Subaru Karasuma’s writing career – once so promising – has fizzled out. He can’t help but compare his lack of success with the dazzling career of best-selling novelist Geppo Yagira, the darling of female readers in 1920s Japan. But Geppo’s seductive veneer of success hides a dark and traumatic past and he’s still struggling to rise above the sidelong glances of the male-dominated literary elite who regard him with disdain. Geppo knows that winning a literary prize would put a stop to this prejudice once and for all but such an honour continues to elude him. And no one knows how hard he’s had to fight to achieve his sales figures and popularity. ‘Geppo’ and his younger sister Mariko were sold off as children to a brothel after their debt-burdened father died in a house fire that left Mariko with a disfiguring burn. Rather than subject Mariko to the life of a child prostitute, he volunteers to take her place and works hard doing chores during the day before being dressed up to ‘entertain’ clients in the evenings.
Rescue comes in the form of Miss Shinonome, a beautiful geisha who takes the siblings under her wing, introduces ‘Geppo’ to the world of literature and tells him to study hard. “With some sophistication and elegance, you’ll be able to attract high quality customers.” Soon, he’s avidly reading his way through her books and even starts keeping a diary. When one day he’s requested by a Mr. Dogenzaka, the new client turns out to be a writer who’s researching male prostitution. ‘Geppo’ offers him his diaries and begs him to become his mentor. But Mr. Dogenzaka declines, instead leaving him his Tokyo address. And when an opportunity comes to escape the brothel, the brother and sister make a run for it, turning up at Mr. Dogenzaka’s house.
However, there’s still a long way to go for the young aspiring writer and he and Mariko have to work in the new household to pay for their keep. It’s while ‘Geppo’ is bringing in the household laundry one day because a thunderstorm is rumbling in the distance, that he comes across a bespectacled student in the garden. Startled, the student introduces himself as Subaru Karasuma and admits in a trembling voice as Mr. Dogenzaka appears that he’s afraid of thunderstorms. He’s come for the literary salon – but ‘Geppo’ is not yet invited to join in; he’s just there to bring the tea and serve the guests. This only fuels his burning desire (and anger) to become one of them but there are still so many hurdles to overcome…
In the second volume of A Starlit DarknessYuu Toyota turns the clock back to show us what really lies behind Geppo Yagira’s good looks and polished, confident smile. I’ve used ‘Geppo’ for the successful novelist’s backstory because he’s not referred to by name and Geppo Yagira is the penname he assumes when his first work is published. It’s a distressing account and even though the mangaka doesn’t linger over the abuse the boy suffers as a young male prostitute, choosing to convey his fury and disgust in a striking single page montage of words and images, the impact isn’t lessened in any way. The suppressed anger has never really left him even now that he’s a successful author, as shown by his reactions at home with his sister to the bad reviews his latest novel has received. And to stoke his slow-burning fury, his nemesis from early days, Subaru Karasuma, has reappeared from nowhere after years of silence – and won a literary prize for which he was also short-listed. So now they’re rivals (in Geppo’s mind) once more. There are some engrossing scenes showing their early encounters and the gauche Subaru’s inspirations and thought processes as a writer which give ‘Geppo’ much food for thought.
As in the first volume, Yuu Toyota spins a compelling tale (enhanced by the 1920s background) of a rivalry between two authors from very different backgrounds who each desire what the other has: Geppo wants the literary accolades that Subaru has achieved and Subaru envies Geppo for his popularity and good looks. We can see that this is not going to end well. Every now and then the mangaka’s distinctive, recognizable style reminds us of her best-known work Cherry Magic! in the character art but the historical elements with beautiful kimono and graceful geisha add something new. Geppo’s female editor is also a refreshing addition, encouraging him to write to entertain, educate and inform women so that they’re ready for the ‘modern world’ – even as the male critics are sneering at his works as mere pandering to his female audience.
Translation for Square Enix Manga is again by Kiki Piatkowska with lettering by Arbash Mughal and their work conveys the powerful narrative really convincingly. There’s a page of helpful translation notes and an illustrated page of Special Thanks by the mangaka at the end; it’s great to have a colour illustration of Geppo at the beginning; he’s on the cover as well as this volume is very much his story. However, even though there’s mention of Volume 3 from the mangaka at the end, there’s no sign of it yet in Japan, so it might be a long wait before we find out what happens next.
A free preview can be read on the publisher’s website here.
Our review copy from Square Enix Manga was supplied by Turnaround Comics (Turnaround Publisher Services)
Sarah
Sarah’s been writing about her love of manga and anime since Whenever – and first started watching
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