IS: Otoko demo Onna demo Nai Sei

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The Kodansha Manga Award (講談社漫画賞, Kōdansha Manga Shō) is an annual award for serialized manga published in the previous year, the event is sponsored by the publisher Kodansha.

(Source: Wikipedia)

For all my bitches and bros and non-binary hoes. 🏳️‍⚧️

Focus here is on manga where either a main character is trans or a significant story arc focuses on trans characters and issues of trans identity. Otoko no ko and crossdressing series will be ignored unless there are explicit trans messaging in there. Likewise, gender-bending series that approach sex change on supernatural terms (Boku Girl) or through sci-fi mechanics (11-nin iru!) will likely be ignored unless there's some sort of grounding element that makes queer identity explicit. Finally, any series that's just like, blatantly transphobic (F. Compo) will be ignored. Some wording will be vague to avoid spoilers.

In order:
- Claudine! (1978) - Transman protagonist
- Stop! Hibari-kun (1981) - Transwoman love interest/deuteragonist
- Paros no Ken (1986) - Transman protagonist
- Double House (1998) - Transwoman protagonist
- Hourou Musuko (2002) - Everyone's trans
- Boku wa, Onnanoko (2003) - Transwoman protagonist in titular story
- Homunculus (2003) - Important transwoman character
- IS - Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei (2004) - Trans and intersex protagonists
- J no Subete (2004) - Transwoman protagonist
- Ai no Shintairiku (2004) - Transwoman protagonist
- Densen Complex (2006) - Transwoman love interest/deuteragonist in Love Horizon
- Mascara Blues (2007) - Transwoman protagonist in "So I Can Be Myself - A Long Dream"
- Yuureitou (2010) - Transman protagonist
- Smells Like Green Spirit (2011) - Transwomen protagonists
- Bokura no Hentai (2012) - Transwoman protagonist
- Kodomo wa Wakatte Agenai (2014) - Important transwoman character
- Shimanami Tasogare (2015) - Multiple trans characters
- Umareru Seibetsu wo Machigaeta! (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Kono Koi ni Mirai wa nai (2016) - Transwoman protagonist
- Hanayome wa Motodanshi. (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Boku ga Watashi ni Naru Tame ni (2016) - Transwoman autobiography
- Fukakai na Boku no Subete o (2018) - Non-binary protagonist, everyone's trans
- Kanojo ni Naritai Kimi to Boku (2018) - Transwoman protagonist
- Boys Run the Riot (2020) - Transman protagonist

A stack containing anthology manga series.
Anthology; a collection of artistic works or stories that have a similar form or subject.

Please do check out Part 2 if you want more! https://myanimelist.net/stacks/14189

(Ignore my ratings, you should dictate the enjoyment yourself)

What definitely makes manga great would be that it goes over a broad range of themes/topics. Manga isn't afraid of addressing taboo topics, nor does it avoid concepts that most other entertainment mediums WOULDN'T DARE to touch. They also provide an imaginative exploration of how the Japanese perceive these topics. We rarely get cultural perspectives on certain topics.
-
Includes topics that are rare in animanga compared to other mediums.

Manga involving different sexualities and gender identities, aside from heterosexual, lesbian, gay & cisgender.

Important mention: I am only including manga that focus on the sexuality/gender of the queer characters (at least quite a bit) or their journey to discovering themselves. So just having a queer character in a manga is not enough.

If you're looking for short reviews for each one, I do have a post on my blog discussing them. Unfortunately, I can't provide a link here, but you can find one on my profile.

don't expect (all) of them to blow your mind, make you rethink your whole life, or anything like that; some may just make you go "oh, i haven't thought about it that way before!" it's just as simple as that.

also, not necessarily every chapter of each manga was something to meditate on. so don't expect about that either.

also!! "thought-provoking" does not necessarily equal "philosophy".

also, (ah, i'm getting tired of this word), all of those manga have under 15k members, hence why i call them "hidden gems"

manga exploring issues or topics that aren't discussed often enough.

'taboo' topics = actual taboo topics + subjects that aren't really talked about

Manga that feature transgender boys/men.

Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/37834


Not on MAL yet:

Akarui
Maki Sanada (trans boy) (protagonist)

Oppai wo Totta Kareshi
Haruka Naruse (trans boy) (main)

Sakura-chan to Amane-kun
Amane (trans boy) (main)

Uchi no Danna ga Kawai sugiru ~tsu! Moto ♀ no Ikemen Nyuuseki Shimashita!!
Husband (trans man) (main)

Chiguhagu
Tooru/Tohru (trans man) (protagonist)

Seishun Minority
Sera (trans boy) (main)

Bokura no VR
Miharu Akina (trans boy) (main)

Ore no Karada wa Nande Onna Nanda?
Ryuutarou "Ryuu" Suzumiya (trans man) (protagonist)

Manga with transgender girls/women.

Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/29603
Part 3: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/37567
Part 4: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/46068


Not on MAL (yet):

"Onna" toshite Idakaretai... Seitenkan Shite, Hatsukoi wo Mou Ichido.
Sanae Takahashi (trans woman) (protagonist)
Machiko (trans woman) (supporting)

Kamisama, Boku wo Koroshite Kudasai - Otoko no Karada de Umareta Jigoku
Subaru Kawase (trans girl) (protagonist)

Sakura-chan to Amane-kun
Sakura (trans girl) (main)

Sayonara Chinchin Welcome Manman ~OL ni naritakute Seibetsu Tekigou Shujutsu shita~
Yoriko Kamikawa (trans woman) (protagonist)

Watashi, Danshikou Shusshin Desu. Comic
Ayana Tsubaki (trans woman) (protagonist)

Umanbo!
Manko Ushida (trans woman) (protagonist)

Otomeza no Jun
Jun (trans woman) (main)

Mirai kara kita Jibun ni Onna ni naru you Settaku Sarersu Hanashi
Yuuka (trans woman) (main)

Danshi Jidai no mtf no Manga/Koukousei Hen
Natsuki (trans girl) (protagonist)

Josei ga Suki na Josei to Otoko datta Josei no Hanashi
Makoto (trans woman) (main)

Natsu no Ane
Orie (trans woman) (main)

Itsuka Shinu Shoujo
Yuuki Akai (trans girl) (main)

Majo ni Naritai Otoko no Ko
Koto (trans girl) (protagonist)

Massugu Aoide
Aoi (trans girl) (main)

Oppai wo Totta Kareshi.
Aoi Ishikawa (trans girl) (main)

Barcode Fighter
Sakura Arisugawa (trans girl) (main)

Chiguhagu
Yuki (trans woman) (main)

Doumo, Newhalf desu.
Tsukasa Andou (trans woman) (protagonist)
Maria (trans woman) (main)
Reiko (trans woman) (main)

Online Game de Dekita Kareshi ni Real de Aitai to Iwareta Nekama no Otoko no Ko
Miyoto (trans girl) (protagonist)

Woman with Flowers
Jae-Hee (trans woman) (main)

Girlfriend
Kaoru Shirasaki (trans woman) (main)

Otto wa Jitsu wa Josei Deshita
Wafuko (trans woman) (main)

Onnanoko ni Naritai Otokonoko no Hanashi
Girl (trans girl) (protagonist)

Hana Ningyou to Danna Sama
Hiromi (trans woman) (protagonist)

Yasashii Rival
Marika (trans woman) (main)

Haru to Yakyuu
Haru (trans girl) (protagonist)

Mukashi no Osanajimi, Otokonoko Janakatta Mitai
Yuuki (trans woman) (main)

Manga featuring intersex characters. Some are not human.


Not on MAL (yet):

Ore ga Ryousei Nante Mitomenai!
Kiri (intersex boy) (main)
Kiri's mom (intersex woman) (supporting)

Me wo Tojite Daite
Hanafusa (intersex woman) (main)

Ryouseika Majiwaru Unmei no Tsugai
Aritoki Ujou (intersex man) (main)

Merry Tuesday
Hwayo (intersex woman?) (protagonist)

Mangosteen no Koibito
? (intersex) (main?)

Gentle Forest
Seowon Jung (intersex boy)

"Seibetsu ga, Nai!" Hito-tachi no Hoken Taiiku
Anokoro Ore wa Joshikousei
Asia o Futari de Aruite Mita - Chuusei Oji-san to Otokonoko no Ryokouki
Chuusei Furo e Youkoso!
Ore no Mawari no "Seibetsu ga, Nai!" Hitotachi - Arai Shou no Sekumai Kouyuuroku
Saikin sa Otona to Wakamono ga sa... Suggoi Chigaku ne!?
Seibetsu ga, Nai!
Seibetsu R!
Seibetsu x Renai Hakusho
Shou Arai (intersex man) (protagonist)

LGBTQ+ characters in seinen, josei, or just mature manga

LGBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, binary transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, intersex, queer, pansexual, asexual, aromantic, etc.) characters in mangas I've read that are not listed as Boy's Love or Girl's Love on MAL.

Anime Version: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/31815

Part 2 (Manga): https://myanimelist.net/stacks/44923


Honorable Mentions for those that are listed as Boy's Love or Girl's Love- even though they really shouldn't be because they're not primarily about MLM or WLW relationships:

Bokura no Hentai
Marika Aoki (trans girl) (protagonist)
Osamu "Parou" Tamura (gender non-conforming and gay) (main)
Ryousuke "Ryou" Kijima (gender non-conforming and bi) (main)
Satoshi "Tomochi" Natsume (gender non-conforming and bi) (supporting)

Kono Koi ni Mirai wa Nai
Yuuji Manase (trans woman) (protagonist)
Kotarou "Tora" Touri (gay) (supporting)
Kaoru (trans woman) (supporting)

Ai no Shintairiku
Sara Nikotama (trans girl) (protagonist)
Misaki (trans woman) (supporting)

