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Call of the Night
Call of the Night
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Call of the Night
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Nazuna Nanakusa (top) and Ko Yamori (bottom)
よふかしのうた
(Yofukashi no Uta)
Genre
Manga
Written byKotoyama [ja]
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
ImprintShōnen Sunday Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Sunday
Original runAugust 28, 2019January 24, 2024
Volumes20
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced by
  • Hana Sugawara
  • Shigetoshi Sato (S1)
  • Kazuki Adachi (S2)
Written byMichiko Yokote
Music byYoshiaki Dewa [ja]
StudioLiden Films
Licensed bySentai Filmworks
Original networkFuji TV (Noitamina)
Original run July 8, 2022 September 19, 2025
Episodes25 (List of episodes)
Manga
Call of the Night: Paradise Arc
Written byKotoyama
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
  • NA: Viz Media
ImprintShōnen Sunday Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Sunday
Original runJuly 2, 2025August 27, 2025
Volumes1
icon Anime and manga portal

Call of the Night (Japanese: よふかしのうた, Hepburn: Yofukashi no Uta) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kotoyama [ja]. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 2019 to January 2024. In North America, the manga is licensed for English release by Viz Media. An anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films aired from July to September 2022 on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block. A second season aired from July to September 2025.

In 2023, the manga won the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category.

Plot

[edit]

Unable to sleep or find genuine satisfaction in his daily life, Ko Yamori withdraws from school and begins wandering the streets at night. During one of his nocturnal outings, he encounters Nazuna Nanakusa, a vampire who introduces him to the appeal of life after dark. Ko becomes interested in becoming a vampire himself; however, to do so, he must first fall in love with her, as required by the transformation rules.

Characters

[edit]

Main

[edit]
Ko Yamori (夜守 コウ, Yamori Kō)
Voiced by: Gen Satō[2] (Japanese); Gabriel Regojo,[3] Katelyn Barr[3] (young) (English)
Ko is a 14-year-old junior high student whose growing dissatisfaction with life drives him to wander the streets at night. He hopes to escape his humanity by becoming a vampire through loving Nazuna. Gradually, he gains the ability to enter a half-vampire state, first triggered by emotional turmoil or physical blood loss, including minor wounds. Anko supplies him with an ear-piercing kit to control these transformations, theorizing that frequent use or stronger romantic attachment could complete his transition into a full vampire.
Nazuna Nanakusa (七草 ナズナ, Nanakusa Nazuna)
Voiced by: Sora Amamiya[2] (Japanese); Natalie Rial[3] (English)
Nazuna is a unique born vampire, the hybrid offspring of a vampire mother and a human father, who meets Ko during his nightly walks. She appears as a young girl but is estimated to be 30 to 40 years old. Her unusual heritage causes her to mature rapidly while retaining childlike traits, making her an outcast among other vampires. A playful but socially awkward figure, she often teases Ko and enjoys crude humor and beer. Having learned about the world primarily from television, games, and manga, her behavior often subverts traditional vampire stereotypes. Her sole weakness is her own preserved umbilical cord.

Humans

[edit]
Akira Asai (朝井 アキラ, Asai Akira)
Voiced by: Yumiri Hanamori[4] (Japanese); Jade Kelly,[3] Juliet Simmons[3] (young) (English)
Ko's childhood friend, who lives in the same apartment complex as him. She attempts to try and convince him to return to school, but also, reluctantly, is supportive of his dream of becoming a vampire. She treasures her relationship with Ko and Mahiru.
Kiyosumi Shirakawa (白河 清澄, Shirakawa Kiyosumi)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[5] (Japanese); Kelly Greenshield[6] (English)
A busy-body office worker and one of Nazuna's clients from her massage gig. After hearing about her struggles in life due to her heavy work schedule, Ko vows to help her, as he feels they share the same plight, and will offer to turn her into a vampire when he becomes one himself.
Mahiru Seki (夕 真昼, Seki Mahiru)
Voiced by: Kensho Ono[5] (Japanese); Daman Mills[7] (English)
A popular boy at school, and one of Ko and Akira's old friends, who also starts to hang out at night. He is initially apprehensive of Ko's dream of becoming a vampire after they are attacked by one, but after learning the woman he fell in love with, Kiku Hoshimi, is also one, he decides to let himself be turned too.
Akihito Akiyama (秋山 昭人, Akiyama Akihito)
Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino[5] (Japanese); James Marler[7] (English)
Seri's vampire underling. He befriended Seri, and after a situation where he was saved by Ko who helped the two of them understand their feelings, he asked her to turn him into a vampire. He is often referred to as "Draggo", "Menhera-san'", or "Mr. Mental" by Ko.
Anko Uguisu (鶯 餡子, Uguisu Anko)
Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro[8] (Japanese); Jessica Calvello[7] (English)
A chain-smoking vampire hunter who initially opposes Ko and the vampires, specializing in killing them by exploiting their personal mementos. She is later revealed to be Nazuna's first friend and attempted familiar. Her hatred stems from her vampire father murdering her mother, an act for which she subsequently destroyed him using his weakness. After a suicide attempt meant to expose vampirism, she reconciles with Nazuna. With Ko's help, she confronts Kiku Hoshimi, the vampire who turned her father, and finds resolution. Although initially incapable of love due to severe mental trauma, she eventually recovers and displays attraction to both men and women.
Sakura Asakura (浅倉 さくら, Asakura Sakura)
Sakura is a student who goes to the same school as Ko and confessed to him. Ko rejected her and stopped going to school after getting harassed by her friends.
Lira Echigo (越後 リラ, Echigo Rira)
Lira is a student at the night school Niko Hirata teaches at, who falls in love at first sight with Ko. Her character was cut from the anime, only showing up in the background.
Kei Yamori (夜守 ケイ, Yamori Kei)
Kei is Ko's mother. She gave birth and got married at the age of twenty and got a divorce when her husband cheated on her. From that point on, she has been raising Ko as a single mother and works in the night entertainment industry.

