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La Grossesse de M. Hiyama
Un monde dans lequel les hommes cis peuvent aussi tomber enceints ?! C'est l'univers qu'imagine Eri Sakai, dans "La Grossesse de M.Hiyama", un shôjo manga disponible en série télé sur Netflix, et qui questionne avec légèreté et pertinence sur la manière dont nos sociétés regardent la grossesse
Cela fait environ dix ans que, suite à une évolution naturelle, tous les hommes fertiles peuvent tomber enceints. Et jusqu'à ce que ça lui arrive, Kentarô Hiyama n'avait jamais envisagé cette éventualité. Salaryman chargé d'un poste à responsabilité, coureur de jupons célibataire, il profitait de la vie sans réfléchir aux conséquences. Mais quand son médecin lui annonce qu'il est enceint d'environ dix semaines, il devra tout remettre en question. Réalisant alors à quel point la société est inégalitaire, il décide de porter l'enfant à terme et de créer sa place lui-même.
Cela fait environ dix ans que, suite à une évolution naturelle, tous les hommes fertiles peuvent tomber enceints. Et jusqu'à ce que ça lui arrive, Kentarô Hiyama n'avait jamais envisagé cette éventualité. Salaryman chargé d'un poste à responsabilité, coureur de jupons célibataire, il profitait de la vie sans réfléchir aux conséquences. Mais quand son médecin lui annonce qu'il est enceint d'environ dix semaines, il devra tout remettre en question. Réalisant alors à quel point la société est inégalitaire, il décide de porter l'enfant à terme et de créer sa place lui-même.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 13, 2023
This was a very good manga, thank you to myself for buying it for my birthday *gives a hug*.
In this manga we follow a man who is pregnant, yep, welcome to a world where men can get pregnant. However, it is still not really socially accepted (they are often seen as gay or feminine) and we see how our MC goes through many emotions, figuring out if he should keep the baby or not? Then what about his work, what about other men who are pregnant or have kids? I loved seeing him get stronger with each page. Get more comfortable being pregnant, I loved that he was looking forward to his kid as the time neared.
However, it was at times a bit confusing as I thought it was just about the guy being pregnant, but it also shows other people and their pregnancies/abortions and how the general populace feels about male pregnancies.
I am happy I read this one. I would definitely recommend it!
In this manga we follow a man who is pregnant, yep, welcome to a world where men can get pregnant. However, it is still not really socially accepted (they are often seen as gay or feminine) and we see how our MC goes through many emotions, figuring out if he should keep the baby or not? Then what about his work, what about other men who are pregnant or have kids? I loved seeing him get stronger with each page. Get more comfortable being pregnant, I loved that he was looking forward to his kid as the time neared.
However, it was at times a bit confusing as I thought it was just about the guy being pregnant, but it also shows other people and their pregnancies/abortions and how the general populace feels about male pregnancies.
I am happy I read this one. I would definitely recommend it!
November 8, 2023
3.5 rounded up.
When men began to be able to carry children roughly ten years ago (in the story's world), not much really changed - the default expectation was still that mothers would be the main caregivers and pregnant men were low-key looked down on. In fact, male pregnancy didn't really bring about the legislative or social revolutions people were half-expecting. So when Kentaro finds himself expecting after a casual hookup, he's not quite sure what to do. But as he weathers the micro (and macro) aggressions and thinks about what he really wants to do, he decides to have the baby - and to make things easier for the other birthing dads out there.
This is a book with a fabulous concept and execution that doesn't quite go far enough. Kentaro never really sees himself as different from the pregnant women he meets (although that's something he has to learn), but most of the social commentary is fairly low key, so if you're reading this looking for a revolution, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, women who become pregnant or who simply have the possibility of it are often treated as lesser workers and citizens, and the book does handle that; in fact, it seems to be using gender roles to show that reproductive health is an everyone issue. That's the strongest piece of this book - from the woman who's the mother of Kentaro's baby to a high school boy who has an abortion to a woman whose husband is pregnant but doesn't seem to understand that his changes are something that she's already been through, this really tries to consider all angles. It's interesting in a very positive way.
