Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Vol. 1

しまなみ誰そ彼 [Shimanami Tasogare] #1

by Yuhki Kamatani, Jocelyne Allen (Translator)

A beautiful tale of coming-out and coming-of-age.

Not only is high schooler Tasuku Kaname the new kid in town, he is also terrified that he has been outed as gay. Just as he’s contemplating doing the unthinkable, Tasuku meets a mysterious woman who leads him to a group of people dealing with problems not so different from his own. In this realistic, heartfelt depiction of LGBT+ characters from different backgrounds finding their place in the world, a search for inner peace proves to be the most universal experience of all.

Genres: Manga, LGBT, Queer, Graphic Novels, Comics, Young Adult, Contemporary

178 pages, Paperback

First published December 11, 2015

About the author

Yuuki Kamatani is a Japanese mangaka.
Please also see Japanese and Chinese language profile: 鎌谷悠希.

Pixiv:

Reviews

[daph pink ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars ✳️✨

"You can tell me anything, but I'm not gonna ask."

Shimanami no Tasogare is a touching and personal statement about the reality of LGBTQ+ community in Japan. It is a story about a wide array of people finding, coming in terms with who they are and falling in love.

Talking about the characters I love Someone-san. 💜 She is enigmatic and gorgeous. There is a lesbian couple as well and I am hoping for more LGBTQ+ representation.

The art style is gorgeous like some of the panels were so beautifully drawn I couldn't help but admire.





And attacking homophobes by a cat should be considered by everyone.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Dreams at Dusk by Yuhki Kmatani is a gorgeous little bildungsroman about coming out and the healing powers of community. This first volume was a lovely little treat overflowing with emotion. Tasuku Kaname, new in town, fears he has been exposed for being gay and is struggling with thoughts of suicide when he happens upon Someone-San. 'You can tell me anything,' the mysterious, ghost-like Someone-San tells him, 'I won't listen, though,' and introduces him to her Drop-in Center where youths gather, many like him. It becomes a sort of group therapy, with people sharing and caring together as they work on a building project, not only making a structure but building their lives together. With gorgeous artwork and fast-paced storytelling, this is a lovely first volume for a series I am eager to read.


What really works in this book are the ways the group of people, most LGBTQ+, are able to be open and honest about themselves with each other and support each other along their journeys. I am quite interested to see where these will go and watch these characters grow together (also figure out the mysteries of Someone-san). I'm so glad to see books like these coming to print and spreading around the world. Like the group or Someone-san may have saved Tasuku life simply by giving him an outlet to talk, be seen and be himself, I think about how books like this may save lives as well when people can find strength and understanding in them. A lovely adventure.

4/5

'All the things you fear the most may happen. But as long as you won't give up that won't be the only thing you'll experience.'

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You can tell me anything, I won't listen, though"—Someone San

A teen manga about growing up and coming out. Tasuku Kaname is the new kid in town, and some people think he is gay. He’s distraught that his secret is public. In his despair, he sees someone, known only as Someone-san, who seems to have jumped out of a building over a cliff; or has she? He tries to find her and does, in a near-by drop-in center where kids meet and can talk about anything they like. Many of these kids are gay. When she meets Tasuku there, she tells him he can talk about whatever he wants.

“Yes. All the things you fear the most may happen. But as long as you won't give up that won't be the only thing you'll experience.”

The first volume of what seems to be a short series. Not particularly long on character or plot. Maybe 3.5 stars? I like Someone-San, that ghost-like character wafting in and out of the room. I like the suggestion of the need for drop-in centers for teens.

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just so rushed. I feel like I didn't get to know any of the characters, especially the main character. The magical element was also underexplained, and overall this manga wasn't entire comprehensible to me. The synopsis says that this book is "realistic," but I don't think I agree with that. I only grasped what it was trying to do through the synopsis, and maybe you have to read on to find out the grand scheme of things, but my library didn't order the rest of the series so I don't think I'll be continuing. On its own, this just didn't do a whole lot for me except I liked the lesbian rep in the side characters.

[Phu · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Thật sự là ít khi có quyển manga nào khiến mình phải chú ý tới nét vẽ nhiều như quyển này. Mình chỉ có biết bộ manga này từ bản Eng, mình mua bản sách giấy vì boxset đúng đẹp, nhưng mà thực sự là từ nội dung về LGBT+ cho tới nét vẽ của bộ này đúng sâu sắc và đẹp í ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ฅ

"Tại sao? Tại sao chứ?? Tại sao phải nhìn sắc mặt người khác để mà sống?

