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Ten Count
Volume 1 cover, featuring Shirotani
テンカウント (Ten Kaunto)
Genre	Boys' love
Manga
Written by	Rihito Takarai
Published by	Shinshokan
English publisher	NA: SuBLime
Imprint	Dear+ Comics
Magazine	Dear+
Demographic	Josei
Original run	July 13, 2013 – November 14, 2017
Volumes	6 (List of volumes)
Video game
Ten Count: Another Days for Ameba
Developer	Arithmetic
Publisher	Ameba
Genre	Puzzle
Platform	Browser
Released	JP: December 15, 2017
Video game
Ten Count for App React
Developer	Arithmetic
Publisher	Arithmetic
Genre	Puzzle
Platform	iOS Android
Released	JP: January 7, 2019

Ten Count (Japanese: テンカウント, Hepburn: Ten Kaunto, also stylized as 10 Count) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rihito Takarai, serialized in the manga magazine Dear+ from 2013 to 2017. Two video game adaptations of the series have been produced.

Plot

Tadaomi Shirotani suffers from obsessive–compulsive disorder that manifests as severe mysophobia. He meets psychotherapist Riku Kurose, who recommends exposure and response prevention therapy and instructs Shirotani to write a list of ten actions he is unable to do:

1. Touch a doorknob barehanded
2. Allow someone else to touch one of my possessions
3. Buy a book from a bookstore
4. Hold the handles on a train
5. Eat a meal at a restaurant
6. Shake hands with someone barehanded
7. Hold someone else’s possession without disinfecting it first
8. Drink from the same glass as someone else
9. Allow someone else into my apartment
10. (initially left blank)

Kurose tells Shirotani he will be cured once he completes the items on the list. Shirotani makes steady progress on the list, until Kurose abruptly suspends their sessions; when pressed, he admits he has fallen in love with Shirotani, and felt it would be inappropriate to continue as his therapist. Shirotani nevertheless wishes to continue their sessions, and they resume therapy while simultaneously initiating a sexual relationship. Through a flashback, it transpires that the root cause of Shirotani's mysophobia is a childhood trauma of witnessing his father having sex: the self-loathing he experienced after becoming aroused by the sight of his father, combined with the shame of being caught masturbating to the incident, prompted him to associate physical contact and intimacy with feelings of disgust.

As Kurose and Shirotani's relationship intensifies, Kurose notes that Shirotani is simultaneously repulsed and sexually aroused by his advances. Kurose reveals that he is a sadist who derives pleasure from triggering Shirotani's mysophobia, and has intuited that Shirotani is a masochist who derives pleasure from the very acts that disgust him. Shirotani rejects Kurose, and they do not speak for many months. After a chance encounter, Kurose and Shirotani reconcile their relationship. Shirotani reveals the tenth item on his list – to be patted on the head, an act he associates with his father – and admits that he loves Kurose. Shirotani finds he is now comfortable enough to reciprocate Kurose sexually.

In an epilogue, Kurose quits his clinic job to study for a doctorate in psychology. Shirotani, having completed the list, has significantly alleviated the symptoms of his mysophobia. Kurose admits that he was lying when said that completing the list would cure Shirotani's mysophobia, and proposes a second list to make amends: a list of ten actions that Shirotani wishes for Kurose to do.

Characters

Tadaomi Shirotani (城谷 忠臣, Shirotani Tadaomi)

Voiced by: Shinnosuke Tachibana

A 31 year-old corporate secretary who suffers from obsessive–compulsive disorder and mysophobia.

Riku Kurose (黒瀬 陸, Kurose Riku)

Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno

A 27 year-old psychotherapist specializing in psychosomatic medicine.

Ken Mikami (三上 健, Mikami Ken)

Voiced by: Jun Fukushima

Shirotani's friend and co-worker.

Kuramoto (くらもと)

Voiced by: Isshin Chiba

Shirotani's boss, and the CEO of the company

Ueda (うえだ)

Voiced by: Mai Tōdō

A student of Shirotani's father.

Nishigaki (にしがき)

Voiced by: Tarusuke Shingaki

A mysophobic author who Kurose befriends as a child.

Shiki Natsuya (夏屋 志姫, Natsuya Shiki)

Voiced by: Yoshitsugu Matsuoka

Masaya Fuwa (不破 雅也, Fuwa Masaya)

Voiced by: Takuya Satō

Media

Manga

Rihito Takarai launched the manga in Shinshokan's Dear+ magazine in July 2013. The series ended on November 14, 2017. Viz Media's SuBLime imprint announced their license to the series at Yaoi-Con on September 19, 2015.

Game

A social network game titled Ten Count: Another Days for Ameba was announced on December 15, 2017, and it was launched for Ameba users on March 22, 2018. Shinnosuke Tachibana and Tomoaki Maeno reprised their roles from the drama CD. The game also introduced new original characters, Shiki Natsuya and Masaya Fuwa, who are voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and Takuya Sato. The game ended services on November 29, 2019.

