Monthly Afternoon
In-game article clicks load inline without leaving the challenge.
Monthly Afternoon(月刊アフタヌーン, Gekkan Afutanūn) is a Japanese monthly seinen manga anthology published by Kodansha under the Afternoon line of magazines. The first issue was released in December 1986. Afternoon has spawned many successful manga series such as Oh My Goddess!, Genshiken, Blade of the Immortal and Big Windup!. It is part of Kodansha's "1day" series, which also includes the magazines Morning and Evening. A spin-off magazine, named good! Afternoon, started publishing on November 7, 2008.
History
The magazine was founded as a sister to Morning by the same publisher. According to Frederik L. Schodt, stories that did not convince the editors of Morning would often land in Afternoon.
Many of the artists working for the magazine used to publish amateur doujinshi and were influenced by lolicon amateur manga. Sharon Kinsella claims that around half of all series featured in Afternoon between 1994 and 1997 were inspired by lolicon aesthetics. She lists Discommunication, Gunsmith Cats, Assembler 0X, Seraphic Feather, Aqua and Oh! My Goddess as examples.
From 1999 until 2002, Afternoon Season Zōkan was published as a quarterly spin-off magazine to Afternoon. After the magazine was suspended, some of its series, like Mushishi and Mokke, were transferred to Afternoon.
Newcomer award
Since 1987, the magazine hands out the newcomer award Afternoon Shiki Shō. In 2000, Kodansha published a selection of winners of the award in a book.
Circulation and demographic
Like with most major manga magazines, the magazine's circulation has been declining since the 1990s:
- 2004: 144.500
- 2005: 133.800
- 2006: 127.400
- 2007: 119.666
- 2016: 69.310
In the late 1990s, the magazine's editors guessed that about a third of the readers of the magazine could be called otaku.
Features
Ongoing
There are currently 34 manga titles being serialized in Monthly Afternoon. Out of them, Big Windup!, Historie, Wandering Island and Yakuza Fiancé are on hiatus. Nella of the Horizon is serialized on an irregular schedule.
| Series title | Author | Premiered |
|---|---|---|
| Asayake Refrain(あさやけリフレイン, Asayake Rifurein) | Hikari Matsuda | March 2025 |
| Big Windup!(おおきく振りかぶって, Ōkiku Furikabutte) | Asa Higuchi | September 2003 |
| Blue Period(ブルーピリオド, Burū Piriodo) | Tsubasa Yamaguchi | June 2017 |
| The Darwin Incident(ダーウィン事変, Dāwin Jihen) | Shun Umezawa | June 2020 |
| Dig It(ディグイット, Digu Itto) | Yoshidamaru | April 2025 |
| Fragile(フラジャイル, Furajairu) | Bin Kusamizu (story) and Megumi Saburo (art) | June 2014 |
| Fushichō Koroshi(不死鳥殺し) | Akira Suga | August 2025 |
| Golden Phantom(ゴールデンファントム, Gōruden Fantomu) | Daiki Yamazaki | February 2026 |
| Heavenly Delusion(天国大魔境, Tengoku Daimakyō) | Masakazu Ishiguro | January 2018 |
| Hellhound(ヘルハウンド, Heruhaundo) | Ryōji Minagawa | June 2022 |
| Historie(ヒストリエ, Hisutorie) | Hitoshi Iwaaki | January 2003 |
| Kraken Mare | Izu (story), Hagane (art) and Masato Hara (translation) | February 2025 |
