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Yunas Reise zum Ich: My Sex Change Experience
»Werde ich es schaffen, mich selbst lieben zu lernen?«
Autorin Yuna Hirasawa unternimmt eine Reise nach Thailand, um sich dort ihren Wunsch zu erfüllen! Denn in Thailand lässt sie ihren Körper dem einer Frau anpassen, damit ihr äußeres Ich endlich ihrem inneren entspricht. Mit dem Einzelband »Yunas Reise zum Ich« will sie ihren Trans-Lesern Ängste nehmen und bei ihren Cis-Lesern Verständnis wecken.
Begleite Yuna auf ihrer Reise zu ihrem wahren Ich!
Autorin Yuna Hirasawa unternimmt eine Reise nach Thailand, um sich dort ihren Wunsch zu erfüllen! Denn in Thailand lässt sie ihren Körper dem einer Frau anpassen, damit ihr äußeres Ich endlich ihrem inneren entspricht. Mit dem Einzelband »Yunas Reise zum Ich« will sie ihren Trans-Lesern Ängste nehmen und bei ihren Cis-Lesern Verständnis wecken.
Begleite Yuna auf ihrer Reise zu ihrem wahren Ich!
144 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2016
2 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
October 7, 2025
A Japanese woman shares her experiences traveling alone to Thailand in 2015 for her gender affirmation surgery.
It's very informative, but it is also quite harrowing at times as she deals with a language gap, her personal anxieties, isolation, phantom pain, torturous therapy, and a post-operative complication. Thank goodness for the army of Thai nurses who smooth the bumps with their cheerful positivity.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Episode 1 -- Info Note #1. The State of Transportation in Thailand -- The Fashion of Thai Nurses -- Episode 2 -- Info Note #2. Some Terminologies Used by People Living with Gender Dysphoria -- After I Started HRT . . . -- Episode 3 -- Info Note #3. The Difference Between Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty and Sigmoid Colon Vaginoplasty -- The Mysterious "Good!!" -- Episode 4 -- Info Note #4. The Pain of Dilation -- Dilation Lecture -- Episode 5 -- Info Note #5. Hospital Meals -- A Unique Pronunciation -- Episode 6 -- Info Note #6. Changing the Gender on the Family Register for People with Gender Dysphoria -- The Nurse Who Loves Japan -- Episode 7 -- Episode 8 -- Afterword -- [Acknowledgments] -- Translation Notes -- References
It's very informative, but it is also quite harrowing at times as she deals with a language gap, her personal anxieties, isolation, phantom pain, torturous therapy, and a post-operative complication. Thank goodness for the army of Thai nurses who smooth the bumps with their cheerful positivity.
Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Episode 1 -- Info Note #1. The State of Transportation in Thailand -- The Fashion of Thai Nurses -- Episode 2 -- Info Note #2. Some Terminologies Used by People Living with Gender Dysphoria -- After I Started HRT . . . -- Episode 3 -- Info Note #3. The Difference Between Penile Inversion Vaginoplasty and Sigmoid Colon Vaginoplasty -- The Mysterious "Good!!" -- Episode 4 -- Info Note #4. The Pain of Dilation -- Dilation Lecture -- Episode 5 -- Info Note #5. Hospital Meals -- A Unique Pronunciation -- Episode 6 -- Info Note #6. Changing the Gender on the Family Register for People with Gender Dysphoria -- The Nurse Who Loves Japan -- Episode 7 -- Episode 8 -- Afterword -- [Acknowledgments] -- Translation Notes -- References
August 9, 2024
Yuna Hirasawa was not always Yuna Hirasawa. And her path to where she is now was not especially easy. In fact, it was downright difficult, almost torturous. A story of the struggles of being trans, but not the struggles we typically see focused on.
This was educational. It is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination, showing the exact steps required for Hirasawa to fully transition to their gender, but it shines a real light on gender dysmorphia and how hard it can be to overcome it.
The trials and tribulations here are a little different than most - this is less about the prejudices of people, though that certainly gets a bit of a light shone on it, and far more about the massive undertaking that gender reassignment surgery is.
So, when I say this was eye-opening, I cannot forget to mention that it was also stomach turning at points with the description of what the surgery entails. It’s presented with some appreciated levity, but genital alteration isn’t going to go down smooth no matter how you frame it.
And that’s only the start of a story that also touches on urinary tract issues and phantom limb pain (yes, that one). If you’re especially squeamish this tries to use a metaphor but it doesn’t really make it any less eye-watering at times.
As a consequence, however, the medical aspects are incredibly thorough and really filled in some blanks I didn’t even realize I wasn’t thinking of (the creation and maintenance of a new vagina is… a thing…).
Yet that is only part of the equation itself. The surgical details and the reflections on Thai culture and medicine are detailed as all get out, but the real story is also how much happier Hirasawa clearly feels once the whole thing is over.
Between that and the substantial support from most of her family, this is both sides of Hirasawa’s journey and that keeps it from being entirely too clinical or overly dramatic. This is a thing that happened and here’s how. If the nurses learned Japanese from One Piece? That’s just how it goes.
It’s a good presentation of an important topic that helps with one of the most difficult things when you’re looking at a topic from the outside in: understanding. I support trans rights all the way, but this gave me a better perspective and I liked that.
There’s even a very funny series of 4-koma amidst the regular chapters that puts the last actual 4-koma manga I read to shame (although if you know what one that is, it wasn’t that difficult). Genuinely funny.
4 stars - and genuinely interesting to boot. A hopeful story that might not be for those of a weaker constitution, yet offers a lot of perspective that explains things in a very engaging manner.
