Japanese “hybrid” bookshop honto, which is co-managed by Junkudo and 2Dfacto, has used its online and physical book sales data to rank the top 10 manga series of the current 2020 summer anime roster. Their ranking was released on July 2.

Ito (PR, honto) | Comment

“The 2020 summer anime roster is about to start. With people staying at home right now, there is more opportunity to watch anime, so there must be a lot of people looking forward to the new series coming. So we are releasing our own ranking of manga and light novels from the anime series that are airing this summer. Let’s peruse series that are in the spotlight right now by dividing the ranking and the differences in age of people buying the books.”

*Data is based on the sales taken from the first half of 2020

The Top 3 Series

The slapstick love comedy Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! (Volume 4) by Take clocks in at number one. The series has sold over 1 million copies in Japan. The data shows that the series is most popular with people in their 30’s, who rate at 41.2% of the sales. Will they be watching the anime adaptation too?

In 2nd place is Fire Force (Volume 22) which is serialised in Weekly Shonen Magazine. This series is most popular with those in their 20’s. Season two of the anime series will premiere on July 5.

And in 3rd place is Sword Art Online (Volume 24), a series loved by fans the world over. This hugely popular series has sold over 20 million light novels, and is popular in all age groups, with the biggest percentage of sales going to those in their 40’s at 28.2%. The first season of the anime adaptation aired back in 2012. The second half of the War of Underworld will begin on July 11.

Full Top 10 List

1st Place: Uzaki-chan Wants to Hang Out! (Volume 4)
2nd Place: Fire Force (Volume 22)
3rd Place: Sword Art Online (Volume 24)
4th Place: Kanojo, Okarishimasu (Volume 14)
5th Place: Baki Dou (Volume 5)
6th Place: Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World (Volume 22)
7th Place: Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater (Volume 6)
8th Place: My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As I Expected (Volume 14)
9th Place: Super HxEros (Volume 9)
10th Place: A Certain Scientific Railgun (Volume 15)

*According to honto

It has been announced that Japanese rock band Mrs. GREEN APPLE will perform the opening theme song Inferno for the upcoming anime series Fire Force which is set to premiere on July 5.

Fire Force is a dark fantasy and battle manga series written and illustrated by Atsushi Ōkubo. The story is set in Tokyo where a phenomenon known as spontaneous human combustion causes citizens to turn into Infernals. The Fire Force are tasked with extinguishing these deadly cases.

The anime series is being adapted by David Production with Yuki Yase as director and Yamato Haishima as writer.

The opening theme song is set to debut in an upcoming new promotional video which is set to be released on June 18 on the official website.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s vocalist and guitarist Motoki Omori commented the following with regards to the band’s tie-up with the series: “Congratulations on the anime adaptation of Fire Force. It might have been around 3 years ago when I visited the bookstore and was captivated by the mysterious power of this manga. I purchased the first volume. From then on I became a huge fan. Some time passed, and the Fire Force team got in touch with us to get us on board. We were extremely honoured and honestly just moved. We wrote Inferno to capture that same initial mysterious power I felt from the series in music form. I believe the song sounds exhilarating! In any case, now there’s no helping looking forward to the anime. Mrs. GREEN APPLE would also be overjoyed if you check out the opening theme Inferno too.”

©Atsushi Ōkubo・Kodansha/特殊消防隊動画広報課

Four-piece Japanese rock band Lenny code fiction released their newest single Make my story on August 22. The song is being used as the latest opening theme song for the popular anime series My Hero Academia which has propelled them to new heights, leading them to announce a nationwide tour in Japan.

The band have announced that they will release their long-awaited first album Montage on November 14. The record will feature the already-released singles Key -bring it on, my Destiny-, Flower, Colors, and their newest song Make my story as well as 8 brand new tracks. Fans will be excited to hear that it’s packed full of tunes that have yet to be heard live.

The first few dates of the tour have trickled in. You can catch them in Sendai on October 19 and Akita on October 20 where they will be joined by Japanese rock bands the quiet room and climbgrow after which they will hit Kanazawa on November 10 and Nagano on November 11 with GOOD ON THE REEL and Amelie.

