The Jesus & Buddha Bromance: An Introduction to Saint Young Men
Released in 2006, "Saint Young Men" is an ongoing comedy manga and anime series conceived by Hikaru Nakamura, telling a slice-of-life tale that depicts a surprising but lighthearted dynamic between Jesus and Buddha.
Taking a well-deserved vacation from sacred duties, Buddha (voiced by Gen Hoshino) and Jesus Christ (voiced by Mirai Moriyama) find themselves as roommates in Tachikawa, a suburban district of Tokyo. Besides their effort in adapting to the modern Japanese way of life and making ends meet due to insufficient paychecks in heaven, the holy duo struggles to hide their individual manifestations of saintliness.
While Buddha's head radiates when having epiphanies, Jesus' forehead can suddenly start bleeding when feeling depressed or sad. Needless to say, the Messiah turns water into wine, as shown in a hilarious sauna sequence with a Yakuza-Boss.
Each chapter tells a brief story, introducing the reader to an ordinary day of two pretty extraordinary characters. From drinking beers and playing video games to visiting amusement parks, both protagonists are put in, at least for them, uncommon situations. Depicted as rational and empathic, Buddha acts as the relationship's mature component. Calm, concerned, and disciplined, his nature stands opposed to that of Jesus Christ: lazy, carefree, irresponsible, and often impulsive, with a dubious affinity to shopping. Apparently, the bearer of all man's sins lives out the much-needed vacation to the full extent, which his awakened counterpart is not too happy about.
Nakamura initially envisioned "Saint Young Men" as a comedic manga with "powerful characters." Consequently, divinities seemed appropriate for this resolution. The female mangaka first involved Jesus, yet to build an intriguing premise and room for jokes, Buddha was added subsequently. One could expect "Saint Young Men" to be satire, critically dealing with themes of Buddhism and Christianity. Yet, Nakamura's jokes and depiction of Jesus and Buddha are mainly based on personal knowledge, while their relationship is inspired by the dynamic between her sister and her sister's husband.
