Kaze to Ki no Uta (translated as The Poem of Wind and Trees) is poetic and beautiful, just as its name suggests. Set during the late 19th century, Kaze draws inspiration from Victorian art, such as its use of angel motifs and attention to detail. Even the colors are bright and cheerful, common of the time period despite its preoccupation with death, and Kaze manages to weave some light into its dark story.
Mangaka Keiko Takemiya helped transform the Shojo genre into what it is today. Kaze was initially released in January 1976 by Shojo Comic. It is widely acknowledged as the first published Boy's Love manga, paving the way for the genre to blossom. BL, known as Shonen Ai, depicts romantic relationships between adolescent boys. Kaze is also credited for inspiring the current yaoi dōjinshi subculture, which depicts more mature and explicit relations.
BL and Yaoi focus on same-sex male relationships, however, it is primarily written by women for female audiences. This has led to criticism that it fetishizes gay relationships. While that's not to say this doesn't happen, the origins paint a different picture. In the 70s, Japanese women did not have the freedom to express themselves openly. To draw a woman in a traditionally male or nontraditional female role was controversial. A simple solution was for women to express themselves through male characters. BL and yaoi also created a safe space for women to explore sexual themes without facing objectification.
Set in Victorian Era France, the story centers on roommates Serge and Gilbert as they attend boarding school. On the surface the boys could not be more different: Serge is a responsible student while Gilbert is always getting into mischief. However, time reveals them to have many similarities, and their bond grows because of this. Serge is the orphaned son of a French nobleman and Roma woman, whom people refer to as a prostitute. Despite his good nature, he faces discrimination because of his Romani features and illegitimate status. Likewise, Gilbert is also an orphan being raised by his Uncle Auguste, a prominent man in French society. Gilbert has suffered abuse by authority figures, and he proceeds to prostitute himself at school.
This coming-of-age drama explores the emotional struggles of young men. It covers an array of topics such as drug addiction, racism, homophobia, abuse, and sexual assault. Kaze manages to offset these heavy themes with its angelic art style and ornate atmosphere. And that's not to say the entire series dwells in a dark place. There are light-hearted and sweet moments that sparkle throughout the series.
Copies of Kaze are available in Japanese and Spanish on Amazon or eBay. The manga has never been officially released in English, so readers will have to rely on fan translations online. The anime from 1987, is available with an English sub. Official copies of the anime can be tricky to find, but it's available for streaming on YouTube.
