This BL manga is such a fun and refreshing read! It follows Takanashi, a charming older boss dealing with ED, and his younger, cold-but-caring employee Hiwatari. When Hiwatari finds out about his boss’s secret, things get awkward... and then unexpectedly sweet.

The story mixes humor, vulnerability, and slow-burn romance really well. The art is clean and expressive, and the characters feel unique and real. If you’re into workplace romance with a twist and a strong emotional core, definitely check this one out!

I enjoyed this manga, it moved quickly while still maintaining the story. The characters were easy to like and fun to read. While I don't mind an age gap, the knowledge that they met when one was a child is a bit off putting to me and I probably would have enjoyed it more without that part. The saving grace is that they are both adults at the time of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!

This was a pretty cute workplace romance manga. There is a little bit of an age gap between Takanashi and Hiwatari. I didn't really have an issue with that aspect until I learned that they've known each other since Hiwatari was a child (11 specifically). If they'd not mentioned that or just not have them know each when they were younger, it would've been fine. Once they revealed that part, it kind of put me off wanting to continue with this series.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this manga. I think this story as it continues on will be interesting, but I think it's a rough start due to some confusing panels. It does though, have a fantastic k drama plot line and some hilarious lines and beautiful art. Because of these points, I have to give this a 3.5 out of 5 stars

So much sexy fun. I was a little nervous when we learned that the two leads with such a large age gap have a connection from their past, but it is handled in a way that makes it not creepy or weird so I was able to fully enjoy the nonsense. It's kind of giving me Cherry Magic vibes in its awkward office romance aspect, but is a clearly unique story with completely different characters. I very much could see this as a Jdrama in the future. Fingers crossed!

Thank you so much for letting me read this manga. This story has some funny moments but the pace was a little slow for my liking.

The Dashing Zaddy and the Icy Protege 
-Released 
-Volume 2: July 
-Currently looks like up to volume 4 is announced with tentative release dates 
-BL, Office Romance, Age Gap 

Personally, I enjoyed this BL as it was slightly different than most with the much older character. The flow is good and just doesn’t go from being coworkers right into a full on relationship when one of their secrets are discovered. There are some scenes where it is censored, you can say, by the speech bubbles or the panel cuts off; although it does feel like later on in the series there may be spicy scenes- at least that’s the feeling I have but as a warning. Volume one doesn’t have spicy scenes but there are some moments where Ren checks on Makoto in the shower and another when they go to a bathhouse. Both seem to have a mask when they are in the office, but it slowly disappears as they interact more with one another especially when they are outside of work. My only two things that slightly bothered me were when Makoto received an email about Ren (the first time it showed up as a bunch of random letters but then the next time the same email was readable) and when we got a flashback of Ren and Makoto when he was younger. The flashback made it appear as they spent a decent amount of time together at some point, so does Makoto not remember these times? Both seem like green flags.

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé 1 introduces readers to a unique and endearing workplace romance between Takanashi, a charismatic 40-year-old sales manager, and his reserved 26-year-old subordinate, Hiwatari. Takanashi's struggle with erectile dysfunction adds depth to his character, making this BL manga stand out by addressing a sensitive topic with humor and sincerity .

Fumito's artwork is clean and expressive, capturing the nuances of the characters' emotions and the subtle dynamics of their evolving relationship. The pacing is steady, allowing for character development and the gradual build-up of romantic tension. The humor is lighthearted, providing moments of levity without undermining the seriousness of the themes explored .

However, while the characters are well-developed, some readers may find the plot predictable, especially if they are familiar with the office romance genre. The slow-burn romance, while satisfying, may not appeal to those seeking immediate passion or conflict.

In summary, The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé 1 is a delightful read for fans of mature BL romances that blend humor with emotional depth. While it may not break new ground in terms of plot, its well-crafted characters and thoughtful treatment of sensitive issues make it a worthwhile addition to the genre.

What a strange combination... It's mostly humorous, with some moments that could be considered racy, but nothing happens, and a story that I more or less know where it's going.

