Bananafish

I learned a lot from the Banana Fish presentation and from the manga itself. I would have never known it was categorized as a shojo anime because i honestly thought it was a Josei/ BL type manga. So it was really nice to get more details based off of this series.  For those that don't knowBanana Fish (バナナフィッシュ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akimi Yoshida. Serialized in Bessatsu Shōjo Comic from 1985 to 1994 and adapted into an anime television series in 2018, the series follows Ash Lynx, a teenage gang leader in New York City. It takes its name from the J.D. Salinger short story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish."

Aslan Jade Callenreese, known as Ash Lynx, was a runaway picked off the streets of New York City and raised by the infamous godfather of the mafia, Dino Golzine. Now 17 years old and the boss of his own gang, Ash gets his hands on a mysterious drug called "Banana Fish"—the same two words his older brother, Griffin, has muttered since his return from the Iraq War. However, his investigation is hindered when Dino sends his men to retrieve the drug from Ash at an underground bar he uses as a hideout.

At the bar, Skip, Ash's friend, introduces him to Shunichi Ibe and his assistant, Eiji Okumura, who are Japanese photographers reporting on American street gangs. However, their conversation is interrupted when Shorter Wong, one of Ash's allies, calls to warn him about Dino. Soon, Dino's men storm the bar, and in the ensuing chaos kidnap Skip and Eiji. Now, Ash must find a way to rescue them and continue his investigation into Banana Fish, but will his history with the mafia prevent him from succeeding? That's something you'll have to find out once you watch the anime or read the manga!