Blue Box (manga)

Blue Box (Japanese: アオのハコ, Hepburn: Ao no Hako) is a Japanese romantic comedy and sports manga series written and illustrated by Kouji Miura. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump since April 2021, with its chapters collected into twelve tankōbon volumes as of October 2023.

Blue Box
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Chinatsu Kano and Taiki Inomata
アオのハコ
(Ao no Hako)
Genre
Manga
Written byKouji Miura
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original runApril 12, 2021 – present
Volumes12

Synopsis

The series focuses on Taiki Inomata, a student at Eimei Junior and Senior High who is a member of the boys' badminton team. Every morning, he trains alongside his upperclasswoman and fellow crush Chinatsu Kano, who is on the girls' basketball team. However, Chinatsu moves in with Taiki's family when her parents leave Japan to work abroad. With Chinatsu now living with him, Taiki aims to slowly develop his relationship with her as they both strive to make it to the national championship with their respective teams.[4]

Publication

Written and illustrated by Kouji Miura, Blue Box began its serialization in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on April 12, 2021.[5][6] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on August 4, 2021.[7] As of October 4, 2023, twelve volumes have been released.[8]

On August 3, 2020, the one-shot version of Blue Box had been published on Weekly Shōnen Jump.[9][10]

Blue Box has been licensed for simultaneous publication in North America as it is released in Japan, with its chapters being digitally launched by Viz Media on its Shonen Jump website.[11] Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English for free on the Manga Plus app and website.[12] In February 2022, Viz Media announced that they had licensed the series in print format; the first volume was released on November 1 of the same year.[13][14] The manga is also licensed in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo.[15]