The truth is, I wasn't that drawn in, and I don't know if I'll continue, but it was entertaining and fleeting.

Thank you, Kodansha Comics, for the ARC I read through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This manga is exactly what the title promises: a lighthearted, ridiculous, and genuinely funny BL office romcom—with a side of workplace chaos and, yes, erectile dysfunction.

Takanashi is a charismatic 40-year-old sales manager who keeps turning down office flirtations due to his bedroom struggles. Enter Hiwatari—a younger, stoic coworker who’s secretly admired him for years. Cue awkward vulnerability, secret feelings, and a surprising amount of heart, all wrapped in over-the-top, chaotic comedy.

While I enjoyed the volume overall—it’s quick, silly, and entertaining—I was uncomfortable with a specific detail: it’s revealed that the characters briefly knew each other when one was 11 and the other 29. Nothing romantic or inappropriate occurs at that time, and the older character has no feelings then (the younger one did), but I still wish this backstory had been omitted entirely.

That said, the series has potential, and I’m curious to see how their dynamic develops in the next volume.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a DARC in exchange of my honest review!

I received an early copy thanks to NetGalley for an honest review.

Where should I begin with my review? I knew what I was getting into, but I was still disappointed.

Let me start with the pacing; it felt all over the place. It was rushed, not allowing the story to breathe. We were moving from point A to C too quickly, which caused me to get lost in the overall plot. Finally, around chapter 4 (the last of this volume), it seemed to have found its footing, but it was a little too late, as there were times I considered DNFing.

The sexual innuendos and jokes were not my cup of tea. I understood that it was trying to lighten the mood, but they just felt flat.

Also, I’m sorry, but I do not approve of the mangaka's decision to have our younger character meet our "Zaddy" when he was a young boy. That just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't mind age-gap romances, but not like this.

This was a cute manga. I thought the title was interesting and was interested in the concept so I was looking forward to giving this a read. All-in-all, I did enjoy reading it though not much has happened so far. This is only the first volume so I look forward to seeing what will happen next in the story!

This was overall a funny read, but it was nothing special. I would say this is a very lighthearted, quick, fast-paced and funny read,

f there is anything the fujos love more than BL, it is a BL featuring an appropriate age gap in a workplace setting! (Note: the fujos in question may actually be just me.) First of all, office romances in fiction are always SO FUN! The flirty looks during work hours, the sneaking around, the questioning of your sanity for pursuing something at work?! It’s taboo enough to be thrilling but not enough to be off-putting. And then you have age gap romance! Someone in their 40s/50s losing confidence in themselves, only for a hot 20-something to remind them that they are irresistible? Yes, please!

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé was written with me in mind. Created by Fumito and published by Kodansha, this manga follows Takanashi, a hot 40-year-old manager at a trading company, who drives all of the ladies crazy. Little do they know, he’s been suffering from erectile dysfunction, and his self-esteem has taken a huge hit. Nonetheless, he continues to be excellent at this job. So much so that he doesn’t realize one of his direct reports, Hiwatari, has taken a liking to him. Now, to be fair, Hiwatari hasn’t let on much to this fact. He’s also stone cold -everyone at the office is scared of him. Yet, when Hiwatari has the opportunity to get close to his dream man-ager, he takes it! (hehehe)

The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé has a lot of funny gags and misunderstandings, not unusual for this type of BL. As per my usual, I found this charming. The funny moments are extremely well done (talking about you, embarrassing meeting moment) and are truly laugh-out-loud funny.

My favorite part so far has been Takanashi’s character. First of all, even though he’s 40 (which is a baby in real life), everyone finds him hot! Most anime and manga treat anyone older than 30 as geriatric patients, so it’s very refreshing to see someone like Takanashi. But on a deeper level, Takanashi is going through some things! He’s a man who, on the surface, has it all, but in reality, is suffering from this sexual issue. And then it turns out he also has a bunch of haters at work due to his success. He’s trying his best in many different areas, and it’s nice to see this setup of events that will challenge him and make him grow.

