#Kusabi Keri

[blushingguy]

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri

[blushingguy]

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri

[blushingguy]

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri

[blushingguy]

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri

[blushingguy]

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri

[blushingguy]

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri

[stray-sheep]

I got it for free wwww Thanks to 70% off coupon and my daily stamp rewards *chef kiss

[hatsumishinogu]

Memento Scarlet -ripe-

[hatsumishinogu]

Kurui Nakunoha Bokuno Ban :Re [Limited Edition w/Booklet] Vol.1

[ineffable-opinions]

Omegaverse BL in Japan (Part 2)

[Summary of these posts: 1 2 . Corrections and critique are welcome.]

Omegaverse is a popular enough genre in Japanese BL to warrant dedicated labels from even major publishers. For example: Libre publication’s label Be x Boy Omegaverse. This is in addition to specialized anthologies.

Popular Works

Romantic Joutou by Moriyo

Kashikomarimashita, Destiny by Sachimo

Highschool setting

Abarenbo Honey by Tobidase Kevin – cute and sexy, delinquents romance

Sayonara Koibito, Mata Kite Tomodachi by Yoha – class president x transfer student; serious and dark

Office setting

Kurui Naku no wa Boku no Ban by Kusabi Keri – younger subordinate x older boss; pretty and moody

Soredemo Suki Desu Kasahara-san by Omaru – coworkers romance; erotic and heartwarming

Beastman

Pendulum: Kemonohito Omegaverse by Hasumi Hana – beastman x human with special ability; sweet with a tinge of melancholy 

Omegaverse with children

Oyasuminasai no Ato wa by Kabano Sakadachi – nursery school principal x single father; sweet with a tinge of melancholy 

Tadaima Okaeri by Ichikawa Ichi – salaryman x househusband; heartwarming and soothing

Other than "α x Ω"

Sukijanaitte Hyakkai Tonaeta by Kabano Sakadachi – main CP: α x α. Side CPs: α x Ω & Ω x Ω

Boku no High Spec Kareshi-sama by Yotsuashi - Ω x α

(source)

Growth of omegaverse in commercial BL

As with most things in Japanese BL, omegaverse first boomed in doujin works around 2014-15 period and then spread to commercial works. 2015-16 was a pivotal year for child-rearing and omegaverse BL with the publication of Welcome Home (ただいま、おかえり Tadaima, Okaeri byIchikawa Ichi.

It has been serialized in Fusion Product's Omegaverse Project anthology magazine since November 2015 and has been collected in four tankōbon volumes [first volume was published in 2016]. The series is published in English by Manga Club. An anime television series adaptation produced by Studio Deen is set to premiere in April 2024. (source: wikipedia)

In 2022, by May, 80 works had been published. Previous year, there was a dip in number of new omegaverse works published after rapid increase since 2019. In 2020, 8 times more works were published with omegaverse setting compared to when it debuted.

How does this compare to the total number of BL publications?

The proportion of omegaverse continues to be small compared to the total. In 2020, there were 160 omegaverse works out of nearly 3500 BL works. One out of every 20 BL works belongs to omegaverse. This is fairly significant for a single setting / sub-genre.

Year-wise trends and corresponding popular pairings

[Total number of works only indicate how many iterations of that pairing showed up in the market, it doesn’t indicate how well they did commercially or popularity-wise. Popularity is discussed below.]

2015 – Diversification Era

α×Ω 9

β×Ω 3

α×α 1

Other×Ω 1

2015 was the year when omegaverse works began to appear in the commercial BL market, emerging out of doujin BL boom. While α×Ω pairing was obviously the first kind of pairing to become popular, β×Ω pairing wasn’t too far behind.

Omegaverse is not limited to α×Ω pairing alone. The wide range of possibilities omegaverse offered was explored early on. It can be said that the [pairing] diversity is one of the reasons for its explosive popularity.

There seems to be high affinity between BL and omegaverse, as both share unique worldviews and settings while being highly versatile, ranging from fantasy to modern day works.

It was the period when omegaverse was being tested as a setting based off on how far narratives can go without breaking the premise that Ω is the uke and α is the seme.

Overall tendency was to highlight the discrimination against Ω and the preferential treatment towards α in an easy-to-understand manner. Omegaverse as a setting was in its infancy. It was probably thought that exaggeration [of key characteristics] would popularize omegaverse.

