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Aestheticism

OZAKI Minami, the woman who made yaoi mainstream

Not just a manga or an anime, but an industry. Dysfunctional love amongst dysfunctional characters amidst melodramatic events, all done in High Serious operatic style. You have to admire the sheer unblinking excessiveness of the thing. To quote Sir Kenneth Clarke: It's indecent, and like all forms of indecency it's irresistible. This is the woman who had a dj character immobilized and sexually penetrated by a self-aware and very randy tree branch. Bewildered chara utters the classic line 'I'm being raped by a tree!' (Who says the Japanese don't do irony?) See any of the many many webpages for an idea of the eccentric art style. (Jeanne)

After Ozaki's break from her Dokusen Yoku (still an on-going dojinshi entity and it's about as squirrelly as BRONZE) she premiered into the commercial fandom with Zetsuai 1989. That five volume series itself, although not very artistically sophisticated, the story was actually fun to read. Well, at least more interesting than then dojinshi storyline where Ken Wakashimazu wants cut off his arm (yes, her Koji predecessor also likes to self-mutilate). Then that series was compacted into an OVA which I thought was attractive. Her art style reminds one of a fashion designer's workbook. It was unusual, pretty to look at and very simple to digest for the eyes. Zetsuai's 5 volume merely sets the background of the (dragging) impending BRONZE series of how Koji's childhood obsession had returned into his life. Alas, but the womanizing rock star Koji was expecting a girl, so for 3 volumes he pines over his sexuality. BRONZE, up to volume 10 as I'm writing this--takes up to the point where the pair had finally lived together as a couple. BRONZE tells of the many trials of nature, family, self, and with a Benz and a Porsche. Nothing profound. Although the angle with Hirose, the family bully, being the uke is rather delicious. (Susan)

Publications

The series has been published in several languages, but not yet English.

It was started 1989 as a legitimate spin-off of the author's Captain Tsubasa doujinshi Dokusen Yoku. The series Zetsuai was abandoned after 5 novels. The author, or mangaka, Minami Ozaki picked the story back up after a few years with Bronze. So far, Bronze has outpaced Zetsuai and has 14 novels. The story arc it is currently in is called Restart.

Two OVA's were made, one taking place in Zetsuai [Since] 1989, and the second during Bronze. Koyasu Takehito plays the part of Izumi Takuto, and Sho Hayami plays Koji Nanjo. Radio dramas and CDs (with some lyrics composed by Minami Ozaki) were produced. The actors themselves often provided vocal parts for music. Five original music videos were made and compiled into a video called Cathexis.