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He's Expecting
File:KentaroHiyamaFirstPregnancyCover01.jpg
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Kentaro Hiyama
ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠
(Hiyama Kentarou no Ninshin)
Manga
Written byEri Sakai
Published byKodansha
ImprintKodansha Comics BL
MagazineBe Love
DemographicJosei
Original runAugust 11, 2012 – November 3, 2012
Volumes1
Manga
Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Childcare Edition
Written byEri Sakai
Published byKodansha
ImprintKodansha Comics BL
MagazineBe Love
DemographicJosei
Original runAugust 1, 2019 – September 1, 2020
Volumes2
Manga
Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Separate Volume
Written byEri Sakai
Published byKodansha
ImprintKodansha Comics BL
MagazineBe Love
DemographicJosei
Original runJanuary 5, 2023 – February 3, 2023
Volumes1

Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy (Japanese: ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠, Hepburn: Hiyama Kentarou no Ninshin, lit. "The Pregnancy of Kentarou Hiyama") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eri Sakai. It is set in a world where males are able to become pregnant; the story follows Kentaro Hiyama, an elite ad salaryman who discovers he is pregnant. Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy was serialized in Kodansha's bimonthly (at the time) Be Love Magazine from August 2012 to November 2012 and has been collected into 1 tankōbon volume.

The sequel Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Childcare Edition (ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠　育児編, Hiyama Kentarou no Ninshin Ikuji-hen, lit. "The Pregnancy of Kentarou Hiyama Childcare") was serialized in Kodansha's monthly Be Love Magazine from August 2019 to September 2020 and has been collected into 2 tankōbon volumes.

A third installment one-shot,[1][2] titled Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Separate Volume (ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠 分冊版, Hiyama Kentarou no Ninshin Bunsatsu-ban, lit. "The Pregnancy of Kentarou Hiyama Separate Volume"), was released on January 5, 2023. Sakai hinted that this would be the final installment,[3] though she has expressed interest in writing another one in the future.[4]

While the manga has yet to receive an official English translation, it has already garnered a following in the west due to its mature handling of the themes and the commentary presented for an otherwise unusual subject.

A live-action drama series loosely based on the manga was co-produced by Netflix and TV Tokyo, with Takumi Saitoh portraying Kentaro Hiyama. The first season of the Netflix Original Series began streaming on April 21, 2022.[5][6][7][8][9]

Synopsis

Setting

Ten years before the start of the series, men around the world started becoming pregnant in an almost serendipitous, or in some cases inconvenient way, though not as often with women; there is a one out of ten chance of it happening. The only way for men to give birth is via C-section. While it is possible for men to get an abortion, it is considered far more dangerous for men to do it as opposed to women. The subject of pregnant men is controversial with some people treating pregnant men in an almost indifferent or prejudiced way.[10]

Plot

Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy

Kentaro Hiyama is a 32-year-old elite salaryman who discovers that he is pregnant. Embarrassed by his unexpected problem, he is unsure whether he should keep the baby or not. He begins to take notice of the prejudice towards pregnant women and starts developing symptoms that lead to him calling his mother and asking how she felt about raising him on her own after his father died. After an encounter with a woman on a women-only passenger car, who quickly deduces his pregnancy and shows compassion by offering him to sit with them, he is further pushed to potentially keep the child. His coworker Yuichi Sato outs his pregnancy to a younger female employee who reveals her ignorant views on male pregnancy; believing he became pregnant from another man.[10]: 30_32  Kentaro attempts to correct her and realizes that he must change people's perspective about male pregnancy while also deciding to keep the baby.[10]

The rest of the manga deals with other characters close to Kentaro who are all going through similar situations of their own.

Mizuki Kawabata, the woman on the train, is also pregnant, but is in a relationship with an unfaithful boyfriend who claims that he is breaking up with his other girlfriend to be with her. However, it quickly becomes apparent that he wants her to get an abortion and marry his current girlfriend instead. When she learns that Kentaro is single and having his baby regardless, she dumps her boyfriend and announces to her coworkers her pregnancy.[11]

Tsubasa Utsumi is a teenager who had sex and became pregnant with his girlfriend Satome's baby. His parents forced him to get an abortion and while successful has caused a rift between him and his girlfriend. Tsubasa's friends still mock pregnant men until they encounter Kentaro who gives them a stern talking to. Tsubasa learns that Satome's parents want them to break up, but after learning that Kentaro is building a restaurant that caters to pregnant and nursing people, he is encouraged to make amends with Satome and they resume their relationship.[12]