Tasuku bị bạn bè cùng lớp phát hiện xem phim đồng tính. Lo sợ và chối bỏ tính hướng của mình, trong phút chóc Tasuku dự định tự sát thì cậu đã gặp được một chị gái kì lạ được gọi là "Ẩn danh" - người đã giới thiệu Tasuku đến với Phòng Tâm Sự, nơi có những người gặp nhiều trăn trở trong cuộc sống như cậu.



Trong vol.1 này chỉ mới có hai câu chuyện về những điều trăn trở. Đó là Tasuku, cậu lo sợ và tự ghét chính bản thân - từ chối tính hướng của cậu, mình thích cách tác giả miêu tả nội tâm của Takusu, những phân đoạn đó khiến mình đồng cảm, từ cách Tasuku thấy nhói lòng, đặc biệt là cái cảm giác "cứng đờ" khi Tasuku bị nói và bị trêu đùa về xu hướng tính dục, cái cảm giác đó mình đã và đang trải qua và nó không hề tốt ಠ_ಠ



Bên cạnh đó câu chuyện có đa dạng nhân vật, tiếp xúc với những người ở Phòng Tâm Sự, Tasuku tìm thấy được nơi để giải bày và được thấu hiểu. Đó là câu chuyện của cặp lesbian Daichi và Saki, cặp đôi đều có cách sống riêng với tính hướng của họ; có những người đang lo sợ và e dè về tính hướng của bản thân, thì ngoài kia lại có những người đang đấu tranh và sống hết mình với tính hướng của họ. Cặp đôi Daichi và Saki khiến nội tâm của Tasuku bị đảo lộn, ghen tỵ và cả khao khát với hạnh phúc của họ.



Chỉ đơn thuần là ước muốn được sống bên người mình thương, chỉ một nguyện vọng đơn giản đấy thôi. Chỉ một nguyện vọng giản đơn nhường ấy. Khát khao đó có gì xấu xa chứ?!!  

Và dĩ diên là phải nói tới nét vẽ, mình thực sự muốn chèn thiệt nhiều ảnh cho đã!!! Nét vẽ của tác giả Yuhki Kamatani đúng đẹp khiến mình cảm thấy diễn biến truyện như một giấc mộng vậy.



Bối cảnh đẹp cho tới những chú thích về địa danh, rồi nét vẽ chuyển biến méo mó và xám xịt theo nội tâm nhân vật. Nét vẽ miêu tả biểu cảm, nội tâm nhân vật đúng hay, từ đôi mắt cho tới những nét vẽ có phần siêu thực, cho tới cái cảm giác ghen tỵ, tan nát và "bùng nổ" đều sâu sắc và đẹp.

Và mình ấn tượng với kết thúc của vol.1, đó là khi Tasuku tháo gỡ chiếc đinh cậu luôn cố đóng từ lâu - hình ảnh ẩn dụ cho những cảm xúc bị kìm nén của Takusu được giải thoát.

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd reread review
Seven Seas Entertainment has blessed us with English release of my favorite manga. I’ve read it the third time and I still adore it like before and like nothing else.

Highly recommend to manga readers and non-manga readers!

2nd reread review

I wrote a lot of words in my original review and I still stand by them.
This time I just want to say that I felt seen by this manga. I wish Shimanami Tasogare was published/localised in more countries. This is story that needed to be heard and lgbtqiap+ folks need to be able to read it.
Especially people living in predominantly homophobic societies.

The manga has closeted gay protagonist Tasuku, two lesbians in loving relationship as a secondary characters and more.
The story is about queer people and for queer people..

Original review

Shimanami Tasogare is wholesome and realistic lgbtq+ manga. I fell in love with this beautiful gift from Yuhki Kamatani and I believe everyone should read it.

Artwork is beautiful and expressive, it shows the readers, the story and the protagonist Tasuku Kaname's inner turmoil and struggles. Poetic and vivid. The scenerary is beautiful too. Also, so much care to little details, every panel is clearly well-thought on.
Care. Yuhki Kamatani created this comic with so much care and love and tenderness. It's impossible not to feel it.

