Monthly Afternoon (月刊アフタヌーン, Gekkan Afutanūn) is a Japanese monthly seinen manga anthology published by Kodansha under the Afternoon line of magazines. The first issue was released with a cover date of January 25, 1986. Afternoon has spawned many successful manga series such as Oh My Goddess!, Genshiken, Blade of the Immortal and Big Windup!. It is part of Kodansha's "1day" series, which also includes the magazines Morning and Evening. A spin-off magazine, named good! Afternoon, started publishing on November 7, 2008.[3]
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The magazine was founded as a sister to Morning by the same publisher. According to Frederik L. Schodt, stories that did not convince the editors of Morning would often land in Afternoon.[4]
Many of the artists working for the magazine used to publish amateur doujinshi and were influenced by lolicon amateur manga. Sharon Kinsella claims that around half of all series featured in Afternoon between 1994 and 1997 were inspired by lolicon aesthetics. She lists Discommunication, Gunsmith Cats, Assembler 0X, Seraphic Feather, Aqua ańd Oh! My Goddess as examples.[5]
From 1999 until 2002, Afternoon Season Zōkan was published as a quarterly spin-off magazine to Afternoon. After the magazine was suspended, some of its series, like Mushishi and Mokke, were transferred to Afternoon.
Since 1987, the magazine hands out the newcomer award Afternoon Shiki Shō. In 2000, Kodansha published a selection of winners of the award in a book.[6]
Like with most major manga magazines, the magazine's circulation has been declining since the 1990s:
- 2004: 144.500[7]
- 2005: 133.800[7]
- 2006: 127.400[8]
- 2007: 119.666[9]
- 2016: 69.310[3]
In the late 1990s, the magazine's editors guessed that about a third of the readers of the magazine could be called otaku.[5]
Ongoing
There are currently 26 manga titles being serialized in Monthly Afternoon. Out of them, Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ī and Wandering Island is on hiatus.
More information Series title, Author ...
| Series title |
Author |
Premiered |
| A Kingdom of Quartz (クオーツの王国, Quartz no Ōkoku) |
Bomhat |
December 2022 |
| Big Windup! (おおきく振りかぶって) |
Asa Higuchi |
September 2003 |
| Bitter End Roll (ビターエンドロール, Bitā Endo Rōru) |
Shu Sakura |
June 2021 |
| Blue Period (ブルーピリオド, Burū Piriodo) |
Tsubasa Yamaguchi |
June 2017 |
| The Darwin Incident (ダーウィン事変, Dāuin Jihen) |
Shun Umezawa |
June 2020 |
| Dokudami no Hanasaku Koro (どくだみの花咲くころ) |
Shiho Kido |
November 2023 |
| Fragile (フラジャイル, Furajairu) |
Bin Kusamizu (story) and Megumi Saburo |
June 2014 |
| Heavenly Delusion (天国大魔境, Tengoku Daimakyō) |
Masakazu Ishiguro |
January 2018 |
| Hellhound (ヘルハウンド, Heruhaundo) |
Ryōji Minagawa |
June 2022 |
| Historie (ヒストリエ, Hisutorie) |
Hitoshi Iwaaki |
January 2003 |
| I Want to Hold Aono-kun so Badly I Could Die (青野くんに触りたいから死にたい, Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai) |
Umi Shiina |
December 2016 |
| Issak (イサック, Isakku) |
Shinji Makari (story) and Double-S (art) |
January 2017 |
| Medalist (メダリスト, Medarisuto) |
Tsurumaikada |
May 2020 |
| Minzoku Gakusha Akasaka Yaichirō no Jiken-bo (民俗学者 赤坂弥一郎の事件簿) |
Richard Woo (story) and Seimu Yoshizaki (art) |
August 2022 |
| Mō, Shimasen Kara: Seiun Risshi-hen (もう、しませんから。 〜青雲立志編〜) |
Hideo Nishimoto |
January 2020 |
| Omori |
OMOCAT (story) and Nui Konoito (art) |
June 2024 |
| Puu-Neko (プ～ねこ) |
Masayuki Kitamichi |
December 2003 |
| Skip and Loafer (スキップとローファー, Sukippu to Rōfā) |
Misaki Takamatsu |
August 2018 |
| Tengu no Daidokoro (天狗の台所) |
Ai Tanaka |
September 2021 |
| Toppu GP (トップウGP) |
Kōsuke Fujishima |
May 2016 |
| Under 3 (アンダー3, Andā 3) |
Shunji Enomoto |
April 2014 |
| Vinland Saga (ヴィンランド・サガ, Vinrando Saga) |
Makoto Yukimura |
December 2005 |
| Wandance (ワンダンス, Wandansu) |
Coffee |
