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Wind Breaker (manga)

Japanese manga series From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wind Breaker (manga)
For the 2013 South Korean manhwa series, see Wind Breaker (manhwa).

Wind Breaker (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satoru Nii that began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket manga website in January 2021. As of January 2025, the series' individual chapters have been collected in 20 tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by CloverWorks aired from April to June 2024. A second season is set to premiere in April 2025.

Quick Facts Genre, Written by ...
Wind Breaker
Thumb
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Haruka Sakura
Genre
Manga
Written bySatoru Nii
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintShōnen Magazine Comics
MagazineMagazine Pocket
DemographicShōnen
Original runJanuary 13, 2021 – present
Volumes20
Anime television series
Directed byToshifumi Akai
Written byHiroshi Seko
Music byRyo Takahashi
StudioCloverWorks
Licensed by
Original networkJNN (MBS, TBS)
English network
Original run April 5, 2024 – present
Episodes13
Anime and manga portal
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Plot

From an early age, Haruka Sakura was an outcast due to his unconventional appearance and lack of social skills. However, the harsh treatments he received made him a skilled fighter, which is now the only thing he prides himself on. After enrolling at Furin High School, where it is rumored that strength is valued over academics, Sakura has only one goal—to become the best.

After being involved in a street brawl the day before his enrollment, Sakura meets a group of his future classmates. Instead of rejecting him, his classmates fight alongside him, showing that the school's real concern is protecting the town of Makochi from harm—hence why the students call themselves Bofurin. Surprised by the support and appreciation of the townspeople, Sakura has a hard time accepting their goodwill. Though he is unfamiliar with others showing him kindness, he must learn to overcome his discomfort when Bofurin is pitted against formidable enemies. After experiencing the feeling of acceptance, he finds himself fighting for the sake of others for the first time.

Characters

Haruka Sakura (桜 遥, Sakura Haruka)
Voiced by: Yuma Uchida[4] (Japanese); Austin Tindle[5] (English)
A first-year transfer student at Furin High School who enrolled there in order to reach the top. Sakura has heterochromia in his hair and eyes which, along with his lack of social skills, caused him to be ostracized. Despite his stubbornness, he is a tsundere, has a sense of justice, and is sensitive towards romance. It is implied that he refuses friendship because of his past, as his strength caused others to hate him.
Akihiko Nirei (楡井 秋彦, Nirei Akihiko)
Voiced by: Shōya Chiba[6] (Japanese); Bryson Baugus[7] (English)
A first-year student at Furin High School who later becomes Sakura's right-hand man alongside Suō. Although he is not very strong, Nirei always carries a notebook and pen and is knowledgeable about delinquents from other schools.
Kyōtarō Sugishita (杉下 京太郎, Sugishita Kyōtarō)
Voiced by: Kōki Uchiyama[8] (Japanese); Orion Pitts[7] (English)
A first-year student at Furin High School who does not talk much, Sugishita is the school's representative and Umemiya's loyal lackey.
Hayato Suō (蘇枋 隼飛, Suō Hayato)
Voiced by: Nobunaga Shimazaki[9] (Japanese); Dallas Reid[7] (English)
A first-year student at Furin High School who later becomes Sakura's right-hand man alongside Nirei. Suō wears an eyepatch, has a calm fighting style, and has a sense of humor.
Hajime Umemiya (梅宮 一, Umemiya Hajime)
Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura[10] (Japanese); Aaron Campbell[7] (English)
A third-year student and the representative of Furin High School. Despite being the leader, Umemiya is cheerful and likes gardening, which makes Sakura question his status as a leader. He is also Kotoha's protective adoptive brother.
Tōma Hiragi (柊 登馬, Hiiragi Tōma)
Voiced by: Ryōta Suzuki[11] (Japanese); Nick Huber[5] (English)
A third-year student at Furin High School and one of the Four Heavenly Generals.
Taiga Tsugeura (柘浦 大河, Tsugeura Taiga)
Voiced by: Kengo Kawanishi[12] (Japanese); Jordan Dash Cruz[7] (English)
A first-year transfer student at Furin High School who is obsessed with muscle training and asking people about their "aesthetics".
Mitsuki Kiryū (桐生 三輝, Kiryū Mitsuki)
Voiced by: Toshiyuki Toyonaga[12] (Japanese); Drew Breedlove[7] (English)
A first-year student at Furin High School who likes playing video games.
Ren Kaji (梶 蓮, Kaji Ren)
Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto (Japanese); Kevin D. Thelwell (English)
A second-year student at Furin High School and the Grade Captain of Class 1. Kaji usually wears headphones while listening to loud music.
Kotoha Tachibana (橘 ことは, Tachibana Kotoha)
Voiced by: Ikumi Hasegawa[12] (Japanese); Hollis Beck[5] (English)
A café worker in the district who is like a big sister to the Furin students, despite being younger than them. Kotoha is Umemiya's adoptive sister.
Chōji Tomiyama (兎耳山 丁子, Tomiyama Chōji)
Voiced by: Kikunosuke Toya[13] (Japanese); Derick Snow (English)
The cheerful leader of Shishitoren.
Jō Togame (十亀 条, Togame Jō)
Voiced by: Yūichirō Umehara[13] (Japanese); Chris Guerrero (English)
The second-in-command of Shishitoren.
Kōta Sako (佐狐 浩太, Sako Kōta)
Voiced by: Chiaki Kobayashi[13] (Japanese); Ian Moore (English)
A member of Shishitoren.
Yukinari Arima (有馬 雪成, Arima Yukinari)
Voiced by: Masaaki Mizunaka[13] (Japanese); Alex Hom (English)
A member of Shishitoren.
Minoru Kanuma (鹿沼 稔, Kanuma Minoru)
Voiced by: Hiromu Mineta[13] (Japanese); Kyle Igneczi (English)
A member of Shishitoren.
Tasuku Tsubakino (椿野佑, Tsubakino Tasuku)
Voiced by: Ryōta Ōsaka[14]

