Haikara-san ga Tooru

Set in Tokyo during the Taisho era, seventeen-year-old Benio Hanamura is no ordinary schoolgirl. Having lost her mother in early childhood, she was raised solely by her father, a high-ranking officer in the Japanese army. This upbringing shaped her into a spirited tomboy who defies the traditional feminine ideals of her time—she practices kendo, enjoys sake, favors bold Western fashions that often raise eyebrows, and finds far more appeal in literature than in domestic duties. A firm believer in women’s autonomy, Benio outright rejects arranged unions, championing instead a woman’s right to pursue a career and marry for genuine love. Her closest companions include the lovely Tamaki, who, though far more traditionally feminine than Benio, shares her deep commitment to women’s rights; and Ranmaru, a young man whose upbringing in kabuki theater—specializing in female roles—has imbued him with distinctly delicate and graceful mannerisms.