I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into a Girl Vol. 1

恋する（おとめ）の作り方 #1

by Azusa Banjo

An LGBT+ romantic comedy in which nobody is quite what they seem, and everyone learns to be who they truly are.

It's a familiar story: a popular high school student gives their plain friend a makeover and transforms their life. But this time, the path to a new life isn't quite so straight and narrow. Kenshirou Midou has loved cosmetics all his life, keeping his obsession secret from almost everyone except for his childhood friend Hiura Mihate. One day, Kenshirou gets permission to practice applying makeup on Hiura, and the results are earth-shattering: Hiura's appearance transforms from a plain, undersized boy to a pretty, petite girl, and Kenshirou discovers just how freeing it is to apply his passion! Yet he's not the only one who finds the process liberating. Hiura likes the makeup, and the subsequent dress-up in feminine clothes, and decides to start wearing the girls' uniform to school. Kenshirou doesn't understand if he's unlocked something in Hiura, or if he's simply seeing a new side to his childhood buddy that he never noticed before. What are these feelings bubbling between them now--is this attraction truly new?

Genres: Manga, LGBT, Romance, Comics, Graphic Novels, Queer, Slice Of Life

180 pages, Paperback

Published June 7, 2022

Reviews

[Shae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, let's look at what this series is doing in its first volume.

We know that the more feminine boy likes the stereotypically cute guy. But he feels the only way he can get his attention is by dressing like a girl, and being girly. Yes, he loves how that feels, but only when it comes from the guy he likes. So, they are confused as to their identity.

The childhood friend is equally confused, because now he doesn't know how to react to his best friend. Yes, this can be a thing that happens as friends and family consider transition, but at its core, I don't feel like that is what is happening here.

Yes, I do believe that gender is a much more fluid thing than a lot of people, but this whole manga is putting a stigma out there that can be harmful, and that doesn't feel great. Yes, I think that 2 childhood friends could develop real feelings for one another, but the way this is packaged can be harmful to people who are transgender.

Yes, the art is cute, and the potential between them is cute, but I won't be spending any more of my money on this one, because it can be harmful, and put ideas out there that you can get the person you want if you change yourself completely, and that isn't ok. It's toxic, and garbage. I don't like it. It only gets 2 stars for the art.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was a bit funny at times, it's also pretty superficial.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the title of this series is misleading.

Just because you put makeup on someone and that person decides they want to present as a girl does mean you "turned them" into a girl. This isn't some weird vampire like girl virus.

*eyeroll*

One minute Mido is calling Hiura she and then the next saying he, for like the first half of the volume. Then in the second half, Hiura is talking about going "full on femme", not neccessarily being a girl per se. It's feels confusing. If Hiura wants to live as a girl, that's fine. If Hiura wants to be a boy who dresses effeminately that's fine too. The author just needs to be direct about what Hiura is going for or doing.

I know some opinions have been floating around about how offensive this volume is. I don't think this volume was outright offensive (I'm a straight-ish cis woman) but it could be to someone depending on what the author is actually going for and how they present the material.

I've also heard there are possible translations issues regarding pronouns ect, which could be adding to the confusion. I'll give it another volume and would definitely read a new translation to compare the two.

[Violet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute story, with some really cute art. I liked the way the translator switched to using she/her pronouns after Hiuru came out, and I hope to see more of the baby trans girl's story!

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so cute! It’s really nice to see a representation of transition sparked by gender euphoria rather than transition as a solution to crippling dysphoria and depression. Mido’s adjustment period with pronouns and gay panic feels realistic and not at all like he doesn’t respect Hiura and her transition. I’m looking forward to seeing both of them getting more used to the change and how their relationship develops with time.

[Forthright . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kenshirou is a secret fan of cosmetics. Mostly, he practices his obsession on his sisters, but on a whim, he turns on his best friend. Hiura is a quite, forgettable boy, but Kenshirou transforms him. Soon after, Hiura begins wearing a girls uniform and comes out as a girl to their class. Kenshirou has to keep reminding himself that this is his friend, and Hiura is somewhat frustrated that Kenshirou isn't getting a clue.

Kind of cute, but I'm a little bothered that Hiura comes out as a girl (something that requires a lot of soul-searching and courage) because he wants to attract his friend, not because he *is* a girl. While this story is obviously intended to be a comedy, it's hard for me to see certain things taken so lightly.

