My Mate Is a Feline Gentleman: Yokohama Arc Review

This strange delight I get when travelling to foreign lands and experiencing their stories by deciphering their words. I’m an omega but even I can live freely inside the books during these rare moments…

Back in Japan from Great Britain with his beastfolk husband Alex (a Nyartigian), omega Toushirou gives birth to twin boys: Luca and Kai. Now he hasn’t a moment to himself as Nyartigian babies mature very swiftly; by three months, they’re already on the move! And even though Alex is doing his best to help, he gets called back to the embassy, leaving Toushirou holding the babies. There’s never a moment of peace for the proud but exhausted parents as Toushirou has to deal with crises such as both babies falling ill – and then, when they start nursery school, there’s the problem of learning to get on with other children. These precocious Nyartigian twins may start to speak at a very young age (compared with human babies) but it’s not so easy learning how to socialize.

Amidst all the domestic chaos, a tempting offer is made to Toushirou (who after his travels has acquired skills in several languages) to translate for a publisher – if he can pass the test they set first. He’s apprehensive but also determined to succeed as he really enjoys translating. Luckily, Alex is very supportive and is there to help him get over the first hurdles. But then news comes that someone has been kidnapping children in the area – and the stern young soldier sent to warn the parents at the nursery school to be on the lookout tells Toushirou that as he’s a vulnerable omega, he’s been sent to accompany him and the twins home. Toushirou is uncertain what to do; should he trust the stranger – or is it a trap?

This is the fourth instalment of My Mate is a Feline Gentleman by Arata Asanae, set in an alternate Taisho era omegaverse Japan in which beastfolk (the Nyartigian race) coexist with humans. If you’ve been following the story of Toushirou, the self-effacing omega protagonist, you’ll probably be intrigued to see that he and his alpha beastfolk husband Alex have had twins. This is an interesting development, even though we already have BL manga which focus on M/M partnerships, male pregnancy and family life with adorable children, either about beastfolk (Morry Kuroi’s Beast’s Storm) or omegaverse humans (Ichikawa Ichi’s Tadaima Okaeri). And much of the main focus here is on parenthood, with omega Toushirou the one left holding the babies (although, given the historical time period and the aristocratic background of his husband, surely there would have been wet nurses and/or nannies?). We’re encouraged to sympathize with Toushirou as he experiences the understandable insecurities of a new parent. This is relatable for anyone who’s been in that situation themselves – especially as these Nyartigian babies/kittens grow up really fast!

But I also feel uneasy at the way Toushirou is portrayed, as he’s the one who gave birth. There used to be a common complaint back in the day about the portrayal of the over-femininized uke (these can still be found) with the accusation that these were obviously created so that female readers could ‘self-insert’ – and I hoped BL had developed far beyond these over-simplistic interpretations. Omegaverse muddies the waters, because if omega male and female characters can give birth, perhaps the male omegas should be portrayed differently from their female counterparts? Toushirou (perhaps because of the ‘historical’ time period), still comes across as very vulnerable and needing to be rescued from danger – and when he does act to defend his children, he’s still at a disadvantage because of his weaker omega body. And he still addresses his husband as ‘Mr. Alex’ which feels quite formal, given their relationship. If you don’t mind this kind of scenario, then you’ll enjoy this fourth volume of My Mate is a Feline Gentleman and accept the alternate historical period restrictions as part of the story’s charm. And there’s also the chance for him to have a career as a translator (working from home) which is a new venture and one that will increase his self-esteem (a parallel with the emancipation of women, maybe?)

Arata Asanae’s artwork is as elegant as in the earlier three volumes, the twins are cute, and there’s an attractive colour page at the beginning; the pastel colour scheme she’s used for all four covers is shown to good advantage again here in Yen Press’s trade paperback edition. There are three short bonus stories reminding us of some of the minor characters, including Rodney, Asai, the young soldier, and Jack. There’s also an Epilogue/Afterword showing the twins at high school, to round things off! (The jar of candies gifted to Toushirou in Volume 1 appears at the end too.) The mangaka is quite prolific and seems to be moving on from her omegaverse phase to other Boys’ Love genres, like SubDom – although there is a side-story volume about Rodney and Asai (2024) which maybe Yen Press will also bring out to round off the series. The volume has a Mature rating but there’s nothing non-consensual here (unlike earlier volumes).

The translation for the Yokohama Arc is again by Leighann Harvey with lettering by K.T.B. and their work results in an effortless read. So, if you’ve grown fond of Toushirou and his dashing Nyartigian husband Alex, you’ll definitely want to find out how their married life is going back in multicultural Yokohama – and to see their adorable kittens/babies.

Our review copy was supplied by Yen Press.