“Mizuno, the daughter of a mayoral candidate, is desperate to escape the suffocating pressure and scrutiny of smalltown life. Chayama, the heiress of the tea company Chayama-en, is adamantly walking down the path laid out for her, despite being forced to atone for her family's apparent misdeeds. Yet in the bubble of the school's third-floor guidance counseling room-away from rumors, watchful eyes, and their feuding families-they're simply Mizuno and Chayama, two teenagers who find comfort and hope in each other. But when the outside world tries to tear them apart, the two must find a way to protect their relationship and, more importantly, themselves…” (Yen Press)
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Exploring the complex relationship between its titular characters, Yuhta Nishio's “Mizuno and Chayama” is part of a recent slew of recent LGBTQ+ titles (“I Want to Be A Wall” and “New York, New York“) whose timed release paid the perfect compliment to pride month. Like the previously mentioned titles, the omnibus edition of “Mizuno and Chayama” is a wonderfully thoughtful and contemplative work that deals with complex issues through intelligent storytelling that evokes a deep sense of empathy regardless of one's own orientation.
However, it is hard to talk about “Mizuno and Chayama” without first indulging in the beautiful art direction. This is one of those works that understand the importance of environments, expressive characters, and paneling to evoke a strong emotional response from the reader. While the character's own reactions to their hardships show the emotional outbursts with clarity through facial expressions or an individual, literally, collapsing under the weight of their trauma, the background and paneling work is what sets Nishio's art apart.
Wonderful dashes of thick ink that convey a moment of profound reflection are beautifully framed by the landscapes that are captured down to minute detail. Personally, I have always felt that the crux of immense talent in the medium boils down to the mangaka's ability to capture background environments in a way that feels authentic. In this regard, Yuhta Nishio is worthy of praise for the visual spectacle they were able to craft with this release–I am certainly excited to discover more of their work.
The story of ” Mizuno and Chayama” is a highly emotional one, that is best left to experience given how much of it is defined in the visceral experience of the work. That said, the themes of forbidden romance, class divide, and school bullying, are far from being new concepts explored (and interwoven) in the medium. However, readers can be assured that the approach to such subjects is dealt with the necessary sincerity and compassion to make a story like this work in a way that leaves a lasting impact. The approach to the character's sexuality, though playing a prominent role in exploring prejudice, does not dominate the narrative or alienate the audience to one group. Instead, the universal appeal that can be gleaned by the work acts as further proof of the brilliance of Yuhta Nishio as both an artist and a storyteller.
I honestly felt with the release of “New York, New York” I had found my favorite romance/drama release of the year, but “Mizuno and Chayama” is an equally powerful and poignant title. Furthermore, the omnibus edition in slightly larger print and the inclusion of several color pages makes for quite the lovely addition to the manga library. If you are a fan of LGBTQ+ themed manga this one is a no-brainer, if the genre is less to your interest work like this is the ideal place to start.
