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Manly Appetites: Minegishi Loves Otsu #1
Manly Appetites: Minegishi Loves Otsu, Vol. 1
One True Pairing: Food and Boys' Love!
Minegishi is a successful salaryman, respected by his colleagues, but he’s got an insatiable desire at the office: he loves feeding his grumpy coworker, Otsu. But is Otsu as hungry as he is? A sweet and savory BL office comedy!
Minegishi is a successful salaryman, respected by his colleagues, but he’s got an insatiable desire at the office: he loves feeding his grumpy coworker, Otsu. But is Otsu as hungry as he is? A sweet and savory BL office comedy!
136 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2019
42 people are currently reading
895 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
July 1, 2024
So I waffled on my review here. Taking this manga at face value, as a light-hearted, funny BL involving a mixed-weight not-quite-couple, it would be five stars. It has some great, extremely saccharine admissions of feelings and takes the romance as seriously as any other light-hearted BL would. There's no questions if the skinny character loves the fat character, except from the fat character's own insecurities.
That's where we come into the four star rating. Otsu, the fat character, has a lot of internalized fatphobia. I don't think this is a bad thing, and is realistic, especially for Japan. We see how he's treated poorly for his weight, and how he developed the feelings about his body he has. This isn't some magical world where everyone is okay with Otsu being fat; he has coworkers that comment on it or give him looks. Otsu calling himself names or thinking poorly of himself is usually combatted by Minegishi stating he likes how Otsu looks, or by others saying that Otsu is missing the point of Minegishi's intentions.
Minegishi says he like to watch Otsu eat because he wants him to experience pleasurable things. It's a time when the normally grumpy Otsu actually enjoys himself, and Minegishi likes seeing that.
But it does skate the line of fetishization and feederism, so I can understand any other fat people turned off by the concept. It can't just be about wanting to see Otsu be happy, as Minegishi nearly passes out any time he hears Otsu wants to diet or lose weight. While I'm anti-diet myself, it comes down to the fact that this is a red flag for a lot of fat people in relationships with feeders. There's an element of control and domination with (some) feeders, where they will lose interest in a relationship if their fat partner loses weight.
Minegishi reacting the way he does is why I knocked off a star. While meant as comedy, It just cuts too close to the lived reality of a lot of bad and abusive relationships fat people are in because we feel we don't deserve better.
I think if there was more manga with fat characters, this wouldn't have to be so closely scrutinized to decide if it's fatphobic, fat positive or fetishizing fat people. But as it is, I want any fat person reading this manga to go in prepared so they don't end up triggered by the content, and I want skinny people to be able to understand why some fat people won't enjoy this manga.
I think it's a step in the right direction, but I do wish we could have a romance manga with a fat character that didn't revolve around food, or eating, or weight at all. Maybe someday.
That's where we come into the four star rating. Otsu, the fat character, has a lot of internalized fatphobia. I don't think this is a bad thing, and is realistic, especially for Japan. We see how he's treated poorly for his weight, and how he developed the feelings about his body he has. This isn't some magical world where everyone is okay with Otsu being fat; he has coworkers that comment on it or give him looks. Otsu calling himself names or thinking poorly of himself is usually combatted by Minegishi stating he likes how Otsu looks, or by others saying that Otsu is missing the point of Minegishi's intentions.
Minegishi says he like to watch Otsu eat because he wants him to experience pleasurable things. It's a time when the normally grumpy Otsu actually enjoys himself, and Minegishi likes seeing that.
But it does skate the line of fetishization and feederism, so I can understand any other fat people turned off by the concept. It can't just be about wanting to see Otsu be happy, as Minegishi nearly passes out any time he hears Otsu wants to diet or lose weight. While I'm anti-diet myself, it comes down to the fact that this is a red flag for a lot of fat people in relationships with feeders. There's an element of control and domination with (some) feeders, where they will lose interest in a relationship if their fat partner loses weight.
Minegishi reacting the way he does is why I knocked off a star. While meant as comedy, It just cuts too close to the lived reality of a lot of bad and abusive relationships fat people are in because we feel we don't deserve better.
I think if there was more manga with fat characters, this wouldn't have to be so closely scrutinized to decide if it's fatphobic, fat positive or fetishizing fat people. But as it is, I want any fat person reading this manga to go in prepared so they don't end up triggered by the content, and I want skinny people to be able to understand why some fat people won't enjoy this manga.
I think it's a step in the right direction, but I do wish we could have a romance manga with a fat character that didn't revolve around food, or eating, or weight at all. Maybe someday.
