Haru o Daiteita

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Embracing Love


caption = Katou Youji and Iwaki Kyousuke
ja_name = 春を抱いていた
ja_name_trans = Haru o Daiteita
genre = Drama, Romance, YaoiInfobox animanga/Manga
author = Youka Nitta
publisher = Biblos
publisher_en = Be Beautiful
demographic =
magazine =
first = April 1999
last =
volumes = 14Infobox animanga/OVA
director = Yoshikata Nitta
studio = Trinet Entertainment
released = March 31 2005 — May 27 2005
episodes = 2

nihongo|"Embracing Love"|春を抱いていた|Haru o Daiteita is a yaoi manga by Youka Nitta. It is published in English by Be Beautiful Manga. In addition to the manga, a drama CD and OVA have been released.

Plot

It tells the story of Iwaki and Katou, two adult film stars who are trying to achieve mainstream success. They are both invited to audition for a new erotic film and see this as their last chance to achieve this success. The success of film and the subsequent television adaption help their careers and bring the two men closer to each other.

Characters

Iwaki Kyosuke - A reserved man who has put his work before his personal life. He has a strained relationship with family due to his adult film career and relationship with Katou. Voiced by Toshiyuki Morikawa in the OVA.

Katou Yoji - He is bold, outgoing, up-and-coming actor. His openness has brought him both good fortune and trouble. Voiced by Shinichiro Miki in the OVA.

Sawa Nagisa - The author of the novel "Haru wo Daiteita", who used to be a salaryman but now dresses in female clothing. Voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue in the OVA.

Sawa Yukihito - Sawa Nagisa's younger cousin and lover. Voiced by Chihiro Suzuki in the OVA.

Kazunari Urushizaki - Katou's stalker who looks like a younger Iwaki, he becomes a reporter to better follow Katou. Voiced by Kentarou Itou in the OVA.

Katsuya Kikuchi - An actor who some years ago had a same-sex relationship scandal, he is jealous of the positive public reaction to Iwaki and Katou's relationship. Voiced by Ken Narita in the OVA.

OVA

The OVA of Haru wo Daiteita was licensed for English release in 2006, [Anime News Network (2006) [http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-02-25/cpm-to-release-embracing-love CPM to release Embracing Love] ] consisting of two episodes.

Reception

The refreshing "reversible" nature of the couple has been praised, as has the conceit of them both being AV actors, which has been described as being unusual in yaoi. [Crocker, Janet (2005) [http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/2005/12/review/13.php Embracing Love Volume 1] Animefringe] The interspersion of humour and everyday life in the series has also been praised,O’Connell, M. [http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=99 "Embracing Yaoi Manga: Youka Nitta"] . "Sequential Tart". April 2006.] as has the "honesty of the emotions" in the work. [Rosato, Josie [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-aka-haru-wo-daiteita-vol02_article_82554.html Embracing Love (aka: Haru wo Daiteita) Vol.#02] ] Iwaki's continuing refusal to have sex with men has been seen as odd, given his profession. [Rosato, Josie [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-aka-haru-wo-daiteita-vol01_article_82495.html Embracing Love (aka: Haru wo Daiteita) Vol.#01] ] By volume 3, the art style has "softened", described as being reflective of the softening of the characters. [Rosato, Josie [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-aka-haru-wo-daiteita-vol03_article_82781.html Embracing Love (aka: Haru wo Daiteita) Vol.#03] ]

The structuring of the OVA episodes has been criticised, as "it's not exactly clear what time period we're watching." The OVA episodes have been said to be "quite tame", as no genitalia are visible. [Beveridge, Chris [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-cherished-spring_article_80193.html Embracing Love: Cherished Spring] ]

References

External links

* [http://trinet.cata.jp/harudaki/ Official Trinet website] ja icon
* [http://www.bebeautifulmanga.com/showSeries.cfm?seriesid=5 Be Beautiful site]
* [http://www.boysonboysonfilm.com/anime/haruwodaiteita.html Boys on Boys on Film]
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* [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-aka-haru-wo-daiteita-vol04_article_83349.html]
* [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-aka-haru-wo-daiteita-vol05_article_83411.html]
* [http://www.mania.com/embracing-love-artbook-vol01-kiss-fire_article_83134.html]