Glass Sky

I purchased this manga a few weeks ago, and boy was I surprised. Yugi Yamada has out done herself this time. Glass sky is an anthology of short stories about love, angst and coming out. Each story is very touching and at times surprisingly funny. However the last story "A little glass sky" is the stand out story of the entire manga. Yamada has certainly saved the best for last. I would have bought the manga just for this story alone. The story follows Naoki's life as he is attending high school. AT times this story is heartbreaking however it has a very touching ending. This is a must have for any yaoi or Yamada fan!

Yugi Yamada is my "must-read" mangaka. What makes this anthology great is the last story "A little glass sky" which really gets to me. I will buy this one just for this story alone. Not that the other 6 stories aren't entertaining. The first story, "But I'm young" is a fun read on a student romancing an older shop clerk. The second story has 2 chapters, in which one popular guy finds himself impotent after a fellow student's sudden declaration of love. This one is hilarious and sweet. The 3rd story on reconciliation more than 15 years later, also consists of 2 chapters. The lovers broke up because one of them needs to continue the family name. Both married but are now divorced. Could the one abandoned learn to forgive ? The next 3 stories are shorter but amusing and humorous. "The teacher I love" of a construction worker checking on his teacher lover is refreshing while "Guys, girls" is so funny. And the best of the lot, "A little glass sky" of Naoki's school days is a gem of a story. We first get to know this flamboyant and endearing uke with a positive attitude in "Spring Fever" and "Laugh under the sun". "A little glass sky" tells of Naoki's school days when he is bullied, abused and ostracized because he is gay. But Naoki never once gives up. It is a marvel that this brave uke manages to survive, especially the encounters with one fellow student who resorts to inflicting more than pain because he is desperately trying to hide his own sexuality. This one is painful to read after the first 6 light hearted stories but it is one compelling and must read. And the last little extra bonus, which tells of Naoki's school reunion years later is uplifting and yet so sad. A beautiful story indeed.

Yamada Yugi's one of my all-time favorite manga artists and one of the best selling yaoi artists in Japan. And with good reason, she creates interesting stories about everyday life in Japan with believable characters. I own all her books in Japanese but can only half read then, having them translated into English is awesome. Glass Sky is an anthology of different short stories, each providing a small glimpse into Japanese life convenience store clerks, and impotent playboy and his naive classmate, two salary men who had acted together in a traditional Japanese play in high school, a jealous construction worker and high school teacher lover, and a couple of very short stories. My favorite is the very last story which tells of Naoki's high school years. Naoki is one of Yamada-san's favorite characters who also appears in Laugh Under the Sun and Spring Fever (note, Laugh Under the Sun in incorrectly listed under Yamada YuJi but Spring Fever is under Yamada Yugi). Other characters from those two books also make cameo appearances.