Souta, a penniless, phoneless, destitute middle schooler, met a high school girl with a stray cat underneath a bridge. The girl laughed at his minuscule... more>> remaining change, and made a surprising proposal with "For this 24 yen of yours, I'll let you buy me," and then? <<less

The story is about how and why a guy goes from a worker at a dead-end job to becoming a boxer.

Ayu, a 17-year-old high-school student, believes neither in a future nor the happiness it could bring her. By selling herself, she tries to justify her... more>> existence, which is as bleak as her heart - it’s devoid of joy, sorrow, love. Not until her encounter with a kind-hearted old lady does Ayu begin to realize the true meaning of happiness… <<less

First manga by Beastar's author featuring humans. Regarding a white bearded old man and a prostitute.

This is a story about a piano, pitifully abandoned in the woods, and a young boy, Kai, who grew up playing it as his favorite toy. While Kai cannot even read sheet music, one day, he meets Shuhei Amamiya, an aspiring child pianist who transfers schools from Tokyo, and their music teacher, Sosuke Ajino. Ajino was also once a gifted pianist, until a tragic accident stole his promising future from him forever. Each from a different background, the trio's personalities gravitate to one another and rebound. All the while, the piano sits patiently, awaiting a hand to play it.... more>>

Note: Received the Grand Prize for best manga at the 12th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2008. <<less

Perverto is just a regular 17-year-old...with the unavoidable nickname, "pervert." Unlike his namesake, he's actually quite naïve when it comes to sexual matters; his first... more>> and only youthful romance having ended terribly. To escape his bad reputation, he transfers to a new school for a fresh start. But on his first day there, he's falsely accused of groping a girl named Hongdan on the subway. To make matters worse, she happens to be another new student who has just transferred to his new school, to his very class. <<less

Consists of three stories:... more>>

1) Boys Next Door

(Part 1-3) Lawrence is a young male prostitute whose actual aim was to look for his brother. However, his life was about to change when he witnessed one of the biggest serial killers - Dr. Wolfgang Adrian Clay - killing someone. Instead of running away, he searches for the murderer and falls in love with him. Lawrence's brother was not too happy about losing a possible money tree and sends out his gang in search of Lawrence.

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2) Devil Inside

Rick Randool has a dangerous condition which affects a few unfortunate members of his family.

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3) When a Heart Beats

All Ted wanted was a guitar. But the price he paid to get one was a young girl's life. Many years later he meets her again and...

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Moyoco Anno lifts the veil on life in the Edo period pleasure quarter, Yoshiwara. The story follows Kiyoha, sold into a brothel as a child... more>> and forced to work as a maid and her rise to prominence as one of the top-ranking courtesans in Yoshiwara. The allure of the "flower and willow world," as it was called by artists in the day, is underscored by the very real tragedy, heartbreak and difficult lives led by those seemingly glamourous courtesans. Will Kiyoha’s fox-like wiles give her a chance to break free of her gilded cage? Or will her fighting spirit ruin her chances of ever escaping the brothel? <<less

Being abandoned by his owners, having his mother die of starvation, a puppy who suffered lifelong separation from his siblings wandered around the city. Meeting... more>> and parting with kind people, experiencing brutal treatment from unjust people. Pao, who learned to live within the harshness of reality, awaits even more ordeals... <<less

Azayoshi lives in an empty world, there is no hope or happiness, all she wants is a person who will never leave her side. Suddenly... more>> Ai steps into her dark world. To her he was her love. But what will happen when he discovers Azayoshi's past? Why is she keeping secrets from Ai? <<less

Set in the Edo Era. Tadaaki, one of her frequent customer's footman had always irked Akane, a courtesan. She plots his downfall but along the way she realizes what she's feeling may not just be pure animosity after all...... more>>

Also contains other stories about courtesans as well. <<less

Rushuna is a blonde and very beautiful senshi (gun expert) that travels through the world with one purpose. This is to make the world a... more>> peaceful place by, instead of fighting with weapons, taking away people´s will to fight by giving them a smile. Although she doesn´t want to fight, she is forced to and shows amazing gun skills. In this journey she meets Yajiro, a mercenary swordsman, who joins her on her journey. <<less

Aoi was abused by her teacher in middle school, a trauma she is still unable to overcome. One day, because of a family vacation, she... more>> is reunited with her first love, Kaoru: even though she has never forgotten him, she definitely doesn't want him to see how much she's changed...! <<less

Ten years ago, there was an explosion at Hisano's apartment building. She would have been there, but she'd been hit by a bike ridden by... more>> a boy in blood-stained clothes. He dropped a fake gem when it happened, and she's been hanging on to it as a good-luck charm ever since. Now Hisano's in high school. One of her teachers was murdered, and the police are investigating. A young man suddenly appears carrying the toy the gem belonged to. And perhaps... can he also see the hallucinations Hisano has always been plagued with? Everything is connected as the pattern slowly rises to the surface. <<less