30-year-old freelance journalist Aki Seto vehemently tells her friends that she does not want to settle and have kids. She ends up sleeping with Kentaro where they continue to see one another until they drift apart. Kentaro shows back up at her place to announce his pregnancy, which shocks her, though surprisingly she is baffled that he does not want anything from her. Aki learns that one of her friends became pregnant and is happy and she slowly begins to warm up to the idea of being a mother. Aki tells Kentaro that she can pretend to be married to him in case the paparazzi want to sensationalize his story.[13]

Noriko Miyaji's husband is pregnant with their second child. She is envious because she was pregnant with their son Takuya and wanted to have their next baby. She is also upset that he disregards the hard work she is doing and the job she is having while he sits around the house and openly voices her displeasure of pregnant men while also hiding her husband's condition from everyone. Noriko begins to idolize her boss and his wife who have a close relationship. One day, Mr. Miyaji finds Kentaro's new restaurant "Papa & Kids" and begins to enjoy eating there. Noriko is upset upon seeing him and argues with him when he returns home. While out with Takuya, Noriko meets with her boss and his wife and discovers that they are unable to have children of their own. Takuya lets slip that his father is pregnant and the boss' wife admits that she is jealous. Noriko realizes that her husband is scared of giving birth and they make up before going to Papa & Kids as a family.[14]

Kentaro eventually goes into labor, though oddly enough he is not shown in pain, and meets with Aki at the hospital. He successfully gives birth to a baby boy and names him Kotaro. Kentaro begins taking Kotaro to work where Aki dotes over him and he reunites with Mizuki who has also given birth and started a baby carriage business with a friend. Despite having had the baby, Kentaro still suspects that there is some prejudice and realizes that he has more to do. In the future, Kotaro is pregnant with his wife's baby and Kentaro and Aki visit where they happily congratulate them.[15]

In a bonus chapter, Aki has decided to write a book about male pregnancy and interviews the leads from the previous chapters. During this time, she had not come out publicly about being the mother of Kotaro. In the end, she realizes that Kentaro cannot raise him on his own and tells him that she will always be there for him.[16]

Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Childcare Edition

The series picks up three years after Kotaro's birth and focuses on Kentaro and Aki trying to raise Kotaro despite their conflicting work schedules. They begin to consider the possibility of living together and having another child. Meanwhile, pop sensation Seiya Aoyagi has become pregnant with fellow pop singer Asakawa Sakura's baby and decides to raise it, causing a rift between them. Kentaro's boss, Hiromi Shimomura becomes pregnant with his mistress' baby. He is in denial, but must come to terms with the growing evidence of his adultery.[17]

Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Separate Volume

Taking place sometime after Childcare Edition, Kentaro and Aki befriend an up and coming politician named Shimadzu Hajime who suddenly becomes pregnant. When the liberal party that he was to run with suddenly drop him, he gets the aid of his wife, Kentaro, Aki, Seiya and Tsubasa to run independently and send a positive message of speaking up. A year after the election, it is revealed that Hajime lost, but is happily raising his child with his wife, while public opinion of male pregnancy has turned for the better. Kentaro and Aki continue their happy family life with Kotaro.[18]

