Utsubora

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Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist
Cover of the first volume
ウツボラ
(Utsubora)
Genre
Manga
Written byAsumiko Nakamura
Published byOhta Publishing
English publisher
MagazineManga Erotics F
DemographicSeinen
Original runNovember 6, 2008 – March 6, 2012
Volumes2
Television drama
Directed byHiroto Hara
Written by
  • Kazuhisa Kodera
  • Kiko Inoue
Music byYūji Iwamoto
Original networkWowow
Original run March 24, 2023 – May 12, 2023
Episodes8
icon Anime and manga portal

Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist (Japanese: ウツボラ, Hepburn: Utsubora)[a] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Asumiko Nakamura. It was serialized in Ohta Publishing's Manga Erotics F magazine from November 2008 to March 2012, with its individual chapters being collected into two volumes. A live-action television drama adaptation was aired on Wowow from March to May 2023.

Media[edit]

Manga[edit]

Written and illustrated by Asumiko Nakamura, the series began serialization in Ohta Publishing's Manga Erotics F magazine on November 6, 2008.[3] The series was on hiatus from July 7, 2010, to September 6, 2011, due to Nakamura's health.[4][5] The series finished its serialization on March 6, 2012.[6] The series' individual chapters were collected into two tankōbon volumes.[7]

In September 2012, Vertical announced that they licensed the series for English publication. They released both volumes in a one-volume omnibus edition.[8]

Volumes[edit]

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 June 10, 2010[9]978-4-77-832113-0June 18, 2013[10]978-1-93-565476-6
2 May 17, 2012[7]978-4-77-832164-2June 18, 2013[10]978-1-93-565476-6

TV drama[edit]

A live-action television drama adaptation was announced in March 2022. It was directed by Hiroto Hara, with scripts by Kazuhisa Kodera and Kiko Inoue and Yūji Iwamoto composing the music. It starred Atsuko Maeda.[11] It was aired on Wowow from March 24 to May 12, 2023, for a total of eight episodes.[12]

Reception[edit]

Carlo Santos of Anime News Network praised the artwork and character designs. He also praised the story, though noting that "the ... details are kind of fuzzy in places".[1] Comics Worth Reading praised the story's exploration of creativity and narrative unreliability.[13] Sean Gaffney of A Case Suitable for Treatment praised the story and character development. He also described it as "one of the best titles I've read this year".[2] Manga critic Deb Aoki recommended the series at San Diego Comic-Con in 2013.[14]

In the 2013 edition of the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook, the series ranked 13th on the list of the top manga for female readers.[15] The series was nominated for the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia in 2014.[16]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Utsubora is an archaic Japanese word meaning 'hollow space'.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Santos, Carlo (July 23, 2013). "Right Turn Only!! Tiger Tiger Burning Bright". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Gaffney, Sean (July 2, 2013). "Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist". A Case Suitable for Treatment. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  3. ^ マンガ・エロティクス・エフ vol.54 (in Japanese). Ohta Publishing. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  4. ^ 中村明日美子が執筆活動を休止. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 7, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  5. ^ 「ウツボラ」連載再開！エフの明日美子特集で倉持裕と対談. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 6, 2011. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  6. ^ エフでつばなを丸裸に！石黒正数、ツナミノユウと座談会. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 6, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  7. ^ a b ウツボラ 2 (in Japanese). Ohta Publishing. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  8. ^ Loo, Egan (September 29, 2012). "Vertical Adds Asumiko Nakamura's Utsubora Mystery Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  9. ^ ウツボラ 1 (in Japanese). Ohta Publishing. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist, Volume 0". Kodansha USA. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  11. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (March 23, 2022). "Asumiko Nakamura's Utsubora - A Story of a Novelist Manga Gets Live-Action Show". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  12. ^ ドラマ「ウツボラ」第1話をまるごとYouTubeで先行配信、中村明日美子のコメントも到着. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 17, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Johanna (August 5, 2013). "Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist". Comics Worth Reading. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Ciolek, Todd (July 21, 2013). "San Diego Comic-Con International 2013: Best And Worst Manga 2013". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  15. ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (December 10, 2012). "Top Manga Ranked by Kono Manga ga Sugoi 2013 Voters". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  16. ^ Ressler, Karen (April 15, 2014). "Suehiro Maruo's The Strange Tale of Panorama Island Manga Nominated for Eisner Award". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 23, 2023.

External links[edit]

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