My Thoughts:

I thought I understood manga, and frankly, manga reminds me of my teen self hanging out at the book stands in Osaka, or as a boy mom and high school teacher, sitting on the floor of our local Barnes and Noble with my teenaged son just reading manga on a Saturday afternoon. What I learned about all the manga reading is that it is a great way to reach our aliterate readers. Aliterate means that readers (in my experience, mostly male readers) know how to read, but they choose not to read, and therefore are "aliterate." By choosing not to read, in its extreme, I mean that they will not even read directions on worksheets and will instead either wait until the teacher gives the directions or just keep asking what they need to do. Either way, I though Ihad seen every manga and there was nothing new.

And then The Way of the House Husband was given to me by my manga reading son, no longer a teen. The irony is right before the pandemic, he was finishing college in Oregon and working at Barnes and Noble. He is no longer working at Barnes and Noble, but on a little excursion to Powell's in Portland, he quickly book talked this manga. Fabulous!

So on my quest to find another "new" manga that adds something new to the genre, I have been searching for something different. This manga series, Love's in Sight! may just push the manga envelope enough to excite old and new readers to manga. This book has a bad boy character who realizes that being a high school dropout is cool only until you are too old to be in high school. He finds that the bad boy scar on his face makes it problematic to actually get a job. He wants to not be a thug, but people don't give him a chance. That is until Yukiko literally runs into him and Morio is in love because she "sees" him through her hands. Since she is visually impaired his look does not scare her and that makes him melt and gush. Her seeing him beyond the outside gives him the confidence to do better for her. It is like Morio could grow up to be the house husband from The Way of the House Husband.

I like this new look at Asian male masculinity.

From the Publisher:
Morio Kurokawa is the toughest-looking tough guy around. Yukiko Akaza is a self-possessed girl with a vision impairment attending a school for the blind. The whole city fears Morio, but Yukiko sees the real him—he’s a soft sweetheart who’s just searching for his place in the world!

Mori the Black Panther has won over a hundred fights. He’s beloved by his goons and feared by the public. But now, he faces his biggest challenge yet when he meets Yukiko…and falls in love at first sight! Can Morio outgrow his delinquent roots and turn over a new leaf for his unexpected love?

Publication information:

Author/artist: Uoyama
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (April 18, 2023)

I really liked this Manga! It did a great job of introducing characters that was fun and exciting. It was a quick read but already there has been some character depth and growth and I can't wait for the next book! This is a super fun story of a blind girl who meets and spends time with a gangster who no one will hire or interact with because of a scar on his face. He is thoughtful and attentive to her needs and is always learning new things to think about regarding her blindness and difficulties interacting with the world. I received a free e-arc of this title through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Love’s in Sight! is a four-panel manga series featuring a visually impaired female protagonist and the delinquent who becomes her love interest.

Love’s in Sight! Volume One
Written by: Uoyama
Publisher: Media Factory
English Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: April 18, 2023

The volume opens by introducing an 18-year-old boy named Morio Kurokawa, a delinquent and high school dropout who has a reputation for being mean. One day, a visually impaired 16-year-old girl named Yukiko Akaza is trying to use the tactile sidewalk and finds Morio blocking her way. She jabs her cane into his ass and tells him to move. When she has a conversation with Morio and learns he has a scar, she touches his face and is legitimately concerned about it. When she does this, Morio blushes and becomes putty in her hands. After this, Morio starts following Yukiko around and trying to protect her. This leads to Yukiko asking Morio out on a “date,” in the hopes that he’ll lose interest and leave her alone when he sees how much work it is to date someone with her impairment.

However, even though the “date” is a little awkward at times, Morio discovers that Yukiko can enjoy going to a movie by following along with audio descriptions, which starts opening his eyes to the fact that even though Yukiko’s vision may be impaired, it doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy the same things as individuals without a visual impairment. And Yukiko finds that even though this “date” was meant to chase off Morio, she has a good time and wants to continue being around him.