Volume list
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 August 4, 2021[16]978-4-08-882731-5November 1, 2022[14]978-1-9747-3462-7
  1. "Chinatsu Senpai" (千夏先輩)
  2. "You Have to Go to Nationals" (インターハイ行ってください, Intāhai itte kudasai)
  3. "Pretending to Be a Stranger" (他人のフリ, Tanin no Furi)
  4. "Chosen One" (選ばれし者, Erabareshimono)
  1. "What I Call Her" (呼び方, Yobikata)
  2. "At Least One Step" (一歩でも, Ippo demo)
  3. "You'll Be Fine" (大丈夫, Daijōbu)
2 October 4, 2021[17]978-4-08-882794-0January 3, 2023[18]978-1-9747-3611-9
  1. "Doubles" (ダブルス, Daburusu)
  2. "Gym Uniforms" (ジャージ, Jāji)
  3. "The Day Before" (前日, Zenjitsu)
  4. "Regional Preliminaries" (地区予選, Chiku Yosen)
  5. "If He Wins" (あいつが勝ったら, Aitsu ga Kattara)
  1. "Date" (デート, Dēto)
  2. "Aquarium" (水族館, Suizokukan)
  3. "An Ordinary Girl" (普通の女子, Futsū no Joshi)
  4. "Kindred Spirits" (同志, Dōshi)
3 January 4, 2022[19]978-4-08-883007-0March 7, 2023[20]978-1-9747-3626-3
  1. "No Problems" (問題ないです, Mondainai Desu)
  2. "Wish Me Luck" (がんばれって言って, Ganbarette Itte)
  3. "I'll Carry Your Bags" (荷物お運びします, Nimotsu Ohakobi Shimasu)
  4. "Eavesdropping" (盗み聞き, Nusumigiki)
  5. "Can I Have One?" (一つちょうだい？, Hitotsu Chōdai?)
  1. "Score!" (一本！, Ippon!)
  2. "I'll Definitely Get It In!" (絶対入れる！, Zettai Ireru!)
  3. "That's Just Sports" (それがスポーツだろ, Sore ga Supōtsu Daro)
  4. "Good Job" (お疲れ様, Otsukaresama)
4 March 4, 2022[21]978-4-08-883063-6May 2, 2023[22]978-1-9747-3641-6
  1. "I'll Be Rooting For You" (応援するよ, Ōen suru yo)
  2. "A Chance" (脈アリ, Myaku Ari)
  3. "Your Own House" (自分の家, Jibun no Ie)
  4. "It's Not a Good Thing" (良くないこと, Yokunai Koto)
  5. "Getting Closer" (お近づきに, Ochikazuki ni)
  1. "Is It a Date?" (おデートでしょうか, O Dēto Deshō ka)
  2. "Uncool!" (ダサいぞ！！, Dasai zo!!)
  3. "When the Underdog Wins" (大穴が勝ちをさらう展開, Ōana ga Kachi o Sarau Tenkai)
  4. "Girls..." (女の子って, Onnanoko tte)
5 June 3, 2022[23]978-4-08-883149-7July 4, 2023[24]978-1-9747-3741-3
  1. "Something Interesting" (おもしろいもの, Omoshiroi Mono)
  2. "Better Get Going" (行かないと, Ikanaito)
  3. "Helloooo" (もしもーし, Moshi Mōshi)
  4. "A Flirt" (人たらし, Hitotarashi)
  5. "Testing it Out" (実験中, Jikken-chū)
  1. "The One Who's Cool..." (かっこいいのは, Kakkoii no wa)
  2. "I Want a Back-and-Forth Rally" (ラリーしたいです, Rarī Shitai Desu)
  3. "An Impossible Notion" (無理なお話, Muri na Ohanashi)
  4. "What's the Connection?" (どういう文脈？, Dōiu Bunmyaku?)
6 August 4, 2022[25]978-4-08-883192-3September 5, 2023[26]978-1-9747-4037-6
  1. "It Didn't Come True" (叶ってないよ, Kanattenai yo)
  2. "August 26" (8月26日, Hachigatsu Nijūrokunichi)
  3. "August 26, Part 2" (8月26日②, Hachigatsu Nijūrokunichi 2)
  4. "August 26, Part 3" (8月26日③, Hachigatsu Nijūrokunichi 3)
  5. "If We Weren't a Year Apart" (1年違えば, Ichinen Chigaeba)
  1. "At Morning Practice Again" (また朝練で, Mata Asaren de)
  2. "Unfair Woman" (ずるい女, Zurui Onna)
  3. "This is Just Right" (このくらいが丁度いい, Kono Kurai ga Chōdo Ii)
  4. "Of Course I Want to See It" (見たいでしょ, Mitai Desho)
7 October 4, 2022[27]978-4-08-883259-3November 7, 2023[28]978-1-9747-4072-7
  1. "Doing Great" (良くやってるよ, Yoku Yatteru yo)
  2. "Hydration" (水分補給, Suibun Hokyū)
