is a Japanese

manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

series by . It was serialized in the

boys' love , also known by its abbreviation , is a genre of fictional media originating in Japan that depicts Homoeroticism, homoerotic relationships between male characters. It is typically created by women for a female audience, distinguishing it fro ...

manga magazine are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics an ...

Dear+ is a monthly manga magazine published by Shinshokan that specializes in boys' love (BL) manga. It has two sister publications: the quarterly BL light novel magazine , and the bimonthly BL manga magazine . History ''Dear+'' was founded in 1997 a ...

'' from December 14, 2010, to May 14, 2012. The series was later renewed and published in the Spring 2014 issue of ''Chéri+'', where it continues to be serialized irregularly. A live-action television drama adaptation was broadcast from December 15, 2022 to February 10, 2023 for

Drama Shower is a Japanese programming block on MBS. The programming block is set to run for one year and is a collaboration between MBS and Kadokawa's boys' love programming label, Tunku, to broadcast boys' love television drama series published by the latt ...

, a programming block created

MBS MBS may refer for: People * Mohammed Ben Sulayem (born 1961), president of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile * Mohammed bin Salman (born 1985), crown prince and prime minister of Saudi Arabia * Mohan Bikram Singh (born 1935), Nepales ...

in collaboration with Tunku,

Kadokawa Corporation , formerly is a Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate based in Fujimi, Chiyoda, Tokyo. Created as a result of the merger of the original Kadokawa Corporation and Dwango (company), Dwango Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2014, the company has ...

's label for live-action boys' love television dramas.

Plot

Originally a reporter for politics, journalist Satoshi Onoe is suddenly transferred to the celebrity gossip section in the weekly tabloid magazine ''Dash!'' and paired with photographer Motoharu Kaburagi, who Onoe views as his rival, as his partner for stake-outs. Onoe and Kaburagi constantly clash with each other from many factors such as Onoe's strong sense of justice, Kaburagi's two-faced and unethical methods of gathering information, and Onoe's ex-girlfriend choosing Kaburagi over him. Over time, Onoe comes to respect Kaburagi as he understands him more, while Kaburagi values Onoe's innocent outlook over journalism. The two eventually fall in love as they continue working together.

Characters

; :; :Onoe is a reporter for ''Dash!'' and has a straight-laced personality. He has a strong sense of justice. ; :; :Kaburagi works as a photographer in ''Dash!'', and while he has a cool composure, he also has a kind side that allows him to show consideration for others. Unlike Onoe, Kaburagi will do anything for a scoop and maintains his connections through deceit, bribery, and sex to obtain information. Kaburagi admires Onoe's innocent outlook on journalism and hopes that he will not become as jaded as he is.

Media

Manga

''Candy Color Paradox'' is written and illustrated by . It was serialized in the

'' from the January 2011 issue released on December 14, 2010 to the June 2012 issue released on May 14, 2012. Natsume resumed the series beginning with the Spring 2014 issue of ''Chéri+'' released on April 30, 2014, where it continues to be serialized irregularly. The chapters were later released in six bound volumes by

Shinshokan is a Japanese publishing company. It was established on June 14, 1961. In April 2009, the US publisher Digital Manga Publishing announced a co-branding operation with Shinshokan, to license and manga from Shinshokan's '' Wings'', ''Dear'', an ...

under the Dear+ Comics imprint. ''Isaku Natsume Fanbook'', a collection featuring Natsume's boys' love works published with Shinshokan, was released on November 30, 2013 and included extra comics consisting of crossovers with ''Dōshiyō mo Nai Keredo'' and ''Tight Rope'', her other works. In 2015, the release of vol. 3 of ''Candy Color Paradox'' was included in a promotional event where first-press editions were distributed with an extra comic. The first press bonus also included a ticket that allowed customers to apply to purchase an

audio drama Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatised, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine ...

CD adaptation of Natsume's latest work at the time, ''Heart no Kakurega''. In late October 2015, Natsume's artwork for ''Candy Color Paradox'', as well as ''Heart no Kakurega'', had a feature exhibition at Yurindo Comic Kingdom at

Yokohama Station is a major interchange railway station in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. It is the busiest station in Kanagawa Prefecture and the fifth-busiest in the world as of 2013, serving 760 million passengers a year. Lines Yokohama Station is served by t ...

. On September 15, 2017, ''Dear+'' announced that the versions will be released with a new cover design starting with volume 4. The covers for volumes 1 to 3 were also redesigned with new artwork following the announcement. On August 1, 2018,

Viz Media Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...

announced that they had licensed the series for North American distribution in English under their SuBLime imprint.

Drama CD

Several

s based on each volume of ''Candy Color Paradox'' was released by Shinshokan on CD, starring

Takashi Kondō is a Japanese voice actor represented by AMBERnote. He voiced Terry Bogard in ''Fatal Fury'', and Faust and Potemkin in ''Guilty Gear''. Filmography Anime series ;2001 *''Beyblade'' as Miguel *'' Captain Tsubasa'' (2001 version) as Pepe *''T ...

as Onoe and

Tomoaki Maeno is a Japanese voice actor Voice acting is the art of Acting, performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work ...

as Kaburagi. The first drama CD was released on July 30, 2011. The second drama CD was released on November 28, 2012. The third drama CD was released on February 26, 2016.

