Passion Volume 1

i like this series. its very good. the art is original in the way the faces are drawn, so that was very refreshing. kudos mangaka of Passion! ^^

To start with, I've read both volumes, and I'd have to say it is absolutely necessary to read Volume 2 to truly enjoy this manga. (The series is complete with Volume 2.) The artwork can take some getting used to, but the main attraction for me was that the characters do not look like little girls- though Shima has his moments... The sex is on the less explicit side of explicit; that is to say, the artist relies on angles to obscure all the "important" stuff and subscribes to the "vague outline" school of drawing when it becomes necessary. As with any truly good yaoi manga, the story is more about the emotional aspect of the relationship than the sex. The translation is awkward at times, but if you take the spirit of what they're saying rather than the exact words it doesn't impede the story. As others have said the translation of honorifics is clumsy. ...There really isn't anything else I can say about that, except that you get used to it. As for the story, something I found particularly enjoyable about it is the way the balance of power is shifted from expectations. For example, Shima, the teacher and elder of the pair, is the uke(bottom) yet he also exerts almost all control in the relationship, limiting how often Hikaru can see him and insisting that Hikaru finish his schoolwork before they do anything romantic. "Passion" is a very complicated story in which almost all of your first perceptions of the central relationship are eventually challenged. A lot of reviews talk about the illicit nature of the relationship depicted. All I can say is, yeah it's kind of a dark story. It's about a love forbidden on two different levels... what were you expecting? The characters are well portrayed, and that's what makes the story worth reading. For those who enjoyed (or didn't quite) this manga, I also recommend: Loveless (soft-core shonen ai-ish, dark/twisted relationships.) Kizuna - Bonds of Love (hard-core yaoi, difficulties facing an established relationship.)

A student molests his teacher in a deserted classroom. Okay, that's how this book starts, but if you can get past the opening, the story is strangely bittersweet. The art was very different but the faces of Hikaru and his teacher "Sir" Shima are gorgeous. Volume 1 has some rough translations work in it, with very archaic dialogue, and it's sometimes confusing pairing up the dialogue bubbles with who is speaking. Volume 2 greatly improves on the translation work, and really hits you in the gut as the story progresses. Hikaru is given the opportunity to play "pretend lovers" with his Mr. Shima until he graduates. Shima comes off as being very cold and you start to wonder why HIkaru is so obsessed (but then you look at how beautifully Shima is drawn and the question is answered). As far as yaoi goes, this one was very different from the standard dominant/submissive paired couples. While Hikaru is dominant, Shima holds all the power of the relationship, which was a refreshing change. Volume 1 leaves you wondering if Shima's ex-lover, Amayima is going to break them up, and if Shima might not care more for Hikaru than it seems. Stick with it, get Volume 2 and you won't be disappointed in this suprisingly touching tale.

I'm a bit leery about reviewing a series before I've seen/read the whole thing--especially with manga and anime, as they seldom have the 'happy ending' my little Western heart desires. But I found volume 1 of "Passion" intriguing enough that I'm tapping my foot and checking my calendar for the release of vol. 2. The illicit nature of the a teacher and student having a sexual affair seemed to be the focus of the story--which, in light of recent real-life events we've seen on the news--makes this a pretty risky release. (I wonder if the American publishers cut some more explicit scenes for that reason?) Other reviewers have given Shima 'bad marks' for his treatment of Hikaru...but I think his behavior warrants a second look and some second thoughts. Compare the opening scene between Shima and Hikaru and the party scene between Shima and Amamiya (don't want to spoil anyone!). There's a *drastic* difference in Shima's reactions. There are a number of understated signs throughout the manga that Shima is more deeply affected by Hikaru than he acts or says. When one compares what Shima went through in his earlier relationship with Amamiya and how *that* ended, his caution becomes much more understandable. (And I'm with all those who are hoping Amamiya gets left on his player butt at the end of vol. 2.) The translation is a bit awkward, the use of honorifics is...clumsy. The art is a bit sketchy, but it's not rough, and the commentary by the manga-ka in the afterword is *priceless*. (But then, I love reading what artists and authors think about their creations.) But "Passion" is about that which is hidden, what lies under the surface, as opposed to what is openly displayed. A reader needs to keep that in mind. I only hope vol.2 lives up to this promise!

I just finished reading this manga and I would definetly reccomend it to any yaoi fan. The art style is beautiful (A little reminiscent of Mars), and the storyline doesn't lack anything either. It's a twist on the normal pattern for stories with a teacher and student. It's got enough sappy parts, but not so much that you'll grow weary of it, and it has enough steamy scenes, but not too much to make one timid. I'd say this is the best manga I've read in a long time, and I can't wait for the second one to come out X3