  3. "Inomata" (イノマタ君, Inomata-kun)
  4. "Who Do I Think I Am?" (何様だよ, Nanisama da yo)
  5. "I Know" (私は知ってる, Watashi wa Shitteru)
  1. "Right or Left?" (右と左, Migi to Hidari)
  2. "We Didn't!" (してないですよ, Shitenai Desu yo)
  3. "Let's Go See It" (観に行こうよ, Mi ni Ikō yo)
  4. "I've Got Plans" (予定あるんだ, Yotei Arun da)
8 December 2, 2022[29]978-4-08-883389-7January 2, 2024[30]978-1-9747-4280-6
  1. "What'd You Say?" (なんて言いました？, Nante Iimashita?)
  2. "Help Me Out!" (力を貸してよ！, Chikara o Kashite yo!)
  3. "As One of Her Closest Friends" (親友として, Shinyū Toshite)
  4. "It's Not That" (そこじゃない, Soko ja Nai)
  5. "I'm Here to Lend an Ear" (話なら聞くぞ, Hanashi nara Kiku zo)
  1. "A Chance to Blossom" (花が咲くまで, Hana ga Saku Made)
  2. "Girl Manager" (女子マネージャー, Joshi Manējā)
  3. "Inota!" (いのた！)
  4. "An Exciting Event" (ワクワクイベント, Wakuwaku Ibento)
9 February 3, 2023[31]978-4-08-883433-7——
  1. "Joint Training Camp" (合同合宿, Gōdō Gasshuku)
  2. "Spinning" (ぐるぐる, Guruguru)
  3. "That's What I Know" (俺はわかってる, Ore wa Wakatteru)
  4. "I Don't Need an Answer" (いらないの, Iranai no)
  5. "A Roller Coaster" (ジェットコースター, Jetto Kōsutā)
  1. "Didn't Mean to Say" (言うつもり, Iu Tsumori)
  2. "Even So" (それでも, Sore de mo)
  3. "You Are Too" (お前もだろ, Omae mo Daro)
  4. "Shopping for a Tracksuit" (ジャージ買いに, Jāji Kai ni)
  5. "Because That's Who I Am" (それが私なので, Sore ga Watashi Nanode)
10 May 2, 2023[32]978-4-08-883539-6——
  1. "I Was Hoping You Could Try It" (食べてほしくて, Tabete Hoshikute)
  2. "Where It Hurts" (痛いところ, Itai Tokoro)
  3. "Déjà Vu" (デジャブ, Dejabu)
  4. "How That Made Her Feel" (どんな気持ち, Don'na Kimochi)
  5. "Because I Hate Her" (キライだから, Kirai Dakara)
  1. "Admiration" (感嘆, Kantan)
  2. "Excuses and Sound Arguments" (言い訳と健全な議論, Iiwake to Kenzen na Giron)
  3. "Can't Stay Like This" (このままではいられない, Kono ma Made wa i Rarenai)
  4. "Yumeka, You..." (ゆめか、あなた, Yumeka, Anata)
  5. "They're One and the Same" (それらは同じものである, Sorera wa Onaji Mono Desu)
11 August 4, 2023[33]978-4-08-883591-4——
  1. "The Most Powerful Feeling" (最強の感情, Saikyō no Fīringu)
  2. "Whenever You're Struggling" (悩んでいるときはいつでも, Nayan de Iru Toki wa Itsu Demo)
  3. "To Strip Away" (剥ぎ取る, Hagi Toru)
  4. "Has It Been Two Years?" (2年経ちましたか？, 2-Nen Tachimashita ka?)
  5. "It's Back" (イッツ・バック, Ittsu Bakku)
  1. "Christmas Eve" (クリスマスイブ, Kurisumasu Ibu)
  2. "Are You Having Problems?" (問題がありますか?, Mondai ga Arimasu ka?)
  3. "The End of the Year" (年末, Nenmatsu)
  4. "Don't Hesitate" (ためらわないで, Tamerawanaide)
12 October 4, 2023[8]978-4-08-883690-4——
  1. "I Wanna See Her" (彼女に会いたい, Kanojo ni Aitai)
  2. "Today Too" (今日も, Kyō mo)
  3. "It's So Beautiful" (それはとても美しいです, Sore wa Totemo Utsukushīdesu)
  4. "I Need to Tell You Something" (何か伝えたいことがあります, Nanika Tsutaetaikoto ga Arimasu)
  5. "January 4, Midday" (1月4日正午, 1 Tsuki 4-nichi Shōgo)
  1. "Let's Keep It a Secret" (秘密にしておきましょう, Himitsu ni Shite Okimashou)
  2. "So Nervous" (とても緊張, Totemo Kinchō)
  3. "Your Style of Love, Chii" (あなたの愛のスタイル、ちぃ, Anata no Ai no Sutairu, Chii)
  4. "It's Already Settled" (もう決まってるよ, Mō Kimatteru yo)
13 December 4, 2023[34]978-4-08-883790-1——