Tickets for the Sendai and Akita concerts will be released on September 15 where fans can look forward to getting an early listen of the new songs. Pre-sale tickets for the November dates are now available via ticket vendors in Japan. Full details can be found on their official homepage.

The cover art for Lenny code fiction‘s forthcoming anticipated single Make my story, set to drop on August 22, has been released.

The four-piece rock band had a busy year last year, with two Japan tours including a solo show at Ebisu Liquid Room, as well as appearing at several big festivals. Their momentum hasn’t let up at all this year either, haven’t already played at a long list of events across Japan. They are working hard to make their name known.

The cover art for the regular edition of Make my story features a bell with the same colour scheme as their previous three singles to date―Key -bring it on, my Destiny-, Flower, and Colors.

The limited pressing edition features the characters from the ongoing anime series My Hero Academia for which the song serves as the season three opening theme.

Details regarding the content of the DVD that comes coupled with the limited pressing edition have also been released. It features with the music video for Make my story and the creditless anime opening video.

Lenny code fiction are walking the high road, having completed their second Japan tour last year including a solo show in Ebisu LIQUIDROOM, as well as playing some big festivals. This year, too, the band have been busy performing at many events cross Japan.

Now, the band have finally unveiled a new release. Make my story will hit shelves on August 22, and it’s been announced that the single will also feature as the opening theme song to the third season of the hugely popular ongoing anime series My Hero Academia.

My Hero Academia is a popular manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. Lenny code fiction’s song for the show is catchy feel-good track that can be said to be the band showing their true value. Its positive and courageous message is the perfect match for a show like My Hero Academia.

Below is a comment from the band’s vocalist and guitarist Wataru Katagiri regarding the track.

“It’s a manga that I read, so to be associated with it in this way truly makes me happy. Even I cried at the words ‘You’ll become a hero.’ While making the song those words made me think that I can’t go slacking off or only half-doing things precisely because they affirm what I’m doing as a musician. So I’ll be joyous if people treasure this song together with the anime.”

Make my story will debut on My Hero Academia on July 14 and the anime size version of the track will be available digitally.

In January of next year, a new opening and ending theme song for “Pazudorakurosu”, an anime broadcasted on BS Japan, has been chosen. For the opening, the stylish rock band Lenny code fiction’s new song “Colors” has been selected. Japanese model/artist, Mito Natsume’s new song “Puzzle” was selected for the ending theme. There are personal messages from both artists. Be the first to check it out here!

Lenny code fiction is a rock band consisting of four members with Vo&Gt Wataru Katagiri in the center. Their splendid appearance and catchy tunes grasp the hearts of listeners. Both of their debut singles, “Key-Bring It On, My Destiny-“released in August of 2016, and their second single, “Flower” released in November of the same year, were used for the opening theme of an anime show. Their music has drawn a great deal of attention in the media.

■Comment

“Hello, I am Wataru Katagiri, the “guitarist and vocalist” from Lenny code fiction. We are honored to have such a great opportunity to create a song for the opening theme of “Pazudorakurosu”. It is also the opening theme following UVERworld, so we inherit this baton and it has become a song that we made carefully to make the anime world look even more exciting. This song includes my feelings of hoping to make all the farewells and obstacles we will be facing in the future lead to success. I hope everyone will enjoy both the song and the anime”.

Natsume Mito became popular when she started her career as a model in 2010. She also debuted as an artist/singer with the help of Yasutaka Nakata (CAPSULE). Mito is expanding her range of activities as an artist with her trademark of having short bangs.

■Comment

“Hello, I am Natsume Mito. I will be taking part in the ending theme song for “Pazudorakurosu”. The song was produced by Yasutaka Nakata, and it turned out to have an exciting pop flavor similar to the anime! The dancing to the song is very easy, so I hope everyone will enjoy dancing along with the music!”

■Information


TV Anime “Pazudorakurosu”

Tokyo 6 Station Network, Broadcasted every Monday from 6:25pm

BS Japan, Broadcasted every Thursday from 5pm.

■Related article：Cute, bittersweet and emotional — Artwork for Natsume Mito’s new single has been announced!

■Related article：This spring, Natsume Mito is supporting new lifestyle changes!