That's Not Love 4

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.

Yukari's repeated protests fell on deaf ears, causing her dread, suffering, and anger. The result? She and Akane end up going to the gallery and smashing the sculpture to bits with a hammer. They have no regrets, and the two women savor the satisfying rush of their accomplishment. Meanwhile, Mr. Imai stares at his shattered sculpture, his thoughts unknown, as Beniko stews over a new problem. But what about those who looked up to the artist and adored the now destroyed Garden sculpture?

"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 Watanabe

Japanese title: Koi janee kara