{"product_id":"sweet-poolside-9781647291907","title":"Sweet Poolside","description":"\u003cb\u003eMiddle school is hard enough without problems like these... \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eToshihiko Ota is mocked by his peers for his smooth, hairless body, but his life changes forever when he meets a young woman in swim club with the opposite problem: Ayako Goto, poised for swim-meet glory but too ashamed of her body hair to compete. After Ota happens on her trying unsuccessfully to shave in the locker room, she comes to him with an astonishing request...!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCan they help each other find the confidence to embrace their own bodies?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis sweet yet erotic early work from psychosexual auteur Shuzo Oshimi (\u003ci\u003eBlood on the Tracks, Flowers of Evil\u003c\/i\u003e) is not your average tale of puppy love. A quiet story of budding sexuality, self-exploration, trust, and friendship, \u003ci\u003eSweet Poolside\u003c\/i\u003e is ultimately one of Oshimi's most focused and sincere works, as well as the basis for the live-action movie of the same name.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnly in his late-thirties, Shuzo Oshimi is already considered a seasoned veteran of the Japanese comics community. Winner of the most important comics awards for newcomers, the Tetsuya Chiba Awad in 2001, Oshimi has been penning quirky slice-of-life dramas now for over a decade for major manga publishers including Kodansha. After drawing nine series, Oshimi's star began to rise in 2008 with the release of his first hit, \u003ci\u003eDrifting Net Cafe\u003c\/i\u003e. This horror-themed homage to the legendary Kazu Umezzo work, \u003ci\u003eDrifting Classroom\u003c\/i\u003e, was adapted into a live-action series, and propelled Oshimi onto an international stage. He would soon reach new heights in 2009 with \u003ci\u003eThe Flowers of Evil.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAs to date he has over 13 works which include serializations and art contributions.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Vertical Comics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50562095776018,"sku":"9781647291907","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_cd1ed43a-0426-447d-81f7-2379cf63db06.jpg?v=1731857131","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/sweet-poolside-9781647291907","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}