When men began to be able to carry children roughly ten years ago (in the story's world), not much really changed - the default expectation was still that mothers would be the main caregivers and pregnant men were low-key looked down on. In fact, male pregnancy didn't really bring about the legislative or social revolutions people were half-expecting. So when Kentaro finds himself expecting after a casual hookup, he's not quite sure what to do. But as he weathers the micro (and macro) aggressions and thinks about what he really wants to do, he decides to have the baby - and to make things easier for the other birthing dads out there.
This is a book with a fabulous concept and execution that doesn't quite go far enough. Kentaro never really sees himself as different from the pregnant women he meets (although that's something he has to learn), but most of the social commentary is fairly low key, so if you're reading this looking for a revolution, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, women who become pregnant or who simply have the possibility of it are often treated as lesser workers and citizens, and the book does handle that; in fact, it seems to be using gender roles to show that reproductive health is an everyone issue. That's the strongest piece of this book - from the woman who's the mother of Kentaro's baby to a high school boy who has an abortion to a woman whose husband is pregnant but doesn't seem to understand that his changes are something that she's already been through, this really tries to consider all angles. It's interesting in a very positive way.
April 21, 2022
yeah i read this bc of the netflix jdrama. what about it.
i wish they'd talked about you know. the pregnant men that very much do exist in real life. but this was a surprisingly refreshing and thoughtful take on mpreg and the imdb reviews definitely do not reflect the drama's actual quality. pretty solid and quick read
i wish they'd talked about you know. the pregnant men that very much do exist in real life. but this was a surprisingly refreshing and thoughtful take on mpreg and the imdb reviews definitely do not reflect the drama's actual quality. pretty solid and quick read
November 19, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley, for a free copy of this manga.
So, this may seem like a weird pick, but I kinda like pregnancy stories. If you also like them, I would recommend reading this one, but keep in mind that this is not a romance. This history focuses more on social commentary: Would society be more inclusive if men were the ones getting pregnant? Or would they also have to deal with being treated diferent?.
How this manga presents everyone story to answer this questions was really interesting to read.
It is also short, so it's great to pass the time.
Favorite part: "i'will be damned if I let a man show me how it's done"
So, this may seem like a weird pick, but I kinda like pregnancy stories. If you also like them, I would recommend reading this one, but keep in mind that this is not a romance. This history focuses more on social commentary: Would society be more inclusive if men were the ones getting pregnant? Or would they also have to deal with being treated diferent?.
How this manga presents everyone story to answer this questions was really interesting to read.
It is also short, so it's great to pass the time.
Favorite part: "i'will be damned if I let a man show me how it's done"
November 11, 2023
So in this world men can now have babies too but it happens far less than the other way around.
The main character decides the world doesn't respect or know enough about men who get prego. So he opens up a place for Men who get pregnant and work through it together. This leads to most chapters being about other characters and all linking to him eventually. It's enjoyable and covers a lot of pregnant issues and joys on both ends. It ends with a huge time skip which was interesting, and wonder how they'll continue.
A 3.5 but I'll bump it to a 4.
The main character decides the world doesn't respect or know enough about men who get prego. So he opens up a place for Men who get pregnant and work through it together. This leads to most chapters being about other characters and all linking to him eventually. It's enjoyable and covers a lot of pregnant issues and joys on both ends. It ends with a huge time skip which was interesting, and wonder how they'll continue.
A 3.5 but I'll bump it to a 4.
December 6, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy
First thing first, you need to forget about basic biology to enjoy this story. The manga itself exploring how society deal with pregnant people. This was good and unique.
First thing first, you need to forget about basic biology to enjoy this story. The manga itself exploring how society deal with pregnant people. This was good and unique.
November 9, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the e-book copy!
I wasn't sure what I was getting when I requested this. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. In this manga, men are able to get pregnant and we mainly follow a male who gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby. Even though, we mostly follow one person's story we get other side stories set in this world. The commentary was plausible and will have the audience speculating how they would react to male pregnancy. I recommend checking this out if the premise intrigues you.
