TO Books has officially announced an anime adaptation for Tōko Amekawa’s popular light novel series, “Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim” (Japanese title: Akutō Ikka no Manamusume, Tensei-saki mo Otome Game no Gokudō Reijō Deshita. Saijōkyū Rank no Akuyaku-sama, Sono Dekiai wa Fuyō Desu!). The news was revealed on Thursday, much to the excitement of fans of the otome isekai series.
The series has already achieved significant success, with a cumulative 350,000 copies in circulation, including digital sales. Illustrator LINO, who provides the artwork for the light novels, celebrated the announcement with a special illustration. Amekawa herself also shared the exciting news in an English post on her X (formerly Twitter) account, expressing gratitude to her supporters.
What is “Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim”?
The “Reincarnated in a Mafia Dating Sim” series follows the unique premise of a young woman who, after dying, finds herself reincarnated into the world of a mafia-themed otome dating sim she was playing.
The Protagonist’s Past Life and Reincarnation
The protagonist was formerly the beloved granddaughter of a yakuza boss in her past life. After sacrificing herself to save her grandfather, she is reborn as Francesca Calvino, the heroine of a dating video game. This new world is a fantastical setting where powerful crime families secretly serve the king.
Francesca’s Goal: A Normal Life Away from Crime
Having experienced a life steeped in organized crime, Francesca’s primary goal in her new existence is to avoid the game’s main story, steer clear of an impending mob war, and ultimately leave the world of the mafia behind for a peaceful, normal life. She is described as a strong-wwilled heroine determined to get what she wants, a common thread in Tōko Amekawa’s works.
The Unexpected Romantic Route with the Villain
Her first step in this plan is to break off her engagement to Leonardo Aldini, the notorious young head of the Aldini family and the game’s major villain. However, things take an unexpected turn. After deftly handling her own kidnapping without the aid of any romantic leads, Francesca proves to be far more capable than the game’s narrative might have intended. Instead of deterring him, her resilience only further enamors Leonardo, who then refuses to leave her alone and still wishes to marry her. This sets the stage for an “enemies-to-lovers” fantasy romance, as Francesca finds herself pursued by the very villain she sought to avoid.
Publication History and Manga Adaptation
Tōko Amekawa’s story originally debuted as a web novel on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō website in 2022. It was later published as a light novel series by TO Books, with illustrations by LINO.
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Sora Gōto, has also been released. Tokyopop has licensed the manga adaptation in English, with the second compiled volume published on September 2. The fifth volume of both the light novels and the manga are set to be released in Japan on December 1, 2025.
Fans can anticipate more details regarding the anime’s production staff, cast, and release window in the coming months.