| Manga Lover(マンガラバー, Manga Rabā) | Kou Fumimura | April 2025 |
| Medalist(メダリスト, Medarisuto) | Tsurumaikada | May 2020 |
| Mirairaifurai(ミライライフライ) | Ao Ameta | October 2023 |
| Mojiponica!(モジポニカ!) | Masaki Andō | May 2025 |
| Moyashimon+(もやしもん＋) | Masayuki Ishikawa | November 2024 |
| Nella of the Horizon(水平線のネラ, Suiheisen no Nera) | Yuki Urushibara | February 2025 |
| Omori | Omocat (story) and Nui Konoito (art) | June 2024 |
| Paris ni Saku Étoile(パリに咲くエトワール, Pari ni Saku Etowāru) | Zerihan | November 2025 |
| PAX Kokumin Kōfuku Kanrikyoku(PAX 国民幸福管理局) | Maki Marukido | March 2026 |
| Poo-Neko(プ～ねこ, Pu~ Neko) | Masayuki Kitamichi | December 2003 |
| Seven Sleeping Beauties(7人の眠り姫, Shichinin no Nemuri Hime) | Fiok Lee | March 2023 |
| Skip and Loafer(スキップとローファー, Sukippu to Rōfā) | Misaki Takamatsu | August 2018 |
| Tengu no Daidokoro(天狗の台所) | Ai Tanaka | September 2021 |
| The Chronicles of Leende(レーエンデ国物語, Rēende Kuni Monogatari) | Rei Tasaki (story) and Nezu Usugumo (art) | October 2024 |
| The Under Three(アンダー3, Andā 3) | Shunji Enomoto | April 2014 |
| Toppu GP(トップウGP) | Kōsuke Fujishima | May 2016 |
| Wandance(ワンダンス, Wandansu) | Coffee | January 2019 |
| Wandering Island(冒険エレキテ島, Bōken Erekite-tō) | Kenji Tsuruta | September 2011 |
| Wave, Listen to Me!(波よ聞いてくれ, Nami yo Kiitekure) | Hiroaki Samura | July 2014 |
| When the Chameleon Flowers Bloom(どくだみの花咲くころ, Dokudami no Hanasaku Koro) | Shiho Kido | November 2023 |
| Where Stillness Speaks(新月の盤に, Shingetsu no Ban ni) | Akino Miyabi | July 2025 |
| Yakuza Fiancé(来世は他人がいい, Raise wa Tanin ga Ī) | Asuka Konishi | August 2017 |
Past
1980s
- Oh My Goddess!(ああっ女神さまっ, Aa! Megami-sama) by Kōsuke Fujishima (1988–2014)
- Kū o Kiru(空を斬る) by Norifusa Mita (1988–1989)
- Parasyte(寄生獣, Kiseijū) by Hitoshi Iwaaki (1989–1994) (moved from Morning Open Zōkan)
- Spirit of Wonder by Kenji Tsuruta (1989–1994) (originally serialized in Weekly Morning)
1990s
- Compiler(コンパイラ, Konpaira) by Kia Asamiya (1990–1992)
- Gunsmith Cats by Kenichi Sonoda (1990–1997)
- Discommunication(ディスコミュニケーション, Disukomyunikēshon) by Riichi Ueshiba (1991–1999)
- Tensui(天水) by Kazuichi Hanawa (1992–1994)
- Ice Blade(地雷震, Jiraishin) by Tsutomu Takahashi (1992–1999)
- Assembler 0X(アセンブラ０Ｘ, Asenbura 0 X) by Kia Asamiya (1992–1995)
- Ikkyū(あっかんべェ一休, Akkanbe Ikkyū) by Hisashi Sakaguchi (1993–1995)
- Blade of the Immortal(無限の住人, Mugen no Jūnin) by Hiroaki Samura (1993–2012)
- Seraphic Feather(セラフィック・フェザー, Serafikku Fezā) by Yo Morimoto, Toshiya Takeda (story) and Hiroyuki Utatane (art) (1993–2008)
- Yugo(勇午, Yūgo) by Shinji Makari (story) and Shū Akana (art) (1993–2004)
- Hanashippanashi(はなしっぱなし) by Daisuke Igarashi (1993–1996)
- Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou(ヨコハマ買い出し紀行) by Hitoshi Ashinano (1994–2006)
- Blue World(ブルー・ワールド, Burū Wārudo) by Yukinobu Hoshino (1995–1997)
- Vendémiaire no Tsubasa(ヴァンデミエールの翼, Vandemiēru no Tsubasa) by Mohiro Kitoh (1995–1997)
- Hiroki Endo's Tanpenshu(遠藤浩輝短編集, Endō Hiroki Tanpenshū) by Hiroki Endo (1995–1997) (transferred to Afternoon Season Zōkan)