[Amanda Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Super stinking cute! I Ioved the characters and the artists style is perfect for this kind of story. The pacing was great, no choppyness to the flow of panel scenes. It did remind me a lot of Sasaki and Miyano (but not a direct copy paste) so fans of that would like this!

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This shit is actually so funny I need more asap

[Quinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a fun trans romance story. Just cute, has some kagu sama love is war vibes

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Original Review*
I'm not sure if what I read was the new version or the old version since I know there was some controversy about the translation on the original release. I'm inclined to believe what I read is the original since they used she/her pronouns and I don't believe this is meant to be a trans story just a crossdressing one. I didn't look super into it so I apologize if I'm wrong. Either way this was cute.

This follows childhood friends, Mido, a popular guy who's secretly obsessed with makeup and Hiura, his antisocial childhood friend and the only one who knows about his hobby. One day Mido begs Hiura to let him practice makeup on him and begrudgingly he agrees. The result shocks Mido though, because his childhood friend is super cute. More shocking than that Hiura decides he likes this new look and wants to continue dressing as a girl even at school.

It's a very wholesome read. Lots of blushy faces. I do look forward to seeing their relationship develop. Especially knowing why Hiura agreed to have his makeup done and continues to present fem. It's definitely going to be a two idiots in love, but don't know the other reciprocates so they hold it in story. More so on Mido's end, because he's very confused about the whole situation lol. Hiura is more intuitive and aware, I think. 

*Reread 6/20/24*
Okay so the version I read was definitely the original because the copy I bought doesn't use female pronouns for Hiura at all. I think the first volume was the only issue? So I hopefully my copy of volume 2 is okay. After reading the first two volumes I ended up purchasing/ preordering the rest of the series that was available and then never continued so here I am lol.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: transphobia, misgendering

This manga is an odd duck. On one hand, there's a lot of low key transphobia in misgendering the gender creative character (they go between boy/girl quite frequently, as well as he/she pronouns). On the other hand, there's a lot of acceptance of the character presenting and identifying in a new way. She initially does it because she realizes her best friend is attracted to her, which I don't love, but it also feels authentic and individually desired, too.

This manga doesn't leave very easy arcs about gender or attraction. But I kind of like that. It's light and romantic and makes a trans character with many pronouns and presentations normal, and it's comedic while also being earnest. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the next volume.

[bee ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

the story wasn’t too bad but i felt kind of weird about it. this was marketed as an lgbt+ manga rather than a bl so i had assumed maybe she would be trans but this was more about someone seemingly socially transitioning just because they want their guy friend to like them. now i know maybe this series will head in a different direction but this start just felt kind of iffy to me. i can’t really tell where the mangaka is going with this… it felt a bit like it was making light of transitioning in a way that made me a little bit uncomfortable to be honest. but these are just my personal feelings of course.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Combining killer cosmetics and lots of cheeky gay panic, I THINK I TURNED MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND INTO A GIRL v1 is the peculiar intersection of comedic romance and jokey progressivism. Less self-indulgent than it is overly self-aware, the manga's title says it all: a popular high-school guy with a skill for cosmetology and other beauty products takes a shining to his childhood buddy after prettying them up on the fly. Long eyelashes, blushing cheeks, and sloping collarbones are sure to follow. Pouty lips, new hairstyles, and several shopping trips to purchase "nice things" soon thereafter.

Mido is tall, athletic, and popular. His embarrassment over his obsession with cosmetics has fed an earnest effort to hide his skills through makeover sessions with his sisters and purchasing lipstick at the mall while wearing a disguise. He's a good kid who keeps his friends close. The manga doesn't quite convince readers he's less paranoid about his makeup hobby than he is ashamed of it, but one supposes future chapters will entertain this conversation in further detail. Afterall, if only one protagonist struggles with how others view his behaviors as a presumably heteronormative male, then that's surely the least of the author's challenges.

Hiura is Mido's mousy, sardonic, gamer friend. Hiura's waifish appearance is only slightly hidden by long bangs and baggy clothes, but the character's pleasantly round face, large eyes, and dainty expressions make them an ideal makeup model. Hiura's fascination with cosmetics is nowhere near as expansive as that of Mido, but good fashion and good self-care can go a long way toward building a one's self-confidence. As such, when Hiura transitions to identifying as female (or, in the least, presenting as female), the shift is fast, awkward, somewhat confusing, and very much in the realm of "What have I gotten myself into?" The comic's visual style comfortable plays at merging the angular and diffident expressions of boys' love comics with the doe-eyed expressions native to shoujo comics.