Production

Summarize
Perspective

Wind Breaker is written and illustrated by Satoru Nii. He was inspired to draw manga as he consistently read Weekly Shōnen Magazine during his childhood. While attending university, he submitted a dark fantasy work titled Uramare-ya for a newcomer award and then achieved a Kodansha-published serialization with the gender bender/sports manga Danshi Bado-Bu ni Joshi ga Magireteru Secret Badminton Club. When a second badminton series stalled in development and after he received some advice from an editor, Nii shifted his focus to creating stories about male characters he called "cool boys" (カッコいい男の子, kakkoī otokonoko).[15] Wind Breaker was born out of Nii's desire to create a series centered around this archetype, which he wished to accomplish by studying similar works while consulting with an editor.[16] Manga like Rave Master and Samurai Deeper Kyo, both of which he grew up reading and that contained such characters, served as influences.[15]

Nii initially considered having Umemiya as the main character. However, he was unable to make progress with the team leader of Bofurin as the protagonist, so he brought in Sakura to fill the role to lend an outsider's perspective on the story's circumstances.[15][16] The author has called Sakura his favorite character for embodying the "cool" factor he sought to accomplish and for the time he devoted to designing his appearance and personality.[16] He chose to give him heterochromatic eyes and hair to add visual complexity and to make him distinguishable as the main character at a glance.[15] He further likened him to a stray cat in his design, stating his light movements and lack of body thickness were unlike those of normal humans.[16] Also feeling that he lacked the personality of a main character in an early draft, Nii gave Sakura the tsundere-like trait of being embarrassed when someone praised or thanked him.[15]

The main setting of the manga was modeled after a shopping district in Tokyo. Bofurin's team color is green, representing plants, while the rival team's (Shishitoren) color is red, representing a red lantern found in a tavern.[15] Nii claimed to have little involvement with the anime adaptation. He admitted to being impressed by the voice actors' commitments to their parts and was consequently able to reinterpret his own characters.[16]

Media

Summarize
Perspective

Manga

Written and illustrated by Satoru Nii, the series began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket website on January 13, 2021.[17] As of January 2025, the series' individual chapters have been collected in 20 tankōbon volumes.[18][19]

In March 2022, Kodansha USA announced that they had licensed the series for digital English publication.[20] During their Anime NYC 2022 panel, Kodansha USA announced that they would begin releasing print copies in late 2023.[21]