OVA

''Candy Color Paradox: (Secret) Tape'' was included as part of ''6 Lovers'', a compilation DVD featuring six

anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...

shorts based on the series from ''Dear+'' as part of the magazine's 20th anniversary. ''6 Lovers'' was released on March 30, 2021. The short stars

Yusuke Shirai is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Early Wing. Some roles he played include Haruna Wakazato in '' The Idolmaster SideM'', Yamato Nikaidō in '' Idolish7'', and Combat Agent 6 in '' Combatants Will Be Dispatched!''. Early life Yusuke Shi ...

as Onoe and

Junta Terashima is a Japanese voice actor, narrator, and singer. He debuted as a voice actor in 2009. Notable roles played by him include Hyōga Yukimura from '' Inazuma Eleven Go'', Shin Ichijo from the '' King of Prism'' series, Takeru Taiga from '' The Idol ...

as Kaburagi.

Television drama

On November 13, 2022, Flag Pictures announced that they were producing a live-action television drama adaptation of ''Candy Color Paradox'' with 8 episodes planned. The series premiered on December 15, 2022 as the fifth entry of

programming block, with other broadcasts on

TV Kanagawa (tvk for short) is an independent television station in Japan serving Kanagawa Prefecture and parts of the Greater Tokyo Area with favorable reception. The station was founded on April 20, 1971 and began broadcasting on April 1, 1972. Its call s ...

Gunma TV , also known as GTV, is a television network headquartered in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. It is a member of the Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations (JAITS). The government of Gunma Prefecture is the biggest shareholder of GTV, an ...

Tochigi TV , also known as GYT and branded on air as , is a television network headquartered in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is a member of the Japanese Association of Independent Television Stations The Japanese Association of Independent Television ...

TV Saitama abbreviated TVS, doing business as is a Japanese fee-free terrestrial commercial television broadcasting company headquartered in Urawa-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located ...

, and

Chiba TV , doing business as , is a Japanese commercial terrestrial television broadcasting company headquartered at 11-25 Miyako-chō 1-chōme, Chūō-ku, Chiba serving Chiba Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kan ...

. The series is also streamed on Viki and

GagaOOLala GagaOOLala is a Taiwan-based worldwide subscription video on demand service, specializing in uncensored LGBT-related films, LGBT TV films & LGBT TV drama series. It has partnered with Japanese-based Line TV, initially in Thailand, and then ac ...

for English distribution. The drama adaptation stars

Fantastics from Exile Tribe Fantastics from Exile Tribe (Japanese: ファンタスティックス・フロム・エグザイル・トライブ, stylized as FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE and formerly known as Fantastics) is a nine-member Japanese male dance and vocal group form ...

member as Onoe and member as Kaburagi. The supporting cast includes Atsuki Kashio,

Sae Miyazawa is a Japanese actress, television personality and former singer, signed under the entertainment agency Horipro. She is best known for her affiliations with AKB48 and its various sister- and subgroups. Between 2006 and 2016, she was a part of the ...

, Kenta Izuka,

Rinne Yoshida is a Japanese Japanese idol, idol singer and rapper. She has an active solo career. Discography Singles Albums DVD * （June 27, 2013） Music videos Filmography Film * ''Humanoid Monster Bem, Humanoid Monster Bela'' (2020) * ...

, Tomohiro Ichikawa, , and . The opening theme is "Go Sign" by Billy Laurent and the ending theme is "Finder" by Claquepot. As the series was broadcast, exclusive behind-the-scenes footage was uploaded weekly on Tunku's (Kadokawa's label for live-action boys' love dramas)

Niconico , known before 2012 as , is a Japanese video sharing service based in Tokyo, Japan. "Niconico" or "nikoniko" is the Japanese sound symbolism, Japanese ideophone for smiling. As of 2021, Niconico is the 34th most-visited website in Japan, accordi ...

channel. Isaku Natsume was involved in the scriptwriting process, stating that the writing team had included her opinions in their revisions. Kimura and Yamanaka were familiar with each other after guest-starring in the live-action television drama adaptation of ''

Yakuza Lover is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nozomi Mino. It was serialized in Shogakukan's ''Premium Cheese!'' from March 2018 to March 2019 and in '' Cheese!'' from April 2019 to June 2022. As of November 2022, the series' individu ...

'' together, and ''Candy Color Paradox'' is not only their first time starring together, but their first time starring in lead roles. Kimura was instructed by the director to act as though he were having a normal conversation and thus gave a realistic portrayal of Onoe. Kimura also ad-libbed an unspecified scene through gestures.

Reception

In December 2022, a cumulative total of over 1.3 million physical copies have been sold in Japan. Media outlets such as '' Da Vinci'' and

Right Stuf Right Stuf Inc. (formerly known as The Right Stuf International Inc.) was an American video publisher and distributor of video programming that specialized in Asian entertainment (anime and live action films). It had several divisions includin ...

reviewed ''Candy Color Paradox'' favorably, stating that the series shows off the appeal of having a bickering couple while also showing that they can come to an understanding and fall in love because of it. In 2016, ''Candy Color Paradox'' ranked no. 9 in a list of recommended

titles based on a survey of bookstore employees nationwide in Japan. Rebecca Silverman from

Anime News Network Anime News Network (ANN) is a news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, video games, Japanese popular music and other related cultures within North America, Australia, Southeast Asia and Japan. The website offers reviews and ot ...

praised the story and art, but she also claimed that readers may find the story rushed at times and Onoe irritating.

References

External links

* {{Dear+ 2010 manga 2020s Japanese LGBTQ-related television series 2022 Japanese television series debuts 2023 Japanese television series endings Drama Shower Japanese boys' love television series Japanese television dramas based on manga Josei manga Shinshokan manga SuBLime manga Romantic comedy anime and manga Yaoi anime and manga