I wasn't sure what I was getting when I requested this. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. In this manga, men are able to get pregnant and we mainly follow a male who gets pregnant and decides to keep the baby. Even though, we mostly follow one person's story we get other side stories set in this world. The commentary was plausible and will have the audience speculating how they would react to male pregnancy. I recommend checking this out if the premise intrigues you.
November 23, 2023
Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this manga through NetGalley.
2023 52 Book Challenge - 4) Title Starting With The Letter H
I thought this was a pretty nice read. It tried for a bit of social commentary on the issues of pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy on a person. I liked the characters and I can't wait for book 2.
2023 52 Book Challenge - 4) Title Starting With The Letter H
I thought this was a pretty nice read. It tried for a bit of social commentary on the issues of pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy on a person. I liked the characters and I can't wait for book 2.
February 9, 2024
Summary:
Ten years ago, the world changed as we realized that a small percentage of the male population could get pregnant. Unsurprisingly, it's something that society has struggled to adjust to. Likewise, it's been an eye-opening experience for all those involved.
Kentaro Hiyama is a career-minded man with solid aspirations. Aspirations, which may be on the line now that he knows he's pregnant. The good news is that this is quite the lesson for him – making him aware of the discrimination many pregnant people face.
Review:
Every now and then, you come across a series that makes you stop. He's Expecting Vol. 1 was the most recent series to do that to me. It's a great concept with a lot of potential to help people reassess their biases.
This book was and wasn't what I was expecting. On the one hand, I'm thrilled that we got to see a character grow and learn. On the other hand, it's frustrating that this character needed to be forced into somebody's shoes before he cared.
Side note: in case it wasn't obvious, this book focuses a lot on pregnancy. It's not just about Kentaro's pregnancy but the pregnancy of many women he meets throughout his journey. If that's not your cup of tea, I would pass.
Oddly enough, the core concept of He's Expecting Vol. 1 reminded me of Y: The Last Man. I think it's because one would expect the story to be more woman-centric, but it isn't. It's an interesting thought.
Highlights:
Manga
Pregnant Men
Different Perspective
Will I continue the series? Nah, one was perfect.
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Ten years ago, the world changed as we realized that a small percentage of the male population could get pregnant. Unsurprisingly, it's something that society has struggled to adjust to. Likewise, it's been an eye-opening experience for all those involved.
Kentaro Hiyama is a career-minded man with solid aspirations. Aspirations, which may be on the line now that he knows he's pregnant. The good news is that this is quite the lesson for him – making him aware of the discrimination many pregnant people face.
Review:
Every now and then, you come across a series that makes you stop. He's Expecting Vol. 1 was the most recent series to do that to me. It's a great concept with a lot of potential to help people reassess their biases.
This book was and wasn't what I was expecting. On the one hand, I'm thrilled that we got to see a character grow and learn. On the other hand, it's frustrating that this character needed to be forced into somebody's shoes before he cared.
Side note: in case it wasn't obvious, this book focuses a lot on pregnancy. It's not just about Kentaro's pregnancy but the pregnancy of many women he meets throughout his journey. If that's not your cup of tea, I would pass.
Oddly enough, the core concept of He's Expecting Vol. 1 reminded me of Y: The Last Man. I think it's because one would expect the story to be more woman-centric, but it isn't. It's an interesting thought.
Highlights:
Manga
Pregnant Men
Different Perspective
Will I continue the series? Nah, one was perfect.
Thanks to Kodansha Comics and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
June 19, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ a fun and interesting read
December 31, 2023
When men all of a sudden are able to become pregnant Kentaro Hiyama does not expect he'll end of being one of those rare men who found themselves pregnant. But here he is pregnant, single, and with only a vague idea of who the mother is. Kentaro has never even wanted kids much less to be pregnant and now he has to figure out how to be a father and a mother!?
This was cute and probably a needed look at just what it means to become a mom whether you've planned for children or not. And while Sakai doesn't dive too deeply into each of issues that are addressed here I found them all to be really well handled. Everything from how society treats single moms, to trying to navigate marriage while pregnant, to what it feels like to not be able to have children to abortion, and the all important question of if men could have babies how different our world would work in terms of family leave; it's all touched on briefly. The fact that they really try to be all encompassing here was what I loved about this the most. Sakai clearly just gets it.