Volumes

More information No., Original release date ...
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 May 7, 2021[17]978-4-06-522979-8April 26, 2022 (digital)[1]
August 1, 2023 (print)		978-1-68-491117-2 (digital)
978-1-64-651835-7 (print)
  • 1. "Sakura and Furin"
  • 2. "The Hero of My Dreams"
  • 3. "Fanatic"
  • 4. "The Man Who Stands at the Top"
  • 5. "Shishitoren"
2 July 9, 2021[22]978-4-06-524015-1May 24, 2022 (digital)[23]
October 3, 2023 (print)		978-1-68-491183-7 (digital)
978-1-64-651836-4 (print)
  • 6. "Spark"
  • 7. "Hajime Umemiya"
  • 8. "Clash"
  • 9. "Eve of the Fight"
  • 10. "Kyotaro Sugishita vs Yukinari Arima"
  • 11. "A Gentleman"
  • 12. "Step On Up"
  • 13. "Fate"
  • 14. "God of War"
3 September 9, 2021[24]978-4-06-524849-2June 28, 2022 (digital)[25]
December 5, 2023 (print)		978-1-68-491235-3 (digital)
978-1-64-651837-1 (print)
  • 15. "Vow to Follow"
  • 16. "The Opponent's True Power"
  • 17. "Fight to Win"
  • 18. "Moment of Flux"
  • 19. "The Setting Sun"
  • 20. "Wake Up"
  • 21. "The Battle Concludes"
  • 22. "Shared Beliefs"
  • 23. "The Top vs The Top"
4 November 9, 2021[26]978-4-06-525995-5July 12, 2022 (digital)[27]
February 6, 2024 (print)		978-1-68-491346-6 (digital)
978-1-64-651838-8 (print)
  • 24. "The Takedown"
  • 25. "Roar"
  • 26. "Good Old Days"
  • 27. "Settling the Score"
  • 28. "Umemiya's Style"
  • 29. "The Sun Rises Again"
  • 30. "Dialogue"
  • 31. "A New Classmate"
  • 32. "Muscle & Gentle"
5 January 7, 2022[28]978-4-06-526596-3August 9, 2022 (digital)[29]
April 9, 2024 (print)		978-1-68-491392-3 (digital)
978-1-64-651839-5 (print)
  • 33. "Three Brave Men"
  • 34. "Class Leader"
  • 35. "Ren Kaji"
  • 36. "Tried and True"
  • 37. "One Step"
  • 38. "The Four Kings"
  • 39. "Danger"
  • 40. "A Promise"
  • 41. "For a Friend"
6 March 9, 2022[30]978-4-06-527281-7September 13, 2022 (digital)[31]
June 4, 2024 (print)		978-1-68-491435-7 (digital)
978-1-64-651840-1 (print)
  • 42. "Rage"
  • 43. "Assassin"
  • 44. "Resolve"
  • 45. "That Which We Protect"
  • 46. "Guide"
  • 47. "Absolute Authority"
  • 48. "Rebellion"
  • 49. "Proof of Humanity"
  • 50. "Extreme Emotions"
7 June 9, 2022[32]978-4-06-528174-1November 22, 2022 (digital)[33]
August 6, 2024 (print)		978-1-68-491556-9 (digital)
978-1-64-651841-8 (print)
  • 51. "Animal"
  • 52. "Conclusion"
  • 53. "Admiration"
  • 54. "Re:Start"
  • 55. "Welcome Back"
  • 56. "Visiting His House"
  • 57. "Visiting the Sick"
  • 58. "Discussion"
8 August 9, 2022[34]978-4-06-528846-7January 10, 2023 (digital)[35]
October 1, 2024 (print)		978-1-68-491640-5 (digital)
978-1-64-651842-5 (print)
  • 59. "The Senpai's Teachings"
  • 60. "A Place I Belong"
  • 61. "Get-Together"
  • 62. "Tsubaki"
  • 63. "A Date?"
  • 64. "Childhood Days"
  • 65. "Repaying the Favor"
  • 66. "Hidden Feelings"
9 October 7, 2022[36]978-4-06-529412-3March 14, 2023 (digital)[37]
February 4, 2025 (print)		978-1-68-491847-8 (digital)
978-1-64-651956-9 (print)
  • 67. "Night Street"
  • 68. "Improvement"
  • 69. "Special Training"
  • 70. "The Night Patrollers"
  • 71. "Sisters"
  • 72. "The Guardian of the Night"
  • 73. "Shared Frontlines"
  • 74. "The Lawless One"
10 January 6, 2023[38]978-4-06-530343-6June 13, 2023 (digital)[39]