Vampires

[edit]
Seri Kikyo (桔梗 セリ, Kikyō Seri)
Voiced by: Haruka Tomatsu[9] (Japanese); Christina Kelly[7] (English)
A flirtatious vampire who resembles a gyaru. She approaches Ko when she hears that Nazuna is spending the night with a human where she attempts to suck his blood, until she is stopped by Nazuna. The two do not get along well, as she questions why Nazuna is spending so much time with Ko while not having turned him yet.
Niko Hirata (平田 ニコ, Hirata Niko)
Voiced by: Eri Kitamura[10] (Japanese); Monica Rial[7] (English)
A vampire who doubles as a teacher who teaches night classes. She is not as accepting of Ko in her first encounter with him, but becomes willing to let him stay with Nazuna so long as he fulfills his intentions on becoming a vampire and Nazuna continues to suck his blood.
Kabura Honda (本田 カブラ, Honda Kabura)
Voiced by: Shizuka Itō[10] (Japanese); Patricia Duran[7] (English)
A vampire who wears elegant dresses, she works as a nurse and is Nazuna's adoptive mother. Hopelessly in love with Nazuna's mother, Haru Nanakusa, the woman who turned her, she projects these feelings onto Nazuna due to their similar appearance. This results in her acting as an overbearing and doting parental figure. Although becoming a vampire allowed her to feel attraction to men, she still prefers women, holding onto the memory of her first love for Haru.
Midori Kohakobe (小繁縷 ミドリ, Kohakobe Midori)
Voiced by: Naomi Ōzora[10] (Japanese); Emily Neves[7] (English)
A long-sleeved shirt-wearing vampire works in a maid cafe and is highly aware of her own good looks, which can make her seem self-absorbed. By her own admission, she is attracted to shy virgins. To find a suitable partner among that demographic, she actively takes up various geeky hobbies and activities.
Hatsuka Suzushiro (蘿蔔 ハツカ, Suzushiro Hatsuka)
Voiced by: Azumi Waki[10] (Japanese); Annie Wild[7] (English)
A male vampire possesses a notably feminine appearance due to his slender body, shoulder-length hair, cute face, and choice of clothing. His group of familiars includes both men and women, though his own personal identity remains unknown.
Kiku Hoshimi (星見 キク, Hoshimi Kiku)
Voiced by: Rina Satō[11] (Japanese); Nickolette Kong[12] (English)
Kiku is an enigmatic, sociopathic vampire who has turned countless humans into servants. Obsessed with testing unproven vampiric theories, she seeks to validate a rule suggesting a vampire who loves a human will kill them through biting. Her current target is Mahiru. Eventually, her true motive emerges: she aims to become human by drinking the blood of someone she loves, believing this will reverse her vampirism.
Haru Nanakusa (七草 ハル, Nanakusa Haru)
Voiced by: Maaya Uchida[13] (Japanese); Kira Vincent-Davis[12] (English)
Haru was a vampire night-nurse and a friend of Kiku Hoshimi who investigated for a method to revert back to being human, which eventually led to the birth of her daughter Nazuna.
LoveGreen
Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita[14] (Japanese); Joe Daniels[12] (English)
LoveGreen—or LG (エルジー, Eru Jī) for short—is Midori's offspring and an otaku superfan of hers, referring to themselves in the third person.
Azami (アザミ)
Azami is an underling of Kiku Hoshimi who spent the last thirty-five years resolving any issues in human society caused by Hoshimi's other underlings.
Susuki (ススキ)
Susuki is an independent vampire vigilante who has made it her mission to silence anyone who poses a threat to the prosperity of vampires and makes them stand out in society, leading into conflict with Uguisu and Yamori.
Haruka Nanakusa (七草 ハルカ, Nanakusa Haruka)
Haruka is a scam artist in Hokkaido and an underling of Haru Nanakusa, whose name he took inspiration from for his alias after Haru's disappearance. Over forty years afterwards, Haruka crossed ways with Ko and met Haru's identical-looking daughter Nazuna Nanakusa.

Media

[edit]

Manga

[edit]

Call of the Night is written and illustrated by Kotoyama [ja], his second manga series after Dagashi Kashi. Kotoyama named the series after the song of the same name by Creepy Nuts, which later became the ending theme song for the anime adaptation.[15] It started in Shogakukan's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday on August 28, 2019,[16][17] and finished on January 24, 2024.[18][19] Shogakukan has collected its chapters in 20 tankōbon volumes, released from November 18, 2019,[20] to March 18, 2024.[21]

On July 3, 2020, Viz Media announced an English release of the manga in North America.[22] They released the volumes from April 13, 2021, to June 10, 2025.[23][24] On May 9, 2023, Viz Media launched their Viz Manga digital manga service, with the series' chapters receiving simultaneous English publication in North America as they were released in Japan.[25]

A short story series, titled Call of the Night: Paradise Arc (よふかしのうた-楽園編-, Yofukashi no Uta: Rakuen-hen), was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from July 2 to August 27, 2025.[26][27][28][29] The collected volume was released on September 30, 2025.[30]

