Country boy Haiga has many questions he wants to learn the answers to when he moves to the bustling capital for his university life - and one of them happens to be, "do I like guys, too?" When his upperclassmen dare him to check out a box spa behind Shinjuku's Nichoume District, Haiga uses this opportunity to find out the answer to his question - and runs into his senior Kanae, who has one simple solution for him - clothes, off!
As I'd read & reviewed #1 & #2 together, I thought I'll share my total review here too!
This is such a cute —& soo HOTTT— college BL manga! I actually found this as I was looking for Given like manga, & I'm glad! I devoured all the 10 chapters in one seating.
Haiga is freshman in the college & from countryside. He's such a sweetheart & has golden retriever energy! A vocalist who becomes part of the music club & is enamored by Kanae. Kanae is the senior in same college. He's quiet, freaking cool, & so pretty 😍. He's guitarist & part of a band & music club. He had been wanting a bf.
Their start is quite a surprise with Haiga's 1st talk with Kanae at the pleasure shop K works at 🤭. I loved that we had a sexuality & preference talk all on Ch 1! These 2 are f'ing hot & the build-up 🥵. + There's condoms & lube! The emotional development is slow, but so cute, & I loved that K waited for H to figure his sexuality out! The training camp 🥰. Last chapter gave me Given vibes & was so beautiful ❤️. The friends are good too 😊. Loved it!
Comic rating:
1) The Characters: 5/5 2) Story feels: ☺️😋😳🥵😕🥵💕😜🥰🥵🥺😍 3) Art: 4.5/5 (Not colored) 4) Sexy/Steamy scenes: Many! Something in almost every chapter.
Per gli amanti del genere questo manga di due volumi è una vera chicca. La storia è veramente ben strutturata e con essa la crescita dei personaggi. Mi ha colpita che con solo due volumi l'autrice sia riuscita a rendere completa una trama che altri autori non riescono a creare prima di 4/5 volumi. I punti che più ho apprezzato della storia sono la sua totale originalità, all'inizio mi stava facendo storcere il naso perché mi pareva troppo assurda, ma poi ho cambiato idea continuando la lettura; altro punto forte della storia sono i protagonisti, entrambi con dei caratteri ben distinti ma carismatici. Ho letto troppi manga romance in cui almeno uno dei due protagonisti era un totale fuscello al vento, ma per fortuna questo non è il caso. Il manga riuscirà anche a regalarvi dei sentimenti positivi e di scoperta di sé stessi senza però mai essere pesante...E ovviamente tanto amore! Lo consiglio vivamente a chi legge questo genere.
Damn, that was good! It wasn't anything special but the way it unfolded and how it was so healthy especially with the way they communicate is so good. This warms my heart. Good for them.
*Original Review 4/24/2022* OH MY GOD?? It's been EXACTLY a year since I started this?? How fucking wild is that.
I can't believe I'm marking this as read right now. Like? It's actually finished. It's over. I'm so SAD. I want MORE!! I don't want to let these two go. I love Shikke's art style so much. I love Kanae and Haiga's relationship. I want to see more of them together :(
I can't wait for the physical edition and the bonus content that's going to come with it. I NEED IT. Also can't believe nobody has picked up any of Shikke's work for a physical English yet?? Hello??
*Reread 4/24/2022*
*Reread 4/25/2022* I had to do it. I had to read it again all the way through now that it's complete and then I had the urge to turn around and read it AGAIN. I literally fell asleep reading then woke up and finished it lol. I just love these two. The art is so cute. I love Haiga and his caring puppy dog personality. I love Kanae's cool, but awkward self. I love the way they communicate with each other. And there's a band/music aspect to it? Amazing.
*Reread 7/4/2022* Okay so maybe I bought 3 copies of this book because I wanted all the bonuses. And maybe they came in today and I teared up a little holding it in my hands and looking through all the little extra leaflets and pamphlets. And maybe looking through it made me feel so nostalgic for it that I had to read it for the 4th time this year. Just maybe.
