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Sweet Poolside
A shy boy with a slender build and smooth skin meets a girl in the middle school swimming club. Due to an embarassing accident, the girl with a certain esthetics problem seeks his help. How will these students who struggle with similar yet converse problems fit together?
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
4 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Shuzo Oshimi
136 books1,055 followersShuzo Oshimi (押見修造, Oshimi Shūzō) is a Japanese manga creator.
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Drawn in a realistic art style, his comics tend to be psychological dramas exploring the difficulties in human relationships and often touching on disturbing situations and perversions.
Oshimi debuted in 2001 with the manga series Avant-Garde Yumeko, appeared in Kodansha's 'Monthly Shōnen Magazine.' Most of his works since then have been published by Kodansha and Futabasha.
Among his first successes the single volume manga Sweet Poolside (2004), later adapted into a live-action film, and the series Drifting Net Café (2008–2011), also adapted for TV.
Oshimi reached international acclaims with The Flowers of Evil (2009–2014) and Inside Mari (2012–2016), both adapted into successful anime. Other notable works are Blood on the Tracks (2017–2023) and Welcome Back, Alice (2020-2023) .
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 1, 2018
Maybe I should have added a "wtf did I just read" shelf.
I adore Shuzo Oshimi 's works a lot , my favorites are Aku No Hana ( the flowers of evil ) and Boku wa Mari no Naka (Inside Mari ).
That's why I decided to read all of his works. Maybe I shouldn't have...
The story
A guy that has no hair in his body meets a girl who's hairy? and he starts shaving her arms and legs? and each one envies the other??? Maybe it's because this is an old manga of his, but ?? nothing happens? and WHAT was that???
I adore Shuzo Oshimi 's works a lot , my favorites are Aku No Hana ( the flowers of evil ) and Boku wa Mari no Naka (Inside Mari ).
That's why I decided to read all of his works. Maybe I shouldn't have...
The story
A guy that has no hair in his body meets a girl who's hairy? and he starts shaving her arms and legs? and each one envies the other??? Maybe it's because this is an old manga of his, but ?? nothing happens? and WHAT was that???
May 12, 2024
This is one of Shuzo Oshimi's earliest works, preceding even "Devil's Ecstasy," which was already a very weak series. So, my expectations were already quite low for this one.
But yeah, unfortunately, it's that bad. 😅
I love Oshimi's work, but there's clearly significant improvement after "Flowers of Evil."
This story is extremely silly, but not in a clever way.
That being said, it goes to show that even masters need to start somewhere, and not all of their initial works are great.
But yeah, unfortunately, it's that bad. 😅
I love Oshimi's work, but there's clearly significant improvement after "Flowers of Evil."
This story is extremely silly, but not in a clever way.
That being said, it goes to show that even masters need to start somewhere, and not all of their initial works are great.
May 6, 2023
I thought this was going to be a story about a hairy teenager but what I read was something weird and unforeseen.
February 23, 2023
A simple tale of love.
A hairy woman.
A hairless man.
Hairy woman wants him to shave her because she's embarrassed.
A tus the tale of love and shaving begins.
Weird, silly, kind of pointless, but the art is solid and it's funny in parts. A 2.5 out of 5.
A hairy woman.
A hairless man.
Hairy woman wants him to shave her because she's embarrassed.
A tus the tale of love and shaving begins.
Weird, silly, kind of pointless, but the art is solid and it's funny in parts. A 2.5 out of 5.
September 19, 2023
The fault is mine, for belatedly realizing this was the author behind Welcome Back, Alice, but you know what? I'm glad to have cemented my distaste for this mangaka, because, once again, while there's an interesting story underneath worth exploring, the sexual situations are handled both unrealistically and poorly.
July 14, 2020
Ne parlo su Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjGzs...
February 6, 2024
*1.5 stars*. It hurts my heart to give Shuzo Oshimi such a low rating but this was not it.
March 11, 2023
ok one of the less egregious oneshots. avant garde yumeko was almost gross, devil esctacy was weird. the best oneshot so far is shino cant say her name, that was cute.
girl have hair, boy dont have hair. girl asks boy to shave hair, boy finds it erotic. it wouldnt be as bad if they werent middle school students.
girl have hair, boy dont have hair. girl asks boy to shave hair, boy finds it erotic. it wouldnt be as bad if they werent middle school students.
