Raise wa Tanin ga Ii
Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii

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If you are looking for a «love story» different from the typical ones, this is the right place!

That's because you won't find a (perfect) love — you will find a story that is completely different from the usual school dramas.
Raise wa Tanin ga Ii may seem boring if you only read the first chapter, and that's understandable; it starts with a typical arranged marriage between the future heirs of two Yakuza clans. If you're thinking about dropping it after reading just the first chapter: STOP, STOP, STOP!!! You'll be missing out on a magnificent story, which gradually gets more and more interesting starting from ... the second chapter.

The characters are amazing: on the one hand, there's Yoshino, who everyone sees as a spoiled girl when she's actually the polar opposite of a typical protagonist. She's a determined and strong woman who stands up for herself. On the other hand, there's Kirishima, who is completely deranged due to personal reasons which are revealed throughout the story. The character design and general art are a delight, and if you're a fan of details and good character expressions: this manga is for you. For a story based on culture and Yakuza conflicts, it's very well written.
Being monthly chapters, they have no fill and every detail that is provided is extremely important, including the secondary characters.

Personally, Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is one of my favorite manga even though only thirteen chapters have been published.
But you should definitely give it a try, you're not going to regret it. You will definitely love it.

Everyone should read till chapter 2 before deciding whether to continue.
The story is really not what I expected it to be at all. Firstly, the main draw are the two protagonists - both are charismatic and have a great, but twisted dynamic that is so exciting to watch unfold.

The heroine, Yoshino, is a badass even though she doesn't physically fight and she is literally the opposite of what I thought she'd be. At the beginning, she is seemingly naive and rather out of her depth upon moving to Tokyo, but she quickly turns that impression on its head by the end of chapter 3. ... She is EXTREMELY adaptable, strong-willed and outspoken. She doesn't tolerate anyone, regardless of who they are, trying to mess with her.

Equally, there is so much intrigue surrounding the male protagonist Kirishima who himself is incredibly unique; I don't think i've come across a similar MC. He is a too faced, unreadable but handsome masochist. But he drives change within Yoshino, and she too, has sparked something in him which is why they work so well as the main duo.

The side characters such as grandfather Somei and Gaku are funny and likeable. There is also Shouma who is quickly becoming a fan favourite. The plot is strong and focused and is centered on yakuza politics; in every chapter there is A LOT of dialogue. The art style is distinctive and I particularly love Yoshino's design, especially her feminine, mature ojou-sama - ish aesthetic and manner of dress. The men have attractive designs too, the tattoos on Kirishima and Shouma are incredibly detailed. It's still a new manga but I have high hopes for this because Konishi Asuka is really amazing, going by her other work Haru No Noroi. I honestly haven't read another manga like RWTGI The closest would possibly be Koroshi Ai..

In fact a shoujo with extra pepper, Raise wa Tanin ga Ii does have moments when it rises above the mud of the average romcom, but more than anything it makes you ask – what the flower is wrong with female oriented romance manga? (I’ll have to go into minor spoilers to explain my point.)

The description sounds as if the masochism of the male lead is the problem, but in fact it’s the only thing that makes him survivable. What we’re supposed to swoon over into Raise wa Tanin ga Ii is actually a clinical psychopath in his full animalistic glory – naturally devoid of ... empathy, egoistic, two faced and manipulating, plus also violent and thriving in Yakuza. (There’s glorification of mafia, yeah, but it’s par for the course in anime and manga at this point.) All of these qualities are underlined in the manga itself, it’s not my interpretation, mind it. And sure, the dude is entertaining to watch when he shows his true colors and, interestingly, is the best written part – he fits in his shady environment perfectly, he is consistent in his disturbing logic. The effort to make him ever cooler leads to scenes that feel suitably dirty and dark. As a character design he would work even without shoujo discount. Actually, showing warped personalities of underworld heirs is what this manga manages well. When it does just that it’s very much okay to good, but it unfortunately doesn’t stop at that.

The heroine, on the other hand, feels extremely fake, because the author fell into the many pits of shoujo heroine construction – like the need to make her relatably ignorant, which goes against her yakuza background, and the need to make her dependent, which makes it unclear why she is so special. Her part of the story is inconsistent, stilted (she lays claims to having power and resources she doesn’t have) and, frankly, stupid - at one point she sells her kidney to get back at the male lead for his words, and we’re supposed to roll with it. (Don’t worry, it isn’t even a major plot point, just a major turn off.) She doesn’t have a plan, she doesn’t have a goal, I don’t want to cheer for her. She may be beautiful, unpretentious and headstrong, but just sometimes and every second shoujo heroine is nowadays. Even with shoujo discount she fails. Sure, black humor happens because of the contrast, but enormous plotholes weren’t a requirement.

The clash is the most obvious in relation to sex. Our buff psychopath genius is fittingly sexual, which is a pleasant surprise. While the female main character is, of course, a virgin, because of course (the tautology is not a typo). How is she going to fill the role he expects of her? Is she even prepared to withstand him? The manga just skips this, the heroine simply either blushes or is baselessly confident, whatever the author needs at the moment. The elephant in the room is the question of why she even needs all these problems and what will make her able to control a mentally ill powerhouse with criminal connections. What makes her think she can survive, if she even thinks (she doesn't as it seems)?

I know, I know, you want to say that it’s just manga. And I agree, knowing the state of things in women’s genres, I expected plot issues and glorified abuse, but my brain cells fire up from time to time – and then reading this becomes painful. A psychopath is the logical conclusion of the perennial rough around the ages male lead in the acute need of sacrificial “saving”. But he’s also the antithesis, because he cannot give love back. The only love story that should be happening here is love for survival, which means running away. This would’ve been a much better plot.

The art won’t be for everyone, but it grows on you and changes. Initially it seems somewhat oldschool, with angular eyes, cartoonish proportions, lack of roundish moe - right until it doesn’t, because it jumps in quality to almost photorealistic. This usually happens for semi naked male bodies, tattoed and injured. Dangerous men, rugged and painted on, suited and casual, hurt, but making those fake assuring smiles are, after all, the point. The main female lead is also a special kind of sultry beauty.

According to translators, western fans wouldn’t even be able to appreciate the amount of references and effort put into showing yakuza – but at least we can appreciate the well planned housing, nightlife shots and atmospheric luxury items. Backgrounds are not the focus, but quite rich for a character-centered story.

In the end Raise wa Tanin ga Ii made me sad. I felt bad that this kind of story is supposed to be attractive. A toxic dangerous unhealthiness swirls under comedic antics and fanservice specials.

Despite the official demographic Raise wa Tanin ga Ii isn’t a work for adults, for them it would be too inconsistent in writing and stupidly problematic in premise. The content in it is not suitable for minors either, and I can’t recommend in good faith a manga that whitewashes crime, illness and criminal stupidity to vulnerable readers. Girls have enough of that in fanfiction as it is. But if you’re conscious about the pitfalls, the muscly backs with dragons on them are nice to look at and the handsome psychopath can give you those pleasant goosebumps you used to feel in Dexter. The art feels fresh too. I have mixed feelings, leaning on no, but then I am saving pages for pics… It's the middleground. And it means a 5/10 on my scale.