Overall, absolutely recommend this adorable manga. It's a lighthearted view on some serious social issues that effect so many of us.
This was cute and probably a needed look at just what it means to become a mom whether you've planned for children or not. And while Sakai doesn't dive too deeply into each of issues that are addressed here I found them all to be really well handled. Everything from how society treats single moms, to trying to navigate marriage while pregnant, to what it feels like to not be able to have children to abortion, and the all important question of if men could have babies how different our world would work in terms of family leave; it's all touched on briefly. The fact that they really try to be all encompassing here was what I loved about this the most. Sakai clearly just gets it.
Overall, absolutely recommend this adorable manga. It's a lighthearted view on some serious social issues that effect so many of us.
December 5, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. I thought the premise for this book sounded really cute and interesting, I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed the story. The characters were all really fun, I found that reading dual POV's for the situation (men being able to get pregnant) was really eye-opening. I think a lot of things were surprisingly realistic, including the stigma surrounding male pregnancy and a lack of education regarding safe sex practices. The idea was really well executed, I think this being a manga was the best medium to tell the story as well.
January 4, 2024
So, this story could go a lot of different ways with this title. Having it be a story about men advocating for pregnancy rights was not what I was expecting. This one is a very interesting story. I will read the next volume to see how it finishes out. But I can see not everyone appreciating this one. Some people will be very uncomfortable with this, and I get it. If you are interested, I would recommend picking it up.
December 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this! It's an interesting take on pregnancy with some males getting pregnant. Kentaro is a hardworking single man who suddenly finds himself pregnant. This goes through his progress with his pregnancy and his daily experiences. It also had stories about other people's experiences with being pregnant. I definitely want to read more.
April 26, 2023
La paternité est mon sujet de recherche comme sociologue, alors je lis à peu près tous les mangas qui parlent des pères. Je n'étais toutefois pas tellement attirée par celui-ci, qui aborde la grossesse d'un homme, dans un monde où cela est devenu possible (pour un homme sur dix). J'avais un peu peur que cela soit encore une fois que les "hommes avec la possibilité d'enfanter" soient assimilés à un statut inférieur, comme cela est le cas dans les omegaverse du BL...
Mais c'est très loin de cela! En fait, M. Hiyama est rempli de défauts, totalement pris au dépourvu par la situation, qui envisage l'avortement sérieusement et qui réalise graduellement toutes les discriminations que la grossesse occasionne... Et qui reconnait souvent, dans les répliques spontanées de ses collègues, ses propres opinions passées!
On montre également à quel point une grossesse d'homme n'est pas exactement la même chose, qu'une grossesse de femme, chacune ayant leur lot de défis. Quand il décide d'utiliser sa situation pour faire avancer la cause, il se fait dire: "Vous avez de la chance quand même! C'est une arme pour vous, d'être enceint. C'est tellement normal pour les femmes de tomber enceintes que personne ne nous écoute comme ça..." (ce qui n'est pas faux: dans mes études, un père qui en fait plus que la norme est un héros, alors la mère qui en fait autant/plus que lui est seulement... une mère).
Ce manga montre avec brio toutes les petits et grands problèmes de nos sociétés à gérer le temps de la grossesse... En un seul tome! Je suis maintenant curieuse de voir l'adaptation Netflix! Et aussi de lire la suite qui explorera la paternité de M. Hiyama, avec d'autres comportements à dénoncer, j'en suis sûre!
Mais c'est très loin de cela! En fait, M. Hiyama est rempli de défauts, totalement pris au dépourvu par la situation, qui envisage l'avortement sérieusement et qui réalise graduellement toutes les discriminations que la grossesse occasionne... Et qui reconnait souvent, dans les répliques spontanées de ses collègues, ses propres opinions passées!
On montre également à quel point une grossesse d'homme n'est pas exactement la même chose, qu'une grossesse de femme, chacune ayant leur lot de défis. Quand il décide d'utiliser sa situation pour faire avancer la cause, il se fait dire: "Vous avez de la chance quand même! C'est une arme pour vous, d'être enceint. C'est tellement normal pour les femmes de tomber enceintes que personne ne nous écoute comme ça..." (ce qui n'est pas faux: dans mes études, un père qui en fait plus que la norme est un héros, alors la mère qui en fait autant/plus que lui est seulement... une mère).
