Danica Davidson
April 5, 2024 
In You and I Are Polar Opposites, teen Miya Suzuki is chatty, perky, and concerned with what people think. Her crush, Tani, is mild-mannered, likes to read, and doesn’t concern himself with what people think. In other words, as the title indicates, they are polar opposites. But Suzuki thinks to herself, “The truth is I’m totally into him. People look at Tani and just see this quiet guy with glasses. But he’s direct and firm and acts the same way with everyone. He doesn’t force himself to fit in. And I think that’s really awesome.”
She yammers at him in class, and he’s polite, though he doesn’t seem particularly interested. However, one day they end up running into each other after school, and things go from there. They hold hands, they get seen, Suzuki denies anything happened, and then she feels horrible for throwing Tani under the bus. The two make amends and continue their blossoming relationship, but can such opposites make it work?
On the one hand, You and I Are Polar Opposites is about the typical things of teenage dating: what to say, what to do, what the other person might be thinking, etc. In addition to that, it has some deeper philosophical points, like how much we care about what other people think, or how people are treated differently depending on where they are in a hierarchy. So it gives some food for thought, and it definitely gives the characters opportunity to grow.
For the most part, though, it’s a cute, fun, lighthearted story. Suzuki is a lively heroine, and Tani’s calmness makes for a good balance against her spirited personality. It has moments of humor, and characters are relatable. The artwork, which is more straightforward and less flowery than some shojo manga, is attractive and works well with the story. Even if Suzuki is concerned about whether or not people like her, there’s plenty to like about this manga.
Story & Art: Kocha Agasawa
Publisher: VIZ Media
Translator: Dan Luffey
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
