Yotaka Futatabi

Yotaka Futatabi (Japanese: 夜鷹ふたたび, literally "Nighthawk Returns") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fuyuki Izumida. The story follows a former underworld legend known as "Yotaka" (Nighthawk), once celebrated as the strongest assassin in the criminal underworld. Eight years after vanishing from the scene, she now lives as a 33-year-old washed-up figure, chain-smoking, alcoholic, and deeply unlucky, struggling with drug addiction and the mundane realities of a life far removed from her former glory. The series opens with her being pulled back into the world she left behind when forces from her past threaten the fragile peace she has built.

The narrative blends gritty crime drama with dark comedy, horror elements, and moments of quiet introspection, exploring what happens when a legendary killer must confront the inescapable weight of her history. Izumida's artwork is noted for its sharp, detailed rendering of the shadowy underworld, balancing tense action sequences with more subdued, character-driven scenes. The series has drawn comparisons to works like Sanctuary and Old Boy, though it carves out its own identity through its focus on an aging female protagonist grappling with her choices, a relatively uncommon archetype in seinen manga.

Serialization began in Kodansha's Morning magazine in November 2025, and as of June 2026, the story has been compiled into two volumes under the Morning KC imprint. The series has quickly gained a following among fans of mature seinen manga, with discussions in josei-focused communities for its portrayal of an older woman assassin. No official English-language print release has been confirmed, though fan translations circulate on platforms like MangaDex. [edit]