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Strobe Edge
Strobe Edge
Strobe Edge
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Strobe Edge
Cover of the first manga volume
ストロボ・エッジ
(Sutorobo Ejji)
GenreComing-of-age,[1] romance[2]
Manga
Written byIo Sakisaka
Published byShueisha
English publisher
MagazineBessatsu Margaret
Original runJune 13, 2007 – August 11, 2010
Volumes10
Live-action film
Directed byRyūichi Hiroki
Written bySayaka Kuwamura
StudioToho
ReleasedMarch 14, 2015 (2015-03-14)

Strobe Edge (Japanese: ストロボ・エッジ, Hepburn: Sutorobo Ejji) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka. It began serialization in 2007 in the shōjo manga magazine Bessatsu Margaret and ended in 2010.[3] The chapters are collected and bound in tankōbon format by Shueisha under the Margaret Comics label. The manga is licensed in North America by Viz Media with its first volume released in November 2012. A live-action film adaptation had its theatrical release on March 14, 2015,[4] and a live-action series adaptation was scheduled to premiere on October 31, 2025.[5]

Plot

[edit]

First-year high school student Ninako Kinoshita has never been in love with anyone until she meets popular schoolmate Ren Ichinose while boarding the train for school. She gradually falls in love with him as she gets to know him, though she has to face the truth that Ren is already in a committed relationship with Mayuka Korenaga, a model and the older sister of her friend Daiki, whose love confession Ninako rejects and whose subsequent up-and-down relationship with Ninako's best friend Sayuri Uehara becomes the series' secondary plot. Through Ren, Ninako is also introduced to his friend Takumi Ando who, despite his womanizing tendency, genuinely falls in love with her.

Ninako and Ren are then thrown into situations that require them to be close together, such as working part-time at the same restaurant and being chosen to buy supplies for the summer festival. Gradually, Ren begins to develop feelings for Ninako, but he is adamant in his choice to stay with Mayuka. Realizing that this act is hurting the both of them, Mayuka chooses to break up with Ren. At the same time, Ando continues to urge Ninako to move on from Ren and be his girlfriend. Once while with Ninako, Ando is confronted by Mao Sugimoto, an ex-girlfriend who cheated on him by kissing Ren, causing their breakup and Ando's friendship with Ren to grow strained.

In the next school year, Ninako gets to be in the same class as Ren and Ando, while Mao enrolls in the same school as them as a freshman, irritating Ando. Ninako and Ren continue to develop feelings for each other. Mao meets with Ninako and urges her to stop following Ren because she wants him and Ando reconcile. When Ando confronts Mao about this, she states that she wants Ninako and Ren to drift apart so Ando can pursue Ninako, to atone for what Mao (who still loves Ando) did to him before. Not knowing the reason, Ninako begins to avoid and ignore Ren, who has begun to pursue her so he can confess. When he does, Ninako declines without reason, and when he insists, she becomes upset and tells him to leave her alone. She is, however, encouraged by Ando to stop pitying him and instead follow her heart. Realizing that what she has done is selfish, Ninako goes after the dejected Ren and confesses to him, which he immediately accepts.

