is homophobic and they can’t trust any of the adults around them. For me, the most vital parts of the story were when the boys talked through everything that happened, and supported each other through their trauma. When the story ends, the two boys make very hard choices about their sexuality, their gender presentation, and how they want to live their lives. The ending certainly isn’t happy, but it’s so very, very real.

This 14 chapter manga series is phenomenal, and I am so glad that I’m able to pass the English translation out to my friends and family.

Thank you to Saburo Nagai and Kodansha Comics for the advanced reader’s copy!

Notes:
-LGTBQ+ rep
-Homophobia
-Violence
-Blood
-Child sexual assault
-Child rape
-Suicide discussion

[Ashe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for an e-arc!!
This was a tough one to read - not fully sure what wasn't doing it for me, if it was the art-style or how some of these themes weren't handle with the softest of touches. But honestly, in real life these themes aren't soft. It's tough and hard to stomach and the manga did a great job portraying that.
The ending really saved this manga, it was a pretty happy ending and it was good to see one of the characters grow out of his internalized homophobia to embrace who he was and have a pretty happy future. Although, for one of the other main characters, it probably wasn't the best ending for their happiness, but they chose what would make the people are him the happiest.

Two of things that truly gave me the ick and made me uncomfortable - the fact that this translation says they are in "middle school" when it seems like they are definitely older teens and more high school aged. Would love to see the kanji/kana used in original serialization of this manga to see if this was possibly a mistranslation. & my other ick - the teacher.

In the end, this just wasn't a story fully for me. I do think these kind of stories have their place in the world and I don't mind giving them a shot to read them.. but I just might not fully enjoy the experience. Not every story can be a happy ending but at this moment in time, I prefer those happy endings and sweeter stories. This story overall was just raw, gritty, and painfully real at times.

[Morthos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This copy was provided by Kodansha through NetGalley for review

3.75

I very much enjoyed the 2nd half (volume 2) of this manga, but my overall enjoyment is definitely low. This definitely reads like 2010s manga in this space, and this type of comedy clashed a lot with the more serious and sweeter tones of this book for me. I think that's why I enjoyed the 2nd half. Since a lot of that humor wasn't there after the incident, the story, character growth, and moments that actually almost made me cry felt elevated. Even though this was like a 3 star overall for me, that 2nd volume would've been a 4 if this was released normally.

Two things I really did love, though: the creepy art style Saburou would put on display felt so nostalgic to me. It really reminded me of some RPG Maker horror games from back in the day. I hope that Saburou Nagai makes a short horror story collection one day. I want to see more of this style from her. The other thing was, I'm really grateful that Kirino and Futoshi didn't end up together. I'm sad for her, and I really do wish she had gotten her utopia. Her and Yunemo I've come to love a lot, but thank you for not having a trans woman be with a man and call it a Boy's Love. That has come to be a huge pet peeve of mine with Japanese Boy's Love. I have read 3 stories where that was the case, and all 3 came off as transphobic for doing so. I would just love to see Japanese BL manga authors include trans men and masc characters more as a prominent character, even if that's the supportive best friend.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to emphasize the content warnings. This book contained much more intense verbal and physical bullying than I expected, as well as depiction of coercion, sexual harassment, abduction, and attempted rape by a middle school teacher.

This is a hard book to rate, because it evoked deep, complex feelings in me related to queerness, family dynamics, societal expectations, and the role of authenticity in happiness, but it was so sad. I feel conflicted in part because I have been intentionally prioritizing queer and BIPOC stories about joy and/or a spectrum of experiences as resistence to marginalized people only being seen and valued by the "mainstream" when they are suffering and dying. That said, while what the characters experience in this book was/is reality for too many people, it's is easy to pretend is "in the past" or only "in small towns" or xyz country if the reader is one of the privileged few who lives in a time/place/circumstances where queerphobia isn't so deeply internalized and overtly externalized.

The ending to Kirino's story is so sad to me. I wish that we could've been given any indication at all of a possible happier future rather than just the reminder of a fleeting summer when she imagined a different life, with a friend who loved her.