The storytelling is focusing on teenage boy Tasuku Kaname who is realising he's gay and he has some issues with classmates about it. Tasuku meets the mysterious lady Anonymous and starts visiting The Lounge, a lovely place, full of lgbt+ folks. The shenanigans and self-discovery ensue.

I need to mention Daichi and her lovely girlfriend Saki. Sapphic couple that isn't sexualized or objectified, am I dreaimg? They are important part of the story and we get to learn more about them and their relationship. They made me so happy guys, you have no idea. The characters are well-crafted and written with such care and love...

Shimanami Tasogare raised the bar for any other lgbtq+ manga and story I'm going to read next.

Shimanami Tasogare is incredible. Slice of life type of story, focusing on lgbtq+ folks and life of one boy Tasuku Kaname.

[Rosalinda *KRASNORADA*]

Manga cherry popped! Yay me!

This was a very cute YA (or whatever you call it in manga slang) about Tasuku, a guy who is afraid of accepting who he is and who's afraid of telling the world what he wants. You can feel his struggle in every single page of this story.

This part of the journey was hard but beautiful at the same time and I can't wait to know what happens with Tasuku in the next instalment.

Random thoughts about reading manga:
*It's refreshing, quick and easy (once you get the hang of it)
*The drawings really speak for themselves, you can really see how sad Tasuku is just looking at the drawings, you don't even need to read what he thinks or what he says
*I missed the narrators voice if that makes sense. This is my first manga and I'm used to reading books where the narrator tells the story. Reading manga is quite different and it takes time to get used to it which is why I am not really rating the book because the story per se deserves all of the stars (I think every teen guy out there in the same situation needs a book like this one in their lifes) but I didn't really get used to it until I was halfway done.
*I think this is great to get you out of your book funks

Thanks Izen & MaDo for holding my hand and for telling me how to read it because my uselessness knows no limits

[james · Rating 4 out of 5]

welcome to 202-Queer 🌈✨

50 in February: 40/50


ah... my weakness... found family


very engaging so far, the art is beautiful and i'm intrigued what Someone-san's deal is. also the guy Tasuku likes is really cute

[Alwynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in a beautifully-realised, four-volume manga series from Yukhi Kamatani, a queer author who identifies as asexual and x-gender. Kamatani’s piece is pleasingly rendered through their atmospheric, black and white artwork, peppered with some wonderfully quirky details and dynamic elements. The setting is Onomichi a Japanese port town close to Hiroshima, known for its hills and, apparently, its abundance of cats who make cameo appearances throughout. The first instalment is focused on teenage Tasuku who’s recently moved to the city, he’s starting to settle and make friends when rumours spread through school that he’s gay. Almost instantly Tasuku becomes the target for relentless verbal bullying. Despairing Tasuku, who knows he’s gay but doesn't dare talk about it, contemplates suicide. But then he encounters a mysterious woman, known only as Someone-san. This meeting leads him to a house that has become a centre for a growing, local, queer community. A number of the people Tasuku meets here work for a non-profit, restoring old houses and making them fit for habitation. During the long school holidays Tasuku is invited to join them, a bonding process that provides a safe space and a way for him to rethink his future and move towards self-acceptance.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆ | "You can tell me anything. I won't listen, though."

Upon being outed to his classmates, Tasuku Kaname considers committing suicide. He fears that his school-life is ruined and his whole life shattered in that one moment. Then, he meets Someone-san.

Someone-san who says "You can tell me anything, I won't listen, though" and he is able to voice his biggest secret for the first time. Someone-san who is rarely available but offers a space where he can breathe and just exist. Someone-san who doesn't fix any problems but has no expectations either.

Our Dreams at Dusk is a story about finding your own place and being able to find your strength within a community. About destroying your fears and overcoming internalised homophobia. About letting yourself live and want and b r e a t h e.

Tasuku Kaname doesn't get an easy fix but he gets a place where he can scream and tell two lesbians that they're lucky to have each other and, hell, smash some walls because sometimes that's what you need in your life.

This manga says 'Yes. All the things you fear the most may happen. But as long as you won't give up that won't be the only thing you'll experience' and I find nothing more comforting.

