Blue Period (manga)

Blue Period (Japanese: ブルーピリオド, Hepburn: Burū Piriodo) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsubasa Yamaguchi. The series has been serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon since June 2017 and has been collected in fourteen tankōbon volumes as of July 2023. The series is licensed in English by Kodansha USA. An anime television series adaptation produced by Seven Arcs aired from October to December 2021.

Blue Period
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Yatora Yaguchi
ブルーピリオド
(Burū Piriodo)
Genre
Manga
Written byTsubasa Yamaguchi
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintAfternoon KC
MagazineMonthly Afternoon
DemographicSeinen
Original runJune 24, 2017 – present
Volumes14
Anime television series
Directed by
Written byReiko Yoshida
Music byIppei Inoue
StudioSeven Arcs
Licensed byNetflix (streaming rights)
Original networkJNN (MBS, TBS)
Original run October 2, 2021 – December 18, 2021
Episodes12

By November 2021, the manga had over 4.5 million copies in circulation. In 2020, Blue Period was awarded the 44th Kodansha Manga Award in the General category and the Grand Prize of the 13th Manga Taishō award.

Premise

Yatora Yaguchi is a fairly popular student who excels in school, but secretly grapples with feelings of emptiness and frustration. When visiting his high school's art club he is inspired to pursue art. He eventually aspires to attend the Tokyo University of the Arts (TUA) after he graduates from high school.

Characters
Yatora Yaguchi (矢口八虎, Yaguchi Yatora)
Voiced by: Hiromu Mineta[3] (Japanese); Johnny Yong Bosch[4] (English)
An academically gifted and diligent student whose friends are disinterested in school. After developing an interest in painting from his art club senior Mori, he is set down a path to attend art school.
Ryuji "Yuka" Ayukawa (鮎川龍二, Ayukawa Ryuji)
Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori[3] (Japanese); Marcy Edwards[4] (English)
Yatora's friend and fellow art-club member. Yuka considers themselves to be a non-conformist and indifferent to the opinions of others. They were assigned male at birth but dresses in women's clothes. Throughout the series they struggle with their sexuality, gender identity, and pressure from their family.
Yotasuke Takahashi (高橋世田介, Takahashi Yotasuke)
Voiced by: Daiki Yamashita[3] (Japanese); Daman Mills[4] (English)
Yatora's classmate in prep school. He is stoic and aloof towards Yatora, often sharply criticizing his work and character.
Haruka Hashida (橋田悠, Hashida Haruka)
Voiced by: Kengo Kawanishi[3] (Japanese); Todd Haberkorn[4] (English)
Yatora's classmate in prep school. Hashida dresses well and takes a very classical and theoretical approach to art, which shows in his work.
Maki Kuwana (桑名マキ, Kuwana Maki)
Voiced by: Yume Miyamoto[3] (Japanese); Erica Lindbeck[4] (English)
Another of Yatora's classmates from prep school. Her entire family attended TUA, and as a result she often struggles with feelings of inadequacy, despite being a highly talented artist in her own right.
Maru Mori (森まる, Mori Maru)
Voiced by: Mayu Aoyagi[5] (Japanese); Triya Leong[4] (English)
Yatora's senior in his high school art club. To Mori art is a spiritual activity, and her pieces often incorporate images of religion and prayer. It is one of her works that spurs Yatora's interest in art.
Masako Saeki (佐伯昌子, Saeki Masako)
Voiced by: Fumi Hirano[5] (Japanese); Anne Yatco[4] (English)
The art teacher at Yatora's high school. She is his first art teacher and guides his first steps of him improving his artistic ability.
Mayu Oba (大葉真由, Ōba Mayu)
Voiced by: Yuki Kazu[6] (Japanese); Julia McIlvaine[4] (English)
Yatora's teacher at prep school. She continually provides Yatora with valuable criticism and advice on how to overcome personal and technical obstacles as he continues with art.
Sumida (純田)
Voiced by: Masaya Fukunishi[5] (Japanese); Adin Rudd[4] (English)
A friend of Yatora's from high school. He performs poorly in school and has a keen interest in sports. He is shown to care deeply about his friends.
Koigakubo (恋ケ窪)
Voiced by: Shinichiro Kamio[5] (Japanese); Chris Tergliafera[4] (English)
A friend of Yatora's from high school. He is tall, quiet, and intimidating on the outside, but over time reveals his sensitivity, dreams, and emotional character to Yatora.
Utashima (歌島)
Voiced by: Tatsumaru Tachibana[5] (Japanese); Griffin Burns[4] (English)
Another of Yatora's friends from high school. He does not apply himself academically but is very interested in girls and highly devoted to his friends.
Takuro Ishii (石井啄郎, Ishii Takurō)
Voiced by: Taishi Murata[6] (Japanese); Griffin Burns[4] (English)
Yatora's classmate at prep school.
Sae Okada (岡田さえ, Okada Sae)
Voiced by: Emiri Suyama[6] (Japanese); Kayli Mills[4] (English)
Yatora's classmate at prep school.
Hanako Sakuraba (桜庭華子, Sakuraba Hanako)
Voiced by: Saori Ōnishi[6] (Japanese); Amanda Celine Miller[4] (English)
Yatora's classmate at prep school. She always wears her school uniform to prep school, which is revealed to be to save money.
Umino (海野)
Voiced by: Miku Hiratsuka[5] (Japanese); Jenny Yokobori[4] (English)
A member of Yatora's high school art club.
Shirai (白井)
Voiced by: Ikumi Hasegawa[5] (Japanese); Amber Lee Connors[4] (English)
A member of Yatora's high school art club.
Shirota (城田)
Voiced by: Yuna Nemoto[5] (Japanese); Kayli Mills[4] (English)
A member of Yatora's high school art club.
Yamamoto (山本)
Voiced by: Aoi Koga[5] (Japanese); Erica Lindbeck[4] (English)