This was educational. It is not an easy read by any stretch of the imagination, showing the exact steps required for Hirasawa to fully transition to their gender, but it shines a real light on gender dysmorphia and how hard it can be to overcome it.
The trials and tribulations here are a little different than most - this is less about the prejudices of people, though that certainly gets a bit of a light shone on it, and far more about the massive undertaking that gender reassignment surgery is.
So, when I say this was eye-opening, I cannot forget to mention that it was also stomach turning at points with the description of what the surgery entails. It’s presented with some appreciated levity, but genital alteration isn’t going to go down smooth no matter how you frame it.
And that’s only the start of a story that also touches on urinary tract issues and phantom limb pain (yes, that one). If you’re especially squeamish this tries to use a metaphor but it doesn’t really make it any less eye-watering at times.
As a consequence, however, the medical aspects are incredibly thorough and really filled in some blanks I didn’t even realize I wasn’t thinking of (the creation and maintenance of a new vagina is… a thing…).
Yet that is only part of the equation itself. The surgical details and the reflections on Thai culture and medicine are detailed as all get out, but the real story is also how much happier Hirasawa clearly feels once the whole thing is over.
Between that and the substantial support from most of her family, this is both sides of Hirasawa’s journey and that keeps it from being entirely too clinical or overly dramatic. This is a thing that happened and here’s how. If the nurses learned Japanese from One Piece? That’s just how it goes.
It’s a good presentation of an important topic that helps with one of the most difficult things when you’re looking at a topic from the outside in: understanding. I support trans rights all the way, but this gave me a better perspective and I liked that.
There’s even a very funny series of 4-koma amidst the regular chapters that puts the last actual 4-koma manga I read to shame (although if you know what one that is, it wasn’t that difficult). Genuinely funny.
4 stars - and genuinely interesting to boot. A hopeful story that might not be for those of a weaker constitution, yet offers a lot of perspective that explains things in a very engaging manner.
September 3, 2025
My Journey to Her by Yūna Hirasawa is a memoir that tackles an incredibly important and personal subject: her transition as a trans woman in Japan. It’s an honest and detailed look at her journey, from her initial diagnosis of gender dysphoria to the medical and legal processes she underwent, including her trip to Thailand for gender-affirming surgery.
I appreciate Yūna’s happy-go-lucky and positive perspective throughout the story. It prevents the narrative from becoming the dark and gloomy read it easily could have been, given the sensitive subject matter. While the jokes sometimes didn't land for me, this optimistic tone made the book a much more enjoyable experience.
However, I found it hard to connect with the story on a personal level. The specific details of the transition, the reasons behind it, and the experience of gender dysphoria are all vital to the narrative, but they weren't experiences I could relate to. Because of this, I wasn't able to connect with the story as much as I had hoped sadly.
Despite this, the book is well-written and valuable. While my personal connection was limited, I believe many people will find themselves deeply relating to her journey. It’s a brave and open account of a very personal process. It's definitely worth a read, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it even more than I did.
I'd give it a 3 out of 5.
I appreciate Yūna’s happy-go-lucky and positive perspective throughout the story. It prevents the narrative from becoming the dark and gloomy read it easily could have been, given the sensitive subject matter. While the jokes sometimes didn't land for me, this optimistic tone made the book a much more enjoyable experience.
However, I found it hard to connect with the story on a personal level. The specific details of the transition, the reasons behind it, and the experience of gender dysphoria are all vital to the narrative, but they weren't experiences I could relate to. Because of this, I wasn't able to connect with the story as much as I had hoped sadly.
Despite this, the book is well-written and valuable. While my personal connection was limited, I believe many people will find themselves deeply relating to her journey. It’s a brave and open account of a very personal process. It's definitely worth a read, and I think a lot of people will enjoy it even more than I did.
I'd give it a 3 out of 5.
April 16, 2024
Très instructif et expliqué de façon simple mais précise, avec les angoisses liées à l'opération mais aussi de l'humour. Des explications accompagnent le texte sur la société japonaises et sur la Thaïlande, lieu où s'est déroulée son opération.
July 8, 2025
This was a very comprehensive account of a very personal story of the mangaka's transition. This could so easily have been dark and dry. However, it was a very specific journey, told with great humor and openness. I needed to take long breaks from the story as it got more and more gnarly and personally triggered about how gender-affirming care can be so prohibitively expensive and may require someone to go through this painful journey alone. All of that said, I wish there was a bit more of an ending that explored BEING a woman.
April 16, 2024
Un excellent manga sur la transidentité et la disphorie de genre. J'aurai plaisir à conseiller ce one shot <3 POUR UNE FOIS QUE CEST BIEN ECRIT ET RENSEIGNÉ ? c'est un grand oui ♡
July 31, 2025
A very personal and accurate look at gender affirmation surgery in Thailand.
September 18, 2025
This was genuinely so informative! I was expecting an emotional and personal journey (and I did get that), but I also ended up getting real information out of this.
The author is very brave and I think the depiction of her hardships and the details of the operation/what followed will definitely help others in a similar situation (although the legal side of things is very specific to Japan).
There was also multiple funny and lighthearted moments!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC!
The author is very brave and I think the depiction of her hardships and the details of the operation/what followed will definitely help others in a similar situation (although the legal side of things is very specific to Japan).
There was also multiple funny and lighthearted moments!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the eARC!