Main characters

[edit]
Ninako is the main female protagonist around whom the story revolves. She is a very kind and gentle girl who falls in love with Ren Ichinose. When she finds out that Ren already has a girlfriend, she resigns herself to being just a friend, quietly holding on to her feelings. She is good at most of her subjects with the exclusion of math, which she mentions a number of times is her weakest subject. Ninako is very caring and modest, willing to return any favor even if it is something small. Later on, when Ando tries to convince her to go out with him, she rejects him, saying that being in a relationship with someone she does not love is not right. She wants to remain in her feelings of liking Ren, even if they are not reciprocated.
The male school idol who is basically good at everything and plays the role of main male protagonist. He likes to isolate himself from most students. He is admired by all of the female students as a result. He has a close group of male friends, but the story gives the impression most other male students are jealous of his position. He also has a strong passion for mathematics. Although he has a girlfriend, Mayuka, who is older than he is, Ren tends to lose his guard around Ninako. He only later on realizes his feelings for Ninako, but tries to forget about her by distancing himself for Mayuka's sake. In the end, Mayuka breaks up with him because she realized his feelings toward Ninako, reasoning as well she treats work more important than love. Ren's feelings toward Ninako grows stronger, eventually making him unable to hide it any longer.
Daiki is introduced as a childhood friend of Ninako's. He has strong feelings towards her at the beginning of the story. He grew attached to Ninako after his parents divorced two or three years prior to the start of the manga, causing him to whether to live with his mother and older sister or with his father. Since choosing to live with his father, his relationship with his older sister has not been so good. He eventually falls in love with Ninako's friend Sayuri and starts dating her.
Ando is Ren's middle school friend who also has an idol-like status. He often finds himself competing with Ren like a rival. Ando takes advantage of his position and is a big time player among the female students. Despite this, he forms no relationships with them as he believes himself not fit for a relationship. This opinion changes after meeting Ninako, who has a strong effect upon him. He eventually falls madly in love with her, saying that he loves her honesty and begins trying to win her favor. He is very much aware of her feelings for Ren and often tries to help her through Ren's relationship with Mayuka or discourage her from pursuing Ren.
Mayuka is Daiki's older sister. Her existence is kept low profile to a point where it is found that she is actually the girlfriend of the unobtainable Ren Ichinose. She has a job in the modelling business which she pursued for what she thought was Ren's sake. She is currently studying for entrance exams to university. As the series progresses, she becomes wary of Ninako's relationship with Ren but remains friendly toward her. She eventually realizes how much her relationship with Ren is strained; she is almost always busy and has to cancel their dates. In chapter 19, she breaks up with Ren because she knows that Ren is in love with someone else and she doesn't want Ren to continually repress his feelings just for her. She acknowledges that nothing will ever stay the same, as she herself has changed, and that before she didn't want Ren to change and leave her.
Sayuri, nicknamed "Sayu" (さゆ) by her friends, is the mature friend of Ninako's who falls in love with Daiki, whom she eventually dates. However, their relationship is not without bumps. Sayuri becomes afraid of confrontation with Daiki when she believes he is cheating on her. Her worries about honesty in relationships comes from her boyfriend in middle school being snatched away from her.
  • Tsukasa (つかさ, Tsukasa) Actor: Kaoru Matsuo (movie)
Tsukasa is a friend of Ninako's who tends to be a blabbermouth. Despite this, she remains loyal to Ninako and often encourages her in love. She has wavy hair often tied into a ponytail.
Noriko, known as "Non-chan" (のんちゃん) to her peers, is a friend of Ninako. She has long, straight hair.
Tamaki is a friend of Ninako. She has short, wavy hair.
Manabu, more commonly known as "Gacchan" (がっちゃん)[6] to his peers, is one of Ren's friends and one of Tsukasa's classmates from middle school. His cousin owns a café, where he works to earn money to visit his senior Ritsuko. He notices Ren's feelings for Ninako early on and desperately tries to pair them up.
Yūtarō, nicknamed "Yū" and "Tera" by his peers, is one of Ren's friends at school. He is both sagely and mature. Unlike Manabu, he tends to be more realistic and is reluctant over Manabu's matchmaking attempts because of Ren's increasing anxiety over Mayuka. In middle school, he attended the same cram school as Sayuri Uehara, and they began dating. However, they broke up abruptly when Sayuri assumed Yū was cheating on her. Yū regrets hurting Sayuri and realizes their relationship failed because of lack of communication and because of his immaturity. However, he knows that they cannot return to the way they were. Instead, he encourages Sayuri to make peace with Daiki when troubles appear in their relationship (even though he is still in love with her), and tries to move on from her once she has done so.
Mao is a student junior to Ninako and the others. In middle school, she dated Ando, but only used him to get close to Ren, whom she had a crush on. She later fell in love with Ando for real. When Mao enrolls into their high school, Ando's refusal to listen to her leads her into deliberately stopping Ninako from pursuing Ren so that Ando would have a chance to win her over.

