Read Right to Left

This month Gee and Ray start 2023 with the wonderful seinen romance Sweat & Soap by Kintetsu Yamada, a series built from much more than the (potentially) skeevy premise. This cult favourite stars one of the most healthy and communicative relationships in contemporary romance series, and should be unmissable for those in search of mature love stories. So join us as we start the new year diving into Sweat & Soap.

You can purchase the official English H-doujin epilogue here.

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Once again this December, Ray and Gee spotlight their favourite new  series for the year! From mysterious crime dramas to gut-twisting  classic horror, and a whole breadth of honourable mentions, come listen  to our picks for the year!!

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And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

This month, join us as we discuss Haruko Kumota's fantastic josei drama, Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu! From his childhood up until his death, Yakumo Yurakutei VIII has upheld a very particular expectation of rakugo -- but things start to shift once he accepts his very first apprentice, and as the final years of the Showa Period come to a close. This intimate character study of a prominent rakugo performer asks the audience to reflect on the nature of art and performance, the evolution of entertainment in society, and the multitudes of ways that humans connect. Hear all our thoughts this episode!

Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter

And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

This Halloween Season, join Gee and Ray as they dive into (some) of the works from horror titan, Junji Ito! From the spiralling madness of Uzumaki, to the unending space of Remina, to the smelly chase of Gyo, Junji Ito has become the representative of horror manga in the English-speaking market -- but how effective are the many, many series we have available when being read by non-fans? Is there a reason why Ito has become synonymous with creepy? Hear all our thoughts in this episode!

Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter

And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

This month, join Gee and Ray as we spotlight our own history with anime and manga, and the experiences that have led us to this point. From the wave of first-gen Pokemon cartoons, to the hodge-podge of manga available from school libraries, the two of us reflect on an adolescence of weebiness and fandom outside of the hyper-trendy, social media-fuelled experience found in the anime and manga community today. From then til now, manga has been the constant -- but not necessarily in the same way.

Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter

And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my YouTube Channel and Twitter

Welcome back to the grand return of the Read Right to Left podcast, with a very special spotlight episode about one of our favourite mangaka: Moto Hagio!! This phenomenal woman is a part of the legendary Year 24 Group, who helped shape the modern manga industry, practically established the BL genre, and inspired generations of future artists thanks to her notable works, including Heart of Thomas, They Were 11 and The Poe Clan. As more and more of her work has found its way to English in recent years from publishers Fantagraphics and Denpa Books, Hagio has also been inducted to the Eisner Hall of Fame. From Iguana Girl to A Cruel God Reigns, join us to hear our thoughts!!

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And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

Human stories bridge the gap between creator and reader, as we see a peek into the lives of strangers. For some, this is a intimate look at some of life's worst struggles, and for others it's the hopeful or joyful celebration of life. Either way, the stories in memoir remind us as readers of the diversity of life and experiences, and help us discover and learn about things we've never lived -- or find support and community in the things we have. Join Gee and Ray this month as we dive deep into the real-life stories of these manga, and the people who create them.

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And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month Gee and Ray are spotlighting the debut manga series Nabari no Ou from one of the hosts' favourite mangaka, Yuhki Kamatani. This ninja-action shounen stands out from the crowd in Kamatani's signature style, but still remains hidden from most fans' radar. So join the discussion on this outstanding drama, as we dive into this early work and find the strengths (and weaknesses) within.

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And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

This month, Gee and Ray are spotlighting some of the series that have disappeared part-way throughout the years. From niche classic shojo, to some of the biggest hits in Jump, the English manga market has seen difficulties from bankruptcy to low sales to legal troubles, all leading to series ending up incomplete in English. 

Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter

And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

As the seasons change, come join Ray and Gee as we dive into the mysterious and contemplative stories of a traveling Mushi doctor as he helps cure conditions caused by the strange entities known as mushi in Yuki Urushibara's ten volume series, Mushi-shi! From horrific spore children to mischievous rainbows to singing seashells, the manga (and anime adaptation!) is a beautiful collection of folklore-inspired stories about humanity's relationship to the natural world. Hear our thoughts and dive deep into a world not too unlike our own.

Follow Ray on her channel Whimsical Pictures and Twitter

And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my Youtube Channel and Twitter

**TIMESTAMPS**