__________________________

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[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I found this graphic novel series. Centered around an informal LGBTQ+ community center in Japan, it explores the struggles and joys of several different queer people - none of whom are required to be perfect to be valid. It can be hard to figure out who you are & how you want others to treat you, how and when to enforce those boundaries, and even, sometimes, how to support others. Loved the delicacy and complexity of all that here. I just finished volume 4 last night, which was the end, and I feel like it concluded in a really good place.

[luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

| | blog | tumblr | ko-fi | |

Ever since reading Nabari No Ou back in the early 2010s I have been a huge fan of Yuhki Kamatani. To call Nabari No Ou my favourite series ever doesn't convey just how much it means to me. Our Dreams at Dusk boasts Kamatani's beautiful artwork and storytelling. Once again Kamatani provides some wonderful platonic relationship that will make you feel all the feels. While the issues the narrative touches upon, namely the realities of being lgbtq+ in Japan, are certainly realistic Kamatani does add a fantastical touch to this story through a character knows as 'Anonymous'. If you've read and liked this series I 100% recommend you check out Nabari No Ou (it has ninjas, one of the best non-romantic relationship in the history of manga, some laugh out loud moments and plenty of my-heart-is-breaking scenes). Our Dreams at Dusk is such a breath of fresh air considering how many manga out there fetishise same-sex relationship or portray wildly unrealistic queer characters.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not me almost crying at the end of this volume. Wow. I’ve put off reading this series for wayyy too long. This was so devastating yet beautiful. Tasuku is the new kid and town and has been outed by classmates. Fortunately, he comes across a drop in center where he meets others who may be dealing with the same things. This was so damn real and done with so much care. I felt every emotion from every character. It’s been a while since I’ve been this excited to continue on with a series. CW: suicidal ideation/attempt

[Ben Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I already owned all of the volumes of Our Dreams at Dusk because I just want to binge them.

I loved the art style, particularly the fantastical way that emotions are shown, for example:

The found family vibes are strong and I know that these characters are connect more and continue looking out for each other in the next volumes.

The story follows Tasuku who's new in town and might have been outed as gay in his new school. He's not ready to be out and the fear of people knowing is consuming him. After a dark moment, he finds a drop-in center and meets and starts to get to know the people there. The drop-in center is open to all and it's there that he finds other queer people and begins to learn their stories.

[Rod Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outed when a high school classmate sees gay porn in his phone's browsing history, Tasuku Kaname denies in public but despairs in private that everything is now ruined for him in this homophobic environment and contemplates ending it all when a mysterious figure leads him to a drop-in center where he finds a group of people who aren't without their own problems but can assure him, it gets better. Great characters, great message, much much emotion.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

this moody queer slice of life manga is a trip. i'm experiencing a jarring sort of culture shock. from my western gay-media-saturated perspective, it feels like something from decades ago. but this is a contemporary story about a gay kid in japan coming to terms with his identity.

super beautiful and expressive art. i gasped audibly when i reached the page that illustrates tasuku's heart bursting out of his chest, quite figuratively, and shattering into pieces in the air. a staggering picture of emotional pain.

i love daichi and saki - a sapphic couple who give tasuku a glimpse of just how real and normal a queer relationship can be.

the business with "anonymous," the mysterious owner of the lgbt+ lounge, seems quite overdramatic, but i'm excited to see how it all unfolds in the next volumes.

[literarylesbian · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow

[Henk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Articulating things to one self is hard and in this manga Kaname Tasuku is struggling to come to terms with himself and his classmates. Wholesome, if clear-eyed on how hard it still is to be LGBTQ+ in the world
The only way I can really tell them who I am is to show them that I’m living a happy life in my own way.

Opening with a terrifying sentence uttered by a classmate who grabs his phone (What’s with this Tasuku? You watch gay porn? Is that what you’re into?), Kaname Tasuku experiences anguish on his penultimate day before the summer break.
Set in Onomichi, a coastal town going through population decline, he runs into a mysterious Someone-san who offers a refuge to queer people (People who want to die wind up at my door) in the Drop-in Center. Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare, Vol. 1 made me realise how little places of community queer people have that are not either sexualised or alchohol centric.
Despite some seemingly magical elements this is a quiet manga, with our main character going to table tennis, doing community service and trying to avoid bullies while pining for a tall volleyballer. Wholesome and and easy read, I will continue this four part series soon.

Quotes:
I wish I could wake up tomorrow and find myself in the future. Maybe society’s values and people’s thinking will be just a little bit kinder then.

