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Barakamon

Barakamon (ばらかもん) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satsuki Yoshino [ja]. The story follows Seishu Handa, a calligrapher who moves to the remote Gotō Islands off the western coast of Kyūshū, and his various interactions with the people of the island. The manga started with three one-shots published in Square Enix's Gangan Powered magazine from February 2008 to February 2009, and began serialization on the Gangan Online website on the same month; it was also serialized in parallel in the Monthly Shōnen Gangan magazine from July 2014 and finished in December 2018; it resumed for a limited time in the magazine from April to September 2023. Its chapters were collected in 19 tankōbon volumes.

A 12-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by Kinema Citrus, aired from July to September 2014. An 11-episode television drama adaptation by Kyodo Television aired from July to September 2023. A spin-off manga series, titled Handa-kun, was serialized in Monthly Shōnen Gangan from October 2013 to September 2016. The spin-off received 12-episode anime television series adaptation by Diomedéa, aired from July to September 2016.

In North America, both the original manga and the spin-off have been licensed by Yen Press. The anime adaptations of both works have been licensed by Funimation (later Crunchyroll).

Seishu Handa is a professional calligrapher, despite his young age. When the elderly curator of an exhibition criticizes his calligraphy for being too unoriginal ("like a textbook"), Seishu gets angry and punches him. Because of this, his father sends him off for a retreat on Goto Island, near Kyushu. There, he meets the colorful villagers, interacts with them, and begins to find his own style.

The title of the series means "energetic/cheerful one" in the local provincial Goto Islands' dialect. The first episode is also called "Barakakodon/ばらかこどん" which means "energetic/cheerful kid", which refers to Naru Kotoishi, a very hyperactive kid that comes into Handa's life.

The prequel spin-off Handa-kun is about Seishu Handa's high school days, six years prior to the events of Barakamon.

Written and illustrated by Satsuki Yoshino [ja], Barakamon started as a one-shot in Square Enix's Gangan Powered on February 22, 2008. Two other chapters appeared in the magazine, with the third one released on February 21, 2009; the manga continued as a serial on the Gangan Online website from the same day. Starting on July 11, 2014, the manga was published in parallel in Monthly Shōnen Gangan. The series finished in Monthly Shōnen Gangan on December 12, 2018, and on Gangan Online on January 10, 2019. Square Enix collected its chapters in 18 tankōbon volumes, released from July 22, 2009, to December 12, 2018. The series resumed limited serialization in Monthly Shōnen Gangan from April 12 to September 12, 2023. A 19th volume was published on July 12, 2023.

In North America, the manga was licensed for English release by Yen Press. The first eighteen volumes were released from October 28, 2014, to August 20, 2019.

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