Volumes

[edit]
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1November 18, 2019[20]978-4-09-129492-0April 13, 2021[23]978-1-9747-2051-4
  • 1. "Call of the Night" (よふかしのうた, Yofukashi no Uta)
  • 2. "A Pretty Big Mosquito" (大きめの蚊, Ōkime no Ka)
  • 3. "Night Flight" (ナイトフライト, Naito Furaito)
  • 4. "Do You Do LINE?" (てかラインやってる?, Teka Rain Yatteru?)
  • 5. "Good Evening, Sadness" (悲しみよ、こんばんは, Kanashimi yo, Konbanwa)
  • 6. "Akira" (アキラ)
  • 7. "What's Your Name?" (お名前なんてーの?, Onamae Nantēno?)
  • 8. "A Lot Came Out" (いっぽい出たね, Ippai Detane)
2February 18, 2020[31]978-4-09-129556-9June 8, 2021[32]978-1-9747-2057-6
  • 9. "What Are You Thinking, Nazuna Nanakusa?" (なんのつもりだ七草ナズナ, Nan no Tsumori da Nanakusa Nazuna)
  • 10. "Isn't This a Tight Squeeze?" (せまくない?, Semakunai?)
  • 11. "Supply and Demand" (需要と供給, Jujō to Kyōkyū)
  • 12. "Well, That's a Problem" (そりゃ困ったやつですね, Sorya Komatta Yatsu desu ne)
  • 13. "Somewhere We Can Rest" (休憩できるお店, Kyōkei Dekiru Omise)
  • 14. "One of the Beautiful People" (天才陽キャかな?, Tensai Yō Kya kana?)
  • 15. "The Rokyo Pressure Point" (ここが労宮というツボです, Koko ga Rōkyō to Iu Tsubo desu)
  • 16. "Boozing with Coworkers Is the Worst" (会社の飲み会 これが良くない, Kaisha no Nomikai - Kore ga Yokunai)
  • 17. "I'll Keep You All Night" (あんたにはよふかしをしてもらう, Anta ni wa Yofukashi wo Temorau)
  • 18. "Might as Well Have Fun" (楽しい万がいいよ, Tanoshī Hōgai yo)
3April 16, 2020[33]978-4-09-850064-2August 10, 2021[34]978-1-9747-2080-4
  • 19. "If I Can Be of Help" (俺が誰かの助けに, Ore ga Dareka no Tasuke ni)
  • 20. "Reproduce" (眷属作こづく, Kozukuri)
  • 21. "Dropout from the School of Love" (恋愛学一生赤点みたいなやつ, Renai Gaku Isshō Akaten Mitai na Yatsu)
  • 22. "Cheers!" (かんぱ〜い, Kanpai)
  • 23. "All of Us" (どいつもこいつも, Doitsumo Koitsumo)
  • 24. "Vampire Love Guru" (恋愛マスター吸血鬼, Renai Masutā Kyūketsuki)
  • 25. "She's Been Busy" (お盛んなこって, Osakan Nakotte)
  • 26. "You Know Those Harem Manga?" (ハーレムものってあるじゃないですか, Hāremu Monotte Aru ja Nai desu ka)
  • 27. "What Are You to Her?" (あなたはセリさんのなんなの?, Anata wa Seri-san no Nan na no?)
  • 28. "They Say Love Is Blind" (恋は盲目という言葉がある, Koi wa Mōmoku to Iu Kotoba ga aru)
  • 29. "No Fair" (ずるい, Zurui)
4August 18, 2020[35]978-4-09-850163-2October 12, 2021[36]978-1-9747-2304-1
  • 30. "Call Me Aki" (あっくんと呼んでくれ, Akkun to Yonde kure)
  • 31. "Someone Conveniently Unpopular" (都合良くモテない知り合い, Tsugō Yoku Mote nai Shiriai)
  • 32. "Enlarge the Peeping-Tom Photos" (盗撮画像を拡大して見る, Totogazō o Kakudai Shite Miru)
  • 33. "We Might Find Out If We're Lucky" (運が良ければわかるかも, Un ga Yokereba Wakaru Kamo)
  • 34. "Am I the Worst?" (最低だろうか, Saitei Darō ka)
  • 35. "Not My Favorite Teacher" (この先生が苦手だった, Kono Sensei ga Nigate Datta)
  • 35.5. "Let's Get Back to the Subject" (閑話休題, Kanwa Kyūdai)
  • 36. "Mwa Ha Ha! I'm Driving Drunk!" (わははは飲酒運転だ〜!, Wahahaha Inshu Unten da~!)
  • 37. "Too Dark to See" (暗くて見えない, Kurakute Mienai)
  • 38. "Do You Know What a Vampire Is?" (吸血鬼って知ってるかい?, Kyūketsuki tte Shitterukai?)
  • 39. "You Can Die Human" (あなたは人のまま死ぬ, Anata wa Hito no Mama Shinu)
5October 16, 2020[37]978-4-09-850268-4December 14, 2021[38]978-1-9747-2408-6
  • 40. "Not That Bad" (案外悪くない, Angai Warukunai)
  • 41. "When I Grow Up" (大人になったら, Otona ni Nattara)
  • 42. "My Mom's Out Tonight" (今日ウチ親いないんだ, Kyōuchi Oya Inainda)
  • 43. "I Don't See It That Way" (俺はあなたの考えを肯定できない, Ore wa Anata no Kangae o Kōtei Dekinai)
  • 44. "What's There, Is There" (あるものが有ること, Arumono ga Arukoto)
  • 45. "Let's Talk About Love" (恋バナしようや, Koibana Shiyōya)
  • 46. "As Friends" (仲良くヤろうや, Nakayoku Yarōya)
  • 47. "You Want to Talk About Ko, Don't You?" (夜守くんの話がしたいんでしょ?, Yamori-kun no Hanashi ga Shitain Desho?)
  • 48. "Why?" (どうして?, Dōshite?)
  • 49. "Didn't You Hear Me?" (私の話聞いてた?, Watashi no Hanashi Kīteta?)
6January 18, 2021[39]978-4-09-850384-1February 8, 2022[40]978-1-9747-2590-8
  • 50. "It Began with Flowers" (始まりは花だった, Hajimari wa Hanadatta)
  • 51. "Memories of Tokyo" (俺の東京に関する思い出, Ore no Tōkyō ni Kansuru Omoide)
  • 52. "Not Our Time" (それは僕らの時間じゃない, Sore wa Bokura no Jikan Janai)
  • 53. "We Wanna Hear Some Teenage Drama" (聞きてェー…中学生の恋バナ…, Kikitē...Chūgakusei no Koibana...)
  • 54. "I've Been Wanting to Meet You" (会いたかったよ, Aitakatta yo)
  • 55. "This Is the Thing" (ほんとにそれなんだ, Hontoni Sore Nanda)
  • 56. "I'll Remember" (覚えてるよ, Oboeteru yo)
  • 57. "No Ghosts in Haunted Houses" (おばけ屋敷にはおばけいない, Obake Yashiki ni wa Obakeinai)
  • 58. "This Is the Condition" (条件ってこれ?, Jōkentte kore?)
  • 59. "Everyone's a Liar" (みんな嘘つきねぇ, Minna Usotsuki nē)
7April 16, 2021[41]978-4-09-850522-7April 12, 2022[42]978-1-9747-2643-1
  • 60. "You're Completely Wrong" (全然違うわよ, Zenzen Chigau wa yo)