August 10, 2025
"My Journey to Her" details Yuna Hirasawa's medical and legal journey to being recognized as a woman. I would say this manga falls into the informative graphic novel/manga genre, as it is about 80% information and 20% personal, even though this is a retelling of her surgery/recovery/etc. This does not mean it is devoid of Hirasawa's personality, or lacks a humanizing factor as she explains her anxiousness and pain through some pretty severe medical ordeals. The Thai medical staff also get to showcase their personalities through brief interactions. But the tone of the manga prioritizes how Hirasawa navigated such things, and less about the journey to self-actualization that other memoirs have demonstrated. There is even a very humorous digression using a hotdog and tofu block to visualize the surgical procedure, joined with her friend's increasingly comedic discomfort about seeing it.
I will admit this manga does not shy away from the complications presented in bottom surgery. While none of the illustrations showed a graphic depiction of surgery or any genitals, the descriptions could be enough to make me cross my legs. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is squeamish about medical procedures.
Overall, "My Journey to Her" is a well-told, humanizing discussion of one person's journey to being seen as a woman. The writing is very clear to point out that the situation Hirasawa went through could be radically different depending on country and contemporary events.
I will admit this manga does not shy away from the complications presented in bottom surgery. While none of the illustrations showed a graphic depiction of surgery or any genitals, the descriptions could be enough to make me cross my legs. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who is squeamish about medical procedures.
Overall, "My Journey to Her" is a well-told, humanizing discussion of one person's journey to being seen as a woman. The writing is very clear to point out that the situation Hirasawa went through could be radically different depending on country and contemporary events.
December 12, 2023
Nice lil manga that depicts the draconian measures the Japanese state deploys against trans folks.
To get a name and gender change, a trans person must undergo sex reassignment surgery and identity with the opposite gender to their assigned gender. Here, the state is both bioessentialist and culturally conservative, requiring full assimilation into cis identity for transitioning to occur. Furthermore, hormone therapy is only administered to persons who are diagnosed as gender dysphoric. In other words, transness only gains legitimation as a deviancy in need of fixing. Lastly, it takes two psychiatric evaluations to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria and subsequently accepted as one's desired gender.
Hirasawa compares the Japanese system to that of Thailand, which centres on trans experience and desires, rather than the expertise of a disinterested professional class. Such a compassionate and efficient system makes Hirasawa reflect on not only Japan's systemic transphobia, but also the rigid categories of man and woman that structure life in Japan. Gender itself becomes a more fluid construct, trapped by systems of control, whether legal, medical, or cultural. Hirasawa doesn't really elaborate on this point, but you can find more in-depth interrogations of gender in Double House, Bokura no Hentai, and Our Dreams at Dusk.
To get a name and gender change, a trans person must undergo sex reassignment surgery and identity with the opposite gender to their assigned gender. Here, the state is both bioessentialist and culturally conservative, requiring full assimilation into cis identity for transitioning to occur. Furthermore, hormone therapy is only administered to persons who are diagnosed as gender dysphoric. In other words, transness only gains legitimation as a deviancy in need of fixing. Lastly, it takes two psychiatric evaluations to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria and subsequently accepted as one's desired gender.
Hirasawa compares the Japanese system to that of Thailand, which centres on trans experience and desires, rather than the expertise of a disinterested professional class. Such a compassionate and efficient system makes Hirasawa reflect on not only Japan's systemic transphobia, but also the rigid categories of man and woman that structure life in Japan. Gender itself becomes a more fluid construct, trapped by systems of control, whether legal, medical, or cultural. Hirasawa doesn't really elaborate on this point, but you can find more in-depth interrogations of gender in Double House, Bokura no Hentai, and Our Dreams at Dusk.
November 7, 2025
Thank you Kodansha Comics Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy!
I am personally not into mangas. I have read a couple but rarely finished them. I tend to be mesmerized by the drawings and find myself too lazy to even read the long dialogues, unlike when I read novels. Surprisingly, even with the deeper and present issue the author experienced, I finished the book within two days.
I was genuinely impressed by Yuna's work. I can not imagine myself writing about an awful experience I had, trying to dig deeper in my memories and reliving it again and again. Much more trying to visualize how I was then using drawings. I applaud her bravery.
The manga was something I never read before. As I mentioned, manga is not generally something I would go to a bookstore and pick up. A memoir manga is definitely out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, this book was actually impressive, given with only 150 pages, Yuna effectively captured her experience and let us readers see a glimpse of what she had gone through.
Yes, some say that manga is simply a Japanese comic book. However, My Journey To Her is definitely something else. She added quirky bits or drawings here and there, yet I felt that I was there with her, trying to hold her hand while suffering through post operation struggles and pains. I found myself stopping midway, closing my eyes, and telepathically telling her that if I only had my ways to be there with her by her bed, I would have.
I learned a lot from the story, not just her own experience but rather how she explained her dysmorphia and even the surgery itself like I was 5. It was simple, yet knowledgeable. I did appreciate her mentioning once or twice to do our own research, acknowledging that she may have a first hand experience but still, her own does not speak to everyone else. The subtle humility from the protagonist herself is very uplifting.
I even found myself in a rabbit hole at 11 PM trying to learn more about gender dysmorphia. I have been living in this world for a few decades now, and I felt ashamed not knowing about it, realizing that a lot of people suffer while I live obliviously. It opened my eyes in a world I never knew existed because of this manga.
I do hope that Yuna writes more about herself, but I know this is quite a stretch. Seeing a glimpse of her life, I got curious about where she is now, how difficult it must have been to follow through medical things even after the procedure. Though I know that it is her choice if she opens another door and let us peek once more into her life. I genuinely hope she is in a better place compared to when she was suffering pre operation.
