Space Brothers

Space Brothers follows the Nanba brothers, Mutta and Hibito, who as children vowed to become astronauts after witnessing a UFO. Years later, Hibito is on track to be the first Japanese to walk on the Moon, while Mutta, a car designer, has abandoned his dream. When Mutta loses his job, he reapplies to JAXA's astronaut program, reigniting his childhood ambition. The manga traces his grueling training and the competitive selection process, interwoven with Hibito's lunar mission.

Written and illustrated by Chūya Koyama, the series ran in Kodansha's Morning magazine from December 2007 to June 2026, spanning over 18 years. Koyama's meticulous research included consultations with real astronauts and JAXA officials, lending authenticity to the depiction of space training and missions. The manga balances technical detail with humor and emotional depth, exploring themes of perseverance, sibling bonds, and the human drive for exploration.

By its conclusion, the series had over 35 million copies in circulation worldwide. It won both the 56th Shogakukan Manga Award and the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category in 2011. The story has been adapted into a 99-episode anime, a live-action film starring Shun Oguri and Masaki Okada, and a prequel anime film titled Space Brothers #0.[edit]