Girlfriend, Girlfriend Explained

Ja Kanji:カノジョも彼女
Ja Romaji:Kanojo mo Kanojo
Type:manga
Author:Hiroyuki
Publisher:Kodansha
Magazine:Weekly Shōnen Magazine
Imprint:Shōnen Magazine Comics
First:March 4, 2020
Last:May 24, 2023
Volumes:16
Volume List:List of Girlfriend, Girlfriend chapters
Type:TV series
Network:JNN (MBS, TBS, BS-TBS), AT-X
First:July 3, 2021
Last:December 23, 2023
Episodes:24
Episode List:List of Girlfriend, Girlfriend episodes
Portal:yes

, also known as for short, is a Japanese romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Hiroyuki. It was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from March 2020 to May 2023, with its chapters collected in sixteen volumes. The series focuses on a high school student who hesitantly engages in a polyamorous relationship with his childhood friend and another girl who confessed her feelings for him.

An anime television series adaptation produced by Tezuka Productions aired from July to September 2021 on the Animeism programming block. A second season by SynergySP aired from October to December 2023.

Plot

Naoya Mukai is a high school student who has recently begun dating his childhood friend Saki Saki. One day, another classmate of his named Nagisa Minase, who is in love with him, decides to confess her feelings to him. Initially, Naoya only saw Nagisa as a friend and showed no romantic feelings for her at all, but after some initial hesitation, he eventually accepts her request to be her boyfriend as well. Naoya decides that he will have both Saki and Nagisa as girlfriends at the same time. As Naoya currently lives alone due to his parents living elsewhere for work, Saki and Nagisa decide to live with him. The series follows their daily school life, as Naoya, Saki, and Nagisa experience difficulties and challenges in maintaining their non-monogamous relationship, which is only worsened by the arrival of Rika Hoshizaki, whose extreme obsession on Naoya constantly terrifies him.

Characters

Naoya is Saki's childhood friend. He confessed to her every month until she accepted, but also agrees to take Nagisa as a girlfriend as well as he found her to be cute, even though he initially did not like her in a romantic way. He is an only child; as such, he hopes to have a girlfriend who has siblings. While he loves Saki and Nagisa, he shows no romantic feelings for Shino and Rika at all, but reluctantly accepts Shino as his third girlfriend for Saki's sake, even though he does not want to.
  • Naoya's childhood friend and initial girlfriend. She shares a first and last name as her parents thought such a name would be cute. While initially not romantically interested in Naoya and constantly rejecting him every month, she eventually accepts and starts to genuinely fall in love with him. She also has a crush on Nagisa, but does not want to admit it. She has a complex about her small chest, especially when compared to Nagisa. Although cheerful and kind, she is very hot-tempered and has a tendency to be violent and aggressive, even towards Naoya. She is a member of their school's basketball club.
  • A classmate of Naoya, who becomes his second girlfriend after confessing to him. She was previously a shy girl who felt that she was not good at anything, then fell in love with Naoya as he inspired her to pursue skills that she was good at. Naoya initially did not like her at all and rejected her on the spot, but once she finally proved herself to him, he realized he is in love with her as well and accepts her alongside Saki.
  • A schoolmate of Naoya. She is secretly a popular vlogger who goes by the online alias . She becomes extremely obsessed with Naoya, and desperately wants to be his third girlfriend, going as far as stalking him and his girlfriends, camping outside his house to get his attention, as well as nearly raping him against his will. Despite this, Naoya constantly rejects her, since he has no romantic feelings for her at all, and often tends to stay away from her.
  • Saki's best friend and classmate who comes from a rich family. She is at the top of their class academically. She discovers Naoya's romantic arrangement with Saki and Nagisa and she disapproves of it. It is later revealed she is secretly in love with Naoya as well, although he does not show any romantic feelings for her at all. Eventually, he does accept Shino as his third girlfriend, but he only does it for Saki's sake, and not because he actually loves her.
  • Rika and Risa's father.
  • Rika's younger sister.
  • Production

    Girlfriend, Girlfriend is based on Seiseidōdō, Futamata-suru Hanashi (Japanese: 正々堂々、二股する話, "A Story of Two-timing but Fair and Square"), which Hiroyuki had uploaded on Twitter[1] and later published in Comiket 86 in August 2019.[2] [3]

    Media

    Manga

    Girlfriend, Girlfriend, written and illustrated by Hiroyuki, was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from March 4, 2020,[4] to May 24, 2023.[5] Sixteen volumes have been published from June 17, 2020,[6] to July 14, 2023.[7] A commercial to promote the series, starring Ayana Taketatsu and Ayane Sakura, was released on October 23, 2020.

    In February 2021, Kodansha USA announced the English digital release of the series in North America and the first volume was released on April 6, 2021.[8]

    Anime

    In November 2020, the 51st issue of Weekly Shōnen Magazine announced that the series would receive an anime television series adaptation.[9] [10] Tezuka Productions animated the series, with Satoshi Kuwabara as director, Keiichirō Ōchi as scriptwriter, and Akiko Toyoda designing the characters. Miki Sakurai, Tatsuhiko Saiki, and Sayaka Aoki composed the series' music.[11] It aired from July 3 to September 18, 2021, on the Animeism programming block on MBS, TBS, and BS-TBS, as well as AT-X.[12] Necry Talkie performed the series' opening theme song, while Momo Asakura performed the series' ending theme song .[13] Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia.[14] Muse Communication licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia, and streamed it on its YouTube channel and iQIYI.[15] [16]

    On September 16, 2022, it was announced that the anime would be receiving a second season.[17] It was produced by SynergySP, with Takatoshi Suzuki serving as the director, Kazuhiko Inukai serving as scriptwriter along with Ōchi, Shouko Hagiwara serving as the character designer, and Kanade Sakuma and Junko Nakajima composing the music along with Sakurai and Saiki. The second season aired from October 7 to December 23, 2023.[18] [19] Hikari Kodama performed the opening theme song, while ClariS performed the ending theme song .[20]

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: かーずSP. https://media.comicspace.jp/archives/17777. ja:【インタビュー】『カノジョも彼女』ヒロユキ「『二股しても許せる男なのか?』を読者に問われ続ける、難しい主人公を描く」(1 / 2). comicspace. April 16, 2021. August 1, 2021. ja. August 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801120915/https://media.comicspace.jp/archives/17777. live.
    2. Web site: https://www.melonbooks.co.jp/detail/detail.php?product_id=538318. ja:正々堂々二股する話. MELONBOOKS. August 1, 2021. ja. August 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801111753/https://www.melonbooks.co.jp/detail/detail.php?product_id=538318. dead.
    3. Web site: Hiroyuki. https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/82423613. ja:「カノジョも彼女」第一話. pixiv. June 19, 2020. August 1, 2021. ja. August 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210801111738/https://www.pixiv.net/artworks/82423613. live.
    4. Web site: Pineda. Rafael Antonio. February 27, 2020. Aho-Girl Author Hiroyuki Details New Manga. November 14, 2020. Anime News Network. May 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210519184039/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-02-26/aho-girl-author-hiroyuki-details-new-manga/.156850. live.
    5. Web site: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/525727. ja:ヒロユキ「カノジョも彼女」が週マガで完結、最終回記念のプレゼント企画も. Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. May 24, 2023. May 24, 2023. ja. May 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230524014330/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/525727. live.
    6. Web site: ja:カノジョも彼女(1). https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000342179. Kodansha. November 14, 2020. Japanese. July 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711225548/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000342179. live.
    7. Web site: ja:カノジョも彼女(16). https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000377852. Kodansha. May 22, 2023. Japanese. May 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230522220218/https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000377852. live.
    8. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Kodansha Comics Licenses 'Girlfriend, Girlfriend,' Nina the Starry Bride, More Manga. Anime News Network. February 22, 2021. February 22, 2021. February 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210226075900/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-02-22/kodansha-comics-licenses-girlfriend-girlfriend-nina-the-starry-bride-more-manga/.169849. live.
    9. Web site: Hazra. Adriana. Hiroyuki's Kanojo mo Kanojo Manga Listed With Anime. Anime News Network. November 16, 2020. November 16, 2020. November 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201116101251/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-11-16/hiroyuki-kanojo-mo-kanojo-manga-listed-with-anime/.166344. live.
    10. Web site: Sherman. Jennifer. Hiroyuki Confirms Kanojo mo Kanojo Manga Gets TV Anime in 2021. Anime News Network. November 16, 2020. November 16, 2020. January 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210114195455/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-11-16/hiroyuki-confirms-kanojo-mo-kanojo-manga-gets-tv-anime-in-2021/.166411. live.
    11. Web site: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/433741. ja:「カノジョも彼女」本PV公開、榎木淳弥・佐倉綾音・和氣あず未出演の放送直前特番も. Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. June 23, 2021. July 13, 2023. ja. August 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210815124507/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/433741. live.
    12. Web site: Girlfriend, Girlfriend' Anime Premieres on July 2. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. April 20, 2021. April 20, 2021. April 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210422071838/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2021-04-20/girlfriend-girlfriend-anime-premieres-on-july-2/.171948. live.
    13. Web site: Necrytalkie, Momo Asakura Perform Theme Songs for 'Girlfriend, Girlfriend' Anime. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. May 19, 2021. May 19, 2021. May 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210520045449/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-05-19/necrytalkie-momo-asakura-perform-theme-songs-for-girlfriend-girlfriend-anime/.172974. live.
    14. Web site: Crunchyroll Announces Summer 2021 Anime Lineup!. Crunchyroll. Cardine. Kyle. June 22, 2021. June 22, 2021. July 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210701205422/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/06/22-1/crunchyroll-announces-summer-2021-anime-lineup. live.
    15. Web site: Hazra. Adriana. Muse Asia Streams 'Girlfriend, Girlfriend' Anime on YouTube. Anime News Network. December 12, 2023. July 3, 2021. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920183607/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-03/muse-asia-streams-girlfriend-girlfriend-anime-on-youtube/.174761. live.
    16. Web site: iQIYI Adds 10 Summer Anime for Southeast Asia. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. Anime News Network. July 7, 2021. July 7, 2021. July 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210711195530/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-07/iqiyi-adds-10-summer-anime-for-southeast-asia/.174894. live.
    17. Web site: Girlfriend, Girlfriend Anime Gets 2nd Season. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. September 15, 2022. September 15, 2022. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920164923/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-09-15/girlfriend-girlfriend-anime-gets-2nd-season/.189716. live.
    18. Web site: 'Girlfriend, Girlfriend' Anime's 2nd Season Premieres Reveals October Premiere, More Cast, New Staff. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. March 25, 2023. March 25, 2023. March 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325084047/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-03-25/girlfriend-girlfriend-anime-2nd-season-premieres-reveals-october-premiere-more-cast-new-staff/.196413. live.
    19. Web site: Mateo. Alex. 'Girlfriend, Girlfriend' Anime's 2nd Season Unveils Teaser Trailer, Key Visual, Staff. Anime News Network. July 13, 2023. July 13, 2023. July 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230713161556/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-07-13/girlfriend-girlfriend-anime-2nd-season-unveils-teaser-trailer-key-visual-staff/.200251. live.
    20. Web site: Dempsey. Liam. Girlfriend, Girlfriend Season 2 Anime Premieres on October 6. Crunchyroll. August 30, 2023. August 30, 2023. August 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230830091817/https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2023/8/30/claris-to-perform-ending-theme-song-for-girlfriend-girlfriend-season-2. live.