The Tokyo Babylon Manga Tactfully Handles Violence Against Women

The first volume of the Tokyo Babylon manga involved CLAMP setting the stage with shorter stories involving Subaru and Hokuto Sumeragi and Seishiro Sakurazuka. However, it’s in the second installment of Yen Press’ CLAMP Premium Collection edition that even more serious situations are addressed when each of the twins deals with their own, sometimes longer than usual, tales of how they deal with violence against women.

Editor’s Note: There are no spoilers for the events of the two stories in Tokyo Babylon volume 2, but it does discuss some of the nature of the violent acts against two women in the manga.

The bulk of the volume involves a case on Subaru’s docket in a chapter called “Dream.” A young woman was sexually assaulted by a group of young men. We see her deal with the trauma and after effects of the incident in the opening manga, then watch as she falls into an endless sleep. After four months, the Sumeragi family — meaning Subaru — is tasked with investigating the incident. Once in the hospital, he begins his analysis and ends up reaching out by heading into her dreams.

I immediately felt for Mitsuki. The fact that this happened to her, she’s dealing with it on her own, these men are still lurking around her home, and she’s too afraid to come forward because she’s hearing about the “rumors” going around about the attack is horrifying. She’s completely alone and going through something unimaginable. 

Enter Subaru. While Mitsuki doesn’t explicitly give consent to him to enter, a certain supernatural situation leading up to it — which Seishiro rightfully identifies as being connected — and the fact that she is about to die if he doesn’t take such drastic makes the situation understandable. Seeing the continuing pain she’s going through, and the way the story plays out, hits so hard even after all these years since its original publication. And I appreciate that CLAMP’s execution at the end of this first story in volume 2 of the Tokyo Babylon manga offers a glimmer of hope. 

Meanwhile, “Smile” is a shorter story that deals with another kind of violence against women that also gives us our first chance to see Hokuto on her own without being a supporting character pushing Subaru. She’s out one evening having fun, gets hit on by some guys, and sees another woman being harassed and grabbed by other men. She immediately jumps in to assist the stranger, helping her get away. 

What works so well about this story, so much so that I even would say it is the stronger of the two in this volume, is because we’re seeing three types of strength from Hokuto. There’s her physical strength, absolutely. She isn’t afraid to fight back against a group of strange men to help someone innocent and in danger. There’s her mental strength. While we’re constantly seeing Subaru’s onmyoji abilities, this chapter allows us to see her cast a spell to protect her and her newfound friend. 

But most importantly is her emotional strength. After the woman explains her situation, both in coming to this country and the reason for the actions against her, Hokuto is open, welcoming, and genuinely cares for her. She stands by her side and offers her friendship, wanting to be close, help her, and maybe even be that lifeline this woman needs. And, once again, we get this sense of hope on CLAMP’s part.

Covering violence against women in stories is difficult, and CLAMP didn’t shy away from addressing the sorts of things that happen in the Tokyo Babylon manga. I feel that in doing so, it’s encouraging people to talk about it, not look away when they see it happen, and encourage them to speak up and follow the examples of the Sumeragi twins to offer help and support when they can.

Volume 2 of CLAMP Premium Collection Tokyo Babylon is available now, and volume 3 of the manga will be out on May 21, 2024.