  • 61. "What Do You Want?" (君はどうなりたい?, Kimi wa dō Naritai?)
  • 62. "Do You Want to Be Able to Run?" (走れるようになりたいかい?, Hashireru yō ni Naritai Kai?)
  • 63. "Dear Kabura" (カブラちゃんへ, Kabura-chan e)
  • 64. "The Few Years I Spent with You" (あなたと過ごした数年間, Anata to Sugoshita Sūnenkan)
  • 65. "Oddly Passionate" (妙に情熱的, Myō ni Jōnetsuteki)
  • 66. "I'll Never Tell!!" (教えまてん‼︎, Oshie Maten!!)
  • 67. "I'm Not Asking About the Quality" (クオリティーを聞いてるんじゃねぇよ, Kuoritī o Kīterunja nē yo)
  • 68. "Each of Those Lights" (あの光一つ一つ, Ano Hikari Hitotsu Hitotsu)
  • 69. "Perfect for Self-Discovery" (自分探しにはもってこいだ, Jibunsagashi ni wa Mottekoida)
  • Dagashi Kashi Omake: "On Staying Up Late" (夜更かしについて, Yofukashi ni Tsuite)
8July 16, 2021[43]978-4-09-850635-4June 14, 2022[44]978-1-9747-3008-7
  • 70. "Can We Talk?" (お話いい?, Ohanashi ī?)
  • 71. "Take Me Away" (私をここから連れ出してくれる, Watashi o Koko kara Tsuredashite Kureru)
  • 72. "The Boy's in Shock" (夜守くんショック受けてんじゃん, Yamori-kun Shokku Uke Tenjan)
  • 73. "A Fleeting School Rom-Com" (束の間の学園ラブコメ, Tsukanoma no Gakuen Rabukome)
  • 74. "Good Morning" (おはよう先輩, Ohayō Senpai)
  • 75. "Do As You Like" (お好きに。, Osuki ni.)
  • 76. "You're Too Stupid" (七草さん馬鹿だから, Nanakusa-san Bakada kara)
  • 77. "Maybe" (そうかもね, Sōkamo ne)
  • 78. "Why Is Cheating Bad?" (浮気ってなんでだめなの?, Uwakitte Nande Damena no?)
  • 79. "Even Me?" (相手があたしでも?, Aite ga Atashi Demo?)
9November 18, 2021[45]978-4-09-850735-1September 13, 2022[46]978-1-9747-3422-1
  • 80. "You're My First" (先輩が初めてっすよ。, Senpai ga Hajimetessu yo.)
  • 81. "Make Sure You Wait for Me" (ちゃんと持っててね, Chanto Mottete ne)
  • 82. "Hey, Vampire" (やぁ、吸血鬼, Yaa, Kyūketsuki)
  • 83. "I'm So Sorry" (まじでごめん。, Majide Gomen.)
  • 84. "Good Luck Becoming the Real Thing" (立派な吸血鬼になれるといいな, Rippana Kyūketsuki ni Nareruto īna)
  • 85. "I Can Do This!" (よーし がんばるぞ!, Yōshi Ganbaruzo!)
  • 86. "What Do You Want to Do, Ko?" (夜守くん、君はどうしたい?, Yamori-kun, Kimi wa dō Shitai?)
  • 87. "Ready to Get Serious?" (やっとやる気になった?, Yatto Yaruki ni Natta?)
  • 88. "You're All Idiots" (だからお前らは馬鹿なんだよ, Dakara Omaera wa Bakananda yo)
  • 89. "I Don't Have a Choice?" (やるしかないんだろ?, Yaru Shika Naindaro?)
10February 18, 2022[47]978-4-09-850872-3December 13, 2022[48]978-1-9747-3571-6
  • 90. "Dear Yamori" (夜守くんへ, Yamori-kun e)
  • 91. "I Wanted It to Be You" (せめてお前に, Semete Omae ni)
  • 92. "Take Off Your Clothes" (服を脱ぎなさい, Fuku o Nuginasai)
  • 93. "That's One Way to Put It" (まぁ言うなればそうだな, Maaiu Nareba Sōda na)
  • 94. "Mwah" (んちゅ, Nchiyu)
  • 95. "Did You Cut Your Hair?" (髪切った?, Kamikitta?)
  • 96. "I'm Not Drunk" (私は酔ってない, Watashi wa Yottenai)
  • 97. "I Needed to Fail" (失敗したいな, Shippai Shitai na)
  • 98. "Women Are Complicated" (難しいな女って, Muzukashī na Onnatte)
  • 99. "It's Hard to Be Normal" (普通に生きるって難しいな, Futsū ni Ikirutte Muzukashī na)
11June 17, 2022[49]978-4-09-851127-3March 14, 2023[50]978-1-9747-3676-8
  • 100. "Hoshimi Kiku" (「星見キク」)
  • 101. "She Frightens Me" (私はあいつがこわい, Watashi wa Aitsu ga Kowai)
  • 102. "It's My Win, Then" (じゃあ俺の勝ちだな, Jā Ore no Kachida na)
  • 103. "Listen to Others When They Talk" (人の話を聞けよ, Hito no Hanashi o Kikeyo)
  • 104. "Rupture" (絶交, Zekkō)
  • 105. "Awkward Atmosphere" (気まずいメンツ, Kimazui Mentsu)
  • 106. "One Ought to Have Friends" (持つべきものは友達, Motsubeki Mono wa Tomodachi)
  • 107. "He's Mad" (怒ってる…, Okotteru…)
  • 108. "The Type I Hate" (苦手なタイプだ, Nigatena Taipuda)
  • 109. "You're Still You" (お前はお前だろ, Omae wa Omae-daro)
12July 15, 2022[51]978-4-09-851204-1June 13, 2023[52]978-1-9747-3859-5
  • 110. "A Real Home" (居場所, Ibasho)
  • 111. "I Wonder If I Can Be Like That" (俺もなれるかな, Ore mo Nareru kana)
  • 112. "Brute Force" (力ずくで, Chikarazuku de)
  • 113. "Are You Gonna Turn Me Into a Murderer?" (俺を人殺しにするつもりか, Ore o Hitogoroshi ni suru Tsumorika)
  • 114. "So, You Had a Thing for Me?" (私のこと好きだったの?, Watashinokoto Sukidatta no?)
  • 115. "You're Fucking Hard to Protect" (守りづれェだろうが, Mamoridzure Edarouga)
  • 116. "Goldfish-Shaped Soy Bottle" (金魚の醤油さし, Kingyo no Shōyu Sashi)
  • 117. "The Way Vampires Fight" (吸血鬼の戦い方, Kyūketsuki no Tatakai-kata)
  • 118. "For Real...?" (まじでぇ…?, Majide e…?)
  • 119. "First Pierce" (ファーストピアス, Fāsuto Piasu)
13September 15, 2022[53]978-4-09-851257-7September 12, 2023[54]978-1-9747-4038-3
  • 120. "What Are You?" (お前 結局どっちなんだ?, Omae - Kekkyoku Dotchinanda?)
  • 121. "Kou-Pippi" (コウぴっぴ)
  • 122. "I'm Home." (ただいま, Tadaima)
  • 123. "Is That a 'Yes'?" (「イエス」ということですね, 'Iesu' toiu Kotodesu ne)
  • 124. "Something You Need to Say" (言わなきゃいけないこと, Iwanakya Ikenai Koto)
  • 125. "Well Done!" (よくできました!, Yoku Dekimashita!)
  • 126. "Bitch…" (お前, Omae)
  • 127. "Nothing" (別に 何も, Betsuni - Nani mo)
  • 128. "Take a Bath and Sleep" (お風呂入って寝るだけ, O Furo Haitte Neru Dake)