Media

[edit]

Manga

[edit]
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1November 22, 2007[7]978-4-08-846239-4November 6, 2012[8]978-1-4215-5068-8
2March 25, 2008[9]978-4-08-846280-6January 1, 2013[10]978-1-4215-5069-5
3July 25, 2008[11]978-4-08-846316-2March 5, 2013[12]978-1-4215-5070-1
4November 25, 2008[13]978-4-08-846357-5May 7, 2013[14]978-1-4215-5270-5
5March 25, 2009[15]978-4-08-846394-0July 2, 2013[16]978-1-4215-5313-9
6June 25, 2009[17]978-4-08-846420-6September 3, 2013[18]978-1-4215-5314-6
7November 25, 2009[19]978-4-08-846466-4November 5, 2013[20]978-1-4215-5315-3
8March 12, 2010[21]978-4-08-846501-2January 7, 2014[22]978-1-4215-5316-0
9August 11, 2010[23]978-4-08-846554-8March 4, 2014[24]978-1-4215-5317-7
10December 24, 2010[25]978-4-08-846607-1May 6, 2014[26]978-1-4215-6448-7

A forty-three page bonus chapter, to commemorate the release of the live-action film, was printed in the April 2015 issue of Betsuma.[27][28]

Drama CDs

[edit]

Strobe Edge originally had a vomic (voiceover comic) produced by Shueisha, where voice actors provided voices to manga panels. Once plans for drama CDs were made, Shueisha closed down the vomic website.[29] Two drama CDs were released, the first on August 25, 2010, and the second on September 22, 2010.[30] The drama CDs used an entirely new voice cast with the exception of Yui Shōji, who was the only one to reprise her role as Mayuka Korenaga.

Live-action film

[edit]

A live-action film adaptation of Strobe Edge was announced to have been greenlit on the August 2014 issue of Bessatsu Margaret. The adaptation had its theatrical release on March 14, 2015.[4] The film was directed by Ryūichi Hiroki and stars Kasumi Arimura as Ninako Kinoshita and Sota Fukushi as Ren Ichinose.[31] Japanese vocal group Greeeen provided a cover version of their hit song "Ai Uta" (愛唄) sung by a sister female vocalist group Whiteeeen.[32][33]

Live-action series

[edit]

A live-action series adaptation was announced in August 2025, ten years after the film adaptation, and scheduled to premiere on Wowow on October 31.[5][34]

Reception

[edit]

Strobe Edge received moderate success in Japan. The fourth volume charted at #29 on Oricon during the first week of sales, selling a total of 34,158 copies.[35] The fifth volume ranked at #19 and sold 46,299 copies on its first week of sales.[36] The release of the sixth volume peaked at #24 and sold 51,402 copies.[37] The seventh volume charted at #9 and sold 82,575 copies on its first week[38] and 109,758 in total.[39] The eighth volume charted at #7 and sold 76,372 copies on its first week[40] and 137,087 in total.[41] The ninth volume charted at #4 and sold 152,907 copies on its first week[42] and 211,188 in total.[43] The final volume charted at #3 and sold 132,738 copies on its first week of sales.[44] It became the 43rd best-selling volume of the first half of 2011, selling a total of 356,021 copies.[45]

In a poll done by Escala Cafe in April 2011, out of 316 votes from women from the ages of 22 and 29, 2.5% were interested in a live-action adaptation of Strobe Edge.[46]

It was chosen as one of the Great Graphic Novels 2014 in the fiction section by the Young Adult Library Services Association[47][48] and also as one of the 2014 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens in the fiction section.[49]

The live-action film adaptation "earned $2.74 million in its opening frame for the number three spot" at the Japanese Box Office, according to Mark Schilling, writing for Variety after its opening weekend. Schilling noted that "distributor Toho expects the film to finish with JPY2.5 billion ($20.6 million)."[50] The film grossed ¥2.32 billion.[51]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Strobe Edge

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Strobe Edge is a Japanese shōjo manga series written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka, serialized in Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine from June 13, 2007, to August 11, 2010, and collected into 10 tankōbon volumes. A sequel one-shot focusing on the character Ando was published in the November 2025 issue of Bessatsu Margaret. The story centers on high school freshman Ninako Kinoshita, who has never experienced romantic love until she meets the popular and enigmatic Ren Ichinose on a train, leading to her developing unrequited feelings for him despite his existing relationship, while navigating emotions from her classmate Daiki who confesses his affection for her. Licensed in North America by Viz Media under its Shojo Beat imprint, the series explores themes of first love, heartbreak, and personal growth through Sakisaka's detailed artwork and emotional character dynamics. It has been adapted into a live-action film released on March 14, 2015, directed by Ryūichi Hiroki and starring Kasumi Arimura as Ninako and Sōta Fukushi as Ren. Additionally, a live-action television drama adaptation, consisting of 6 episodes, premiered on WOWOW on October 31, 2025.