Ce manga montre avec brio toutes les petits et grands problèmes de nos sociétés à gérer le temps de la grossesse... En un seul tome! Je suis maintenant curieuse de voir l'adaptation Netflix! Et aussi de lire la suite qui explorera la paternité de M. Hiyama, avec d'autres comportements à dénoncer, j'en suis sûre!
November 5, 2023
Mots Clés: manga, josei, science-fiction, slice of life, grossesse
Ce titre m’avait beaucoup intrigué lors de sa sortie car imaginer un monde où la grossesse masculine est possible n’est pas un sujet si commun (à part dans certains yaoi, bien évidemment).
On rencontre M.Himaya, qui découvre qu’il est enceinte. Il doit donc faire face à un choix : garder l’enfant ou avorter. Bon, ce n’est pas un spoiler si je vous dis qu’il choisit la première option je pense.
Ce que j’ai aimé dans ce manga, c’est qu’on a le point de vue de plusieurs personnages, des femmes, des hommes, tous touchés d’une manière ou d’une autre par une grossesse. Cela nous permet d’avoir différents points de vue sur la question.
C’est un manga bienveillant je trouve. Les personnages sont tous attachants, avec leurs qualités, leurs défauts et leur manière de se remettre en question. Cela nous rappelle qu’effectivement, une fois qu’on est personnellement touché par une situation, on ne réagit plus de la même manière que quand les autres faisaient face à la même chose.
Je recommande ce manga à ceux qui se demande à quelles problèmes font face les personnes enceintes.
Ce titre m’avait beaucoup intrigué lors de sa sortie car imaginer un monde où la grossesse masculine est possible n’est pas un sujet si commun (à part dans certains yaoi, bien évidemment).
On rencontre M.Himaya, qui découvre qu’il est enceinte. Il doit donc faire face à un choix : garder l’enfant ou avorter. Bon, ce n’est pas un spoiler si je vous dis qu’il choisit la première option je pense.
Ce que j’ai aimé dans ce manga, c’est qu’on a le point de vue de plusieurs personnages, des femmes, des hommes, tous touchés d’une manière ou d’une autre par une grossesse. Cela nous permet d’avoir différents points de vue sur la question.
C’est un manga bienveillant je trouve. Les personnages sont tous attachants, avec leurs qualités, leurs défauts et leur manière de se remettre en question. Cela nous rappelle qu’effectivement, une fois qu’on est personnellement touché par une situation, on ne réagit plus de la même manière que quand les autres faisaient face à la même chose.
Je recommande ce manga à ceux qui se demande à quelles problèmes font face les personnes enceintes.
January 28, 2024
Ce manga m'intriguait et j'ai profité d'un achat d'occasion pour le découvrir. Hé bien, c'était une belle surprise.
L'histoire peut paraître assez légère mais la thématique centrale de la grossesse rajoute un certain sérieux.
Ici, les hommes ont un pourcentage de chances de tomber enceints et de mettre au monde un enfant.
Ce que j'ai aimé, c'est que même si cela est impossible, l'auteur n'est pas parti dans quelque chose d'extravagant. On prend en compte le physique d'un homme et s'il souhaite mener sa grossesse à terme, il devra passer par la case césarienne.
La grossesse est au centre de l'histoire (évidemment). On s'intéresse à la place qu'elle peut prendre dans la société que ce soit dans la vie de tous les jours (transports en commun) ou au travail (avec les congés, l'absence due aux désagréments ou à un enfant malade). Le manga est composé de plusieurs chapitres et chaque chapitre est consacré à un personnage plus ou moins concerné par la grossesse. J'ai vraiment aimé suivre plusieurs personnages et avoir plusieurs points de vue.
C'était une bonne lecture. À la fois légère et sérieuse. Avec assez d'humour.
L'histoire peut paraître assez légère mais la thématique centrale de la grossesse rajoute un certain sérieux.