  • 129. "Good Night" (おやすみ, Oyasumi)
14December 16, 2022[55]978-4-09-851474-8December 12, 2023[56]978-1-9747-4100-7
  • 130. "Yamori Kei" (夜守ケイ)
  • 131. "Bye-Bye" (「ばいばい」, "Bai-Bai")
  • 132. "Hello" (こんにちは, Konnichiwa)
  • 133. "If I'm Gonna Go" (「行くなら」, "Ikunara")
  • 134. "So, When Are You Going?" (どうする? いつ行こっか, Dō suru? Itsu Ikokka)
  • 135. "He's a Legit Dumbass." (「バカなんだわ根本的に」, "Bakananda wa Konpon-teki ni")
  • 136. "I'm Off" (行ってきます, Ittekimasu)
  • 137. "Something's Changed About Him" (雰囲気変わった, Fun'iki Kawatta)
  • 138. "You're Good At This" (やるじゃん, Yarujan)
  • 139. "It's for Mahiru-kun" (マヒル君の分, Mahiru-kun no Bun)
15March 16, 2023[57]978-4-09-851767-1March 12, 2024[58]978-1-9747-4363-6
  • 140. "I Might Be a Little Late" (遅くなるかもしれないから, Osoku naru Kamo Shirenaikara)
  • 141. "Haruka" (ハルカ)
  • 142. "Payback" (お返し, Okaeshi)
  • 143. "I'm Not Playing Dirty." (卑怯じゃない, Hikyō Janai)
  • 144. "Cleaning Up" (身辺整理, Shinpen Seiri)
  • 145. "It's All for Your Goal!" (お前の目的のためだろ, Omae no Mokuteki no Tamedaro)
  • 146. "The Feeling of Being Alive" (生きてる実感, Ikiteru Jikkan)
  • 147. "A Nice Soundtrack" (曲はいい, Kyoku wa ī)
  • 148. "You Make Guidebooks or Something, Right?" (しおりでも作るんだったな, Shiori Demo Tsukurundatta na)
  • 149. "He Even Has Two" (しかも2本, Shikamo Ni-pon)
16June 16, 2023[59]978-4-09-852123-4June 11, 2024[60]978-1-9747-4578-4
  • 150. "Seafood, or Something" (海鮮とかさぁ, Kaisen Tokasa)
  • 151. "Love" (, Koi)
  • 152. "Why Not Both?" (どっちもだろ, Dotchi Modaro)
  • 153. "Hop On" (乗れ, Nore)
  • 154. "Regarding You and Kiku" (お前とキクのこと, Omae to Kiku no Koto)
  • 155. "Revenge or Whatever, Doesn't Matter" (「復讐なんてどうでもいいよ」, "Fukushū Nantedō Demo īyo")
  • 156. "Goodbye" (さようなら, Sayōnara)
  • 157. "Hardenbergia" (ハーデンベルギア, Hādenberugia)
  • 158. "In the End" (最後に, Saigoni)
  • 159. "Love Ramblings" (ノロケ話, Noroke Banashi)
17July 18, 2023[61]978-4-09-852615-4September 10, 2024[62]978-1-9747-4872-3
  • 160. "Because I'm His Friend, Too" (「あたしもあいつの友達だから」, "Atashi mo Aitsu no Tomodachi-dakara")
  • 161. "How About the Three of Us Go Together" (まわろうよ3人で, Mawarou yo San-ri de)
  • 162. "All the Best" (お幸せに, Oshiawaseni)
  • 163. "Sunrise After Dawn" (夜が明けるよ, Yogaakeru yo)
  • 164. "Curse" (呪い, Noroi)
  • 165. "Welcome Back" (おかえり, Okaeri)
  • 166. "Quitting While Ahead" (勝ち逃げ, Kachi Nige)
  • 167. "Celebration Party" (お疲れ様会, Otsukaresama-kai)
  • 168. "I Wavered a Bit." (少し迷ってた, Sukoshi Mayotteta)
  • 169. "I'd Keep That to Yourself" (心の中にしまっとけ, Kokoronouchi ni Shimattoke)
18November 17, 2023[63]978-4-09-852855-4December 10, 2024[64]978-1-9747-4941-6
  • 170. "Welcome to My Home" (ようこそマイホームへ, Yōkoso Mai Hōmu e)
  • 171. "Not Tonight" (今日はいいや, Kyō wa īya)
  • 172. "What Time?" (何時がいい?, Nanji ga ī?)
  • 173. "You Up?" (起きた?, Okita?)
  • 174. "I Wanted to See You" (顔を見に, Kao o Mini)
  • 175. "You're in for a Special Treat Tonight" (今日は特別, Kyō wa Tokubetsu)
  • 176. "My New Home" (ニュー・マイ・ホーム, Nyū Mai Hōmu)
  • 177. "Not a Nosebleed!" (鼻血はまずい!!, Hanadji wa Mazui!!)
  • 178. "Beat It" (消えなさい, Kienasai)
  • 179. "Take Care of Your Friendships" (大事にしなよ, Daijini Shina yo)
19February 16, 2024[65]978-4-09-853115-8March 11, 2025[66]978-1-9747-5215-7
  • 180. "It's a Girl" (女だな, Onnada na)
  • 181. "Have You Turned into a Foodie?" (グルメにでも目覚めたか?, Gurumeni Demo Mezameta ka?)
  • 182. "Enjoy the Ride" (それでは行ってらっしゃいませ, Soredewa Itte Rasshaimase)
  • 182.5. "How to Get"
  • 183. "This Summer" (夏になったらさ, Natsuni Nattarasa)
  • 184. "My Crappy Special Skill" (クソみたいな特技, Kuso Mitaina Tokugi)
  • 185. "There's This Girl Named Nazuna" (ナズナちゃんって子がいて, Nazuna-chan tteko Gaite)
  • 186. "Excuse" (言い訳, Iiwake)
  • 187. "More Beautiful Than Ever" (今までで一番, Imamade de Ichiban)
  • 188. "Lukewarm!" ("ぬるい"ッ‼︎, "Nurui"!!)
  • 189. "Cut the Cord" (弟離れ, Otōto Hanare)
20March 18, 2024[21]978-4-09-853196-7June 10, 2025[24]978-1-9747-5566-0
  • 190. "Farewell Party" (お別れ会, O Wakare-kai)
  • 191. "Like Vampires" (吸血鬼らしく, Kyūketsuki Rashiku)
  • 192. "This Is Ridiculous" (「めちゃくちゃすぎる」, "Mechakucha Sugiru")
  • 193. "Fair and Square" (正々堂々, Seiseidōdō)
  • 194. "Keeping Unusual Hours" (昼夜逆転, Chūya Gyakuten)
  • 195. "It's Not Like There's Anywhere We Can Go" (どうせどこにも, Dōse Dokonimo)
  • 196. "The Ocean Is Amazing" (すごいぞ海, Sugoizo Umi)
  • 197. "Greater Than You Expected" (思ったよりだいぶ, Omottayori Daibu)
  • 198. "The Night Is Longer in Winter" (冬は夜が長い, Fuyu wa Yoru ga Nagai)
  • 199. "Ingenious Deduction: You Ought to Write a Novel" (面白い推理だね 小説家にでもなってみては?, Omoshiroi Suiridane: Shōsetsukani Demo Natte Mite wa?)
  • 200. "Final Night: And Then" (最終夜「それから」, Saishū Yoru: Sore kara)

