Goodbye, My Rose Garden

Goodbye, My Rose Garden
In a rose garden, a woman with light brown hair and a green dress holds hands with a dark-haired woman dressed as a maid.
Cover of the first tankōbon volume, featuring Alice (left) and Hanako (right)
さよならローズガーデン
(Sayonara Rōzu Gāden)
Genre
Manga
Written byDr. Pepperco
Published byMag Garden
English publisher
ImprintBlade Comics
MagazineMAGxiv
Original runJuly 9, 2018 – January 13, 2020
Volumes3

Goodbye, My Rose Garden (さよならローズガーデン, Sayonara Rōzu Gāden) is a Japanese yuri manga series written and illustrated by Dr. Pepperco. It was serialized online on Mag Garden's MAGxiv from July 2018 to January 2020. Its chapters were later collected into three tankōbon volumes. It was licensed for an English-language release by Seven Seas Entertainment. The series follows Hanako Kujō, an aspiring novelist in England, and Alice Douglas, a noblewoman who hires Hanako as her maid.

Pepperco's idea for the series originally came from their interest in drawing Victorian-era maid uniforms. As they researched the social circumstances of the time, they conceived of Hanako as a New Woman and Alice as someone who had to hide her true self to keep her reputation. Pepperco referenced various sources to illustrate the manga's setting in England and incorporated allusions to writers of that time period.

The manga's themes were analyzed by several critics who noted its setting in Victorian-era England, a time and place where prejudice against same-sex relationships was widespread. Although the work pays homage to literature of that era, it was seen as subverting traditional tropes in its character relationships, literary devices, and ultimate resolution.

The series was well received, winning the yuri category of the 2021 Manga Barcelona Awards. The plot, characters, historical details and art style were generally met with positive reviews, with multiple critics opining that the last two aspects complemented each other well.

Synopsis

In the early twentieth century, Hanako Kujō, an aspiring novelist, travels from Japan to England to follow her dream of meeting her idol, author Victor Franks. When she arrives, her request to meet him is flatly refused by Frank's publisher. Alice Douglas, a noblewoman, overhears the conversation and offers her employment as a personal maid to her.

Soon, Alice reveals that she can introduce Hanako to Franks, but only under one condition: Hanako must kill Alice. Shocked by her request, Hanako tries to learn more about Alice to better understand why she would make such a request, growing closer to her in the process.

Characters

Hanako Kujō (九條 華子, Kujō Hanako)
An aspiring novelist who traveled to England in hopes of meeting her favorite author, Victor Franks. She instead finds herself as a personal maid to the noblewoman Alice Douglas.
Alice Douglas
A noblewoman who takes Hanako on as her personal maid after finding out that she is trying to find Victor Franks. Alice fears that rumors surrounding her once having an affair with her governess will cause disgrace to her family.
Edward
A nobleman who is arranged to marry Alice. He hopes their marriage will do away with any of the rumors surrounding Alice and is suspicious of her relationship with Hanako.
Eliza McGovern
Alice's former governess. She left and went to Japan after rumors surrounding them started to spread. She recommended that Hanako go to England.

Development

A photo of a page with five outfits and their associated prices and descriptions
Pepperco often consulted a Harrods catalog for inspiration; pictured is a 1912 "Harodds for Everything" catalog.

Dr. Pepperco, the creator of Goodbye, My Rose Garden, first encountered yuri manga upon seeing Kaoru Kurimoto's Untā Den Rinden no Bara,[a] a work that deeply influenced them. In addition, they became interested in the Victorian era at a young age after reading the Sherlock Holmes series. Although they were initially fascinated by the architecture and fashion of the era, they later became more interested in English history, especially events related to the social treatment of women and the corresponding rise of suffragettes.[4]

According to Pepperco, the idea for Goodbye, My Rose Garden came from their desire to draw Victorian-era maid uniforms. As Pepperco researched the lives of Japanese women during those times to develop Hanako's background, they learned about the difficult social circumstances that they often faced. As such, they conceived of Hanako as a New Woman, an ideal of an independent woman in that time period. Meanwhile, Alice was created as a character who had to hide her secrets and seem like an exemplary noblewoman for the sake of her reputation.[4]