Media

Manga

Blue Period is written and illustrated by Tsubasa Yamaguchi. The series began in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon on June 24, 2017.[7] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on December 22, 2017.[8] As of July 21, 2023, fourteen volumes have been released.[9]

In North America, Kodansha USA announced the print release of the manga in November 2019.[10]

Volumes
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 December 22, 2017[8]978-4-06-510586-3October 13, 2020[11]978-1-64-651112-9
2 March 23, 2018[12]978-4-06-511124-6January 5, 2021[13]978-1-64-651124-2
3 August 23, 2018[14]978-4-06-512336-2May 18, 2021[15]978-1-64-651125-9
4 February 22, 2019[16]978-4-06-514484-8August 17, 2021[17]978-1-64-651126-6
5 June 21, 2019[18]978-4-06-515958-3November 30, 2021[19]978-1-64-651127-3
6 November 22, 2019[20]978-4-06-517512-5March 22, 2022[21]978-1-64-651128-0
7 March 23, 2020[22]978-4-06-518889-7June 28, 2022[23]978-1-64-651291-1
8 September 23, 2020[24][25]978-4-06-520727-7
978-4-06-520725-3 (SE)		August 23, 2022[26]978-1-64-651292-8
9 January 21, 2021[27]978-4-06-521994-2September 20, 2022[28]978-1-64-651395-6
10 May 21, 2021[29]978-4-06-523175-3November 8, 2022[30]978-1-64-651396-3
11 September 22, 2021[31][32]978-4-06-524669-6
978-4-06-524977-2 (SE)		November 29, 2022[33]978-1-64-651566-0
12 May 23, 2022[34]978-4-06-527418-7January 24, 2023[35]978-1-64-651567-7
13 November 22, 2022[36]978-4-06-529730-8May 30, 2023[37]978-1-64-651685-8
14 July 21, 2023[9]978-4-06-531943-7March 26, 2024[38]978-1-64-651686-5

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced on January 19, 2021.[39][40] Seven Arcs is animating the series, with Koji Masunari serving as chief director, and Katsuya Asano serving as director, with scripts by Reiko Yoshida, character designs by Tomoyuki Shitaya, and music by Ippei Inoue.[41][5] While the series had an advanced streaming debut on Netflix on September 25, 2021,[42][43] it aired on television from October 2 to December 18 of the same year on the Super Animeism block on MBS, TBS and other channels.[3][lower-alpha 2] Netflix is streaming the series on a weekly schedule outside of Japan since October 9, 2021.[43] Omoinotake performed the opening theme "EVERBLUE," while Mol-74 performed the ending theme "Replica".[43]

