Adachi and Shimamura is among the most highly praised yuri series in history. Hitoma Iruma's tale of love, yearning and the struggle to find yourself has resonated with readers in Japan and in the United States. Debuting in 2012, the series of light novels quickly spawned several adaptations, moving the story into other mediums. Because of that, it can be difficult to know where to start with this gripping romantic tale.
However, if you want to dive into the series, here is everything you need to know about Adachi and Shimamura, and how to find each version of this modern love story.
The Plot of Adachi and Shimamura
Sakura Adachi, a first-year high school student, regularly skips out on class and goes to sit in the gym's loft. Initially, she thinks she is the only one who knows about this secret space. However, one day she meets Hougetsu Shimamura, who also uses the loft as an escape from class.
The two quickly become friends, and begin to spend more time together. But things get complicated when Sakura Adachi develops feelings for Hougetsu that go beyond mere friendship. And Sakura has no idea how to handle it. That forces her to navigate a roller coaster of emotions as she tries to work out what she wants, and what these new feelings mean.
Where to Read the Adachi and Shimamura Manga and Light Novels
There have been several volumes of Adachi and Shimamura light novels, with the first installment landing on Japanese shelves in 2013. The newest volume, the 10th, ;aunched in late 2021. However, the series took a while to reach American shores, with fans desperately waiting for a company to license and translate them.
Thankfully, in 2019, Seven Seas Entertainment announced it had acquired the license, and would start releasing the novels. The first volume of Adachi and Shimamura arrived in the United States in early 2020; the eighth volume was released in January 2022. According to Seven Seas, Vol. 9 is scheduled for release in June, with the 10th and final volume arriving next year. Seven Seas Eoffers both digital and physical versions of the novels/
There was also a manga adaptation of Adachi and Shimamura, illustrated by Mani, which was serialized from 2016 to 2017 on Gangan Online before being collected into three volumes. In 2019, a new manga was released, illustrated by Moke Yuzuhara and serialized in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh. It has been collected into four volumes, with the latest released earlier this year in Japan. Yen Press has licensed this series for the North American market. Volumes one and two are available, with a third targeted for release in May, offered in physical and digital formats.
Where to Watch the Adachi and Shimamura Anime
Adachi and Shimamura was also turned into an anime series, animated by Tezuka Productions and directed by Satoshi Kuwabara. The series aired on Japanese television between October and December 2020, and licensed by Funimation for streaming on its platform. Then, in early 2021, Funimation announced the series would receive an English dub, which launched soon after. Today the series is available on both Funimation and Crunchyroll due to the merger of their libraries.