Pepperco used a variety of sources to help illustrate the manga's setting in England, including their own photographs, picture books, and a book about Victorian jewelry. They also used a Harrods catalog, which they would check when they were struggling with their drawings. For a scene featuring a letter, they asked their editor to check the postal service's collection for old-fashioned stamps and postmarks.[4] To portray the subtleties of the characters' emotions, Pepperco tried to show more than just facial expressions, such as by drawing panels that focused solely on hands.[5] Although they had only illustrated digitally prior to creating Goodbye, My Rose Garden, they used a dip pen and ink for the series, an experience that they found enjoyable.[4]

The series features various references to contemporary writers, including Oscar Wilde, Kate Chopin, and Sarah Orne Jewett; in addition, the pen name of "Victor Franks" is an allusion to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.[6] Pepperco described literature as something that helps motivate people to continue in spite of life's struggles and negativity; with this in mind, they sought to create a story where Alice and Hanako's relationship would begin with their shared interest in literary works.[4]

Themes

A photo with a rose bush to the left and a stone pathway leading to the distance on the right
A rose garden plays an important role in the story, both visually and symbolically.

Goodbye, My Rose Garden takes place in Victorian-era England, a setting where prejudice and laws against same-sex relationships were common.[6][7][1] During this time period, queer literature often relied on subtext to communicate romantic desires without bringing social or legal judgment upon their authors. One such work that the manga references is "Martha's Lady" by Sarah Orne Jewett, a short story representative of contemporary sapphic literature; Dee of Anime Feminist suggests that the "impossible love" within that story is paralleled to a significant extent by Goodbye, My Rose Garden. The manga also features various fin de siècle tropes often seen in literature featuring Class S, an aspect of early 20th-century Japanese culture associated with the modern yuri genre.[6][8]

The relationship between Hanako and Alice was analyzed by several critics. Faye Hopper of Anime News Network characterized Hanako as a "counter to [the] despair" of struggling with societal expectations; rather than finding Alice in the wrong for defying them, Hanako sees the world itself as the problem that needs fixing.[7] Similarly, Morgana Santilli of The Beat observed that Hanako's differing cultural background allows her to offer Alice a new perspective.[1] Dee noted that while an uneven dynamic exists between Hanako and Alice as maid and noblewoman, respectively, their relationship begins once Alice leaves her position, thus making them equals. As such, Dee opined that the manga "remed[ies] the power imbalances" that were commonly portrayed in historical works.[6]

A rose garden is one of the manga's central metaphors.[6][7] In the story, roses are seen as having to be idealized and uniform, with outliers being pruned. Hopper argued that these roses represent queer emotions: feelings deviating from heteropatriarchal norms are rejected by society. In this sense, Hopper contends that the manga offers an optimistic interpretation; by leaving the rose garden's "world of false beauty", Alice and Hanako can finally acknowledge their love's legitimacy.[7] Dee, analyzing the rose garden in traditional literature, noted that it often represents individuality and intimacy; in addition, flower language was used as subtext to explore places free from prevailing social expectations. Thus, she observed that leaving the garden may initially be seen as a "declaration of defeat". However, by having "subtext [...] become text" through an upbeat ending, she argued that the story defies this expectation.[6]

Dee also noted that the story's positive resolution subverts traditional Victorian queer literature that often ended in tragedy. She suggested that it was "valuable for historical fiction to acknowledge" how it was possible for queer relationships to succeed. By portraying this, she argued that that the work plays a positive role in normalizing such stories. Similarly, Erica Friedman, a longtime analyst of yuri manga, wrote that it "takes commitment" to write such an ending for a story set in an environment where women were deeply constrained by societal norms. In this regard, she placed Goodbye, My Rose Garden in the context of media that "imagines a better way forward" and "supplies us a better way to look backward."[9]

Media

Written and illustrated by Dr. Pepperco, Goodbye, My Rose Garden was published from July 9, 2018, to January 13, 2020, on the manga website MAGxiv.[10][11] The series' chapters were collected in three tankōbon volumes released by Mag Garden from January 10, 2019, to February 7, 2020.[12][13]

