Hey everybody! It’s Dillon again back to talk about more manga. I hope that in the new year, a few of you have picked up some manga to try it out. I would be curious to hear your thoughts and opinions, so come and find me in Russell Library and chat. I thought about starting a series here called “Lost in Translation” on the blog to discuss and explain some of the things in manga that are either mistranslated or not easily understood crossing cultures. Some traditional Japanese concepts or social norms are never really explained and the English reader is left in the dark. Since February is here and Valentine’s Day is approaching fast, I thought I would explain what I call “the confession.”
As a common occurrence in romance manga and even in other genres, “the confession” is where a person seeking to enter into a romantic relationship with another confesses their feelings directly to the other in an all-out, hail-Mary attempt at dating. The person being confessed to is put in a situation where they must either accept or reject their proposal, or in rare occasions ask for some time to think about it. Usually, these confessions take place in a semi-private area where the couple is not going to experience interruption or backlash from other potential suitors, but some are done in public with others around. For more shy people, many confessions are also done via love letters instead of a direct verbal confession. The reason this happens so much in romance manga and anime is because this is a cultural norm in real life among young people in Japan. It is never really explained well to the reader/watcher because it’s a semi-normal thing there and an explanation for it isn’t thought necessary.
Confession in Japan is a big deal, and while a lot of couples start dating without a proper confession, the relationship is considered more casual without the direct expression of interest and could be a point of contention between the couple. Here in America, asking someone out on a date used to be as simple as that, but as social media has become so prevalent, social norms here are changing. “The confession” might not be as common in a few years, but for now it’s still the trend in Japanese media. Entire Rom-Com series are based around it. Usually, one character is trying to get the other to confess to them, but in the case of some, it’s more complicated than that. This segues me to my next segment: my romance manga recommendations.
In Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Student Council president Shirogane and vice president Kaguya are trying to get each other to confess their feelings so they can start dating, but both are holding out for the other to go first. This creates a tense atmosphere of mind games and drama in the Student Council office. The characters here are awkward but lovable, the atmosphere is light-hearted but intense, making Kaguya-sama one of my favorite romantic comedies and one I highly recommend you read or watch.
Horimiya is a manga adaptation of the webcomic Hori-san to Miyamura-kun. If you’re looking for a wholesome romance full of emotional deconstruction, Horimiya is a great start. It’s your classic popular girl falls for the dorky guy theme with a twist. Follow Hori and Miyamura’s relationship as it grows from acquaintances to life partners and they face all of the challenges of young adults growing up.
Komi Can’t Communicate is a Drama/Rom-Com about a girl who struggles with a speech impediment and her quest to make friends. Tadano is an unpopular guy who, like everyone else in class, is intimidated by the silent but beautiful Komi. One day the two are alone in a classroom and he realizes that she isn’t being purposefully standoffish but rather she is having a hard time speaking. He uses the whiteboard to start a conversation and the two become fast friends.
Tomo-chan is a Girl! Is a Rom-Com manga about childhood friends Tomo and Junichiro. Tomo is in love with Jun, but he only ever sees her as one of the boys, much to Tomo’s frustration. Tomo is strong, athletic, and tough but she wants Jun to see her more feminine side. So with a little help from her friends, she makes attempt after attempt to get Jun to see her in a romantic light.
My Dress-Up Darling is another classic popular ‘girl falls for a dorky guy’ story. Marin Kitagawa loves anime and wants to become a cosplayer but lacks the skills to do it. Wakana Gojo is a shy guy who is an apprentice to his grandad, who makes traditional Japanese hina dolls. When his sewing machine at home breaks, Gojo uses the one at school and bumps into the popular Kitagawa who is trying to make her cosplay debut. The two strike a deal and Gojo becomes Kitagawa’s personal cosplay designer in this spicy romance.
In conclusion, “the confession” is the crux, climax, or driving force of most romance manga. The anticipation of the big moment, the tension created by the discovery of true feelings, and the release of relief or the sting of rejection that the reader experiences vicariously through the characters is what makes this genre such a treat to read. I highly recommend picking up some rom-com manga to check this out for yourself. “The confession” is such a gambit by nature that it brings an intensity to the story by raising the stakes on what would otherwise be a much more laid-back genre, making it one of my favorites for a casual read.
– Dillon Willhelm, Library Associate in Information Services and Adult Learning and Russell’s own Anime and Manga connoisseur.
Want to read more about manga? Check out the first post in this series, “Animation that excites, manga that inspires,” also by Dillon.
The Library Vault 
Leave a comment