After meeting Yukiko and getting to know her, Morio decides he wants to try to get a job. Unfortunately, due to a scar by his eye that he acquired during a fight with another delinquent, employers decide he looks too scary for a customer service job and refuse to hire him. Yukiko doesn’t truly understand the prejudice he’s receiving, since she can’t clearly see his face, but she has an interesting way of looking at the situation that gives Morio confidence to continue trying to look for work in the next town over.

While job hunting in the other town, he comes across a video store and becomes upset when he discovers that it primarily relies on customers using a self-checkout kiosk and has a limited in store staff, since this is inconvenient for Yukiko and others with visual impairments. It was awesome to see Morio, the former delinquent, turn into an advocate for Yukiko and others with visual impairments. Thanks to the fact that Morio’s former rival is a manager at the store, and that Morio helps his former rival’s grandmother and her friends at the store even though he’s not an employee, the former rival gets Morio a job. With this new job, Morio is able to start working with the staff to make the store is more accessible to visually impaired patrons.

Near the end of the volume, we are introduced to Yukiko’s older sister, Izumi, who is taking care of Yukiko while attending college. We see that Izumi cares about her sister but can also be overprotective because she has a hard time realizing who Yukiko is beyond her disability. But with help from Morio, Yukiko is able to start making her sister see that there’s more to her than just her visual impairment and that she’s not as helpless as Izumi thinks.

As I read Love’s in Sight! Volume One, the story grabbed me rather quickly when Yukiko was introduced and discovering that one of the main protagonists has a disability. And the Morio we meet at the beginning of the series doesn’t initially come across like he’s going to be a typical protagonist. Even though he does evolve and change as a character over the course of Volume One, he still comes across as an atypical protagonist. Obviously, the change in his character doesn’t happen overnight, so he has awkward moments as he’s still learning how to interact with Yukiko and finding ways to make it easier for the two of them to interact. In a lot of ways, though, they’re both “others” in our society: Yukiko’s visual impairment makes her “different,” and the way Morio looks scary to others makes him “different.” They both encounter prejudice and misunderstandings, although it’s for very different reasons, and I like this contrast between these two characters.

I thought the relationship and interactions between Morio and Yukiko were amusing and engaging, and those interactions endeared me to them. I enjoyed what I read in Volume One, and I’m hoping to have the opportunity to read future volumes of the series to see if it can continue to be as strong as what I saw here.

When it comes to the art, one thing I noticed and appreciated is that there are occasional panels where Uoyama is drawing the panel from Yukiko’s point of view, so there are few, if any details, to the drawings. For a manga that has a protagonist with a visual impairment, I thought this was a great touch and acknowledges that Yukiko’s impairment is more than just a fact that the reader has to accept. I think that being able to see a scene from Yukiko’s perspective on occasion adds weight to her visual impairment. I also thought that Uoyama did a great job of designing all of the characters, and they each have a distinct look that works perfectly with their personalities.

In the author’s note at the end of the volume, Uoyama mentions that they wrote this manga so more people can understand that people with disabilities are not unapproachable and are right beside us. I think that with Volume One, they have succeeded in this goal. It’s also stated that Love’s in Sight! is Uoyama’s first work, and I find it impressive that they were able to launch their career with a title like this one.

If you’re a fan of shojo manga, you’ll likely enjoy what Love’s in Sight! has to offer. This is a title I would also recommend to manga readers who appreciate or are looking for stories that feature a character with a disability that portrays the character in a positive light.

"Cat got your tongue?!" YES because the big bad cat in town gets absolutely floored by an adorable girl. Nothing I love more than seeing the big, bad, touch exterior character become absolutely enamored by their total opposite.

A chance encounter between delinquent Morio and blind Yukiko will change both their lives forever. Morio's scar brands him as a tough guy, always getting into fights. When he meets Yukiko - a blind girl who judges him by his words and not his face - he begins to question who he's been and strives to get on a better life path. Yukiko's encounter with Morio opens an avenue of friendship that lets her try new things unhindered by expectations about what it means to be blind.