Anime

[edit]

In November 2021, an official website opened to announce an anime television series adaptation produced by Liden Films. It is directed by Tomoyuki Itamura, with Tetsuya Miyanishi serving as chief director for the first season, Michiko Yokote writing the series' scripts, Haruka Sagawa designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, and Yoshiaki Dewa [ja] composing the music.[67] The first season aired from July 8 to September 30, 2022, on Fuji TV's Noitamina programming block.[68][b] The opening theme song is "Daten" (堕天; lit.'Fallen Angel'),[69] while the ending theme song is "Yofukashi no Uta" (よふかしのうた; lit.'Call of the Night'), both performed by Creepy Nuts.[2][5] The duo also performed the insert song "Loss Time" (ロスタイム, Rosu Taimu).[70]

At the Fuji TV Anime Lineup Press Conference 2024 event in March 2024, a second season was announced,[71] which aired from July 4 to September 19, 2025, on the same programming block on Fuji TV and its affiliates.[11][13][72] The opening theme song is "Mirage",[73] while the ending theme song is "Nemure" (眠れ; lit.'Sleep'), both also performed by Creepy Nuts.[74]

Sentai Filmworks licensed the series for streaming on Hidive in North America, Europe, Oceania, and selected Latin American and Asian territories,[75] which at their Otakon panel in July 2022, announced that the series would also receive an English dub, which began streaming on September 8 of the same year.[76][3] Sentai Filmworks also licensed the second season for streaming on Hidive, with the English dub beginning its streaming on September 3 of the same year.[77][12]

Reception

[edit]

By June 2025, the manga had over 5.3 million copies in circulation.[70]

Accolades

[edit]

In 2020, the Call of the Night manga was nominated for the sixth Next Manga Awards and placed seventh out of the 50 nominees with 15,134 votes.[78] The series ranked eighth on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2021" by the Honya Club website.[79][80] In 2023, the series won the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category, along with Ao no Orchestra.[81]

The anime adaptation was nominated at the 7th Crunchyroll Anime Awards in three categories: Best New Series, Best Romance, and Best Ending Sequence ("Yofukashi no Uta" by Creepy Nuts).[82]

Critical reception

[edit]

In Anime News Network's Summer 2022 preview guide, contributors generally responded positively to the series, praising the narrative, unique take on the common trope of vampires, and high production value, comparing it favorably to the Monogatari series, which series co-director Tomoyuki Itamura had previously worked on at Shaft.[83]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Call of the Night (Japanese: よふかしのうた, Hepburn: Yofukashi no Uta) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kotoyama. It follows Ko Yamori, a middle school student plagued by insomnia who abandons school to roam the nighttime streets, where he meets the free-spirited vampire Nazuna Nanakusa; captivated by her nocturnal world, Ko yearns to become a vampire himself, though the path to transformation requires genuine love. The was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from August 28, 2019, to January 24, 2024, with its chapters compiled into twenty volumes published by in , the final one released in June 2025; holds the license for English-language release. The story delves into Ko's evolving relationship with Nazuna, introducing other vampires and human friends that complicate his double life, while exploring themes of isolation, desire, and the between human and supernatural existence. An television adaptation by aired its first 13-episode season from July 8 to September 30, 2022, in the programming block on Fuji TV and affiliated networks, directed by Tetsuya Miyanishi with series composition by Tôko Machida. A second season, covering later arcs including the "Halloween Night Arc," aired from July 4 to September 19, 2025, comprising 12 episodes and streaming internationally on HIDIVE. The series has been praised for its unique take on lore, blending romance, humor, and introspection, and won the 68th in the shōnen category in 2023.

