It took a while for me to get into the second and final volume of Gengoroh Tagame’s superb series, My Brother’s Husband, because not a whole lot initially happens (the whole onsen episode). And, really, not much happens afterwards either - in that regard, this feels like a superfluous book. Yaichi has accepted his dead brother Ryoji’s homosexuality and he and his daughter Kana have become friends with his brother-in-law, burly Canadian bear Mike - that’s the arc and it was done by the end of Volume 1.
Still, there’s so many feels later on in this book that, even if it does seem a little unnecessary, it’s impossible not to like. Seeing Yaichi, Kana and Mike’s relationship blossom further is heart-warming and Yaichi continues to grow as a person. From someone who turned his back on his brother for being gay, he’s now sticking up for Mike after a schoolteacher is alarmed that Kana’s uncle is living, what is still in Japan, a taboo lifestyle. And Yaichi seeing the photos of his brother’s wedding and how his bigotry led him to miss out on such an important occasion - *bawls*!
That whole final half is one long sob-fest so fair warning, guys. Mike listening to the closeted gay kid and giving him advice, Yaichi taking Mike to his parents’ graves, Mike saying his goodbyes to both Kana and Yaichi individually - this manga is all heart.
My Brother’s Husband, Volume 2 is a bit overlong with a slow beginning but Gengoroh Tagame’s crafted a modern masterpiece with this series. Here’s hoping the real audience for this title - close-minded Japanese - learn to become more accepting and loving like Yaichi. Nothing good ever came from prejudice.
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