Episodes
No.Title [44]Directed by [lower-alpha 3]Written by [lower-alpha 3]Storyboarded by [lower-alpha 3]Original air date [45][lower-alpha 4]
1"Awakening to the Joy of Painting"
Transcription: "E o Kaku Yorokobi ni Mezamete Mita" (Japanese: 絵を描く悦びに目覚めてみた)		Juria MatsumuraReiko YoshidaKoji MasunariOctober 2, 2021 (2021-10-02)
2"He's Not Tanned At All"
Transcription: "Zenzen Yakete nē" (Japanese: 全然焼けてねえ)		Yūsuke OnodaReiko YoshidaKatsuya AsanoOctober 9, 2021 (2021-10-09)
3"Prep School Debut of the Dead"
Transcription: "Yobikō Debyū Obu Za Deddo" (Japanese: 予備校デビュー・オブ・ザ・デッド)		Shigeru FukaseReiko YoshidaTsutomu MiyazawaOctober 16, 2021 (2021-10-16)[lower-alpha 5]
4"Where Are We Headed?"
Transcription: "Wareware wa Doko e Iku no ka" (Japanese: 我々はどこへ行くのか)		Hiromitsu HagiwaraReiko YoshidaYasunori IdeOctober 23, 2021 (2021-10-23)
5"Helpless Even If I Know What To Do"
Transcription: "Kadai ga Miete mo Dō Shiyō mo nē" (Japanese: 課題が見えてもどうしようもねぇ)		Shigeru YamazakiReiko YoshidaHiroaki TomitaOctober 30, 2021 (2021-10-30)
6"Serious Mental Breakdown"
Transcription: "Menbure Hanpa Naitte" (Japanese: メンブレ半端ないって)		Ryūta KawaharaReiko YoshidaRyūta KawaharaNovember 6, 2021 (2021-11-06)
7"The Start of the First Exam"
Transcription: "Ichiji Shiken Kaishi" (Japanese: １次試験開始)		Yūsuke OnodaReiko YoshidaGōichi IwahataNovember 13, 2021 (2021-11-13)
8"Brain-Racking"
Transcription: "Nōjiru Bushā" (Japanese: 脳汁ブシャー)		Masatoyo TakadaReiko YoshidaMasatoyo TakadaNovember 20, 2021 (2021-11-20)
9"Wandering Knife"
Transcription: "Samayou Naifu" (Japanese: さまようナイフ)		Daisuke KuroseReiko YoshidaHiroaki TomitaNovember 27, 2021 (2021-11-27)
10"Our Color Blue"
Transcription: "Oretachi no Aoi Iro" (Japanese: 俺たちの青い色)		Shūjirō AmiReiko YoshidaShūjirō AmiDecember 4, 2021 (2021-12-04)
11"The Start of the Second Exam"
Transcription: "Niji Shiken Kaishi" (Japanese: ２次試験開始)		Kuniyasu NishinaReiko YoshidaYasunori IdeDecember 11, 2021 (2021-12-11)
12"When I Started to be Dyed in Color"
Transcription: "Irozuki Hajimeta Jibun" (Japanese: 色づき始めた自分)		Shin'ichi FukumotoReiko YoshidaKoji MasunariDecember 18, 2021 (2021-12-18)

Reception

By November 2021, the manga had over 4.5 million copies in circulation.[46]

Blue Period was one of the Jury Recommended Works at the 22nd and 24th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2019 and 2021, respectively.[47][48] In 2019, the manga was nominated for the 12th Manga Taishō and the 43rd Kodansha Manga Award for Best General Manga.[49][50] In 2020, the manga won the 13th Manga Taishō and the 44th Kodansha Manga Award for Best General Manga.[51][52] It was also nominated for the 24th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.[53]

The series ranked fourth on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga of 2019 for male readers,[54] 14th, along with The Fable on the 2020 list;[55] and 15th, along with Bōkyō Tarō on the 2021 list.[56] Blue Period ranked 16th on the 2019 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine;[57] it ranked 19th on the 2020 list;[58] and 24th on the 2021 list.[59] The series was also one of twelve manga series to make the 2021 Young Adult Library Services Association's top 126 graphic novels for teenagers list.[60]

Rebecca Silverman from Anime News Network gave the first volume a B+. She praised its coming-of-age narrative and characters (specifically the adults), while criticizing it for being too informative at times.[1]

Notes
  1. Credited as Chief Director (総監督, Sō Kantoku).
  2. MBS and TBS list the series premiere at 25:25 on October 1, 2021, which is effectively 1:25 a.m. JST on October 2.
  3. Information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
  4. Episodes released on Netflix Japan a week before their original air date.
  5. This episode aired at 1:40 a.m. JST, 15 minutes after the original air time.

References
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  4. "Blue Period (2022)". Behind The Voice Actors. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
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