I'm not sure what it is about PHJ that makes my heart flutter the way it does. I'm absolutely in love with Shikke's art style for one. Also I love Haiga and Kanae so much personality wise. It's a dynamic I really like. Plus the band aspect and I tend to like stories that involve sex work, especially non toxic sex work. Overall this ticks a lot of boxes for me. I think what really makes me so attached to this series is how these two communicate with each other. They just speak so frankly and it's really refreshing to read. It's similar to Blue Sky Complex in that way.
I love that the physical edition included a little bonus story of Haiga finding out about the camp tradition and realizing Kanae chose him. They're SO CUTE. I love all the little bonuses and the special edition booklet was great. I could only dream that someone picks this up for an English physical publication (or any of Shikke's titles) so that I can own even more copies of this book lol. Anyway this is amazing and I love it. It's a story I lose myself in when I read it and I'm sure I'll read it again sometime in the near future.
read this awhile back, finally reviewing. i never really planned on reading this, its more like something i just came across and started reading because i thought the characters were pretty.
but i ended up really enjoying this, its not too long, the story is cute and simple. their relationship developed nicely and it was a fun read! the nsfw panels weren’t unbearable to look at either, so thats a plus. i love kanae!
what can I say !! love is REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One of my fav BL mangas. amazing art and great character writing. Kanae HOT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YIPPEE!!!!
Yuki Haiga è un diciottenne che si è trasferito a Tokyo per frequentare l'università, e qui rimane subito affascinato da Ryo Kanae, un ragazzo che frequenta il suo stesso club di strumenti polifonici. Una sera, per colpa di una scommessa, Haiga si ritrova in un club a luci rosse gay e incontra proprio Kanae che lavora lì...
Haiga è un ragazzo che non ha ancora capito bene la sua sessualità, ma rimane subito colpito da Kanae, sia dal suo aspetto che dalla sua esibizione musicale, e vorrebbe iniziare a conoscerlo meglio. Così dopo la prima sera Haiga continua a frequentare il locale dove lavora Kanae e le cose tra di loro si approfondiscono sul lato fisico. Ma questo li avvicina anche sul piano emotivo, i due aspetti procedono quasi contemporaneamente tanto che infatti i due ragazzi vogliono passare sempre più tempo insieme. Entrambi sono confusi sui propri sentimenti e spesso non sanno come reagire a certe situazioni.
Ho trovato la storia molto ben scritta, non c'è solo la parte fisica, anzi, i due parlano tantissimo, esprimono quello che provano, i dubbi e anche le paure. In ogni tipo di relazione il dialogo è fondamentale e questo emerge in entrambi i volumi. Importante è anche rispettare i tempi del proprio partner, la parte fisica prosegue piano anche su quel lato, non ci sono pressioni o ultimatum da parte di nessuno dei due.
Di questa storia ho apprezzato anche l'ambientazione e le interazioni dei due protagonisti con il mondo, non ci si sofferma solo sulla loro storia d'amore ma anche sulla loro vita al di fuori l'università o il locale.
Il secondo volume poi è un vero gioiellino, uno dei più emozionanti che ho letto negli ultimi mesi.
Well written plot without the negatives that usually appear in BL works. Sexual acts weren't really forced upon, despite the initial resistance from one of the main leads, and contributed towards story progression rather than solely being a character trait.
The concerts gave me a vibe of Given and I could even picture 'Mada' song in the scenes. This was really nostalgic since I love that series so much.
It's a short piece and an easy read with no excessive drama. In one of the chapters, there was a character that I thought it was going to be really annoying but I was happy to find out that wasn't the case. This reinforced my view that the author kept it simple and made me really enjoy the story throughout.
The characters are attractive and the setting, although taking place in university, are interesting for those that could potentially be exploring their sexuality, juggling to find time between work and love life, or are just simply tired of reading teen romance manga.
