Will they or won’t they? Confessions, plot progressions, and romantic developments in romance manga have always had their ups and downs. In the past, we’ve been teased with fake-out confessions and episodes filled with generic, episodic formulas. It seemed like the emotional capacity of the characters was as limited as a wooden plank just to keep the series going for as long as possible. But lately, a new trend has emerged that brings a breath of fresh air to romance manga.

A Shift in Romance Manga

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in romance manga. More and more series are adopting a more grounded approach to dating. No longer do we have to endure 220+ chapters before the characters actually start dating. These series dive into the joys and struggles of real relationships without beating around the bush. Gone are the days of waiting endlessly for the plot to finally call for any romantic development.

The Reiwa Energy

With this new wave of romance manga that focuses on actual dating, the term “Reiwa energy” has gained popularity in the manga and anime discussions. This term refers to the positive feeling of progress between two characters and the praise for the current era in Japan for its progressive stance on romance stories. It’s not just a coincidence that this shift in manga aligns with the Reiwa era.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War

The origin of the “Reiwa energy” meme can be traced back to a panel in the omake of Volume 17 of Kaguya-sama: Love is War manga. This panel mocks the tropes of harem manga that dominated the Heisei era. It depicts the series’ male lead, Miyuki Shirogane, surrounded by various female character archetypes. This omake, which breaks the romcom tropes, gave birth to the association of Reiwa with the end of “Heisei-era romcoms.”

The Escalation of Reiwa Meme

The meme gained momentum with the release of several ongoing series that had confession arcs, marking the end of their stories. Popular harem titles like The Quintessential Quintuplets and We Never Learn: BOKUBEN concluded their respective arcs, leaving fans satisfied. Other manga also contributed to the rise of the Reiwa meme by featuring functioning relationships or early dating between the protagonists, breaking away from the norms of Heisei-era romance manga.

A Shift in Tone and Character Expression

One noticeable change in romance manga during the Reiwa era is the shift in tone and character expression. The leads, especially the male ones, are more grounded in reality. The focus has moved away from slapstick comedy and shifted towards a more realistic portrayal of teenage relationships. Comedy series like Oroka na Tenshi wa Akuma to Odoru perfectly blend comedy and relatability.

Yuri and Yaoi Subgenres

Interestingly, the Reiwa meme did not have a significant impact on the yuri and yaoi subgenres. These genres have always been ahead of their time in terms of romantic progressions between the main characters. Series like Bloom Into You and Classmates have already gained mainstream recognition for their realistic portrayals of relationships. The Reiwa era may have brought change to romance manga, but these subgenres were already breaking the mold.

The Future of Reiwa Energy

The Reiwa energy shows no signs of slowing down. New releases like Fly Me to the Moon, How to Grill Our Love, 365 Days to the Wedding, and Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie all start off by exploring characters who are already in a relationship. Other romance-focused manga have also evolved, giving their characters meaningful development beyond mere confessions. The Reiwa hype train is in full swing, and we are here for the ride.

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