Mii-chan and Yamada-san

Written and illustrated by Nene Azuki, Mii-chan and Yamada-san began serialization on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket on September 8, 2024. The story is set in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, in 2012 and follows two hostesses working at a cabaret club. Yamada-san is a university student who works part-time, reserved and adept at navigating the rules of the trade. Mii-chan is a petite, cheerful new hire who cannot read or write well, is clumsy, and fails to read social cues, drawing ridicule from staff and customers. Despite this, her bright energy and relentless determination draw Yamada in, and an unlikely friendship develops. The narrative covers the 12 months leading up to Mii-chan's murder, establishing the series as a tragedy from the outset.

The manga is classified as drama, social drama, crime, and tragedy, exploring themes of friendship, first love, poverty, survival, illiteracy, and the fragility of life. Azuki drew on her own experience working as a hostess, lending authenticity to the portrayal of the nightlife industry. The series has been a commercial success, with 2.8 million copies in circulation as of July 2026. It ranked fourth in the Male Readers' Top 20 of the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2026 guidebook and was nominated in the General category of the 50th Kodansha Manga Awards. An anime adaptation was announced on July 25, 2026, and is scheduled to premiere in 2027. [edit]