Background

Development

Io Sakisaka, a Japanese manga artist specializing in shōjo romance, debuted in 1999 with the short story Sakura, Chiru, establishing her focus on emotional narratives centered around young love and personal growth. Prior to Strobe Edge, her notable works included the one-shot collection Call My Name (2001), the series Watashi no Koibito (My Lover, 2002–2003), and the short story series Blue (2006), all of which explored themes of budding relationships and adolescent introspection in a delicate, heartfelt style typical of shōjo manga. Strobe Edge continued this tradition, aligning with Sakisaka's signature approach to depicting the vulnerabilities and joys of high school romance through nuanced character interactions and subtle emotional progression. The story's inspirations stemmed from Sakisaka's interest in capturing the universal essence of first love and emotional maturation among teenagers, drawing on timeless feelings rather than specific real-life models or external influences like books or films. She aimed to portray raw, imperfect characters to reflect authentic experiences, emphasizing the process of and navigating its complexities in a high school setting, which she described as blending personal memories with relatable trends to ensure enduring appeal. This focus on "feelings of girls that don’t change, no matter the era" allowed Strobe Edge to resonate as a pure of youthful romance, distinct from the more psychologically layered narratives in her later works. Strobe Edge began serialization on June 13, 2007, in Shueisha's magazine, a platform well-suited for shōjo titles targeting teenage readers. The decision to conclude the series after 10 volumes was finalized with its final chapter on August 11, 2010, allowing Sakisaka to wrap up the core arcs of romantic tension and character resolution within a compact narrative structure. In interviews and reflections on her process, Sakisaka highlighted her intentional approach to character development, ensuring protagonists like the naive yet earnest female lead exhibit genuine flaws and growth to foster reader , often adjusting details during creation to maintain emotional authenticity without idealization. These elements underscored her commitment to realistic depictions over dramatic exaggeration.

Publication history

Strobe Edge was serialized in Shueisha's magazine from June 2007 to August 2010. The series was collected into 10 volumes published by between November 2007 and December 2010. A 43-page bonus chapter titled Strobe Edge: Tokubetsu-hen, serving as an epilogue, appeared in the April 2015 issue of to commemorate the live-action . A new one-shot chapter, titled Strobe Edge: This Love Is a Story That Ended and focused on Andō's story, was published in the November 2025 issue of (released October 10, 2025). In , licensed the manga under its imprint, releasing the first volume on November 6, 2012, and completing the 10-volume run by May 2014. also offers digital editions of all volumes through platforms like Kindle and OverDrive. The series has been licensed internationally in multiple languages, including French by (with volumes released starting in 2011) and German by (first volume in February 2013).

Plot

Strobe Edge follows Ninako Kinoshita, an ordinary high school freshman who has never experienced romantic love. While riding the to , she encounters Ren Ichinose, a handsome and popular upperclassman admired by many, who accidentally breaks her phone strap. This brief interaction awakens unfamiliar feelings in Ninako, leading her to realize she is with Ren for the first time. However, Ren is already in a with Mayuka Kanzaki, a renowned model. Complicating matters, Ninako's cheerful childhood friend Daiki Asano confesses his long-held affection for her, forcing her to confront her emotions amid her unrequited crush. As Ninako becomes friends with Ren through shared circumstances, she also grows closer to his reserved best friend, Takumi Andō, who begins to show interest in her. The series delves into Ninako's journey of self-discovery, exploring the joys and pains of first love, friendship, and heartbreak as she navigates these tangled relationships during her high school years.

Characters

Main characters

Ninako Kinoshita (木下 仁菜子, Kinoshita Ninako) is the protagonist of the series. A kind-hearted and gentle high school freshman, she has never experienced romantic love until meeting Ren Ichinose, leading her to develop deep feelings for him. She excels in most school subjects except . Ren Ichinose (一ノ瀬 蓮, Ichinose Ren) is the male lead and a popular, enigmatic student admired by many at school. He is talented in academics, particularly , and initially dates Mayuka Korenaga. Over time, he develops genuine feelings for Ninako. Takumi Andō (安藤 琢磨, Andō Takumi) is Ren's close friend and a reformed playboy. He develops romantic interest in Ninako and competes with Ren for her attention, attempting to win her over despite knowing her feelings. Daiki Korenaga (是永 大樹, Korenaga Daiki) is Ninako's classmate and childhood friend who confesses his love to her early in the story. His affections prompt Ninako to reflect on her emotions, though she later navigates his own romantic developments following family challenges.