Jet and Chin are friends and gigolos who live together. One day Jet sees a guy at a gallery and falls in love with him. When Chin asks Jet about his day Jet tells him about the guy he fell in love with at a gallery. Out of the blue the guy from the gallery calls up Jet and sets up a time to meet each other. Will Jet's love be enough to keep the two together?... more>>

Based on the movie of the same name written by Fan Yong. <<less

This quiet, subtle drama shows the interactions between the various nuns and apprentices, and nearby townsfolk, in a nunnery in late 18th-century France.

Rinzy's a famous hard rock musician. His ex-girlfriend, the model Katherine, commits suicide in front of him and he fails to help her. JP, a... more>> 16 year old homeless kid happens to be the only witness. In order to prevent exposure and scandal, Rinzy's manager, Stella, hires JP as Rinzy's assistant. <<less

After the surface of the world succumbed to chaos centuries ago, the city of Novus Aether is kept afloat in the sky solely by the continual prayers offered by the Saint. Years ago, when the Saint’s prayer was interrupted, an incident known as the "Gran Forte" occurred, causing a portion of the land to fall and split the lower city into two, separated by a cliff. Countless lives and property were lost or irreversibly affected in what would be known as the greatest disaster in the city’s history.... more>>

In time, the lowest layer, known as the "Prison", became the home to people who lost much of their former lives during the "Gran Forte". Crime, famine, and disease run rampant, with "The Noncorroding Gold Chains", the ruling organization in the area specializing in the sex trade, keeping what little order that still exists. Meanwhile, a contagious disease which causes the infected to grow wings has spread throughout the city, and a unit commonly known as the "Wing Hunters" has been formed to deal with these people swiftly and often violently.

In this "Prison" resides Caim Astraea, a freelance ex-assassin who does odd jobs for his friend, the head of “The Noncorroding Gold Chains”, for money. During one request, Caim finds Eustia, a winged girl who emits the pale purple light characteristic of the "Gran Forte" incident years ago. His encounter with Eustia will take him on a journey which will involve him with the most influential bodies of the city, including the Church and the royal government. As he searches for the meaning to his cruel, difficult life, he will discover the deepest and darkest secrets of Novus Aether. <<less

A prostitute's service in the red light district is coming to an end. Will she be able to return to a regular life?

An alcoholic's world descends into ruin as his abusive behavior slowly destroys the lives of those around him. When his out-of-control rage eventually leads to the murder of two innocents, a doppleganger of one of his victim cries out for justice to be served...... more>>

The story is based on the classic work of the same name by Edgar Allen Poe. This is an original rendition of the traditional story. It is NOT for the faint of heart! <<less

"If nothing changes whether one laughs or cries, then in this lifetime, I refuse to cry."... more>>

This collection consists of six historical short stories which tragicomically depict people trying to do their best in the city of Edo throughout the seasons:

Chiruhi (Day of Scattering)

Orin is a prostitute who works on a boat near the seashore. She falls in love with a young hairdresser, who is one of her customers, even though she knows it is an impossible love.

Lotus Roots

Upon crossing a lotus pond, two men discover a beautifully dressed figure hanging from the bridge. They pull her up and that night, she teaches them the meaning behind the lotus roots.

One Night Princess

"They 'haunt' this place. The ghosts of prostitutes."

Tenkiku

A little girl meets a kid with weird features, and only she can see him.

Breaking Under the Weight of Snow

A husband wonders, when was the last time he saw her wife's smile?

Sakuhi (Day of Blooming)

"The truth is I... came here to murder someone." <<less

"I am a human, but a doll...... more>>

Feelings are not needed. Physically alive, but not mentally.

I am a painting trapped inside a rusted frame.

The cold skin of a statue.

Like a stuffed bird--

Killed and set for display.

I wonder...

I wonder, on whose display I will be placed..."

Includes extra story, The Dancing Marionette (Vol 3). <<less

Collection of short stories by Kaori Ozaki ("Immortal Rain"), including her debut story. The earliest story in the volume was written when she was sixteen,... more>> and the last one when she was nineteen. <<less

Based upon the play of 'The Love Suicides at Sonezaki'.... more>>

Hatsu's father sold her to a brothel when she was young. Her childhood friend Toku tries to earn the money to buy her out of there to marry her. However, many obstacles stand in their way. <<less

What happens when you trade your soul for material goods? Is there a way for redemption? A spin off from the classic tale "Red Shoes,"... more>> this is the story of a woman's obsession with worldly goods and the consequences of that foolish desire. <<less