No. 5(Japanese: ナンバーファイブ, Hepburn: Nanbā Faibu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Taiyō Matsumoto. It was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Monthly Ikki from November 2000 to January 2005. Shogakukan compiled its chapters into eight wideban volumes.

In North America, Viz Media released the series' first two volumes in 2002 and 2003, but due to low sales it was discontinued. Viz Media republished the series in a four-volume omnibus edition from July 2021 to April 2022.

Plot

Publication

Written and illustrated by Taiyō Matsumoto, No. 5 started in the first issue of Shogakukan's Spirits Zōkan Ikki (re-branded as Monthly Ikki in 2003), released on November 30, 2000. The series finished on January 25, 2005. Shogakukan collected its chapters into eight wideban volumes, released from November 30, 2001, to February 28, 2005. Shogakukan would later re-released the series into four deluxe volumes from November 30 to December 26, 2005.

In North America, Viz Media announced the license of the series in December 2001. A preview for the then forthcoming first volume was published in the January 2002 issue of Pulp. Viz Media published the first volume on April 5, 2002, and the second on August 13, 2003. After having released these two volumes, Viz Media ceased the series' publication due to low sales. In 2011, the series was completely available in English language via the No. 5 app on iTunes. In October 2020, Viz Media announced that they would re-publish the series in a four-volume deluxe edition, in print and digital formats, released from July 20, 2021, to April 19, 2022.

Volumes

Note: All chapters titles are written in English on the original Japanese release.

No.Original release dateOriginal ISBNEnglish release dateEnglish ISBN
1November 30, 2001 November 21, 2001 (SE)4-09-188201-3 4-09-941191-5 (SE)April 5, 2002 (1st edition) July 20, 2021 (2nd edition)978-1-56931-738-9 (1st edition) 978-1-9747-2076-7 (2nd edition)
desertflowers cemeteryrestaurant
desertflowerscemeteryrestaurant
2November 30, 20014-09-188202-1August 13, 2003 (1st edition) July 20, 2021 (2nd edition)978-1-59116-056-4 (1st edition) 978-1-9747-2076-7 (2nd edition)
forestvilla villagepark
forestvillavillagepark
3March 29, 20034-09-188203-XOctober 19, 2021978-1-9747-2077-4
wonder landsnow field visionmany places
wonder landsnow fieldvisionmany places
4March 29, 20034-09-188204-8October 19, 2021978-1-9747-2077-4
fifteen years agoten years ago gone dayscottage
fifteen years agoten years agogone dayscottage
5January 30, 20044-09-188205-6January 18, 2022978-1-97472-078-1
mountainchasechase 2 chase 3fight
mountainchasechase 2chase 3fight
6June 30, 20044-09-188206-4January 18, 2022978-1-97472-078-1
monologuedarknessconference room on TVeast
monologuedarknessconference roomon TVeast
7November 30, 20044-09-188207-2April 19, 2022978-1-9747-2079-8
a funeralshipsea in the Mikein his arms
a funeralshipseain the Mikein his arms
8February 28, 20054-09-188208-0April 19, 2022978-1-9747-2079-8
in the ArmyPAPA's Diaryunder stars at the tableUtopiafuture
in the ArmyPAPA's Diaryunder starsat the tableUtopiafuture

Reception

No. 5 was one of the Jury Recommended Works at the 7th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2003.

External links