September 21, 2024
I picked this up because it was advertised as a sweet romance about two kids who feel like outcasts but make up for each other’s “flaws”. It is not. If you like illustrated fantasies about shaving middle school girls’ body hair—everywhere—then you need some help. Why is this even allowed in print? 🤮😡
June 12, 2023
Um I don’t know where to start,this took me forever to read and it’s a short manga…this was not it. Like it’s fine to talk about serious topics that happen to you once you start to get older and mature but to show minors like that is just terrible. I felt so weird reading this I was ready to dnf.
April 2, 2020
wtf what did i read
November 27, 2024
Ota è un timido ragazzo con una belle molto liscia e priva di calugine per questo considerato con un aspetto femminile. Nel club di nuoto conosce Gotou, una studentessa con una peluria folta nonostante si tratti di una ragazza.
Ota viene spesso preso di mira dagli studenti per il suo carattere e per i suoi tratti, fino a denudarlo di fronte a tutti.
Gotou chiede a Ota di rasargli i peli dopo aver scoperto che non possiede peluria e il ragazzo esegue, creando una situazione piuttosto intima e assurda.
Gotou è felicissima del suo corpo senza peli e richiede lo stesso favore a Gotou il mese successivo. A questo giro, Ota gli taglia anche i peli delle ascelle e oltre il solito terrore iniziale, sente anche un senso di gratificazione per i commenti ricevuti e un involontario tocco sulle tette.
Gotou vede una vicinanza tra Ota e Sakashita e dice a Gotou che non vuole più essere rasata da lui. Mentre Gotou è attratta da Ninomiya, senpai che fa nuoto.
La storia termina con Gotou che chiede a Ota di rasarla in mezzo alle gambe, ma Ota si rifiuta e anzi, rivela che gli piacciono i suoi peli e che dovrebbe concentrarsi su altro.
Un manga semplicemente assurdo, anche perché parliamo di un autore che gli piace portare storia disturbanti e disgustare il lettore. I due ragazzi, opposti nella crescita della peluria, proprio grazie a questa caratteristica si avvicinano e nasce del tenero, soprattutto dalla parte del timido Ota, che inizia a provare qualcosa per Gotou dopo tutti quei momenti intimi quando la ha rasata.
Gotou più che innamorata di lui, ama il fatto che gli rende la pelle rasa. Nel finale, Gotou finalmente si impara a radersi da sola e chissà se adesso che Ota non gli servirà più i due ancora si frequenteranno.
Ota viene spesso preso di mira dagli studenti per il suo carattere e per i suoi tratti, fino a denudarlo di fronte a tutti.
Gotou chiede a Ota di rasargli i peli dopo aver scoperto che non possiede peluria e il ragazzo esegue, creando una situazione piuttosto intima e assurda.
Gotou è felicissima del suo corpo senza peli e richiede lo stesso favore a Gotou il mese successivo. A questo giro, Ota gli taglia anche i peli delle ascelle e oltre il solito terrore iniziale, sente anche un senso di gratificazione per i commenti ricevuti e un involontario tocco sulle tette.
Gotou vede una vicinanza tra Ota e Sakashita e dice a Gotou che non vuole più essere rasata da lui. Mentre Gotou è attratta da Ninomiya, senpai che fa nuoto.
La storia termina con Gotou che chiede a Ota di rasarla in mezzo alle gambe, ma Ota si rifiuta e anzi, rivela che gli piacciono i suoi peli e che dovrebbe concentrarsi su altro.
Un manga semplicemente assurdo, anche perché parliamo di un autore che gli piace portare storia disturbanti e disgustare il lettore. I due ragazzi, opposti nella crescita della peluria, proprio grazie a questa caratteristica si avvicinano e nasce del tenero, soprattutto dalla parte del timido Ota, che inizia a provare qualcosa per Gotou dopo tutti quei momenti intimi quando la ha rasata.
Gotou più che innamorata di lui, ama il fatto che gli rende la pelle rasa. Nel finale, Gotou finalmente si impara a radersi da sola e chissà se adesso che Ota non gli servirà più i due ancora si frequenteranno.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2025
…Well, that was a trip to say the least, every so often I come across something so bizarre that I genuinely can’t think of a thing to say about it. Talking about this one-shot is like trying to talk about the meaning of a David Lynch movie. If you ask me what this manga is ultimately about I’d probably say it’s a subtle look into the boundaries between sex and gender that we’re often too afraid to look at. For those who don’t know this manga is basically about a boy with no hair who has to shave a girl who has more body hair than what’s considered “normal.” In typical Oshimi fashion, he makes the story both engaging and uncomfortable at times to read.
