Sekaiichi Hatsukoi Review: A Romance Editor Discovers His Boss Was His First Love a Decade Ago
by Shungiku Nakamura
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Quick Take
- The first love reconnection premise combined with the workplace editorial setting creates specific romantic tension — Ritsu cannot escape Takano professionally while refusing to acknowledge the personal history
- Nakamura's character work makes both Ritsu's denial and Takano's persistence feel understandable rather than simply frustrating
- 16 volumes complete; one of SuBLime's most popular boys' love titles
Who Is This Manga For?
- Boys' love readers who want workplace romance with first love reconnection
- Anyone interested in publishing editorial work as a romance backdrop
- Fans of Nakamura Shungiku's other work (Junjou Romantica)
- Adult readers looking for complete longer-form BL romance
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: M (Mature) Content Warnings: Boys' love romance; explicit sexual content; workplace power dynamics; first love emotional weight
M rating — adult readers only; standard boys' love M-rated content.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Ritsu Onodera has spent his career being compared to his famous literary-publisher father. To escape, he transfers to a different company entirely — Marukawa Publishing's shojo manga editorial department. He knows nothing about manga editing. His new boss, Takano Masamune, is demanding, impatient, and exactly the kind of person Ritsu does not want to deal with.
Takano is also Saga-senpai, the boy Ritsu fell in love with in high school. Ritsu confessed his feelings years ago, believed himself rejected, and has spent years telling himself he is not interested in men. Takano, who has his own understanding of what happened to that confession, has not forgotten.
The series follows the professional relationship that Ritsu cannot escape and the personal one he is determined to deny.
Characters
Ritsu Onodera — A protagonist whose denial is a defense mechanism rather than dishonesty; the series takes his refusal seriously as a response to what he believes happened.
Takano Masamune — A character whose persistence is sometimes frustrating and sometimes right; his knowledge of what actually happened to Ritsu's confession gives him a position that the series develops carefully.
The editorial department — Colleagues in parallel relationship situations that the series develops as secondary romance storylines.
Art Style
Nakamura's art is clean and expressive — the character designs are distinctive, the emotional moments are clearly staged, and the M-rated content is handled with the craft appropriate to the genre's standards.
Cultural Context
Sekaiichi Hatsukoi ran in The Ruby from 2006. The title means "The World's Greatest First Love." The manga editorial setting — the specific world of Japanese shojo manga publication, the deadlines, the author relationships, the department hierarchies — is depicted with genuine knowledge and provides an unusual backdrop for boys' love romance.
What I Love About It
The editorial work. The romance exists in a specific professional context — Ritsu is actually learning to edit manga, dealing with authors, making difficult decisions about publication. The workplace is real, not just a backdrop, and it affects the relationship dynamic in specific ways.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Sekaiichi Hatsukoi as one of the most satisfying BL romance manga available in English — specifically noted for the first love reconnection premise being developed with more emotional complexity than usual, for the editorial setting being genuinely interesting, and for both leads having understandable positions that create real romantic tension. Recommended alongside Junjou Romantica.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The revelation of what actually happened to Ritsu's confession — told from Takano's perspective with the information Ritsu never had — is the series' most emotionally significant reveal and the moment the romance becomes fully understandable from both sides.
Similar Manga
- Junjou Romantica — Nakamura's other major BL series with similar character dynamic energy
- Given — BL romance with similar emotional depth in different register
- Ten Count — BL romance with similar long relationship development
- Don't Be Cruel — SuBLime BL with similar workplace adjacent elements
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Ritsu's transfer, Takano's identity, and the initial dynamic establish the premise.
Official English Translation Status
SuBLime (Viz Media imprint) published the complete English series. All 16 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- First love premise developed with emotional complexity
- Editorial setting is genuinely interesting
- Both leads are understandable
- Complete in 16 volumes
Cons
- M-rated content throughout
- Ritsu's denial can frustrate readers
- Consent handling in some scenes requires reader awareness
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | SuBLime (Viz imprint); complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Sekaiichi Hatsukoi Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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*Affiliate link — I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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.