Notable works:

Romantic Joutou

sayonara koibito matakite tomodachi

2016 – Early Odo Reversal Era

α×Ω 13

α×β 2

Ω×α 1

β×Ω 2

β×α 2

α×α 1

Ω×Ω 1

Most highly rated work of that year kashikomarimashita destiny - Devotion to death is an α×β work. Seemingly, breaking the rules can be considered a standard practice in the omegaverse BL.

As omegaverse become more popular, many a masterpiece such as Kuruinakunowa Boku No Ban and Tadaima Okaeri were created.

Compared to previous year, 2016 was witness to many epoch-making works such as Pendulum - Beastman Omegaverse, which married beastman setting with omegaverse setting.

Another notable work is Boku No High Spec Kareshisama that had a path-breaking Ω seme. It also had a β×α side pairing.

The works published in 2016 pretty much covered every possible combination in the Omegaverse.

2017 - Serious Works Era

α×Ω 17

α×α 1

Ω×Ω 1

α×β 1

β×Ω 3

Ω×α 1

In 2017, the omegaverse became even more popular than in 2016.

Continuing from the previous year, omegaverse kept exploring various possibilities. It was in 2017 that omegaverse established itself as a new genre that goes beyond the framework of special settings.

The first volume of Akabeko's Shonen no Kyoukai series, published that year, brought omegaverse close to the real world. It was around that time the setting of [secondary] gender tests being conducted at schools, which later became commonplace, first appeared. Consequently, compared to the previous years, more realistic and serious works were produced.

It’s no longer about “poor Ω and alpha who has it all”! The number of characters that went beyond typical omegaverse attributes increased, and genders combinations also diversified.

There was no set standard marking this period. The foundation laid in the years before finally paid off and the sub-genre flourished and spread.

2018 Omegaverse Boom Period

α×Ω 20

α×α 1

β×Ω 1

Other×α 1

α×Other 1

In 2018, the number of Omegaverse works has increased explosively! Total number of omegaverse BL works produced that year was more double that of previous year. A variety of settings and fetishes emerged due to an overwhelming increase in the number of artists.

While α×Ω continues to enjoy steady popularity Megumi To Tsugumi at the top, other types of pairing were also increasingly well received due to the appeal of particular works.

The aforementioned Megumi to Tsugumi and Omae No Koi Wa Ore No Mono had Ω who did not conform to the ‘cute and protected’ image instead were bigger and badder than your average α.

Omae No Koi Wa Ore No Mono

The number of works that had gap between gender attributes and individual characteristics increased. Settings also diversified. The buds of the previous year have bloomed, including beastmen, threesomes, and inc3st!

Around this time, works published the previous year or earlier got sequels and CD dramas. It also became a trend to have spin-offs of α x Ω works to have other pairings...

2019 Back-to-roots Era

α × Ω 23

Ω×Ω 1

β×Ω 2

α×α 3

α×β 1

The total number of omegaverse works in 2019 surpassed previous year count by nearly 80 books. In addition to the continuation of popular works from the previous year, it was no longer unusual to see α×α pairing or β-seme.

Marriage themed work Yukyu Omega was published.

The first volume of the child-rearing omegaverse series Kiraide Isasete was published in 2019.

It was the year that the omegaverse wave entered a new stage, just like the lives of the characters in them. That year also saw the publication of Ousama Alpha To Puppy Love that explored the themes of child-rearing and childbirth, which were relatively untouched in other BL settings prior to the omegaverse boom.

2020 Odo Omegaverse Era

α × Ω 23

β×Ω 1

The total amount of work increased yet again in 2020. The popularity enjoyed by α×Ω pairing was stronger than ever. Many of the popular series featured α×Ω pairing too. Of course, there are some works featuring other pairings, but the omegaverse odo (royal road progression) is still strong.

Even with α×Ω pairing, the attributes that were once like a chasm between characters started to come together「圧倒的攻め×圧倒的受け」「精神的にはほぼ攻め×攻め」.

The fact that some of the most popular works from the past have continued churning out newer volumes suggests that the omegaverse genre in BL will continue to grow!

There have also been some bold stories with enigmatic developments, such as Rebirth, reasserting the endless possibilities of the omegaverse.

2021 – Meta-omegaverse Era

α × Ω 17

β×Ω 1

Ω×α 1

In the year 2021 too α×Ω pair reigns in popularity. Works with a strong storyline continued to be well-received, continuing from the previous year. Works with a strong meta element, such as Kamisamananka Shinjinai Bokua No Eden was published that year.