April 1, 2025 (print)		978-1-68-491967-3 (digital)
978-1-64-651957-6 (print)
  • 75. "Concern"
  • 76. "A Girl's Plea"
  • 77. "Shall We Dance?"
  • 78. "War Dance"
  • 79. "Grounds for Strength"
  • 80. "Ideals and Reality"
  • 81. "Rise to Action"
  • 82. "Salvation"
11 April 7, 2023[40]978-4-06-531234-6August 8, 2023 (digital)[41]
June 3, 2025 (print)		979-8-88-933096-7 (digital)
978-1-64-651958-3 (print)
  • 83. "Reborn"
  • 84. "Naïveté"
  • 85. "Spark"
  • 86. "Wrath"
  • 87. "After the Storm"
  • 88. "Emergency Meeting"
  • 89. "Past"
  • 90. "The Shadows"
12 June 8, 2023[42]978-4-06-531879-9October 20, 2023 (digital)[43]979-8-88-933189-6
  • 91. "Strength for Another"
  • 92. "A Declaration of War"
  • 93. "Hajime Umemiya's Childhood Days"
  • 94. "Hajime Umemiya's Childhood Days 2"
  • 95. "Hajime Umemiya's Childhood Days 3"
  • 96. "Hajime Umemiya's Ambition Arc"
  • 97. "Hajime Umemiya's Ambition Arc 2"
  • 98. "The Place I Want to Protect"
13 August 8, 2023[44]978-4-06-532670-1January 9, 2024 (digital)[45]979-8-88-933325-8
  • 99. "Strategy Meeting"
  • 100. "The Great Fires of Extinction"
  • 101. "Teamwork"
  • 102. "Partners"
  • 103. "Dark Clouds"
  • 104. "Uninvited Guest"
  • 105. "Noroshi"
  • Short Story
14 November 9, 2023[46]978-4-06-533549-9April 9, 2024 (digital)[47]979-8-88-933438-5
  • 106. "The Gathered Fighters"
  • 107. "Resolve"
  • 108. "What Must Be Done"
  • 109. "A New View"
  • 110. "Discipline"
  • 111. "Dull, Humdrum Days"
  • 112. "After Wavering"
  • 113. "Shock Wave"
15 January 9, 2024[48]978-4-06-534179-7June 18, 2024 (digital)[49]979-8-88-933574-0
  • 114. "Life-or-Death"
  • 115. "Savior"
  • 116. "Raging Lion"
  • 117. "Monster"
  • 118. "Values"
  • 119. "The Way of the Fist"
  • 120. "War"
  • 121. "My Prince"
16 March 8, 2024[50]978-4-06-534870-3August 20, 2024 (digital)[51]979-8-88-933697-6
  • 122. "The Value of Love"
  • 123. "Roar"
  • 124. "Hating Myself"
  • 125. "Flash"
  • 126. "By Your Side"
  • 127. "The Dance of Rapture"
  • 128. "Pleasure"
  • 129. "Fury"
17 May 9, 2024[52]978-4-06-535507-7October 15, 2024 (digital)[53]979-8-89-478104-4
  • 130. "Beyond Pain"
  • 131. "Target"
  • 132. "Rush"
  • 133. "Face-to-Face"
  • 134. "The Moment Longed For"
  • 135. "The Lion's Strike"
  • 136. "King of the Jungle"
  • 137. "Baton"
18 August 7, 2024[54]978-4-06-536127-6January 28, 2025 (digital)[55]979-8-89-478319-2
  • 138. "Bloom"
  • 139. "Reason Behind the Rage"
  • 140. "What Should've Been"
  • 141. "True Target"
  • 142. "Revelation"
  • 143. "Joy"
  • 144. "Coming Apart at the Seams"
  • Short Story
19 October 8, 2024[56]978-4-06-537189-3——
  • 145. "The Abyss"
  • 146. "Up Again"
  • 147. "One More Time"
  • 148. "Do or Die"
  • 149. "Where Victory and Defeat Lead"
  • 150. "Cherished Ambition"
  • 151. "Ignite"
  • 152. "Symbol"
20 January 8, 2025[18][19]978-4-06-538060-4
978-4-06-538331-5 (limited edition)		——
  • 153. "Heat"
  • 154. "Raging Inferno"
  • 155. "Oath"
  • 156. "Overheat"
  • 157. "Remaining Embers"
  • 158. "The Great Fires of Extinction"
  • 159. "Celebratory Toast"
  • 160. "Melting Snow"
21 March 7, 2025[57]978-4-06-538840-2——
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Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

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

  • 161. "The Fog Lifts"
  • 162. "Everyone's Feelings"
  • 163. "Seeds of Worry"
  • 164. "Ties"
  • 165. "Haven"
  • 166. "Thoughts Kept Inside"
  • 167. "Flowering Bud"
  • 168. "To Show Color"
  • 169. "Summer Break"
  • 170. "Resurgence"
  • 171. "A Happy Gathering"

Anime

An anime television series adaptation produced by CloverWorks was announced on March 30, 2023.[58][59] It is directed by Toshifumi Akai, with scripts written by Hiroshi Seko, character designs by Taishi Kawakami, and music composed by Ryo Takahashi.[60] The series aired from April 5 to June 28, 2024, on the brand new Super Animeism Turbo programming block on all JNN affiliates, including MBS and TBS.[61] The opening theme song is "Zettai Reido" (絶対零度, "Absolute Zero"), performed by Natori, while the ending theme song is "Muteki" (無敵, "Unbeatable"), performed by Young Kee.[12] Aniplex of America licensed the series and is streaming it on Crunchyroll.[62][63] Muse Communication licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[64]

After the airing of the final episode of the first season, a second season was announced and is set to premiere in April 2025.[65][66][14]

Episodes

More information No., Title ...
No.Title [67][a]Directed by [67]Storyboarded by [67]Original release date [69]
1"Sakura Arrives at Furin"
Transliteration: "Sakura to Fūrin" (Japanese: サクラとフウリン)		Toshifumi AkaiToshifumi AkaiApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
2"The Hero of My Dreams"
Transliteration: "Akogare no Hīrō" (Japanese: 憧れのヒーロー)		Shinichiro UedaToshifumi AkaiApril 12, 2024 (2024-04-12)[b]
3"The Man Who Stands at the Top"
Transliteration: "Itadaki ni Tatsu Otoko" (Japanese: 頂に立つ男)		Akihito SudōAkihito SudōApril 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
4"Clash"
Transliteration: "Shōtotsu" (Japanese: 衝突)		Kazuki OhashiKazuki OhashiApril 26, 2024 (2024-04-26)
5"A Gentleman"
Transliteration: "Yasashī Otoko" (Japanese: 優しい男)		Taito KawakamiTaito KawakamiMay 3, 2024 (2024-05-03)
6"Vow to Follow"
Transliteration: "Sono Senaka o Otte" (Japanese: その背中を追って)		Takashi YasuiYoriyasu KogawaMay 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)
7"Fight to Win"
Transliteration: "Make Rarenai Tatakai" (Japanese: 負けられない戦い)		Tomoki NakanoTakahiro MiuraMay 17, 2024 (2024-05-17)
8"Succeeding the Past"
Transliteration: "Omoi o Tsuide" (Japanese: 思いを継いで)		Shinichiro UedaTomohisa TaguchiMay 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
9"Umemiya's Style"
Transliteration: "Umemiya no Ryūgi" (Japanese: 梅宮の流儀)		Taishi KawakamiKatsuhiko KitadaMay 31, 2024 (2024-05-31)
10"Dialogue"
Transliteration: "Taiwa" (Japanese: 対話)		Yoshiki KitaiYoriyasu KogawaJune 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)
11"New Classmates"
Transliteration: "Aratana Kyūyū" (Japanese: 新たな級（と）友（も）)		Kazuki OhashiKazuki OhashiJune 14, 2024 (2024-06-14)[c]
12"The Dependable One"
Transliteration: "Tayora Reru Mono" (Japanese: 頼られる者)		Tsurumi MukōyamaAkihito SudōJune 21, 2024 (2024-06-21)
13"For a Friend"
Transliteration: "Tomo no Tame" (Japanese: 友のため)		Hidetoshi TakahashiToshifumi AkaiJune 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
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Stage play

A stage play adaptation of the manga, titled Stage: Wind Breaker (舞台WIND BREAKER, Butai Uindo Bureikā), was announced in September 2024. It ran from January 1–3 at the WW Hall of the Cool Japan Park Osaka, and from January 10–19, 2025 at Theater H in Tokyo. The play was directed by Go Ueki, and the scripts written by Kaori Miura. The cast features Ryoga Ishikawa as Haruka Sakura, Hiroki Sana as Hajime Umemiya, Shunichi Takahashi as Tōma Hiragi, Yūto Andō as Hayato Suō, Taiga Nakamoto as Kyōtarō Sugishita, and Kazan Yokoyama as Akihiko Nirei.[72]

Game

A video game adaptation, titled Wind Breaker Furyō-tachi no Eiyūtan (WIND BREAKER 不良たちの英雄譚, lit. "Wind Breaker: Heroic Tales of Delinquents"), was announced during the "Tōfū Shōtengai Halloween Matsuri" event on October 13, 2024.[14]

Reception

The series ranked 20th at the 2021 Next Manga Award in the web manga category.[73] At AnimeJapan 2022, the series ranked ninth in a poll asking what manga people want to see animated.[74]

By March 2022, the series had sold over 1.22 million copies between its digital and print versions.[2]

Notes

  1. All English titles are taken from Crunchyroll.[68]
  2. Due to the broadcast of the 2024 Masters Tournament, this episode aired at 1:58 a.m. JST, 1 hour and 32 minutes after the original air time on Japan News Network.[70]
  3. This episode aired at 12:41 a.m. JST, 15 minutes after the original air time on Japan News Network.[71]

References

External links

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