I THINK I TURNED MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND INTO A GIRL v1 pivots around the relationship between Mido (he/him) and Hiura (she/her), but does an excellent job of staging a strong secondary cast. Most friends-become-affectionate romantic comedies reinforce their central pairing by isolating their characters. I THINK I TURNED MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND INTO A GIRL v1 does something different: the author structures the book such that it's impossible for the story to function well without engaging well-meaning secondary characters.

For example, readers cannot obtain a genuine sense of what Hiura's MtF transition is like without overhearing conversations from concerned female classmates and other, over-protective chatty types. Or, readers might not have a genuine sense of the relational drift between the two childhood friends without the added perspectives of Mido's three older sisters. (Interestingly, Hiura lives with her grandmother, which may or may not portend future family conversations about her transition.) This is a positive-leaning manga that generally eschews bad vibes, but even so, the book's support structure lends the story a strain of authenticity and kindness.

This is a fun manga with a simple premise. Hopefully, the author will endeavor to keep Hiura's personality the same (dry, derisive), despite the overly enhanced cuteness. Insofar as the English-language publication is concerned, one's curiosity can't help but wonder what direction the original (Japanese) editorial team took on pronouns (or whether the pronouns will factor into the story at all). Again, I THINK I TURNED MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND INTO A GIRL v1, is a simple and fun comic. The weight it gives a difficult and complex topic will surely shift according to the needs of its equally awkward and complex characters.

[Viridian5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A popular guy, Mido, keeping his love for cosmetology and fashion secret gets his nerdy, standoffish, plain childhood guy friend, Hiura, to agree to be made up by him. Turns out that this boy friend makes for a very cute girl, a result that awakens something in both of them.

This is cute, with everyone immediately accepting Hiura being a girl all the time, and somewhat silly at times. There are some aspects that some people might find problematic that might be just a setup for things that will evolve over the course of the series or the standard throughout, it's too soon to tell. It turns out that Hiura has been in love with Mido for a long time but felt like he shouldn't even be seen in public around Mido now that Mido is popular and (Hiura thinks) might lose that if people see him hanging out with a mousy, nerdy guy. That doesn't seem to matter to Mido, but it makes enough difference to Hiura that Hiura publicly distanced himself from him. But Mido seems to really be into Hiura now that Hiura is presenting as a cute girl and Hiura is visually more socially acceptable this way so they're together in public again, and cosmetics and makeovers give them more of an excuse to hang out and be together, with Mido putting Hiura's makeup on every morning. So is Hiura's decision to become a girl full-time really about Hiura actually feeling like a girl is their true identity or is it only about being in love with and getting validation from Mido? Does Mido only feel attracted to girl Hiura, or would it be romantic love no matter what gender Hiura is? Volume 1 isn't really conclusive about any of that. This may be developed over the series. Or not.

I'll check out volume 2 if it shows up at my local library.

[Alexis Soucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I know this volume is controversial because of the translation. I am aware that my take on it won’t be loved, but it reflects my experiences as a trans woman.

I’ve never felt more seen by a manga before. Let me explain. Like a lot of trans women, I started as a crossdresser. I experimented at home, tried to figure things out on my own, and struggled mightily. It wasn’t until my (cisgender) wife offered to teach me makeup and how to understand my body type impacted fashion that I was able to fully embrace who I was. 5 years later, life actually feels worth living.

I saw all the early signs in Hiura’s reactions to the way the story progresses over the volume. I went through them. I know them intimately. Regardless of how the original Japanese has Hiura identifying, the art and story in front of my face says otherwise. To see it happening, and coming from a male friend (they’re nowhere near the romantic stage yet), was a joy to see and mirrored my own wife’s early stages of acceptance.

The way the other characters accept Hiura’s transformation and new lived reality was magical, but as an American in 2025/6, it felt a bit unrealistic. I’ve since researched Japanese cultural attitudes towards trans people, crossdressers, and other gender nonconformity and feel the story is in line with how the characters of Hiura’s age would behave. What was most accurate, to me, was how some classmates would continue to use masculine pronouns and honorifics while otherwise being supportive of the outward appearance.

To the less-informed, this behavior comes off as misgendering or unsupportive, but is VERY common. My own parents still regularly slip after 5 years, but are otherwise completely in support of me. It happens. Most trans people understand that (eventually).

