Boku wa Imoto ni Koi o Suru
Encyclopedia
is manga series by Kotomi Aoki
. Originally serialized in Shōjo Comic
, the individual chapters were published in ten tankōbon
volumes by Shogakukan
from May 2003 until August 2005. The series focus on fraternal twins Yori and Iku, who fall in love with one another despite being siblings
.
The manga series was adapted into a one-episode original video animation
that was released in May 2005 and a live-action film starring Jun Matsumoto
and Nana Eikura
that premiered in Japan on January 20, 2007. A ten volume spin-off series focusing on Yori's upperclassmen Takuma Kakinouchi and his childhood sweetheart Mayu Taneda was serialized in Shōjo Comic from December 2005 through August 2008.
, Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru were originally serialized in Japan in Shōjo Comic
. The individual chapters were collected and published in ten tankōbon
volumes by Shogakukan
, with the first volume released May 26, 2003; the last volume was published on August 26, 2008. The series is licensed for regional language releases in France by Soleil Productions
under the English title Secret Sweetheart, in Spain by Editorial Ivrea
, and in Taiwan by Ever Glory Publishing
. The original volumes were also imported to the United States and sold as is by Borders
and Waldenbooks
bookstores in early 2005. In March 2008, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Shōjo Comic posted free chapters of Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru on its website, along with a new side-story.
A spin-off series, , began serialization in Shōjo Comic simultaneously in 2005. Focusing on Yori's upperclassmen Takuma Kakinouchi and his childhood sweetheart Mayu Taneda, the series ran until mid-2008. Shogakukan published the individual chapters across twelve tankōbon volumes, with the first released December 20, 2005 and the last on August 26, 2008.
(OVA) adaptation of the manga. On May 18, 2005, Shogakukan
released a DVD for the original video animation. Directed by Mayumi Nishimoto, the hour-long, one episode OVA used the song by Shion
as its ending theme.
and produced by Shogakukan
, Toshiba Entertainment, Zoom Enterprise and Nippon Television
. It was released in Japan on January 20, 2007 and in Taiwan on June 1, 2007. The film features Jun Matsumoto
as Yori Yuuki, Nana Eikura
as Iku Yuuki, Ayaka Komatsu
as Tomoka Kusunoki, Yuko Asano
as Saki Yuuki and Yūta Hiraoka
as Haruka Yano. The ending theme of the movie is "Kitto Eien ni
" by Crystal Kay
.
volumes of Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru sold 2.5 million copies by May 2006.
A reviewer for Manga News describes the first volume of the manga as "a mature shojo, appealing and rather captivating". A review of the second volume of the manga commends the author's art as "very pretty". It also comments on the incestuous relationship "Between those two brother and sister are sometimes pushed a bit too far and I found Yuki a bit too silly at times. But that also gives charm to the character." PlaneteBD's Faustine Lillaz comments on the manga's art which "barely save the day. The trait is fine and the style rather pure and the background details are rarely presents and when they are it's only to reinforce the forbidden aspect of Iku and Yori relationship (church, bedroom with parents outside)." Carlos Ross of T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews criticized the hour length of the OVA, feeling its compression of the original manga story causing Yori's feelings for his sister to seem "extremely abrupt and out of left field". Noting that the OVA adaptation departed from the usual "incest-taboo
" set up, Ross considered the premise "Freudian" and "very unrealistic", stating "most of us don't need social taboos to think of bedding our siblings as being kinda gross: in psychology, it's called the Westermarck effect
, where constant, early contact with a member of the opposite sex (related or not) leads to an aversion to sexual attraction". Ross also disliked the characterization of Yori, calling him a "raging, violent, jealous, abusive, creepy jerk", and the other characters as "over the top", detracting from the story. Though he found the animation itself average, Ross praised the background art as varying "from gorgeous to amazing". Anime News Network
's Carlos Santos criticises the manga for its lack of depth.
Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu received the Shogakukan Manga Award
for shōjo manga in 2008. The seventh volume of Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between April 25 and May 1, 2007. The eighth volume was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between 24 to 30 July 2007. The ninth volume was ranked 3rd on the Tohan charts between October 30 and November 5, 2007. The tenth volume was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between 22 to 28 January 2008 and 1st between January 29 and February 4, 2008. The eleventh volume was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between 22 to 28 April 2008 and 4th between April 29 and March 5, 2008. The twelve volume was ranked 4th on the Tohan charts between August 26 and September 1, 2008.
Kotomi Aoki
is a Japanese manga artist. She currently resides in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. She received the 2008 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu.- Works :* Asa mo, Hiru mo, Yoru mo...
. Originally serialized in Shōjo Comic
Shojo Comic
is a shōjo manga magazine published twice monthly in Japan by Shogakukan since 1968. It was originally published weekly and it continued to be published weekly until the 1980s. Many influential shōjo manga ran in Shōjo Comic during the 70s. Moto Hagio's works and Keiko Takemiya's works in...
, the individual chapters were published in ten tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
from May 2003 until August 2005. The series focus on fraternal twins Yori and Iku, who fall in love with one another despite being siblings
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
.
The manga series was adapted into a one-episode original video animation
Original video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
that was released in May 2005 and a live-action film starring Jun Matsumoto
Jun Matsumoto
, often called by the portmanteau nickname , is a Japanese idol, singer, actor and radio host. He is a member of Japanese boy band Arashi and is best known to Japanese television drama audiences for his portrayal as Tsukasa Dōmyōji in the Hana Yori Dango series, in which he won GQ Japan's Man Of...
and Nana Eikura
Nana Eikura
is a Japanese model, actress, and occasional radio show host.She was born in Izumi, Kagoshima, Kyushu island and grew up in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. She was scouted in front of 109 in Shibuya, Tokyo when she was in junior high school...
that premiered in Japan on January 20, 2007. A ten volume spin-off series focusing on Yori's upperclassmen Takuma Kakinouchi and his childhood sweetheart Mayu Taneda was serialized in Shōjo Comic from December 2005 through August 2008.
Characters
: The male lead character. He is Iku's twin brother. He is intelligent and somewhat cold, but is actually nice, especially to Iku. He has been in love with Iku since childhood and embarks on a relationship with her, even though he is tormented over their incest taboo. Halfway through the series, it turns out that Yori is Iku's half-twin brother and he was fathered by their father's best friend, who raped his mother. When their parents find out about their relationship, they run away and act as a normal couple until they pray at a church. Afterwards, he tries to end the relationship by leaving Iku without telling her, hoping time and space apart will cause their feelings to fade. 10 years later, he and Iku reunite and Yori states that he is still in love with Iku.: The female lead character. She is Yori's twin sister. In contrast to Yori, she is dense and clumsy, but has a determined spirit. She loves Yori deeply and was shocked when he confessed his love to her. At first, she is worried and torn between returning her brother's feelings or losing him. She eventually decides that she indeed loves Yori as a man. Like Yori, she feels content with their taboo relationship, but has some doubts over how wrong it is. Halfway through, she learns that Yori is actually her half-twin brother. Even after Yori's unexpected departure and Yano's confession, Iku says that Yori is the only one she loves and vows to find him. In the climax, when they reunite, it is presumed that they continue their relationship.: Yori's best friend from junior high school. He and Yori have similar personalities, somewhat delinquent attitudes, and intellegence. He knows about the twins' incestuous relationship, but keeps it a secret. He eventually falls in love with Iku after Yori leaves for high school, even proposing to her at the end, but she rejects him.: Iku's former best friend from junior high school. She has a huge crush on Yori and even slept with him. However, he later rejects her and she discovers of his and Iku's love. She threatens to expose them as part of getting revenge on them, like blackmailing Yori and hiring classmates to rape Iku. But is unsuccessful, as Yori is more conniving and intelligent than she is.: Yori and Iku's mother. Although very loving to both of her children, she later becomes suspicious of their "friendliness". She eventually walks in on them making love and suffers from shock, and she confesses that they are siblings, but have different fathers. On her wedding night, she was raped by her husband's best friend and then slept with her husband to forget about the rape. As a result, Yori was fathered by the friend and Iku by her husband.Manga
Written and illustrated by Kotomi AokiKotomi Aoki
is a Japanese manga artist. She currently resides in Matsuyama, Ehime, Japan. She received the 2008 Shogakukan Manga Award for shōjo for Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu.- Works :* Asa mo, Hiru mo, Yoru mo...
, Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru were originally serialized in Japan in Shōjo Comic
Shojo Comic
is a shōjo manga magazine published twice monthly in Japan by Shogakukan since 1968. It was originally published weekly and it continued to be published weekly until the 1980s. Many influential shōjo manga ran in Shōjo Comic during the 70s. Moto Hagio's works and Keiko Takemiya's works in...
. The individual chapters were collected and published in ten tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
, with the first volume released May 26, 2003; the last volume was published on August 26, 2008. The series is licensed for regional language releases in France by Soleil Productions
Soleil Productions
Soleil Productions is a French publisher of both original and imported comic books.-Partnerships and collaborations:In 2004, Soleil and Delcourt created a joint venture called "DelSol", a partnership distribution society for France, Belgium and other Francophone countries.In 2008, Marvel Comics is...
under the English title Secret Sweetheart, in Spain by Editorial Ivrea
Editorial Ivrea
Editorial Ivrea is an Argentine manga and comics publisher that publishes in Argentina, Spain and Finland. They also published Lazer, a magazine which was specialized in anime, comics, manga, series and other media. The magazine has an acid humor and has also organized parties in Argentina...
, and in Taiwan by Ever Glory Publishing
Ever Glory Publishing
is a Taiwanese publisher of manga. It was founded in June 1991. In October 1992, the company obtained the Chinese license for Akita Shoten's Weekly Shōnen Champion...
. The original volumes were also imported to the United States and sold as is by Borders
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
and Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks , operated by the Walden Book Company, Inc., was an American shopping mall-based bookstore chain and a subsidiary of Borders Group. The chain also ran a video game and software chain under the name Waldensoftware as well as a children's edutainment chain under Walden Kids...
bookstores in early 2005. In March 2008, to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Shōjo Comic posted free chapters of Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru on its website, along with a new side-story.
A spin-off series, , began serialization in Shōjo Comic simultaneously in 2005. Focusing on Yori's upperclassmen Takuma Kakinouchi and his childhood sweetheart Mayu Taneda, the series ran until mid-2008. Shogakukan published the individual chapters across twelve tankōbon volumes, with the first released December 20, 2005 and the last on August 26, 2008.
Original video animation
is the original video animationOriginal video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
(OVA) adaptation of the manga. On May 18, 2005, Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
released a DVD for the original video animation. Directed by Mayumi Nishimoto, the hour-long, one episode OVA used the song by Shion
Shion
-Music:*Shion , a R&B singer* Shion , an album by MUCC-Fictional characters:*Shion Uzuki, a character from Xenosaga video games*Shion , a sub-boss in The King of Fighters XI video game...
as its ending theme.
Live action film
The manga was adapted into a live action film by Toshiba Entertainment. The film was directed by Hiroshi AndoHiroshi Ando
is a Japanese writer and director. Born 13 June 1965 in Tokyo, Japan. Hiroshi Ando has several films to his credit including dead beat, Blue, Kokoro to karada and Boku wa imōto ni koi o suru.-Sources:...
and produced by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
, Toshiba Entertainment, Zoom Enterprise and Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
. It was released in Japan on January 20, 2007 and in Taiwan on June 1, 2007. The film features Jun Matsumoto
Jun Matsumoto
, often called by the portmanteau nickname , is a Japanese idol, singer, actor and radio host. He is a member of Japanese boy band Arashi and is best known to Japanese television drama audiences for his portrayal as Tsukasa Dōmyōji in the Hana Yori Dango series, in which he won GQ Japan's Man Of...
as Yori Yuuki, Nana Eikura
Nana Eikura
is a Japanese model, actress, and occasional radio show host.She was born in Izumi, Kagoshima, Kyushu island and grew up in Sagamihara, Kanagawa. She was scouted in front of 109 in Shibuya, Tokyo when she was in junior high school...
as Iku Yuuki, Ayaka Komatsu
Ayaka Komatsu
Ayaka Komatsu is a Japanese model/actress. She was born on July 23, 1986 in Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture.-Modeling career:Her modeling agency is Amuse inc. She was a regular model of the now defunct Candy magazine...