Boku No Tsugai Ha Thoroughbred Omega explored whether or not to disclose gender – bringing in the choice not to tell. This thought-provoking addition to omegaverse is probably a reflection of reality.

2020 also saw more works that places emphasize on different scenarios and have less explicit content than in the past. In recent years, various other verses have sprouted from omegaverse such as Dom/Sub verse.

2022

α × Ω 18

α × β 2

α×Others 1

The omegaverse has established itself as a major [sub]genre. It is expected that α × Ω pairing will continue to dominate!

Fusion with new genres is steadily progressing! The Mibu No Tsugai series is a time travel BL that combined omegaverse with historical setting (late Edo period). It is clear that the omegaverse setting has become so well-established that addition of elements and setting do not affect accessibility of the subgenre.

Other notable works:

Omega Ni Dake Ha Naritakunai – isekai into an omegaverse manga

Kuzu, Omega ni Tensei by Saitou Kuzu – isekai into omegaverse

Omegaverse is easily malleable and combines well with other sub-genres and settings.

(source)

PART 1

PART 2 (you are here)

[fandompost]

LoveLove Reschedules ‘Wails of the Bound’ Manga Release By Keri Kusabi http://dlvr.it/TBr8By

[lestcat-de-lioncourt]

~Goodbye Harlequin~

[bitterdrop]

❤❤❤❤❤

[harmonia17]

Perish with me friends

[trashexplorer]

BLCD Review: Memento Scarlet

Title: Memento Scarlet ( メメントスカーレット)

Release Date: 2020/03/27

Author/Artist: Kusabi Keri

Cast:

Satou Takuya x Ono Yuuki

Hatano Wataru

Tadokoro Hinata

Tamaru Atsushi

Yamanaka Masahiro

Ishiya Haruki

Synopsis: Amane Kairi is a lecherous but capable detective part of the Special Police Force. In one of their most recent cases, they have come across a drug dealer who is only known to wear a red coat. Kairi goes to look for the help of a problematic ex-detective by the name of Kanoo Tetsuo. After retiring from the police force, Tetsuo has begun to investigate “the man in red” by himself, not knowing that he will be pulled back in by the alluring Kairi.

Review Proper

When I was a sophomore in high school, there was this healing priest (may he rest in peace) doing healing tours all over the country and by chance, our catholic school that had its own parish was chosen to be one of places he would hold healing masses in. If you didn’t know, after the mass, the healing priest would make the mass goers fall into a line (starting from the students to regular civilians) and he’d pray over each person and majority of them would faint. Of course, there were rumors here and there that the only one who didn’t faint weren’t holy enough for ye holy spirit and I ofc thought that the whole event was bullshit from the start, but when I saw first hand that literally everyone in front of me was dropping like flies, it really spooked me out. At this point of time, I had been a fujoshi for a solid year, but I still had a little Christianity left in me then, so I was pretty sure that the holy spirit wasn’t going to touch upon (that sounds weird) this filth of the Earth that was me. It sent me into a panic especially since my mom was also attending this mass and was watching me way down the line. I was so lost in my thoughts that I hadn’t noticed that my classmate beside me had already passed out that I was shookt when I realized that father was already reaching his hand out in front of me and finishing his prayer (that I didn’t listen to) for me. I didn’t pass out, of course! But I wasn’t going to just expose my unholiness and let father down, so after a few awkward moments of standing still in silence, I shot father an “Amen” and fell back on my own. 😂

How is this story relevant to Memento Scarlet, you ask? Well, it’s not, but damn—I really tried to like Memento Scarlet, but I just couldn’t. 

While reading and listening to it, I had several out of body experiences because I couldn’t, for the life of me, pay it my utmost attention. I had to reread it for about six times in full, and since my consciousness wanders off every few speech bubbles, I would have to reread several pages thrice. I know that there are a lot of people who like Memento Scarlet, and I can sort of see why, but it just really can’t do it for me. Yes, this is one of Kusabi Keri’s best works art-wise and plot-wise, but in my opinion, it was too fast-paced in regards to the plot itself and the main characters’ relationship. Memento Scarlet had a rather complex plot, a more difficult dialogue, and a lot of characters, so for it to have been squeezed into just one volume like that was ultimately a bad move. But well, it’s not Kusabi Keri, if it’s not fast-paced, am I right? Also, for something so complex, it was quite predictable. I mean, everybody knew that it was Sakai the moment he appeared in 4! 

