Honey Darling by Akira Norikazu

Rating: 8
Sublime 2012 - Libre 2008
1 volume
Translation: Christine Dashiell

Despite being a huge Akira Norikazu fan, when I first read Honey Darling I didn't think much of it and wrote it off as one of Akira's weaker offerings. However, for some reason I kept returning to the book and after countless readings it's become one of my favourite go-to comfort manga, like an old jumper it's something I reach for when I can't be bothered with anything else and just want to snuggle into something warm and familiar. That rating of 8 that I've given it is more like 6 parts for story and 2 parts affection.

It's an extremely simple story that doesn't try to be more than what it is, and that is a sweet romance between man and man (and man and cat). Chihiro is a young man drifting through life with no dreams or aspirations, working at a pachinko parlour to pay the rent, and just living day-to-day. One night he comes across an abandoned kitten in a cardboard box and takes her home. He soon falls in love with little Shiro and looks forward to coming home to her every evening. One night Shiro falls ill. Running through the streets in a panic searching for the local vet clinic Chihiro bumps into Kumazawa, who fortunately turns out to be the vet. Chihiro is grateful to the vet for treating her but Kumazawa is not so impressed with Chihiro and gives him a lecture on what a responsible pet owner should be, pointing out that Chihiro should have looked up a vet clinic when he first took the kitten in. Chihiro is chastened and slaps himself on the cheeks to Kumazawa's surprise. Chihiro tearfully apologises to Shiro for not taking proper care of her; touched by the scene, Kumazawa says he'll take those tears as payment for the medical bill. A flustered Chihiro realises the vet is not as scary as he first thought and on spying a recruitment poster in the clinic he asks for the job on impulse. Kumazawa says he can't hire Chihiro as a veterinary assistant but can hire him as...his wife?! Turns out he means a live-in housekeeper and so Chihiro and Shiro move in with Kumazawa to begin their life together.

On the face of it, there's nothing eye-catching about this manga, the setup and plot is standard romantic fare, the characters are pretty generic and conform to usual yaoi seme/uke stereotype, the writing is simple and unfussy; just what is it about this manga that keeps me coming back for more? And when I think about it I have to bow down in admiration of Akira-sensei all over again. Simply put, I enjoy every moment of this manga. Akira is good at capturing all those moments, from Chihiro's genuine affection for his kitten, to his confusion over the growing feelings he has for Kumazawa, to the seemingly mundane moments that make up a daily routine which, with Akira's skilled pen, we see as moments of stress or fun or satisfaction for Chihiro as he gets used to his new job. I already know what happens in every scene but I still enjoy experiencing those moments each time I pick up the book.

At twenty-something pages each, all the chapters are quite short and because she does it so effortlessly you almost don't notice how good Akira is at quickly establishing characters, situations and the mood with a few deft strokes of her pen. Her artwork is expressive and varied, and a single illuminating facial expression can pull you right into the scene in the space of a panel. In the first chapter all it takes is a few panels for the reader to see Chihiro's attachment to Shiro or to feel his anguish when he fears for her health. Kumazawa is a silent stoic type so by default is hard to connect with emotionally yet with a single transformative smile Chihiro, and the reader, is struck by the kindness in his expression and know that there is more to him than meets the eye.

I have no idea what the title Honey Darling refers to but it's most likely something to do with the overflowing cuteness in the manga. Akira regularly uses 'chibi' art where Chihiro has cat ears and Kumazawa has bear ears (kuma means 'bear' in Japanese) and these comical moments are funny and cute. Kumazawa views Chihiro as a stray cat, hence the cat ears, and treats him as such; Chihiro often has to remind him that he's human and not a cat. The real cat, Shiro, is adorable and in several asides the mangaka notes that the story is turning into a cat manga rather than a boys love one (chibi Chihiro pops up with a goofy expression to say that there's nothing wrong with that).

This story is pure fluff and certainly won't be for everyone but for those who love a sweet slice of romantic fuzz, this cat manga masquerading as BL is an easy recommendation.