I am personally not into mangas. I have read a couple but rarely finished them. I tend to be mesmerized by the drawings and find myself too lazy to even read the long dialogues, unlike when I read novels. Surprisingly, even with the deeper and present issue the author experienced, I finished the book within two days.
I was genuinely impressed by Yuna's work. I can not imagine myself writing about an awful experience I had, trying to dig deeper in my memories and reliving it again and again. Much more trying to visualize how I was then using drawings. I applaud her bravery.
The manga was something I never read before. As I mentioned, manga is not generally something I would go to a bookstore and pick up. A memoir manga is definitely out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, this book was actually impressive, given with only 150 pages, Yuna effectively captured her experience and let us readers see a glimpse of what she had gone through.
Yes, some say that manga is simply a Japanese comic book. However, My Journey To Her is definitely something else. She added quirky bits or drawings here and there, yet I felt that I was there with her, trying to hold her hand while suffering through post operation struggles and pains. I found myself stopping midway, closing my eyes, and telepathically telling her that if I only had my ways to be there with her by her bed, I would have.
I learned a lot from the story, not just her own experience but rather how she explained her dysmorphia and even the surgery itself like I was 5. It was simple, yet knowledgeable. I did appreciate her mentioning once or twice to do our own research, acknowledging that she may have a first hand experience but still, her own does not speak to everyone else. The subtle humility from the protagonist herself is very uplifting.
I even found myself in a rabbit hole at 11 PM trying to learn more about gender dysmorphia. I have been living in this world for a few decades now, and I felt ashamed not knowing about it, realizing that a lot of people suffer while I live obliviously. It opened my eyes in a world I never knew existed because of this manga.
I do hope that Yuna writes more about herself, but I know this is quite a stretch. Seeing a glimpse of her life, I got curious about where she is now, how difficult it must have been to follow through medical things even after the procedure. Though I know that it is her choice if she opens another door and let us peek once more into her life. I genuinely hope she is in a better place compared to when she was suffering pre operation.
March 16, 2026
NOTE: If you're squeamish about body/medical things, be cautious when reading this manga.
I was hoping there would be more exploration of gender, how the author arrived at her realization that she was trans, how she dealt with the initial internal an external hurdles of coming out and taking action, that kind of preliminary and foundational stuff. Instead, the story is almost exclusively about her bottom surgery and legal transition, with only tiny glimpses of the stuff I was hoping for peppered throughout. For what it did focus on, it was surprisingly detailed in ways that were a bit intense to read sometimes. There's some really messed up legal stuff around gender in Japan, at least in ~2016 when it was written. The author doesn't really make any value judgements on most of it (an intentional decision by the author).
While the story is her story, it leans more towards being an objective record of events than a full-on diary/manifesto/memoir, and I do wish it leaned more towards the latter. All the same, it's very cute and charming, nicely-paced, gently funny, and has its emotional moments. It even has some pretty helpful full-text pages between chapters that could serve as a useful reference for various medical/legal topics on the subject matter.
I'm glad this manga exists and glad she was able to tell her story.
I was hoping there would be more exploration of gender, how the author arrived at her realization that she was trans, how she dealt with the initial internal an external hurdles of coming out and taking action, that kind of preliminary and foundational stuff. Instead, the story is almost exclusively about her bottom surgery and legal transition, with only tiny glimpses of the stuff I was hoping for peppered throughout. For what it did focus on, it was surprisingly detailed in ways that were a bit intense to read sometimes. There's some really messed up legal stuff around gender in Japan, at least in ~2016 when it was written. The author doesn't really make any value judgements on most of it (an intentional decision by the author).
While the story is her story, it leans more towards being an objective record of events than a full-on diary/manifesto/memoir, and I do wish it leaned more towards the latter. All the same, it's very cute and charming, nicely-paced, gently funny, and has its emotional moments. It even has some pretty helpful full-text pages between chapters that could serve as a useful reference for various medical/legal topics on the subject matter.
I'm glad this manga exists and glad she was able to tell her story.
June 20, 2022
Dieser Manga, in dem Yuna über ihre eigene Erfahrung einer Geschlechtsangleichenden OP berichtet, ist wirklich interessant und ich kann es nur jedem, der mehr über das Thema GIS erfahren will. Ich für meinen Teil bin wieder ein bisschen klüger geworden.
August 2, 2021
Educational, insightful, funny at times. Should be read by every cis person.
September 2, 2025
A recounting of all of the challenges that one person faced in her transition, especially the gender affirming surgery. Like many manga, its aim is to teach as well as tell the story, so there are informative notes at the end of every episode.
June 4, 2025
Wow, wow, wow. This is my first in-depth learning experience of how gender affirming surgery works for some individuals (assuming that certain countries handle things differently) and it was interesting to see all of the steps that needed to be taken in Japan to achieve such a transition.
Although this was an informative narration, there were still moments of humor I enjoyed. When Yuna depicted describing how the surgery worked while using food items, I couldn’t stop giggling at the reaction of one of her friends. Seeing the guys instantly grab their crotches was top tier comedy.
It was also intriguing to hear about the healing process. Having to hear about dilators made me cringe (absolutely no one likes them) but some of her experiences were relatable to my own. Even during a checkup with her surgeon, hearing him ask her to scoot down made me giggle because….why do all doctors need us to be near falling off the table for them to perform their checkups. It’s insane.
