• Source: Blue Box (manga)

Blue Box (Japanese: アオのハコ, Hepburn: Ao no Hako) is a Japanese 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 in 17 tankōbon volumes as of October 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by TMS Entertainment and animated by Telecom Animation Film premiered in October 2024.




Synopsis


The series focuses on Taiki Inomata, a student at Eimei Junior and Senior High, an athletics-oriented school, where he is a member of the boys' badminton team and is considered simply average. Every morning, he trains to get better early in the gym, often at the same time and place as his upperclasswoman Chinatsu Kano, the star of the girls' basketball team. Taiki quickly develops a crush on her, but is initially too shy to speak to her despite their continual alone time together. His fortunes change, however, when Chinatsu moves in with Taiki's family after 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.




Characters


Taiki Inomata (猪股 大喜, Inomata Taiki)
Voiced by: Shōya Chiba
The main protagonist. An avid badminton player who strives to succeed despite setbacks. He greatly admires Chinatsu Kano for her dedication to basketball and harbors a huge crush on her. While often awkward and emotional his unwavering determination and sincerity slowly earns him respect from others. His goal is to reach the National Championships a dream he shares with Chinatsu in their respective sports. His mother was Chinatsu's teammate and friend, hence the decision for Chinatsu to move in with Taiki.
Chinatsu Kano (鹿野 千夏, Kano Chinatsu)
Voiced by: Reina Ueda
The main female protagonist. She is the star player of the girls' basketball team. She is one grade above Taiki and is often the first person at practice. She was once a terrible basketball player but her dedication has helped grow into a strong player who hopes to make Nationals. She moves in with Taiki's family when her parents leave to work abroad, and her and Taiki slowly become friends supporting each other. She is oblivious of Taiki being in love with her, but enjoys his company and cares for him deeply.
Hina Chōno (蝶野 雛, Chōno Hina)
Voiced by: Akari Kitō
Taiki's childhood friend who is on the rhythmic gymnastics team. She is quite theatrical and loves to tease Taiki. Although initially only seeing him as a close friend, she slowly develops feelings for Taiki later on, despite encouraging him to go after Chinatsu. Taiki is completely oblivious to her feelings, and is often annoyed by her playful teasing, though he does genuinely care for her.
Kyo Kasahara (笠原 匡, Kasahara Kyō)
Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi
Taiki's best friend and fellow badminton player. Quiet and observant he often understands more than anyone else. Though sarcastic (especially with Taiki) he is a genuinely caring and wise person.
Kengo Haryū (針生 健吾, Haryū Kengo)
Voiced by: Yuma Uchida
A skilled badminton player in Chinatsu's grade who ends up becoming a mentor and rival to Taiki. Though he is often hard on Taiki, he slowly grows to admire his tenacity and growing skill.
Ryōsuke Nishida (西田 諒介, Nishida Ryōsuke)
Voiced by: Shogo Sakata
The captain of the badminton team.
Nagisa Funami (船見 渚, Funami Nagisa)
Voiced by: Anna Nagase
A member of the basketball team alongside Chinatsu.
Niina Shimazaki (島崎 にいな, Shimazaki Niina)
Voiced by: Asaki Yuikawa
A member of the rhythmic gymnastics team alongside Hina.
Shoichiro Kishi (岸 祥一郎, Kishi Shōichirō)
Voiced by: Kengo Kawanishi
Haryū's previous doubles match partner.
Shōta Hyōdō (兵藤 将太, Hyōdō Shōta)
Voiced by: Yūki Ono
A skilled badminton player from Sachigawa High who is the rival of Haryū. Haryū has never beaten him in badminton matches.
Shūji Yusa (遊佐 柊仁, Yusa Shūji)
Voiced by: Kensho Ono
A skilled badminton player from Sachigawa High who is a teammate of Hyōdō.




Media






= Manga

=
Written and illustrated by Kouji Miura, Blue Box began its serialization in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on April 12, 2021. Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on August 4, 2021. As of October 4, 2024, 17 volumes have been released.
On August 3, 2020, the one-shot version of Blue Box had been published on Weekly Shōnen Jump.
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. Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English for free on the Manga Plus app and website. 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. The manga is also licensed in Indonesia by Elex Media Komputindo.



Volumes




Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

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




= Anime

=
An anime television series adaptation was announced in November 2023. Planned and produced by TMS Entertainment, it is animated by Telecom Animation Film and directed by Yūichirō Yano, with Yūko Kakihara handling series composition, and Miho Tanino designing the characters. The series premiered on October 3, 2024, on TBS and its affiliates, and will run for two consecutive cours. The opening theme is "Same Blue" by Official Hige Dandism, and the ending theme is "Teenage Blue" (ティーンエイジブルー) by Eve. Netflix licensed the series and is streaming it worldwide.



Episodes





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




= 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". 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.




Notes






References






External links


Blue Box official manga website at Weekly Shōnen Jump (in Japanese)
Blue Box official manga website at Viz Media
Blue Box on Manga Plus
Blue Box official anime website (in Japanese)
Blue Box on Netflix
Blue Box (manga) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

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