There has been so much talk of this book series in the online book world for years. Everyone who has read it has loved it, particularly those who read a lot of books from the LGBTQIAP+ community. It’s the story of a Canadian called Mike who shows up on Yaichi’s doorstep in Tokyo and introduces himself as Yaichi’s twin brother’s husband. The brother, Ryoji, had recently passed away, and Mike went to Japan to see where Ryoji came from, try to bridge a gap that had widened between the two brothers, and to remember the man he loved.
As you can probably guess from that description, this book is a huge emotional experience. The story itself is heartbreaking, for sure. But it also deals with so many different issues as these two people and cultures collide. We see Yaichi’s struggle to come to terms with his cultural perspective on homosexuality and how it affected his love for his brother. We see his relationships with his ex-wife and daughter and the complex dynamics that exist between them as they’re challenged by this situation. We see Mike’s desire to connect with Yaichi and his daughter, Natsuki and how difficult it is for him to relate to the culture he has stepped into. (This is cleverly brought to life by his physical size mimicking the proverbial bull in a China shop, which really creates a strong sense of the cultural juxtaposition between the two men.) And we see Natsuki learning what homosexuality is, and the effect that Mike’s presence has on her own friendships as the parents of one of her friends is forbidden from spending time with her.
There is so much in this small book, and it delivers on every single front. Some of it is uncomfortable, some of it challenges us to wonder what our own beliefs would be had we grown up in a different culture. But all of it shows that despite how messy relationships are, when love is present, all the mess is worth it.
This was the first manga book I’ve read, and I have to admit that it took me a little while to get used to the format – not least reading from right to left and back to front! But I did get used to it by about halfway through and was glad to have finally given manga a try.
I definitely see what all the fuss was about with this book. When I finished it I immediately got the second book in the series, which I’m now saving for a rainy day. I loved the characters (particularly Natsuki) and I am so glad to have gotten to know them. If you’re a fan of manga and/or are interested in this premise, definitely give this book a try!
Yaichi is a work-at-home suburban dad in contemporary Tokyo; formerly married to Natsuki, father to their young daughter, Kana. Their lives suddenly change with the arrival at their doorstep of a hulking, affable Canadian named Mike Flanagan, who declares himself the widower of Yaichi’s estranged gay twin, Ryoji. Mike is on a quest to explore Ryoji’s past, and the family reluctantly but dutifully takes him in. What follows is an unprecedented and heartbreaking look at the state of a largely still-closeted Japanese gay culture: how it’s been affected by the West, and how the next generation can change the preconceptions about it and prejudices against it.
(Please note: This book is a traditional work of manga, and reads back to front and right to left.) – Goodreads
Book Title:Â My Brother’s Husband
Author:Â Gengoroh Tagame
Series: Yes – My Brother’s Husband #1
Edition:Â Hardback
Published By:Â Pantheon
Released:Â May 2, 2017
Genre:Â Manga, Graphic Novel, LGBT+, Family, Cultures
Pages:Â 352
Date Read:Â December 9-10, 2022
Rating: 8/10
Average Goodreads Rating:Â 4.34/5 (10,656 ratings)
