Ikoku Nikki

Ikoku Nikki (違国日記, "Diary of a Strange Land") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tomoko Yamashita. It was serialized in Shodensha's josei manga magazine Feel Young from June 2017 to June 2023, with its chapters collected in 11 tankōbon volumes. A live-action film adaptation premiered in June 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by Shuka has been announced.

Ikoku Nikki
First tankōbon volume cover
違国日記
Manga
Written by	Tomoko Yamashita
Published by	Shodensha
Magazine	Feel Young
Demographic	Josei
Original run	June 8, 2017 – June 8, 2023
Volumes	11
Live-action film
Directed by	Natsuki Seta
Written by	Natsuki Seta
Music by	Masakatsu Takagi
Released	June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)
Runtime	139 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by	Miyuki Oshiro
Written by	Kōhei Kiyasu
Music by	Kensuke Ushio
Studio	Shuka

Plot

Makio Kōdai is a 35-year old novelist who dislikes social contact with other people. She adopts her 15-year old niece Asa Takumi, after Asa's parents, including Makio's estranged sister, die in a car accident. Asa's friendly personality clashes with Makio's more reserved one.

Characters

Makio Kōdai (高代槙生, Kōdai Makio)

Portrayed by: Yui Aragaki^[1]

Shingo Kasamachi (笠町信吾, Kasamachi Shingo)

Portrayed by: Kōji Seto^[2]

Asa Takumi (田汲朝, Takumi Asa)

Portrayed by: Ikoi Hayase^[2]

Nana Daigo (醍醐奈々, Daigo Nana)

Portrayed by: Kaho^[2]

Emiri Nara (楢えみり, Nara Emiri)

Portrayed by: Rina Komiyama^[2]

Kyōko Kōdai (高代京子, Kōdai Kyōko)

Portrayed by: Guin-Poon-Chaw^[3]

Minori Kōdai (高代実里, Kōdai Minori)

Portrayed by: Yūko Nakamura^[3]

Kazunari Tōno (塔野和成, Tōno Kazunari)

Portrayed by: Shota Sometani^[3]

Mimori (三森)

Portrayed by: Erika Takizawa^[3]

Chise Morimoto (森本千世, Morimoto Chise)

Portrayed by: Himena Irei^[3]

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Tomoko Yamashita, Ikoku Nikki was serialized in Shodensha's josei manga magazine Feel Young from June 8, 2017,^[4][5] to June 8, 2023.^[6][7][8] Shodensha collected its chapters in 11 tankōbon volumes, released from November 8, 2017,^[9] to August 8, 2023.^[10]

Volumes

No.	Release date	ISBN
1	November 8, 2017[11]	978-4-396-76717-4
2	May 8, 2018[12]	978-4-396-76733-4
3	November 8, 2018[13]	978-4-396-76749-5
4	April 27, 2019[14]	978-4-396-76764-8
5	December 7, 2019[15]	978-4-396-76775-4
6	August 6, 2020[16]	978-4-396-76800-3
7	February 8, 2021[17]	978-4-396-76816-4
8	October 8, 2021[18]	978-4-396-76842-3
9	April 25, 2022[19]	978-4-396-76855-3
10	February 8, 2023[20]	978-4-396-76876-8
11	August 8, 2023[21]	978-4-396-76893-5

Live-action film

In June 2023, it was announced that the series would receive a live-action film adaptation, directed by Natsuki Seta and starring Yui Aragaki as Makio Kōdai.^[22][1] For the film, Eriko Hashimoto [ja] wrote and composed the in-story song "Asa no Uta" (あさのうた, lit. 'Asa's Song'), while Toaka [ja] performed the song "Yoake no Anata e" (夜明けのあなたへ, lit. 'To You at Daybreak').^[23][24] It premiered in Japanese theaters on June 7, 2024.^[25][23]

Anime

In May 2024, it was announced that the manga would be adapted into an anime television series. It will be produced by Shuka and directed by Miyuki Oshiro, with scripts written by Kōhei Kiyasu, characters designed by Kenji Hayama, and music composed by Kensuke Ushio.^[26]

Reception

In 2019, the manga was nominated for the 12th Manga Taishō and ranked fourth with 45 points;^[27] in 2020, it was nominated for the 13th award and ranked tenth with 31 points.^[28] On Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga of 2019 for female readers, the series ranked fourth;^[29] it ranked tenth on the 2020 list;^[30] and fifth on the 2024 list.^[31] It ranked 17th in the 2019 Next Manga Award in the print category.^[32] The series topped the 2023 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine.^[33] The series was nominated for the 28th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2024.^[34]