He’s Expecting

In Eri Sakai’s thought-provoking manga *He’s Expecting*, a decade has passed since men spontaneously developed the biological capacity to bear children. Japanese society remains deeply unsettled by this shift, struggling to adapt its institutions and cultural norms to an unprecedented reality. Kentaro Hiyama, a fiercely career-driven professional, suddenly discovers he is pregnant—a revelation that threatens to upend not only his personal ambitions but also his entire understanding of the world around him. Initially uncertain about who the child’s other parent might be, Kentaro quickly collides with entrenched discriminatory policies and regressive social attitudes. Many of these systemic prejudices existed long before male pregnancy became possible, yet he had never questioned them in his former life; in fact, he likely shared those very biases. Now forced into a vulnerable position he once overlooked, his perspective undergoes a profound transformation. Through meaningful encounters with other expectant individuals navigating similar hardships, Kentaro finds himself fundamentally changed. Rather than retreating from the challenges ahead, he channels his extensive expertise in business and marketing toward a new purpose. Galvanized by his lived experience, he dedicates his professional skills to dismantling outdated societal structures and driving meaningful change for all pregnant people.