I really enjoyed this and am going to check the authors other works.
ma quello che dà valore a questa storia è la graduale costruzione di un rapporto di amore sincero tra i protagonisti🩷, dopo un inizio meramente fisico e passionale si passa a un sincero interesse l'uno verso l'altro. I disegni dell'autrice sono la parte migliore dell'opera: delicati ed espressivi e spesso divertenti
Molto bello il contrasto tra i due ragazzi, tra la personalità chiusa e affascinante di Kanae, ragazzo intelligente e sensibile che nasconde la sua emotività dietro una patina di passività nei confronti del mondo ma in fondo altruisa e fedele, e il carattere esplosivo di Haiga, ragazzo di buon cuore, talvolta goffo, ma sempre disponibile ad aiutare chiunque ne abbia bisogno e per questo sempre impegnato in decine di nuove attività, è così stanco che lo vedremmo dormire più volte in posizioni scomode direi.
Per quanto riguarda il tema musicale, il club non occupa interamente le giornate dei protagonisti e dei personaggi secondari poiché quest ultimi paradossalmente si concentrano molto nel lavoro o nello studio però le attività musicali non mancano...come i famosi ritiri...che diventano un occasione per Haiga passare del tempo Kanae. Sono presenti numerosi strumenti musicali come la chitarra, il basso, la chitarra e la batteria🎸. Tratta con leggerezza e riflessione temi importanti come lavorare in un locale a luci rosse, la dipendenza economica, l'orientamento sessuale e la comprensione nei confronti delle persone che ci circondano senza pregiudizi ma con gentilezza e una mentalità aperta.
Pink hear jam era sinceramente un titolo che mi spaventava moltissimo… é arrivato in Italia generando un hype incredibile e in questi casi il rischio di ritrovarsi con una cocente delusione é sempre dietro l’angolo. Invece stavolta mi sono innamorato senza riserve di questo titolo, lo avrò già letto 3 volte da quando l’ho comprato e non credo di sbilanciarmi troppo nel dire che non mi affezionavo così tanto a dei personaggi di titoli boys love dai tempi di therapy game.
Si tratta di una storia semplice racchiusa in due volumi, non contiene grandi drammi o rivelazioni ed é molto sensuale; le numerose scene esplicite però non risultano mai volgari a mio parere.
Trovo davvero difficilissimo parlare di questo titolo perché la verità é che semplicemente mi ha fatta innamorare!Sono innamorata delle atmosfere, della chimica tra i protagonisti, dei protagonisti stessi: Kanae é affascinante ma anche tenero, alcune sue scene mi hanno davvero emozionata, però il personaggio che mi ha conquistata é Yuki, amichevole, benvoluto da tutti e determinato a conoscere e far breccia nel cuore di Kanae. Forse un po’ ingenuo nel riconoscere i suoi sentimenti, ma li mostra sempre a cuore aperto!
Il contesto musicale l’ho trovato carino, anche se non essenziale, non lo considererei un elemento portante della storia e per quanto mi riguarda il club di musica poteva essere sostituito con qualsiasi altro club… ma quanto é figo Kanae mentre suona la chitarra?!? 😍
9✨HOLY✨ STARS!!✨🤌 (4.5/5) I love stories that are short with emotional death and character development overall NO DRAMA, NO MISUNDERSTANDINGS, CONSENT🫦💖, this is exactly that and more!!
I really how slowly and tenderly Haiga & Kanae get to know each other, how Haiga's feelings for Kanae went from admiration to love was very clearly carried out, palpable in the art! The pacing was spectacular with amazing art and spice that instead of being overwhelming & necessary felt like a part of the characters.
I adored how Kanae slowly and adoringly fell for Haiga, how he started to notice his amazing qualities and how Haiga figures himself out and became more certain!
Kanae was really clear in what he wanted, the angst ( very little but yum!), and the way they both longed for each other was glorious!
Both Haiga & Kanae really felt like college students from their interactions, their behaviour and everything that happened in college, it didn't feel the a forgotten plot setting.
Also The Concert during graduation was ah-mazinggg!! I loved it so so much! And Kanae's suit during graduation?! Ugh what's that-? I'm speechless 🤤🔥
Overall, this is a really sweet story with emotional depth and its short too! So yeah I had an amazing time with it!!