Supporting characters

Mayuka Korenaga (是永 真由香, Korenaga Mayuka) is Daiki's older sister and Ren's initial girlfriend. A model studying for university entrance exams, she eventually breaks up with Ren upon realizing his changing feelings. Sayuri Uehara (上原 さゆり, Uehara Sayuri), often called "Sayu," is one of Ninako's close friends, known for her maturity. She begins dating Daiki and struggles with confrontation due to past relationship traumas. Manabu Miyoshi (宮岸 学, Miyoshi Manabu), nicknamed "Gacchan," is Ren's friend who works part-time at his cousin's café. He actively supports pairing Ren and Ninako. Yūtarō Terada (寺田 裕太郎, Terada Yūtarō), called "Yū" or "Tera," is another of Ren's friends, more mature in demeanor. He previously dated Sayuri in middle school and advises her on her relationship with Daiki. Mao Sugimoto (杉本 真緒, Sugimoto Mao) is a junior student who dated Andō in . Her past involving Ren creates tension, but she later seeks to reconcile Andō and Ren by distancing Ninako. Tsukasa, Tamaki, and Noriko ("Non-chan") are Ninako's friends, providing and support. Tsukasa is the talkative one with wavy hair in a , Tamaki has short wavy hair, and Noriko has long straight hair. Toda is a associated with the group, though details are limited in available sources.

Media

Manga

Strobe Edge is renowned for Io Sakisaka's shōjo art style, characterized by round eyes, slim figures, and pursed mouths that effectively convey the subtle nuances of youthful . The illustrations feature attention to detail with minimal over-toning, making the pages easy to read while incorporating sharp edges as a visual motif symbolizing the pains and sudden flashes of young love, tying into the series' title. Storytelling techniques emphasize a slow pace, building tension through small, everyday moments rather than rapid plot progression, allowing for deep exploration of characters' inner worlds via extensive internal monologues that reveal Ninako's naivety and gradual emotional awakening. The narrative spans 10 volumes comprising 43 chapters, including dedicated side stories that delve into the backstories of supporting characters, such as "Wishing for Yesterday" in volume 7 focusing on Yuu and Sayuri's past, and a side story about Manabu's romance in volume 10. Each volume includes extra illustrations and author notes, providing insights into Sakisaka's creative process and personal reflections on the themes of first love. A notable bonus addition is the 43-page special chapter "Strobe Edge: Tokubetsu-hen," published in the April 2015 issue of as an epilogue featuring Ninako, Ren, and Andō, released to coincide with the live-action . In October 2025, a 32-page one-shot sequel focusing on Takumi Andō was published in the November issue of (released October 10, 2025). One key distinction of the from its live-action adaptations lies in its reliance on extended internal monologues to portray characters' complex emotional states and hesitations, which are more challenging to replicate in visual media where expressions and dialogue must substitute for direct thought narration. This technique enhances the conceptual depth of romantic turmoil, using visual metaphors like the apple to represent loss of innocence alongside the titular strobe-like emotional bursts.

Drama CDs

Two drama CDs adapting the manga Strobe Edge were produced and released in 2010. The first volume was released on August 25, 2010, and covers early story arcs involving the protagonists' initial encounters and budding relationships. The second volume followed on September 22, 2010, adapting mid-series events that deepen character interactions and emotional developments. Both were published by Lantis under the Mellow Head label. The voice cast for the drama CDs includes as Ninako Kinoshita, as Ren Ichinose, KENN as Takumi Ando, Yui Shōji as Mayuka Korenaga, as Manabu Miyoshi, as Yutaro Terada, as Daiki Korenaga, and as Sayuri Uehara. This ensemble delivered performances distinct from prior audio adaptations like the vomic series. Formatted as scripted audio plays, the CDs incorporate sound effects and original music to recreate pivotal scenes from the , such as confessions and everyday school moments. The emphasis on and dialogue allows listeners to experience the story's romantic tension and character emotions through auditory means alone.