The art is understatedly beautiful. The linework is detailed but restrained, andthe creator intentionally focuses on the characters' eyes and body language to communicate their emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

[Off Service Book Recs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long hair and a beautiful face are unfortunate targets when you're a boy in a rural town, and Mishima is ruthlessly bullied for looking and being "gay"...no matter that the bullies are right. He lives in the in-between moments when he can preen in the mirror and wear his mother's stolen lipstick, only opening Pandora's box a crack when it's safe. So when he accidentally loses the tube of lipstick, he feels lie his life is over - until he sees soccer team ace Kirino, one of his worst tormenters, trying it on in secret on their school roof. Thus kicks off a bittersweet summer of self-discovery, belonging, and learning that there's a cost to opening Pandora's box to the greater world that may be more than one can afford.

Bittersweet was exactly the perfect word to describe this two-in-one - there was a lot of high school angst mixed with the harsh realities of an adult world that is not so accepting of what is different. I would HIGHLY caution that this book deals with adult themes and is not for younger readers, but I think the lessons and the start realities of finding a non-binary place in a very binary world were incredibly realistic and reflective. I like books that try to capture life in all its facets in one go, and this book did a great job of doing that within the confines of a manga, so I definitely recommend for those looking for a more mature story and LGBTQIA+ reads!

[hannah rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc!

First things first: I would be remiss to not mention potential trigger warnings: attempted assault on page, harsh and derogatory terms towards queer people, and mentions of suicidal thoughts. Please remember your own health and well-being while reading!

Mishima is a middle-school aged boy who is relentlessly bullied for having very long hair and more of a feminine personality. One of these bullying incidents is cutting Mishima's hair to a shorter length, which kickstarts the meat of the story. After being saved by one of his bullies, Kirino, Mishima slowly begins to realize that he and Kirino have more in common than meets the eye. As they unravel their own feelings and societal pressures, we as readers get direct insight into how these young teenage boys [as assigned at birth] try to tackle gender and sexuality expression in a rural town with strict opinions on taboo topics, such as homosexuality.

While I did enjoy this story, it was a heavy read. I think what was beautiful about this story was how raw and real the portrayals of confusion in young teenagers were; they have ideas about their identities, but have little to no room to explore without ridicule from the outside world. I would give this a solid 3.75, 4 rounded up on Goodreads, because I do wish Mishima forced his bullies to experience more guilt and character development before forgiving them so freely. But, it was an enjoyable time overall!

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This really surprised me. I’ve read a lot of queer manga, so the trope of a bully acting out due to their own closeted feelings is nothing new. What I loved here is that it doesn't take the lazy, cliché route. The friction between the characters comes from a much deeper place of identity and envy, rather than standard romance tropes. The story also doesn't instantly absolve past bad behavior; even when forgiveness comes out of isolation or a desperate need for connection, the narrative still holds characters accountable and demands genuine growth.

The tonal balance and art style work surprisingly well. The visuals can be a bit all over the place and silly at times, but it never felt jarring. Real life is inherently goofy and terrifyingly dark all at once, and the story embraces that mix.

What really sets this manga apart is how deeply it understands the weight of living in the closet in a small town. It explores how secrecy can taint every aspect of a young person's life, while still drawing very clear moral lines. It gives these flawed kids grace without asking the reader to excuse predatory or toxic behavior from the adults around them.

It actually made me tear up multiple times, both from moments of overwhelming relief when characters are finally shown unconditional acceptance, and from the utter heartbreak of seeing a young person feel forced to choose unhappiness just to keep their family peaceful.

It’s a heavy, scary, and bittersweet story, but handled with so much care and emotional honesty.

[Ray Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smells Like Green Spirit

It's totally a 3★ for me. I will point out everything I like about this novel. I like the theme; it is coming of age and getting to know yourself more. I love the analogy of opening a Pandora's box, their struggles, and their personalities. Since it's about two, or probably three—well, I will count it as two—gay teenagers discovering their future and how they were afraid of social prejudice, especially from their parents. And it's sad since it's happening a lot in real life.

But, well, I have some issues with this book. First of all (spoiler alert), I dislike the fact that our MC ended up with his bully, and the trope of "the bully bullying him because he is like him" got me, ew. Some people will probably bring up how he is still a teen, he doesn't know how to show it, yada yada. I think being a teen doesn't mean you don't know which things are right to do or not. And how about him befriending the bully leader? (This is actually fascinating.) He is the one who started it, but at a lot of points he just became a bystander—most of the time he did this because he was jealous, in case you wanted to know why. Well, read this book. And omg, the teacher. I mean, no matter how kind you are, how can you just let it go after being assaulted? Is that even possible? I mean, okay, I get it if you were afraid. But could you have some sympathy toward that person? Our MC must be some kind of saint.