Man, this was such a wasted opportunity for Kusabi Keri. If I were in their shoes, I would just wrap Kurui Naku up and scrap that...that other thing they’re making for four volumes of this. First volume would be centered around giving Kanoo time to blend into the 1st division up until Fuwa-san’s daughter’s kidnapping; while the second volume would be centered about Kanoo building trust with Kairi and Kairi getting into trouble with the yakuza, but Kanoo pulls him through it; third volume would be about Fuwa-san’s kidnapping up until they catch Sakai; then the fourth volume should be about Misao-kun really being “Maise” for a better plot-twist and the first division hunting him down again. 

Onto the topic of the BLCD,

Yo, I tried. But I couldn’t “amen” SatoTaku’s performance. I really couldn’t. This was the lowest pitch I have ever heard him do and it was not...whoo, I didn’t want to say this—good. This was Shingaki Tarusuke in Kanawanu Koi all over again, only that it was more poor casting choice than any fault of his own. Ono Yuuki would have been a better choice for Kanoo because even though they have more or less the same natural tone and pitch often, Ono Yuuki pulls deeper voices better than SatoTaku. SatoTaku’s Kanoo tone was about the same Ono Yuuki’s Karino or Yukitaka tone and Ono Yuuki just pulls him off effortlessly. As I was on my period when I was listening to this, I was experiencing the regular migraines that comes with it (which aren't such a big deal to me 'cause I'm used to them), but when I hear SatoTaku’s voice go flat, I feel like I’m having seizures. 😂 There was this part where Kanoo says “haha wa” or “the mother was” and it came out as “huhuh wuh”.

Huhuh Wuh

HUHUH WUH TUNGENUH HUNG SHAKET SHA ULO

I think that even Furukawa Makoto could’ve pulled this off better (his Senzaki, not his Kiriya). But was there really a need to have Kanoo be a bass? He can honestly pass as a baritone. Ugh. Who am I kidding? This role should���ve been given to Hatano Wataru instead. 😂 Don’t be shy, movic. Y’all should’ve just cast Hatano Wataru and Shingaki Tarusuke for this or even Morikawa Toshiyuki and Okitsu Kazuyuki. 

Everybody else did great here. Though, it is sad to see that Ono Yuuki carried this work on his shoulders the most. I’m surprised that they got Tadokoro Hinata in this. To my knowledge, he doesn’t have any BLCD appearances aside from this one, and he has only been in the general VA industry for about five years? now (doesn’t have a lot of roles either). There isn’t that much info about him on the net, too, but he looks to be in his 30′s, so he can still stay in the industry longer. I really like his voice because it’s as deep as Maeno’s, so he might have the potential to go down to Kawahara Yoshihisa and Yasumoto Hiroki’s registers. I never really got to hear his speaking voice, so maybe his natural pitch is actually in the same registers as theirs! PLEASE DEBUT AS A BL VA. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! 🙇

In terms of it’s accuracy to the original content, there were some cutouts and addends, but they’re not really that major. My biggest gripe in this, however, is it’s understandability. Again, this is more plot and dialogue heavy than any other Kusabi Keri works, so it would be presumptuous of me to not read the manga along with it. I, of course, depended on EXR’s translation of this, but how do I explain this? When you translate long dialogues especially those that have a lot of bubbles, you’d have to arrange them in a way that it would sound coherent and proper in English, and sometimes, this would lead to some parts of the original Japanese text to be in other bubbles in the English translation (I do this, too). This is what confused me the most when I was listening to the BLCD. I considered reading the raws instead, but as they used a lot of technical terms, I had to scratch that plan altogether. That being said, this is definitely not going to be beginner friendly. If you’re still planning on listening to this regardless, I would encourage you to still read EXR’s translation of this once before you listen to the BLCD and then read it again once you start the BLCD. If you want easier BLCDs with police/yakuza themes, I’d suggest Kono Ai ni Hizamazuke & Oborero by Sakuragi Yaya starring Nakai Kazuya and Yusa Koji (this has an English translation by namonai from LJ), Esu (S) 1-4 by Aida Saki starring Konishi Katsuyuki and Kamiya Hiroshi (the novel has been licensed by June in English), Houi Gakusya to Keiji no Aishou & Honne by Shudoh Rena starring Konishi Katsuyuki and Yusa Kouji (this has an English translation by shibird from LJ). If you want something that has a manga, I wouldn’t really recommend Saezuru and Kuchizuke wa Uso no Aji since they’re a bit too complex and are still ongoing. Why don’t you try MODS and Nights Before Night if you want to cry instead? 😂

[harmonia17]

Cry with me friends