A thirty-year old manicurist and a 23-year-old yakuza (maybe??) don’t have much in common. Except when they are Toshi and Kazusa, two online friends who meet in person to attend their favorite idol groups concert. As the two start spending time together, they realize they may not be all that different after all.
About Stan By Me
Stan By Me is a boys’ love manga by Kiyou Mori and it is published in English by TOKYOPOP. The story is about Toshi Agawa, who is a manicurist and a big fan of the idol group, FLAT. He makes friends online with another fan of FLAT and they decide to meet up and go to a concert together. At the concert, Toshi sees the fan he’s been chatting with, Kazusa, looks nothing like he imagined! Kazusa is tall and is dressed so strangely, he looks like a yakuza. Toshi is scared but manages to hold it together through the show.
Despite Toshi’s initial judgement, Kazusa is a big softie and wants to spend more time with Toshi. Toshi is a bit guarded due to his past but slowly and surely, Kazusa finds a way into his heart. As they clear misunderstands, they start revealing more about themselves, and forge a new path forward together.
My Thoughts
I love that we are in a moment of getting more idol related stories! They are always so fun and interesting in how they incorporate idol culture. Stan By Me does a great job of showcasing two unlikely idol fans, due to their ages, background, and gender. The story also highlights how idol culture and fandom can really provide someone with a lot of comfort and enjoyment during tough periods of life. Toshi and Kazusa are both fans from different walks of life and FLAT means so much to them in different ways. We get why they love them so much and it’s so sweet.
Toshi and Kazusa are one of my favorite recent “opposites attract” pairings. While most of the “opposites” portion are due to Toshi thinking Kazusa is a yakuza, they still have differences between them that make their union even sweeter. Toshi being older but having some traumatic moments in the past make him to be more reserved. Kazusa, on the other hand, is young and inexperienced, but this makes him bold and direct. This leads to Kazusa making the moves but Toshi having to be the one to set the pace. Once together, they balance each other out and bring out the best parts of each other.
What I really loved about Stan By Me is that the relationship is sorted out rather quickly so we get some chapters with them as an established couple! I love observing how the two interact when they are official, and how they handle some of the changes that are ahead of them. Stan By Me is such a cute but thoughtful story and I’m crossing my fingers and toes for a sequel or a spin-off!
Where to Buy Stan By Me
Stan By Me
Author & Illustrator: Kiyou Mori
Translator: Katie Kimura
Editor: Becca Chen
Copy Editor: Stephanie Buck
Retouching and Lettering: Vibrant Publishing Studio
Publisher: TOKYOPOP
Stan By Me is available for pre-order and will be released on March 17, 2026.
Thanks TOKYOPOP for the ARC!