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

  1. "January 15" (1月15日, 1 Tsuki 15-nichi)
  2. "Interview" (インタビュー, Intabyū)
  3. "Reward" (褒美, Hōbi)
  4. "Got It All Sorted Out" (すべてを整理しました, Subete o Seiri Shimashita)
  5. "A Waste" (無駄, Muda)
  6. "Challenger" (挑戦者, Chōsen-sha)
  7. "Lucky" (ラッキー, Rakkī)
  8. "It's Rude" (それは失礼です, Sore wa Shitsureidesu)
  9. "A Big Step" (大きな一歩, Ōkina Ippo)
  10. "That Kind of Person" (そういう人, Sōiu Hito)
  11. "Almost Got the Wrong Idea" (危うく間違った考えをしそうになる, Ayauku Machigatta Kangae o Shi-sō ni Naru)
  12. "Outrageous" (法外な, Hōgaina)
  13. "Good Luck, Senpai" (頑張れ、先輩, Ganbare, Senpai)
  14. "Show Off Your Skills" (腕前を披露する, Udemae o Hirō Suru)

Reception

Popularity

In August 2021, the first volume of the manga had over 170,000 copies in circulation in less than a week after its release.[35]

In June 2021, Blue Box was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Award in the Best Print Manga category;[36] it placed eighth out of 50 nominees, but won the Global Prize.[37][38] The series ranked fourth on the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2022.[39]

Critical response

Anthony Gramuglia of Comic Book Resources (CBR) stated, "Blue Box is a sentimental story about human connection. It's beautifully drawn, at times resembling a shōjo manga more than a typical shōnen. If Blue Box continues, it will likely become an earnest, sincere entry in Shōnen Jump's romantic catalog".[40] Timothy Donohoo of CBR compared Blue Box to Kenta Shinohara's Witch Watch and Shigure Tokita's Don't Blush, Sekime-san! due to both series having concepts and romantic aspects similar to Blue Box's.[41]

References
  1. Donohoo, Timothy (July 9, 2021). "Shonen Jump: Why Witch Watch Is Hexing Its Magical Competition". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  2. Collins, Hannah (May 13, 2021). "Shonen Jump Round-Up: Every New Winter/Spring 2021 Title". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  3. 『アオのハコ』恋愛×部活で描く“ジャンプの新風” ピュアが満載のこんな漫画を待っていた (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. August 12, 2021. Archived from the original on August 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  4. 気になる先輩との距離が一変し…ジャンプの青春ラブストーリー「アオのハコ」1巻 (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. August 4, 2021. Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  5. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (April 4, 2021). "Shonen Jump Magazine Launches 2 New Manga as Phantom Seer Ends". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  6. スポーツ強豪校を舞台にした青春部活ラブストーリー、ジャンプで始動. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 12, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  7. ＜今週の新刊＞テレビアニメ＆劇場版も話題の「僕のヒーローアカデミア」 「ダンダダン」「空挺ドラゴンズ」も (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. August 1, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  8. アオのハコ 12 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  9. 三浦糀 [@Amzk0303] (August 3, 2020). 【宣伝】本日発売の週刊少年ジャンプに読み切り「アオのハコ」掲載させて頂いてます。 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Twitter.
  10. 三浦糀 [@Amzk0303] (July 20, 2020). 【宣伝】8／3発売の週刊少年ジャンプに読み切り「アオのハコ」掲載させて頂きます！ (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. Donohoo, Timothy (May 2, 2021). "Blue Box Is Shonen Jump's Latest Bad(minton) Romance". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  12. Hazra, Adriana (April 10, 2021). "Viz Media Releases Blue Box Manga in English (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  13. Mateo, Alex (February 15, 2022). "Viz Announces Fall 2022 Book Releases Including Mission: Yozakura Family, Thus Spoke Rohan Kishibe Manga, Jujutsu Kaisen Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  14. "Blue Box, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  15. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 15, 2023). "Elex Media Licenses Arakawa Under the Bridge, Blue Box Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  16. アオのハコ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  17. アオのハコ 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  18. "Blue Box, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  19. アオのハコ 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  20. "Blue Box, Vol. 3". Viz Media. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  21. アオのハコ 4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  22. "Blue Box, Vol. 4". Viz Media. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  23. アオのハコ 5 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  24. "Blue Box, Vol. 5". Viz Media. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  25. アオのハコ 6 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  26. "Blue Box, Vol. 6". Viz Media. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  27. アオのハコ 7 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  28. "Blue Box, Vol. 7". Viz Media. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  29. アオのハコ 8 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  30. "Blue Box, Vol. 8". Viz Media. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  31. アオのハコ 9 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  32. アオのハコ 10 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  33. アオのハコ 11 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  34. アオのハコ 13 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  35. 漫画「アオのハコ」コミックス1巻、発売即日10万部の重版が決定！ 累計17万部突破で大躍進 (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. August 10, 2021. Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
  36. Loveridge, Lynzee (June 21, 2021). "Voting Opens for Tsugi ni Kuru Manga 2021 Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  37. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 24, 2021). "Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  38. 「次にくるマンガ大賞2021」ノミネート作品発表 ウマ娘、【推しの子】、葬送のフリーレンなど話題作続々 (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  39. 書店員が選んだおすすめコミック2022、第1位は龍幸伸「ダンダダン」. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  40. Gramuglia, Anthony (June 18, 2021). "Shonen Jump's 5 Newest Manga, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  41. Donohoo, Timothy (September 15, 2021). "Shonen Jump's Newest Goldmine Is Awkward Romances". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
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