The manga is licensed in English by Seven Seas Entertainment.[14] It released three volumes from April 14, 2020, to December 15, 2020.[15][16]

Manga

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1January 10, 2019[12]978-4-80000-823-7April 14, 2020[15]978-1-64505-291-3
  • Chapter 1: "The Beginning of Farewell"
  • Chapter 2: "The Sun, the Thorns, and the Accomplices"
  • Chapter 3: "The Black Spot That Devours Me"
  • Chapter 4: "Nameless Beast, Nameless Bud"
  • Chapter 5: "Dark Clouds Above, the Sound of Distant Rain"
2August 9, 2019[17]978-4-80000-883-1July 21, 2020[18]978-1-64505-506-8
  • Chapter 6: "A Rose Burned Before a Grave"
  • Chapter 7: "The Shadow Eclipsing the Sun"
  • Chapter 8: "The Flames of Cowardice Incinerate Your Heart"
  • Chapter 9: "Pen Strokes That Cross Oceans"
  • Chapter 10: "The Sea Breeze Draws the Sun's Radiance"
  • Chapter 11: "The Sunlight Between Clouds and the Opening Bud"
  • Intermission: "Toffee for You"
3February 7, 2020[13]978-4-80000-936-4December 15, 2020[16]978-1-64505-815-1
  • Chapter 12: "Who Are the Briars?"
  • Chapter 13: "The Accomplice Smiles Back"
  • Chapter 14: "A Momentary Masquerade"
  • Chapter 15: "The Pulse of the Cocoon and the Wind That Breaks It"
  • Chapter 16: "My One and Only Wish"
  • Final Chapter: "Goodbye, My Rose Garden"

Drama reading

On February 8–9, 2020, a drama reading of Goodbye, My Rose Garden was performed at the theater TACCS1179 in Tokyo. Moeka Koizumi played Hanako Kujō and Kaya Okuno played Alice Douglas.[13]

Reception

The series was well received,[1][19] winning the yuri category of the 2021 Manga Barcelona Awards.[20] Hopper praised the manga as a "beautiful, moving period piece" that never shied away from heavy themes,[7] while Dee called it a "masterclass in writing queer historical romance."[6] Brigid Alverson of School Library Journal described the work as a "delightful period soap opera" and named it as one of her top ten manga series of 2020.[21] Anthony Gramuglia of CBR felt that despite its flaws, it would be "profound and meaningful" for readers interested in a series that explored themes of self-conflict.[22]

The manga's historical details were praised,[2][6] with Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network opining that the series was noteworthy for the depth of research in its character clothing, background scenery, and literary references.[7] Morgana Santilli of The Beat favorably reviewed the story's "bevy of historically accurate information".[1] Gramuglia wrote that the series "capture[d] the tension and anxieties of the era beautifully",[22] while Alverson called its portrayal of Victorian England "lovingly detailed".[3]

The plot was met with generally warm reactions.[7][21] Silverman felt that the manga distinguished itself from similar works through its serious depiction of prejudice,[7] and Santilli commended it as one that "pushe[d] the boundaries" of series that would typically be licensed in English.[1] Brittany Vincent of Otaku USA was more hesitant, opining that the storyline resembled others in the genre despite being "pleasant enough".[2] Erica Friedman of Okazu described the story as a "bit melodramatic" but still enjoyable.[23]

The series' characters received mostly positive comments.[23][24] Sara Smith of The Graphic Library praised the relationship between Hanako and Alice as "so sweet and pure that it's refreshing".[19] Vincent commented positively on the relationship as well, praising the "delicately written" characters.[2] Gramuglia offered a mixed review; although he called the main protagonists "excellent foils" for each other, he felt that they were often overshadowed by the setting.[22]

The artwork was commended by multiple reviewers.[3][7] Gramuglia described the manga as "bleeding historical atmosphere" with its scenery,[22] while Santilli enjoyed its "richly detailed" drawings.[1] Smith wrote that the "illustrations fully explore the lushness of the time period", particularly in their depictions of clothing, and opined that they were an attractive part of the story.[19] Vincent also spoke positively of the artwork's historical immersion, stating that it did a "fantastic job" of showing its Victorian setting.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ ウンター・デン・リンデンの薔; lit. 'Rose of Unter den Linden'