- Inugami(犬神) by Masaya Hokazono (1996–2002)
- Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei (1997–2003)
- Kamikaze(神・風, Kami Kaze) by Satoshi Shiki (1997–2003)
- Cannon God Exaxxion(砲神エグザクソン, Hōjin Eguzakuson) by Kenichi Sonoda (1997–2004)
- Eden: It's an Endless World! by Hiroki Endo (1997–2008)
- Shadow Star(なるたる, Narutaru) by Mohiro Kitoh (1998–2003)
- From Kobe(神戸在住, Kōbe Zaijū) by Kon Kimura (1998–2006)
- Space Family Carlvinson(宇宙家族カールビンソン, Uchū Kazoku Kārubinson) by Yoshitoh Asari (1999–2000)
2000s
- Smuggler(スマグラー, Sumagurā) by Shohei Manabe (2000)
- Nasu(茄子) by Iou Kuroda (2000–2002)
- Yume Tsukai(夢使い) by Riichi Ueshiba (2001–2003)
- Dead End by Shohei Manabe (2001–2002)
- Manga Abenobashi Mahō Shōtengai(まんが アベノ橋魔法☆商店街 ―アベノの街に祈りを込めて―, Manga Abenobashi Mahō Shōtengai: Abeno no Machi ni Inori o Komete) by Kenji Tsuruta (2001–2002)
- Stone by Shinichi Hiromoto (2001–2002)
- LuCu LuCu(るくるく, Ruku Ruku) by Yoshito Asari (2001–2009)
- Genshiken(げんしけん) by Shimoku Kio (2002–2016)
- Love Roma(ラブロマ, Rabu Roma) by Minoru Toyoda (2002–2005)
- Little Forest(リトル・フォレスト, Ritoru Foresuto) by Daisuke Igarashi (2002–2005)
- Mushishi(蟲師) by Yuki Urushibara (2002–2008) (moved from Afternoon Season Zōkan)
- Mokke(もっけ) by Takatoshi Kumakura (2003–2009) (moved from Afternoon Season Zōkan)
- Shadow Skill by Megumu Okada (2003–2014) (moved from Afternoon Season Zōkan)
- Tokko(特公, Tokkō) by Tooru Fujisawa (2003–2004)
- Me and the Devil Blues(俺と悪魔のブルーズ, Ore to Akuma no Burūzu) by Akira Hiramoto (2003–2008) (transferred to Young Magazine the 3rd)
- Karapuri!(カラプリ) by Kia Asamiya (2003–2004)
- Voices of a Distant Star(ほしのこえ, Hoshi no Koe) by Makoto Shinkai (original work) and Sumomo Yumeka (art) (2004)
- Shion no Ō(しおんの王) by Masaru Katori (story) and Jiro Ando (art) (2004–2008)
- Gunsmith Cats Burst by Kenichi Sonoda (2004–2008)
- Little Jumper(リトル・ジャンパー, Ritoru Janpā) by Yuzo Takada (2004–2008)
- Undercurrent(アンダーカレント, Andākarento) by Tetsuya Toyoda (2004–2005)
- Shūsen no Lorelei(終戦のローレライ, Shūsen no Rōrerai) by Harutoshi Fukui (original novel), Takashi Nagasaki (story) and Takayuki Kosai (art) (2005–2007)
- Rinshi!! Ekoda-chan(臨死!! 江古田ちゃん) by Yukari Takinami (2005–2014)
- Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo(巌窟王, Gankutsuō) by Mahiro Maeda (2005–2008)
- Sora no Manimani(宙のまにまに) by Mami Kashiwabara (2005–2011)
- The Place Promised in Our Early Days(雲のむこう、約束の場所, Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho) by Makoto Shinkai (original work) and Sumomo Yumeka (art) (2005–2006)
- Vinland Saga(ヴィンランド・サガ, Vinrando Saga) by Makoto Yukimura (2005–2025)
- Mysterious Girlfriend X(謎の彼女X, Nazo no Kanojo Ekkusu) by Riichi Ueshiba (2006–2014)
- Nacun(ナチュン, Nachun) by Daisaku Tsuru (2006–2010)
- Kujibiki Unbalance(くじびき♥アンバランス, Kujibiki Anbaransu) by Keito Koume (2006–2007)
- Mimia Hime(ミミア姫) by Yutaka Tanaka (2006–2009)
- Oh! Edo Rocket(大江戸ロケット, Ō Edo Roketto) by Kazuki Nakashima (original story) and Una Hamana (art) (2007–2009)
- Kabu no Isaki(カブのイサキ) by Hitoshi Ashinano (2007–2012)
