- Last Online4 hours ago
- GenderFemale
- BirthdayJan 22, 1995
- JoinedJul 5, 2011
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Jan 10, 2025
This story has a pragmatic and intelligent female lead, and THE most written-for-the-female-gaze male lead I’ve ever seen!
They share a charming relationship that develops naturally over time. The best moments of this series are watching them grow closer together and their witty banter. They’re just so wonderfully mature and wholesome for the majority of the story; it’s such an enjoyable read.
Aside from romantic development, the plot also focuses on female empowerment.
I never expected to come across a manwa- much less a rofan manwa- with such overtly feminist themes! I was surprised and delighted to see it so prevalent in this series!
I should point out
...
though, that the feminism is different from current western intersectional feminism. This is Korean media, which has its own history and culture of feminism.
The beginning has a bizarre and unnecessary backstory about people with dark-coloured skin turning light-skinned over time. This adds nothing to the story.
On another negative note, the last arc drags on way too long.
However, I think being able to binge multiple chapters at once will be much more enjoyable than reading it week by week. Having to wait makes it feel longer than it really is.
The ending also deviates from the original novel for anyone interested in reading both versions. Although , IMO, I don’t understand the change. It doesn’t address the novel readers' complaints about the couples' prolonged and angsty final conflict, and the political resolution is more anticlimactic compared to the novel spoilers I read. It reaches the same conclusion as in the novel, but through different means.
Overall, despite the flaws, I highly recommend it! It offers something different than most stories of the same genre.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Jan 7, 2025
I initially fell into this series because I LOVE tragedies and bittersweet endings. I adore the big, sweeping emotions of rooting against the odds that characters will find happiness!
The art is my favourite part about reading this! Sometimes, I can't help but stop and admire how creative the author is in capturing the mood with a particular illustration. They mastered contrast and have a beautifully distinct art style.
I also couldn’t help but get caught up in how cute Satokos dynamic with Shinpei is!
Yandere characters are fun because they add an element of psychological exploration to a story. Some
...
yandere stories will lean into the pure escapism- the unconditional love and loyalty of being the object of obsession- while others will lean more into the darker consequences - the isolation, emotional dependency, and power imbalance. This story largely sidesteps the darker aspects. Their relationship is actually incredulously wholesome. Shinpei is a killer but also a protective puppy. The circumstances are bleak, but this is clearly meant to be a heartwarming love story. He adds the right spice without needing to be darker or more complicated.
I have a big soft spot for the second male lead! While the main leads have this Romeo and Juliet youthful innocence going on between them, Kotoro adds a kind-hearted maturity. He makes for a good foil to Shinpei and a pillar of support for Satoko.
Overall, I think this story is great, but there are moments when the writing is weak.
There are many times when the female characters are staged to be/ become independent and empowered despite their disempowering conditions. Disappointingly, however, these plot threads too often lean back into their love for a man or a man saving the day. For all the setup, I expected better.
🤷🏻♀️
The author doesn't shy away from contrivances to create the dramatic effect they want or move the plot in its desired direction either.
That said, I think the author was ambitious with the story they wanted to tell, and the series' success shows just how talented they are in pulling it off. I’m excited to see how they stick the ending!
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Dec 10, 2024
When I first stumbled onto Raise Wa Tanin Ga Ii or Yakuza Fiance, I was pretty bored of romance anime/manga. I thought I knew how this series would play out. A cute, feminine, and innocent female lead meets a Yandre Yakuza bad boy who changes for the better because he falls in love with her. Both would stumble around their feelings for one another, and bad boy would steal the show by getting into fights saving her all the while looking really cool. Tried and true.
Episode one seemed like it was setting exactly this up until…
Kirishima looks Yoshino dead in the eye and tells her
...
that if she’s going to hang around him, she may as well make use of her only redeeming quality- her looks- and sell her body at a brothel he has connections with. He says it because he wants her scared of him and gone.
And she does sell her body.
She disappears for two weeks and comes back after selling her kidney. Which is stupid, yeah, but she refuses to let anyone think that they can intimidate or manipulate her. She did it to send him a clear message. She’s crazy, and she doesn't back down. She’ll go to extremes and drag you down with her.
And just like that, he’s obsessed
and SO AM I!
This series is so much fun! It leans into trashy tropes but quickly subverts expectations.