Ici, les hommes ont un pourcentage de chances de tomber enceints et de mettre au monde un enfant.
Ce que j'ai aimé, c'est que même si cela est impossible, l'auteur n'est pas parti dans quelque chose d'extravagant. On prend en compte le physique d'un homme et s'il souhaite mener sa grossesse à terme, il devra passer par la case césarienne.
La grossesse est au centre de l'histoire (évidemment). On s'intéresse à la place qu'elle peut prendre dans la société que ce soit dans la vie de tous les jours (transports en commun) ou au travail (avec les congés, l'absence due aux désagréments ou à un enfant malade). Le manga est composé de plusieurs chapitres et chaque chapitre est consacré à un personnage plus ou moins concerné par la grossesse. J'ai vraiment aimé suivre plusieurs personnages et avoir plusieurs points de vue.
C'était une bonne lecture. À la fois légère et sérieuse. Avec assez d'humour.
June 17, 2023
Avis : bien que le premier chapitre sorti en numérique en même temps que la série Netflix ne m'avait pas vendu du rêve car il y avait un loupé sur un détail qui m'avait dérangé. Puis une fois l'annonce du volume 1 pour la paternité de mr Hiyama. Akata m'a proposé de le recevoir je suis donc d'abord allé acheter le one shot pour savoir s il m'intéressait ou pas, et au final j'ai adoré le manga et super intéressant c'est cool de voir une autre vision de la grossesse. Le manga est super bien développé et travaillé.
Le développement des personnages est aussi très bien fait. Bref j'adore.
Hâte de lire la suite quand le volume 2 sera sorti en France.
Le développement des personnages est aussi très bien fait. Bref j'adore.
Hâte de lire la suite quand le volume 2 sera sorti en France.
June 30, 2024
This is a funny manga that speaks about misogyny, unwanted pregnancies, double standards, and so on. However, it does it from a place of empowerment and social work. Some of the topics are hard, but while they're treated as such, there's not that much doom and gloom that you would expect. It does seem a bit idealistic at times, but it is a comfort reading for sure.
Full review: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
Full review: https://tintanocturna.blogspot.com/20...
November 16, 2024
c'est sympathique de voir plusieurs personnes/couples différentes dans chaque chapitre et de ne pas se concentrer uniquement sur Hiyama, mais malheureusement on se retrouve à voir un peu les mêmes situations revenir et au final, on ne voit pas vraiment l'entièreté de la grossesse et comment chaque stade se passe. l'histoire fini donc très vite, et on en ressort avec l'impression qu'il manque plusieurs choses pour avoir quelque chose de vraiment satisfaisant.
November 7, 2023
i genuinely enjoyed this far more than i expected to!! (even tho i did watch the drama based off of this manga and i loved it very much).
i love how each chapter focused on new ppl and their stories, and how it touched on tough subjects like the sexist double standards that exist in the workplace.
honestly such a good short read
i love how each chapter focused on new ppl and their stories, and how it touched on tough subjects like the sexist double standards that exist in the workplace.
honestly such a good short read
January 4, 2024
4.5. I very much appreciate the commentary in these different perspectives on a world where men can now get pregnant. It's a nice first look at a society, and people's reactions. It doesn't go too deep, but it touches on the subjects enough that I felt not satisfied and curious to know more of this world or perhaps other stories
April 21, 2023
• une bonne lecture
November 12, 2023
It was great the whole idea of man being pregnant was funny the humor in the manga. My favorite character was kentaro. Nothing bored me the design of the characters was amazing I'll give it 10/10
March 10, 2024
J'ai préféré la série
April 20, 2024
Not very groundbreaking since all it did was say that since pregnant women suffer under the patriarchy, men should be pregnant and suffer under the patriarchy too.
June 9, 2024
That was really really cute.
November 7, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!
Kentaro is a man living in a speculative world in which it has recently become biologically possible for men to become pregnant. After having unprotected sex with a casual partner he discovers that he is pregnant. The story follows him over the course of his pregnancy well as a series of other characters navigating this new reality as it affects each of them differently.
