Fish And Water
Gengoroh Tagame
Anne Ishi – Translator
Fish And Water is the latest of Gengoroh Tagame’s works to be translated into English thanks to the dedicated Anne Ishii. Originally titled Uo To Mizu and serialized in Futabasha’s seinin Web Action manga, Fish And Water is the story of Koji and Akira who meet quite accidentally at a wedding. Some time passes and their second meet cute is precipitated by a gift Akira receives from farmers while on business….an abundance of kyabetsu, the humble cabbage. After finding no takers among his coworkers, Akira sends a simple text to Koji and unknowingly sets things in motion that will change their lives.
In several ways Koji and Akira are quite different from each other. Koji loves to cook while Akira loves to eat and is clueless in the kitchen. Koji has worked from home for many years which suits his introverted personality. Akira’s outgoing nature makes him well liked at his office. House chores and tidying up are tasks Akira embraces while Koji doesn’t even own a laundry basket. However, one thing both men have in common is learning how to navigate life during Covid. They’re both also lonely.
Ichigo ichie is a concept in Japanese culture. Rooted in 16th century Zen Buddhism, it translates to “one time, one meeting” or “once in a lifetime.” Originally incorporated into the rituals of the tea ceremony, it is a belief that every moment and encounter is a unique and unrepeatable gift that will never occur again in the exact same way. To my understanding Fish And Water is an illustration of exactly this, a collective embrace of every day moments in life and falling in love. Small moments such as Koji cooking a meal for Akira. The first spontaneous outing together. Their first selfie. Watching a horror movie together even though Koji is scared by them simply because Akira wanted to watch it together. Akira reading a book while waiting for Koji to finish some work. The anticipation of being together again while experiencing the ache of being apart. A sobering moment shared between Koji and Akira over world events evoking compassion amidst a feeling of helplessness. The suspense before the first intentional touch and becoming undone by a confession of love. The acceptance of tomorrow’s uncertainty while being present in this moment and the next moment to follow.
Uogokoro areba mizugokoro is another saying which Tagame may have used to inform Koji and Akira’s characters and their relationship as it builds and reveals itself. Translated into English it goes “If the fish is kind to the water, the water is kind to the fish.” Whether talking about relationships or nature it embodies good will, respect, fairness, compassion, balance, a reminder that we do not exist in isolation. The kindness shown by Akira to farmers results in a gift of cabbage which in turn leads to a home cooked meal by Koji and a night of good conversation and laughter and so on and so on.
Fish And Water is simply a story of two men discovering each other while falling in love. An embrace between two souls. An affirmation of love and its timeless nature. Saying yes to love amid life’s unpredictabilities. It is both the story recounted on the page as well as the unwritten one between each panel. As Tagame concludes in his afterword: “…these two are surely laughing it up somewhere.”
Simply put, Fish And Water is one of the best romance graphic novels I have had the pleasure to read. Perhaps you may find the concept of ichigo ichie a bit much for you. I hope Koji and Akira’s story will resonate for you in whatever way it speaks to and with you.
Many thanks to Anne Ishii for her dedication to translate Tagame-san’s graphic novels.
Fish And Water is available in stores and comic shops now. You can also order copies direct from Bookshop or use it to find indy bookstores in your area.
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