On August 1, 2018, a puzzle game for iOS and Android titled Ten Count for App React was announced and scheduled for a fall release, with all four main characters returning. The game was later released on January 7, 2019, with approximately 15,000 people downloading the game during launch, and by the end of the month, the number of players doubled to 30,000 people. The game ended services on June 30, 2020.

Cancelled anime

An anime adaptation was announced via a wraparound band on the final volume of the manga on March 26, 2018. A teaser trailer was released on March 23, 2019, which listed a 2020 premiere date for the series. On December 28, 2020, the anime production announced through the official website that the anime had been postponed to an unspecified date and that they were reconsidering its format. On October 29, 2022, the adaptation was revealed to be a film produced by East Fish Studio and SynergySP. The film was to be written and directed by So Toyama, with character designs handled by Tomomi Shimazaki, and was set to premiere in 2023. On January 19, 2024, it was announced that due to production circumstances, the film was cancelled.

Reception

Ten Count sold a consecutive total of 2 million physical copies as of March 2018. In 2015, Ten Count was ranked #1 on the National Bookstores' Top Recommended Boys' Love, surveyed 470 employees across 400 bookstores nationwide in Japan. It was again ranked #1 for 2016 in the same survey. It won 3rd place for Best Manga in the Sugoi Japan Awards 2017. In 2018, it was selected by visitors of the website Nijimen as one of the best boys' love manga for newcomers to the genre.

References

1. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 26, 2018). "Ten Count Boys-Love Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
2. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 17, 2013). "Rihito Takarai to Start Fantasy Manga Grainerie in September". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
3. Sherman, Jennifer (November 8, 2017). "Ten Count Boys-Love Manga Ends in November". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
4. Ressler, Karen (September 19, 2015). "Viz's SuBLime Adds Ten Count, Midnight Stranger, Don't Be Cruel Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
5. テンカウント (1). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
6. "TEN COUNT V1". SuBLime. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
7. テンカウント (2). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
8. "TEN COUNT V2". SuBLime. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
9. テンカウント (3). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
10. "TEN COUNT V3". SuBLime. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
11. テンカウント (4). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
12. "TEN COUNT V4". SuBLime. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
13. テンカウント 通常版 (5). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
14. テンカウント（5） 黒瀬陸×城谷忠臣にいてんごフィギュアセットつき特装版 (5). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
15. "TEN COUNT V5". SuBLime. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
16. テンカウント (6). Shinshokan (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
17. "Ten Count V6 (Final Volume)". SuBLime. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
18. ^ "「テンカウント」恋愛ゲーム、立花慎之介＆前野智昭がドラマCDに続いて出演". Natalie (in Japanese). 2017-12-15. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
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20. "「ゲーム「テンカウント」佐藤拓也がワンコ系研修医、松岡禎丞が控えめ編集者に". Natalie (in Japanese). 2017-12-28. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
21. "『テンカウント another days for Ameba』サービス終了のお知らせ". Arithmetic (in Japanese). 2019-11-29. Archived from the original on 2020-04-09.
22. "宝井理人「テンカウント」がパズルゲームアプリに、キービジュも到着". Natalie (in Japanese). 2018-08-01. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
23. "BL作品「テンカウント」のキャラが登場するパズルゲーム「テンカウント for App react」がリリース". 4gamer (in Japanese). 2019-01-08. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
24. "「テンカウント for App react」，累計15万DLを突破。記念してダイヤ増量キャンペーンが延長に". 4gamer (in Japanese). 2019-01-11. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
25. "「テンカウント for App react」のDL数が30万人を突破。記念ログインボーナスを実施". 4gamer (in Japanese). 2019-01-28. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
26. Ten Count Game Official (2020-06-30). "【重要】2020年6月30日（火）12：00をもちまして、『テンカウント for App react』のサービスを終了いたしました。ご愛顧頂きました皆さまに、厚く御礼申し上げます。" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-08-30 – via Twitter.
27. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 23, 2019). "Ten Count Anime's Teaser Video Reveals 2020 TV Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 23, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
28. Mateo, Alex (2020-12-28). "Ten Count BL Anime Postponed". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2020-12-28. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
29. Mateo, Alex (2022-10-28). "Ten Count BL Anime Gets Theatrical Release in 2023". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
30. "Ten Count BL Anime Canceled Due to Production Issues". Anime News Network. 2024-01-18. Retrieved 2024-01-19.
31. "全国書店員が選んだBLランキング、1位は宝井理人「テンカウント」". Natalie (in Japanese). 2015-03-03. Archived from the original on 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
32. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2015-03-06). "Japan's Bookstore Employees Rank Top Boys-Love Manga of 2014". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2020-12-31. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
33. "全国書店員が選んだBLランキング、1位は昨年に続き「テンカウント」". Natalie (in Japanese). 2016-03-10. Archived from the original on 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
34. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (2017-03-16). "Re:ZERO, My Hero Academia Top Sugoi Japan Awards 2017 Results". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
35. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 10, 2018). "Readers Pick the Best Boys-Love Manga for Beginners". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.

External links

• Official Ten Count for App React website
• Ten Count (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

• Manga series
• 2013 manga
• Cancelled films
• Shinshokan manga
• SuBLime manga
• Yaoi anime and manga