Shuzo Oshimi is my second favorite manga artist next to Junji Ito, his style and thought provoking story’s are always great media to sink my attention into, even if the story is horrifying. While his manga aren’t easy reads I’ve always gravitated towards art that challenges our comfort and security when engaging in fiction. This manga did just that, but if I had to compare it to Oshimi’s other works I’d say this is a more weaker attempt of his. It’s an early work so it’s bound to have problems, but I still felt a lot of meaning from this bizarre story. It might not be as psychological as Flowers Of Evil, or bloody as Happiness, or horrific as Blood On The Tracks, but it still has themes of sex and gender that are better explored in Inside Mari, and Welcome Back, Alice. In fact if you look at this as a blue print for the themes of his later manga it’s a munch better story. It’s bizarre, strange, and ultimately it’s early Oshimi.
Shuzo Oshimi is my second favorite manga artist next to Junji Ito, his style and thought provoking story’s are always great media to sink my attention into, even if the story is horrifying. While his manga aren’t easy reads I’ve always gravitated towards art that challenges our comfort and security when engaging in fiction. This manga did just that, but if I had to compare it to Oshimi’s other works I’d say this is a more weaker attempt of his. It’s an early work so it’s bound to have problems, but I still felt a lot of meaning from this bizarre story. It might not be as psychological as Flowers Of Evil, or bloody as Happiness, or horrific as Blood On The Tracks, but it still has themes of sex and gender that are better explored in Inside Mari, and Welcome Back, Alice. In fact if you look at this as a blue print for the themes of his later manga it’s a munch better story. It’s bizarre, strange, and ultimately it’s early Oshimi.
July 31, 2020
L'ho preso di seconda mano perché Shuzo Oshimi è ancora un autore sconosciuto per me. Ho letto solo Shino non sa dire il suo nome e non mi aveva entusiasmato per niente.
Questo ha una bella copertina e tratta un tema che avrebbe potuto essere molto interessante. Lui ha la pelle lissia e senza peli come il sederino di un bimbo; lei è un po' più pelosetta della ragazza giapponese media. Lui si vergogna, specialmente quando lo denudano davanti a tutti; lei si vergogna. Tutti e due invidiano l'altro.
Trovano una specie di soluzione e diventano più o meno amici. Fine...
La storia breve è assurda...
Quindi, mi sa che io e Oshimi-sensei non andiamo molto d'accordo. Anzi, quasi per niente.
Questo ha una bella copertina e tratta un tema che avrebbe potuto essere molto interessante. Lui ha la pelle lissia e senza peli come il sederino di un bimbo; lei è un po' più pelosetta della ragazza giapponese media. Lui si vergogna, specialmente quando lo denudano davanti a tutti; lei si vergogna. Tutti e due invidiano l'altro.
Trovano una specie di soluzione e diventano più o meno amici. Fine...
La storia breve è assurda...
Quindi, mi sa che io e Oshimi-sensei non andiamo molto d'accordo. Anzi, quasi per niente.
February 15, 2021
Toshihiko è un ragazzino delle medie dal corpo ancora glabro, Ayako è una sua compagna del corso di nuoto che invece ha il complesso opposto, rispetto alle ragazze giapponesi ha una folta peluria; i due vengono derisi per motivi diversi ma che hanno la stessa radice: la pressione sociale di rispettare un irraggiungibile canone estetico.
Tra i due nasce un’amicizia basata sull’aiuto e sulla comprensione reciproca, in quella che è una storia carina e che fa riflettere.
Questo manga infatti racconta di un problema attualissimo e di cui siamo tutti vittime: il non sentirci a nostro agio con la forma naturale del nostro corpo.
Il racconto ci insegna che tutto ciò che conta è credere in noi stessi🌸
Alla fine si trova anche un raccontino autoconclusivo e surreale che mi ha davvero divertito. Consiglio proprio questo volumetto.
Tra i due nasce un’amicizia basata sull’aiuto e sulla comprensione reciproca, in quella che è una storia carina e che fa riflettere.
Questo manga infatti racconta di un problema attualissimo e di cui siamo tutti vittime: il non sentirci a nostro agio con la forma naturale del nostro corpo.