May 28, 2022
You know what, it's a hatecrime that vol 2 is out of stock everywhere! What am I supposed, wait like a regular person???
This was really cute and Minegishi reminds me a bit of Luo Binghe from Scum Villain (because he has a huge crush on Otsu, who is absolutely oblivious xD), so that means he's easily my favourite. I wish it had an overarching storyline, but after learning that this story was born on twitter, I understand why it has short chapters.
Things to note: it does slightly feel like Minegishi has a feeder kink. Also Otsu is so harsh toward himself, he has so much internalised fatphobia. I hope he will learn to accept himself in the next volumes!
I really liked this and I hope these two idiots will learn to express their feelings!
This was really cute and Minegishi reminds me a bit of Luo Binghe from Scum Villain (because he has a huge crush on Otsu, who is absolutely oblivious xD), so that means he's easily my favourite. I wish it had an overarching storyline, but after learning that this story was born on twitter, I understand why it has short chapters.
Things to note: it does slightly feel like Minegishi has a feeder kink. Also Otsu is so harsh toward himself, he has so much internalised fatphobia. I hope he will learn to accept himself in the next volumes!
I really liked this and I hope these two idiots will learn to express their feelings!
December 18, 2022
UWAAA~ this made my heart melt, and brought sparkles to my eyes😣 Otsu-kun is so adorable and relatable, he reminds me of a close friend in his attitude/personality lol
Minegishi-san is a nice person but, his vibes just hasn't reached me yet, he's like the typical overly charming ikemen character haha
Minegishi-san is a nice person but, his vibes just hasn't reached me yet, he's like the typical overly charming ikemen character haha
April 27, 2021
super cute and funny and wholesome. can't wait for volume 2 😊
January 2, 2024
This was hilarious, and sweet and kind of ridiculous, but quite entertaining.
February 26, 2023
I can’t believe how cute this manga is!!! I need more
August 30, 2022
eh. wasn’t a big fan of otsu’s character. didn’t care much for the relationship dynamic presented here either (i liked how cherry magic did it tho! prolly cuz i connected with the characs more),,, gotta say, i like tanaka from what we’ve seen!
December 9, 2020
2020 Read #719
UM, THIS SERIES TOTALLY GOBSMACKED ME AND MADE IT TO MY FAVORITES OF THE YEAR. IT WAS JUST SO DAMN ADORABLE!!
UM, THIS SERIES TOTALLY GOBSMACKED ME AND MADE IT TO MY FAVORITES OF THE YEAR. IT WAS JUST SO DAMN ADORABLE!!
April 5, 2021
While I initially picked this up to be sure it wasn't J'en croque pour toi! (it's not; I've just apparently discovered a new subgenre: BL about guys who like to watch their chubby partners eat), it turned out to be adorable and funny in its own right. Too short, but that tends to happen with manga lifted from Twitter.
January 15, 2022
This was a bit odd not sure how I feel about it 😂
March 29, 2022
This story is cute, but not the most substantive. I have a personal pet peeve against narratives involving plus-sized or fat characters that center around the character's presumed love of eating (which, apparently, is an entirely unremarkable activity to everyone except for the fat characters) and utter lack of other hobbies or interests. I'm also not super fond of the "he's so annoying, why am I so in love with him?!" thing... it's nice when people who like each other just do, and show it, without being cold to one another, or at least admit their feelings to themselves or a confidant. However, I do like that Minegishi doesn't try to change Otsu's appearance or personality, and often states that he likes both.
I have all three books, so I'll eventually be reading all three!
I have all three books, so I'll eventually be reading all three!
March 27, 2021
I liked it! It's nice to see a chubby character get put in the spotlight, and the internalized fatphobia some commenters addressed... is just reality for some people? So I found it kind of validating, to be honest. Also, I just love food-based manga, always makes me hungry lol.
December 27, 2021
Thanks but no thanks, DNF. I'm not a fan of tsundere characters, like Otsu. I'm also not into the feeding fetish, and some of the things Minegishi said or thought was pretty close to it. Just not the BL for me. Thanks!
