Asadora!

Asadora! is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa, serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Spirits since October 2018. The story opens in Nagoya, 1959, where ten-year-old Asa Asada is left in charge of her pregnant mother while her father is away. When her mother goes into labor, Asa runs for the midwife but instead encounters a burglar named Kasuga. She is taken hostage, but a devastating typhoon, based on the real-life Ise-wan Typhoon (Vera), strikes, forcing Asa and Kasuga to cooperate to survive the flood. This traumatic event sets Asa on a lifelong path that intertwines with historical disasters, personal growth, and, eventually, the emergence of a giant, mysterious creature that threatens Japan.

The narrative spans from the late 1950s into the near future, following Asa as she grows into a young woman, becomes a pilot, and later works for a secret government agency investigating the monster. Urasawa blends historical drama, disaster thriller, mystery, and science fiction, using real events like the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as backdrops. The series is noted for its focus on a female protagonist, a departure from many of Urasawa's earlier male-led stories, and for its detailed artwork and intricate plotting. The first volume was published in Japan on February 28, 2019, and as of March 2025, ten volumes have been released. The English edition is published by Viz Media, with the first volume released in September 2021.

Critical reception has been favorable, with praise for the gripping opening volume, strong characterization, and ambitious scope. The series won the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material, Asia in 2023 and was nominated for Best Manga at the 2023 Harvey Awards. While still ongoing, Asadora! has been recognized as a significant work in Urasawa's career, particularly for its depiction of a resourceful young girl navigating a male-dominated post-war Japan.[edit]