Scenes from Awajima

Scenes from Awajima (淡島百景) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takako Shimura. The series was serialized on Ohta Publishing's PocoPoco website from June 2011 to 2016, and it moved to the Ohta Web Comic website, where it was serialized from July 2016 to March 2024. It was compiled into five volumes from April 2015 to May 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by Madhouse premiered in April 2026.

Plot

A coming of age story following the stories of girls at the acclaimed Awajima Opera School in Japan, who hope to make their stage debuts. Their school experiences are filled with a mix of admiration, competition, growing friendship, and jealousy of each other's skills.

Characters

• Wakana Tabata (田畑 若菜)
• A student who recently enrolled to Awajima with aspirations to become a theater star. Friendly and honest, she aims to dedicate herself to the school's rigorous studies.
• Kinue Takehara (竹原 絹枝)
• A senior student of Awajima who is Wakana's roommate and the dorm supervisor. She has a passion for theater and carries the hopes of her best friend Ryoko.
• Ryōko Ueda (上田 良子)
• A former classmate of Kinue, during middle school, who told her to apply to Awajima, but decided to enroll elsewhere instead because she is jealous and admires Kinue.
• Emi Okabe (岡部 絵美)
• A student attending Awajima on a scholarship. Other students, such as Katsurako, harass her, causing her to isolate herself from everyone.
• Katsurako Ibuki (伊吹 桂子)
• A daughter from an elite family in the area of Awajima who is jealous of the talent that Okabe has.
• Sara Takanashi (小鳥遊 紗羅)
• A cheerful and friendly student who enrolled at Awajima after being inspired by Kinue’s stage presence. She forms a close-knit trio with Eri and Shizuka.
• Eri Fujisawa (藤原 江里)
• A student who transferred to Awajima after experiencing bad relationships in middle school. She also looks up to Kinue and trains alongside her friends Sara and Shizuka.
• Shizuka Gagakugawa (雅楽川 静香)
• A student who enrolled at Awajima to fulfill her longtime aspirations since middle school. She nurtures a fiery passion despite her reserved demeanor and hangs out with Sara and Eri.

Media

Reception

The series was ranked 17th in the 2016 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook of the best manga for female readers.[25]

External links