Arakawa Under the Bridge Series

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.

The heartwarming romantic antics of the river bank denizens–both human and alien–draw to a close in this final volume. Shadowy incidents in the past are brought to light, and each character takes a fateful step towards the future. Nino finally ventures outside, yet is foiled by fowl… Rec goes after her, even though the risk of literal heartbreak is real. Join the gang under the bridge for one last hurrah!

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.
Part 7 contains volumes 13 and 14 of the Japanese edition.

Under the waters of the Arakawa lies the Kapa House. Under the Kapa House is a secret room only those dubbed “mayor” are allowed to enter. Inside the room someone casts charms to protect the Arakawa river bank from unwanted intruders…

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.

Part 6 contains volumes 11 and 12 of the Japanese edition.

The Venus-bound rocket successfully launched against all odds… and now Rec is back after an out-of-this-world encounter with Nino’s folks, and even Takai had his own alien encounter that leaves him transformed. As the seasons turn, everyone’s eccentricities spiral out and twine together, and the Mayor finds himself expecting…!

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.

Part 5 contains volumes 9 and 10 of the Japanese edition.

The aura of craziness emanating from the Arakawa river bank keeps luring in those who want to fly their own freak flag, including, of all people, Rec’s secretary Shimazaki. As the day of the launch to Venus, Nino’s home planet, draws ever closer, everyone must make their preparations and say farewell to those who are earth-bound. Will the rocket, filled with the hopes of its crew, be able to make the interplanetary journey…?

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.

“Let’s go to Venus!”

And so the river bank denizens begin training that will let them go to Nino’s extraterrestrial hometown. But do any of them have what it takes to make it in space? A trip upstream brings Rec into contact with a tribe ruled by an Amazoness, who soon sees Nino as her rival. Everyone helps build a house for the Mayor and a park for the Metal Brothers. As the cast of characters expands daily life on the river bank becomes ever more eventful…

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.

Part 3 contains volumes 5 and 6 of the Japanese edition.

“Nino, I promise that I can accept everything about you!”

Rec calls out when he discovers Nino’s secret trove of cassette tapes. Rec and Nino are both clumsy when it comes to communication, which leads to situations both humorous and heartbreaking. Once in a while a sombre mood falls upon the river bank under the bridge… until the next absurd turn of events comes around.

Best-selling mangaka Hikaru Nakamura (Saint Young Men) makes her English language debut with this surreal comedy starring a 620-year-old water sprite, a man with a star for a head, a nun, and a samurai who runs a barber shop under Tokyo’s Arakawa Bridge.

Part 2 contains volumes 3 and 4 of the Japanese edition.

Rec, insulted by the insinuation that he has nothing to contribute to the community under the bridge, decides to start a school. Rec’s secretaries from his company in the outside world investigate his current situation, reports of which are sent back to his father, who then targets the river bank for redevelopment, threatening the idyllic lifestyle of the river bank denizens…

“Could you help me fall in love?”

Kou Ichinomiya, a young man born with a silver spoon in his mouth and raised with the mantra “never owe anyone” suddenly finds himself deeply indebted to a young homeless woman, Nino, who lives on the Arakawa river bank and claims to originally be from the planet Venus. When Nino rejects all of Kou’s mundane offers of money or housing, Kou is at a loss for how to repay his debt, until Nino suddenly asks him to teach her about love. A daunting task, but the over-achieving Kou is determined to return Nino’s favor. And so begins Kou’s life under the bridge, along with a band of eccentric characters who have formed their own little community outside the boundaries of typical Tokyoite life…