Japan seems to have made way more progress legally in accepting LGBTQIA+ folks, and I appreciated that many of the facts were given with the caveat that these things were true at the time but may have changed. I imagine depicting one’s gender affirming surgery to be a very intimate and personal experience, and I’m happy to have a glimpse of what mangaka Yuna wanted to share. While I would love to read more stories with topics such as gender affirming care and such, it’s insensitive to expect humans to bare their souls to an already judgmental crowd. But, I’d like to see if pop up in fictional stories, given that the writer did adequate research.
Thanks so much to Kodansha for the DRC. Starting off pride month strong in the publishing land.
Although this was an informative narration, there were still moments of humor I enjoyed. When Yuna depicted describing how the surgery worked while using food items, I couldn’t stop giggling at the reaction of one of her friends. Seeing the guys instantly grab their crotches was top tier comedy.
It was also intriguing to hear about the healing process. Having to hear about dilators made me cringe (absolutely no one likes them) but some of her experiences were relatable to my own. Even during a checkup with her surgeon, hearing him ask her to scoot down made me giggle because….why do all doctors need us to be near falling off the table for them to perform their checkups. It’s insane.
Japan seems to have made way more progress legally in accepting LGBTQIA+ folks, and I appreciated that many of the facts were given with the caveat that these things were true at the time but may have changed. I imagine depicting one’s gender affirming surgery to be a very intimate and personal experience, and I’m happy to have a glimpse of what mangaka Yuna wanted to share. While I would love to read more stories with topics such as gender affirming care and such, it’s insensitive to expect humans to bare their souls to an already judgmental crowd. But, I’d like to see if pop up in fictional stories, given that the writer did adequate research.
Thanks so much to Kodansha for the DRC. Starting off pride month strong in the publishing land.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the ARC.
“My Journey To Her” by Yūna Hirasawa was the perfect book to read at the start of Pride Month.
Detailing the process that the author went through in her experience with gender dysphoria, gender-affirming medical care, and the subsequent legal processes to be recognized by her preferred gender.
This type of story is one that I have read many times before. As someone who seeks out LGBTQA+ stories, I have encountered stories similar to this one. Yet, to say this feels incredibly inauthentic to the unique aspects present in this manga.
I truly wish this could be a story I could put in the hands of many bigoted or uninformed individuals. The authorial voice used throughout is both humorous and incredibly informative. This culminated towards a demystification and humanization of a process that many find scandalous and confusing. Not only does the story help others understand the perspective of someone experiencing gender dysphoria, but it also shows exactly what is involved when someone decides to make a physical transition. Much care was put into explaining the process in an accurate and precise manner.
For me, particularly interesting were the details surround the legal process involved, both in Thailand and Japan. Even as someone who understood the medical procedures involved, I was kept engaged by these details and considering how they different from those in the United States.
This is all to say, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this book. Informative, personal, and full of self-love. Highly recommend.
“My Journey To Her” by Yūna Hirasawa was the perfect book to read at the start of Pride Month.
Detailing the process that the author went through in her experience with gender dysphoria, gender-affirming medical care, and the subsequent legal processes to be recognized by her preferred gender.
This type of story is one that I have read many times before. As someone who seeks out LGBTQA+ stories, I have encountered stories similar to this one. Yet, to say this feels incredibly inauthentic to the unique aspects present in this manga.
I truly wish this could be a story I could put in the hands of many bigoted or uninformed individuals. The authorial voice used throughout is both humorous and incredibly informative. This culminated towards a demystification and humanization of a process that many find scandalous and confusing. Not only does the story help others understand the perspective of someone experiencing gender dysphoria, but it also shows exactly what is involved when someone decides to make a physical transition. Much care was put into explaining the process in an accurate and precise manner.
For me, particularly interesting were the details surround the legal process involved, both in Thailand and Japan. Even as someone who understood the medical procedures involved, I was kept engaged by these details and considering how they different from those in the United States.
This is all to say, there is something for everyone to enjoy in this book. Informative, personal, and full of self-love. Highly recommend.
August 5, 2025
Before anything else, I'd like to make it clear that my rating is subjective and that it's necessary to discover this title in order to be informed!
This is an autobiographical story about the author's journey through gender transition. And I was pleasantly surprised! It was very thorough in terms of details and things I didn't know, even though I'm quite curious about queer causes. I thought I knew all about it through social networks and other stories, but this one was really interesting because you can feel how difficult it is for people to transition without artifice. No attempt is made to explain, but rather to educate! And for me, that's the strength of this manga, because we really learn through the difficulties, but also through the joy.
In short, I can't really judge this manga, as it's essential to discover.
-_-_-_
Avant toutes choses, je tiens à préciser que ma note est subjective et qu'il est nécessaire de découvrir ce titre pour s'informer !
On est sur un récit autobiographique sur l'autrice qui parle de son parcours dans sa transition de genre. Et j'ai été agréablement surprise ! C'était hyper poussée en terme de détail et choses que je ne connaissais pas alors que je suis plutôt curieuses sur les causes queer. Je pensais m'y connaître à travers les réseaux sociaux et autres récits mais celui ci est vraiment intéressant car on sent la difficulté des personnes en transition sans artifices. On ne cherche pas à nous expliquer mais plutôt à nous éduquer ! Et pour moi c'est la force de ce manga car on apprend réellement à travers les difficultés mais aussi la joie.
