Uni's "Anata Mitai ni" Manga Series Volume 1 Released: A Girls' Love Story Combining Work and Love
Bringing a new breath to the girls' love (yuri) genre in Japan, the first tankōbon volume of the series "Anata Mitai ni" (Turkish: "Senin Gibi") was published by Number Nine on June 26, 2024. The series' author and illustrator, Uni, masterfully blends modern work life with romantic emotions in the story.
The manga, centered on the relationship of two female characters that begins in an office setting, stands out for its realistic portrayal of the transition from "coworker to lover." Uni's nuanced character drawings and emotional depth, demonstrated in earlier short works, are also evident in this series. Publisher Number Nine is known for its support of girls' love works targeting adult female readers in recent years.
One of the names supporting the series is renowned manga author Tamifuru (creator of works such as Kimi no Koto ga Daidaidaidaidaisuki na 100-nin no Kanojo). In the published recommendation, Tamifuru stated: "The way two people lost in the hustle of work life find each other is told warmly and sincerely. You can't help but smile while reading." Recommendations from such famous figures often play an important role in helping the series reach a wider audience.
Beyond being just a love story, "Anata Mitai ni" bravely touches on topics such as working women's career goals, work-life balance, and emotional vulnerabilities. In this respect, it stands out as a work where readers in their 20s and 30s can find something of themselves. The girls' love genre has recently been enriched not only by stories set in high school or university but also by those depicting adult characters' professional lives; "Anata Mitai ni" is one of the newest examples of this trend.
The first volume of the series is now available digitally and physically in Japan. Although no international licensing agreement has been announced yet, given that Number Nine has licensed some of its popular series into English and other languages in the past, it is likely that "Anata Mitai ni" will also meet international readers soon. Whether Uni will continue to publish new chapters regularly with this series remains a point of curiosity.
