Bless Vol. 01

Bless Vol. 01

They said Aia was destined to be a model, and Jun was bullied for her freckles. Together, they will take back the power to define themselves in an inspirational fashion manga that asks cutting questions about what it really means to be beautiful–and what it takes to overcome an arbitrary system that seems to respect talent over hard work.

At a young age, Aia Utagawa was scouted as a model, but his real ambition is to become a makeup artist. But, even as the end of high school approaches, it’s a dream he hides inside, afraid of stepping outside his prescribed role as a pretty face. Then, one day, he meets Jun, a quiet classmate who hunches because she’s ashamed of her face, covered in freckles. He convinces her to enter a school runway fashion contest together–with him doing her makeup.

They make an incredible team, with Jun discovering a confidence she never knew she could show and Aia finally learning that, while it may be tough to open yourself up to failing at the one thing you care about, the difficulties can be worth facing.

Biographical Notes:

Yukino Sonoyama won immmediate acclaim for her debut manga series Bless in 2022. The series is being published in English by Kodansha.

Title Notes:

Yukino Sonoyama won immmediate acclaim for her debut manga Two characters battle with insecurity–around looks and skill–in this reaffirming and wholesome look at a fraught topic for any teen, in the vein of Blue Period.eries Bless in 2022. The series is being published in English by Kodansha.

The outstanding facial expressions and cute character art have already caught the eye of English-reading fans, making this an anticipated series on manga social media.

As the story unfolds and the duo tackle professional fashion, Aia will struggle with past and present rivals and Jun with her social life in dramatic ways that will keep readers engaged.

More details on Yukino Sonoyama:

Yukino Sonoyama’s Twitter account

Publisher’s Twitter account