January 2019 |
| Wandering Island (冒険エレキテ島, Bōken Erekite-tō) |
Kenji Tsuruta |
September 2011 |
| Wave, Listen to Me! (波よ聞いてくれ, Nami yo Kiitekure) |
Hiroaki Samura |
July 2014 |
| Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ī (来世は他人がいい) |
Asuka Konishi |
August 2017 |
|
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Past
1990s
- Compiler (コンパイラ, Konpaira) by Kia Asamiya (1990–1992)
- Gunsmith Cats (ガンスミスキャッツ, Gansumisu Kyattsu) by Kenichi Sonoda (1991–1997)
- Discommunication (ディスコミュニケーション, Disukomyunikēshon) by Riichi Ueshiba (1991–1999)
- Ice Blade (地雷震, Jiraishin) by Tsutomu Takahashi (1992–1999)
- Assembler 0X (アセンブラ０Ｘ, Asenbura 0 X) by Kia Asamiya (1992–1995)
- Tensui (天水) by Kazuichi Hanawa (1992–1994)
- Blade of the Immortal (無限の住人, Mugen no Jūnin) by Hiroaki Samura (1993–2012)
- Seraphic Feather (セラフィック・フェザー, Serafikku Fezā) by Yo Morimoto, Toshiya Takeda (story) and Hiroyuki Utatane (art) (1993–2008)
- Hanashippanashi (はなしっぱなし) by Daisuke Igarashi (1994–1996)
- Yugo (勇午, Yūgo) by Shinji Makari (story) and Akana Shu (art) (1994–2004)
- Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō (ヨコハマ買い出し紀行) by Hitoshi Ashinano (1994–2006)
- Wings of Vendemiaire (ヴァンデミエールの翼, Vandemiēru no Tsubasa) by Mohiro Kitoh (1995–1997)
- Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei (1997–2003)
- Kamikaze (神・風) by Satoshi Shiki (1997–2003)
- Cannon God Exaxxion (砲神エグザクソン, Hōjin Eguzakuson) by Kenichi Sonoda (1997–2004)
- Eden: It's an Endless World! by Hiroki Endo (1997–2008)
- Shadow Star (なるたる, Narutaru) by Mohiro Kitoh (1998–2003)
- From Kobe (神戸在住, Kōbe Zaijū) by Kon Kimura (1998–2006)
- Uchu Kazoku Carlvinson (宇宙家族カールビンソン, Uchū Kazoku Kārubinson) by Yoshito Asari (1999–2000)
2000s
- Smuggler (スマグラー, Sumagurā) by Shohei Manabe (2000)
- Nasu (茄子) by Iou Kuroda (2000–2002)
- Yume Tsukai (夢使い) by Riichi Ueshiba (2001–2003)
- Manga Abenobashi Mahō Shōtengai (まんが アベノ橋魔法☆商店街 ―アベノの街に祈りを込めて―) by Kenji Tsuruta (2001–2002)
- LuCu LuCu (るくるく, Ruku Ruku) by Yoshito Asari (2001–2009)
- Genshiken (げんしけん) by Shimoku Kio (2002–2016)
- Little Forest (リトル・フォレスト, Ritoru Foresuto) by Daisuke Igarashi (2002–2005)
- Mushishi (蟲師) by Yuki Urushibara (2002–2008) (moved from Afternoon Season Zōkan)
- Mokke (もっけ) by Takatoshi Kumakura (2003–2009) (moved from Afternoon Season Zōkan)
- Shadow Skill by Megumu Okada (2003–2006)
- Love Roma (ラブロマ, Rabu Roma) by Minoru Toyoda (2003–2005)
- Tokko (特公, Tokkō) by Tooru Fujisawa (2003–2004)
- Karapuri! (カラプリ) by Kia Asamiya (2003)
- Me and the Devil Blues (俺と悪魔のブルーズ, Ore to Akuma no Burūzu) by Akira Hiramoto (2003–2008) (transferred to Young Magazine the 3rd)
- Voices of a Distant Star (ほしのこえ, Hoshi no Koe) by Makoto Shinkai (original work) and Sumomo Yumeka (2004–2005)
- Shion no Ō (しおんの王) by Masaru Katori (story) and Jiro Ando (art) (2004–2008)
- Little Jumper (リトル・ジャンパー, Ritoru janpā) by Yuzo Takada (2004–2008)
- Gunsmith Cats BURST by Kenichi Sonoda (2004–2008)
- Shūsen no Lorelei (終戦のローレライ, Shūsen no Rōrerai) by Harutoshi Fukui (original novel), Takashi Nagasaki and Takayuki Kosai (2005–2007)
- Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (巌窟王, Gankutsuō) by Mahiro Maeda (2005–2008)
- Sora no Manimani (宙のまにまに) by Mami Kashiwabara (2005–2011)
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days (雲のむこう、約束の場所, Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho) by Makoto Shinkai (original work) and Sumomo Yumeka (2005–2006)
- Mysterious Girlfriend X (謎の彼女X, Nazo no Kanojo Ekkusu) by Riichi Ueshiba (2006–2014)
- Nacun (ナチュン, Nachun) by Daisaku Tsuru (2006–2010)
- Mimia Hime (ミミア姫) by Yutaka Tanaka (2006–2009)
- Oh! Edo Rocket (大江戸ロケット, Ō Edo Roketto) by Kazuki Nakashima (original story) and Una Hamana (2007–2009)
- Kabu no Isaki (カブのイサキ) by Hitoshi Ashinano (2007–2013)
- Octave (オクターヴ, Okutāvu) by Haru Akiyama (2008–2011)