Live-action film

A live-action of Strobe Edge was directed by Ryūichi Hiroki and released in on March 14, 2015, by . The has a runtime of 115 minutes and adapts the 10-volume series into a feature-length story centered on the romantic entanglements of high school students Ninako Kinoshita and Ren Ichinose. The principal cast includes as the earnest and inexperienced Ninako, Sôta Fukushi as the reserved yet popular Ren, Yuki Yamada as the supportive friend Takumi Ando, and Arisa Satô as Ren's girlfriend Mayuka Korenaga. Supporting roles feature Jingi Irie as Daiki Korenaga and as Mao Sugimoto, capturing key dynamics from the source material such as Ninako's unrequited affection and the ensuing . Production took place primarily in the Kanto region, including locations around , and extended to for coastal scenes, such as the beach at Muramatsuhama in Tainai. The screenplay by Sayaka Kuwamura condensed the manga's extended narrative into a concise format, focusing on core emotional conflicts while streamlining subplots to fit the theatrical runtime. The film achieved commercial success in , grossing ¥2.32 billion (approximately $19 million USD at the time).

Live-action series

The live-action television series of Strobe Edge was announced on July 26, 2025, by and , marking the manga's return to live-action following the 2015 film. The series premiered on October 31, 2025, airing weekly on Fridays at 11:00 p.m. JST on the network, with a first season consisting of six episodes concluding on December 5, 2025. The cast features Riko Fukumoto in the lead role of Ninako Kinoshita, a shy high school girl experiencing first love, alongside Kyohei Takahashi as the reserved Ren Ichinose. Supporting roles include Kōki Yamashita as Takumi Andō, Ninako's outgoing friend with his own romantic arc; Nao Kosaka as Sayuri Uehara; Sakura Kiryū as Mao Sugimoto; and additional actors such as Motoki Nakazawa as Daiki Korenaga and Tsubasa Nakagawa as Manabu Miyoshi. These performers, many of whom are rising young idols and actors, bring a fresh interpretation to the characters originally portrayed by an older cast in the 2015 film adaptation. Directed by Masato Kimura and Yūsuke Matsuda, with screenplay by Sayaka Kuwamura—who also scripted the 2015 film—the production emphasizes the pure high school romance themes of the original through an episodic structure that covers the story's emotional depth across multiple installments. Music is composed by , enhancing the series' focus on character growth and relationships, while the format allows for broader exploration of subplots compared to the condensed cinematic version. The adaptation incorporates contemporary production elements to resonate with modern viewers, including a main trailer released on August 30, 2025, highlighting key romantic tension scenes.

Reception

Critical reception

Strobe Edge received positive critical reception for its emotional depth and relatable portrayal of teenage romance, with reviewers praising Io Sakisaka's ability to capture the nuances of first love and personal growth. In a of the first volume, highlighted the manga's exploration of Ninako's innocent perspective on crushes, noting its charm in depicting subtle romantic tensions without overt drama. Subsequent s commended the series for featuring "actual " and thoughtful coming-of-age themes, emphasizing Sakisaka's skill in balancing heartfelt moments with character development. The final volume was described as a "winner" that delivers emotion and a satisfying conclusion, allowing characters room to evolve beyond the romance. The earned recognition from the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), appearing on the 2014 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, which selects titles recommended for readers ages 12-18 from 122 nominations. Specific volumes, including Strobe Edge, Vol. 5 and Vol. 6, were included in the 2014 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens, underscoring its appeal as an engaging shōjo title with strong narrative and artistic qualities. While some critics noted the series' reliance on familiar shōjo tropes, such as love triangles and communication barriers, it was often lauded for subverting these through meaningful character growth and realistic emotional arcs. Reader feedback echoed this, with Strobe Edge holding an average rating of 7.95 out of 10 on based on over 31,000 user scores, where fans frequently praised the heartfelt confessions and relatable high school dynamics.

