Even Though We're Adults Explained

Ja Kanji:おとなになっても
Ja Romaji:Otona ni Nattemo
Type:manga
Author:Takako Shimura
Publisher:Kodansha
Demographic:Josei
Magazine:Kiss
First:March 25, 2019
Last:August 24, 2023
Volumes:10
Volume List:
  1. Publication

is a Japanese yuri manga written and illustrated by Takako Shimura. It was serialized in Kodansha's Kiss magazine from March 2019 to August 2023.

Plot

When Ayano, an elementary school teacher in her thirties, runs into a friendly woman, Akari, at favourite bar, sparks begin to fly. As the night comes to a close, Ayano goes in for a kiss, however their new formed connection becomes far more complicated when Akari finds out that Ayano has a husband.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Takako Shimura, Even Though We're Adults was serialized in Kodansha's Kiss magazine from March 25, 2019,[1] to August 24, 2023.[2] The series was collected in ten volumes from October 2019 to November 2023.

The series is licensed for an English release in North America by Seven Seas Entertainment.[3]

Volume list

Reception

Erica Friedman of Yuricon in her review of volume 1 noted her ambivalent relationships towards Shimura's work due to the "varying degrees of verisimilitude" that Shimura has toward gender and sexual minorities within their work; further commenting that "this story feels equal parts solid and kind of icky. It may also be that I’m not particularly thrilled to have either another “messy relationship with a married woman story” or a story that makes the lesbian performatively self-loathy. At the same time, there are elements here that keep bringing me back to this story" [4] In her volume 6 review she went on to praise the series as a whole, "I’m still of the belief that this is Shimura-sensei’s best work to date and I just hope she has a clear ending in mind – whether it’s the ending I want, or not."[5]

Anna Williams, writing from Comic Book Resources, noted that Shimura handled the topics of marriage, cheating, and discovering one's sexuality in adulthood, with "expertise and grace"; remarking that the series "is an absolute must-read series for anyone searching for a yuri manga that chooses to take a much more somber, bittersweet look at love."[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:志村貴子が大人の女性同士の恋を描く新連載「おとなになっても」Kissで始動. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/325286. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. August 22, 2023. ja. March 25, 2019. March 21, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230321152319/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/325286. live.
  2. Web site: Even Though We're Adults Manga Ends in 10th Volume (Update). Anime News Network. June 1, 2023. August 15, 2023. June 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230604180141/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-06-01/even-though-were-adults-manga-ends-in-10th-volume/.198690. live.
  3. Web site: Seven Seas Adds New Manga by Takako Shimura, Kabi Nagata. Anime News Network. April 24, 2020. August 15, 2023. February 1, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230201120541/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-24/seven-seas-adds-new-manga-by-takako-shimura-kabi-nagata/.158953. live.
  4. Web site: Friedman. Erica. February 4, 2021. Even Though We're Adults, Volume 1. August 15, 2023. Okazu. August 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230815014249/https://okazu.yuricon.com/2021/02/04/even-though-were-adults-volume-1/. live.
  5. Web site: Friedman. Erica. June 21, 2022. Otona ni Nattemo, (おとなになっても) Volume 6. August 15, 2023. Okazu. August 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230815014250/https://okazu.yuricon.com/2022/06/21/otona-ni-nattemo-%E3%81%8A%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AA%E3%81%AB%E3%81%AA%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A6%E3%82%82-volume-6/. live.
  6. Web site: Williams. Anna. The Best Yuri Manga Depicting Realistic Relationships. Comic Book Resources. December 1, 2022. August 15, 2023. April 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424220246/https://www.cbr.com/best-yuri-romance-manga-depicting-healthy-relationships/. live.