Chibisan Date
Encyclopedia
is a manga
series by . The series chronicles the story of Seiji Chiga, a young man from Japan studying to become an artist on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts
, and his interactions with his new friends, during the 1960s
(the Shōwa period
in Japan).
Chibisan Date is the second manga by Himaruya to be published, the first being Hetalia: Axis Powers
, and so far one tankōbon
has been published by Gentosha Comics
on November 24, 2009. In addition, it has been serialized in Comic Birz
since the April 2009 issue. The series went on a year-long unannounced hiatus, with no new chapters serialized after the August 2010 issue. The series relaunched on October 28, 2011, in the first issue of Comic Spica.
during the 1960s. A pessimist who doubts his abilities constantly, Seiji puts pressure on himself to place better in an art competition, and as a result suffers a creative block. Passing his time with his new friends - including a young girl known only as "Chibi-san", two teenage girls from Boston, and the son of a local fisherman - Seiji faces each day overcoming some small obstacle to reach a brighter outlook on life.
In January 2009 Anime News Network
reported that the series would also begin serialization in Gentosha's seinen
manga magazine Comic Birz
starting in the April issue, though it was initially reported that Himaruya's other series Hetalia: Axis Powers
would be serialized. After a year-long hiatus from 2010-2011, it resumed serialization with the launch of the new magazine Comic Spica. Amazon.com
has listed Chibisan Date as being licensed by Tokyopop
for a North American release, with the first volume released on June 28, 2011, however Tokyopop has announced the shutdown of its US publishing operations at the end of May 2011.
it was announced that there would be a drama CD of Chibi-san Date.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series by . The series chronicles the story of Seiji Chiga, a young man from Japan studying to become an artist on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
, and his interactions with his new friends, during the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
(the Shōwa period
Showa period
The , or Shōwa era, is the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of the Shōwa Emperor, Hirohito, from December 25, 1926 through January 7, 1989.The Shōwa period was longer than the reign of any previous Japanese emperor...
in Japan).
Chibisan Date is the second manga by Himaruya to be published, the first being Hetalia: Axis Powers
Hetalia: Axis Powers
is a Japanese webcomic, later adapted as a manga and an anime series, by . The series presents an allegorical trivialisation of political and historic events, particularly of the World War II era, in which the various countries are represented by stereotyped anthropomorphic characters...
, and so far one tankōbon
Tankobon
, with a literal meaning close to "independently appearing book", is the Japanese term for a book that is complete in itself and is not part of a series , though the manga industry uses it for volumes which may be in a series...
has been published by Gentosha Comics
Gentosha
is a Japanese publisher, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Gentosha publishes manga magazine Comic Birz, Web comic magazines GENZO, SPICA, Comic MAGNA, literary magazines Lynx, papyrus, as well as business magazine GOETHE.- Publications :...
on November 24, 2009. In addition, it has been serialized in Comic Birz
Comic Birz
is a Japanese seinen manga magazine published on a monthly basis by Gentosha.-Manga titles published in Birz:*888*Akaten Hero!*Arm of Kannon*Beast of East*Blood Sucker*Bushidō*Butterfly*Category: Freaks*Chalk...
since the April 2009 issue. The series went on a year-long unannounced hiatus, with no new chapters serialized after the August 2010 issue. The series relaunched on October 28, 2011, in the first issue of Comic Spica.
Plot
Chibisan Date focuses on Seiji Chiga, a young artist studying under Mr. Suehiro, a potter, on the island of NantucketNantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
during the 1960s. A pessimist who doubts his abilities constantly, Seiji puts pressure on himself to place better in an art competition, and as a result suffers a creative block. Passing his time with his new friends - including a young girl known only as "Chibi-san", two teenage girls from Boston, and the son of a local fisherman - Seiji faces each day overcoming some small obstacle to reach a brighter outlook on life.
Characters
- Full name . The primary protagonist, he is a worrier and pessimist, though a very talented artist who likes to draw. He is also a bit eccentric.
- Seji's mentor and also a potter, having immigrated to the United States from Kagoshima PrefectureKagoshima Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...
. He takes care of Seiji and is a calm, hardworking man.
- The title character of the series. A mysterious and mischievous young girl whose backstory and significance to the story remains unknown. She loves to draw.
- Full name Margaret Baker, Nicknamed "Meg". She is the younger of the Baker sisters. She is childish and cute, though more of a tomboy than Candy.
- Full name Candy Baker. The elder of the two Baker sisters. She is reserved and somewhat snobby, but also quite cowardly and emotional.
- Full name Reinhard Fischer. Seiji's best friend, who is described as understanding and caring. Though the two are total opposites in personality, their friendship seems to be quite strong.
- Full name Rani Sujanta Sachdeva. The worker at a bookstore in Nantucket, run by Rocket's grandfather. She is a cheerful girl, yet also quite scatterbrained. Her dream is to become a successful picture book artist.
- Real name Robert Wedgewood. A young boy who moved with his parents to Boston, though he currently lives at his grandparents' home. He has not shown up in the published manga yet, but in some exclusive strips of the series posted to Hidekaz Himaruya's blog. It is said that he is nicknamed Rocket due to his anger problems.
- An eccentric illustrator that came from Brooklyn who is very fond of alcohol and women.
Manga
Written and illustrated by Hidekaz Himaruya, the Chibisan Date chapters are serialized in Comic Birz. Gentosha has collected the chapters into one bound volume so far, published on November 24, 2009. Shortly after the first chapter was released, an online-exclusive chapter entitled , focusing on the supporting character Sujanta, was posted on Hidekaz Himaruya's blog.In January 2009 Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
reported that the series would also begin serialization in Gentosha's seinen
Seinen
is a subset of manga that is generally targeted at a 20–30 year old male audience, but the audience can be older with some manga aimed at businessmen well into their 40s. In Japanese, the word Seinen means "young man" or "young men" and is not suggestive of sexual matters...
manga magazine Comic Birz
Comic Birz
is a Japanese seinen manga magazine published on a monthly basis by Gentosha.-Manga titles published in Birz:*888*Akaten Hero!*Arm of Kannon*Beast of East*Blood Sucker*Bushidō*Butterfly*Category: Freaks*Chalk...
starting in the April issue, though it was initially reported that Himaruya's other series Hetalia: Axis Powers
Hetalia: Axis Powers
is a Japanese webcomic, later adapted as a manga and an anime series, by . The series presents an allegorical trivialisation of political and historic events, particularly of the World War II era, in which the various countries are represented by stereotyped anthropomorphic characters...
would be serialized. After a year-long hiatus from 2010-2011, it resumed serialization with the launch of the new magazine Comic Spica. Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
has listed Chibisan Date as being licensed by Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
for a North American release, with the first volume released on June 28, 2011, however Tokyopop has announced the shutdown of its US publishing operations at the end of May 2011.
Chapters to be collected into volumes
Drama CDs
In the July 2010 issue of Comic BirzComic Birz
is a Japanese seinen manga magazine published on a monthly basis by Gentosha.-Manga titles published in Birz:*888*Akaten Hero!*Arm of Kannon*Beast of East*Blood Sucker*Bushidō*Butterfly*Category: Freaks*Chalk...
it was announced that there would be a drama CD of Chibi-san Date.