as Tomoka Kusunoki, Yuko Asano
Yūko Asano
is a Japanese actress and singer. She won the award for best actress at the 19th Japan Academy Prize for Kura.-References:...
as Saki Yuuki and Yūta Hiraoka
Yuta Hiraoka
is a Japanese actor. He won the 'Best Newcomer' prize at the Japan Academy Prize in 2005 for his film debut in Swing Girls.-Television dramas:*Lion Sensei *Gokusen SP *Medaka *P&G Pantene Drama Special...
as Haruka Yano. The ending theme of the movie is "Kitto Eien ni
Kitto Eien ni
"Kitto Eien ni" is pop singer Crystal Kay's nineteenth single. It was released on January 17, 2007 as the first single for Kay's seventh studio album "All Yours". This was Kay's first single since February 2006...
" by Crystal Kay
Crystal Kay
Crystal Kay Williams , known by her stage name Crystal Kay, is a singer and songwriter from Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan...
.
Reception
The first seven tankōbonTankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
volumes of Boku wa Imōto ni Koi o Suru sold 2.5 million copies by May 2006.
A reviewer for Manga News describes the first volume of the manga as "a mature shojo, appealing and rather captivating". A review of the second volume of the manga commends the author's art as "very pretty". It also comments on the incestuous relationship "Between those two brother and sister are sometimes pushed a bit too far and I found Yuki a bit too silly at times. But that also gives charm to the character." PlaneteBD's Faustine Lillaz comments on the manga's art which "barely save the day. The trait is fine and the style rather pure and the background details are rarely presents and when they are it's only to reinforce the forbidden aspect of Iku and Yori relationship (church, bedroom with parents outside)." Carlos Ross of T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews criticized the hour length of the OVA, feeling its compression of the original manga story causing Yori's feelings for his sister to seem "extremely abrupt and out of left field". Noting that the OVA adaptation departed from the usual "incest-taboo
Incest taboo
An Incest taboo is any cultural rule or norm that prohibits practices of sexual relations between relatives. All human cultures have norms regarding who is considered suitable and unsuitable sexual and/or marriage partners, and usually certain close relatives are excluded as possible partners...
" set up, Ross considered the premise "Freudian" and "very unrealistic", stating "most of us don't need social taboos to think of bedding our siblings as being kinda gross: in psychology, it's called the Westermarck effect
Westermarck effect
The Westermarck effect, or reverse sexual imprinting, is a hypothetical psychological effect through which people who live in close domestic proximity during the first few years of their lives become desensitized to later sexual attraction. This phenomenon was first hypothesized by Finnish...
, where constant, early contact with a member of the opposite sex (related or not) leads to an aversion to sexual attraction". Ross also disliked the characterization of Yori, calling him a "raging, violent, jealous, abusive, creepy jerk", and the other characters as "over the top", detracting from the story. Though he found the animation itself average, Ross praised the background art as varying "from gorgeous to amazing". Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
's Carlos Santos criticises the manga for its lack of depth.
"[Yori and Iku] basically spend each chapter getting dangerously close with each other, often in explicit ways, and this smut is repeated over and over until you just want to read some conservative, pedantic pre-TezukaOsamu Tezukawas a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
shōjo manga about how little Chieko became a good obedient wife and waits every day to serve dinner to her salaryman husband because he gets so tired from perpetuating the Japanese economic miracle." - Carlos Santos, Anime News NetworkAnime News NetworkAnime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu received the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for shōjo manga in 2008. The seventh volume of Boku no Hatsukoi o Kimi ni Sasagu was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between April 25 and May 1, 2007. The eighth volume was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between 24 to 30 July 2007. The ninth volume was ranked 3rd on the Tohan charts between October 30 and November 5, 2007. The tenth volume was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between 22 to 28 January 2008 and 1st between January 29 and February 4, 2008. The eleventh volume was ranked 5th on the Tohan charts between 22 to 28 April 2008 and 4th between April 29 and March 5, 2008. The twelve volume was ranked 4th on the Tohan charts between August 26 and September 1, 2008.