“She Likes Gays, but Not Me” official synopsis from Yen Press: “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? Discover an unflinching story about navigating one’s identity through a sea of pressure and disparagement from the outside—and from within.”
While the title “She Likes Gays, but Not Me” evokes visions of a more lighthearted comedy of errors with a potential romantic twist, this could not be further from the truth. A self-aware/referential Fujoshi-audience-focused title that indulges in explicit eroticism while also being wrapped up in a teenage romance that approaches complex moral and social issues facing homosexual men in Japan is just scratching the surface of what Akira Hirahara & Naoto Asahara craft. Whether this mix-up of genre’s works is ambiguous and will depend largely on the reader.
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To take a more strict look at the work, multiple deplorable elements give an initial reaction of shock and distaste that is difficult to shake. Jun Andou’s relationship with an older, married man may be acceptable under the context of indie-published gay eroticism from independent creators, “Doujinshi.” However, looking at such a relationship under the scope of a seriously presented drama, questionably pedophilic lust, and being a side-piece for a married man is deplorable.
This sour starting point bleeds into every character, with Sae seeming aloof and simplistic in her fantasization of homosexuality while knowing nothing is as frustrating as Jun consistently lying to everyone to save face. The latter, of course, touches on the taboo of being gay. Still, Jun trying to force himself into a relationship with Sae comes across as a weakness as opposed to a reflection of a larger societal struggle. Conversely, the creator’s view of heterosexuality is one-dimensional, broken down to bros constantly grabbing each other’s junk while saying how gross ‘gay stuff’ is. To most, “She Like Gays, but Not Me” will fail to evoke any intended sympathy in its inaugural volume.
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Its approach to social taboos is slightly better realized, with the series capturing the societal pressures put on those hiding their sexuality for the sake of their friends and family. Jun’s friendship with an online persona with a tragic backstory is the highlight of the volume, with his open and honest conversations with him offering the only emotionally poignant moments. However, even here, the inclusion of talking about incest puts a damper on their conversations.
While the above might point to a disagreeable story with little to no redemptive qualities, the dramatic flair is addictively ‘juicy’ regardless of where one stands on morality. “She Like the Gays, but Not Me” is a page-turner, with the way things escalate and the degree to which it unapologetically approaches unsavory themes. Whether or not this is a positive in a series that aims to address issues faced by gay men in Japan while also fetishizing them becomes irrelevant if looking at the manga simply as potential entertainment.
Approaching the sexual content of “She Likes Gays, but Not Me” is more difficult to gauge. As someone outside the target audience of BL, I know that the series pays homage to a fandom I am entirely disconnected from. However, in a peculiar twist, the book’s sexuality focuses equally on Sae. The lewdness is split between her nakedness, implied penetration between men, and hetero, boys will be boys mentality, cock grabbing. While the mix held no appeal to me in any facet, there will be value for others who naturally gravitate towards the content and have a more dramatic tale intertwined with the pornographic BL, a rarity in print.

The art of Akira Hirahara suits the story well, seamlessly balancing the erotic and emotional elements. The choice to print the series in a slightly larger format helps highlight Hirahara’s ability, and of course, those coming to the work for the lewd elements get more page space to indulge. The series is very text-heavy, with only a couple of double-page spreads, which is slightly disappointing given how much of a visual flair Hirahaha brings. Still, one gets the impression of Akira Hirahara & Naoto Asahara working together harmoniously in their execution to bring the series to light.
‘She Likes Gays, but Not Me” is a difficult series to place with a particular readership; for embracing the “fujoshi” fandom, it does not seem to pay service to them strictly. Moreover, its attempt at trying to humanize and approach issues of gay men in Japan falls flat under unsavory elements and an unlikable protganist. Are we supposed to read it like a sensational soap? Perhaps, but with the themes tackled, most will want more depth. Still, the manga is oddly compelling and deserves deeper exploration; how it develops in the subsequent volumes will determine its value beyond awkwardly delivered fetishism and teenage drama.