- Jigopuri (ぢごぷり) by Shimoku Kio (2008–2010)
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Kiri no Hōmonsha (薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 霧の訪問者) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2009)
- Knights of Sidonia (シドニアの騎士, Shidonia no Kishi) by Tsutomu Nihei (2009–2015)
- Suiiki (水域) by Yuki Urushibara (2009–2010)
2010s
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Suiyobi ni Goyojin (薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 水妖日にご用心) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2010)
- 5 Centimeters per Second (秒速5センチメートル, Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Seike Yukiko (art) (2010–2011)
- Bullet the Wizard (ブレット・ザ・ウィザード, Buretto za Uizādo) by Kenichi Sonoda (2010–2012)
- Break of Dawn (ぼくらのよあけ, Bokura no Yoake) by Tetsuya Imai (2011)
- Kyō no Yuiko-san (今日のユイコさん) by Kenshin Hidekawa (2011–2015)
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Jyoō Heika no Maneki Neko (薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 女王陛下の招き猫) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2012)
- Land of the Lustrous (宝石の国, Hōseki no Kuni) by Haruko Ichikawa (2012–2024)
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Makyo no Jyoō Heika (薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 魔境の女王陛下) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2012–2013)
- Nemesis no Tsue (ネメシスの杖) by Ao Akato (2013)
- The Gods Lie (神様がうそをつく。, Kamisama ga Uso wo Tsuku.) by Kaori Ozaki (2013)
- The Garden of Words (言の葉の庭, Kotonoha no Niwa) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Midori Motohashi (art) (2013)
- Marginal Operation (マージナル・オペレーション) by Yuri Shibamura (story) and Daisuke Kimura (art) (2013–2021)
- Designs (ディザインズ, Dizainzu) by Daisuke Igarashi (2015–2019)
- Black-Box by Tsutomu Takahashi (2015–2019)
- She and Her Cat (彼女と彼女の猫, Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Tsubasa Yamaguchi (art) (2016)
- In Hand: Himokura Hakase to Majime na Migiude (インハンド 紐倉博士とまじめな右腕) by Ao Akato (2016)
- Ogami-san Can't Keep It In (大上さん、だだ漏れです。, Ōgami-san, Dadamore desu) by Yu Yoshidamaru (2016–2019)
- Atari no Kitchen! (あたりのキッチン!, Atari no Kitchin!) by Yuki Shirono (2016–2018)
- The Golden Sheep (金のひつじ, Kin no Hitsuji) by Kaori Ozaki (2017–2019)
- Hashikko Ensemble (はしっこアンサンブル, Hashikko Ansanburu) by Shimoku Kio (2018–2022)
- When a Cat Faces West (猫が西向きゃ, Neko ga Nishi Mukya) by Yuki Urushibara (2018–2020)
- Inui to Tatsumi -Siberia Shuppei Hishi- (乾と巽 ―ザバイカル戦記―) by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (2018–2024)
- Weathering with You (天気の子, Tenki no Ko) by Makoto Shinkai (original work) and Wataru Kubota (2019–2020)
- Aa! Shuukatsu no Megami-sama! (ああっ就活の女神さまっ) by Uhei Aoki (story) and Kumichi Yoshizuki (art) (2019–2021)
- The Decagon House Murders (十角館の殺人, Jukkakukan no Satsujin) by Yukito Ayatsuji (story) and Hiro Kiyohara (art) (2019–2022)
- Blade of the Immortal - Bakumatsu Arc (無限の住人～幕末ノ章～, Mugen no Jūnin ~ Nakumatsu no Fumi ~) by Kenji Takigawa (story), Ryū Suenobu (art) and Hiroaki Samura (collaboration) (2019–2024)
2020s
- Tomodachi toshite Daisuki (友達として大好き) by Mikumi Yuuchi (2020–2021)
- Spotlight (スポットライト, Supottoraito) by Kaze Miura (2020–2021)
- Maō no Kikan (魔王の帰還) by Michi Ichiho (story) and Nori Arashiyama (art) (2021)
- Q, koi tte nan desu ka? (Q、恋ってなんですか？) by Fiok Lee (2021–2022)
- Sing a Bit of Harmony (アイの歌声を聴かせて, Ai no Utagoe o Kikasete) by Yasuhiro Yoshiura (original story) and Megumu Maeda (art) (2021–2022)
- Chaos Game (カオスゲーム, Kaosu Gēmu) by Daiki Yamazaki (2022–2024)
- Suzume (すずめの戸締まり, Suzume no Tojimari) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Denki Amashima (art) (2022–2023)
"Men's Manga" (in Japanese). Japanese Magazine Publishers Association. September 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