Deal with the later stuff later.

It’s simple. I want to live a happy life with the person I love. That’s all I’m hoping for.
That’s all I want. What’s wrong with wanting that?!

[Bianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/06/2021: Please, can we appreciate how beautiful this manga page is?


A year ago (or so) I read the first volume of this story and honestly didn't remember much, but wow, this second time I read it I fell in love with it more than the first time. The drawing is gorgeous (I say it again), but what I love the most, is that there is a lot of lgbtq+ rep within this story. AAHHH I'M IN LOVE.


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17/06/2020: This story is wonderful. There's a lot of LGBT representation and I'm amazed but at the same time, I have a knot in my chest. The drawing is beautiful. I'm totally in love with this manga.
Tasuku must be protected!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

(note: Kamatani Yuuki identifies as "x-gender", which, from what I can tell, is a term along the lines of nonbinary. as such, I'm using they/them pronouns)

HERE'S SOME PAGES TO LOOK AT TO ENTICE YOU. (read right to left) do you feel like your heart is being squeezed?! ME TOO.

most nuanced portrayal of queer characters and themes I've seen in manga since Wandering Son. more direct (thank god. if Wandering Son has a flaw, it's how slow it is), and honestly, more wrenching on a chapter-to-chapter basis.

beautifully, beautifully drawn. I haven't had the privilege of reading anything from Kamatani Yuuki before, and gosh, THEIR ART. beautiful lines, movement, and paneling. it's #goals for sure. really reminds me of Irie Aki's work in style (except with less sexualization of the ladies, which I am a-okay with).

not yet sure where the plot is going beyond a "coming of age" type of story, but who cares! (there are elements of the fantastical, but it's also a bit slice-of-life from what I can tell? there are only 2 volumes-worth of content out so far) it always feels so unbelievably great to read manga that actually talks about queerness without a sense of fetishization, or buying into yaoi/yuri tropes. looking forward to reading vol 2, and tearing my hair out over how much this series is punching me in the face (mixed metaphors much? bye).

(I think vol 1 is the first 5 chapters. I am not Japanese fluent by any means, and am reading this through scanlations. It's unlikely to be ever licensed in the US...)

[Ria · Rating 3 out of 5]

the cover is so fucking pretty but man it's boring. the first half is just bad and kinda all over the place. the second half is where shit starts getting into place but then the volume ends. i kinda wanna learn what the fuck is up with this weird bitch but i don't care enough to buy the rest. characters exist but we learn absolutely nothing about them.... i don't even remember their names. did they have names? yeah i don't care.
the topic is interesting but the way it's handled is kinda cringy.
i'm a good person so i'm gonna give it 3stars.

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time really trying manga and I really liked it!

CWs: attempted suicide, suicidal thoughts, (internalized) homophobia

[nitya · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart hurts in the best way 😭😭😭😭🥺

Off to read the second volume!!!!!

Content warning: homophobia/lesbophobia, bullying, suicidal ideation/attempt, internalized homophobia, outing of a gay character, sexual harassment, body horror (it's abstract tho)

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a powerful opening first volume full of raw emotion. On the one hand I am FUMING and on the other I am LOVING these characters.

Can’t wait to continue the series!

RTC

[Helena (helenareadsxx) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly this book really confused me, I don't know what was going on most of the time tbh, but please check trigger warnings before reading this. I'm not going to be reading the rest of the series.

[❄️BooksofRadiance❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was gonna be 3⭐️ but it deserves more for the rep.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

"-¿Cómo que tu mujer?
-Sí, aunque yo también soy la suya"

Una historia muy necesaria en Japón, donde espero que haya tenido buena acogida.

En lo referente al protagonista, ya imagino por dónde irán los tiros con el chico que le gusta, pero Haru me ha encantado (que yo recuerde, es una de las pocas lesbianas del manga bien escritas que haya leído).

A ver qué tal el siguiente tomo y los demás personajes. Solo espero que no haya drama al final como en el principio.

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. With a stunning art style and a story that is as heartwarming the second time around as it was the first, I'm so glad I chose to reread Our Dreams at Dusk, Vol. 1 alongside the rest of the series.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah I loved this.

Beautiful Art Check
Lovable Characters Check
Beautiful Story Check

[Kesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt kind of rushed but also quiet at the same time. The first volume lacks a bit of depth.