That is from me. Thank you.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've heard good things about Smells Like Green Spirit for a while, so I was excited to pick up this omnibus (combining Side A and Side B of the original release) but first off, check the content warnings in the beginning if you need to, the beginning is pretty rough.

I love books about small/isolated towns and growing up in that sort of claustrophobia of everyone knowing your business, and all these middle schoolers (and adults.....) know that pretty Mishima is gay before he's okay saying it to anyone else. But Mishima finds some like-minded friends, all pushed down by the pressures of familial obligations and society as a whole. They get to know each other in a way that is almost like the flip of a switch, a little too easy actually, but heartwarming besides that. (Not heartwarming is the abuse beforehand and the creepy teacher that goes as far as a creepy teacher can go, so be warned). I really loved the addition of scribbles for terrible emotions/terrible thoughts/Something Is Wrong and I wish a very Therapy to everyone involved.

I liked the ending - both the happy ending aspects but also the melancholy unhappy aspects? The last few pages had my heart, and I understand the decision there but it ached anyway. (Also is it just me or is the drag persona "Missy" styled after Miss X maybe??)

Thank you to Kodansha/Vertical Comics for the eARC for review!

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really did not enjoy this and I can't recommend it. It deals with heavier topics than the cover and synopsis telegraph, and it sometimes has an odd comedic tone to traumatic events. I also don't like the characters much.

The tone was far darker than I was expecting. The warning at the beginning is far too small and easy to miss. I missed it, so I was completely taken by surprise by the on-page sexual assault of one of the characters (by his teacher!)

The text says they are in middle school which makes several of the scenes extra uncomfortable. I don't know if this is a translation issue, as the art seems more likely to depict high school students, but showing the sexual assault of a middle school student, as well as the full nude body of a girl (another middle school student) that the character tries to date to deny being gay, and then giving the adult male teacher who assaulted the student a redemption arc because he was forced to pretend to be straight feels really icky.

There is also a LOT of homophobia and internalised homophobia. Like, several characters bully the main character and cut off his long hair, but it's ok because the one guy cuts it kind of cute so now they can be friends? No thanks.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Vertical Comics for providing an early copy for review.

[Eduarda Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley.

Content Warnings: Homophobia, Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape

Mishima is a student living in a small town in Japan, who gets bullied by his classmates for having a feminine appearance. One day, Mishima discovers that Kirino, one of his bullies, may be just like him.

I am very conflicted on this, first of all - the art style. It's clear that the author wants to have some funny moments or lighten some using exaggerated facial expressions, and I wasn't sure how to feel about it.
Second of all - although by the end I was rooting for Mishima and Kirino to find their happy places, I thought their friendship happened too fast and sudden.

I also don't like how the whole situation with the teacher was handled, it seemed like they tried to sugarcoat it somehow and that made me uncomfortable.
I love reading serious and emotional stories, and this had that. I thought the ending was realistic but also think some people may find it unsatisfying.

Overall, if you're looking for something deep and emotional, but also funny and hopeful, and with a realistic ending, I would say give this a try.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Bunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for allowing me to read this manga in advance. 🤲🏼

Okay this was heavy and…weird.

By weird, I mean the art was awkward for me sometimes. One moment we have a serious scene in the manga, then the next the characters would make these awful faces that would completely take me out of the story. It was quite jarring, and out of place. I wasn’t sure if this was meant to be a dark comedy or a psychological, queer drama.

I will say to people planning to read this, keep in mind there are dark elements that could be triggering for some readers—like bullying, harassment, assault, and attempted SA. Along with a teacher who is a pedophile. I felt uncomfortable. So please do not go into this thinking it’s a fluffy BL.

The ending was bittersweet and could be considered a happy ending. However, sacrifices and growth are a big part of the story and I don’t think you’re meant to feel completely satisfied. To be honest, I still feel nauseous by the teacher…he was disgusting.

I didn’t dislike this story, but I didn’t love it either, so I give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.

[Lupin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very heavy plot covering everything from sexual assault, homophobia, and transphobia in a small town in Japan. My main issue is that I wish it was emphasized more for readers who pick it up believing it's a lighter read. I also don't think it was able to juggle all these problems with the severity it needed, especially since the aftermath of the sexual assault scene is a lot lighter than I would've expected.