En bref, je ne peux pas vraiment juger ce manga car il est essentiel à découvrir
This is an autobiographical story about the author's journey through gender transition. And I was pleasantly surprised! It was very thorough in terms of details and things I didn't know, even though I'm quite curious about queer causes. I thought I knew all about it through social networks and other stories, but this one was really interesting because you can feel how difficult it is for people to transition without artifice. No attempt is made to explain, but rather to educate! And for me, that's the strength of this manga, because we really learn through the difficulties, but also through the joy.
In short, I can't really judge this manga, as it's essential to discover.
-_-_-_
Avant toutes choses, je tiens à préciser que ma note est subjective et qu'il est nécessaire de découvrir ce titre pour s'informer !
On est sur un récit autobiographique sur l'autrice qui parle de son parcours dans sa transition de genre. Et j'ai été agréablement surprise ! C'était hyper poussée en terme de détail et choses que je ne connaissais pas alors que je suis plutôt curieuses sur les causes queer. Je pensais m'y connaître à travers les réseaux sociaux et autres récits mais celui ci est vraiment intéressant car on sent la difficulté des personnes en transition sans artifices. On ne cherche pas à nous expliquer mais plutôt à nous éduquer ! Et pour moi c'est la force de ce manga car on apprend réellement à travers les difficultés mais aussi la joie.
En bref, je ne peux pas vraiment juger ce manga car il est essentiel à découvrir
September 16, 2021
Vielen Dank an den Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar. "Yunas Reise zum Ich" ist ein wirklich interessanter Manga. Die junge Yuna Hirasawa möchte ihr äußeres Ich dem inneren anpassen. Dafür unternimmt sie eine Reise nach Thailand. Aber diese Reise wird nicht ganz leicht. In Japan fordert es schon viel Zeit und Kraft um den letzten Schritt der Reise zu wagen.
Ich mochte Yuna direkt. Das sie ihr Traum und ihr innersten Wunsch erfüllen möchte fand ich toll. Ich war gespannt wie das alles abläuft und habe mit Yuna mitgefiebert. Es gab manche Situationen die aber dann doch traurig waren und sogar schmerzhaft. Aber am Ende hat man doch etwas positives mitgenommen und sogar für Yuna gibt es ein Happy End.
Der Zeichenstil war süß und passend zum Inhalt. Die Handlung war leicht und humorvoll um im nächsten Moment dann wieder ernst zu werden. Am meisten finde ich es toll das hier Themen wie Selbstfindung und Transsexualität aufgegriffen werden. Auch bei Yuna merkt man das ihr inneres Ich schon viel länger in ihr ist. Auch die Zweifel und andere Gefühle sind ihrem Gesicht abzulesen. Trotzdem fand ich die Handlung positiv gehalten und habe Yuna's Reise mit Freude verfolgt. Ein toller Manga der sogar hilfreich sein kann und den ich ans Herz legen kann.
Ich mochte Yuna direkt. Das sie ihr Traum und ihr innersten Wunsch erfüllen möchte fand ich toll. Ich war gespannt wie das alles abläuft und habe mit Yuna mitgefiebert. Es gab manche Situationen die aber dann doch traurig waren und sogar schmerzhaft. Aber am Ende hat man doch etwas positives mitgenommen und sogar für Yuna gibt es ein Happy End.
Der Zeichenstil war süß und passend zum Inhalt. Die Handlung war leicht und humorvoll um im nächsten Moment dann wieder ernst zu werden. Am meisten finde ich es toll das hier Themen wie Selbstfindung und Transsexualität aufgegriffen werden. Auch bei Yuna merkt man das ihr inneres Ich schon viel länger in ihr ist. Auch die Zweifel und andere Gefühle sind ihrem Gesicht abzulesen. Trotzdem fand ich die Handlung positiv gehalten und habe Yuna's Reise mit Freude verfolgt. Ein toller Manga der sogar hilfreich sein kann und den ich ans Herz legen kann.
June 2, 2025
My Journey to Her is a memoir following Hirasawa Yuna's gender affirming surgery and all the complexities it entailed for her. There's always a lot of trans stories that center tragedies or struggles with dysphoria so it was really refreshing to read a story like this of trans joy in her transition. This was a really interesting view into how Japan handles trans care, gender changes and the bureaucracy involved at every step. It left me hoping that Japan will change the rules regarding how invasive its requirements are for legally transitioning.
Hirasawa's journey in manga format was really approachable and even if you aren't familiar with trans terminology, this manga does good job of defining things for the reader. It does a fairly good job of explaining why terminology that feels outdated to many Western readers is still used throughout the story as it's standard (as of the time of writing) in Japan. I would have loved to know more about Hirasawa's personal life a bit more before and after her surgery to flesh out her life more with a bit less focus on the forced medical aspects but the story still reads as authentic to her experience in a moment in time.
Thanks to Kodansha for providing an e-arc for reading, all opinions are my own.
Hirasawa's journey in manga format was really approachable and even if you aren't familiar with trans terminology, this manga does good job of defining things for the reader. It does a fairly good job of explaining why terminology that feels outdated to many Western readers is still used throughout the story as it's standard (as of the time of writing) in Japan. I would have loved to know more about Hirasawa's personal life a bit more before and after her surgery to flesh out her life more with a bit less focus on the forced medical aspects but the story still reads as authentic to her experience in a moment in time.
Thanks to Kodansha for providing an e-arc for reading, all opinions are my own.