This is a sweet, awkward story of friendship turning towards love. I enjoy how both characters are growing together. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Kurokawa is the toughest boy in town- known for his hard looks and bad boy attitude, it couldn't be further from the truth. One fight when he was 10 years old set the course for the rest of his life. Now 18, Kurokawa finds himself unapproachable in public. That is until Yukiko, a young girl with a vision impairment, quite literally runs into him.

It was a case of insta-love for Kurokawa, and he spends most of this volume proving himself to be a worthy boyfriend to Yukiko, who just wants to live her life in peace. The sassy 16 year old girl eventually begins to fall for Kurokawa, and we get to see the couple navigate problems like finding a job, dealing with the rain, and even Kurokawa proving himself worthy to Yukiko's overbearing sister.

This novel was funny and cute, and I enjoy this couple's story. 4/5 stars.

This manga was very cute and I enjoyed the light art style. I felt the beginning was a tad rushed, as their relationship wasn't very clear. I really enjoyed seeing a sight impaired character though, and would have definitely picked this up in a bookstore. I think if the start of their relationship was a tad clearer, this would be a great book.

This was the nice start to a cute fluffy shoujo. I love the character dynamic in this story, they don't seem like they would be a good match but it just works. I love the representation for the blind in this story, I don't think it's a disability that gets much representation and it was done really well. It was a good story while still really educating people about the daily struggles. I also love the message of not judging a person by the way they look. This book had so many good messages while being a cute romance. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #vizmedia for this E-ARC of #LovesinSightVol1 by Uoyama to read and review.

There is a manga for everything. "Love's in Sight!" is a manga that happens to be a romantic comedy that involves a main character with visual impairment. This is a feature, not a bug, to the other main character, a delinquent. They date, have wholesome shenanigans, and the readers get to learn about life for people with visual impairments/blindness and accessibility options along with the (reformed) delinquent. The art is a little rough at times but the story is pretty solid. There are laughs but the people with visual impairment/blindness is never the punchline. (I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.)

Thank you NetGalley and Viz Media for allowing me to review this arc copy of this manga.

I love the premise of this series. The main male character, Morio, isn't what you expect. He's not a stereotypical delinquent. He falls for Yukiko, a person with low vision, and learns so much from her. Just as Yukiko learns from Morio.

I liked how you get to see how hard it is to navigate the world without sight. It is an eye-opening experience (no pun intended). It made me think of how societies still marginalize those that are visually and hearing impaired.

I think this would be a great edition to any library collection because it was cute, funny, but also it makes the reader aware of the obstacles that can be faced on a daily basis.

Thank you again NetGalley and Viz Media for the pleasure of reading this arc manga.

This manga quite cute and very wholesome. It showcases the fluffier side of having a crush and a relationship- nice one!

"Love in Sight!" by Ooyama is a charming and lighthearted manga that will make readers fall in love with the characters and their romantic journey. The story follows the unlikely relationship between Ayase, a high school girl who is blind, and Yano, a popular boy who is secretly a manga artist.

One of the standout aspects of this manga is its unique premise. The fact that Ayase is blind adds an interesting layer to the story and allows for some creative storytelling techniques, such as descriptions of the world through her other senses. This also makes her character feel more fleshed out and relatable, as readers get a glimpse into her everyday struggles and triumphs.

The romance between Ayase and Yano is sweet and heartwarming, with plenty of cute moments that will make readers smile. The chemistry between the two is palpable, and it is easy to root for their relationship to succeed. The supporting cast of characters, including Ayase's best friend and Yano's manga editor, are also well-written and add to the overall enjoyment of the story.

The art in "Love in Sight!" is simple yet effective, with expressive character designs and clean paneling that make the story easy to follow. The use of different visual cues to represent Ayase's blindness is also a nice touch, and adds to the overall atmosphere of the manga.