Powiem to od razu, na samym początku- Kocham tą mangę!🖤
"Nie interesują mnie miejsca, w których cię nie ma"
🌸Po pierwsze kreska jest cudowna. 🌸Po drugie fabuła jest ciekawa. 🌸Po trzecie relacja głównych bohaterów jest świetnie poprowadzona. Nikt się z niczym nie spieszy, nie ma tutaj toksyczności.
Czy trzeba mówić coś więcej?
Fabuła skupia się głównie na odkrywaniu przez Yukiego swojej orientacji. Jest on świadomy tego, że mogą pociągać go chłopcy dlatego postanawia to sprawdzić i przekonać się czy faktycznie ma rację. Jest bardzo pracowitą i dobrą osobą (totalny green flag). Ryo jest trochę zamknięty w sobie. Podjął się pracy w agencji towarzyskiej aby poznać kogoś z kim będzie mógł spędzić resztę życia. Do tej pory miał dziwne upodobania co do wyboru chłopaków dlatego też nic z tego nie wychodziło.
Osobiście jestem zakochana i będę to cały czas powtarzać. 🖤"Pink heart jam" trafił na listę moich ulubieńców. A co do pierwszego "kontaktu" między Yukim a Ryo uważam, że zostało to przedstawione w bardzo ciekawy sposób. Pierwszy raz miałam do czynienia z takim rozwiązaniem. Jest cudnie! Czytajcie bo warto.
It was a cute relationship to see develop. I liked the emphasis on consent as well. A lot of BL manga tend to forget that consent is a thing. So, that was a nice change. Although Kanae is usually cold, we see moments of genuine emotion as well. Haiga is the opposite, as he is full of emotion and would be what we consider puppy love. I liked the ending. It was short and rather sweet. The character designs also help a lot and make it more loveable.
I would recommend this manga. although I would ask if they were ok with reading certain aspects, such as Kanae's work. I know that not everyone is comfortable with that.
This graphic novel was a LOT more smutty than I expected. I thought this book would be more introspective, as the plot blurb states that the main character wants to figure out his sexuality. That is a question, but it's more of an afterthought. In the very first chapter, the character goes, "I guess I'm bi" and then that's that. The relationship between the two leads is interesting, but it drags a bit. They play a lot of the keep-away game with each other, and a lot of "waiting for the other person to do something first" moments. The art is wonderful, and honestly, the reason I read this in the first place.
Después de leer una racha de puros BLs tóxicos a morir, Pink Heart Jam es como un solecito en medio de la tormenta. Me gusta que no haya dramas innecesarios y que la comunicación entre los personajes se prioriza (si, yo sé que Kanae pudo haber tenido más iniciativa, sin embargo, se compensa porque al final termina expresando sus inquietudes y sentimientos).
También me parece importante destacar el bonito diseño de los personajes, sobre todo el de Kanae, básicamente comencé la historia porque lo vi en Pinterest jaja.
Ya por último, no esperen que la historia tenga subtramas y más porque se van a decepcionar, aquí estamos solo para presenciar el creciente amor entre Kanae y Haiga. ❣️
More of a 3.5 star rating but gave this 4 stars because I love how much consent and patience that was displayed between the main couple. While this was a nice read, it wasn’t anything too memorable in terms of overall story. I do like how well Kanae and Haiga played off of each other and balanced each other out, despite having an unconventional beginning.
Assolutamente adorato! La storia viene affrontata in maniera molto realistica e matura, e ho adorato i due protagonisti. Le varie tematiche affrontate sono originali e poco usate nei manga che ho visto in giro. Attenzione molto spicy!
Mi piacerebbe tanto se ci fosse un anime su questo manga!
E spero vivamente che portino anche il seguito qui in Italia!!!
I'm obsessed. Even tho it was meant to be a little bit raunchy, and a main plot point involved sex work, it truly felt like an innocent love story. Like, the plot was a very cute and innocent romance that could make your heart flutter. I loved it.
This was such a cute BL!!! Compared to all the other toxic recommendations that ppl have given me, this one is the most healthy and wholesome of them. Also the gender envy I feel for Kanae, LIKE IM SORRY FOR EVEN BREATHING OKAY-