June 11, 2025
I received this book from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Wow, what a powerful book. We follow Yuuna Hirasawa as she goes through gender affirming surgery, see her before that with her visits to the doctors to the get the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis so she could start treatments and get that surgery, we see the after-effects of the surgery (not just the pain but also the aftercare, the relief when she could pee and fart, and sorry I laughed at how all the nurses were complimenting her new vagina), and what she has to do when she gets home. It was a wonderful book and I loved every bit of it. It was very informative with her explaining several things and even single pages with extra information (and not just on being trans but also Thailand or the hospital food). I knew several things (this is not my first book about the topic) but I also learned new things. I loved how supportive her sister-in-law, her brother, and sister were and how they constantly send messages to her while she was in Thailand.
I wish Yuuna Hirasawa the best life full of happiness. I would highly recommend this book.
Wow, what a powerful book. We follow Yuuna Hirasawa as she goes through gender affirming surgery, see her before that with her visits to the doctors to the get the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis so she could start treatments and get that surgery, we see the after-effects of the surgery (not just the pain but also the aftercare, the relief when she could pee and fart, and sorry I laughed at how all the nurses were complimenting her new vagina), and what she has to do when she gets home. It was a wonderful book and I loved every bit of it. It was very informative with her explaining several things and even single pages with extra information (and not just on being trans but also Thailand or the hospital food). I knew several things (this is not my first book about the topic) but I also learned new things. I loved how supportive her sister-in-law, her brother, and sister were and how they constantly send messages to her while she was in Thailand.
I wish Yuuna Hirasawa the best life full of happiness. I would highly recommend this book.
July 17, 2025
My Journey to Her is a deeply personal but also very informative story.
Yūna Hirasawa has written a story based on her personal experiences as a trans woman. She focuses on a gender affirming surgery that she went through in Thailand but there are also some flashbacks to her earlier life.
There are a lot of private moments shown here but this manga is also very informative. Hirasawa explains the japanese laws about transgender people at the time of her surgery and how different gender affirming processes look like. There are even some graphic information that are hard to forget about. Fortunately the author has also a great sense of humour and the manga is full of funny and cute moments.
Sharing such private story takes a lot of courage, I deeply admire the author for choosing to publish this manga. I can only guess how helpful it can be for trans people to read this manga.
As always in Kodansha Comica's manga there's some useful information about translations and Japanese terms. I love checking it during and after reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.
Yūna Hirasawa has written a story based on her personal experiences as a trans woman. She focuses on a gender affirming surgery that she went through in Thailand but there are also some flashbacks to her earlier life.
There are a lot of private moments shown here but this manga is also very informative. Hirasawa explains the japanese laws about transgender people at the time of her surgery and how different gender affirming processes look like. There are even some graphic information that are hard to forget about. Fortunately the author has also a great sense of humour and the manga is full of funny and cute moments.
Sharing such private story takes a lot of courage, I deeply admire the author for choosing to publish this manga. I can only guess how helpful it can be for trans people to read this manga.
As always in Kodansha Comica's manga there's some useful information about translations and Japanese terms. I love checking it during and after reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book.
June 1, 2025
Intriguing to see more of the transfem experience in Japan and Thailand. This autobiography covers a similar surgical journey as shown in The Bride Was a Boy, with extra supplemental information (assisting companies that help you book every thing for your surgery and recovery, hospital attendants zipping around on roller skates, post surgery recovery when part of the intestine is removed and used in vaginoplasty! And then sticking rods in the vagina so it doesn't close up like a wound after surgery!)And the technique of checking how well you pass which made me realize just how gendered some things in Japan are (and has me wondering how distressing it must be to an enby X-gender and being misgendered in both directions).
Plus there's a neat little concrete example here for the argument "when trans rights are prioritized, cis rights also improve." The narrator encounters a trans woman with facial hair in Thailand, then notices there are cis women that haven't bothered with removing their facial hair and concludes "must be more socially acceptable here not to do that."
Plus there's a neat little concrete example here for the argument "when trans rights are prioritized, cis rights also improve." The narrator encounters a trans woman with facial hair in Thailand, then notices there are cis women that haven't bothered with removing their facial hair and concludes "must be more socially acceptable here not to do that."
June 15, 2025
First off, thank you to Kodansha for putting My Journey to Her up on NetGalley a year or so after release! I was unfamiliar with this title, and its appearance in ARC-land put me straight into the reading zone.
Now the actual review: My Journey to Her should be one of those autobiographical books/comics/etc that should be on every LGBTQIA+ list for "primers about the queer experience." Yuna Hirasawa is extremely detailed about her process as a Japanese person transitioning from male to female (in Japan, but receiving gender affirming surgery/bottom surgery in Thailand), not only from diagnosis but hormones, the big surgery itself, the complications of said surgery, the worries about how society looks at someone that people may think is cross-dressing or trans, and among all this a really accessible way to understand the two major bottom surgeries that can be done on transwomen.
Honestly I want to go buy a copy for my own reference/my own collection of queer non-fiction, this is great.
Now the actual review: My Journey to Her should be one of those autobiographical books/comics/etc that should be on every LGBTQIA+ list for "primers about the queer experience." Yuna Hirasawa is extremely detailed about her process as a Japanese person transitioning from male to female (in Japan, but receiving gender affirming surgery/bottom surgery in Thailand), not only from diagnosis but hormones, the big surgery itself, the complications of said surgery, the worries about how society looks at someone that people may think is cross-dressing or trans, and among all this a really accessible way to understand the two major bottom surgeries that can be done on transwomen.
Honestly I want to go buy a copy for my own reference/my own collection of queer non-fiction, this is great.
June 22, 2025
A bravely honest and open telling of the author's experience travelling to Thailand for gender-affirming surgery, what came before, and their hope for the future.