Other than that, it represented the struggles LGBTQ+ people face and highlighted the extremities of what happens. There's a lot of confusion, exploration, and backlash while watching our characters try to figure themselves out. I didn't like the "bully-victim" to "friends" trope initially but I warmed up to it after watching their interactions as they became closer.

I liked how Mishima was handled, but I think the ball was dropped on Kirino's story, especially since Kirino isn't the main character. While a very real possibility that happens, it didn't sit right with me that the only trans character is given that sort of ending. I wanted more nuance and development with Kirino's identity, but I felt it ended rather abruptly.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading this manga, and I’m a little bit speechless. I’m going to try to put my thoughts into words.

This was… something special. And I truly mean that. I went into the story, not expecting more than the typical BL manga. And, boy, was I shooketh.

The depth of this story is amazing. A tale of three boys, nearly men, trying to find their place in their small town world as gay men, seen as ‘other’ by so many in their surroundings. The commentary on gender was beautiful, encapsulating all its complexities in a way I’ve never experienced in a manga.

We also have a PDFile, who is drawn as a truly gruesome monster exactly when he should be, even as his trauma is handled in such a sensitive way that I was not expecting.

Alongside the emotional depth, and the narrative of trying to simply survive as a small town queer person, there are moments of hilarity, and some of the most wild, goofy illustrations I’ve ever had the please to enjoy.

This manga was so, SO much more than I was expecting, and I feel grateful to have had the chance to read it. Big thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. I will definitely be checking out more by this author.

[Maxisagayweeb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Check CWs carefully if you want read this but I don’t recommend it even if you’re okay with the CWs

My main issues are the extreme scenes of abuse and bullying that kind of just read as over exaggerated trauma porn,; the clashing art styles between “normal modern manga” and “80s(?) over the top comedy manga” (I’m not describing it well but I hope this description makes sense), which, when used during said abuse scenes just seemed to make light of the situation which was really jarring and felt pretty disrespectful; and even that 2 of the MCs main queerphobic bullies were queer themselves is just the notion that queer people are our own worst enemies rather than queerphobes

I also wanted to see more during the time gap! How did they get to the end?

I don’t know if there is more of this series to come as the AN says there is, but it says “The End” and I think this was Volumes 1 and 2 together so that AN may have been intended for the end of Vol 1, but if there is more, I will not be reading unless it is about what happens during the time gap

Rounded up from 1.5/5

Thank you Kodansha and NetGalley for my ARC- all opinions here are my own

[james · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Kodansha for the e-ARC

This is one of my favourite queer manga. While I think that it can come off as overdramatised, and specifically fumbles the topic of the predatory teacher, it’s a story that engages with deep themes and emotions. 



One of the things I love about this story is how it engages with queerness and how different people deal with their own queerness based on societal and familial factors. It shows how environmental factors can affect the life paths of queer people. 



I think it’s also important to note when reading this that it was originally published in Japan in the early 2010s, and it does reflect that. But it still connected with me (a queer person) over a decade later, so I believe that themes are sadly still relevant.


It really captures how suffocating being queer in an unaccepting environment can be, but also the joy that you can find with other queer people. 



While I would recommend this to people interested in a story about queer teens in a rural town, I would urge them to check the trigger warnings.

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smells Like Green Spirit is a coming-of-age story about identity and overcoming hardships. The story follows Mishima, a rural junior high school student that is being bullied for being gay. He spots one of his bullies, Kirino, trying on lipstick on the school roof. They share a mutual secret that allows them to become friends.

Wow, what a story of resilience. Even though it was originally published back in 2012-2013, the story unfortunately is still relevant today. I did enjoy the friendship that developed between Mishima and Kirino (even the relationship between Mishima and Yumeno). I do think Mishima forgave them too easily for all the bullying he endured but I can look past it. What I couldn’t look past was the teacher and his reasoning for abusing Mishima. I think it gives off the wrong message. That docked off 1 start for me. Other than that, what a heartwrenching read that shows the reality that some members of the LGBTQ+ community face on a daily basis. Check for triggers!

Thank you, NetGalley and Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics, for the ARC.