I’ve not yet read the next two volumes that I bought, but I’m really looking forward to them ☺️

[Thurston Hunger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was in the "new" additions at my local library and the title certainly tries to tap into headline frenzy. Actually one of my kids told me that there is a relatively large genre of this sort of manga (to be honest, the teeny bopper love story is clearly outside my typical demographic no matter the gender fluid mixed into the ink.)

Apparently the American edition that was "new" was before localization controversy etc... apologies have been issued, and I watched about 5 minutes of someone talking about it, before clicking elsewhere and getting introduced to Sabine Hossenfelder. She was not discussing Banjo's work in particular but the phenomenon of more and more "Turning" (to use the word from the translated title).

I have various thoughts on trans concerns, but foremost by far is that people feel love and confidence/comfort in their immediate existence. I am thinking of two people in particular from decades ago, Shannon and James. Those are two very different, very real stories. This book is another story - two things that stuck with me were Mido's sisters and the scene late in this volume where Mido rage-rants "You might not know this....but aside from me adolescent boys are PIGS."

While I guess that was meant to be a big comedic scene, it definitely came with a more tragic tinge for me. As for other coloring, and a less problematic take - the one colored scene in here was definitely well done.

[Melanie aka Howtokillmyheart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 / 5 Sterne

Ich durfte die Geschichte netterweise innerhalb einer Leserunde lesen.

Dieser Manga hatte mich schon anhand des Klappentextes gecatched. Es geht um Mido, der Makeup im Geheimen über alles liebt, es jedoch nicht selbst trägt. Daher sucht er nach einem Model, an dem er seine Künste ausprobieren kann und findet dieses in seinem introvertierten Zockerfreund Hiura. Hiura ist zu Midos Überraschung begeistert und fängt an sich auch im Alltag schminken zu lassen und trägt von nun an feminine Kleidung. Und plötzlich sieht Mido seinen Freund in einem ganz neuen Licht.

Zuerst einmal, was mir gefallen hat:

Ich liebe den Zeichenstil und die Aufmachung des Mangas. Man bekommt immer einmal wieder Seiten mit süßen Extrainformationen, z.B. wie der Autor auf die Namen der Protagonisten gekommen ist. Außerdem finde ich es toll, wie die Geschichte Geschlechterrollen und -bilder aufbricht und dies in der Schule allgemein akzeptiert wird. Ich finde die beiden Protagonisten zusammen einfach super süß. Die Geschichte ist sehr leicht zu lesen.

Nun zu dem Grund, der den Sternabzug rechtfertigt. Ich habe mitbekommen, dass dieser Manga sehr kontrovers diskutiert wurde, insbesondere in der Transcommunity. Da ich selbst nicht trans bin, kann ich die Geschichte nicht aus der Sicht beurteilen, jedoch kann ich nachvollziehen, dass einiges anscheinend im Wege der Übersetzung verloren gegangen ist. Obwohl die ganze Geschichte eigentlich nur Geschlechterrollen aufbrechen soll, wird Hiura fälschlicherweise immer wieder als Mädchen bezeichnet oder mit einem verglichen, was er, so wie ich es verstanden habe, nicht sein will. Hiura kleidet sich lediglich in "femininer" Kleidung.

Außerdem hat mir der Grund, warum Hiura das ganze anfangs gemacht hat, nicht gefallen. Diesen erfährt man in dem letzten Kapitel, das aus Hiuras Sicht geschrieben ist. Ich hoffe, das ganze klärt sich in den folgenden Bänden noch auf, die ich aber auf jeden Fall lesen werde.

Im Großen und Ganzen eine sehr süße Geschichte, die meiner Meinung nach ein bisschen unter der Übersetzung gelitten hat und sich hoffentlich in den weiteren Bänden weiterentwickelt.

[Zian B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite giving this first volume 3 stars, I have very mixed emotions about the actual story. The main reason I gave it 3 stars is because it did start out well, along with the art style being lovely.
I was very excited to see a boy very interested in make-up and found his childhood friend’s social issues to be very relatable. However, it took me a while to realize that the story was actually about a cross-dressing male and not a character realizing they were trans.
I also really don’t like the underlying message, of someone needing to completely change themself to get the attention of their crush. I really enjoyed seeing how socially awkward Hiura was, and was hoping to see him fight to get better social skills through Kenshiro doing his make-up. Instead, it turned out to be Hiura wanting to be a girl and dress a certain way to keep Kenshiro’s friendship, as well as potentially get more romantic with him. I can see why this could gain popularity and how that factors may be something to ignore, but it just doesn’t sit right with me.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this series does this work a disservice, I think. I thought it would be a cheap, voyeuristic view into a comedic situation, but this is actually a really thoughtful meditation (for a manga) as the two characters question their sexuality and gender identity.

