Don't Stop My Beautification

Don't Stop My Beautification
Stylized illustration of a young man's face. The piece is split in two: the left half shows him in make-up with a feminine appearance.
Cover art from the web serialization, depicting Haruomi Saito
俺の美女化が止まらない!?
(Ore no Bijoka ga Tomaranai!?)
Manga
Written byMana Aizen
Published byOhzora Publishing
ImprintAstro Comics
MagazineComic Wacha
DemographicJosei[1]
Original runApril 30, 2021 – present
Volumes2 (List of volumes)
Television drama
Directed by
Produced by
  • Yukitoshi Komatsu
  • Kozue Sasaki
  • Yuji Hiratai
Written by
StudioPROTX, Studio Blue [ja]
Original networkParavi, TV Tokyo
Original run February 1, 2023 – February 22, 2023
Episodes8 (List of episodes)

Don't Stop My Beautification[a] is a josei manga series written and illustrated by Mana Aizen, serialized since April 30, 2021, through Ohzora Publishing's digital platform Comic Wacha. A live-action television series adaptation by PROTX and Studio Blue [ja] was released in February 2023, with Raiku [ja] in the lead role.

The series follows Haruomi Saito, a young man who moves into a boarding house in Tokyo where he, in exchange for low rent, has to work at the cross-dressing café and bar Spica Doll along with the other residents, which has a positive effect on him. The manga was well received by readers.

Premise

The university student Haruomi Saito has a medical condition causing him to blush when talking to women, which hinders him socially and has been a source of trauma for a decade. When moving into a boarding house in Tokyo with unusually low rent, he meets Kokono. At first he thinks Kokono is a woman, but he turns out to be a man working at the cross-dressing café and bar Spica Doll, which operates from the boarding house. Haruomi had been unaware of Spica Doll, and learns that he as a resident at the boarding house is obligated to work there. Dressing like a woman ends up having a positive effect on Haruomi, becoming a source of personal growth and self-affirmation.[3][4][5]

Characters

  • Haruomi Saito (斉藤晴臣, Saito Haruomi) is a university student moving into the boarding house, where he has to work at the cross-dressing café and bar Spica Doll under the name "Haru" (ハル). He is played by Raiku [ja] in the television drama.[6]
  • Kokono (恋々乃), real name Kyōhei Kui (九井恭平, Kui Kyōhei), is a Spica Doll staff member who teaches Haruomi about cross-dressing. He is played by Shogo Sakamoto in the television drama.[6]
  • Juka (ジュカ) is a make-up artist working at Spica Doll. He is played by Keisuke Kida [ja] in the television drama.[6]
  • Unipyo (うにぴょ) is an influencer working at Spica Doll, who teaches Haruomi how to act. He is played by Toman in the television drama.[6]
  • Momoe (百恵) is the owner of Spica Doll and the manager of the lodging house. He is played by Tomomi Maruyama [ja] in the television drama.[6]
  • Maimi Haraguchi (原口苺美, Haraguchi Maimi) is a classmate of Haruomi's, whom he falls in love with. She is played by Riho Sayashi in the television drama.[6]

Production and release

Don't Stop My Beautification is written and drawn by Mana Aizen, and was initially published by Ohzora Publishing through their digital platform Comic Wacha from April 30, 2021, to May 6, 2022; serialization resumed on January 20, 2023.[5][7] Ohzora Publishing is also releasing the series in collected volumes, with a first digital release on February 10, 2023,[3] followed by a print release on April 10.[8]

Volumes

No. Release date ISBN
1 February 10, 2023 (digital)[3]
April 10, 2023 (print)[8]		978-4776754305
  • Level 1–6
  • "Omake" (おまけ, "Bonus")
2 May 10, 2023[9]978-4776754336
  • Level 7–12
  • "Omake" (おまけ, "Bonus")

Television drama

2019 photograph of Kana Hanazawa
Kana Hanazawa wrote and performed the opening theme.

A live-action television series adapting the manga was produced by PROTX and Studio Blue [ja], and premiered on the streaming service Paravi on February 1, 2023, with two new episodes released every week;[5] it was additionally broadcast on TV Tokyo starting on April 5, 2023.[10] The series was directed by Izuru Kumasaka [ja], Ikuko Sawada [ja], Kozue Sasaki, and Yuya Nakaizumi, and written by Yosuke Masaike [ja], Ayumi Shimo, and Sawada. Yukitoshi Komatsu, who co-produced it with Sasaki and Yuji Hiratai, said that although the primary theme is cross-dressing, one of the strongest impressions he got from the manga and wanted to convey to viewers was the idea that people can change when given the chance.[3]

The series stars Raiku as Haruomi, as his first leading role in a TV series;[11] during his audition, which involved a scene at Spica Doll and experimenting with how to use his voice, he was not initially aware that the production was looking for a lead actor, and felt a lot of pressure due to the impact his part would have on the whole.[12] He and Tomomi Maruyama, playing Momoe, both described feeling a mixture of excitement and anxiety over playing "beautiful" cross-dresser characters, having never worn women's clothes before;[3][6] Raiku particularly described having difficulties with walking in high heels. In the end, he enjoyed the experience, and found that the role made him more conscious of elegance in acting.[12] Shogo Sakamoto, playing Kokono, also found his role a challenge, and both he and Toman, playing Unipyo, said that they had to put effort into learning how to convincingly portray a cute cross-dresser; Keisuke Kida, playing Juka, had assumed that the Spica Doll staff would have been played by women.[6]

