Given Review: The BL Music Manga That Understands Both Love and Grief
by Natsuki Kizu
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Quick Take
- Given uses music to externalize grief in a way that is genuinely innovative for BL manga.
- Mafuyu's first live performance is one of the most emotionally devastating scenes in any manga.
- The art is beautiful and expressive — Kizu draws emotional states with exceptional precision.
Who Is This Manga For?
- Fans of BL romance readers who want genuine emotional depth and literary quality
- Readers who enjoy music manga readers who want the music to carry emotional weight
- Anyone interested in readers interested in how grief affects creative work
- People who like readers of Happy-Go-Lucky Days or Our Happy Hours wanting more literary manga
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: M (Mature) Content Warnings: BL romance, grief themes, suicide mention (character backstory), adult content
Recommended for mature readers.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★★ |
| Art Style | ★★★★★ |
| Character Development | ★★★★★ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Overall: 5/5 — One of the finest BL manga ever published — Given is exceptional.
Story Overview
Ritsuka Uenoyama is a guitarist in a small band who has lost his passion for music. He finds the beautiful Mafuyu Satou sleeping with a broken guitar — a guitar that, it turns out, belonged to someone Mafuyu loved and lost. Ritsuka teaches Mafuyu to play. The music Mafuyu makes — shaped entirely by his unprocessed grief — is unlike anything anyone has heard.
Characters
The cast of Given is built around contrasting personalities that force each other to grow. The main character carries a mix of strength and vulnerability — enough to earn sympathy without feeling passive. Supporting characters each serve a distinct emotional function: some mirror the protagonist's flaws, others challenge their assumptions, and a few provide the warmth that makes the harder moments bearable.
Art Style
Natsuki Kizu's visual style suits the story it tells. Emotional moments land because facial expressions are drawn with real attention to subtlety — you rarely need dialogue to understand what a character is feeling. Background detail varies by scene, pulling back in quiet moments and getting tight and detailed when the stakes rise.
Cultural Context
Given comes from Japanese band culture, particularly the independent music scene, and the role of live performance as emotional revelation. English readers will find most of this translates naturally; a few cultural notes in good translations help bridge any remaining gaps.
What I Love About It
Mafuyu's song at the live performance is built from the manga's entire first arc. When he finally sings and the grief he has been carrying comes out through the music, it is one of the most effective moments of catharsis I have encountered in manga. I cried on the train.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers who find this series often describe it as something they wish they'd found sooner. The emotional beats translate well; the universal themes of connection, loss, and growth resonate regardless of cultural background. Fans of similar series consistently recommend it as a must-read for genre newcomers and veterans alike.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
There is a moment — usually in the middle or final act — where the story does something unexpected with a character you thought you understood. The setup is careful and patient. The payoff is sudden and complete. Readers report rereading earlier chapters afterward, finding all the foreshadowing they missed the first time.
Similar Manga
If you enjoyed Given, try:
- Happy-Go-Lucky Days by Takako Shimura — similarly emotionally precise BL
- Blue Period — creative passion and grief expressed through visual art rather than music
- Nana by Ai Yazawa — music and complex relationships, more mainstream
Reading Order / Where to Start
Start from volume 1. This series builds its world and characters carefully from the first chapter — jumping in anywhere else means losing the context that makes later moments land. Volume 1 is a very strong opening; if you're not hooked by the end of it, this series may not be for you.
Official English Translation Status
Given is ongoing in English translation. New volumes are releasing regularly.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Ongoing with regular releases
- Strong character work and genuine emotional investment
- The music is made emotionally legible in a static medium through exceptional character work
Cons:
- Pacing slows significantly after the first major arc resolves
- The suicide backstory requires reader readiness for that content
Format Comparison
| Format | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | Best art reproduction | May require ordering online |
| Digital | Instant access, cheaper | Less collector value |
| Used | Very affordable | Condition and availability vary |
Where to Buy
Find Given on Amazon:
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.