Il racconto ci insegna che tutto ciò che conta è credere in noi stessi🌸
Alla fine si trova anche un raccontino autoconclusivo e surreale che mi ha davvero divertito. Consiglio proprio questo volumetto.
March 12, 2024
I really like a lot about this book. I like how Oshimi-San, doesn’t include hair on every panel. It makes it feel as if this large aspect of the character’s life isn’t as big of an issue to others as she sees it.
It does have issues though, some of the art isn’t as refined as his later works (as to be expected) but a few panels really stick out unfortunately. I also feel that the REASON for their “relationship” is a a bit of stretch.
Finally the ending feels a little rushed but the book includes a nice extra chapter that helps it end on a little better of a “happier” note.
It does have issues though, some of the art isn’t as refined as his later works (as to be expected) but a few panels really stick out unfortunately. I also feel that the REASON for their “relationship” is a a bit of stretch.
Finally the ending feels a little rushed but the book includes a nice extra chapter that helps it end on a little better of a “happier” note.
Read
February 13, 2024I've been reccomended The Flowers of Evil for a while now, and before I start it I noticed this short, standalone book by the same author so thought I'd check it out but wow this is absolutely not the sort of manga I have any interest in reading. A slight, middle school-set teen romance centered around body hair or the lack thereof. It's honestly left me less interested in taking my Flowers of Evil omnibus 1 off the shelf now.
July 26, 2025
this is one of the worst things i have ever read. Shuzo Oshimi struck the chords of my heart with his work Aku No Hana, and in the aftermath i went on a dive into the not so sweet pool of oshimi's older works. his first published work, sweet poolside, is about a boy who doesnt have much body hair shaving the body hair of and getting a boner over a girl in his grade with the opposite problem.
1/5 because it's still better than avant-garde yumeko
1/5 because it's still better than avant-garde yumeko
March 18, 2023
CW: Bullying, Eroticism between middle school students
This was a decent read. It is a strange one, but I didn't hate it. It's a story of self-discovery and first love. With a strange shaving premise. I don't think it's as bad as people are saying it is. I like the bittersweet ending. It's a strange harmless look at young love.
This was a decent read. It is a strange one, but I didn't hate it. It's a story of self-discovery and first love. With a strange shaving premise. I don't think it's as bad as people are saying it is. I like the bittersweet ending. It's a strange harmless look at young love.
February 15, 2025
I mean, I kinda get why some (younger boys, mainly) might find this work erotic, but I thought it was more cute and funny than anything. It's a somewhat bizarre, honestly kinda uncomfortable story of friendship, sharing vulnerabilities, and slowly - in a somewhat silly way - fostering body positivity. It makes me want to cringe as much as it makes me smile.
May 26, 2025
Y’all trippin this is great. Nice to see the evolution of Oshimi as this is his first work. Definitely a mix of the youthful sensual curiosity and meek male characters to come in his later works. My fav part was the bonus chapter where he used his more evolved art style. Would be crazy to see a redrawn version of Devil’s Ecstasy too.
August 16, 2023
Weird but funny.
I would like to dedicate this review to Nirvana who always likes my reviews even when no one else does. If one of my reviews has no likes I must assume nirvana is dead because rain or shine they’re always there.
I would like to dedicate this review to Nirvana who always likes my reviews even when no one else does. If one of my reviews has no likes I must assume nirvana is dead because rain or shine they’re always there.
April 24, 2024
I somehow didn't read the part in the back where it said erotic. That scared me.. This could have been such a good story about self love, and acceptance. The erotic nature ruined this for me, and presumably many others.
August 15, 2024
This one was a ride that went absolutely nowhere. I'm waiting on volume 6 of Blood on the Tracks so I've been diving into other works by Shuzo Oshimi that I could check out on my Libby app but maybe I shouldn't cause wow.
January 3, 2025
I really liked it. It's weird, and slow and awkward just like teenagehood. It's far from perfect and i wish it wasn't so short and it got to go deeper in the story and the themes of self-esteem and self-acceptance but it was interesting nonetheless
August 20, 2025
I guess Shuzo Oshimi had to start somewhere because this was definitely a cringe take of a manga. It’s not as psychological as some of his other manga, but it does have this “social commentary”-esque lens to it if you squint.
June 16, 2020
What the hell
November 12, 2020
Tengo un WTF enorme por después de leer esto, es mi culpa y castigo por querer leer un ecchi.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews