The Tsukimonogakari manga, a supernatural police story written by Kyoichi Nanatsuki and illustrated by Manyo Asahi, has reached its conclusion. The final chapter was published on Saturday, bringing an end to the series which began in October 2022.
The End of the Line for the 7th Division
The manga, serialized on Shogakukan’s Sunday Webry manga app, saw its final installment with the release of the 17th chapter. Nanatsuki confirmed the ending on their X (formerly Twitter) account. This marks the conclusion of a series that has delved into the world of a special police unit, the “7th Division,” tasked with handling supernatural cases involving criminals possessed by evil spirits. The series follows young officers with unique powers as they work together to solve these bizarre and often dangerous cases.
A Look Back at the Series’ Genesis
The collaboration between writer Kyoichi Nanatsuki and artist Manyo Asahi began in October 2022, bringing to life the unique concept of police officers battling supernatural forces. This is not their first project together, as they also collaborated on the Gijin (Humanoid) manga, which ran from October 2019, concluding in August 2021 with a total of four volumes. The series has managed to capture the imagination of readers with its blend of police procedural elements and the supernatural.
Story and Characters
The storyline of Tsukimonogakari revolves around the 7th Division, a special police unit that tackles crimes involving evil spirits possessing criminals. This sets the stage for a unique blend of action, horror, and mystery, as the young officers with special abilities navigate their way through investigations that often defy logic and conventional police work. The narrative explores the characters’ personal growth as they face both supernatural threats and the challenges of their own lives.
Supernatural Crime Fighting
The core of Tsukimonogakari lies in the dynamic between the young officers and their efforts to solve supernatural crimes. The concept of criminals being possessed by evil spirits provides a fresh take on the police procedural genre, injecting elements of horror and the paranormal. The officers’ unique abilities allow for creative action sequences and engaging battles against the otherworldly threats they encounter.
Nanatsuki and Asahi’s Previous Works
This partnership between Nanatsuki and Asahi has produced two manga series so far: Gijin and Tsukimonogakari. While they have separate styles, together they have explored supernatural themes in their narratives, providing fans with distinctive stories and characters.
Kyoichi Nanatsuki’s Career
Kyoichi Nanatsuki is a well-known name in the manga world, with a career spanning decades. He is particularly famous for writing the Project ARMS manga, illustrated by Ryoji Minagawa, which ran from 1997 to 2002. Project ARMS was a successful series, consisting of 22 volumes and also adapted into a 52-episode anime series. It was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday, and later released in English by Viz Media. This series earned Nanatsuki the 44th Shogakukan Manga Award in 1999, solidifying his reputation as a leading manga writer. He also wrote Detective Xeno and the Seven Locked Murder Rooms which was serialized from 2017 to 2019.
Manyo Asahi’s Artistic Contributions
Manyo Asahi is the artist behind the visuals of Tsukimonogakari and Gijin. Asahi’s artistic style brings Nanatsuki’s narratives to life, with detailed character designs and dynamic action scenes. In addition to working with Nanatsuki, Asahi is also known for My Virgin Neighbor, a manga with a different tone from his collaborations with Nanatsuki.
Reception and Availability
Tsukimonogakari was well-received by fans of the supernatural action genre. Shogakukan published the manga’s third compiled book volume in July 2024. While the series has now concluded, fans can still access the published volumes and digital chapters. The series is currently not officially available in English.
Impact on Readers
The series has garnered attention for its blend of police procedural and supernatural elements, creating a unique experience for readers. The characters and their struggles to deal with both supernatural threats and personal conflicts are a central aspect of the manga’s appeal. The engaging narrative, combined with Asahi’s dynamic artwork, makes Tsukimonogakari a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.
Conclusion
The conclusion of Tsukimonogakari marks the end of another chapter in the careers of Kyoichi Nanatsuki and Manyo Asahi. The series has provided a fresh take on the supernatural police genre, leaving a lasting impression on its readers. Fans will be waiting to see what the future holds for this talented duo.