- Octave(オクターヴ, Okutāvu) by Haru Akiyama (2008–2010)
- Jigopuri(ぢごぷり) by Shimoku Kio (2008–2010)
- Astraia no Tenbin(アストライアの天秤, Asutoraia no Tenbin) by Ichiro Takeuchi (story) and Etsushi Ogawa (art) (2008–2011)
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Kiri no Hōmonsha(薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 霧の訪問者) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2009)
- Knights of Sidonia(シドニアの騎士, Shidonia no Kishi) by Tsutomu Nihei (2009–2015)
- Suiiki(水域) by Yuki Urushibara (2009–2010)
2010s
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Suiyobi ni Goyojin(薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 水妖日にご用心) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2010)
- 5 Centimeters per Second(秒速5センチメートル, Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Yukiko Seike (art) (2010–2011)
- Bullet the Wizard(ブレット・ザ・ウィザード, Buretto za Uizādo) by Kenichi Sonoda (2010–2012)
- Break of Dawn(ぼくらのよあけ, Bokura no Yoake) by Tetsuya Imai (2011)
- Kyō no Yuiko-san(今日のユイコさん) by Kenshin Hidekawa (2011–2015)
- Gon(ゴン) by Masashi Tanaka (2012–2013)
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Jyoō Heika no Maneki Neko(薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 女王陛下の招き猫) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2012)
- Land of the Lustrous(宝石の国, Hōseki no Kuni) by Haruko Ichikawa (2012–2024)
- Yakushiji Ryōko no Kaiki Jikenbo: Makyo no Jyoō Heika(薬師寺涼子の怪奇事件簿 魔境の女王陛下) by Yoshiki Tanaka (story) and Narumi Kakinouchi (art) (2012–2013)
- Nemesis no Tsue(ネメシスの杖) by Ao Akato (2013)
- The Gods Lie(神様がうそをつく。, Kamisama ga Uso wo Tsuku.) by Kaori Ozaki (2013)
- The Garden of Words(言の葉の庭, Kotonoha no Niwa) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Midori Motohashi (art) (2013)
- Marginal Operation(マージナル・オペレーション, Mājinaru Operēshon) by Yuri Shibamura (story) and Daisuke Kimura (art) (2013–2021)
- Tsuki ni Hoe Rannē(月に吠えらんねえ) by Yukiko Seike (2013–2019)
- Kotonoba Drive(コトノバドライブ, Kotonoba Doraibu) by Hitoshi Ashinano (2014–2017)
- Paradise Residence(パラダイスレジデンス, Paradaisu Rejidensu) by Kōsuke Fujishima (2014–2016) (moved from good! Afternoon)
- Designs(ディザインズ, Dizainzu) by Daisuke Igarashi (2015–2019)
- Black-Box by Tsutomu Takahashi (2015–2019)
- She and Her Cat(彼女と彼女の猫, Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Tsubasa Yamaguchi (art) (2016)
- In Hand: Himokura Hakase to Majime na Migiude(インハンド 紐倉博士とまじめな右腕) by Ao Akato (2016)
- Chīsana Koi no Yaoyorozu(小さな恋のやおよろず) by Chima (2016–2018)
- Kyūjō Sanshoku(球場三食) by Yasuhiro Watanabe (2016–2018)
- Life 2: Giver/Taker(ライフ2 ギバーテイカー, Raifu 2 Gibāteikā) by Keiko Suenobu (2016–2018)
- Soft Metal Vampire(ソフトメタルヴァンパイア, Sofuto Metaru Vanpaia) by Hiroki Endo (2016–2018)
- Ogami-san Can't Keep It In(大上さん、だだ漏れです。, Ōgami-san, Dadamore desu) by Yu Yoshidamaru (2016–2019)
- Seasoned Connections(あたりのキッチン!, Atari no Kitchin!) by Yuki Shirono (2016–2018)
- I Want to Hold Aono-kun so Badly I Could Die(青野くんに触りたいから死にたい, Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai) by Umi Shiina (2016–2025)
