That's Not Love TP (2026)

Two female friends from middle school reunite as adults in this hard-hitting and personal drama manga. What begins as idle reminiscing leads to painful revelations as they heal the reopened wounds of their past in this highly-anticipated first print release from the creator of 1122: For a Happy Marriage. Drawing on real events and the Japanese #MeToo movement and Watanabe's own reflections on friendship and womanhood, That's Not Love won a place on the industry insider poll Kono Manga ga Sugoi! as one of the best manga of the year.Forty-year-old Akane attends the opening of a new art exhibit by her former cram school teacher, Mr. Imai, who has now become a sculptor. Akane notices that Mr. Imai's new sculpture bears a striking resemblance to her middle school best friend, Yukari, who she remembers suddenly transferred out of the school. It even has a distinct scar that Yukari shared with Akane privately. Wondering what this could mean, Akane reaches out to her old friend, and learns that there was something else going on when they were children that she only partly understood. Was Yukari just a muse? Or something with more upsetting implications?"I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko WatanabeJapanese title: Koi janee kara

Two female friends from middle school reunite as adults in this hard-hitting and personal drama manga. What begins as idle reminiscing leads to painful revelations as they heal the reopened wounds of their past in this highly-anticipated first print release from the creator of 1122: For a Happy Marriage. Drawing on real events and the Japanese #MeToo movement and Watanabe's own reflections on friendship and womanhood, That's Not Love won a place on the industry insider poll Kono Manga ga Sugoi! as one of the best manga of the year. The romance between a 14-year-old girl and her teacher. A memory from 26 years ago, rudely awakened by a sculpture of the girl. Devastated to see the image of her body used and publicly displayed without her consent, Yukari requests to have the sculpture taken down, only to be met with refusal. Will Mr. Imai realize the gravity of his actions? Will Yukari's plea reach his ears? How much can Akane do for Yukari as a friend? What should be allowed for the sake of "art"?"I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko WatanabeJapanese title: Koi janee kara

Two female friends from middle school reunite as adults in this hard-hitting and personal drama manga. What begins as idle reminiscing leads to painful revelations as they heal the reopened wounds of their past in this highly-anticipated first print release from the creator of 1122: For a Happy Marriage. Drawing on real events and the Japanese #MeToo movement and Watanabe's own reflections on friendship and womanhood, That's Not Love won a place on the industry insider poll Kono Manga ga Sugoi! as one of the best manga of the year."If the 'concept' of the work is so precious, why can't the artist himself explain it in his own words?" Anger wells up within Yukari as she gradually recalls her time with her "Sensei" in more vivid detail. Akane offers emotional support, restoring their friendship to something like what they had back in middle school. But only serves as a brief respite as word of the Garden sculpture starts to spread. What does the sculptor and his wife think of the issue? What about the relationship between creator and the "model"? Between illusion and reality? Between fear and despair?"I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko WatanabeJapanese title: Koi janee kara

Two female friends from middle school reunite as adults in this hard-hitting and personal drama manga. What begins as idle reminiscing leads to painful revelations as they heal the reopened wounds of their past in this highly-anticipated first print release from the creator of 1122: For a Happy Marriage. Drawing on real events and the Japanese #MeToo movement and Watanabe's own reflections on friendship and womanhood, That's Not Love won a place on the industry insider poll Kono Manga ga Sugoi! as one of the best manga of the year. Forty-year-old Akane attends the opening of a new art exhibit by her former cram school teacher, Mr. Imai, who has now become a sculptor. Akane notices that Mr. Imai's new sculpture bears a striking resemblance to her middle school best friend, Yukari, who she remembers suddenly transferred out of the school. It even has a distinct scar that Yukari shared with Akane privately. Wondering what this could mean, Akane reaches out to her old friend, and learns that there was something else going on when they were children that she only partly understood. Was Yukari just a muse? Or something with more upsetting implications?"I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko WatanabeJapanese title: Koi janee kara

Two female friends from middle school reunite as adults in this hard-hitting and personal drama manga. What begins as idle reminiscing leads to painful revelations as they heal the reopened wounds of their past in this highly-anticipated first print release from the creator of 1122: For a Happy Marriage. Drawing on real events and the Japanese #MeToo movement and Watanabe's own reflections on friendship and womanhood, That's Not Love won a place on the industry insider poll Kono Manga ga Sugoi! as one of the best manga of the year. Akane may have destroyed the statue of the girl to protect Yukari's dignity, but the same statue was a source of solace for Midori. Meanwhile, Yukari is learning to accept her own body that she once loathed, but what exactly is she to Gen, the young man who has given her so much emotional support? Elsewhere, Mr. Imai is shocked to discover photographs of his own child put up online without his knowledge. Beniko's frustration with her husband only grows. Everyone seems to be at odds with each other over their own sense of justice. Memories from the past emerge, along with words that were never spoken. Desire lurks beneath the surface, as the knowledge of having hurt others and having been hurt gradually deals its stinging blow."I began thinking about situations where violence might not be recognized as violence, where it might be permitted for the sake of art or because of someone’s talent, and about the hierarchies that exist between people in small, tightly-bound businesses." –Peko WatanabeJapanese title: Koi janee kara