To the surprise of no one, I also love Hiwatari. An obsessed younger man who’s a little bit delusional?! What’s not to love! We also get the vibe that Hiwatari has been chasing after Takanashi for a very long time. I’m curious to see how that puzzle piece will fit into the story later.

This is such a cute read, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the story will play out.

I have to say whoever translated イケオジ(Ikeoji) as Dashing Zaddy is very creative (lol) and after seeing the title I just had to read this!
The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé is a BL manga that follows a 40 year-old businessman Takanashi (who is known as an Ikeoji aka handsome middle-aged man) and one of his subordinates, the 26 year-old Hiwatari (who is known for his icy cold attitude). One thing leads to another, they end up spending the night together and Hiwatari finds out Takanashi's secret problem.
I liked the art style and this was a lighthearted, hilarious read! Both MMCs are very awkward and their thoughts had me laughing out loud.
I did feel like the translation could've been better but this was a great start and I think fans of age gap BLs will really enjoy this!
～Thank you to Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha for the e-book copy!

I was going into this expecting it to be a good vibe but sadly i just couldn't get into it. I don't mind the age gap but i felt the relationship was super forced and overly sexual. I wished this would have been paced better so i could root for the characters but it just did not happen. I can say if you like whacky BL with a lot of sexual energy then this may work for you.

Thank you to Netgalley, Kodansha, and Fumito for the chance to read this arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was funnier than I expected! As someone with a soft spot for slice-of-life romance comedies, especially ones about working adults, this was right up my alley. Both love interests are endearing in their own ways, and seem to be building a nice base for some romance.

For a comedy BL (and I’ve read many), this is a great pick if you like something silly with occasional sexual jokes and a tiny dash of slow burn (just because not much actually happens in this volume). That said, it’s probably not the best fit if you’re craving a cute office romance full of stolen glances and pining or something super smutty right off the bat.

Though I did enjoy this and will likely read the rest of the series once it’s translated, one thing gave me pause: the younger love interest seems to have fallen for the older one when he was a child and the other was an adult. It doesn’t come across as grooming (the older guy doesn’t even seem to recognize him now), but it’s worth noting. Oh, and heads up: erectile dysfunction (ED) is discussed a lot (it’s in the description, after all). If repetitive ED talk (particularly as a quirk/joke) isn’t your thing, you might wanna skip this one.

It’s been a long time since I started or read a new BL series and I have to say this was an interesting change from previous ones I’ve read. Particularly given the corporate setting and world. I did like the pace of romance was slower and more believable than just an instant connection. Nothing wrong with instant love or attraction but I like a bit of slow build, particularly when it’s a sort of opposites attract vibe.

Overall I did enjoy this one and liked it was aimed at a more mature audience. I will probably continue this series but not on a instant buy or preorder time frame but more when I have spare room on the to be read or a bit of spare funds. Overall though it is an enjoyable BL manga and has nice artwork as well as a sensibly paced plot.

This manga was mostly set up of the two main characters opening up to each other and learning to trust each other. Mostly set up and not enough happening for me but could be a good BL going forward.

Finished reading
The Dashing Zaddy and his Icy Protégé by Fumito
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Pages: 166
Genre: BL, manga
The Dashing Zaddy and his Icy Protégé, Vol. 1
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First of all, thank you @netgalley for providing me with this copy!

Let me tell you about this manga. I love it! 😂 It really was the kind of distraction I needed right now!

We have Ren, who's known as the Icy Prince at the office, because he always has a stern face and can lash out pretty quickly when irritated, but he has impeccable looks.
His boss, Takanashi, is 40 years old, has incredible looks, all females in the office are crazy for him, but he has a huge secret. He is impotent and hasn't been able to get hard for more than a year.
Ren has a huge crush on Takanashi, and one day, he finds the courage to ask him out for dinner that evening. And so, the adventure begins.

It's a sweet first volume of an ongoing series and I am looking forward to reading all the rest, because I love me some grumpy x sunshine tropes and Ren becomes so caring and almost desperate for Takanashi's love, that even Takanashi cannot stay undisturbed 😏