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Santilli, Morgana (June 22, 2020). "Review: Get Lost in an Historical Lesbian Liaison with Goodbye, My Rose Garden". The Beat. Archived from the original on July 26, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Vincent, Brittany (August 28, 2020). "Goodbye, My Rose Garden [Manga Review]". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Alverson, Brigid (October 28, 2021). "8 Yuri Manga to Sweep You Off Your Feet". School Library Journal. Media Source Inc. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Dr. Pepperco (January 27, 2023). "Interview mit Dr. Pepperco - Mangaka von Leb wohl, mein Rosengarten" [Interview with Dr. Pepperco - Manga artist of Goodbye, My Rose Garden]. Manga Passion (in German). Archived from the original on July 26, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ Dr. Pepperco (January 20, 2024). 【教えて先生!!プレイバック】第40回・毒田ペパ子先生 [[Ask the sensei!! Playback] Volume 40: Dr. Pepperco] (in Japanese). Mag Garden. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dee (December 10, 2021). "Daring to Speak its Name: Goodbye, My Rose Garden and the queer historical romance". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on July 10, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hopper, Faye; Silverman, Rebecca (June 11, 2020). "The Spring 2020 Manga Guide: Goodbye, My Rose Garden". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  8. ↑ Bauman, Nicki "YuriMother" (August 18, 2021). "Beyond The School Cathedral: How Yuri Grew Up". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ Friedman, Erica (February 22, 2021). "Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Volume 3". Okazu. Archived from the original on February 22, 2021. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  10. ↑ 日本人メイドと英国令嬢の秘密描く、毒田ペパ子新連載「さよならローズガーデン」 [Dr. Pepperco's new serialization Goodbye, My Rose Garden depicts the secrets shared between a Japanese maid and a British noblewoman]. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 9, 2018. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  11. ↑ WEB連載中の百合漫画情報(1/13)その2 MAGXIVで連載中の毒 [Information on yuri manga currently serialized on the web (1/13), part 2: Dr. Pepperco's series running in MAGxiv] (in Japanese). Yuri Navi. January 13, 2020. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026 – via TwiComi.
  12. 1 2 私を殺して…英国令嬢×日本人メイドが織りなす「さよならローズガーデン」1巻 ["Please kill me..." Goodbye, My Rose Garden Volume 1: A story woven around a British noblewoman and a Japanese maid]. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 英国令嬢と日本人メイドの秘密の恋を描く「さよならローズガーデン」最終巻 [Final volume of Goodbye, My Rose Garden, depicting the secret love between a British noblewoman and a Japanese maid]. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 7, 2020. Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  14. ↑ Alverson, Brigid (September 19, 2019). "Seven Seas Announces Five New Yuri Licenses". ICv2. Archived from the original on July 27, 2026. Retrieved July 26, 2026.
  15. 1 2 Sherman, Jennifer (April 14, 2020). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, April 12–18". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Sherman, Jennifer (December 17, 2020). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, December 13–19". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  17. ↑ 「さよならローズガーデン」朗読劇化、英国令嬢×日本人メイドの秘密の物語 [Drama reading adaptation of Goodbye, My Rose Garden: The secret story of a British noblewoman and a Japanese maid]. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 9, 2019. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ Sherman, Jennifer (July 23, 2020). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, July 19–25". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 Smith, Sara (December 14, 2021). "Book Review: Goodbye, My Rose Garden Vol 1 by Dr. Pepperco". The Graphic Library. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  20. ↑ Ayén, Xavi (October 29, 2021). "Premio para Urara, un manga ambientado en Badalona" [Award for Urara, a manga set in Barcelona]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
  21. 1 2 Alverson, Brigid (December 17, 2020). "Top 10 Manga of 2020". School Library Journal. Media Source Inc. Archived from the original on January 26, 2025. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Gramuglia, Anthony (June 20, 2020). "Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 1 is a Gay Love Story in Homophobic History". CBR. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  23. 1 2 Friedman, Erica (November 27, 2019). "Yuri Manga: Sayonara Rose Garden, Volume 2 (さよならローズガーデン)". Okazu. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Queer Manga Recommendations". Anime Feminist. February 3, 2022. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
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