I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect (yes, of course the pun is intended) going into this one! I've read plenty of omegaverse manga in my time and this is definitely not that. Do not read this expecting smut or even romance. The focus is instead on the thought exercise of a world where men can become pregnant. On the whole, it appears society has not changed much. Many people still consider pregnancy and children a burden in the workplace. If someone is pregnant out of wedlock people still think ill of them male or female. The world is not made to accommodate parents and the children they care for.
The story peers at the changes within individuals as they experience pregnancy or are connected to someone who is. The idea is explored through many eyes. At the center is Kentaro, a well-off businessman who decides to raise his child as a single parent. There is also a teenage couple who repair their relationship after an abortion, the woman who is the mother of Kentaro's child, and a single woman who similarly chooses to be a single parent.
The story I found most interesting was about a housewife who gave birth to their first child and is now dealing with her husband experiencing pregnancy. It sheds light on the imbalance of the mental load it takes to have a family and keep a home. Admittedly, I don't know that the story brought the husband to fully understand what his wife has been dealing with all those years, but it at least opens up the conversation.
This could have tread into some really tricky territory, but Sakai seemed to know what they were looking to say and stayed within that lane. Overall I found this quite refreshing and would recommend it as something a little different!
Kentaro is a man living in a speculative world in which it has recently become biologically possible for men to become pregnant. After having unprotected sex with a casual partner he discovers that he is pregnant. The story follows him over the course of his pregnancy well as a series of other characters navigating this new reality as it affects each of them differently.
I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect (yes, of course the pun is intended) going into this one! I've read plenty of omegaverse manga in my time and this is definitely not that. Do not read this expecting smut or even romance. The focus is instead on the thought exercise of a world where men can become pregnant. On the whole, it appears society has not changed much. Many people still consider pregnancy and children a burden in the workplace. If someone is pregnant out of wedlock people still think ill of them male or female. The world is not made to accommodate parents and the children they care for.
The story peers at the changes within individuals as they experience pregnancy or are connected to someone who is. The idea is explored through many eyes. At the center is Kentaro, a well-off businessman who decides to raise his child as a single parent. There is also a teenage couple who repair their relationship after an abortion, the woman who is the mother of Kentaro's child, and a single woman who similarly chooses to be a single parent.
The story I found most interesting was about a housewife who gave birth to their first child and is now dealing with her husband experiencing pregnancy. It sheds light on the imbalance of the mental load it takes to have a family and keep a home. Admittedly, I don't know that the story brought the husband to fully understand what his wife has been dealing with all those years, but it at least opens up the conversation.
This could have tread into some really tricky territory, but Sakai seemed to know what they were looking to say and stayed within that lane. Overall I found this quite refreshing and would recommend it as something a little different!
December 30, 2023
"What's their deal?! When a woman gets pregnant, it's practically
law
that you start
celebrating!
But a man? No, he's a
laughingstock!
I'm having the baby.
"
This was surprisingly a fun read!
I say surprisingly because I really didn't know what to expect when starting. Most of the reviews I had seen said "Turn off your brain" when it came to him physically having a child, but I found I didn't have an issue.
Kentaro makes an interesting protagonist because he is full out there telling people he's pregnant. I can't say that I ever hid any of my pregnancies, but it seems that there is more pressure? Or hardship? when it comes to those who are pregnant in Japan?
While I know he opens up a cafe for pregnant men or those who have been pregnant, it made me wonder if there is a need for that kind of place for pregnant women in reality? It was a very brief moment, but the scene about the strollers because it's not easy to have or bring them on the train, so therefore someone opened a rental stroller company made me sad a little bit. I think it's normalized in the States that it's expected every new parent gets a stroller, but it doesn't sound the same in Japan?
And it wasn't just moments like this, I think that for a male pregnancy, it really captured the fears, the worries, and the joys of being pregnant. I thought we would be following one protagonist, but each chapter focused on someone new and their struggle of being pregnant or feeling the effects of someone being pregnant. Each person's struggle was very compelling and loved how the story did have a happy ending because we saw how Kentaro really DID make a difference with him proudly telling people he was pregnant.
Overall, I found this to be an insightful and fun read that I enjoyed reading! I would definitely be interested in reading volume two and seeing where the story goes!