I have to admit that it's a topic that I knew nothing of and didn't really think I'd ever know as much about as I do after reading this book. However, Hirasawa is so earnest and open about everything that you can't help but want to hear her story.
As someone who passes out when hearing about papercuts, I was worried about how deeply she went into the details, but the most serious aspects of the operation are discussed in such a funny manner that it doesn't really register. And that's where Hirasawa shines, in telling her story in such a way that you understand the emotions and empathize with everything she went through to find her authentic self.
In the end, I'm glad I read it, and I thank the author for opening their heart in such an honest, earnest, and funny way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the fascinating read!
I have to admit that it's a topic that I knew nothing of and didn't really think I'd ever know as much about as I do after reading this book. However, Hirasawa is so earnest and open about everything that you can't help but want to hear her story.
As someone who passes out when hearing about papercuts, I was worried about how deeply she went into the details, but the most serious aspects of the operation are discussed in such a funny manner that it doesn't really register. And that's where Hirasawa shines, in telling her story in such a way that you understand the emotions and empathize with everything she went through to find her authentic self.
In the end, I'm glad I read it, and I thank the author for opening their heart in such an honest, earnest, and funny way.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the fascinating read!
June 13, 2025
Hello NetGalley and Kodansha,
Thank you for this wonderful read. Here's my review:
Have you ever felt trapped in your current life, yearning for change?
That’s exactly what happens to the protagonist. She even visits a psychologist to seek a diagnosis. Once the results are in, she decides to transition, from "him" to "her."
Her journey is arduous. She faces not only the personal and emotional challenges of transitioning, but also practical difficulties, such as the language barrier between Thai and Japanese cultures. The story sheds light on both the process of creating the "V" and the ongoing maintenance that comes after. Personally, I found it educational and thought-provoking. It made me realize just how tough her path really is.
One small detail: the greeting is written as "sawasdee ka" instead of "sawaddee kha." It’s a minor difference, but I thought it was worth noting.
Thank you for this wonderful read. Here's my review:
Have you ever felt trapped in your current life, yearning for change?
That’s exactly what happens to the protagonist. She even visits a psychologist to seek a diagnosis. Once the results are in, she decides to transition, from "him" to "her."
Her journey is arduous. She faces not only the personal and emotional challenges of transitioning, but also practical difficulties, such as the language barrier between Thai and Japanese cultures. The story sheds light on both the process of creating the "V" and the ongoing maintenance that comes after. Personally, I found it educational and thought-provoking. It made me realize just how tough her path really is.
One small detail: the greeting is written as "sawasdee ka" instead of "sawaddee kha." It’s a minor difference, but I thought it was worth noting.
June 3, 2025
My Journey to Her is a biographical manga about the author's journey to becoming a woman, with most of the book covering her gender-affirming surgery in Thailand. It's highly informative but also entertaining, going into details about the experience without getting graphic. There is an explanation using processed food as a visual guide, but it is accompanied by disclaimers about its accuracy. The main takeaway that I got is that Hirasawa wanted the reader to know how it felt to go through their experience. She was required to do certain things before and after the surgery, but she kept at it through the pain and bureaucracy, all to live as her true self. [I received an ARC of this title from Kodansha via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.]
June 7, 2025
My Journey to Her is an informative, insightful, and funny memoir in manga style. Yuna shares her experience getting diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder and going through gender affirming surgery. I thought her story was really well told - both full of facts and the real feelings attached to every part of the process. She never claims this is the only way to feel, but I think it gives really good insight into the whole process at the physical and emotional levels. Plus, it’s funny and great to hear about all of the supportive staff involved in making the process as smooth as possible. If this is a process you want to learn more about for yourself, a friend or family member, or just your own edification, check out Yuna’s graphic memoir.
July 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
This manga is a memoir about author Yūna Hirasawa's diagnosis of gender dysphoria and her eventual process of transitioning. It was interesting reading about her experiences and how the process of diagnosis and surgery happen in Japan & Thailand. I really enjoyed that there were very detailed descriptions and even references for the information included in the work. I knew there was a huge struggle in getting a diagnosis and in getting surgery, but I didn't realize the extent of it. Though the author doesn't pull her punches in describing the struggles, there is a hopefulness that is conveyed throughout the book.
This manga is a memoir about author Yūna Hirasawa's diagnosis of gender dysphoria and her eventual process of transitioning. It was interesting reading about her experiences and how the process of diagnosis and surgery happen in Japan & Thailand. I really enjoyed that there were very detailed descriptions and even references for the information included in the work. I knew there was a huge struggle in getting a diagnosis and in getting surgery, but I didn't realize the extent of it. Though the author doesn't pull her punches in describing the struggles, there is a hopefulness that is conveyed throughout the book.
August 3, 2025
Thank you. NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga
This is a personal story of a person who realised they had gender dysphoria & their journey through going from him to her, seeing that they were accepted for surgery in Thailand the nerves, the exceptions as well as so much more. This was an interesting read seeing it put into a format that will be a lot easier for others to read because it's nicely and gently put with a bit of humour with the anime drawing style.
I can see many liking this book but also many finding themselves in this as well 🤔, which is important for those who need to see more of themselves in media.
This is a personal story of a person who realised they had gender dysphoria & their journey through going from him to her, seeing that they were accepted for surgery in Thailand the nerves, the exceptions as well as so much more. This was an interesting read seeing it put into a format that will be a lot easier for others to read because it's nicely and gently put with a bit of humour with the anime drawing style.
I can see many liking this book but also many finding themselves in this as well 🤔, which is important for those who need to see more of themselves in media.
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