- Issak(イサック, Isakku) by Shinji Makari (story) and Double-S (art) (2017–2025)
- Mō, Shimasen Kara: Afutanūn Gekiryū-hen(もう、しませんから。 〜アフタヌーン激流編〜) by Hideo Nishimoto (2017–2020)
- Ookumo-chan Flashback(大蜘蛛ちゃんフラッシュ・バック, Ookumochan Furasshubakku) by Riichi Ueshiba (2017–2020)
- The Golden Sheep(金のひつじ, Kin no Hitsuji) by Kaori Ozaki (2017–2019)
- Koi no Tsumi: Ernestine(恋の罪 -エルネスティナ-, Koi no Tsumi -Erunesutina-) by Yoshinori Kisaragi (2017–2019)
- Hashikko Ensemble(はしっこアンサンブル, Hashikko Ansanburu) by Shimoku Kio (2018–2022)
- When a Cat Faces West(猫が西向きゃ, Neko ga Nishi Mukya) by Yuki Urushibara (2018–2020)
- Gainen Dorobō(概念ドロボウ) by Ikko Tanaka (2018–2019)
- Inui to Tatsumi: Siberia Shuppei Hishi(乾と巽 ―ザバイカル戦記―, Inui to Tatsumi -Zabaikaru Senki-) by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (2018–2024)
- Oainiku-sama!(おあいにくさま!) by Yoshiko Kon (2018–2019)
- Aa! Shuukatsu no Megami-sama!(ああっ就活の女神さまっ) by Uhei Aoki (story) and Kumichi Yoshizuki (art) (2019–2021)
- Blade of the Immortal - Bakumatsu Arc(無限の住人～幕末ノ章～, Mugen no Jūnin ~ Nakumatsu no Fumi ~) by Kenji Takigawa (story), Ryū Suenobu (art) and Hiroaki Samura (collaboration) (2019–2024)
- Human Lost(HUMAN LOST 人間失格, Ningen Shikkaku) by Ryūsuke Takashiro (2019)
- Weathering with You(天気の子, Tenki no Ko) by Makoto Shinkai (original work) and Wataru Kubota (art) (2019–2020)
- The Decagon House Murders(十角館の殺人, Jukkakukan no Satsujin) by Yukito Ayatsuji (story) and Hiro Kiyohara (art) (2019–2022)
2020s
- Tomodachi toshite Daisuki(友達として大好き) by Mikumi Yuuchi (2020–2021)
- Spotlight(スポットライト, Supottoraito) by Kaze Miura (2020–2021)
- Mō, Shimasen Kara: Seiun Risshi-hen(もう、しませんから。 〜青雲立志編〜) by Hideo Nishimoto (2020–2023)
- Maō no Kikan(魔王の帰還) by Michi Ichiho (story) and Nori Arashiyama (art) (2021)
- Q, koi tte nan desu ka?(Q、恋ってなんですか？) by Fiok Lee (2021–2022)
- Bitter End Roll(ビターエンドロール, Bitā Endo Rōru) by Shun Sakura (2021–2022)
- Sing a Bit of Harmony(アイの歌声を聴かせて, Ai no Utagoe o Kikasete) by Yasuhiro Yoshiura (original story) and Megumu Maeda (art) (2021–2022)
- Chaos Game(カオスゲーム, Kaosu Gēmu) by Daiki Yamazaki (2022–2024)
- Minzoku Gakusha Akasaka Yaichirō no Jiken-bo(民俗学者 赤坂弥一郎の事件簿) by Richard Woo (story) and Seimu Yoshizaki (art) (2022–2023)
- Medium: Reibai Tantei Jōtsuka Hisui(medium 霊媒探偵城塚翡翠) by Sako Aizawa (story) and Hiro Kiyohara (art) (2022–2023)
- Suzume(すずめの戸締まり, Suzume no Tojimari) by Makoto Shinkai (story) and Denki Amashima (art) (2022–2023)
- Saihate no Serenade(最果てのセレナード, Saihate no Serenādo) by Hinohiruko (2022–2025)
- A Kingdom of Quartz(クオーツの王国, Quartz no Ōkoku) by Bomhat (2022–2025)
- Jigoku no Ashita(地獄のアシタ) by Mikumi Yuuchi (2023–2024)
- Meimeimei Shoku Sanctuary(冥冥冥色聖域, Meimeimeishoku Seiiki) by Ayumu Seki (2023–2024)
- Yamada-kun no Zawameku Jikan(山田君のざわめく時間) by Yuichi Nakamaru (2023)
- Zach in Love(ザハの恋, Zaha no Koi) by Nori Arashiyama (2024–2025)
- Dead Don't Talk(でっどどんととーく, Deddo Donto Tōku) by Aki Kaneda (2025–2026)
External links
- (in Japanese)
- at Anime News Network's encyclopedia