Kizuna: Bonds of Love, Vol. 9

Kizuna [絆] #9

by Kazuma Kodaka

"I absolutely adore the artistic style of Kazuma Kodaka."-ListerX.com The focus shifts to Masa, the popular Yakuza boss who must choose between an arranged marriage to another boss' daughter and his feelings for Kai. Will Masa deny his feelings in order to strengthen the group's political alliance? How will the always-emotional Kai react? And what about Ranmaru and Kei, whose relationship with the Yakuza boss has always been strained, at best? Action, humor, and sex make this one of Be Beautiful's most popular series.

Genres: Manga, Yaoi, M M Romance, Romance, Boys Love, Comics, LGBT

Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

Associated names :
КОДАКА Кадзума
小鷹和麻
K2 Company
K2COMPANY

Name (in native language) : こだか和麻

Zodiac : Scorpio

Blood type : O

Kodaka-sensei made her debut in 1989 with Sessa Takuma! in Shounen Champion. Today she is one of the most popular Boys' Love authors. She is famous for her work on designing the characters for Triple X's BL anime Boku no Sekuhara (My Sexual Harassment) and is also the beloved author of Kizuna.

Matoh Sanami taught her how to draw using a shoujo-style. Sanami Matoh and Kazuma Kodaka are actually very good friends.

Her doujinshi circle is called K2 Company.

Name in Chinese characters for the Chinese Market: “小鷹和麻”

Location: Saitama, Japan

twitter for doujinshi: https://twitter.com/kazu_k_el

pixiv: http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=33...

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have done without the side story at the end.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor eyesight was never so sexy... all those glasses...

[machinaheart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series Review:
Kizuna is a brilliant piece of fiction and even though it suffers of some tropes and afflictions of the BL genre, the sheer brilliance of Kodaka's characters will always shine through. At the beginning the story can feel a bit episodic, but it soon picks up a coherent narrative and what an interesting ride it is. The setting with Kei and Kai as sons of a Yakuza boss is unusual and interesting yet it never feels too far out there. (Sometimes, maybe. Never in a bad way though.) What is also wonderfully explored is the kendo background of some of Kai and Ranmaru, I truly love the way the sport is drawn and explained. What truly shines in this story is the wonderful depiction of relationships, especially a homosexual love in a country such as Japan. But it isn't only the love stories that make this manga stand out, I also truly enjoyed the two different sibling relationships it depicts and the importance of family.
Kodaka's art while still rough around the edges in the earlier volumes is beautiful. I enjoy her clean lines and facial expressions. (Also, she knows how to draw beautiful men. Oh yes, she does ;))
This series is one I've read every other year since it came out and it is always wonderful to return to these beloved characters that feel as if they're family by now. Especially Kei and Ranmaru have a permanent place in my heart.

[Kati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, most of this volume is spent on couples I don't care about much: Masa/Kai, JB/Roy and two new couples. Ranmaru and Enjoji are in two scenes and in a short Valentine story, that's it. My least favorite volume so far.