Kasane (manga)

Kasane is a Japanese horror manga series written and illustrated by Daruma Matsuura. It was serialized in Kodansha's Evening magazine from March 2013 to August 2018, with its chapters collected into 14 tankōbon volumes.

The manga follows Kasane Fuchi, a young woman who is cruelly ridiculed for her physical ugliness, a stark contrast to her beautiful and famous actress mother. Kasane possesses immense acting talent inherited from her mother, along with a tube of lipstick that belonged to her. Applying this lipstick and kissing someone allows Kasane to temporarily exchange faces with them. The story explores the dark side of beauty, ambition, and the lengths to which someone will go to achieve their dreams in a world obsessed with appearances.

Key themes within Kasane include societal beauty standards, the corrupting influence of power, the consequences of manipulation, and the complex relationship between physical appearance and inner talent. The manga is known for its suspenseful plot, psychological depth, and exploration of morally ambiguous characters.

In 2018, a live-action film adaptation of Kasane was released in Japan.