*(I received an e-copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
This was surprisingly a fun read!
I say surprisingly because I really didn't know what to expect when starting. Most of the reviews I had seen said "Turn off your brain" when it came to him physically having a child, but I found I didn't have an issue.
Kentaro makes an interesting protagonist because he is full out there telling people he's pregnant. I can't say that I ever hid any of my pregnancies, but it seems that there is more pressure? Or hardship? when it comes to those who are pregnant in Japan?
While I know he opens up a cafe for pregnant men or those who have been pregnant, it made me wonder if there is a need for that kind of place for pregnant women in reality? It was a very brief moment, but the scene about the strollers because it's not easy to have or bring them on the train, so therefore someone opened a rental stroller company made me sad a little bit. I think it's normalized in the States that it's expected every new parent gets a stroller, but it doesn't sound the same in Japan?
And it wasn't just moments like this, I think that for a male pregnancy, it really captured the fears, the worries, and the joys of being pregnant. I thought we would be following one protagonist, but each chapter focused on someone new and their struggle of being pregnant or feeling the effects of someone being pregnant. Each person's struggle was very compelling and loved how the story did have a happy ending because we saw how Kentaro really DID make a difference with him proudly telling people he was pregnant.
Overall, I found this to be an insightful and fun read that I enjoyed reading! I would definitely be interested in reading volume two and seeing where the story goes!
*(I received an e-copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
December 24, 2023
A big thanks to Kodansha and NetGalley for the opportunity to read He's Expecting.
If I could summarize my thoughts with one phrase, it would be "well-intended." It's clear what Eri Sakai wants to problematize and bring to light. It's not a complete 180; men are pregnant in a world where women can still get pregnant, are taken for granted, and still have to carry the burdens they did in the past. It leads to a lot of moments that shine: Kentaro realizing how pregnant women are treated, and actually, he was the same until recently. How he was able to turn his pregnancy into an opportunity and was able to soar in his career, opening a cafe for solidarity between pregnant dads, and in contrast, there's no such opportunity or place for women. There are a lot of interesting touches. However, they are only surface-level.
I don't expect the artist to go into 'full realism turbo mode' but if your pregnant character can plop onto a bed face down with a protruding belly, or the only complication to pregnancy is 'morning sickness' and you never see fatigue, pain, or concern, it becomes apparent that this work still needs thinking through. There's only a single part where he admits that he's stretching himself thin, but pregnancy itself is a tough ordeal. In the end, I feel like Kentaro turns into a 'superwoman'; all-capable, never gets tired, is on top of everything, never needs help, he can raise a kid AND advance in his career AND open up a cafe.
To conclude, while I might seem harsh on the work, this is not a bad volume at all. I felt like it needed either more work or the content could have been expanded into more than one volume. Still, there's a lot of food for thought, and is worth giving a chance!
If I could summarize my thoughts with one phrase, it would be "well-intended." It's clear what Eri Sakai wants to problematize and bring to light. It's not a complete 180; men are pregnant in a world where women can still get pregnant, are taken for granted, and still have to carry the burdens they did in the past. It leads to a lot of moments that shine: Kentaro realizing how pregnant women are treated, and actually, he was the same until recently. How he was able to turn his pregnancy into an opportunity and was able to soar in his career, opening a cafe for solidarity between pregnant dads, and in contrast, there's no such opportunity or place for women. There are a lot of interesting touches. However, they are only surface-level.
I don't expect the artist to go into 'full realism turbo mode' but if your pregnant character can plop onto a bed face down with a protruding belly, or the only complication to pregnancy is 'morning sickness' and you never see fatigue, pain, or concern, it becomes apparent that this work still needs thinking through. There's only a single part where he admits that he's stretching himself thin, but pregnancy itself is a tough ordeal. In the end, I feel like Kentaro turns into a 'superwoman'; all-capable, never gets tired, is on top of everything, never needs help, he can raise a kid AND advance in his career AND open up a cafe.
To conclude, while I might seem harsh on the work, this is not a bad volume at all. I felt like it needed either more work or the content could have been expanded into more than one volume. Still, there's a lot of food for thought, and is worth giving a chance!
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