Koisuru Sugar Cotton
Chiaki Tabata (trans girl) (protagonist)
Kiyoka (lesbian) (main)
Rika (lesbian) (supporting)

Sunu Sumu Muriku no Koibito
Naoki "Nao" Komura (bi) (protagonist)
Nono Nosaka (trans girl and bi) (main)
Kanami Shibata (bi and aro?) (supporting)
Nanako (trans man and bi) (supporting)
Nemoto-sensei (gay) (supporting)

Kaijuu ni Natta Gay
Takashi Arashiro (gay) (protagonist)
Junpei Naruse (gay) (main)
Liam (trans man) (minor)

Queer/gay/lesbian/queer/NBLW/NBLM/bisexual/pansexual/omnisexual/asexual/aromantic transgender characters in manga.


Not on MAL (yet):

Sayonara Chinchin Welcome Manman ~OL ni Naritakute Seibetsu Tekigo Shujutsu shimashita~
Yoriko Kamikawa (trans woman and lesbian) (protagonist)

Otto wa Jitsu wa Josei Deshita
Wafuko (trans woman and queer) (main)

Osanajimi Yuri(?)
College Girl (trans woman and lesbian) (main)

Itsuka Shinu Shoujo
Yuuki Akai (trans girl and lesbian?) (main)

Seishun Minority
Sera (trans boy and gay) (main)

Ore ga Ryousei Nante Mitomenai
Kiri (intersex boy and gay) (protagonist)

Me wo Tojite Daite
Hanafusa (intersex woman and bi) (main)

Murai-kun wa Mizuno-kun wo Dakitai
Shion Murai (trans boy and bi) (protagonist)

Quintet×Question
Mokuba Ao (x-gender, pan, and polyamorous) (main)

part 1: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/43551

Transgender manga without official translations but have (at least partial) fan translations in English. Organized roughly by release order in Japan.

(My definition of a trans manga is one that has a main trans character. Them being transgender may or may not be a big impact on the story.)

Part 2: https://myanimelist.net/stacks/55113


Not on MAL (yet):

Natsu no Ane/Summer Sister (2015)
Orie (trans woman) (main)

Chiguhagu/Mismatched (2016)
Tooru/Tohru (trans man) (protagonist)
Yuki (trans woman) (main)

Sakura-chan to Amane-kun/Sakura-chan and Amane-kun (2017)
Sakura (trans girl) (main)
Amane (trane boy) (main)

Hana Ningyou to Danna Sama/The Flower Doll Husband (2019)
Hiromi (trans woman) (protagonist)

Sayonara Chinchin Welcome Manman ~OL ni Naritakute Seibetsu Tekigo Shujutsu shimashita~/Goodbye Chinchin Welcome Manman (I Wanted to Be an Office Lady So I Had SRS) (2019)
Yoriko Kamikawa (trans woman) (protagonist)
*not fully translated

Danshi Jidai no mtf no Manga/Koukousei Hen/MTF Cartoons from the Boys' Era (2019)
Natsuki (trans girl) (protagonist)
*not fully translated

Josei ga Suki na Josei to Otoko datta Josei no Hanashi/The Story of a Girl Who Likes Girls, and a Girl Who Used to be a Guy (2019)
Makoto (trans woman) (main)

Mirai kara kita Jibun ni Onna ni naru you Settaku Sarersu Hanashi/My Future Self Is Persuading Me to Become a Woman (2020)
Yuuka (trans woman) (protagonist)

Otto wa Jitsu wa Josei Deshita/My Husband Who Actually Turned Out to Be My Wife (2020)
Wafuko (trans woman) (main)
*not fully translated

Doumo, Newhalf desu./Hi, I'm Trans (2020)
Tsukasa Andou (trans woman) (protagonist)
Maria (trans woman) (main)
Reiko (trans woman) (main)

Itsuka Shinu Shoujo/A Girl Who Will Die One Day (2020)
Yuuki Akai (trans girl) (main)

Onnanoko ni Naritai Otokonoko no Hanashi/The Story of a Boy Who Wants to Be a Girl (2020)
Girl (trans girl) (protagonist)

Ore no Karada wa Nande Onna Nanda?/Why is my Body Female? (2020)
Ryuutarou Suzumiya (trans man) (protagonist)
*not fully translated

Online Game de Dekita Kareshi ni Real de Aitai to Iwareta Nekama no Otoko no Ko/A G.I.R.L. Whose Boyfriend From an Online Game Wants to Meet Him Offline (2021)
Miyoto (trans girl) (protagonist)

Girlfriend (2021)
Kaoru Shirasaki (trans woman) (main)

Majo ni Naritai Otoko no Ko/The Boy Who Wants to be a Witch (2022)
Koto (trans girl) (protagonist)

Onna no Karada ga Iya nano de Mune o Torimashita/I Hated My Female Body, so I Cut Off My Breasts (2024)
Kazuki (non-binary) (protagonist)

*Josei is manga marketed towards women.