January 2, 2024
So cuuuute! The art style is gorgeous and I love the soft roundness of cinnamon roll Otsu. It’s a really sweet dynamic that reminds me of Cherry Magic with the angy little jealous bean and his ‘no way Mr Popular would like me, he must be teasing, so irritating’ narrative. I don’t love reading Otsu’s self deprecation and internalised fatphobia, and there was a bit of workplace bullying connected to his weight which obv wasn’t fun, but that’s not unrealistic and I’m pleased to see that it is challenged by at least one other character. It’s clear Minegishi loves Otsu for who he is and wants him to be happy, and it’s really nice to see a fat character being adored and doted on, but he does straddle the line of coming across a little bit fat-fetishy at times which isn’t the most comfortable. It’s not perfect, but I still think for the culture it’s based in it’s pretty progressive and overall it is positive and refreshing representation for fat lads in love. I’d really love to continue and see where these guys end up!
May 13, 2025
I don't have very strong feelings about this book, hence the 3 stars, for me that means a book is pretty mid. There were certainly a few sweet moments that made me smile, but I also felt there were more awkward moments. I also felt a bit confused by the time line, like did more than a year pass in this book or did a misread something?? I do know in the end it seemed to jump to when they first met, but even before that the time line felt a bit messy. While I had a decent time with this, I don't think I'll continue with the series.
August 5, 2023
Minegishi is so delightful and I look forward to (hopefully) seeing Otsu gain some self-confidence but like let’s talk about the real hero Tanaka
November 6, 2022
I adored this and i don’t know why I took so long to read it!
December 11, 2020
It's alright as far as the actual content goes; pretty slice-of-life-y with no real plot development here. Miles away from being a smutty BL (or even a shounen ai.) Some may be offended by the underlying "chubby chaser" dynamic.
As far as formatting goes, soooooo much wasted space to try to 'fluff' up the length of this. Not really sure if this is worth the money, in my opinion.
As far as formatting goes, soooooo much wasted space to try to 'fluff' up the length of this. Not really sure if this is worth the money, in my opinion.
October 23, 2022
4/5 stars
I was originally going to rate this manga five stars, but after reading it for a second time, I decided to leave it at four-stars. Although I still believe that this is a very wholesome manga, there are some parts in which it's a little iffy.
Summary:
Minegishi is trying to befriend and it's implied that he wants to eventually seduce his coworker, Otsu. Otsu views Minegishi as handsome, fit, and an overachiever. Due to this, Otsu gains a dislike for Minegishi. Minegishi tries his best to befriend Otsu by bringing different snacks.
Review:
Although Minegishi had the best intentions of bringing Otsu different snacks, I felt that the manga overemphasizes at times how much he likes to watch Otsu eat. It seemed like it was a fetish of his at times, which was rather weird when those moments are compared to the rest of the series. On the other hand, it seems to be the complete opposite of Minegishi. He's essentially fat, short, and has a bad attitude. In the end, I liked Otsu better than Minegishi. Even though he misunderstands the meaning of Minegishi's gifts, it ends up being funny instead of annoying. It does end up using a lot of tropes apart from the misunderstanding. I'm noticing that it's becoming more common for mangakas to use food tropes, especially when one of the MCs is fat. I wished at times that the manga would deviate away from the food and focus more on the development of the two MCs' friendship/relationship.
I was originally going to rate this manga five stars, but after reading it for a second time, I decided to leave it at four-stars. Although I still believe that this is a very wholesome manga, there are some parts in which it's a little iffy.
Summary:
Minegishi is trying to befriend and it's implied that he wants to eventually seduce his coworker, Otsu. Otsu views Minegishi as handsome, fit, and an overachiever. Due to this, Otsu gains a dislike for Minegishi. Minegishi tries his best to befriend Otsu by bringing different snacks.
Review:
Although Minegishi had the best intentions of bringing Otsu different snacks, I felt that the manga overemphasizes at times how much he likes to watch Otsu eat. It seemed like it was a fetish of his at times, which was rather weird when those moments are compared to the rest of the series. On the other hand, it seems to be the complete opposite of Minegishi. He's essentially fat, short, and has a bad attitude. In the end, I liked Otsu better than Minegishi. Even though he misunderstands the meaning of Minegishi's gifts, it ends up being funny instead of annoying. It does end up using a lot of tropes apart from the misunderstanding. I'm noticing that it's becoming more common for mangakas to use food tropes, especially when one of the MCs is fat. I wished at times that the manga would deviate away from the food and focus more on the development of the two MCs' friendship/relationship.
January 29, 2021
This manga had the potential to be a body positive romance. Instead, the main character has interalized fatphobia and is perpetually grumpy and insecure. While perhaps the storyline has some of the experiences fat people go through, one wishes there were more depth to the main character, who by the early chapters is already one-note—grumpy and a bit paranoid. I know I’m reading a BL manga (well, BL lite), but that’s still not an excuse for poor characterization. The episodic structure of the book also doesn’t help readers connect with the protagonist easily either. And for a manga that touches on the food theme, the food art is a bit lacking. For fans of BL, not sure there’s much in here for them.