My experience with manga is that it never truly dives beyond the superficial, even on hard topics, and that's exactly the case here. Mido's confusing thoughts flutter around how cute his best friend suddenly is, and his joy in dressing Hiura in cute clothes. Meanwhile, Hiura ponders the change in himself as he grows into his new look and social confidence -- and plots to thrill his best friend with kawaii-ness while he works up the courage to confess his feelings.

There is never a straightforward examination of "Who am I, does this mean...?" though onlookers bat the question around.

[SirenCay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept of just putting makeup on a guy who is recluse and they just suddenly become more confident(well a tiny bit confident). It's like the makeup kick started the process of them coming out, which is a little murky right now. It's a pretty cool volume of this title and I look forward to the progression of this cool story!

However, on the downside, I can see it being a little harmful to suggest if you change yourself entirely, you can be with the person you like. If someone really likes you back, your transformation won't matter. You'll matter. So 3 stars, but I'll probably continue reading to see if any of that changes.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of an interesting story, I think the relationship between childhood friends will be fun to see develop in future volumes. I'm not sure about the play on gender identity, as the character who starts to wear makeup and girls clothing maintains his identity as a boy (just who begins to like looking like a cute girl) who has a crush on his best friend, so I see it developing as a gay relationship, just with cross dressing being integral to the development of feelings.
I'll definitely read the next volume if my library gets it in

[Bexan · Rating 5 out of 5]

YAY! A cute soft LGBTQ manga!

I needed a pallet cleanser after the last book I finished and this easily accomplished that!

I love the premise of childhood friends and a transition arc, although I hope that Hiura's feelings about transition go deeper than just being in love with Kenshiro! If it isn't well, that's fine. It's still cute and not every media representation needs to be 100 percent perfect.

[Billie Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this! The budding romance between the two friends is adorable and definitely one you root for. There is a question as to whether or not Hiura is actually trans, but I think he’s figuring it out while also enjoying the reactions he is now getting from Mido. Both of them are doing some questioning and searching and I don’t think at this point anything needs to be solidified. Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Cecille · Rating 3 out of 5]

An incredibly cute comic about the budding relationship between two boys (Hiura is apparently not intended to be a trans woman, despite what early printings of this book might've implied) that has gorgeous art for days, but the underlying romance story here feels like little more than an excuse to put Hiura into different fancy getups and embarrased expressions. It's still a lovely read all in all, I'm just left wanting for something more substantive plot-wise.

[Mizu]

⚠️⚠️⚠️
The first English edition of this book should be taken with a big grain of salt. I don't know if the mistakes are coming from the translator or the adaptator, but the thing is, Hiura is treated as a trans girl where he actually is a boy who likes to be cute. Seven Seas said they would address the problem but for now nothing has been done.

[AB · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

It was super cute and fun. But I have heard how badly translated this is with all the backlash that seven seas publishers have been getting because of this and a lot of their light novel translations. I hope they could get a better translator from the second book forward and stay faithful to the Japanese manga.

[carly irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

very light and sweet. i personally read hiura as a genderfluid character. i think that the rocky internalized transphobia aspects are due to her exploring and accepting herself. (although the premise is a bit superficial where “feminine” clothes and makeup = girl mode and “masculine” clothes = boy mode.)

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay this was pretty dang cute!! very fluffy and wholesome, and features a trans character. I loved how the male lead also defied gender roles and is really into makeup. hiura and kenshirou have a lot of great chemistry, with some mutual pining and a lot of blushing (//▽//) quite adorable.

[Kevin Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

My past

Reminds me of my childhood. My mother spent four Halloween s putting together a witches costume. I would walk my little brother and sister to collect sweets and I we pick up a modest following on the way home.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't quite decide which way this is gonna fall.... Might be an identity-affirming trans girl awakening, or might be a cis male dressing femme so a boy will like him, which is a bit problematic. I'll give it another volume.