Story

Plot

The story centers on Ko Yamori, a middle school student plagued by insomnia who skips classes to wander the nighttime streets of his city. One evening, he meets Nazuna Nanakusa, a carefree vampire who flies him through the sky and introduces him to the vibrant, hidden world of the night, sparking his infatuation and desire to join her as a vampire. As Ko spends more nights with Nazuna, he explores the allure of nocturnal life while grappling with the rules and realities of vampirism, including the need for genuine to enable transformation. His involvement draws him into interactions with other vampires, revealing the structured yet secretive society they inhabit and the challenges of bridging human and worlds. The narrative progresses chronologically from Ko's initial rebellion against his daytime routine to his deepening entanglement in vampire affairs, marked by key arcs such as his pursuit of conversion, the Halloween Night Arc, and confrontations within vampire hierarchies. These culminate in the resolution of central conflicts surrounding his transformation and relationships, concluding the main storyline in chapter 200 of the manga.

Themes

Call of the Night explores romance in unconventional forms, emphasizing relationships that transcend human norms and societal expectations. The series depicts love as a pursuit of personal freedom, where affection between humans and vampires challenges traditional boundaries, allowing characters to define their emotions on their own terms. This non-human dynamic highlights the excitement of novelty in romantic connections, portraying love as an escape from monotonous routines rather than a prescribed path. Central to the narrative are coming-of-age themes intertwined with and sexual awakening, using as a for the inner turmoil of . The protagonist's nocturnal wanderings symbolize the disorientation of growing up, where encounters with vampires represent a into maturity, marked by emotional and physical transformations. Vampirism serves as an for this transition, requiring genuine emotional commitment and acceptance of one's desires beyond youthful projections. The motif of underscores themes of liberation and contrast, juxtaposing the stifling pressures of daytime with the boundless of the night. Nocturnal settings, including the , evoke hidden perspectives and a sense of isolation that fosters self-discovery, turning the urban night into a free from conventional constraints. This illustrates how night offers an intoxicating escape, blending excitement with everyday mundanity to reflect deeper yearnings for authenticity. Critiques of vampire society delve into the ethical dilemmas of and bloodlust, portraying eternal life as a search for novelty amid stagnation. Vampires are depicted not as monstrous predators but as vulnerable beings sustained by human elements, facing weaknesses exploited through emotional ties and possessions. This examination reveals the burdens of undying existence, where bloodlust intertwines with moral conflicts unique to those detached from human mortality.

Characters

Main

Ko Yamori is the 14-year-old protagonist of Call of the Night, a student plagued by that leads him to wander the city streets at night. Initially antisocial and disillusioned with school life, Ko exhibits a rebellious streak by skipping classes and seeking purpose beyond his mundane routine, driven by curiosity about the nocturnal world. Through his encounters, Ko evolves from a truant seeking escape to an aspiring , motivated by his deepening bond with Nazuna Nanakusa, which reshapes his understanding of companionship and desire. Nazuna Nanakusa serves as the free-spirited who becomes Ko's guide to the , introducing him to thrilling experiences like soaring through the night sky, which she particularly enjoys as a hallmark of her unbound lifestyle. Characterized by her laid-back, carefree attitude and occasional rudeness tempered by kindness, Nazuna avoids entanglement in vampire society and its politics, preferring a solitary existence free from constraints. Her role as Ko's mentor highlights her protective nature, often shielding him from threats while embracing their shared adventures. The evolving relationship between Ko and Nazuna forms the emotional core of the series, beginning with Ko's infatuation sparked by her allure and escalating into a profound connection that challenges his human limitations. Nazuna's protective instincts grow alongside Ko's devotion, fostering mutual reliance amid their nocturnal escapades, with occasional interactions from other vampires subtly testing and strengthening their dynamic up to the manga's conclusion. This bond drives Ko's personal growth, transforming his rebellious curiosity into a committed pursuit of a vampiric future intertwined with Nazuna.

Humans

Akira Asai serves as Ko Yamori's steadfast childhood friend and classmate, frequently expressing concern over his unexplained absences from school and attempting to reintegrate him into everyday social routines. Her character embodies the essence of typical adolescent normalcy, marked by genuine care for her friends and subtle hints of unrequited affection toward Ko, which underscores the emotional ties he is gradually distancing himself from. Mahiru Seki, another childhood acquaintance of Ko and Akira, represents the archetype of the popular schoolboy whose interactions with Ko occur primarily in daytime environments like the or grounds. These encounters highlight the pervasive social pressures of life, including and the transient, often superficial nature of young romances, providing a grounded counterpoint to Ko's evolving worldview; later, Mahiru becomes involved with the Kiku Hoshimi and is turned into a . Additional human figures, including fellow schoolmates and Ko's mother, Kei Yamori, reinforce the narrative's exploration of mundane, daylight-bound existence versus Ko's nocturnal pursuits. Kei, in particular, appears in moments depicting familial normalcy, such as evenings at home, symbolizing the routine obligations and parental oversight that Ko seeks to evade through his late-night wanderings.

