The Bottom Line
Kento is a straight-laced chemistry teacher, while Akira is a flamboyant art teacher. Whoddathunk that these two opposites would be attracted to each other, much less be together a year after their torrid one-night stand? Now Kento is ready to commit to something more, like marriage. But first, he must overcome Akira's insecurities and get over some past heartaches himself.
Future Lovers is a light hearted boys love story that goes beyond torrid seduction. Instead, it tackles something more complicated and satisfying: the ups and downs of a committed, intimate relationship.
Pros
- Shows an endearing gay couple in a funny and touching committed relationship
- Touches upon the topic of gay marriage with sensitivity, humor and matter-of-fact grace
- Charming, likeable artwork that is filled with wry slice-of-life details
- All of the characters, major and minor, have distinctive, appealing personalities
- The story about Akira imagining himself with Kento 60 years later is hilarious and sweet
Cons
- While fairly tasteful, the guy-on-guy sex scenes makes this only appropriate for mature readers
- Lacks some translation notes that would explain some Japanese cultural references
- Aw, this light-hearted love story ends with this volume? I'd love to see more!
Description
- Original Title: Mirai no Kioku: Kaze no Yukue (Japan)
- Author & Artist: Saika Kunieda
- Publishers:
- Deux Press / Aurora Publishing (US)
- Libre Publishing Co. Ltd. (Japan)
- ISBN: 978-1934496626
- Cover Price: $12.95 US
- Age Rating:
M – Mature, Age 18+
for explicit but romantic gay sex scenes
More about content ratings. - Manga Genres:
- Yaoi (Boys Love) Manga
- Adult Romance
- Comedy
- Drama
- Gay / Lesbian
- Slice of Life / Reality-Based
- US Publication Date: April 2009
Japan Publication Date: March 2008 - Book Description: 192 pages, black and white illustrations
- More Manga by Saika Kunieda:
Guide Review - Future Lovers Volume 2
There's a lot of torrid boy-on-boy relationships in yaoi manga, but there aren't very many stories about committed gay relationships. There are even less that touch upon the pressures that gay men must endure from their families and society at large. Future Lovers Volume 2 is a rare pleasure in boys love manga because it's not just about the thrill of the first seduction, but about the enduring pleasures of a long-term relationship. It even touches on a rare subject in yaoi manga: gay marriage.
When we first met Kento and Akira in Future Lovers Volume 1, Kento was a straight-laced school teacher who had a one-night stand with Akira, a flamboyant gay man. Things got complicated when Akira arrived at Kento's school as the new art teacher, and even more complicated when Kento introduced Akira to his conservative grandparents. By the end of Future Lovers Volume 1, Kento and Akira overcame their initial resistance to their romance and became a couple.
As the story resumes in Volume 2, it's a year later. Kento and Akira are still in love, and still keeping their relationship a secret from their fellow teachers and students, but that’s mostly a non-issue for them. The real drama (and comedy) happens as these two opposites bicker, compromise, learn about past heartaches and envision their future together. And it's not just a 'gay thing.' Future Lovers touches upon intimacy and commitment issues that even straight couples can relate to and laugh with.
Future Lovers' mix of heartwarming humor, loveable characters and modern slice-of-life drama is such a joy to read, I whole-heartedly recommended it to my friends, gay and straight alike. What's equally miraculous is that each has come back to me singing its praises. Simply a delightful story that disappoints only because it ends with this second volume. More, more please!