Female leads in yakuza stories are typically submissive or resigned to their roles. Not here. Yoshino’s blunt, unpretentious personality and refusal to conform to expectations make her so refreshing. She also plays an active role in the story instead of just reacting to the antics of the boys around her. I love seeing her struggle to assert her autonomy in a world seeking to control her.
She grew up around Yakuza, so she’s hardened and twisted. She has guts for days, is unafraid to join in on fights, and has no qualms about fighting dirty. Romantic ideals don’t blind her. Instead, she acknowledges her circumstances and finds ways to assert her agency. She’s not easily shaken and won’t hesitate to call anyone out on their bullshit, making her feel grounded and realistic. Overall, she’s not defined by one role or trope but is a multifaceted character who feels like a real person navigating extraordinary circumstances.
The extraordinary circumstances are Kirishima—a ML from hell. While Kirishima is a violent, sneaky, obsessive f**kboy, Yoshino will uphold her pride above all else. Their strong personalities clash like a Molotov cocktail to flame. For every one thing Kirishima does right as a romance ML, he does ten more things that should disqualify him, and she’s all too aware of them all. But she stays with him because she’d rather die than back down from a tough situation before finding a way to come out on top.
It’s not normal or right, but it’s wickedly enjoyable to see play out!
She’s open about her inability to see him as a romantic interest—rightfully so because she knows how dangerous he can be. That said, she also makes it clear that she values authenticity, encouraging Kirishima to be himself rather than putting on a “good boy” act for her. Since both of them are tied to the yakuza world, they can understand and accept each other in ways outsiders can't.
While many stories soften or redeem similar characters, Yakuza Fiancé leans into Kirisima’s worst qualities, showing his manipulative and unpredictable nature without romanticizing it. Love doesn’t make him a better person. He may act cute with her, but that doesn’t mean she can let her guard down around him.
Neither is right in the head, so their relationship could never be normal. It’s much less of a story where you watch this romance develop and more of one where you watch them react and grow as they deal with one another.
The secondary characters also share rich, organic bonds with each other. Shouma is SO MUCH more than a second male lead existing solely for a love triangle, and Tsubaki isn’t just a simple supportive side character either—they each bring their own unique complexities to the narrative. These relationships add emotional weight to Yoshino’s journey, showing that her life isn’t defined solely by her engagement to Kirishima but by her connections to others in her world too. None of THEM are normal, so seeing them enter the scene is always fun.
WHAT I DON’T LOVE:
Studio DEEN’s limited budget is noticeable in the animation. The art direction sometimes fails to harmonize the characters with their environments, though nighttime settings look significantly better.
While the sound design features a couple of cool tracks, it often feels mismatched with the tone.
The pacing suffers from cramming too many moments into each episode, ultimately sacrificing emotional impact.
While anime lets us see all the action scenes animated, the manga remains the superior version of the story, in my opinion. It’s just more polished and well-paced.
Overall, Yakuza Fiancé is not for those looking for lighthearted romantic escapism; some may find the romance lacking in traditional payoffs. However, the series offers a compelling blend of psychological drama and romance, focusing on challenging conventions and crafting dynamic characters.
If you’re willing to give it your patience, the story is at its best from episode 7 onwards.
This is a fun watch if you’re ready for a story that keeps you guessing at every turn with a female lead who stands in a league of her own.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Sep 3, 2024
There’s a twist in the first chapter that cemented Yoshino as my number one favourite female protagonist, and the more I read, the more sure I am she’ll be keeping that spot for a long time. When she doesn't completely defy cliche heroine tropes, she’s putting her own spin on them. She never makes herself smaller for the men around her, and I'm always cheering her on to stand above all the garbage thrown at her.
It's hard to root for her love interest, on the other hand, but that honestly is what makes this story so incredibly interesting. He’s genuinely terrible, which adds to
...
the unexpected enjoyment of seeing her call him out on his bullshit. It’s a lot of fun rooting for Yoshino to go up against Kirishima! Beware of the second male lead syndrome, but even then, it’s clear that she’s a magnet for problem boys.
I think some readers may be hoping for more romantic escapism. This isn’t that kind of story.
The writing instead leans more towards psychological exploration and defying genre conventions. The romance is a slow burn, and I do mean slow. Kirishima is unhinged, and Yoshino knows it… but she’s twisted herself.
The characters are all crazy, but they feel so authentic in how they care for each other. I love it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