[fridge_brilliance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good actually! Unflichning and hopeful in turns, it takes a good look at a group of classmates within a small countryside community in Japan, quite a few dealing with boxed-up queer feelings under lock and key: the good, the bad and the ugly. I found it really unputdownable - the way the characters connected in interplay of violence and touching vulnerability, the way they made each other change, their FAMILIES oh my god the mothers. We had a close up at the three of them in volume one, and I would lay waste to kingdoms to protect Mishima's and Taro's moms (so excellent in such different ways), and even Kiriko's mother's story was understandable, though much less uplifting. The volume could honestly read as finished, but I am delighted to know there is one more yet to come. I wouldn't have necessarily known what to expect looking at the cover, but I'm very glad I read this, and whole-heartedly recommend.

Thanks to Negalley and Kodansha for the ARC. Can't wait for v2 to conclude this story.

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

i will eventually come back here and write a proper review, but for now...

WOW.

just WOW!

this manga absolutely ruined my life, and i haven't stopped thinking about it. it broke my heart over and over again. i felt so, so bad for mishima. it's lovely that he has such a positive, carefree mindset, but, man, so many of the things he went through were so cruel and unfair.

just to echo some of my fellow reviewers, there are A LOT of content warnings that may affect whether you pick this up: sexual assault (main character), bullying, pedophilia (HE SHOULD BE IN JAIL), sex between minors, homophobia (internalized as well),

it's DARK, but it's also, in a kind of bleak, kind of realistic way, hopeful. i like that happen does exist. i like the idea that that happiness looks different for all of us, and that sometimes we do have to give up pieces of ourselves. it might seem sad to outsiders, but it works best for the person involved. i also loved the exploration of gender performance.

i'll be back when i can organize my thoughts better!

[Devon Matson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was incredibly emotional as it deals with themes of abuse, homophobia (both internal and external), coming out, and self-discovery. The characters each have their own journey that they go on before finding and accepting who they are, with some having a more difficult path than others. But the main characters, Kirino and Mishima support each other throughout the book as they explore their sexuality, and eventually help Yumeno accept himself as well. Many of the moments felt very real and like someone would have experienced these. One aspect I didn't like was the scene with the teacher, as I think it can perpetuate a stereotype that people who are gay are also pedophiles. That being said, the scene had an important impact on Mishima and served as a catalyst for the rest of the story, so I understand its importance. Overall, it was a tragic story of queer children who were trying to find themselves, and were at times punished, before finally being able to express themselves.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smells Like Green Spirit by Saburo Nagai is one of the most intense and unexpectedly deep manga I’ve read. It begins with harsh homophobia and bullying that make the opening genuinely tough, but the story slowly reveals humor, vulnerability, and a growing connection between Mishima and Kirino that feels real and tender. What impressed me most is how honestly it explores identity, desire, and confusion, with characters figuring themselves out in messy ways that sometimes hurt others but always feel human. The family reactions and town gossip add emotional weight, showing how complicated coming out can be, yet also how support can appear in surprising places. Even with its darker moments (like, some pages are tough to read), the manga balances everything with warmth and self‑discovery, ending on a touching note as each character chooses their own path. A powerful, unsettling, and deeply affecting read!

4.5/5

[Tippy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this manga. To start, whoever translated this made the characters middle schoolers which feels very, very wrong even though it is technically correct. It has both a bullies to friends and bullies to lovers storyline, the later of which is not my favorite. I also don't particularly appreciate the way it stereotypes it's characters. I found the ending somewhat disappointing, Kirino's in particular (though he seems happy enough). The teacher should have had some sort of consequences instead of getting a backstory to try and explain his actions. I do love Mishima and Toro's parent's though, even if Toro's dad is a hot mess. The second half of the story, this was originally published in 2 volumes, is better than the first since the bulling storyline is gone. The artwork is kinda hit a miss for me. In some ways it expresses the characters well but it other ways it feel very basic.

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smells Like Green Spirit is a manga about queer teenagers in rural Japan and what happens when they make friends after a chance encounter. The coming of age story explores being closeted, having the chance to express your sexuality and gender non-conformity, finding friends who might be similar to you, and dealing with darker stuff like assault and bullying.

I thought this was a powerful book, but I found the story a bit disjointed, sometimes jumping to another character's narrative unexpectedly, and that meant that I occasionally lost track of what was going on. It builds to a bittersweet ending that shows how even finding someone like you can end up with you both taking very different paths. Overall, it's a good read, but I left wanting to know more about the characters as I wanted more depth.