A good and emotional read. The premise is about one mans Yaichis journey to acceptance his brother Ryoji is gay and has before the start of the manga moved to Canada and married a Canadian man. He has since died and his husband Mike now travels to Japan to visit Ryojis family. Thus begins the manga. The cast is the heart of the story their interactions simple but impactful.
Yaichi is a single dad who goes through the most change and its wonderful seeing him not just accept but defend as well. What makes this story stand out to me besides the acceptance of the idea of two men loving each other is through Yaichis eyes we see other issues pop that reflect how many other things that either are or also need acceptance. Briefly we see the stigma against single stayathome dads working mothers people being turned away from bathhouses for having tattoos and teachers needing to be better at addressing bullying. Granted I feel most of these tie in with Japanese culture more so than elsewhere especially the bathhouse / tattoo one but it still challenges readers to see what else they might unintentionally be prejudiced against. Or to perhaps compare and contrast if viewers can have compassion for one issue why not another?
Besides Yaichi we have his daughter: Kana. The young girl is innocent yet inquisitive in the best way. And even the mother Natsuki brings a nice roundness to the broken family. It was nice to see an exwife and husband still amiable.
And finally there is Mike the Canadian Uncle. At times seems like hes just there as a catalyst for the story especially in the first half to start or answer questions or to react to certain situations. He really has some good moments in this second volume though. There are four volumes but in the States we have two omnibus volumes Mike has become family no ifs ands or buts and we see how his journey to Japan was important to him here. Or rather it finally hits the reader the bittersweetness of this tour of his husbands Ryojis home. He becomes more than a catalyst for the plot he becomes a human character with his own emotions and purposes.
In the end they have to part ways but the outlook is hopeful for sure that theyll meet again. Maybe in Canada next? I wouldnt be against a sequel showing Yaichi and Kana visiting Mike.
Aside from the story the artwork is unique and refreshing. It is also probably the safest work from the mangaka: Gengorou Tagame. However I have not read any of his other works I might be incorrect. The point is if anyone is fearful of NSFW not safe for work elements in My Brothers Husband do not be It is a wholesome story. At most there are bathing scenes with an appreciation of the body but nothing explicit or improper. On the flip not for those looking for a boy love story with heavy romance themes. It is more of a family story.
I definitely hope more people read and spread word on how good this is and important too. Would recommend
90
/100