December 26, 2020
Manly Appetites: Minegishi Loves Otsu Vol. 1 is a really cute start to a series that emphasises food positivity, happy eating, and loving yourself in a good way.
In many ways, this series reminds me of Wotakoi, another series about adults who work in an office. While it's explicitly Boys' Love -as opposed to Wotakoi's M/F pairings- it still hits all the same good feels that Wotakoi does. Honestly, it's so refreshing to have a series about everyday adults slowly falling for one another. It's relatable, it's well executed, and it's certainly good enough to encourage me to come back for Vol. 2 whenever it releases.
In many ways, this series reminds me of Wotakoi, another series about adults who work in an office. While it's explicitly Boys' Love -as opposed to Wotakoi's M/F pairings- it still hits all the same good feels that Wotakoi does. Honestly, it's so refreshing to have a series about everyday adults slowly falling for one another. It's relatable, it's well executed, and it's certainly good enough to encourage me to come back for Vol. 2 whenever it releases.
April 13, 2021
More of a 3.5 star rating but I gave it 4 stars because it’s so wholesome.
At first, I was a bit annoyed since the chapters started to seem repetitive. However, I chose to continue reading this first volume and it really grew on me. I really enjoy how oblivious Otsu and Minegishi are, of their own feeling as well as each other’s. I’m also fond of Tanaka and hope that he has his own love story at some point in this series; even if it’s brief, he deserves happiness as well.
At first, I was a bit annoyed since the chapters started to seem repetitive. However, I chose to continue reading this first volume and it really grew on me. I really enjoy how oblivious Otsu and Minegishi are, of their own feeling as well as each other’s. I’m also fond of Tanaka and hope that he has his own love story at some point in this series; even if it’s brief, he deserves happiness as well.
May 27, 2022
This manga probably reads better when you have a physical copy so I will buy one some day, but yeah... Other than that this was pretty good. I love the art of the covers of this series a lot!
It does feel a slight bit fetishy at times tho... I hope it's not actually like that and Minegishi actually does genuinely love Otsu.
It does feel a slight bit fetishy at times tho... I hope it's not actually like that and Minegishi actually does genuinely love Otsu.
December 26, 2020
I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS AND NEED VOLUME 2 ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 8, 2021
Exxttrrreeemelly adorable. Made me feel fuzzy and butterfliy inside. Suuuppper cute. Just soooo cute.
October 31, 2021
We've got a fat gay and a hot gay who only wants to feed the fat gay and see him happy there is literally nothing about this not to love what the fuck
March 10, 2023
I DNF’d this manga because it was just….weird?
I bought this a few years ago at this bookshop that had a little card on it from an employee recommendation and it sounded cute so I picked it up. But this wasn’t what I was expecting it felt like it’s was kinda fetishizing one of the male characters and I didn’t like that.
Also just some of the scene were super cringy, like it was just very uncomfortable to read and obviously uncomfortable for some of the characters. The only thing I did like about this book is when one of the side characters said in the background “isn’t that sexual harassment,” because she wasn’t wrong.
I can’t tell if this was supposed to be satirical or not either way not for me I’m good thank you!
I bought this a few years ago at this bookshop that had a little card on it from an employee recommendation and it sounded cute so I picked it up. But this wasn’t what I was expecting it felt like it’s was kinda fetishizing one of the male characters and I didn’t like that.
Also just some of the scene were super cringy, like it was just very uncomfortable to read and obviously uncomfortable for some of the characters. The only thing I did like about this book is when one of the side characters said in the background “isn’t that sexual harassment,” because she wasn’t wrong.
I can’t tell if this was supposed to be satirical or not either way not for me I’m good thank you!
May 3, 2021
A fun little manga that centers on two coworkers, one being fat and the other being conventionally attractive, and I like their dynamic a lot. I love how feral the LI gets lmao I miss manga shenanigans like this. Some bits of it were a little 😬 but otherwise, I had a good time and I’m excited to read more!
July 1, 2024
This was so cute. I love a plus-sized MC who feels like he isn’t worthy of love. While the obvious “most-attractive” guy is completely in love with him and wants to watch him eat. It’s giving mukkbang boys love and it’s both entirely quirky, far too cute, and incredibly weird… so obviously I love it.
January 6, 2022
csm que manera de reírme wn
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