Vampires

The vampire supporting cast in Call of the Night includes members of a led by Nico Hirata, who interact with the protagonists to highlight the structured yet eccentric nature of vampire society. Nico Hirata is a stoic who works as at a and enforces vampire societal rules with a business-like seriousness that often provides through her reactions to the group's antics. As the leader of her , Nico maintains order among her companions, including Seri Kikyo and Kabura Honda, emphasizing discipline in their immortal lives. Seri Kikyo is a hot-blooded with a quick temper, known for her gal fashion style. Her passionate and sometimes volatile personality adds tension to group dynamics, as seen in her relationships with humans. Kabura Honda brings levity to the clique with her cheerful, child-like demeanor and insatiable sweet tooth, often lightening serious discussions with playful energy despite her immortal age. As a former human patient turned , Kabura's optimistic outlook contrasts with the clan's more rigid members, fostering camaraderie through shared indulgences like sweets. Kiku Hoshimi is an ancient vampire obsessed with testing unproven theories about vampire lore, particularly the effects of love on turning humans. She develops a relationship with Mahiru Seki during the Halloween Night Arc, leading to his transformation into a vampire. Vampire society in the series operates under strict rules, such as the requirement that turning a human into a vampire demands genuine love from the human toward the vampire within one year of the initial bite, or the human's body will reject the blood and perish. Additionally, a restriction prohibits vampires from killing humans they love, as a bite from a loving vampire proves fatal to the human, a centuries-old taboo enforced to prevent tragic entanglements. These rules are illustrated through the clique's interactions, where Nico upholds them rigorously, Seri grapples with romantic boundaries in her past, and Kabura navigates group loyalties without direct involvement in turning rituals. Conflicts arise when these regulations intersect with Ko Yamori and Nazuna Nanakusa's unconventional bond, prompting the clique's intervention to test compliance.

Media

Manga

Call of the Night (Japanese: Yofukashi no Uta, lit. "A Song About Staying Up All Night") is a Japanese series written and illustrated by Kotoyama. It was serialized in Shogakukan's shōnen magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from August 28, 2019, to January 24, 2024, with its 200 chapters collected into 20 tankōbon volumes published by the company. Viz Media licensed the series for English language release in , with the first volume published on April 13, 2021, and the final volume released on June 10, 2025. The manga has reached over 5.3 million copies in circulation by June 2025. A short sequel series, Yofukashi no Uta: Rakuen-hen (Call of the Night: Paradise Arc), serving as a post-story epilogue, ran in from July 2 to August 27, 2025. The anime adaptation briefly boosted the manga's popularity, leading to increased digital sales during its 2022 premiere.

Anime

The anime adaptation of Call of the Night was announced in November 2021 and produced by studio LIDENFILMS. The first season was directed by Tomoyuki Itamura, with Tetsuya Miyanishi serving as chief director and overseeing series composition. It aired from July 8 to September 30, 2022, on Fuji TV's programming block, consisting of 13 episodes that adapt the early arcs of the original , following protagonist Ko Yamori's introduction to the Nazuna Nanakusa and the nocturnal lifestyle. A second season was announced in March 2024 and similarly produced by LIDENFILMS, with Tomoyuki Itamura returning as director and on scripts. It aired from July 4 to September 19, 2025, also on , comprising 12 episodes that adapt later manga arcs while incorporating some elements skipped in the first season, such as additional character backstories and subplots. The adaptation maintains the manga's blend of romance, elements, and slice-of-life , with visual style emphasizing vibrant night scenes and fluid for character interactions. Key voice cast members include as Ko Yamori and as Nazuna Nanakusa, whose performances capture the characters' quirky dynamics and emotional depth across both seasons. Additional notable roles feature as Anko Uguisu, enhancing the ensemble of human and vampire characters. The score for both seasons was composed by Yoshiaki Dewa, contributing atmospheric tracks that underscore the series' nocturnal and introspective tone. Season 1's opening theme is "Daten" performed by Creepy Nuts, while the ending theme is "Yofukashi no Uta" by the same duo, the latter sharing its title with the original . For Season 2, Creepy Nuts returned with "Mirage" as the opening and "Nemure" as the ending, maintaining the hip-hop-infused energy that complements the story's themes. In , both seasons were licensed by and streamed exclusively on HIDIVE, with releases starting shortly after Japanese broadcast. The features pacing adjustments from the to fit the episode structure, such as condensed dialogue scenes and reordered subplots for tighter narrative flow, while preserving core events and character developments.

Reception

Accolades

The manga Call of the Night won the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōnen category in 2023, tying with Blue Orchestra. It ranked seventh in the print category of the 6th Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishō (Next Manga Award) in 2020. The anime's first season received multiple nominations at the in 2023, including Best New Series, Best Opening Sequence for Creepy Nuts' "Daten", and Best Ending Sequence for Creepy Nuts' "Yofukashi no Uta". For the second season, which aired in summer 2025, it placed ninth overall in Anime Corner's Summer 2025 Anime of the Season rankings.

Critical reception

Call of the Night received widespread praise for its innovative fusion of romance, , and elements, often highlighted as a refreshing take on lore through the lens of youthful and nocturnal escapades. Critics commended Kotoyama's distinctive art style, which captures the expressive allure of nighttime settings with dynamic shading and fluid character expressions that enhance the series' whimsical yet introspective tone. The manga's exploration of themes like nightlife freedom was particularly acclaimed for portraying a sense of liberation from societal norms, blending lighthearted banter with subtle emotional depth. The adaptation, produced by , was lauded for its faithful rendering of the source material, preserving the manga's eccentric charm while emphasizing character-driven narratives through episodic adventures. Reviewers appreciated the ambient sound design, which uses subtle nocturnal effects and a fitting to immerse viewers in the series' dreamy atmosphere, contributing to its high user scores on platforms like , with the first season at 7.95 and the second at 8.35 as of November 2025. The voice acting and pacing of interpersonal dialogues further amplified the blend of humor and budding romance, making episodes feel intimately personal. Despite its strengths, the series faced criticisms regarding pacing in later manga arcs, where some volumes meandered through subplots lacking narrative momentum, potentially diluting tension between key characters. The handling of mature themes, such as age dynamics in relationships and emotional stunting among vampires, occasionally drew mixed responses for feeling underdeveloped or tonally inconsistent amid the comedic elements. Discussions among critics also touched on varying satisfaction with the manga's conclusion, noting it resolved core conflicts but left some character arcs feeling abrupt. The second season of the , airing in 2025, garnered even stronger acclaim for its enhanced animation quality and deeper dives into thematic layers, including evolving interpersonal bonds and lore. Outlets praised the improved visual fluidity and emotional resonance, with reviews scoring it highly, such as 8/10 from Nerdy Nook for its polished execution and thematic maturity.

References

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