Yume no Hashibashi, Volume 1 (夢の端々 上) is a story told by leaps backwards in time, of a relationship between two women that would never have been allowed to thrive.
The book begins in 2018, as Kiyoko, who is 80 years old, lives with her daughter and granddaughter. She is visited by an old friend, Mitsu. They talk about what might have been and part, promising to meet again. Some short time thereafter, Kiyoko learns that Mitsu has been killed in an accident.
From there on, we look backwards at their lives; specifically, at the points where they might have been able to make something happen, but couldn’t, and at one passionate night spent together. Kiyoko – who sees no other path possible for herself – marries. Mitsu who decides on a career, deals with all the obstacles for a woman who decides to have a career rather than a family. This volume ends in 1961, but that is not where the story begins.
This is the first of a two volume set that will end where the relationship began, with two young women who could not be together. It’s historical, and sad, and interestingly, rather than beautifully drawn, with deep emotion covered by banal words. Volume 2 will plumb the depths of their relationship and the choice that sets the events of volume 1 in motion.
It’s not a happy story, as you might imagine, but one I think is worth reading, particularly if you are younger and never experienced the almost-complete inability to maintain a same-sex relationship that existed in the 20th century for most women. We celebrate those people who manged it, but for many – probably most – it was not a tenable solution. Women were not allowed to have credit cards without a male signatory during my lifetime. Even if they worked. This reality might seem unbelievable, and that is exactly why this story ought to be read.
Ratings:
Art – 8
Story – This is tough to score. It’s told well, but is painful to watch. 7?
Characters – 7 Kiyoko is mopey, but we understand why
Service – Not really
Yuri – 7
Overall – 7
While we in 2021 look forward to a new world in which all of this is alien and inconceivable, it’s important, I think, that we remember what those who oppose our existence would like to return to. This world may be imperfect, but it would have been kinder to Kiyoko and Mitsu than the one they had.
Wow, that was an interesting review, thanks! I love stories like this, so I am already regret that I have no opportunity to read this manga. I would be looking forward to your review of the second volume, if you have such a intention.
I intend to review Volume 2. ^_^
I would love to read this story! Any chance that it will be translated?
Or should I brush up on my Japanese😅
There is no legitimate translation for this. Brushing up on your Japanese is always worth the effort. ^_^
I usually don’t read Yuri in Japanese, the volume coming out in English these days is enough for me, but this one is definitely on my Japanese plan-to-read. Many Yuri or BL I’ve read, to the extent there’s historical settings, gloss over historical homophobia for the sake of the main romance progressing as usual for the genre, so I’m interested in reading a more realistic take, even more so after reading this review.
I was raised by my, working-class, grandparents, so compared to other people of my age I know more of this time period, and one distinctly without rose-tinted glasses. My granddad has told me a few times about one time he was in Manchester in the early 1960s, and saw a gay couple kissing within sight of a police officer (thankfully the officer didn’t take an action in that case). But even though we now live next door to what may be Britain’s lesbian capital (Hebden Bridge), I never heard anything about lesbians, which probably speaks to their invisibility to the extent their relationships could even exist at all…
(correct me if I’m wrong but, from the preview pages I read, doesn’t the manga start in 2018 rather than 1980?)
Yes, you are correct, that is a typo, I’ll fix it.