Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare by Kamatani Yuhki follows high schooler, Kaname Tasuku in his struggles with sexual orientation and ultimately learning to find himself. In that journey of self-discovery, the thing that I enjoyed quite a bit that can be lost in heterosexual circles of media is that imperfect, messy character. The chaos that comes with not only being a high schooler, but one that is wrapped in confusion, delights as that journey goes from start-to-finish.
The first interaction that we get with Tasuku in his classroom with the intrusive classmates is a very real and heartbreaking situation. It's one thing to be put on blast for something you do in leisure, like a hobby or sport, yet being outed about something that is done in private hits different. Being that young, you don't take the precautions that you would as an adult or even being open about your sexuality in general. Especially when that sexual orientation is not necessarily the social norm. The confrontation and snap decision that comes with something as taboo as being gay in high school is to deny it. This problem has never been exclusive to any culture, yet many men in high school whether they are gay or not will be confronted with something like this. It's a kind of cruel tax that comes from people that don't know any better or have been imbued with the ignorance or hate of a generation that wants to keep people from expressing themselves. What I'm getting at is that interaction is one that cuts deep and I get it. It hurts to see Tasuku have to deny himself at the beginning of the story in order to feel comfortable going to school.
After this incident Tasuku meets Someone-san, who identifies as Asexual, or Anonymous, depending on the translation, where he is brought to a drop-in center and meets a slew of other people that are in a similar boat. In this whirlwind, Tasuku is able to form that sense of community that keeps him afloat. All the while helping fellow patrons, Haruko, a lesbian, and Utsumi, a trans-man, in their community development projects. This balancing act of accepting oneself and also trying to figure out what kind of building should cement Tasuku's footprint on the redevelopment project intertwines nicely. To go back to that lovely chaos without giving too much away about the story. The journey that Tasuku goes on with the people that inhabit the drop-in center is a flurry of heartbreak and elation. These people that try to work within the confines of what they know and not necessarily what they need is something that is often missed in those perfect relationships.
That urge to tell characters like Tasuku, Haruko, or Utsumi that it'll be fine as they get these problems thrown at them is what makes me really appreciate this series. The decisions they make aren't always going to be the best and that's fine. These moments make it all the sweeter when they do actually succeed in what they plan out. As a disclaimer, there is language used in this series that is harsh and may in fact make it harder to read for some. That's fine if the language makes you hesitant, but the reality in many LGBTQIA+ series and in real life features that same level. That's not to deter or tell people to get over it, but to realize this is the world others have to live in. Nevertheless, Our Dreams at Dusk: Shimanami Tasogare is beautiful read that blooms in the chaos embedded within its world.
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