Overall, "Love in Sight!" is a delightful manga that is sure to appeal to fans of romance and slice-of-life stories. With its unique premise, lovable characters, and heartwarming romance, it is a must-read for anyone looking for a feel-good story that will leave them with a smile on their face.

This was a neat read. Definitely a fan of the plot but found the pacing a bit weird. I would probably still read another volume to see what happens but I would t say this is a new fav by any means

I received a free ebook ARC from Viz Media via NetGalley. Yukiko has a vision impairment and Morio the Blank Panther is a tough looking delinquent everybody fears. Yukiko can’t see his tough persona, she just gets to know Morio for how he treats her. A relationship blossoms between the two of them and Morio wants to better himself for Yukiko. Swoon!

This was such a cute manga! I would totally keep reading this series. The fun little stories between the couple finding their way together made me smile. Great personalities and good secondary characters as well. More please.

Yukiko and Morio are the epitome of opposites attract. Yukiko has a vision impairment, and she's tired of putting up with her sister's constant worrying. Morio is a directionless dropout who gets into fights. The knife scar under his eye doesn't help with his reputation of being one of the toughest. scariest guys around.

But Yokiko can't see Morio the way others do, and when she treats him differently than anyone else something in his heart breaks open. The directionless dropout suddenly has a goal - woo Yokiko and do everything he can to make her happy.

In addition to the adorable meet-cute and ensuing romance, Love's in Sight discusses accessibility needs for people like Yokiko, individuals with other disabilities, and the accommodations needed for older adults. The manga is light-hearted, quick-paced and issue-oriented.

Recommended for purchase at high school and public libraries. Put into the hands of every shojo reader!

Who doesn't love a "bad boy" with a heart of gold? This gave me I Hear the Sunspot vibes, though much funnier and sillier. It's a very cute premise I think will appeal to many, and it also provides awareness for the struggles that blind folks deal with every day.

Thank you to Netgalley and VIZ Media for the eARC.

"If you don't cram yourself into highly specific roles, society doesn't treat you like a person."

This manga was a work of art. It is a beautiful exploration of disability, (very minor) disfigurement and the treatment disfigured people receive, and love, all packaged in a funny, awkward, lovely little package. I can't wait for more.

I absolutely adored this manga! Such a sweet romance between a bad boy and a blind girl as they both grow and change together.

"If you don't cram yourself into highly specific roles, society doesn't treat you like a person."

Those words, thought by male lead Morio Kurokawa, nicely sum up the point of this book. Morio's an eighteen-year-old high school dropout with a face that scares people and no job (the two are related) when he meets Yukiko Akaza, a sixteen-year-old high school second year who is legally blind. They first encounter each other when she rams her cane into his butt when he's standing on the tactile paving, and the fact that she's not afraid of him touches his heart, because he really is just a big mush. And for his part, Morio doesn't think that there's anything wrong with Yukiko - she's clearly a fully capable human being, it's just that most people only see her disability and nothing beyond that. Thus begins a fluffy little romance replete with some very solid messaging about how EVERYONE deserves to be treated with respect.

There is one very clear risk this series runs, and that's using Yukiko for inspiration porn. It skirts the line a few times, but largely avoids it by dint of a scene where Morio gets mad at a video rental place for not being at all accessible and the manager quickly discovers that his elderly grandmother can also use the accommodations Morio suggests. It's a human dignity thing, not a disability thing, but it's also an element of the story it bears keeping an eye on.

Overall, however, this is a nice start, and it's worth checking out.

My library's manga collection is very strongly skewed towards the standard Shonen fantasy adventure type stuff, and I'm continuously on the lookout for series to add to it to address that balance. This ticks just about all the boxes I could wish for. It's funny, cute, and romantic in equal measures, and contains disability representation that (as far as I can tell) is accurate and sensitive.

I believe this title will be appealing to any readers who enjoyed Komi Can't Communicate, or just manga rom-com in general.