Commercial performance

The manga series Strobe Edge achieved notable commercial success, with Volume 9 selling 152,907 copies in its first week according to rankings. 10 reached a cumulative total of 356,021 copies by the first half of 2011. By October 2025, the full 10-volume series had reached 8 million copies in circulation worldwide, including digital editions. The accompanying drama CDs, released in limited editions by Lantis in 2010, saw strong initial demand in , quickly becoming popular among fans of the shojo genre. The 2015 live-action grossed ¥2.32 billion at the Japanese , as reported by the Motion Picture Producers Association of . It recorded an opening weekend gross of approximately $2.77 million in . The live-action television series, which premiered on on October 31, 2025, with episodes also streaming on , has garnered initial positive user reception (7.6/10 on MyDramaList as of November 2025) and is expected to draw significant viewership based on the franchise's established fanbase and prior adaptations' performance.

References

  1. https://myanimelist.net/manga/7378/Strobe_Edge
  2. https://www.amazon.com/Strobe-Edge-10-book-series/dp/B07JJDF2YC
  3. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=10837
  4. https://www.viz.com/strobe-edge
  5. https://asianwiki.com/Strobe_Edge
  6. https://mydramalist.com/797152-strobe-edge
  7. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=76825
  8. https://shojo.fandom.com/wiki/Io_Sakisaka
  9. https://lp.p.pia.jp/article/news/134550/index.html
  10. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2025/7/26/shojo-manga-strobe-edge-live-action-tv-drama-fall-2025
  11. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-02-07/strobe-edge-romance-manga-gets-special-chapter/.84195
  12. https://animehunch.com/strobe-edge-manga-returns-after-10-years-with-new-one-shot-focused-on-andos-story/
  13. http://www.otakusandgeeks.com/articles/akusandgeeks.com/2012/11/viz-media-debuts-strobe-edge-manga.html
  14. https://clc.overdrive.com/library/graphic-novels/media/3116159
  15. https://www.mangaupdates.com/series/r5q2s7i/strobe-edge
  16. https://www.amazon.com/Strobe-Edge-01/dp/384200558X
  17. https://myanimelist.net/manga/7378/Strobe_Edge/characters
  18. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/strobe-edge/gn-1
  19. https://us.oricon-group.com/news/6481/
  20. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/33143
  21. https://www.yesasia.com/global/strobe-edge-drama-cd-2-japan-version/1022994000-0-0-0-en/info.html
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3872958/
  23. https://www.screendaily.com/toho-illuminates-strobe-edge/5078294.article
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3872958/technical/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3872958/fullcredits/
  26. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/283831/cast
  27. https://otakumode.com/news/53e99dd1b1bd47ee4a000b1d/Strobe-Edge-Becoming-Live-Action-Film-Starring-Sota-Fukushi-and-Kasumi-Arimura-to-Release-in-March-2015
  28. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-12/live-action-strobe-edge-trailer-compares-film-to-manga/.82110
  29. https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2016/2/29/strobe-edge-live-action-film-theme-song-new-mv-featuring-manga-scenes
  30. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-08-30/strobe-edge-live-action-series-reveals-more-cast-october-31-debut-for-1st-season-in-video/.228259
  31. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-10-05/strobe-edge-live-action-series-reveals-more-cast-main-trailer/.229642
  32. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-10-30/live-action-strobe-edge-series-casts-sakura-kiryu/.230447
  33. https://fandomwire.com/strobe-edge-live-action-confirmed-cast-of-the-series-so-far/
  34. https://en.mantan-web.jp/e_article/20250727dog00m200006000c.html
  35. https://www.sportskeeda.com/anime/news-strobe-edge-live-action-series-announces-premiere-october-2025-first-trailer-pv
  36. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/strobe-edge/gn-2
  37. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/strobe-edge/gn-10
  38. https://www.ala.org/yalsa/great-graphic-novels-2014
  39. https://www.librarything.com/award/904.135.5.2014/Great-Graphic-Novels-for-Teens-Top-Ten-Fiction-2014
  40. https://myanimelist.net/manga/7378/Strobe_Edge/reviews
  41. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-18/japanese-comic-ranking-august-9-15
  42. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-31/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume/2011-first-half
  43. https://www.yesasia.com/global/strobe-edge-drama-cd-japan-version/1022903827-0-0-0-en/info.html
  44. https://www.eiren.org/toukei/img/eiren_kosyu/data_2015.pdf
  45. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt3872958/
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