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A.M View

The Charm of Blue Box: A Manga Gem with a Perfect Blend of Romance and Sports!

Updated: Oct 3


©︎Kouji Miura/SHUEISHA, Blue Box Film Partners


Let me start this preview by saying I'm not a manga reader, nor do I plan to be. Don't get me wrong—I have nothing but respect for the medium and the art that provides inspiration and creativity to not just the anime industry, but also to many J-dramas. However, for me, nothing beats watching a great anime adaptation of a manga. The soundtrack, the opening, the voice acting, and in some cases, the stunning animation all combine to deliver a prime escapism experience.


As primarily an anime watcher, I'm rarely part of the initial buzz surrounding a highly anticipated manga adaptation. That changed with Blue Box. I first discovered Blue Box during the early days of the pandemic on the Shonen Jump app while searching for a slice-of-life romance story with a touch of sports. And that pretty much sums up what Blue Box is. For the uninitiated, allow me to explain.


Blue Box is a manga that blends elements of slice-of-life, romance, and sports. The story follows two main characters: Taiki Inomata, a dedicated badminton player, and Chinatsu Kano, a talented basketball player. The plot centers on Taiki's crush on Chinatsu, his senior at school. However, as is often the case with manga, there's a twist.


However, as with all compelling tales, a twist emerges in the form of fate intertwining their lives. Chinatsu ends up residing in Taiki's house, setting the stage for a series of events that lead them on a path of self-discovery, budding romance, and navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. The storyline masterfully weaves together themes of ambition, friendship, love, and the pursuit of dreams against the backdrop of school life and competitive sports.

What I love about Blue Box is its realistic portrayal of high school life, combined with sports dedication and the delicate balance between romantic feelings and athletic ambitions. I can't think of many manga or anime that manage to balance these elements as seamlessly well as Blue Box does, or at least attempts to do at times. Don't get me wrong—on their own, neither aspect of Blue Box is particularly groundbreaking. The sports storylines feature typical high school tournaments and rivalries, while the romantic elements include classic tropes of high school crushes, school festivals, and dramatic love confessions.


But when you combine these elements, you get a manga that has gained significant popularity and is about to receive what looks like a promising anime adaptation. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a J-drama will follow soon, which, given how Japanese entertainment works, is probably already in the pipeline somewhere in Japan.

Rest assured, a full review of the Netflix adaptation of Blue Box will appear on my website and YouTube channel. I predict that Blue Box will become a fan favorite and attract a whole new wave of anime-only fans. The trailer Netflix released a few weeks ago is stunning and captures the essence of the story beautifully.

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