Characters

Kentaro Hiyama (檜山健太郎, Hiyama Kentarou)
A 32-year-old single elite salaryman who becomes pregnant from his frequent tryst with Aki Seto. He was initially unsure if he wanted to keep the baby, but embraces fatherhood after experiencing workplace prejudice first hand. He constructs a restaurant called "Papa & Kids" for those who are nursing or expecting. Kentaro has a sense of entitlement and pride following his insemination as his father died prior to his own birth and his mother struggled to raise him on her own. He had no interest in co-parenting the baby with Aki until she openly suggested taking care of him while he was at work. He gives birth to a boy, whom he names Kotaro, and happily raises him. In the initial series, Kentaro and Aki keep their relationship platonic while raising Kotaro, but in Childcare Edition, they end up becoming closer and choose to move in with each other.
Aki Seto (瀬戸亜希, Seto Aki)
A 30-year-old freelance journalist and the mother of Kentaro Hiyama's baby. She was staunchly against settling down and having kids until Kentaro revealed his pregnancy to her. While initially unsure if she was actually the mother (he admitted to having other relationships) Aki develops maternal longing for a child and offers to co-parent the baby while he is at work. In the initial series, Aki maintains a platonic relationship with Kentaro while raising their son Kotaro, but in Childcare Edition this is retconned with the two of them developing genuine feelings for each other.
Kotaro Hiyama (檜山幸太郎, Hiyama Kōtarō)
Kentaro and Aki's son who becomes the center of their world. He is born at the end of the initial series and in the future marries a woman named Aoi and becomes pregnant with their baby. In Childcare Edition, which takes place three years after, Kotaro becomes something of the source of conflict for Kentaro and Aki as they try to make their lives easier for him and themselves.
Mizuki Kawabata (川端美月, Kawabata Mizuki)
An office worker who becomes pregnant from her duplicitous boyfriend. She struggles with the idea of having someone to rely on with a baby on the way. Upon learning that Kentaro is pregnant and single, she is inspired to raise her baby on her own. She eventually gives birth and starts a baby carriage rental business with a friend. It is implied that she is the mother of Aoi, Kotaro's future wife. She is completely absent in Childcare Edition.
Seiya Aoyagi (青柳誠也, Aoyagi Seiya)
A popular idol of mixed Eurasian descent who is part of a boyband called Girl Meets Boy. He becomes pregnant from his relationship with fellow idol Asakawa Sakura. Inspired by Kentaro's story, he decides to keep his baby and hires him to act as an advisor of sorts to help handle paparazzi.
Asakawa Sakura (浅川さくら, Sakura Asakawa)
A famous singer who acquired the lead of the girl group OTW49. She is the mother of Seiya Aoyagi's baby and is initially dismissive of the news in the hopes of raising her stardom. She slowly begins to embrace the idea of being a mother.
Hajime Shimadzu (島津はじめ, Shimadzu Hajime)
A young politician who becomes pregnant and tries to increase male pregnancy awareness.

References

  1. ^ @erisakai (November 30, 2022). "新作、今描いてます。予告には読み切りとありますが前後編です。冬休みと正月休みがあるこの時期に月2本…。見通しはついていますが家族がコロナにでもなったら終わる。(New work, I'm drawing it now. The notice says that it is a one-shot, but it is the front and back. Two times a month during winter break and New Year's holiday... I have an outlook, but if my family becomes corona, it will end.)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ @erisakai (November 30, 2022). "ありがとうございます！まさかこんなに長くヒヤマを描くことになるとは思ってもみませんでした…。(thank you! I never thought that I would draw Hiyama for such a long time...)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ @erisakai (December 27, 2022). "もうヒヤマを描くのも最後だろうから、ずっとやりたかった男性政治家が妊娠するお話にしました。2013年だったら描かせてもらえなかったと思う。(Since this will probably be the last time I draw Hiyama, I made it a story about a male politician who has wanted to do for a long time and is pregnant. If it was 2013, I don't think I would have been allowed to draw it.)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ @erisakai (March 8, 2023). "ありがとうございます！今のところその予定はないのです…。また映像化などがあれば続編を描くこともあるかもしれませんが。(thank you! There are no plans for that at the moment... Also, if there is a film adaptation, I may draw a sequel.)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  5. ^ Watanabe, Shigeko (April 8, 2021). "Netflix confirms start of production of new series, He's Expecting". Netflix. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "斎藤工×上野樹里 "男性が妊娠？"『ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠』Netflixとテレビ東京が共同で企画・製作". TV Tokyo (in Japanese). April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  7. ^ "斎藤工 × 上野樹里 "男性が妊娠?" 社会派コメディドラマ Netflixオリジナルシリーズ『ヒヤマケンタロウの妊娠』 Netflixとテレビ東京が共同で企画・製作 <制作決定&キャスト発表>". AOI Pro. (in Japanese). April 8, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  8. ^ Antonio Pineda, Rafael (April 7, 2021). "Kentarō Hiyama's First Pregnancy Manga About Pregnant Man Gets Netflix Live-Action Show in 2022". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (April 7, 2021). "Eri Sakai's Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy Manga Gets Live-action Drama on Netflix". Crunchyroll. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, chapter 1
  11. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, chapter 2
  12. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, chapter 3
  13. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, chapter 4
  14. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, chapter 5
  15. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, chapter 6
  16. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy volume 1, bonus chapter
  17. ^ Kentaro Hiyama's First Pregnancy: Childcare Edition volumes 1-2
  18. ^ Be Love (January-February 2023}
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