Manga like Otouto no Otto

Shimanami Tasogare

Also known as Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Slice of Life

Not only is high schooler Tasuku Kaname the new kid in town, he’s also terrified that he’s been outed as gay. Just as he’s contemplating doing the unthinkable, Tasuku meets a mysterious woman who leads him to a group of people dealing with problems not so different from his own. In this realistic, heartfelt depiction of LGBT+ characters from different backgrounds finding their place in the world, a search for inner peace proves to be the most universal experience of all.



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Coming of Age , Found Family , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Bullying , Ensemble Cast , Transgender , Crossdressing , Agender , Yuri , Boys' Love , Asexual , Rehabilitation , Suicide , Aromantic , Primarily Teen Cast , School

Uchi no Musuko wa Tabun Gay

Also known as I Think Our Son Is Gay.

Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

Despite belonging to a family of four, the Aoyama residence is typically home to three due to father Akiyoshi's job. While he's away at work, mom Tomoko and her two beloved sons Hiroki and Yuri go about their everyday lives--going to school, making dinner, doing homework, etc. But now that Hiroki's in his first year of high school, his thoughts are turning ever so slightly to sex and romance...and his mom can't help but notice his slips of the tongue when he's talking about who he likes. Supportive Tomoko has an inkling Hiroki might be gay, but she's going to let him figure it out for himself. Unfortunately, Hiroki has little talent for keeping his "secret," so he might die of embarassment before all is said and done!



Note: Originally published on Twitter and collated by Square Enix for print release.

Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Family Life , Bullying , Female Protagonist , Slapstick , Josei , Episodic , Asexual , Unrequited Love , Parenthood , School , Work , Love Triangle , Boys' Love

Boys Run The Riot

Also known as Boys Run The Riot.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Slice of Life

High schooler Ryo knows he’s transgender, but he doesn’t have anyone to confide in about the confusion he feels. He can’t tell his best friend, who he’s secretly got a crush on, and he can’t tell his mom, who’s constantly asking why Ryo "dresses like a boy." He certainly can’t tell Jin, the new transfer student who looks like just another bully... The only time Ryo feels at ease is when he’s wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self. One day, while out shopping, Ryo sees an someone he didn't expect: Jin. The kid who looked so tough in class has the same taste in fashion as him! At least, Ryo has someone he can open up to - and the journey ahead might finally give him a way to express himself to the world.



Note: Includes the original one-shot.

Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Transgender , Fashion , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Work , Philosophy , Bullying , Seinen , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Urban , Primarily Male Cast , Drawing , Found Family , Photography

Bokura no Shikisai

Also known as Our Colors.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

Set in contemporary suburban Japan, Our Colors is the story of Sora Itoda: a sixteen-year-old aspiring painter who experiences his world in synesthetic hues of blues and reds, governed by the emotional turbulence of being a teenager. He wants to live honestly as a young gay man in high school, but that is still not acceptable in Japanese society. His best friend and childhood confidant is Nao, a young woman whom everyone thinks is (or should be) his girlfriend; and it would be the easiest thing to play along—she knows he is gay but knows, too, how hard it is to live one's truth in their situation.

Sora's world changes forever when he meets Mr. Amamiya, a middle-aged gentleman who is the owner and proprietor of a local coffee shop, and who is completely, unapologetically out as a gay man. A mentorship and friendship ensues, as Sora comes out to him and agrees to paint a mural in the shop, and Mr. Amamiya counsels him (platonically) about how to deal with who he is. But it won't be easy. Mr. Amamiya paid a high price for his freedom of identity, and when a figure from his past suddenly appears, it becomes a prime example of just how complicated life can be.



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Seinen , Found Family , Coming of Age , Drawing , Male Protagonist , Natural Disaster , Unrequited Love , Age Gap , Coastal

Ohana Holoholo

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Slice of Life

Maya, who works as a translator, lives with her bisexual former girlfriend, Michiru, and Michiru's son, Yuuta. Residing in the same apartment building is an actor called Nico, who drops by for a visit almost everyday, and knows about Michiru's past. Somewhat like family, and somewhat not, their lives interweave full of warm days.

Note: Includes five side stories and an extra.

Tags: Josei , LGBTQ+ Themes , Family Life , Found Family , Bisexual , Yuri , Parenthood , Female Protagonist , Cohabitation , Primarily Adult Cast , Unrequited Love , Acting , Suicide , Transgender

Uo to Mizu

Also known as Fish and Water.

Status: Finished
Genres: Romance , Slice of Life

Having met at a mutual friend's wedding, Akira, a business sales administrator, and Koji, a freelance writer, quickly become close buddies. One day, during a visit with a farm client, Akira is offered a case of freshly picked cabbage. Since no one at his office wants it, and he is no cook, Akira decides to see if Koji (who loves to cook) might be interested. Lonely and in the midst of pandemic-related shutdowns, Akira uses this as an excuse to come hang out at Koji's house. Once they get past how to be COVID-cautious, they become quite relaxed with each other, creating an amusing but emotionally confusing scenario. Akira and Koi grapple with deciding if they are just friends or something more.



Note: Includes one extra chapter.

Tags: Food , LGBTQ+ Themes , Seinen , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Boys' Love , Pandemic , Nudity

Kikyou

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama

Tags: Seinen , LGBTQ+ Themes , Family Life , Boys' Love

Boku ga Otto ni Deau made

Also known as Until I Meet My Husband.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

From school crushes to awkward dating sites to finding a community, this collection of stories recounts the author’s “firsts” as a young gay man searching for love. Dating isn’t ever easy, but that goes doubly so for Ryousuke, whose journey is full of unrequited love and many speed bumps. But perseverance and time heals all wounds, even those of the heart.



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Autobiographical , Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Non-fiction , School

Kanojo ga Sukina Mono wa Homo de Atte Boku dewa Nai

Also known as She Likes Gays, but Not Me.

Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Psychological , Romance

Jun Andou is an aloof high school student with a longtime secret. He’s gay, and aside from when he’s engaging in his covert affair or chatting with an online friend, he’s never free to be himself. One day, he catches his classmate Sae Miura buying a BL book—a small moment with major consequences. Even as his thinking starts to broaden, Jun still desperately wishes for a “normal” future. But how can he have a wife, home, and biological child when he’s not turned on by women?



Tags: LGBTQ+ Themes , Boys' Love , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Age Gap , Josei , School , Tragedy , Otaku Culture , Suicide , Unrequited Love , Chuunibyou , Urban , DILF , Primarily Teen Cast , Nudity

Chichi to Hige-Gorilla to Watashi

Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

After losing her mother to a tragic accident, 6-year old tomboy, Michiru, finds a suspicious person moving into her precious home: her dad’s giant younger brother Kouji, the “Beard Gorilla”. While awkward at first, it doesn’t take long for the two to develop a familiar bond that looks more like that of a brother and a sister, than that of niece & uncle.

Source: Manga Updates

Tags: Family Life , 4-koma , Iyashikei , Seinen , Parenthood , Tomboy