Sasaki and Miyano is a Japanese manga series created by Shou Harusono, originally published on pixiv in 2015 under a different title before becoming a serialized work on Gene Pixiv in 2016. This story follows the daily lives of the delicate-looking Miyano Yoshikazu, who is self-conscious about his feminine appearance, and Sasaki Shuumei, a slightly rebellious upperclassman. The series blends sweet, awkward BL comedy with heartfelt high school moments. As of October 2024, the combined series has surpassed 2.3 million copies in circulation and it inspired spin-offs, anime, a stage play, and even a feature film.
Sasaki and Miyano started as a pixiv webcomic in February 2015 called "A Little Story of Sasaki and Miyano." Due to its growing online popularity, it was renamed and fully serialized on Gene Pixiv (KADOKAWA) in February 2016, quickly evolving into a flagship series for the publisher. The relatable characters and gentle humor helped the comic stand out in the BL genre, pioneering the so-called "boys' life" approach—focusing on everyday slice-of-life rather than only romance.
The series is set in a typical Japanese all-boys high school, providing a familiar yet intimate stage for youthful friendship, confusion, and romance. Dormitory life, school clubs, and the cultural traditions of Japanese high school provide both setting and thematic elements. The world feels grounded with details like wind discipline committee duties, dorm roommate pairings, and bustling after-school club activities.
The core of the story revolves around the shy, effeminate Miyano Yoshikazu and his chance encounter with the bold yet sweet-natured upperclassman Sasaki Shuumei. After Sasaki rescues Miyano from a schoolyard scuffle, they're drawn together, bonding over Miyano’s secret love of BL manga. Sasaki’s curiosity about BL stories and affection for Miyano spark a gentle, sometimes comic, journey as the two boys navigate their feelings, peer relationships, and personal growth.
The spin-off "Hirano and Kagiura" explores the relationship between the charismatic Hirano Taiga and his adoring, awkward roommate Kagiura Akira. Set in the same high school but focused on dorm life, it follows the nuanced, sometimes clueless, and always sincere interactions between upperclassman and underclassman.
- BL (Boys' Love): A genre centering on romantic relationships between male characters, often created by and for women. In "Sasaki and Miyano," the theme is handled with comedic realism and tender awkwardness.
- Wind Discipline Committee: A typical school organization in Japan responsible for upholding school rules and standards.
- Boys’ Life: Used in the promotional material for the series to emphasize everyday slice-of-life elements rather than dramatic romance.
The Sasaki and Miyano series includes the main manga, which as of March 2024 spans 10 collected volumes, a spin-off "Hirano and Kagiura" with five volumes as of February 2025, light novels, artbooks, official guidebooks, and anthologies. There are also drama CDs and audio readings featuring the anime’s cast.
The television anime adaptation aired from January to March 2022 on major Japanese networks, running for 12 episodes and featuring the signature gentle humor and chemistry that made the manga iconic. A film adaptation, "Sasaki and Miyano: Graduation," hit theaters in February 2023, alongside a short film version of the "Hirano and Kagiura" spin-off.
A stage adaptation was performed at Theater 1010 in July 2022, with a dedicated cast bringing the characters to life for live audiences.
The anime was helmed by director Shinji Ishihira at Studio DEEN, with character designs by Maki Fujii and music by Kana Shibue. The production committee featured representatives from KADOKAWA and other key industry players. The stage production was led by supervisor/director Naohiro Ise, with a live music performance by Yuuki Sekine.
- Opening Theme: "Mabataki," performed by Miracle Chimpanzee, a bright and energetic track echoing the fresh spirit of the series.
- Ending Theme: "Strawberry Sunset," sung by voice actors Yusuke Shirai (Sasaki) and Soma Saito (Miyano), capturing the sweet, tender vibe of the boys' relationship.
- Character Song: "Blue Earrings," performed by the voice actors for Hirano and Kagiura.
Sasaki and Miyano consistently ranked in the top 10 for the "Web Manga General Election," achieving 5th place in both 2017 and 2018, and 8th in 2020. In the special 2023 Web Manga General Election for pixiv Comic's 10th anniversary, it took first place.
The series' blend of gentle BL themes and naturalistic school life quickly earned a passionate following online. Its approachable tone helped introduce a wider audience to BL, emphasizing relatable friendship and adolescent self-discovery. Having sold over 2.3 million copies, its success triggered drama CDs, a TV anime, a feature film, and a popular spin-off.
The work is praised for its sensitive handling of self-image, high school social dynamics, and the sometimes clumsy but earnest attempts of the main characters to understand themselves and each other. The anime adaptation and stage play added to its multi-media popularity, sustaining its reputation as a heartfelt classic in modern BL and youth slice-of-life storytelling.
💬 Community Discussion
Talk about this anime with people who actually care.