Manga Debuts: Deriwo no Oshigoto
I still fondly remember when Morning Two was a published magazine and not just an imprint hidden away on Kodansha’s Comic Days site (yes, it has its own web page as well, but still!). It’s a Japanese magazine/imprint that has been home to a variety of heartwarming and engaging manga over the years, such as Animeta!, 1122: For a Happy Marriage, and Saint Young Man. And that’s something that, despite the move from print media to digital websites, hasn’t really changed. Today I’m here to talk about one of their currently running titles, Deriwo no Oshigoto, which has released its first volume.
Deriwo no Oshigoto has been serialised through Morning Two since December 2024 and is mangaka Kotora Aoshima’s first long-running work. Volume 1 was released in print and digitally in Japan in May, with a second volume currently loosely scheduled for Fall 2025. Since the imprint is seinen, the language and grammar can be a bit challenging for language learners, particularly since there is little to no furigana, and the topic often involves otaku media with numerous references to such. Still, it shouldn’t be too difficult to muddle through if you’re a more advanced reader or more interested in those subjects generally.
The Premise
Our story follows Sakurako, an otaku who's been living a shut-in lifestyle. When we first meet her, we find her preparing to meet Fuji, a handsome sex worker she’s called to help her lose her virginity. But just as the two get down to doing the deed, Sakurako’s nerves get the better of her and she stumbles away from Fuji and accidentally turns on her TV, which is playing a sexual video featuring her favourite character: Shion.
But to her surprise, Fuji recognises and is also a fan of Shion and the series she’s from! Now, Sakurako feels comfortable revealing herself as an otaku, and the two end up staying up all night together, not engaging in sexual activities, but instead playing video games and nerding out. The next morning, Sakurako resolves to bid farewell to Fuji, but to her surprise, he suggests that they become friends and meet up again sometime.
Now, Sakurako finds herself looking forward to spending time with Fuji. She finally has someone she can share her favourite hobbies with, who will listen and be able to relate to her. But could it be that she’s also starting to fall in love…?
Charming Leads
Given the way this series begins, you’d be forgiven for thinking it may end up being explicit or more focused on mature topics, but that’s not how it develops. The starting point isn’t just for shock value or quickly forgotten either, though, as mangaka Kotora Aoshima goes to the effort of exploring what led to Sakurako’s desire to have her first time.
There’s still a lot we don’t know about Sakurako, such as why she’s living this shut-in lifestyle, but it feels like the story will slowly reveal that. There’s certainly plenty of focus put on bringing her out of her shell and having her enjoy new experiences thanks to her friendship with Fuji. At first glance, they’re a mismatched duo, given Sakurako’s casual and unkept look while Fuji is a handsome young man who draws the eye. However, they have fairly similar personalities and soon find that having one another in their lives is filling a hole they didn’t know they needed filled.
Fuji, for his part, has his share of hardships. He works in the sex business, but at home he lives with his two brothers, who recently lost their parents. The youngest of the three isn’t given an age, but he’s clearly in the range of 6-8, so at that age, he probably needs a lot of support and attention from Fuji and his other brother. So, although we don’t know exactly why Fuji chose this job, it’s easy to imagine that it’s partly because it gives him a lot of flexibility for pitching in at home.
It’s the depth of the characters that contrasts well with the relatively light-hearted way the cast usually spends their days. There’s no real drama here; we’re simply watching over the two as they geek out over their hobbies and gradually fall in love. It’s early days when it comes to the romance, of course, but I think they’ll make a good couple down the road. There’s certainly a lot of chemistry here, and you get the sense that they’re good for each other.
The Mangaka
For what appears to be Kotora Aoshima’s first series, the art is very detailed and vibrant. The characters are expressive, and the backgrounds are filled with detail that adds to the tone of the scene, or simply helps convey the world the two inhabit. I especially enjoyed watching how Sakurako’s expressions changed scene to scene, as they’re well-drawn and sometimes hilarious. It feels polished, and even when the mangaka is going a little bit over the top for comedic value, there’s a mature atmosphere to the whole work that helps prevent the comedy from ever overwhelming the more down-to-earth elements.
I could certainly see the author getting into some more difficult or deeply emotional subject matter as it goes on too (particularly when it comes to the history of the two leads), but I don’t get the sense Aoshima will let it get dragged down by that and instead balance it with the gentle everyday.
Both the artwork and overall tone remind me of Wotakoi or Otaku Vampire’s Love Bite, just without the fantasy or the heavy reliance on otaku references for the gags. But certainly if you’re looking for something in a similar vein to those two, this is a great option.
In Closing
Deriwo no Oshigoto is still at the starting line for a lot of things, including the romance element and delving into the past of the characters. However, there’s a lot of heart here, and Kotora Aoshima clearly has the skills to deliver a work that’s not just entertaining, but extremely charming. It’s well balanced and will appeal to a large range of readers, both for its subject matter and for having slightly older characters taking the lead.
Deriwo no Oshigoto can be read in Japanese on Kodansha's Comic Days website, with some chapters available for free. Volume 1 is available in print and digitally now.
©Kodansha / Kotora Aoshima