The opening theme, "Circle", was written by Kei Sugawara and performed by Kana Hanazawa, who thought the fast-paced melody would suit the sudden turns in Haruomi's life.[6][13] It was released as a single on April 5, 2023,[14] and as a music video featuring pixel art animation.[13] The ending theme, "Onna Tomodachi" (おんなともだち, "female friend"), was written and performed by Uragirionigiri AKA Hanako, who intended for it to lyrically and melodically encourage Haruomi in his personal growth.[2]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Level.01"Izuru KumasakaYosuke MasaikeFebruary 1, 2023 (2023-02-01)[5]
2"Level.02"Izuru KumasakaYosuke MasaikeFebruary 1, 2023 (2023-02-01)[5]
3"Level.03"Kozue SasakiAyumi ShimoFebruary 8, 2023 (2023-02-08)[15]
4"Level.04"Yuya NakaizumiAyumi ShimoFebruary 8, 2023 (2023-02-08)[16]
5"Level.05"Ikuko SawadaIkuko SawadaFebruary 15, 2023 (2023-02-15)[17]
6"Level.06"Ikuko SawadaIkuko SawadaFebruary 15, 2023 (2023-02-15)[18]
7"Level.07"Kozue SasakiYosuke MasaikeFebruary 22, 2023 (2023-02-22)[19]
8"Level.08"Izuru KumasakaYosuke MasaikeFebruary 22, 2023 (2023-02-22)[20]

Reception

Eiga.com [ja] and Dwango.jp News describe the manga as popular with readers and on social media.[5][11]

Notes

  1. ^ Released in Japanese as Ore no Bijoka ga Tomaranai!? (俺の美女化が止まらない!?, "My Transformation Into a Beautiful Woman Does Not Stop!?") and abbreviated Ore Bijo (オレ美女)[2]

References

  1. ^ "俺の美女化が止まらない!? 1" [Don't Stop My Beautification 1] (in Japanese). Ohzora Publishing. January 27, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "ドラマ「オレ美女」楽駆のクールビューティーな女装姿が目を引くメインビジュアル" [Main visual for the drama Don't Stop My Beautification features Raiku cross-dressing with a cool beauty look]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 31, 2023. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "愛染マナ「俺の美女化が止まらない!?」ドラマ化、主人公の女装男子・晴臣役は楽駆" [Mana Aizen's Don't Stop My Beautification gets TV adaptation starring Raiku as the cross-dresser Haruomi]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 17, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "楽駆連ドラ初主演、陰キャな男子が女装子に変身『俺の美女化が止まらない!?』放送決定" [Don't Stop My Beautification announced, with Raiku as asocial cross-dresser in his first lead role in a serialized drama]. Yahoo! News Japan (in Japanese). January 17, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "楽駆が女装男子役で連続ドラマ初主演！ 人気漫画「俺の美女化が止まらない!?」実写化決定" [Raiku plays a cross-dresser in his first lead role in a serialized drama! A live-action adaptation of the popular manga Don't Stop My Beautification is announced]. Eiga.com [ja] (in Japanese). January 17, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "「俺の美女化が止まらない!?」新キャストの女装ビジュアル披露 OPテーマは花澤香菜が担当" [Visuals of new Don't Stop My Beautification cast in women's clothes revealed; Kana Hanazawa is in charge of the opening theme]. Eiga.com [ja] (in Japanese). January 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  7. ^ "俺の美女化が止まらない!?" [Don't Stop My Beautification]. Comic Wacha (in Japanese). Ohzora Publishing. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "【4月10日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [April 10: List of today's tankōbon releases]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 10, 2023. Archived from the original on April 26, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  9. ^ "【5月10日付】本日発売の単行本リスト" [May 10: List of today's tankōbon releases]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 10, 2023. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "『俺の美女化が止まらない!?』阪本奨悟インタビュー！うるさいくらい「自分のことを"可愛い！"って言ってました（笑）」" [Interview with Shogo Sakamoto from Don't Stop My Beautification! "I loudly declared 'I'm so cute!'" (laughs)]. Paravi (in Japanese). April 5, 2023. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Excite.
  11. ^ a b "『俺の美女化が止まらない!?』実写ドラマ化、女装男子の青春群像劇 主演は楽駆" [Raiku stars in live-action drama adaptation of Don't Stop My Beautification, a coming-of-age story about a group of cross-dressers]. Dwango.jp News (in Japanese). Dwango. January 18, 2023. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "『俺の美女化が止まらない!?』楽駆インタビュー！「キラキラしているけど切ないドラマ」" [Interview with Raiku from Don't Stop My Beautification! A sparkling but heartrending drama] (in Japanese). Paravi. February 1, 2023. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "花澤香菜、デジタルシングル「Circle」リリース アーティスト史上初ピクセルーアートによるMV公開も" [Kana Hanazawa releases digital single "Circle", with artist's first pixel art music video] (in Japanese). Real Sound. April 4, 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "花澤香菜、菅原圭提供の新曲「Circle」明日配信リリース" [Kana Hanazawa and Kei Sugawara's new song "Circle" releases tomorrow]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 4, 2023. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  15. ^ "Level.03" (in Japanese). Paravi. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  16. ^ "Level.04" (in Japanese). Paravi. February 8, 2023. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  17. ^ "Level.05" (in Japanese). Paravi. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  18. ^ "Level.06" (in Japanese). Paravi. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  19. ^ "Level.07" (in Japanese). Paravi. February 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  20. ^ "Level.08" (in Japanese). Paravi. February 22, 2023. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.